There was no way Elliot was going to fall asleep again after holding Olivia all night so he went in the kitchen to busy himself.

Liv was not the most organized person. He smiled to himself. That was one thing that hadn't changed in 10 years. Cups and miscellaneous dishes littered the counters. Noah's paints were strewn about and his laptop left open in the middle of the counter.

He shook his head. Some things never change. He began tidying the kitchen. He had no idea where to put anything, but he assumed Liv didn't either. Hell, she couldn't find the damn sugar last night.

As he was washing dishes Noah bounced into the kitchen. "Hey Elliot.

"Hey bud. Sleep good?" Elliot asked.

"Yeah it was nice to be home. Connor's house is fun but I always miss my mom."

Elliot nodded. "I know she missed you too."

"Yeah," Noah agreed. There was some awkward silence before Noah asked, "Wait, did you sleep here?"

"Uh yeah," Elliot answered. "With everything that has happened I wanted to make sure you and your mom stayed safe."

Noah accepted that answer easily. He got up and started digging through the cabinet for cereal.

He couldn't find it in the first cabinet and moved to the second. He found the box he was looking for and brought it to the counter. He plopped down into the stool. He began eating his breakfast like nothing was out of the ordinary having Elliot stay all night.

"Hey Noah," Noah's head looked up from his cereal. Blue eyes bright and gleaming. "Does your mom have nightmares a lot?"

Noah's face shadowed slightly. "Sometimes." Noah admitted. It usually happens after a bad day at work." Noah hesitated, "A lot of bad things happened to her before she found me." His eyes looked down,"I don't know a lot about it. I think it's too scary for her to talk about." Noah shoveled a bite of cereal into his mouth. After swallowing he added, "She says your name a lot. I asked her why and she didn't tell me." Noah shrugged, "She told me most of bad stuff happened after you left so I'm not sure why she is always saying your name during her nightmares." Noah went back to his cereal.

Elliot felt sick. The idea of her calling for him and him not able to be there made his stomach drop. Though he has been physically present the last few years, he hasn't been really there for her.

"I don't always hear her," Noah adds bringing Elliot out of the mental spiral. "If I hear her I climb into bed with her. It seems to help."

Elliot swallowed back the lump in his throat. The thought of this sweet boy calming his mothers PTSD is almost too much.

In true 11 year old fashion Noah randomly changes the subject. " Wanna see some of my dance videos? I had mom film my last couple practices so I can see where I need to improve. I have a competition coming up and I want my routine to be perfect."

"Yeah! I would love that."

Noah pulls the videos up on his phone. Elliot doesn't know much about dance but he can tell that Noah is really good at it.

"Woah you are pretty good!"

"Thanks," Noah replies.

Just then Elliot hears the shower turn on and he knows Olivia is awake for the day.

"Finished?" Elliot asked, nodding towards Noah's bowl of cereal.

"Yeah yeah," Noah replies.

"Why don't you go sneak some game time in and I'll get this kitchen clean before your mom gets all the way up."

Noah nods eagerly and slips off the stool towards the family room.

"Elliot?" He calls from the couch.

"Yeah Noah?" Elliot replies.

"Wanna play with me when you are done cleaning?" Noah turns towards him looking over the back of the couch. His bright blue eyes imploring. Damn. That expression looks just like one Liv makes when she wants him to do something. How can he refuse that?

"Yeah bud, I'd love that."