Before Elliot fully awoke he felt her presence beside him. He kept his eyes closed, unwilling to shatter the comfort and peace of this moment. He guided his hand over her hip to the small of her back pushing closer. A twinge of pain caused him to wince, but it was worth it to have her even an inch closer to him.

Her shirt shifted slightly in her sleep, exposing a couple inches of her bare olive skin. He allowed his fingers to lightly caress that section of her back, patterning small circles. Her mouth was so desperately close to his, and he wanted to kiss her, but he hesitated to wake her. In the last few days they had both experienced various levels of hell, and he hoped sleep would provide her a sweet reprieve from the utter madness.

From across the room he heard a soft, but pointed forced cough, "Ehem."

He squinted his eyes and fully opened one, still a little strained by the light. There sat Kathleen, shopping bags in hand, holding a ridiculously large balloon attached to a vase of flowers and a stuffed bear.

Kathleen beamed with an almost smirking smile, like she caught his hand in the cookie jar. "Um, hey," she kept glancing at Olivia, hair fanned out across a pillow and one arm draped lazily over his torso. "Should I come back, or…" Kathleen again smirked with a knowing smile.

Elliot kept his voice quiet, so not to wake Liv. "Go get us some coffee," he motioned towards Olivia, "and I'll wake her up." Elliot knew Olivia would be embarrassed if she knew one of his kids saw them in such an intimate embrace.

Kathleen nodded and quietly dropped the bags into a chair. She retrieved her purse and said, "I'll be back in like" she looked at her phone for the time, "five-ish minutes." She headed towards the door, but turned one more time to give him that knowing smile.

He waved her off and she slipped through the door. Elliot swore he could hear her giggle and happy girl scream from down the hall.

He turned his attention back towards Olivia sleeping soundly beside him. He needed to wake her before Kathleen bounded back into the room after 'five-ish" minutes.

"Liv," he spoke her name with his lips precariously close to hers. "Olivia."

Her eyes fluttered open, and an expression of overwhelming relief flooded her face. "Hey," she answered sweetly before meeting his lips with a short soft kiss.

His hand tightened on her lower back, again pulling her closer. "That was nice," he kissed her back quickly. "I fully expected you to yell at me. I was pretty sure you were going to kill me for getting shot…again." A chuckle tumbled from his lips.

"Mmm," she closed her eyes and snuggled in closer, placing another lingering kiss to his lips. "I can do that later," she answered with a hint of mischief.

A light laugh again escaped his lips before he kissed her again, this time more deeply. He pulled back and groaned. Kathleen would be back any minute.

"You gotta get up, Kathleen said she would be here in a couple minutes." She started to get up, and he reluctantly let her go.

She quickly slid off the bed, and dig through her overnight back. She pulled out a hairbrush and started to detangle her sleep tossed hair. Elliot watched, slightly mesmerized by her effortless beauty. She turned towards him while trying to clip her hair back and asked, "What?" When she noticed his stare.

"You are just so goddamn beautiful."

A pink flush flooded her cheeks and she looked away shyly. As he was about to complement her again, just to see if that lovely blush would return, Kathleen bursted through the door with three coffees in hand.

"Hey Olivia," Kathleen beamed. Of all his children Kathleen seemed to love Liv the most. "Coffee?" She stretched out her hand to give Olivia the cup.

"Thanks, how are you? It's been a while since we talked."

Kathleen rattled on about her new job and the puppy she impulsively bought, but didn't know how to train. Elliot wished she would stop looking back and forth between him and Liv like she knew some dirty secret.

He tuned out the conversation until he heard Liv say she needed to leave. It felt a little awkward as she walked over to the bed and squeezed his hand. He wanted her to kiss him again, but he knew that was extremely unlikely with Kathleen standing there watching them like they were zoo animals.

Olivia gathered up her things, keeping her coat draped over her arm, and walked to the door. Her hand grasped the door knob and she turned to him, "Call you later?," she asked with a knowing smile.

He grinned, "Gives me something to look forward to."

~o~o~o~o

Kathleen turned toward Elliot, still grinning. "So," she started, "what's new?"

He rolled his eyes. "Well, I got shot." He knew she cared less about him getting shot and more about what was going on with Olivia.

"Well that's not actually new. I mean it's not the first time." She decided to abruptly change the subject. Kathleen never mastered the art of subtlety. "I meant what's new with this?" She motioned over to where Liv laid minutes ago.

Elliot let out a breath. "To be honest, I'm not really sure." Which was true. They hadn't had a chance to really talk about what all this meant, and where they stood. He told her he loved her, but she didn't say anything back, but he knew Olivia, and knew she takes a lot of time to process.

"Well… have you kissed her yet?" Kathleen's whole expression exuded mischief. She was enjoying this way too much.

He was not having this conversation with his daughter. He cleared his throat, "Uh, we are not going to talk about this."

Her face filled with excitement. "Oh my god, you did." Damn her perception.

"Kathleen. I'm not talking about this. I haven't even had a chance to talk to her about it."

"So you did kiss her then." She awaited his answer excitedly.

"Yes,but…"

She cut him off. "Yes! I knew it! Dickie owes me 100."

"You were not betting on my relationship status." His voice was laced with disbelief.

"Well I mean, I think we all figured you two would go there sooner or later." She grinned. "I bet you two would become involved within the next six months. Dickie said you wouldn't be able to get your crap together until next year. Liz wouldn't bet because she said that was mean." Kathleen rolled her eyes and Elliot made a mental note to give Liz the best Christmas gift this year.

"Eli bet it was never gonna happen, but I'm pretty sure he's in some denial, plus he doesn't really know Olivia."

"Please don't tell all of them yet." The last thing he wanted was to spook Liv. She already told him she was scared to pursue a relationship, and he didn't want to push her.

Kathleen looked disappointed but nodded.

"I'll make sure to let them know you won the bet."

The grin returned, "That's all I need." More seriously she added, "I'm really happy for you Dad."

"Thanks." He motioned for her to come closer and give him a hug. "Now where is that coffee you promised?"