Olivia got Noah up and in the shower. He normally completed his morning routine on his own, but he seemed to need a lot more reminders this morning. She told herself it was because they were somewhere new. While he was in the shower she snuck back into Elliot's room.
She threw a pillow at his head. He groaned. "What?" he growled.
"I have maybe five more minutes to change that bandage and get you dressed before Noah is out of the shower."
He threw the pillow off his face. She knew that would get him moving. She sauntered to the bed as he carefully moved himself to the edge of the bed. The tape stuck worse than last night and he complained as much as possible. The only way to stop the bellyaching was to give him a quick peck on the lips.
"Anything in particular you want to wear today?" She asked, heading over to his dresser.
"Nah, just whatever." He grinned, "The couch isn't picky about my attire, and the only person I'm trying to impress is the one picking my clothes." He winked.
She blushed a little at his flirtation, and continued digging through the drawer until she found a henley and jeans. Her favorite look on him. Honestly, she thought he looked good in anything. She tossed the jeans on the bed, and helped him get the shirt over his head. The reaching motion stretched his abdominal muscles and caused a lot of pain.
Then it was time for those damn pants. She knew he would make it as awkward as possible, but she had a plan that might actually keep his mouth shut.
As she removed his pants, and just before he could make any commentary she softly ran her fingers down the length of his leg, pausing to leave a glancing kiss on his low inner thigh. She laughed out loud when his eyes bugged out.
"No words Stabler?" He shook his head, still unable to talk. She laughed again and reached for his jeans. This time she kept her eyes completely focused on his as she pulled his jeans to his hips, being sure to zip and button him up herself.
His breathing was shallow and a little ragged. She felt a little pleased with herself, and was a little surprised by the power her physical touch had over him. The idea made her stomach flutter, and she wondered what else would stun him senseless. Not now though, the shower shut off a couple minutes ago, and Noah wasn't consistent about remembering to knock.
She tippy-toed up to him and kissed him quickly. He kissed her back, finally out of the coma she put him in. One more kiss, and she told him, "I got to get Noah breakfast. Think you can get to the couch without help."
"Oh I don't know," he winked, "I wouln't turn down the opportunity to have a beautiful woman's arms around me."
She smiled, "Well as long as that beautiful woman is me, then we are okay." She kept her words light, but she knew they needed to talk about what this relationship was or where exactly they wanted it to go.
His eyes grew serious, "I wouldn't want anyone else." She knew he meant it.
She got him to the couch just as Noah bounded down the hallway and into the kitchen. "What do we have for breakfast?"
"Whatever you want, toast, cereal? I'm making a couple eggs for Elliot, I could make some for you too."
Just then Olivia heard the key turn in the door, and Kathleen came in. "Hey guys! I got donuts!"
Noah dropped the piece of bread he intended to toast onto the counter, and pumped his fist in the air with an enthusiastic, "YES!!"
Kathleen dropped the box onto the counter and snagged a few paper plates from a cabinet. She handed a plate to Olivia and held one out to Noah. "This must be Noah." Kathleen bent down to his eye level. "You can have TWO donuts!"
Noah laughed and bounced over to the other side of the counter to pull out TWO donuts.
Olivia poured some coffee for all the adults, and Kathleen called over her shoulder, "Which do you want, Dad?"
"Uh, hmmm. Hit me with a glazed and one of those fancy whatever ones."
"Got it!" Kathleen called back. Liv slid a cup of coffee to Kathleen to take over to Elliot and set one on the counter for when she came back over.
Kathleen sat on a barstool next to Noah, and started in on her donut. After a minute she caught Olivia's eyes and motioned for Noah. "He looks just like you."
"Thank you." She wasn't going to go into all that back story this morning.
Kathleen turned to Noah, and began asking questions about school, and friends, and soon they were gossiping like besties. Olivia knew Kathleen had a couple nephews, but Liv hadn't met them yet. Liv smiled, she was good with him. It was cute to watch.
Olivia finished packing Noah's lunch and searched the table for his homework, tucking it carefully in one of his folders, "Noah you about ready?" She glanced at her watch, "We need to get going if we want to be on time."
"Yeah, let's go." The words were barely intelligible through all the donuts stuffed in his mouth.
"Ah Noah, chew it." She rolled her eyes. Boys.
She turned to Kathleen, "I changed his bandages about a half hour ago. He has been an all around pain in the ass, so I wish you luck."
"Say bye Noah."
Noah waved as he bounded towards the door, "Bye Elliot! Bye Kathleen!"
Her eyes met Elliot's and she knew what he wanted, but kissing in front of his kid wasn't happening this morning.
Kathleen noticed the intense look, and asked, "Uhhhh should I go somewhere or something?"
Elliot glared at her and Liv laughed, "No, you're good. I'll see you guys after work."
"Bye LIv!" Kathleen called.
Out of the corner of her eye Olivia could see the loaded look Kathleen gave Elliot. She laughed, realizing Elliot would probably be peppered with questions all morning. Served him right, he had been a pain for Kathleen since coming home from the hospital, he deserved a little torture. She buckled her seatbelt in her car, and realized she felt happy, and more than that, she was excited to see him again later tonight. The thought made her smile.
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"Okay what? I know you are dying to ask something." Elliot realized this might be a long day.
"Soooooo…How'd it go?' Kathleen gave him a knowing side eye.
"Good." Elliot thought short answers would be best at this point. He knew Kathleen wanted details, but he wasn't sure what Liv wanted people to know, and he knew Kathleen could only keep a secret for so long.
"Oh come on Dad," she huffed over to the couch like a spoiled child. "I know something is going on. I mean I caught you two canoodling on the couch yesterday."
"Canoodling? Really Kathleen?" He couldn't decide whether to laugh or get annoyed. Eh he could do both.
"It's a word," she shrugged. "Come on, you gotta tell me something."
"Do I though?" He strung her along.
"Yes!" She complained.
"Why do you want to know so bad? We are talking about me, your Dad, you'd think it would be weird."
"Maybe for Eli, but I love Liv, and I'm happy for you and I need details!" Kathleen practically bounced with excitement.
"Okay. Whatever. What do you want to know?" It was easier to just give in at this point.
Kathleen grinned, "Okay okay. I saw some of her makeup in your bathroom, not the guest bathroom, and her phone cord was plugged in your room by the nightstand." Kathleen was practically gushing. This was weird. And a little uncomfortable.
"Makes sense, since she slept in there…" He knew the next question before she asked it.
"And you were???" Kathleen waited expectantly.
"I slept in there too."
Kathleen grinned at the revelation, "Oh really!?"
"Not like that. Remember the giant bullet hole, promise not much more going on there beyond sleeping."
"Not much?" Damn. He hoped she hadn't caught that slip.
"Kathleen. She is a super private person. I need to know what she is comfortable with people knowing. You really can't say anything."
Kathleen rolled her eyes. "I know. I talked to her during your snugglefest the other day." His eyes widened slightly, not knowing about that conversation. "No big deal. I was putting away groceries and she woke up, and I didn't want her to feel embarrassed so we talked a bit." She grabbed his arm, "Look, Dad, I wouldn't ruin this for either of you. I know you," Kathleen hesitated, but said it anyway, "I know you've waited a really long time to be together, longer than three years," she threw him another knowing glance. "And it's okay. I want this for you."
He smiled, feeling much more comfortable. He patted her hand, "Thanks." She probably should be rewarded for all her discretion… "Last night she told me she loved me."
Kathleen nearly choked on her gum. "Wha what? Really? Oh my God Dad! Really?"
"Yeah. It was a big step for her."
"I know. That woman doesn't give her heart away easily, does she?"
"No. And my ten year absence didn't help things. She gets why it had to happen, but it really hurt her." That flood of remorse returned.
"She'll come around, and she obviously has, at least to some extent." Kathleen looked serious for a moment before adding, "Thank you Dad, you know, for staying with Mom. For making that sacrifice for our family. I know that had to be incredibly hard."
"It was, and life wasn't kind to her while I was gone. I feel a lot of guilt over that." Those pesky tears tried to surface again. "That's been the worst thing. Knowing horrible things happened, and I couldn't protect her. It wasn't fair that a lot of her happiness got sacrificed alongside mine."
"You're talking about that William Lewis guy right?" Kathleen asked.
Elliot's eyes widened, "You know about that?"
"Yeah, everyone did. I mean, it was the biggest headline across the city for almost a year. I'm sure it made national news. It was kind of a big deal." She suddenly put it together, "You didn't know?"
He shook his head. "I had no idea. No one told me. Why wouldn't you guys tell me?"
"I wanted to, but everyone else said to leave it alone. They said it would be better for everyone if you stayed where you were. Someone might have told Mom, but I can't say for sure." He was sure his face looked flabbergasted at this point. She looked guilty. "I should have told you. I wanted to tell you, but I just didn't want to make anything worse." Her eyes dropped to her hands and he pulled one of her hands over to his.
"It's okay. You did what you thought was right, but I hated that no one told me. No one let me choose how to react, and Liv suffered. I know we can't change anything, but I struggle with all of it."
"Yeah. I get it. I really am sorry."
Suddenly her eyes brightened and she rapidly changed the subject. "I didn't know Olivia had a kid." Kathleen smiled slyly, "I don't have a brother I know nothing about right?"
He was not amused, "Noah is absolutely not mine."
"I know. It's just funny though. He looks like he could be yours with those blue eyes, and with those brown curls, he looks like Olivia."
"Believe me, I have fought off too many rumors concerning Noah." Since his return there have been far too many whispers around 1-P-P about the parentage of Captain Benson's son.
"Do you know his Dad, is he still in the picture?"
"No. Noah's adopted."
"Wait," she looked totally confused. "No way. That kid looks exactly like Olivia."
Elliot shrugged. "Crazy how that can happen. He acts just like her." He smiled. Noah was a good kid and he really did look like a mini Olivia.
Kathleen yawned, and Elliot knew she was dragging from her night shift. "You get to bed so you don't fall asleep on the job tonight. I'll yell if I need anything."
"K." She started to walk away but turned back, "Love you Dad."
"Love you too baby."