Bonus time! Woot! Time for that Stabler family dinner.

Olivia changed four times.

"Mom! Let's go."

"Just a minute Noah!"

"Mommmm," he whined. "I want to give Kieran and Seamus some of my Pokemon cards. They have been so excited to get them."

"Well," she started, "it's not going to kill them to wait a little bit." She knew she was being a little terse, but she was nervous.

Noah huffed out of her bathroom while she pulled at the outfit she was wearing. What's appropriate attire for a family dinner on Sunday? Is this a Catholic thing? Do any of them even go to Mass on Sunday? She knew Elliot really only went on holidays, but what about the kids? Was this some kind of after church thing, or a laid back barbecue or something? She groaned.

She shouldn't be this nervous. She knew these kids since they were in diapers. Hell, she probably changed some of those diapers. Why was this so nerve wracking? She knew why. This was different. She wasn't attending this as their Dad's partner, or friend or whatever. She was his, whatever she was. She felt the pressure, especially since she had no idea what the other kids thought about any of this. And while Elliot insisted that they were fine, and if they weren't they were grown adults with their own lives. They could deal with their dad moving on.

She really wanted this to go well.

-000-

"Who was being a salad?" Maureen yelled from the kitchen.

"That would be Dickie," Liz said and she dropped two cases of soda on the counter.

"Where is he?" Maureen groaned.

"My guess?" Liz grinned, "He probably forgot about the salad until five minutes ago so he's stopping to pick one up."

"Ugh."

Kathleen waltzed into the kitchen with a bunch of precooked foiled baked potatoes. "What are you stressing about Mo?"

"Nothing," she sighed while compulsively checking the ham in the oven.

"Everything will be fine. Olivia isn't going to judge our ability to put together a perfect dinner."

"No, I know." Maureen pulled some plates out of one of her Dad's cabinets. "I just want things to be nice." Maureen flicked her eyes to Katie. "And I want everyone to behave."

Kathleen sat at one of the barstools. "Pretty sure dad threatened Dickie with his life so I think he'll be on his best behavior."

Maureen rolled her eyes, "Well there's that, but can we all not fight with each other?" She shook her head, "I mean can we have a non-Stabler like family dinner."

Kathleen laughed, "Not sure it's possible, but I promise I'll stay out of any potential arguments," she promised.

Maureen let out a long breath. "Well, that's something I guess," she teased.

"Ha ha." Kathleen responded.

Just then Carl chased the boys through the living room, rapidly firing nerf darts at them as they ducked behind the couch for cover.

"Outside, boys!" All three hurried out to the patio, squealing the whole way out.

Elliot joined the girls in the kitchen. He wrapped his arm around Maureen's waist and dropped a kiss on her head. "Smells good sweetheart."

"Thanks," she replied, "now if we could get Dickie here…"

"He's still not here," Elliot's face dropped into a scowl and he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

"You planning on getting here anytime soon?" Elliot's voice exhibited his clear irritation. "Okay. Just get here." He hung up.

He glanced up at the girls, "He forgot the salad."

"Called it!" Lizzie quipped.

Kathleen laughed, "At least he remembered."

Elliot grumbled about something and retreated back to Eli's room. Probably to drag him away from his phone. He had been constantly texting his girlfriend through the afternoon.

All three girls turned their heads when there was a knock on the door. "I got it!" Kathleen grinned and hurried to the door.

She whipped the door open and immediately wrapped Olivia in a hug. "I'm so glad you could make it!" She greeted.

Noah wrapped his arms around Kathleen's middle, once she had released Olivia. "How are you little dude?"

"Good," Noah smiled, "wanna see the video of my new dance routine."

Kathleen lightly slugged his shoulder. "Course I do! But let's wait until after we eat."

Noah nodded, "Where are Seamus and Kieran? I have some cards for them," Noah held up his binder full of cards.

"I'm pretty sure their dad is plastering them with nerf darts outside."

"Cool!" Noah bounded towards the glass doors that lead to the patio area.

Kathleen looped her arm through Olivia's. "Are you ready for this?" She teased.

"As ready as I'll ever be." Olivia gave her a small smile, and hoped this would go well.

-000-

Olivia let out a nervous breath as Kathleen led her into the kitchen with Liz and Maureen. Both girls gave her kind smiles and Olivia tried to release the tension that seemed to be eating her insides.

Olivia watched Maureen nervously check the ham and then her watch. "This should be ready in about ten minutes and hopefully Dickie will have got his butt here by then."

"He forgot the salad," Liz provided.

Olivia nodded and then remembered, "Shoot. I forgot the cookies we brought in the car. I'll run and grab them real quick."

She pushed the stool back and Kathleen asked, "Want me to come with you?"

Olivia smiled and answered, "it's okay. I'll just be a second."

She hurried out the door and felt relieved to have some fresh air for a minute. She pulled the car door open and snatched the cookies that had been left on the backseat. She startled when a pair of hands fell on her hips.

"Oh sorry," Elliot apologized. "I thought you heard me."

He knew how much she hated that feeling of surprise. She turned towards him and put her hand to his cheek. "It's okay. I'm just a little stuck in my own head I think."

He pulled her into him for a hug, "Try to relax. They want you here. Maureen has been losing her shit at everyone all day trying to make this perfect."

The thoughtfulness nearly made her cry. Maureen had always looked exactly like Kathy, and it stabbed Olivia's heart a little every time she saw her. It was hard, finding a place in this family, especially when the oldest daughter was a clone of her mother. It reminded her not only of Kathy's absence but their complicated relationship while she was still alive. It wasn't Maureen's fault. She had been trying so hard. It just always felt weird.

Olivia tried a smile, "I'll make sure she knows how lovely it all is."

Elliot leaned in and kissed her quickly, "That would mean a lot to her."

Olivia let out another long breath. "I told the girls I'd just be a minute. We should get back in there."

His lips brushed hers, "They can wait another minute," he said cheekily.

She still felt nervous but the fear dropped away when his lips covered hers.

He kissed her slowly and affectionately, and it was everything she needed right now. He withdrew a little in order to say, "You look amazing by the way." He dropped a light kiss on her neck, "I'm going to have a hard time keeping my hands off of you."

She let out a light laugh. "It might be a little uncomfortable for all of them if you are pawing at me during dinner."

"Probably," he agreed. "Maybe I need to get out of my system real quick."

She rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the moan that broke free of her chest when he kissed her deeply. She backed up a couple steps until her back was pressed against the door of her suv. She focused on his lips moving against hers, his body pressed tightly into hers and his tongue in her mouth, and for a moment she forgot about her nerves, hell, she wasn't even sure what day it was anymore.

A loud whistle, and a boisterous, "Take it inside!" Broke them apart.

He pressed his forehead against hers, "I'm gonna kill him."

She laughed, "No you're not. And we are the ones making out in broad daylight. He has a point."

"Don't tell him that," Elliot grumbled.

She patted his cheek. "I promise I won't give him the satisfaction," she teased.

He stepped away from her and she grabbed the cookies that had been carelessly dropped on the seat. After another long cleansing breath she said, "Okay. Let's do this."

To be continued..