Prompt #54: Noah seeks Elliot's help in getting/making the perfect gift for his mom
The Special Gift
~oOo~
It's been five months since Elliot came back from his undercover operation and they started exploring this relationship. It started with coffee dates and lunches progressing into dinners, just the two and also with their kids and Bernie. Elliots attended all of Noah's recitals and took him to Dance or picked him up when Liv was stuck on a case. Elliot hosted Thanksgiving at his apartment since it was bigger and could fit their large family. They were between both apartments but talking about moving in together and even talked with Noah and Eli since it would impact them the most.
A couple days after Thanksgiving, Elliot was over while Liv was making dinner. He was helping Noah with a science project. She turned and watched them working together, she didn't think she'd ever be this happy. During dinner, Liv's phone rang, she sighed and got up before answering, she was hoping it wouldn't require her to leave because it had been a rough couple of days after the holiday. She wanted nothing more than to spend a quiet evening with her son and partner. They heard her say, "I'll be there as soon as I can,'' before she hung up. She set her phone down, Elliot stood up and walked over.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Victim at Mercy, refusing to speak to Churlish. I need to go, I'm sorry." He wrapped his arms around her. "Go, we got this and we will be here when you get home," he said before kissing her. She returned it and went off to change.
Coming back out, she kissed Noah's head. "Be good for Elliot,'' and kissed Elliot as she was putting on her coat.
"Go kick ass, love you."
She smiled at him. "Love you both."
Elliot locked the door behind her and sat back down to finish dinner. Noah was quiet. "What's up, bud?" Elliot asked.
Noah set his fork down. "Can you help me with something?" he asked.
"Sure, what do you need?"
"Mom's had a rough year but it got better when you came back. But I want to get her something extra special for Christmas. I have money saved, I just don't know what she would like," Noah said.
"I have the perfect place we can go tomorrow. I'll let your mom know I'm going to pick you up from Dance because we are having a guy's afternoon," Elliot said as he started to gather dishes.
Noah got up to help. "Thanks, Elliot. I'm glad you're here. Mom's happier and smiles more."
Elliot wrapped his arm around him. "I'm glad I'm here too. You and your mom mean a lot to me and my family."
They spend the rest of the night watching a movie, both falling asleep on the couch. Noah was leaning against Elliot when Liv walked in the door. She smiled at the sight before her. She took her shoes off and hung her coat up before gently waking Noah up and guiding him into his room. Elliot was awake when she made her way back to the living room.
"Hey, was he good?" she asked as she sat next to him.
"Perfect as always. He's a great kid, Liv," he said before leaning over and kissing her. "You finished with work for the night?"
She leaned her head back, grasping his hand. "I am. I have to go in early though."
He squeezed her hand. "I'll make sure Noah gets to Dance tomorrow and after, we are going to meet up with Eli and Dickie for some guy time." He stood up and pulled her up with him. "Come on, let's go to bed."
She took a quick shower and curled up in bed next to him. "Love you, El."
He kissed the top of her head "Love you, Liv."
~oOo~
The next day, Elliot took Noah to Liv's favorite jewelry store. "Alright, bud, let's see if we can pick out the perfect gift for your mom." Elliot nodded to the clerk and she made her way back.
"You're back I see," she said.
Noah looked up at Elliot confused. "This is where I had the compass for your mom made," he told him. "Noah here is looking for the perfect Christmas gift for his mom."
"I think I have the perfect thing," the clerk said as she went to retrieve a case before returning, holding up a locket. "How about this? We can engrave it with an O for your mom's name?"
Noah looked up at Elliot. "I guess, but you gave Mom the compass she likes to wear. She won't wear both."
Elliot looked at the clerk. "What about the bracelet we looked at the last time I was in?"
The clerk looked at him suspiciously, then nodded before going to get it.
"I saw this when I had the compass made and planned to come back to get it. I think they'll go perfectly together. This way she can wear both," Elliot told Noah while they waited.
"Will I have enough money?" he asked.
"I'll help you. I was planning on getting it soon, so it will mean a lot if it comes from you," he responded.
They looked at the bracelet, Noah agreed with Elliot that it would go perfectly.
"Can you make it the way we discussed?" Elliot asked the clerk.
She nodded. "Sure, I'll write up the ticket."
Noah gave Elliot his money so they could pay.
"It'll be ready in a few days, I'll call you when it's ready," she said as he signed the slip and took the receipt.
"Thank you."
They walked out and went to meet Dickie and Eli.
"Thank you for helping me Elliot, I think Mom will love it," Noah said as they got out of the car.
"You're welcome. I'll pick it up when it's ready."
They had a fun afternoon out.
~oOo~
The weeks leading up to Christmas were busy with work, dance, school, and family festivities.
Christmas morning, Elliot woke up before Liv, letting her sleep, and went to make breakfast.
Eli and Noah made their way to the kitchen.
"Is mom up yet?" Noah asked, sitting down at the breakfast bar.
"Mom's up," Liv said as she walked out, stopping to kiss his head and hug Eli before kissing Elliot.
"Morning. Merry Christmas." They exchanged morning greetings and Elliot handed her a cup of coffee.
"Can we open presents now?" Noah asked.
Elliot chuckled. "Don't you want to eat breakfast first?" he asked, smiling at Liv.
"Can we eat and do presents at the same time, just this once?"
Liv shook her head no. "No, you know the rules. Let's eat and then we can open presents."
Eli looked at Noah. "Or we could do presents then eat? The rest of the family is going to be here and I will even go pick up Grandma."
Elliot shrugged. "What you do you say, Liv. Our boys drive a hard bargain."
She laughed. "Fine, yes they do."
The boys high-fived each other and went into the living room. Liv sat on the couch and Elliot took a seat next to her. He leaned over. "Merry Christmas, Liv." He kissed her cheek and held her hand as they watched the boys.
Noah brought her a box. "Merry Christmas, Mom," he said, handing it to her and sitting next to her as she opened it.
She unwrapped the jewelry box, seeing it was from her favorite store. "Noah." Becoming speechless as she opened the box.
"Do you like it, Mom?"
She had tears in her eyes as she lifted the bracelet. "It's beautiful." She wrapped him in a hug.
"Elliot helped me pick it out. It matches the compass."
She looked at Elliot who shrugged and winked. "I see that, it's perfect," she said.
Noah and Eli went to play their new video game, leaving Liv and Elliot on the couch. "Thank you for helping Noah. I know he couldn't afford that on his own."
Elliot smiled. "He had enough. We had a mission to find you a special gift for the most special person in our lives."
She kissed him. "Funny, you both are pretty special to me too. I'm glad we took the leap. Merry Christmas, Elliot."
The author of this SVU - Heart for the Holidays story will be revealed in January
