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"Mom? Why is Kathleen bringing me later? Why can't I go with you and Elliot?" Olivia had informed Noah that they were going to dinner with all the Stablers, but that he would be coming with Kathleen, while she and Elliot went ahead of them. She had been avoiding telling him about Ella all day, but the moment of truth was drawing near.
"Sweet boy, come here." Olivia motioned for him to join her on the couch. He came stomping over, feigning protest at the use of his 'baby name'. It took a moment for Olivia to build up her nerve to tell Noah everything. She took a deep breath, and decided to trudge on.
"Noah…I need to tell you something pretty important. It's the reason we are having dinner with the Stablers today." He looked at her with perplexed interest. "Okay mom. What is it?"
Olivia tried to take comfort and strength in the innocent blue eyes staring back at her. "I'm going to tell you a story that is pretty grown up, and I need you to pay attention, okay?" Noah nodded, letting her know that he understood.
"Years ago, Elliot and I used to date, as boyfriend and girlfriend. We were very close, and very serious in our relationship. We loved each other deeply. But in the end, the relationship didn't work out." Noah was following along, piecing together this new information with the timeline he already knew a little about. "Is that when Elliot married Kathy?" Olivia smiled small, "Sort of. They had been together before Elliot and I dated, and yes, again, after we broke up. After that, I went to work briefly for the FBI. Remember when I told you about that time in my life?"
Noah smiled while excitedly nodding. He always thought his mom working for the FBI was the coolest thing in the world. "Well, while I was away, I learned I was pregnant, and I had a baby." He looked at her with a furrowed brow, trying to process what she was saying.
Not wanting to go into too much adult detail, Olivia did her best to put all of this in a context Noah might understand. "Remember when I told you how you came to be with me? That I adopted you after your birth mom, Ellie, couldn't raise you?" Noah nodded in understanding. "How I was blessed to have you in my life when I was ready to be a mommy?"
Olivia took Noah's hand and held it tightly, trying to reassure Noah…of what, she wasn't sure. "When I had the other baby, I wasn't ready to be a mommy yet. But I loved the baby very much, and I wanted to make sure she had a mommy and daddy who loved her and would give her everything growing up." She could see wheels turning in his brain, and knew she needed to get this all out before any more anxiety built up.
"With the help of wonderful people in Oregon, we were able to find loving parents who were ready to love and take care of a baby. So, our little baby went to live with them." Olivia took a deep breath and continued on. "That was 17 years ago, and the other day, that baby girl, who is now a teenager, came to visit me at work. I hadn't seen her since she was little, so it was pretty amazing."
Contemplating everything he was being told, Noah tilted his head sideways, and gave his mom an intense stare. "Mom…do I have a sister?" Olivia gave him a half smile, and slowly nodded her head. "How do you feel about that? I really want to know." Noah thought for a second, and continued his inquiry. "Well, Jacob has a sister, and she ignores him and is sometimes mean to him. But Tyler has an older sister who loves to play with us, especially video games. Sooooo…this could be a lot of fun!"
Olivia relaxed seeing this situation through the innocent eyes of her son. Maybe this won't be so intense after all. "Mom? What is her name? My sister."
"Well Noah, her name is Ella, and she is in town, and she is part of the group we are having dinner with tonight. Would you like to meet your sister?" Noah jumped up and threw his arms around his mom's neck, vocalizing his excitement. Olivia wrapped her arms about her son, helping her anxiety subside.
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Olivia and Elliot sat nervously at their table at The Sanctuary on Roosevelt Island. It was a nice, smallish event space that Elliot thought would be nice to rent out for their large group. He wanted to make sure there was enough privacy for his family to feel comfortable through this sensitive scenario.
He and Olivia were leaning on each other. Olivia was holding one of Elliot's hands, while he had his arm wrapped around her waist to help calm her nerves. They arrived early to enjoy some time together before everyone else arrived. They were not prepared yet to disclose about their newly rekindled relationship.
"I never thought I would want to meet my…our…daughter's adoptive parents. And I thought about it for years. But after meeting Ella, I want to hug them and never let go. They've done such an amazing job raising her." Elliot nodded in agreement, and rubbed Olivia's back gently, giving her a light squeeze. "I know I want to shake her father's hand, and give him a tight hug. Thanking him for being there in my absence." Olivia went to apologize again, and Elliot shook his head stopping her before the words could leave her lips.
Changing the subject, Olivia asked how Elliot's morning went with his mother. "Well…you know. She seemed to comprehend the idea, but then, the next time I brought up Ella, she seemed confused. And this went round and round. So, I hope she understands what is happening today."
Elliot gave Olivia a kiss on her temple, and got up to go and speak with the wait staff to go over, once again, the plan for dinner service for the brood of 17. He wanted everything to be as perfect as he could make it, despite the extenuating circumstances.
Olivia looked up to see Kathleen, her boyfriend, Bernie, and Noah enter the restaurant. Kathleen had agreed to bring Noah, for which Olivia is extremely grateful. Noah came running and Olivia wrapped her arms around her son, and pulled him into her lap, even though he was getting just a little too big to do so. He asked where Elliot was, and was quick to jump down to go in search of his new buddy.
Kathleen approached her as Olivia was standing, and the two women embraced. "I'm sorry we are early. I'm so excited to meet Ella! I can't believe this is happening." Olivia tightened her embrace as tears began streaming down her face. Having Ella be accepted by Elliot's other children was really all that she wanted for her daughter. She hoped that the other Stabler kids were as welcoming.
"Thank you Kathleen. It really means a lot that you are here. Your dad and I would like to meet with Ella's parents before we bring everyone in. Would you mind keeping your grandma and Noah in the back room until others arrive?" Kathleen didn't mind, and quickly gathered up Noah and Bernie, and headed to a back seating area just as Ella arrived with her parents.
Elliot and Olivia greeted their daughter with long embraces. Olivia introduced herself and Elliot to the Humphreys. The mothers embraced each other with tears free-flowing, while the dads shared a long handshake and bro-hug. While the women took their seats, Elliot pulled Thomas aside. "Before everyone else arrives, and things get crazy, I wanted to take a moment to tell you how grateful I am for everything you have done for Ella. You have an amazing daughter, which is testament to what a wonderful father you are." He fought back tears that were forming in his eyes, and Thomas placed his hand on Elliot's shoulder.
"She has been a blessing, and her mother and I have been very lucky. But now that we are here, we can all move forward with our daughter. We are so thrilled she has found you two. Ella told us the whole story, and we are grateful that you can now get to know your daughter. As a fellow father, I can't imagine not knowing my child." Thomas' kind words caused Elliot's tears to overflow, and he took the distraught detective into his arms to comfort him. After taking a moment to collect himself, Elliot guided Thomas to the table to join the women.
Olivia decided to lead the discussion. "Thank you Thomas and Elizabeth for joining us tonight. Seventeen years ago, I was blessed to give birth to this amazing young woman. And 17 years ago, you were blessed with becoming her parents. I thought of her every day, praying she was safe and loved." Olivia took stock in everyone's faces and continued on. "Now having met Ella, I'm at peace knowing she had, and still has, the most amazing life, and is loved in every way I wished for her." Tears welled up, and caused her voice to catch. Elliot was quick to put his arm around her for support. "I never believed this day would ever happen. In the depths of my heart, I believed I didn't deserve for it to happen." She took a hold of Elliot's hand. He continued the sentiment.
"Olivia and I wanted to thank you for the photo albums. We missed so much, but…with your help…we now can share in the joys of Ella's life. You two are truly a blessing." Tears overwhelmed him as Elizabeth placed her hands on Olivia and Elliot's arms, comforting them…parent to parent.
"We are hearing how grateful the two of you are, but it is the two of us that need to thank both of you. Ella is the biggest blessing in our lives, and we owe everything to you. Thank you for entrusting us with her life. It has been our honor raising her. Thomas and I love her more than life itself, and we hope we can all go forward as a unified support system for Ella, for the rest of her life." Thomas put his arm around his wife, nodding in agreement.
Ella, who had sat quietly while all her parents spoke, decided to bring the tear fest to a close. "I love you all so much. I can't tell you what it means to me to have my parents, and my birth parents together. This is everything I ever dreamed of…but I didn't dream everyone would be crying! Can that stop please?" Everyone laughed, hugged, and relaxed, ready to enjoy meeting family as they arrived.
Just then, Noah came running out of the back room…"Mommmmmm!" He barrelled towards Olivia with Kathleen and Bernie running after, trying to stop him before he ruined the moment unfolding at the table.