The hikers tromped back into camp about a half hour later. Noah and his friends, including Clem, hurried over to their tent to show Elliot the new stuff they recorded in their notebooks. "Check it out Elliot!" Noah flipped open the book, and showed him pictures he drew of different plants. Each plant was labeled with its name, and a few facts about the plant.

"Dang Noah. You are a great artist. These look awesome." Elliot complemented, and Noah beamed.

"Yeahhh mine dont look as good as Noah's," Jace laughed, and showed off his work. It was true. The kid might be a science whiz, but he definitely couldn't draw.

Elliot laughed a little, "Probably some room for improvement there…"

"You're just being nice." Colton teased, "You can tell him they sucked."

"Hey!" Jace punched his brother in the shoulder. "I know yours look exactly the same as mine."

"I didn't say mine were any better…" Colton grinned and Jace rolled his eyes.

"Clem, show Elliot yours!" Noah encouraged. He looked up to Elliot, "She's a great artist too. Probably better than me!"

Clem blushed, "No way. Noah's are way better." With a little more encouragement Clem opened her notebook.

Noah was right. She was just as talented as he was. "These look amazing. I don't know how you kids are so good at this stuff."

Clem shrugged shyly, and closed her notebook. She reminded him of Lizzie. Not because she looked the same, but she acted just like her. She seemed shy, reserved, kind, maybe a little understated and smart. Just like Lizzie.

"Come on guys, let's finish these labels so we can go look at the creek Mr. Jones was talking about." Colton led the way to the tables Elliot just set up, and all the kids followed.

Elliot wandered over and looked over their shoulders to see what they were working on. "Hey Noah, can I take a picture of yours to send to your mom? I know she would like to see."

"Yeah." He leaned back so Elliot could lean over and take the picture easier.

When he was done Jace piped up, "Take a picture of all of ours to send to Noah's mom!" Elliot just laughed, and did what he was told.

He tried sending the photos, but they wouldn't load. "Hey guys. The service sucks right here. I'm going by the bus to see if its better over there." He glanced over at Noah. "I'll be back in just a second." Noah nodded and happily returned to his sketches.

Phone service was better next to the bus so Elliot quickly texted Liv the photos.

E: Your boy is a pretty talented kid. These sketches are impressive.

E: Oh, and Jace wanted me to show off his work too. That kid is hilarious.

O: Sounds like Jace. Oh these look so great! Clem's sketches are beautiful.

E: I'll tell her you said that. She seems a little quiet.

O: She is, but she really likes Noah.

E: I need to get back. Service is crappy up here so I had to step away for a minute. Call you later.

After sending the last message, Elliot stuffed his phone in his pocket. He stepped out from behind the bus, just in time to see Lucas toss Clem's pencils onto the ground while flipping her hair into her face.

He jogged over just as Colton stood up and yelled, "Just leave her alone! Why are you such an ass all the time?!"

It was definitely time to intervene. Elliot stepped between the boys just as Lucas started to tower over Colton.

"Enough," Elliot's voice was firm and authoritative.

"I wasn't doing anything, and he," he looked around Elliot and pointedly stared at Colton, "he called me an ass!"

Elliot knew he couldn't exactly referee this like he might at work. After all, Colton was right. Lucas was being an ass. Still, these were children, and the whole situation was out of line. Elliot took a step closer to Lucas. The kid must have already started a growth spurt because he seemed much taller than the other kids. Elliot pointed to the pencils scattered across the dirt. "Pick 'em up. I'm sure she didn't say anything to you." Elliot got into the kid's face, just a little, enough to make him realize he was serious. "And if I see you touching that girl again without her consent, I will make sure you are expelled. Am I clear?"

"Yeah yeah," the boy mumbled.

"What?" Elliot heard him fine, but this kid could definitely use some lessons on respect for others.

"Yes. You're clear." The boy snapped louder.

"Great. Pick up those pencils, and get out of here." Elliot spun around to Colton who eyed him nervously. Elliot was much more gentle with him. He squatted down to his level. "Hey. I know you were mad, and you were standing up for Clem. That's great, and honestly if it were me, I would have called him more than an ass, but you know the school has strict rules on language and conduct." Colton nodded. "So I guess let's say this is a warning," Elliot winked, and Colton held back a smile. "Okay?"

"Yeah okay Elliot. Sorry…He is just," the boy groaned, "frustrating."

Elliot patted the boy on the shoulder, "You have a good heart kid, and you stand up for your friends. There isn't anything wrong with that, but you have adults here to help with this kind of thing."

Colton nodded, and Elliot stepped back. Lucas had already picked up the pencils, and scurried back to his tent. Elliot rolled his eyes. He would probably have to contend with Marcus over this later. He was suddenly remembering why middle school was the worst.

-000-

After an afternoon of hikes, plants, rocks, and animals it was finally time to get the kids settled in for the night. Elliot handed his phone off to Noah so he could call Liv, and dug out his toothbrush. After brushing his teeth he unzipped the tent, and found Danny and Jace talking about a deer they caught a glimpse of in between the trees. He climbed in, but stuck his head back out to find Noah. Noah still stood next to the bus, smiling and talking to his mom.

When Elliot agreed to the trip, he wasn't sure if Noah would even like camping. After all, he was his mother's child. To his surprise, Noah was loving every minute.

Just as Elliot was going to pull himself all the way into the tent Noah waved him over. Elliot climbed out, and zipped the tent behind him. Noah met him with the phone, "Mom wants to talk to you."

"Alright," Elliot took the phone from Noah. "Go get your teeth brushed. It's starting to get dark, my flashlight is sitting on my sleeping bag."

"K!" Noah called over his shoulder as he bounced back to the tent.

He smiled and shook his head. That kid was enthusiastic about almost everything. Elliot turned away from the tent and started wandering towards the bus where the service was better.

"Hey." He greeted.

"Hey," She returned. "Sounds like my kid plans on living in the woods for the rest of his life."

Elliot laughed, "He's loving it. To be honest, I wasn't sure he would like it much."

"Oh me neither! Who knew my city born kid who plans to spend his life on the stage would love camping so much?"

"Well, you will just have to take him out here more often," he teased.

"Hell no. That's gonna be all you." She laughed, and the sound made his chest swell. "For the rest of his childhood, you are in charge of the outdoors camping thing. I'll go to the spa or something while you two stomp through the mud."

He wondered if she realized what she implied. Permanence. In her life and Noah's. He couldn't help the stupid grin he knew was spread across his face. "I'll agree to that arrangement."

"It's a deal," she said, and then her voice softened. "Thanks for doing this El. It uh," she cleared her throat, "It means a lot to him that you came, and um," he heard her swallow back her nerves, "It means a lot to me too."

The words, I love you, sat on the tip of his tongue, but she wasn't ready to hear that…at least he didn't think she was. They haven't had a minute to talk about them, so he was pretty in the dark about the status of their relationship. Still, it was something. After all, she let him take her son camping, and she was talking about him taking him in the future, implying there was a future to be had. He fumbled on his words, not quite knowing how to respond.

He dropped his voice, "I'm in this Liv. One hundred percent. I want to spend time with you, and with Noah. He's a great kid, and he's got great friends. I'm enjoying the opportunity to get to know him better." He turned this around, "It means a lot to me that you are letting me have this time with him."

He was a little worried he came on too strong, when she didn't immediately respond. But her emotion lined voice clued him into the reason for the silence, "I'm in this too El. I know it's been back and forth, but when you guys get back I think we need to start talking about us."

"Sounds perfect."

-000-

Elliot laid in his sleeping bag, starting at the canvas roof of the tent. He replayed their conversation over and over. She seemed ready. Finally. and that realization made it painful to be this far away from her. He rolled onto his side, facing the outside wall of the tent, but a small voice drew him in the other direction.

"Elliot?"

He turned over, and sure enough Noah laid on his side facing Elliot, blue eyes wide and questioning.

"What's up bud?" He hoped he wasn't homesick or scared or anything. This trip was going well, and he hoped they could make it through the whole weekend.

Noah seemed to be mulling over his words, trying to gather a little courage to say what he wanted to say. "I kinda wish you were my dad."

Elliot laid there stunned, not entirely sure how to respond. He didn't want to leave the kid hanging for long so he stuttered through a response, "You k-know Noah, I kinda wish the same thing." Truth for a truth. He would give almost anything for this beautiful blue eyed boy to be his.

Noah's eyes smiled through the darkness. "Are you dating my mom?" Noah asked point blank.

Elliot chuckled at the blunt question that had a complicated answer, "We, uh, we are trying to figure some things out right now."

"Do you want to date her?" Sheesh. This kid isn't pulling his punches tonight.

"I do." It really wasn't a secret.

"Does she want to date you?"

Elliot couldn't help but laugh, "You got a lot of questions tonight buddy." He carefully answered, "I don't know for sure. I think so... I hope so."

"Me too," Noah admitted. He paused, and Elliot could tell he wanted to ask something else.

"What's up Noh?"

"Nothin. I mean I want to ask you something, but I don't want you to be mad or anything. You don't have to answer if you don't want…"

Elliot smiled. The kid was nervous rambling, just like his mother did when feeling scared of a question. "You can ask me anything."

"Why'd you leave Mom?" his voice was barely audible.

Elliot felt like the wind got knocked out of him. Truth. He didn't want to lie to him. It was hard, painful, and complicated, but he deserved the truth.

"Your mom was my best friend. My very best friend. But things got…I don't know. Kinda complicated. Then there was this shooting at the precinct, and a teenager died. It was my fault and I blamed myself for the whole thing." He pinched the bridge of his nose, "God, sorry Noah. This is all complicated and messed up, and I don't know how to explain things so you understand it all. Sometimes I don't understand it all."

"You can take your time or whatever. Not like we're goin anywhere." Elliot could feel the smile more than he could see it.

""My reasons kinda make me sound like a crappy person."

Noah thought for a moment before answering. "But you're not. That's why I don't get it. I can tell you're a good person. My mom wouldn't let you anywhere near me if you weren't." He paused thinking through his words, "She would have never let me come here with you if she didn't think you were a safe person for me to be with." Elliot heard the rustling of Noah's sleeping bag as he rolled over, "So, I guess that's what's confusing."

Elliot blinked his eyes a few times. They were starting to water. "Uh. Okay. I'm going to be completely honest with you Noh. You think you can handle it?"

"If my mom can handle it, I can handle it." His voice remained stubborn and soft. So much like Olivia.

"It here were a lot of little reasons why I left, but none of them mattered as much as the one big reason."

"What was the one big reason?"

Elliot's heart pounded and he let out a long breath. This wasn't a conversation he ever planned on having with Olivia's child, but it was happening, and he was trying not to totally screw it up. "You're mom told you about my wife dying right?"

"Yeah. A while ago. She was with you and your kids a bunch so she told me a little."

"Right. Well. I had to leave your mom because…" Damn it. Why was this so hard to spit out!? "I was in love with your mom, back then, and I was still married. It's probably hard to understand, but if I wanted to keep my family together, I had to go. I loved your mom so much that if I didn't leave I would probably hurt my family." Elliot swallowed hard. "And I couldn't hurt them." He sighed. "What sucks though is in order to keep my family okay, I had to leave your mom, and it hurt her really bad."

Noah sat silently, seemingly absorbing the new information. "I think I get it. Well not really, but kinda. You had to leave your best friend to keep your family safe. I think I would do anything to keep my mom safe. Even giving up my friends."

It was so much more complicated than that, but he understood it, at least on the most basic level.

His next question was really quiet, "Do you still love Mom?"

Elliot scooted closer so he could better see the boy's face. "I never stopped loving your Mom." He made sure Noah's eyes focused on him when he said, "and I'm never leaving either of you again."