Prompt #26: Apple picking or family hayride

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree

~oOo~

As soon as Captain Olivia Benson walked in her door after work late one fall evening, she was ambushed by her son.

"Mom! My friend Tytan just went to this big farm nearby with his family and they picked apples and got pumpkins for Halloween and drank cider and went on a hayride! It sounded so cool! Can we do that?"

Olivia chuckled at Noah's enthusiasm.

"What, no heartfelt hello for your hard-working mom?"

Noah grinned and hugged his mother.

"Sorry, Mom! Did you have a good day?"

Olivia looked thoughtful.

"I guess it was pretty good. And as an answer to your question, I'll think about it. Maybe we could go some weekend. I'll look into this farm."

"Oh, thank you, mom!" Noah exclaimed, hugging his mother.

"No promises," warned Olivia.

"I know," came the happy reply.

The boy said goodbye to his nanny and headed to his room while his mom paid the woman.

The next day, Olivia met her friend and former detective, Amanda Rollins for lunch.

"Yeah, Liv. It's called Applegate Farm. It's got an apple orchard, and a pumpkin patch, and a petting zoo. They also do hayrides, and sell jams, and jellies, and apple butter, and pies, and stuff. Jesse and Billie have been wanting to go. Maybe we could all go together."

"That sounds like fun. What are you doing this Saturday?"

"Ya know, let me check my calendar and I'll get back to you. I think that will work. You should ask Elliot to bring his family too. I bet his grandkids would love it."

Olivia's former partner on the force was now her current partner in life. They had been dating for several months now. They had finally gotten out of their own way back in May. The kids had all met and the Stabler kids doted on Noah as if he was their youngest brother. Maureen's two boys, Kieran and Seamus looked up to Noah as if he were a superhero. Olivia and Elliot hadn't taken things to the next level yet, but he was truly the love of her life and she was the love of his.

"You know, I think you're right. I'll call him tonight," Olivia told Amanda.

Olivia called Elliot immediately after work and he loved the idea, but he couldn't resist teasing his partner a bit.

"I can't believe it. You, on a farm? Riding in a wagon full of hay?"

Olivia chuckled. "I know. Hard to picture, huh? But I'm doing it for Noah. He's so excited about it."

"Well, I'm in. I'll talk to Maureen and the others, but I'm pretty sure they'll be up for it, too. Mama will want to come and watch at least," Elliot said.

"Well, you'll all be welcome. Amanda and Carisi and their kids will be there too," Olivia replied.

Elliot grinned.

"Looking forward to it. While I've got you on the phone, how about dinner tomorrow night?"

"I'd love that. Let me see if Martha can stay longer," Olivia replied.

"Ok. If not, bring Noah. I just want to see you," Elliot told her.

"Me too, El. I'll call Martha and call you back after dinner tonight," Olivia said.

"Sounds good, Liv. Love ya," was Elliot's response.

Olivia smiled softly.

"Love you, too, El. Bye."

It was the first time the words had been spoken between them, but neither was surprised that it was said. It just felt right. It was time.

Martha was able to stay later the next evening, so Elliot and Olivia were able to have their dinner date. They went to their favorite Thai restaurant. It felt like coming home.

That weekend, seventeen people met at Applegate Farm. The kids had a great time petting all the goats, sheep, and other animals at the petting zoo, and Bernie, Kathleen, Amanda, Maureen, and Lizzie all found several jams and other goodies to buy. Then, it was time for apple picking. Noah picked apples with Jesse and Billie. Eli helped his nephews. Bernie sat on a Bench with Baby Nicky Carisi while the others picked apples. Everything was going great until Jesse decided to climb a tree to reach the 'redder apples up on top.'

"Jesse, don't! It's too dangerous!" Noah told her.

"It's not that high. I'm big enough to climb a tree," Jesse retorted. Then she kept up and grabbed a branch and pulled herself up before the older boy could stop her.

"Mamma!" screamed Billie.

This startled her older sister who was already on a higher branch. With a scream, the little girl fell from the tree. Noah caught her, but the force of Jesse's landing knocked him to the ground and she landed hard on top of him.

Amanda, Carisi, and Olivia came rushing over with the others right behind them.

Carisi lifted Jesse off of Noah and he and Amanda looked her over.

"Are you ok, Darlin'?" Amanda asked.

"I—l think so. Noah caught me."

"What were you thinking?" Carisi asked sternly.

"That was very dangerous! You could have been badly hurt!" Amanda added.

"I'm sorry Mamma. I'm sorry Daddy. I won't do it again."

At this point, Olivia was trying to help Noah sit up with help from Elliot.

"Owww!" groaned Noah, as Olivia jostled his arm.

"Where does it hurt? Elliot asked.

Noah scrunched up his face in pain.

"My arm."

Olivia looked at it and then asked Maureen to come over and examine it. Maureen had followed in her mom's footsteps and gone into Nursing.

"Let me have a look, Noah," she said gently.

Noah nodded and allowed the woman to look at his arm.

Maureen examined his arm and Noah let out a yelp when she gently touched it.

"Did that hurt more when I touched it?" the eldest Stabler asked.

Noah nodded as tears filled his eyes.

Maureen looked at Olivia.

"I think his arm might be fractured. He'll need an X-ray to be sure though."

Noah's eyes widened and Jesse burst into tears.

"I'm sorry, Noah! I'm so sorry!"

"I'll be ok, Jesse. It's ok," Noah tried to reassure his younger friend.

"I'll call a bus. It'll be faster," Elliot said taking out his phone.

He was right. The Ambulance made it there in record time.

"We'll pay for the apples we gathered and get them loaded. Then we'll meet you at the hospital," Carisi said.

"Ok. Thanks, Carisi," Olivia replied before getting in the ambulance with her son. Elliot followed behind in his car.

About an hour later, everyone else arrived at the hospital.

Elliot filled them in.

"Noah did have a fracture in his right arm. He's just waiting to get a cast on it. He'll have to be in the cast for about six weeks, but he'll be fine."

Jesse started to sob again.

"Hey, sweetheart, Noah's going to be fine. Elliot just told us that," Carisi soothed her, scooping her up into his arms.

The little girl just shook her head.

"It's all my fault Noah got hurt. He told me not to climb, but I didn't listen and then I fell on him."

"Darlin', listen. Yes, you should have listened to Noah. You need to listen to the people who want to keep you safe. But you didn't mean to fall on Noah. It was an accident. I'm sure he'll forgive you for not listening, but you didn't hurt him on purpose. He knows that," Amanda assured her oldest daughter, Adjusting her baby son on her hip.

Then she noticed a children's section in the waiting room with a coloring table stocked with crayons, markers, and paper as well as coloring pages.

"Why don't you draw or color Noah a picture? He'd probably like that."

"Ok," agreed Jesse in a very small voice.

She decided to make Noah a card. She worked on it for a long time and finished it just as the doors opened and Olivia and Noah came out. Noah's ark was in a purple case and a cool sling with a wild zig-zag design on it. He immediately went over to Jesse who looked up at him with teary eyes.

"I'm sorry you got hurt because I didn't listen. Do you hate me now?"

"I don't hate you, Jesse. I hope you listen better next time. I just don't want anything bad to happen to you. You're like my little sister and I love you."

"I love you, too, Noah," Jesse returned softly.

Then she held up the card she had just finished.

"I made this for you."

"I made one too!" exclaimed Billie. The twins each handed Noah cards that they had made. Noah said in a chair surrounded by the younger kids and admired the artwork.

The adults watched them with smiles on their faces.

"He's so good with the younger kids. He protects them, but he's also so gentle with them," Olivia observed.

"Just like his mother," Elliot said, pulling her close with one arm.

"I guess that old adage is true. The apple never falls far from the tree," Carisi added.

They stood there watching for another few moments before gathering the kids up and heading back home.

Two weeks later, the group was back at Applegate Farm. Since their last visit had been cut short, the owners of the farm had given everyone a raincheck. Now they were all choosing pumpkins to carve for Halloween. Once each family had chosen the perfect carving pumpkins, the kids each got to choose a smaller one to paint. Once it got dark, they got to roast marshmallows at the fire pit and drink cider. After that, it was time for the hayride.

As they rode along, Elliot pulled Olivia closer, and murmured in her ear, "I want more nights like this. I want to spend every night with you. I was saving this for the right moment. It kinda got postponed due to unforeseen circumstances."

Olivia looked at him questioningly. "El, are you getting at what I think you're getting at?"

Elliot held up a velvet box.

"I think so. Olivia Margaret Benson, will you do me the honor of officially becoming my partner for life?"

Even a few months ago, that question would have terrified Olivia. Now, however, she didn't even hesitate. She was done letting fear rule her life.

"Yes, Elliot James Stabler. Yes, I'll marry you."

Everyone around them cheered.

Noah reached over and gave his mom a one-armed hug and Elliot a fist bump.

Olivia blushed but couldn't help laughing. She was really too happy to be embarrassed.

"You'd better text Fin when you get home. He knows I was going to do this tonight, and he and Phoebe want pictures," Elliot told Olivia.

She chuckled.

"What else did he say?"

"That I'd better treat you right if I value my life," he admitted.

Olivia let out a bark of laughter.

"I told him that wouldn't be a problem. I wouldn't want to risk his wrath. Or yours. Besides, I love you so much. I will never again treat you as less than a queen. Because that's what you deserve.

Olivia snuggled into Elliot and sighed happily.

"I love you, Elliot James Stabler. I always have and I always will."

Elliot kissed her deeply then held her close as they rode along the path under a blanket of stars.

The author of this SVU - Autumn in New York story will be revealed in November