Prompt #63: Olivia gives Eli and Becky something of Noah's from when he was a baby
What Goes Around Comes Around
~oOo~
November 2024
"I can't believe you're making me spend my Thanksgiving break cleaning this place up. There's no school, I'm supposed to be on vacation, Mom! And what's the point anyway because it's just going to get messed up all over again?"
Thankfully, her back is still turned to Noah, so he isn't able to see when she rolls her eyes. She loves her son, with every fiber of her being, and she will always be grateful that life, and Judge Linden, saw fit to put the two of them together. But lately, her sweet boy has not been so sweet. His adolescent moodiness, and even occasional combativeness, are really starting to grate on her nerves. She takes a deep breath, slowly exhales, and then turns toward him.
"Okay, first of all, watch your tone. Second, you're out of school for a whole week, Noah. All I'm saying, is we need to spend one day getting this place decluttered, organized, and cleaned. And if we do it now, it will make it so much easier when Christmas and the new year come. I want to start 2025 the right way, for both of us. A clean home is the first way to make that happen. So, you can lose the attitude, or keep it, doesn't really matter to me, but we are doing this. Today." She emphasizes 'today' with the toss of a garbage bag in his direction, and he reluctantly catches it.
"Okay, fine. I'm sorry. I just, I really wanted to spend some time on the Play Station with Connor. I mean, we've been spending so much of our free time with Elliot and his family lately, and that's okay and everything," he quickly adds, "but, Connor's still my brother; I miss him."
"Oh, honey," she breathes out as she quickly wraps him in a hug. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize our time with the Stablers was affecting you this way. Of course, you miss your brother. Why didn't you tell me sooner? We can always work something out between us and the McCanns."
Noah is quiet for a moment, but it must have been too long. Olivia loosens her grip around his shoulders and takes a step back to look at him.
"Noah? What is it? Talk to me. Why didn't you say anything sooner?"
Noah exhales. "I guess…because…you've been so happy lately, Mom. You really like being with Elliot, and his family, I can tell. And I like being with them, too. I just didn't want to mess anything up or make you feel bad. I like seeing you this happy."
"Oh, my sweet boy." She plants a kiss on his forehead. "Your happiness is just as important as mine, Noah. And if you're ever unhappy about something, you know you can always tell me. No matter what it is. Even if you think it'll upset me, don't ever be afraid to tell me. Okay?"
"Yeah, Mom. I'm sorry I snapped at you."
"I know." She pats him on the shoulder. "Now, why don't we talk about how we can make plans for you to spend some holiday time with the McCanns while we start in your room?" She starts walking toward his bedroom, but then Noah jumps in front of her.
"Um, about my room, how about, you let me handle that all by myself? And you do your room. And then we can do the hall closets and the kitchen together. We can talk about my time with Connor later, after we finish cleaning."
Olivia eyes her son with suspicion but then acquiesces. "Alright, then. I'll give you one hour in there. Anything that's broken, worthless, or food-related, goes in the bag. Anything that can be donated, use the boxes. And make sure you vacuum and use the Lysol wipes in there, too."
"Sure thing," he calls back as he starts bouncing down the hall.
"And bring my dishes back to the kitchen!" she shouts.
She hears Noah laugh.
~oOo~
An hour later
"How do we even have so much stuff in these closets, Mom? What's in all of these boxes? I mean, I know what's in a few of them, like that one box, unfortunately. But, why do we have so much stuff? I never see you take anything out, except for the seasonal stuff."
"Well, humans tend to accumulate a lot over the course of a lifetime. I don't throw everything away right away. Some things have sentimental value and even though I don't need to pull them out, I know they're here. But sometimes, some things lose the value they once had, and you find you don't really need them anymore, but you have to make the time to sift through it all. So, that's what we're doing now."
Noah shrugs.
Olivia steps up onto the stool and begins to pull down boxes and pass them to Noah. Once she has six boxes pulled, they both sit on the floor and start to go through them. She grabs a box labeled "Siena."
"Who's Siena?" Noah asks.
"Not a person. It's Siena College. That's where I got my degree. I had a lot of fun there, lots of memories."
"Cool. Can I see?"
"I'll let you see some of it, but not everything in here is appropriate for kids." She winks and grins.
"Really, Mom?"
She laughs. "I'm serious." She proceeds to pull a white and green fabric out of the box. "Is that, a basketball jersey!?" Noah asks. "Who was number 12?"
"That would be Lance Whitman," she announces as she fully holds up the jersey for Noah to see. "He was a guard on the basketball team and I dated him for a little while."
"Whoa, Mom! You dated a baller?"
"Sure did." She smiles.
"Was he tall?"
"Very tall."
"Was he good?"
"What do you mean?" she asks nervously.
"At basketball. Was he good? Did he go pro?"
"Oh no, he didn't go pro. But he was good enough to play at Siena on scholarship all four years."
She passes the jersey to Noah, as something else catches her eye. "Here, look at this." She hands him a photo.
Noah's eyes go wide as he looks at the group of young ladies all dressed up in questionable Halloween costumes. He then bursts into laughter.
"Hey! What's so funny?" she asks.
"You guys look ridiculous! What even are those costumes?"
"Very funny," she says as she grabs it out of his hand and explains. "We were all dressed up like Madonna, okay?"
Noah continues to cackle. "Well, who was she and how did she dress, because those clothes are questionable. I've never seen a bikini top like that! And look at your hair!"
"It wasn't a bikini top! It's called a corset. And trust me, this was very popular at the time." She laughs right along with him and continues. "Madonna was a pop icon in the 80s. Her music and fashion influence were everywhere back then. She empowered
women and girls to stand up for ourselves and to take ownership of our own bodies. This was Halloween of my senior year and I was so happy that I was almost done with school, that I decided to go all out for my costume that year. And Angela here," she points to the blonde girl with the hot pink dye in her hair, "had the bright idea that we should all go as Madonna, since we were all about to be free and out on our own soon."
"Yeah well, that all looks, impressive. Hey, has Elliot ever seen that photo!?" "No! No, he has not. And don't you dare…"
Noah quickly grabs it back from her hand, jumps up, and runs to his room. She laughs because she knows she'd never make it up from the floor in time to stop him. She can hear him laughing a few seconds later as he makes his way back to the hallway.
"I just scanned it and sent it to Elliot. He's going to die when he sees that." Oliva shakes her head and giggles. "You are such a traitor. Now, grab a box."
He reaches for one with his name on it, labeled 2014-2016, and he starts going through it.
"Wow, Mom. You really did keep a lot of my baby stuff. Blankets, some clothes, toys…hey, wait a minute? This can't be Eddie; Eddie's still in my room. Which one is this?"
She looks toward Noah and quickly drops the letter from Lance, which had momentarily distracted her.
"Oh my God! I almost forgot about that. Let me see it." She reaches for the toy. "This was actually the original Eddie. It was your lovey."
"My what!?"
Olivia laughs. "Your lovey. Loveys are like, security blankets. Many babies have them, they use them for comfort. See these tags here? Babies chew on them, especially when their mouths hurt from teething. And because babies just like to chew on everything; you sure did."
"Why?"
"It's one of the main ways they learn about their environment, among all five senses, tasting seems to take the lead. But, there's also the different textures on the lovey, babies find them fun to touch. Here."
She tosses it back to Noah. He runs his fingers along the tags and feels how some are smooth, some are bumpy, and some even make a crinkling sound. He then shrugs his shoulders.
"I mean, I guess. But, why did you keep it? The only Eddie I remember is the one in my room. Why did you replace this one? And why bother to keep it once I got the new Eddie?"
She looks at her son with a tender expression on her face. "Because, before it belonged to you, it belonged to someone else."
"Who?" he asks with wide eyes.
~oOo~
February 2010
It was going to be a long Saturday. Thanks to Billy Skaggs' performance in court yesterday, finishing her paperwork for the case was supposed to be easy. But Olivia was having a hard time focusing. She didn't get a lot of sleep last night and she just couldn't stop thinking about that baby. When Cragen gave her Gladys' letter last night, she all but ran out of her apartment and raced to the hospital. By the time she arrived, the NICU team was in full force trying to keep the tiny little girl alive. Dr. Frantz had presented her with the most impossible choice.
Dr. Frantz: "The baby's brain is bleeding. We need your permission to operate immediately."
Olivia: "Well what are her chances if you don't."
Dr. Frantz: "Not good."
Olivia: "And if the surgery is successful?"
Dr. Frantz: "She could have brain damage for the rest of her life." Olivia: -
Dr. Frantz: "Detective, I need you to make a decision."
Olivia: -
Dr. Frantz: "Detective?"
But she didn't want to do it. She didn't want to be the one to make that decision. She knew what Gladys had wanted; she wanted the doctors to do whatever it took to save her little girl. Even Elliot thought the chances were worth it. He didn't think the doctors should play God, and she didn't think he should play doctor. But as Olivia stood between a rock and a hard place last night, all she could recall were Gladys' words: "I know you'll be there for my baby and do what's best for her until I get back and can be the mother she deserves." And how could she let the young woman down? She knew the chances of Gladys returning anytime soon were slim to nil. And even if she did ever return, and this little girl was still miraculously alive, she would be a disabled child, in the foster system, and Gladys would need to put in a lot of work to get her back after abandoning her. But still, the thought of letting Gladys down, after all she'd been through, gnawed at Olivia. So, despite her own beliefs about the baby's condition, she gave Dr. Frantz consent for the surgery.
Olivia had been in the waiting room for just over an hour when Dr. Frantz came back to slowly wake her up. There were no words spoken as she stooped down, placed a gentle hand on Olivia's shoulder, and looked her directly in the eye. Olivia's eyes welled up and she nodded to the doctor. The nurses gave her a few minutes to collect her thoughts, before giving her the forms to sign.
Now she's sitting here at the 1-6, on the rainiest Saturday, and she needs to complete her reports. For a brief moment, she thinks her sleep deprivation is causing her to hallucinate, because she swears she can hear a baby crying. It isn't long before Elliot walks in with a sad Eli in his arms.
"Elliot? What are you doing here? I told you I'd finish everything up."
"Yeah, I know Liv. But uh, Kathy's out for a kid-free Saturday with her friends. Eli and I were at the park for a little while, until all this rain started, and then we went to get ice cream. But now, he just won't stop crying. So, we got back in the car and I drove around for a while, he fell asleep, and then somehow, we just, ended up here. How are you, Liv?"
He asks her, with a knowing and sorrowful look in his eyes.
"I'm fine Elliot, really. Here, let me take him." She takes the crying and hiccupping boy from Elliot's arms and bounces him on her hip. "What's the matter, sweetie? Are you tired? Did Daddy give you too much sugar?" She side-eyes Elliot and smirks.
"Ha ha, very funny. No, actually, I think he's just teething again. You know, the two-year-old molars are starting to come in. Hey listen, since I'm already here, let's just finish up everything together. And, I also have some trial prep stuff to finish up for the Ronnie Watley case as well, so…"
"Elliot, don't you think you should just take him back home? He's miserable." She continues to bounce and walk around with Eli.
"No, no, he'll be fine. And this won't take long. Come on, just give him back to me."
"No! I've got him. You just get started so you can get out of here soon." She walks over to her desk and sits down with Eli in her lap. She kisses his forehead and then reclines in her chair as the boy rests his head on her chest. His crying starts to decrease. He then reaches up and grasps onto her necklace.
"You like my necklace? It's very shiny, isn't it?" Eli looks up to her with sad eyes and his bottom lip begins to quiver as he utters, "Mama?"
"Oh, you miss mommy, huh? She'll be back soon, sweetie." She rubs her hand gently up and down his back.
Eli starts to whine a little louder again and tries to pull Liv's necklace into his mouth.
"Oooh, no, sweetie, I can't let you chew on that. But you know what, I think I may have just the thing for you." She grasps him tightly as she bends to open her bottom drawer. She pulls out a gift bag, places it on top of her desk, and starts digging through it."
"Uh, Liv? What are you doing with a "BABY" gift bag?" Elliot asks cautiously.
"Well, when Alex told me that she needed me to make Gladys my best friend so we could get her to the hearing, I went on a little spree to get some stuff for the baby. Of course, this was all before the premature delivery. I may as well give the stuff to someone who can use it."
Just then, she pulls out a lovey. Eli goes quiet and quickly reaches for it as she pulls off the tag.
"There you go! You like the elephant? This is Eddie! And see, he has all these cool tags and corners that you can chew on."
"Yeah, he's got something like that at home. Can't believe I forgot to bring it with us. Thanks, Liv." He gives her the most heartwarming smile.
~oOo~
November 2024
"So, wait a minute, Eddie One used to belong to Eli!? How did I even get it?" Noah asked, confused.
"Well, Eli had fully relaxed within five minutes of getting it. At some point, he'd dropped it because he started crawling up onto the chairs at Fin and Munch's desks so I could spin him and roll him around a few times. When he and Elliot left, I picked it up off the floor and threw it back in the drawer. I'd decided to keep it there, just in case he came by any time soon and needed it again."
"But that never happened, because Elliot left, right?"
"Right. But Eli was a little older by that time anyway, so pretty sure he wouldn't have been interested in the lovey anymore."
"How come you never just, threw it away?"
"Like I said, some things have sentimental value. Before I got you, the closest I had to my own kids, were Elliot's kids. I'd known them since they were little, especially the younger ones. And, I didn't just miss Elliot when he left, I missed the kids too. Especially Eli. He and I had such a connection, given the way that he was born, you know?"
Noah nodded in understanding. He remembers the day they were all at Elliot's house and she'd recounted the story of Eli's traumatic entrance into the world. He thought it was one of the coolest stories that he'd ever heard about his mother.
"Anyway, so I kept it all those years. And then one day, when you were a little over a year old, you were in the office with me while we waited for Lucy. I'd turned my back for just a moment, and you pulled open one of my drawers. Just when I was about to close it, I caught a glimpse of Eddie and pulled it out. Your face lit up immediately and you reached for it, so naturally, it became yours. You outgrew it by the time you were three, and then on your fourth birthday, Uncle Munch sent you Eddie Two. It was quite the coincidence, but you know the rest." She smiles as she observes the face of her ever-growing pre-teen child. So much time has passed, and yet, she still recalls the first time she ever laid eyes on that face. She can tell that he's in deep thought and she wonders what he's about to say.
"Mom?"
"What is it, sweet boy?"
"I'm sorry that baby girl didn't make it," he says genuinely.
"Me too. She fought for as long as she could."
"I have an idea, for Eddie One."
"Okay, I'm listening."
"Well, Eli was the first to use it, and then it became mine. You've kept it all these years, but it really shouldn't stay in a box anymore. Now obviously, I don't need it anymore, but what if we gave it back to Eli? You know, for he and Becky to have for their baby when it comes?"
Her eyes well up with tears and her heart is overwhelmed by the kindness that her son shows towards others.
"Oh, my goodness, Noah! That is such an incredible idea, so thoughtful. Yes, we can definitely give it to Eli and Becky."
"Yeah, and we can do it for Christmas!" He gets excited.
"Most definitely. I can't think of a better time."
~oOo~
Christmas Eve 2024
The Afternoon
"We're heeerrreee!" Noah announces as he and Liv walk into Elliot's apartment. "Noah!" Kieran and Seamus call out in unison as they run toward him.
Noah absentmindedly thrusts his bags into Liv's arms and runs off with the twins, while she tries to quickly grab onto them, all while balancing her own bags and shoving her key back into her coat pocket.
"Gee Noah, thanks for all your help," she calls after him.
"Here, let me get all of that." Elliot says as he quickly walks up to her and plants a quick kiss on her cheek. He grabs the bags with all the gifts, and Noah's overnight bag, but when he tries to grab Liv's duffle, she stops him.
"El, it's okay. I can carry mine. You just handle those ones." She smiles.
"Yeah, sure, okay. I'll just, put all gifts under the tree, and uh…" he turns toward the living room, "hey Noah, I'm taking your bag to the guest room."
"'Kay, thanks!" Noah calls back.
Olivia shakes her head and Elliot chuckles. "Come on in, get settled. Mama and the ladies are in the kitchen. Randall, Dickie, and Carl are out in the garden; pretty sure they're having cigars. And as you can guess, the little ones just keep running back and forth, though Mario Kart in the living room apparently has their attention for the moment."
"Hey, Liv!" The ladies all call out from the kitchen as she makes her way to the area. Bernie steps around to give her a quick hug.
"Olivia dear, I'm so glad you two made it. Elliot, be a gentleman, take her bag, won't you?"
Liv laughs as Elliot raises his hands in surrender. "Oh no, Bernie he's okay. I was just going to drop this off in the back, I'll be right back out."
When she turns to walk down the hall, Bernie slaps Elliot's arm with the dish towel she was holding in her hand. His daughters laugh.
"Mama, now come on, what was that for?" he asks.
"I raised you better than that."
"I offered to take her bag; she wanted to take it herself. What was I supposed to do, snatch it from her?"
Bernie shakes her head, turns away, and returns to the island where she resumes making her pies.
"She agreed to stay over? With all of us in the apartment?" Kathleen asks as she moves closer to him with a lowered voice.
"Yes, yes, she did. Look, don't make it weird, okay? She and Noah aren't used to large crowds, so it took some convincing, but it's all good. Just, act natural."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. Us Stablers are always natural. If anything, we're too natural. But the only one you have to be worried about, is Grandma B." Kathleen chuckles.
"Yeah, no shit."
"Language, Elliot." Bernie chides.
"Sorry, Mama." Elliot grins. "Look, you ladies just keep doing what you're doing. I'll be back."
He hears them all snickering as he walks back to his bedroom. He finds Liv just coming out of his bathroom. In her cranberry sweater and dark wash skinny jeans, she's absolutely stunning.
"Hey, Liv, everything okay?" He smiles.
She smiles and exhales. "Yeah, El, everything's fine."
"Good," he says as he walks up to her and wraps his arms around her waist. She responds by wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I'm glad you guys decided to come. It really means a lot to me; to everyone, really."
"I'm glad we decided to come, too." She kisses him and it makes her feel warm all over. "Now, let's get back out there before they all start wondering why I'm taking so long." She winks as she steps away from him and walks out the door. Elliot simply laughs.
~oOo~
The Evening
"Dinner's ready!" Maureen calls out.
"Yes!" Eli chants.
"About damn time," Randall states.
"We're starving!" Maureen's twins add.
Everyone gathers around the dining table and starts filling up their plates. As they dine, Bernie explains the Stabler Christmas Eve traditions to Noah.
"So, after dinner, we'll all move over to the living room. We have a gift train, where each person gets to open one gift, which is passed to them from the person before. And then, we all change into our Christmas PJs. Next, we'll watch a Christmas movie: we draw names out of a hat and whoever's name is chosen, that person picks the movie for all to watch. After the movie, we set up all the sleeping bags and blankets throughout the place so everyone can get some shuteye."
"And the cookies, Gramma B, don't forget the milk and cookies we have to leave out for Santa," Kieran adds.
"Oh yes, dear, of course. We won't forget those."
"Wow, that all sounds really fun. We can't wait." Olivia says.
"What do you and Noah normally do for Christmas, Liv? What traditions do you guys have?" Lizzie asks.
Liv and Noah look at each other and smile. "Well, honestly, we don't have as many. Every year, I have to hope nothing goes down at work, which would require me to go in.
And, I'm sure you guys remember what that was like growing up with this guy." She says as she reaches to her right and rubs Elliot's arm.
Noah chimes in, "Yeah, I'm always keeping my fingers crossed on Christmas, hoping she doesn't have to leave. But I always understand if she does," he says respectfully.
"Dude, I so remember what that was like," Dickie adds.
"Okay, so wait, let them finish," Maureen says excitedly. "What is it that you two do?"
"So, I am not the best cook. But, ever since Noah was little, I'd always read "The Gingerbread Man" to him during the holidays. And beginning around his third year, we started making our own gingerbread men. We bake them, and then decorate them…"
Noah chimes in, "Yeah, and then we leave a few on a plate for Santa. Then we put on our Christmas PJs too, and as long as she's still home, then Mom let's me sleep under the tree, while she sleeps on the couch. But our tree isn't real like yours, it's fake."
"Oh man, that still sounds like fun, Noah," Eli adds.
"Yeah, it is." Noah nods. "But, for the times she does get called in to work, then I have hot cocoa with my sitter and we watch a few Christmas movies until bedtime."
Everyone nods in understanding.
"Well, we are definitely glad that you guys have joined us this year," Elliot says as he reaches out go grasp Liv's hand.
Just then, Kieren and Seamus shoot up from the table and make a beeline for the tree. "FREEZE!" Elliot calls out. Both boys stop instantly.
"Just where do you two think you're going?"
"Grandpa, we're done eating," Seamus whines.
"Yeah, we're ready to open our present. And you guys are having grown-up talks." Kieran says matter-of-factly.
"You guys know the rules," Carl chimes in. "We have to wait until everyone is finished eating."
"But Daddy, you guys are taking too long," Seamus whines again.
"Come back to the table," Carl says.
They both lower their heads as they slowly make their way back to the table. The other adults just laugh.
"Don't worry boys, we're almost done," Bernie says.
Ten minutes later, everyone starts getting up from the table. Dishes are rinsed and put in the dishwasher. Food is wrapped, contained, and placed in the fridge. Everyone works together to get it done, so the whole ordeal doesn't take any longer than 15 minutes. Kieran and Seamus are the first to run and sit right in front of the tree. Then, Seamus turns to look for Noah, gets up from the floor, runs back to him, and grabs his hand.
"Come on, Noah! Come sit with us so you can be close to the tree." "Yeah, it smells really good," Kieren calls out. "Come smell all the pine needles."
Noah laughs as he goes to join them. Then everyone else follows and sits all throughout the living room. Kathleen remains standing.
"Okay, guys, listen up, especially you two, Kieran and Seamus." She winks at the two boys. "Liv, Noah, since this is your first Christmas with us Stablers, but hopefully not the last," she winks at Liv, "then we want you and Noah to be the first to open your gifts, and start the train. All the gifts are organized by name, the adult gifts are all on the right side of the tree, and the children's gifts are on the left. Then, after you two open your gifts, you simply grab a gift for the person you want to go next, and you pass it to them to open. It doesn't matter who the gift comes from, as long as you give it to the right recipient. Got it?"
Olivia and Noah both nod and respond, "Got it!" They both start to look on their respective sides of the tree, but then Bernie speaks up.
"Now wait a minute, I want you two to go first too, but as the matriarch here, I get to tell you which gift to open first."
"Mama, please…" Elliot pleads.
"Pipe down, Elliot, I know what I'm doing!"
Everyone laughs.
"Okay, Bernie, that's not a problem. We can do that, right, Noah?" Liv says. "Yeah, sure. Which ones should we open then, Bernie?"
Bernie gets up and goes to the back of the tree, where she digs underneath for items that obviously no one else sees.
"Grandma B, what in the world is back there?" Lizzie asks.
She comes up with two small dark green paper bags and hands one each to Liv and Noah.
"Well, it's no wonder no one else saw those under the tree, they just blended right in!" Randall calls out. Everyone laughs.
"Open it, open it!" Keiran shouts.
They both reach into their bags and as they pull out the contents, they both gasp.
"Oh, wow, Bernie? Did you make these for us?" Noah asks as he gapes at the beautiful handmade stocking, with his name intricately woven into the cuff.
"Bernie, these are wonderful!" Liv declares.
"Mom, wait! I just noticed everyone else's stockings are all lined up over there," Noah indicates the area just to the right of the garden doors.
Bernie smiles. "Yes, dear. And now you two can go hang yours up as well. Welcome to the family!" She gives Noah the tightest hug.
Liv reaches out to grasp one of Bernie's hands as it wraps around Noah's back. Her eyes well up with tears. "Thank you, Bernie. This was so thoughtful of you." Bernie winks at her.
"Okay, okay, who's next, who's next?" Seamus cries out impatiently. "Boys! Calm down." Elliot says.
Liv and Noah walk over to hang their stockings on the hooks that apparently had been waiting for them. Liv then whispers something into Noah's ear and he smiles and quickly nods his head. He runs over to the tree and starts wading through the gifts on the side that everyone knows is for adults.
Kieran and Seamus both let out a collective, "Oh man!" and everyone laughs at them.
Noah finally finds what he's looking for and grabs the small bag. "This one is for Eli and Becky, and it's from me and my mom. We hope you guys will like it."
Eli and Becky are stunned, as Eli reaches for the bag. "Wow, wait, really? You two are choosing us next for the gift train? I thought for sure you'd choose my dad." Eli says. Everyone laughs.
"Ha ha, very funny, young man," Elliot says. "Just open the gift," he says as he reaches out to ruffle his junior's hair.
Eli pulls out the gift and Becky takes the bag and pulls out the card. "Noah, is this for the baby? That is so cute!" Becky smiles.
"Yeah, it is. But, that's not even the best part. You can read the card later, but Mom's gonna explain it now."
Everyone turns to look at Olivia.
"So, Eli, when you were about two years old, there was one day when your dad came into work and you were with him. And when he walked into the bullpen, you were crying and just not in a good mood. He wasn't supposed to be there that day, but for whatever
reason, he decided to come finish up some paperwork. I took you and held you while he was working and I tried to get you to calm down…"
"Dude, that couldn't have been easy, because you were a total crybaby." Dickie interrupts.
"Richard! Don't be rude." Bernie chides. "Let Liv tell her story."
"Sorry Grandma."
Liv chuckles, then continues. "Anyway, Elliot said that you were most likely teething. When you were laying on me, you started to grab onto my necklace and you tried to put it in your mouth. Then, I remembered a gift bag that I'd had in my drawer because the case we had worked that week involved a soon-to-be mom, but she was really struggling, so I'd gotten a few small gifts for her. Long story short, I was never able to get the gifts to her. When I pulled that lovey out of the bag for you, you immediately grabbed it and it really helped to soothe you. You chewed all over those tags. And by the time you and your dad left that day, you were feeling so much better. But you'd eventually dropped the toy when I'd started pushing you around in the chairs, so I put it back in the drawer and kept it there, just in case you were to ever come in again and need it."
"Eddie the Elephant," Elliot calls out in amazement. Everyone turns to look at him. "My god, Liv. I remember that day," he continues. "You kept that thing all this time?" He can't take his eyes off of her, and it isn't lost on Liv how he's looking at her like he's just fallen in love all over again.
"Wow Liv, that is amazing! I can't believe this was once mine." Eli adds. "Oh, she's not done yet," Noah adds as he nods back to his mom.
Liv breaks her eyes away from Elliot and continues. "Yes, I did keep it all this time. But what's interesting is years later, when Noah was just over a year old, he was in the office with me. He opened one of my drawers and when I went to stop him, I spotted Eddie. I pulled it out and he immediately grabbed for it, almost like he sensed it was there. He was attached to that lovey for a couple of years, and after he outgrew it, I just couldn't get rid of it. So, I boxed it up along with some of his other baby items. When we were cleaning up last month and getting our place decluttered for the new year, we came across it. I told Noah the story behind it, and he thought it would be a great idea to gift it to you two, for the baby."
Becky has tears in her eyes, but she gets up off the couch and goes over to Olivia to give her a hug. "You guys just have the best stories in this family. Thank you, so much."
Eli gets up and does the same with Noah. "Dude, I can't believe we both loved this same toy. Wow! We can't wait to give this to the baby. Thank you, guys, so much."
All the other adults in the room are quite amazed at the story as well.
"You know, it's just really amazing to me, the depth of the connection that exists between the two of you, even after all these years," Bernie states as she gestures to both Olivia and Elliot. "I mean, just look at it. Even your kids are connected and everything has come back full circle. It's like, you two are just meant to be, you know?"
Elliot and Olivia both nod.
"I just really can't believe that something so simple became so meaningful for both of our families," Eli says.
"And now we get to pass it along to our baby as we start our own branch in the family tree," Becky says as she grasps onto Eli's arm and rests her head on his shoulder.
"Gigi Liv! Are you done with all the grown-up talk now!?" Kieran suddenly calls out.
Everyone goes quiet as they quickly look to Kieran, and then look back to Olivia. Olivia stares at the boy in astonishment.
"Um…what? Kieran, what did you just call me?" she asks nervously.
"Liv I'm so sorry," Maureen quickly speaks up. "The boys had been asking me and Carl what they should call you. They wanted to call you Gigi Liv, but Carl and I explained that we'd have to discuss it with you first. They were supposed to wait…"
Liv holds up her hand and nods as a smile slowly spreads across her face. "Maureen, it's okay. It's fine, really. I just, I definitely was not expecting that title. At least, not anytime soon. But you know what, I'll take it. I'll be honored to take it!" She lets out a tearful chuckle.
Maureen's eyes also well up as she quickly gets up from the couch and embraces Liv in a hug.
The remaining four siblings jump up and join in on the hug as well as they all call out, "We love you, Liv. We've always loved you."
She kisses each of their foreheads as she releases them and then they all turn to Noah and take turns grabbing him up in hugs and telling him how much they love him and how happy they are that he's a part of their family. Meanwhile, Elliot, who's been sitting on the arm of the couch this entire time, fights the tears that are welling up in his eyes as he watches the scene unfolding before him. And if he wasn't already madly in love with this woman, he couldn't fall any harder.
Bernie walks over to stand beside him, rubs the back of his shoulder, and whispers in his ear, "I'm so glad that you've finally claimed your happiness, son."
He turns to face her and wraps his arm around her waist, "So am I, Mama. So am I." "GI GI LIV!" Kieran and Seamus both impatiently shout at the same time. Everyone laughs and turns to look at the boys, again.
"YES, BOYS!?" Liv replies with a loud chuckle.
"Are you done with all the grown-up talk now?" Seamus asks.
"Yes, yes, I am. And you know what? As the newly appointed Gigi Liv," she turns to Eli and Becky, "Eli, Becky, I insist that you two pick a gift for the twins so they can be next in this train."
Everyone laughs as Eli and Becky agree.
~oOo~
Bedtime
After all the forts were built, and all the blankets and sleeping bags were set up, and everyone was down for bed, Elliot and Olivia were finally alone in the solitude of his bedroom. They lay in the center of his bed, face to face, arms wrapped tightly around one another, while taking a few minutes to be quiet, and to be still, as they processed all that took place earlier in the evening. After some time, Elliot decided to break the silence.
"Olivia," he breathes out her name reverently.
"Yes, Elliot?"
"I love you. I love you, so much," he declares with wet eyes.
Liv's own eyes well up as a wide smile spreads across her face. "I know. I love you too." "Have I ever told you just how amazing you are?" he asks.
She simply chuckles.
"I'm serious, Liv. I mean it. You never cease to amaze me. And tonight, listening to you present that gift to Eli and Becky. I just…I…." he takes a deep breath, then exhales. Then he continues.
"I just can't believe that you've had that lovey, after all this time. And that Noah even used that exact same one. Now Eli has it back for the baby. It's incredible! We really did come full circle."
"Elliot, what about you? You remembered the name; you remembered that I'd named him Eddie the Elephant."
"Of course I did. I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was special for me too."
She looks at him curiously. "Really, how so? You were the one stuck with a crying toddler."
Elliot chuckles. "Actually, I wasn't stuck."
"What do you mean?" Liv inquires.
He chuckles again. "Well, I guess it is time that I tell you my side of that story."
"Your side? What? Why would there need to be a "side"? You just came in to get some work done and then obviously some help with a fussy baby," she replies.
"Well, that may be how you saw it. But that isn't the true story. I uh…I didn't tell you the whole truth that day."
"Oh. Well, okay then. Spill it, Stabler." She gently commands.
"The case, the one that led you to buying the baby gifts in the first place, I remember it so well. Especially, because of the way it affected you. After the baby died that night, Cragen called me. He told me about Gladys giving you the POA and how you were at the hospital waiting for the baby to get out of surgery, but that the baby didn't make it. And I know you, so I knew that you'd still go back to the House the next day. Which of course, you proved me right when you texted me that next morning to say that you'd handle the paperwork and told me I didn't have to come in. And while it is true, that Kathy did in fact leave the house for that day, so it really was just me and Eli hanging out, what was not true, was when I told you that I also needed to work on my trial prep for the Ronnie Watley case. I'd already finished up with that some days ago."
"Oh my god, Elliot. So, why did you even come in that day?"
"Because of you, Liv. I knew you were hurting. And I wanted to make you feel better. I knew how much you loved Eli. It was the perfect Saturday, the perfect plan. I waited for Kathy to leave, I did take Eli to the park as I told her I would, but I'd already known that he and I were coming to see you. When it started raining, it simply ended our trip to the park a little sooner than he'd hoped, so that's why I took him for ice cream before we came to you, because he wasn't too happy about leaving the park that soon. It was just unfortunate that he was also teething at the time, which I thought the cold ice cream would help with that too. And it did, temporarily. But, yeah, Liv. We were coming to see you. And it worked, thanks to all of his crying, which he'd only started doing when I woke him up from the car ride over."
Tears stream down her face as she smiles with her face and her heart. She has loved this man for so many years. She can't believe he did that for her.
Elliot continues. "Obviously, I did help you to finish the files for the Skaggs case. But, I did it slowly. I wanted you to have all the time you needed with Eli. And even though I was working, I was really just watching you, the whole time. And by the end of day, you looked so happy, like you felt so much better. It was only a bonus that Eli had stopped crying; I wasn't too worried about him. I was five kids in, Liv. Crying didn't really bother me at that point."
Liv chuckled. "And here I was, thinking you were a daddy in distress." "Not at all. It was more that, I was a man in love," he declares.
And with that, she is speechless. No one has ever loved her the way that Elliot Stabler has. And no one ever will. Just then, she hears the chime of her watch from the nightstand, and she knows that it's midnight.
She pulls Elliot into herself, as close as humanly possible. Core to core. Limb to limb. Nose to nose.
"I love you, Elliot Stabler. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, sweetheart."
And then, they are mouth to mouth.
The author of this SVU - Season of Love story will be revealed in January