The Journey of Finding Ourselves

I'm A Dad First

Elliot knocked

Few seconds later, Kathy opened the door

"Hey El." Kathy said half smiling at him

Olivia stood like a statue at El's side

Kathy eyes moved to Olivia's making contact

Olivia's breath hitched

Kathy didn't attempt to even speak, she looked away. Once again, not acknowledging her presence.

El saw the tension "So, where are the kids?"

"They're coming." Kathy said. You could see that her voice had changed from that sudden contact with Olivia. "Come in."

Elliot reached his hand behind his back and grabbed Olivia's pulling her with him as he walked in. He quickly let go when they got fully in, acknowledging the fact that they hadn't told Kathy or anyone else really that they were together.

Liv saw this action, & quickly got mad that it seems he was trying to hide them on being together

"You can sit. I'll go get the kids." Kathy said to Elliot. ... No way in hell was she saying anything to Liv

"No, I'll go get them. I wanna talk to 'em." El said getting up stopping Kathy

"Okay. That's fine." She said calmly.

"I'll be right back Liv." El said turning looking down at Liv

Olivia was still progressing from what just had happened at the door. She just gave him a little smile.

He knew she was upset & that he would have to talk to her in a little while but right now he needed to focus on his kids.
Elliot hopped up the stairs

Little Eli & his big brother were watching tv when Elliot walked in

"Daddyyyyy" Eli squealed his arms out far reaching for Elliot like he'd never seen him in a million years

Elliot practically jumped to where his boys were. He scooped up Eli holding him so tight.
A couple of seconds later, he added Dickie in his arm hugging him against his side

The scene was too much to bear for anybody.

"I've missed you guys so much." Elliot said softly his face buried in his kids'.

Dickie was crying silently

Elliot felt wetness on him. He looked up. "Dickie why're you crying?"

Dickie sniffled "T-thought you'd forgot about me." He said in between sniffles

Elliot had never really seen his son cry like this "Dickie, you're my son. My oldest son. I would never forget about you. You're one of the best things in my life that has ever happened to me. I love you. Yeah, me & your mom aren't together anymore, but that doesn't change anything. You hear me?"

Dickie nodded

"I love you so much Dickie. Never forget that." Elliot kissed his head long & hard
He squeezed the two of them before letting them go "Let me go get your sisters, so we can go." Elliot said. You could hear he was so happy to say that we could go.

Elliot got up off their bed and walked out going to the girls room. He had no idea Dickie felt that way, and he felt so bad.

The girls all had their backs turned, fixing theirselves up in the mirror.

"A-hem" El did a little coughed

They knew that voice from anywhere. They were already running before they fully turned around. They came at him at once.

El was smiling hard seeing them flying towards him, but what he didn't know, BOOM.
He'd been tackled by his 3 girls

You'd think they'd be asking was he alright. They were hugging him. Attached like a magnet.

Elliot knew he'd had a lot to fix by seeing the way all his kids reacted to seeing him. He was already beating himself up inside for it.

Feel bad for the lockers in the squadroom.

"Girls!" Elliot said laughing, smiling, trying to wrap around them all.

"I've missed you so much daddy!" Kathleen said

"I've missed you guys too! I love you."

"We love you too daddy." They all said

"Let's get up, please?" Elliot chuckled

His girls all got off of him letting him up

Elliot looked into their eyes. "Are y'all ready?" He tried to say hoping they wouldn't see the wetness & emotion boiling at his eyes

"Yes." Maureen said

"I'll go get Dickie." Lizzie said running to her brothers' room

"Well, let's go." Elliot walked down the stairs, all his kids behind him. Maureen holding Eli, and Kathleen carried his bag.

They all reached downstairs. He walked in the living room. He realized he forgot to mention that Liv was here, his main focus was really on his kids.

"Hey Liv!" Lizzie ran to her and jumped in her lap hugging her

That actually was one of the few things that made her mind go away from how Kathy was treating her.

Liv chuckled hugging & squeezing her back "Hey Sweetheart!" Still laughing

All of the rest of the kids greeted Liv