Elliot pov
I'm currently interrogating a suspect Malcolm Reese. He is suspecting of murdering his fiancé and now his other family. This sick son of bitch thought he was doing his family a justice but taking their lives for ruining the one he wanted to build with fiancé. Cragen comes in wanting to pull me out and something in me just snaps. A father is supposed to love and protect his children not kill them in cold blood. I take the chairs and push them against the door knobs preventing anyone from coming in until after I beat the confession out of him.
"You're a coward you know that." I seethe
"I didn't-I don't know what you're talking about." He cries
"You murdered your own children!" I yell
He backs always as I stalk forward ignoring the banging from the glass.
"No I wouldn't do that. My wife did. She did it!" He cried
I bring him into a headlock facing the window where I know Cragen is watching.
"He's gonna kill me!"he cried out
I mock snapping his neck.
"You sick son of bitch. Kill everyone because they couldn't fit into what you wanted! I'll snap your neck and have you crapping involuntarily for the rest of your pathetic life!" I yell
"I had to! I put sleeping pills in their juice so they wouldn't feel any pain!" He confesses
He just keep crying how he had to after I released him.
I walk out the room and past Cragen. I ignore all the sounds from around me. Just wanting to be with my wife and kids. I walk past Munch and Fin without a word and head straight to the elevator. The doors open and out walks Olivia. She looks at me worried. I don't say anything but pull her into my arms and bury my face in her neck inhaling her scent. I let the tears fall for the children whose lives were just lost for no reason at all. Olivia says nothing but holds me tightly as the tears fall.
"It's time for you to come home El. I miss you so much and I can't live this life without you by my side. Partners for better or worse." She whispers
I nod my head holding her as close as I could.
This is what home feels like. Not a place but two souls connecting so deeply that no physical place feels like home, home is wherever they are with you.
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Olivia pov
"You need to tell him that you're pregnant." My mother says sternly
"I know I do. I just don't even- I can't even grasp the reality of the situation mom. We aren't even officially back together yet." I sighed
"You sleep in the same bed, get the kids ready to school, make dinner together, and are working as partners again. What is so complicated about getting back together? I don't understand why you are making it so hard Olivia.You love him and he loves you." She replies
I sigh again while running my fingers through my hair frustrated and exhausted. I sit down on the bar stool in the kitchen while my mother continues making breakfast.
"I know it shouldn't be this hard mom. But this case that has become so public and we are both being investigated." I say softly
"Investigated for what?" She all but yells
"When Kathleen was arrested for her DUI, Elliot had it covered up. We are now being investigated. It's just not the time to have the talk about making our relationship work." I sigh
"Ay, dios mío mija. Que vas a hacer?" She turns and looks at me
(Oh my gosh. What are you going to do?)
"I don't know yet. I want Katie to get into a good college but she has to understand the repercussions of her actions. Elliot should not have swept it under the rug and I shouldn't have allowed him to do it. We both enabled a situation that is now blowing back in us. What kind of cops does that make me or even El?" I say sadly
Tears are brimming in my eyes. I'm trying to keep my breathing under control because I don't want my mom to see me like this. I don't want to cry but everything is just becoming so much so fast.
"Don't cry Liv. I promise everything will turn out okay." She coos
I don't even notice her standing right next to me with her arms around me. I barely feel the tears springing from my eyes. I wipe the tears from my eyes when I hear the door open and shut.
So after Fin and Elliot come walking into the kitchen with solemn faces. I stand up quickly.
"I'm so sorry Liv. Darius he went free." Fin says softly
Elliot hasn't looked me in the eyes since he walked in. I know it's about to go from bad to worse.
"What does that mean? Wha-" I trailed off when I saw that Elliot had tears in eyes.
"Liv I'm so sorry. I tried to find another way I did. But..."
"But what Elliot! What is going on?" I shout
"They are going to arrest Kathleen. " he replies
I shake my head in disbelief. This isn't happening. This can't be happening. The room is getting really warm, the air is so thin. Everything is starting to feel distorted and blurry. I place my palm on the cool counter. I touch the surface to remind myself where I am. I almost want to vomit at the mere thought of my child being locked in a jail cell and there is nothing I can do to help her. Not this time.....
Elliot pov
I watch Olivia closely. She seems to be going out of it.
I walk to her slowly so I don't startle her.
"Baby" I whisper
She just shakes her head no. She looks as if she is about to pass out so I take her into my arms as she breaks down in my arms. Serena covers her mouth to hide her own sobs. Fin quietly ushers her out of the kitchen, leaving Olivia and I alone.
"What are we going to do?" She whispers into my chest
"All that we can and just be there for her. We have to let this happen sweetheart." I say softly
A few hours later
I look at the clock again and see that it's almost time for two officers to pick up Kathleen. Olivia and I sat her down and explained what was about to happen. She shock her head understanding and we all sat down to have dinner as a family one last time for awhile. I watched as Olivia pushed her food around her plate and Kathleen just stared down at her plate.
I could see that the kids are trying to keep the conversation lively even with impending sadness of losing Kathleen for a few weeks.
"I'm pregnant." Olivia says
All conversations stop and we just look at her. Duckie, Noah, Kathleen, Maureen, Dickie, Emily. And Oliver all have wide smiles in their faces.
"Finally a little brother and sister I can boss around!" Duckie laughs
"That is so not what younger siblings are for Ellie." Emily smiles
"That is what you guys use me for." Duckie sticks her tongue out playfully
"She got you there Em." Oliver laughs
I smile at my children and then I look at Olivia. She is staring back at me. I smile and mouth i love you.
She smiles that beautiful smile of hers, I love you too.
"We will clean the dishes tonight." Maureen
"We who? Don't volunteer on my behalf. I didn't sign up. Mom, dad I do not volunteer as tribute." Noah says
"Come on loser." Maureen tugs at his ear
He throws his napkin at her. Liv and I laugh at their antics. The others pick up their plates and head to the kitchen. I walk over to Liv and take her hand in mine. We walk to the living room out of earshot.
"I'm happy we are having another baby or babies." I whisper in her ear
"Elliot Joseph Stabler! You better not have gotten me pregnant with twins again!" She says jokingly
"It's not my fault I have super swimmers" I laugh
She shakes her head and laughs into my shoulder as we sway to the beat of our hearts.
"I'm not ready for her to go El." She whispers
"Me either." I whisper back
I hear her sniff and bring her closer to me.
"We are going to make it through this. We always do." I comfort her
"I know it just hurts to see her hurt." She sniffs
"She is a Stabler. She is strong like me but most of all a Benson like you. Brave." I say rubbing her back
She laughs softly, I pull away gently and take her face into my hands.
I kiss her lips softly molding our lips together. Everything about her is warm and soft. I know now what I have known since the day I met her. She is love of my life.
Olivia pov
I pull away slowly. I check the time and see it's almost time.
"I better go get Kathleen." I whisper
I walk to the kitchen and see the kids all in a group hug with Kathleen in the center. I let them have their moment together.
"Why don't you guys go upstairs, dad and I will be up soon." I say softly
They hold on to her for a few more seconds before letting her go and walking up the stairs that are in the kitchen.
"Thanks mom. I don't want them to see me in handcuffs." She whispers
I bring her into a hug. I can see her sadness.
"It's okay to cry Katie. I'm right here. Let go." I whisper into her hair
I feel her let out a deep breath before the tears start to soak my shirt. Moments later Elliot's arms are wrapped around the both of us. I want to let out my tears but I don't want her to see me sad right now. She need the both of us to be strong.
"I don't wanna go. Mommy I'm scared." Kathleen cries
"I know baby. I know. We are going to be with you every step of the way." I hug her tighter
We hear the inevitable knock on the door. I feel Kathleen hug me tighter. Elliot goes to answer the door.
"Please don't let go. Mommy don't let me go." Kathleen cries harder
I don't say anything but bring her as close to me as I can. The truth is I don't want to let her go either.
I hear the two officers walk in.
"Liv." Elliot's voice is strained.
I just shake my head no.
"Detective Benson, we have to take her now. I'm sorry." The officer says kindly
The other officer starts to pry her away from me. I just want to hold on to her. I need to because I can't let her go.
"Mom!" Kathleen cries
I can't even form words because the tears have started to fall from my face. I'm feeling her slip from my fingers and I can't latch back on, Elliot is holding my arms. I didn't think it would be so hard to let my baby go. I shut my eyes and let sobs overtake me.
" I love you Katie. I love you." I say to her over and over again
"I love you too mommy." She cries
They handcuff her and start to lead her out of the house. Elliot goes with them. I can't move, I hear my heart crack in my chest. I hold on to the counter. And my tears freely fall.
