Olivia's POV
I was freaking out as I got dinner ready for tonight. Mark was grilling steak, and Alex and I were inside working on the side dishes. When someone knocked on the front door, I sat the stuff I was working on down, and carried Cassidy to the door.
Once I opened it, I saw Elliot and Becka standing there. I smiled, and Cassidy snuggled closer to me.
"Hey guys." I smiled, and Elliot beamed.
"Hey, Liv. How are you?" Elliot asked, as I let them inside.
"I'm okay. Becka, you've gotten so big." I smile, and she looked at me awkwardly.
"Mom, Katie scraped her knee." Noah spoke, as he came into the hallway. I frowned, and looked at them.
"Alex is in the kitchen. I'm going to take care of my daughter, and then I'll be back." I spoke. I carried Cassidy into the living room, and sat her down in her play pen, before following Noah into the backyard.
Mark was holding Katie as she cried.
"She fell on the dock and hurt her knee." He frowned, and as soon as I got close, Katie stretched her arms out to me.
"I'll fix you up, sweetie. Thanks Mark." I spoke, and he nodded, before smiling.
I took Katie inside and cleaned up her knee before put on a rainbow bandage. She sniffled and looked at me.
"Kiss it to make it better?" She asked, and I smiled. I kissed her knee then kissed her forehead.
"Feeling better, Katie?" I asked, and she nodded.
"Good. Now, don't play on the dock, alright? I don't want you getting hurt again. Play in the sand with your brothers and Luke." I spoke, before sitting her down on the ground. She held my hand as we walked down the hall, and then she stopped as we passed the kitchen.
"Who is that?" She asked, as she looked at Elliot and Becka who were talking to Alex.
"He is Elliot, and that is his daughter Becka. They are friends of mine." I smiled, and she nodded slowly, before running back outside, and I sighed.
"Is she okay?" Alex asked, and I nodded.
"Perfect." I smiled, before walking over and continuing to help.
"So, four kids?" Elliot asked, and I nodded.
"Yup. You already know Noah and Finn, but then Brian and I had Katie and Cassidy together." I spoke, my voice cracking as I said my late husband's name.
"Where is Brian?" He questioned, as he took a drink from his beer, and I took a shaky breath. Alex spoke for me.
"Brian was shot to death when he was working last year." She breathed, and tears welled in my eyes.
"I'm going to check on Cass. Excuse me." I whispered, before quickly leaving again.
<^>
Elliot's POV
I found Liv out in the living room, sitting next to the play pen as her year old played, and stood and handed Liv a bunch of toys.
"Olivia?" I questioned, and she quickly wiped her eyes before turning to look at me.
"Hey." She breathed, and I walked over and sat down next to her.
"I'm sorry about Brian, I had no idea." I spoke, and she wiped at her eyes again before nodding.
"It's fine. Just still hard to deal with. I was married to him for four years." She sighed, before gently touching Cassidy's brown curls.
"Did he ever get to meet her?" I asked, as I watched the beautiful little girl smile at Olivia.
She looked so much like Liv. Her eyes, smile, and hair. She did look a little like Brian, but I for sure could see that Olivia was her mother.
"No." She stated sadly, and I frowned.
"Oh." I stated, and she sighed again, before picking up Cassidy and putting her on her lap.
"I was at home with the kids, and he was about to take leave since I was due any day. Then I was getting the kids ready for bed, and the officers came." She spoke, her voice shaking fiercely as she spoke. She had actually been in love with him.
"You don't have to tell me this." I spoke, and she kissed Cassidy's hair before sighing.
"I do. You deserve to know." She replied, and I nodded slowly, waiting for her to continue.
"He was in a shoot out with a bunch of bastards who were running a prostitution ring. He and his partner were both killed. Um, then due to all the stress and grief that was effecting us, Cassidy decided it was the best time to come." She spoke, laughing a little about her daughter.
I smiled softly, loving the sound of her laugh.
"Liv, he was a great man."
"Don't lie, El. You hated him." She replied, and I laughed, but nodded.
"I did, but he was a really good man. He loved you with all his heart, and died trying to save a bunch of girls who didn't want what was happening to them." I spoke, putting a ton of emotion behind those words. She cuddled Cassidy close before reaching out and taking my hand.
"I've missed you, Stabler." She spoke, and I squeezed her hand.
"I've missed you too, Benson." I spoke, and she closed her eyes and sighed deeply.
"Can you hear that?" She asked, and I looked at her with confusion, than the yelling of the boys became loud.
"Damn it." She swore, before standing with Cassidy.
"I can take her." I offered, and she looked between me and the back door, before putting her daughter in my arms and running out the back door.
"Noah! Luke! Finn!"
<^>
We ate dinner awhile after our talk, and then after that, the kids went outside in their swim suits, and went night swimming. I watched, as I sat next to Alex and Mark. Olivia was inside with Cassidy, and after about an hour, she came out.
I felt myself lose my breath. She was still as stunning as ever. She had her hair clipped back, and she was wearing leggings and a loose sweater. She may not be dressed up, but still, the simple clothing she picked made me remember the nights we shared together, the night we created April.
"Cassidy is finally asleep." She yawned, before sitting down next to me.
"Not gonna go swimming, Livia?" Mark teased, and she shook her head.
"Nah. It's too cold, and I don't want to scar you all with seeing my body." She spoke, and I frowned.
"Liv." I scolded, and she looked at me with confused eyes.
"What? Having children changes a body. " She replied, before elbowing me. I rolled my eyes and looked out into the water again.
"I'm going to get some wine, want some, Liv?" Alex asked, as she leaned forward to look around Elliot, and I nodded.
"I'd love some." She replied. Mark and Alex got up and they left us together on the sand.
We sat in silence, but the water was filled with laughter, and splashing. I looked over at her, and she did the same to me.
"Elliot, how has life been treating you?" She asked, and I shrugged.
"Okay. Um, Maureen has a son. Kinda crazy thinking that my oldest has a kid." I laughed, and she smiled.
"I have no idea why I waited so long to have kids. I love being a Mom." She spoke, and I grabbed her hand, and then slowly intertwined our fingers together.
"You are a great mother, Liv. I've always known that if you had children, that you would be the best mother." I spoke, and she sighed.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm lacking as a mother and father. Mark has really helped out, and surprisingly, Simon has stepped forward." She spoke, and I smiled.
"How is Simon?" I questioned.
"Well, he has a daughter he named after me, and then he has a step son named Ty. It's been amazing to finally have a sibling." She spoke, and I nodded.
"Well, that is amazing. What else has been happening in the life of Olivia Benson?"
"Not a lot, El." She spoke, before squeezing my hand. I smiled at her, before gently leaning in and kissing her cheek.
"I'm going for a swim." I spoke, and she nodded slowly.
"Have fun." She laughed. I stood up, then took my shirt off and shoes before heading into the water, splashing the kids in the process.
Olivia laughed from the beach, and I smiled at her.
I missed her, and I know that she just lost her husband, but I want to try this again. Slower this time, but I'm not leaving her behind again. She's my Olivia.
Hey guys! A little longer chapter, but I enjoyed writing it. Thanks for reading and please vote and comment all of your feedback. :D