******
The May morning dawned bright and fragrant with the new blooms of the neighbourhood. The residents' society had had a gardening contest and, although they hadn't won, Olivia and Elliot had still had loads of fun together, creating borders and beds. They had gone a bit overboard, though, and as they walked out to the car to go to work, they tripped over the now-untamed stems of lilies.

Something was in the air, infectuous and energetic. It felt like spring fever. In the car, they sang along to the oldies on the radio, slightly askew on the melodies. As they pulled into the precinct,
they put on their professional faces, until they got into the elevator. As soon as the doors slid shut, Olivia pushed Elliot up against the wall and kissed him hungrily. He returned the kiss,
wrapping his arms around her. They were still playing 'tonsil-hockey' when the doors opened three floors above.
"Ahem," came a cough. They snapped back into job mode. Huang was trying to use the elevator.
"Sorry," said Olivia sheepishly.
"Hmmmm," was his only reply. Huang stepped into the elevator. Olivia and Elliot began to laugh as the door closed, but they stopped dead when they saw Cragen, hands on his hips, standingin the doorway of the squadroom.
"1042 32nd street. Munch and Fin are already there. Take this file and show it to them."
******

1042 32nd street turned out to be a store with a small residence above. Rodriguez Grocery was owned by Carlos and Amanda Rodriguez, who now lay in their apartment, in pools of their own blood.Olivia and Elliot met Munch and Fin at the door of the apartment.

"M.E. said the husband was probably killed here, in the hallway, then dragged to the bedroom, where the wife was still sleeping. Perp raped her, then smothered her with her pillow. We've got fluids and bruising," Munch briefed them.
"They were found by the kid who works for them downstairs. We've already got his statement.," Fin added. Elliot nodded as he began a tour of the apartment, getting a feel for the crime. Olivia went over the contacts file with the other detectives before fetching her partner.
"Come on. We've got to go talk to the victims' families," she said.
"Seems like that's always our job," he observed.
"Well, if your kid was raped and murdered, would you want to be comforted by John?" she joked, then stopped suddenly as she realized what she had said. It was so easy to forget their differences. Namely, his past. She cringed, hoping he hadn't noticed. They got into her car, which they were using for the day, and began the drive to Brooklyn, where Amanda's family lived. After some awkward silence, Elliot broke into a smile.
"I wonder what the Doc was thinking about after this morning," he said.
"Hmmm," she said, trying her best impression, "Detective Benson's possessive actions of Detective Stabler show her inner insecurinty stemming back to an adolescent incident of rejection," she grinned.
"Or how about, Detective Stabler's 'preoccupation' with Detective Benson indicates sociopathic traits which can be traced to repressed Oedipal desires....and also demonstrates his very good taste." Olivia turned, laughing.
"You've got him down perfectly."
*****
Night was beginning to fall by the time they started back to Queens, and the traffic wasn't as bad as usual. As they crossed the bridge out of Manhattan, Elliot began, "I need to talk to you about
something." His tone was hard to read.
"Sure," Olivia said, somewhat hesitantly.
"Well, I got an invitation in the mail today for my niece, Cindy-Ann's wedding. It's next week."
"Yeah."
"So, first of all, I was wondering if you'd like to be my date," he said.
"Of course!"
"Another thing, though, is that Cindy-Ann wants the kids to come. Maureen won't be a problem, but. . ."he trailed off.
"Oh," Olivia said. She was surprised at how loud it sounded, how it rang out in her ears, suspended in the silence. "Have you talked to Kathy yet?"
"Not yet. I wanted to talk to you first." This made her feel a bit better, but she felt a growing apprehension.
"I appreciate that. So, when would they be coming?" she asked.
"I'd have to discuss that with them, but I was thinking Sunday, that's five days from now, and six days before the wedding. They could go home on the Sunday after." Olivia had to keep herself from exclaiming, 'A Week?!' She heard how excited Elliot was about seeing his kids again. She felt guilty, but she also felt inadequate, like she could never be everything to him.
"Great," she mustered a small level of happiness. Elliot saw the discouragement on her face and, slightly misreading it, said, "You'll do fine."
*****
Olivia sat upstairs in their bed, reading a spy novel, while Elliot called Kathy. Kathy had taken the news pretty well about Olivia living with him. Elliot realized she had probably been expecting it for a long time. She didn't understand what had really happened. Olivia hadn't ruined their marriage, the job had. Elliot had given up trying to explain it to her, since it didn't make her feel better to know that she had been subordinate to his work. Kathleen picked up the phone when he dialed.
"Hey, honey. It's Dad. How are you?"
"Fine," she answered sullenly.
"How's school?"
"Good."
"Can I talk to your mom?"
Elliot heard her put the receiver down.
"Mom, It's Elliot!." Elliot? He heard the sound of the feet and the phone being picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Kathy," he said.
"Hi. What's this about?"
"My niece, Cindy-Ann, is getting married, and I was wondering if they kids could fly down on Sunday for the wedding," he said bluntly.
"How long would they stay for?" she asked calculatingly.
"I was thinking a week. I haven't seen them since Christmas, Kathy," he began to plead.
"I don't know, Elliot. I don't think Kathleen should miss that much school."
"If she gets the work beforehand, I'll help her with it."
"What about your job?" she asked. Olivia came up behind Elliot to get a glass of water, but she stopped like a deer in the headlights when she realized he was still talking.
"I'll ask Cragen for the week off. Kathy, they're just as much my kids as they are yours."
"And Olivia?" she said with knives in her voice.
"What about her?" he grew defensive.
"I don't think it's healthy for the kids to see you two together."
"Kathy, we live together! How can it be avoided? Do you think it's any more healthy for them never to see their father?" he demanded.
"You made that decision, Elliot!"
"You were the one who left!"

"No, you left long before," she said, voice beginning to shake.

He hated this.
"Kathy, I'm sorry," he said guiltily.
"The kids will be on the seven flight out of Seattle on Sunday," she hung up. He held the receiver for a minute, staring at it. They he placed it back slowly, and rubbed his eyes. Olivia walked up behind him and put her hands on his shoulders.
"Are you okay?" she asked gently. He nodded.
"Yeah."
"Come to bed."
"In a minute," he said. Olivia got her drink of water, then headed back upstairs. Elliot trudged up the stairs and stopped in the doorway of his room, looking at Olivia, who was taking a sip of water while obviously engrossed in the book. She looked so small enfolded in the covers. Elliot smiled as he climbed into bed next to her.
Things could be a lot worse.