A/N: A shout out to SVUSHIPPER4EVER. Glad you liked the last chapter. A little EO fun in this one for you. ;)

Chapter 23

"How does it feel to be out of the hospital?" Olivia asked as she helped Kathleen out of the wheelchair which had been pushed by an orderly out of the hospital and down to the car. Elliot was behind the wheel and watched as his daughter and girlfriend interacted.

"Good," Kathleen said. Her voice was not completely back to normal but it was getting there. It had been three days since their last visit and it was good to see her in lifted spirits. The young woman still had appointments that she would need to make with Doctor Schwartz after the hospital psychiatrist and he compared notes.

"I bet. Your dad took some cajoling but he's going to drop us off for dinner, just you and me," Olivia told her as she made sure Kathleen was in the back seat and strapped in.

"What about family dinner?" The young Stabler was surprised.

"We agreed on meeting for dessert. That sound good to you?" The elder woman asked.

"Yes," Kathleen smiled. Olivia climbed into the front passenger seat before Elliot pulled away from the curb. They maneuvered through the traffic in a comfortable silence until they got to a diner near Elliot's apartment.

Olivia quickly got out of the car and opened the back door. Kathleen got out of the car and said goodbye to her father. Olivia poked her head back into the car and gave him a wink.

"Have fun. We'll see you in a bit," he smiled before pulling away.

"Ready kiddo?" She asked as they moved toward the diner.

"Is this our girls' day?" Kathleen asked.

"Nope, this is just me and you and dinner. I figured that you might not want to go back to your dad's with everybody there, just yet. Though I have to admit that I have a surprise," Olivia smiled as they entered the diner. Instead of waiting to be seated, there in a booth not far away was a familiar face.

"Grandma!" Kathleen was glad to see Elliot's mother and didn't care that she was straining her throat.

"Sweetie! I'm so glad that you're ok. I'm sorry I didn't visit you at the hospital," Bernadette said.

"I'm just glad you're here," Kathleen wrapped her arms around the older woman.

"Well Olivia told me everything and I have to admit your dad was reluctant to. It's not his fault though. You see sweetie, I have something that I need to tell you," the matriarch of the Stabler family said. The young woman raised an eyebrow and they started a conversation.

Later that night, Olivia and Elliot climbed into bed together. As they settled in, Elliot pulled his partner close; her head went to his chest. She could tell there was something he wanted to say and knew better than to push.

"Thank you for today," he said, kissing the top of her head.

"Thank you for letting me. Your mom and I have always had a connection. I'm just glad that she listened to me. I really think that Kathleen is already doing so much better," Olivia told him, kissing his shirt covered chest.

"How'd I get so lucky?" Elliot asked pulling her away from him, just enough to see her face in the darkened room.

"I don't know Stabler but you had better not forget it," she teased.

"So everyone keeps telling me. I find it funny that they feel the need to protect you," he said.

"I think it's sweet but we both know that I'd kick your ass," Olivia smirked.

"Yeah you would," Elliot chuckled before moving his head to kiss her.

"Mmmm, don't start something that you can't finish," she cautioned when they parted for lack of oxygen. They were both tired but moments alone were also few and far between lately. The kids had gone home with Kathy and Elliot's mother had insisted the couch was fine for the night.

"Oh I will be finishing what I started," he promised.

The End