A/N: Had some trouble writing this chapter, not knowing exactly how I wanted to end, but I think it's good enough. Thanks for all the reviews I recieved, but i'm hoping to hear from more people. :)
Someone to Care For
Chapter 3: Wanted Comfort
Olivia woke up to the sound of laughter coming from her kitchen. Sitting up, she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and made her way towards the kitchen. Upon entering the kitchen, she saw both of the girls laughing as they sat on top of a lying Elliot as they tried to tickle him. Smiling, she leaned against the wall as she enjoyed the site.
Sensing her, Elliot turned his attention to Olivia. "Liv help me!" Elliot laughed as the girls continued to tickle him.
Smiling, she walked over to the three and crouched down to their level. "Whatcha doing?"
Stopping their movements, the girls smiled at Olivia and both said, "Nothing."
Olivia turned her head and grinned at Elliot. "Hmmm, okay." She replied as she stood back up. Looking at the table she spotted 4 plates of pancakes. "Oooo pancakes."
"Olivia!" Elliot exclaimed, surprised that she just left him on the floor with Abigail and Lacey on top of him. "I'm your partner; you're suppose to help me."
"You're on your own buddy." Olivia smirked as she took a bite of her pancakes.
"That's cruel Liv." Elliot laughed as he grabbed both of the girls and picked them up as he stood up. "You two, eat." Elliot said as he deposited each child into a chair.
"El, why are we eating pancakes when it's," pausing, she stared at the clock to see it read 7:22 p.m. "dinner time?"
Smiling Elliot sat down and began to speak. "Well Liv, seeing as you have nothing to eat in this house, you only had a few ingredients, and the girls decided on pancakes."
"Yeah, I have to go grocery shopping tomorrow." Olivia mumbled, not really liking the idea.
"I thought girls loved to shop." Elliot laughed, stuffing pancakes in his mouth.
"Yeah for clothes, and shoes, and uh…lingerie." Olivia smirked, as Elliot started coughing.
"Elliot, you okay?" Lacey asked frowning.
Taking a sip of his drink, Elliot cleared his throat. "Yeah cupcake, I'm okay." Elliot smiled at Lacey. Turning his head, he glared at a laughing Olivia.
"El, are you okay?" Olivia smiled.
"I'm fine. No thanks to you." Elliot grumbled.
"Aww you want me to kiss it and make it feel better."
"Liv you wouldn't be saying that if you had any idea what part you would be kissing." Elliot grinned.
Smiling, she stood up. Diverting her eyes from his, she trailed them down his body stopping right below his waist. "Yea I would." She smirked.
"Liv!" Elliot exclaimed, turning red.
Laughing, Olivia deposited her plate in the sink.
Closing his eyes, Elliot counted backwards from 100, trying to calm himself down.
"Why is Elliot red Olivia?" Abby asked as she finished eating.
"He just ate too much." Olivia smiled.
"When I eat too much I get a tummy ache." Lacey chipped in.
"I'm sure that's what he has too." Olivia said, knowing that wasn't the real reason.
"Can we watch a movie?" Abby questioned.
"Sure, but I have to go to the video store and rent some." Olivia replied, knowing that she didn't have any kid movies.
"I'll go." Elliot said once he calmed down. "Why don't you give the girls a bath while I go get some movies?" Elliot suggested as he stood up.
"Thanks El." Olivia smiled.
"I'll be back." Elliot said as he walked out the kitchen and headed towards the front door.
"Elliot, wait!" Olivia said dashing into the living room. "The girls' things are in your trunk."
"Right. I'll be right back." Elliot replied.
Olivia returned to the kitchen and put the dishes in the sink. "Why don't you girls go watch some cartoons while I get your bath water ready?" The girls nodded their heads and trotted into the living room to watch some Spongebob.
"Liv, the girls' things are by the door!" Elliot shouted into the apartment." I'll see you when I get back!"
"Okay El." Olivia said popping her head into the living room to flash him a warm smile. When the door closed, she made her way down the hallway into the bathroom and started the water, adjusting it so it wasn't too hot or too cold. Satisfied with the water temperature, she went back into the living room and went through the girls' things to find them something to wear for the night. "Girls, bath time." Olivia announced as she urged them into the bathroom.
~EO~
Elliot walked back into Olivia's apartment hearing laughter coming from down the hall. Smiling, he placed the movies he got on the coffee table and his jacket on the couch. He went into the kitchen to make some popcorn, and get some ice and cups for the beverages that he bought.
"Hey you." Olivia smiled walking into the kitchen.
"Hey yourself." Elliot smiled.
"I see you bought me some chocolate." Olivia said producing the Lindor truffles that she had in her hands.
"How would you know that, unless you went through my jacket pocket?" Elliot grinned.
Olivia smiled. "I did no such thing. I just happened to see the bag sticking out of your jacket pocket. Thanks El."
"You're welcome." Elliot smiled as the microwave 'dinged'. Pouring the popcorn into a bowl, he handed it to Olivia. "Here make yourself useful woman." Elliot grinned as he also handed her the rack of pop.
"Sexist asshole." Olivia smirked as she walked into the living room.
Laughing Elliot followed her into the living room with the cups of ice in his hands.
~EO~
As the movie came to an end, Olivia realized that both of the girls were asleep. "I got Abby." Elliot whispered as he gently picked her up and carried her to Elliot's room.
Following his lead, Olivia picked up lacey.
Once the girls were safely tucked in bed for the night, Elliot and Olivia made their way to the living room.
"It's getting late. I guess should be going." Elliot said as he gathered his things.
"Thanks for today El." Olivia smiled.
"No problem." Elliot smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Yeah okay. Night El." Olivia said as she opened the door for him.
"Night Liv." Elliot gave a small wave and made his departure.
Closing the door, she locked it and headed to the bathroom to take a shower and settle down for the night.
~EO~
Elliot woke to the ringing of his cell phone. Reading the clock, it said 1:43. Silently cursing for being woke up so early in the morning, he reached for his cell phone and answered with his professional greeting.
"Stabler." He greeted groggily.
"El…"
Hearing the sound of Olivia's stressed out voice, he bolted up in his bed, fully awake now. "Liv, what's wrong?"
"I can't get her to stop crying."
"Who?"
"Lacey."
"I'll be right there Liv." Elliot said closing his phone and putting on some clothes.
~EO~
Not bothering to knock, Elliot used his key to let himself in Olivia's apartment. His heart constricted at the site before him. Olivia sat on the couch with tears streaming down her face as a very distressed Lacey sat on her lap with big fat tears cascading down her face.
At the sound of the door opening, Lacey turned her head to see Elliot. Sliding off of Olivia's lap, she ran to Elliot's waiting arms. "What's wrong cupcake?" Elliot asked as he scooped her up, but the only response he got from her was more crying. Gently rocking her, he walked to Olivia's bedroom as he whispered to her quietly, passing Abigail on the way.
Abby slowly walked over to Olivia, and deposited herself in Olivia's lap. Using her small hands she gently wiped away the tears on Olivia's face. "Don't cry."
"I'm sorry Abby."
"It's okay, it's not you fault. Lacey cries a lot these days."
"Do you know why?"
Abby nodded her head. "She misses mommy and daddy. Especially daddy. She was his little girl."
Olivia nodded her head, figuring that Lacey looked up to Elliot as a father figure.
"Please don't send us back." Abby whispered with tears welling up in her eyes.
"Back where?" Olivia inquired clearly confused.
"To the orphanage."
"Why would you think I'd do that?"
"Because…me and Lacey was adopted before you adopted us but the people gave us back because they didn't want us. Please don't send us back. I like it here." Abby replied as she began to cry.
"Oh sweetie." Olivia said as she began to shush the child. "I'm not going to send you girls back. I love having you both here. And even though Lacey cries, it's okay. She's only a little girl who misses her parents." Olivia said, her own tears falling as well, she understood what it felt like to not feel wanted.
Sniffling, Abby wiped her eyes. "I'm glad you're my new mommy."
Olivia's heart tightened at what Abby said. For a while now, all she ever wanted to be was a mother, and now she was. "Me too Abby."
"Lacey's sleeping." Elliot announced as he walked back into the living room. "Come on Abby; let me tuck you back in bed." Elliot smiled gently.
"Night Olivia." Abby said as Elliot picked her up.
"Goodnight Abby."
When Elliot returned, Olivia was sitting in the same spot when he walked in the door. "Hey, you okay?" Elliot asked softly as he crouched down to her level.
"Yeah." Olivia said distantly. "Abby's afraid that I'm going to send her back."
"I know, I heard." Elliot replied quietly.
"How could she think that I would not want her?" Olivia whispered, talking to herself more than Elliot. "I love that little girl, and Lacey too."
"Shh Liv, it's okay." He replied as she began to cry. He realized that she must have felt unloved since her mom never wanted her. She knew what it felt like to be unwanted. "Liv, the girls know that you love and care for them. It's only been almost a day since we got them, but they know." Elliot said wiping away her tears.
Nodding her head, she offered a small smile. "Thanks for coming over so late."
"I told you I wanted to help you with them. I'm glad you called me."
"I didn't know who else to call." Olivia said sighing as she rested her head on his shoulder, emotionally drained.
"You can always call me. Come on you need some sleep." Elliot said helping her off the couch and watching as she deposited herself on the pull-out bed.
"El, will you stay for the night?" Olivia whispered, not wanting another episode of tonight to happen.
"Do you want me to?"
"Please."
Nodding his head, Elliot took of his shoes and socks. Taking off his jacket, he deposited his shirt as well. Fumbling with his belt buckle, he stopped for a second and looked at Olivia. Though he was wearing boxers underneath he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable.
"It's okay El." Olivia replied, understanding what he was asking.
Stripping of his pants, he slowly slid onto the bed, keeping a safe distance away from Olivia.
Rolling over, Olivia grabbed his arm and placed it around her waist, needing the comfort of feeling wanted for just this single night.
Understanding, Elliot pulled her closer, and gave her the comfort that she needed. Fighting the physical desire that he had for her, he shushed her quietly as she cried in his arms, hoping that his comfort and love would be enough to bring her back from the pain she was feeling.
A/N: I'm still undecided if I want to add Elliot's children to the story which is why I haven't mentioned them in the story yet. But if I do add them, I'll most likely downsize their ages because with their real ages in the show, I'm afraid that it will be kind of diffiult to have a relationship with Abigail and Lacey seeing as how they are so much older. What do you guys think?