A Time to Love

Author's Note: Elliot and Olivia live together. The kids ages: Eli 4, Calvin 10, Dickie & Lizzie 12, Maureen & Kathleen are away at college. Calvin is a little bit younger here than he was on the show.

Chapter 1

Elliot was just getting ready to pack it in for the day. It was Friday night and he was ready to go home. It had been a long week. Olivia had been in California for the better part of the week helping the locals close a case that was related to one of theirs. She was expected back in New York the following Wednesday. Elliot wasn't looking forward to a lonely weekend without her but he couldn't wait to get out of the precinct. Things weren't the same when his partner wasn't there with him.

"Elliot, can I see you in my office please?" Cragen's voice was gentle.

Please don't have another case, Elliot thought as he rose from his chair. I'm tired. I just want to go home!

"It's Vivian," Cragen said after Elliot had closed the door behind him. "She was attacked tonight, they think it's drug related."

"Was she raped?" Elliot asked.

"No," Cragen said, "but they requested you and Olivia. That's all I know. Do you want me to send Munch with you?"

"No Captain, I'll call in once I know what we've got," Elliot said.

"She didn't make it detective." A younger, muscular man extended his hand to Elliot when he entered the hospital emergency room. "Brady Pratt, narcotics detective."

Elliot shook his hand. "What happened?"

"Patrol found her in an alley in Hell's Kitchen. Appears to be a drug deal gone bad. She really took a beating, died a little while ago."

Elliot looked at the young detective for a moment, wondering why he was called in. Sure, he and Olivia had worked with Vivian in the past but there was no reason he could think of for their presence to be requested for a drug related crime.

"Why'd you call us in?" Elliot asked. He didn't mean to be so blunt but it was getting late and he really wanted to get home.

"Is you partner coming?" Pratt asked looking over Elliot's shoulder.

"No, Liv's in California this week wrapping up a case." Elliot tried to smile at the detective but his patience was growing thin.

Detective Pratt pulled a folded up piece of paper out of his back pocket and handed it to Elliot. Elliot read over the paper, and then read it again. His mood softened. Vivian had made Olivia Calvin's legal guardian should anything happen to her. Elliot didn't even know Calvin was in the city. The last he and Olivia had heard from him was when he was taken away and put under the care of his grandparents.

"I uh, I didn't even know Calvin was in New York," Elliot said, almost in shock as he continued to stare at the paper.

"He witnessed the whole thing," Pratt informed him.

"Is he hurt?"

"Not a mark on him," Pratt answered. "Should I call CPS to come get him until your partner is back in town?"

"No," Elliot said. "I'll take him." He didn't bother explaining that he and Olivia lived together. "Where is he?"

Elliot was taken to the ER room Vivian was in. Calvin was lying on the bed next to Vivian's lifeless body, hugging her. He walked over and put his hand on Calvin's back. Calvin looked up at him with a blank expression on his face.

"I'm so sorry Calvin," Elliot said.

"Detective, we have to take the body now. I'm sorry. We really need the room." Elliot nodded at the nurse.

"We have to go now Calvin," Elliot said gently.

"No. I can't go," Calvin replied, "I can't leave her."

Elliot patted Calvin's back and tried to get him to hop off the bed but he tensed up his body and refused to move.

"Come on Buddy," Elliot said. When Calvin didn't budge Elliot lifted him up stood him on the floor in front of him. He crossed his hands over Calvin's chest while they watched the nurse cover Vivian with a sheet and wheel her out of the room. Calvin tried to escape Elliot's grasp when his mother was wheeled by.

"No! Let me go! Mom! Momma!" Calvin screamed reaching out towards her. After the nurse had gone Calvin started crying and his body went limp in Elliot's arms. Elliot lifted him up and carried him out to the car.

/

"Do you want to talk about it?" Elliot asked in the car. Calvin shook his head. He stared straight ahead out the windshield not making a sound.

"Olivia is in California right now," Elliot told him. "She'll be back in a few days."

"Is she mad at me?" Calvin asked.

Elliot furrowed his brow, confused by Calvin's question. "She's not mad at you Calvin. Why would you think that?"

"She never came to find me." Calvin sounded hurt.

"Oh Calvin," Elliot hesitated, "she never stopped loving you." Calvin was only 10 and he didn't understand all the legal drama surrounding his custody issues but Elliot hoped to God he understood how much Olivia loved him.

"What's gonna happen to me now?" Calvin asked nervously.

"Well, you're going to come live with us, with me and Olivia." Elliot reached over and gently squeezed Calvin's arm.

Author's Note: Next—Elliot calls Olivia and gives her the news. Thanks for reading!