Chapter Text
The first thing Olivia sees when she opens the door to Elliot's house is Kathleen's infectious smile. Without giving her time to enter, she gives her a big hug and, although she still felt strange with these displays of affection from them, she enjoyed it. They parted after a short time and greeted each other. Then, she looked at Noah, who although he hadn't been nervous on the way in, squeezed his mother's hand.
- You must be Noah, right? - She smiled and held out her hand - I'm Kathleen, everyone's best sister.
- I'm Noah Porter Benson, nice to meet you, Miss Kathleen," he greeted, politely, remembering the manners his mother had taught him.
- Oh, you're so polite - she was surprised - just Kathleen is fine, Noah. - then, she looked at Olivia and smiled - he has already become my favorite sibling.
For a moment, Olivia froze - had Kathleen just called Noah her brother? Was this another way of telling them they were part of the family? She wanted to respond, to say something, but she couldn't. Kathleen had dragged them inside, where the rest of his siblings were waiting for him.
She greeted everyone, one by one, while still holding Noah's hand. She was no longer sure if it was because he needed it or because she did. Whichever way it was, they were still holding on when she saw Elliot's blue eyes. He looked very handsome and dashing, she couldn't deny it, but she tried not to think about it.
- Hi, Liv. Hi Noah - he greeted them both and, in the blink of an eye, the little guy was gone with Eli and so on. - Are you okay? You look kind of... pale," he said, trying not to press her.
- Kathleen called Noah brother," she said, in barely a whisper.
- You're part of our family, you shouldn't be surprised at this point - Elliot affirmed and then took her hand, leading her to the kitchen to pour herself something to drink.
- It still seems like a dream," she admitted, "after all....
- I know - Elliot sighed - I'm sorry, I should never have left like I did, I should never have let my children walk away from you. They care about you, they love you
- It's okay, El. It's okay - she said taking the glass of wine Elliot offered him.
- I know why I didn't know anything - he looks him straight in the eye, conveying to him that this was about Lewis without saying anything to him
- Kathy - answered Olivia, and the surprised look on Elliot's face didn't go unnoticed - Eli told me when he invited me.
- Because...?
- He found the news about what happened to me, we talked - shrugs Liv
- That... makes sense, he wanted to know what happened to you but none of us could say anything about it - whispered Elliot - Liv, I don't know why Kathy did it.
- Are you surprised? - she asks then, a little defensively
- She shouldn't have done it - he answers, sure
- And what would have happened then, El? I would have told you and then you would have left your life in Rome for what, for me? - she denied, as if the thought was impossible to think.
- For my partner, my best friend, yes. I would be back
- And what would happen next? - she whispered, not wanting to raise her voice so none of the kids would hear the conversation - we were very close when we were partners, sometimes even too close. And yes, we never let that line break, but there were feelings. We both knew it, even if we didn't want to admit it.
- Liv
- No, El. Let me finish. We both knew it and so did Kathy. That's why she didn't say anything to you, that's why she wrote that in the letter. She didn't want to lose you, you were happy in Rome. She wanted it to be that way. I don't blame her, Elliot. I was the other one.
- Listen to me, Liv - he told her a little more seriously and looked her straight in the eyes - you were never the other one. You were my best friend, and we respected my marriage. Nothing ever happened between us, and, even if there is now a possibility that we can move forward in our friendship, it doesn't imply that you are the other woman. You never were and never will be.
- El... - she whispered, a lump in her throat.
- It's okay, Liv. We can do this, we're not hurting anyone. - he said as he hugged her tightly.
- Your children? - she asked, in barely a whisper
- My kids love you, they'll support him. Noah will too, I'm sure. And if someone has a problem we'll talk like the adults we sometimes are," he joked, "and it will be solved. You deserve happiness, so do I.
- I... I'm ready, El - she looked into his eyes - I'm ready.
Then Elliot broke away from Olivia. He looked into her eyes and smiled. He looked at her lips and then back to focusing on her eyes, the question in them. When Olivia looked at Elliot's lips and nodded, everyone seemed to stop.
Elliot moved closer to Olivia and they kissed, slow, soft, but conveying all the love they had been hiding for over two decades. There were no more barriers, no more boundaries, now they could just be them, enjoying being simply Elliot and Olivia. Partners for life.