Chapter Text
Ella sat between Olivia and Amanda, her deep burgundy dress stopping just above her knees. She pulled her leather jacket closer around her as the breeze began to pick up. Olivia noticed the small shiver that went down Ella’s spine and reached out to take her into a side hug. Even at twenty two years old Ella always felt a rush of comfort come over her when she was in mother’s arms.
“Are you sure you don’t want my coat honey?” She asked Ella after placing a kiss on her forehead.
“Nope,” Ella smiled, “I know exactly how to warm up. Let’s dance!”
Olivia laughed, “Well take Amanda out on the dance floor and as soon as I finish my glass of wine I will join you.”
“Promise?” Amanda raised her eyebrow, “I want a dance with my wife at this wedding not wedding.”
“I promise my love. I will dance with both of my beautiful ladies tonight,” Olivia smiled before Ella dragged Amanda to the dance floor.
Olivia watched them for a moment before she stood up and made her way to the railing on the outskirts of the party. She looked out across the water, swirling her wine glass gently in her hand. She remembered standing in this exact same spot a week before Elliot’s sudden disappearance nine years ago. They had been standing shoulder to shoulder Elliot’s hand gently brushing up against Olivia’s.
“You ever think about what your life is going to look like after Ella grows up?” Elliot asked her, brushing his hand across hers again causing goosebumps to run up Olivia’s arms.
“I try not to think about it too much,” Olivia sighed, “Sending her off to college and having an empty household is going to kill me.”
Elliot laughed at this, “You will come to enjoy the quiet. The bliss of them going off and doing their own thing. She will make you proud.”
Olivia smiled, “I am sure that she will but what about you. What are you going to do when all your kids finally have flown the coop?”
“Spend the rest of my life bothering you and invading that empty household of yours,” Elliot said firmly, grabbing Olivia’s hand at this comment.
Olivia turned to Elliot all of the breath escaping her body as she realized that he was pressed up against her. Every piece of her body froze as he leaned in close to her. Just as he leaned forward Olivia’s brain made sense of the situation and pushed away. Without another word she ran away from him.
That was the last time they had been alone together before he had left her life forever. Nine years later she had gotten over the tiny fluttering of a crush realizing that it was nothing more than an adoration for one of the few key men in her life. Yet even now at the happiest she had ever been she still turned his words over in her head “I love you. ” She never knew three words could cause such confusion. Sure she did love him… or she had at some point…but never in the way he was referring to. Ever since that day she had been trying to avoid him as much as possible with no success as cases became more and more intertwined. Part of her had begun to wish he had never came back at all. Sure not knowing if he was safe had slowly killed her but knowing he was safe and blatantly ignoring her marriage was worse. She took a large swig from her glass before someone saddled up next to her.
“What did I miss?” Elliot asked her.
Olivia laughed, “Nothing actually. We are celebrating them… not getting married.”
“Sounds like he had the right idea,” Elliot chuckled then moved his hand next to Olivia’s, “Remember the last time that we were here?”
Olivia nodded, “Seems like a lifetime ago.”
“Yet, I still meant every word that I said all those years ago and I meant what I said a week ago. I love you Olivia.”
Olivia rolled her eyes at this comment finishing the rest of her glass. She turned her back to the railing watching Ella and Amanda. Amanda was spinning Ella around causing her dress to fly high in the air. A broad smile was across Ella’s face and Amanda’s head was thrown back in laughter. As she watched the scene unfold in front of her she realized that she was looking at the life she had always dreamed about when she was talking to Elliot that night. She had a family. A loving wife and four beautiful kids. She was happy.
She turned towards Elliot, handing off her glass, “And I am going to dance with my wife.”
Elliot watched as Olivia waltzed over to the blonde woman dancing with Ella. He vaguely remembered her from his stints in the precinct but what happened next he could have never guessed. Olivia extended her hand out to the blonde woman who blushed as she took it. When Olivia pulled her close she gave her a kiss before pulling Ella close to them as well. For a moment Elliot watched the scene unfolding in front of him. He had never really noticed how much of Olivia’s life he had actually missed until the differences were glaring right in front of him.
As he walked over to the bar to grab a drink he ran into Ella. She smiled at him and his heart dropped. He missed that smile and now that she was older she looked almost exactly like Olivia. Not only had her looks changed, but she seemed more confident now too. His goddaughter was now an adult and he didn’t know a single thing about her.
“I forgive you,” Ella blurted out.
“What are you talking about?”
“I forgive you for shooting me and for leaving Mom and I suddenly,” Ella told him simply, “I leave for London next week and I just needed to get that off my chest before I left.”
Elliot looked at her stunned, “You know I’m….”
“Ella! Come dance with your moms! This will be our last chance before you leave!” The blonde called and Ella rushed off to join them.
Elliot watched as Ella crashed into the two women’s arms. With one final fleeting glance, he walked back to the entrance without saying a word to anyone. He had missed his chance. It was as simple as that.
——
Ella stood outside the security line her hands shaking. She turned to look at her family one final time. Olivia was barely holding back her tears as she held onto Noah’s hand. Noah was holding onto his favorite elephant stuffed animal to his chest pacing from foot to foot. Jesse was still sniffling from crying on their way to the airport. Amanda was next to her eyes bloodshot red tears still falling down her face. On her hip was Billie who was clinging to her mother’s neck unsure of why everyone was so upset. Ella tried to memorize every detail of the people she loved the most. This was the longest she was going to be away from home.
“I… I don’t think I can do this. This was a mistake,” Ella stammered.
Amanda was the first one to move wrapping Ella in her arms, “Yes you can baby. We are only ever a phone call away.”
“Yes and you can call any time. Day or night it doesn’t matter,” Olivia said rubbing the small of Ella’s back before kissing her cheek.
“And we will come see you for Christmas!” Noah added excitedly.
“You won’t forget me right?” Ella whispered to no one in particular.
“Never!” Jessie screamed causing everyone to laugh.
Ella gave one final hug and kiss to every member of her family and then headed through security. When she was through she turned and gave one final glance back at her small tribe. They all waved their final goodbyes and Olivia blew one last kiss. Ella snatched it from the air and shoved it in her pocket winking before turning the corner to find her gate. Once she found a spot to wait she pulled out her phone double checking all of the confirmation emails she had been given. As she read them over she read the name of her guide and formulated a story of who she would be. Penelope Garcia. The person who was going to guide her through the biggest change in her life.