Chapter Text
“You have to get married!” Joe Stabler boomed as they sat in the dining room, his wife was across the table from him and he looked at the other 4 adults at the table.
“It’s the only option,” it was a quiet voice in agreement, shaky and devastated by the news that her oldest daughter had gone and gotten pregnant just before her senior year of college. There was no way Kathy would graduate on time now, no, she couldn’t fit 2 semesters into 1 and instead of walking at her graduation, she would be at home with a newborn. “Daddy can help you fix up a house,” she looked at her father, “we can help with a deposit.”
Elliot wanted to throw up. The last thing he wanted was to be fixing up a house with his father in law. He didn’t even want a father in law, not that anyone seemed particularly concerned with what he wanted in this situation, or hell, even what Kathy wanted. No, no one was worried about that. This conversation was all about perception and image and wondering what the neighbours would think or what the guys at the precinct would think if they found out Elliot had knocked Kathy up. He and Kathy had discussed it before they told their parents, they did want to keep the baby, but beyond that, they weren’t quite sure what the next step was. Abortion…well, it didn’t really feel like an option for them, and Kathy had been firm, she wasn’t comfortable giving the baby up for adoption, so it didn’t really leave a choice other than having the baby and figuring their shit out.
“They can live in the duplex,” it was her father speaking now as if they weren’t right there. Kathy was shaking like a leaf beside him, clearly unsure of all of the suggestions flying around. She wasn’t showing yet, so she supposed they could throw together a wedding pretty quickly and then announce the pregnancy a few months later. She wouldn’t have to tell anyone her due date, she could just vaguely answer that she was due in the spring, and then maybe tell people the baby came early. Sure if someone wanted to do the math, they could probably figure it out, but this would work. It was plausible. “We’ll fix it up, maybe Elliot can help with the plans to open up the main floor?”
Elliot nodded, not managing to put a sentence together. Draw up plans. He was going to be an architect. He had gotten into Columbia for his Master’s degree, and if he was living in a duplex in Queens with a wife and a baby, he sure as shit wouldn’t be finishing (or starting) that degree, he wouldn’t be drafting plans or building a dream house or reimagining a skyline with a building that started out in his brain. No, doing the right thing. Marrying the woman he impregnated and giving it a go with her, that was the right thing, even if the thought if it was enough to make him sick. “I uh, I need a water,” Elliot stood up shocking Kathy beside him and earning a pointed glare from his father. He walked to the kitchen, mere feet from where they were all sitting and discussing his future like he wasn’t even there. His and Kathy’s. Shouldn’t they be the ones making the decision? He wasn’t asking anyone for money or a duplex or a job…
He grabbed a cup from the cupboard and turned on the tap, not even concerning himself with the temperature of the water before he took a long sip. “You can choose yourself you know,” her calming voice came from behind him. He finished his sip and put the cup down, bracing himself against the counter for a moment. “You don’t have to marry her to be a good father Elliot. You can be a wonderful father and still follow all of those dreams you have. You can do right by both of them without giving it all up.”
Of course his mother thought that. Of course his free spirited, free thinking, mind of her own mother would tell him that he didn’t have to do the responsible thing. He turned around and looked at her, “mama,” he whispered, “I’m gonna be a dad…” He wanted to tell her that he wanted to be a better dad than his father had been, he wanted to be the kind of parent that he had deserved.
Bernie reached into the pocket of her cardigan and pulled out the small silver band with a large oval shaped sapphire, “this belonged to my mother,” she told him as she put the ring in Elliot’s hand. “Do what makes you happy Elliot.”