Alaskan Nights (A Law and Order: SVU fanfic)

Ch.14

"Organic," Rebecca warned slapping the bag of Cheetos back onto the shelf." If you wanna be wonder woman and defy the odds then you gotta eat healthily."

"I didn't say I was Wonder Woman I just don't want to miss my son's birthday again because I'm cooped up in hospital unconscious,"

"Okay, but I think if Q knew what was at risk he would choose you for a lifetime rather than a few months."

"We're not having this conversation in front of him," Olivia said running her hand through her son's hair, earning a giggle from him. She leaned in and placed a kiss on the tip of his nose before following Rebecca down the aisle.

Rebecca plopped two bundles of lettuce into Olivia's basket and one into hers.
"I get two," Olivia barked placing another bundle into her friend's trolley, "You get two."

Leafy greens upon leafy greens flew into the trolley as they made their way down the aisle." Looking for the superfood." She stated closely scanning the sea of green.

"But the frozen spring rolls are in aisle nine...?"
"Kale you idiot, Kale."

"I know, green queen."

"Green Queen? Okay, it looks like they're restocking vegetables over there. I'll see if they have any kale and by the time get some apples and mint, please."

"Like that chocolate?!" Olivia shouted after her.
She lifted Quinn out of the seat, settled him on her hip and made her way to the fruits in search of apples. Quinn's eyes instantly caught the huge display of go-gurt on the other side of the bench and tried to leap for it.
Olivia set him on the floor and focused her attention back onto the apples. Green or red?

The little boy waddled away from his mother heading full speed toward the mountain of yoghurt. "Quinn!"
He didn't stop, running straight into a pair of legs only to shake it off a second later and grabbing his prize.

"Quinn." Olivia scolded. Pink, the gooey liquid was splattered all over his face and clothing. It dropped off of his chin as he continued to miss his mouth.

"I am so, so sorry," she pleaded, scooping Quinn into her arms and spinning around. "He just really loves--"

"It's okay, It's no--"

Neither of them could say anything more. It was like the world had collapsed around them and there was no one else there. Just them.
"Wow, Olivia."
The sound of her name tangled in with his thick, distinct Brooklyn accent was enough to numb her. She wanted to run away from him but she'd longed to hear his voice again for so long. To feel the surprising comfort of his gruff tone was something she wished she had in the last year. She wanted the reassurance that his voice offered. She wanted him.
But then she remembered the entire purpose of leaving New York: leaving him.

She wanted him gone but at the same time, she wanted him to stay. The life she's built for herself and her son was far from perfect but it was theirs. And only theirs.

When she first moved, she'd known that sooner or later he'd find her. He always did. It was her hope that by then she would be okay with the possibility of sharing her life and their son with him, but it had not turned out that way. She needed more time or all the limited time she had left in her condition.

"I know you probably want to kick my teeth in but just hear me out-"

"Please, Leave... How did yo-- I made him promise-- he promised he wouldn't--."

"Olivia, please, I just want to talk. Please. Five minutes." He pleaded as she turned to leave.

He couldn't see her face. But he saw the face of the toddler perched over her shoulder. There was no doubt that he was hers. Even a blind man could see. The dread and nervousness in his gut were replaced with a semblance of warmth and by extension happiness.

Olivia Benson is a mother.

After years of praying for the day, it had finally come through. The universe had finally righted the wrong of keeping her childless.
The toddler chewed on the deflated yoghurt pack, unconsciously squirting the remnants onto her shirt.

"Give me five seconds... Please, Olivia."

She turned to face him, checking her watch before staring directly into his eyes.

"One." She started maintaining an even pitch.
"I'm sorry."

"Two."
"I'm a fu-- a damn idiot."

"Three."
"I was so angry with you."

"Four."
"So confused... I thought... I thought-- Cragen suspended me and when I came back I expected you to be there..."

"Five."
"I love you, Olivia Benson, I love you so much."

"Goodbye, Elliot, have a nice life." She sniffled.

Olivia continued down the aisle until she spotted Rebecca at the counter. She was arguing with an employee whilst thrusting green bundles into his face, "This isn't kale! It's glorified lettuce!" She barked.

"Liv?" Olivia breezed past Rebecca, car keys in hand, baby on her hip and her eyes red and watery.

Rebecca slung her bag over her shoulder and ran after her.
"Ma'am you gotta pay for those or--" she chucked the greens into the teenager's chest before continuing on her way.

By the time Rebecca caught up with Olivia, she was already in the car and her son tucked into his car seat.

"Gonna tell me what that was about?" Rebecca tinged opening the car door. She was greeted by Olivia's outstretched hand which held the car keys. "No, no, no, we're not leaving till you talk to me!" She shouted.

"Just drive, Please Bec... Please." Olivia pleaded, still failing to make eye contact with her friend.

"Fine."