Chapter Text
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Monday Dec 1, 2025, Special Victims Unit, Manhattan, NYC…
“I need your help,” Elliot announced as he strode into the office with no more than a perfunctory knock on the door.
Olivia sat back in her chair and regarded him curiously over the rim of her glasses. “You do?” she queried.
“I do,” her partner confirmed, plunking himself down in the seat opposite her.
She raised her eyebrows at the despondent slump of his shoulders. “Help with what?” she inquired.
“Christmas shopping,” he informed her with a grimace. “Presents for my kids to be specific.”
“Just your kids?” she asked.
Elliot nodded. “Yeah, the grandkids I’m fine with. I just ask Jet what the latest hot toy in their age range is and go with that. That strategy hasn’t failed me yet.”
“So, what’s the usual strategy for your kids then?” Olivia asked him.
“Ask them what they want. Or just get them to buy it themselves and transfer the money into their accounts,” he replied.
“Seems reasonable to me,” she commiserated.
“I know, right?” he grumbled. “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it - that’s what I say.”
“So…” Olivia dragged out the syllable for emphasis. “Let me guess - your kids don’t agree with you?”
“They said it showed a lack of effort,” Elliot responded, throwing up his hands in exasperation. “I just want to give them something they’ll actually like, rather than something they’ll hide away in the back of the closet. Is that so wrong?”
“A noble endeavour,” Olivia stated, trying not to laugh at his righteous indignation.
Her partner sighed. “Kathy used to do all this,” he lamented. “All I had to do was hand over my credit card.”
“So, what? You want to hand over your credit card to me and let me do all the work instead?”
Elliot cocked his head to one side, regarding her speculatively. “Well, it’s a thought,” he mused. “Kathy was always very appreciative of the gifts you chose for her in the past. It saved me from having to sleep on the couch too many times to count.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Like she didn’t know exactly who picked out her presents,” she said. “How did you manage without me for a decade?”
“Badly,” he informed her. “Until Kathy got fed up and recruited the girls. They were very helpful with their ‘suggestions’,” he finished with a wry smile.
Olivia shook her head with a rich laugh. “You know what my friend? It’s way past time for you to man up and take responsibility.”
“That was my plan,” Elliot assured her, “But then you offered up an alternative suggestion that sounded a lot more appealing.”
“And the less appealing plan?” she asked, ignoring the blatant entreaty in his eyes.
He beamed at her. “I do all the legwork, but you offer helpful suggestions.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “And exactly how is that you ‘doing all the legwork’?” she queried.
“Come on, Liv,” her partner wheedled, leaning forward with his hands clasped together in an almost prayer-like gesture. “You love my kids. Don’t you want them to have decent presents to open on Christmas morning?”
“That’s emotional blackmail,” she told him flatly.
Elliot’s grin broadened, his blue eyes twinkling. “Did it work?” he asked her.
Olivia sighed, and a triumphant expression spread across his face as he sensed her surrender. “Great,” he said, sitting back in his chair and rubbing his hands together. “So, I’ll provide the take-out. Just let me know when you’re free.”
“Oh no, not so fast, buster,” Olivia interjected. “That isn’t how this is going to work. Online shopping is a cop-out.”
“Online shopping is the greatest invention known to the human race,” her partner refuted.
“People come from all over the world to shop in New York City,” she argued back. “There’s a reason so many holiday movies are set here, you know.”
“That’s sentimental bullshit,” Elliot declared.
“The movies perhaps,” Olivia concurred, “But New York is pretty magical during the holiday season.”
Picking up her phone from the desk, she pulled up her calendar and indicated for him to do the same.
“Just tell me when, I won’t forget,” he assured her.
“This isn’t about you,” she told him crisply. “You want my help; you make an appointment.” She paused for effect before delivering the unwelcome verdict. “A recurring one.”
He stared at her in horror. “What do you mean ‘a recurring one’?” he demanded.
“You have a lot of kids,” she reminded him.
“I always told Kathy that was a bad idea…”
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Stabler Siblings Group Chat, later the same day…
LS: So, do you reckon this will work? The Dad thing, I mean.
KS: 😒What do you mean? My idea’s always work…
RS: 🤣🤣🤣
KS: Go to hell, Dickie!
ES: Behave children.
RS: Sure thing, Dad…
ES: Beat you to it 😁🥇
RS: At least I’m not buried in dirty diapers 💩
ES: Go to hell, Dickie!
LS: Is someone going to answer my question?
KS: Bet you $20 he’s already on the phone to Liv.
LS: What if he asks Ayanna?
KS: His boss? Seriously Lizzie 🤦🏻♀️
LS: Liv is technically his boss now too, you know.
RS: TMI Lizzie!!!
LS: Go to hell, Dickie!
MS: What have I missed?
LS: Nobody answering my question.
… MS is typing …
MS: He’s already on the phone to Liv. There – answered 😊
LS: I hate you all…
To be continued…