love gets started next thing you know it leaves everything else behind love sets fire to your schedule and then calls an end to time-Star Matter, Ani DiFranco

"No. No way in hell."

"Elliot, you're being unreasonable."

"I don't think I am Liv. You're planning on working for how long?"

"Until my third trimester."

"No."

Olivia pouted and frowned at Elliot. "You can't just say no." She then flopped on the couch and glared at her partner.

"I can, and I did." He shot back as he chopped onions in the kitchen that was divided by a small half wall.

"El- I'll be fine."

"Doesn't matter. Cragen wont allow it. He's going to insist on you leaving at the very least by three months."

"Well we haven't told Cragen so he wont know in time to boot me out."

"Soon it's going to be impossible to hide Liv-" he turned to the stove and stirred the sauce that bubbled happily in front of him. The steam warmed his face and the onions sizzled as he threw them in to join the mash of sausages and tomatoes and peppers in the saucepan.

"Elliot, you are my partner. You'll make sure I don't chase perps or get shot at." She then sprawled out on the couch like a cat.

Elliot laughed out loud as he crushed garlic under his knife. "I'm flattered Liv but we both know that I have no control over you. If you want to chase a perp, I believe you'd be able to do it even at nine months. And I definitely cannot control if someone shoots at you. Now, come try this."

Olivia rolled off the couch and padded into the kitchen so she could sample the sauce that filled their house with it's aromatic fragrance. She felt her stomach grumble as Elliot held out a wooden spoon to her. She blew lightly before touching her tongue to the reddish-orange paste.

"Needs more salt." She stated matter-of-fact. Elliot could tell that she was frustrated with him and she was trying not to pout. He sighed and placed the spoon back in the pan.

"Liv. If you can't fit into a Kevlar vest, then you should not be in the field. Our child is coming into the world through you. I want our baby to be surrounded by the sounds of Mozart and Beethoven. At the very least Jack Johnson. Not surrounded by the sounds of gun shots and interrogation and rape victims." Olivia lowered her gaze and Elliot placed his hands on her waist. "Is that fair?"

"Yes and no." she whispered. "It's fair to you and for the baby, which is what's important, I know. But it's not fair to me. I'm good at my job Elliot. And I want to be certain of something. At least for now. Because soon enough I will be filled with doubt and fear and uncertainty- and I know you will be too but at least you get to stay at work. And you've done this before. You get to continue loving your job. And continue to be good at it." She furrowed her brow and separated from Elliot and turned her back on him. He sighed and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Olivia," he stared at the back of her head, "I've never been able to make you do something you didn't want to do. But this time it's our child involved…"

"And you're not going to be happy with me working that long." She sighed. She turned back around and faced Elliot. "We can tell the captain at three months… Then it will be up to him. But what if I promise to not work any more than five months in? At the very least let me work office duty. I'll stay out of the field, I wont interrogate and I'll be extra support."

Elliot smiled, "And during all this, no one is supposed to know the little one is mine?"

"Yeah… Are you still okay with that?"

"I want to tell someone." Elliot dropped the bomb that Olivia feared would explode for weeks now.

"Like who?" she whispered.

"Anybody. I'm excited Liv. I want to be excited for the baby to come. I want to get at least one present addressed to the both of us. "

"Well, what if we told family?"

"Depends on what family… I couldn't tell Kathy… She's still bitter. Too unpredictable. She might report us."

"What about your kids?"

"I could only tell Maureen… The others would tell Kathy."

"I want to tell Simon." Olivia felt a small gush of pride at the idea that she had someone to tell. Elliot nodded in agreement.

"Do we tell them together or alone?" Elliot asked.

"Jesus, alone! I don't know about you, but the idea of facing Maureen is absolutely terrifying to my. I've known her since she was still figuring puberty out…"

Elliot laughed and kissed Olivia on the forehead to calm her down, "Fair enough. Do you want me to come with you to tell Simon?"

"Frankly El, the last time Simon saw you, you were aiming a gun at his head. But I definitely think you should get to know him."

"Alright…?" he uncertainly asked, "How?"

"I'll tell him while you're telling Maureen… Then we can have dinner with Simon, here… Only this time I wont let you burn the sauce." She looked over Elliot's should to see a billowing of black smoke rise from the saucepan.

~*~

Elliot stared at a photo of himself and the twins sitting at the beach. The seashell frame was on the mantle over Maureen's faux fireplace. Maureen and her roommate lived in a simple apartment. Cozy and pleasant. The smell of sweet tea filled the living room with Maureen's entrance from the kitchen. She brought along a black tea pot and two mugs.

"Come sit." Maureen placed the tea set on her wooden coffee table. Elliot walked over to a large armchair and he sat on the very edge of his seat. Maureen sat on the matching couch across from him. She poured the tea and handed Elliot a steaming cup. Elliot couldn't believe how nervous he was. He knew Maureen was the safest person to tell but he still feared a negative backlash.

"So, what's going on daddy?" Elliot smiled at the sound of her tiny voice using the only name she called him. His daughter sipped from her mug and gazed at her father innocently.

"Mo- first things first, is that you have to keep everything I tell you confidential. You tell no one. Not even Kathleen or mom. Especially not mom." He blabbered.

"Dad, you're freaking me out."

"I came to you because I trust you. I could lose my job and pension if I'm wrong."

"Jesus dad, you didn't kill someone did you?"

Elliot sighed. It was now or never. "On the contrary. I'm going to have a baby."

Maureen stared at her father in disbelief. "Seriously? Jesus Christ."

"Maureen-" he warned. It still bothered him to hear his Lord's name used in vain.

"At your age? With who? Please don't tell me she's my age. Mom is going to freak out! Kathleen! Dickie and Lizzie! Wait…" Maureen slowed down and narrowed her eyes at her father, "Why could you lose your job? She's not under 18 is she?" Elliot shook his head.

"It's Olivia." With that statement Maureen dropped her mug and it spilled tea all over the floor. Elliot jumped up to help but Maureen stopped him.

"Sit!" She barked and Elliot sat down in the chair as Maureen draped a tea towel over the wet floor and allowed the cotton fibers to soak up the liquid. She then sat down on the couch again. She stared at her father. He was unable to read his eldest daughter's expression.

"So- is this the real reason you and mom split? Was mom right? You were with Olivia this whole time?"

"No Maureen. I was faithful to your mother."

"Oh sure. You just loved Olivia more."

"Maureen, I loved your mother. But I love Olivia. We've been together for almost a year."

Maureen calmed down slightly. "Is Olivia okay?"

"She's scared. Neither of us thought this would happen. But we're excited too."

"So- I'm going to be a big sister again?"

"If you're willing."

"And why am I not allowed to tell anyone?"

"Because Olivia and I are going to get serious shit for this. We may lose our jobs and we are definitely going to be scrutinized, investigated and put on trial. They may transfer us away from each other. This time is like our last hurrah as partners. Then we'll be ready to partner as parents." Elliot looked back at Maureen and realized she was smiling, "What?" he asked, surprised by the change in his daughters attitude.

"You're glowing! Jesus!"

"Maureen." Elliot tried a warning tone but Maureen just giggled.

"You're head over heels for her! Look how excited you are! I've never seen you this excited for anything!"

"I've been this excited before." He defended himself.

"Riiight, when?" she challenged.

"When I found out about you." Maureen smiled at the sweet comment her father left with her.

"Dad, your secret is safe with me. I might tell Johnny but no one else." Maureen referenced her boyfriend. "I'm happy for you. Tell Olivia I say 'congratulations'. This is good." She stood and hugged her father tightly. Elliot squeezed her back and kissed her on the cheek.

"I have to go. We're telling Olivia's brother tonight.:

"Why didn't Olivia come with you to tell me?"

"She's a little terrified of everyone finding out. Plus, I think it would have been a little cruel to tell you when you didn't even know I was seeing someone."

"Good point."

~*~

Next chapter:

Olivia tells Simon, some E/O fluff and some challenges are thrown their way... Review please!