A/N: So I finally found the draft of this chapter that I'd lost, and I'm finally finding inspiration for this story again! I'm so sorry for the long wait, and I hope you all enjoy getting back into this story! As always, please read and review! Love as always, Lacey.
The next morning, Chelsea seemed to have forgotten about the Kathy debacle, instead smiling cheerily when Elliot walked into the kitchen to find her flipping pancakes. "Good morning, sweetheart! I know you don't have a lot of time before you go to work, but I made you breakfast." She quickly fixed him a plate, sitting it on the kitchen counter with a smile. Elliot warily sat down to eat, watching Chelsea carefully as if expecting her to blow up out of nowhere.
"Chels, do you feel okay?" The blonde laughed at his question, leaning on the counter across from him.
"Ya know, Elliot, I've decided that no matter what, Kathy's always going to be in your life because of your kids, and there's nothing I can do other than accept her, no matter how bitchy and intolerable she acts towards me. I love you, and that's enough to make up for her attitude. So don't worry about what she said about me last night, I honestly don't care." With another of her angelic smiles, Chelsea left Elliot to his breakfast as she headed into the laundry room to get clothes out of the dryer. Elliot finished off the food quickly, getting up from the counter to drop his dishes in the sink before sauntering into the laundry room behind his girlfriend.
He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, pulling her back against him as she giggled, dropping the handful of his button-down shirts she was holding. "You're the most amazing woman in the world, you know that, right?"
"Oh, so now that I've decided that killing Kathy is out of the question, I'm amazing?" Chelsea smirked as she turned to face Elliot, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course." With a smirk of his own, Elliot kissed Chelsea, smacking her ass playfully before he turned to leave. "I'll see you after work, baby, I love you."
"I love you too!" Her bright voice made him smile as the door shut behind him.
Chelsea entered the squad room, looking around for Elliot. Olivia saw her as she came in the door, and waved her over to her desk. "Hey Chels, what brings you here?"
"I need to see Elliot, is he here?" The blonde seemed a little nervous, her fingers anxiously twisting the charm on the zipper of her hoodie.
"No, not right now. He and Finn went to interview a witness, but I'm sure he'll be back soon. You can sit at his desk until he gets back if you want." Olivia watched the blonde's movements, trying to figure out what was wrong with her. "Chelsea, are you okay?"
After a moment, Chelsea gave Olivia a smile. "I'm perfect, Liv." Pausing a second, Chelsea reached in her bag, pulling out a manila envelope. She pushed it toward Olivia, and the detective opened it. Pulling out a sheet of glossy paper, her mouth dropped open as she flipped it over and saw an ultrasound. Looking up, she saw Chelsea grinning widely. "I'm pregnant, Olivia."
"Congratulations, Chels! This is amazing, Elliot's going to be so happy!" Olivia's smile matched Chelsea's, the detective happy for her partner and his love. "Are you far enough along to tell what it is?"
Chelsea leaned back in the chair, a hand on her still-flat stomach. "Not quite yet, I still have another month or two before that happens. But still, a baby!" Her face fell a little, and she leaned forward to rest her chin on her hand. "I just don't know how Elliot's gonna feel. I mean, I know he loves me and he'll be happy because I'm happy, but he's already got five kids. What's he gonna do with another one?" It was clearly dampering her happiness to worry about Elliot's reaction, so Olivia reached over to pat her hand.
"Chelsea, Elliot's gonna be happy no matter what. Besides, he's always wanted another boy to even out with the girls!" That got a laugh from Chelsea, who's happy glow returned.
"I'm so excited, I can't wait to be a mom, Liv. It's going to be amazing!"
The words were barely out of her mouth when Finn and Elliot entered the squadroom, "What's going to be amazing?" Stabler leaned over to kiss Chelsea, the blonde standing up and smiling widely as she shared a look with Olivia.
"Ell, I have a surprise for you." She paused to pick up the ultrasound from his desk, flipping it over so he couldn't see the image before handing it to him. "Flip it over and look at it."
"What is it?" Elliot looked confused, flipping the glossy sheet over and immediately looking startled as he saw the black and white image. "Chelsea... Is this what I think this is?"
Chelsea was nearly breathless with excitement. "Yeah, Elliot, it is. I'm pregnant."
"Hey, congrats, Stabler, just what we need, another one of you running around!" Finn clapped his fellow detective on the shoulder, Elliot the only one not smiling in the whole group.
Chelsea noticed this, and she lost her smile. "You're not happy, are you?" Tears began to fill her eyes, and she snatched the ultrasound back from his hands. "I knew this was going to happen." She turned to walk away, but Elliot grabbed her arm.
"Baby, wait. Come with me." He led her to an empty interview room, shutting the door behind them. "So you're having a baby?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I'm nine weeks. We're going to be parents, Elliot. Aren't you happy?"
"I'm happy, Chelsea, I just didn't expect it. I already have five kids-"
Chelsea cut him off, her voice sharp. "Five kids with Kathy. But I guess that's okay with you, have kids with her and then just have me around for a good lay when you want it! Nevermind what I want, I'll just waste my life as your whore and never have a family of my own!" The tears that had been welling finally started falling, her voice raising until she was screaming.
Elliot stepped forward and tried to hug her, but Chelsea shoved him away. She clutched the ultrasound to her chest, adjusting her purse on her shoulder as she snatched open the door. "Don't worry about me, Elliot, I'll be fine."
"Where are you going, Chelsea?"
"Away from here! I'll take care of my baby, and you won't have to!"
And then she was gone, storming out of the squadroom in a huff. Elliot chased after her, but by the time he reached the elevator, she was gone. Sighing and running a hand through his hair, he turned back towards his desk, deciding it'd be better to wait until he got home to try and broach this conversation with her again.
Little did he know his world was about to turn upside down.
