A/N: So I'm the worst kind of person who goes on a random hiatus. Work. Travel. Craziness. But I'm back. With fluff aplenty.
Timeline: January. Alex is 4 months pregnant
Chapter 10
Alex yawned heavily, lazily reaching across to the other side of the bed, eyes still closed from the affront of the sunlight peeking in through the window. She frowned slightly when she found the space beside her empty, cracking open one eye only to find that Olivia was no longer in bed. Turning over, she glanced at the alarm clock: 10:24.
Alex slowly pulled herself out of bed, shivering slightly when her bare feet touched the cold wooden floor. Shrugging on her robe, she padded down the hallway in search of her missing partner. Several minutes later, she entered the illuminated nursery, two mugs in hand. Hearing the door open, Olivia looked up from her place on the floor where she was surrounded by a slew of wooden crib pieces, a most recent Ikea purchase.
"Hey there, beautiful," smiled the detective as Alex handed her one of the mugs. Olivia frowned as Alex took a sip of the dark brown liquid.
Alex rolled her eyes. "Stop worrying. It's decaf." Olivia shook her head with a smirk. Conquering Alex's caffeine habit over the past several months had not been a simple task. "Why didn't you wake me up? It's so late."
"It's the weekend. You've been tired."
The blonde moved over to sit on the only completed furniture piece in the room: a heirloom rocking chair her mother left for Alex in her will. "So, how is the crib coming along," she asked, gesturing at the melange of pegs and beams and rods.
Olivia scowled, picking up a slightly crumbled piece of paper off of the floor. "I swear they're all in Swedish!" she exclaimed. She studied the instructions again for a moment before slapping down the paper in a huff.
"Baby, you're a detective...you're good at solving things. Figure it out."
"Detective, not carpenter," the brunette grumbled, holding a particularly strange wooden piece in her hand.
Alex rolled her eyes. "Fine, let me see the instruction."
"No, no, I've got this," Olivia said determinedly, grabbing the paper once more and furrowing her brow. Alex smirked - Olivia and her pride. She used the free moment to take a look around the room which, despite the earliness in her pregnancy and business of both of their schedules, was progressing quite well. A soft pink paint covered the walls and some of the pale green crown molding had already been installed. The window was blanketed in a simple cream tulle wrapped with pink ribbon. Although it was not complete, a simple cream dresser sat in the corner of the room, where Olivia was taking the time to stencil on wispy designs. Alex was very excited to begin to fill up it's drawers with a new wardrobe.
As the brunette continued to struggle with the task at hand, fiddling with a few wooden beams and a screw driver, Alex reached over to grab a copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting off of the dresser. She decided to flip ahead to one of the sections that she feared - and thus had been avoiding - most: labor. She shook her head and chuckled lightly when she realized that Olivia had already read and hyper-analyzed the section as well. She held up the book to reveal a very highlighted page. "Baby, you do realize I'm the one giving birth?" she giggled.
Olivia looked up and blushed slightly. "I just want to be prepared. You know, to help you through it," she said with a shrug.
Alex smiled softly, eyes glistening slightly from her wife's sentiments. Damn hormones. "You're sweet," she whispered tenderly. "And I would get up to kiss you but I think my ankles are swollen."
Olivia smirked and pulled herself to her feet, moving over to where Alex was seated. She leaned over and placed a sweet kiss on the blonde's lips before the ring of the phone echoed down the hallway. She quickly gave Alex's stomach a quick peck. "This crib will be ready in time for your arrival, Peanut," she assured before heading out of the room. A few minutes later, she returned to the room. "Feeling up to some baseball?"
~*~*~Page Break~*~*~
"So this is Little League, huh?" Alex asked as she and Olivia walked over to the field.
"Yup," Olivia nodded, holding Alex close. "God, I can't believe this field is still here. Back in high school, I must have come down here everyday in the summer. Just playing softball," she reminisced. Alex snickered. "What?"
"Reenforcing the stereotype?" the blonde teased.
Olivia rolled her eyes. "I'll have you know, all that work paid off. Many a times was this first baseman invited under the bleachers for some fan appreciation," she smirked back. "I see El and Kathy."
The couple waved, heading over to the bleachers to meet their friends.
"Hey guys!" Kathy greeted, bouncing little Eli on her lap, "Thanks for coming!"
"Not a problem! I've been dying to see Lizzie and Dickie in action," Olivia responded, taking a seat next to Elliot after helping Alex ease herself down on the metal stands. The group enjoyed some chit chat before the umpire bellowed the signature Play ball!
Alex leaned over to Olivia. "They all look the same in those uniforms. Where are Dickie and Lizzie?"
Olivia surveyed the field. "Looks like Dickie's playing shortstop and Lizzie's on the mound.
Alex cocked an eyebrow. "You say that like it means something to me."
Olivia chuckled shaking her head at Alex's lack of sports-based knowledge. "Lizzie's the one pitching this inning. Then Dickie's between second and third base – those white things on the dirt..." She received a glare from Alex.
"Yes Liv, I am familiar with enough with the sport to know what a base is." Olivia threw her hands up innocently. The blonde leaned over and whispered with a mischievous smile, "Metaphorically as well."
"Why, Ms. Cabot, such a dirty outlook you have," Olivia murmured back seductively, sliding her hand innocently down the blonde's thigh.
Alex shrugged, adjusting the ball cap on her wife's head. "Maybe later you can show me how you hit a home run..." Olivia inhaled sharply, feeling a dip in her core. Suddenly, these seven innings seemed like an unbearably long time to sit through.
~*~*~Page Break~*~*~
"Aunt Liv! Aunt Liv!" Within seconds, the detective was being swarmed by two very energetic ten-year-olds.
Alex smiled as she watched Olivia pull the twins into a hug. "Great game, you two!"
"Did you guys see my hit?" Lizzie said excitedly, juice pouch in hand.
Dickie followed closely in suite. "Mine was better!
"Nuh uh!"
"Ya huh!"
"Nuh uh!"
"Ya..."
"Whoa, you guys! Cut it out!" Elliot said sternly.
"Yeah, you knuckleheads," Kathy said, ruffling their hair, "You both did great!"
"Of course we did! We're Stablers," Dickie said with a smirk before running off with his sister to meet some friends, leaving a puff of orange dirt in their wake.
Kathy shook her head. "The ego – that's all from you, El." Elliot rolled his eyes, taking Eli's stroller off of Kathy's hands. Kathy turned to Olivia and Alex. "Can I interest you two in some dinner," she asked.
"Wow, Kath, trying to soften them up," Elliot teased.
Olivia gave him a perplexed look. "Soften us up for what?"
Kathy smiled softly. "Well, we were going to invite you over regardless," she said, glaring at Elliot, "But Elliot is referring to the fact that next Friday is our anniversary."
"That's right!" Olivia said happily, "Congrats you two! What is that, twenty-five years?"
"Yep!" Kathy beamed. "And this one here, being a romantic at heart, wants to take me out on a date," she explained, earning a slight blush from Elliot. "Problem is, Maureen's busy with school and Kathleen has plans with friends that night."
"We were wondering if you guys wanted to babysit. You know, get some practice," he smirked.
Olivia looked at Alex, who nodded. "Um, yeah, we'd love to you guys!"
Kathy gave a sigh of relief and smiled widely. "Ah, really! Thanks you guys," she said, giving both women a hug. "And don't worry, I'll tell the twins to be on their best behavior."
"Oh when aren't they?" Olivia joked, knowing quite well that the answer was fairly often.
Several days later, Alex was up in Eli's bedroom with Kathy. "So, his diapers are in here... uh, wipes in the heated canister on the changing table. We have a knock-off diaper genie, but it's a bit of a pain in the ass. Keep that in mind when you two are looking for one. Oh, and use ointment as well because Eli has a bit of a diaper rash." The older blonde looked around the room, checking to see if she had missed anything. "I think that's it! Any questions?" she asked. Alex shook her head. With Olivia's attention already occupied by the twins, she was being sure to memorize all of Kathy's instructions, secretly a bit nervous to take care of the baby for the first time. With the exception of a couple of family reunions, Alex didn't have much experience with kids, being an only child herself. She felt very lucky to have Olivia, who was clearly a natural, by her side. "Alright then! There's some leftover mac n' cheese you can heat up for the twins. Eli gets another bottle before he goes down around eightish. And it's a special occasion so Lizzie and Dickie can stay up until nine." She leaned over and gave Alex a peck on the cheek. "Thank you so much again! You guys are going to do great!" she added quickly before rushing to grad her purse.
"Kath! You ready to go, babe?" Elliot yelled from downstairs.
"Yep, we're on our way down," she responded, leading Alex out of the nursery. Heading down the stairs, the two were met by Elliot, who had Eli balanced on his hip. "Bye baby boy," Kathy cooed, placing a kiss on his head. Scooping the child out of her husband's arms, she handed the squirming eight month old to the blonde. Alex tried to balance him awkwardly as he continued to be restless, finally situating him comfortably around her slightly extended bump. "Bye you two," Kathy called over to the twins.
"Bye mom!" they shouted back, not bothering to look up from the Nintendo game they were currently playing with Olivia.
"See you at 12!" Kathy said, slipping her arms into the coat Elliot held out for her before stepping out the door.
"And good luck," Elliot smirked, following his wife outside.
Alex sighed and looked down at Eli. "Here goes nothing, little guy," she breathed. The baby smiled up at her from under his blond curls before contorting his face and grunting, suddenly emitting a foul odor.
"Lovely," Alex muttered, turning to take the baby back upstairs for a changing. "Liv, I'm going to go put a fresh diaper on Eli and then start some dinner."
"Okay!" Olivia called, eyes also glued to the television screen as she pounded down on the controller's keys.
Alex shook her head at her wife's childishness as she headed back to the nursery. Gently laying Eli down on the changing table, she was careful to keep a hand on him as she gathered the supplies she needed, having read in one of her pregnancy books that babies easily roll off of surfaces while getting their diapers changed. She unbuttoned Eli's onesie and removed the soiled diaper, grimacing at the smell. "Okay, Eli, now just stay still," she instructed softly, placing a toy in the child's chubby hands to keep him occupied. Just as she leaned down to grab a wipe, she felt a stream of warm liquid hit the side of her face. She let out a yelp and a few seconds later, heard Olivia rushing up the stairs.
"Everything okay?" she asked worriedly, hurrying over to the blonde's side.
Horrified, Alex exclaimed, "He just peed on me!"
Olivia couldn't help but chuckle. "Aw, sweetheart, you've got to cover him up," she explained, placing a wipe over the baby's lower half. "Boys do that when they get cold down there."
Alex huffed, "Thank God we're having a girl then!"
Olivia bit her lip to keep herself from smiling, knowing it would only upset Alex further. "Sweetheart, go on and clean yourself up and start dinner. I'll take care of the wiz kid over here," she said, tickling Eli's tummy. When Alex had left the room, Olivia laughed at the baby. Referencing a recent spit-up incident, she chided, "First you throw up on her, now pee on her. That, my friend, is not a way to win over the ladies."
~*~*~Page Break~*~*~
"That was delicious! Thanks Alex," Lizzie said, scraping the bottom of her bowl clean.
"It was all your mom's doing. I just heated it up," Alex said with a smile, moving to put the plates in the dishwasher.
"Alright guys," Olivia said, "it's seven-thirty now, so you've got about an hour before you've got to get ready for bed. What do you want to do?"
"Play checkers! No, cards!"
"Yeah, and do a puzzle too! And color!"
"And watch a movie! And..."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Olivia chuckled, "Well, if you want to do that, we better get a move on. How about you two go set up a board game. One of us will be in there in a minute." As per instruction, the twins hurried off to the other room. Olivia smiled and turned back to Alex. "Do you want to go play with them now or put Eli to bed?" she asked.
"I'll take care of this little man," Alex said, smiling at the baby who was now resting peacefully in Olivia's arms, having just finished his bottle.
"Alright," Olivia grinned, sliding the baby into Alex's arms and kissing them both on the foreheads before heading towards the living room to meet Lizzie and Dickie. Before exiting she turned back to Alex, "Hey babe?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you believe that in a few months this will be us?" She paused. "Minus the hyperactive ten-year-olds," she added with a smirk.
Alex laughed. "Yeah, I may need some more time to adjust to that," she said, walking over to Olivia, Eli in tow. "But this," she said, guiding Olivia's hand to her belly and looking at the baby on her hip, "so incredibly happy." Kissing her wife tenderly, Alex headed upstairs. It was true. In spite of some of the less than ideal moments of the evening, including a bumped head, fight between the twins, and general fussiness, watching Olivia take care of Lizzie, Dickie, and Eli made the blonde more excited than ever to be starting a family with the detective. She was still a bit nervous about her own abilities, but figured she at least had a few more months to sort things out. Hopefully that would be enough time, she thought with a frown. Sighing, shechanged Eli into his pajamas and moved over to his crib. "Alright Eli," she said softly, "time to go to sleep," she said as she lowered him. Just as she was about to turn off the light however, upset cries filled the room. Alex's eyes widened, and she headed back over to the crib, picking Eli up. "What's the matter, huh?" she asked softly. "You just ate and," she leaned her head to sniff his bum, "are all clean." She moved to place the boy back in the crib when he whimpered again. Alex sighed. "You just want to be held?" she stated with a questioning tone. "Okay, okay, it's alright," she whispered, wiping a tear off of his cheek. She carried him over to the nearby rocking chair and began to sway back and forth. Eli was quiet for a moment, but then grimaced. "Shhh," Alex cooed soothingly. As she began to hum, she was surprised when the baby suddenly relaxed in her arms. "Oh, you like that? Okay then." Softly, she began to sing a lullaby that her mother had lulled her to sleep with as a child: Golden slumbers kiss your eyes, smiles awake when you do rise...
Having sat the twins down with Monsters Inc., Olivia padded up the stairs to check on Alex. After almost a half an hour now, she had yet to emerge from the nursery, and Olivia wanted to make sure little Eli didn't have any more tricks up his sleeve. When she reached Eli's room, she heard a soft noise – singing? Furrowing her brow, she quietly opened the door a crack. Her wife was rocking Eli slowly as he slept peacefully in her arms, sucking on his tiny thumb. Alex was completely absorbed in the infant, humming a tune as she brushed her fingers through the wisps of his blond hair. Her glasses were perched on the top of her head and she looked tired but perfectly content. Olivia smiled softly to herself, quietly shut the door, and headed back downstairs.
~*~*~Page Break~*~*~
"I cannot believe that it is possible to produce this degree of chaos within a three hour period," Alex sighed, eyes wide as she surveyed the mess that covered the living room. Toys were everywhere – legos and puzzle pieces split on the floor - along with several DVDs and video games, books and snacks. Olivia nodded her head in agreement.
"You go ahead and lay down, baby. I'll take care of this. You shouldn't be bending over too much."
"I'll finish up the dishes first," Alex said, pecking Olivia on the lips.
Over a half hour later, Alex was lounging on the couch, hands resting on her stomach while she watched the nightly news. Olivia gathered up the last puzzle pieces into their box and let out a sigh of relief. "Done!" she exclaimed quietly, placing the box back on its shelf. Alex scooted over on the couch, allowing the brunette to join her. Laying back against a pile of pillows, she gently pulled Alex between her legs and kissed the crown of her head. "Have fun?" she mumbled against her blond tresses, breathing in the soft scent of her lavender shampoo.
Alex nodded tiredly. "Absolutely. I'm exhausted though."
"Yeah, me too." The couple continued to lazily watch the program, Olivia rubbing her hands over Alex's belly in slow rhythmic motions. Just as Alex was about to doze off, she heard a muffled cry over the baby monitor.
Olivia sighed. "I've got him," she said, carefully slipping out from behind Alex. A few moments later, she returned with the baby. "He's not letting me put him down, so I figured I'd let him join us." Alex smiled sweetly at Eli, who yawned tiredly, wet tears beginning to dry off of his cheeks. "You want to hold him? You seem to comfort him." Alex nodded and sat up, taking the baby into her arms. Olivia sat back down behind her, allowing the blonde to rest her body against hers. Alex felt Eli nuzzle into her chest and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. Within minutes, all three of them were asleep.
Olivia woke up to a strong hand shaking her shoulder. Blinking her eyes tiredly, she found her partner leaning over her. "Hey Liv. They tire you guys out?" he whispered with a smile.
Olivia nodded with a yawn. "Thanks so much again, Olivia," Kathy said softly, returning from the twins' rooms. Those two are dead asleep. You must have really tuckered them out."
"I do believe we played ten games of checkers, colored an entire book, played video games, did a puzzle, built Legos, watched a movie, and read some books. I don't know how you two do it," she said with a chuckle.
"Years of practice," Elliot smirked. "You'll find out soon enough. Now, I'd love to let you two stay, but our date night's not over yet," he said suggestively, earning a pop in the shoulder from Kathy.
"Not with that attitude Stabler."
Olivia laughed softly. "Not a problem. Let me just get this one up. Clearly it's past her bedtime. Hey Alex," she whispered into the blonde's ear, "Time to get up sweetheart." Alex mumbled something incoherent and snuggled further into the detective's chest. "Hey El, can you grab Eli?" Her partner obliged and gently scooped his sleeping son up, rocking him gently. Olivia slowly stood up, carefully avoiding awakening Alex. She then leaned down and picked up her wife, struggling slightly with her added weight. Alex muttered something again, burying her head into Olivia's shoulder. "Night guys," Olivia said with a smile, carrying her babies out to the car.