A/N: Hey all. Here's the new chapter.

Thank you all so much for the great feedback on the story. I'm so happy ya'll are liking it.

Now we get to see the baby's gender.

Disclaimer: I don't own SVU, such is painfully obvious.

This chapter is for laylamk :)

Review and enjoy.

Chapter 14: Kathy

The car pulled up to the small house in Little Neck, Queens. "Are you sure about this Katie?"

"Yes Maur," Kathleen replied to her older sister. "This whole thing between mom, dad, and Olivia is tearing the family apart. Unless we can get her to agree to the joint custody motion for Lizzie and Dickie then everyone's going to be screwed."

"Yeah," Maureen admitted as they both exited the car. "Did you see dad before all of this. He was barely hanging in there; he missed all of us and it would kill him not to see the twins."

"Here's hoping mom can see reason." Reaching the door Kathleen knocked. "Hope to God this works."

"Me too."

It took about a minute when Kathy answered. "Maur, Katie?" She immediately hugged them. "What are you doing here? You know you can always come in, this is your home." Beckoning them in, Kathy went to the kitchen. "Can I get you anything? Water? Tea? Cookies?"

Kathleen couldn't help but smirk at her sister. 'A mother's always going to be a mother.' "No mom, we're ok. We just want to talk to you."

"Alright." Kathy was a bit puzzled as to why the girls were here, not that she wasn't glad to see them. "So what's up."

Looking at her sister, when Kathleen nodded Maureen began. "We want to ask you to drop this whole vendetta against dad and Livvy."

Kathy was taken aback; she was not expecting this. "What? I'm not having a vendetta against them Maur. They're trying to take Lizzie and Dickie away from me."

The absolute conviction by which her mom said that made Kathleen wince. "All they're asking for is joint custody mom. I think that's a fair request; you should grant it and abandon this tooth-and-nails fight."

A frown formed on Kathy's face. "I cannot believe that you are taking the side of your father and his mistress…"

"Cut the bullshit mom!" Kathleen yelled, shocking both Kathy and Maureen. "You and dad were married for 23 years and you've known Olivia for the last ten. You don't seriously believe that they were having an affair. No sane person would."

"Don't take that tone with me young lady…"

Kathleen held up a hand. "Don't try to play the moral authority here. You are tearing the family apart with this legal scorched earth policy. You're not fighting against dad and Livvy, you're trying to get vengeance for what you lost in the divorce when in reality it was both you and dad's fault. I love you both but your marriage failed because you never understood dad's problems and heaped the blame on him, not because he was having an affair with Olivia."

Kathy opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out.

Deciding to interject herself before anything vile was said Maureen spoke. "Mom, we aren't blaming anyone. You two married young and stayed together for us. I'm happy you cared about us that much but now it's only going to hurt us if you continue. Please, there won't be any winners."

"Just give dad joint custody. He, and Olivia as well, love the twins with all their hearts and wouldn't dare to take them away from you," Kathleen said. "Please just do it, for the family."

Rising, both girls kissed their mother on the head and left. Kathy just sat there, lost in thought. 'Are they right?'

EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO

"Baby," Elliot called out as he entered their apartment. "I'm back with the groceries you wanted."

"In here El!" he heard Olivia say from the kitchen. The aroma of what Elliot figured was fettucine Alfredo (Olivia's favorite and something he liked as well) wafted into his nostrils. Elliot grinned. 'A woman who six months ago barely had a single grapefruit in her refrigerator is now cooking for her man and her baby.' It didn't sound like Badass Benson, but in a way it sounded exactly like Olivia.

Spotting Olivia in the kitchen, Elliot eyed her from head to toe. She was dressed in sloppy sweatpants and one of his USMC t-shirts. And she had never looked more beautiful. Tiptoeing behind her, he wrapped his muscled arms around her and buried his face in her neck. "Mmmmm, smells delicious."

Olivia smiled, involuntary pushing back into him. "I'm glad El. My cooking has been getting better don't you think?"

"It has, but I'm not referring to the food." Elliot emphasized his point by nibbling on her neck.

"Elliot!" she giggled. Purring at the ministrations of her boyfriend's tongue, Olivia turned in his arms and crashed her lips into his.

"Mmm," Elliot groaned. Oh how he loved kissing Olivia. She was just so damn passionate, and it turned him on tremendously. A hand drifted down to cup her ass.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzt!

"No," Olivia mumbled, not wanting to break the kiss. She wanted Elliot, wanted him now. "Don't go El."

While Elliot wanted nothing more than to pin her against the wall and show Olivia exactly how much he loved her, there might be somebody important at the door. "Sorry baby," he said, breaking the embrace. "I have to get it."

Olivia pouted. "Fine, but we're continuing this as soon as you're done."

"Count on that," Elliot grinned, unlatching the dead bolt and opening the door. The grin vanished at who was on the other side. "Kathy?"

"Hi Elliot," his ex-wife said softly. "Can we talk?"

"El baby, who's at the…" Olivia trailed off at seeing Kathy standing there. "Um, hi Kathy." Seriously, she was smarter than she sounded.

To both their surprise Kathy smiled at her. "Hello Olivia, may I come in?" At her weak nod the blonde entered, waiting for them in the living room.

Elliot wondered if he was in an episode of the Twilight Zone. Wasn't it just yesterday that Kathy had been gunning for their throats? "What the hell?" he whispered to an equally confused Olivia.

"Maybe she's on drugs," Olivia offered lamely, taking his hand and leading him to the couch.

"The baby's coming along well," Kathy offered, sitting on the armchair. "Twenty weeks or so?"

"Uh, yeah." Olivia had no idea why Kathy was being so nice. "Kathy, shouldn't you not see us without your attorney?" Her mind was filled with ways this could end badly.

"I don't need him here." Out of her purse she took a leaf of papers and handed them to Elliot. "This is the custody arrangement Casey gave me at the deposition, the one where we alternate weeks with the twins."

Peering down, Elliot's eyes widened and Olivia gasped. "You signed them?"

"I just wanted to tell you two that I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for what I put both of you through. It was selfish and vengeful of me and I'm sorry."

"Kathy," Elliot breathed. Olivia was his soulmate and the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with but Kathy was the mother of his first four children. She had been his first love and would always hold a place in his heart. Part of him had always been pained that she took the divorce and his subsequent relationship with Olivia badly. He didn't want their relationship to be one of hatred.

Olivia squeezed Elliot's hand, knowing how he was feeling. His compassionate care for his family and friends were reasons why she loved him so. "What caused this Kathy?" She was curious and a bit suspicious at her sudden change of heart. "Yesterday at the hearing you were pushing for sole custody."

A small smile formed on her face. "Maureen and Kathleen came to see me, read me the riot act so to speak. They are so much like you it's uncanny Elliot."

Elliot smiled as well. "That they are."

"Once again Elliot, I'm sorry for keeping you from them. And Olivia I'm sorry for treating you this way for so long. You have been nothing short of perfect towards the kids and our marriage."

"I never had sex with Elliot before the divorce Kathy, I assure you."

"I know. I always knew deep down but somehow thinking that you did made the whole thing easier." Kathy took a deep breath. "Elliot, Olivia, I know this will be awkward for all of us and I'm not asking for a immediate friendship. What I would like is to be civil all around for the kids' sake. I really want to mend fences with everyone that I've hurt, most of all both of you."

Looking at Olivia, once he saw her smile and nod Elliot turned back to Kathy. "We want the same thing."

After hugs all around Elliot led Kathy to the front door. "I'll send Lizzie and Dickie over next week. We can finalize things with the judge tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is actually Olivia's sonogram appointment so can we do it the day after?"

"Of course Elliot." Kathy leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you for forgiving me."

"You're the mother of my children Kathy. Of course I would." Sending off a final smile she was off.

"So detective." Having closed the door Elliot froze. Slowly he turned, knowing that voice anywhere. "I believe you promised to continue something left unfinished."

Elliot stared hungrily. Olivia had shed off her t-shirt and was standing topless, seductively leaning against the wall. "Yes ma'am." Without hesitating he closed the space between them.

EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO

Lying on the exam table in her doctor's office, Olivia looked over at her handsome boyfriend. While his hand clasped hers as he always did he was staring at the wall. "El? You ok?" Ever since Kathy had left their house last night he had seemed preoccupied about something and she wanted to know what.

"Yeah Liv, I'm fine," he replied absentmindedly.

"Don't lie to me El," she stated firmly, frowning. "Don't forget that I can read you like a book. What's going on? You should be happy about getting joint custody of the twins." Olivia then took his hand and placed it on her growing belly. "And about our baby."

As if letting Elliot know they were there baby Stabler began kicking up a storm at Elliot's hand. The feeling never ceased to make the hardened detective melt and now wasn't any different. Sighing, he kissed Olivia sweetly on the lips. "I know Liv; sorry for shutting you out. I'm just worried about our living arrangements."

Olivia furrowed her brows. "What?"

"Well our apartment only has our bedroom and a guest room. With Lizzie and Dickie staying there every other week I guess they could share the room but," he grimaced. "Two teenagers in one room will not be easy, especially a boy and a girl. The new baby on top of it? He or she can sleep in a bassinet for a few months but after a while we need a nursery."

"It's alright Elliot. We can look for another house."

"That's just it Liv. With our large family we'll need a large place, but on two detective's salaries…" He trailed off, head in hands. It was obviously stressing him out. "All my savings is earmarked for Maureen and Kathleen's college. I haven't even began saving for the twins."

Pulling him to her, Olivia kissed his cheek lovingly. "Don't be scared about this El, please. I'm sure we can figure this out." He didn't reply for which she thanked God. Olivia didn't want to tell him her secret right now, but rather it be a surprise.

Anything that may have come of it was stopped when Dr. Yang entered the room. "Hello Detectives. Ready to see your baby," she said in a chipper voice.

"Yes please," Olivia beamed. Nothing could spoil today for her; today was the day she finally learned whether she was having a boy or a girl. Her anticipation and excitement caused her to barely feel the gel and before long the machine was already whirring.

"There's our baby Liv," Elliot breathed, the sight of their child banishing the worries from his head. Sure enough there it was, moving around inside the womb.

"Yep, at twenty weeks almost everything has taken humanlike form and is developed or developing," Dr. Yang helpfully explained. "But I'm sure you already know that Elliot, seeing as this isn't your first rodeo," she smirked.

"Believe me, I'm having fun calming the lady down from her moods," Elliot quipped.

"I do not have moods," Olivia protested, an indignant glare on her face.

Dr. Yang chuckled. "I'm not getting in the middle of this. So…" She pointed to the screen. "This is the leg. That is the other leg. Aaaaand… what it that in between?"

Olivia's eyes widened. "Wait, do you mean?"

"Yes Olivia. You are the proud mother of a little baby boy. Congratulations."

Closing her eyes, Olivia opened them again after a few moments and looked at Elliot with a huge smile. "We're having a boy."

Elliot enveloped her in his arms, kissing her with pure joy. "We sure are baby." 'Dickie's going to love this,' he thought.

At that moment he realized that no matter what problems arose his life was perfect. He had a wonderful family, a precious bundle of joy coming soon, and the love of the most beautiful woman in the world. He owed her everything for that happiness, and the surprise he had planned for her didn't hope to make up for it.

EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO

Hearing the knock on her office door Casey looked up from the motion she was drafting. "Come in," she called, thinking it was one of her assistants.

It wasn't. Casey couldn't help the slight blush on her cheek upon seeing who it was. "Hi Casey," said Fin as he entered with a file in hand. "Captain Cragen told me to give you the police reports on the Johnson rape case."

"Thank you," she said, taking the form. The defense was challenging their lineup in the case and Casey needed the forms to quash their motion. "I hope this'll work."

"Yeah," Fin said, shuffling his feet. Ever since Olivia's little speech yesterday he had been thinking about Casey more and more. Could it be she liked him too? "Um, Case I…"

The chiming of Casey's cell phone cut him off. "One sec," she told him, answering. "Hello?... Oh hi Liv, how'd the appointment go?... Really?... I knew it!... Congratulations, talk to you soon… Bye."

"I take it we know the sex?" Fin remarked as he saw Casey grinning.

"Damn straight. I'm having a godson in four months."

"That's great," Fin was happy too. 'Baby girl deserves this.' Olivia had been blessed with everything, finding love and being accepted into a new family. If she could find that maybe he wasn't beyond finding love.

"Did you want to tell me something Detective?" asked Casey, looking into his eyes with her wide green ones. 'God she's beautiful,' he thought.

"Um, it's almost lunchtime. Want to, uh, maybe grab a bite to eat? I'll buy."

She blinked, shocked at his offer. "Like a… date?"

Fin usually was very self-assured but now he was sweating. "If you'd like," was all he could say.

To his relief Casey smiled. Stepping forward, she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "I'd like that very much. I'll be waiting at the elevator."

'Happy early birthday to me,' Fin thought, his grin putting a toothpaste commercial to shame.

A/N: Ah, so many developments. I hope you like it all :)

So how is Fin and Casey's relationship going to develop? And what are the two secrets that our detectives are keeping from the other? All shall be revealed in the next updates.

Be sure to review, and also check out my other fics Prey and Countdown.

God Bless

Alex