The nurse places the baby in Olivia's arms. He sleeps peacefully. Olivia studies him in silence. He has chubby cheeks, and dimples. She can see thick dark hair under the cap on his head. His chubby hands are curled into fists. She stares at the innocent baby, and she is instantly in love. She looks up at the nurse, trying to hold back tears.
"Does he have a name?'"No. You get to name him."Olivia holds him closely, and listens to him breathe. She suddenly remembers the situation in her own life. She is pregnant. The little boy opens his eyes, and looks up at her. The nurse breaks the silence.
"I know that this is all so sudden. The mother only chose a guardian this morning. I understand if you need some time to think."
"I don't."
"You don't want him?"
Olivia swallows hard, "I do."
Sophie's lips crawl into a smile. "I'll get the paperwork."
Olivia nods. The nurse returns a few moments later with the paperwork.
"Why don't I take him for a minute, while you sign the paperwork?"
Olivia slides the sleeping boy into the nurse's arms. She begins to fill out the paperwork.
"If you don't have a name picked out you can just leave it blank. You have up to a year to choose a name.""Ok," she agrees.
After Olivia finishes the paperwork the nurse hands her the baby. She hands her a black bag.
"This is a bag we give out to all the new parents. It has some samples, and some coupons in it. There are a couple of diapers, a little pack of wipes, some formula, and a bottle. It's not much, but hopefully it will last you until you can get to the store. I know that you weren't prepared to be bringing a baby home today."
"Thank you."
"Congratulations."
Olivia leaves the nursery after the nurse has copied the documents, giving a copy to her. Olivia carries the baby in her arms. He sleeps peacefully, swaddled in her arms. She heads back towards the elevator. Her partner spots her as she passes the waiting area. He joins her in the hallway.
"So there was no confusion?" he questions.
"Apparently not."
"So you're taking a baby home today?"
"Yes," she confirms."
"You don't have anything for a baby."
"I am fully aware of that," she admits.
"Would you like my help?"
"I can't drive home with a baby in my arms," she responds.
He nods, and she hands him her keys. The car ride is silent. She holds him in her arms until they reach home. She doesn't put him down when she enters the apartment. She takes a seat on the couch. Nick takes a seat next to her. He stares at her, in disbelief.
"What just happened?" he questioned.
"I left the apartment empty handed, and came back with a baby."
"You don't have anything."
"I don't want to take him out."
"Does he have a name?"
"Not yet," she admits.
"I think we should rally the troops."
"Rally the troops?" she raises an eyebrow.
"You have to get baby stuff somehow."
"Where am I going to put him?"
"I hear the dishwasher is available," he jokes.
"We have got to do something. I have enough stuff to last a couple of hours."
"I am going to invade your privacy, and tell you business."
"Excuse me?"
"Give me your phone, I am going to go in the other room and make some phone calls on your behalf, and then I am going to go to the store."
"Ok. While you're in the other room will you make the bed?"
"I already did."
Twenty minutes later Nick leaves Olivia's apartment. She is still sitting on the couch when he walks out the door. She stares at the baby, in silence. All of a sudden he starts to cry. She checks her watch.
"You're hungry," she assumes.
She grabs the bottle of formula out of the bag from the hospital. She reads the directions. After following them she places the bottle in his mouth. The crying stops. He looks up at her as he sucks on the bottle. She's just finished burping the baby when someone knocks on her door. She swaddles the sleeping baby, and makes her way to the door. She checks the peephole, and unlocks the door. She pulls the door open, and allows the party on the other side to come in. Cragen steps into the apartment.
"Nick called. I came as soon as I could," he holds out a bag for her.
"What's this?" she questions.
"He told me that you got a call from the hospital and you brought home a baby. He said he didn't have time to explain. He just said that you had nothing, and needed everything, and to bring you something."Olivia holds the baby in one arm, and the bag with the other. She hands Cragen the baby.
"It's just diapers, and wipes, something I know that you can't have too many of. I got newborn. I don't know much about babies."
"That's ok, I appreciate it."
He looks at the baby. "Congratulations, this has been a long time coming.""It is completely surreal," she admits.
"I would imagine. When did you find out?"
"When the hospital called a few hours ago."
"So how long is he yours?"
"The birth mother is surrendering her rights."
"To you?"
"Yes," Olivia nods.
"So, forever?"
"Yes."
"What's his name?"
"He doesn't have one yet. I didn't have time to come up with anything. I didn't want to stick him with a name that I came up with on the fly, so I thought that it would be better just to wait."
"I guess that you're going to need some time off."
She nods, "Among other things."