Sunday, March 23

It was Sunday morning already, and where had the time gone? Olivia couldn't figure it out. It was their first time away from Cecilia for longer than a day, and she missed her terribly. But living beachside for the past few days, despite the rain had been pretty dreamy. She felt her heart swell greatly when she thought about if they ever came back here for a vacation. It would be her, Elliot, and the kids- all of them. Her mind dreamed intensely about next summer, the possibility of having their first family vacation here. Late nights spent barbecuing and roasting marshmallows, their afternoons spent on the beach while she sat in the shade keeping an eye on Mason as he played in the sand with his daddy. The shrieking laughter that roared deep from Cecilia as Eli played with her carefully. The girls working on their "perfect tan" for the summer. Dickie and the few friends he brought along playing a game of volleyball with a few girls they'd hope they could shoot their shot with.

Next summer, she said to herself.

"What's that?" Elliot looked up from the suitcase he had been loading with the few clothes he had left to pack.

"I was thinking maybe next summer we could bring the kids up here for a few days," she hadn't realized she'd said it loud enough for him to hear. "By the way, these looks ridiculous. I can't believe you packed these for me," she said. Referring to the dark washed overalls she had found in her luggage this morning, and the only clean thing she had left.

"I think you're forgetting that I found them in your closet," he smiles and she can't help the laugh that escapes from her mouth.

"Touche," she gives him a break. "The sad part is that I bought these two weeks ago and they already barely fit," she pulls herself up from where she sat on the edge of bed to answer her phone that rings from the other side of the room. She see's it's a facetime call from Maureen and tries to smooth out her unkept sex hair from last night, which earns a chuckle from Elliot.

"Cecilia!" Olivia coos when her baby girl's face appears on the screen, a face that she swears has changed over the past weekend. "Are you having fun with Mo?" she babbles and smiles, revealing the four teeth that had grown in in the last few months. "I miss you!"

"Oh okay that's enough!" Maureen appears on the screen after taking the phone from Cecilia who had begun slobbering over the lens. "Hey Liv! I hope you and dad are having fun! When will you be back?"

"Hi honey, we'll be back late afternoon. You didn't burn the house down did you?"

"Give me a break! I can manage to put a pizza in the oven from time to time," she shifted Cecilia in her lap who continued to try and grab the phone with her chubby hands.

"Okay okay," Olivia held her hand up surrendering. "Thank you guys again for watching her, we'll see you soon! Cecilia, mommy and daddy love you!" Olivia blew a kiss, making the child erupt in laughter. A sound that she didn't know she had missed so much until she heard it. "Love you Mo, see ya later!" the call disconnects and she gathers the few things she had left out to get ready this morning, before meeting Elliot downstairs and starting the two hour trip back home.

Monday, March 24

Suddenly those blissful days at the beach weren't long enough as the blaring sounds of their shared alarm goes off at the crack of dawn. Olivia barely budges, and that's only due to the shift when Elliot's side of the bed is no longer weighed down. Once she hears the shower running she knows she has at least another ten minutes before Elliot is finished, and comes to rub her head in an effort to wake her. She snuggles closer to the pillows she has precisely set up underneath her belly. Just as sleep has settled back in, she feels the familiar touch of his hands threading through her hair as his thumb runs along her temple. The smell of his body wash wavers through the room as her eyes open to find his icy blues staring back at her.

"Up for bustin' some perps today?" she knows he's trying his best to keep her in good spirits, and she offers him a small smile.

"I'm more on the brink of sleeping until this little guy comes," she croaks and snuggles closer to her mountain of pillows. Elliot smiles and continues to run his hand through her hair, knowingly lulling her back to sleep.

"I'll see you later. Love you," he kisses her forehead and in response she mumbles something unrecognizable as she falls back asleep. Quickly, he dresses himself for work before preparing breakfast for Cecilia before the sitter came. He leaves a note on the nightstand for Olivia, to call him when she wakes, and pulls the covers higher over her before heading to the precinct.

On his way to the precinct, Elliot had called Captain to let him know Olivia was sleeping in today. Cragen's tone was light and Elliot had sworn he'd heard him chuckle a bit when he told him Olivia wasn't budging this morning. The truth being it was still a shock to him that she was pregnant, and that he was- or at least felt like he was gaining another grandchild. He'd reassured him it was perfectly okay, and stated she needed all the rest she could get. But it was when Cragen told him to come straight to his office if he could when he got there, that threw him into a nervous fit.

Of course his mind went wild, immediately thinking that he and Olivia were being separated. Much more than having new partners, but maybe, now that it was clear they were together for good, one of them would have to leave the 1-6.

When he stepped off the elevator, he took a deep breath and went to Cragen's office just as he was instructed.

"Mornin Captain," Elliot knocked before entering and went to take a set in one of the chairs.

"Morning Elliot. I won't keep you long," Cragen shut the file he had been looking over, and sat up in his office chair. "I'll cut right to the chase. I got an email over the weekend from the bureau regarding you and a job offer."

"A job offer?" Elliot rested his elbows on his knees and leaned forward.

"Yup, they want you to help train the rookies, the physical aspect of it all. Self defense, the shooting range, all the ins and outs. With your military background..It's time for you to be more than just a detective. And with seven kids, it's definitely time for a pay raise."

"Captain I don't know what to say.." Elliot wrenched his hands. His nervousness subsiding and transferring into worry.

He was ready to move on in some aspects. The random calls in the middle of night about a new case, the missing kids, the justice system failing them more often these days..

But then there was Olivia, the familiarity of it all. The pay raise would definitely help. They could work on saving for a house, put away for the kids college funds. It would be a huge change, but one that would change everything for the better.

"How about, yes?"

"Let me just-"

"Talk to Olivia?" Cragen finished his sentence, grinning. Something he had been doing a lot more of these days.

"Yeah," Elliot blushed and scrubbed his hand down his face.

"I should tell you though this job is in DC. You'd go a few times a month, maybe sometimes not at all for a while but you would still be paid. But you would get more than double your salary here, more time at home with Olivia."

"Tell the bureau I said thank you for the offer and I'll think about it," he stood and exhaled a deep breath before exiting his office. Wondering how the hell he would break the news to Olivia.

"Everything okay?" Olivia studied Elliot's profile as he sat at the end of the sectional, rubbing her swollen feet. She had noticed how quiet he had been since they had gotten home a few hours ago. Olivia chalked it up to it just being a busy first day back, but knowing him it had been more than that.

"Yeah," his tone was somber, and he continued looking at the television. Olivia kept her eyes locked on him, and he could feel her gaze knowing that the gig was up. "No," he switched the television off and turned to look at her.

"Elliot, what's wrong.."

"I promise it's nothing bad," he let her know as soon as he seen the worry cross her face. "Cragen said the bureau has a job offer for me, it's in D.C," he went on to explain the details, relaying everything Cragen had told him this morning.

"Oh," was all she could spit out, running her hands over the swell of her stomach and tugging on her bottom lip.

"Oh, doesn't sound too good," he placed her feet on the couch and went to kneel in front of her. "Liv, talk to me."

"I am happy for you, I swear. It's just.." she paused. Trying her hardest to keep the tears welling in her eyes from escaping.

"I'll be leaving SVU?" his voice was soft as he rubbed along her forearm. He seen the immediate change in her. She was tense and her voice voice was shaky he was sure from her trying to keep a brave face for him.

"Yeah," her voice was quiet. She covered her face in her hands and couldn't help the sobs that took over. "I'm sorry honey. It's these damn hormones," she lied.

"I think it's a little bit more than that.." he pushed her. She let out a few deep breaths, trying to steady her breathing. She swung her legs around and Elliot was kneeled in front of her, his hands holding hers in her lap.

"I want you to take it. This is an amazing opportunity, but I can't imagine you being gone every month for days and maybe sometimes weeks at a time. I'll be here alone with two kids and working. I just can't do it all alone. I can't be-" she stopped herself before finishing her sentence.

"You can't be what?" she went back to biting on her lip. The last thing she wanted was to get into an argument and spoil his good news. But Olivia had to be rational about this.

"I can't be...I can't be, Kathy," her eyes lowered and the tears continued to spill over.

"What the hell does that mean?"

"I can't let you leave me here by myself in the city with a baby and a toddler. Sure, you'll only be a train ride away but you won't physically be here, Elliot. You'll miss milestones, recitals, who knows what else. I can't let you repeat what you did to Kathy. I can't let that be my life," there was a pause that spoke volumes between the two. She could see the twitch of his lips, seeing how he was struggling with himself. What to say, what not to say. Trying his best to not let his temper consume him before he could hear Olivia out.

"How could you say that? How could you even think that?"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything and now you're mad at me. Just forget everything I said," she was rambling, regretting even saying anything. Before she could push herself off the sofa he gently pulled her back down.

"I'm not mad. I'm frustrated. The last thing I wanted to do was leave you feeling like this; alone," his thumbs rubbed the backs of her hands as they rested in his. "If we can't figure out a schedule- a way to make this right, then I won't take it," he placed a kissed her belly before standing and kissing her forehead.

"I ruined your wonderful news," the tears had finally stopped. "I am so proud of you baby," she brought his face down to hers and cupped his cheeks. "We will figure this out. There's no way in hell I'm letting you give this up," she kissed him before pulling away to look into his cool blues. "We okay?"

"Are you okay?"

"I will be."

Whether they found a proper schedule that worked for them both or not. Whether he was gone as much or more than anticipated. None of it truly mattered because no matter what happened once he accepted this job offer, they would no longer be at the 1-6 together. No more carpooling to work, stealing glances at one another while they worked through DD5's, sneaking off to lunch together. It hadn't been so difficult not having him as her partner. She'd only worked without him for a short time until she was on desk duty. But now she would be left without him completely.

Saturday, March 30

They had all been quiet, well as much as they could have been that morning. The girls had all come over with their hands full of gift bags and a few party decorations in the hopes of throwing an impromptu baby shower for Olivia. She had protested weeks ago when they had suggested she let them put together one, and had backed off until Maureen suggested this: breakfast in bed with gifts in tow for the mother to be.

It was the closest to a baby shower as they would be able to get with Olivia's extremely stubborn attitude. They had cooked a little bit of everything with a little help from Elliot, and had made a small platter to bring to Olivia. Elizabeth had thoughtfully laid out the platter, a single flower and card on a tray while her sisters and Elliot followed behind with the presents.

"Olivia.." Elliot ran his hand over her shoulder and planted kisses to the back of her head that faced him, and gently coaxed her from her sleep. She groaned and turned her body over to face in his direction, blinking her eyes furiously when she noticed the girls were standing behind him.

"Surprise!" Kathleen yelped and smiled brightly.

"What is all this?" she hadn't moved from the cocoon of blankets she had been wrapped in.

"The baby shower you didn't ask for with a side of breakfast in bed!"

"Wow this is-" Olivia sat up in bed and instantly threw the covers back when she felt a dampness on the sheets underneath her.

"Olivia what is it?" Elliot followed her eyes and seen the the sheets had been soak between her legs.

"No no no no no," she pleaded with herself and honestly god himself. Praying that her bladder had betrayed her and it was urine and not..

"I think my water must have broken overnight," the bodies surrounding her suddenly became blurry, she was crying, almost hysterical when she looked down again. "It's too early. He's not supposed to be here until May!"

"Olivia, I want you to try and stay calm okay? I'll call the doctor and let her know we're on our way. Girls, can you help Olivia get cleaned up?" he had done this before. Plenty of times but none of the kids had came early. He knew that 38 weeks was considered full term but Olivia was barely pushing 34. Elliot swallowed the lump in his throat and took a deep breath before going into the hallway to make the phone call.

"I'll grab Cecilia, you guys get her out of those leggings. And grab towels!" Elizabeth took charge and quickly padded her feet down the hall to grab the sleeping child from her crib.

"Liv, do you want sweats or leggings?" Kathleen dug through the drawers until she found Olivia's.

"Just grab something!" Maureen barked at her as she helped Olivia out of her leggings. She cried silently as her mind raced to deep dark places. Wondering just how much this moment would deeply affect their lives forever. If Mason coming early would make him sick or damage him in any way. She would love him either way, that was a given but she needed for him to just be okay.

"Olivia, baby," Elliot entered the room and kneeled next to her as she sat on the bed in only her underwear and the shirt the wore to bed. "Dr. Parilla is going to meet us there in 30 minutes. She told us not to worry and that she's going to do everything in her power to keep this baby boy in there, okay?" his voice was calming and gentle as his hand rested on her knee.

She nodded and broke down in tears again. Ultimately terrified.

Elliot looked over at Maureen and Kathleen who stood awkwardly, holding a pair of sweats and underwear in their hands. They took a hint and laid the clothes across the bed before going to check on Elizabeth.

"I can't do this. It's too soon!"

"You can and you will," he helped her stand and stripped her out of her underwear. "Dr. Parilla sounded more than confident over the phone. You're more than ready," he coaxed her in an attempt to calm her nerves while he helped clean her up as best he can and get her changed.

"So what do you say? Let's go have a baby?" he tugged a sweatshirt over her head and kissed the tip of her nose.

"Or not," she sniffled and cracked a small smile.

"Or not," he repeated and smiled small as he grabbed her hand and helped her downstairs for possibly the last time before Mason was here.

Urine or Amniotic fluid? LMAOO

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