AUTHOR'S Note: I am sorry it has taken me so long to update. I have just been super busy with school and work and have struggled with update ideas. Also, the only place I have internet access right now is at work and I cannot post updates from there. I will try not to go this long between updates anymore. Thank you all for being so patient with me! This one if for all of my loyal readers, without you guys I would just be writing stories to myself. You all ROCK!
- Detective Olivia Stabler -
Playing House
(Chapter Twenty Eight: 'Til Death Do Us Part)
"This is just depressing," Olivia said looking around the room as she and Casey entered the bridal store.
"Why is it depressing? This is your wedding dress. For your big day. It should be exciting."
"It is. But dress shopping was a lot more fun the first time around. Before I gained almost thirty pounds," she replied smoothing her hands over her baby bump.
"But it was for a good cause," Casey said with a laugh.
"I don't even know if they make maternity wedding gowns."
"A lot of women get married while they are pregnant. I am sure they have something that will be perfect."
"Case, most women get married before they are nine months along. While they still fit into wedding dresses."
"Well, we won't find anything if we don't look."
"I know. I just have three weeks left until the wedding and so far I have no dress, no dresses for the girls and still have to decide on the menu. So the way things sit, I have a venue for the reception, a preacher, a cake and a group of naked women at my wedding."
"Well, I'm sure male guests won't mind."
"Careful, now. Those naked women include my daughters, my big pregnant self and you my love."
Casey laughed.
"Don't give up. It will all come together. Try not to get too stressed out over it all. We will get it."
"I'm just so tired," Olivia groaned as she flipped through a dozen more wedding dresses that seemed to look exactly like every other dress she'd seen.
"Some of these are really pretty."
"They are. But they are not really what I am looking for," Olivia replied. "To be completely honest, I don't really know what I am looking for. But I am sure I will know it when I see it."
"Your dress before was gorgeous."
"I loved that dress. I just happened to stumble across it on a rack in the back of the bridal shop."
"It was really pretty."
"Thank you. I also saved six hundred dollars because it was missing a couple of sequins."
"I didn't notice that."
Olivia smiled in accomplishment.
"Precisely. But I'm not really seeing anything that really speaks to me here. Do you see anything you like, maid of honor?"
"I thought we were going to shop with the girls later this week."
"We are. But I am open to suggestions. I was thinking you and I could come up with a couple of ideas and then you and the girls could choose from those."
"So kind of a pre-approved shopping session?"
"Anything to make this easier."
"Easier?"
Olivia stopped and stared at her.
"Obviously you have never been clothes shopping with three teenaged girls. If we don't narrow the field a little it is going to take forever, we could have a war on our hands and God only knows what kind of dress we will end up with."
"Ahh, sneaky."
"Just help me look. Find something you like….a few something's. We can decide on colors as we go along."
"So where did you decide to have the wedding?" Casey asked combing through another rack of bridesmaid dresses.
"Well, we both liked the country club we used the last time, so we decided to have it there again. It was pretty and spacious and photographed really well."
"It was perfect. If I ever get married…..and that is a really BIG if…..I would probably consider using that as my venue as well."
"Glad I could help," Olivia said sarcastically.
"What do you think about this one?" Casey asked holding up a dress.
"That is really cute. It is shorter so it is light and fun, but it is also classy."
"And they have two different skirt designs and two different top designs on that one," a sales girl pointed out.
Olivia looked at Casey and raised an eyebrow.
"Four different combinations. And there are four of us. If we get them all the same color then they are similar, but each one is unique."
"Then all they have to fight over is who gets what color."
"So get them all the same color."
"Well, that would just be too easy," Olivia laughed. "But now what color do we use?"
"We could take votes from the girls. Next week, when we go shopping. We can bring them here and let them each pick out their dress and together we will decide on a color. And after we order dresses, I can treat everyone to lunch and a mani/pedi."
"You don't have to do that."
"I want to. This is supposed to be your girl time to bond with your wedding party. I cannot think of any better way to bond then over a class of Champaign and an amazing foot soak."
Olivia laughed.
"Or some sparkling white grape juice," Casey suggested realizing that more than half the wedding party was not yet old enough to legally consume alcohol. "And those massage chairs….I am so going to have to get one of those for my apartment," she added.
Olivia moaned softly and closed her eyes.
"That does sound pretty amazing."
"Yes it does. And so does the lunch part. I am starving!"
"You? I'm the pregnant one."
"Lets take a break and we can try again after lunch."
"Now that is the best idea you have had all day," Olivia agreed with a smile.
After a long and exhausting day of dress shopping, Olivia returned home….dressless to make dinner for her fiancé and children.
"Where is everyone?" she asked as she carried a large bowl of salad to the table. "It is awful quiet around here."
"The kids went to the movies. The newest installment of some comic book superhero flick. Dickie has been on the countdown since he saw the advertisement on TV a few months ago. When I got home he was running around here wearing a mask and a cape," he laughed as Olivia smiled. "I gave them some money to go. They'll be back a little later. And I am sure they will all be ready for a big plate of your famous spaghetti. But for now," he said as he leaned forward and lit two candles in the center of the table before dimming the dining room lights, "it is just you and I, my love."
Olivia smiled as Elliot pulled out a chair for her and she took a seat.
"Wait," she said turning to look at him as she placed a napkin in what little bit of her lap that wasn't hidden by her swollen belly, "they took a two week old baby to a Spiderman movie?"
Elliot smiled and shook his head.
"It's Batman. And I didn't say that. I guess technically we aren't really alone," he said standing from the table as Olivia followed him around the corner to see little Isaiah passed out in his swing.
Olivia smiled and laughed a little.
"How did you pull that off?" she asked leaning to raise the receiving blanket up and tuck it around the baby.
"We Stabler men have a lot in common."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, he likes to drink until he passes out. Just like grandpa."
Olivia laughed and playfully hit Elliot in the shoulder.
"Let's go finish dinner so that I can watch the baby while Kathleen eats. We can listen for him and I will change him and wake him up after we eat."
"Wake him up? Why would you wake him up?"
"To play with him of course! Grandma hasn't got to hold him all day. And if we let him sleep too long now he won't want to sleep tonight when it is bedtime."
"You spoil him."
"I spoil him?"
"Yes, you do."
"You're right, I do," she confessed. "But at least I am not all sneaky about it like you are. Trying to play all tough, when you are just as taken by him as I am."
"Busted," he admitted. "He has me wrapped around his little finger. I know that. He is our first and only grandchild. And had better be for at least a few more years. It is our job as his grandparents to spoil him. But there are a lot of young mothers out there who quickly learn that grandma and grandpa will supply everything the baby ever needs and wants. Then the grandparents end up raising the baby. I just don't want Kathleen to end up like that. She has it in her to be a good mother, the mother that baby deserves. But she is still a kid herself. And she is never going fully apply herself to parenthood if we do everything for her."
"Her baby, her responsibility."
Elliot put down his fork and looked at her.
"I think she is doing a wonderful job. She is young. She is a kid. But she is also a damn good mother who loves her son more than anything in the world."
"I completely agree," Elliot said picking up his glass to take a drink of iced tea. "I am very proud of her. And of him."
"Then maybe you should tell her that."
"Yeah," he agreed with a nod.
After dinner Olivia woke Isaiah up to spend a little time with him. She changed his diaper and laid him on a blanket in the floor as she smiled and cooed down to him. Isaiah just stared up at her trying to focus his big blue eyes on her as he grunted. She opened his little hand and placed a rattle in it, showing him how to hold it with a fist.
An hour later the kids gathered around the table, raving about the movie and Olivia's cooking. Kathleen cradled her baby boy and smothered him with kisses, before handing him back to Olivia and settling into her seat at the table with her siblings.
Olivia ran some warm water in the kitchen sink and sat the baby's bath tub into it. She laid out his things on the counter and tossed a little rubber ducky into the water as well. Then she laid Isaiah on a towel on the counter and stripped off his clothing before lowering him into the water.
"There we go," she cooed softly as she put a dab of baby wash on his wash cloth.
After his bath she picked up the towel and pulled the baby from the water swaddling him in his little terry cloth robe.
"Careful," Kathleen warned from the next room as she carefully observed, "every time I do that he pees on me."
Dickie burst into laughter.
"He peed on you?"
"About four times now," Kathleen confessed. "It is really gross. You should probably get the new diaper on him as soon as possible."
"Thanks for the tip," Olivia replied kissing the baby boy as she quickly dried him off and slipped the new diaper under him. "There we go. Now let's go make you some dinner," she cooed kissing him once more as she held the baby in one arm and began to mix him a bottle with the other.
"It is bedtime little man," Kathleen said softly as she took her son from Olivia. "Thanks, Liv," she said with a hug.
"What about dear old dad?" Elliot asked from his recliner.
Kathleen laughed as she made her way to him.
"Thank you for watching him for me daddy," she said as she placed a kiss on her father's cheek. "It was a nice little break."
"And well deserved," Elliot replied taking his grandson from his daughter to hold him for a moment.
He rocked the boy gently in his arms and kissed him tenderly, before handing him back to his mother.
"Good night buddy," he whispered smoothing his fingertips over the baby's head.
"Good night sweetheart," he said kissing Kathleen and remembering a time when she was the tiny new baby in the family.
"Good night dad," she said turning to head out to her new apartment above the garage.
"Kathleen…."
"Yes?" she asked looking back at him.
"You are a very good mother," Elliot said with a smile. "And I am so proud of you. Olivia and I both are. You are doing a great job, honey."
Kathleen smiled.
"Thanks daddy."
"You're welcome, baby. You call us if you need anything. We are just a few feet away."
"I will, I promise."
Elliot watched as she turned and walked through the kitchen and out the door toward the apartment.
Two days later Casey and Olivia took the girls to the bridal shop to make the final decisions on their dresses for the wedding. As they tried on their dresses Olivia made one last pass over a rack containing a new shipment of wedding gowns. There in the middle, almost completely hidden by the layers of tacky lace and tulle from the dresses around it, was her wedding dress. The one that spoke to her.
"Casey," she gasped as she pulled the strapless ivory ball gown from the rack.
"What's wrong?" Casey asked stumbling out of the dressing room half naked and in a panic.
"This is it. I found my dress!"
Casey tipped her head and looked confused.
"That's it?"
"That's it?" Olivia repeated. "This is what we came here for."
"No, no, no. I mean, that's it? You found a dress?"
"Yes."
"As in you are not in labor or having a heart attack or anything like that?"
"No."
Casey closed her eyes and waited for her heart to return to it's regular beat pattern.
"You scared the hell out of me," she said holding her own dress up around her chest as she made her way back behind the curtain.
"Sorry," Olivia replied nervously as she returned her attention to her dress.
After an hour of carefully considering every color the dresses was offered in, Casey and the girls finally agreed on sage green. Odd color for a wedding, Olivia thought for a moment. But this thought was completely erased from her mind when she stepped out of the dressing room in her gown and stared at it in the mirror. It were as if this dress were made just for her. And as the girls filed in around her to inspect the dress as well, she realized just how well sage green chiffon went with ivory satin.
"Well, this has been a very productive day," Casey said with a smile as she settled into a chair beside Olivia and lowered her feet into the heat of the bubbly water.
"It has. But I think this pedicure is by far the best part. My chunky little swollen feet are loving this," Olivia replied looking down as a the girl began to massage her feet with hot botanical oils. "This feels amazing!" she said closing her eyes and allowing herself to really feel the magic the massage chair was working on her lower back.
"Now all that is left to decide on it the menu for the rehearsal dinner."
"Nope, rehearsal dinner has been changed to a cocktail hour," Olivia replied with a smile. "El has his bachelor party that night and it is just less fuss."
"Bachelor party?"
"Yeah, some of the guys from the precinct want to take him out for a while afterward."
Casey smiled.
"You know they are going to see strippers, right?"
"Probably."
"And that doesn't bother you?"
"Not really."
"Naked women are going to be rubbing up on your man and that doesn't bother you."
Olivia laughed.
"First of all, I do not see Elliot letting anyone "rub up on him" he isn't really into that. I tried to give him a lap dance once…."
"And he didn't like it?"
"Oh, he liked it. He just got all nervous and knocked me off in the floor."
"Oh no," Casey laughed.
"He just isn't like that, I guess. He isn't like most men. I guess it probably stems from having three daughters….well, three and a half. He is too much of a gentleman to really partake in anything like that."
"Maybe so, but those women get paid to do this. They probably make more money than you and I do. I am sure they are very convincing."
"I don't mind because I trust him."
"Him maybe, but those hoes….no way."
"If I truly trust Elliot, then I don't have to worry about anyone else."
"Girl, you are more trusting than I am."
"I am with him, Casey. And he is with me. Neither of us would do anything to jeopardize that. And El is completely family oriented."
"That is true. All he thinks about is you and these kids. He is such a great guy. A real live Prince Charming and I am really happy for you."
"There are still good guys out there. Elliot is living proof," Olivia said squeezing Casey's hand in hers. "And you will find someone….someone amazing and live your happily ever after."
Casey smiled.
"I hope you're right."
"I am always right," Olivia joked and they both laughed.
Three days later, Olivia found herself in the middle of a particularly lazy day. She was exhausted from being so pregnant and seemed to have a slight cold.
"Elliot, I still have so much to do," Olivia mumbled as she stared out the window at the clouds as they began to cover the sky. "This wedding isn't going to plan itself."
"Not today you don't," he replied pulling the thermometer from her mouth and inspecting it. "Back in bed," he ordered pointing at the disheveled mountain of blankets in the center of their bed. "You need a break. Some rest. A couple of days off to get over being sick.
"I'm not sick. It's just a little cold."
"And a little fever. If you are sick, Mia is sick. Right now you are both sick and you are not going to get any better without some rest."
Elliot leaned in and kissed her tenderly.
"Just let me take care of you baby," he whispered softly as he kissed her forehead.
Olivia smiled and took a second look at the bed.
"I guess a nap does sound kind of nice."
"I have to go in for a few hours to give a statement in court, but I'm thinking maybe I could come home early and spend the afternoon curled up in here with you. I can even stop off and bring you back some lunch."
Olivia smiled.
"Well, I guess if I am going to be grounded to this bed the least you can do is spoil me."
"So you agree you'll stay in bed?"
He watched as his wife crossed her arms in front of her and stared him down.
"You throw in a massage and it's a deal," she replied with a smile.
"You drive a hard bargain," he replied kissing her again.
"You didn't think you were the only stubborn on in the Stabler family, did you?"
Elliot chuckled as he pulled back the blankets and straightened them for her. He tucked her in and sat by her side until she had drifted off to sleep once more. He kissed her forehead and brushed a bit of hair back from her face. He smiled realizing just how happy she made him and how since she came into his life even the worst days seemed so much better. He slipped his hand down over the blanket and placed it against her belly as he smiled again, "daddy loves you baby girl," he whispered softly. Then he stood and walked from the room.
Downstairs he grabbed a cup of coffee in the kitchen before heading out the door.
"Dad? You're still here?" Kathleen asked as she made her way to the sink to make a bottle for her son. "You're going to be late for work."
"A little late, yes. Olivia's not feeling well and it took a little convincing to get her back into bed."
"Is she okay? Is everything okay with the baby?"
Elliot smiled and kissed his daughter.
"Mia is doing just fine. Liv has just been going non stop planning this wedding and she is nine months pregnant and has just wore herself out. She has a bit of a cold and is running a low fever. It doesn't seem to be serious, but you might want to keep Isaiah away from her for a day or so, just in case."
"Okay."
"I think she'll be fine in a day or so if she can just get some rest and some fluids. I took her a bottle of water and she fell back to sleep for now. If you see her walking around down here send her back to bed."
Kathleen laughed.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just the thought of me getting to boss her around, it's a little bit amusing."
"Don't press your luck," he warned with a smile.
"I'll look after her dad."
"Really?"
"Yes. I mean it's the least I can do after everything Olivia has done for me….for us. Besides, she's my mother. And that baby is my baby sister. I'm not about to stand around and let something bad happen to them. We Stabler's have to stick together."
"That's my girl," Elliot replied hugging her as he headed out the door. "Call me if either of you need me."
"I will, I promise."
Four hours later Elliot was finally able to break away from the courtroom to call home and check on his wife.
"She's fine dad," Kathleen assured him.
"I ran later than I had intended to. But I'm on my way home now."
"Liv got up a about an hour ago, she seemed restless and bored. I made her some homemade chicken soup this morning, using mom's recipe. It always made us feel better when we were sick. We sat and had lunch together, then she took the laptop and headed back to bed. She's been in there working ever since. I did the dishes and folded the little kids' clothes and got them put away. And now I am working on Isaiah's laundry. For such a little person he sure makes a lot of dirty clothes."
Elliot laughed.
"Yes, honey, babies create a lot of laundry. I'll be home soon, maybe you can help me out with some dinner ideas. I want to make things as easy as I can for Liv at least until she gets to feeling better."
"Well, I have all of the stuff to make tacos. Everyone loves those. And it is quick and easy."
"That sounds great."
"And I have enough soup left over for Liv to have tomorrow for lunch."
"You are taking great care of her, baby. I really appreciate it. I'll be home soon."
"Okay, dad."
Two weeks later while shopping with the kids Olivia began to have contractions. Kathleen drove the younger kids home while Maureen hailed them a cab and called Elliot as they made their way to the hospital.
Elliot got there as soon as he could and Maureen paced the hall while the doctor examined Olivia. She watched nervously as the doctor left the room, then she rushed inside.
"Is it time? Are you having the baby?" she asked looking confused at Olivia putting her clothes back on.
"Not yet," she answered settling back against the hospital bed. "I just have to wait for them to bring me the discharge papers."
"But you were having contractions?"
"He said soon, honey. The baby could come at any time, really. Just not right now," Elliot clarified.
"It's Braxton Hicks," Olivia said.
"Is that bad?"
"It is false labor. Not as scary as it sounds," Elliot replied.
"It is my body preparing for labor. Like a little sneak preview…."
"Oh."
"Of a freaking horror film," Olivia groaned gripping the rail on the bed as she had another contraction.
"Are you sure she isn't having the baby?" Maureen asked with a worried look. "That looks pretty real to me."
Olivia moaned softly rubbing her belly as pressed her lips together.
"I am not dilating. My contractions are too far apart and my water hasn't broke. So they're sending me home."
"You have been too stressed. Working too hard on the wedding plans and up on your feet too much. You need to rest," Elliot said fluffing her pillow.
"Elliot, walking around could really only help me at this point. I am about ready to get this over with. I am exhausted and can't get comfortable. I can't sleep. And now I am having labor pains with out the actual labor. Which means all of this pain doesn't even count. I am miserable. I just want to have her already."
"I know sweetheart."
"Except…."
"Except?" Elliot asked nervously afraid she was in pain again.
"Except, if I have her now I am still out a wedding dress with one week until the wedding. And that would really make a mess of our honeymoon plans. On second thought, it is probably for the better. Stay in there angel, just a couple weeks more," she said patting her belly as Mia kicked.
"Liv, are you sure you're alright?" Maureen asked.
"I'm just ready to go home."
"I'll go see about those papers," Elliot said excusing himself from the room.
The next day Maureen and Kathleen stayed home to help Olivia out and let her rest. Kathleen knew exactly how she felt and wanted to make things as easy as she could on Olivia.
Finally the big day arrived. Olivia woke early and climbed into the shower. She and the girls had their hair appointments in a few hours, but she had a few errands to run before that. Casey stopped by early to pick up all of the dresses and take them to the room at the country club where they would dress for the ceremony.
"Liv, are you ready?" Maureen asked knocking on the bedroom door.
"Come on in," Olivia called tossing the last of her makeup and the box containing her jewelry into a duffel bag on her bed. "Can you take my bag with you?"
"Aren't you coming with us?"
"I'll be right behind you. I need you to take the girls to the hair salon and go ahead and get started. Your father is taking the boys for the morning so we can do our girl stuff. But he is going to have his hands full with Eli so I figured we would take Isaiah with us."
"I can watch him while Kathleen gets her hair done. Where are you going?" the girl asked as Olivia slipped her shoes on and grabbed her keys.
"I just want to get over to the reception venue and make sure they have things ready to go. Your father has had me on bed rest the last few days and I have not been able to touch base with them."
She took a deep breath and placed her hand against her belly.
"Everything okay?" Maureen asked.
"Yeah, I just forgot to eat when I got up and your sister is mad at me. I would forget my head today if it wasn't attached. Did you guys eat?"
"Dickie and Kathleen had fruit and oatmeal, scrambled eggs for Eli and Elizabeth. I had cereal and a banana and I made dad an omelet. I was going to see if you wanted one, but dad said to let you sleep."
Olivia smiled and kissed the girls forehead.
"Thank you. And don't worry about me, I will grab something on the way."
"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you? Kathleen can take Elizabeth."
"I'll be fine," Olivia said with a smile. "Casey is coming back over here and she is riding with me. So you can tell your father I am following his wished and I wont be alone," she replied placing her hand on her baby bump.
"He just worries. About you and Mia. He loves you and wants to take good care of you."
"I know, honey. I love him too. And we are getting married in a few hours, so we have got to get going," Olivia replied shooing her from the room.
"Elliot, can I talk to you for a minute," Fin asked walking into the kitchen.
"Sure. You want some coffee?" Elliot asked while pouring himself a cup.
"Not now, thanks. Listen, I have something I need you to take a look at," Fin whispered with a serious look on his face.
"Alright," Elliot agreed following him out the front door. "But I need to hurry. I still have to get the boys ready," he said stepping quickly to keep up and careful not to dirty his rented shoes.
"I've had patrol keeping an eye on the area. And we really hadn't seen or heard anything…."
"That's great Fin. Maybe the guy really did give up and move on."
"Until last night."
Elliot's eyes shot up and the smile disappeared from his face.
"Someone called in a complaint about some neighbor hood dogs barking. Someone else reported seeing a strange man walking down the street a block over. I had guys in front of the house on alert all night, but they didn't see anything. Not even this," Fin said pushing back the greenery on the side of the house to reveal a shoe print in the flower bed. "We've also got several discarded cigarette butts over here." "You're sure it wasn't one of your guys?"
"Positive."
"It hasn't rained in two weeks," Elliot noted. "Things out here got so dry and the flowers the kids planted were beginning to die."
Fin cleared his throat and looked over their surroundings.
"I set the sprinklers to kick on at 4 am," Elliot continued. "And back off at five."
"Right about the time the complaint came in about the dogs," Fin added. "He was knelt down here watching through this window. What's down here?"
"Our bedroom," Elliot answered.
"I have already sent someone to watch over the girls. I have doubled patrol here and at the country club. What do you want me to do?"
"Don't tell Liv," Elliot said looking up as Olivia walked out of the house with Casey and climbed into her car. "I will make sure Casey doesn't leave her side."
"You don't think this prick would try something at the wedding, do you?"
"He is crazy, Fin. And for whatever reason, my pregnant wife is the object of his affection. Liv has been planning this day, down to the last detail for months now. And I am not about to let this psycho son of a bitch ruin it for her. I will tell her after the ceremony. We were supposed to get a hotel room for a few days….kind of a mini honeymoon. But I think we will have to reschedule. You should get dressed," Elliot said releasing the shrub as it fell back into place covering the footprint.
"I'll wait until everyone is gone and have them make a cast of that. We are gonna get this guy," he said placing his hand on Elliot's shoulder in support.
As they walked back into the house, Elliot's cell phone rang.
"Liv baby, what's going on? Wait what? Honey, calm down I can't understand you. What do you mean the wedding is ruined?"
"Elliot, we don't have a reception hall," she said trying hard not to cry.
"They charged my credit card, what do you mean we don't have a reception hall?"
"I couldn't get a hold of the people the last few days, so I stopped by here on the way to my hair appointment. I just wanted to peek in and see how they decorated it for the reception. Elliot, they got the date wrong on the books! They decorated for the Beckler-Smith wedding, not the Stabler-Stabler wedding," she sobbed. "They got the date wrong! They have ours scheduled for tomorrow!"
"Baby, please don't cry," Elliot said in his most soothing voice.
"Everything is ruined," she said through tears. "We have two hundred guests and nowhere to have a reception!"
"Liv, sweetheart, calm down. I will think of something, I promise. It isn't good for you or for Mia to get this worked up."
Elliot listened as she drew a staggered breath. Things were quiet for a moment and he cleared his throat.
"I have an idea. We will just have the wedding today and ask our guests to join us tomorrow for the reception."
"That is tacky! It is ruined!"
"It doesn't have to be ruined. We had a bit of bad luck. But there is no way I am letting this stop us on our big day. These are our friends we are talking about here and I am sure they will all be understanding. Olivia, it will work out. And at the end of this day we will be husband and wife. It will all be legal. That is all that matters. The party is just a bonus. Honey please don't cry."
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I should have come down here. I cant believe I messed things up this badly."
"Liv, it was a mistake. You didn't do anything wrong. I wouldn't let you leave the house, so I am more guilty here than you are. It was just an unfortunate mistake. But getting all upset isn't going to make it any better. All we can do at this point is make the best of what we have. We still have each other. We still have our family and our friends, who cannot wait to watch us say our vows today. And this time tomorrow, we will enjoy our reception as husband and wife. A couple years from now we will look back and laugh about this."
"I don't find it very funny."
"You're right, it isn't funny. They messed up big time and I will have words with them. But for right now, lets focus on today. Lets focus on the ceremony and the vows and the husband and wife part."
"Okay," she said softly.
"I love you so much."
Olivia smiled uncontrollably.
"I love you, too."
"And I will be at the country club in just over an hour, waiting for you."
"I will be there. I promise. Nothing in this world could stop me."
"Are you feeling better now?"
"I am. Thank you."
"Good. Can I talk to Casey for a minute?"
"Casey?"
"Yeah, I have some super secret information I need to relay to the maid of honor."
Olivia laughed.
"Okay, but make it quick. She's supposed to be driving me to our hair appointment.
Elliot explained the situation at the house to Casey and made her promise not to let Olivia out of her sight.
After getting their hair done, Casey and Olivia went to the country club and finished getting ready.
"Do you need help in there?" Casey called to Olivia from the other side of the door.
"I'm okay. I'm just fat and slow, that's all."
"Okay," Casey laughed.
Just then Olivia groaned loudly.
"Liv? Are you sure you are alright?"
Things were quiet for a moment, before the door opened.
"Yeah, I just snagged my ring on my dress. But I've got it now. Can you zip me up?"
Casey stared at her for a moment then moved around behind her to zip up the dress. She handed Olivia her bouquet and the girls gathered together as they got ready to start the trip down the aisle.
The girls headed outside and Kathleen handed her son off to a friend before double checking her hair and makeup. She rejoined her sisters and they got into line as the music started.
Olivia sighed and drew a deep breath as Casey gave her a worried look.
"Liv? Is everything okay?"
"I'm just tired. It has been a very emotional day and we are just getting started. I just get tired so easily these days."
"That's understandable."
"Go," Olivia said shifting her eyes down the aisle where her future husband stood. "I am right behind you."
Casey smiled and stepped out as she began her walk through the group of seated guests, following in the footsteps of the other girls.
Olivia groaned loudly and doubled over for a moment, grabbing onto the wall for support.
"Not now, not now, not now," she mumbled under her breath, trying hard not to cry out.
"I believe it's time," Cragen said entering the room behind her. "Casey has just taken her place and the guests are standing. Are you okay, honey?"
"Fine," she gasped trying to catch her breath. "Just nervous, I guess."
"Nothing to be nervous about," he said with a smile as she slipped her arm in his.
Elliot smiled and stared at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life, as she made her way toward him. They stared into each other's eyes and neither of them heard a sound as they repeated their vows. And Casey sobbed as when they said I do.
She was his and he was hers and nothing else seemed to matter in that moment. Olivia smiled, finally understanding the real meaning of the word forever. They served the cake on the patio and the country club staff even managed to rustle a makeshift dance floor and a little mood music.
They posed for pictures and everyone was all smiles. Then it was time for cake. Olivia laughed as Elliot smeared it on her face. And then he kissed her. He kissed her like he had never kissed her before. It was the literally the sweetest and most passionate kiss he had ever experienced in his life.
Then she settled her head against his chest and closed her eyes as they slow danced their first dance as a real husband and wife.
"My dream come true," she said softly as she gazed into his eyes.
"It wasn't ruined?"
"Well, it didn't go quite as I had planned. But it worked out perfectly."
"This is the best day of my life," Elliot said softly as he kissed the top of her head.
"Well, I hate to tear you away from the party," she said softly as she looked up at him.
Elliot smiled a naughty smile.
"Here? You wanna do it here? Okay, but we should probably go inside and find a coat closet or something with a door we can lock."
He watched as the smile faded from her face and she wrinkled her brow.
"I think we should go."
"You wanna go home? Okay."
"Not home."
Elliot smiled.
"Baby, I'll take you anywhere you want to go."
"El," she gasped gripping his arm with her hand, "I have a confession to make."
"Yeah?" he said still sure it was something sexy.
"I'm in labor," she blurted out.
"Labor? Now?"
Olivia nodded, unable to speak.
"Right now?" he asked in a moment of panic.
"All day," she said as tears rose in her eyes.
"All day?"
"Well, not all day. But a for a few hours now. I have been having contractions since this morning."
"Baby, why didn't you say something?"
"I wasn't sure it was real labor."
"But you are now?"
She nodded again.
"My water broke while I was putting on my dress."
"We should have gone then."
"It can take hours. And we have worked so damn hard. I wasn't about to let anything stop us from being married. Not even labor," she gasped.
"It's time to go now."
"My labor is progressing. Contractions are about three minutes apart now. This is really it. It's really happening this time."
Elliot raised his head and looked around.
"Maureen," he called as she approached him. "I need you to go pull the car around to the front of the building while I help Liv."
"What's going on?"
"I'm gonna get her to the hospital. It's time to have the baby."
"It's real this time?"
"Yes," Olivia whimpered as thunder rumbled above them.
Elliot tossed his daughter the keys and she ran across the lawn toward the parking lot. Elliot continued to help Liv toward the parking lot ad thunder cracked and rain began to downpour on their festivities.
"Of course!" Olivia said panting as strands of her wet hair began to fall down around her face.
Kathleen grabbed the baby and Dickie carried Eli as they all ran for shelter from the oncoming storm. Once Olivia was safe inside the car, Elliot climbed into the drivers seat and headed for the hospital. Maureen loaded the rest of the kids into the other car and headed back home to wait for the call announcing the arrival of their new baby sister.
