A/N: Sorry for the delay I forgot that I had typed this a few days ago. Please read and review for more.

Disclaimer: Don't own anyone or anything you recognize.



After the accusation of an affair and the incident at the gym, Olivia started to attend a different one and she and Elliot were finally on the upswing again.

Waking up to the alarm at six AM sharp, Olivia slowly opened her eyes and smiled when she found that she and Elliot were in the exact opposite position that they had gone to sleep in. Elliot's head on her breast, an arm draped over her near flat stomach and legs flung carelessly over hers.

She turned off the offending noise and kissed the top of her husband's head, rubbing his back.

"Rise 'n' shine, sexy," she whispered, still half asleep.

Elliot cleared his throat and opened his eyes, looking up at her with a half asleep smile. "Good morning, beautiful," he whispered back and sat up.

Sitting up herself, Olivia smiled. "I love waking up like this."

Elliot kissed her on the lips and slowly nodded. "Me too."

"Zac's a little quiet this morning," Olivia said, looking at the baby monitor. "He's up to something."

"He might be just asleep, Liv," Elliot told her as she got up off the bed.

"Zac's usually awake by now," she replied, shaking her head. She couldn't help but worry.

"Okay, baby, go check on Zac and I'll make breakfast," Elliot said and watched her walk out.

Olivia was in the nursery in an instant and courtesy of the nightlight and the rising sun, she caught her son trying his hardest to climb out of his crib. At fourteen months, he was becoming quite adventurous.

"Zachary Isaiah," Olivia warned softly as she turned on the overhead light before turning off the nightlight.

Hearing his mommy's voice, Zachary stoppped in an instant and looked up. "Mama," he exclaimed happily and put his leg down.

"What are you doing, huh, kiddo? Trying to climb out?"

Zachary smiled and reached up to her.

Picking him up, Olivia kissed his head. "No more trying to climb out, mister... Whoa! Someone needs his bum changed," she said and headed over to the change table. "Let's get you ready to see Grammy. Mama and Dada have to go to college today," she told her son as she began to change him.

Zachary had stopped his protesting as soon as his mama mentioned that he was going to grammy's house. "Grammy! Grammy!"

Shocked, Olivia stopped and looked at her baby boy. "D-did you just say grammy, son?"

Zac grinned mischieviously. "Mama."

"Who's my smart little man?" Olivia laughed and blew a raspberry on his chubby little belly, causing him to giggle joyfully. "You're growing up too quickly, Zacy. Can you slow down a little bit? For mama?" she asked as she continued to change him.

Zachary kicked his legs happily as he reached up at his mama. "Mama! Food!"

"Blurting out new words left and right, huh, champ?" Olivia laughed as she put a little red t-shirt on him to go with the jeans that she'd already put on him. "Let's see dada and get breakfast," she said and stood him on the floor.

As soon as his socked feet touched the floor, Zac was off. Once he'd become steady on his feet, he had become more comfortable and loved to walk on his own.

"Hold on, buddy," Olivia laughed and followed him out. "Look, Zacy, there's dada," she said when they reached the kitchen doorway.

Elliot turned away from the stove and picked Zachary up. "Morning, kiddo," he greeted his son with a tickle.

In response, Zachary squirmed in Elliot's arms, giggling. "Food!!" he squealed.

Elliot stopped in shock and looked at Olivia. "Did he?"

With a proud smile, Olivia nodded. "Yes, he did, honey. He said that and grammy in the nursery."

"Wow, big boy!" Elliot exclaimed and kissed Zachary's head before sitting him in his high chair. "Go have a shower, babe, while I finish cooking breakfast," he told his wife softly and kissed her on the lips tenderly.

Olivia nodded and went in to the bathroom.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Sitting in her class, Olivia couldn't stop thinking about Zachary. Thinking about if he was happy or sad, playing or sleeping, eating or drinking or if he was blurting out a couple more new words.

She sighed and tried to listen to the professor and take notes.

"Zac's fine, baby," Elliot whispered and caressed the back of her hand before going back to jotting down the notes.

"I know," she whispered, "I'll just have to get used to this."

"You will. We will."

"Mr and Mrs Stabler, got something you'd like to share with the rest of the class."

"No, sir," Olivia and Elliot called back in unison.

The professor let it go and went on with the class.

Olivia found that she couldn't concentrate until she called and checked on her baby boy, so she excused herself, claiming she was going to the restroom and left before Elliot could stop her.

Olivia headed to the front office and asked to use the phone, so that she could call and check on her son.

The receptionist nodded with a smile. "Sure."

"Thank you," Olivia replied and dialed in Angie's number.

"Stabler residence."

"Hi, Angie."

"Liv, Zac is fine. He's sitting in his playpen playing and watching some cartoons on the television," Angie assured her. Olivia could hear the smile in her mother in law's voice very clearly.

"How did...?" Olivia started but Angie cut her off, trying to not to laugh.

"How did I know you were calling about Zac? Honey, I saw how reluctant you were about leaving him this morning. He's fine. Here I'll let you talk to him..."

Olivia heard Angie walking a couple steps and then whisper to Zachary before her baby boy's sweet voice flow through the phone.

"Mama!"

"Hey buddy. I love you, be good for grammy."

"Mama! Wuv!"

"Yeah, baby, see you later," she said before hearing Angie again.

"He's fine, Liv, you better get back to class."

"Yes, of course. Thank you, Angie," Olivia replied and hung up before rushing back to class.

"Where were you?" Elliot asked as she took her seat again.

Olivia sighed and started to catch up on the notes that she missed.

"You called my mom to check up on Zac, didn't you?" he asked softly as he discreetly rubbed her lower back.

Biting bottom lip, Olivia continued to write but nodded. "Yes, I did. I'm sorry," she whispered back.

"It's okay, Liv. Your his mommy. It's perfectly fine to check on your baby," he assured her. "You didn't miss much and with me in all your classes, if you miss something, I can help. We'll get used to this and everything will start to run smoothly," Elliot promised and quieted down again when the professor started to talk again.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

The first day of college seemed to just drag on endlessly for Olivia. It was the longest time that she'd spent away from her son, so as soon as her last class for the day ended, she rushed to the car with Elliot trying to keep up with her. She was desperate to get to Angie's house to see her little man.

Keeping his eyes on the road ahead, Elliot put his hand on his wife's thigh and gave it a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "Babe, Zac is safe with my mom, you know that. He's absolutely fine. Stress less please," he told her softly, stealing a quick glance at her. A reassuring smile.

Sighing, Olivia nodded in agreement. "Yes, of course, I know that. I just miss him, El," she confessed.

"Yeah, I know that, sweetie. Me too. But we can't be there every minute of every single day."

"Don't you think I know that?!" she snapped accidentally.

"Liv, I didn't mean..."

"I know, El, I'm sorry. I just didn't sleep very well last night."

"Why didn't you wake me?" he asked, turning down a street and slowing down to meet the slower speed limit.

"Cause you needed to sleep, we had classes all day today," she defended herself.

"Baby, you're my wife. I'm here for you twenty four seven. I don't care if I'm sick or tired. You and Zachary come first, you know that."

"I'd feel so guilty for waking you, just like all the nights I woke you up when I was pregnant. Accidentally or not, I still felt so guilty," she told him softly.

"Well you shouldn't feel guilty. For better or worse, in sickness and in health, remember that, Livia?" he replied as he pulled up in the driveway of his mom's house.

He switched off the engine, took the key out of the ignition and quickly stopped Olivia from exiting the vehicle. "Liv, wait."

"I want to get to Zac, El," she replied distantly.

Elliot took a gentle hold of Olivia's hand and kissed the back of it. "Liv, what are you hiding from me? What is going on?" he asked. His voice void of any anger, just filled with love and concern. He gently cupped her chin in his free hand and tilted her face, so she was facing him but she refused to make eye contact with him. "Look at me, Olivia," he ordered her softly and waited till she did. "What is going on, baby? You can tell me anything, you've known that from day one," he reminded her and wiped away a tear as it fell from her eye.

"Just nightmares," she finally admitted suddenly.

"What happens in these nightmares?"

Shaking her face from her husband's loose grip, Olivia pulled her hand from his and she was out of the car before he could stop her. "I need to get Zac," she said and shut the car door before rushing in to the house.

Groaning in frustration, Elliot ran a hand down his face. "Shit," he muttered to himself.

He was hoping that she would start to open up more. Obviously not.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

"Liv? What's going on, honey?" Angie asked, walking in to the living room, holding Zachary. She'd heard Olivia rush in.

"Zac!" Olivia exclaimed and reached out for him.

"Mama!" Zachary cheered happily as Angie passed him to her.

"He was fine, Liv. What's wrong?" Angie asked concerned.

Exhaling a breath that she didn't even know she was holding, Olivia shook her head. "Nothing, I'm fine," she insisted. "Thanks for taking care of him but we have to go. Elliot's waiting in the car for us."

"No problem. Take care," Angie said and watched Olivia and Zac head out.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Finding herself wide awake and rolling over for the the fifth time in two minutes, Olivia took a glance at the clock. 2:48AM. Olivia groaned and turned over again, so she was facing her heavily sleeping husband. He was right on the other side of the bed, facing the door. She scooted over and rubbed his bare shoulder blade. "El. El, wake up," she whispered.

Elliot didn't even flinch, he just continued to snore.

Olivia sighed and decided to try again. This time, she grabbed his ass.

In response, he grabbed her wrists roughly. He was hurting her.

"Elliot, you're hurting me!" she cried out painfully.

Hearing Olivia's painful cry, Elliot woke instantly. He released her hands and rolled over to face her.

"I'm so sorry, Liv. You startled me," he whispered, half asleep. "What are you doing awake anyway? It's ten to three."

Olivia now felt guilty for waking him. "Sorry," she murmured, "I shouldn't have woken you. Go back to sleep, we have to be up in three hours," she whispered and rolled away from him.

Once he'd rubbed the sleep from his eyes, Elliot scooted over and cuddled up with Olivia from behind. He draped one arm over her abdomen, resting a hand on her belly and used his other arm to raise his head. He kissed her neck and whispered in her ear. "Another nightmare, sweetheart?"

Olivia nodded with a sniffle. "About half an hour ago. Tried to go back to sleep but couldn't."

"Okay, why didn't you wake me half an hour ago then?" he asked gently, rubbing her stomach.

"You looked peaceful. I didn't want to wake you," she replied, "as it is I already feel guilty for doing just that."

"I told you to. Don't feel guilty."

"Easier said then done," she muttered.

"You want to talk about it? Or you just want me to hold you?"

"Just hold me please."

Elliot kissed her neck again and continued to caress her belly. "Okay then. Close your eyes and get some rest. I'm right here," he promised and waited for her to fall asleep before letting sleep take over for himself. He was still determined to find out about these nightmares though. He wasn't going to let it continue until the point she got sick or something. He was going to find out way before then.