Oh boy…hope you're not lactose intolerant because this chapter gets pretty cheesy.

Saturday, April 20

They'd made it home safely after getting discharged from the hospital. Olivia couldn't help but feel even more nervous than she had been the first night Cecilia had come home.

It's nearing 10 in the evening as Olivia finally got Cecilia down for bed after spending their night surrounded by family and great food. It had been a little tougher than usual, but she figured it was because Cecilia could feel there was a change happening. She knew the concept of a little brother wouldn't quite stick yet, but her clinginess tonight was warning enough that Cecilia felt a shift.

After double checking the locks and peeking in on Cecilia once again, Olivia turned in for the night. She'd made it back to the bedroom where Elliot had been with Mason, and found herself grinning from ear to ear when she walked in on them. Elliot had been asleep in bed already, with Mason swaddled into a blanket and tucked into his side. All the months of worrying about having another baby and so soon, had come down to this very moment. This was what she needed to see that they would be just fine.

She laughed lightly as she snapped a quick picture, making a mental note to add it to Mason's baby book. Olivia gently scooped up Mason and laid him in what used to be Cecilia's bassinet. She sat on the edge of the bed and leaned over him, just watching him sleep. A feeling of euphoria washed over her as she watched each little breath he took. Her index finger traced lightly over the features of his face. She took in each part of him that was a little piece of her and Elliot.

"I love you. I love you. I love you," she whispered to him over and over as she placed a kiss to the top of his nose.

Olivia reached over and turned out the side lamp before climbing into bed, and rolling over until her head rested on the span of Elliot's chest. Instinctively, he pulled her closer until her leg crossed over his body. He kissed the top of her head and sighed contently before going back to sleep.

Tuesday, April 28

"Elliot!" Olivia chided when he came into the bathroom after she finished showering.

"It's not as if I haven't seen you naked before," he laughed as he came up behind her, and brought his hands to where hers held together her robe.

"Yes but that was before I pushed out a baby 4 weeks ago. My stomach is mush now," she pushed his hands away and went into the adjoining closet.

"Liv.." he followed closely behind her.

"Please Elliot just let it go," she shuffled through her dresser drawers.

"No way. Would you just look at me for a second?" he tugged on her arm and turned her towards him.

"What Elliot? What?" the irritation in her voice hadn't gone unheard.

"Do you really think I care what your body looks like?"

"I think it won't ever be the same, and since the first day you met me I've always been...skinny," her nose wrinkled at the last part. "And now- I doubt my body will ever be remotely close to what it used to be…" she stood with her clothes in one hand while the other tugged on her robe.

"Olivia, you know that never mattered to me. When I found myself falling for you it wasn't because of this. It was because of this," he tapped his finger on her chest where her heart was. "This new amazing body gave me one of the best things in this world. You carried our son for eight long months. I love every new curve," he stepped closer and cupped both sides of her face. "And I love you," he kissed her sweetly. "Please don't forget that," a smile broke across her face.

"I love you too but.." she pulled away and started towards the bedroom. "I don't think you'll be seeing any of this any time soon. I just need time," she tossed her clothes on the bed.

"Just don't shut me out, okay?"

"Okay," she reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. "You promise you'll love me even if this baby weight never falls off?"

"Don't be ridiculous," he pulled her back into his arms and wrapped himself around her, resting his chin on top of her head as she snuggled into him. "I will love you after the next baby, and the next one, and the next one-"

"Ha! That's very funny! No more babies for awhile Stabler. I can only handle so many mini versions of you running around here," she grinned as she looked up at him.

"The first five I will take credit for, but Mas is all you," she shook her head as she laughed lightly at him. Elliot stole one more kiss before letting her go. "You promise you'll be okay today?" he asked. Today he'd be meeting with the Bureau to work out the details of his new position.

"Yes but if things get too crazy I'll call Mo. You worry too much," she went over to the bassinet and carefully lifted Mason into her arms. "Say we'll be okay daddy," she lifted his hand that wrapped around her index finger and waved at Elliot.

"I will see you later tonight," he kissed her and leaned to kiss Mason's head. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"I was talking to the baby," the corner of his mouth lifted and she smacked his shoulder with her free hand.

"Get out of here!" she laughed and shooed him away.

Elliot had spent the last 2 hours discussing the details of the new position he would be taking in D.C. It was a big change for not only him but his family too. He'd been thankful that his schedule and pay worked out just enough to not leave Olivia disappointed.

This was finally it.

They could start saving for a house, he could cover more of the expenses for the kids college fees, it would be the start of a new chapter for them.

On the drive back home from the precinct it dawned on Elliot that he and Olivia had let an entire year slip by, and they hadn't even celebrated their anniversary. He stopped by her favorite restaurant to pick up some food, and grabbed her favorite dessert from the bakery down the street. He planned to surprise her tonight when he got home, and he couldn't wait. Within this past year he felt like he had learned a new part of himself. A part that was more gentle. More patient. And most of all more open to allow Olivia in his heart.

Kathy was his first love, and he would always be grateful for the time they had together. But apart of them both had died towards the end of their marriage.

And then Olivia had came and lit a new spark in his life.

He pulled into their designated parking spot in front of the townhouse, and rushed to get into the house and see his family.

The house had been especially quiet which was unusual since it was only going on 7 o'clock. He checked the living room and kitchen before going upstairs and finding Olivia and the kids asleep in bed. Cecilia had been asleep in his spot, Mason was atop Olivia's chest with his head on her shoulder, and Olivia had been sitting up against the headboard. He could see just how beat she had been from the few hours alone with the kids.

He took Mason from her and bounced him gently as he walked to the window in their room that looked over the city.

"You're still so tiny bud," he cradled his head in one hand, and held his bum in the other. "A few more months of that go go juice your mommy's pumping up, and you'll be big and strong-"

"Did you just call my breastmilk 'go go juice'?" Olivia looked over with one eye open.

"I mean it kind of is. This kid loves to get milk drunk," he moved over to Olivia and sat on the edge of the bed where she was. "Did you get in a good nap?"

"I think we all did," she looked over at Cecilia who was still asleep and ran a hand through her hair. "How did the meeting go?"

"You're looking at the new reserve recruit officer trainer for the bureau," his smile reached his eyes as he spoke those words.

"Oh honey, I'm so happy for you!" she scooted closer to him to reach his lips.

"Thank you baby," he moved the baby to the crook of arm and used his free one to cup the side of her cheek. "This is gonna be amazing for us," he pulled her closer and kissed her again, more passionately.

"How soon will you be starting?" she pulled away and ran her hand along his back.

"They're giving me two more weeks to spend time with the baby, and then I'll be spending a week in D.C learning and training myself before I even start training the others," her smile reflected his, and he could see that she was genuinely coming around. "For now I'll have to go there a lot more of course. But after a few months I'll hopefully only go every other week for a few days," he reached and tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear. "How is that sounding to you?"

"It sounds perfect. I'm happy for you El. We need to celebrate and invite the kids over."

"That sounds great but for now…" he rose and put a still sleeping Mason back in his bassinet, and turned on the monitor before putting the other in his back pocket. "We have something else special to celebrate," he held his hand out to her.

"What's going on?" she cautiously grabbed it and followed him downstairs. He guided her to the dining room and sat her at the head of the table. Quickly, he disappeared into the kitchen to plate the food he picked up, and pour her a glass of sparkling grape juice since wine was out of the question for now.

"Elliot what is all this?" she asked when he sat the plate of food in front of her.

"Can you believe we let a whole year pass without celebrating our anniversary?" he sat closely on her right and grabbed ahold of her hand.

"God, we really did. When is our anniversary exactly?" everything around that time had molded together. She couldn't rack her brain around any date that seemed fitting.

"You know I couldn't really think of the right date either, but the beginning of April is just a good a time as ever to celebrate," he grabbed her hand that rested on the table, and brought it to his lips. "Thank you for the past year. For letting me into yours and Cecelia's lives, and loving my kids like your own. And most of all for our baby boy this year," she bit on her lower lip as he spoke, trying her best to withstand from crying. A few tears escaped and she quickly flicked them away. She never doubted he loved her, but a vulnerable Elliot wasn't too common with them.

"Thank you for loving me endlessly no matter how many times I tried to run. If it weren't for you I wouldn't even have this life," her face had been soaked with tears at this point. "Here's to many more anniversaries to come," she held her glass up and Elliot met her with his.

"I love you Olivia."

"I love you too," she leaned over and tapped her index finger to her lips. He leaned in and kissed her softly, biting lightly on her bottom lip. His fingers tangled into the root of her hair at the nape of her neck as he pulled her closer to her. When his other hand slid up her thigh she placed hers on top of his. "Ah ah," she scolded him when she pulled away and placed both his hands in his lap. "Nothing of the sorts for awhile," she grinned and took a sip from her drink.

"They say having a newborn is hard work, but not being to touch your wife for months is harder."

"You're so dramatic!" she scoffed and rolled her eyes at him. "You waited almost an entire month before you kissed me. Another few weeks won't kill you," she winked at him before taking a bite of the pasta he had brought home for her. Before he could reply a cry came through the monitor.

"I'll get him," Elliot said before getting up and heading upstairs.

Olivia reached in the pocket of the sweats she wore for her phone and checked a few messages she had gotten while napping. There were a few messages from the squad checking in, and some from the girls asking when they could see their baby brother again. She smiled and sent a few replies when Elliot came back with a whimpering Mason still swaddled in his blanket, and Cecilia holding his hand.

"I'm thinking I lack some of the supplies," Elliot handed Mason over.

"Oh baby love are you hungry?" she spoke softly as she unraveled his blanket. His cries quieted when he heard her speak.

"Ma ma.." Cecilia came over to where Olivia sat and laid her head on her knees.

"Hi baby!" Olivia leaned over before she began to nurse and kissed the top of her head. "So much for celebrating. Looks like we've got two little intruders."

"Yeah we do but there's nowhere else I'd rather be."

Told ya it would be cheesy. Thank you for the reviews last chapter xx