A/N: Hello everyone! I know I have been off with my updating schedule but I'm hoping to get back on track. Break officially started today so I should have more time to write and be able to get a couple more chapters up this week. Thank you to everyone who continues to read and enjoy this story. Please let me know your thoughts on the chapter!

In the early morning light, Elliot watched Noah as he slept cuddled against his chest.

Olivia had gotten called into work early that morning for a string of rape homicide cases that were plaguing the west side and the detectives were stuck. Elliot had tried to reason with her and get her to stay home but Olivia being Olivia, she fought tooth and nail until he finally gave up. Noah had fussed after Olivia had left so Elliot had brought Noah in to lay with him, eventually falling asleep on his Dad.

Elliot brushed his fingers over Noah's back, enjoying the closeness he had with him. He never really got much of this with his other kids, still only getting little moments with Eli, but he enjoyed it. They were only little for so long and once those years were behind you...there was no getting them back.

He felt Noah's heart beating against his chest, his breath coming out in even strokes and it made him think. In two months or less, he was going to be welcoming another child into the world...his seventh. His fourth son would be coming into this world in less than sixty days. It was unbelievable and completely mind blowing but so incredibly amazing. For all the bad he had done in his life, all of the things he had screwed, he had actually done something right...seven something's right.

The very high points in his life and the very, very ,low parts of his life were all worth it. There isn't a single thing he would do differently if it meant he wouldn't be laying with his son in his arms, the son he had with Olivia Benson in his arms, and knowing that she was his wife...his pregnant wife who would be bringing their second child into the world.

He took a deep breath and wiped at the tears that had formed in his eyes. It was so breathtaking to be a father...he never wanted to take one second for granted. He ran his fingers through Noah's hair and his mind wondered to his father.

A father was someone you were supposed to love, someone you should know loved you and cared about you, and his father was just not that person. Elliot questioned whether or not his father cared and loved him as much as he loved his children.

Elliot shook his head, none of that mattered now anyway, he had learned from his father's mistakes. He knew from experience exactly what a child wanted from their father because it was everything he wanted too.

Noah stirred on his chest, his eyes fluttering open to the sunshine. He picked his head up from Elliot's chest and looked up at him, "Dada."

Elliot smiled, "Good morning little man." Noah was all smiles and giggled as his Dad tickled his legs. "Let's get you some nanas," Elliot said, holding Noah to his chest as he slid off of the bed.

Noah perked up, "nanas, mhm."

"Some nanas and cereal, then you can have a bottle," Elliot told him, settling Noah in the high hair. He mixed him up some cereal and scattered his bits of bananas and some blueberries out on the tray. "Are you gonna let me feed you or are you gonna be a big boy today?" Noah reached for the spoon, prying it from Elliot's and dunking it into his cereal, "Big boy it is."

Once Noah had finished all of the cereal that hadn't ended up on him, Elliot cleaned him up and settled him in his lap on the sofa. Noah held the bottle up with his little hands and Elliot just watched him suckle, draining the bottle steadily. "You're growing up so fast, little man," Elliot cooed, kissing Noah's forehead.

Noah sighed and cuddled against Elliot's chest once he had finished the whole bottle, "Mama?"

"No, buddy," Elliot replied softly. "Mama had to go to work of a little."

"No Mama?" He asked, his lip quivering.

Elliot shook his head, "No Mama right now." Noah whimpered softly, his hands rubbing his eyes and Elliot knew this was about to turn into a full blown melt down. Nothing in this world was more precious to Noah than his mother. When he asked for her or called her name, she was always there. No one, not even Elliot, could calm him down quite like she could... especially when he needed his Mommy time.

After twenty minutes of screaming and crying, Noah had finally cried himself to sleep. Elliot settled him into his crib, closing the door quietly behind him. He sent a quick message to Olivia asking when she would be home, hoping it would be before the end of the nap came lest there be a repeat of Noah's earlier performance.

Elliot went to the kitchen, hoping he could clean the apartment and get a nap in before Olivia, Noah, Eli, and himself went furniture shopping later in the day. Much to his chagrin, Noah only slept for about an hour which gave him only about a fifteen minute nap once he was done cleaning.

Noah was already hysterical when Elliot picked him up out of his crib, "It's okay buddy...you gotta calm down...you're gonna make yourself sick." Elliot rubbed his back and trailed his fingers through his hair until Noah rested his head ago at his shoulder, his tears soaking his shirt. "I love you, Noah...Mama should be home soon."

Elliot sat in the rocker, Noah cradled in his arms clutching his blanket tightly against him. "Do you know how much your Mommy loves you?" Noah's sobs had quieted to whimpers and he seemed to be hanging on Elliot's every word. "She loves you more than anything else in this world, Noah...don't ever doubt that. You know you're getting a little brother soon, right? I can't wait to see you with him...you're going to love him so much...you'll have a friend for the rest of your life. You're gonna have to watch out for him just like your brothers and sisters do for you," he said, kissing his forehead softly. "You are so loved, Noah. Eli is excited to see you later, he's practically obsessed with you."

"Eli," Noah mumbled around his pacifier.

Elliot chuckled and nodded his head, "That's right, buddy. Eli loves you so much...he asks about you every night when I talk to him."

There was a light rap on the door and Olivia pushed it open gently, "Can I come in?"

Elliot smiled and Noah held his arms up to her, "Mama."

"He's been missing you all day," Elliot said, letting her take Noah from his lap and giving her a sweet kiss on the lips.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get home sooner... it was a crazy day," Olivia said, holding Noah close to her and rocking him around the room.

"I understand," he replied, "He threw a huge fit earlier before his nap...cried so hard he tired himself out and finally fell asleep. I'm just happy you're home...he's not the only one who missed the most important woman in his life."

She instantly melted, moving closer to him and letting his arms drape around her and Noah, "I missed you too, El." She yawned and rested her head on his chest, "I'm exhausted."

"The little one tiring you out?" He asked, trailing his hand to her belly, rubbing his thumb along the side until he felt a strong kick.

"Mhm," she nodded. "He's been really active today."

"That's a good thing though," Elliot murmured, kissing her forehead and she yawned again. "Why don't we all go lay down for a little bit?"

"We're supposed to go look for furniture though," Olivia argued, doing her best to suppress a yawn.

"Olivia," Elliot chuckled softly. "You're tired and he's already passed out...the furniture can wait until tomorrow, we all just need some sleep."

"What are we going to do about Eli?" She asked as they made their way to their bedroom.

"Kathy's dropping him here around four o'clock so we can nap now and then just watch a movie or something when he gets here," he explained, turning down the comforter so she could climb in with Noah.

"He's a seven year old little boy, isn't he going to want to go out and play around?" Olivia sighed, relishing in the comfort she got as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Elliot crawled in on the other side, curling up against her back and pulling her closer to him, "He loves just being here...being around you and Noah, it's enough for him. He doesn't get to see us every day and when he does...nothing else matters. He loves you and Noah, all he wants to do is be close to you two."

"And his Dad," she added, snuggling in against him.

He kissed her cheek and rested his head on the pillow next to hers, "And his Dad. I love you."

"I love you too," she mumbled as she fell asleep, safely wrapped in Elliot's arms.

Olivia had still been asleep when Eli got there but Noah was awake so Elliot took him out with him and let Olivia sleep.

"What kind of cookies are we making Daddy?" Eli asked from his seat on the stool.

The counter top was covered in sugar and flour, there were little chocolate chips scattered throughout. "Chocolate chip, aren't they you're favorite?"

"Yup," Eli nodded, sneaking another chocolate chip into his mouth while Elliot just chuckled and let it happen.

"Do you want to get the eggs from the fridge?" Elliot asked him.

"Okay," he smiled, hopping off of his stool and making his way towards the refrigerator. He picked up one of the toys that Noah had dropped from his high chair and set it back on his tray, "Here you go Noah." Noah smiled and giggled, hitting the toy on his tray, "He's silly Daddy."

Elliot chuckled, "Yeah he is and you're a really good big brother."

"Really?" Eli asked, holding the carton of eggs in his hands and standing in front of his father.

"Really...I'm so proud of you," he smiled, picking Eli up and hugging him tight, sneaking in some tickles once the eggs were safely on the counter.

"No fair," Eli giggled while trying to push his Dad away.

Elliot was laughing but sat Eli down on the counter, "You wanna crack the eggs?"

"Yeah," he nodded holding his hand out. Elliot gave him the egg and watched as he tried to crack it against the bowl and pulled it apart over the batter, getting more than a couple pieces of shell in it. "Sorry."

"It's okay," Elliot reassured. "Just pick them out."

They got out all of the bits of shell before mixing and adding the chocolate chips.

Eli snuck off the counter, quickly looking back to his Dad before dropping a chocolate chip on Noah's high chair tray and sprinting back to the stool.

Noah picked up the little chocolate morsel between chubby fingers and popped it in his mouth, "More?"

"He can't have too many," Elliot said, handing Eli one more chocolate chip to give to Noah.

"Okay... it's your last one Noah," Eli told him, holding his hand out flat so Noah could take it.

"Eli," Noah giggled, taking the chocolate chip from him.

Elliot put the tray of cookie dough in the oven and the dirty dishes in the sink, cleaning off the countertops.

"How long until the cookies are done?" Eli asked, playing with Noah in his high chair.

"Ten minutes but they have to cool or they'll burn your mouth," Elliot told him.

"That's so long," Eli sighed dramatically. "Can you get Noah down so we can play?"

"Of course buddy," Elliot said, ruffling his hair and picking Noah up from his high chair. "Hold his hand and he can walk with you into the living room."

Eli took Noah's little hand in his and slowly walked into the living room, both of them plopping down on the carpet. "Where's Livvie?"

"She's sleeping buddy...she was really tired today," he told his son.

"Can I wake her up?" Eli asked, looking up at his Dad.

Elliot checked the clock, she had been sleeping for over two hours and she would need to eat something soon anyway. "Okay, just be gentle," he said, chuckling as Eli practically ran down the hallway.

Eli pushed the door to the bedroom open and quietly walked in, gently climbing onto the bed where Olivia was sleeping. "Livvie," he whispered softly. She turned in her sleep so she was now facing him on the bed. "Livvie," he whispered a little louder, patting her forehead.

Her eyes fluttered open and she gave him a smile, "Hey, Eli. How are you?"

"I'm good," he smiled and cuddled in against her.

Olivia hugged him close and kissed his forehead, "I missed you. I'm sorry we can't go shopping for your new room today."

"It's okay," he said, resting his head on her chest. "Does my brother move in there?" Eli asked, looking up into her eyes.

She smiled and nodded, "Yeah, he moves all the time...wanna feel?" His eyes went wide and he nodded his head furiously. She took his hand and moved it to the side of her belly she last felt the baby move. There were a few light kicks but she wasn't sure he could feel them until he started giggling and she laughed, "What's so funny?"

"If feels weird," he giggled again, rubbing his hand over her belly.

Olivia chucked, "It does feel kinda strange." She ran her fingers through his hair, "Do I smell cookies?"

He smiled and nodded, "We made chocolate chip but Daddy says we have to wait to eat them."

"Well, let's go see how much longer we have to wait," she said, moving off the bed and taking Eli's hand and he jumped off the bed.

"Hey sleeping beauty," Elliot smiled.

"Very funny," Olivia chuckled and sat down on the sofa next to him.

He leaned over and kissed her softly, "How was your nap?"

"It was good. I could have slept for another two hours," she sighed, resting her head against his shoulder and a hand against her belly.

Elliot kissed her head, "You wouldn't have slept at all tonight then."

"That's true...so where are these cookies?" Olivia smiled.