A/N: I hope you like it! I enjoyed writing this chapter very much. As always, as this is coming to a close, I would love to hear from all of you. I love to respond and share thoughts with each of you!
Patricia
55
At six weeks, Alex lay on the table as Dr. Bensaro ran the heated probe over her belly, an image coming to life on the monitor in front of them. The good doctor's eyes focused for a few moments before they went wide and Alex even heard her gasp before the doctor smiled broadly.
"What?" Alex squeezed Olivia's hand firmly, focusing on the doctor's expression. "What is it?"
"Alex…" she continued to move the probe around her belly, her small bump just beginning to show from her pregnancy. "I am seeing…" she continued to move it along the center, the right, the left, "…two heartbeats…faint…but, yes…" she looked at the blonde, her smiled widening, "…you're gonna have twins…"
Alex put her left hand over her mouth, her face contorting behind it as she heard the two heartbeats beating rapidly, her own heard faintly in there as well. She felt Olivia's hand squeeze her own before the brunette took her other hand to her forehead and kissed her softly.
Alex laughed now, "Twins? Wow…"
She looked up at Olivia, the brunette not able to speak. Olivia shook her head, "It's perfect…"
Alex smiled, "I'm gonna be huge…"
"And so sexy…"
"Alex…you're still taking your prenatals, right?"
"Of course…Olivia sets them out for me every morning, right Babe?"
"I do…" She smiled.
"I have to tell you…carrying twins will be difficult…make sure you eat often and you should probably gain a tiny bit more weight…"
She knew she had lost a little weight over the past month, losing the empathy pounds that she had gained when Olivia was pregnant—not intentionally, but she had noticed.
"You'll gain more than Olivia did but that's normal when you're eating and carrying for two…" She smiled. "I'll get the print outs of the sonogram from the front desk and leave you two. Back in three weeks, OK?"
"OK, doctor…thank you…"
"Yes, thank you…" Olivia added.
Dr. Bensaro left the room, closing the door behind her.
Olivia leaned over her wife, looking her face over lovingly before placing her hand on the blonde's belly, "Twins, Babe…"
"I know…" she whispered, "...it's wonderful…"
"I'll have to fatten you up…my gorgeous, sexy twin-carrying mama…"
… … … … … …
Two weeks later, the ladies decided to finally have a housewarming party and invite all of their friends, colleagues, and family. A new grill had been delivered that day and the essentials for a Mediterranean style feast to be served buffet style, including lemon oregano shish-kebabs.
The doorbell rang and Olivia walked to answer it. Swinging it open, the brunette was met with Casey wearing a Wonder Woman costume.
Casey was smiling, "Always first! Liv, I—" Casey stopped, brow furrowed, "Olivia? What—" The red head looked Olivia's Athena costume over incredulously.
Olivia couldn't help but laugh at their friend, headband and black wig slightly askew, "Case…it's a Mythology housewarming party…what are you wearing?" Olivia continued to laugh as Casey just stood there, her mouth open, looking as though she would burst into tears.
"You said superhero housewarming party…"
"That was originally…Alex should have told you we changed it to Mythology party…she didn't call you?"
"Apparently not…" Casey huffed, handing Olivia the large bottle of wine she brought.
"I'm sorry…she's been a little distracted lately…we can work something out…Alex has another dress she wasn't gonna wear so we can hook you up with that…" Olivia laughed again, shaking her head. "You're so cute, Case…"
"Glad you think so…" They wrapped their arms around each other's waists and entered the kitchen. "So why is Alex distracted? Busy case load?" Casey perched herself on a stool at the counter.
"Uh…yeah…busy case load," Olivia tried, now pouring chips into a bowl and bringing it to the counter. "We got a grill!" Olivia chirped, trying to distract her friend.
"Oh, yeah? That was weird…"
"Not really…we've been wanting to get a grill for a while but couldn't have one at the penthouse…building regulations…"
Casey smiled, nodding, "OK, Olivia…I'll let it go…you look gorgeous, by the way…"
Olivia was wearing a classic, off-white, empire-waist, one-shouldered Greek goddess dress that fell at her ankles. She had gold snake arm bands on her biceps and a headband to match, along with gold strappy sandals, hair down and wavy.
"Thank you, Case…and we'll get you in the right theme…let's go up and get that dress…" Olivia smiled, turning the oven off, and headed to the hallway, taking Casey's hand, the two heading upstairs.
AAA
Alex looked at herself in the full-length tilting mirror that was to the right of the closet in front of the window. She was definitely showing in this dress—ever-so-slightly—but it was there. She heard Casey and Olivia talking as they headed up the stairs and toward the bedroom, Alex quickly stepping into the closet and turning off the closet light. She closed her eyes.
"Hey, Al?" Olivia's voice called, her wife entering the bedroom now.
"Yeah, Babe?"
"Do we have that dress you weren't gonna wear for Casey?"
"Uh, yeah?" Alex tried, looking at the ceiling and putting her hands on her hips before closing her eyes once again. "It's hanging on the door to the guest room."
Olivia appeared in front of her now, in the doorway of the closet, looking absolutely stunning. Alex smiled meekly and motioned for her to come into the closet with her.
Olivia smiled, "Ah, Babe…as much as I'd like to…we can't right now…Casey is right here," Olivia whispered.
"No…not that…look at me…"
Olivia looked down at her wife's midsection, "I think you're showing, Baby…" Olivia took her waist in her hands and kissed her gently. "…and it's like fer sure radical…"
"I know…" Alex whispered, looking behind Olivia as Casey squatted and played with Theo, his little legs wheeling himself around the bedroom in his baby walker.
"It's not that much…no one will notice…" Olivia said softly. "We'll just say it's bloat…"
"We could tell Casey…" Alex said softly. "It's two months…"
"She'll blab it to everybody, especially with a-little-a-lotta wine in her…unless you want to tell everyone, Babe?"
"I don't think so…not yet, Olivia…I wanna wait another month, and you're so right…the whole Upper East Side will know if we tell her…" Alex smirked.
"What are you two talking about? Something seems very off right now…I hear you whispering…it's about me and how ridiculous I look…I know it is…"
Olivia laughed, turning around now. Alex slithered her arms around her wife from behind, hugging her firmly. "No, Case…we were talking about gun control and the next election…"
Alex squeezed her tighter, laughing. "And how they get movie theatre popcorn to taste so good…" Alex offered facetiously.
"Nice guys…thanks…"
Olivia turned her head to look at her wife, her mouth inches from her own, "Let's get the dress…I'll let you finish, Babe…" Olivia turned fully now and kissed her wife softly, "Don't worry…you look beautiful…" Olivia winked and turned heading out of the door with the red headed attorney.
… … … … … …
OOO
The party was in full swing and everyone they knew was there—Melinda and Fin, Casey, Captain Cragen, Munch, Donnelly and Petrovsky, Constance and Madeleine, Landon and Charles, Dr. Bensaro, Alex's assistant Thomas, Huang and his recent boyfriend, and O'Halloran, also a girl on his arm.
Everyone was passing Theo around but Olivia noticed he was getting cranky from the noise and so many people handling him, so Melinda offered to take him into the front sitting room to spread him out on a blanket on the floor and be with him for a little while. They had a train of friends that offered to do just that so that Olivia and Alex could continue to host the party.
Olivia was now breastfeeding only twice a day—morning and around six in the evening—so by the time the party had come around, she had finished for the day.
Constance was leaning against the wall of the hallway, white wine in hand, "Olivia…you look amazing. Motherhood agrees with you." The tall brunette was wearing an Artemis, goddess of war, costume including a long golden gown, complete with bow and arrow. Her raven hair had grown to her shoulders and she looked absolutely radiant.
"Thanks, Constance…by the way…we got your wedding invitation for the wed-ding…" said enthusiastically. "We'll be there with bells on, girl…"
"I'm glad…after all, you and Alex are the inspiration for us anyway…"
Olivia drew her lips inward, "I'm so happy for you. An August wedding will be amazing, then you can honeymoon. Do you know where you'll go yet?"
Constance swallowed a sip of wine, "Probably Cozumel or Los Cabos…one of those all-inclusive things."
"Hey, Olivia?"
Olivia turned to find Ryan O'Halloran next to her. "Yeah, Ryan?"
"Jennifer needs the restroom…where is it?"
"Back through the guest bedroom," she pointed down the hallway, Jennifer waiting by the island, "All the way back…and I want to talk to you about this Jennifer…" she smiled, watching as the forensics man blushed.
"Will do…"
The doorbell rang and Olivia excused herself from her conversation with her tall ebony-haired friend.
She opened the door to Captain Cragen and smiled wide, "Captain…"
"Detective Benson…you look wonderful…" He held his arms out for a hug and Olivia took him in a tight embrace.
"Come on in…" she motioned as he entered the town house. "You haven't seen it yet…"
"I'll have to get a tour later," he winked, kind brown eyes sparkling.
"Absolutely…"
She led him into the kitchen, others saying their hellos, and got him a glass of Perrier with lime as he took a seat at the kitchen island.
"We miss seeing you at the precinct every day, Olivia…"
"I know and…I miss it, too. With my shorter hours at Haven House and only coming in to the 1-6 every Friday, I am seeing how much that place means to me…" she focused on her own glass of ice water, stroking the sides of the glass, her eyes glazing over.
"Have you thought about coming back yet? I mean…full time?"
"I have…" she looked up now. "I have actually thought about it a lot…I miss it, Captain…"
"It's always there and you know that…"
"I'd have to talk to Alex about it, but please know that I have been rolling it around in my head for a little while now…"
"And you still need to take the sergeant's exam…whenever you're ready, of course. You would make a fine sergeant, Olivia…"
Olivia smiled, "I like the sound of that…Sergeant Benson…"
"Has a certain ring…" he winked.
The party continued, food put on plates, eaten, people drinking wine, mixed drinks and other beverages. Olivia went into the front room to find John Munch on his knees in front of Theo's walker, their baby looking at him with wide eyes. Munch had a toga on and a gold leaf crown on his head as he spoke to Theo.
Olivia folded her arms and smiled at the interaction. The soft glow from the lamp on the end table cast the room in an ethereal glow.
John looked over his glasses at their son, "You know, Theo…your Uncle John is a wise man…I can't wait to teach you the ways of the world. Your mothers are two of the most wonderful women I know and when you turn eighteen, you should strive to find a woman like that…"
Theo picked up the teething ring from the tray of the walker and put it into his mouth, beginning to chew. His bottom teeth were really cutting now and she knew that he was uncomfortable.
Olivia moved in closer, "You corrupting him?" she smiled.
Theo looked up at her, his face lighting up momentarily before that smile turned into a frown, then a trembling of his lower lip, as if to say, Mommy, I hurt.
"Don't take offense…" she smiled, taking the teething ring from his mouth and hands. "He's teething…" She leaned down and took him into her arms. "We need to put some Ambesol on his gums…" She bounced him on her hip now as he took her forefinger into his mouth and began gnawing. "I'll be back…"
"He's a precious boy, Olivia…God bless you and Alex for such a fine young man…"
Olivia felt her tears and she swallowed quickly, "Thank you, John…We'll be back…"
She turned and headed out of the room and up the stairs.
… … … … … …
"You interested?" Fin asked, taking a sip of his Hennessy on the rocks.
"A basketball game? Alex is the b-ball player…I'll have to ask her. This weekend?"
"Yeah…" he continued, "…I'll bet that attorney could wipe the floor with some of those guys at the Brooklyn precinct. You know it's been a battle between SVU and them for years…"
"I remember the game two years ago…I've never been elbowed in the stomach nor had my ass grabbed so much in my life…even on the job…" Olivia smiled.
"It'll be fun…let me know…"
"I will…"
Olivia knew Alex would want to play but she knew, at two months being pregnant, that she shouldn't play. Too risky. She would ask her and maybe they could just be the cheerleaders.
Fin smiled as Melinda came up to him, slipping her arms around his waist.
"June…" Melinda said, smiling. "The date is set…we're tying the knot in June…"
Olivia's mouth dropped open before forming a smile, "That's wonderful…"
"It is…but I wanna marry this guy as soon as possible before someone else snags him…" She smiled sweetly at her fiancé.
"Never, Warner…never…"
AAA
Something she ate was not agreeing with her. She continually swallowed willing her nausea away, but it persisted.
She had suggested a game of charades, everyone now sitting either on the sectional, on the tall kitchen stools or sitting comfortably on the floor, all eyes on her as the original Clash of the Titans movie played muted on their 52-inch flat screen, the CD of Despina Vandi they had gotten as a gift on the yacht in Greece, playing softly on the stereo.
"OK, Cabot…go!" Casey shouted.
Alex held up her arms and rolled in a movie motion.
"Movie!" Melinda shouted.
Alex nodded then held up three fingers.
"Three words," Huang said calmly before smiling at his handsome dark-haired boyfriend next to him.
Alex nodded and then held up one finger.
"First word…" Constance said.
Alex held her forefinger and thumb close together.
"Small word…uh, A? The?" Huang offered.
Alex pointed enthusiastically.
"OK…the…" Melinda said.
Alex held up two fingers.
"Second word," Constance offered.
Alex saw Olivia enter from the hallway, obviously having come back from taking care of Theo's needs. She smiled and then took her hands in fists, side by side, in a breaking motion, like breaking a stick.
"Breaking…" Casey said loudly, the red head tipsy again.
Alex pointed, signaling it was correct but swung her hand in a chopping motion.
"Break!" Cragen said.
Alex nodded.
That's when it happened. The overwhelming urge to vomit. It came over strongly, without warning. She covered her mouth before walking quickly to the trash can in the kitchen, at the end of the island, afraid she wouldn't make it to the bathroom. She leaned over, lifting the lid.
Within seconds, Olivia was there, Cragen, Casey, and Melinda right behind her.
"Al? You OK?"
Alex shook her head before briskly walking down the hallway and ascending the stairs, feeling the bile rise up into her throat.
She made it to the top of the stairs before she began dry heaving, knowing what would follow. She jogged to the bathroom, flipping the switch on quickly and kneeling in front of the toilet, lifting the lid and seat. And then it came. Her dinner right before her as her body rebelled almost violently.
A warm hand on her back, rubbing softly, "Oh, Baby…get it out, Al…"
Her wife's sweet, gentle, soothing voice was behind her and her eyes filled with tears before she expelled once again, gasping from the force, in the process. She grabbed a wad of toilet paper and wiped her mouth, closing her eyes.
"My poor baby…the first evening sickness, huh?" Olivia rubbed her back.
"Where's Theo?"
"Melinda has him…babe, don't worry about that…you OK?"
Alex nodded, closing her eyes and turning, taking Olivia in a tight hug, clenching her tightly. "That came on suddenly…" They pulled away.
"It did, Al…" Olivia took her hand to the blonde's cheek, stroking softly with her thumb, "Feel better?"
"Now…" she tried a smile.
"I'll get the Tums…let me help you up…" Olivia stood and then helped Alex up, the blonde shaky.
"Casey got the charade; by the way…your next clue was up, right?" Olivia smiled.
"Yeah…" Alex took a deep breath, "…whooo," Alex went to the sink and turned on the faucet, rinsing her mouth before layering her tooth brush with tooth powder.
"You OK?" Olivia rubbed her upper arms from behind softly, looking at their reflections in the mirror. "I like these ringlets you've got going on, Al…" Her wife handed her a couple of Tums from her hand before placing the container on the sink ledge. "For later…"
Alex smiled, laughing lightly, "Thank you…for being here…" She took the Tums and popped them into her mouth.
"I'm here always, Al…every step…" Olivia kissed her shoulder softly.
… … … … … …
OOO
Alex's display had people wondering, inquisitive eyes, inquiring questions which the girls dodged expertly, stating that Alex hadn't eaten all day—a complete lie—and must have eaten too fast.
Olivia asked her wife, once again, if she was sure they didn't want to tell anyone but the blonde was adamant. Everyone filed out soon after Alex got sick, leaving the ladies to their evening, everyone having enjoyed themselves immensely.
They had gotten quite a few nice housewarming gifts—highly scented candles, sterling silver picture frames, gift baskets with crackers and candy and bath products. Everyone had been so kind and generous as they helped share the warmth and happiness of their new home.
… … … … … …
"I'm so horny, Olivia…" Alex said from next to her wife, both lying on their backs that night, at one in the morning.
"Hmmm…nothing new, Al…" Olivia giggled.
"But I'm so exhausted at the same time…"
"Makes it difficult, Al…" Olivia rolled onto her side to face the blonde. "How's your stomach?"
Alex turned her head from her own pillow, "Fine now…I think the cottage cheese settled it a little…"
"Good…" Olivia took her hand to the blonde's belly, smoothing softly, feeling the firm bump that was emerging rather quickly. "Twins, Babe…"
"Yeah…double your pleasure…"
"With Doublemint gum…" Olivia smiled. "Two little ones to irritate Theo…it'll be great…"
"We're gonna be refereeing twenty-four seven. A lot of whining. A lot of screaming."
"I have a feeling Theo is just gonna take it from them…he's so docile…"
"He's been temperamental lately, Liv…"
"His poor gums, Al…" Olivia smiled again, "…and my poor nipples…I'm starting to feel his teeth when I nurse…"
"My mother said she used to give us a finger's worth of bourbon…I think…no, I hope she was kidding…" Alex smiled.
"Is that why you are the way you are…?"
Alex reached over and squeezed Olivia's side firmly.
"Ow!"
"I'm sleepy…" Alex felt her body relax, fading closer to sleep, "…so sleepy…"
Olivia moved closer just as her wife did, as well. Alex rested her cheek on the brunette's shoulder as Olivia kissed her temple softly.
"Let's sleep, Baby…it was a great party…"
"It was," Alex said softly.
"We have wonderful friends…"
"We do…"
OOO
Olivia heard her wife's gentle snores as Alex succumbed to sleep. Olivia hoped that her wife would get through the morning sickness phase quickly. The blonde couldn't stand to lose any weight. In fact, Dr. Bensaro said that she needed to gain weight. She had to make sure her wife was adequately fed throughout her pregnancy.
And she was sure that she was the exact person to do it.
She kissed her wife's forehead once again before letting her own body drift off into slumber.
… … … … … …
AAA
Alex decided not to play in the tournament for the basketball game between SVU and Brooklyn PD; but she had very easily convinced Olivia to play in her place. The brunette admitted she had a certain vendetta for the Brooklyn squad since Detective O'Brien elbowed her two years ago, bruising her rib terribly, during the last challenge she played in.
Alex and Olivia had discussed it briefly, coming to a decision quickly and the blonde knew that she didn't want to take the risk of falling or getting elbowed. And so, she stayed on the sidelines, rooting for her wife who looked incredibly sexy in her short gray jersey shorts and crew neck gray sweatshirt with NYPD and the insignia emblazoned on the front, Benson-Cabot on the back, her hair in a now-sweaty ponytail. With her gray ankle socks and Nikes on, her tanned, toned legs flexing, Alex was incredibly turned on. She bounced Theo on her thigh, their little boy facing the game, as she ogled her wife.
A very large, very bear-like Detective O'Brien from the Brooklyn precinct was in Olivia's face, dribbling the ball, both of them in a bent knee stance facing each other, as he taunted her, just inches from her face. "You got the right stuff, Benson?" He bounced the basketball, the ball bounding up in a fancy circular manner, smirking at her.
"Bring it, O'Brien…" She held her hands out, ready to make a move, her expression intense and unyielding.
Olivia stealthily reached for the ball, slapping it to the ground before grabbing it and dribbling quickly away.
Alex cheered loudly, cupping her left hand around her mouth, "Go, Liv!"
"I'm open!" Casey yelled.
Alex giggled, knowing that Olivia wasn't going to pass the redhead the ball. Every time Casey tried to shoot, the ball either went completely over the ten-foot wire fence and out of the court, or it hit the rim and bounced back forcefully, causing one of them to have to chase the runaway ball.
Alex saw Olivia look directly at her in the stands and smile before passing the ball to Fin, who also shouted that he was open.
The score was fifty-three to fifty, with SVU winning, with only forty-five seconds left in the game.
Fin passed Olivia the ball again, the brunette expertly throwing toward the basket, whooshing through the net as the whistle to end the game was blown and the referee called time.
Cheering was heard throughout the SVU side, Alex included. Her wife had just made the final shot. She looked at Theo and took his hands, clapping them together. "Yeah! You're mama won the game, Theo!"
Moments later, Olivia came up to the bleachers and sat next to her wife, toweling her face with a navy terrycloth towel and guzzling a bottle of water.
"What'dja think?"
"I think my wife is amazing…" Alex leaned in and kissed Olivia softly. "Like I said…there's nothing you don't do well…"
Olivia smiled now, looking her face over before kissing her again.
"The team is going for drinks but I told them we'll have to pass…"
Alex nodded, "We can celebrate at home…I think we both need a nice, long, luxurious bath…"
"Amen to that, Al…amen to that…"
… … … … ... …
April 27th.
Three months pregnant. Alex sat with her cell phone in her hand, looking at it and rubbing the sides, smiling, her eyes tearing. Her parents were still in Mallorca but it was time to tell them the good news.
She looked at Olivia who was sitting on the sectional next to her, as she held a sleeping Theo against her chest.
Alex took a deep breath, "I am so excited to tell them, Liv…"
"I know, Baby…they're gonna be so happy…"
Alex pressed her parent's icon on her iPhone and then hit the green phone button. "This is it…"
Olivia leaned over and kissed her shoulder. "Let's do this…"
… … … … … …
Her mother screamed, actually screamed into the phone, so out of character and so excited about their news. She then began sobbing uncontrollably, her father having to calm her down. She informed Alex that they would be coming back in two days, just to be with their daughter to see her through the remainder of her pregnancy.
Alex was so grateful that everything was turning out so very well. Now, her parents knew and they could let their friends know and Alex felt that everything was right with the world. She was happier than she had ever been in her life and knew that more wonderful life-changing experiences were yet to happen.
… … … … … …
