When Elliot arrives in the park Olivia is already sitting on the bench. He smiles at her as his blue eyes meet her glance.

"Thanks for meeting me."

He takes a seat at the opposite end of the bench. "That was a pretty intense case that we just wrapped up."

"I, for one am pretty glad it's over with," Olivia admits.

"It's been a rough few weeks. I thought it was a little odd that you wanted to meet up. We've been keeping it pretty professional lately."

"Detective, please do not attempt placate me."

"I know a lot of things about you. I don't want to make an assumptions based on my gut. My gut has been wrong before. I don't want to open my mouth and say something really stupid."

"When has that ever stopped you before?"

"More than you know. Why don't you just start off with what it is you brought me here to discuss?"

She nods in agreement. As she builds her courage she rubs the back of her thumb.

"Much to my chagrin I find myself in a state of symbiosis. Geez, I can't even be a normal human being, and just spit it out."

"Take a breath. This is me you're talking to."

"And ten years ago I think this conversation would be going in a really different direction."

"Just focus on the here, and now, Liv."

"I'm pregnant."

He smiles, and hugs her.

"Try to contain your enthusiasm."

"I can't. I am just so happy for you. I knew weeks ago, but you didn't say anything, so I wasn't going to bring it up."

"Not in front of your boss."

He furrows his brow, "Because you're keeping it under wraps?"

"I kind of prefer to play my personal life close to the vest."

"Right. I am sure that it took a lot of time, and money to make this happen. I can imagine that you would want to be in the safe zone before you tell the entire department."

Olivia's eyes widen. She momentarily rubs her chin. Elliot immediately tilts his head.

"Liv?"

"You would think that at fifty four it would take a modern miracle to wind up pregnant. There is no good way to put this, so I'll just say it bluntly. No artificial reproductive technology was used in the conception."

The color begins draining from his face, "What do you mean?"

"I believe it happened the old fashioned way. Lust, and unprotected sex. Sperm meets a couple of dusty old eggs, and bam I can never look at Cheerios the same way again, after I've become intimately acquainted to the taste they have when regurgitated."

"What are you saying?"

"In regards to Cheerios?"

He shoots her a pointed glance.

"Perhaps this is where you chime in, and tell me that you got a vasectomy?"

"Nope," he shakes his head.

"Then you're contender number one."

"Is this an episode of Punk'd that is supposed to play out like Maury?"

She shakes her head, "No. It's just my life."

"So you're saying that you're pregnant, the old fashioned way?"

"Yes."

"And I might be the other party responsible?"

"Yes."

"Well, shit!"

"Double, shit."

The wrinkles on his forehead grow dramatically deep, "Double?"

She holds up two fingers.

"You can't be serious," he begins rubbing his head.

"El, I can honestly say I wish that I wasn't. It turns out that reality, at least mine, is stranger than fiction. I am having twins, and…"

"Identical, or fraternal?"

"I don't know," she shrugs, "Every time I go for an appointment I am in such a state of shock that I can barely string together an intelligible thought."

"I could go with you. When is your next appointment?"

"In two weeks. I am capable of taking myself."

"It isn't about being capable."

"Elliot, this is all very overwhelming," she admits getting misty. "I felt relieved that I turned the page on a chapter that was unwritten for so long. There is no hope of a relationship between us. At the end of the day though, we may now be forever intertwined."

"Is that a certainty?"

She shakes her head, "No. There is another option."

"I am not a fan of the pregnant pause."

"Well quite frankly I'm not a fan of being impregnated."

"It could always be worse," he blurts out before he can stop himself.

"In what way? Please enlighten me."

He shakes his head, "I retract my earlier statement."

"Too late."

"In very rare cases fraternal twins can be fathered by two different people."

"You are such a ray of sunshine."

"Says the woman who is glowing."

"It's perspiration. I swear I am running like twenty degrees hotter than everyone else."

"That has nothing to do with pregnancy," he grins.

She elbows him, "Honestly."

"I am just trying to lighten the mood."

"I am over here pouring my heart out, and you are…"

"Being a jerk. I'm sorry. Liv I know where your head is. You have already run through at least a dozen scenarios where all of this goes very wrong. I am not here to talk you out of any of those. I just want to remind you to keep the eye on your prize. Of all of the people I've met in my entire life there is no one who I have ever considered more natural at mothering than you."

"I should really get back to the office."

"Just out of curiosity have you succeeded at keeping all of this a secret?"

"No. Amanda found me in the parking lot before I found out. Fin would have sniffed it out no matter what, but he found me having a break down post barf in my office."