Elliot nearly broke down the door, forcing himself into the apartment. "Olivia? Olivia, where are you? What's wrong?"

There was no response. Her sobbing continued and Elliot followed the sound to the bedroom. Elliot flung the door open and saw Olivia, curled up in a ball on the bed, rocking herself slowly and sobbing uncontrollably.

"Olivia, what's wrong? Honey, what happened? What's the matter?" Elliot sat next to her and wrapped her in a tight hug.

Olivia sniffled and lifted her head from her arms, wiping away her tears. "Elliot, I'm..."

Elliot searched her eyes in a frantic worry for an answer. "You're what? What is it?"

"I... I'm FAT!"

Promptly, Olivia burst into tears again and returned her head to the position on her arms. Elliot sat back, stunned for a moment before beginning to chuckle softly.

"It's not funny!" Olivia tried to snap, but it came out in a pathetic wail. "Olivia, I come home after a long day of tracking down rapists, I come home and you're crying, you scare me half to death and it's all because you're fat?"

Olivia began wailing harder. "So I AM fat!"

Elliot stared at her for a moment, partially amused, partially bewildered. "Olivia I... you're not fat. I swear it, you're not."

Olivia shook her head, a strand of hair falling in her reddened face. "No. No never mind. I'm fine." Sniffling a little and wiping away a tear, she turned to Elliot with a bright smile and said cheerfully, "How was your day?"

Elliot stared at her for a moment before bursting into laugher. Olivia frowned and watched him. "What's funny?"

"I just keep forgetting about these pregnancy mood swings."

"Keep forgetting? Oh, right your other life?" Olivia asked.

Elliot nodded slowly. He rubbed his eyes, suddenly feeling exhausted. "Olivia, I... I can't explain what's happening. All I can tell you is that for the last few days, I've been living a life that isn't real. Kathy and the kids, they're real."

Olivia watched him, her eyes hurt. "Look, Olivia, I don't know why this is happening. I don't know why I'm here, but there must be a reason. It kills me to say it, but Olivia... you're not... you're not real. Not in the sense that I'm talking about."

Olivia didn't try to stop the tears. Her face was emotionless and it shocked Elliot. He had been dreading this conversation from the moment that he began to enjoy his new life. But he couldn't stay there. He knew it.

Olivia opened her mouth to speak. Elliot almost grimaced, afraid of the hateful words that were about to boomerang back to him. But before any sounds left her mouth, Olivia's face twisted in pain.

Any worries about Olivia's words dissipated instantly. Elliot threw his arms out and caught her before she fell onto the floor. "Olivia," He mumbled as he struggled to hold her up. Her breathing began to shallow. It took Elliot a minute before he realized that she was bleeding.

"Oh, God. Olivia? Olivia, stay with me. Common, stay with me," Elliot shook her slightly as her eyes began to grow heavy. He reached for the phone and dialed 9-1-1. Before he got through to the operator, Olivia was unconscious.

*****************************************************************
Within minutes, the paramedics had arrived and rushed Olivia to the hospital. About ten minutes of waiting in the waiting room, Elliot had been informed that Olivia had gone into premature labor.

"So... what happens now?" Elliot asked. His voice was hoarse. The doctor shrugged. "Well, we managed to stop the contractions, and we're recommending that she be put on strict bed rest until the baby's born."

Elliot shuffled his feet. "That's three months away," He stated, devastated. The doctor nodded sympathetically. "Yeah. I know, it's going to be tough, but it's for the best. We'd rather have her in bed 24/7 for three months than do serious damage to herself or the baby."

"When can I see her?"

"Right now. She's resting, so you'll have to make it brief."

"When will she be able to come home?"

"Well, we need to keep her for observation at least tonight. If things go okay, then she'll be home by tomorrow."

Elliot nodded. "Thanks."

"If you'll follow me, I'll show you to her room."

The lights were off and the room was dark when Elliot entered. The only sound was the faint beeping of the monitors and the raspy sound of Olivia's breathing. Elliot winced.

"Why is she breathing like that?" He whispered to the doctor.

"She's on a respirator."

"Oh." Elliot felt incredibly stupid, but pushed the feeling away. He only wished he could do the same with the guilt he felt.

"I'll leave you alone. Remember, make it brief," the doctor gave Elliot a smile before he turned and walked out.

Elliot slowly made his way to the chair beside her bed. As he sat down, he took her hand in his and stared at her pale face. Her eyes opened as if on cue. Their eyes locked for a silent moment. "I'm so sorry, Olivia," Elliot whispered. "I never meant to hurt you."

Olivia didn't respond. Elliot wasn't expecting one, but he got one anyone. "Are you sure I'm not real?"

Elliot's eyes began to burn as the water flooded them. It must've been because the last time he cried, he was about ten. "No," he whispered.

Olivia pulled her hand out of Elliot's. Elliot wiped his eyes as he laid his head down next to Olivia's. She ran her fingers through his hair as he allowed the tears to slip from his eyes. Her lips rested on his forehead for a moment. "I love you," She murmured. "Whether I'm real or not."

"I don't want to lose either of you."

Olivia sighed softly as Elliot's fingers trailed across her stomach under the thin hospital blankets. "You won't."

Slowly, the two of them faded into a dreamless sleep, their last waking thought being of each other.