What had started out as 'a couple of nights' was going on three weeks. Charlie had a little money saved up, mostly for the birth, but she'd insisted on giving Liv what she could to help with the bills. Liv fought her, but when Charlie wouldn't give up, she'd taken it. She'd just replaced it in Charlie's suitcase later. They'd left it at that. Liv was trying to get used to living with someone again, but it was hard for her. She become accustomed to her home being a quiet respite from the crazy world she dealt with every day. Now she had Charlie to liven things up for her. She looked over at Charlie. Charlie was crying.
"What's wrong?"
"Huh?"
"Why are you crying?"
"Oh," Charlie wiped her cheeks, blushing.
"Man, you really like this show."
"No I don't!"
"Is Crossing Jordan even on after this?" Liv grabbed for the remote, but Charlie played keep away. So she grabbed the nachos instead.
"Hey! Get your own."
"These are mine." Liv pointed out, smiling.
"Okay, you've got me there." Charlie conceded, "But still, give 'em back!" Charlie gave her the puppy dog eyes and pouted until Liv gave in and threw the bag back at the younger woman.
"That look should be a registered weapon."
Shortly after Charlie moved into Liv's apartment:
"You are crazy, you know that." Alex informed her. Liv nodded, blowing on her hot chocolate.
"Seems to be the general consensus."
"You don't even know this girl, and you let her stay in your home."
"I trust her. I really don't think she's trying to take advantage of me."
"What do you know about her?"
"That she's a long way from home and needs a friend."
"And there's no way I can convince you to put her in temporary foster care? Or even a hotel?"
"No, she trusts me, and I trust my gut. She's seven and a half months pregnant and needs someone. I'm not letting her down."
"What about the father?"
"He's out of the picture. He was paralyzed after the car accident, and his family made it no secret they had no interest in her. She's better off without them, from what she's told me."
"So what happens after the baby is born?"
"I don't know."
"I called my mom today." Charlie said from the kitchen.
"Good for you. How did it go?" Liv smiled, 'took you long enough though.'she thought.
"Better than I expected, really. She says she's just happy I'm safe and wants me to come home." Liv exhaled a long breath as a weight lifted off her shoulders. She'd had no idea what to do after the baby was born, and was immensely relieved when the solution presented itself. 'You are so lucky that girl has one very understanding mother' she could hear Alex's voice say in her head.
"Did you tell her about the baby?" She asked Charlie.
"Yeah, I did. She said she'd expected that. And I got mad and hung up on her."
"Oh. I don't think she meant it that way."
"And when I calmed down neither did I, so I called her back. She demanded to have your phone number, so I hope you don't mind that I gave it to her." Liv shook her head. "Mom explained that she was pretty sure that I'd run away because I was pregnant. See, she'd found a home pregnancy test, sorta tipped her off. Having children in wedlock was the one thing that my dad was fervent about. I knew I couldn't kill the baby, so I left. She said she would have done the same thing."
"Is she okay that you're not coming home right away?"
"Oh, she understands. 'You keep your feet on the ground, or at least comfortably rested, until that baby is born.' She said." Liv was liking this woman more and more. "Although I'm half expecting her to walk through that door any day now."
"What about your dad?"
"He doesn't know yet. I'd always planned on giving the baby up, so I could just go home like nothing happened. But the longer I'm pregnant, the more I fall in love with this little guy. I don't think I can give him up. So I guess I'm hoping that bringing home a cute little grandson will win him over. Hope he won't be too mad." Silence descended over the table.
"I'm going to miss this, having someone cook for me." Liv said, trying to brighten the mood.
"Well, enjoy it while you can. Doc says I've got another three weeks to go." Charlie responded, happy to go along with her.
"Everything's good?" Liv asked as she heaped her plate full of spaghetti.
"Yep, everything is good." Sometimes having a roommate wasn't such a bad thing.
"Hello?"
"Oh, hello. My name is Cynthia Peterson, I'm Charlie's mother. Is this Olivia?"
"Yes, hello, how are you?"
"I'm okay, although I was starting to think you were a myth."
"Excuse me?"
"Charlie's been telling me all these wonderful things about you, but you're never home when I call. Your job is lucky to have you." Olivia laughed.
"Did you want to speak to Charlie?"
"Always. But since I have you, I need to thank you for taking her in. She's so lucky you found her. Any compensation you need, just name your price."
"I don't need anything but to know that she's okay. I'm glad she has a loving family to go back to."
"And you are always welcome to join us. Very few people would do what you've done. You're very special."
"Cap," Liv stuck her head in his office, "that was Charlie, she's gone into labour."
"Go. Tell her we all wish her well."
"Liv!" Charlie greeted her as she walked in. Liv smiled warmly at her,
"How are we doing?"
"At this point, full of painkillers, and the contractions aren't too close together yet. Doc thinks I've got a while to go yet."
"She's right on schedule," said a woman entering the room, with two cups of coffee, "you must be Olivia." She said as she handed Liv a cup of black coffee. Liv nodded.
"Thank you, Cynthia?" Cynthia smiled. "How was your flight?"
"Fine, and you have a lovely apartment, what little that I saw of it. My luggage is scattered in your doorway, just to warn you. I walked in and found her rubbing her lower back, saying it'd been hurting all day. We just packed her stuff up and headed right over here."
"I'm glad you did, I wouldn't have been home for hours."
Several hours and much yelling later, Olivia was out in the hallway gingerly poking her other hand. The yelling continued in the other room.
"How's it going in there?" Liv spun around, surprised.
"Alex! Where'd you come from?"
"Well, I call it a door. It's rectangle shaped, there's one right there." Liv just stared at her. "You stood me up; I called Elliot to find out why."
"Stood you up…dinner! I'm so sorry, I completely forgot."
"I know, I know, it's okay. Good excuse, by the way." Further apologies were cut off by a baby's wail. Cynthia soon appeared in the doorway,
"Come in, come in!"
"Is everything okay?" Liv asked.
"Everything's great." Cynthia beamed. Liv and, with a little prodding, Alex entered the room to find mother staring at her son with a big grin on her face.
"He's perfect."
"He's got all his digits?"
"All accounted for."
"He's adorable."
"What's his name?" Olivia asked
"William Oliver Peterson." Charlie announced. Olivia blushed,
"You didn't have to do that."
"What? Name my first-born after you? It was the least I could do. I can never repay you Olivia for all you did, but you can let me try."
"And William's his grandfather's name." Cynthia supplied, "let's see if that appeases the man."
Two weeks later Cynthia, Charlie and baby Oliver boarded a train out of New York.
"I'm going to miss you so much."
"So am I. You take good care of my godson."
"Always."
The End :)