Your Star
A/n: Wonderful… Just as I'm getting over writer's block, I catch what I think might be strep throat… just freakin wonderful.
Munch watched quietly from his desk as Elliot walked straight through the bullpen and into Cragen's office. He and Liv had gone to a doctor's appointment, and apparently Liv would not be returning to work that day, as she was not following him.
"What's wrong with him?" Fin asked. Munch looked over the top of his sunglasses at his partner.
"My guess would be baby trouble, seeing as Liv's nowhere to be seen," he replied. The two went back to their paperwork until Elliot and Cragen walked out of the office.
"Take the rest of the day off. She needs you right now," Cragen told him.
"You know as well as I do that she'll be back in a week," Elliot said.
"Knowing Liv, yeah. But for right now, you need to keep her from trying it."
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Olivia sat on her couch with her arms folded, glaring at Elliot. "I'm not an invalid, you know," she said. He could tell from her tone of voice that she was pissed at him.
"Liv, you're supposed to be on bed rest," he reminded her. She rolled her eyes.
"Stabler, I'm fine."
"Liv, you're six months pregnant with twins," he started. He walked over to her and took her hand. "You've got to do what the doctor says, Liv. You heard her…"
"Elliot, there is nothing wrong with me," she told him, pushing herself to her feet. She brushed past him and into her daughter's bedroom to put away clothes. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself." He followed her, stopping in the doorway.
"Olivia, would you stop being so damn self-reliant and just let me help you?" he asked. She turned to him, her eyes shooting daggers.
"I don't need your help, Elliot. I'm thirty-six and perfectly capable of caring for myself," she told him. "Maybe you should go home and take care of your own family." She knew that her words bit. She stood still for a moment, waiting for him to leave. Instead, he softly walked over and wrapped his arms around her.
"You forget that part of my family is right here," he told her, gently placing his hands on her belly. He tried to kiss her cheek, but she turned away. "Why are you being so damn stubborn? What did they do to you that made you this way?" he asked, his voice soft and not accusing. She pulled away. "Liv…"
"I'm sorry," she whispered. She put down the clothing she had been putting away and walked out of the bedroom, back to the couch. He followed her, wanting to know what she was thinking.
"Olivia?"
"It's nothing, El. Defensive mechanism. That's all," she said. He came and sat down beside her. She took his and intertwined their fingers. "I'm just not used to unconditional love."
"Olivia…"
"No El, listen. My mother didn't love me when I was young. The only time I can ever remember her acting like she even remotely loved me was eight years ago, during the case with that cab driver. Nico didn't love me… I was a trophy for him.
"But you… El, you've stuck with me through the past six months, no matter how much shit I've put you through. You're the only person who's ever done that for me. It scares me, knowing that I can push you away and you'll still come back," she told him. He gently kissed the back of her hand.
"Don't be scared, Liv. You deserve it."
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Two Months Later…
Elliot woke up and felt Olivia forcing herself out of the bed. "Liv?" he asked, his voice kept to a whisper. Kaitlyn and Lizzie were in the next room asleep, and Dickie was on the couch. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," she whispered. He sat up and watched her, knowing that she was lying. It was only a moment before she bent over in pain and he was by her side.
"Come on, we'd better get you to the hospital," he said, kissing her cheek.