"Baby I didn't know… I didn't know and I'm so sorry Emma…" he said just above a whisper.
She started to cry harder and leaned against him again. He wrapped his arms around her and shook his head.
"Emma I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry."
"How could you n-not know…" she cried into his chest.
"Baby it's complicated adult things..-" she cut him off and pulled back shaking her head.
"I'm so sick of complicated adult things! Y-you…" the poor thing was crying so hard she could barely breathe.
Olivia stepped in and pulled her close into her. "Emma breathe with mommy, baby…" she was able to get her a little settled, but she was still sniffling and crying.
Elliot was a wreck watching the scene unfold in front of him. He'd done it now. His poor little girl was heart broken- because of him. Because he came back.
She read his mind and gave him a sharp shake of her head. He nodded immediately and snapped out of his pity party, moving slowly to both of his girls.
He took a moment to take them in. He'd watched her do this with so many kids over the years. She was a natural mother. An angel on earth. The best person he knew.
And their girl. She was looking more and more like her every day. Kind hearted, loving- the best big sister, little sister, and daughter. A friend to all.
She was sat in her mother's lap, matching her breathing with her eyes closed. He sat cross legged in front of her and gently put his hands on her arms.
"Emma Bee…" he said softly. "Do you think you can look at me?"
She started to sniffle again and he lip quivered. "Ok ok ok…" he said softly. "You don't have to… but will you just listen a minute?" He asked her gently and she nodded keeping her eyes squeezed shut.
"I made…" he paused, "I made some really.. really terrible mistakes. And I was really terrible to your mommy, and because of that, you too." He let his hands go to her's and he squeezed them tightly. Liv looked at him, tears forming in her eyes.
He continued: "I will never, ever be able to make up for the lost time and all the time mommy spent so sad cause of me. But I promise you Emma, I will do whatever I can for the rest of my life to try to. I'm never leaving you again, baby girl. I'm gonna work to be the best daddy to you, and to Noah, that I can and the best man for your momma. I promise you that."
Tears began to spill out of the corners of her closed eyes. He leaned in to kiss her head softly. "Baby girl I love you. I love you so much. I've loved you since the moment I saw you in the park that day. I know this is a lot to process," he said more softly, "so I'm going to sit on the couch and let you be with momma for a little. And when you're ready? You come talk to me. I'm here for you baby. Forever." He nodded and kissed her head again.
"I love you baby girl…" he repeated softly and leaned over her, kissing Liv's cheek, "and I love you, Olivia," he nodded before leaving for the living room.
She let her girl calm down a bit more and let her eyes trail to the dresser across from their bed, lined with pictures of the family they had built over the last year.
Photos of her and Elliot. Them with the littles. A photo of the whole gang and one of just all the siblings.
Emma was intuitive- she had all of the qualities of her mom and her dad… including maybe a little bit of mind reading.
"Do they know?" She asked softly.
Liv nodded against her head and pressed a soft kiss to it.
"They've known since the week of our first family dinner," she whispered, "I… I told daddy that he couldn't be in your life until the big kids knew. So we told them. We talked for a long time and…" her voice cracked a bit, "and they decided to give me and your dad another chance and get to know you guys. And they fell in love too baby… just like your daddy."
She sniffled and was quiet for several moments. She looked up at her. "He really didn't know?"
She shook her head, gently pushing her hair behind her ears. "He would have been back here without a second thought."
She stayed quiet and wiped her eyes. "D-did… was he still married to Kathy…"
Olivia took a deep breath and closed her eyes before looking down at her. "Yes baby…"
"S-so he cheated on Kathy," she said, more as a statement than a question.
Liv gave her a look and Em sighed. "Jess's daddy did that to her mom b-but he sees Jess and the new baby…" her lip quivered and Liv put a hand to her face.
"And… and your daddy would have been there too baby. If he had known."
"But… you didn't call him?" Liv sighed.
"I did baby… but he didn't answer. He'd gone through a lot at work and… he wasn't in a good space."
Emma sat quietly for a while longer. "I don't want to talk to him right now… can I sleep with you," she asked softly and Liv nodded immediately. "Of course. It's late and you're exhausted… get some sleep and we'll talk in the morning."
She nodded and moved to curl up in Elliot's spot. She kissed the top of her head and Emma sighed, starting to fall asleep immediately. "I love you momma…"
"I love you more Emma Bernadette."
She watched her girl sleep a while before slowly getting up and going to the living room.
El was sitting up straight on the couch, wide awake. She paused and watched him before walking around and sitting beside him. "She's asleep…" she whispered.
He nodded slowly and looked at her. "Olivia… I'm… Jesus I'm sorry."
She pulled a knee up and turned to face him. "Please stop apologizing."
He nodded slowly. She took a deep breath looking away and he looked at her.
"Just ask it." He said, a tinge of hurt in his voice.
She was quiet for what felt like forever before she looked at him. He took some calming breathes, trying to keep the anger he was feeling from bubbling up.
"Please promise me you're not going to run," she held her hand up to him as he started to protest and she raised her voice a little. "Jesus Elliot please. Just promise me. Promise me."
He took some steadying breaths and turned to her, grasping her hands tightly.
"I haven't left In the last year. I don't plan on leaving now." He said very calmly.
She nodded and took another deep breath, allowing her tears to fall. He didn't say anything, just wrapped his arms around her tightly and let her breakdown.
He rocked her gently and whispered words of encouragement to her. "I love you. I'm going nowhere. We are a family. Nothing will change that Benson."
His eyes drifted up to Eli who'd come from his room, having been listening to the whole ordeal. He sat beside Liv and rubbed her arm before leaning into her.
She wrapped a free arm around him and kissed the top of his head.
They sat like that for a while before Elliot glanced at the clock on the wall and spoke softly.
"Alright guys… it's late. Everyone get some sleep."
Eli gave them hugs and went to his room. He walked Olivia to theirs and stopped at the doorway. "M-maybe I should sleep on the couch…" He said looking at her.
She shook her head. "You promised you'd never let me sleep alone again when we're together…" she whispered, her lip beginning to quiver again.
He nodded and glanced over at their girl as she put her hands flat on his chest.
"Show her you're serious El…" he nodded and climbed in on her side of the bed with her
He pulled her close to him and kissed the top of her head, snuggling his head into the crook of her neck.
Emma woke up super early the next morning, still feeling sleepy and sad.
She stared up at the ceiling before rolling over to face her mom. Her eyes widened and she was surprised to see Elliot, sleeping uncomfortably on the edge of the bed, holding her mom close to him.
Both were facing her and she could tell they'd stayed up much later than her.
She took a deep breath. Elliot. Her dad. Like, her real dad. He was still here. She for sure thought she pushed him away after the night before.
Tears welled in her eyes and she slowly inched over to her mom, curling into her and taking Elliot's hand from her mom's stomach to wrap around her too. She went back asleep, curled in the safety of her parents.
Her parents.
Liv woke up about an hour later, eyes puffy and sweating from being sandwiched into her two personal space heaters.
Wait, what?
She paused and looked down, a small smile forming on her lips.
Emma was curled into her and Elliot's arm was protectively around both of them.
She gently pushed her hair back, kissing her cheek, then scooted herself out from between them and Elliot instinctively moved closer to his girl, hugging her closer. She curled into his chest and sighed contently in her sleep.
Liv teased up and snapped a picture, quietly leaving the room and sending the photo to the kids group chat
L: We told her last night… long night but waking up to this was promising.
Mo replied right away: Eli told us… we're on our way over with breakfast. See you in an hour or so, love you.
Liv teared up, taking a deep breath.
L: Love you guys so much.
When Emma woke up again, Elliot was already awake, laying quietly and still holding onto her. They both had heard the commotion of the big kids out in the kitchen.
She yawned and buried her head in his chest. He gave her a gentle squeeze, kissing the top of her head.
"Did you sleep okay?" He finally asked her softly.
She nodded but remained quiet. "Do you want to talk?" He asked her after a few more minutes of silence.
He felt her lip quiver and she shook her head but remained in his embrace. He smiled small. He'd danced this dance with his girls 1000 times before.
"Well… how about we lay for for a while more… and then we can go eat breakfast with everyone. And when you wanna talk, you tell me and I'll be ready."
She nodded starting to sniffle more and he rubbed her back soothingly. After 20 or so more minutes she rolled back and looked at him.
"I… I don't wanna call you d-daddy yet." She whispered. His heart broke but he hid it well and nodded. "You can call me Mr. Poopy Head and I'm still not going anywhere," he said, causing her to giggle.
He leaned over to kiss her head. "I'm serious," he said and she paused looking at him. "I'm not going anywhere. You can't scare me away Emma Bee." He got up heading to the kitchen.
She took a moment and then slowly followed him into the kitchen.
"Heeyyy" everyone cried, causing her to smile softly. She went right over to Katie and cuddled into her arms. "I thought it would be fun to have a girls day. Just the four of us… what do you think?"
She smiled and nodded. "That would be awesome," she said. Her eyes danced over to Noah to see if he knew and he gave her a quick nod. She slid off Katie's lap and the two littles went into her room.
Dickie snorted. "You sure they're not twins…"
Emma shut her door and looked at her brother.
"You ok?" He asked her softly and she nodded.
"I don't want to call him dad… not yet…"
Noah's lip quivered. "B-b-but…"
She cut him off. "You can I just don't want to."
He took a deep breath and nodded. "It kinda makes sense… you look just like Lizzie…" he said bluntly and she let a smile crack through.
"Yeah… I guess I do…" she said thoughtfully.
Noah walked over and hugged her tightly. "Daddy loves you. Me too. So…" he took a deep breath. "Just… give him a chance." He shrugged.
The pair walked out together. "All good?" Liv asked and they nodded.
"Noh you wanna do a boys day with me and Dick?" Noah paused and grinned. "Yes!!!! Wait, mom dad can I?"
They laughed and Elliot grinned. "Y-yeah… buddy that's fine. Hey- I didn't get a good morning hug!"
Noah grinned and ran from him as El chased him, finally picking him up and tickling him.
El and Liv got the kids off with the older kids. Em gave Elliot a right hug before she left. "I'll be here when you get home," he whispered and she nodded.
"I-I know…" she whispered and he kissed her cheek.
All the kids left and Elliot took a deep breath looking down at Olivia. Her bare feet made her shorter than him and he loved it. She took a breath and grasped his hands to squeeze them.
"She said she didn't wanna call me dad yet…"
"She's lying," Liv said almost immediately, causing him to smile small, "she already slipped up when I was doing her hair."
He leaned his forehead against her's and kissed her nose. "You know I'm not going anywhere, right?"
She nodded against him and slowly walked him backwards to the couch. The back of his legs hit the couch and he sat, looking up at her and still holding hands.
"I love you, Elliot," she said softly, pulling her shirt over her head.
He bit his lip looking up at her as she unhooked her bra and her plump breasts spilled out.
"I love you, too, Olivia." She shimmied out of her sleeping sorts, revealing no underwear and he licked his lips. "Oh? When did that happen…"
She leaned over him and pulled his shirt up over his head, tossing it to the side and trailing her hand down his muscled chest and abs. "After I saw you with our girl this morning… I've seen you be daddy many times over the last year but… this was different." She whispered tugging on his sweats.
He lifted his hips so she could slide them down and he bobbed free. She moaned softly at the sight of him before moving softly to straddle him.
She sandwiched him between his belly and her wet folds, causing him to moan. Sliding him against her slowly, his hands went to her hips, and then down to grasp his cock.
She kneeled up and put her arms around his neck as he lined up with her, and moaned as she sank down onto him.
"Baby." She whispered to him as he stretched her, hitting every inch of her.
She bounced on him slowly at first, letting herself adjust to his size, before speeding up.
He sat up and put an arm around her waist and one on the back of her neck, pressing their bodies together as she rode him. She leaned down to kiss him passionately, feeling herself flutter but needing more.
He knew, he always knew.
He moved the hand that was on her waist down between them and circled her clit just enough. Her hands moved to his head, holding him close to her chest and speeding her movements.
He peppered kisses to her scars and she moaned, lifting his head so she could kiss him.
"I wanna hear you…" he whispered into her mouth, putting pressure on her clit that made her cry into his mouth.
"Elliot! Yes!!!" He smirked at her cries which only made his balls tighten more.
"Liv… I'm gonna cum…" he groaned right as he pushed her over the edge. Her back arched backwards and he leaned in to suck at her nipples, only making her orgasm last longer. He spilled into her, spasming and moaning.
"Fuck Olivia…" he panted as he rode the waves of his release and collapsed against her.
She smiled, panting herself and holding onto him.
"God damn, Benson… we should get rid of the kids more often." He said into her chest, trying to calm his breathes.
She laughed into his hair and pushed him back. He looked up to her and smiled lazily.
"I'm so in love with you," he whispered and she felt him begin to harden inside of her again.
She cupped his cheek, taking him in for a moment before leaning in to kiss him passionately. "And I'm so in love with you El…" she whispered, beginning to move again.