A/N: Can you tell I've been inspired?

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"I feel really bad," Sam said to Katie, sucking in a deep breath as she and Eli sat in her living room with her and Beau.

Katie looked to Beau who sighed. "Okay guys. I'm gonna give this to you straight… alright?" He said, his southern Tennessee drawl some how enhancing the seriousness of what he was about to say.

They both nodded nervously.

"Y'all need a break," he said bluntly and Katie nodded.

"I agree. Eli, you need to spend time with mom and dad and the kids and your friends. Sam, you need to spend time here, getting acclimated to living here, and with your therapist and with your friends."

"But," Beau continued, "more so y'all need a break from one another. And it doesn't mean y'all can't talk or see each other or whatever, but ya need a solid break to be yourselves."

They both nodded slowly and Beau continued. "Eli… your mom and dad have a lot going on. Dad is going back to work next week and mom in three weeks. This is gonna be really stressful on both of them, and they'll never say it to you which is why we are."

"Buddy," Katie cut in, "we love you so much. Both of you, and Sam we know you've been through hell and we're gonna do everything to support you, but… Eli you gotta make a decision if you're in or out cause this constant back and forth is terrible for both of you, but also mom and dad."

"So right now, E… are you in this and gonna play dad or are you out?" Beau asked him.

Eli looked at Sam, who nodded tearfully, before back at his sister and brother-in-law.

"I'm out," he said shakily and they both nodded.

"Okay," Beau said sitting back. "I'm gonna take you to Dickies and Kathleen's gonna stay with Sam and wait for Jack, alright?"

He nodded, lip quivering as they all stood.

"This isn't goodbye," Sam whispered. "It's just backing off. For you and your future. Okay?" She said, trying to retain her resolve.

Eli nodded and hugged her tightly. "I love you," he muttered and she nodded. "I love you, too."

They broke apart and he pressed a hand to her rounded belly. "I love you…" he whispered and nodded before taking a step back and rushing to the door so he wouldn't cry in front of her.

Kathleen went to follow but Beau shook his head. "I got him…"

Once the boys had left, Sam broke down in Kathleen's arms, hanging on for dear life.

"I hate this," she sobbed.

"I know… I know you do but… but you're both doing the right thing. I promise okay?"

She nodded, trying to find words. "Just… just relax alright? You don't need to talk. You've been through hell and back these last few weeks, and after we clear things up with Jack today, we're gonna focus on you, okay? Getting your mental health going in the right direction, starting your job, picking out stuff for the baby's room," she smiled, gently rubbing her hair.

"O-o-okay…." She choked out.

"And hey… I know what you're thinking but… mom and dad don't hate you. They just are good people who have bit off more than they can chew."

She nodded and sniffled.

"Come on… let's have some tea and relax okay?"

"Okay…"

"You're doing the right thing, Eli," Dickie said, rubbing his back as he cried on his couch.

Sarah came over and hugged onto him. "Eli… for real… you're doing the right thing. I promise. And sometimes the right thing isn't easy and hurts… but you gotta give it time."

"I know... I just…" he whispered as Anna Kate crawled over to him and pulled herself up on his legs, giving him a cheesy grin.

"Uncle Eli needs some snugs," Dickie said cutely to her as she reached for Eli and he lifted her.

"Hi baby," he whispered, kissing her cheek repeatedly. "I do need some snugs."

The house was quiet when Elliot got home with Teddy.

He took him from his carrier and made his way into their room with him, finding Liv lounged in the bath with both breast pumps on and a glass of wine ready to be devoured.

Quietly walking into the bathroom, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her head. "I love you… and I'm so sorry. And both Dickie, Amanda, and Katie and Beau gave me and earful and… I'm sorry Olivia," he said, voice cracking. "I love you and when you're ready to talk or scream or yell, I'll be in our room."

Her eyes remained shut and her lip quivered before sitting up and removing the pumps, handing him them.

"He needs to eat," she whispered and he nodded. "But use what's in the fridge first."

"O-okay…" he said, taking them as she sunk back in the water and began sipping her wine.

"I love you, Olivia…" he tried and she screwed her eyes shut.

"I love you, too… I just need some me time to get over this."

He nodded, hanging his head and leaving her be.

She sighed when her phone buzzed just a few minute later, and lifted it up to see a text from her boy.

E: At Dickies. Momma I'm so so sorry for causing you so much stress… I love you so much and I don't know what I'd do without you. I love you.

Tears filled her eyes and she called him, smiling small when he answered on the first ring.

"You know how much I love you right?" She asked and he sniffled. "Y-yes…"

"And I'm not mad at you, or at Sam. I'm just overwhelmed and my hormones are a little wild, but more than anything else I'm worried about you, baby boy. And miss your smile and I just wanna see it again."

"I-I know I… I know… Beau and Katie had a sit down with us and uh Dick and I are gonna hang out tonight so… it's a start," he whispered.

"It is a start. And I'm so proud of you and we can talk more tomorrow okay?"

"Okay… momma I wanna go back to uh my therapist?" He asked nervously and she exhaled a happy breath.

"Baby I think that's a great idea. I'll call tomorrow okay?"

"O-okay…"

"I'm so proud of you E… and I love you so much."

"I love you too momma."

"Have fun with your brother. You deserve it."

"I will. Bye momma."

"Bye sweet boy."

She sighed softly and texted Noah and Emma, putting El in the group.

O: Guys… daddy and I love you so so much. I'm so sorry it's been insane here, but it's gonna change and we'll get through this okay?

She smiled slightly when El replied immediately.

E: I'm so sorry I lost my cool with momma earlier. That was so wrong and I know it's weird and upsetting to hear us fight cause we never do, but I promise you I've already got a big apology planned for your momma when she's done with her quiet time and big hugs for you guys when you get home.

O: We love you guys so much, and each other, and these things happen okay? It's gonna be okay. Eli is spending the night at Dickies, so it'll be nice to have some time the four of us tonight okay?

N: Love you momma and daddy so much I'm sorry you're sad :(

Em: We love you guys and same as what Noah said I hope you both feel better soon!!

Liv sat her phone down with a sigh, starting to tear up and just letting herself be emotional in the bath, where she remained until the water cooled.

El was laying on the bed, watching Teddy intently on the monitor as he slept in his crib.

She came out in her robe, hair damp and brushed back, and she sighed softly, causing him to look up and sit up slowly.

"You have a wonderful heart. It's my favorite thing about you. But I don't… I don't fucking understand what is happening in your brain. Elliot our son is our priority! That's why Kathleen and Beau offered to take her in, so that we would focus on our son," she said, starting to raise her voice. "And so our son could focus on soccer and his life and he has scouts and coaches coming to see him and it's supposed to be the happiest time in his life, but you keep letting him have Sam over! Cause he knows you'll say yes so he asks you and you don't ask me!"

She was yelling now and he stood up and gently took her hand. "Babe don't yell…"

Shaking him off quickly she shook her head. "No! I'm gonna yell Elliot cause I'm mad and I don't feel like we are a team right now!!!!"

"Babe…" he tried again and she shook her head. "Stop!! Just fucking stop!!! You're placating me. Fucking stop and just get it all out!!"

He slammed his hand on the bed and groaned. "I'm not fucking placating you Liv I'm trying to be better!"

"Well you're doing a shit job of it, Elliot," she shook her head.

"Wow… Are you kidding me?? You really just said that to me?"

"Yes! Cause you can't find balance!!"

"Fucking hell Olivia you want the damn truth?"

"That's what I've been asking for you stubborn bastard!"

He scoffed and shook his head, his voice wavering. "I… I feel so fucking guilty. I feel so fucking guilty!!! For not intervening more with Sam's parents. For giving my 16 year old condoms. For not having more serious conversations with him. And now, now he's hurting and her mom is dead and she's beaten and pregnant and alone!!! And I feel like it's my fucking fault! And," he scoffed, reaching the point of full yelling, "and, I'm trying to balance my relationship with him cause I finally have one with him and I don't wanna lose that by keeping Sam away!"

"You're not going to lose him Elliot but you can't be his friend!!"

"I'm not!"

"You are! You know as well as I do that they had sex last night and you let it go! You were gonna let Jack come here, to his home!"

"Well it's not like she can get knocked up again."

She groaned, running her hands through her hair. "What the fuck Elliot! It doesn't matter. You're his father and he's getting more and more attached to her. You need to step in and talk to him, not me!!"

"What am I supposed to say?!"

"Uh I don't know El, maybe try 'hey bud, stop having sex with your ex girlfriend who got herself pregnant by someone else because it's just gonna hurt you'?!?"

He scoffed as she started walking away. "You're fucking one to talk," he muttered, causing her to whip around with a new fire in her eyes.

"Excuse me?!"

"Had no problem bending over for me after Kathy found out she was preg-."

He was cut off with a hard slap across his face, and he looked up slowly as her eyes watered and her lip quivered.

"That was too far," she whispered and shook her head, storming out to the kitchen.

His hand went to his face and his stomach dropped as he realized what he said.

"Babe… Liv no… babe I didn't…" he rushed after her, gently taking her arm and was met with another slap.

"Don't speak to me," she whispered lowly. "I don't want to see you."

"Baby… baby baby no… no I'm… that was too far I don't know why I said that…"

"Because you think I'm a whore just like your bitch ex wife did," she said as large tears started to fall. "Well this whore gave you two fucking babies and another adopted son so you better fucking get your head on straight Stabler," she said, starting to sob.

"You're my fucking husband and our kids father and I need you to act like our sons father and not his friend cause that's what he needs and I can't be the bad guy," she shook her head, going into Teddy's room and locking the door.

"Baby… baby I'm so sorry," he pleaded through the door, sinking to his knees. "I'm so sorry…"

He sat against the door jam, head in his knees and unable to stop crying or calm himself down.

It was almost two hours later that she finally opened the door to find him sitting with his legs stretched out and his arms crossed. His eyes were closed and puffy from crying.

They opened slowly, his usually bright blue eyes a little darker and duller, and slowly and hesitantly she lowered herself to straddle his lap.

Their arms wrapped around one another tightly and she buried her head in the crook of his neck, starting to sob.

"Baby… Liv I'm so sorry," he whispered, "I didn't mean it I don't… I was mad I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry that was too far and I'm so sorry."

"I hate fighting with you," she sobbed. "I hate fighting with you."

"I know. I hate fighting with you… you're my best friend and my partner and I'm so sorry I haven't held up my end of the bargain," he whispered.

She pulled back slightly and her hands went to his face as her lip quivered.

"You're not a whore and never were one," he said, answering her unspoken question. "I… I'm so sorry…. That was fucked up and I'm so sorry and I love you…"

Nodding quickly, she started crying again and crashing her lips to his, hungrily and passionately and needy for some type of connection with her husband.

"I don't wanna fight… I don't wanna fight," he whispered, shoving his tongue in her mouth as she dropped her hands to his shorts, pulling him out as he untied her robe.

"I love you… I love you so much do you know that? Do you understand?" He asked as she knelt up and she nodded.

"Yes… yes I do I'm sorry I just… this has been hard!" She gasped as she slid down on him.

"I know… I know it has fuck babe… I know it has been and I love you and we're gonna fix this and be a team I'm so sorry," he said, moving to kiss and bite at her neck.

"I'm sorry too I… you're a good father- the best and I love you… I love you…."

"I love you babe you're the best momma," he moaned as her bouncing got more frantic.

"Tell me we're gonna get through this," she whispered and he nodded, bucking his hips upwards. "Mhm… Mhm baby we can get through anything," he said panting.

"I love you… I love you so much," she whined approaching her release as he did too.

"I love you so much more… fuck babe I'm not gonna last," he gasped, moving his hand to her clit to drive them over the edge together.

"Yes… yes… yes I love you! Yes ugh baby right there!" She cried, shooting her head forward to the crook of his neck as she clenched down around him and came with a groan and cry of his name.

He spilled into her, relaxing against her breasts in a panting and sweaty heap.

"We're gonna be okay… we are I swear…"

"I know," she breathed out deeply, sitting back to rest her head against his.

"Take me to bed for a little?" She asked, rubbing his swollen eyes gently.

He nodded. "Get some ice for our eyes?" He asked softly and she nodded, smiling small and kissing him again.

"Get our baby?" She asked and he nodded. "Can I make love to you one more time," he whispered and she nodded, kissing him again as he came back to life inside of her.

She climbed off of him with a soft moan and led him into their room, falling back on their bed and pulling him on top of her.

Craving the weight of him, she wrapped her arms around his back and buried her head in his shoulder as he pushed into her with a moan.

"I love you…" he breathed out as he began to rock his hips in a slow and steady pace, his mouth never leaving hers until they both came with quiet and satisfied moans.

Holding each other for several minutes longer, he kissed her gently a few times, smiling to her when Teddy cried.

"I got him… he need a bottle or you gonna feed him?"

"I'll feed him… I pumped in his room," she smiled small and he nodded, kissing her again.

They went their separate ways, her getting ice and him their little one before returning to cuddle in bed together.

He watched her intently as she pulled her robe open and nestled their little one to her chest.

The 7 week old's hair was starting to lighten more and more like his sisters had, but his eyes still remained dark like his moms.

Resting his head on his wife's shoulder, he and his baby boy maintained eye contact for several long minutes before the he released his mothers breast, smiling around it at his dad.

Both El and Liv laughed and he pressed a soft kiss to her neck.

"I love being your partner," she whispered and he nodded. "Me too baby…"

Her phone pinged and he lifted it, handing it to her, both chuckling as they struggled to read the message without their glasses.

E: Can I come home tonight? I wanna be with you guys.

"What do you think," El asked and Liv nodded. "Definitely… we can talk with him first."

"Good idea," he nodded, texting him back for her.

El: Hey buddy it's dad. Sounds good mom is just feeding Teddy. Love you.

E: Love you guys, Dickie is bringing me now.

Liv squinted to read the message and nodded. "Should get dressed," she laughed softly and he nodded, smiling and kissing her cheek.

"Lemme get you something," he said, and got up, grabbing a pair of her underwear and his sweats and an old t shirt.

He helped her get dressed as she continued to feed Teddy, taking care and giving loving attention to each part of her he was dressing.

"I love you," she whispered as he pulled her hair from the neck of his T-shirt.

"I love you more. What do we want to say to him?" He asked, sitting beside her and holding her knee.

"What do you want to say?" She challenged gently and he nodded. "I don't think Sam should come over at all, except for family dinner nights... maybe Sunday after church but no in his room... and I don't think he could go over either. At least for a while."

"What's a while?"

"Is until the baby born too drastic?"

"No… no I don't think so… gives them space and he won't get attached."

He nodded thoughtfully. "Okay then I'm okay with it."

"El he's not gonna be happy…"

"I know," he sighed. "I'll handle it."

They were quiet a moment before her hand landed on his arm. "And by the way," she whispered, taking his hand, "Eli is a great kid. And you're an even better daddy… and what happened with Sam's parents it… it's not on you, El. Please don't blame yourself."

He nodded, blinking his tears away quickly and kissed here.

"Thank you… I love you."

"I love you."

They heard the door open and Eli walk in with a sigh.

"Mom, dad… I'm home."