The pair appeared on the screen and their heartbeats filled the room after just a few minutes, and both women looked to Eli.
The tears in his eyes were instant and his jaw dropped ever so slightly as he gazed at his twins.
The 3D ultrasound showed their features clear as day, and his lip quivered as he took them in.
Joey was a solid mix of he and Sammi, much like his sister was of his dad and mom, but baby boy was all Stabler.
His eyes were locked on their daughter first. He thought of all the time his sister had missed with their father and emotions hit him like a ton of bricks. A stream of steady and silent tears rolled down his face as he thought about the inevitability of time time he'd miss with her.
He pulled his eyes next to their son; the one he was most afraid of.
Daughters loved unconditionally, well, mostly. That he knew from watching his dad and sisters.
But boys… he closed his eyes and thought of the resentment both he and Dickie had held against their father at times for the amount of time he spent away from them at work.
How he missed things, not so much his things but definitely Dickies.
How much he missed his dad and how it broke his heart whenever he did a long stint undercover.
How, growing up, he yearned to spend every waking moment with his hero, and how he knew he wouldn't be able to give that to baby boy.
His eyes opened when Sam gently grasped his hand. "You're gonna be the best dad," she reminded him.
Clearing his throat, he nodded and squeezed her hand back. "And you're gonna be the best mom," he said, moving his free hand to cup her cheek and peck her lips softly, an action that she happily reciprocated.
They pulled apart and looked back to the screen, laughing softly- happily- and she reached up to wipe away his tears, giving a gentle nod.
Eli took out his phone to take a video, pointing the twins out, still as "Joey and Baby Boy."
Sam gave Jenny a slightly sad smile, but was met with an encouraging nod.
This was progress, and they all understood it.
Once they were done, they got her cleaned up and sat back up. She grimaced and moved a hand to her back.
Jenny pointed to Eli. "Your homework is to get her into a bath and give her a massage."
He nodded quickly and gently entangled their fingers, listening intently to Jenny.
"Overall, they're perfect on development and normal size for twins, based on how far along you are and your size. We typically like to see mothers with twins go full term, but cause your frame is so small, we may induce you if you aren't in labor by December 1… okay?"
Sam nodded, sucking in a deep breath and holding her belly.
"Alright, continue to rest as much as you can, but remember it's okay to walk. Maybe you can walk the field while Eli practices?" She suggested, and Sam sucked in a breath, face going a little red.
"Hey… that's a good idea… guys would love to see you," he smiled small, nodding.
"I'll think about it," she nodded and he smiled small. "Okay."
"Alright, I'll see you guys in two weeks okay?" Jenny said and they nodded. "Thanks Jenny," Eli smiled small and Sam hugged her tightly. "Thanks Jenny."
She watched the pair walk out and texted her old friend.
J: Still calling him Baby Boy, but they seemed good! Getting along and being very loving… like they used to be
O: Yay! That makes me happy. He seem okay?
J: Just in awe… cried quietly and got lost in his thoughts for a minute. I think this was a turning point for him.
O: Just like his dad. But good.. that makes me so happy.
J: Me too. They both seem like themselves again.
O: Thanks for looking out for them!
J: Always!
Sam was exhausted by the time they got home. "Nap or bath?" Eli asked, rubbing her back gently as he helped her in.
"Food," she said and he chuckled. "Whatcha hungry for?"
"Eggs and bacon," she said with a firm nod.
"Lots of cheese and pepper?" He asked her with a small smile, remembering how she liked it.
"Yeah… yeah actually," she nodded, leaning into him to hide her smile.
"On it… go lay down."
"Will you help me?"
"Course," he said, guiding her to the couch and helping her sit down.
He whipped them both up some food and settled beside her, handing over her plate and a glass of water.
"Thank you," she sighed happily, putting her feet up and relaxing back as she ate.
When they were finished, he took her plate and brought everything to the sink, returning to find her grimacing as she tried to get comfortable.
"Okay, I'm putting my foot down. Bath and massage, lets go," he said, standing and holding his hand out to her.
"Eli," she said, giving him a look and blinking quickly.
"Hey…" he squatted between her legs and looked up to her. "Harley is dating other people. We're friends who are going to college together and play soccer. Our agreement is separate from anything happening between you and me… okay? I'll keep me underwear on but let me help you and take care of you… please Sam."
"Are you sleeping with her?" She whispered.
"Not since I confirmed the twins to her."
She nodded slowly and gently played with his hand that was rested on her belly.
"What's your agreement," she whispered again, chewing her lip.
"Our agreement is that we stay friends, and that right now I focus on the three of you and she lives her life. And once I know you're taken care of and settled and they twins are too, and Harley has her fun then… we'll reevaluate."
"Why does she even wanna be friends with me Eli… she's still a high school girl I…"
"She was jealous at first," he admitted, "But then she got to know you and like everyone else, she fell in love with you. She likes you better than me," he said and they both chuckled.
"I don't think that's true… she must like you a lot and see a future with you if she's building a relationship with your baby momma," Sam said, finally raising her eyes to meet his.
He nodded thoughtfully, taking in the new information and making Sam roll her eyes. "You're so thick I swear," she said and he laughed a little. "What do you mean??"
"You're Harley's endgame. She knows it, in her heart, that you'll find your way back to one another. And she's a good person so she wants to be friends with me and be in the babies lives, cause she sees you long term, E. And I think you feel the same about her."
"Well I can't even think that far, so right now my endgame is getting these babies here and making sure you're happy and healthy and taken care of in every way."
"Just friends," she reminded him.
"Friends who are bringing two little lives into this world and are the only two people experiencing this," he said softly and she nodded.
"You promise you're being truthful about this?" She asked him and he nodded.
"Sam, I've never lied to you," he said firmly and truthfully.
She nodded, remaining quiet and uneasy.
"I'm not gonna make you do anything you're not comfortable with, but Harley and I aren't together and aren't sleeping together or dating. We're just friends. And we're doing this because I need to focus on you... I want to focus on you."
"Okay," she whispered and he nodded, kissing her belly twice on either side and then standing to kiss her cheek.
"Rest a little… you look super tired. I'm gonna go start trying to read directions on their furniture."
She nodded quickly and winced, laying back.
Against her nerves and normal, better judgement, she lifted her phone and held her breath, texting Harley a picture of the sonogram.
H: Omg! Mini Eli and she's a mix!
S: Haha I know right! It's wild.
H: Has idiot picked a name yet?
S: No :( But he's been a lot more touchy and keeps looking at the video on his phone. Progress?
H: Yeah he sent it to me! I think he's more excited… finally!!!
S: Fingers crossed!
H: You guys talk yet?
S: Not about what we need to haha. I'm in a lot of pain. Doc said I should take a bath and get the pressure off my joints and back, but idk. Cant really climb in and out by myself!
H: Tell Eli to get off his ass and help you!!
S: Haha, he's offered but idk
H: Girl what are you worried about? He already got you pregnant hahaha.
H: I'm seeing other people if your concern is there, too!
S: How are you this nice and understanding haha
H: My dad went through this in high school, same situation and got my older brother. He was dating my mom but he supported Eric's mom and focused on them, and then when it was right he and mom made it work. I really like Eli, but like I told him, he has to focus on you and the babies
H: If it works out with us, great! If not, it wasn't meant to be. We have 4 years together at college lol. I'm not worried about me right now
S: You're a much better person than I am
H: Don't say that. Let him take care of you.. okay? Please? Stop being stubborn!
S: Hahaha. Okay, okay.
S: Thank you… it means a lot and I'm really glad we're friends.
H: Always!! Me too. :) Love ya girl
S: Love ya too!
She set her phone down with a sigh and slowly stood, making her way to baby boy's room where Eli stood, staring at the video on his phone. He'd just sent it to his family and they were blowing him up.
E: Joey & Baby Boy… no paternity test needed lol.
O: He looks just like Teddy!!!
Noah replied with a picture of Teddy from his phone.
N: Can confirm.
El: Oh man look at them! She looks like Em & Liz!
L: Another member of the army. Nice.
Em: Muahaha
D: Both of you stop that. Did you cry?
E: Like a baby lol
S: Dickie honey, you've no room to talk.
D: I own my cry baby-ness.
M: Awwwwe. Eli!!!!! Carl and I are so happy for you!!!
B: Congrats, brother! They're cute!!
K: I'm SO glad you went and so proud of you!!!!
O: Ditto!!! Will you be home tonight?
E: Yep! Can't wait to show you the scans in person
N: Can't wait to see them and be their favorite
Em: Noah you can't be everyone's favorite!
N: Watch me
El: Also proud of you, son. Would be more proud if you named your son after me!!
Eli was laughing softly to himself, startling a little when he felt Sam's arms wrap around his middle and her belly press against her lower back.
"Hi," he whispered, setting down his phone and intertwining their fingers.
"Might take you up on that bath now," she whispered and he nodded, turning in her arms and kissing her head. "Let's go."
Liv was sat at her desk, reading through the messages and smiling to self.
She shot a quick text to Elliot.
L: I'm so so proud of him.
E: Me too!
L: What are you guys doing today?
E: Paperwork lol
L: Same here. Come for lunch?
E: Just lunch ;)
L: For the 800th time not in my precinct
E: Todays the day I convince you.
L: Good luck!! You're gonna need it.
E: You and me on the cribs… fighting like old times and then making up.
L: Didn't realize we are fighting???
E: If it gets you to bend over in the cribs for me I'll find something to fight about
L: LMAO. I hate you. Bring something good for lunch.
E: I will. Love you cap.
L: Love you papa
Eli slowly helped Sam sink into the bathtub, and she relaxed back with a happy moan.
"Feel good?" He asked, sitting beside the tub and gently cupping hot water over her shoulders.
"So good," she mewled, allowing herself to be weightless. "Join me?" She asked softly.
"Let's talk first… then I'll join you."
She nodded and rolled her head towards him.
"I don't want child support… not until you have a job. But I mean… I hope you'll chip in unofficially?"
He nodded, resting his head on his arm on the side of the deep tub, still gently pushing water of her shoulders. "Anything I can get them I will, Sam."
"I know I just… I don't want all the court drama."
"Course," he said, desperately trying to keep his eyes of her swollen and floating breasts.
"What about after they're born?"
"How long did the boys stay with your mom after Emma?"
"I think like a week but…" he frowned a little.
"Maybe the first month?" She asked, "then go to a few days a week?"
"Sure… that sounds good."
"Where should we send them to school?"
"Preferably Catholic school," he nodded and she agreed. "Where we go would be fine but… we'll see what we can afford."
"That's what I wanted to," she smiled small and he held out his hand for a high five, making her laugh.
"God Parents?" He asked and she nodded.
"Katie and Beau for one, probably Joey. You can pick EJs."
He gave her a look and she bit her lip, laughing a little.
"Probably Dickie and Mo for baby boy," he nodded.
"Liz won't be mad?"
"Nah shes Anna Kate's."
"Oh yeah, that's right. Who's her Godfather?"
"Sarah's brother, rude," he teased. "Dickie said I get the next one."
"Wait who's Teddy's?"
"Mo and Uncle Fin," he laughed. "But they're slacking on planning his Baptism."
"Well they've been a little busy," she laughed and he nodded. "So true."
"So EJ and Teddy will have the same Godmother?"
"They're gonna be best friends so it'll be fine."
Sam smiled, both at his non-correction and the fact that he's thinking about their son and his youngest brother being best friends. "You think?"
"For sure. The two of them and Noah are gonna be the rival gang to AK, Joey, and Emma, led by Liz of course."
She laughed harder. "So true."
They fell into a comfortable silence as his hand rubbed her back gently.
"I just want you here as much as you can be," she said honestly. "Not here, per say. But involved."
"That's what I want too… I'm worried about school but… we have time"
"We do," she nodded, "I think I want that massage now…"
Nodding slowly, he stood without hesitation and pulled off his shirts, unbuckling his belt and jeans.
Her teeth stayed pressed to her lips as she watched him undress, and she shook her head when he left his underwear on, the light gray material doing nothing to hide his erection and the spot of precum that formed. "It's fine, E."
He nodded slowly and stepped out of them, completely bare in front of her, and climbed in behind her.
The water was hot and she relaxed back against him, taking note of how he'd filled out significantly in the last few months.
His arms were fuller and his chest more puffed; his abs were more defined and his leg muscles were, too. Suddenly, he was a man she was laying against, not her barely 18 year old high school boyfriend.
She reached her hands back and gently ran them over his buff arms, making him shiver, both at her touch and the sting of the hot water against his cool skin.
"Gym helps me relax," he whispered and she nodded. "I like it."
"Thanks," he laughed softly and moved his hands to her belly, just below where her breasts were resting, gently trailing up her sides and to her shoulders, massaging them slowly.
A moan escaped her lips. "So good," she whispered. "More…"
He continued, spending a considerable amount of time on her shoulders before moving down her back.
"Oh…" she cried out, her breathing increasing when he started hitting several tight spots on her lower back.
"Relax," he whispered laughing softly and she nodded, gasping the sides of the claw foot to brace herself.
Her head rolled back against his chest and he continued his massages all over her back for another 20 minutes until the water started to cool.
The noises she was making were driving him insane, but he kept focused on making her feel good, massaging and loosening her whole back.
"I'm gonna cum," she whispered and he couldn't help but laugh softly. "From a back massage?"
"You have no idea," she gasped, clenching and unclenching her legs.
"I can't reaching you like this," he said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
Reaching behind her, she grasped his hands and moved them to her breasts. Covering them with her own, she kneaded and tugged and pinched and rolled, showing him exactly what was going to send her over the edge.
He kept up her tempo, sliding one hand down to support her back when it arched in a powerful orgasm. Pulling his other hand free, from her breast, he slid it back under her back and slowly lowered her back against him.
She was breathless and satiated, but only for a moment. "Bed," she begged, and he nodded quickly.
"Shhhhh," El said, hand over her mouth as he fucked her against the wall of a toilet stall in the locked cribs.
His hips were pistoning, taking the term "quickie" very seriously, and her eyes were rolled back into her head.
Her heeled boots made her the perfect heigh for him to take her like he was, and their pants were pooled around their ankles.
Leaning forward, he whispered into her ear. "Needy little Captain lately," he hissed and she whined into his hand.
"Always needing daddy's cock… always so wet and ready for me. Am I right?"
She nodded quickly, gasping when his arm moved from around her waist, down to her clit and began swirling it quickly.
"The thrill of getting caught makes it that much better huh… like we should have been doing this for a long time."
"Shut up and fuck me harder," she whined softly, making him groan and pick up his pace.
"I'm gonna cum, El… I'm gonna cum fuck fuck fuck fuck," she gasped, desperately trying to remain silent as her legs gave out and an orgasm washed over her.
Like the bastard he was, he kept pressure on her clit and simply took a step back, holding onto her hips with one hand so she was fully bent over.
"Fuck," he hissed, spilling into her as her walls fluttered around him from the constant stimulation with his finger.
"St-stop," she gasped. "Stop!"
He smirked to himself and moved his hand from her bud to her ass, giving it several firm slaps and making her mewl.
Pulling out of her, she gasped softly at the loss of connection and the way he sunk down to his knees, ready to clean her up.
"Stay like that," he muttered, using his large hands to spread her ass cheeks and pussy lips, giving him a clear view of the mess he made.
He ate hungrily, flicking her clit ever so often as he drank down their combined juices, and smirked when a new rush of arousal began to creep out of her clenching and unclenching hole.
When he knew she was on the brink of explosion again, he pulled his face back and stood slowly, pulling up his pants with him.
"What the fuck," she exclaimed, breathless, looking back to him.
"Bath when we get home tonight," he nodded. "I wanna make you squirt," he clarified, as if she didn't know.
Her body shivered and he helped her stand straight. "Please," she pouted, taking his hand down to her clit.
"No," he said, pulling away. "Always much better and intense when I make you wait a few hours."
"I hate you," she shook her head as he replaced her pants and underwear.
"No you don't," he said, kissing her slowly and smiling when she moaned at how they tasted.
"Come on, Captain. Back to work."
She groaned and followed him out of the door to the cribs where Elliot untwisted the lock that ended up popping out into his hand.
Turning slowly, he looked at her holding it up and gave a nervous smile.
"Elliot Joseph Stabler," she said, seething.