A/N: There is literally no end in site for this, so all updates will be on Tuesday from now on. :) #TenTuesdays
Follow me on Twitter, @BeeBee33_ for input on this story!
After several minutes of laughter, Liv ushered them all off to their rooms to change, deciding with Elliot that they wouldn't be going to church that night due to the heavy snow fall.
Elliot followed Liv and Teddy into their room, shutting the door and taking her hips quickly.
"'Livia," he said softly.
She turned, breath catching in her throat when he crushed his lips to hers.
"Well hello," she whispered when he finally pulled back, looking up at him and smiling when his hands cupped her cheek on the left and jaw and neck on the right.
"I," he said in between kisses, "love you," he muttered, nipping her lip. "So fucking much."
"I love you… the only people I love more is those kids," she breathed.
He smiled, looking down at Teddy who was sleep suckling on his mama. "Our little miracle man," he said softly, gently rubbing his cheek, causing him to unlatch from his mom, head rolling back and mouth hanging open.
Both parents chuckled softly, and El brushed back his growing hair. "Hairs getting blonder and blonder…"
"I know," Liv chuckled. "Em's did too."
"It'll darken again," he said. "But those brown, brown eyes… they kill me."
"Now you know how I feel," she teased.
"I love you, babe… thank you… thank you so much for today and for everything."
"I may have threatened her kinda," she said softly, making El burst into laughter.
"Mama bear," he said, kissing her again. "Do we have time to make love?"
She chuckled softly. "No baby… and a boner is gonna be very visible in your onesie so calm down," she teased making him laugh.
The sudden noise startled Teddy, and he sat up in Liv's arms, blinking quickly and looking up to El with a pout.
"Sorry my man… can I get some snugs?" He whispered, taking him from Liv and smiling when he laid against his shoulder, one hand by his side and the other gripping onto El's henley.
"We made him," she said, rubbing his back softly.
"Let's make another," El said, only half teasing.
"Your pregnancy kink," she trailed off with a laugh, shaking her head.
He sat on the bed and watched her head over to the closet, pulling out their onesies.
"What are we?" He asked, patting Teddy's back to coax him awake.
"Santa and Mrs. Clause, duh," she laughed. "Littles are elves. Eli's 4 are reindeer, Dickies 3 are gingerbread men, Mo and Carl are snowmen, Beau and Kate are candy canes, and Liz and Peter are presents."
"And mama?"
"Mama is the Christmas tree and specifically requested I get her a yellow hat so she could have a star."
Elliot burst into laughter, making Teddy giggle in his arms.
"Well hi my grumpy man," El said, looking down to their baby and laughing at his now grinning face.
"Dang those teeth!" He laughed.
"Uh huh, they're coming in like crazy. He's starting to bite down," Liv laughed, stripping in front if her husband and changing into a matching red lace bra and pantie set.
"Olivia," he whined.
"Don't be dramatic, I know you already snooped and saw them," she laughed.
"You forced my hand when you made me do laundry," he said, setting Teddy down to get him changed.
"El they were in the back of my drawer!" She exclaimed, laughing and slipping on her onesie, before pulling up her hood. "How do I look?" She asked, giving a spin.
"Fuckable," he nodded, and she rolled her eyes, laughing harder.
He got Teddy into his jammies and handed him over so he could change.
"You guys look so cute," he exclaimed, take a step back and snapping a picture of them.
"I know," she winked, nodding for him to change, which he eventually did, flipping his hood up too and laughing.
"How do I look?"
"So handsome," she smiled, going up on her tiptoes to kiss him. "Come on, then!"
"You're mom is a super hero," Sam sad as she and Eli changed the twins and got them into their new PJs.
"Tell me about it," Eli said, gasping cutely when he finally zipped up EJ's onesie. "Oh my goodness… look at this handsome boy, mommy!"
EJ gave a lazy smile and laid against his daddy, snuggling in like always while Joey looked around once Sam zipped up her onesie. "Our handsome boy and beautiful girl," she smiled, kissing her cheek and then her nose. "We make cute kids," she grinned.
"Hell yeah we do," he said, holding up a hand to high five her.
She laughed and slapped his hand before moving to change into her onesie.
Laying EJ down, he began changing, too, oblivious to her checking him out.
"Maybe a night at a hotel wouldn't be so bad," she trailed off, and he finally looked up and smiled.
"Oh yeah?"
"Oh yeah," she said, walking over and running his hands over his toned abs.
"Hm well… good thing I already booked it," he whispered, pecking her lips and making her laugh. "Good thing," she winked.
"Oh man look at that baby bump," Carl grinned, kneeling down to kiss Mo's bare belly.
"Carl," she warned, laughing and running her fingers through his dark hair.
"She's gonna be here before we know it," he said, looking up to her with a grin.
"I can't believe it…"
"Still set on her name?"
"After today?" She asked, cupping his cheeks and tilting his head up. "Even more so."
"Our little Olivia Margaret," Carl whispered with a big smile.
"She literally has three of our four grandkids named after her," Mo giggled softly, rubbing her belly and watching Carl stand in his onesie.
"Hell of a legacy," he said, brushing her hair aside.
"Hell of a woman… May all our daughters be as bold and fearless and kind and selfless," she whispered, looking up at him.
"You okay?" He asked her, knowingly.
Exhaling slowly, she nodded. "I'm thankful that we have her…"
"But you wanna talk to Kath?"
"I don't know," she admitted, holding her belly and leaning into him. "Maybe? Not till after she's born or I read her letter but… it's a step?"
"I think so," Carl agreed. "And you know your mom is gonna support you no matter what."
"She's always kinda been my mom," Mo said with a nod. "You know when I was younger and hated my parents, I'd always stop by the precinct to see her. We'd get dinner and she'd just listen while I talked and vented… Never tried to overstep or be that overbearing mom. Basically just everything a teenage girl wanted," she laughed softly. "And maybe I helped drive that wedge between her and Kathy… it's not that I didn't love her I just…"
"Everyone needs that one person… Liv was and still is that person for you guys."
"And she's still like that with Emma and Noah," she said, looking up to him. "Just listens and…"
"She's a professional mom," Carl teased and Mo nodded. "Very much so. Years of working with the most vulnerable will do that I guess."
"Don't blame yourself," Carl said, knowingly. "Please?"
"I'm not… just makes me wonder," she said, pecking her lips. "I don't even think I've told mom how much this teen years meant to me…"
"You should," he said, pecking her lips.
"Yeah… maybe I should."
"Lemme see it, Beau," Peter called through the closed bedroom door.
"I look ridiculous," he cried as Katie and Liz giggled hysterically.
"Don't be a wuss Beau, I'm dressed as a giant present!"
He stuck just his head out and gave them a look. "I don't understand how we got stuck as candy canes!"
"Oh just come out!" Katie said through her laughter as he groaned and whipped open the door.
Everyone boarder-line fell to the floor laughing, including Peter who looked equally ridiculous.
"I love it!" Katie exclaimed, laughing and standing on her tip toes to kiss him.
"We never did any of this growing up," Peter said shyly, wrapping her arms around Liz from behind and resting his head on her shoulder.
"Never??? We did fancy matching outfits," Beau laughed, sitting down to put socks on.
"We always did ugly sweaters," Liz said, looking up at him. "You really never did this??"
"Nope…" he shrugged with a small smile. "But very glad get to do it now," he said, kissing her cheek. "You okay?"
"Worried about Dickie but," she shrugged.
"Thankful for mom," Kathleen whispered and they nodded. "Very thankful for mom," she agreed.
"Baby," Sarah said softly, sitting beside Dickie and holding her belly.
"I'm okay…" he insisted, rocking their daughter gently who was cuddled into her dad, knowing he needed a moment to love on her.
Resting her head on his shoulder, she nodded, not willing to push him at the moment.
"When Lilly gets here, I want to marry you," he said, looking down at her.
"Hmmm finally settling on Lilly?" She teased and he chuckled. "Mhm… I think so."
She looked up at him and pecked his lips. "Say when and where and I'm there."
"Feel like your parents hate me cause I've taken so long…"
"Hush… takes two to tango. We've had other priorities," she said. "They love you, cause you love me and our baby girls."
"And baby boy," he whispered.
"Especially baby boy," she said with a watery smile. "No doubt he sent us his sister, though."
He nodded and kissed her again, hearing rustling in the living room. "C'mon," he chuckled.
"Everyone ready??" Liv called from the middle of the living room with Teddy on her hip and El behind her.
They all shouted some form of yes before Liv counted down from 3 and everyone walked out at once, bursting into laughter.
Teddy was cracking up in her arms at everyone's laughter, and Elliot had fallen to the floor at the sight of his unamused son in laws.
"Laugh it up old man," Beau cracked, waving him off.
"Excuse me!" Noah cried, clearing his throat dramatically. "It is with great pleasure that I introduce the star," he nodded, stepping a side as Bernie shuffled out in her Christmas tree onesie with bright yellow hat.
Teddy squealed, drool dropping down his chin as he broke out into a loud belly laugh that made everyone laugh harder.
"I told you this would be a hit, Liv!" Bernie nodded and smiled, walking out to model her outfit before kissing Teddy's cheek. "You look very handsome," she said, wiping his drool with her thumb.
The baby boy reached for his grandma and El helped her sit before Liv passed him over. Everyone gathered to hang out while Elliot finished his seven fishes dinner, a tradition he picked up in Italy.
Lizzie brought out a huge charcuterie board the girls had put together, and everyone chowed down as Dickie poured drinks.
"I've been slaving away, don't get too full on cheese or wine!" El called from the kitchen, making everyone laugh.
"What about scotch?" Peter cracked and El laughed. "That too!"
Anna Kate, restless and desperate for someone to play with, resorted to hanging on her Uncle Noah's back until he finally instructed her to go get some toys.
"Teddeeeee, NoNo?" She asked cutely, pointing to Teddy.
"Teddy can play, too," Noah smiled, standing to get him from Bernie.
"NoNo?" She asked, pointing to the babies as her blonde curls bounced.
"They're too little but soon, okay!" He smiled, settling on the floor with Teddy as Anna Kate nodded and ran off.
"Next Christmas is gonna be insane," Carl chuckled and El nodded. "Definitely gonna need a bigger boat."
"I told Liz that next Christmas I wouldn't mind renting a big cabin," Peter said shyly.
"That actually sounds like a good idea," Mo said, rubbing her belly. "Gonna be a lot of little ones around," she chuckled.
"A lot of freshly walking little ones," Liv corrected with a smile as she watched her oldest granddaughter play with her youngest son.
"You think she gets the connection?" Katie asked, reading everyone's mind.
"Nah," Dickie laughed. "Just think she loves having someone her size."
"I think she'll get it next year and most definitely use it to her advantage," Sarah laughed, rubbing her belly.
"Mom how are we gonna do presents tonight?" Noah asked and Emma laughed. "Always thinking about gifts!"
"It's Christmas, duh," he said with a grin.
"Nothing could beat last Christmas though," Emma sighed happily, leaning into Liv who hugged her tightly.
"A baby brother and a dad… pretty awesome, you're right."
El left the food he was cooking to simmer and joined his family again, sinking into Liv's other side and watching the little ones play and listening to the big kids conversations.
Her phone buzzed with a photo from Kathy of the blanked draped over her legs and a cookie on a napkin in her lap.
K: They made my Christmas. Thank you for everything, Liv.
Reading it, El kissed her arm he was laid on and watched her love the message before setting down her phone, wrapping her arm around her husband's broad shoulders, and turning her attention back to her loves.
They'd let each kid open their Christmas ornament before bed, a tradition they started for them to make Christmas even a bit easier. El and Liv opened their usual framed photo from everyone from that year's family photos, oohing and ahing over how cute everyone looked.
The littles, including the now teenaged and non-believing Emma, stubbornly went to bed around 9:30 while everyone stayed up a while longer.
Noah had dragged Bernie in with them, who ended up being fine with the arrangement, siting "too much fun for one night."
It was all hands on deck to play Santa around midnight. All the boys helped bring things up from down stairs while the girls quietly organized.
Peter, in awe at the joy and kinship of the family, was eager to help and thanked his future in-laws profusely for including him in the reindeer games.
One by one, each older kids retired to their rooms until it was just Liv and El in the living room in front of the tree.
The room was illuminated by the glow of Christmas lights and the snow, falling harder than it had been earlier in the night, was visible through the large picture windows that adorned their walls.
El had wrapped his arms around his wife from behind, swaying gently with with her and examining all of the ornaments they'd collected over the previous several years.
Hearing her sniffle softly, he breathed out a chuckle and gave her a squeeze.
"Happy tears," she clarified and he nodded, nuzzling his head into her neck and placing gentle kisses to her pulse point.
"I know, baby. I know."
Their silence was interrupted by the squeak of the door behind them, making both turn as Mo emerged with a small gift bag.
"Mom?" She asked softly.
"I'll meet you in bed," El said knowingly, kissing her cheek and then his daughter's as he padded off to their room.
"You okay, honey?" She asked, sitting down and patting the spot beside her.
"Yeah... yeah I just..." she breathed out and nodded, taking a seat. "I wanted to..." she paused, emotional and rubbed her belly absentmindedly, leaning into Liv when she wrapped an arm around her.
"You know, I always wondered what it would be like to be pregnant for the first time... always thought my mom would be there to help me and love on her grand baby and," she cleared her throat and wiped her eyes. "And for the first six months of this pregnancy I was so damn sad... sad that my mom was gone and I didn't get that, but thankful for you of course," she clarified, holding up a hand and smiling small at Liv's encouraging and understanding nod.
"And then everything happened with Kathy and her being alive, and basically for the last month I've been so damn angry..." she trailed off, trying to steady herself before sinking back and closing her eyes.
"Listening to you tonight... it made me realize that," she shook her head. "I love my mom... you know, I do, and sometimes I hate that I do but..."
She sat up again and adjusted herself to face her step mother. "What I'm trying and failing at saying is...You helped shape me. You did shape me, from when I was a teenager and you used to take me to lunch and talk to me, to every text you answer for me now... every time you're there with no questions asked. You helped make me the person I am today, and in any and all or my times of need you never forsaken me. Ever. And it makes me feel horrible that I didn't talk to you for ten years, and even more horrible cause when we came back you picked up where you left off, never batted an eye."
Tears were pouring down the blondes face now and Liv pulled her to her chest, putting a hand on her belly and shushing her softly as her own eyes filled.
"I was talking to Carl earlier and it just hit me that I've never told you that... never told you how thankful I am that in a way, you've always been a mom to me."
"Oh Maureen," Liv said, voice deep and husky with emotions of her own. "You've always been my girl, and I hope you know how much I love you."
"I do," she said with a smile sitting back. "I just hope you know how much I love you... how much we all do," she nodded, wiping her eyes and chuckling. "Sorry... hormones and... I just wanted to tell you that before I gave you this and... it's not a secret but I just wanted to have a moment together where I tell you first," she said, handing over the forgotten gift bag from the ottoman. "And yes we have to get you something so hush and opened it," she laughed, shaking her head as Liv laughed with her.
She watched the older woman open the bag slowly and pulling out a picture frame containing the most recent 3D ultrasound of her newest granddaughter.
"Oh Mo... look at her," Liv gasped, fingers tracing the pudgy cheeks and button nose of the growing baby in the photo.
"Look at the frame," Mo whispered with tears in her eyes again as she watched Liv hold the frame out and gasp before looking at her.
"Maureen..." she choked out.
"May all our daughters be as bold and fearless and kind and selfless as you," she whispered, echoing her statement to her husband from earlier, "but especially my little Olivia Margaret."
At a rare loss for words, Liv set the frame down and pulled her eldest into her chest, allowing her tears to soak her hair.
"All these Elliot Stablers... figured we needed another Olivia to balance it out," she added, making them both laugh and pull back to look at one another.
"I love you, so very much Maureen. And you make me so damn proud each day. I'm so honored to be your mom."
"And I'm honored that you take that roll without a second thought," she nodded, kissing her cheek.
"Get some sleep okay? You and my little Livvie need it," she chuckled, wiping her eyes.
"Okay," she nodded, accepting her help in standing up. "Daddy, you can come out now," Mo called softly.
The door at the end of the hall opened slowly and El came out, tears falling down his face and arms wrapping around them both in a massive bear hug.
"Okay, I'll see you guys in the morning," Mo smiled, kissing their cheeks and heading off to bed.
In the light of the Christmas tree, Elliot spun his wife into him and pulled her lips to his own in a heated and loving kiss.
"Merry Christmas, Olivia," he mumbled into her mouth.
"Merry Christmas, Elliot."