That was, until click of Beau's expensive cowboy boots he always wore to court filled halls of the kid's school admin building the following afternoon, just after lunch.
It was there, as his phone buzzed non-stop in his pocket, that he found a bloody nosed and blank eyed Noah, waiting for him, completely expressionless.
"Noah," he said, breathless and worried, sinking down in front of him under the glares of two seething parents and another bloodied kid. "What the hell happened?"
Noah wouldn't respond.
His eyes were glazed over, staring right through his brother in law.
"Your mom and dad don't even love you enough to get you," Isaiah taunted, only to shut down when his father's eyes went wide in his direction.
"You've caused us enough trouble boy," he growled, grabbing hold of his shirt.
"I think that's enough, Callahan, don't you?" Came Dani Beck's familiar drawl.
She was a resource officer and worked between the attached elementary and junior/senior high school.
The sound of the voices around him made Noah's eyes snap alive again and his previously even breathing become harsh gasps.
"Noah," Beau said, kneeling up and pulling the young boy to his chest. "Noah breathe, buddy… breathe I'm right here. Mom and dad are finishing a raid and then they're gonna come sort this out okay? Dickie is on his way, but right now I've gotcha… I'm here, okay? I'm here and I love you, buddy, please calm down…"
Noah's ears were ringing and his head was throbbing from the blows he took, and Beau's voice, though right in his ear, was muffled and soft as the words that had been cast at him mere minutes before echoed in his mind.
"Mr. Williamson, we're really going to recommend Noah goes to the hospital, I think he's got a concussion," the school nurse said.
"Noah," Beau said, sitting back on his heels and holding Noah at a bent arm's length by his biceps. "Noah, talk to me, buddy."
Taking one look at his blood that now stained Beau's white shirt and navy suit, a shudder passed through his small body as the vision of a burned body did,too, in his mind.
With a sharp lean to the side, he wretched everywhere, covering the floor beside him and splattering on Beau's pants.
"Get me a cold cloth now," Beau called, panicking as he sat back and pulled Noah into his lap, shrugging off his jacket and using it to wipe Noah's face. "And call fucking 911."
"No," Noah croaked, limp against Beau's chest before leaning to puke again.
"Do it," Beau yelled, right as Dickie came running in. All the siblings were authorized to check the littles out of school and get pertinent information about situations, should they arise, but the spouses weren't.
"Dick we've gotta get him to the hospital I don't like what I'm seeing. Call your parents and tell them to meet me there, and for the love of God find out what the fuck happened," he said, standing effortlessly with Noah in his arms and rushing him out to meet the paramedics who were barreling down towards the school.
"Jacob is checking Emma and Jakey out and taking them to ours, tell your daddy, and bring one of the lawyer siblings. Someone knows something they shouldn't," Dani said, giving the young boy a look before escorting the Callahans into the small conference room to meet the principal. A wide-eyes Dickie nodded, doing as he was told and desperately trying to get in touch with his parents before finally resorting to texting them in a group with their squads and his older sisters and younger brother.
D: Noah got into fight at school. Someone get mom and dad to Mercy. Beau is with him. Jake Sr is checking out Emma and Jake. Katie or Peter, meet me at the school. Or send Carisi, I don't give a fuck just get someone who knows the law.
Taking a moment to crush down his anger, he walked into the conference room, glaring at the young boy who was beginning to realize the gravity of what he'd done and starting to panic.
"Someone tell me what the fuck happened," he said sternly with a fist landing on the table in front of him, looking and sounding exactly like his father. "NOW."
Earlier that day:
"Hannah is soooo pretty," Noah said to his buddies as they changed back into their school clothes following PE.
"Dude she totally likes you," Mike said, nudging his friend and making him blush.
"What did your brothers say?" His other best friend, Kyle, asked.
"I haven't told them yet," he groaned, shaking his head. "They're literally so embarrassing."
"You gonna ask her to the dance?" Mike said with a grin.
"Benson? Asking a girl to the dance?" Isaiah, the new bully snarked as he came around the row of lockers.
"First of all its Stabler, and second of all, butt out. No one was talking to you," he scoffed, turning and reaching for his white uniform polo.
"Stabler," he scoffed. "Isn't it actually Drake?" He smirked.
Noah's entire chest and neck instantly went red, an angry fire deep within him slowly creeping up his face.
His friends, unsure of why that set him off but knowing they needed to get him out of their fast, slammed his locker shut and grabbed his arm and bag, dragging him away from a laughing Isaiah.
The class after their lunch period was social studies, and Noah and his classmates were giving presentations on what their parents did and how it related to the economy and city.
Noah, still on edge from Isaiah's earlier comment, was called up to present his project.
Never wanting to show he was sweating, he brushed off his anxieties and stood with a smile as all his buddies whooped and cheered him on.
"Hi guys," he grinned, "I'm really excited to present my project today. My dad helped me do this and-" he was cut off by Isaiah's quiet snickering.
"Mr. Callahan," their teacher scolded.
He held his hands up and Noah continued at the thumbs up from his table of friends.
"Anyways," he continued. "Both my parents are cops. My mom is Captain of the Special Victims Unit and my dad is a Sergeant with the Organized Crime Control Bureau."
"No," Isaiah said. "My dad told me that your mom was a prostitute and your dad was a pimp who raped your mom and then they got you."
The poster Noah was holding fell to the floor and his fists curled up instantly.
"Mr. Callahan! Enough!" The teacher cried, standing up. "Out!" She yelled.
"And then," he sneered, standing up. "Then, he set her on fire and burned her alive."
Everything happened faster than anyone could react, and before his teacher knew it, Noah had hurdled two desks and begun wailing on the boy who instantly began punching back.
Three other teachers ran in at the sudden commotion and yelling, and pulled them apart as everyone in the class went silent.
Noah was screaming and thrashing, tears running down his face as he was restrained.
"Noah… Noah buddy, stop," one of the teachers who knew the Stablers well said into the little boy's ear.
Isaiah was still screaming and Noah was violently swinging his arms in an attempt to get back to him as blood ran down his nose and from his mouth.
Breaking free, Isaiah took one more swing at Noah before Mike and Kyle jumped in and pushed him back, beginning to wail on him as well.
Noah went limp in the teacher's arms and they rushed him out of the room.
Both Katie and Peter arrived in record time, pacing the room as the story was recounted while Dickie sat stoically, his eyes not leaving the young boy or his father.
He'd ended on the bit about Noah's father being a pimp and his mother a prostitute, but his teacher shook her head. "The rest, Isaiah."
"I told him that his dad killed his mom and burned her alive," he mumbled.
"What was that," Dickie said, both in shock and anger.
The young boy repeated his statement, voice shaking.
"I-I told him that his dad's gang killed his mom and burned her alive," he said, voice so tiny that they could barely hear him.
Kathleen's jaw dropped while Peter stood with an unwavering silence, side eyeing Dickie to gauge his reaction.
The elder Stabler son stood quickly, exiting the room and puking in the basket just outside of the door.
Peter nodded to Kathleen to go sit with him while he walked slowly over to the young boy, crossing his arms.
"And how did you find out about this, Isaiah? Because last I checked, Noah's relation to a woman burned alive and a man shot in a courtroom are sealed tightly because he's a minor," he said, his whole body rigid.
"Isaiah," his father warned.
"Tell me, Isaiah. How did you, an 11 year old, find out details and who an unnamed minor is from a case."
"Isaiah," his father said more sternly as he began to talk.
"M-my dad told me," he squeaked out as Kathleen and Dickie came back in.
"Yeah?" He asked, sitting in front of him and giving a small smile. "And where does your dad work, Isaiah?"
"Not another word," his father bellowed.
Peter, having already called in a favor to look him up on his way to the school, shot a small smile to the boy in front of him.
"The Department of Children and Families?" He asked, point blank.
The young boy nodded quickly and Peter sat back, his smug, game-time face on.
"Noah punched first!!!" His mother cried.
"And your husband shared sealed case reports with his 11 year old."
"We could press charges," the mother tried.
"My little brother is in the hospital and your husband broke about 10 laws. Do you really wanna do this," Kathleen hissed.
"You'll be hearing from our lawyer," his father said, standing up quickly.
"And ADA Carisi is on his way to your place of employment with the 16th precinct and warrant. We'll see you there," he winked.
Kathleen's phone buzzed and she answered it quickly. "Beau."
Dickie rushed over to listen in to the call.
"Hey, he's okay. They're taking him down for a precautionary MRI but he's talking and answering questions fine, no confusion. But he's freaking out, both about whatever that kid told him and that Elliot's gonna be super mad at him. They're gonna give him something to calm him down for the MRI, so he'll be out for a little bit."
Exhaling a breath he didn't know he was holding, Dickie pulled his phone out when it buzzed. "Mom's calling," Dickie said, answering quickly. "Mama, he's okay."
Sirens were filling the speaker and Liv sounded frantic. "We're on our way to Mercy, what the hell happened."
"They're sedating him for an MRI so he'll be out for a while. Drop dad off and come here. You need to hear all of this," he said, swallowing back the bile that was flooding his throat once again.
"I need to see him," Liv said frantically.
"Mama. Trust me," Dickie said, voice cracking.
"Fuck fuck fuck," she said, eyes filling up and panic strong in her voice.
"Mama trust me. You need to come to the school so you know what to expect."
"Okay!" She snapped, "I'll be there in 10."
On the way to Noah's school, Liv got an update from Carisi and her officers that had all but stormed Callahan's office.
Everyone was still in the conference room when she came rushing in in full Captain mode.
She hadn't even had time to take her vest off from the raid and was dressed in all black as she swept in like the wind.
"Captain," the principal said, holding both of her hands up in effort to slow her.
"Captain Olivia Benson-Stabler, Special Victims Unit. This is now an active investigation that my Lieutenant and Sergeant will be heading. Amanda," she called, nodding when the blonde came in behind her. "Please take Isaiah with you to the school counselors room."
"Yes Captain," she said, escorting the panicking young boy from his mom and dad.
"Are you kidding me?" His father cried. "Your fucking son hit first!"
"And you're abusing your power to look up your sons classmates' sealed documents and then you're sharing that information with him," she said, getting close to him in full Captain mode. "And now, my 11 year old is in the hospital and?" She scoffed, shaking her head, "Is going to have to process the fact that his biological mother was burned alive. What the fuck is wrong with you!"
He didn't say anything, just looked down. "That's what I fucking thought," she sneered, taking her cuffs from her belt. "James Callahan, you're under arrest for the exploitation of minors and abuse of power as a federal employee," she said, turning him roughly and clicking shut the handcuffs around his wrists.
"Fin," she called, and Fin came walking in, cracking his knuckles. "Read Mr. Callahan his rights," she shook her head, storming out of the small conference room and into the principals office to discuss Noah.
Dickie and Kathleen, who'd never seen Liv in action quite like that, were stunned and watched the entire scene with their jaws on the floor.
Peter laughed a little at their reactions. "Rookies," he said as they followed Liv into the office.
El had rushed into Noah's room to find Beau frantically pacing, waiting for Noah to return from his MRI.
He looked up when he saw Elliot, and the men rushed towards each other, Elliot pulling the younger man close to his chest.
"Thank you," he said when he finally pulled back. "Thank you so much."
"He's my brother," Beau said, a little incredulously. "I'd do anything for any of you."
El blinked his tears away quickly as Beau began to speak but then hesitated.
"I uh… she was burned alive?" He asked, voice soft and strangled.
"Yeah," El said. "Gang raped and tortured. Then burned."
"Jesus."
The younger man had to sit down, and put his hands in his head in an attempt to process everything Noah had told him on the ride to the hospital.
They were quiet for another 45 or so minutes, just processing the information and mentally reliving the situation.
"He thinks you're gonna be super mad at him," Beau finally said, nervously.
"As a cop and his father? I'm not happy he threw a punch first. But as his daddy and best friend? I'd have killed that damn kid."
"Me too," Beau admitted, sitting back with a sigh.
"You're gonna be a good dad," Elliot said with a nod. "I'm glad you're marrying my daughter, Beau."
He was about to respond when nurses rolled a still sleeping Noah back into the room.
"Definitely a concussion," said the radiologist who'd come in behind them. "But other than that everything looks normal," he said.
"Thank God," Elliot exhaled, finally shrugging off his vest and climbing in beside his son.
"We ended up having to give him a heavier sedation, so before we left the MRI room the anesthesiologist gave him something to bring him out of this. He should be waking up soon," she said with a warm smile.
Elliot thanked them, wrapping his arms around his boy tightly.
He'd just gotten settled when a familiar blonde popped in the room.
"Hey…" Kathy said softly. "I was on the team when the ambulance arrived. He okay?"
"Kathy," he exhaled. "Yeah he's… he's alright."
"Thank God… I'll be at the nurses station if you guys need anything, okay?"
"Would you mind texting Liv?" He asked awkwardly. "I just… I know she's gonna want all the details and I'm not sure I can provide them…"
"I'll call her," Kathy nodded, heading back to the nurses station.
Isaiah had been expelled for his behavior and Noah, despite Liv's protests, was suspended for the remainder of the week. Though, it was promised that the principal and teachers would set something up with the parents and students to do damage control regarding what Isaiah had said.
"Mom, maybe a week home is for the best," Katie said, rubbing her mom's back gently as they pair stood in the restroom.
"Yeah," she sighed. "God I feel sick." She squeezed her eyes shut, hand flying to her bell. Brushing it with her thumb, she tried desperately to breath her nausea away.
"Noah's gonna be okay. This is all gonna work out… let's go see him, yeah?"
"Yeah," she croaked, sighing softly.
"You must be starving," Katie said, "probably why you don't feel well. Let's pick up some food on the way over to the hospital- or we can send someone to and have it waiting at home," she nodded with an encouraging smile.
"I can't keep anything down," Liv scoffed. "Haven't experienced it this bad since…" she trailed off, eyes snapping open to meet her daughter's sparkling blue ones. "Food… yeah, that could be worth a try…"
The corners of the younger woman's lips quirked up into a small grin, and Liv gave her a look.
"Olivia Margaret Stabler," she she sang lightly.
"Kathleen Marie," the elder scolded pathetically, not in the mood for the accusation coming next.
"Come on," she conceded, grabbing her hand and pulling her behind. "Let's go see our boy."
When Noah came to, the first thing he noticed was the heavy arm that was wrapped tightly around him.
The next was the smell of an all too familiar cologne; the one Noah got Elliot on their first Christmas together. The one that he asked for every year since.
The third was the deep timbre of his dad's voice, telling him how much he loved him and how lucky he was to have him.
Noah finally found the strength to push his eyes open, and they watered immediately when they met his dad's.
"Oh son," he whispered, gently pulling him as close to himself as he could. "Buddy you scared the hell out of me. I'm so glad you're okay… breathe, bud…" he whispered when he felt his chest begin to rapidly rise and fall.
"D-d-daddy I'm s-s…" he trialed off just sobbing, unable to breathe or focus on his words.
"Breathe Noah… I'm right here. Listen to my voice okay? I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere."
"D-don't, d-don't g-give me back d-d-daddy please d-don't give me back," he choked out, sobbing into his chest.
"Noah," El said, speaking as calmly as he could. "Noah, son, you're mine and mommy's. You're not going anywhere. We wouldn't give you up for anything buddy."
Beau marveled at how kind and calm Elliot was, telling his boy exactly what he needed to hear to calm down and ease his mind in this fragile state.
"You know what makes you so special?" He asked softly, brushing his fingers through his brown curls that were still caked with blood.
Noah looked up at him, pulling in a few stuttered breaths and shook his head.
"Mommy and I chose you… your siblings? We got stuck with them," he winked, making Noah crack a smile for the first time all day. "But you? Your mommy held you for the first time when she found you, and fell in love. She chose to fight for you and go to every hearing, and buddy? If I'd have been around back then I'd be right along side her."
Noah nodded, tears streaking from his eyes and bleeding the dried blood on his face down to his pillow.
"And then when I got home? And saw you for the first time with your sister," he exhaled and put their joined hands to his own chest. "Oh man. I knew you were my boy."
"Daddy," Noah whimpered, gasping softly.
"Son you have no idea how much you mean to me and your mommy and your siblings. Jeez bud, I'm so, sorry you had to hear all that ugly today," he whispered.
"I p-puked on Beau," he whispered, making Beau laugh softly.
"I don't care about me. I'm glad you're okay," he insisted, standing and walking over to him. He leaned down and kissed his head, smiling small. "Scared the hell outta me today, boy. I'm so glad you're okay. I love you man."
"I love you too, Beau," Noah said, eyes welling up again. "Th-thanks for b-being there."
"Noah you're my brother and I love you. I'm here for you any time okay? I know all these changes with Eli have been so hard, and that you feel a little alone, but I want you to remember you've got three other big brothers who'd do anything for you… okay?"
The little one was full on crying now, and El wiped away his tears as Beau leaned in to hug him again before pulling back and leaving them be.
Realization washed over Noah's face as one memory triggered another.
"I-I hit I-Isaiah is he okay?"
"He's fine," El said, smiling small at how loving he was. "You got the worst of it… gonna need to start bringing you to the gym with me," he chuckled. But, you need a shower… probably will make you feel better, yeah?"
"Daddy I just wanna g-go home," he said, squeezing his hand.
"Gotta wait for word from the doctor okay? Want me to go ask?"
"N-No daddy don't leave me," he said anxiously, eyes welling again and breathing picking up.
"Okay, okay," he said with a nod. "Right here, deep breathes."
He did as he was told relaxed into him after a while, completely melted in his embrace.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah?"
"W-why… why didn't you and mommy tell me… about Ellie?" He asked, voice barely audible.
El let out a soft exhale and leaned back, just enough for his deep blue eyes to meet his son's crystal clear ones.
"If it were up to me and mom, we wouldn't ever have burden you with that truth… it's heavy and it's upsetting. It's hard for even mommy and I to understand and we're old," he teased, earning another microscopic grin from Noah. "I'm sorry you found out that way," he sighed.
"I just… why?" He whispered. "Why'd he do that?"
"Some people are just… bad," he exhaled with a shake of his head. "Johnny was bad and Ellie, she had addiction issues and unfortunately, despite how hard she was trying those issues won out. She went back to the gang cause it was familiar and…" he trailed off and sighed. "But she was trying to her clean to be there for you, buddy."
"That's what mom said…"
El could see his son's brain churning, and he quirked a brow lightly at him. "What are you thinking about?"
"He was evil…"
"He was, yes."
Finally looking up, his voice cracked again. "A-am I… am I gonna be like him?"
Liv and Kathleen had arrived to the hospital and were walking up to Noah's room when they saw Kathy at the nurses station on his wing.
She'd stuck to word and given Liv a call, explaining what happened and that Noah was okay.
"Kathy," Liv said, rushing over to meet the woman sprinting towards her. "I never thought I'd be so happy to see you."
The blonde couldn't help her soft chuckle. "Me too… He's okay. Concussion but everything else is fine. The doctor may release him tonight. He's just shaken up but Elliot's in there with him now and I gave Beau some scrubs to change into.
"Thank you," she said rushing off, stopping short and turning back when she remembered Kathleen was with her.
"Mom," Katie said, unable to help her small laugh at her mother's desire to protect all of her kids, always. "Not now. Noah. I'm fine," she reassured her as Kathy gave a tight smile and led them to Noah's room.
All three women stopped outside the door to listen when they heard Noah's question.
"He was evil…"
"He was, yes."
Finally looking up, his voice cracked again. "A-am I… am I gonna be like him?"
Elliot's knee jerk reaction was to say no, but he knew his too-smart boy needed more than a placated response.
Scooting down so he was eye level with him on the pillow, he gave him a small smile.
"Who's the most incredible, fearless, kind, loving, and wonderful person you know?"
Though confused by the line of questioning, Noah gave a small smile before answering. "Mommy… but you're a close second."
El chuckled and nodded. "Can I tell you something about mommy? Something not a lot of people know, but something that I think you need to hear in this moment?"
He nodded quickly and Elliot sucked in a deep breath before adding; "And you promise you won't tell your siblings? This isn't my story to tell but again… it's important."
"I promise daddy," he nodded, holding up his pinky.
Smiling, El gripped it with his and then pulled it close to his chest.
"Your mom, just like you, is here because of a rape," he said very carefully as Noah's jaw dropped and brow furrow.
"Really?" He whispered.
"Really. Her mom was raped in college, and just like Ellie, chose to keep the baby."
"Wow…" Noah whispered, the overwhelming feeling that hit him at Elliot's words weren't those of sadness or fear, but of love and connection to his mom.
"Her biggest fear was that she would turn out to be this evil person, just like the father she never met. Or, that she'd turn into a mean drunk like her mom. Nature vs nurture right?"
"We just learned about that," Noah said with a quick nod.
"I remember," he smiled small. "Well," he paused, "I think there's a third option, which is choice. We all have a choice to be good or bad… to make the same mistakes our parents did or to be better than them. To learn from their examples and use what they went through for good."
A light clicked in Noah's mind and he looked up suddenly to Elliot. "Is that why mommy joined SVU?"
"Sure is," he said proudly. "She took a horrible thing and used it to help countless people. She looked at the way her mother treated her and used it to become the absolute best mom there ever was."
The passion in his voice was evident now, and he sat up on one arm to look at his boy. "Noah, everything in life is a choice. Mommy and I? We give you all the tools to hopefully make the best choices, but at the end of the day? It's up to you. And I have no doubt in my mind that when you grow up and become a man, you're gonna make me even prouder of you than I am right now."
"I love you daddy," he said, crushing himself into his chest.
"And I love you more, Noah. I'm so proud to be your dad and I'm so proud of the young man you're becoming. You're good to the core, son."
"I second that," came Liv's voice from the hallway, tears running down her face. "Daddy is right, sweet boy," she said, rushing over to the bed to curl on his other side, exhaling a sigh of relief when he wrapped his small arms around her.
"You're the kindest boy, and you always have been," she said into his hair as he buried into her chest. "You had the kindest eyes when I first found you. So sweet and innocent, and those never changed, buddy. You were my sweet boy back then and you always will be."
Noah started crying again, gripping on tight to his mom.
"I-I love you mommy."
"I love you too, baby. I'm so glad you're okay."
He just hugged her tighter, letting himself relax again as El got up to hug his daughter.
"Thank you," he whispered to her. "You picked a damn good one."
She chuckled softly and melted into his embrace. "God I'm so glad he's okay. So glad."
"Me too honey," he nodded.
"D-daddy can I shower?" Noah asked and El looked to Kathy who nodded.
"Let me get him some clothes."
"Dickie is on his way," Beau said, standing. "He's bringing him stuff.
"Is Emma and Eli on their way with Dickie?" Liv asked knowingly with a soft laugh.
"And Teddy," Beau smiled.
"And Sam," came a voice from outside before she appeared ahead of Emma, Jake, and a distraught Eli.
Elliot slid on the bed, preparing for what was coming next and laughing when it did.
"Noah," Emma cried, pushing between them and sprinting up on the bed to wrap her arms around him tightly.
"I-I'm okay," he whispered unconvincingly.
Emma pulled back slightly to give him a look that mirrored her fathers in every way. "Like hell you are," she scoffed, pulling him back to her chest and squeezing.
Elliot couldn't help but tear up, looking at his wife who just wrapped his arms around both kids and began to cry.
Dickie burst in next with Teddy on his hip as Eli sat on the edge of the bed and leaned over to hug his siblings and mom tightly.
"Scared the hell out of me," Eli said and Noah laughed a little, peaking out from between his sister and mom.
"Seems to be the trend."
Teddy gasped when he saw Elliot.
"Dadadadadada," he whispered, reaching over for him and scrunching his nose.
"Hey bud," he whispered, taking him and hugging him close. "You wanna see your Noah?" He asked cutely, sitting him down on the bed, where he stood up and leaned over Emma with a giggle.
When they all finally pulled back, Dickie went over to hug him next, kissing his cheek and shaking his head. "We gotta teach you how to fight."
"No!" Liv cried with a laugh, making everyone laugh, too, as the doctor came in.
"Mr. Stabler," the doctor said, coming in with his chart. "Every time I see you your visitors multiply!"
Noah grinned, his black eye completely swollen now. "Yeah my family is pretty great," he smiled, nodding.
"I can see that. Now, which one is mom and dad," he chuckled.
"That's us," Liv smiled, sitting up and pointing to Elliot.
"Alright perfect, well Noah does have a concussion and a broken nose, but other than he that's ok. Noah, do you have pain anywhere else?"
"No sir," Noah said, shaking his head.
"Alright. Well go ahead and get cleaned up, we'll give you another once over and you're free to go home, okay?"
"Yes sir!" He nodded with a brighter smile than he'd had all day.
"Alright, everyone is at mom and dads and there's pizza waiting there so how about we all get outta here and give them some space," Dickie nodded.
Emma gave her brother a look, defiantly pulling her baby brother into her lap as Eli chuckled.
"Good try, Dickie," El nodded.
He flipped them off and everyone laughed.
"We'll go," Katie nodded to the older siblings. "Kids can stay until Noah gets discharged."
"Noah I can stay of you want," Eli said, taking his hand as Sam nodded her approval from behind them.
He gave a small smile and shook his head. "It's okay… I'll see you at home."
Leaning in, he gave him another tight squeeze, and kissed his head. "I love you buddy."
"I love you too," he nodded.
Elliot helped Noah into the shower while Liv waited on the his bed.
Liv was still laying back and trying to wrap her mind around the day's events.
Emma was quiet, too, and Teddy laid down on her belly, pressing his ear and little hand there and closing his eyes.
She let out a soft sigh and rested her hand on his small back, looking over at a, once again, skeptical Emma.
"You okay?"
"Mom are you pregnant?"
Liv's brow raised and so did her heart rate.
"W-what?" She asked. "No, baby I'm not, why would you think that?"
Emma pointed obviously to her little brother and then shrugged. "You've kinda been not you."
"Oh babe," she sighed. "I'm.. this has been hard is all. All of it in the last few weeks and… I'm sorry I haven't been me," she said with a sad smile.
"Mommy you don't need to be sorry, and it's okay that you're struggling with this. I'm just pretty confident you're pregnant," she giggled.
Liv rolled her eyes playfully, Happy that the boys coming out of the shower was enough to distract her daughter, if only temporarily.
"You okay baby?" She asked, sitting up carefully after moving Teddy.
"Just ready to go home," he smiled small, leaning his wet hair against her.
"I'm ready to take you home, buddy," she whispered.
"Lemme double check with the doctors, okay?" El said, kissing their heads and heading out.
"He's good," Kathy said, giving Elliot a thumbs up as he approached the nurses station. "I'll bring papers in in just a few."
"Thanks Kathy," El sighed and nodded. "The uh... kids?" He asked awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head.
With a sad smile, she nodded. "Cordial and thankful."
"Time," he reminded her.
"I know," she nodded. "I know."
Everyone was waiting at the house when the five got home.
Carl rushed over to Noah, scooping him up right as Mo crashed into them both.
"You had us so scared, Noah," Carl said into his hair.
"Seriously, Bud," Mo sighed, letting her emotions flow freely as she hugged them both.
"I-I'm sorry I hit him, Carl," Noah whispered.
"I'd of killed him," Carl admitted quietly and Noah relaxed in his arms, feeling an intense sense of relief.
Dickie came up behind him, dragging his brother into his arms as he and Sarah took their turn to love on the young boy.
"Thanks for being there, Dickie," he whispered to him.
"Always Noah… always," he sighed, leaning back to look at him with a concerned smile.
"I-I'm okay," Noah said, leaning into Sarah's hand when she put it against his cheek.
"It's okay to not be," she reminded him with a wink.
"Pretty good shiner," Peter smiled, coming up with Liz and ruffling Noah's hair.
"Dickie didn't even get his first black eye till he was way older," Lizzie ribbed, making Dickie groan playfully.
"Can you let me have anything?" He whined and they all laughed.
Liz took him next, giving him a squeeze. "I'm so proud of you for defending yourself buddy."
"Ditto," Peter said with a nod, nudging him.
"I can't believe I hit him," Noah admitted shyly, and Liz chuckled. "I can. You're a Stabler," she said, nuzzling his nose.
"My turn," came Beau's southern drawl.
Noah all but dove into his arms, hanging onto him tightly.
"Thank you, Beau," he whispered.
"Told ya… You're my baby brother… do anything for ya."
"Me too," Kathleen smiled, hugging them both and smiling when Noah put a hand on her belly. "Baby too?"
"Of course," she winked and he smiled.
They dropped him gently on the couch beside Eli, who hugged onto him tightly and sighed. "I'm so sorry buddy… should have been there to protect you."
"You'd be in jail," Noah said, and Sam laughed. "Ain't that the truth."
"We got your your favorite pizza," Eli said, and Noah gasped, looking back with a smile.
"And you get to pick the movie," Emma sang, snuggling up beside them.
"I should get into fights more!" He cried, laughing hard when all of his siblings, and his parents, shouted "no" at once.
The evening was great, and one by one, with lots of hugs and love you's, the older Stablers left to go home.
Emma was exhausted, and knocked out on the couch soon after the movie started, so Elliot carried her in before meeting Noah, Liv, and Teddy in Noah's room.
"You doing okay?" El asked as he sat on the edge of the bed, taking note of how Teddy was laying with the side of his face squished to Liv's belly.
"I'm… I'm okay," he said softly, smiling tiny.
"I hope tonight at least pushed aside all of the horrible lies that bully told you," Liv whispered, nuzzling his cheek and pressing a kiss there. "And I hope you never, ever forget how loved you are by our family."
"I know momma," he whispered, smiling small and giggling softly when Teddy began to climb up Liv's stomach to reach for the top of her shirt.
"He's hopeless," she teased, making him laugh a little harder.
"Alright bud… you gotta get some sleep," El said, taking hold of his hand.
"D-daddy will you stay with me till I fall asleep?" He asked hesitantly, making Elliot smile huge.
"Absolutely," he grinned, crawling beside him.
Liv's eyes welled up as she watched the pair snuggle together, the moment being broke up by Teddy's whispered "mamamamama" as he grabbed at her shirt.
The boys laughed, making Teddy giggle too, and Liv smiled. "You two enjoy your boy time… I'm gonna feed little man," she chuckled, sitting up.
"Bottle?" El teased and she rolled her eyes.
"Shhhhh. Love you baby," she said, kissing Noah's head. "Sooooo much."
"Love you more mommy," he whispered, reaching up to hug her tightly. "I'm glad you're my mom…"
"Noah," she whispered, voice cracking as she kissed his head repeatedly. "I'm glad I'm your mom, too baby."
Elliot came in from putting Noah to bed to find Liv in the bath with Teddy in a reusable swim diaper, nursing contentedly.
He couldn't help the soft laugh that he emitted at the sight before, him and sat down beside the tub, opposite her.
"I don't even wanna hear it," she whined softly, making him laugh a little louder. "My whole body hurts today," she sighed, "and I don't have the energy to fight with him."
"You're the one driving this weaning bus. If it were up to me he'd stay little and breastfeeding for the rest of his life."
She breathed out a soft chuckle and rolled her head to meet his eyes.
"Today was hard," she said softly.
"Today sucked," he agreed, reaching over to brush a stray piece of hair from her face.
"Did I do wrong? By not telling him?" She asked softly.
"No," came his immediate response. "Absolutely not. I wish he never found out."
She exhaled a sign of relief and nodded quickly.
"Thank you… for… for telling him about my father," she said slowly. "I think it helped him and… I think it helped me."
"I didn't want to overstep," he began, but stopped when she put a hand on his arm.
"You could never… I'm thankful for that, Elliot. So thankful… for everything you do," she said, leaning forward a little with her lips pursed.
He smiled and reached over, pressing his lips to hers in a soft and loving kiss that he was surprised she deepened.
"Sorry," she whispered, pulling back.
"Don't ever, ever be sorry," he mumbled, kneeling up and leaning over the tub now to find her lips once more.
She exhaled a soft whimper when his tongue swiped at her bottom lip and his large hand wrapped around her neck and jaw.
"El?" she asked breathlessly, looking up him when he pulled away with a small smile.
"I got him," he answered, lifting a sleeping Teddy from her arms and putting a hand out to her so she could stand from the water.
His eyes raked over her dripping form, and lust immediately overtook both of them.
Watching his cock harden in his sweats, she looked down to their sleeping boy to snap him out of trance he was in.
"Start without me," he instructed, making his way to put Teddy down.
"Yes sir," she said as he passed through the threshold.
His steps faltered a little and she giggled softly, stepping out of the bath and taking a moment to examine herself int the mirror.
Allowing her abdominals to relax, she cocked her head to the side and examined the slight curvature of the flat stomach she'd worked so hard to achieve after Teddy.
With a soft brush of her finger tips, she ran her hands up her belly to her breasts, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.
A soft hiss filled the room when the feather touch hit her nipples, causing her eyes to lull shut.
Desire took over her like she hadn't felt in ages, and she tweaked the puckered peaks of her engorged breasts.
Her jaw dropped open and her hips began thrusting on their own accord as the sensation traveled directly to her clitoris.
Elliot crept in slowly and silently, his jaw locking and his eyes growing dark as he watched his wife's reflection pull and twist at her own breasts.
Like an animal stalking it's prey, he crept behind her slowly, slipping on large hand across her belly and the other between her legs while his mouth got to work on the spot behind her ear.
"El…" she whimpered, widening her stance to accommodate the hand that was now cupping her freshly shaven mound.
"Sensitive?" He whispered into her ear, making eye contact with her in the mirror before dragging his attention to her breasts.
"Weaning," she mumbled, gasping when he dipped a finger into her.
"Hm," he grunted softly, adding another digit and beginning the slow and methodical stimulation of her g-spot.
"I feel like the worst mom today," she said, rolling her head into his neck in an attempt to hide her sudden admission of vulnerability.
"I'd argue you're the best mom," he countered, using the heel of his hand to apply pressure to her aching clit.
Her brows furrowed together and she gasped, rocking her hips with a little more vigor as his fingers splayed on her belly to hold her steady.
"You saved him," he clarified, watching her in the mirror as she rode his hand. "You gave him a family he wouldn't have otherwise. And you gave all of us him… you're a damn good mom, Olivia Stabler."
Her hands fell to his wrist in a Vice grip, encouraging them to begin moving faster to keep up with her own movements.
"You're a good mom to all of them," he continued, grinding his hips in sync with her's, his aching cock sliding as best it could between her ass cheeks with the barrier of his sweats.
"And you'd be a good mom to more," he added, right as she climaxed.
Her body lurched forward, and he caught her before she hit the counter, holding her tightly through her orgasm as she chanted his name.
She was barely through the after shocks when she felt herself lift into the air and be taken to their bed.
Gently, he laid her down and dressed her in one of his t-shirts as her eyes lulled shut and she sank into the mattress.
"I love you," he whispered, kissing her softly before lowering himself to her belly as her soft snore began to fill the room.
"And if you're in there?" He whispered, smiling, "and I think you are… I love you even more."