"Alex Cabot, no kidding!" Fin cried with laughter, standing up.
"Good to see you, Tutuola," she smiled, approaching him for a hug which he gladly gave her.
"And who's this?" He asked with a smile, pulling back and nodding at the attractive young woman behind her.
"This," she smiled, turning, "is my niece and Sergeant Stabler's newest detective. Lieutenant Bell said we could find him here… It's been so long I didn't even know about this?" She laughed, motioning to Liv and Elliot through the glass.
"These two? What do you live under a rock," he laughed loudly.
The pair heard the laughter through the glass, and turned simultaneously to find their two old friends chatting.
Racing from their office, Liv gasped. "Alex? Seriously?"
"Hi Captain," she smiled, rushing over to embrace her long-lost best friend in a tight hug.
Alex noticed immediately the growing belly that bumped her when they connected for their embrace, and pulled back a head cocked to the side and a laugh on her lips.
"So we clearly have a lot to discuss!" She cried and Liv laughed, covering her face with a big smile.
"A lot," she agreed, peering around Alex to the woman behind her.
"Oh," Alex smiled. "This is my niece, Elliot's new detective," she said proudly as she leaned over to hug Elliot.
Liv watched the younger woman, who's eyes were focused on her husband. She had a similar build as her aunt and the same long, blonde hair, but was busty with a plump ass and face with no wrinkles (and presumably no stretch marks), all of which made Liv groan internally.
Noticing the small change in her demeanor, Elliot laughed to himself and reached out to shake the young woman's hand. "Nice to meet you…"
"Ella," she smiled. "Ella Cabot. Nice to meet you too."
"Ella, this is my wife, Captain Olivia Benson Stabler," he said proudly, and Liv reached over, offering her hand and a fake smile.
"Hi, it's a pleasure to meet you," she smiled, putting a hand on Elliot's lower back and the other protectively on her well hidden bump.
"You too, Captain," the slightly anxious, but overall confident, young woman smiled. "You're kind of a legend."
Liv chuckled softly. "Thank you."
Elliot's phone buzzed with his Lieutenant's face, and he chuckled. "Someone's ears are burning," he said before answering it. "Hey Lieu.. yeah I've got her. Yes. Yes ma'am. See you soon."
He hung up and pushed his phone back in his pocket before looking up at the women before him. "Alright kid, first day on the jobs gonna be a doosey," he said, leaning over to peck Liv's head. "That was Bell, we gotta go."
"Sounds good," she smiled nodding.
"Good, more time for us to catch up," Alex said with a smile. "Much more to do today?"
"Lots, but I can sneak away for lunch," Liv winked, turning to kiss El's lips, a rare, at-work move.
Fin and Amanda noticed, chuckling behind them, and she smiled, kissing his lips again. "Love you. Be safe."
"Love you more," he smiled, putting a hand to her belly. "And love you."
Liv smiled small, her shoulders relaxing a bit as her anxiety and jealousy levels dropped.
He pulled away and they watched him walk off as Alex laughed softly. "Okay… I need to know everything," she said.
"Lunch on me, it'll take a bit," Liv said with a laugh. "Let me get my things."
"Sounds good," she smiled, turning back to chat with Amanda and Fin while she waited.
Liv walked into her office, grabbing her phone and purse, and rolling her eyes lightly at the onslaught of texts from her husband.
E: No one compares to you.
E: Sooo excited about our house and our baby girl.
E: I'll try and get out early so we can tell the kids and plan our signing and move in and yada yada
E: and make love to my girl
E: ;)
L: Sergeant Stabler!
L: In the elevator with your young and impressionable detective???
L: Naughty...
L: I can't wait
The pair had separate, mellow afternoons, consisting of Liv catching up with her old friend and making plans for her to meet the kids, and El completing some on the job training with his new Detective.
He ended up having to work a little late with Ella, and by the time he got home Liv was in their bathroom giving Teddy a bath while the kids worked on homework.
"Hi guys," El smiled, kicking off his boots and hanging up his jacket.
"Dad can you help me with my homework," Noah groaned from the table.
"And can you test me on my vocab words," Emma sighed from where she was curled up in his large recliner under his obnoxious Jets blanket.
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Good to see you both, too," he smiled, making the rounds to kiss their heads.
"Sorry," Emma sighed. "I'm stressed."
"And I'm bad at science," Noah called.
"Well me too, so how about you call Dickie?"
"Oh good idea," Noah said, smacking his head in a 'duh' gesture before rushing into his room for his phone while his dad and sister laughed.
"Lemme see mom and Ted, and then I'll test you okay?"
"And eat dinner and shower," Emma reminded him, giving him a look.
He laughed. "I'm supposed to be taking care of you," he said with a smile.
"Someone's gotta remind you to take care of you, daddy."
"You've got the best heart… you know that?" He asked, leaning down to press several kisses to her cheek. "Take a brain break while I do those things, alright?"
"Okay daddy," she smiled, setting her cards down.
"Everything okay with Jakey?" He asked quietly.
"We're ok," she smiled shyly with a shrug.
"Remember," he said, brushing down her flyaway hairs, "you're only 13... don't get bogged down okay?"
"I know daddy," she said with a small smile.
"Alright," he nodded, leaning in to kiss her forehead before going into his bedroom finding Liv sitting next to the bathtub with Teddy in her lap, wrapped in his hooded towel.
"There's daddy…" she cooed sweetly. "He tried to stand and crawl out of the tub the minute he heard your voice," she chuckled softly.
Teddy smiled up at him from under his hooded towel with floppy dog ears, and reached up for Elliot whispering "dadadada."
"Hi little man," he smiled, taking him in one arm and helping Liv up with the other.
"Dada," he smiled sleepily, nuzzling into Elliot's chest on one side while Liv did the same on the other.
"Gotta start taking it easy," he whispered to her, lifting her chin and brushing a tendril from her face before he kissed her nose.
"I didn't realize long of a way it was down," she admitted in defeat with a soft laugh. "This little girl is growing fast... I don't think I'm gonna be able to hide her until June," she sighed.
"You're 12 weeks, Liv. She's healthy and growing fine; all her tests are good… maybe should we tell the kids?"
"No, not yet… I wanna hold out until after the Christenings next month at least," she whispered, and he watched her body tense again, much like it had earlier.
"Talk to me?" He asked softly.
"I'm just worried about her and I guess having an emotional day," she trailed off when a big smirk crept across his face. "Shut up, Elliot," she whined.
"You got jealous," he sang softly.
"No," she pouted defiantly.
"Yes," he countered, unable to hide his laughter now.
"Maybe a little," she acquiesced.
"Why?" He poked turning her and dropping his forehead to hers.
"Because she's not 54 and pregnant," she said with a pout.
He couldn't help but chuckle, and she tried to pull back, feeling irrational and a little embarrassed.
"Nope," he laughed, pulling her back. "Come back to me."
She begrudgingly laid against his chest, letting a small smile slip when his hand dropped to her rounded belly through her heavy sweater.
"You know what my type is?" He asked and she found herself giggling before she could stop.
"What?"
"Pregnant 54 year olds named Olivia Margaret Benson Stabler."
"You forgot the Captain," she said, looking up and now smiling.
"Captain Olivia Margaret Benson Stabler," he corrected with a big grin.
He'd just dropped his hand when Emma popped in the door way, casual as ever.
"Daddy, I warmed up your dinner. Come sit with me and eat while I study.
El beamed, walking over and leaning down to kiss her head. "Thank you baby girl. That sounds amazing."
Grinning, she dragged him off while Liv's eyes pricked with tears.
Across town Sam was at the stove stirring pasta while Eli desperately tried to distract her when their phones buzzed.
With a frustrated groan, he dropped his head to her shoulder and she laughed quietly, snatching the small rectangle that was buzzing wildly with sibling chats.
E: Guys. Confirmed because I was eaves dropping. Daddy said, AND I QUOTE: "Pregnant 54 year olds are my thing."
E: AND. I caught him holding her belly.
E: !!!!!!!
N: YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
D: When are they gonna tell us?!
E: No ideaaa but I'm trying to play it cool
N: I'm gonna ask them tonight
E: No, Noah!
Sam: Yes Noah!!
M: Omg I wanna cry. Yay mom and dad!
L: Like you didn't know….
C: Lol
B: Wait did you?!
K: Course they did
M: No we didn't
M: But I'm so exited now!
D: I knew it! Dads been extra hovered over her lately
Eli: Yeah he has! Man I'm thrilled for them
Sam: Me too!!!!
S: This is great!!! Keep us posted ok?
Sarah set down her phone and sighed softly, readjusting Lilly on her breast.
"What?" Dickie frowned.
"Your mom and dad can have two kids at their age but we can't get married," she said, eyes welling up.
"Sar..." he began, but she shook her head.
"I'm just feeling inadequate," she whispered, a big tear rolling down her face.
"Baby… no…." He sighed, sitting beside her. "Of course I wanna marry you and… I'm sorry it's taken so long."
She sniffled several times as more tears fell.
"Sarah," he whispered. "Baby… please don't be sad," he begged, heart breaking.
"I'm sorry," she sighed, wiping her face. "Hormones…"
"Don't be sorry," he said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "Trust me?"
She nodded and leaned into him, blinking quickly.
"Always…"
"Good... and you know how much I love you and our girls right? And you know you're my perfect woman and my best friend right?"
"I know," she sniffled, emotional now at his kind words.
"Good," he whispered. "Little longer, okay?"
"O-okay," she sighed softly.
"You want your evening tea?" He asked, lifting her chin up.
"Please," she whispered, smiling small.
"Coming right up," he said, pressing his lips to her temple before standing.
Eli had Sam pinned against the wall by their bedroom door, soft moans filling the room as he kissed and nipped at the most sensitive spots on her neck and chest.
His hand had just dipped below her leggings when his phone buzzed again in rapid succession.
"They're worse than the babies," he groaned, and she laughed softly, dropping her head to his chest while he reached to the counter to silence the incessant messaging.
D: Okay we are a go for surprise wedding this June.
D: Gonna need your help, best man.
D: Probably Liz and Emma too.
Eli: Finally!!!! Let's go brother!!
He tilted the phone so Sam could read the messages when she snaked her arms around his waist from behind.
"Finally," she sighed happily.
"Could be us," he reminded her, turning in her arms to face her. "Say the word and I'm down on one knee."
"Orrrr," she drawled, seductively, "you let me drop down on two knees right now," she said, slowly sinking down and kissing him through his sweats.
His brain all but broke, and any talk of marriage left his brain as quickly as it entered, and his hands settled on the back of her head as she looked up to him.
"'S'what I thought," she said, biting her lip and wasting no more time.
Back at "Stabler HQ," as Liz called it, the five had snuggled into bed in Liv and El's room to do prayers before they told them about the new house.
"So guys," El said, setting Teddy between them once they'd finished, looking to Liv to share the news.
"We got the house," she beamed, noticing the shift in excitement to deflation on her daughter's face.
"T-that's still ok, right?" She asked, suddenly unsure as her hormones overtook her.
Noah groaned. "Mom, are you having a baby?" He asked, point blank with his arms crossed.
Elliot couldn't stop his snort, which made Emma's head whip towards him with a satisfied grin.
Teddy, who was snuggled now into his mom's side, gave his big brother a nose crinkle before whispering something that vaguely sounded like "baby".
Liv glanced to her husband, her anxiety rising as the kids looked on, both having stopped breathing as they waited for an answer.
He gave her a warm smile, glancing down as Teddy instinctively laid against her belly, rounding out the small bump under her heavy sweatshirt with his pudgy hand and arm.
From the corner of her eye, she watched as Noah's hands flew in a dramatic point to her belly and heard Emma cleared her throat, expectantly.
Keeping her eyes trained on her husband, she smiled when he moved a little closer to her and took hold of her free hand, giving an encouraging squeeze.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled a shakey breath before nodding very, very slowly.
"You have to promise you won't tell your siblings until the christenings are over," she said, opening one eye to watch their reactions.
Noah all but bounced off the bed, sprinting through the house cheering while Teddy watched with giggles.
Emma gently tackled her mom, pulling her shirt up to reveal the growing bump and instantly getting emotional.
"A-are you happy?" Liv whispered, brushing her daughters hair back and enjoying a rare, quiet moment with her while the boys ran around together.
"So happy mom," she whispered back, resting her hand right where her baby sister was growing.
The thought entered Liv's mind- her and her two daughter, together and knowing for the first time.
Her's and Elliot's two daughters.
Emma must have read her mother's mind, because she looked up to her, eyes watering even more at the realization from her mom's face.
"Girl?" She whispered.
Liv nodded quickly, but shushed her gently. "We want that to be a surprise."
"I promise," Emma whispered, sitting up with her when the boys came in.
"You happy?" Liv asked Noah laughing as she and Emma both wiped their eyes.
"Yes!!!" He cried, smiling wider than she'd ever seen.
"But seriously… no telling the big kids okay?" El said with a nod.
"Even Eli," Liv added, laughing at the look on their kid's faces as they began to protest.
"Mom we have to tell Eli!"
"We tell Eli everything!"
"Moooom it's Eli," Noah groaned for extra affect, and Teddy pointed to Eli in the picture of the family above their bed.
Liv rolled her eyes and smiled. "Okay okay… but let me and daddy tell him?"
"YES!" Noah cried again, jumping up. "Wait is this why we are moving?"
"Yeah buddy," El laughed. "You guys okay with that?"
"Duh, we get to be right next to Sam and Eli," Emma grinned. "And Katie. And Beau. And the babies."
"You're really not upset about this?" Liv asked, smiling again when Noah reached to hold her belly, too.
"Uh no. Wait is it a boy or a girl?!"
"It's a surprise," Liv said, covering his hand on her belly and laughing when he groaned playfully.
"So listen… this means when I'm not here you gotta make sure mom is taking it easy. I'm gonna be working late a little next week I think… so I need you two to help her take care of Teddy," El instructed.
"I'm right here!" Liv laughed.
"Yes I know, and I'm telling them in front of you so there's no excuse," he smiled, leaning down to kiss her.
"We promise," Noah swore.
"Yeah daddy, we've got her!" Emma smiled.
"But we gotta tell Eli. Like tomorrow. Cause I can't hold this secret in," Noah added, incredibly serious.
Teddy yawned in his daddy's arms, and laid his head on his shoulder.
"Okay… it's bed time," Liv announced, checking the time. "Go on, we'll be in in a minute."
The pair bounced off, leaving Liv, El, and Teddy together.
"You okay?" He whispered, and she smiled, climbing into his lap and leaning in to kiss him.
"More than. Now, let's get this boy in his room. I believe his daddy made a promise to me today via text."
The following morning, the gang was getting ready for their indoor soccer match. Eli and Sam planned on meeting them at their house with the twins so that he could leave early with Noah and Emma.
"You're telling him, right mom," Noah asked her for the thousandth time that morning.
"Noah Porter if you ask again the answer is gonna be no," she laughed, wearing just a camisole that would go under the team-colored sweater she'd chosen for the day.
"I'm just excited," he lamented, bouncing over to her and hugging her middle, popping a kiss to her belly.
"I know sweet boy," she chuckled, brushing her hands through his curls.
"I kinda want a sister," he said, resting his cheek against her belly.
From where he sat behind Noah, El smiled at them over his coffee cup.
"I think we're lucky either way," she reminded him, and he nodded with a big grin as Eli's keys began unlocking the door.
Noah gasped, rushing to his breakfast plate and trying to act casual as he ate his pancakes and his brother came in.
"Hey guys," he said cheerfully, expertly holding the door open for Sam while juggling both carriers.
"There's my two favorite people," El cooed playfully at the now four-month old twins whose personalities were shining more and more each day.
"Chopped liver!" Sam said with a laugh and Eli nodded. "Totally."
Joey immediately reached up to be taken out of her carrier when it was set down, while EJ, mellow as ever, just smiled up at everyone from where he was snuggled in.
Sam was bent over, taking Joey out, when Liv called for her boy to come eat.
"Baby, big day so come eat up please."
"I got him," Sam smiled, answering the unspoken question and passing Joey off to a waiting Emma.
Eli nodded, and turned just as his mom came from behind the kitchen counter holding his plate, her very obvious baby bump on display.
His jaw dropped, as he took a few seconds to process, and then burst out into gleeful laughter, rushing over to hug her tightly.
"Not telling the big kids just yet," she said, hugging him tightly and kissing his head.
"Momma they all already suspect," he laughed, stepping back to put a hand on her belly as Noah exhaled a sigh of relief.
"Hardest 12 hours of my LIFE," he cried.
"You were asleep for most of it!" El laughed, now holding EJ as Sam sat beside Teddy and leaned in to kiss his cheek.
"I dreamt about it," he sighed, taking a mouthful of pancake and making everyone laugh.
"We're gonna tell them after the christenings," Liv continued, ignoring Noah's semantics with a smile. "But we told these two last night and had to tell you, too. I'm 12 weeks, baby is doing well and all tests are good."
"This is a miracle," Eli said, pulling her in for a hug again. "Congratulations momma," he beamed.
"Thank you baby... not too weird?"
"Mom. Come on!" He laughed, ignoring her question completely.
"That's the least weird thing in this insane family," Sam deadpanned as Elliot laughed and nodded in agreement.
She smiled. "Congratulations momma," she said, standing to hug her tightly. "This is awesome!"
"Thank you baby," Liv smiled, letting herself relax a little more now that four of her 7 that knew what was going on were good with the news.
"Wait what other weird things are happening?" El asked, rocking his grandson to sleep.
"Dickie is planning a surprise wedding when we're at the beach house," Eli said causally.
"Meaning me and Liz are planning a surprise wedding," Emma corrected.
"What!" Noah cried, mouth still filled with food he'd been shoveling in. "No one tells me anything!"
"You're in the group text!" Eli laughed, and Noah begrudgingly pulled out his phone, visibly relaxing at the message. "Huh," he shrugged. "I take it back."
"You kids are gonna kill me one day," El said, laughing.
"Yeah, we're gonna need to having a meeting with Dickie about this," Liv said with a laugh.
At his brother's name, Teddy smiled big and pointed to a picture of Dickie on the gallery wall by the kitchen.
"Okay little man, just cause you're gonna be a big brother doesn't mean you're allowed to start growing up!" Eli said, and everyone burst into laughter.
The week flew by, as it typically did, and Elliot had had to spend more time than usual at work, training his new detective and working on a huge new case.
Liv was trying desperately to not be jealous of the young woman, nor all the time her husband was spending with her. However, his call to her late on a Friday night when she too was stuck at work, telling her he had pull an overnight stakeout with her was The Captain's final straw.