A/N: Shorter chapter as I've been a little under the weather and a lotta busy with work! Next week's 100th chapter will be a big family one. :) Please review!
The week following Noah's much needed explosion had been mellow.
El told Liv everything that night, and the pair cried in one another's arms on the floor of their bathroom until the wee hours of the morning.
That Friday, things were back to normal. Noah was fine, and the long-time, justice-for-kids fighters had to remind themselves that grief, especially for the still developing mind, is never linear.
So instead of pushing, they helped their boy turn his attention onto other things.
Soccer & dance with his sister and friends; two hours a week at the gym with his brothers and dad; a newly implemented mom or dad/kid date night, alternating weekly between Noah and Emma; and most importantly to Noah: Teddy's upcoming first birthday.
Liv had woken up early that morning, recounting the conversation she'd night before as she laid in the safety of Elliot's arms.
"Can't believe we've been brothers for a whole year," Noah whispered softly to Teddy as he lay between him and Emma.
"You've been brothers for longer than that," Emma said sweetly, looking down at the duo who were snuggled together in the crook of her arm.
"I know but like… really brothers. Like getting to hold him and stuff."
"That's fair," she chuckled softly, returning Teddy's cheesy smile. "I feel like you've always been my brother," she added with a shrug. "Even before mommy brought you home."
"You don't remember… you were little," Noah accused with a small smile.
"Uh uh. I remember the whole thing and I was SO excited. And I remember Uncle Fin and Uncle John talking about you and how mom found you and how they wished dad was there."
"No way… you never told me that," he said, looking up to her.
She shrugged. "Didn't seem important till now."
"They mentioned Dad?" Noah asked after a minute.
Emma nodded. "Just that they wished Elliot were here."
"Glad he came back," Noah smiled small, "and made our guy."
"Yesss," Emma grinned tickling Teddy's belly and sending him into a fit of giggles.
"Memma," he whispered, looking up with a grin.
"Think mommy is gonna have a boy? Or a girl?"
"I don't know," Emma said casually.
"I think boy…" Noah nodded. "I think I want another brother…"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah… I don't think I'd be a good big brother to a sister?"
"What? Why?" Emma chuckled softly.
"I don't know… Eli seems stressed with you all the time," Noah teased.
Emma laughed, causing Teddy to giggle loudly. "No way!"
"Yes way," came Eli's deep voice from the door.
Teddy sat up quickly and gasped, waving with a smile.
"Hi buddy," Noah grinned, scooting over for him to lay down.
"Do I stress you out?" Emma added accusatorially.
"Very much… but it's why I love ya."
"Knew it," Noah nodded. "What are you doing here??"
"Had to come see the little man before he wasn't as little anymore," Eli chuckled, pulling Teddy into his chest.
The littles Stabler boy snuggled in right away, running his hand through the soft 5 o'clock shadow his big brother was sporting.
"I hate the beard," Emma groaned.
"I like it! I want one," Noah grinned.
"Of course you do!" Emma laughed.
"Sam likes it, and looks like Ted does too."
"Mmmhmmm," Emma laughed softly.
"Loud," El whispered softly.
Liv laughed. "Thinking bout our babies…"
"Birthday boy is awake," he said into her bare shoulder.
"Yeah… I'm gonna go have some mommy and me time with him."
"Alright," he yawned and nodded, reluctantly releasing her from his grasp.
She pulled on a pair of his boxers over her rounded belly and then her robe, wrapping it snuggly around her and quietly making her way to their one year old's room.
"Good morning birthday boy," she cooed softly, smiling at him where he was sitting up in his crib.
"Mama," he whispered with a smile, reaching up.
His hair was still spiked from the day before, and he sighed happily when she picked him up.
"Happy birthday, Theodore Richard Stabler," she whispered. "Mommy's miracle man, huh?" She asked, sitting down in the rocker with him and putting her feet up.
He instinctively reached for her robe and she laughed softly, opening herself up for him to nurse.
"Feels like yesterday you made your grand entrance in my office and now you're one and ready to be a big brother… time went too fast, sweet boy," she cooed, rubbing his cheek gently.
She got lost in his big brown eyes, thinking back to their first night home.
"I hope his eyes stay brown," El said as they lay in bed with their 3-day old.
"I think they will… but he still looks just like you," she said with a sleepy smile, laying against him.
"The Stabler genes are insane," he admitted and she smiled.
"Rather he look like you than…" she trailed off.
"You. He'd look like you… his bad ass, kind, and incredible mommy."
She looked up at him with a smile, stretching to peck his lips. "Love you," she whispered.
"Love you…" he said, looking down at their boy. "We had a baby."
A giggle escaped her throat. "Yeah we did…"
"At our ancient ages," he added, and she laughed a little harder in agreement, causing Teddy's mouth to drop into a frown.
"No…"
"Oh noooo…"
They cooed together as Liv pulled him to her chest and Elliot's large hand covered his tiny back.
Her memory ended when she noticed Ted's eyes dart to the door, though he didn't break his latch.
"Do we have a visitor?" She whispered cutely, and he unlatched briefly to shoot her a smile.
"Who is it?"
His head dipped back and he grinned, letting out a giggle. "Dada…."
"You guys looked so cute on the camera that I couldn't resist," El said, walking through the door in his low hanging sweats. "Hi little man," he smiled, taking his boy and hugging him to his chest.
"Dadadada," he sang softly.
"That's me," El said proudly.
Liv smiled, lounging back in the rocker and watching her boys.
Elliot changed him into a fresh diaper as he babbled away, occasionally tossing in a "No" or "Memma."
"We got a big day planned for you," El explained, zipping up his onesie. "We have your birthday pictures and then me and you and mommy are gonna go open up the beach house and spend a whole night just the three of us before we come home for your brother and sister's game tomorrow."
Ted cooed and smiled up at his daddy, reaching for his face.
"Like's your beard," Liv said in a sultry tone from where she said, hand caressing her belly in slow and gentle circles.
"Not the only one," he mused, scrubbing a a hand over it.
"Don't tempt me," she warned with a wink. "They'll be up soon."
"How about you go get some cuddles in with our one year old and I'll get our big kids off to school."
She held a hand out to him when he picked Teddy up. Chuckling, he helped her stand and she smiled. "That sounds perfect cause my back is killing me."
He laughed. "I'll get your heating pad."
Noah and Emma bounced in to see Teddy and Liv after they'd woken up.
"Happy birthday, buddy!!!" Noah cried, diving into bed and pressing kisses all over his face.
"Our baby brother is oooonnneeee," Emma drawled, crawling beside him and smooching his chubby cheeks.
The pair cuddled up beside Liv with Teddy nestled in between them as she watched in awe.
"Say thank you guys," Liv sweetly directed and Teddy smiled. "Memma…. NoNo…"
"What time are you guys leaving?" Noah asked, laying his head against Liv's arm.
"We've got Teddy's pictures at 10 and then me and daddy are gonna leave from the precinct, but we'll be back early in the morning for your games."
"Sounds goood," Noah nodded.
"We're staying with Lizzie and Peter right?" Emma asked.
"Yes ma'am," Liv smiled and nodded.
"Good we have sooo much to do for this weekend," Emma drawled and Noah groaned.
"Greaaaat," he deadpanned, making Elliot laugh from the door.
"You'll survive," he winked. "Come on. Time to get dressed," he said, motioning them out of the door.
"Daddy can I have coffee this morning?" Emma asked sweetly as she swept by him.
He laughed. "Sure. Small cup okay?"
"Okay, thanks daddy!"
"Can I??!" Noah asked quickly.
Elliot looked at Liv who rolled her eyes and laugh. "Tiny cup."
"Thaaanks mom," he sang, running off.
"Oh there he is!" Fin called with a laugh as Liv walked in ahead of their photographer and Elliot with Teddy in his arms.
The little one was sporting a blue button up with navy pants and had his mom's uniform cap balancing on his head.
"Look at that birthday boy," Amanda cooed, and everyone laughed as Joe swooped in front of them both to take his little buddy from his playfully grimacing dad.
"Doe," Ted whispered, and Elliot rolled his eyes.
"Still doesn't count!" He exclaimed.
"Counts for sure," Joe said cutely, kissing Teddy's nose.
"Fin and Amanda, there had better not be gifts in my office," Liv warned, seeing the balloons through her blinds.
"Just some balloons and a little cupcake for him tonight," Fin said, holding his arms up. "We're saving his gifts for his party."
"We swear," Amanda added unconvincingly.
Upon opening her door, Liv exhaled and laugh and turned back with a smile. "Uh huh."
Elliot peaked in behind her and snorted, too. "Spoiled!"
"We love him even if his dad pretends he doesn't love us... huh Teddy Bear?" Joe asked, crinkling his nose to him.
Elliot had to hide his smile as the sweet interaction, and Liv rolled her eyes in amusement before helping the photographer clear her desk for his photos.
After a successful shoot, El, Liv, and Teddy made the hour long trek out to the beach house.
They'd told the kids they wanted to open it up and get everything out for their cleaning service so that the family could start arriving up on Thursday evening, with no issue, for their week-and-a-half-long vacation.
Truthfully, however, they just wanted a night alone with their littlest baby- their miracle man.
After a dinner of pizza from their favorite dive, they sang a quiet chorus to a now diaper-only-clad Teddy who was sat on the island counter. They hadn't brought his high chair yet, so he was sat on an old towel that would surely be ruined by the chocolate cake and bright blue frosting he'd just been given.
They watched with glee as he tore into it, giggling hysterically and smearing frosting on Elliot's face- the scene causing Liv to almost pee herself.
When the novelty of the treat wore off and the fascination with smashing bits of what he hadn't eaten into the towel below him took over, Liv laid her head against Elliot's shoulder.
"This time next year we'll have a one year old and a... 6 month old?"
"That's sounds right... all their ages kinda mell together," Elliot teased, kissing the crown of her head.
She was quiet for a while, before finally looking up to her husband again.
He could feel the arousal radiating off her body that was visible by the way her breath had started to rise and fall more rapidly and the blush that crept up her neck.
"Let's get him bathed and to bed, yeah?" She husked.
"Told you lately how much I love second trimester hormones?" He teased with a wink.
"Maybe once or twice," she nodded taking a step back and motioning to their entirely dyed boy. "Have at that, dad," she laughed.
"This isn't the only mess I plan on cleaning up tonight," he smirked, smacking her ass as she walked ahead of him to the bathroom.