A/N: The beauty of the fic is that it's fictional.
The next month was whirlwind.
They'd found a new place and began the process of packing up two apartments.
They'd also met with Langan to begin the process of officially adding Elliot to Noah's adoption papers.
All of this while patiently (impatiently) waiting for the results of the blood tests and amniocentesis.
Liv woke on the Saturday they were set to move the rest of their furniture to the new place.
Elliot was already awake and laying down beside her newly rounded stomach, rubbing it gently and having a soft conversation.
Liv smiled looking down and gently snaking his arm down to his back, placing the other on her stomach next to his.
He intertwined their fingers and looked up at her smiling.
"Good morning…"
She smiled back, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
"Morning daddy… what are you two talking about."
He grinned. "Nothing important" he said softly, leaning over to give their baby a soft kiss.
She teared up watching him. He crawled back up next to her and laid on his side, pulling him into her and dropping a kiss to her head.
"13 weeks today" he said softly and she nodded nuzzling into his chest.
"I just want these damn results so we can tell the kids." She whispered and he chuckled.
"I thought you were team 'waiting until we can't wait anymore'??"
She looked up at him and pouted. "We're about getting there. He's growing faster than I thought he would."
"Ahhh" Elliot teased. "Finally submitting to the fact that he's a boy."
She rolled her eyes laughing softly. "Shut it."
There was a knock on their door. "Come in" they said in unison.
Their boys came in and crawled up in bed with them. Noah cuddled right into Liv and Eli sat next to El.
"Both of you this morning annnnd you picked me over dad??? How did I get so lucky??" She teased their youngest, giving him a kiss on the nose.
He grinned and shrugged. "Just wanted my mom". She smiled and then looked at Eli who tried to hide his frown.
He'd done well with all of this, and adored Liv and Noah, but at the end of the day he was still a kid who missed his mom.
Every so often his hard, teenager exterior would crack and he'd need some mom time from Liv. She'd become a pro at knowing exactly when, because he'd never ask.
Elliot was about to say something to him when Liv piped up.
"You know what. This is our last official day at this apartment and I think that I want to spend it eating breakfast in bed with my two favorite boys." She gently shoved Elliot away and reached an arm out for Eli who smiled softly.
Elliot laughed. "Does that mean dad has to make mom and her two favorite boys breakfast?" He asked, switching places with Eli, who laid his head on Liv's shoulder.
"Obviously" "Yes" "Duh" The three answered in unison.
He smiled and went out to get started, but not before snapping a picture and sending it to Mo.
She replied: Dad when are you gonna put a ring on it? :) Shes the best- come on!
He laughed and replied: Maybe I already have one???
She called him immediately and he declined, texting her again: I love you— see you guys in an hour ;)
"We are not done talking about this!" She wrote back.
All the kids were coming over to help them move the last of the pieces of furniture to their new place and then get it set up.
The three laid together while Elliot cooked, listening to Noah ramble on about God only knows what. Eli, who usually always joined the conversation was quiet.
Elliot listened in from the kitchen and caught on. He called for Noah after a while. "Noah, come here and help me a second please."
He jumped up running to his dad, oblivious to his brother's sadness.
Liv sat up and wrapped both of her arms around Eli and he teared up, burying his face in her shoulder.
"Let it out…" she whispered, gently rubbing his head.
His whole body shook as he cried into her shoulder. She rocked him gently and continued to hold him after he'd relaxed a bit.
"Your mom is so proud of you." She said after a moment. "Me and your dad are so proud of you."
He sat back wiping his eyes and nodded looking at her. She took his hand.
"I know there's been so many changes. So many different things happening but Eli… you've handled them better than any 15 year old I've ever know. And in 23 years with SVU I've met a lot of kids your age."
He nodded squeezing her hand. "Thank you" he said softly, trying to clear his throat, "just missing her a little extra today is all…"
She nodded. "I understand. My mom and I had a complicated relationship but even so, I think about her every day. You never stop grieving… but the pain does lessen… I promise."
He nodded. The angle she was sitting at showed her growing bump more prominently than she intended. He glanced down and she held her breath.
He smiled a little. "You know Dickie spilled the beans to me right?"
She smiled small. "I asked him to. Don't tell your dad and act surprised when we tell everyone" she laughed a little.
He nodded and was quiet for a moment. "Thank you" he nodded.
She knew he'd need some extra time to process, so she had texted Dickie after their last appointment.
L: I think you should tell Eli… prep him… I'm worried about him most.
D: I can do that if you're sure. Does dad know?
L: No… keep it between us. I'll tell him eventually.
D: You got it, mama.
L: Thank you… let me know how it goes. Love you.
D: No, thank you for letting me tell him. You're making the right call- as per usual. Love you too.
She looked back at Eli and nodded. "You're sure you're ok with it?"
He nodded. "I am now. I was pretty upset at first. I don't know why… just a lot of change at once."
He shrugged, continuing: "But Dickie talked me down and made a lot of good points… like how great of a big bro I am to Noah and the whole 'there's 50 of us and they love us equally' bit."
They both chuckled. He hesitated a moment and cleared his throat.
"And… how mom must have give you guys a little help cause of your age and just general situation." He smiled small and she blinked away a few tears.
"And it's due date..." she looked at him with a small smile and he raised a brow. "March 25." She said softly.
His eyes welled up again and he leaned into her, hugging her tightly.
"Eli... your mom was a saint and I have no doubt she's watching over all of us every step of the way."
He nodded and took a deep breath. "I'm really glad I have you and Noah… we all are. And I know we don't tell you enough but I'm glad that Dad got his head out of his ass…." she laughed and smacked him gently for language.
He smiled and continued: "and I'm really glad that it's you I get to call my mom now," he nodded, "and I know that mom's glad about that too."
She wiped tears from her face and pulled him in for a tight hug.
"I love you, son." she whispered and he nodded kissing her cheek.
"I love you too, mama." He smiled.
Noah came racing in with some forks and napkins and Eli laughed. "Slow down bro you're gonna hurt yourself!"
Liv sat up and adjusted her shirt before he could notice anything and El walked in with a smile and food.
The family sat and ate, before sending the boys to get dressed so they could get ready.
Their phones buzzed at the same time as they brushed their teeth and they groaned, expecting a call from work.
They were surprised to find an email from her doctor.
Liv took a deep breath and opened it, frantically scanning the contents.
She let out a huge sigh of relief and El set his phone down and wrapped his arms around her tightly.
She buried her head in his chest and they both let tears flow freely.
After several moments of relishing in their relief, she looked up at him and he kissed her passionately.
She grinned through her tears and kissed him back.
When she broke away, she looked into his eyes and smiled, seeing the thoughts swirling behind them.
"Tell me…" she said with a smile, biting her lip.
He smiled kissing her again. "I told you. I told you he would be fine- perfectly healthy- and I told you he would be a he." He whispered against her lips.
She kissed him again. "I knew he would be a he too… and already bought the best way to tell the kids."