The Stabler clan spent the day moving furniture. The big kids were at the new apartment helping Eli and Noah unpack while Liv and El dropped off their keys to the old places and picked up dinner.
"I'm starving" Liv whined, putting her hand on her belly.
Elliot laughed. "A new symptom? At least you're starving and not horny."
She shot him a look. "Did I say I wasn't horny, Stabler?"
He laughed and reached to hold her hand.
"I'm sorry… I love you?" He tried.
She gave a playful pout. "I love you, but I'll love you more when you feed me and then fuck me."
He laughed harder as they drove to get the pizza. "Jesus baby... we had sex this morning..."
She shook her head. "That was this morning, El. I've watched you shirtless most of the day. Also, are you free balling?" She asked him seriously.
He laughed, his jaw dropping a little. "No??? Why???"
She shrugged, snaking her hand over to his baggy basketball shorts and squeezing his thigh. "You're having a good cock day. I've noticed."
"Olivia Benson! Who even are you right now??!" He admonished, laughing harder than before.
"Your 53 year old, 13 week pregnant and horny partner." She groaned.
"When you gonna let me call you my girlfriend?" He teased.
She snorted, moving her hand to cup him. "Never. Sounds like we're 16. Put a ring on it so I can just call you my hubby."
He groaned and thrust up a little, "oh I plan on putting a ring on it. But you gotta move your hand, woman. I gotta walk inside to get your food and it's impossible to hide a boner in basketball shorts."
She withdrew her hand with a dramatic sigh and pout.
Back at the house, Noah sat in his room unpacking his toys with Carl while Maureen made his bed.
He was unusually quiet and Carl nodded to Maureen, switching spots with her.
She gently took the toy he was fiddling with and set it it down.
"What's on your mind?" She asked with a small smile.
Noah shrugged. "I'm ok" he said with a quiet voice.
Maureen laughed. "Noah… I grew up with four younger siblings, and now I have you… you can't lie to me." She teased.
He took a deep breath and nodded. "It's just… I… everyone's been talking about the new Stabler baby and I just feel left out because I'm a Benson and… what if Dad doesn't want me anymore cause he'll have a new baby with mom…" he said in a small voice.
Carl stopped what he was doing and looked at him with a frown. He left the room to gather the other siblings.
"Oh Noah…" she said softly and pulled him into her arms. "Buddy…This new baby isn't going to change anything. Dad loves you to death… it doesn't matter if your last name is Stabler or Benson or Gooberhead" she said, making him giggle.
The other four walked in. "I heard we're having some big bro fear" Lizzie said, sitting next to Mo and pulling him into her lap.
He nodded and leaned into her frowning.
"The good thing is," Kathleen said, "We've all been in this position and guess what? Dad still loved us all equally." She said gently, nudging his arm.
He shrugged and took a deep breath.
"But you guys are his real kids… I'm not even moms real kid…" he said softly.
Maureen spoke again, "and we aren't your mom's real kids but she's loved us like her own since we first met her when we were little."
Dickie nodded, "and even after she had you man… she still loved us."
"Dads the same way. Nothing is gonna change buddy." Eli said, adding, "And if you want to be a Stabler, ask them!"
"Yeah" Lizzie agreed kissing his head. "We'll all back you up just like we did when you asked to call him dad."
He nodded wiping a few tears from his eyes. His big sisters flocked to him, hugging him tightly.
"We love you Noah.. and Daddy loves you." Kathleen said with a smile. The other four agreed.
"Thanks guys," he said softly, "I love you guys too and I'm glad to be your little brother."
"We're glad too." Dickie said with a smile. "But none of us will be alive to see the new baby if dad finds us sitting here doing nothing when they get home."
They all laughed and nodded, returning to their stations.
When Liv and El got back, almost everything was put away, except their bedroom.
The whole crew sat on the sofa and floor, eating pizza and chatting.
"I think if it's a boy you should name him Richard." Dickie said
Lizzie smacked him, "they can't have 2 Richards you idiot."
Everyone laughed and Dickie smacked her back "they could call him Richie, idiot" he mocked, "or Rick" he stuck his tongue out.
By the time they were done with dinner, exhaustion was starting to sink in from the day.
The kids gathered their stuff to say their goodbyes. Mo pulled her dad to the side. "Talk to Noah… He's a little worried about being the only non Stabler. Thinks he'll be forgotten." She nodded and he frowned.
"Thanks baby.." he whispered. "You sure everyone is ok with all of this?"
She nodded and hugged him. "A little weird," she laughed, "but yes. We are all ok with it and love you both so much."
He nodded and hugged her again sending her off.
That night, Liv and El said their good nights to the boys. El glanced at Liv when they were in Noah's room.
"Mommy, can you give us a minute?" He asked nodding.
Liv smiled small. "Sure thing daddy." He couldn't help but chuckle and she kissed his cheek, then kissed Noah's head.
"Night sweet boy, I love you so much." She said softly.
He smiled. "Love you too mommy…"
She left the room and Elliot crawled up next to him.
"Heard you were a little sad earlier? You wanna talk about it?"
He frowned a bit. "Who told you…"
Elliot chuckled. "You have 5 older siblings who are crazy about you. Pick one."
Noah smiled small then shrugged. "I just don't want the baby to change anything… I'm not even a Stabler and I don't want you to not love me as much…"
Elliot frowned and wrapped his arms around him. "Buddy… why would you think that?" He asked softly.
He shrugged. "When Kevin's mom and step dad had a new baby Kevin felt left out" he said softly.
Elliot looked down at him. "Well first of all, I don't consider myself to be your step dad or you my step son. You're my son. I'm your dad."
Noah nodded and Elliot continued, "and 2, Kevin's step dad is kinda a jerk."
Noah giggled. "Dont tell mom I said that," Elliot teased and Noah nodded.
"Can I tell you the special thing about being your dad?" He asked him softly and Noah nodded.
He paused and looked at him. "We chose each other." Noah looked at him quizzically.
"Think about it," Elliot continued, "we came into each others lives. You asked me to be your daddy and I prayed every night for 7 months that one day you would."
Noah couldn't help but smile and nod. "The big kids… this baby… they don't have a choice." Noah giggled and nodded.
"Doesn't mean I don't love them" he smiled poking his side and making him laugh harder. "It just means we have a different and special bond buddy. And I wouldn't change that for the world."
Noah nodded and hugged him tightly. "I love you daddy… thank you."
He hugged him back and then stood up, kissing his head. "Goodnight son… I love you."
"And we'll work on that last name change." He winked as he walked out.
He walked into their room shutting the door. Liv was finishing up putting their clothes away.
She looked up and smiled. "He ok?" She asked.
He nodded and came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and settling them on her belly.
"He was just worried about getting left out with the new baby," he said kissing her shoulder. "I calmed him down and told him it would never happen."
He kissed her neck and she turned her head gently to allow him more access. "Although," he said softly "I'm gonna call Langan and see if we can speed up the paper work. I think making him a Stabler sooner rather than later will help, especially before we tell them it's a boy."
She nodded in agreement. "Mo told me he was a little sad cause he'd be the only Benson kid. I think that would be amazing, El."
He nodded and she moaned softly as he kissed up behind her ear. He breathed into it and her mouth opened slightly, a shiver running through her body.
She turned in his arms and kissed him passionately. "How did you become such a good daddy? We're so lucky. You're just the best."
He kissed her back. "I'm the lucky one." He smiled and then laughed. "Too corny?"
She nodded with a laugh and kissed him again.
"Do you wanna christen the new bedroom?" He asked with a smirk.
"I literally thought you'd never ask."
They lay together afterwards, and he played with her hair.
"I never thought I would be this happy." She said softly.
He kissed her head and rubbed her soft swell.
"You deserve it more than anyone else" he said softly.
There was a small knock. "Mom… dad… can I come in?" Noah asked.
"Hold on buddy" Elliot called.
They both tossed each other their clothes and frantically got dressed, laughing hysterically and silently at one another. They laid back down, still laughing a bit.
"Come in baby" Liv called.
Noah came barreling in with his pillow. He crawled up curling in between them without a word.
Liv and El looked at one another laughing softly.
"You ok sweet boy?" Liv asked playing with his hair.
He nodded. "Can I sleep in here tonight?" He asked looking up at them.
They both chuckled and looked at one another.
"Only for tonight" Elliot said. "You alright? You wanna talk?" He asked, scooting down to get to his eye level.
He nodded. "I just wanted to be with you guys…"
Elliot nodded looking up at Liv who slid down a bit too.
"That's fine baby… I know there's been a lot of changes recently and sleeping in a new place can be nerve-wracking. Daddy said you feel nervous about the baby?"
"Yeah" he said softly "but dad made me feel better."
She nodded. "You know that the same thing daddy said goes for me too?" She asked him and he nodded.
"I love you mommy," he leaned into her hugging her tightly.
She smiled softly. "I love you too, sweet boy."
He was quiet for a moment and then looked at her belly. "There's really a baby in there?" He asked
She and Elliot laughed. "There sure is. It's little though. It still has to grow another 6 months."
He nodded slowly. "Do you think it'll like me?"
Liv smiled. "You're it's big bro. It will love you. Just like you love Eli and Dickie."
He nodded placing his hand on her belly and laid his head on her, yawning.
She covered his hand with hers. "Go to sleep baby. I love you."
Elliot leaned over to kiss his head. "Love you boy." He then kissed Liv's belly. "Love you baby."
Noah smiled looking up at him. "Can it hear us?"
Elliot nodded. "If not yet, then soon. But it's good to talk to it so it knows your voice."
He nodded and copied his dad, giving her belly a kiss. "Night baby. This is your big brother Noah." He said softly. "I love you."
Liv blinked away several tears. The three fell asleep together.