A/N: Thank you so much for the kind words and reviews! Makes me feel special.
Liv got up and put her robe on, tying it just above her bump.
El watched her. Make-up-less, hair a mess, freshly fucked, and glowing from her pregnancy hormones.
She looked incredible.
"Take a picture it'll last longer," she teased. "And put some pants on."
She met the boys in the kitchen who smiled at her.
"Morning mom" they said in unison, causing them to laugh.
"Morning my boys" she said kissing their heads. "You guys sleep ok?"
They both nodded. "I'm just too excited for the game tonight I woke up at 5!" Noah said dramatically and Eli laughed.
Elliot came out in low hanging sweats that made Liv's mouth water.
"Morning boys" he said with a yawn, ruffling their hair.
Liv handed him his coffee and slowly sipped hers, leaning against the counter.
"So glad we've moved past your coffee issues." He said laughing and she smiled.
"Me too," She said leaning into him as they watched their boys eat breakfast.
"Alright guys- Eli remember you have that appointment at 3:30 and then Noh, Dickie and Eli will grab you after. I'll meet you guys at the 1-6 so we can head to the game a bit early. Sound good?"
They nodded finishing their food and running to get dressed.
The family said their morning goodbyes and headed to start their day.
The girls had been excited texting in their chat all day.
E: Think he'll cry?
K: Noah or Dad?
E: Noah but now that you say that, dad too. When did he become such a mush????
M: Leave them alone! This is a special moment for them.
E: So… you think they both will cry?
M: 100%
L: LOL. They will both cry for sure, but so will Dickie. When did he become such a mush!
M: Like father like son. :)
Dickie and Eli waited in the car for Noah at the end of the day.
"I feel kinda bad with the shirts you know… he's gonna be so sad," Eli groaned.
Dickie waved him off. "He'll be sad for like 15 minutes and then lose his shit from happiness. He'll be fine."
Eli smacked him.
Noah came running to the car. "What's up bros" he said climbing in the back. He immediately noticed that they weren't wearing their usual matching shirts.
"Hey dude" "Hi littlest bro" they said at the same time.
Eli turned. "Buckled?"
Noah nodded, noticing the name on the back when he turned back around.
STABLER
He looked down.
Dickie saw in his rearview and frowned. "Hey man these are old… just wanted to break them out tonight since it's been a while…"
Noah nodded. "Yeah… okay cool…" he said looking out the window.
Eli gave Dickie a look and he turned to Noah. "Did you ever ask dad about the name change."
Noah shook his head. "No… we talked and he said a bunch of nice things and he said he'd work on it but… maybe he just doesn't want me." He trailed off.
"Well man maybe we can talk to him tonight?" Dickie said.
Noah shrugged, looking back out the window.
He got out of the car first when they got to the 1-6, quickly walking ahead of his brothers.
"My cold hearts hurting me," Dickie whispered to Eli who rolled his eyes.
"Your hearts about as cold as the sun. Quit pretending you're this evil big brother."
Dickie laughed. "I knew you loved me."
The three stood on the elevator quietly.
Noah had yet to his growth spurt so the other two still towered over him.
He walked out of the elevator with his head hung.
Everyone greeted him and he waved pathetically. Liv was sitting on the corner of Amanda's desk and smiled at him.
"Hi sweet boy" she said gently, noticing the change from his normal, upbeat demeanor to this.
He walked right into her arms hugging her tightly. She picked him up as best as she could and he rest his head on her shoulder.
Liv frowned looking at the older boys. Eli hung his head fake crying and Dickie pretended to rip his heart out. Amanda stifled a laugh.
Elliot walked in earlier than they planned, but with perfect timing.
"Hello family, squad" he said with a smile, before seeing Noah who was still slung against Liv.
He nudged his older sons, giving them the gift bag with everything in it and went over to them, dropping a kiss to Liv's lips and gently rubbing Noah's head.
"Hey…" he said softly.
At 10, Noah was embarrassed to be hugging his mom like this with everyone watching, but knew he'd be even more embarrassed to lift his head and show his tears.
Elliot gently pulled him down off Liv's lap and removed his backpack.
He knelt down to his eye line, keeping him faced away from the girls, who just joined their brothers, and the other special guests.
He put his hands on his arms. Noah noticed he was wearing the same jersey at the boys and sniffled a bit.
"Can I have a hug," Elliot asked him softly.
His lip quivered a little and he nodded, leaning into Elliot but not wrapping his arms around him.
El squeezed him tightly and kissed his head several times.
He pulled back and put his hands on his arms. "Noah, do you know how much I love you."
He nodded slowly.
"You know some silly shirt or a name change on a piece of paper will never ever change my love for you right? You're my child. As much as the others and the new baby."
Noah nodded and a few tears fell.
Elliot continued. "I didn't hold you as a newborn, but the minute I met you, and you hugged me before we left… dang" he said softly as a tear fell, "it was like I was holding my own child for the first time."
He nodded again and Elliot wiped some more tears from his face.
"Noah I need you to promise me you'll always remember that." He said seriously.
Noah nodded. "I promise," he whispered.
"I love you son." Elliot said nodding and Noah nodded back. "I love you too daddy".
He climbed into his arms and hugged his neck tightly for a few moments before pulling back.
Elliot ruffled his hair and smiled. "I know I said shirts and pieces of paper will never change how I feel in my heart about you, but… they are an added bonus…." He said with a small smile letting his eyes drift from his sons to behind him where the rest of the kids were.
Noah looked at him confused and turned slowly. His jaw dropped, seeing his siblings behind him and all his loved one around them.
Dickie held out the bag for him and Elliot stood, giving him a little nudge.
Liv stood next to Elliot. She had been silently balling for the whole speech. He wrapped his arms around her, watching Noah.
He looked at his siblings who nodded at him encouragingly and slowly pulled out the contents of the bag.
First, an envelope. He quickly opened it and his eyes filled with tears. Elliot came up behind him and knelt down looking over his shoulder.
He knew exactly what it was, whether he could fully comprehend all the legal terms or not. He turned to look at him.
"Noah Porter Benson. You're one of mine and have been since the moment you were born- before either of us even realized. It would be the greatest honor of my life to legally adopt you and make you Noah Porter Benson Stabler. What do you think?"
He nodded quickly and jumped into Elliot's arms, letting his tears go.
There wasn't a dry eye in the room and Elliot hugged him tightly. The little boy literally wouldn't let him go. "I love you so much dad…. Thank you… thank you…"
He laughed and rubbed his back. "I love you more son… thank you for saying yes! But… You have one more thing in there…"
Noah looked at him and smiled, jumping down.
He grinned like a fool as he pulled out a matching jersey with the number 4 and the name STABLER printed on the back.
He smiled huge looking around before catching his moms eye. For 10, he was more intuitive than most adults.
He ran over to her with his new shirt and she slowly knelt in front of him.
He wiped his eyes and put his hands on her cheeks. "Mommy… you're ok with this right?"
She laughed through her tears and covered his hands, leaning into kiss his nose. "More than you'll ever know baby. Now let's try your new shirt on and sign some papers."
She helped him put it on and he turned looking at his dad and siblings nervously.
The girls couldn't contain themselves anymore. Maureen led the charge and rushed over scooping him up and hugging him tightly.
He was all smiles as he hugged her back, adjusting to wrap his arms around his three sisters who were all emotional.
He looked over Maureen's shoulders at Dickie and Eli as they began to move towards the group.
He shook his head at his brothers, smiling, and Dickie pulled him out of Maureen's arms.
"I'm so sorry" he said pathetically. "That was like the worst 20 minutes of my life."
Eli laughed and hugged them both, patting their backs. "Sorry little bro- but was it worth it?"
He grinned nodding. "Totally. Love you guys."
"We love you buddy."
Elizabeth Donnolly walked out from around the crowd and smiled.
"Is everyone ready to sign some papers?" She asked with a smile.
They all nodded.
Dickie let Noah down and he stood in front of his parents.
"Noah," Judge Donnolly said, "Do you wish to have Elliot Stabler as your legal father?"
He grinned leaning into Elliot. "Yes!"
She smiled. "Elliot. Do you wish to formally adopt Noah Porter Benson."
He put his hand on his shoulders. "Absolutely." He smiled.
She looked at Liv. "Olivia you wish to allow Elliot Stabler to join you on Noah's paper work as his legal father."
She nodded and stuttered a "yes" between tears. Everyone laughed.
"Sign here." She said smiling. Both parents signed.
"Well. By the power granted to me by the State of New York, I hereby grant this adoption request and formally and legally announce you as Noah Porter Benson Stabler."
Everyone cheered and Noah beamed. Elliot picked him up hugging him tightly.
They all stood around, taking pictures and grinning.
"Alright well I hate to break up this moment but the Stabler boys gotta go," Dickie said with a smile.
"Get outta here. Have fun, be safe, send pictures." Liv said smiling, giving them all a hug.
"Mama we thought we'd have a girls night." Kathleen said, coming up beside her and hugging her.
Liv smiled. "That would be perfect. Let's get out of here."