Chapter 15

Two weeks later…

"Ten o'clock in the morning and I'd fallen asleep at my desk!" She embarrassingly recounted to Melinda. "I've never fallen asleep at work!"

"I hate to break it to you honey, but the pregnancy is in charge now. I can't believe I'm saying that to you!"

"That makes two of us. This all still feels like a dream. But then days like today...I just wish the sleepiness weren't all so sudden, I'm feeling out of control already and you know how I hate that,"

"You'll modify," Melinda smiled.

"I woke up to Fin and Carisi standing at my desk, staring...what do you think about this?" She asked, holding up a beautiful blue and tan maternity blouse.

"It's gorgeous, but I think you're about six months too early for it."

"You don't think I'm showing already?" She turned to the side and lifted her shirt, glancing at a mirror. "Look, you can see a bump,"

"You really can't. You are anxious."

"I just feel like once I'm showing…" but she quickly quieted herself, putting the blouse back on the rack. "You know what, we should go," but Melinda stopped her and put her arms around her.

"You know what? You should buy it. After all, you're gonna need something to wear once that belly's out there." That made Olivia smile. "Come on, let's do some shopping."

…

Later that evening, Olivia was in her closet putting the many clothes she'd ended up buying away when Peter walked in.

"What is all this? He asked as he picked up black maternity pants from the bag and unfolded them to look at them.

"I sorta went a little crazy,"

"A little…?" He smiled.

"And now I'm too exhausted to deal with it. Why is pregnancy so tiring?"

"Uhhhh, something to do with hormones in the first trimester…" he said as he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her cheek. "How was work?"

"I fell asleep at my desk!"

"Oh no,"

"I had a nice dream about you, so it wasn't a total waste." She smiled as she walked into the bedroom. Peter turned off the closet light and followed her.

"I wanted to talk to you about something if you're not too tired."

"I'm never too tired for you," she said

"It's about Noah,"

"Noah? What about him, is something wrong?"

"No, no, it's nothing like that. Liv, that kid...you know how much I love him,"

"He loves you too,"

"I know. Liv, I don't want him to ever feel like he doesn't belong; I've been thinking about this, and, what would you say to me adopting Noah and becoming his legal father?"

Olivia was silent as she stood up from where she sat on the bed. Damn if he didn't know how to shock her with reveals. And this one, that he wanted to adopt her son…

"Peter...I don't…" she started but didn't know what to say.

"Listen to me," he said as he took her hands in his. "I know that this is a lot. It's been you and him for so long…"

"I know how selfish I must seem,"

"No, baby. You're a mom who always puts her son's needs ahead of her own and I love you for it. It's a hard thing to think about, but Liv, I'm here and I'm with you...I'm with him. And I want him to know that no matter what, I'm always gonna be here."

"It's a lot…"

"I know it is. And that's why I want you to think about it. I'm not gonna rush you. You answer me when you're sure, no matter how long that takes."

…

Friday, the following week…

In the bedroom putting the finishing touches on her outfit for the party, Olivia was in the closet after choosing her shoes, a pair of nude, suede, stiletto Saint Laurent logo sandals, and she sat down in one of the armchairs to put them on.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa" came from Peter, who entered the closet, still in his jeans and tee-shirt.

With her hands on the ankle strap of her shoe, Olivia looked up at him, her newly done, bone-straight hair falling beautifully as she moved her head.

"Peter, why aren't you ready?"

"Because, it literally takes me five minutes, and Noah and I had guy stuff to do." he said as he made his way over to her and dropped down. "allow me…" and he began to fasten her shoes while staring at her.

"What?" She smiled.

"I'm just wondering how I got so lucky," he said as he finished with her shoes. She cupped his face.

"Persistence."

"You know-"

"Peter, no." She laughed and got up, walking back to the bedroom with him following. "Every time you start a sentence with "you know" we end up naked and we don't have time tonight."

"We do if we hurry," he said as he took her in his arms and started to undo her robe as his mouth worked her neck.

"Peter, don't mark me," she protested with a giggle, but it was moot as she melted at the feel of him. "My...my outfit…" his mouth was going lower "...doesn't cover much…" when she felt his fingers on the back of her strapless bra, she snapped out of it just as it came undone and she caught it before it dropped.

"Go, get dressed," she said, holding her arm across her chest to hold her bra in place.

"Liv…"

"Peter…"

"I could help-"

"You just undid my bra," She laughed. "Go!"

"I never get to have any fun!" He complained under his breath as he went into the bathroom and started the shower.

Twenty minutes later, Peter was in the kitchen wolfing down the remainder of the sandwich he'd thrown together, a napkin tucked into the shirt of his new suit. There would be food at the party, but he was hungry now. Plus, he knew that most likely he'd be engaged all night and barely get a bite, so he decided to play it safe and eat something now. Noah was sitting around the island with him trying to eat a sandwich as big as the one Peter had all but finished.

"Dad. No fair, you're eating faster than me!" Noah whined with his mouth full, Peter laughed.

"I'm bigger…" Peter said, "and hungrier!" as he ruffled Noah's curls. Then, taking the last bite of his sandwich, he removed the napkin that was tucked into this shirt collar and drank half his bottle of water. "I'm gonna see if mom's ready."

He walked out of the kitchen and into the living room, "Oh, Sasha," he said to the babysitter they'd had to hire to watch Noah with Lucy out of town. "Thank you again for doing this."

"No problem Mr. Stone…"

He was looking at his watch. 6:30, if Liv didn't hurry...

Holy shit! He thought as she suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs. She stopped and tucked her hair behind her right ear with the chunky gold, dangling earring hanging from it. She was radiant in the white dress she wore. It was a ruched bodycon that stopped just below her knee, one-shouldered with a long sleeve. Peter looked on, mesmerized. Her hair hung bone straight and parted right down the middle, smokey eye makeup. She was a vision that Peter couldn't keep his eyes off as his mouth dropped open. He quickly went and stood at the landing to receive her.

"OMG, you are slaying in that dress!" Sasha said. Liv smiled.

"Thank you, Sasha."

"You never cease to wow me," Peter smiled proudly. "My God, you look AMAZING!" He said as he took her hand and spun her around by her sleeved arm, the gold bangles making a melodic noise as they traveled her forearm. She smiled humbly. Peter made her feel like the most beautiful woman, every day, and she'd never get over that.

"It's not too much, is it?" She asked, self-consciously.

"Never!" He said as he kissed her cheek. That's when Noah came running in from the kitchen.

"Daddy wait!" Noah said as he jumped into Peter's arms. Olivia couldn't help but be adored. She'd never noticed before, how natural the flow was between Noah and Peter.

"What's up, little man?"

"Wow, you look beautiful, mommy,"

"Thank you, baby."

"Daddy, can you and mommy bring me cake? ...unless it's carrot, I don't want that!" Noah said, screwing up his face. Peter and Liv laughed.

"Cake, unless it's carrot...got it," Peter said, kissing Noah before he put him down.

"Be good, please," Olivia said to Noah before she kissed his forehead.

"I will," Noah said, smiling. "Sasha, do you know how to play Nascar Thunder?"

"Know how to play? I'm undefeated!"

"Wanna play? Daddy…"

"Go ahead. Liv, we'd better get going, the last thing we want is to catch traffic…"

…

Outside the venue, Casey and Kevin finally arrived and were still in the car.

"You gonna get out?" Kevin said.

"I'm planning to," she said, but still sat there for a moment, then finally… "you don't ever want a one-on-one relationship like what Peter and Malclom have with Liv and True?"

"I won't say ever, but for now? No, I don't."

"Kevin..."

His fingers slowly crept toward her outstretched hand and held it. "Casey, I like you, but what Pete and Malcolm have, it's because it's what they wanted. I'm not looking for that."

"And you don't think it's hurting me, every time you go and sleep with someone else?"

"Look, I'm not ready to give up other women. I'm upfront about that, and never lied to you from the beginning. If I see something that interests me, I'm going to have it, and hell Case, you shouldn't be ready to give up other men, at least not for me,"

"But I am ready. I want to be with you and only you. And I don't mind if you want a threesome or even a foursome every now and then. So why is it so hard for it to be just us calling the sh-"

He shut her up when he kissed her, taking her head in his hands and tonguing her deeply. She sank into it, putting her arms around him and pulling him closer. She didn't know what it was or why, but she craved this man and all his womanizing ways because there wasn't a better lover- anywhere. Kevin was rough and controlling in bed but God it was so worth it! Casey just thought that she could take him and make him want only her, and so far that wasn't the case.

He pulled away from her suddenly, leaving her dazed.

"You either want this or you don't. I have such strong feelings for you and losing you would hurt, but if you don't want what we have, there are plenty of other women and that's just the way it is. I'm not changing, Casey. Not now." And he got out of the car, leaving her sitting there fighting tears.

…

They sat there in the SUV, just staring out the window. He was at the wheel, both of them slightly fed up at the traffic and annoyed at waiting. "I'm so sorry about this,"

"It's okay, no rush," Olivia said. "Though you should have let me drive…" He turned his head to look at her as she playfully shrugged her shoulders.

"Really? You're gonna throw that at me, now?" He laughed. He wanted to be mad but he couldn't, they both knew she was the better driver though they'd never admit it. Maybe she should have driven, he got distracted in the first place, stealing glances at her. But who could blame him? She sat there with her legs crossed and looking so unbelievably gorgeous. Hell if he had his way…

"Just saying,"

"Okay," he said, hating the very words as he said them. "You were right, we should have taken a side street."

Olivia sat there with a smug smile. They were stuck in traffic which was typical for New York this time of day and on a Friday no less. "Did it physically hurt you to admit that?" She laughed.

"Not at all," he said. Obviously lying. "Though I am a little perturbed that we're stuck,"

"Well, I think you're hot when you're perturbed."

He smiled as he reached out and held her hand, bringing it to his lips for a kiss that he let linger before he let their fingers entwine, looking down at her wedding and engagement rings.

"I still can't believe you said yes..."

"Regret it?"

"Not if I live to be a thousand." They each leaned over until their lips met and they kissed. "So; hot, huh?"

"Very hot." She said as he then let that same hand rest on her knee for a moment. God, she was the softest thing he'd ever touched!

"You know, we could find a way to pass the time..."

"I'll give you one thing, you are not a quitter,"

"...and you wouldn't love me any other way!"

…

Peter and Olivia finally arrived at the party, a lot late, but as the honorary couple, they weren't actually. They entered the space to applause. Melinda and Casey had invited EVERYONE to this party, and that included about forty people that were friends of Peter. They had really done their homework, getting names from Katelyn. Even his old boss, Mark Jeffries was there, along with a bunch of friends from the Cook County DAs office as well as friends from his baseball days. Peter proudly re-introduced Olivia to the gang and to True who welcomed her like family.

Olivia was thrilled to see Cragen and Munch and beamed as she introduced Peter, this time as her husband. The party went on and Olivia was floored, crying when she saw that Nick, Alex, and Barba had come, even if it was only for tonight. Nick and Alex needed to be back tomorrow but had to make it for Olivia's wedding reception. Rafael on the other hand had the whole weekend, which he planned to spend most of with Sonny, who was the only one happier than Olivia when he saw him.

Further into the night…

"That is good a looking motherfucker!" Kevin said as he, Malcolm, and Peter stood at the bar and watched Olivia with her friends, Nick at the center.

"Who are we talking about?" Peter asked.

"Him…" he pointed out Nick. "Look at him, I mean damn!"

"Something you trying to tell us, Kev?" Malcolm said

"Man, what? Hey, I'm secure enough in who 'I' am to admit that he is fine. Best looking guy in here, by far!"

"Thanks a lot!" Peter said in his feelings.

"Come on man, you know what I mean. You white-boy fine. But him, everybody can appreciate that. Shit, I feel like his bitch just lookin at him!"

"I can't believe this fool graduated MIT at the top of his class!" Malcolm said, shaking his head.

Kevin laughed, "you forgot, extremely rich." But Malcolm shushed him before turning back to Peter.

"How does Olivia know him?"

"He's another of Noah's uncles. I've talked to him a few times. He lives in LA now, but he and Olivia used to be work partners some years ago."

"Yo wouldn't it be funny if they used to smash?" Kevin said jokingly, but when he saw that Peter wasn't laughing… "...no it wouldn't. It would not be funny at all!" He then said as Casey stopped over to get a drink.

"Looks like Kevin says a lot of things that aren't funny in the least…" she said to nobody in particular. Peter and Malcolm looked at her, then at Kevin

"Case…" Kevin said just as the bartender came over to her.

"Hi, Jack and coke…heavy on the jack." She said then took her drink and walked away.

"What did you do?" Peter and Malcolm said in unison.

"Look at you, married," Alex said as she looked at Olivia's rings.

"I know. So much has changed since you guys left." She said, holding a flute that was filled with non-alcoholic champagne. Melinda honestly thought of everything.

"You look remarkable Captain Benson, love agrees with you!" Olivia smiled. That meant a lot coming from Nick. "Wait, or is it Stone?"

"Stone for everything else, but I kept Benson for work," Olivia said and took a sip.

"And you should, you've accomplished this all on your own. I'm so proud of you!" Rafael said and hugged her tight.

"Well, we wish you nothing but happiness!" Amanda said and they all toasted.

Dinner was topped with a toast to the new SVU Captain and the head of the new, New York office of his law firm. They gathered around a huge and beautiful wedding cake in place of the one they didn't have for their impromptu vows in St. Thomas. They cut the cake and fed each other pieces of it, Peter putting a dollop of creme filling on the tip of Olivia's nose and licking it off slowly, then kissing her lips.

…

"I don't know how you guys pulled this off in only a month." Olivia started. It was late now, and she and Peter were preparing to leave as she stood, with her back to him wrapped in his arms.

"Don't you dare thank us." Melinda told her. "we're just glad that you guys enjoyed yourselves and that we got to celebrate with you."

"...and the next major event in your life, we'd better have a front-row seat," Casey said on no uncertain terms, leaving Liv and Peter passing looks. Looks that Casey didn't miss and called into question.

"...what now?"

"Nothing…" Olivia laughed. "It's a joke,"

"Olivia…"

"Goodnight, Casey…"

…

It was a little after 1 AM when they finally got home, they came in with two cake boxes. One with the entire top tier of the wedding cake, specially wrapped for them to freeze and eat on their first anniversary. And the second box had a couple of slices that they'd promised Noah.

"I'm gonna put these away, I'll be up in a minute," Peter said as he threw the keys in the bowl on the side table. He went towards the kitchen to put the cake away while Olivia went off in the other direction after putting her purse down beside the door.

She got upstairs and went to Noah's room where she cracked the already ajar door to peek in on him. He was sound asleep, in the top bunk of his set, and was curled up with his elephant, Eddie, looking so beautiful when he slept. She crept in, maneuvering through the dark, and found herself in front of the top bunk. With her hand, she brushed his hair from his face and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Goodnight, my sweet boy!" She whispered, quickly giving him another kiss. Careful not to wake him, but she did anyway as he said groggily with his eyes closed…

"Momma?"

"Yes, baby?"

"Where's daddy?" He asked.

Olivia smiled. "He's downstairs,"

"Did he bring my cake?"

She burst into laughter through her tears. "He did, bug."

"No carrot, right?" He said sleepily,

"No, no carrot. Go back to sleep." And she kissed his beautiful head again to see that he had conked out, just that fast.

She adjusted his covers then eased back out of the room as quickly as she had come in, and went further down the hall into her and Peter's bedroom where she went into the closet and turned on the light. She suddenly wondered if she was doing the right thing by Noah. She knew how he and Peter felt about each other, and she also knew how Noah felt that he didn't have Peter's last name, especially when Olivia said that she was changing hers. He was still checking to make sure that Peter was still here for him.

Sighing, she took off her three large bangle bracelets one by one, then her earrings and sat them down before she took a seat on the bench to take her shoes off as Peter came in.

"Let me get those for you!" He said as he approached and squatted down to undo her shoes.

"You're gonna spoil me."

"I plan to," he said as he began to unbuckle her shoe. "I just looked in on Noah, he's so adorable when he's sleeping."

"He is, but how about we don't talk about Noah right now?"

"He froze, dropping her shoe. If she didn't wanna talk, she wanted to f- "yeah?" He smiled as his hand began traveling up and down her leg as the other undid her other shoe.

"If I recall correctly, you started something earlier in the car?"

"You're not tired?"

"Nope, I think the baby decided to give me a break for tonight." She smiled. His hands were on her legs slowly inching up between her thighs, and when his fingers had almost reached her core, she squeezed her legs tight, trapping his hand and he smiled. This pregnancy was not helping at all with how insanely aroused she was becoming, and she bit her lip, enveloped in bliss.

"Do you know how hard it's been all night to not pull you in a room and fuck you senseless?"

"Nothing's stopping you now!" She said softly as their lips met again and he took her mouth hard, while he unzipped her dress. She stood so that he could get the zipper all the way down, and when the dress dropped to the floor, he nearly lost his shit!

"No panties?!"

She raised her eyebrows and smiled as she pressed her body against him, unbuttoning his shirt. "Oops!" She said looking into his eyes, smiling innocently before their lips joined again and he wrapped her in his arms, picking her up and kissing her like he was on fire. Carrying her, he walked out of the closet, their lips never separating and he quickly made it over to their king-sized bed where he stood her on her feet in front of it.

"Do you know how beautiful you are?" He said as he ran his fingers through her hair to tilt her head back.

"Show me."

He backed her to the bed and pushed her down, then stood, taking off his shirt, revealing each beautiful muscle as he peeled it off.

Olivia smiled as she lay back on the bed, looking him in his eyes, and let her foot trail up his abs. She gave him a little peek between her legs, her perfectly manicured little triangle, and ran her hand down her stomach to touch herself there, letting her fingers slide over her dripping slit while he held her foot, sucking her toes as he got down on his knees, and she slipped her fingers in her mouth, sucking greedily. She loved the way she tasted, and apparently, so did Peter as he kissed her lips. It was all-consuming as he caught the bottom one with his teeth, sucking it lightly before their tongues met. But he was eager to get to her pussy and spread her legs as he kissed his way down. Getting to her inner thighs, he planted kisses as he caressed them, licking and sucking to soothe where he placed tiny bites to her. Olivia was going crazy at this point. As amazing as this felt, she wanted his mouth on her clit so bad she couldn't stand it.

"Peter...please…" she begged as she was spread out before him. It's like he read her mind and quickly affixed his mouth to her center. God, the absolute shriek that tore from her throat!

…

The following Friday, with school starting in a week, they thought they'd do some unwinding at the cabin and left early that morning.

Late afternoon on Saturday, Olivia sat out on the back porch, overlooking the lake while she watched Peter playing with Noah and Kellan, chasing them around out back. The three of them were armed with super soakers that they were using against each other and having a ball while doing it. She decided to sit this round out when she ran out of water and now smiled watching them, her hand reaching down and rubbing her stomach through her wet dress. Pregnant. She'd been repeating it to herself for five weeks now and swore that she could feel this baby inside her. She was just so excited. In fact, she was so enamored with the little being inside her, she missed when Peter came up to the deck to check the grill. Deciding that the steaks were ready to cook, he began putting them on.

"Earth to Olivia…" he smiled.

She suddenly snapped out of it, looking up at him.

"I did it again?" She smiled, slightly embarrassed.

"You did, but you're so cute when you zone out!" He said as he leaned over her, placed his hand over her stomach, and kissed her. I can't wait until we tell Noah in two weeks; I can't wait until we tell everybody!" He knew what she was thinking without a word.

Olivia looked at Noah and Kellan, running around noisily. "He's wanted this since he was three, and now I'm carrying his brother or sister."

He kissed her lips softly again. They'd be having the NIPT test done in a week and right now, she was just as nervous as when Dr. Carlisle confirmed her pregnancy five weeks ago.

"It's gonna be fine."

"I know. And I think I'm finally starting to believe it."

"You hungry?"

"I'm starving," she said as her phone rang. They kissed before she started to get up.

"I'd better get this, it's Fin," she whispered, kissing him again before she went inside to take the call. She left him smiling like a little kid.

"Hey, Kellan, Noah, dinner will be ready soon, why don't you guys go wash up?" Peter called.

…

Later that night Olivia sat out on the end of the dock, holding her dress in a bunch and kicking her feet in the warm water of the lake. Up at the house, Peter came out to the patio after getting Noah and Kellan to bed, surprised that she wasn't still sitting there on the back porch. He knew she wasn't in the house and he looked around out back, relieved when he saw her at the dock. As he began to follow her the forty-or-so feet down, he was thankful for the lighted path. It was pitch dark out here at night besides the lights on the front and back porches of the old cabin.

"Want some company?" Peter said as he reached the end of the dock.

"Always," she said as she turned her head toward him.

"Well, the boys are dead to the world!" He announced as he took a seat beside her.

"Can you imagine we'll be saying that permanently one day?"

"You think it's a boy?" Peter said as he rubbed her stomach.

"I don't know…" she said, looking up at the star-lit night sky. "I really just want it to be healthy; I'm not exactly going into this a young woman,"

"But you are going into this healthy," he said before dropping his head to her stomach. "You have got to be the most loved baby on the planet!"

"It still doesn't have ears," she laughed as she ran her fingers through his hair. "What about you? What do you want it to be?"

"Honestly? I'd love to have a baby girl,"

"You don't want a boy?"

"We already have Noah. I'd like a daughter to spoil,"

She laughed. "She will not be spoiled,"

"She will. And she'll be beautiful, and smart, and strong like her mother."

"Or a boy who looks like you" he kissed her hand.

"Whatever we get, it'll be loved and that's all that's important. I can't wait until our little person starts to show."

"I wonder how big I'll get…will you love me when I'm bloated beyond all hell?"

"No matter what, you'll still be beautiful to me."

She kissed him, then said, "let's go swimming?" to his surprise.

"Now?"

"Mmmhmm, it's a beautiful night,"

"That it is. Will you ever not surprise me with how spur-of-the-moment you are?" He asked as she stood and started undressing.

"Probably not," she said as she slipped out of her dress, to reveal that she was naked underneath. Then slipped her hair out of the clip that was holding it up "Catch me and maybe we can have some fun…" she said before she dove into the water. Peter hurried and got his tee-shirt and swim shorts off, wasting no time before he went in after her.

Some time later, after making love in the water, the two of them lay on the dock in the gentle breeze, her hair now damp and hanging in waves. Olivia smiled as she lay her head on his bare chest, no words, just the sounds of the night all around them.

"...and to think, Monday we go back to the real world."

"We also take the test next week. You ready to find out?"

"What we're having? I don't know. I've been sort of wondering if we should," he said. "This will most likely be our only shot at this and I'm thinking maybe we should let it be a surprise."

"I was thinking the same thing. But no, I was talking about genetic abnormalities…"

"I thought you said you were finally starting to believe that everything would be okay?"

"I am, but we need to prepare ourselves in case... I've been thinking about it and I thought about just what it would mean if this baby were to be born different. Could we handle it?"

"It would be hard, but of course we can. Liv, we can do anything as long as we've got each other."

"I'm so glad to hear you say that."

"Of course I'd say it. This is our baby, no matter what. Whatever that test says, we've got this."

"You mean that, don't you?"

"I do. Us, Noah, this baby...we'll be a family, and that means everything."

"I love you. And I love this whole life we've carved out for ourselves, even if it is coming late on my part,"

"It came right on time; for both of us and I couldn't love you more. Liv, you and Noah have changed my life in so many ways…" she sat up, prompting him to do the same and she proceeded to speak.

"You know, we've been alone for so long, Noah and I. It's like it was always us against the world, and I loved that," she said and wiped away the few tears that sprang up. "I was his everything and he was mine, and that was all we needed, you know. But then, suddenly there you were. You gave my son love, and attention; things that I couldn't see he was missing in life even with his uncles. He fell in love with you, and you loved him in return. Peter, you are his father, in every way, and I want to make it official. "

Peter, like Olivia, was totally in tears at that moment and had to pace himself to speak. "Are you saying…?"

"Yes, I am. Peter, I would love nothing more than if you'd adopt him."

…

TBC…