"You never know the biggest day of your life is going to be the biggest. The days you think are going to be the big ones, they're never as big as you make them out to be in your head. It's the regular days, the ones that start out normal. Those are the days that end up being the biggest.
You never know the biggest day of your life is the biggest day, not until it's happening. You don't recognize the biggest day of your life, not until you're right in the middle of it. The day you commit to something or someone. The day you get your heart broken. The day you meet your soulmate. The day you realize there's not enough time because you want to live forever. Those are the biggest days, the perfect days."
- Grey's Anatomy
Olivia sat in bed that evening, sighing peacefully to herself as she listened to the soft thud of raindrops against her window mixed with the sound of her shower running in the bathroom connected to her room. She took a second to appreciate the simplicity of the moment, basking in the feeling of happiness here in their home waiting for her husband to join her.
She twirled the wedding band around her finger as she flipped through a stack of case files from work, her mind going a hundred miles a minute. She squinted at the papers in front of her in thought as she mulled scenarios over in her mind.
Elliot walked out of the bathroom, a cloud of steam following behind him. He stopped by their dresser and opened the top drawer, grabbing a pair of sweatpants out of it. He slid them on before turning to her and reached for the files in her lap.
"I was reading that!" Olivia huffed as she looked at him with bewildered eyes.
He smirked as he tossed them to the floor. "We agreed that you would limit your stress, Liv."
"Reading is not stressful," she pouted before scrunching her face up. "We're fine." She felt a sharp kick in her ribs; her hand immediately went to the spot and started rubbing it.
Elliot watched her closely, searching for signs of discomfort. "You good?"
She nodded. "Yeah, she's just running out of room in there." Olivia's eyes snapped up in shock as she met his gaze. "Shit," she muttered, biting her lip.
"She?" he echoed, eyes lighting up with wonder.
"They slipped at my appointment yesterday," she said apologetically. "There was a new ultrasound tech and she didn't know that we didn't want to know."
He nodded, coming to terms with the idea of her carrying their daughter.
She watched him, trying to gauge his reaction. "Oh, God, are you mad?
"Mad?" Elliot shook his head. "Why would I be mad?"
"I know you wanted to wait….until the birth."
"How could I be mad when we're having a little girl?" He reached for her face, cradling it between his palms. "A little Olivia Benson."
She smiled against his hands as he leaned down to kiss her.
"I am so screwed," he whispered against her lips before breaking into a grin.
"She'll have you wrapped around her finger the minute she's born."
"Just like her mother." Elliot kissed her again before his excitement took over. "We're having a girl!" he shouted.
"We're having a girl," Olivia echoed, watching him as he danced around the room, getting his energy out.
"I love you so much." He returned to his side of the bed and opened the drawer of his nightstand, pulling out a container of cocoa butter. He climbed into the bed, shuffling Olivia forward. She settled her back against his chest and rested her head on his shoulder, the beginning of their nightly routine. He gently pulled her shirt – technically, his shirt; the only ones comfortable enough for her growing body – up and bunched it up at the top of her belly. He grabbed the jar of lotion from beside him and opened it, scooping out a handful. He rubbed it between his palms, warming it up before his hands found her skin. He rubbed his hands over the taut swell and Olivia let out a sigh of contentment. Her eyelids fluttered shut as she relaxed against his touch; it was a simple routine she'd grown to look forward to each evening. They got their intimacy where they could, but sharing this nightly moment along with hearing Elliot talk and sing to their child made her heart soar.
"You still like the name Mollie?" she asked quietly, her eyes staying shut. "Since you were so sure she was a boy?" Her head lolled to the side as she looked at him, a grin tugging at her lips.
"Mollie Elyse Benson-Stabler," he mused, smirking as he felt a kick against his palm. "Yeah, I still like it."
"Are you disappointed?"
"Why would I be disappointed?"
Olivia squirmed, adjusting against him. "I don't know," she sighed, "I know you really wanted another boy to even the playing field a bit."
"That doesn't matter." He pressed a kiss to her shoulder, thinking about his other children and their blended family. "I just want you both to be happy and healthy. Anything after that is a bonus." He paused. "I guess I really was meant to be a girl dad."
She laughed. "Maybe a lesson in patience."
"Lord knows I need that."
They were silent for a few moments before Olivia added, "You know, I'm glad we know."
"I am, too," Elliot agreed. "We can really enjoy these last eight weeks before she's here."
"Can it be like this?"
"Hmm?"
"When she comes. Like this." She motioned around them. "You behind me like this. I can't do it without you."
"Okay, one, yes you can," he said, "and two, yes. I'll be wherever you want me, Liv. This is all you. You call the shots."
"Eh, I'd argue that she calls the shots."
"It's going to be fine. Whatever I can do to ensure both of my girls are happy and healthy, I'll do." He rubbed at her skin for a few more moments before Olivia let out another deep breath, feeling that familiar peaceful, easy feeling wash over her. He always was able to melt away her stress and tension from the day.
"Sleepy?" he murmured.
She nodded and he pulled her shirt back down. He reached over to turn the light off on his nightstand and the room went black. They shifted as they slid under the covers. Olivia snuggled against him as he wrapped his arm around her.
"'Night, Liv," he whispered, kissing the crown of her head.
"Good night," she whispered back.
It wasn't long before Elliot heard her softly snoring and he smiled, before succumbing to sleep himself.
Elliot was leaned over the sink the next morning, spitting out his mouthful of toothpaste. Olivia was in the shower; steam billowing out over the top.
He heard bottles crash to the floor of the shower and then heard Olivia angrily sigh, "Shit."
He whipped the shower curtain open, glancing in to make sure she was okay.
"Let me," he said, quickly gathering her shampoo bottle and razor off the floor. He set them back on the shelf hanging from the shower head.
"What are you doing? Just hand me the damn razor so I can shave my legs," Olivia said as she watched him reach for the knot holding the towel around his hips together.
"Let me do it."
"I'm pregnant, Elliot, not broken. I can do it myself."
"Let me do it," he repeated.
"You'll be late for court."
"No, I won't."
"Elliot."
"Olivia, let me take care of you." He climbed in beside her and pulled the shower curtain back shut.
She sighed as he settled on the floor of the shower and grabbed her leg, carefully moving the razor along her skin in slow strokes.
"Thank you," she said quietly as he finished, accepting defeat. "I'm just in a….bad mood this morning."
Elliot smirked; he knew it was still hard for her to let go of control every now and then. "Let me take care of you," he repeated, his eyes dark with desire. He stood up and pressed a quick kiss to her lips, pressing his body against hers.
Olivia let out a soft moan against his lips and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Ah, ah, ah," he said, breaking them apart. He settled back on the tile floor of the shower and grasped her inner thighs, pushing her open. "This is about you, not me."
"El-" The protest barely left her lips before his were on her in the way only he knew best. His lips trailed her inner thighs, moving closer and closer to her dripping core as she felt the fire spreading within her. He smiled; she'd always been responsive to his touch, but it had turned up a notch since becoming pregnant.
He shuffled her back against one of the shower walls, knowing she would need the extra support if he did his job well. Kisses were scattered along her heated skin, water droplets clinging to his sculpted muscles like a second skin. Olivia watched him as best she could; her protruding belly hid most of her view but for what she lacked in sight, she definitely felt.
He lapped at her like she was his last meal before his mouth locked on her clit, aiming for quick release. His thick fingers pumped and curled inside of her and she felt her eyelids fluttering shut; the image of him on his knees before her sent her over the edge fast and hard. She clenched down around his fingers as she arched her back; her head fell back against the wall with a soft thud.
"Elliot," was all she could manage to get out in a ragged breath as she rode through her orgasm, feeling her bad mood lessen with each wave. Her hands braced his shoulders as her chest heaved and mouth hung open as she regained her strength.
He smiled as he rubbed small circles over her skin, soothing her as came down from ecstasy. He stood up, a smart-ass smirk on his face; the man was proud of his handiwork. He rubbed the underside of her belly, feeling their child's movement within her as he kissed her. Olivia smiled against him, tangled in the sensations of them – her shampoo, his cologne, and the taste of her on his lips.
They separated and she stared into his eyes, not fighting the growing smile on her face.
"Better?" he whispered, matching her smile. He reached up and brushed a wet strand of hair out of her face, water droplets clinging to her eyelashes.
"Better," she said, her voice quiet.
"That wasn't so hard now, was it?"
"No." Her eyes danced downward and then back up to meet his. "But seems you are." She smirked as she reached for him. "Let me make it a good morning."
"Every morning I get to wake up beside you is a good morning."
"Sweet," she smirked as she wrapped her hand around the length of him. "But don't go soft on me."
"Don't think we have to worry about that." He kissed her temple but was interrupted when he heard his phone start to ring on the bathroom counter.
"Shit," he muttered as Olivia released him and he jumped out of the shower.
"Told you you'd be late," she said as she smirked and poked her head out around the shower curtain, watching him use the towel he'd been wearing to dry off again.
"I'll blame traffic," he said nonchalantly.
"Traffic," she mused.
"I took a detour. Was in my favorite ride." He turned around to quickly kiss her again, holding the towel at his hips.
Olivia's mouth hung open at his words.
"See you at the precinct," he whispered, kissing her cheek.
"Bye," she laughed, whipping the shower curtain closed once more.