AUTHORS NOTE:
Hey guys, I havent abanndoned this story I am just alternating chapters between this and my other story - and I had a very busy Christmas and New Year. Please let me know what you think by leaving a comment. You guys might have missed but I left a chapter on my other story on Christmas day that I think was overlooked due to the holidays. so if you read that!
Enjoy! This whole lot is just a bit of fluff. :)
/
Olivia waited impatiently for all the children to leave with their parents, politely smiling at them as she held on to Eloise's hand. "Mommy, why can't we go?" she asked, tugging Olivia's arm.
"Because Miss Emma asked to speak to me," she replied, "and I have a feeling I'm not going to like what she has to say."
"But Mommy, I have been a very good girl," she told Olivia, hugging on to her leg. Her sugary sweet tone told Olivia that she was absolutely not going to like what she heard. She glanced at her watch. It was taking far too long, she had to pick up Noah.
She texted Trevor, "are you close by? do you think you could grab Noah? Emma has asked to speak to me and these bored Mommies are sitting about gabbing with the teacher about their kids…I don't want to be late."
She took a seat on the edge of the desk. "Mommmmyyyyyy," Eloise whined, "you could talk to Miss Emma another day, we could go home now."
"Miss Emma wants to speak to me today. Do you have any idea why Miss Emma would like to speak to me?" Olivia asked her, pulling her closer to her.
Eloise widened her eyes and shook her head.
She got a text back and picked up her phone. "Shit, did it sound bad? Sure, getting ready with Teddy to walk out the door now to get Noah. Want me to come and meet you?"
"Sure… we could be a little while. Love you."
"Love you too, sweetheart," he replied.
"Oh, you must be Olivia," a woman remarked, coming up to her.
Olivia stood up and smiled briefly at the upper west side Mom. She could spot them a mile away. It was their effortless casual way they carried themselves in the clothes that cost more than her entire wardrobe put together.
Well, perhaps her pre-Trevor wardrobe. He was often buying her clothes without prompting or asking — in another lifetime she would have found it rude or presumptuous that a man would buy her things to wear, but Trevor loved to do it and she thought it was such a lovely gesture each time he came home with something for her.
Perhaps if the clothes he picked were awful she may have felt different.
"Hi, yes, I'm Olivia," she replied politely, feeling anything but glamorous after being up all night with the baby.
"I'm Genevieve," she extended her hand. "I haven't seen you picking up Eloise before— just Trevor and … her uh…"
"Elly's biological Mommy," she finished for her.
"Yes, right, Helena," Olivia saw the woman visibly tighten at the mention of Helena.
"That's my other Mommy," Eloise told the woman. Genevieve smiled at her but didn't say a word.
"That's right, your Mommy in heaven," Olivia confirmed, giving her tiny hand a little squeeze. She kissed Eloise's temple.
"I just thought you were a busy working Mom… I confused Lucy for you at first!" she giggled giddily.
"I am a busy working Mom," she replied, "but I've been baking a baby for awhile now and I'm on maternity leave so I can come and pick Elly and my son from school so it's been kinda nice," she replied trying to be friendly.
"Oh, yes that's right! Elly told my little one, Peta, about her new little brother. Congratulations to you and Trevor." Olivia thanked her graciously. She spied Genevieve glancing at her engagement ring and waited for her to say something.
"Oh my god, that's your engagement ring?" without waiting for Olivia to reply, the woman grabbed her hand and examined it close like she was a diamond valuer. "Good job Trevor!"
"Thanks," Olivia replied awkwardly as she pulled her hand away .
"So what do you do for work Olivia?" she asked. Olivia pulled a lingering and bored Eloise in to her lap.
"I'm the captain of an NYPD unit, what about yourself?" she wondered.
"Oh, I work in publishing, but I'm having a bit of a break until Peta begins school…" she glanced over at the parents still standing around chatting, "doesn't this just piss you off?" she asked lowering her voice, "these women literally have nothing better to do than to harass the poor 25 year old who I'm sure can't wait to get home."
Olivia couldn't help but smile a little. Perhaps Genevieve wasn't the kind of mother she thought she was. "Its okay, you can say it, I don't mix with the stiff lips of the upper-west side," she smiled at Olivia warmly. She didn't have to say anything, she knew that Trevor's wife-to-be had very little interest in being involved in the Mommy cliques, and neither did she.
"I just don't have time, I'm sure everyone is nice, the kids have me really busy," Olivia replied.
Genevieve smirked, "very diplomatic, Olivia. I can tell we are going to be snarky acquaintances in no time."
Olivia laughed. "I just don't really understand, if I'm honest, what there is to possibly talk for so long about. I like to grab my kids and go home and spend time with them."
"Oh," Genevieve smiled, "they have au pairs for that, they just show up because it's cute to be social with other Mommies and show off their new Cartier pieces or their latest Chanel."
They both clocked Olivia's Cartier ring at the same time. "I didn't mean it like that," Genevieve quickly said, "sorry-"
"No, it's okay, this is never anything I would buy for myself. It was my placeholder engagement ring when Trevor proposed, it was kind of a spur of the moment, 'this is right' type thing," she felt like she had to explain, "before Trevor and his kindness came along, I didn't hold anything this valuable ever…" she smiled, eyeing her own ring, "but it is nice to have some nice things."
Genevieve smiled too, a little more genuinely. "Well, I'm sure you work really hard at what you do and we all deserve nice things - its when it borders in to being a one-up on each other that it becomes a bit gross."
"Mommmmy, can we just go home to Daddy and Miss Emma will be here tomorrow!" Eloise sighed impatiently.
"No honey, we are here now and Daddy is coming to us, we're staying until I find out why Miss Emma wants to see me," she told her. "You can go and play with something if you like, but make sure you pack it right back up again when you're done," she warned her.
Eloise sighed and stomped off over to the book corner while finally a few of the mothers left, leaving a small gaggle of them behind.
"You got asked to see Miss Emma too?" Genevieve asked, "shit, me too… wonder what our girls did?" she chuckled.
"I can only imagine what mischief Eloise got in to," Olivia shook her head with a smile.
"Is it difficult stepping in after Helena?" Genevieve asked boldly, watching the little girl play.
Olivia appreciated that she was at least direct even if she did believe her question to be a little forward. She thought for a second. "Sometimes yes but mostly no. It's just been a little rough given Elly's age. I don't want her to forget her Mom or fall under any misapprehension that I'm the replacement, but maybe it would have been a lot more difficult if she was older."
"And you have a five year old, right?" she asked.
"He's six, and yeah, but he's always wanted a sibling and a Daddy so he kind of thinks this is the best thing that could have happened to us — and it is, so…"
"Helena was a psycho," Genevieve blurted out, "she had days of being really wonderful and days where you could tell she just wanted to get rid of her kid, on those days she was unkind and rude to everyone including Eloise. We really felt for her - and for Trevor too… it's tragic with what happened, but it's really nice to see that Eloise has a good Mom…"
Olivia didn't know quite how to respond. She didn't want to speak ill of the woman who gave her her daughter. She shrugged, "I met her twice… I think she was just a little sick, so I try not to judge, but I know she could be a handful."
"You're a kind soul Olivia," Genevieve chuckled as she watched a giddy little girl run up to her and throw her arms around her. "Mommy!" the curly-haired, chubby child greeted her mother. Olivia couldn't help but to grin, she was adorable.
"Hi Peta!" she exclaimed, softening, picking her up and giving her a cuddle. "Did you have a good day?"
The little girl nodded. "Miss Emma said I couldn't play with Eloise today," she said softly, chewing on her forefinger.
Olivia raised her eyebrow. "What? Why not?"
"Because we said bad words…"
"Oh, brother…" Olivia sighed. "That's why Miss Emma wants to see me."
"And probably me too," the other mother sighed.
Finally the mothers had cleared off, one of them shooting a look at Olivia and Genevieve over her shoulder.
"Ooh did you see that?" Gen asked her, nudging Olivia, "I think we've been outcast."
Olivia just laughed. She saw Trevor and Noah appear in the doorway right on time with the baby in the sling.
"Oh my stars, Daddy!" Eloise exclaimed excitedly, running toward her father, throwing her arms around him.
"Wow! What a way to be greeted, my little darling!" he smiled at her and crouched down as Miss Emma made her way to the back of the room where the two mothers had been patiently waiting. Eloise kissed Teddy and turned to Noah and gave him a cuddle. "I missed you, Daddy!" she told him as she pulled away.
Trevor had made his way over to join the two ladies. "Hi Gen," he nodded at the mother he was pretty familiar with. She was the woman he usually stood at the back with and sipped his coffee with while the kids settled in for the morning; both hoping to avoid tears and tantrums.
"Hi Trev," Genevieve greeted him with an air of familiarity. He leaned in to Olivia and put an arm around her, kissing her temple. "Hi miss Emma." Olivia smiled, quietly greeting her son.
"I'm so sorry to take up so much time," the preschool teacher, "busy afternoon," she threw her hands up. "I just wanted to have a little word to you about Eloise and Peta…"
"I have a feeling I'm not going to like this," Trevor muttered at the same time Teddy began to whine. "Noah, why don't you take your sister and Peta to go and play for a minute," he suggested.
Noah, happy to help, took the hands of the two little girls and guided them to some toys. Miss Emma watched them walk away and smiled. "He is such a good brother," she remarked, smiling at Trevor and Olivia.
Trevor scooped Teddy out of the sling and brought him close to him, bouncing him ever-so-slightly. "What did our little angels do?" Gen asked with good-humour.
"Well, I've had to separate them today because they were both swearing loudly and being overly disruptive."
Olivia glanced at Trevor who had clapped his hand to his forehead, dragging it down over his mouth in shock and embarrassment. "I'm so sorry…." he apologised.
"No, its fine," Emma replied, "I know sometimes kids pick up a lot of things from TV and from adult conversations, but I just had a really hard time getting them to stop. Peta didn't like being put on timeout and began to abuse me," she hid a smile, "and Eloise worked as her defence attorney and argued with me for a little while."
"Sounds just like Elly," Olivia pointed out, "guess she's been watching Daddy prepare for trial a little too closely," she tried to joke.
"Liv, it's not funny…"
"I'm not laughing," Olivia said, entirely straight-faced, but Genevieve hid a smirk and Emma did chuckle.
"It's okay, Mr. Langan, it can be kind of comical when they're this young, but it's just important that it's not something that continues. I usually let a word or two go, it's better not to pay any attention to it, but when its ongoing, there has to be a consequence. They both got separated on time-out for 15 minutes and then they were allowed to play with the rest of the kids."
"I'm just really embarrassed," Trevor remarked. "Olivia and I try so hard not to swear in front of the kids but twice now she's walked in on my little sister letting loose and my sister thinks its hilarious."
"It is kind of funny, but I am so sorry Peta abused you, Emma, that's not funny and there will be a consequence at home."
"And we're sorry if Eloise taught your little one some colourful language," Olivia chipped in.
"There is going to be a consequence for my darling sister too…" Trevor shook his head as Eloise came rushing back over. "Daddy!" she pulled at his arm, "Noah said I am in big trouble!" she seemed upset and concerned.
"I want you to apologise to Miss Emma for swearing and using bad language in her classroom today and for teaching bad words to Peta. That is unacceptable!" he told her.
Eloise stared him down and went to circle her arms around his legs to bury her face against him but he took a step back. "No," he warned her seriously, "I'm not kidding about, I want you to apologise right now."
"My kid probably learned the words all on her own, Trevor, it's okay."
"I doubt it," he muttered. Eloise finally turned around, her eyes lowered to the ground. She glanced up briefly at her teacher. "Sorry Miss Emma."
"And why are you sorry?" Trevor prompted her.
"For using bad words," her lower lip trembled and tears threatened to spill over.
Olivia moved aside and asked Noah to clean up the toys.
"Thats okay Eloise, thank you for the apology, I hope I don't hear those words in my room again from you or Peta because it's rude and next time I will have to call Daddy or Mommy to come and get you from school."
"And if that happens, we will be very angry," Olivia piped up despite still being able to see the funny side to it. Eloise glowered at her before moving closer to Trevor, acknowledging her three-year-old partner in crime.
Peta was put up to the same apology as her counter-part and the two families dissolved so they could go home and deal with the issue in private.
/
"What are we gonna do about little miss?" Trevor asked as he closed the front door behind them and watched both of the two older children bolt upstairs to put down their things. Olivia shrugged. "Enforce harsher punishments for bad language. Eloise can go to her room, no screen time for a week, that seems to work."
"Yeah, but I just want to make sure she knows I mean business and that the punishment won't have long passed the crime," Trevor replied. "I'll just get serious, raising my voice, I dunno, there's only so many times you can ask her to stop… I don't want to spank my child."
"I don't want you to spank her either, I don't really agree with that and I've never laid a hand on Noah."
"But sometimes they really push you…" he sighed. "Anyway… hopefully she will stop."
Olivia scooped up Teddy from his arms and took a seat at the dining table, unbuttoning her blouse to feed him. He'd grumbled most of the way home and Olivia didn't want to make him wait any longer. "Could you please go upstairs and make sure the kids get changed?" she asked, "I'll feed Teddy and start organising dinner."
"Don't worry too much about dinner, honey," Trevor replied, coming up behind her and leaning over to kiss her forehead. "I'll take care of that. I'll go organise the kids and get a snack or something for them and settle them down."
"You're a dream boat…" she murmured. "I don't deserve you."
He chuckled, "Well, I am an incredible guy, you're very lucky that I chose you," he winked.
"Oh jeez…" Olivia rolled her eyes but laughed.
"I'm kidding. I'm the lucky one…" he kissed her again. He let go of her, letting his hand brush over her shoulders as he made off upstairs after the kids leaving her to bond with Teddy over his feed.
/
"Baby, Ez just texted me and she and Sonny have gone out for dinner and are going to come here afterward to catch up for a glass of wine or something," Olivia told him, coming in to the kitchen, reading Erika's message, "so I'd say we'll put the little ones to bed early."
He rose his eyebrow, "really? do you think they have news about the IVF stuff? how long does that stuff take to work?"
Olivia shrugged. Erika had only had the courage to tell Sonny earlier in the morning. Just as Olivia had expected, he was over the moon and she had to pretend she knew nothing, that Sonny was the first person who found out so that he didn't get upset. She planned on keeping it from Trevor too, in case he didn't like that she'd kept big news from him. "I don't know, I guess it's been a big week for them both."
"I guess… okay that's fine. Are you going to have a glass of wine?" he asked.
"Maybe. I'll check how much milk I have… one glass should be okay, right?"
"Yeah, I'll look it up for you, I'm pretty sure you can have one glass of wine as long as you don't feed for an hour or so, the same as the drink driving rules…"
"That would be heaven…" she sighed with a tired smile as she met him behind the kitchen counter, slipping her arms around his waist. "I love you."
"I love you, baby," he replied, reciprocating her embrace. "You look a little tired, do you want to go have a rest?"
"No, it's okay, I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend though," she replied, "I get to love up on my husband-to-be for the first time in … too fucking long…" she let her words suspend in to the air, "and we can sleep in and eat breakfast in bed and please let there be a pool."
Trevor laughed at her wistfulness. She was holding on to him tightly, head against his chest with a slight smile upon her lips with her eyes tightly shut.
"Aww honey," he kissed her forehead, "I didn't realise how much you are looking forward to the break," he smooched her again beneath her ear, making loud, obnoxious noises, causing her to laugh and shrug him away.
"I think I just need to have a minute to breathe, this whole Mom life is no fucking joke," she smiled, pulling away slowly.
"You're right. You're running after them all day long and I'm sorry that I'm not able to help as much as I want to now," he apologised.
Trevor had gone back to work at the start of the week and Olivia was going through an adjustment. She no longer wanted Trevor to get up in the night for Teddy and she didn't expect him to have the energy to tend to the kids or cook dinner or do all of the things that she should have been able to take care of while he was at work.
"No, you're earning money and being our provider, you don't need to feel bad about that, I've got this. It's just a slow adjustment."
"I know that, but… I can still do stuff when I get home from work too. I can…." he thought, "throw some dirty laundry in the machine and when it comes out of the tumble drier, I can help you fold it all…"
Olivia grinned at him. "This is why I fell in love with you," she told him, almost intoxicated by her fatigue and how much she appreciated him. "Because you just see what needs to be done without having to be asked… that's like the new porn."
He laughed and leaned in to kiss her. "Liv, please go lay down until dinner. I can see you are really exhausted. I will keep my ear out for the kids and dinner is about an hour away. I have to make a few work calls, but leave it all with me for a little while."
"Okay," she relented, her eyes were heavy.
/
Trevor felt for Olivia. She had slept out on the couch for the most part the night before with Teddy beside her in the hammock, not wanting to wake him. Teddy had hit a growth spurt and was no longer sleeping soundly through the night and took longer to settle.
He watched Olivia slowly feed herself mashed potato and gravy, feeling a little disoriented from her pre-dinner nap. "You okay?" he asked, reaching over the top of the table for her hand.
She covered her mouth and yawned and smiled weakly at him and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine, just still waking up."
"Mommy, you need to have bath time and go to bed!" Noah told her with a grin, mimicking Trevor's actions, and reaching to touch his Mom's hand. She smiled at her son beside her.
"Mommy will be having an early night, that's for sure," she told him. "Eat your vegetables, babe," she nodded down at the string beans. Trevor only ever gave them both a few, he knew there was more chance of them eating a couple than heaping up their plates.
Noah stabbed a few string beans with his fork and did what he was told.
"Noah, bud, how was school today? Why don't you tell Mommy what you and Mrs. Evans told me?" Trevor suggested. "Connor's class and Noah's class had a merged activity in the Library this morning," he explained.
Olivia rose an eyebrow at her fiancé, wondering if she was going to like what she heard.
"Connor and Sarah H said that I couldn't sit in the quiet reading corner in the library," Noah told Olivia absently as he finished chewing his beans. He swallowed and continued, "so I told them that aren't the boss of me and then I told Mrs. Evans and I sat in the book corner with Luka and we took turns reading Cat in The Hat and Mrs Evans made sure Connor and Sarah weren't mean to us."
Olivia smiled, "I'm happy to hear that Noah, I like that you didn't fight with them, you did the right thing by telling Mrs. Evans."
"Thanks Mommy," he replied.
/
Once tucked in to bed Trevor and Olivia sat down with Elly, unsure of really how to make the toddler understand that her behaviour at daycare was unacceptable.
"Honey, we need to talk about your behaviour at daycare today," Olivia began, glancing at Trevor. "Miss Emma said that you and Peta were very rude with your language."
"Uh-uh" Elly shook her head, her big eyes widening as if her parents had got it all wrong. "I didn't."
"Enough," Trevor told her firmly. "Eloise, don't you lie to me or Mommy, you were rude and you used language that I told you was for grown ups. From now on, any time I hear you using bad language, there's going to be consequences - do you know what that means?"
She stared at her Dad, her eyes still wide, innocent, almost convincing and it was very hard for both Trevor and Olivia to stay mad at her. Olivia knew that Eloise didn't entirely understand why she wasn't allowed to say the words that everyone else could, but it was starting to get out of hand.
"It means that you don't want me to say the words," she told him softly, remorseful, even.
"Yes, but it also means that the next time you say the words, we are going to be so upset that you will receive a consequence that you wont like. It will be more time outs. It will mean that each time you swear, I will take Mommy's iPad and you wont be able to play games for a long time. It might even mean that you won't be allowed to watch TV and that you will have to go to your room until we decide that you've learned a lesson."
"I don't like that, Daddy," she told him softly.
"We don't like you swearing and not only were you swearing but you were being very rude to miss Emma. If Miss Emma tells me that you were ever swearing in the class room again, Daddy and I are going to be madder than you've ever seen us, do you understand?"
She nodded.
"Yes Mommy. I won't say the rude words anymore."
"Do you ever hear Noah say rude words?"
"No," she replied to Trevor.
"Because Noah understands that they are grown up words. You need to sometimes learn from Noah's behaviour what is right and wrong…" Trevor pointed out. "Noah doesn't like to hear those words from you either."
"Why do you and Mommy say the bad words?" she wondered.
Trevor looked to Olivia, "Because we are grown ups and we shouldn't say them either, but sometimes we do when we are upset or angry, but we are going to try our very best not to say them anymore too."
Olivia nodded in agreement. "No more swearing for anyone in this house; Daddy, Mommy and Auntie Erika included."
They gave her a kiss and a hug and could only hope that she understood.
/
"I am really looking forward to this glass of wine but I can't decide if I want red or white…" Olivia held both bottles in her hands, examining them, trying to figure out which one she wanted. Trevor smiled. "Why don't you have red, it'll be nice and relaxing and you'll probably sleep well."
Olivia nodded.
"They're here…" Trevor announced, looking at his phone. He left Olivia to uncork the bottle and went to let his sister and Sonny in. She hoped that they wouldn't stay too long, she was very tired and she was worried about how many times Teddy would wake up. His pattern was out of control and it was exhausting.
"Hiiiii!" Erika greeted Olivia. Olivia was easily her favourite person in the world. She was so excited to share her news with Trevor and to pretend she was telling Olivia for the first time.
"Hi my love," Olivia gave her a weary smile and hugged her tightly. They shared a knowing between them. "How are you?"
"Great, how are you, you look tired!"
"Exhausted," Olivia replied, "but so happy to see you guys," she smiled, turning to Sonny to give him a hug too.
"Hey Liv," he smiled back at her.
Trevor motioned for them to sit down. "I'm having my first glass of wine tonight," Olivia boasted, holding up the bottle. "Can I get you guys a glass?" then she remembered that Erika was pregnant, but it loaned belief that she was unaware.
"No thanks not for me," Erika replied but both Sonny and Trevor agreed. "Hey, this is your first glass of wine too, love," she smiled at Trevor, "you haven't had a single drink since I got pregnant!"
"I know!" he exclaimed, "I'm as excited as you are." He got three wine glasses down from the cupboard above the oven's range hood that Olivia had to get on her tip-toes to reach.
He set them on the counter and filled them. "What do you want to drink, Ez?" he asked her.
"Nothing right now, thanks…" she replied.
Trevor placed the glasses down for Olivia and Olivia put out some snacks. She had made some cupcakes in the afternoon before she picked up Eloise and bought some chocolate croissants that were filled with chocolate ganache.
"Ohhh Liv, you are amazing…honey we need to come here for dessert more," she nudged Sonny in the arm and reached for a napkin and a croissant.
Sonny grinned at her. Both Trevor and Olivia sat down and Olivia stared longingly at her wine but thought she should wait.
"So…" Trevor began, "how did your appointment go?" he wondered, "have you started the hormone therapy yet?"
"Weeeeeellll…." Erika began, glancing at Sonny. He nodded at her. A grin spread across her face. "We have something to tell you both."
"Oooh what is it?" Olivia asked, crossing her arm on the table. Erika reached in to her bag and pulled out a small package. "This is for you both…"
Olivia smiled as her sister-in-law slid the gift across the tabletop toward them. Trevor seemed quizzical, confused. He gave her a funny look and glanced at Sonny for a clue as to what was going on, but he had the same smile as his sister — both of them giving away nothing.
"You open it…" Olivia told him when he tried to pass it to her. She had already began eating a cupcake and had some cream on her fingertips. Trevor regarded her with a little smile, watching her suck a little of it from her thumb and forefinger before wiping her fingers on the napkin.
"Ugh, gross, stop staring at her like you're going to eat her," Erika rolled her eyes at her brother.
Olivia laughed, looking up at him. "Open the gift before your sister implodes," she nodded at it.
Trevor opened the brown paper that was held together with a ribbon. He took frowned for a moment as he held up a onesie, thinking at first it was a gift for Teddy. "Oh, this might be a bit small for him…" he remarked, "but it's sweet…"
"Oh my goodness," Sonny laughed nervously. Olivia could tell he was sweating a little, wondering about their reaction.
The blue tiny onesie that Teddy would have most certainly have been a little too big for at 7 weeks old. "What does it say?" she asked him. Trevor finally noticed the words on the front of it that they'd had custom made as gifts for those they loved.
"Baby Carisi-Langan On The Way"
"What!" Trevor exclaimed, "What do you mean? You've done the implant already!?" he asked, shocked, but a grin spread across his face. "Liv!" he was gobsmacked, full of joy for his sister who thought that her chance would never come.
"Wow! Congratulations you guys!"
"What happened?!"
"After all those years… not getting any answers as to why I was infertile … that piece of shit," Erika sighed, "it was Mitch… well, I'm sure my shitty ovaries had something to do with it, but… they couldn't find answers because there wasn't as much wrong as I thought."
Carisi took her hand over the table and laced his fingers through hers and gave her hand a squeeze. "We didn't even get to our first appointment, Ez found out she was pregnant last week, but we wanted to be sure before we told anyone."
"Congratulations you guys! I am so happy!" Trevor stood up and made his way around the table, giving his sister a long, warm, bearhug. "I love you, kiddo, there is no one who deserves this more than you!"
"Thanks…" she murmured tearing up. "I love you too," she clung on to her brother, thankful for him, for his support over the years. She knew even if he had any reservations about how quickly the relationship had moved, he would put it aside because of how much he wanted this for her too.
When she finally let go, she wiped away some tears and noticed that Trevor's eyes were glassy too. He turned to Sonny and gave him a hug too. "Guess you're stuck with us now," he told him, as Olivia gave Erika her congratulations too, both of them acting like they hadn't had the discussion back the week earlier.
"I'm totally okay with that," Sonny replied.
Once they had sat back down, Trevor picked up the onesie and showed Olivia again. "Wow…" he murmured, "I'm excited to be an uncle…" he remarked. "And you get to be auntie Liv…" he nudged her.
"I mean, it's still early, so fingers crossed that everything will be okay, but we are hopeful."
"Have you guys told all your parents?" Olivia asked curiously.
"No, we wanted to tell you both first," Sonny said with a smile. "That's how much we love you guys…"
"Okay well that explains why Ez turned down the wine," she chuckled. "But I'm sorry honey, I just really need this for me…"
"Let me make a toast," Trevor began. The three of them raised their glass and Erika, overcome with happiness raised an imaginary glass, making Olivia grin at her. She loved having a little sister so much. "To the health and happiness of my little sister, her wonderful other half and the baby on the way… Liv and I love you both just so much and we're going to love this little one as if it's our own."
"Thank you guys," both Erika and Sonny chimed in as they clinked glasses. Olivia took her first sip of wine and let her eyes close with relief and almost excitement at the idea of having something that seemed forbidden for so long.
"Oh Liv, you really missed your wine…" Erika remarked, watching her savour it.
Olivia felt her cheeks redden, "Wow, that makes me sound like a functioning alcoholic, but… basically yes…" she chuckled.
She felt Trevor's arm around her. "Enjoy it, beautiful…" he told her, kissing her temple. "You deserve it."
"I'll enjoy it until I have to stay up all night with Teddy crying his eyes out again…" she sighed. "That's what they don't tell you," she told Erika and Teddy, "that just when you think you have the sleeping pattern down, the feeding routine, everything, they just change - they have a growth spurt or … something messes it up."
"I don't start work til late tomorrow, so you have a solid sleep and I can get up for Teddy," he told her.
"It does seem difficult, but… I think it'll be worth it right, you wouldn't trade what you both have?" Erika asked.
"Never," Liv smiled. "Even when I'm crying because I'm exhausted and I have two other kids who are yelling and wanting stuff, I wouldn't change it… and even sometimes in the middle of the night when I take him to the nursery so that he doesn't keep Trev up, I get to have these quiet moments with him in the rocker and I feel like he knows us…" she told her, her eyes softening, "I mean, that sounds dumb but… it's almost a bit spiritual. There's a connection that can't be explained."
Trevor grinned, "I get that with him too when we have those silent moments just Daddy and Teddy… it's pretty overwhelming and you just wonder how you have the capacity to love this tiny little person so much…"
"Well, we have good role models, Sonny, between your sisters and Olivia and Trev and our parents, I think we've got it covered."
Olivia smiled.
"Actually Sonny is on nightshift all of next week, so maybe I could come and spend the night or two and help out a bit and make sure you are able to get some sleep…"
"Oh… its okay, you're gonna be exhausted soon," Olivia told her.
"I know, but I'd like to if its okay…"
"Well you're already helping out over the weekend… we don't want to stretch things."
"Never," she grinned. "The trade off is that you help Sonny and I move his stuff in to my place while we find somewhere to buy together."
"Sure… anytime." Trevor agreed. "
/
It felt so good to be back at her desk, even if it was only for a day, Olivia thought. Eloise was at daycare and Teddy was with Joan for the morning and early afternoon.
Amanda was off work and Carisi had called her for help.
"Brief me…" Olivia told Sonny as she made her way down the familiar halls of the precinct, dropping her bag and things in her office where Carisi had insisted she settle, not wanting to step on her toes.
"Girl and boy, she's 8 and he's 6 and neither of them will say much; homicide found them locked in a bedroom of what seemed to be the home of an escort who was DOA, we're assuming they're her children, but we don't know.
"Ok, what was the cause of death?" Olivia asked as they neared the private conference room where Kat was sitting with the two children, trying to get some words out of them. Both Carisi and Kat knew that nobody approached the victims better than Olivia, that she was the master of bonding with children; she had been doing it far longer than both of them combined.
"OD," Carisi responded as they pushed the door open and entered.
"Hi Captain," Kat smiled at her, sitting across from the kids.
"Hi," Olivia lifted her hand to greet her detective. She glanced down at the two children who both had open cans of soda in front of them set down on a coffee table and were sitting at opposite ends of a three-seater couch.
"Hi guys…" Liv's tone softened, greeting the two children who were being warmed by blankets. "My name is Olivia," she told them. "Officer Crisis and Officer Tamin asked me to come and meet you both," she offered them a smile. She pushed back the cans of soda out of the way and took a seat on the coffee table. so she could face them both.
They reminded her of the day that Trevor had brought Eloise to her apartment, disheveled and smelly from days without a bath.
"Are you guys hungry?" she wondered, "do you think you'd like to have some pizza?!" she asked with a smile, thinking that it was a possibility that they hadn't eaten in awhile. When they didn't respond, both of their eyes lowered, "No? What about…. a cheeseburger and some golden, crispy fries?"
She saw the little boy's eyes lift with the faintest look of interest. She lowered her head, trying to catch his eye, "Yeah? Do you like the sound of that?" she asked.
He nodded slowly. "Great." She gave him a smile. She turned to the little girl, "What about you, honey? Would you like a burger and some fries or something else to eat?"
She nodded too but didn't look up.
"Okay no problem."
"On it," said Kat, not having to be asked, Carisi followed after her giving Olivia the space to do her job.
"Great, while Officer Tamin does that, I was wondering if I could learn about you both. I would love to know your names."
She asked a few more questions, thinking that the young boy would tell her first, but the little girl spoke so softly that she almost couldn't hear. "Autumn," she whispered.
"Your name is Autumn? That's so pretty. Did you know The Fall is my most favourite season," she smiled. The little girl finally looked up. Olivia noticed a little cut on her face that had been cleaned up by a medic.
"What about you honey?" she asked, what's your name?"
The little boy replied a little less shyly than Autumn had, giving him a little confidence. "Brody," he replied.
Olivia felt her phone vibrate at her pocket. She ignored it. "It's lovely to meet you both," she told them. "What happened today must be very upsetting, I know and we'll take care of the two of you and try to find out how we can help," she explained.
"Can we go back to my Mommy now?" Autumn asked.
"Did you live with your Mommy at the apartment where the police found you?"
She shook her head. "No, thats my big sister, we stay with her when Mommy has to work far away."
"Ohhhh," Olivia felt relieved that these children were not parentless after all.
"What about a Daddy? Can we call a Daddy?"
She shook her head.
Olivia felt her phone vibrating again. She pulled it from her pocket and saw that it was Trevor. There were three missed calls and a text came through just as the phone stopped. "Call me pls, baby as soon as you get this."
A weird feeling washed over her. "Guys, I am so sorry, I am going to down the hall and get you both a snack from the machine while we wait for Officer Tamin to get back with your food okay?"
"Okay," Autumn murmured.
Olivia got up and left the room. She dialled Trevor as soon as she closed the door. As it was connecting, Carisi came down the hall, "Liv, Trevor is on the phone in your office."
Trevor picked up her call, obviously hanging up on the office phone when he saw her cell come through. "Hey baby," he greeted her, she could tell immediately something was wrong. "I'm on my way to Noah's school, he's had an accident, can you meet me there?"
"What?" she exclaimed, "What kind of accident? Is he okay?"
"Yeah, he's conscious and he's fine, but he fell off the monkey bars and he may have broken his arm or something and I'm furious because I know there's more to it than that… the teacher referred to it as an incident and if you don't meet me there Liv, I am afraid I will rip someone's face off."
"Okay, okay, I'm coming…" she told him, feeling her legs turn to jelly. "I'll be there as fast as I can."
"Everything okay?" Carisi asked.
"No, Noah's been hurt and I need to get to his school before Trevor goes to jail for life for murder, the kids are Autumn and Brody and the woman was their older sister, mother is away for work…"
"Lemme get one of the officers to get you down to the school with sirens…" he offered.
"Its okay," she flashed him a smile. "I'll book it down there by foot, it's not too far, I'm so sorry I have to dip out."
"No, no, let me know how Noah is and let me know if you need us to pick up Elly from daycare."
"Thank you!" she called over his shoulder. Right before she stepped on to the lift she turned to him, "actually, if you could organise to do that, that'd be great… I'll call the school as soon as you let me know who's picking her up. We might have to go to the hospital."
"Sure thing boss."
Olivia wouldn't have usually relied on her staff to help her out to much degree, but Sonny was family now and she knew that he would have happily asked her for help if he needed - as he had done earlier that morning.
/
Trevor was furious.
"Mr. Langan, would you like to-"
"I want to see my son," he said, cutting off the principal, "where is he?"
"We've called the paramedics, it's procedure when something like this happens, we didn't want to move him, we're not quite sure-"
"I don't give a shit about any of that, take me to my son."
Surprised by his aggression, the principal led Trevor wordlessly to the playground where he found some paramedics with Noah, some kids standing around.
"Bud!" he exclaimed. Noah was crying in pain and Trevor's heart broke. "It's okay, Daddy's here…" he told him, getting down to his knees, glancing at the paramedics, "how bad is it?"
"Hi Dad," the paramedic greeted him with a smile. It was a man and a woman and the woman had been doing her best to console Noah. "We're not sure how bad, that can be determined by an x-ray at the hospital, but he's in a lot of pain in his the radius— the bottom half of his arm. "We're unable to examine it too closely, he's very upset."
"I don't blame him," Trevor murmured. "Bud," he turned to Noah, "I need you to look at me, okay?"
Noah nodded despite his tears blinding his vision. "I know you're in pain, bud, I know it must really hurt, but I need you to take three big, big, big breaths for me, okay?" Trevor coached him. Noah didn't follow on the first one. Trevor tried again, "come on buddy, you can do it, you're my bravest little dude, come on… one, two, three…. big breath…" he showed Noah by inhaling himself. "Now, one more time…"
They kept doing it until he had his tears under control.
"Noah," the male paramedic began, "I am going to put this little whistle in your mouth, okay?" he showed him a little bright orange whistle. "Instead of blowing in to it, you're going to take a big breath in and it's going to make you feel a little bit funny, but it's going to take the pain away…"
Trevor eyed the pain medication and was thankful that Noah's pain would be eased. The paramedic placed the whistle. "Maybe Daddy can hold it there for a minute…" he gave Trevor a smile.
Noah took a deep breath in as Trevor wiped away his tears and kissed his forehead. The pain relief worked almost immediately.
"What happened?" he heard Olivia's voice ask someone. Trevor looked up and felt relief that she was there. "I want to know how he fell off!" she demanded, furious. Trevor had to admit, his own fury had been put on hold when he saw Noah.
Trevor could only hear Olivia's half of the conversation. "You're kidding me?" she exclaimed. "You better get all of these children back to class unless you want them to witness my ugliness."
"Liv," he called out to her, "Olivia," he saw her do a double-take before she came rushing over. "Fucking idiots!" she muttered, "that fucking Connor kid…" she realized that she was swearing in front of Noah and stopped herself. "Sorry sweetie," she murmured to Noah who was a little high and definitely complaining almost entirely. "Mommy is here too…" she looked to Trevor.
"Mommy said a swear…" he remarked.
"I know, Mommy is gonna get a swear jar," Trevor told him with a half-smile.
"I love you babe, we're gonna get your arm all patched up and you'll be as good as new in no time."
One of the paramedics glanced at her for a few moments, "you're on the job, right?" she asked her.
"Yeah," Liv smiled. "I am."
"SVU… we met a couple months back. You're good very good with the vics…"
Olivia smiled graciously. "Thank you, so are you guys…"
"Kids are crazy messing with a cop's son." The male paramedic remarked.
"I'm tempted to pull my badge and start interrogating," she laughed despite still feeling quite furious with it all.
"Okay Noah," the female paramedic pulled the whistle from his mouth and discarded it in a little waste bag beside her. "We're gonna put your arm in a special sling and it might be uncomfortable but you're being so brave, so we know you're gonna be a trooper!" she told him with a smile.
Noah's stared doe-eyed back at her and nodded slowly.
Trevor was able to laugh, "he's so high…" he whispered to Olivia.
She drew in a deep breath and watched them pack his arm in a sling that would render it immobile til they got to the hospital. He howled in pain for a moment until it was in place; the sound of his agony burning a hole through Olivia's heart and again she felt full of rage again.
She looked around and noticed all the children had been ushered inside.
Once Noah was on the gurney, they wheeled him in to the back of the ambulance. "Does someone want to ride with Noah in the back?" the paramedic asked.
"You go, baby," Trevor told her, "I'll tail you in the car and meet you there."
"Okay," she kissed his lips and climbed in, glaring at the stupid principal who looked on, realising the ramifications of what happened to the child within his care.
"You!" Trevor pointed at him, "we are not done and once I know my kid is okay, I will be back. We have every right to press charges on whatever asshole kid is responsible for this and then I plan to sue the absolute fuck out of your shitty-ass excuse you call a school!" he spat his words aggressively - not being able to remember a time where he felt that animalistic rage fuelled within him.
Olivia felt a little satisfied as she watched Trevor go off. She knew he wouldn't let it go and that's exactly the kind of support she needed - the anger of bear and a pure innate need to protect his cubs. She had never really considered herself to be the type of person who needed to feel that force of protection for her and Noah, feeling like she could provide that herself and perhaps she could. However, Olivia recognised that having a partner meant that she had someone to fall back on, to pick up the other half of the slack when she didn't have much energy for the fight.
She felt so thankful for Trevor - for finding love and finally a sense of belonging and unconditional support.
She looked down at Noah from the chair she sat in beside him. She stroked his hair softly as he looked in. The pain relief was clearly fast working and wore off as fast. They were stuck in traffic and Noah began to whimper.
"Don't move babe, try to keep still as much as possible," she soothed him.
"Noah, since we're here in the back of an ambulance, do you think we should put the sirens on?" the female paramedic suggested with a little smile at Olivia.
He nodded. Olivia smiled, thankful for how kind they were being to her son. "Adam," she called up front, "I think we need some sirens…"
"I think so too, might help with this traffic!" he replied over his shoulder and before they knew it, a loud siren wailed— the ambulance slightly insulated from the sound, but still Olivia knew Noah found it exciting despite how much pain he could feel.
"Baby, are you able to tell Mom what happened?" she asked him.
He shook his head. She leaned over and kissed his forehead. "Its okay, we can talk about it later, we'll wait for you to feel better first. You gave me a huge fright…"
"Where's Daddy?" he asked, looking around for Trevor.
"He's coming, he's just following us in the car. I've got Uncle Sonny picking up Elly from daycare and Grandma Joan is with Teddy… we are so lucky to have such a great family, aren't we?" she asked him softly.
He nodded again.
Olivia heard the siren go off and felt the ambulance pulling to a stop and was thankful. Sitting the wrong way in the back was making her a little queasy.
/
Olivia was so relieved to see Noah sleeping peacefully.
"I'm so fucking mad, Trevor!" she hissed at him, "How is this happening to our little boy?" she asked, "what the fuck could he ever have done to deserve this?"
Noah's lower arm was broken - there was a break in both his ulna and radius - the two bones that separated in the wrist. They were awaiting a specialist review to see if he required surgery.
"I know honey, I know…" he grabbed her hand and drew her close to him. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a squeeze. "The school is supposed to be keeping an extra close eye on him, they're absolutely useless."
"I'm pressing charges on that kid," she said resolutely.
"Come on, Liv… let's just wait and see what happened, let Noah tell us and for now we focus on him, okay?"
"You're not talking me out of it — this is just the start, this little delinquent will start with callously ruining my son's life so young and then what? By the time he's 20, he'll probably be one of my return customers," she shook her head. "I've had enough of letting them get away with their bullshit - the school and Connor, I've had it."
Trevor hushed her gently. "Please, Liv… focus on Noah, we need to worry about him now."
She took a deep breath in and released it, sighing.
"I don't think I have enough milk for Teddy…. it's all at home and my boobs are aching…" she murmured, "but I really don't want to leave."
"That's okay," he told her. "Mom was taking Teddy back to our place with Sonny and Ez. We could get Ez to come and bring down either your breast pump or Teddy, it's up to you…"
Olivia sighed and drew away from him. "I could just nip home for awhile…" she murmured.
"No," Trevor stopped her, "I'm going to make an executive decision for you because I'm aware you're tired and frustrated. I'm going to call Erika to bring the pump and you can express so you don't feel as uncomfortable and then you can just relax and they can feed Teddy."
"Okay…" she sat down on the plastic seat. She really was exhausted and it wasn't even 8pm.
Trevor went to begin calling his sister when the doctor arrived back in to the cubicle. "Hi," he smiled. "we're going to go and take Noah to the children's ward," he told them, "I had a second opinion and we've decided that we're going to need to re-set Noah's wrist. We could plaster it and hope for the best but if it doesn't heal it might end up causing him long-term pain."
Olivia felt her eyes filling with tears but nodded, trying hard to blink them back.
"I know it's not the news you wanted to hear," he told them, "but it's a quick procedure and afterwards he may be in a little bit of discomfort, but overall it's the best course of action."
"Thank you," Trevor said politely, taking a step toward Olivia, hearing her sniff. He rested his hand on the crown of her head.
"We'll have an orderly come down in a few minutes and take Noah up to a room."
"Thanks," Trevor repeated. He heaved a sigh as soon as the doctor left. "Come here, baby…" he took her hand and pulled her up out of her seat and wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her in his embrace.
"Why did this have to happen to my boy?" she asked, losing her composure. "He didn't do anything to deserve this, it's so unfair…"
"I know…" he stroked her hair. "Its unfair, baby, but we aren't going to ever let him back in to that situation. He's not going back to school. We will work it out.
She nodded. Trevor drew away and lifted her chin. He kissed her lips softly. "Sooo… rain check on this weekend, huh?"
She pouted but nodded again. "Yeah, I can't leave him…"
"Neither can I. We might be able to make it next week, either way, we're getting a night off my love," he told her, "now why don't you go home, go have a hot shower, feed Teddy and then I'll call you if I need you, but just come back when you're done"
"Okay," she agreed, sniffing. "I hate this so much."
Trevor kissed her cheek. "I love you, sweetheart, go home, have a little rest, feed, have some dinner— when Noah wakes up I'll call you."
She kissed him right back. "I love you. I couldn't do any of this without you," she murmured.
"Yes you could, but we do it all better together," he smiled. He took her cheeks in his hands and kissed her one last time. "Love you baby, text me when you get home."
She picked up her handbag reluctantly and moved toward Noah. She kissed his forehead.
/
"Liv, how are you? How's Noah?" Joan asked, as soon as she came in to the house. Olivia dropped her bag and bit her lip to hold back her tears. Suddenly though, she couldn't hold it back, a wave of sadness hitting her like a wall. She tried to lift her hand to wave to Sonny and Erika who were eating spaghetti at the table with Eloise.
"I'm sorry-" she said, tears falling from her eyes.
She heard a chair being pushed back and felt Joan gathering her up in her arms and felt Erika's arms around her too. She was so thankful to have so much love in the moment, but heartbroken for Noah.
"I'm okay, I'm okay," she murmured out loud. "I'm just tired…"
She assumed it was Erika rubbing her back, "We got you sis," she murmured, "Noah is gonna be just fine, you know it, we know it."
"I know," she replied, disengaging from the hug. Joan smoothed her hair and smiled encouragingly at her. She realised how much like Trevor his mother looked.
She wiped her own eyes.
"Liv, you need to eat, sit down, I'll get you some food," Sonny told her firmly.
She managed to laugh at Sonny's instant reaction to feed whenever there was a problem. "Sonny is right," Joan added, "Sonny's mother sent over a whole week's worth of food…" she smiled, "sit down, have something to eat…"
"Is Teddy okay?" she wondered.
"Teddy is fine, I gave him the last sachet of milk just before. He's asleep now."
"Thank you guys, all of you."
She hadn't noticed Eloise sliding from her seat. She had circled the table and come to Olivia's side. "Mommy, why are you crying?" she asked, "where is my Daddy and my brother?"
Olivia lifted Elly in to her lap and kissed her. "I love you baby," she told her, cuddling her. "Daddy and Noah are at the hospital because Noah hurt his arm. We can go and see them in the morning," she promised.
"Are you sad because Noah's arm is sore?" she asked.
Olivia nodded. "Yes babe and Mommy is very tired because Teddy was crying all night."
"I'll stay tonight, Olivia, you can sleep or go and be with Noah or whatever you need…" Joan suggested.
"Thank you," Olivia blinked back her tears again. Sonny put a plate of pasta in front of her and she realised just how hungry she was.
"Sweetie, why don't you let Mommy eat and we'll go and sit in the living room and play with your Legos," Sonny suggested.
"I don't want my Mommy to be sad," she said softly.
Olivia kissed her. "I'm okay, my sweet girl, thank you for being so caring, but you can go play with Uncle Sonny, Mommy will be fine, I promise."
She reluctantly gave Sonny her hand and slid off Olivia's lap and followed him.
"What happened?" Erika asked softly. "Do you know yet?"
Olivia played with the spaghetti, twirling it on her fork. She shook her head slowly as Joan sat back down too, both of them resumed their dinner. "Noah was a bit high from the pain relief but as far as I can tell, he was playing on the monkey bars and that little shit, Connor grabbed his ankle and he lost grip and fell face first… but each time we ask him for more details he just cries… So he's broken his wrist in two places and tomorrow he needs surgery to have it re-set."
"Fuck!" Erika exclaimed,
"Erika!" Joan reprimanded her but then turned to Olivia, "but really, what a fucking terrible child."
Erika rose her eyebrow and laughed at her mother's out-of-character cursing.
"You can say that again," Olivia muttered. She took a piece of bread from the centre of the table and dropped her fork ripping it apart in her hands, before putting little bits in her mouth, chewing slowly. "I am so angry, I want to press charges, I think I'm going to take it as far as I can until I scare the crap out of the kid and his mother, maybe then they will take some action so the kid doesn't end up as one of my serial offenders down the track."
"Why didn't the school act?" Joan wondered, asking the same questions that Olivia had. "This has been going on for far too long, Liv, I hope you and Trevor won't be sending him back."
"Not a damn chance," she replied, going back to the spaghetti. She finally put some in her mouth. "But now I have to figure out school work, be a teacher and a Mom and try to sort out my other kid's sleeping habits…." she sighed and glanced at her mother and sister-in-law. "Sorry, I'm just overwhelmed and sad."
"Its fine, Liv, Mom and I will help out with Noah, won't we Mom?" Erika glanced at her mother who nodded.
There was such a nice shift between them, there had been conversations, Trevor had intervened a few times and Joan had hinted at relationship counselling that Trevor did not want a part of, but encouraged his sister and mother to attend.
"Of course we will. We will take Noah and help him with school or we can come here and oversee his work, whatever you and Trevor need, sweetheart…" she added, smiling at Olivia and placing a hand over hers on the tabletop.
"Thank you," Olivia whispered, afraid to cry again.
Her phone buzzed. She dropped her fork and plucked it out of her handbag, thinking that Trevor had some news.
She opened up the message and grinned with tears in her eyes. Trevor was laying on the hospital bed beside Noah who was away looking groggy. He was holding up an little hand encumbered by an IV and making a thumbs-up with a little smile. Trevor was grinning.
She texted back, "omg I love you both, I am eating dinner with your Mama and sister. I will you some bolognaise. Can you find out if Noah is allowed to eat and if so, ask if he would like some too."
Another text came through, "Absolutely. We love you too, Mommy. Enjoy a rest, okay? But don't you come back til you've had one."
"I will come and bring you both food," she replied.
"Get Sonny or Erika, you rest." he responded faster than she expected.
"You guys really are attached at the hip," Erika smirked.
Sonny came in with Elly on his back. He was still in his suit from work. "I just got a text from Trev," he told them, "I'm to take them dinner and you're to stay here and have a rest," he announced.
Olivia laughed. "It's okay, Sonny," she told him, "Trevor isn't the boss of me."
"Yes he is," Sonny replied with a wink, "and I happen to agree, I might actually take this little one with me if that's okay?" he asked nodding at Elly a little discreetly.
It would be a little after her bedtime but Olivia didn't think it would matter too much. "Sure," she agreed, remember how Noah had been put out and scared when Elly needed to stay in the hospital a few weeks earlier. She looked at Elly, "hey sweetheart, would you like to go with Uncle Sonny to take some dinner to Daddy and Noah?" she wondered.
Eloise nodded with a big smile, her head popping up from behind Sonny's shoulder.
"Okay, but you have to be on your best behaviour and do exactly what Uncle Sonny tells you…"
"OK Mommy," Eloise agreed. Olivia went to get up but Sonny insisted she finish her dinner. "I got it," he told her.
"Elly, hop down from Uncle Sonny so he can get some food for Daddy and Noah and I'll help you get your shoes on." Erika got up and picked up Eloise and took her to the front door so she could put on her socks and boots.
Once they were gone, Erika sat back down with her Mom and Olivia.
"So how are you feeling?" Liv asked, nodding at Ez. "Feeling okay?"
"Sick in the mornings but I'm happy, I'll take it. I had to puke in to the waste bin at the beginning of one of my classes this morning," she chuckled, "it went down like a lead balloon…"
"Erika maybe its time to scale back your job," Joan suggested.
Erika rose her eyebrow and smiled, "No Mom, I'll be working right up until I give birth. I'd be bored, I'd rather take the time once my baby is here."
Olivia smiled at them both, "I'm just really excited for our expanding family," she said, trying to put aside her sadness and fatigue.
"Shit," Olivia cursed under her breath, remembering that she was supposed to call and cancel the hotel.
"What?!" Joan snapped her head back to Olivia, thinking something was wrong.
Liv shook her head, "Sorry," she said quickly, "I just have to cancel the hotel for tomorrow night…"
"Aww Liv, you should sue the school for reparations for all the sex you're going to miss out on-"
"Erika!" Joan exclaimed, shocked, her eyes widened at her own daughter's crudeness.
Olivia couldn't help but blush, letting a little smile creep over her lips, laughing at how quick Joan was to reprimand her.
"Oh Mom, re-lax!" Erika rolled her eyes, "Olivia has always wanted a little sister to tease her and embarrass her!"
"Yes but, that's private-" Joan started before finally she just stopped speaking. She closed her mouth and took a deep breath before closing her mouth.
Olivia shook her head with a little smile at Erika. "Its okay Joan," she told her mother-in-law, "Erika loves to embarrass me, but she's right, I didn't have much of a family growing up, it's kind of fun to have a kid sister sassing me."
Joan smiled weakly at Olivia, "Erika and I are still getting used to getting to know each other as people, aren't we?" she asked her daughter.
"Therapy," Erika replied to Olivia, as if explaining.
"Oh, right, how is that going?" she asked, a little awkwardly, wiping her mouth as she finished up with dinner. She sat back in her chair feeling full and a little less overwhelmed.
Joan's smile widened, "I think its going well, would you agree?" she asked, "or am I assuming?"
"No, it's going well," Erika smiled, reaching out and touching her Mom's arm. It made Olivia feel happy, she had first witnessed just how very bad it was and it was only a couple of months earlier. "I don't feel tension or dread whenever I see you now, so that's nice…" she tried to joke.
"Just a lot of unspoken things, I think, my beautiful girl."
Olivia nearly choked; she wondered if it was the same woman who had nothing nice to say about her daughter the first time they crossed paths.
"I'm really glad to hear that," Olivia said, "it's nice to have you both here together and it's nice I guess for me to feel like part of a family — I know Noah loves it too…"
"And we adore you," Joan said. "You make both of my children and my granddaughter happy and Noah is just such a delight."
"He loves his Grandma Joan," Olivia felt a sense of belonging and sincerity with the two other important women of Trevor's life.
"Do you know the other night before bed, I was reading him a story and he said, 'Mommy I like that I have a Daddy and a sister,'" Olivia told them, "and then he said, 'Remember when I didn't have a Daddy and a sister?' and it made me realise that his world has grown too and oh my God does he and Trevor have the sweetest relationship."
"I hope I get to see more of that," Joan replied, "I do know how much Trevor wanted a son… and I remember he told me about you and Noah when you first began to date, he fell for that little boy as quickly as he fell for you."
Olivia couldn't help but to grin, "I know… he's the perfect Dad, today when we left for the hospital I saw him threatening the school and while I'm normally against that, there was so much love and compassion for Noah behind it, he really does love him unconditionally."
"You know Trevor, he's all in or all out," Erika smiled. "And can I just say, Noah is the best, he is the sweetest kid I've ever met. Elly is sweet, but she's more sassy and bad ass…"
"And that's all really nice of you to say about Trevor, but you have really just slotted in to life as Eloise's mother so seamlessly, Olivia, and she is already taking after you," Joan remarked.
"Oh," Olivia felt slightly awkward, "I don't wish to replace Helena… I don't want Elly to never know her real Mom, we talk about her all the time," she explained. "I told Helena I would never try to replace her and I truly meant it."
"But that's what makes your relationship so beautiful," Joan insisted, "the fact that you are so respectful about Helena and you make sure Elly is aware of her, a lot of women would be so happy to see her gone."
"I wanted her to stop complicating Trevor's life, I wanted her to stop messing him around with money and Elly, but I never wanted her gone. We've sent both of the kids to a therapist to talk it through and when Elly starts school, we will put her in more regular sessions, I want her to feel adjusted and comfortable to talk about Helena with any of us without feeling like we might bad mouth her or make her feel bad for having questions…"
"You're a good Mom, Liv." Erika told her.
At that, Teddy began to cry from his hammock in the living room.
"You go get Teddy, we'll clean up."
/
"Daddy, I don't feel so well," Noah whimpered.
"You think you might want to be sick?" Trevor asked him, stroking his hair.
"No, my tummy just feels sick,"
Trevor had been informed by the doctor that the pain relief could possibly make him a little dizzy or nauseous.
"Okay, you tell me if you need to be sick, okay?"
Noah nodded. His tiny body curled in as best as he could, his arm braced and held in place tightly with a sling. "Is Mommy coming to see me?" he wondered.
"Of course she is, I told Mommy to go home because she was very tired and needed to check on Elly and Teddy and she wanted to eat and bring me some food too."
"Oh…"
"So Noah, do you think we can talk about what happened at school?" Trevor asked, "I know it's a bit upsetting but Mom and I need to know."
Noah reached up and put his health arm around his father's neck. Trevor loved how affectionate Noah was. Trevor adjusted himself so he was facing Noah on his hospital bed, taking up most of the room, but it didn't matter, Noah was only small.
"I was playing on the monkey bars and Connor grabbed my leg and told me I couldn't play and Savannah pulled my other leg and I couldn't hold on anymore."
"Okay," Trevor replied stoically but he was seething on the inside. "Thanks for telling me bud," he kissed his forehead. "I love you, okay? Mommy and I have decided that we're not sending you back to school until summer is over."
"Okay," Noah repeated, not seeming worried either way. "Daddy," he began, "my arm hurts."
"I know, kiddo, the doctor said that you broke it not just one time but two times so we have to wait til tomorrow before we can fix it," he explained, "so tonight we'll just rest and try to recover a little, it's been a huge day."
"I love you Daddy," he murmured, burying his face in to Trevor's neck. "I want to come to work with you every day."
Trevor smiled and stroked his son's hair. "Maybe you can come to work with me sometimes and do your school work, but we can talk about that another time. Remember to tell me if you want to be sick…"
/
When Sonny arrived with Eloise, he pressed his finger to his lips to show her that they needed to be quiet. They arrived in the room and found Trevor and Noah both asleep on the bed.
Trevor put a container with the spaghetti down and a can of soda for him.
"We might let Daddy and Noah sleep." Carisi told Eloise in a whisper.
"No, I wanna hug my Daddy," Eloise told him alarmed. At the sound of her soft voice, Trevor lifted his head and saw them. He smiled. He slowly extricated himself from Noah and got up. He rubbed his eyes and grabbed his glasses and put them on.
"Hi baby…" he greeted Eloise, reaching out for her. Carisi handed her over. He wrapped his arms around her. "Its wayyyyyyy past your bedtime, missy!"
"I wanted to say goodnight, Daddy," she told him softly. "is my brother okay?" she asked, looking at Noah.
"Noah is okay," Trevor replied, kissing her cheek. "he is just very sore."
"Out like a light?" Sonny asked.
"Yeah… he's on some heavy pain medication, poor kid. Thanks for bringing me some food.. can you please just tell Olivia to stay home tonight? Nothing is going to happen, she needs the rest."
"Yeah of course, whatever you need."
"Could you uh…" he paused, "I apologise if its a big ask, but can someone stay at home with her tonight?"
"No, its fine, of course can do that," Sonny replied.
"Its just that she hasn't had any sleep for almost three nights and she's exhausted even if she won't admit it."
"Daddy, I will sleep with Mommy tonight," Elly told him.
Trevor smiled at his daughter and kissed her. "What would we do without you?" he smiled, "you're such good helper."
Sonny chuckled. "Okay missy, we need to get you right back home for bed, what do you say?"
"No, I will stay with you!"
Trevor laughed, "Honey, you just said you'd sleep beside Mommy tonight, how can you do that if you're here?"
"Hmm," Elly thought for a second, "Okay you stay with Noah and I stay with Mommy,"
Trevor chuckled and gave her a kiss. "Goodnight honey, I love you."
"Goodnight Daddy! I'll go with Uncle Sonny!" she said as if it was her idea.
Both men laughed. "Thanks Sonny," Trevor said again, "for everything, you guys are lifesavers.
"Anytime, you know we got you… Ez and I will come and visit tomorrow night."
They said goodnight and Sonny took Eloise home. Trevor went to find a microwave to heat up his dinner and ate it while watching TV. Noah woke up briefly calling out to him and crying out in pain.
The nurse came in and administered a top up dose of pain relief. Trevor took off his shoes and his jacket, still in his work clothes and tried to get as comfortable as possible next to him to console him.
He texted Liv telling her that they were going to sleep and that he wanted her to stay home.
Olivia agreed reluctantly and Trevor put down his phone, hoping to catch some sleep.