I think we all just need to stop pretending I'm ever going to update regularly :/ sorry about the wait again, thank you for the reviews, enjoy :-)

CHAPTER 5

"Rafael Barba. Did you meet someone?" Olivia exclaimed.

"I don't see how that is any of your business."

"It's my business when you want to bring someone to my wedding." Olivia smirked. "Who is he? What does he do for a living? Where's he from?"

Rafael groaned. "Oh, you're not going to give up on this,are you?"

"No. Who is he?" Olivia asked again as the door buzzer rang out.

"We went to law school together." Rafael answered as he buzzed the pizza guy upstairs.

"No. I need more than that. That's a cop out and you know it." Olivia replied immediately, leveling her friend with a calculating gaze.

Olivia watched as the ADA paid the delivery guy and brought the pizza back into the living room. As soon as he settled, she began with the interrogation.

"I need more to go on than just knowing him from law school. Name? Occupation? Star sign? First pet? First car?" Olivia grinned.

Rafael laughed. "His name is Kyle Lauder. He's a lawyer, works with high-paying clients who wish to sue everyone and anyone for everything and anything. Star signs confuse me. His first pet was a cat named Cludo and he doesn't drive."

"What's he look like?"

"Taller than me. I mean, that's not hard, but anyway… Brown hair with blue eyes. His suits cost more than mine and he drinks more coffee than I do."

"When do I get to meet him?"

Barba grinned. "I can have him come over tonight if you so desire."

"How long have you guys been together?"

"Just over two months. Trying to take it slow. Made easier by the fact that we're both crazy workaholics."

"I know I push a lot but seriously, don't feel rushed into introducing us. Take it at your pace. I'll run him regardless of when I finally meet the guy." Olivia joked.

Rafael smiled and picked up another slice of pizza as Olivia did the same.

"How many weeks are you now? And what is that in months?"

"Thirty weeks, so just under eight months. Ideally, Baby Kellan will stay put for at least another six weeks."

"You know what you're having?"

"We do."

"Are you gonna tell me?"

"I am not." Olivia smiled softly. "We'd rather just keep it to ourselves. It makes planning and decorating easier but it's fun to keep people guessing."

The two ate the rest of their pizza in silence, watching the TV before Olivia announced it was time for her to go. Before she could object, Rafael had already ordered and paid for a car to take her home, refusing to let her stand outside in the cold waiting for a cab.

"I had a good time tonight." Olivia smiled as she pulled on her jacket. "Thank you for entrusting me with your man's details, I'll be sure not to tell Carisi."

The pair chuckled at the thought of the young detective scouring every inch of the other lawyer's past, searching for the tiniest hint of anything incriminating.

Olivia smiled as Rafael put her in the car and closed the door for her. As the car pulled away, she was taken back to the day they had first met.

Both had been workaholics, married to their jobs and spending little to no time at home, working long hours and simply sleeping at the office whenever the fatigue hit them. Now, four years later, they were both finally beginning to take a step back from the job and settling down.

She had a beautiful son, a fiancee who loved her and treated her like a queen, and a baby she never thought she'd have. Rafael, though taking it slow, was opening himself to more opportunities with his partner and was spending less time working late and more time going home to make his man happy.

She suppressed a small chuckle as she remembered meeting the overconfident lawyer with the bad jokes. She never would have thought that four years on they'd be so close. She could tell Barba anything and she knew that without her express permission, he would never tell a soul.

Olivia thanked the driver as the car came to a stop outside of her apartment building. She moved on autopilot until she reached the apartment, letting herself in.

She smiled once more as she heard Noah giggling in the living room. She followed the sound and her heart melted at the sight before her.

Jack's mother was sitting on the floor with Noah, allowing the toddler to show her each and every one of his toy trains. The older woman dutifully asked questions about each one and listened carefully to the answer. Jack was hard at work creating a masterpiece of a track for the trains to run along.

"Hey guys." Olivia said softly, reluctant to interrupt the moment.

"Mama's home!" Noah cried, excitedly running to Olivia as she lowered herself to his height, knowing their was a slim chance of getting back up unassisted.

"Hey, sweet boy. Did you have a good day with Lucy?" Olivia asked.

Noah nodded and launched into an animated explanation of everything he had done that day.

"That sounds amazing. Now why don't you go get the rest of your trains out?"

Noah returned to his place beside the toy box as Jack moved to help Olivia back to her feet.

"Thank you."

"How was dinner with Barba?"

"It was interesting. He's got some stuff going on so we talked about that and then a bit about the baby. You know, if you had told me when I met him that we'd be this close, I would've had you admitted to the psych ward. He was a cocky mouthpiece in court and not much better in the precinct. But now, I cannot imagine not having him to talk to."

"Everyone needs a best friend. I'm glad he's yours." Jack nodded as his mother greeted Olivia from the floor.

~ Six Weeks Later ~

Olivia shifted in her chair, she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk in front of her and trying to take some of the pressure off of her back. The more pregnant she got, the more ready she was to have her baby. She had been lucky in that so far the pregnancy had been uneventful in terms of her health, but she was more than ready for it to be over.

Despite the growing discomfort and the fact that she felt huge, she was happy to suck it up and deal with it if it meant she'd have a healthy baby at the end.

Her phone buzzed on the desk, alerting her to a text from Lucy, informing her that dinner would be ready by six. The young woman had really stepped up in the last few months, even more so than Olivia would have expected.

"Everything okay?" Fin asked when he saw Olivia replying to Lucy's message.

"Just Lucy letting me know she's making dinner." Olivia replied.

"When does Jack get back?"

"Tomorrow morning. I'm gonna take some time to pick him up from the airport so I won't be in until twelve."

Fin nodded. He knew the past week had been nerve wracking for his friend. At thirty six weeks pregnant, she was aware that she may not be pregnant for much longer, however, with Jack in LA helping his family deal with the death and funeral of his grandmother, she had been terrified that she would go into labor without him.

"Looking forward to having him back?"

"Yeah, it means I don't need to cross my legs and hope for the best if I go into labor." Olivia joked. "I'll be glad to have him back though."

Fin chuckled and made to leave the office. "I just came to let you know that I'm heading out. Rollins and Carisi are just finishing their DD5s, come on. Get outta here."

Olivia didn't argue as Fin helped her into her jacket and led her down to the parking lot before taking her home. She'd be glad when she could walk from her desk to the elevator without being exhausted again.

~X~

"Daddy!" Noah cried as he spotted Jack making his way through the crowded airport towards them.

Olivia stood and greeted her fiance, allowing him to pull her into a tight hug. "You doing okay?"

"It's been tough, but it's good to be home. What about you? Everything okay while I was gone?"

"All good. Lucy's been taking good care of us. We need to give that girl a pay rise, she goes above and beyond for us."

Jack only chuckled as he scooped Noah up and took Olivia's hand in his free one, walking to the car in silence.

"You okay?" Jack asked, noticing Olivia wince and put one hand to her belly as she drove towards the precinct.

"I'm good but my back is too old for this." Olivia said with a small smile.

"Call me if you need anything." Jack told her as they stopped outside.

Olivia nodded and gathered her belongings as Jack moved into the driver seat. "I'll call you later, love you."

Jack watched Olivia go. He wasn't entirely convinced that she was as okay as she was making out, but he was sure that if she really thought something was wrong, she would tell him.

~X~

"Liv, we're-" Fin stopped mid-sentence as he and Carisi walked into Olivia's office and saw her standing over her desk, gripping the edge of it. "You okay?"

Olivia shook her head. When she finally lifted her head to look at him, he could see the pain written all over her face. "I need to go to the hospital."

"Come on, let's go." Fin grabbed Olivia's bag as she made her way towards the door.

When they reached the car, Carisi paused. "You want the front or the back, Lieu?"

"Back." Olivia answered, letting out a small moan of pain.

Carisi opened the back door and allowed Fin to help Olivia climb into the back of the explorer.

"You want me to sit back there with you in case you need anything?" Carisi asked, hovering by the back door.

"No." Olivia shook her head, her face screwing up against the pain and discomfort she was feeling.

"You sure?"

"I'll be fine!" Olivia snapped. "Just get in the damn car."

Without a word, Carisi climbed into the front seat as Fin started the engine and turned on the lights and sirens.

"Call Jack and tell him to meet us there." Fin told her as he pulled out into the heavy afternoon traffic.

Olivia let out a pained cry just as Jack answered her call.

"Liv? Baby, you okay?"

"I'm on my way to the hospital, will you meet me there?"

"Of course. Do you want me to stay on the phone?"

"No, it's okay. I'll see you soon."

Olivia hung up and let out another cry of pain and gasped as her waters broke all over the back seat. "Oh my god."

"What's up, Liv? Everything okay?" Fin asked, glancing in the rear view mirror.

"My water just broke." Olivia answered, gripping the back of Carisi's seat.

When Olivia squeezed his shoulder with the next contraction, Carisi looked back at his boss in concern. "When did the contractions start?"

"About eight o'clock last night. They've been about twenty minutes apart all day but they weren't this bad." Olivia answered, letting out a strangled gasp. "Oh my god."

"Liv?"

"I can feel its head!" Olivia said breathlessly. "I can't have the baby in a car!"

"Liv take off your seatbelt." Carisi told her, still turned in his seat to face her.

Olivia did as she was told and leaned forward to grip Carisi's arm once more as she cried out with the next contraction.

"How much further?" Olivia asked Fin.

"In this traffic, twenty minutes."

"We don't have twenty minutes." Olivia answered shakily.

Fin and Carisi shared a worried glance as Olivia cried out again.

"Liv, take your pants down. If this baby is as close as you say, you're gonna have to do this here. You want me to stop so Carisi can come back there and help you out?"

Olivia groaned in pain before answering, her words rushed as she tried to answer before the next contraction. "No, keep going."

Fin nodded and continued navigating his way through the traffic, periodically glancing behind him at his friend. As Olivia moved to lean back against the seat, he stole a glance at Carisi.

He had to suppress a laugh when he saw the younger detective's face. All colour was gone from his face and he seemed to be in shock as he watched Olivia.

Fin glanced at Carisi again just as Olivia collapsed against the seat behind her. The younger man looked like he was going to throw up as he tried to think of something to say.

"At lease we know the kid has a head." Carisi commented as Olivia gave a strained cry.

"She'll kill you if she hears you say something like that." Fin laughed. "How you doing, Liv?"

Olivia was panting for breath in the back seat, before she could answer, another contraction took over and she pushed hard once more with a strained cry.

Before either Fin or Carisi could say a word, the sound of a newborn baby's cries filled the car.

"Oh my god." Olivia gasped, collapsing against the seat as she lifted her newborn baby to her chest,

"Congrats, Liv." Fin smiled genuinely, he looked in the rear view mirror at his exhausted boss as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I can't believe I just did that." Olivia breathed.

Carisi just stared at the scene before him, speechless as Fin finally pulled into the hospital parking lot, five minutes after Olivia had given birth.

~X~

Fin looked up as Amanda and Barba entered the waiting room.

"Any news?"

"How is she?"

"Mom and baby are both doing good. Jack's with 'em now." Fin answered, leading Amanda and Rafael into the waiting room to join Carisi.

"She had the baby already?" Amanda exclaimed.

"Born in the car, five minutes before we got here." Fin replied.

That was when they saw Carisi, staring at the floor.

"Is he okay?" Barba asked.

"I don't think he's ever seen a woman deliver her own baby before. He looked like he was gonna throw up in the car." Fin chuckled. "He took it worse than Liv did."

The small group waited in silence, the colour slowly returning to Carisi's face. It was twenty minutes later when the door opened and Jack entered the room.

~X~

Jack couldn't help the smile that was plastered across his face as he sat beside Olivia on her bed, gazing down at their new baby.

"What's her name, Liv?" Jack asked after what felt like hours of silence.

They still hadn't decided on a solid first name for the baby, regardless of the gender. They had a few, but Jack wasn't sure she looked like any of them.

"I thought we could name her after your grandmother. I know you were close to her." Olivia suggested gently. She knew the death of his grandmother had affected him more than he had let on. She'd never met the woman in person but she had been assured by Jack that the older woman would love her.

"Cecelia?" Jack questioned softly. "You're not worried it's too old fashioned?"

"She could go by Cece for short. Cecelia Grace Kellan. What do you think?" Olivia asked, passing the baby girl to her father.

"I love it." Jack whispered, tears streaming down his cheeks as he kissed his daughter's head. He kissed Olivia softly on the lips too. "And I love you."

"I love you too." Olivia replied, squeezing his hand. "I'm sorry you missed it."

"There's not much you could've done about that, Liv." Jack chuckled. "When a baby's coming, it's coming. Not much can be done to stop it. I'm so proud of you for doing it by yourself, though. You're amazing."

"I thought Carisi was going to pass out. When he saw her head his face went gray." Olivia laughed.

Jack laughed with her before he suggested that he go pick Noah up while she introduced the baby to the squad who were waiting patiently in the waiting room.

Once Jack was gone, Olivia had a nurse retrieve her squad. Minutes later, they quietly filtered into her room, all breaking into wide smiles when they laid eyes on the bundle in Olivia's arms.

"Hey, Liv." Amanda smiled when they reached Olivia's bed.

"Hey guys." Olivia smiled. She smiled down at her daughter and then shifted so that the squad could see the baby. "Allow me to introduce you to Cecelia Grace Kellan."

"She's beautiful, Liv." Rafael beamed.

"She looks just like you." Amanda said as Olivia passed the baby to her.

"How you feeling?" Fin asked, looking over Olivia.

She was no longer in her work clothes, but a pair of sweats and a tank top from home. Her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail and all traces of makeup had gone from her face. She was still pale and looked exhausted.

"Like I got hit by a semi." Olivia answered honestly, tightening her ponytail. She turned and looked Carisi up and down. "Carisi, you doing okay?"

Everyone laughed at Carisi's expense. All colour had by now returned to his face and he no longer looked as shaky as he once had.

"I'm good, Lieu." Carisi chuckled. "Just wasn't expecting that to happen when I turned up for work this morning."

"Tell me about it." Olivia laughed as a nurse entered her room.

The nurse regretfully announced that Olivia needed her rest and promptly instructed the squad to leave.

They each hugged Olivia, congratulating her once more, agreeing to keep her up to date before they allowed themselves to be ushered out by the nurse.

~X~

Jack stopped just outside of Olivia's room and squatted to Noah's level. He kept hold of the three year old's hand and turned to look at him.

"Noah, you remember how Mommy has had a baby in her tummy for a long time now?"

Noah nodded. "Baby out yet?"

Jack smiled. "She is. That's why we're here. Mommy had the baby a little while ago. They're just through that door there."

"She play wif me?" Noah asked excitedly.

"Not quite yet. Your sister is really tiny right now. She has to get bigger before she can play with you, but she would really, really like it if you could sing your lullabies to her at night."

Noah beamed. "I do that."

"You ready to go in?"

"Come on, Daddy!" Noah cried, pulling Jack towards the door.

Jack smiled and allowed Noah to lead him to Olivia's room.

~X~

Olivia looked up as Jack and Noah entered the room. Her heart burst when she saw Noah's face light up as he looked at his baby sister.

"Hey, Noah." Olivia said softly.

"Mama, that the baby?" Noah asked, pointing at the baby in Olivia's arms.

Jack moved closer and put Noah on Olivia's bed.

Olivia wrapped her free arm around Noah's waist and pulled him to sit in her lap beside his sister.

"Noah, this is your little sister. Her name is, Cece. You're her big brother, so it's your job to teach her everything you know."

Noah was staring at the baby in silence, awestruck by the tiny baby in front of him. "I give her cuddle?"

"Of course, sweet boy. Just hold on a second."

Olivia passed Cecelia to Jack and adjusted Noah so that he was sitting in the basket of her crossed legs. Once they were situated, Jack held the baby out to Noah while Olivia helped her son wrap his arms around his sister.

Jack felt his eyes begin to sting with tears as he looked over the scene. Olivia had one arm wrapped around her children, helping Noah to support Cece's head while the other rested on Noah's back, rubbing it gently.

Olivia lifted her gaze to meet Jack's, smiling when she saw the tears in his eyes and blinking away tears of her own.

"Smile, Liv." Jack said softly before he lifted his phone to take a picture of the moment.

"C'mere." Olivia said, holding her hand out to her fiance.

Jack complied and moved to the bed, sitting down beside Olivia as she somehow managed to squeeze over in the small space. Once they were settled, Olivia rested her head on his shoulder and let out a soft sigh.

"Thank you."

Jack lifted his head to look at her. "For what?"

"My family." Olivia said quietly. "This is all I've ever wanted, and now I've got it."

"I love you, Liv."

"I love you, too, Jack."

So I know that Cece's birth was not well written but having never given birth nor seen a baby being born, it was never gonna go well, so sorry about that