Temperatures in my area should drop a little after today, from 95 F (which it is now) to a 'mere' 82 F … Still, I ploughed on, without any air conditioning, to get this update ready for my faithful readers!

I have to say it's becoming increasingly difficult to write this story from just Olivia's POV. But this is what I had set out to do, so I am continuing bravely. We don't know what Elliot is thinking and feeling aside from what he tells Olivia, and we don't know what he's up to every minute of the day but it is the way it is. Without further ado, I present to you chapter 46.

...

46. Relaxing

Their evening isn't as relaxed as Olivia had hoped. Her concern about Miguel keeps popping up and she can tell that Elliot is exhausted so she doesn't want to burden him too much. She has told him Miguel is going to call to meet with both of them, but other than that, she doesn't talk about the father of her baby or his unexpected visit earlier. Her 38 week checkup is approaching and she tries to keep the conversation light. They revisit baby names again and Olivia is now torn between a few names from the national soccer team, Chris or Christopher, Jesse and her original choice Timothy. Elliot says he likes all the names and that it's really up to her. She wonders why he is being distant about it but chalks it up to how tired he is. After dinner they watch some TV together and Olivia snuggles up against Elliot on the couch. He smiles at her and they share a few kisses, but at times he seems miles away. When they decide to turn in early, Olivia is disappointed that she hasn't gotten to give Elliot his shoulder rub.

"It's alright," he simply says.

"You did promise me something," Olivia reminds him and that finally puts a charming grin on his face again.

"I did, didn't I?"

"Yes. Baby."

After getting up, Olivia tries for a sexy saunter towards her bedroom, but her swollen body can't exactly be the sexiest thing Elliot has ever seen. He follows her though and does steal a few glances while they both undress for the night. Olivia slips a loose nightgown over her head that will barely fit around her belly anymore and she looks at Elliot, who looks insanely handsome in just his boxer briefs.

"Am I ever going to look normal again?" she sighs as she sits down gingerly on the edge of the bed. She hoists her legs onto the mattress rather unceremoniously and huffs a little while she moves her body to the right spot on her side of the bed.

"You will. I'm sure of it," Elliot tells her. "The Olivia Benson I know is going to work hard to get back into shape as soon as possible. You'll be the most beautiful mom in the world."

Olivia drops her head on her pillow and sighs again.

"I hope so."

Elliot scoots into bed next to her and she likes that he isn't bothering with a shirt tonight. She reaches for him and caresses his shoulder lovingly. She lets her hand travel down his chest and when Elliot makes his muscles twitch underneath her touch, she grins.

"I can't see what you see in me now," she muses honestly.

"Oh, I see plenty that I like," Elliot assures her, wiggling his eyebrows.

She can see that his earlier worries are being replaced by thoughts of her and she wonders if this isn't just an escape for both of them. To indulge in some physical intimacy so they won't worry about their lives so much. When Elliot leans in to kiss her, she closes her eyes and just goes with it. She needs to feel close to Elliot and if this is the way to accomplish that, she'll take it. Elliot moans and she can feel the proof of his arousal start to press against her thigh. How she wishes she could simply wrap her legs around him and not release him until he is absolutely satisfied. Her body aches for real sex from time to time but his skilful mouth and fingers will have to do for now, like hers have learned to please him. They find each other's sensitive spots easily and when they reach their climax after a while, Olivia on her back and Elliot pressed against her right side, Elliot shudders against her. She loves how he is becoming more and more vocal in bed. It gives her a sense of power to be able to make him cry out like that and at least she has helped him relax so he can sleep now. Maybe this is even better than a massage. She is right behind him, and after the intense wave of pleasure subsides, her body experiences several aftershocks. Elliot is kissing her face sweetly when she suddenly stills.

"What is it?" Elliot whispers, moving his hand up from where it had been nested between her legs to caress her big belly. "Wow, that feels so hard."

"Yeah," Olivia sighs. "It's been happening a lot lately."

"Just breathe through it baby."

Olivia nods and focuses on relaxing her muscles and breathing slowly instead of tensing up. She notices Elliot looking at the clock by her bedside and she wonders if he thinks she's going into labor already. Part of her wouldn't mind because she is more than ready to have this baby by now, but another part of her worries that it would be too soon. She is supposed to have her 38 week check up on Monday, which is in three days, but what if these aren't Braxton Hicks anymore but the real thing?

The tightness subsides and Olivia turns on her side to snuggle against Elliot's warm chest. He covers her body with the comforter and watches her for a while.

"Go to sleep, baby," she whispers, her eyes already closing. "If soccer boy decides to pop, I'm sure we'll know soon enough."

Elliot rests his hand on her belly and she knows he's going to be monitoring her. As much as she wants him to just go to sleep and get the rest he so desperately needs, she knows there is no point in arguing with him about it. Besides, she's too tired herself to put up much of a fight and feels herself drifting off already. Must be because she knows she is completely safe with him and under his watchful eye.

…

It's Saturday morning, April 3, 2004. Olivia is in the nursery checking everything for the thousandth time while Elliot is on the phone with Cragen in his room. She can't really make out what he's saying because he is keeping his voice down, but the tone of his voice tells her he is disagreeing with their boss.

Olivia checks the bunk beds as well. They're having the girls over later and she wants everything to be ready for Kathleen and Elizabeth. When she hears Elliot emerge from his bedroom, she walks into the living room as well and asks him,

"Do you have to go?"

Elliot shakes his head.

"Cap wanted me to come in but I told him I can't."

"Why can't you come in? I thought Kathy was bringing the girls herself, or do you have to pick them up?"

"No. Yes. Kathy is bringing them but I don't want to leave you right now."

Olivia frowns.

"You think I can't handle them on my own?"

Elliot sighs and she can see him bite back a comment before he approaches her.

"Liv, I know you're perfectly capable of handling my daughters. In fact, they'll probably want to wait on you hand and foot because you're pregnant."

That makes her chuckle and she relaxes again.

"Then what? If a victim needs you ..."

"Baby … just promise me you're not going to yell at me okay?"

She's kind of getting used to being called baby by Elliot, but she wonders what is up with him that he needs to use the pet name like this with her.

"Just say it El," she sighs.

"I don't know if you've noticed this in your sleep, but your belly got hard a few more times during the night. I just don't want to leave you alone right now, just in case this is leading up to the real deal."

She sees him brace himself visibly for her reaction and wonders if she's really such a bitch these days. But she has to admit, while she hasn't noticed her belly getting hard during the night, that it's something to take seriously.

"Okay … so … how many times?"

Elliot steps closer to her and reaches for her hands. She lets him take them in his.

"I can't be sure. I did actually get some sleep but … it was more than twice after the one we felt right after … you know."

He smirks and she can't help grinning as well.

"Right. Can't they just have been aftershocks after what you did to me last night?"

Her eyes sparkle a bit and Elliot drops his head, shaking it.

"I know I'm good but I'm not that good that you'd still be flying hours later."

"Hours? Did you get any sleep?"

"I did but I woke up because you groaned a bit."

"Oh. Did it look like I was in pain?"

"No. You just seemed uncomfortable, like you were having a bad dream."

"Maybe I was."

She did have a few restless dreams about Miguel and Luís coming into her home looking for her child, and one where she suddenly wasn't pregnant anymore but didn't have a baby either.

"Maybe. But your belly was rock solid as well."

"Okay. I understand. Maybe we should start writing down the times, just to be on the safe side. I have another appointment with Dr. Simmons on Monday."

Elliot pulls her close to him and she welcomes his loving embrace. She wraps her arms around his waist as far as she can with her belly between them and smiles when Elliot kisses the top of her head.

"Thanks for hearing me out," he says quietly.

"Am I really such a bitch?" she asks him.

Elliot chuckles.

"What do you want me to say to that?"

Olivia sighs and holds him a little tighter.

"I guess that's my answer. I'm sorry El. I don't mean to be so difficult."

"Don't worry about it honey. I understand."

Olivia lifts her head to look at Elliot and sees the amusement in his blue eyes even before she asks him,

"We're upgrading to 'honey' now?"

Elliot's hearty laughter is music to her ears. It's going to be a good weekend after all.

…

Olivia hasn't had another Braxton Hicks yet when her phone rings around eleven fifteen that morning. They had been sitting on the couch together, Elliot reading the newspaper and Olivia reading a fluffy novel. She shows Elliot the ID on her screen before picking up. Miguel is calling like he'd promised. He asks if they can meet today, but Olivia explains that they are going to have two of Elliot's kids over until Sunday afternoon.

"Two of his kids? You mean to say he's got more?" Miguel asks surprised.

"Four actually," Olivia tells him while looking at Elliot, who is watching her intently. "Three girls and a boy."

"Wow. And now he's going to be taking care of another boy. I'm impressed."

Olivia reaches for Elliot's arm and squeezes it while she tells Miguel,

"Well, like you said, he's a keeper."

Elliot covers her hand with his and smiles warmly at her. He seems to need confirmation these days that she's with him and only him.

"So when can we meet tomorrow night?"

"Let's make it around five," Olivia suggests, and Elliot nods in approval. "The girls will be back with their mom by then and we can have a chat."

"Alright. Five it is. Would you mind if I bring Luís again?"

"Not at all."

They end the call and Olivia tosses her phone of the coffee table before looking at Elliot again.

"What do you think they'll want to talk about?" Elliot asks her.

"I'm not sure," Olivia replies. "I'm a little nervous about it though. What if he wants to be in soccer boy's life after all?"

Elliot doesn't reassure her right away and she remembers his words about paternity when she'd first told him about the pregnancy. He would want to know if he was going to be a father. That's how Elliot would see it. He'd be the father and he would find a way to be there for his child, no matter the circumstances. Miguel is different. He's much younger and lives far away from New York. He hadn't really thought about having a family, especially since he'd had a girlfriend at the time who absolutely didn't want children. That had been fine with him, apparently.

Elliot is a family man, through and through. He would never just let someone else raise his kid without being involved. His recent trips to Queens are proving that once more. He may trust Kathy implicitly as a mother, even now, but he's still there as a father for his children, when he's needed and when he's not needed per se.

"You can't imagine Miguel just giving him up, can you?" she asks him honestly.

Elliot sucks his lower lip between his teeth and lets it plop before replying,

"I wouldn't."

"I know you wouldn't. But he's not like you."

"He's not a horrible person though."

Olivia smiles.

"No. He's not. He's a sweetheart. I would never have spent time with him if I'd picked up any negative vibes from him. He was up front with me from the start. We'd only hook up for the week. It was what we both wanted, nothing more."

"Yet here we are," Elliot says dryly.

"Right. Now you're making me jittery again about tomorrow El."

"I'm sorry Liv. How can I make it up to you?"

One corner of his mouth tugs up and she swats at his chest.

"Stabler! Get your mind out of the gutter. Best way to make a pregnant woman happy is to feed her, don't you know that?"

Elliot chuckles and gets up to make them some lunch. Kathy will drop the girls off around noon so he makes enough for four. Meanwhile, Olivia feels her belly get hard again, and this time she feels a painful twinge in her lower back. She sits still and breathes through the pain and the tightness and once she feels like everything is back to normal, she looks at the clock. 11.38 am.

…

Hmmmm. What's going on?

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, consisting of multiple scenes to move the story along to the inevitable moment we've all been waiting for! To be continued ...

PS. Feel free to weigh in with regards to baby names. Remember, it's 2004 in this story so it should be a soccer player from the national team around that time.