Another little chapter for you guys. Remember, I've incorporated my own experiences as a new mom in this one so if you see something odd (like mother's milk decreasing because mom's back on the pill) just tell yourself: this must have happened to Anne. (Because it did.) Enjoy!
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61. Siblings
Olivia watches from a distance while the twins try to give Chris his bottle. Once a date had been set for her return to work, she had started giving him a bottle from time to time, and now she only breastfeeds him once a day anymore, late in the evening. She knows she's going to miss it and she makes sure to keep that appointment with her son no matter what, but it's as if her body knows that she has other things to do now. Her milk supply is decreasing rapidly, probably also because she's back on the pill. She savors that one last feeding now. It's her special time with Chris. But bottles do have one big advantage: she and Elliot now take turns with the 4 AM feeding and that adds quite a bit of sleep for her.
And now the twins are trying to give him a bottle. Olivia knows they'll be careful and she smiles, watching the two preteens fussing over the baby. Elizabeth is holding him but Dickie is hovering and telling her how to hold the bottle. Olivia can tell that Elizabeth is holding back because she's holding a seven-week old baby, otherwise she'd give her brother a piece of her mind. In the end, they manage to get Chris to drink properly before he starts to cry in frustration and Olivia turns away, smiling, to put on the water to start dinner.
Elliot is making a quick run to the grocery store with Kathleen because they hadn't really expected the kids tonight, but they're very happy to have them over again. Kathy hadn't said much on the phone but Elliot thinks she just needs some alone time, and so they switched weekends. Olivia had assured him it wasn't a problem, and seeing the twins fawn over her son is a treat in itself. Dickie has really come around.
Olivia is beginning to find her groove again and as difficult as it was to be away from Chris the first few days, she's starting to get used to it. She's been back to work for a week now and sometimes she's actually glad to be out of the house and just work. They've found a daycare center on the route from their home to the precinct. For now, Elliot is still working with Fin at the SVU while his transfer is being processed, and he will be joining the Missing Person's unit in a few weeks. It's located in the same building as the Special Victims unit, and they're both very happy with this arrangement. They may even work on the same cases when a missing person's case is about an abuse victim.
Olivia is curious how Elliot is going to handle telling the kids about their plans, because a talk with the kids is long overdue.
Elliot and Kathleen return with the groceries and Elliot gives her a chaste kiss on the cheek as he sidles up next to her with the ingredients she had asked for to make a large amount of Macaroni Bolognese.
"They look cozy," he mumbles, nodding in the direction of the living room while he and Kathleen put the rest of the groceries away.
"Yeah," Olivia agrees and she smiles again.
Who would have thought that the Stabler twins would be fighting over who got to burp her child?
"You gave him the bottle so it's only fair that I burp him," they hear Dickie argue and when they see the boy walking past the kitchen and back, bopping Chris gently up and down while holding him against his shoulder, they know he's won the argument with his sister.
"That's right, Chris, that's how you do it," Dickie says softly just before walking out of earshot of the adults in the kitchen.
Olivia bites her lip and glances at Elliot, and she can see that he is touched as well. Kathleen stands next to them and peers around the corner of the kitchen.
"He'd better not drop him," she says and then adds, quite a bit louder, "Hey Dick! Don't drop the kid!"
"Kathleen!" Elliot hisses, but the teenager just shrugs and walks out of the kitchen and up to her younger sister.
Olivia chuckles and returns to the stove, wanting to start making the sauce. Elliot stands close to her and wraps an arm around her waist.
"You okay?" he asks her softly, and she nods.
"Yes El. I'm fine. It's nice to have the kids here."
"You weren't sure about them at first, were you? I mean, when we started talking about sharing a place."
"No," she admits. "I've never had a lot of people around me. But they're great kids and they're yours so …"
"That's enough, right? That they're mine?"
Olivia looks up at her fiancé and smiles, knowing what he's referring to. He feels exactly the same about Chris. He adores him because he's Olivia's child. And that's enough.
They jump a little when Kathleen comes rushing back into the kitchen, lacking all subtlety as always.
"Hey lovebirds! Does Chris need a diaper change? Dickie's burped him but now he's trying to dump him on us again."
The two Detectives glance at each other and decide wordlessly not to react to the way Kathleen has just addressed them. Olivia simply tells the girl,
"Well, he usually needs a fresh one after he eats so if one of you would clean him up, that'd be great."
"Eew! That stinks," they hear Elizabeth huff and the adults can't help laughing out loud.
Olivia turns down the gas, signaling that she will change Chris's diaper herself, but Elliot asks her,
"Can I do it and show Dickie how it's done?"
Olivia is a little surprised but if Elliot wants to use this moment as a teaching moment between father and son, it's fine with her. The three men in the household retreat into the nursery slash kids' room and Olivia returns to her cooking. When they return, Olivia can tell that Dickie is thinking about something. They've put Chris in his crib and Dickie joins his sisters to watch some TV. Elliot returns to the kitchen and Olivia asks him softly,
"What happened?"
"I told him," Elliot answers and it's all she needs to know.
So now Dickie knows that they're going to get married and that Elliot will officially adopt Chris. They're going to break the news to the girls over dinner but Elliot must have thought it would be wise to prepare his son for this.
"He wasn't surprised about you and me," Elliot adds softly, making sure the children can't overhear them.
"What about Chris?"
"He was quiet after I told him that part, but he doesn't seem upset or anything, does he?"
"No."
Olivia thinks things over while she finishes making dinner. Elliot joins his children in front of the TV and when she announces that dinner is ready, he and Elizabeth help her set the table. They eat together and Olivia feels that she's adjusting well to her big new family. Sometimes the endless chatter about school and friends makes her tired but all in all she really enjoys harmonious family dinners like this.
Kathleen inquires politely how she's been doing back on the job and Olivia tells them that she's been at her desk mostly her first week, working regular office hours for now, but that she's glad to work again. Leaving Chris in the morning isn't always easy but she's getting used to it, and she knows he's in good hands with Elliot as well as the daycare center they've chosen. They're still looking for a nanny but so far, she has been able to pick Chris up on time.
When everyone has about finished eating, Elliot clears his throat, and Olivia feels her stomach clench briefly. How are the girls going to react? Has their mother told the kids anything about her talk with them four weeks ago? Elliot had told her not to, but you never know. She glances at Dickie, who is watching his sisters. It looks like he's proud to be the first to know what his father is going to say.
"So, kids. Olivia and I have something to tell you."
Kathleen immediately punches Dickie in the arm and says,
"Told ya."
"Just listen, alright!" Dickie fires back, and he seems anxious for Elliot to tell the others their news.
Kathleen raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment, and Elliot continues.
"I've already told Maureen and Dickie, so this is for you girls."
The girls look at their brother, who looks back with a very satisfied grin on his face. Olivia should have known Elliot would know how to handle his son and she smiles at the boy, who just nods at her before focusing on his father again.
"So, as you know by now, your mother and I aren't going to get back together. Too much has happened and it wouldn't be healthy for any one of us if we tried again."
The kids all nod and although there is some sadness in their features, Olivia can see that they have now accepted the divorce.
"And recently, Olivia and I have gotten close."
Kathleen takes a breath to say something, and knowing her it would probably be something along the lines of 'duh!', but Elliot stops her by holding up his hand.
"So a little while ago, I asked Olivia to marry me."
"Wow," Elizabeth sighs, looking between the two adults. "That was quick."
"Not really. They've always been close," Dickie tells his sister. "It kinda makes sense. I mean … she's his best friend."
Elliot can't stop a wide grin from forming on his face, despite his nervousness.
"That's right. Olivia is my best friend and we just feel that we're ready to be more than that."
Olivia nods and smiles too, while watching all three kids for their real reactions.
"Makes sense to me," Kathleen simply states. "So you're gonna be Chris's dad after all?"
"That's the other thing I wanted to tell you," Elliot confirms. "We've talked to Miguel and he's okay with it. So … when we get married, I'll also be adopting little Chris officially."
There is a brief silence at the table, and Olivia can hear her own heartbeat in her ears. She hadn't known beforehand that this part would be even more stressful to her than the announcement that she's going to marry the kids' father, but it is. She can almost hear the wheels turning inside the three young heads, but Dickie is the first to speak up. He's had more time to get used to the idea after all.
"So … I'm finally getting a brother. It's about time!"
The tension that had been building at the table is broken immediately and they all chuckle, even Olivia. As chatter erupts among the children about brothers and sisters, and about how the girls are still a majority, Olivia looks at Elliot, her best friend and her future husband. She nods at him with a smile on her face. He'd been so right to give Dickie some advance notice and she finally truly believes that Chris will be a full member of the Stabler clan after all.
…
Review?
And are we ready for a change in rating at last?