Disclaimer: Clearly, I don't own Law and Order: SVU.

Summary: Olivia and her husband of one year are having problems. Will unexpected news bring them together? Or will it push her into her partner's waiting arms?

Big Thanks to everyone that reviewed the first chapter of this story!

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Alexandra Cabot took a seat by the window of the small restaurant Olivia suggested they meet at for lunch. She'd sounded so mysterious on the phone –she wasn't sure what was so urgent that Olivia had to talk to her right away. A few minutes later, Olivia walked through the door.

Alex motioned her over and Olivia smiled, sitting across from her. "Hey," Alex greeted her friend. "Hey Alex," she replied, sighing deeply.

"How've you been? What's up?" Alex wondered, studying Olivia's features. She seemed worn down; more tired than usual.

"A lot actually…I know you've been pretty swamped at work. I've been busy too…" she averted her gaze downward.

"Are you alright? What's wrong?" Alex wondered, touching Olivia's hand. "Jacob and I- we've been having problems," Olivia explained, willing the tears not to come.

"What? You two are having issues?" Alex frowned up, confused. Jacob and Olivia were so perfect together- she couldn't imagine them not getting along.

Olivia nodded. "Yeah…the past couple of months have been kind of hard. We argue all the time…about everything. It's really stressed me out-" she explained.

"Yeah I noticed. You look so drained. Have you been to a doctor?" Alex asked. "I went today actually…" Olivia bit her lip, glancing at Alex's anxious blue eyes. "And?" she urged her to continue.

"I'm pregnant." Alex gasped, covering her mouth and breaking into a smile.

"Oh my God! Olivia! This is so fantastic! A baby!" she watched Olivia finally break into a small grin. "Olivia! Why aren't you more excited? You've always wanted kids."

"I know, I know…I still do. I'm just- I'm scared, Alex. What if this just makes things worse between us? I don't think this is the time for a baby," Olivia said as her brown eyes welled with tears.

"I don't think so. I know Jacob…he loves you and he'll love this baby. This could be just what you guys need," Alex grinned, seeing a tear roll down her cheek. "Hey…it'll be okay. Just talk to him."

Olivia wiped at her face, taking a deep breath. Alex was right. She just needed to calm down and talk to Jacob. Her mind was still reeling from the news and she was trying to make sense of all. She'd make a nice dinner tonight and tell him then. Yeah…everything would be fine.

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Olivia cut the fire out on the stove and glanced at the clock on the microwave once more. It was getting late- she wondered what could be keeping him. As if on cue, her cell phone started to ring. It was Jacob.

"Hey. I was just starting to get worried. Are you on your way?" Olivia answered.

"Hey. No, actually…I'm not. I'm still at the office," Jacob replied and she let out a sigh.

"Okay…well, when will you be home?" she walked over to the window, glancing out of it. "I don't know…we could be here for awhile. This is a really huge case, Olivia. If I win, I could make partner," he explained, as she rolled her eyes.

"You knew it was a huge case when you took it Jacob! You knew you wouldn't have any time for this marriage or me," she told him angrily.

"Oh, don't start with me! You're always at work! And when you're not there, you're obsessing over unsolved cases! Don't give me that crap about not having time for you!" Jacob retaliated, just as upset. Olivia touched her temple, trying to calm herself.

"Jacob, look…I didn't mean to snap at you. We both spend too much time at our jobs and not enough time with each other and it's wrecking our marriage. We have to work on this," Olivia said softly, hearing him sigh.

"You're right- we do. After this case is settled, you and I will sit down and talk about everything…I promise," he told her, hearing his name being called. "Hon, I've gotta go now. I'll be home late…maybe ten-thirty or so…love you."

"Alright…love you too. Bye." Olivia closed her phone and set it on the counter, staring at the freshly cooked food on the stove. Suddenly, she wasn't hungry anymore.

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A couple of days later, on a very rainy morning, Olivia walked back into the precinct. It was practically empty…she wasn't too surprised- she had come in early.

It's not that she planned on it- her first bout of morning sickness had her awake at 4:30. She figured she might as well catch up on some paperwork.

Olivia opened her locker and was overwhelmed with another strong wave of nausea. She ran to the ladies' room as quickly as possible.

Elliot entered the bullpen just in time to see his partner disappear around the corner. He set his coffee on his desk, walking in her direction. He stopped by the ladies room when he heard heaving.

"Liv?" he knocked on the restroom door…then on second thought decided to go in. "Olivia? You okay?" he stood by the closed stall, hearing the toilet flush.

She appeared on the other side of the stall door, cheeks flushed. "Hey…" she said quietly, moving slowly toward the sink.

"Hey. You alright?" Elliot asked concerned, having to steady her when she stumbled. "Yeah…I'm okay," Olivia told him, rinsing her mouth out and taking a deep breath.

"You sure?" he wondered. "Yeah…I just…I need to sit down," he closely followed her back to their desks, where she collapsed in her seat.

"I brought you some coffee…I'm guessing you don't want any," he sat in his chair, watching her shake her head. "You think you ate something bad?" Elliot wondered, getting her a cool bottle of water. She shrugged, bringing the bottle to her forehead. "Maybe."

Elliot stood next to her desk, watching her take a series of deep breaths. "Liv, go home. Get some rest…you look exhausted," he told her.

Olivia glanced up into the worried blue eyes of the man standing next to her. "No…I'll be okay. I've already taken a few days off this week. I don't wanna leave you with more paperwork," she explained, sitting the bottle down.

"You won't…I've got it covered. I just want you to feel better," he told her, gently caressing her shoulder.

"No, really…I'll be fine. I feel a little better already," Olivia looked up, giving him her best smile.

He grinned as he shook his head, knowing he wouldn't be able to convince her otherwise. "If you say so." Elliot sat back down, opening the file on his desk.

"Is that the Jones' case?" Olivia asked, wondering what he was reading. "Yeah. I think the wife might have been cheating on her late husband. We're definitely gonna have to re-interview her…I'm not buying her story," he glanced back up at her, holding her gaze.

"What is it? Elliot, I told you I'm fine," Olivia insisted, opening the water bottle.

"Olivia, that's what you've been telling me these past few weeks. I'm not buying it. What's really been bothering you?" Elliot wondered, watching her run her hand through her golden-brown locks. "El…I can't get into this right now," she stood slowly, walking to her locker.

He got up and stood beside her, watching her rummage through her belongings. "You don't seem to want to get into anything with me anymore," he said.

Olivia stopped looking momentarily and took another deep breath. "Elliot…you know that's not true," she turned toward him and saw the hurt expression on his face.

"Do I? When's the last time we had a real conversation?" he questioned, seeing someone out of the corner of his eye.

"Hey you two. What's going on?" Cragen asked, glancing at his best two detectives.

Olivia watched Elliot quickly glance at Cragen and acknowledge him as she pondered his question. He was right. She'd been stressed out about her marriage and she never wanted to get into it at work. She couldn't even think of a reason why she hadn't talked to him…there just never seemed to be a good time to talk about it.

Elliot's pools of blue searched her eyes once more, the hurt expression from before still etched on his face. She didn't know why, but at that moment she felt like crying.

"Olivia…you feel okay?" she felt Cragen's hand touch her shoulder. Olivia turned her attention to him.

"Um…I think I ate something last night that upset my stomach, but other than that I'm alright," she lied, turning back to her locker and finding the bottle of TUMS she was searching for earlier.

Olivia unscrewed the cap and glanced at her partner. He sat back down at his desk, purposefully avoiding eye contact with her. She felt the tears sting her eyes as she closed her locker. It was going to be a long day.

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chap 3 will be up soon :D