A/N- Olivia and Elliot break the news of their pregnancy to the girls and Bernie. Super sweet chapter full of love!

Congratulations!

The app on her phone notifies her that she has officially entered her second trimester. Their baby was the size of a plum and oh boy did she feel the difference. Her pants are snug on her hips and she thinks they'll be officially too small by next week. Shit is getting real.

The morning sickness comes and goes with each week. She's grateful for the relief this morning when she wakes in Ophelia's bed. She'd come into their room in the middle of the night covered in puke. The stomach bug was officially in their house. It was only a matter of time until Katie caught it too.

She slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her. Katie would have to go to school alone today. Olivia would have loved to hang back with her baby today but work was short staffed at the moment. The same went for Elliot who had been getting home later most days than not. These are moments she's able to take a deep breath and be grateful to have Bernie in their lives now. She's a retired grandmother that's only a 20 minute walk away from them; who loves spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren.

"Mornin'," Elliot greeted her when he heard her shuffle down the hallway. He's always been an early riser, a pot of coffee was already brewed and she's positive she smells bacon in the oven.

"Hi," she headed directly into his arms and wrapped around his torso. He's warm and the perfect amount of soft and firm. God damn him, she thinks he showered this morning too by the smell of soap that lingers on his skin.

"How are you feelin?" He asks with a grogginess still in his voice. She tilts her chin up so it rests on his chest and she can look at him. He's smirking at her with a freshly shaven face and eyes so gentle.

"I haven't stuck my head in the toilet yet, so I'd consider that as great," he hums and kisses her forehead.

"And Opie?"

"She's still sleeping but no puke for the last two hours. Another win," she shrugged and untangled herself to grab a coffee doctor said she can have one cup a day for now. She's taking her wins as much as she can get them these days. "Your mom will watch her today and I figured we can both still walk Katie. I know it'll be hard for her to go alone today."

"Mama will fix her up some concoction and have her feeling better in no time," he sighed. Nothing was worse than a sick kid and not being around to take care of them. But in all honesty his mother would probably be the best with her remedies and herbal mixes.

"Speak of the devil," the lock to the front door turns and moments later Bernie is in their presence.

"Good mornin' mama,'' Elliot goes over to hug her and kiss her cheek. She's dressed down today in a pair of flowy pants and quarter zip. Fully prepared to care for a sick child.

"Morning," she pats his shoulder and makes her way over to engulf Olivia into a hug. "Hm.." she pulled back still holding her biceps and took a look at her with questionable eyes.

"What?"

"Something's different about you," Olivia's eyes flickered to Elliot's briefly. Bernie's own eyes scanned her up and down. She held her breath as she did so. "You're glowing sweetheart."

"Must be my new skin care," she quips but Bernie doesn't let up.

"No I know that glow," her small hands reach up to cup her cheeks and she's grinning so wide the crinkles around her eyes appear. "That is the glow of a woman with child," she and Elliot are both silent. In shock really that Bernie was really just too good to be true.

"Mama," Elliot chides from across the kitchen. They had wanted the announcement to be more special but it was better now than later.

"No El," Olivia shook her head and grabbed a hold of Bernie's hand between hers. "You're right Bernie, I am," she's got that choking feeling in the back of her throat. "We wanted to wait until the time was right but," she takes a deep breath and looks into those loving blue eyes of hers. "I am pregnant Bernie, and I've just been scared because this doesn't usually workout for me," she's not sure when the tears came but cheeks are wet and finding absolution on the fabric of Bernie's shirt. Olivia has been pulled into her arms and she's holding onto her tight. Screams of joy elicit and the breath she had been holding releases.

"I'm so happy for you two," she pulled back. "How long have you known?"

"A while now. I'm twelve weeks as of yesterday," she shrugged and used the collar of her shirt to dry her face. Elliot is close by now beside her. His hand rubs softly along her back. It soothes her and brings her back down to steady ground.

"Oh," she gasps. "I'm going to be a grandmother of three," she can't hide her excitement anymore. "Who knows? Do the girls know?"

"No, just us and Casey," Elliot can't hide the amusement of watching his mother process the news. He knew she had been dying for another grandchild. She probably had been losing hope but now…

"Casey knew before me?"

"Yes but only because I needed her to bring me a few more tests to make sure," Olivia says nonchalantly enough to try and ease the burn. "And plus, I wanted it to be special when I told you," she pulled Bernie in for another hug and held her tightly for a few extra seconds. "I hope you know that."

"Just as long as you let me know about the next one before her," Elliot nearly choked on the sip of coffee he took. "What? Four is my lucky number. Only fair we try for four grandchildren," she shrugs and goes on to move about the kitchen to make her own cup of looks over at Olivia chuckling at his mother's antics. The woman was old with no filter and not a care in the world about what people might think about her sometimes outlandish comments.

"You heard mama, we gotta have one more," Elliot laughs and Olivia is far from amused once the nausea hits her out of nowhere and she is sprinting for the bathroom.

As her head hangs over the toilet of their guest bathroom she laughs to herself thinking, yeah we will try for another one as long as he is the one carrying it.

Good morning it was.

…..

Thanksgiving

Change happens almost over night.

Olivia stood in front of their bathroom mirror in a comfortable set of underwear and a matching bra, underneath her favorite silk robe. She's fresh out of the shower and brushed through her hair to avoid the easily tangled mess it could become. The new bra fits more comfortably than her old ones since her chest had doubled in size. Those slacks from a few weeks ago? They've been pushed into the back of their closet until further notice.

Her belly had popped since and is present as ever this morning. Week fourteen was going strong. She could stomach meat again and could keep her breakfast down most days than none. They were still a few months away from any movement or kicks, but she did feel a few random flutters every now and then.

It's a slow process everyday. Deep breaths and words of affirmation to keep her head above ground through this. Everything was still going good, but she still couldn't help but hold her breath at every appointment.

"Wow," Elliot had shuffled his way into the bathroom, taking a break clearly from keeping the girls busy. Bernie had been in the kitchen making an incredible dinner for them all.

"I know," she grinned and turned towards him with both hands nestling her belly. It was small but mighty- a piece of an extension of their love was growing idly inside her.

"Fingers crossed the pants I plan on wearing still fit," it makes him chuckle as he wraps his arms around her. They faced the mirror together and his hands replaced where hers were in her middle.

"I think mama will understand if you show up in leggings at dinner," he kissed her shoulder. "Just means her newest grandchild is growing," he softens the blow of her wardrobe becoming too small.

"And that I will be living in your wardrobe more often than not."

"That's the part I'm looking forward to the most," he places a kiss on her shoulder. She had already invaded his wardrobe long before but to see her swollen belly tucked away in one of his sweatshirts sent a rush of serotonin through him.

"You're going to have to roll me out of bed every morning."

"That's fine too," he pecked her cheek. "I just wanted to come check on you. The girls are getting antsy," they had both promised to take them to the park for a bit while grandma Bernie cooked.

"I'll be out in a minute," she turns to kiss him quickly and shoos him away. "Oh El?" She calls out before he leaves. "I think we should tell the girls today too."

"I think so too," he grins and goes to get them ready for a chilly day on the playground.

…..

The chill of the early afternoon is welcomed being bundled up in warm coats and hats. They make the short trek to the park a few blocks away. A lunchbox in hand with a small lunch packed away. A last minute decision on Olivia's part after deciding now was a good time to tell the girls about the baby.

She didn't really have any fantasy about the way she would tell them about their new sibling. She didn't even think she would have gotten this far but here she was- just a month or so until a slight waddle would be added to her step.

Breakfast had been a while ago and the girls were excited for the impromptu picnic on Turkey Day of all days. They helped spread the blanket out and they all huddled around to indulge in their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with applesauce.

When lunch had been devoured Olivia reached into her coat pocket to pull out her scans from their first appointment. She kept it folded in her hand, nervous as ever, their lives were about to change.

"So Opie, Katie- we have something to show you," she unfolded the long strip of black and white images. The confusion was enough to make them both chuckle. This would be fun after all.

"What the heck is that?" Opie's eyebrows arched. An exact replica of her mother.

"What do you guys think it is?" Elliot chimed in.

"Did you paint this?" Katie asked in all seriousness.

"No honey it's-" she paused to stop the laughter from bubbling over. "It's called a sonogram," more confusion followed. "They use this to take pictures of babies when they're still in your belly."

"This is a picture of a baby?" Opie grabbed a hold of both sides with her mitten covered hands.

"Yes, they're still really tiny but soon enough they will be here and big enough for you to hold," Elliot pulled Opie into his lap and looked over the sonogram with her. Katie joined and snuggled herself between her father and Olivia.

"It's a baby for us?"

"Well, kinda," Olivia's lips pursed together to try and keep her laughter from bubbling up. "You girls are going to be big sisters very soon."

"What!" Katie shrieks and gets up on her feet. Ophelia joins her and the girls are screaming.

"Okay okay girls, settle down," Elliot attempted to wrangle them back down to earth. Olivia can only watch in amazement. This was her second time breaking the good news to family, but this was the first time telling her children they would be big sisters. And with her luck she assumes it might just be the last.

"When do we get to hold the baby?"

"Yeah, when will they be here?"

"Is it a boy or a girl?"

Their questions are like spit fire, one after the other and she admits their excitement is rubbing off on her.

"Well," she's smiling until her face hurts. They're so eager to know everything. The role of becoming big sisters fit them so well already. "They won't be here until June, and we don't know if it's a boy or a girl just yet," she held her arms out for both of them to join them again. "But," she sits with her crossed like a pretzel and the girls manage to both squeeze onto her lap. Elliot watches his love, the mother of his newest child, embrace their curiosity and excite them even more about their new sibling.

"We get to do all sorts of things to get the apartment ready for them before they come," she softened to this far off look like she's slipped off into daydreaming. "We'll have to buy them a new crib and decorate their nursery. And I bet they would love some drawings from you hanging up to welcome them home," Elliot has to duck his head down. His eyes are misty suddenly and he thinks no way in hell he will be the first to cry today.

"Katie, we can draw her butterflies!" Ophelia bursts.

"And ladybugs too," they're a fit of giggles again.

"Well, we don't know yet if it's a girl."

"It's a girl mommy," she says as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. Olivia decides to avoid any argument and they will deal with that if the time comes.

"If it's a boy will you two still be happy?"

"Only if he doesn't stink,"Katie chimed in and that not only made Ophelia laugh but all of them right there in the middle of their favorite park. The same park where they first brought their girls for that initial playdate.

She maybe could not guarantee a baby sister or even a squeaky clean brother (blow outs were a bitch), but she knew the girls would love their new sibling either way.

…..

Elliot had insisted he put the girls to bed tonight so that she could have a little extra time for herself. The holiday had wiped her out and he could tell she was hanging on to be there for the girls today. Last year they didn't get to celebrate Thanksgiving as a family. It was their turn to have Ophelia this year.

He left the girls door cracked just the slightest and checked on his mother in the guest room before making his way to their bedroom. She was a sight to see sitting against the headboard of their king sized bed. Her hair was wrapped up into a towel, her face scrubbed free of the makeup she wore today. She was only in one of his large NYPD shirts he usually wore to the gym. The only way he could really describe her was just cute.

She was completely sated in the quietness of their room. The most at ease she had been all day. And eating the craziest bedtime snack he thinks he had ever seen her eat- well at least so far.

"Cravings have begun?" He stood at the side of the bed observing her choice.

"This is a perfectly normal snack," she held up her pickle and dipped it into the small bowl of peanut butter she had brought with her. Olivia goes for seriousness but she cracks after she takes a bite of the odd combo. "I can't help it, okay? The baby wants it," and then it's like music to his ears. The baby wants it, is a phrase he knew would be coming soon and he has never been more happy to hear it. As she furthers into this pregnancy more of the stereotypical symptoms happen, including the vicious cravings she was beginning to have. It would only be a matter of time until he ran across the street to the bodega to grab her only God knows what.

"And so it begins," he crawled into bed next to her and reached to snag a pickle only to have his hand swatted by her. "C'mon Liv, I can't have just one?"

"Get your own," another bite. "You've never just eaten pickles alone before until now."

"Neither have you," he shoots back.

"Do you really want to play this game with me?" her hand flew to her middle when she locked eyes with him. Challenging him to try and make her feel any sort of guilt when he gets to keep his physique throughout all of this.

"You know what? I really don't and don't think I ever will," he leans over to peck her cheek. He trails soft kisses down to her jawline with one hand pressing gently on the back of her neck. The other held him steady. He can feel her body vibrate next to him and under his touch with each kiss. He finally reached her lips and he suckled on her bottom lip before slipping his tongue into her mouth.

"Olivia," he breathes between kisses. She hums a breathy yes and pushes the bowl of snacks out the way so she can toss her thigh over and straddle him. "I can taste the pickles and peanut butter," he pulled his lips away and is smirking against her mouth now. Their foreheads rest against one another. Hands are wrapped around one another. "No way you think this is actually good," a laugh is quick to escape him and he laughs so hard his body shakes against her. She pulled back to give him a good slap on the shoulder.

"I can just stop kissing you until this kid is out of me," Elliot shakes his head no before she can even fully finish that sentence. He regrets his chastising of her food choice and goes in to kiss her salty peanut butter ridden lips again.

"Exactly what I thought," she pulled away to get those few words in before he's got her underneath him. A trail of kisses leaving her mouth and skating off the fabric of the shirt she wore. The towel on her head is mostly lost and the bowl of pickles- well she has no clue where those might be anymore.

The transition to her back had acted in his favor and raised the shirt of his she wore up higher. He pushed the fabric that gathered at her waist up until it bunched under her breasts, exposing her middle. Her belly appears nearly flat from this angle. Their baby is still able to be a secret just for them for a little while until her waistband grows larger.

His kisses linger one by one. Each warming her skin as they trail to the lace of the boy shorts she wore. He kissed at the hem of the fabric and made eye contact with her, asking permission if this was okay. Seeking the sweet satisfaction of making her feel good with just his tongue. Her thighs widen in anticipation, her fingers lace into the bed sheets. His fingers hook into her underwear to slide them down her legs.

She lets him.

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