Chapter 2

~oOo~

Olivia jumped into action and was able to quickly bring Elliot around.

With the doctor's help, she got him back into a chair.

"What happened?" he murmured.

Olivia huffed and rolled her eyes.

"What happened was you can take down the scum of the earth without flinching but a simple thing like your wife expecting a baby knocks you flat."

"Baby?" Elliot asks, then slowly breaks into a grin.

"We're having a baby. I'm going to be a daddy again. You're going to be a mom. And I'm going to be a grandpa."

"And I'm going to be a grandma, El. We've established that several times already. But El, We made a baby together. Our first together that I'm actually growing inside of me. It's amazing," Olivia said.

Elliot nodded, still in awe. Then he took Olivia's face in his hands.

"It's a miracle. I just can't get over the fact that I'm gonna be a grandpa and a father at the same time."

Olivia and Elliot were still so in shock that they walked out of the doctor's office without saying goodbye. As they were getting on the elevator they ran into Rollins and Carisi who were getting off.

"Amanda? Carisi? What are you doing here?" Olivia wanted to know.

"Interviewing a victim. We caught a case this morning. Didn't Fin call you?"

"I've had my phone on silent," Olivia said looking at her phone.

"Is everything ok, Sarg? What are you guys doing here?"

"It was just a checkup. Nothing new to report," Elliot replied quickly before Olivia could say a word.

Just then a nurse came running up to the group.

"Sergeant Benson? You were in such a hurry you forgot your prenatal vitamins and here are some pamphlets about being pregnant later in life."

Olivia cleared her throat and tried to ignore the groans coming from Elliot and the shocked looks on the faces of her squad members as she said, "Thank you."

"Liv, really?" squealed Amanda, giving Olivia a tight hug.

Carisi was a bit calmer but not much as he also hugged his Sergeant. "Congrats, Sarg. Stabler."

"Thanks, Carisi. Yeah, it's true, Amanda. We just confirmed it. We haven't even told our kids yet, so please don't say anything. I'll tell everyone when I'm ready," Olivia requested.

"Absolutely. I understand, Liv," Amanda replied.

"Speaking of the kids, we better go. They are all waiting to find out what the doc said," Elliot said pointedly.

"He's right. Tell Fin I'll be in later today," Olivia said.

"Will do," Amanda promised.

Amanda and Carisi both told the couple congratulations once more and the four went their separate ways.

In the car, they face-timed the kids and asked them all to meet for dinner that night.

Then Olivia asked flat out, "Elliot, why did you lie to our friends?"

"I just didn't think you'd be ready to tell anyone yet," Elliot made excuse.

"That's for me to decide. And I wouldn't have flat-out lied to them even if I didn't want to tell yet. We have to be able to trust each other. You know that. What's the real reason? Are you ashamed of me being pregnant?" Olivia replied tensely.

"What?!" El asked incredulously.

"Well it's not a hard question to answer, Elliot and it's not so far-fetched considering the way you've acted," Olivia snapped.

Elliot sighed. "No. Of course, I'm not ashamed of your pregnancy. I told you before, I'm just still in shock about being a grandpa and a father at the same time. I'm still trying to process. But I am so happy that you are having my baby, and I love you more every day."

Olivia looked at her husband intently before softening.

"I love you too, El."

She then kissed him gently on the lips and they headed away from the doctor's office.

~oOo~

"So what's going on?" Richard asked as soon as everyone was at the house that evening.

"Yeah, you've got us really worried," Kathleen added.

"Well, it turns out… I'm pregnant," Olivia informed the group.

"We're having a baby!" Elliot reiterated with an overly bright grin on his face.

There was dead silence for a few moments, then Maureen laughed nervously.

"Ha-ha. Very funny you two."

When Elliot and Olivia didn't join the others in the laughter, all the adults' eyes widened.

"You aren't kidding," Lizzie said, breathlessly.

Olivia shook her head. "No. I'm due in September."

"So our kids would be the same age?" Carl said.

"Pretty close," Elliot said nervously.

"So I'm gonna have another little brother and Noah will be a big brother too?" Eli asked.

"Well, it could be a girl, but yes. How do you feel about that, Sweetheart?" Olivia asked gently.

Eli shrugged. "I don't know. Will you love this baby more than me? Since it's in your tummy?"

Olivia's eyes misted as she pulled the little boy into a hug.

"Of course not, Sweetie. I'll always love you just the same. This baby will just mean one more person to love, but he or she won't take away love from any of you."

Elliot came and knelt in front of his son and wife.

"That's right, Buddy. Love's like that. You can always make more."

"Like when we got Noah?"

"Exactly like that," Olivia agreed as she kissed Noah, who was on Kathleen's lap, on the head.

Eli smiled and tickled his little brother's feet.

"I get it. Ok, I think I'd like another little brother or sister."

Elliot and Olivia suppressed sighs of relief.

Several weeks later, Maureen and Carl FaceTimed with the family. They had big news.

"We went to the doctor to find out the gender today and we got more information than we bargained for," Carl told them.

"What's wrong?" Elliot asked in concern.

"Nothing's wrong, Dad. We are having boys. Two of them," Maureen said, nervously, unsure of the reactions her news would get.

Kathleen was the first to figure it out.

"TWINS?!"

Maureen nodded. "Twin boys."

"So I'll have two more boys to play with?" Eli asked.

"That's right, Kiddo. And we expect you to teach them all about soccer as soon as they're old enough," Carl said with a smile.

"I can do that," Eli said proudly.

"We know you can," Maureen told her little brother affectionately.

"Congratulations, you two. I can't wait to have two babies to spoil," Olivia said.

Elliot looked at his wife in confusion.

"Don't you mean three?"

Olivia shook her head. "Spoiling our little ones, all of them, will be Bernie and Don's jobs."

"And I can't wait," Bernie gushed.

The following Monday, Olivia had finally reached the end of her first trimester and everything was going well. It was time to tell the news to her friends. She called her squad and Barba into her office and did a face-time conference call with Munch, Nick, and Don.

"Hey guys, I've been waiting to say anything until I knew things would be ok, but I'm pregnant. I'm due in six months."

Fin broke into a huge grin. "I knew it! I knew something was up. You and 'Manda and Carisi have been acting really weird. They've both been too protective of you and nice to you lately. You guys knew, didn't you?"

"Only because we happened to be at the hospital to interview that victim when they were coming out of the gynecologist's office," Amanda assured the man.

"And we promised we wouldn't say anything till she was ready," added Carisi.

"And I really appreciate you keeping my secret," Olivia told them.

"Congratulations, Liv. To you and Elliot both. I can't wait to have another little grandbaby to spoil."

Olivia smiled. "Maureen is pregnant too, so Elliot and I are going to have two grandbabies to spoil. Maureen's having twins."

Fin chuckled. "This is gonna be interesting. Mother and daughter pregnant at once."

"Just like in that movie," Amanda pointed out.

At that moment, a uni knocked on the door and said that there was someone there who wanted to speak to Olivia, so the conference call ended and the squad got back to work.

~oOo~

Over the next several months, preparations were made for the new babies. Olivia and Elliot found out that they were having a girl, so Olivia chose light purple and pale yellow for the color scheme. Maureen chose pale green and sky blue for her boys. Elliot and the kids along with Fin and Carisi and Amanda painted the babies' rooms, and Amanda and the girls worked on decor. Amanda, Lizzie, and Kathleen took Olivia and Maureen shopping for baby things. A couple of months before Maureen was due, Amanda helped the younger Stabler girls plan a double baby shower. The twins and the newest Stabler baby would be all set.

A couple of weeks before Maureen was due, Carl was called out of town on business, so Maureen moved in with her parents and little brothers. Carl was uncomfortable leaving her alone in her condition.

While she was staying there, Amanda came over quite a bit to help Olivia with the boys and taking care of Maureen. She lived slightly closer to Olivia than Kathleen, Lizzie, or Bernie.

Fin came over one night with Carisi to help Richard and Elliot put the cribs together, which was very entertaining to watch. It took hours, but finally, the cribs were all safely assembled. Carl would come with his truck when he returned and take the boys' cribs to his and Maureen's house.

A week later, Maureen was in Olivia's office eating lunch with her and the squad. When it was time for the detectives to get back to work, Maureen stood to leave. She had only taken a few steps when she double over in pain.

"OW!"

"Are you ok?" Amanda asked in concern.

Maureen stood straighter and said, "I think so. I just felt this stabbing pain, then nothing."

Olivia's eyes widened. "Ok. I think we better time those pains. If you have another one, let us know."

Maureen shook her head. "I'm not due for another week. I'll be fine."

"I'll have Fin drive you home. I'd feel better if you didn't take an Uber home," Olivia told her stepdaughter.

"I'd be glad to," Fin said.

Suddenly, Maureen felt another pain and cried out. Olivia looked at her watch.

"Seven minutes. Change of plans. Fin, would you drive us to the hospital?"

"I'll get the squad car," Fin said, rushing from the room.

"I'll help you get her down there," Amanda offered.

Down in the parking garage, Fin and Amanda got Maureen and Olivia settled in the back seat and Fin sped to the hospital. Maureen called Carl on the way and Olivia texted Elliot.

At the hospital, Fin helped get Maureen inside and settled in a chair. Olivia went to the desk to alert them that there was a lady in labor.

Soon, Maureen was taken to a room. Once she was in a bed, Fin turned to Olivia and said, "Hey, Liv? I'm gonna head on back to the station in case Amanda and Carisi need something."

"Ok, Fin. That's…"

Suddenly Olivia froze as she felt a huge gush of water between her legs.

"Liv?" Fin asked in concern, grabbing her arm.

"Mamma Liv? Are you ok?" Maureen asked anxiously.

Olivia held up her hand. She was breathing heavily.

Finally, she managed to gasp out, "I… I think my water just broke!"