Chapter 3

~oOo~

You're kidding! You're not due for another three weeks," Fin pointed out.

Olivia gave him a withering look. "Yeah? Well, tell that to the baby."

Maureen's O.B. came in and immediately saw that they were now dealing with two women in labor.

"Ok, Olivia, I'm going to page your O.B. and we're going to get you settled in a room."

"I can't be in a room now. My daughter needs me," Olivia protested.

"Mama Liv, I'll be fine. You need to take care of yourself and my little sister. Kathleen should be here soon, anyway," Maureen assured the older woman.

Olivia still hesitated for a moment, then turned to Fin.

"Fin, would you mind staying for a few minutes? Just until Kathleen and Elliot and the others get here? I'd really feel better if someone we both knew and trusted was with her."

Fin smiled. "Sure. I'll stick around. You go get settled. Text me the room number and I'll send Elliot in when he gets here."

Olivia sighed in relief.

"Thanks, Fin. That'd be great."

Olivia was led out of the room. About fifteen minutes later, Kathleen arrived, quickly followed by Elliot.

"Maureen? How are you feeling, Sweetheart?"

"I'm good, Dad. I just wish these little guys would quit taking their own sweet time getting here."

"They'll be here soon enough," Elliot replied before noticing his friend standing off to the side.

"Fin? What are you doing here? Where's Liv?"

Fin cleared his throat. "She's…well… her water broke fifteen minutes ago. They moved her to a room. Liv just texted me the room number. Four zero one five."

"Thanks, Fin. Kathleen, stay with your sister," Elliot called over his shoulder as he ran out of the room.

Labor was not a quick process. An hour later, neither Olivia nor Maureen had progressed very far. Amanda came to the hospital after her shift ended and spent some time with Liv while Elliot checked on Maureen. Fin went back to the Station for a while since nothing was happening very fast. Richard came by but then went over to Elliot and Olivia's house to relieve Lucy and look after his little brothers. Lizzie, Kathleen, and Bernie alternated between the waiting room and the two maternity rooms.

"Well, I kinda have some news, Liv," Amanda told her friend.

"What's going on, Amanda?" Olivia asked

Amanda sat in a chair next to Olivia's bed. "Well, in about seven months, I'm gonna be exactly were you are now."

Olivia was confused at first, then it hit her.

"You're pregnant?"

Amanda gave a sheepish grin and nodded.

"I was waiting to tell you because I don't want to go on desk duty so soon, but this seemed like a good time to talk to you."

Olivia nodded slowly. "Well, I'm on Maternity leave as of now, so technically I'm not your boss. You just told your friend some great news. You can tell me as your boss when I get back."

Amanda chuckled lightly. "Thanks, Liv!"

Olivia reached out and squeezed Amanda's hands.

"As your friend, I am so happy for you."

Amanda's eyes misted over causing Olivia to get a bit emotional too.

"Thanks. I'm really happy for you, too."

Both women wiped their eyes as Elliot returned.

"Everything ok in here?" he asked.

"Everything's just fine, El. How's Maureen?" Olivia replied.

"They're just now wheeling her down to delivery. Carl made it just in time," Elliot told her.

Suddenly, the machines started beeping and the nurse and doctor rushed in.

"What's happening?" Olivia asked in a panicked tone.

"The baby's heart rate is going down. We need to do an emergency C-section," explained the doctor.

"We'll she be ok? Will the baby be ok?" Elliot asked tensely.

"They should both be fine as long as we get her down there immediately," the doctor reassured the detective.

"I'll go make some calls and let everyone know what's going on," Amanda said, squeezing Liv's hand and then Elliot's shoulder as she passed him.

Soon, Olivia was in a delivery room and Elliot was pacing nervously outside the door. Amanda had made those calls, and soon, the waiting room was packed. Carisi had returned with Fin to join Amanda. Munch and Cragen showed up as well as Barba. Eventually, all the Stabler kids were there, including Noah and Eli, and Lizzie had brought Bernie. All of them were waiting anxiously for news on both Maureen and Olivia.

Maureen's babies were both born while Elliot was still waiting. Carl came out of the delivery room next door holding two babies.

"Elliot, I want you to meet Seamus Elliot O'Brien and Keiran Oliver O'Brien."

Elliot broke into a big grin in spite of how worried he was.

"You named them after me and Liv?"

Carl nodded. "You are both very important to us. Especially since I was a foster child. You are the only parents I've got."

Elliot had to fight back tears. "You're our fourth son. Now, how 'bout letting me hold our grandsons?"

Carl grinned and handed both baby boys to Elliot, who stood mesmerized by them for a few moments.

"How's Liv?"

Elliot tore his gaze away from his beloved grandsons to answer his son-in-law.

"Still in there. She's getting a C-section. The baby's heart rate went down, but the doc said they'd both be ok as long as they got them in there in time."

Carl placed a hand on his father-in-law's shoulder.

"Liv is strong and that baby has her genes and yours. They'll both be fine."

Elliot just gave a short nod of acknowledgment.

After another few minutes, Carl took the babies and went back to Maureen.

After Maureen was settled back in a regular room in the Maternity ward, the family was able to go see her and the twins for a few minutes.

A few minutes after Carl left, the doctor came out carrying a baby girl.

"Elliot, I'd like you to meet your daughter."

Elliot gasped. This was perhaps the most beautiful baby girl he had seen since Lizzie was born.

"She's perfect. Liv?"

The doctor smiled. "Your wife is doing just fine. She'll be groggy for a while, but she came through the C-section just great and your daughter is perfectly healthy."

Elliot took his baby girl into his arms and cradled her close. Then he asked the doctor to take a picture, to which she agreed.

After the baby was taken back to the nursery, Elliot sent a group text with the picture and asked everyone to please come to visit the next day since Olivia was still out of it.

The next day, the entire group returned to meet the newest addition to the Stabler family.

"Everyone, we'd like you all to meet Finley Amanda Stabler," Olivia announced.

"You really wanna saddle her with a name like mine?" Fin quipped, but everyone could tell he was really touched. Amanda wasn't as subtle.

"Liv, Elliot, I'm honored. I can't believe you gave your baby my name as a middle name."

"Amanda, you and Fin have both supported us the most during my pregnancy. You helped me take care of Maureen and you took care of the boys for me so much. And Fin, you drove us to the hospital and stayed with us as long as we needed you. We love you both and are so grateful to you," Olivia said, her voice husky with emotion.

"We love you, too, Liv. Both of you," Fin admitted.

"Actually all of you," Amanda added.

"Can I hold her?" Eli requested.

"Sure, Buddy. Come sit down first," Elliot said.

Eli sat on the couch and Elliot placed the baby in his son's arms.

"Hi, Finley. I'm your big brother. I love you," Eli murmured.

Most of the adults in the room couldn't help tearing up at that. After Eli had gotten his turn, Baby Finley was passed around. When both Olivia and Finley started getting tired, their friends and family left. Later that day, Maureen and Carl brought the twins in so Olivia could meet her grandsons and so Maureen could meet her baby sister.

"They are precious, Mo," Olivia said softly.

"Thank you. So is my baby sister. I love the name you picked out."

"I love the names you picked out for your sons, especially Keiran's middle name. That means so much to me that you'd name your son after me."

"Liv, you've always been a second mom to me. Keiran's first name starts with a K and that's for my biological mom, but I wanted the middle name to be for you. I love you, Mama Liv."

Olivia reached up and hugged her oldest daughter.

"I love you, Maureen."

Elliot smiled as he watch his wife and his oldest and youngest daughters interact. He realized in this moment, but not for the first time, how blessed he truly was.

~oOo~

One Year Later

All the Stabler clan and their SVU family were gathered at the Stabler house for a party celebrating the first birthdays of Finley, Keiran, and Seamus. After food and presents, when things had settled down, Amanda, Maureen, and Olivia were taking their kids out for a walk. Amanda's daughter Jesse was three months old and really enjoyed a ride in her buggy.

"Wow, I can't believe it's been a whole year since these little ones were born," Amanda said.

"And now you have a little one of your own," Olivia pointed out.

Maureen tried to get Seamus to keep his hat on as she observed, "Time just flies by."

"It hit me again today how blessed we are. I really want to say now while I'm all sappy and soft from being around these kids," Olivia began.

The other two women chuckled and Olivia continued.

"I want you to know how much you all mean to me. Amanda your friendship means so much to me, and Maureen, you will always be my oldest daughter, even though I didn't give birth to you. I love you both so much."

The tears in Olivia's eyes and her choked voice made Amanda and Maureen both emotional as they replied.

"Love you, Liv."

"Love you too, Mama Liv."

The three women stopped the strollers and hugged before continuing on to the nearby park.

Olivia's childhood had been heartbreaking. She had gone through half of her life feeling unloved. Now, she had a real family. Not only did she have a wonderful husband and fantastic kids, she had a whole extended family who all loved her unconditionally and she loved them. As she enjoyed her time with her children and best friend, she could believe that life was just about perfect.

The author of this SVU Love in the Air story will be revealed in March