A/N: The countdown to the baby is here, folks. Still with me?

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"Honey?" Olivia rested her head on Elliot's lap and looked up at him through half-lidded eyes as he ran his fingers through her hair. The motions were calming and she felt herself beginning to drift off.

"Yeah, Liv?" Elliot untangled the clasp of Olivia's necklace and lifted the top of her shirt ever so slightly, ensuring that it was safely tucked away.

"What time do you want to make an appointment for the tour at the hospital? I spoke with one of the nurses over the phone. She said she could show us around. I know it sounds silly, but if it's going to be out of our hands, I want to know what's going to happen. I don't want any surprises." She shifted positions so she was flat on her back and could see him better.

"That's not silly. I think it's a great idea. What do you think about tomorrow?" Elliot regretted not being able to spend more time with her the past week. Her nerves had been shot and no matter what he did, the feeling of dread never seemed to go away for her.

"Are you sure you don't have to go in? I know we have another week. We can do it closer to the C-Section, if you want." Olivia saw his determination and smiled. She knew he'd be there with her every step of the way.

"The guys will be fine without me. They've done it before. They've got a couple temporary replacements already, anyway. I was going to wait to tell you this, but I asked for a few weeks off after the baby is born." Elliot saw her eyes well up and leaned down to kiss her fully on the lips. He could taste the salty taste of her tears and brushed them away before they reached her hairline.

"You're so good to me. Thank you for being so patient. I know it hasn't been easy, what with my raging hormones and never ending insecurities." She could hardly believe the luck she'd had. She truly felt blessed.

"You don't have to thank me for being your husband, Liv. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. I'm just sorry you've had such a hard time with this pregnancy. Can you believe in another week we'll be holding our son?" Elliot beamed with pride at the realization.

"I know. I'm so glad we got everything done." She could still hear Munch going on and on about how sore he was after helping them out around the house and Fin's constant banter in return.

"Finally!" He was sick of paint and wallpaper, but it was well worth it in the end.

"Did you call Casey? I forgot to let her know to come around ten or so." She did a mental checklist of all the people she needed to inform of the baby's due date.

"Yep. She said she'd be there with a goody bag." Elliot laughed as Olivia rolled her eyes.

"She's going to spoil him rotten. Our son is never going to understand the word no." She reached up and grabbed a hold of his right hand so their fingers were clasped.

"I know. I think we've already created a monster. He's going to be one ornery little boy. Can you imagine his terrible two's?" Elliot squeezed the soft hand in his and held it to his lips. He gently kissed each digit.

"I love him so much already. We've been through so much together. I don't want to leave him. You know, some places have a 'take your baby to work' program. Think they'd go for that at the squad?" Olivia could just imagine the looks she'd get if she came toting a diaper bag and baby carrier to interviews.

"I don't think so, honey. I don't think the perps are going to be too understanding if you have to hold off reading them their rights so you can change a poopie diaper." Elliot chuckled and shook his head. As crazy as it sounded, he couldn't hardly wait to change a few, himself.

"Good call. Oh I bet they'd get a real kick out of breastfeeding. Now that's just disturbing. Eww." She quickly erased the thought from her mind as she pictured dozens of men leering at her as she unfastened her nursing bra so that her son could eat.

"Captain said he got a present but that it couldn't be opened until the day of. Something about putting the finishing touches on it. Makes me a little nervous. I wonder what it is." Elliot ran his thumb over Olivia's in a circular motion. He could smell the soft scent of jasmine, the lotion she'd been using ever since she'd gotten rid of the nausea. He remembered how happy she was that she didn't go running to the bathroom the moment she put it on.

"Oh, I overheard the guys talking the other day when they were over. Cragen got a onesie and had Zane's name put on the back." Olivia smiled slightly and grew serious.

"What? You don't like the idea?" Elliot watched her features change and frowned.

"Honey, I need to ask you something. I want you to be honest with me." Olivia gazed up at him and caught his attention.

"I'm always honest with you, but okay. What is it?" Elliot held her hand a little tighter, offering the anchor she may need for whatever she was going to say.

"Do you want our baby to be raised Catholic? I have nothing against the idea. I know your beliefs are important to you. We could have the whole baptism thing and everything. I've looked into it." Olivia pulled her hand from his grasp lightly and ran her finger along his tattoo.

"Only if you want to. It's your decision, too, Liv. You've never mentioned it before. Why all of the sudden?" He followed the trails she made with her fingertips and wondered what she was thinking.

"I don't know. I just…all my life I guess I never had anything to really believe in. Then I met you and you had this whole system, this structured system already in place. The rules and customs and traditions…I guess I understand why you feel the way you do. If you have someone backing your play, someone there to watch your back…I don't know what I'm trying to say. I just want him to know what you know. I know it's later on down the line, but I'd like to take some classes. Maybe learn a thing or two. I once asked my mom about God and she looked me straight in the idea and told me there was no God. I can't describe the way that made me feel. Night after night I'd been praying. I'd get down on my knees, press my hands together, close my eyes as hard as I could and pray to make her better and I'd beg for just a sign that I wasn't alone and to make us be a family and it never came true. But you know what? I still held out hope that He would hear me. When she said that to me, it was like I lost the little faith I had in the one person that cared about me. I hated her for making me feel that way. I want our son to know that there is hope. I want him to feel protected and safe and loved." Olivia closed her eyes as the memory floated around in her mind.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I love you so much, baby." He choked on his words, as the lump in his throat grew bigger. He pictured little Olivia Benson going through the motions and having all the hope she had in her little heart swept out from under her. He couldn't imagine going through life feeling that way.

"Me, too. Me, too." Olivia answered both statements. She was sorry for how she grew up but she sensed Elliot's deep passion for her and gave it to him in return. She felt his hand swipe slowly over her face, once again removing the moisture as if to erase the years of pain she'd endured.

"Come on." Elliot nudged her with his knee and helped her to sit up.

"Wh…what are you doing?" Olivia looked at him with a confused expression.

"Just come here. Quit being a detective." Elliot held his hand out and pulled her up as she cautiously followed him down the hall. He led her into the bedroom and patted the mattress.

"Baby, not now. I don't…" Her voice trailed off as she watched him open the drawer to the nightstand and pull out the tattered Bible he'd had sine he was a kid. She'd never seen anything so ragged.

"Oh, hush. I want to show you something." Elliot flipped and found the right page with ease. He pointed to the passage and directing her to read it.

"Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened." She read it out loud and stopped, unsure of what to make of it. She read it again silently a few more times and glanced up. It still hadn't hit her.

"You don't see it. Baby, that's you. Your mother was wrong. That's Matthew, see?" Elliot tapped his finger along the top of the page.

"Ma….Matthew. Our son is a genius. Is that why you picked that for his middle name?" She smiled brightly when he nodded. Suddenly, she understood.

"Our son is a genius." Elliot repeated her statement and grinned in return. Even if she hadn't realized it, she'd never been denied as a child. Just as he'd had someone in his corner, she did, too. She just needed someone to point it out to her. He wanted their son to be that reminder. He went to close it and felt her move it from from his reach.

"I want to read it some more. Can you read me something else?" Olivia bit her lip and looked at him expectedly.

"Of course. I'm a little rusty. Scoot over." Elliot slid next to her and wrapped one arm around her as she shifted the Bible so it was between the two of them. He let his gaze fall on her face briefly before turning the page. Suddenly she was transformed into a little girl. He wondered if she'd had a normal childhood with loving parents, if they'd have sat down with her and read to her the same way. He blinked and the image of his adult wife returned. He rested his head on hers and began reading.

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The passage is Matthew 7:7,8. FYI.