A/N: Haven't had much time to write, but wanted to post this short one anyways as a thank you for sticking with me and being patient.
Big time jump coming in the next update!
"Oh man, everyone is awake in here! Okay… alright guys let's get everyone's diapers changed and then we can go down and see Papa and Cap and Finney?"
Eli's soft cooing to the three babies sharing a nursery woke Maureen and Sam from where they lay asleep in his bed.
"You okay this morning?" Mo whispered, when she felt her sister stir awake.
Sam nodded quickly. "Could use another 4 hours of sleep," she admitted. "But I'll be okay."
"Me too," she exhaled a soft chuckle.
"Want me to get Liv?" Carl mumbled from the sir mattress, still half asleep.
"No, no… he's got her," Sam reassured him.
"Alright," he nodded, rolling to his stomach and resuming his snoring, much to the girl's amusement.
In the adjoining bedroom, Eli had gotten all of the babies' diapers changed before managing to pick the three of them up as they all giggled.
"Uncle Noah is still asleep or id make him come help, huh. What good is he anyways," he teased as he made his way down the two flights of stairs to the living room.
Elliot laughed when he saw them, standing up to fake the first baby that reached for him, which ended up being EJ.
"Morning," he said to his son, nudging him.
"Morning," he smiled small, sitting on the couch beside his mom with the girls in his arms. He lounged back, laying his head on her shoulder.
"You okay?" Liv asked him carefully, kissing his temple.
"Been better but… yeah. Yeah, I'm okay."
Joey yawned and sat up his lap, looking back at him.
"Dada?" She whispered.
Eli laughed softly, raising his hand to gently pinch her cheek.
"Joey."
She made the sign for eat, and he laughed.
"You hungry? You know how to tell me."
Shooting him a cheesy grin, she shook her head and made the sign a second time.
"Stubborn," he teased, ticking her belly.
"Eat," she said sweetly, turning to face him so she could wrap her arms around his neck.
"I'll make some pancakes?" El asked, knowing his boy needed some alone time with his momma.
He gasped cutely when Joey pulled back. "Want papa to make you pancakes???"
She grinned, nodding quickly and sliding down off her daddy's lap and toddling over to the older man.
"How about you, son? Pancakes?" He asked EJ who smiled sleepily in response and reached out for him.
"C'mere then," he grinned, holding out his arms to him when his son slid down off his papa's lap and crawled over to him.
"Here Lemme take my little Liv and heat up a bottle, too," El nodded, reaching for his younger granddaughter once he'd stood with Joey.
"Go see papa, little one," he smiled, passing her off and lifting EJ.
Elliot and his granddaughters disappeared into the kitchen and Eli cleared his throat.
"Which one told you?"
"Maureen. The Noah set the group chat ablaze once you fell asleep."
"Classic," he chuckled, propping his feet up and pulling a blanket over him and EJ who was now snuggled on his chest, his head on his shoulder.
"I'm proud of you," Liv said softly. "I know it hurts but I think this is really good, Eli."
"I know it is. We both do, I guess."
"I love you, son."
"I love you, too, momma."
Sam appeared in the living room seconds later, giving them both a small and awkward smile
"Hey… y'left your phone upstairs. Tom texted," she smiled small, walking over to hand it to him and kiss EJ's head.
"Ah thanks," he nodded, taking it and unlocking to text him back. "You sleep okay?"
She shrugged. "I've slept better."
"Hey me too," he chuckled, "Jojo is in the kitchen with Liv and papa. They're making pancakes."
"Ohhhh," Sam drawled cutely. "Lucky girls. EJ, you didn't wanna hang with papa and the girls?" She asked cutely, sitting beside Eli and putting her hand on his back.
He shook his head and tightened his grip on Eli, muttering something into his chest.
Everyone froze, including Elliot who'd just come from the kitchen with the girls and a bottle for Liv.
"What did you say?" Eli asked softly, a smile on his lips as EJ sat up on his arms, still on his chest and squinted his little eyes at him.
"You wanted to stay here?" Sam coached after she'd quickly pulled out her phone to start recording.
He looked back to her and nodded quickly.
"With who?" She prompted gently.
"Dada," he said, more clearly this time but still quietly.
"Ohhhhh man!!!!" Eli cried, sitting up and hugging his now giggling baby boy tightly to his chest.
"What happened?!" Mo exclaimed, coming down the stairs with Carl and Emma.
"Dada," EJ said proudly from where he was squished into his daddy's chest.
"Oh my gosh!!!" Sam laughed, covering her mouth and hugging both of the boys before smothering the little one in kisses.
"Finally!!" Emma cried with a laugh. "Now we don't have to listen to him anymore."
"Go wake Noah up so he's not upset he missed it," Liv instructed, wiping her tears away as a milk drunk Finley slept through the commotion on her shoulder.
"Missed what?" Noah yawned, making his way down the stairs with Ted in his arms.
"Dada," EJ smiled, waving at his best friend.
Teddy didn't seem to noticed and just smiled. "Hi Djay."
"What!!!!" Noah cried, rushing down the stairs and plopping Teddy at the landing so they could both run over to EJ.
"Finally talking!" Eli laughed, standing up and tossing a giggling EJ into the air.
"Oh man I never thought it would happen!" Noah drawled, taking EJ from him.
From the floor beside her papa, Joey sighed dramatically.
"Dada. Mama. Papa. Cap."
"That's my girl! Show your brother who's boss!" Emma giggled, making everyone laugh.
"Momma?" Eli asked, coming up behind Liv in the kitchen early in the afternoon, once the babies had all gone down for naps and the house had fallen into an usual silence.
"Yeah honey?" Liv asked, turning to face him, concern in her eyes.
"'S'okay if Tom comes tonight? I know we have a full house but his parents decided to stay in The Bahamas," he said with a roll of his eyes that Liv mimicked.
"Of course baby… Tom is basically my fifth son," she laughed, making Eli chuckle. "I'm sorry that his parents are like that," she added.
"They were supposed to come home tonight and just decided to stay cause the place was so beautiful or something. It's insane," Eli rolled his eyes.
Liv just sighed, shaking her head. "Stupid. Well he's welcome anytime, and I'm sure the little boys will be excited!"
"Oh EJ loves his Uncle Tommy!" Eli laughed with a smile. "And of course Ted and Noah love him too."
"He's a good one. Speaking of…"
"No he's not dating Harley, and yes I'm okay."
Holding up her hands in mock surrender, she laughed. "Whatever you say, son."
There was a soft whine on the monitor in his pocket and he groaned playfully.
"That boy of yours isn't sleeping all too well lately huh?"
"Going through a growth spurt I think," Eli sighed, pulling it from his pocket and illuminating the screen to show him rolling around. "Plus just a daddy's boy," he said, hint of sadness in his voice.
"It's Christmas," she smiled small, nudging him. "Go indulge your boy."
"Yes mama," he smiled, kissing her cheek and then heading up to his boy, passing his dad on the way out of the kitchen.
"Full house tonight?" El asked with a grin.
"Tonight and tomorrow," she smiled, wrapping her arms around his middle.
"Can you believe this year is almost over?"
"It's been a big one… our little girl, boy turned one… new grand babies and so many milestones for our kiddos."
"And us," he reminded her, pecking her lips a few times. "Three years married this year. Maybe we renew our vows in front of the kids?"
"If we can find time!" She laughed.
"True," he chuckled, leaning down to kiss her slowly.
"It's gonna be a good year, I think," she nodded, "Lot's of change with Eli and Sam, but good I think."
"'S'always good with you, baby."
"Still my partner for life?"
"No matter what life throws at us."
"I love you, El."
"I love you more, Olivia."