Around one, Eli started crying and Olivia woke up and fed him a bottle, and changed him, before rocking him back to sleep. She was really thirsty and grabbed the baby moniter and turned it on. She walked downstairs, and saw a lump on the couch. Walking over she saw, Elliot laying on his stomach, face smooshed against the cushion. She smiled to herself.
Kneeling beside him, she rubbed his cheek, and spoke his name, "El…El, wake up."
"Huh."
"El, why are you on the couch?" Olivia asked, looking down at him.
"I can't sleep in my room anymore." Elliot said sleepily, and Olivia nodded in understanding.
"Your back is going to hate you if you keep sleeping on this couch."
"It already does." His face grimaced as he tried to sit up, Olivia helped him. "what time is it?"
"1:30, in the morning," Olivia said lightly, almost whispering.
"Why are you up?" Elliot asked looking at her.
"I came down here for a glass of water, after I fed, changed, and put Eli back to sleep."
Elliot nodded and yawned, Olivia stood and extended her hand, "Come on."
He took it, and stood, "Where?"
"You can not sleep on the couch. We will share the futon."
Elliot stopped, and continued to hold onto Olivia's hand, "O come on, El, we are adults."
"Alright, better get there soon though, before I pass out right here." Olivia smiled and continued to drag Elliot upstairs behind her.
They got upstairs and Elliot helped her pull the futon out into the bed. Elliot got in first and the moment his head hit the pillow his eyes shut, Olivia got in next to him and tried to distance herself from him but he pulled her into him. He wrapped his arms around her, she hesitated but relaxed and fell asleep.
Eli started to cry again at four, and Olivia woke up and saw Elliot holding him lightly talking to him. He picked up a bottle and fed it to him. Olivia smiled, she really never saw him as a father around a baby, and he was so gentle. It was a side Olivia liked more than anything. He could be such a bad-ass sometimes but it was comforting to know he actually had this soft side of him.
"Hey," he whispered, "How long have you been awake, Liv?"
"About a minute. How long have you been awake?"
"About ten, I just woke up, and found myself holding you, that's when Eli started crying, I tried to get him before he woke you."
It's okay, El" Olivia adjusted her head on the pillow, and stared up at him.
"Liv, can I ask you a question?" She nodded and he sat down with Eli, still feeding him, "I don't really remember how I got up here."
"Is that your question?" He nodded at her. "Well, I woke around one, to Eli crying and I came down and found you on the couch, I brought you up here, the couch is murder for you." Elliot nodded, and looked down at her.
"I'm sorry."
"For what, El?" she asked confused.
"for what ever it is I did last night."
"You didn't do anything, El, you just held me, that's all." She assured him. He nodded and saw Eli finally fell asleep again. He took him to the crib and laid him down. He stood there a moment and didn't hear Olivia move up to him. He jumped when her hand moved to the top of his back. She put her head on his shoulder and they stood there like that as they watched Eli get comfortable.
"I don't know how to be a father, I've always been working when the other four grew up, how am I going to take care of a baby?" Olivia moved her head and looked up at him.
"Elliot, I know this is going to be hard, but I'll be here to help in any way I can. I know that's not much. But I'm here, if you need me." He turned his body to face hers. His hand reached up to her face, and she leaned into it. Her hand touched his. "El?"
"Liv." He pulled her close and gathered her into a hug. "Thank you."
"El, you never have to thank me. You're my best friend, I'm here." Olivia said into his chest. He rubbed her back.
"Come on, let's go back to sleep." Elliot laid down, and pulled Olivia onto him. She smiled into his chest and hugged him close.