**I apologize ahead of time for what your about to read but bear with me as we all go through this very tough time with Olivia. I promise my fic doesn't stay all depressing and heart breaking, it does become lighter and happier as the chapters go on and because I neglected to include Nick's recent discovery of his son in the beginning, I'm now including that part in light of what happens on Wednesday's episode :D
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When Olivia arrived she checked with the nurse at the desk as to what room Hannah Martin was in. The nurse led Olivia into the room. Her husband and three children were all there as well. Baby Leo arrived one hour before Olivia's arrival. She smiled and waved to the children as she advanced into the room. Bruce, Hannah's husband got up from the recliner holding his 5 year old son who was very sleepy. He offered his free hand to shake Olivia's.
"Hi I'm Bruce her husband, you are Olivia?" The emotion behind Olivia's eyes was evident. Her eyes pooled with water fast as her eyes darted around the room wondering where her son was.
"Yes, it's nice to finally meet you."
"Likewise." He said. "We were hoping the little guy would've held off until you got here but he literally arrived an hour ago." Just hearing this news made Olivia gush with emotion.
"How is he?" She made her way to the bed where Hannah was resting comfortably.
"Olivia." Hannah smiled extending her hand to take Olivia's. She bent over giving Hannah a kiss on her cheek.
"They just took him the N.I.C.U. but he's fine for being a little early."
"That's wonderful." Olivia said.
"Why don't you go see him?" She said.
"Mommy can I go with Olivia to see Leo too?"
"I want to go too!" Her other daughter interjected.
"Girls shhh, you can go later with you dad and me." The girls protested and pouted.
"But we haven't seen him yet and he's our baby brother."
"You will soon I promise."
"Our baby brother" struck Olivia as odd but she just chalked it up to the girls thinking that their mom carried this baby although it was for someone else so naturally they would connect the birth to having a new sibling.
"Ok I'm going to go see my son; I'll be back in a bit." The two women held hands until Olivia let go.
My son, she's waited to what has seemed like an eternity to finally say those words. The nurse stopped her as Olivia opened the door to the neonatal intensive care unit.
"I'm sorry mam only parents are allowed in here." The nurse said noticing Olivia was with child of her own.
"My son is Leo." She was scanning the incubators as fast as her eyes allowed. So many girl births she noticed with tiny pink hats.
"Do you have an id bracelet?" Olivia shook her head no. The nurse stared at her. "We don't have a boy in here by the name of Leo, are you sure he's in the n.i.c.u.? Olivia completely forgot to clue in the nurse. Surely she thought Hannah would have.
"Hannah Martin, she just delivered a baby boy about an hour ago; he's my son, she was my surrogate." Still the nurse looked at her like she was nuts. The other staff worker cradled a baby trying to calm them from a bout of gas, looking on.
"Mam can you wait outside for just a minute, I literally have no idea about a surrogacy birth this morning but I'm sure we'll get it all cleared up. I'll be right back." She nodded as she turned her attention back to all the newborns. Where are you Leo? Olivia peered through the glass trying to find the incubator that housed her son. Finally she knew she was right. She'd noticed the last name Martin and the time on the card that was taped on the outside of the glass box.
6:11 a.m. Olivia arrived at 7:30.
"Hi Leo welcome to the world sweet boy I'm your mom." She whispered as she rubbed her stomach. Hopefully soon she and Nick would know if Leo was going to be a big brother to his baby sister or brother. Her tears she could hold back no longer as she locked eyes on her baby. He had electro pads attached to his chest but he didn't look small at all. His tiny little mouth would open and close.
He's yawning she thought to herself.
Leo's tiny fists were balled up and sometimes he would move them close to his face and head and then stretch his small legs. Lucky for her there were boxes of tissues at the small sitting area behind her. She dabbed at her eyes staring joyfully at her son. The nurse placed a pacifier in his mouth. Olivia knew Nick would be at work by now so she texted him instead.
He's here and he's beautiful and I can't wait to hold him. Call me later love you.
Nick smiled as he read the text then he replied.
Love you too Liv congrats. Any problems with being early?
No not that I've been told.
"Liv's a mom everyone."
"That's great!" Fin said smiling. "But he's early isn't he?"
"Fantastic! I'm so happy for her." Amanda added. Sergeant Munch was not in yet.
"Yeah but apparently he's healthy and strong, no problems so far." Nick walked into Captain Cragen's office.
"Cap'n, just heard from Liv, Leo's here and albeit early he's doing fine."
"How early is early?" the Captain asked.
"3 weeks."
"That's wonderful news, thanks Nick I'll give her a call later." It was late and he missed Olivia so he stayed way late at work instead of going to his house. He was clearing out his email and getting ready to call it a night when Cynthia walked in to the precinct with their son. Nick froze looking at them as he was laying the collar down on his coat.
"Hello Nick." She said. There was a long pause before Nick answered her.
"Cynthia." He said very surprised. The last contact he had with her was last spring and it did not go well when he tried in vain to be part of his son's life she coldly shut the door on that. Maria wasn't happy hearing the news that Nick had another child and it was never brought it up again since he told her Cynthia didn't want him involved and he wasn't going to challenge his rights to custody as the boy's father. Nick looked down at his son who held a firm grasp to his mother's hand. "Hello Umberto."
"Hello sir."
"Sir? I feel like I should be retired. You can call me Nick-ok, that alright with you?" Nick looked to his mother for her blessing. Cynthia nodded.
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The nurse returned with the head nurse. "Sorry about that, if you would please put a gown on I'll take you in now." Olivia smiled willingly following them in where she donned a gown, mask and gloves. Her heart beat faster now as she watched eagerly the nurse lift the top off the incubator. Her broad smile was hidden behind the allergen mask. She touched his tiny fingers sticking her index finger prying open his closed hand.
"Hi Leo I'm so happy to finally meet you." A tear trickled down her cheek only to get soaked up by her mask. After a while Olivia began to feel somewhat uneasy as she visited with her son and couldn't help but wonder why the head nurse stood close by as if she was keeping an eye on her.
Hannah was up walking the hall with her iv cart attached to her arm and her husband by her side. Olivia smiled as she came up on them.
"He's perfect. Are you on your way there now?"
"Yeah we thought we'd go and see him too."
"Where are the kids?"
"My mom came to get them and take them home. 3:30 this morning was quite early for all of them to be rousted out of their warm beds." Hannah told her.
"Right, well I'll just tag along and have another look at my son. There's nothing that can keep me away from him." Hannah and Bruce looked at one another, their smiles not convincing. The three were informed only two parents at a time were allowed in so Olivia watched from the window. She understood that Hannah carried this baby to almost full term but she was a little miffed that they went inside and didn't offer her first a second visit with the her son when they learned only two at a time.
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Olivia learned that Leo although being born at 33 and ½ weeks had developed fully but would need to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit until he gained his proper weight of 6 lbs. He scored 5 out of 10 on his Apgar test which was not unheard of with preemies. Olivia had inquired about the vitamin K shot if Leo had it. Her pediatrician informed her she could have it done at his two month check-up but Hannah assured her it was done at birth. Leo would need to be put on a ventilator until his lungs became stronger. Premature babies born between 33 and 34 weeks are called moderately preterm babies weighing between 4 and 5 pounds at birth and measuring almost 20 inches long. These babies are getting much closer to the size of a baby born at full term. Their bones are fully formed, their fingernails come to the ends of their fingertips, and in boys the testicles are descending into the scrotum, however, the respiratory system doesn't finish developing until the last weeks of pregnancy, and antibodies are only starting to pass from mom to baby. Learning to eat may take the longest. The suck-swallow-breathe reflex is not well coordinated with preemies born a few weeks earlier than what is considered ful term at 36.
As Olivia prepared to leave that evening and check into a hotel nearby she had expressed her desire to stay in the hospital and didn't care if she had to sleep on an uncomfortable couch or chair but hospital policy forbid that because she was not considered the birth mother or immediate family. Hannah assured her that a nice hot shower, hot meal and a comfortable bed would do her body good and she could come back as early as 7:00 a.m. tomorrow.
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She called Nick after she took her shower and filled him in.
"So he's perfect huh, I never had any doubts."
"Oh really, well this morning when I woke you the first thing out of your mouth was oh my god Liv he's early."
"Well technically yes but still I had no worries I'm just so happy for you. Other than being over the moon how are YOU feeling?"
"I'm good, tired…still pregnant." She smiled hearing his laugh.
"Good, to be pregnant I mean."
They laughed together this time.
"Yeah I bet you're tired, it's been a very long day for you. So is my son kicking yet?"
"Nick I'm only 4 months it's way too early and what do you mean my son? What if it's a girl?"
"I'll love her just the same and she'll grow up to love the Yankees and Giants."
"Oy vey." Olivia said falling back on the bed against her pillows eliciting a hearty laugh from Nick.
"How long do you think Leo will be in the nicu?"
"I'm not sure a few weeks at least." He was quiet and Olivia took notice to that.
"You still there?"
"Yeah I'm still here."
"What's on your mind Nick." More silence fell over the conversation.
"Cynthia came by the precinct as I was leaving."
"And?" Olivia knew the answer to her own rhetorical question.
"She wants me to get to know Umberto." Olivia fell silent. Of course she wants Nick to have the relationship with his son after 9 years. It was just that she didn't want to have to share Nick's attention, now with Leo and their soon to be baby and now with his son by Cynthia. Olivia scolded herself for having such selfish thoughts but it was on her mind.
"Liv did you hear me?"
"I think that's wonderful Nick. That little boy is so lucky to have you as his father but what are Cynthia's real intentions?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean is she financially secure or is she coming to you because she wants an exorbitant amount of child support from you?"
"I can't believe you would say that. No she honestly wants my son to have a father. Liv…where did that come from?" She realized she had just over stepped her boundaries.
"I'm sorry Nick you're right." He pinched his eyes closed and hung his head.
"I'm not on rotation this weekend so I'll get my mom to watch Zara." He heard her yawn.
"Sounds good, oh and Nick can you bring me my sneakers and the pink bottle of perfume on my dresser?"
"Sure now you get some sleep mommy, I love you." Olivia chuckled.
"And I love you." She smiled and tapped the end call option on her phone.
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Olivia was up way before her alarm sounded. Operating on roughly 4 hours of sleep, she washed up, dressed and left. She got a cup of energy and a pastry in the hotel lobby then headed to the hospital. She didn't even bother going to the room to see Hannah because Leo was the first person she wanted to see this beautiful chilly autumn morning.
"Good morning." Olivia said spying them leaning against the window looking in.
"Good morning Olivia how are you, well rested I hope?" Hannah asked. Olivia wrinkled her nose.
"Eh didn't sleep much just too excited." Bruce mustered a lazy smile at Olivia then draped his arm over his wife's shoulder looking at her. His wife just continued to stare into the nicu. Olivia felt something was off or maybe they just weren't morning people.
"Bruce when you get a chance my lawyer asked me to get the birth certificate so I can fax him a copy of it."
"Sure I'll get that to you today." At 7:30 the nicu would open to parents so Olivia, Hannah and Bruce waited the half hour.
"Are you going to stay in Connecticut the whole time or commute?" Hannah asked looking at Olivia smooth her stomach horizontally.
"I've already started my maternity leave so I'll be here until Leo's ready to go home with me." Hannah smiled then turned her attention back to the window. Olivia was wondering or even waiting for that matter if they would have offered her to stay at their home to save on expenses. The nurse came over and unlocked the doors.
"If you don't mind I'd like to go in first." Olivia said.
"Oh absolutely, we'll wait out here." Hannah said. Visitor's for the Martin's started to stream in by the hour so Olivia loved having more time in the nicu with her baby. She sat for hours soothing his head and rubbing his arms, whispering lullaby's to him.
"Every day is another day you're closer to coming home. I can't wait for your baby sister or brother to get here so you two can play and grow up together and be the best of friends." Olivia didn't want to give up her spot to the Martins but they brought in family so she kissed her finger touching Leo's nose getting up saying good bye to her son.
"See you soon my love." That evening as she prepared to leave she reminded Bruce once more for the birth certificate. When he handed it over to her she was shocked at what she saw.
"What in the hell is going on here, his name is not Joshua and why are you two listed as the parents on my baby's birth certificate?" Her tone was not gentle. Brue looked at his wife who in turn looked at him. He walked over and closed the door to the room.
"You two better start talking and fast." She hissed.
"Olivia we don't know how to say this."
"You're not keeping my baby. I paid you! We have a legal binding contract!"
"Olivia please we're sorry we didn't mean for this to happen. I carried him we have rights and I'm still his biological mother." Hannah looked at her almost in tears.
"You signed away your rights when you agreed to be my surrogate!"
"Yes I know Olivia but as his mother I still have a right to change my mind."
"No you don't. I can't believe you! How can you do this to me? Invite me into your home pretend to be my friend, throw me the elaborate baby shower…for what? Only to stab me in the back and try to keep my baby as your own?" Olivia moved closer to the bed until her husband stepped between the two women.
"Olivia I think you should go now. Our lawyer is getting a restraining order against you as we speak. You won't be allowed near us or the baby." Bruce said sternly. Olivia thought if only she had brought her service revolver she would have shot this mother fucker right between the eyes. Any mother would kill with her bare hands when it comes to protecting their child. She was seething now. "Please try to understand Olivia the baby needs two parents to raise him."
"His name is Leo not Joshua and I'll be damned if I'm going to let you take my son away from me. You have one hell of a nerve and lady and let me tell you something, you have no idea who you just came up against!"
"Don't threaten us we have more resources at our disposal than you Olivia now please go before we call security." Hannah told her surprisingly staying calm.
"Allow me." Olivia said. Seconds later a nurse showed up. She summoned her supervisor when it was evident she could not resolve this issue.
"Ok Ms. Benson try to calm down, I know you're very upset right now. Can you come outside with me so we can talk in private? Ms. Benson I'm sorry this happening to you but the hospital can't get involved. Mrs. Martin is the birth mother and we have to follow the law. We were not informed of your arrangement with the Martins. I'm sorry I wish there was something I could do. You're not the first person I've seen this happen to. Have you called your lawyer?" Olivia nodded yes sobbing. Her nose was red and her eyes were nonstop water works. The nurse reached for the box of tissues then put her arm around her and led her to a private area.
Nick was at home when his phone rang. He stood in front of his refrigerator deciding what to eat only to give up and pull out a take-out menu. It was Olivia number but her name wasn't displayed as it usually is.
"Amaro."
"Nick." Olivia sounded hysterical. She was sitting in her car in the hospital parking lot.
"Liv what's wrong?" He could hear her choke back on her sobs. "Liv talk to me is it Leo?" She was barely audible. "Sweetie I can't understand you please take a breath then tell me." Her words were hard to decipher between gasps of air.
"They—are—trying-to—keep—my-baby."
"What! They can't so that." Nick was furious now.
"Did you call your lawyer?" He could have smacked himself with the phone.
"Of course you did. Ok Liv listen to me I'm coming up there." His heart was in his stomach listening to her cry uncontrollably. She lowered her head to the steering wheel holding her stomach with her hands, the phone falling to the floor board.
"Liv…Liv where are you? FUCK!" He screamed. Olivia opened the car door and vomited. He called his Captain.
"Captain something awful has gone wrong for Olivia do I have permission to take the squad car across state line?"
"What do you mean gone wrong Nick?"
"The surrogate mother has decided to keep the baby and Liv is just beside herself. I'm worried for her Captain."
"Your gun stays, swing by and pick me up."