Yearning

By: Liv-x-Case-Benson & dcmasters

Ch. 13: Adjusting to Five

Olivia opened the door to the house, carrying Scarlett in a car seat, holding it for Casey.

"Yeah, they're tired. Once we've settled them, we could curl up for a bit if you want?"

Olivia nodded. "And we get to see if they like the room. Lead the way, Mommy."

Casey grinned, leading them through to the the nursery. She gently picked up Sapphire, who didn't even stir, placing her in the cot.

Setting Scarlett on the floor, Olivia grabbed her from the car seat, noticing she was out like a light, cuddling her close and kissing her head, before laying her in her cot.

Mason grizzled a little when Casey picked him up, but quickly settled as she put him down. Casey moved over to Olivia with a smile. "Should we leave now?" she whispered.

Olivia turned both baby monitors on, grabbing the small one, wrapping an arm around Casey. "Please."

Casey smiled, leading Olivia through to their bedroom, pulling her down beside her on the bed. "Mmm hi."

Olivia laid beside her, holing her close. "Hi."

Casey relaxed, her head resting on Olivia's shoulder. "I've missed you."

Olivia wrapped her arms around Casey. "I've missed you too. How do you feel?"

"A bit tired. Why?"

"Just wondering."

"How long have you got off?"

"With you? As long as you have. We could sleep, get something to eat..."

"Sleep whilst they are and then eat once we've settled them?" Casey smiled, yawning.

Olivia nodded, undressing before slipping into a t-shirt and shorts, uncovering the bed and sliding in, the baby monitor on the nightstand beside her.

"Mind if I stay in these sweats?"

"Sure, if you get in with me."

Casey nodded, getting in beside Olivia, moving into her arms.

Smiling, Olivia wrapped her arms around her. "I hope they're in sync."

"Me too," Casey yawned sleepily.

The detective kissed Casey gently. "Mhm."

Casey returned the kiss. "Mmm."

"Mmm, I love you."

"I love you too. I can't wait to marry you."

Olivia smiled. "Me either. When should we do that?"

"When we've got into a routine and I've lost this stomach."

Olivia smiled. "I still think you're beautiful, but yes, we should get a routine down first."

"I've missed this."

"I've really missed this."

Casey sighed softly, falling asleep seconds later.

Olivia held her tightly, falling asleep minutes later.

Casey woke three hours later alone. As she tried to place where she was, she heard a voice on the baby monitor and pulled it close to her.

"It's ok," Olivia said, sitting with Mason in the rocking chair. "Shh, don't cry. It's ok. We didn't leave you. No. We were just in the next room taking a nap. It's ok."

Casey smiled listening to Olivia's soothing voice for a short while longer before mustering up the strength to get up. She made her way to the nursery next door and smiled in the doorway. "You're a natural."

Olivia smiled. "Thank you. He was kinda whimpering a bit and I knew if he started crying the girls would start too."

"Is he hungry? I could try nursing him."

Olivia smiled. "Probably. You want to try?" she asked, getting up so Casey could sit down.

Casey nodded, getting herself comfortable before reaching for him.

Olivia gently handed him to her.

Casey gently put him to her breast and he latched on almost instantly. "Hungry, huh?" she said softly, stroking his cheek.

Olivia smiled, sitting on the floor beside them.

"Liv..." Casey said softly after several minutes.

The detective looked toward them. "Yeah?"

"W... Would you mind if I changed my name?"

"Your name?" Olivia asked. "Why? I love your name."

"I want... I want to change my surname to Benson."

Olivia smiled. "I would love that. I thought you meant your first name. But why now? Not that I'm objecting, of course."

"Because... you'll think it's soppy..."

"Aw! No, I won't! Come on, tell me!"

"Because until we got together you had no family, and now you do. I don't want to be a Novak. I've got plenty of family with the same name. You, and these kids are everything to me and I want to take your name. I'd feel proud to be able to."

Smiling, Olivia hugged Casey and Mason. "I love that reason. And I love you."

"And I already registered the kids under Benson..."

"Then all that's left is you and then, of course, getting married."

"We could do that at the same time," Casey smiled.

"But I thought you wanted to wait to get married?"

"I think I'm slowly changing my mind."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to wait to be a Benson."

"So there are questions we need to answer: when, where, big wedding, small wedding, where's the reception? We probably won't have the time for a Honeymoon, or we might, who knows?" Olivia said.

"I'm thinking just close friends and family?" Casey replied.

Olivia nodded. "Ok. Any idea when?"

"Two months enough time to organize it?"

"Casey, I'm not good at organizing this stuff..."

"I'm sure I can manage."

"All right, but I don't think we can go with the traditional "no-seeing-the-bride-for-24-hours-before-the-ceremony" with three babies in the house," Olivia said.

"Maybe just separate rooms then."

"That'll work. I said that as a reality anyway. Hey, Case?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you planning on going back to work or being a stay-at-home mom?"

"I'm not sure yet, why?"

"Just wondering."

"There's no reason I couldn't do both. Go part-time or something."

Olivia nodded. "Yeah, true."

"We'll see. You never know what's going to happen."

Olivia nodded, kissing Mason. "That's true."

"Does he feel cold to you?"

Olivia grabbed a blanket from the shelf on the closet. "Here, wrap him up. Then he won't be."

Casey wrapped him tightly against herself. "We'll have you warm in no time."

Olivia smiled, kissing their cheeks as Sapphire squirmed and whimpered. She walked over, picking her up. "Oh, what's the matter, baby girl?"

Sapphire gave short soft whimpers for a little while longer before finally settling.

Olivia walked over to the second rocker, on the other side of Casey, sitting down. "There. Shh."

She calmed, then nudged Olivia's breast.

Olivia smiled. "Uh oh, looks like somebody else is hungry now, Mommy. Is our little boy done eating yet?"

"Yeah, can you burp him?"

Olivia nodded, throwing a burping rag over one shoulder as they switched kids. Putting Mason up to her shoulder, she patted his back, walking around. Suddenly, she turned to Casey, wincing. "I just had a weird thought/realization."

"What?" Casey frowned.

"Not that it'll ever be a problem, again, this is just a thought, but with nursing three kids I...well, wonder how long you'll uh...have your chest the way it is?"

"Olivia Benson! You really do have sex on the brain," Casey smirked, "Depends how long I breast feed for."

Olivia's cheeks turned a mild shade of pink. "And how long they drink it for. Some kids take a lot in one feeding, others hardly and when they're done, most of the time, they're done."

"It was easier expressing in the hospital. I don't know that I'll have enough for three anyway."

Olivia nodded. "You will. The kids will want it so you'll express more as time goes on," she said, patting him harder. "Oh, there's one. I feel like I shouldn't be so happy when he could be five seconds from puking down my back."

"He's your son. He's supposed to cover you in puke."

"Yeah, at least a couple times."

Casey gave a smile as she watched them. She'd tell her the truth one day, just maybe not yet.

Olivia continued to walk and pat Mason's back gently.

Olivia had only been home a week when her phone gave a loud ring, earning a sigh from Casey.

Rolling over, she grabbed it, answering. "Benson."

"We need you," Cragen's voice came down the phone line as Casey tried to settle a now crying Mason.

Olivia sat up, following Casey, balancing the phone between her head and shoulder. "Need me, Case?" She turned her attention back to Cragen. "What's going on?"

"Triple homicide. Scared kids..." he replied as Casey moved Mason away.

"How many kids? How old?"

"Five ranging from three to ten."

"Wow. All right. I'll be there. Though can I try not to make it an all-nighter? I won't rush any of the kids there, but with three newborns..."

"I'll do what I can."

Olivia nodded. "Thanks. I'll be in within the hour."

"It's work, it's fine. Just go, Liv."

"Casey, you're acting like you're angry with me. I have no choice. I want to be here. For you. For them. Really I do. So I'm sorry if it doesn't seem that way," she said, walking out to take a quick shower.

Casey sighed softly, placing Mason down just as Scarlett woke. She put the children in their baskets and brought them through to the bedroom, then lay with Scarlett. "Shh..." she whispered softly.

Ten minutes later, the detective was out of the shower and searching for clean clothes.

"Here," Casey said, pulling some from the closet as she cradled Scarlett.

Olivia smiled, quickly pulling them on. "Thank you," she said, equipping her shield and weapon. She sighed. "I'm sorry for a little while ago," she said, sitting on the bed, kissing the kids and Casey. "I love you."

Casey nodded, kissing her gently. "We love you too."

Olivia hugged all of them tightly. "I'll try not to be all night. I'll let you know," she said with a smile as she left.

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