Author's Notes:

Thank you all for reading and for those wonderful reviews. I really hope you are enjoying its so far!

I was hoping to add some banners to my stories, but I'm both technologically and artistically handicapped so if anyone knows anybody that would be willing to help me out, (or if you would be), please PM me and let me know. Thanks!

Peter holds her close and pulls her into his apartment and closes the door behind her. "It's going to be ok," he tells her.

She pulls away and swipes away her tears. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"

"It's ok," he takes in her drenched appearance. "Why don't you go shower and try to get warm. Everything's in the bathroom."

"Thanks. Which room is the bathroom?"

"Oh you can use mine. Through that door on your left. Bathroom is on the other side of the room. I'll grab some clothes for you to change into."

She nods and disappears into his bedroom, crossing his carpeted floor quickly and entering the bathroom and closing the door behind her. She turns the shower on then peels off the soaked through USMC t-shirt and pajama bottoms. She grabs a washcloth from the cupboard and steps under the warm spray. She stands and allows the warm water to sluice over her chilled skin and warm her bones. Her hands caress her hardened abdomen and the tears seem to come in waves. She's not sure how long she's been standing there, but when the water starts to cool she quickly washes her hair then lathers up and rinses off. When she steps out of the shower a towel is waiting for her and her wet clothes are gone and have been replaced with a pair of his sweats and a T-shirt from his local gym. She pulls the clothes on and pulls the drawstring as tight as she can on the sweats. She towels her hair dry. He's waiting for her on the bed when she steps out of the bathroom.

"Where should I put this?" she asks about the wet towel in her hands.

"Just toss it back into the bathroom. I'll take care of it later."

She does as he says then takes the offered mug and sits beside him, Indian style. She takes a small sip and smiles at him. "Hot cocoa?"

"Always makes me feel better." She smiles wanly and takes another sip. "So you going to tell me what happened?"

"I…we got into a fight."

"I figured. What about?"

"You."

"I figured that too. He saw my text?"

"Yea, and it just got out of hand," she takes another sip of her cocoa.

"I'm so sorry. If I'd known-"

"You'd what? Stop texting me. Stop calling? Leave me alone like I asked you to?"

"Don't. This is not my fault. It's not my fault you married a douchebag asshole, so don't try to blame me for that."

"But you-"

"I tried to be your friend, Olivia. That's all. If I'd known he was going to see that text I never would have sent it. I don't want to hurt you. I don't want to be the reason you get hurt. But I'm also not going to sit back and allow you to blame me for wanting to be your friend. You could have just ignored me."

"I know," she admits, because deep down inside she knows he's right. If she really wanted to, she could have ignored him. "I'm sorry. I'm just-"

"Looking for someone to blame, I know. It's ok… What else?"

"You know this is good cocoa. Where'd you get it?"

"Bullshit. It's Swiss Miss, it's good, but not that good. What aren't you telling me?"

"I just…I just don't want to talk about it right now. Can we just talk about something else? Please?"

"Fine. You want some whipped cream on that?"

"You've had whipped cream this whole time and now you're asking me if I want some?"

"Right…Be right back!"

xXx

Olivia laughs as Peter continues his story animatedly.

"So, I'm like shit! What am I going to do? I have to go out the stall to get some toilet paper. So I peak through the slit and no one else seems to be there. I hobble out with my pants around my ankles and make it to the next stall. Only to find that this stall also has no toilet paper."

Olivia laughs out loud, full and heartily.

"I make to try the last stall when this couple comes in. Hands groping. Moaning. The works. So I'm like shit this can't get any worse? Then I hear her say something and I realize I actually know who this girl is. She was the girl I'd had a crush on all semester. We were in a couple of classes together, and really good friends. I was in love with her. We had finally hooked up the night before…and I thought…"

"Oh, Peter."

"I was going to talk to her in class on Monday. But…So I just sat there. And listened. I couldn't leave the stall because they would know, and I still had shit in my ass and no toilet paper. So I just sat there and listened to the girl I thought I was going to marry and grow old with bang some random asshole in the bathroom stall beside me."

"Peter, I'm so sorry."

"Yea. Seems like I always pick the wrong girl."

Olivia holds his gaze for a few moments then quickly looks away. Their haze of laughter, joking, and fun now shattered by the harsh reality of what is.

"So umm… Are you going to tell me what really happened?"

Olivia stares at him quizzically. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, don't bullshit me, Olivia. Something happened between you and Elliot. Something serious enough to send you here to me at ten minutes to midnight."

She stares away from his inquisitive green eyes and instead plays with a loose thread on his pillowcase.

"Liv…" he tries again softly.

"He asked me if the baby was his."

"He what?" Peter roars. "Is he out of his fucking mind?" Olivia doesn't say anything. "He thinks its mine, doesn't he?"

Her nod is nearly imperceptible, but it's there.

"Oh, Liv."

"I don't know what to do. How do I raise a child, two children at that, with someone who thinks that of me? That I would be so cunning and deceitful as to pass off another man's child as his?"

"Olivia. He… he doesn't know what he was saying. He was angry and upset, an-"

"And that's supposed to excuse it?! What he said hurt me! And made me question everything. I mean. What am I doing in a relationship with a man that thinks that of me? What am I doing raising a child with him and planning to have another?"

"I'm a bit biased, so I may be the wrong person to ask."

"Before I came here I just parked and sat in the car and thought. Peter…I can't do this. I can't have this baby."

"Whoa. Hold on Liv, slow down. You're going a bit far now."

"Am I? I mean. With the way things are…I don't want to be a single mom. I don't think I can do it. There are days with Kayla where I think I might just lose it. To do it with two…"

"Olivia. If anyone can do this it's you."

"I just… I don't want to do this alone."

"Olivia…" He tilts her chin up and tucks a loose tendril behind her ear. "Do you really think that I would let you go through this alone?"

"Do you think I'm a bad person for thinking like this?"

"No. I don't think you're a bad person. I think you're hurt, and scared, and confused."

"But am I a bad mom for not wanting this baby anymore? For changing my mind about all of this."

"No, but I think you're wrong if you make this child pay for the sins of it's father." His words hit home in more ways than one, and she knows what her decision must be.

She sighs heavily and flops back against his pillows. "I'm a horrible mom."

Peter takes each of her hands in his and pulls her to sit back up in front of him. "You're the strongest, bravest, most beautiful amazing woman I've ever known. You're not a horrible mom or a horrible person so don't think that about yourself. You'll figure this out. I have faith in you." He reaches out and tucks a loose lock behind her ear then cups her face.

She rests a hand against his. "Thank you," she says to him and kisses his palm.

There's a moment.

Her eyes lock on his, and his fall to her lips and before she can say anything his lips are on her. She tries to say his name in protest, but he uses the parting of her lips to slide his tongue into her mouth, and then…

She no longer wants to protest.

Her hormones are raging so she kisses him back and she can feel herself being lowered back down onto his pillows. He kisses her like he knows her, and really he already does. This isn't their first time at this. He knows exactly how to kiss her. Exactly where to touch her. He knows what she likes, what she doesn't, but his kiss isn't his, and she finds that she misses the edginess of Elliot's kiss. How he'd nip at her lips then soothe it with his tongue.

Elliot.

The man who she's married to and about to cheat on. The man she loves. The man whose child she currently houses inside her, and as Peter's hand caresses the skin of her abdomen, as his fingers trail down and near the edge of her panties she realizes she cannot do this. She can't sleep with another man while she carries her husband's child. She's not a cheater. Never has been, and does not intend to be.

Her hand intercepts his just as his fingers are about to dip into her panties, and she gives him a firm yet gentle push. "I can't," she whispers against his lips as they exchange heated breaths. "This isn't going to solve anything."

Peter lets out a frustrated sigh and rests his forehead against hers. His hard on is firm against her hip. "I know," he says and moves off of her "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm such an asshole. You came here looking for a friend and I…I'm sorry."

"Peter-"

"It's just that…I'm in love with you, Olivia."

Oh boy. This is not going to end well.

"I'm in love with you, and you have no idea how many nights I've dreamed of this, and finally I have you here. With me. In my bed. And I can't touch you. I can't hold you. I can't show you how much I love you because you belong to him."

"Peter…"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have unloaded all that on you." He reaches for the aerosol can on the small table beside his bed and tilts his head back before filling his mouth with whipped cream.

"Maybe I should go…"

"What? No. It's late. You shouldn't be out at this time of night."

"I know, but it's weird now and…"

"Look. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you. Just stay here. Sleep in my bed, I'll take the couch."

"No. Peter, I'm not going to kick you out of your own bed."

"You're pregnant. You need the bed more than I do."

"Fine. But…will you stay with me? I don't want to be alone."

"Sure."

He grabs some pillows and blankets and assembles a makeshift bed on the floor beside her side of the bed. They settle down and both lay and stare up at the ceiling.

"Can I ask you something?" he asks

"Sure." She replies.

"Why do you stay with him?"

She doesn't hesitate in her answer. "I love him. He's my best friend. The father of my children. My family…He's my husband."

Peter nods in understanding. "Love sucks."

She fills her mouth with whipped cream. "You have no idea. Cream?"

"Yea, cream me," he says before opening his mouth and allowing her to spray some in.

xXx

He remains awake for the remainder of the night, and is saddened when she does not return. He goes through their morning routine without her. Waking the kids up, dressing Kayla, and fixing breakfast. He returns home later that evening to find that she still has not returned. At least not permanently. His children have been fed, but Kayla is missing, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know where she is. He's called her a million times, and she has not answered any of his calls, returned any of his messages, or replied to any of his texts, and as he stays up for yet another night he feels himself beginning to worry.

Because he can see a future He Does Not Like.

He can see himself living in a small apartment with his kids. He can see sharing custody of Kayla and the baby, seeing them every other weekend instead of everyday. He can see his wife healthy and happy with a man that is not him. Raising his children as if he's their father, not him. It's not a future he wants. It's a future he's hoped and prayed against.

He sits up in bed and he listens to the silence, and it's disturbing because it's not supposed to be this quiet. He's supposed to hear quiet breathing as she sleeps beside him. He's supposed to feel her warm body in his arms.

He's scared.

He's always feared the unknown.

He was taught at a young age to be brave and to face his fears. He was taught to stand up and fight for what he believes in.

He believes in them.

He's willing to fight for them.

But he was never taught what to do when you lose that fight. Do you find a corner and lick your wounds in private, or gear up and prepare to fight another day? He was never taught how to deal when the one he loves leaves him. It hurt when Kathy did it. It damn near killed him when Olivia did. If she does again, he's not sure if he will know how to survive.

He's not sure if he will want to.

Then he hears it.

In the silence of the night and the quiet of their home he hears the front door open and the alarm sound. He listens as she punches in her code to disarm it. Hears her quiet footsteps as she walks up the stairs and down the hall. When they stop he freezes and he listens.

Listens.

Listens.

He hears his own heart beating in his chest. Her footsteps never reached their door, and he's afraid they never will. He's out of bed and at the door in seconds. He opens it to see her quietly closing their daughter's door.

"Liv," he says softly. She jumps at the sound of his voice and he wonders when the sound of his voice started scaring her.

"Not now," she says.

"We need to talk about this."

"Not now," she replies and heads back down the hallway.

He's hot on her heels. He reaches her at the bottom of the steps and turns her to face him. "At least tell me where you're staying so that I know that you're ok." She avoids eyes and looks away from him. "Are you staying with Casey?" She still doesn't answer and continues to stare, and he knows she's hiding something from him, because their walls aren't that interesting and then it dawns on him. "You're kidding me! You're staying with him? He's the reason why we're in this mess and you're staying with him?! Dammit, Olivia!"

She turns angry eyes at him. "The last time I stayed with Casey it put her in the awkward situation where she had to chose between the two of us. We're both her friends and it hurt her to be in such a place. I can't do that to her again. I won't do that that to her again. I'm sleeping on his couch and that's all you need to know."

"All I need to know-" She turns to leave and he follows behind her. "I'm your husband and that's all you're going to say to me." She continues to walk towards the door with him right behind her. "Olivia, you walk out that door then don't think about coming back."

She looks at him with hallowed eyes then leaves him standing alone.

xXx

He's late, but not too late. He's timed it right, and he's already seen her enter her OBGYN's office. He needs to catch her at the right time so that she can't run away from him again. He reads the name on the door and shakes his head. He's still not a fan of Dr. Mark Phillips, but when it came to discussing a new OB, Olivia was having none of it. She was comfortable with Mark and he was who she wanted to deliver their baby. It wasn't even up for discussion. About twenty minutes into her appointment, including waiting room time, he enters and allows the nurse to direct him into her examination room.

"Elliot! Olivia was just telling me that you wouldn't be coming. Said you got caught up at work with something," Dr. Mark Phillips smiles.

Elliot plasters on a fake smile. That is, until he sees who is sitting beside her.

Peter.

He smiles at him. "Nice to see you again, Elliot. I figured I'd fill in for you since you couldn't make it."

"I managed to slip out," Elliot supplies. He stares at his wife and her eyes beg and plead with him not to make a scene. He acquiesces. "I think I can take it from here."

Peter turns to Olivia. "You going to be ok?" he asks her, and she nods awkwardly. "Call me if you need anything. I'll see you later. Again Elliot, nice seeing you." Elliot watches him leave then takes his rightful seat on the stool beside Olivia's bed. She doesn't even look at him.

"Alright," Mark states, noticing that the tension in the room has gone from zero to one hundred in a matter of seconds. "Have there been anymore problems since I saw you the other night?"

"No," she shakes her head.

"Good. I'm going to do a transvaginal ultrasound since we couldn't see anything when I tried the other night. Hopefully we'll be able to see the heart beat."

Olivia smiles at him. The two parents sit in silence while he prepares the Doppler. Elliot eyes her skeptically. What happened the other night? Once the Doppler is slid into place all turn their attention to the monitor.

"Let's see here," Mark says as he gazes at the screen in front of him "…Wow. And it looks like you're having twins!" He exclaims.

"Nice try Mark. You tried to trick us with that last time," Olivia replies, slightly amused.

"Did I? I've got to find myself some new material," he smiles and looks at the screen. "Actually…" he points to the monitor. "That's your baby's heartbeat. And right here," he points again. "Is your other baby's heartbeat. Congratulations." He smiles at them.

"What?" she sits up on her hunches and stares at the screen.

"Twins. Congrats."

She smiles wanly. "Thanks."

Elliot watches on as he sees the flicker on the screen before him. His children's hearts beat before him as they grow inside her. Slowly he reaches up and entangles his fingers with hers. "Can we hear them?" he asks.

"Sure." He turns on the speaker and light rapid heartbeats fill the room. "Sounds strong. From the looks of things Olivia, you're doing great for twelve weeks"

"And you're sure everything's ok?" Olivia asks.

He turns back to screen and looks again and Olivia uses this moment to pull her hand away from Elliot's. Elliot stares at their separated fingers, his eyes fixated on his wedding band. "Everything's good. Really good. Would you guys like a picture?" He asks and spins back around, none the wiser to the turmoil brewing in his own exam room.

"Please," Olivia requests.

"Alright I'll print a couple out. That way you can have one on your fridge and other one at work." He removes the probe and puts the machine back in its place. "You can pick them up at the front desk when you go to make your next appointment. Now I want you to keep up with the folic acid and the vitamins I prescribed for you, and No Stress. We're going to be taking it easy right?

"Right," she answers.

"I'll see you in a couple weeks, ok?"

"Ok," she replies. Once he's gone she quickly hops off the table and changes out of her hospital gown and back into her clothes.

"What happened the other night?"

She doesn't answer him.

"Olivia," he probes.

"Nothing. I had some cramping. Peter brought me to the hospital."

"Peter? Why didn't you call me?"

"Didn't think you'd care about a baby that wasn't yours."

He sighs. That comment is going to forever come around a bite him in the ass. "Olivia," he tries again. He watches her and the reality of their situation hits him and he knows he's got to fix this. "So are you just going to keep on avoiding me?"

"I don't have anything to say, Elliot," she tells him as she buttons her pants.

"Olivia, we're about to have two babies, we can't bring them into this mess."

"Oh, so now you think they're yours?"

"I never…I-I'm sorry Olivia."

"I'm sorry? You accused me of cheating on you and trying to pass off another man's child as yours. Me. Your wife. The woman you've known for over ten years. I mean, is that what you really think of me?"

"No! Liv, I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry."

"Yea me too Elliot, but I'm not going to just ignore this one. And I'm tired of hearing your sorries. I don't. I don't want to do this anymore!" she yells and throws her hands up in frustration.

"So what does that mean?" he asks.

"I don't know. But I'm tired El," she says and turns sorrow-filled eyes at him. "I'm tired of the I'm sorries. I'm tired of the fights. I'm tired of trying to care anymore, of trying to fight for this. I can't. I just…I can't do this anymore Elliot. It's killing me."

Her words scare him, because he knows he's pushed her so close to the edge that she's teetering and giving up on keeping her balance, and he's afraid that he might not be able to stop her from falling. "So what? You're just going to give up. Move on with him?" He thumbs back towards the door.

"I don't know what I'm going to do. But I think I need some time to think this through."

"We still have a counseling appointment scheduled for tomorrow. I'm going to be there. I'm asking that you show up too so that we can talk this through. I think having a mediator will help."

"You really think we can fix this in an hour long session? Elliot, we are so fucked up!"

"I know. But no matter what's happened I still think we can fix this. Please just show up."

I don't know…Should she show up?

Thank you all for reading!