He rolled his head towards his nightstand clock when he heard their shower turn on.
3:18am.
Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he sighed softly and slowly sat himself upright, careful not to wake his youngest daughter who slept soundly on his chest.
He shuffled slowly into the bathroom, Finley still snuggled into him and sleeping soundly, to find her bent over the sink, head hung and wearing just her work pants as the water heated.
"Hi," he said, voice barely audible above the water.
"I need to pump," she whispered back.
"I've got you one better," he said, and she looked up to catch his reflection.
"Need both," she sighed, forcing herself up.
"Start with her… let me get her jammies off and we'll settle you both under the water, okay?"
She nodded, forcing herself fully upright and watching as he carefully brought their baby down to her diaper, frowning to himself when a big pout filled her face.
"I know… but mama is home and you're ready to eat soon, anyway," he cooed, passing her over to his wife who still stood half dressed.
Finley latched almost immediately, the red in her face disappearing at the feel of her momma's skin.
"Hi baby," Liv whispered softly, gently brushing back her brown hair as Elliot carefully unbuttoned her pants, pulling them and her underwear down so she could step free of them.
"Washing your hair?" He asked her, and she nodded, eyes welling up and drifting to the matted-with-blood clump of hair that hung on her right side.
"Okay," he nodded, pushing down his boxers. "Come on."
She allowed herself to be led to the shower, sitting on the warmed, bamboo bench they'd gotten for her when she was pregnant with Finley, and faced away from the water as to not totally disturb their girl.
Elliot switched the spray to the hand-held, gentle shower, and gently tipped her head back against his stomach.
"Close your eyes, baby."
"Hmm," she nodded, doing as she was told and losing herself to the feel of the water running over her head and down her back.
He diligently massaged her scalp and neck, using the soap to aid in a much-needed massage in hopes of relieving the tensions of the day. Before he rinsed her, she allowed their daughter to switch breasts, smiling to himself when he wife sighed in relief and slumped back against him.
"Fuck," she mumbled, closing her eyes over again as he rinsed her hair and let the water wash over her.
When her hair was sufficiently rinsed, he moved to her body, washing her as best he could with her favorite scented soap.
Once she was rinsed clean, he helped her stand and escorted her to the edge of their large tub where she could sit and continue to nurse while he brushed her hair.
"You alright?" He whispered finally, once her dark locks were towel dried.
"No," she whispered softly, passing their daughter up to him and finally standing.
"What do you need?" He asked, taking their little, milk drunk baby and rocking with her.
"A good fuck," she sighed, "something to make me feel but at the same time? I'm so fucking tired and I have to be back at work at 8."
"Let's get you to sleep. When this is all closed I'll give you the fuck of your life, okay?"
"Whatever you say," she sighed, shuffling off to bed and pulling on an old and previously discarded sports bra.
"Baby," he whispered, settling Fin in her cradle in the corner of their room. "Don't brush me off."
"I'm really unhappy with you right now so that's not helping anything," she sighed, shaking her head and pulling open her night stand drawer.
"I… I know. I'm sorry, baby, I…"
"No, El. I'm sick of your temper… your jealousy. It's not attractive. I had two babies with you after 50, I don't know what more I can do to prove I love you."
"I didn't mean it like…"
"Please stop talking and get me my pumps," she said, finally pulling out her bullet and relaxing into bed.
"Honey, I can…"
"You already said no, and I need something now. I need to sleep, Elliot," she sighed as the low hum of her vibrator filled the room.
Sucking his lower lip between his teeth, he sighed softly and gathered her pumps, adjusting them on her breasts and securing them with the bra as she started to touch herself.
"Let me," he whispered, sitting beside her. "Let me…"
"No," she hissed breathlessly, her eyes fluttering closed with arousal. "No…"
"Yes," he growled, frustrated.
Her eyes snapped open when the toy suddenly shot off, the battery having failed much like her internal one was one click away from doing.
"Fuck!" She exclaimed, frustrated.
"Let me take care of you, baby," he whispered, gently knocking the toy away and to the floor.
"No," she grumbled unconvincingly. "No…"
"Yes," he growled, descending on her. "Yes…"
"Yes," she gasped when his lips curled around her clit.
She was gone by 6am, and Elliot was up an hour and a half later with Teddy and Fin.
Noah trudged downstairs around 8, sitting beside his dad with a small sigh.
"Well morning to you, too, son."
"Hi," he grumbled, taking Teddy into his lap. "Mom still working?"
"She is… she should be finished up today, buddy. What's wrong?"
"Just need to talk to her…"
Raising a brow, Elliot turned to look at his boy.
"Noah… what's going on?"
"Just gotta talk to her," he brushed off, happy to be distracted by Emma coming down the stairs, all dressed.
"Where you going?" El asked his teenager, laughing.
"Shopping with Liz," she smiled, bouncing down to kiss everyone's heads. "We have to get Eli and Sam something for graduation."
El's eyes went wide and Emma held her hand up to him.
"Mom got him a watch remember."
"That's right," he nodded. "Sam?"
"Pendant with the kids names," Noah said, "you really gotta listen better, dad."
"Yeah daddy," Teddy sighed, making everyone laugh.
"You guys are too much," he laughed. "Thank god for your mom."
"Is she better today?" Emma asked, taking Finley from him.
"Watching the news again?"
"Mhm," she nodded.
"Same," Noah said with a shrug.
"Guys," El scolded softly.
"What's Jake doing today," Noah asked his sister, changing the subject so he wouldn't get in trouble.
Emma shrugged. "Call him, I don't think anything."
"Okay?" He nodded, settling Teddy down and rushing upstairs to find his phone.
"His issue?" Elliot asked his daughter with a raised brow.
The doorbell rang and she passed Finley back to him with a small shrug.
"He's in a phase, he doesn't talk to me as much as he used to."
"He talk to Eli?"
"Yeah, but good luck getting anything out of him. He's hyper focused on Sam now."
"He's always hyper focused on Sam."
"Why do you seem sad," she frowned.
"I'm not sad baby."
"You miss mommy?" She smirked, backing up to the door.
"Well… yeah…"
"Why you sulking," Liz asked, walking in.
"I'm not sulking!"
"Daddy," they groaned in unison.
"Okay, okay," he groaned. "I miss mom," he said, holding his hands up in defeat.
"I hope you're not being whiney," Liz warned.
"Dada whinin," Teddy sang, sliding down and skipping off to hug Liz.
"Theodore," El laughed, shaking his head.
"Tell him, Teddy!" Liz chuckled, scooping her brother up. "Okay… we gotta head out, I won't keep her out long!"
"I can't believe you got her up so early!"
"Daaaad," Emma groaned, leaning to kiss his cheek. Liz followed suit.
"Love you guys!" She said, settling Teddy down before leading her little sister out the door.
Noah flew down before they could get far, duffle over his shoulder.
"Waaaaait. Can you take me to Jake's?"
"Ask dad," Liz directed.
"Dad can I go to Jake's?"
He hesitated, giving him a look and then nodding slowly. "Sure but we're talking tonight."
"Talking about what?" Liz pushed.
"Nothing," Emma said quickly for her brother.
El pointed at them, shaking his head. "I knew you knew!"
Winking, Emma ushered her brother out the door. "Byyyyye dad!"
The door was shut before he could say anything else. With a small sigh, he looked down at Teddy and Finley.
"Well… guess it's just us today."
"See EJ an JoJo pease dada?" Teddy asked, rocking on his heels.
Elliot began to pretend to cry, sending both babies into a fit of giggled.
"Where's Sam?" El asked, walking into the downstairs apartment with Teddy and Fin.
Ted bypassed Eli's hug, running right over to where EJ and Joey were playing, but Finley reached up to him with a big grin.
"Hi Princess," he chuckled, taking her and kissing her cheek. "Work," he shrugged. "Getting overtime helping get the new guy set up."
"Good for her," he smiled, kissing his son's head.
"Guess so," he muttered. "Any idea what's going on with Noah?"
"Was gonna ask you the same thing," El admitted, "doesn't wanna talk to me, only mom."
"It's a phase, he'll grow out of it."
"Hmmm… I remember when you were in that phase."
Eli laughed awkwardly. "Uh… yeah."
"Now you just don't talk."
"Yeah… dad can we…"
"Not saying anything else. Now come on, put the game on. We haven't had much time together lately," he winked, pulling out two beers from the fridge.
Elliot and Eli spent the rest of the day together with the babies, keeping up to date on Liv's movements via her sergeant.
He texted around the same time Sam got home from work, letting him know that they were headed to a pub to decompress as a squad and that drinks were on the captain.
"El, they can stay here," Sam nodded with a smile, motioning to Teddy and Finley.
"Four is a lot," El smiled. "But thank you."
"Dad, we got it," Eli chuckled. "When do you and mom ever get the house to yourself, anyways?"
He mulled it over, chewing on his lip and looking at his baby daughter who'd spent most of the day snuggled with her big brother.
"You can even come get her once you pick up momma, cause you know that's how this is gonna go," Eli added.
"Or she can stay here!" Sam clarified.
Exhaling a breath, he nodded finally. "Teddy!" He called.
The youngest Stabler boy came running into the kitchen, stopping dead in his tracks in front of his dad.
"Dada tay mow pease."
"You wanna have a sleepover?" El answered, and Teddy gasped, jumping up and down.
"Yup, yup, yup!!!"
The adults all laughed and El nodded. "Alright, let me take her home, get her changed and fed and I'll come back with his jammies and stuff."
"Bye dada! Wuv you!" Teddy called, running back to EJ's room where they were playing with cars.
"You're gonna give dad a complex!" Eli yelled playfully after him.
Elliot did as he said, getting the kids set up to stay with their big brother, before returning home to wait for his wife.
It was just after 11 when Fin texted him.
F: She's just about done if you wanna come pick her up
E: On it. Bad?
F: It's been a long two days. She's letting loose but not bad…
E: I'll be there.
Liv was finishing a glass of wine when he walked into the bar.
"Elllllll," she called when she caught sight of him.
He couldn't help but laugh.
"Hi baby… you're in better spirits," he said, placing a hand on the small of her back when he got close to her.
"I'm doing what I tell my detectives to not do, and that's drown my sadness."
"We all are," Joe echoed. "This week sucked and it's only Tuesday."
"Well, sometimes you've gotta let loose," he said, snaking his arm around his wife's waist and hooking his thumb into her belt loop. "Good for the soul."
"I don't know how they've done it this long," Muncy sighed, motioning between Liv and her Sergeant.
"They're saints," El answered, kissing the top of his wife's head when she leaned into him.
"He's bluffing," she deadpanned, slipping her hand down into his back pocket. "Whose turn to buy drinks?"
"Thought drinks were on you tonight," El teased her, and the young detectives all snickered.
"Oh… you knew about that."
"They're a good group, it's okay," he laughed.
"Cap's bought most, my turn," Fin interrupted.
"You two staying out long?"
"Yeah, kids are all with an older sibling, what do you say, babe?" El asked, looking down at his wife.
Her eyes were dark, and as he squinted down at her he could see the hint of frustration that lingered in them, thanks to his behavior.
"Good idea… we should go look for a table," she nodded, flexing her fingers from within his back pocket.
"There's one in the back," Bruno said, catching the tone in her voice and picking up on the way the pair were looking at one another. He quickly dragged the three drunk subordinates away with him, before any noticed what was about to happen.
Fin, on the other hand, rolled his eyes and disappeared to the other end of the bar.
"Y'alright?" Elliot asked, looking down at his wife when everyone else was out of earshot.
"You didn't wanna fuck me last night," she said point blank, the alcohol giving her courage and removing her filter.
"I always want to fuck you," he corrected, "but you hadn't slept in 48 hours and you needed sleep more than you needed my cock."
"I always need your cock," she mimicked, rubbing her tongue across her lips.
"You got my mouth instead and then I held you till you fell asleep… tell me you're not really still mad?"
"You made me upset yesterday," she scowled lightly.
"I know I did… and I'm sorry and you know I'll work on it, but you also know it's cause I love you so damn much."
"Yeah?" She whispered, looking up at him with just her big brown eyes.
"Mhm," he nodded, pulling her flush to him. "The thought of you thinking 'bout anyone else's cock… and the thought of anyone else thinking about you like that…fuck."
"Makes you hot and bothered, Sergeant?"
"Makes me wanna bend you over this fucking bar and show everyone that I'm the only person in this world that can reduce Captain Benson to a blubbering mess."
"You can't do that," she tsked, turning them and dropping a hand to cup his crotch. "But you can take me in the bathroom."
"They'll know…"
"Fin'll know."
"So will Bruno," he said through clenched teeth.
"Isn't that what you want?" She asked, punctuating her statement by squeezing his cock.
He was crowding her the moment they slipped into the hidden, single stall bathroom.
"You're fucking mine," he growled, popping open her trousers and forcing them down over the curve if her hips and ass.
"Do you even doubt it?" She asked smugly, shucking his jeans down and reaching into his boxers to grasp his cock.
"Yeah… cause you're in your mid-fifties and look better than you ever have and I look like an old man."
"That's what your fear is," she couldn't help but scoff as he spun her around and guided her to the dingy sink in the corner of the bathroom, steadying her as she grasped either side of the porcelain.
"Yes," he growled, pulling her hips back so she was bent over to his liking.
"You're worried that I'd bend over in the bathroom for someone who has hair? Because he had hair."
"Shut up," he muttered, gripping her hips and pushing into her quickly.
"Fuuuuuuck," she groaned, having no time to adjust as he started his thrusts. "You're the only fucking man I want fucking me, Elliot."
"Say it again," he instructed, reaching around for her clit as the sound of their skin slapping echoed off the walls.
Her back arched and she cried out when he took a fist full of her hair.
"I said say it again, Olivia."
"You're my fucking husband for a reason… I waited 21 years for you and your cock is mine."
Her fingers gripped reflexively on the sink as she clenched around his pistoning cock.
"And this pussy is mine."
"It always has been," he said, leaning back and giving her ass several strong slaps.
Pushing herself as upright as she could with his cock buried deep into her, she wrapped her arm around his neck and he steadied her with two large arms around her torso.
"Believe me."
"I do."
"You don't," she insisted, eyes falling closed when he increased the speed on her clit.
Pressing his lips to her pulse point, he sucked softly, a smile gracing his lips when she came with a husky breath of his name.
"Elliot…"
"I love you," he grunted, sinking his teeth into her neck and spilling into her as she continued to shake around him.
"I love you," he said again, breathlessly.
"I love you so much more," she promised. "Even when you're a pain in my ass."
He laughed softly, slipping free of her. "Fair…"
"Stunning," he whispered, continuing to kiss on her neck as she fixed her pants before turning to fix his.
"It's you and me, El… forever."
"Forever," he nodded.
"Hm," she nodded. "Kid free night?"
"Kid free night. You wanna keep drinking?"
"No," she shook her head, "I wanna go home and make love to my husband."
"Where'd El and the Cap go?" Muncy asked, looking around when the pair hadn't returned in 15 minutes.
Bruno and Fin watched as the pair snuck out of the bar, coming from the direction of the bathroom with their arms wrapped around one another.
"Eh they probably went home," Fin said before Bruno could speak.
"Probably making up for his outburst," Joe snickered.
"I don't know why he's jealous," Muncy laughed. "I mean no offense Bruno, but…"
"Stabler is HOT," a very drunk Churlish said, sending everyone into hysterics.
Fin looked down as his phone pinged.
O: Cover for me?
F: Enjoy your night, Captain