I'd Do Anything

(Chapter Eleven: Knowing)

Five Months Later:

Elliot stood next to Olivia watching the little grey blob on the screen as it seemed to turn little summersaults.

"It is still a little hard to tell," the doctor said moving closer to get a better look at the screen. "But if I were to guess….I would say you have a son."

"It's a boy?" Elliot asked with a smile of fatherly pride.

"Well, we can never say one hundred percent for sure. But this is the second time I have tried this and the second time the baby didn't really want to show us a good view. But when I look up from this angle….I am pretty sure these are his little boy parts."

"We have a son," he said with another smile as he looked at Olivia.

"Tell him to quit kicking me in the bladder," Olivia said with a smile.

"Everything looks good. He is very active I see. Heart and lungs look good."

The doctor pushed the button to print out the sonogram picture as the baby turned his head and you could see the profile of his face.

"He looks like you, El. He has your nose." Olivia said with a smile.

Elliot kissed her gently as they watched their baby kicking and moving around as he began to suck his thumb.

Olivia laughed and smiled.

"That is the sweetest thing I have ever seen," she said softly as the doctor printed them out another sonogram picture.

Elliot took her to lunch after the appointment to celebrate. He sat next to her at the table with his hand on her belly feeling the baby kick.

"You know we are going to have to get the nursery set up for this little guy," he said softly.

"Yeah. I still have to get pretty much everything. I wanted to wait to decorate until we knew the sex of the baby."

Elliot reached across the table and took her hand in his. "I have an idea, why don't we play hooky the rest of the day and I will take you shopping. Get a crib and the big stuff and maybe buy my son a few toys."

Olivia smiled.

"We can even check out ideas for nursery themes," Elliot suggested.

"El, it is just now noon. We have a lot of work to do on this case."

"Look, Cragen knows you're pregnant. And he knows I went to your appointment with you. I am sure by now with the fact that I have been to every appointment since this kids conception, the thought of me being his father has at least crossed Cragen's mind."

"Do you want to tell him?"

"Liv, I am proud of this child. He is my son and I want to be his father in every sense of the word. I want to be able to brag about him and show off his pictures and tell everyone how cute our baby is. I want to be a part of this."

Olivia moved her hand over her belly feeling the baby kicking inside her. "You are a part of this Elliot. You are my son's father. Nothing is ever going to change that. He is just as much your baby as he is mine. I couldn't have done any of this without you. I think we should tell everyone. What is there to hide? I wanted desperately to have a baby. We tried for months and finally got pregnant. This baby is the best thing that has ever happened to me."

"I wasn't sure how you would feel about telling everyone."

"El, I couldn't imagine if he were mine and I wasn't able to tell people. I think it will be good not to have to hide anything."

"It will be nice. And you know he still needs a name."

"I know. But naming a baby is a lot harder than it sounds. I want something good, something strong. But I don't want anything too common. And I would like to name him after you, but seeing as Elliot Stabler II is already taken my options there are limited."

"Olivia, don't give this poor kid my name. You want to name him after me give him the Stabler name. Don't call him Elliot."

"You don't like it?"

"It's okay for an adult. But for a baby? Or a teenager? He needs a strong name a good name."

"Yeah, well we have four months to think of something."

After lunch they called in to work and took the rest of the afternoon off. Elliot took her shopping in ever baby department within a thirty mile radius of Manhattan. That evening they sat in her apartment in the nursery putting the baby's crib together.

"You would think after five kids, I would be able to put these together in my sleep."

Olivia laughed as she helped him up from the floor.

"There," he said standing back to admire his work.

"El, where does this piece go?" Olivia picked up a bolt that was laying loose in the bottom of the box the crib came in.

"Shit, I don't know." Elliot picked up the instruction booklet once more and flipped through the pages then inspecting every hole that required a bolt.

That evening cooked her dinner. He sat on the sofa and read the baby name book as she took a hot bath surrounded by candles to relax before bed. Olivia slipped into a large tee shirt and a pair of boxers and joined him in the living room.

"See anything that you like?"

"What about Seth?"

"I don't know," Olivia groaned placing one hand under her belly. She leaned in against him to look at the book. "What about Evan?"

"Trevor?"

"No."

"Oh, okay." Elliot stared at her.

"I hate it."

"Well what do you like?"

"I like umm….Matthew and Dillon and Connor. I love William, Ethan and Noah. I just don't know."

Elliot smiled at her. "I'm sure we will think of something."

"I am so tired," she yawned.

"I should go so you cant get some sleep." Elliot combed her hair back with his fingers. "You have had a long day."

She looked at him with tired eyes and smiled. "I am so glad you went with me today."

"Me, too."

Elliot smoothed his hands over her belly.

"I can't believe we are having a son," Elliot said with a big grin.

"I think we should tell everyone tomorrow. Just call them in and announce that we are having a son."

"Just like that?"

"Why not? Elliot it will only be a big deal if we let it be a big deal."

"I guess you're right. If we walk in and act like it is not a big thing then maybe it wont be."

"I am sure they will all be over it by the time I actually have the baby."

"Yeah," Elliot leaned in and kissed her softly.

"I'm gonna go. I'll pick you up for work in the morning." He placed his hand against her belly again. "Goodnight little man," he said softly leaning in to kiss her belly. "Goodnight, Liv."

"Goodnight Elliot."