Title: Beginnings

Author: ZombieJazz

Fandom: Law & Order: SVU

Disclaimer: I don't own them. Law and Order SVU and its characters belong to Dick Wolf. The characters of Will (and his family) and Noah have been created and developed for the sake of this AU series.

Summary: Olivia's baby arrives - but not without complications. Elliot's there to help her through, though. This story is set after Changes and is a prequel to A Complicated State of Happiness and Undeserved.

Author's Notes: This AU series is for SVU fans and readers who want Olivia to have something that resembles a more normal life outside of work and a family of her own - hopefully somewhat realistically within the canon of SVU. Her relationship with Elliot is that of partner and protective older brother and colleague.

Elliot clattered down the phone and looked at the rest of the squad room.

"Liv's bringing in the baby for show-and-tell this afternoon," he announced. "Shit goes to hell or we've got an influx of pervs in here – someone remember to call her so she doesn't haul the kid all the way down here."

Munch glanced up from his desk. "Ah, the obligatory presentation of the boy child," he said.

Elliot gave him a bit of a glare. "Maybe you can try to not hurt anyone's feelings while she's in too," he suggested.

Munch looked at him. "What's that supposed to mean? I've got nothing against Liv's baby. I love all babies – that aren't mine."

"Just keep the smart-ass comments to yourself while she's here with Noah," Elliot told him sternly.

"You're making it sound like the kid's got an extra leg growing out of its head that I can't comment on. The kid looked healthy enough in the previous obligatory photos that jammed up my email."

"OK, John, maybe you don't want to see the baby – but there's some people in this building that will want to see him," Elliot spat back at him. "So just … be less you."

Munch grabbed at his heart. "That hurts. Truly. You think I'd say something mean about Liv's baby?"

"You've been known to stick your foot in your mouth," Elliot nodded at him - just thinking about the time Munch had sent his partner into a rage by suggesting she even consider in-vitro.

"This coming from the rage-o-holic," Fin interjected.

Elliot shot him a look but offered no comment. He'd learned it wasn't worth getting into it with Fin – and he'd been reminded by Cragen that they kept it civil in the squad room more than a couple times when he'd flared up.

"Just … everyone … be fucking nice. End of story," Elliot said and looked back at his paperwork.

"Since when does Liv need us pussy-footing around her?" Fin said.

Elliot sighed. "Since she's hormonal."

"And you know this because?"

"She's a new, nursing mother," Elliot said.

"She's nursing? Isn't she supposed to be back in another few months? Why isn't that kid on the bottle?" Munch said. "She better not be whipping anything out in here. The guys in the cage will love that."

"I think she knows better than to be 'whipping it out' in here," Elliot sighed.

"New mothers don't think straight," Munch offered. "Post-partum crazies."

"What do you know about it?" Fin said. "You're the only one here without kids now."

"And the world is a better place for it," Munch said.

"Well that's damn-straight," Fin agreed. "We don't need anymore of you skinny-white-ass-smart-mouths running around."

Cragen walked out of his office – clearly coming to see what the chatter was about. Likely hoping it was a development in a case. But Munch spotted him first and interjected, "Liv's bringing in the product of her biological clock pinning's."

Cragen shook his head, also clearly annoyed with John's sarcasm in this area. "His name is Noah."

"Noah, zygote, whatever," Munch said.

"Jesus Christ," Elliot glared at him.

"With that good Hebrew name, I think you likely mean Abraham, maybe Moses," he suggested.

Cragen sighed loudly and held up his hands. "OK. It sounds like we are going to have enough distraction and excitement this afternoon. So could we please get some work done now? Or do I have to babysit you?"

"Well, it'd be good practice for when she gets the kid in here," Munch added.

Cragen sighed. "OK. All of you. Back to work. Please – and thank you."