Thanks again to everyone for the kind reviews. I tried to get this up yesterday, but I ended up being way too busy so it's later than I planned. I hope you enjoy it anyway :)

April 30, 2015 2:30 AM

Olivia opened her eyes, unsure of why she was awake until she felt the swift kick beneath her skin. She sat up, rubbing her hand over her stomach and sighing, "I'm never going to have a full night's sleep again," she groaned, glancing at Elliot sleeping peacefully beside her. Thinking back to their evening together she couldn't help but smile. He was so careful…so gentle with her…it was unlike any experience she'd had before, and she was more in love with him than ever. She didn't want to wake him, so she slowly moved her legs to the side of the bed and pulled herself up, grabbing her robe and slipping it on before she made her way down the hall to the bathroom.

When she finished in the bathroom, she walked to the living room to check on Noah, surprised to see Elliot standing over the baby's crib, dressed in nothing but his boxers. "El…" she whispered. "Why are you awake?"

He shrugged, "I woke up and you weren't in bed," he told her. "I saw the light on in the bathroom, but I knew this would be your next stop," he grinned. "He's fine…he's sound asleep."

She walked over to him, glancing at her son and smiling, "Why aren't you sound asleep?" she asked. "It's the middle of the night."

"You weren't next to me," he pulled her into an embrace. "I guess I missed you…and it woke me up." He kissed her softly. "Are you feeling okay? Why are you up?"

"There's a dance party going on in my belly," she laughed. "And I had to pee…"

He put his hand on her stomach, smiling at the quick movements, "Wow…they are really going at it? That's crazy, Liv. Do they do this every night? Do you ever get to sleep?"

She laughed, "Not every night…I think they're excited that their daddy is home."

He knelt down, spreading his fingers out across her stomach and whispered, "Alright you two…Daddy's glad to be home with you too…but you need to settle down now and let Mommy get some sleep." He opened her robe a bit and pressed a gentle kiss against her warm skin, laughing when it was greeted with a harsh kick. "I don't think they're going to listen to me," he teased, standing up and looking into her eyes.

"They already know you're a pushover," she chuckled, but then her face dropped and she put her hand to the side of her stomach, "Whoa…" she gasped.

"What's wrong?" Elliot asked, worried by her sudden change in demeanor.

She shook her head, "Nothing…I just think I need to sit down…" she said, exhaling slowly while he grabbed her arm. "It's starting to hurt a little…"

"Here, let me help…" he guided her to the sofa and helped her sit down. Then he sat next to her, "Are you having contractions?" he asked.

"No…nothing like that," she insisted. "They are just so wound up. I don't think they've ever been this hyper…" She leaned back and closed her eyes, "I'm so tired…"

"Do you think this is because of our little adventure in the bedroom?" he asked reluctantly. He didn't want to think that sex had left her so miserable, but he was worried about it.

"No…of course not, El…" she forced a weak smile. "Having sex is perfectly safe…I told you the doctor said it was fine…"

"I know…but I don't want to see you feeling so awful," he insisted. "And if I caused it…"

"You didn't…" she promised. "And I don't feel awful. I just feel uncomfortable and it's because they're moving around all over the place at 3AM." She laughed a little, "And I have pee again….damn…"

"Here…" Elliot took her arm and carefully pulled her up from the sofa. "You go to the bathroom and then maybe you can take a nice warm bath and it will soothe the babies enough that they'll calm down and you can go to sleep."

"I don't take baths anymore," she sighed. "It's too much trouble getting in and out of the tub. I can try a shower…"

"No…trust me…a warm bath will do the trick," he smiled. "And I can help you in and out of the tub."

"It's worth a try I guess," she sighed as he followed her toward the bathroom.

Ten minutes later she was relaxing in the tub, the delicate bubbles soothing her skin and she ran her hand along the bulge where a foot seemed to be poking out. "My body looks so weird now," she laughed. "It's so strange to see someone else's body parts poking out."

Elliot sat on the toilet lid and laughed, "Yeah…but it's pretty cool too. I mean, it's so real now."

"It's been real for a while," she teased lifting the bubbles and rubbing them over her stomach. "I can't even imagine how big I'm going to get, El. I look like I could give birth tomorrow. Munch said was afraid he'd have to deliver the babies after dessert."

Elliot saw the tears forming in her eyes, "Hey…Munch is a jackass…we all know that. You aren't as big as you think…and with twins you just have to expect your body to go through some pretty big changes. But trust me…it'll be worth it when you see them."

She nodded, "I know." She sighed, "Can you hand me that towel?"

"You want to get out already?" he asked.

She shook her head, "I want to put it behind my neck so I can lay back some." He folded the towel and walked over to her, putting it under her neck when she raised up a bit, and as she leaned back she sighed contentedly, "Ahhh…thanks…that feels so much better."

He reached out and touched her skin where her belly was peeking out from the bubbles and smiled, "Looks like the dynamic duo has quieted down some."

She nodded, "Yeah…you were right about the bath. Thanks."

"I'm glad…maybe you can get some rest now," he smiled.

"El…can you make me some tea? I think something warm is just what I need to relax completely," she smiled.

"Sure…I'll go start it and then I'll come back and help you out of the tub, okay?" She nodded and he kissed her gently on top of the head before leaving her alone to relax in the tub. When he came back a while later with her tea he couldn't help but smile. She was sound asleep in the tub, snoring louder than he'd ever heard her snore before. He didn't want to wake her, but he couldn't leave her in the tub either. He sat the tea on the counter and knelt down, "Liv…" he whispered. "Honey, wake up…"

She opened her eyes and looked at him, "Guess I finally got to relax," she yawned.

"Come on…" he said softly. "Let's get you to bed."

April 30, 2015 1:15 PM

Elliot pushed Noah's stroller while Olivia walked next to him. The baby was mesmerized by the zoo and Olivia was excited to get pictures of him laughing and giggling at all the animals. Elliot had been worried about her walking around the zoo all day, but after she'd fallen back to sleep in the middle of the night she'd slept until almost eleven and had woken up happy and ready to spend the day with her husband and son. Now, almost an hour into the zoo visit she seemed to be getting tired, but Elliot was sure she'd never admit it. She was far too stubborn for that. "What do you say we stop up here for a snack?" he suggested, pointing to the snack bar a few feet ahead. He didn't wait for her to answer and instead knelt down to Noah, "Do you want ice cream, Buddy?" he asked and the baby squealed with delight.

"El…" Olivia sighed. "Ice cream…he doesn't need all that sugar."

"We'll get him a small one…I'll share with him, okay?" he suggested and she nodded reluctantly. "Besides, you could use a snack too. I bet the twins are hungry."

"I think I just want some water," Olivia said, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "I'm hot…and I feel a little nauseous."

"You okay?" Elliot asked, more worried than before. "I thought you weren't getting sick anymore?"

"I haven't been," she admitted. "I just feel a little queasy…it's probably from the heat. It's so warm today."

"I don't think it's that hot," he said seriously.

"You don't have the built in heater I'm carrying around either," she sighed, letting her hand rest on her stomach. She winced a little, pressing on her stomach and trying to breathe through the pain.

"Liv?" he asked anxiously. "Honey…what's wrong?"

She shook her head, "I just need some water. It's a cramp…probably because I'm getting dehydrated."

"All right," Elliot gave in, wishing she would be more honest with him. "Let's get you a drink and see if that helps. If not, we're going home."

She nodded in agreement, holding on to Noah's stroller as they walked the rest of the way to the snack bar. Elliot parked the stroller near a table, securing the wheel locks and helped Olivia sit down before heading to the snack bar and ordering two small ice cream cups and a bottle of water. He returned to the table, handing her the water and putting a cup of ice cream in front of her.

"El…I told you I'm not hungry," she groaned, opening he water and taking a long drink.

"The babies are," he argued. "Just try it…maybe you'll feel better." He dipped his spoon into his ice cream and gave Noah a bite while the baby grinned happily.

Olivia looked at the ice cream, and then raised a small bite to her lips and gagged it down, following it with another long drink of water. Elliot watched her curiously, unsure why she was acting so strange, but then she shocked him by jumping up from the table and rushing to a nearby trashcan, leaning over and emptying the contents of her stomach in violent heaves. "Liv…" he rushed to her, grabbing her and holding her steady. "I've got you…" he said softly.

She shook her head, "Don't leave Noah by himself…" she said, leaning over the trashcan once more, the smell of rotted garbage making her stomach lurch even more.

Elliot looked at the baby who was happily smearing ice cream all over the tray of his stroller and back at his sick wife, "He's fine honey…he's right there eating his ice cream."

She lifted her head, looking at her son and wiping her mouth with her hand, "I think I'm okay now," she said, her voice raspy and weak. Elliot helped her back to the table and grabbed some wipes from the diaper bag, handing them to her so she could wipe her face, and using a few to clean up Noah's ice cream mess. "Let's go home," he insisted. "I think you need to get in bed and stay put for a while."

Olivia nodded in agreement, "El…" she gasped. "I don't feel right. These cramps are getting worse…"

"Like the Braxton hicks?" Elliot asked hopefully, but when she shook her head no he knew something was wrong. He walked over to her, rubbing her back with one hand and putting the other one on her stomach, "Okay…do you want go to the hospital then? Do you feel like we should get to the hospital?"

She nodded reluctantly, "I'm scared..."

"It'll be all right." he promised. "We're not far from the hospital...and they can tell us what's going on."

Olivia exhaled slowly, "Elliot…I can't have the twins now…it's too early…"

"I know," he said, trying to stay calm. "You won't. They're just being impatient. If you're really in labor, the doctors can stop it…it'll be okay. Come on…" he helped her up and let her lean into him. "Why'd we have to park so damn far from here?" he sighed, grabbing the diaper bag and flinging it over his arm and then trying to push Noah's stroller with one hand and support his wife with the other.

"I can walk on my own," Olivia insisted, pulling away from his embrace. "I'm okay…"

"Are you sure?" he asked. "Liv…I need you to be honest with me…"

"I am," she promised. "I'll let you know if I need to stop…if I have another one…"

After four stops to help Olivia breathe through her pain, they finally made it to the car. Elliot helped her in and then buckled Noah carefully in his car seat before slipping into the driver's side and starting the car. He looked at Olivia's petrified face, the way she silently rubbed her hands over the swell of her belly, and seemed to be gasping with every breath and he was scared to death. He quickly backed the car out of the parking space and onto the street and drove as quickly as he could get by with. He could hear her breathing change, and knew she was trying to breathe through another contraction without worrying him or scaring Noah. He reached his hand out, offering it to her, "Squeeze my hand…" he said, and she reached out and took it, letting her nails dig into his skin as she let out a small groan. "You're gonna all right," he promised. "You and the babies…I promise…don't worry…" he kept his voice calm enough that he almost believed the words himself.

April 30, 2015 3:30 PM

"You haven't dilated any and the contractions are lessening in intensity with the medication," the doctor said, looking at Olivia's chart and writing a few notes. "We'll probably keep you overnight and send you home tomorrow."

"Thank God," Elliot sighed. He was sitting in the chair next to her bed, cradling a sleeping Noah in his arms. "What caused this? Was it from walking around the zoo? We were barely there an hour. Or maybe it was from last night…"

"It wasn't from last night," Olivia sighed. "Will you please tell him sex doesn't cause preterm labor. My doctor said it was fine."

The doctor shook his head, "It's hard to tell. Twins are difficult…they often come early because the uterus thinks it's stretched to full term. Also, age is a factor…your blood pressure is a little high…sex can cause light contractions, but usually not hours later…it could've been triggered by anything."

"But it's under control?" Elliot asked nervously. "It's not gonna happen again?"

"I can't make any promises. There's a pretty good chance that they will be born early…probably at least a month, maybe more." the doctor said truthfully. "We can try bedrest…"

"No…they can't come early…" Olivia argued. "Please…you have to do something. I can't lay around in bed for three months."

"You sure as hell can," Elliot argued, trying not to get angry but feeling like he was losing control.

Olivia seemed to realize he was more scared than angry and didn't argue with him. Instead she turned her attention to the doctor. "Are you sure the twins are okay?" she asked. "They aren't moving as much as they have been and it worries me…"

"Heartbeats are perfect," the doctor assured her. "But we can do an ultrasound to double check. Besides, I want to make sure there is nothing in utero causing early labor." He looked at Elliot, "Why don't you take your son home and when you get back we can do the ultrasound. We have to wait for the tech to get here anyway."

"I need to find someone to watch him," Elliot said, realizing they didn't have anyone lined up for emergencies when Lucy wasn't available. He looked at Olivia, "Should I ask Fin?"

She shook her head, "Fin and Nick are both on duty…covering for me…" she closed her eyes. "Hey, hand me my purse." Elliot handed it to her and she looked through it pulling out a piece of paper. "He said he wanted to be a grandpa…" she said, handing him Don Cragen's number. "Maybe he's willing to jump right in?" Elliot looked at the number and sighed. He hadn't spoken to his former boss in almost four years and this wasn't how he wanted to start off a reconciliation. "He doesn't know our situation…" Olivia added. "I just told him we're married now, so maybe don't get into anything too personal, okay?"

"All right," Elliot nodded, grabbing his phone from his pocket and trying to situate Noah in his arms.

"Lay him here with me," Olivia suggested. "He's asleep. It'll be fine." Elliot placed the baby next to her and walked into the hall to make his phone call.

"Cragen," He heard the familiar voice pick up and smiled wondering if retired cops ever answered the phone with a simple hello.

"Uhm…" Elliot wasn't sure what to say and fumbled his words. "Captain…it's Elliot…Stabler…" he said with a sputter.

"Elliot?" he asked with surprise. "What's going on? I haven't heard from you in a long time."

"Liv gave me your number," he said more assuredly. "She's in the hospital. She was having contractions and they think the babies are okay but we have to stay here…" he took a breath, "And we have Noah…"

"Is Olivia okay?" Don asked nervously. "She must be a nervous wreck."

"She's doing better than me," Elliot admitted with an anxious laugh, and he heard Don's light chuckle on the other end of the line. "She asked me to call and see if maybe you could watch Noah. We don't want to impose, but there really isn't anyone else. I can call my daughter Lizzie and see if she can get over here, but that'll be a while and the doctor wants me to take him home and I don't want to leave Liv…"

"Elliot…calm down," Don said gently. "I'm on my way."

"Thanks…" Elliot whispered as the phone clicked off. He walked back into the room, "Cragen's on his way," he said, before noticing the wince of pain on Olivia's face and rushing to her side. He could see the lines on the contraction monitor had raised again and grabbed her hand, "Just breathe…" he said. "It's almost over."

She exhaled slowly and looked at him, "El…I'm okay. It wasn't that bad."

"The doctor said the contractions are lessening but you're still in pain," he sighed. "Maybe you need different meds?"

She shook her head, "They are getting better. They barely hurt now and they're a lot farther apart too. Give the medicine time to work. I'm fine…and so are the twins."

"I'm just worried," Elliot admitted, reaching for Noah.

"Let him sleep," Olivia insisted. "If I'm gonna be away from him all night. I want to cuddle with him now."

He nodded and sat in the chair next to her bed, "I'm glad Cragen said he'd watch him. I was going to call Lizzie if he couldn't."

"I didn't even think of her," Olivia admitted. "I forget sometimes that she doesn't hate me as much as Kathleen and Dickie do."

Elliot gave a weak smile, "My kids don't hate you. They hate me."

"I'm sorry," Olivia said seriously. "They hate you because of me."

"None of this is your fault," he insisted. "Liv…you have to do what the doctor says. You know that, right? Bedrest might be what's best for the babies."

She nodded, "I don't want to lose them, El…" her eyes filled with tears. "I love them so much…and I'm scared they'll be born too early and something could be wrong."

"They are going to stay put a while longer," he promised, but his face was pale and worried. "I doubt they'll be full term though," he admitted. "But they'll be healthy…"

She nodded, "What about Eli?" she asked. "If they come early…even if they are okay…"

Elliot shook his head, "Let's not worry about it right now," he said gently, leaning forward and rubbing his hand over her stomach. He wanted to reassure her, but in his heart all he could do was worry.

More to come...