Someone recently decided to finish this story for me, and it made me realize how much I want to finish it myself. So that person took her story down and I am going to do my best to complete this in a timely manner. So , here you go. Sorry it has taken forever. I'm hoping to wrap this up in a few more chapters. Thanks for reading, even though I am lousy at updating lately. Special thanks to everyone who has checked up on me lately.

July 3, 2015, 11:30AM

"You want to see Mommy today?" Elliot asked Noah as he clutched the small boy's hand tightly and they walked down the long corridor toward Olivia's hospital room.

"Mama…" the little boy squealed with delight, and Elliot laughed. He knew Olivia would be just as thrilled to see her son as he was to see her.

He knelt down and looked the little boy in the eyes. "Mommy is going to be so happy to see you, but remember…she doesn't feel very good. You have to be quiet." The boy nodded, though his face showed little understanding. Elliot stood up and squeezed the child's hand, "Come on, little one," he smiled, pushing open the door to her room.

"Mama…Mama!" Noah yelled happily when they walked in the door, and Olivia opened her eyes as he pulled away from Elliot's grasp and dashed across the room to her bed. Elliot rushed after him, swooping him up in his arms and sitting with him in the chair beside her bed.

"Hi, Noah…my baby…" she forced a weak smile and reached out, stroking her son's cheek. "Are you being a good boy?"

"Mama…home…" Noah said sadly. He missed her and reached for her, but Elliot wouldn't let him go.

"Oh sweetie," her eyes filled with tears. "Soon…okay. Mommy will be home soon." She looked at Elliot and let out an exhausted sigh, "El…I'm so tired."

"You're still not getting any sleep?" he asked, and he couldn't help but notice it took all her strength just to shake her head no. Ever since they'd administered the steroids to strengthen the babies' lungs she'd been exhausted, but unable to sleep. That, along with contractions and overall pregnancy aches and pains were pushing her toward the breaking point. "Maybe they can give you something to help you sleep?" he suggested.

"I'm just so tired…I'm sure I'll fall asleep eventually…" she said again, and she reached toward Noah. "Let me have him…" she insisted and Elliot sat the child next to her on the bed. She smiled at him, "I've missed you, kiddo." He leaned over and kissed her and she smiled. If there was one thing that could make her feel better in the middle of all this, it was her son. "Did you bring any of his toys?" she asked and Elliot rummaged through the diaper bag, pulling out some toy cars and handing them to Noah who rolled them up and down the side rails and the bed and Olivia did her best to play with him.

"How many contractions have you had this morning?" Elliot asked, noticing the sudden grimace on her face and the way she seemed to hold her breath.

She exhaled slowly, "That was the first one," she promised, but he wasn't sure he believed her and she could tell from the expression on his face. "Really, El…I swear."

He nodded, "All right…has the doctor been in yet?"

She shook her head, "No, not yet," she ran her hand over her stomach, "He usually comes around two." Noah dropped one of his cars on the floor and Elliot leaned over to pick it up, handing it to Olivia who rolled it back and forth over her son's chubby legs while he chuckled happily. Her face contorted in pain once more and Elliot grabbed her hand, "It's not a contraction," she assured him. "I'm just so uncomfortable. I wish I could move."

"I know," he said gently. "Is it your back?" he asked and she nodded slowly. He stood up and walked to the other side of the bed, lowering the side rail and sitting next to her. Then he did the best he could to rub the kinks out of her back while she stayed on her left side and played with Noah.

"El," she spoke softly and he stopped rubbing her back and looked at her. "I'm one day past thirty-three weeks today," she sighed. "If I can go six more days…"

"Liv…honey, they are ready to come now," he told her. "You know, the doctor said you needed to make it forty-eight hours past the steroids…and you've gone past that now…yesterday he said he expected full labor in a day or two…"

"I know what he said," she sighed. "But I haven't had any strong contractions today. I am really trying to relax…"

"Honey…you are doing great," he assured her. "I'm amazed at all you've been through for these boys, but if they want to come now…"

"How's Eli?" she asked, quickly changing the subject.

"He's okay," Elliot promised. "He started the new round of medication, and he is feeling a little tired and run down, but otherwise he's fine. We have an appointment this afternoon." He looked at his watch, "I wanted to be here to talk to the doctor, but…"

"It's okay," she told him. "I can fill you in."

"Promise me you will…" he said. "About everything…not just what you think I need to hear?"

"I will, I swear," she flinched at the pain in her back, "Can you just try to rub the middle of my back again?" she asked, and he put gentle pressure on the painful area. "Thanks…" she sighed. "I never thought it would get this bad, you know? I thought I could do this…that I'd be okay…that being pregnant couldn't be all that bad…" she said tearfully. "But I hate it now…and I'm scared…and I want it to be over, but I don't want to give up yet…" Her tears progressed to full-blown sobs and Noah stopped rolling his cars and looked at her with worry.

"Mama…" he said, leaning back and curling up next to her, and his sweetness made her cry even harder in spite of the fact that she wanted to comfort him. "No cry, Mama…" he said, kissing her softly on the cheek.

"Mommy's okay," Elliot promised him, picking the boy up and holding him close. "She doesn't feel very good, so we're gonna go and let her rest." He sat the boy on the floor and leaned over, brushing the hair out of Olivia's face. "Honey…you have to get some sleep. Okay? I want you to try…you're too tired. I'll ask the nurse to bring you something to help you sleep."

"I don't want to take anything, El," she sniffled, trying to force herself to stop crying.

"I know you don't," he squeezed her hand, "But you need to sleep. You need to save your strength for labor and right now you are too weak…"

"I'm fine…" she said, but her words were not convincing. Elliot leaned forward, kissing her softly on the forehead, "I'll get the nurse, and then I need to take Noah home. I'll be back after Eli's appointment, okay? I want you to sleep while I'm gone."

She closed her eyes, nodding without real commitment, and Elliot took Noah's hand and walked out the door.

July 3, 2015 10:00PM

It was late, much later than he expected as Elliot walked down the hall toward his wife's hospital room. He had planned to come back after Eli's appointment, but his son was clingy and weak and Elliot couldn't leave him. He'd called Olivia and explained, and she'd said she was fine, but he hated to think of her left there all alone all day. He was torn between two families and it was hard. No matter where he was, he was always letting someone down.

"Mr. Stabler…" the nurse caught him in the hall before he reached Olivia's room and it worried him.

"What's wrong?" he asked nervously. "Is Olivia okay? I talked to her on the phone a couple of hours ago and she said she was fine…she said she was going to bed."

The nurse nodded, "She's doing okay…but she went into labor about an hour ago. Well, I think we know it's been building up for days, but it's officially labor this time…consistent contractions…every twelve minutes at this point so we have some time, but she's definitely ready to have the twins…"

"Oh my God…why didn't she call me?" he sputtered.

"She said you were in Queens and you'd be here soon anyway, so she didn't see any reason to call. You wouldn't have been able to get here any sooner," the nurse insisted and she gave a soft smile. "Just calm down before you go in there. She needs your support."

"Is the doctor here?" Elliot asked. "Has he checked her…"

"He was here earlier, before the contractions regulated, but he said things look good. He did an ultrasound and both babies were doing very well." the nurse told him. "She was already dilated to four at that point and things will probably move pretty fast now. I called the doctor and he said he'll come soon to check on things. Olivia wants to deliver them naturally…she has already said she doesn't want a C-section, so he is giving permission for her to try…he said it's okay for her to move from the bed, try to ease contractions more naturally…we'll just go from there…"

"Okay…" his voice quivered. No matter how much he knew he should have expected this…he was suddenly overwhelmed and scared, for Olivia and the twins.

"You go on in," she smiled, reaching out and patting his shoulder. "I'll give you two some time alone, but you can call me if you need me. Otherwise, I'll be in after a while to check on things."

Elliot nodded, walking the rest of the way to Olivia's room and taking a deep breath before pushing her door open. She was out of bed, standing by the window and looking out, but she seemed okay. She didn't look like she was in all that much pain, but then he saw her move her hand to her back and her breathing was more labored as she bent forward a little, and he rushed to her side. "Hey…I'm here…" he said, wrapping his arm around her and taking her hand in his. "Breathe…nice and steady…" He felt her body relax and her breathing returned to normal, and he let his hand rest on her stomach and leaned forward, kissing her softly. "You doing okay?"

She nodded, "Yeah…" her eyes glistened with tears. "I'm not ready for them, El…"

"Sure you are," he squeezed her hand. "And they definitely want to meet their mommy." He knew his words weren't comforting her in her moment of fear. "It's gonna be okay. They will be fine."

"I hope so," she sighed.

"I know so," he tried to sound convinced. He forced a smile, "Wow...hard to believe how far we've some, huh? There was a time I'd never have believed we'd be here..."

"Yeah," she nodded. Life is full of surprised. How's Eli doing?"

"He's okay," Elliot promised. "His appointment was fine. The meds are working." He exhaled slowly, "I'm sorry I came back so late."

"It's okay," she said. "You called me. I understand."

"He just wanted me to stay with him and I had to coax him to eat dinner and then we watched a movie," Elliot explained. "If I'd known you were in labor…"

"I'm okay, El," she promised. "You needed the day with Eli. I get it. Ohhh…my back," she groaned. "If the whole labor is like this…"

"Why are you out of bed?" he asked, trying to guide her back even though she made no effort to move. "You need to rest."

"The doctor said I could move," she insisted. "And the nurse said it might help. My back was cramping so much…all that time in bed…I was hoping it would ease the contractions…"

"Is it helping?" he asked.

She shook her head, "Not really…" then her eyes widened and she gasped, "El…" she sputtered and he looked at her with worry and confusion. "El…I think my water broke…" She looked down at the puddle forming at her feet.

"Oh wow…" he ran his hand across the back of his neck and watched the clear liquid pool on the floor. "Yeah…uhm…looks like it…"

"Elliot…"she moaned, clutching his hand tighter, "It hurts…"

"I know…" he let her squeeze his hand and used the other to put gently pressure on her back, "Breathe through it…come on…that's right…" he tried to be encouraging while she panted through the contraction and when it was over he looked at his watch, "Not twelve minutes apart anymore…" he commented.

"El…I don't feel right," she sputtered, a petrified look on her face. "Oh God…"

"Honey, you're gonna be all right," he tried to assure her, but then he looked down and noticed red splatters of blood dripping into the amniotic fluid that was already on the floor and the trail of blood trickling down her legs and he knew something was wrong. "I'm gonna get help," he tried to sound calm, but by then Olivia had noticed the blood as well and practically collapsed in his arms. He picked her up and carried her to the bed, laying her carefully on top of the covers and pushing the button for the nurse.

"I'm bleeding…" she cried. "That's not supposed to happen…not when your water breaks…something's wrong…"

"Everything will be okay," he promised. "I know it…just stay calm."

July 4, 2015 12:15 AM

Elliot slipped the green surgical gown over his clothes. He was shaking, his pulse racing, and he wanted to get back to Olivia. She was being prepped for surgery and he didn't want her to be alone. "I'm ready…" his voice quivered, "I don't know why I have to wear this…"

The nurse gave his arm a reassuring squeeze, "We just don't want any extra germs in the operating room if possible. It's precautionary." Then she gave him a gentle smile, "It's gonna be okay." And Elliot tried to believe her.

After Olivia had started bleeding things had spiraled out of control. There were doctors and nurses in and out, examining her and taking her blood pressure, checking on the twins. There was a problem with the placenta, one of the babies was in destress, they had to get them out. It was a whirlwind of information he didn't fully understand, and tears from his wife that he couldn't soothe, and then they wheeled her away and took him to this room to change clothes and it seemed like it all happened in the blink of an eye. "Where's my wife? Is she okay?" he asked, walking with the nurse.

She nodded, "She's ready…she's asking for you," and they pushed the door open to the sterile, white room where Olivia was laying on the operating table, a blue tarp covering her bottom half, her hair pulled back in a plastic cap, and she turned her head to look at him, her eyes glistening with tears.

He rushed to her side, putting his hand softly on her forehead and his voice shook, "Everything will be fine…" he promised. "They're okay…and so are you."

"I'm scared," she said.

"I know," he whispered. Leaning forward and kissing her softly. "Me too…but our boys are strong…like their mommy…I know that…"

"We're going to get started," the doctor said from his place behind the tarp. "Olivia, you might feel a little pressure…"

She closed her eyes, "You're doing great," Elliot whispered.

It wasn't long before the sound of hustle and bustle in the room was replaced with the shrill squeal of a baby's cry. "We've got a boy," the doctor called out, holding up the tiny, crying baby and Olivia burst into tears staring at her newborn son.

"Is he okay?" she sputtered. "He's so small…"

"He looks good," Elliot insisted. "He's crying, Liv…that's a good sign, honey…"

The nurse took the baby and Elliot watched her taking his vitals while another doctor looked him over and he prayed his son would be okay. He looked back at the doctor and he could see the panic on his face, suddenly making him very aware that they hadn't heard the cries of the other baby yet.

"Where's the other baby," Elliot asked, and the doctor looked at him. "Why isn't he out yet?"

"I've got him," the doctor called to his assistant. "He's out," he said, handing the baby over to another doctor and nurse, but all Elliot could see was a tiny baby with bluish skin. He could see them working on the baby, but the medical staff were standing around the premature newborn and he couldn't see his son anymore.

"He's not crying…" Olivia said nervously. "Why isn't he crying? Is he okay?"

"I don't know," Elliot stumbled over his words, looking at the doctor for reassurance.

"We're working on him," the doctor said, his voice solemn. "He was a little smaller than his brother, and he wasn't breathing when we pulled him out. Everyone is doing all they can."

"He's not breathing…" Olivia screamed. "I want to see him. Please…El…make them let me see him."

"They're trying to help him, Liv…" he choked on his words. He couldn't take his eyes off the frantic movements of the staff as they rushed both babies out of the room in small incubators.

"El…go with them," she pleaded tearfully. "Don't let them give up on the little one, please. They have to keep working on him."

"They are, Liv...I promise," he tried not to cry.

"Go be with our babies," she insisted again. "I don't want them to be alone…if something bad happens…God…don't let them be alone…"

"I need to stay with you," Elliot argued. "The babies have lots of people taking care of them. There's nothing I can do…"

"I want my babies…" she cried. "Please…you said they would be okay. YOU promised me…"

"Olivia, you have to calm down," the doctor said carefully. "Your blood pressure is getting out of control and we still need to finish working on you…"

"No!" she cried. "I want my babies…what's wrong…you're not telling me what's wrong…" Her monitors were beeping faster and louder and Elliot took her hand, trying to soothe her, but he was quickly pushed out of the way and before he knew what was happening his wife was shaking on the table and a nurse was pulling him into the hall.

"What's going on?" he asked. "Is my wife okay?"

"She's seizing…" the nurse explained. "Likely due to her blood pressure. You need to stay out here and let the doctors help her."

"I need to be in there…" he argued. "She needs me."

"We need you to stay out here," the nurse insisted. "I'll come out and update you as soon as we get her stable." She motioned for someone else to come and take Elliot to the waiting room before going back to the operating room.

"I should be with my wife," his voice shook as this new young nurse walked with him to the waiting room. He looked around the waiting room and eventually sat down in one of the plastic chairs when he realized they weren't going to let him go back to Olivia.

"Can I get you anything?" the young woman asked, sympathetically.

Elliot shook his head, but then stopped. "Can you show me how to get to the NICU?" he asked. "Olivia…she wanted me to be with the twins…"

"Let me call and see if they're ready for you," she offered, and Elliot nodded. When she left, he put his head in his hands and he didn't even have the strength to cry.

Don't kill me for leaving it there...