Olivia moaned as she stretched her arms above her head, waking up from her nap. At 39 weeks pregnant, her daily schedule consisted of eating, napping, organizing the nursery, fighting off Braxton-Hicks contractions, and peeing every hour. She rolled over to look at the clock. 2:37pm. Elliot would be home in a few hours. She lumbered herself into the seated position, taking a moment to get the energy to stand up. A sharp pain seared through her swollen belly, catching her off guard. "If you're going to keep torturing me, at least commit to the real thing." She rubbed her belly once the pain subsided. As much as she had enjoyed being pregnant, she was ready to have her body back and meet their little girl.

Fighting gravity, Liv heaved herself to standing, supporting her lower back as she waddled to the bathroom to relieve herself. She lowered herself to the porcelain throne, only to be met by another contraction. She winced, gripping the counter as the wave passed. She glanced up at the clock. The last one was only five minutes ago. Once she was cleaned up, Olivia made her way back to her bedroom, crawling into bed to continue binge watching Friends. There wasn't a whole lot she was willing to do in her engorged state, and with the contractions, it was another afternoon of TV.

As the next hour progressed, the contractions continued to come in 5-minute intervals. No sooner than she stood up to go to the bathroom again, Olivia was met with a warm, damp sensation between her legs. She looked down to find a puddle forming on the carpet beneath her. "I guess we're really doing this, huh little lady." Liv shuffled to the bathroom and cleaned herself up, putting on a new pair of panties, a pad, and fresh sweatpants. She grabbed a bath towel and carried it into to the bedroom, placing it over the puddle to soak up the amniotic fluid.

Olivia sat on the edge of her bed rubbing her belly as she picked up her cellphone, dialing Elliot. It went straight to voicemail. She tried his desk phone. Nothing. "You need to tell your daddy to answer his phone," she instructed her daughter, but was only met with another contraction. Olivia dialed her own desk phone, hoping someone nearby would pick up since she shouldn't be getting calls while on maternity leave.

"Special Victims Unit. This is Detective Munch," came the voice from the other end.

"Munch. It's Liv. Where's Elliot?" she asked her colleague.

"He's in interrogation with Fin. Is everything ok?"

"Tell him to answer his damn phone. My water just broke, and I'm not about to drive myself to the hospital."

"I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you, Munch."

The gentleman set the phone back on the receiver before making his way through the halls to interrogation. He stopped behind the one-way glass where his CO and Novak were watching.

"How's it going in there?" he asked, crossing his arms as he observed his partner and friend in the other room.

"Elliot is just about to crack him," Cragen updated, not taking his eyes off of the detectives. "Is everything ok?"

"If by ok you mean we're about to have a raging Olivia if Elliot doesn't get out of there and drive her to the hospital, then yeah, everything is ok." The two onlookers turned to him, seeking further explanation. "She just called. Her water broke."

"I'll pull him. John, you take over," Cragen stated, reaching for the handle and opening the metal door. "Detective Stabler. A word?"

"Can it wait?" Elliot asked as he met his CO's gaze.

"No. Munch will take your place." John entered the room, guiding a frustrated Stabler into the common area before resuming the questioning.

"Captain. I was so close to breaking him. I just need a few more minutes," the detective pleaded, eager for the long awaited closure for the case.

"I know. But Olivia called," Cragen grinned. "You better get home and drive your wife to the hospital. Her water broke." Elliot's frustration melted as the realization that he was about to meet his daughter washed over him. "Go, before we all get the butt-end of her hormones." Elliot took off at a jog as he exited the precinct.

"Liv!" Elliot hollered as he stormed up the stairs to their bedroom. "How are you doing? How far apart are the contractions?" he asked flustered.

"They're maintaining about 5-minute intervals and lasting 45-60 seconds a piece," she responded. "I have everything packed and ready to go. I've just been waiting for my ride." She smirked.

"Then let's go have a baby!"

"I know you said I always look beautiful, but this isn't it," Liv stated as she wrapped the ill-fitting hospital gown around herself. Elliot chuckled.

"It may not flatter your curves," he observed as he placed his hand on her midsection. "But you're still beautiful in it." The two exchanged a kiss that was rudely interrupted by a contraction. Liv leaned into her husband's chest for support as the pain increased in intensity.

"I would take getting shot over this any day," she grimaced through clenched teeth. El rubbed her back, trying to offer his support. He hated seeing her in pain and not being able to do anything about it.

"Hello! Hello!" the nurse greeted as she entered the room. "My name is Aly and I will be one of your nurses." The young lady couldn't have been more than 26 or 27. Her bright pink scrubs complemented her blonde hair and eccentric personality.

"Just a moment," Olivia interjected, eyes still closed as she tried to breathe her way through the vice around her abdomen. The pain eventually faded, and she was able to focus again. "Olivia Benson-Stabler," she stated, extending a hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you! And dad?"

"Elliot Stabler," he extended his hand as well.

"Pleasure to meet you. Why don't we help you onto the bed and get you hooked up" the nurse exclaimed as she pulled out the fetal monitors from the room's stock drawer. Elliot helped Liv get situated on the gurney, exposing her belly for the nurse to wrap the fetal monitors, the cold plastic firm against her skin.

"I know we're just getting going, but can we see about getting an epidural?" Liv asked as she got situated in the bed. "I told myself I would give it a chance unmedicated, but as I just told him, getting shot is easier than this." The nurse let out a chuckle. "Let me examine you, get an IV going, and then I will call the anesthesiologist." Aly was quick to place an IV in Liv's left hand, soon followed by a quick pelvic exam. "So love, you're at 5cm, so I will go ahead and call our anesthesiologist and see about getting you that epidural."

"Please. You will be my favorite person," Olivia replied. The young lady cleaned up and swiftly left to make the phone call. No sooner had she left, another contraction hit.

"Squeeze my hand," Elliot instructed, grabbing his wife's palm as she battled the pain. She latched on with a death grip, tense as the pain descended through her abdomen. "I want to get up and move," Liv asserted as she reached out for her husband's assistance. She paced the room, taking deep breaths as she anticipated the next wave of pain. Five minutes to the dot, the pain returned. Olivia draped her arms over her husband's shoulders, her head against his chest, swaying as the contraction enveloped her. "I can't wait for that epidural."

After what seemed like an eternity, the anesthesiologist paid the soon-to-be mother a visit, getting her set up with the much-desired pain relief. Once the medicine started to work, Olivia was able to comfortably rest in the bed, only the pressure of the contractions entertaining her attention. There was a knock on the door as Dr. Lewis entered.

"Howd'y. I see Dr. Patel was able to get you set up with the epidural. How are we doing with that?" the man greeted.

"So much better," Liv sighed in relief.

"I'm glad to hear that. Aly informed me that you were 5cm dilated, 50% effaced, and at station -2, so we still have a little ways to go." The physician picked up the fetal monitoring strip, examining the waves on the pink grid. "And her heart rate is reassuring. Just hang in there and we will be back to check on you in an hour or so."

For the next eight hours, the Stablers waited to meet their little girl.

"Hey everyone. I guess I can say good morning at this point," the physician looked down at his watch. "It's 1:43am right now. How are we doing mom?" Olivia rubbed her eyes groggily. Surprisingly she had been able to doze on an off since about 10pm.

"I'm doing alright. I feel like I need to use the restroom though," she replied.

"Let me take a look. Usually that means it's time to start pushing." Dr. Lewis donned sterile gloves, Aly at his side to chaperone. No sooner than they lifted the sheets, the doctor had his answer. "Are you two ready to meet your little girl? I see her hair."

"Already?" Olivia questioned, straightening up in bed as she shot Elliot a nervous look.

"Yep. It's time to start pushing." The doctor turned on the spotlight and donned a gown as nurses flooded the room, prepared to welcome the new life. Liv grasped her husband's hand nervously. "I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I'm ready."

Elliot, kissing her damp forehead, tried to ease her anxiousness. "You're never truly ready. But you're incredibly brave and strong, Livvy. I'll be right here."

"Alright you two. Aly will help hold you're left leg. Dad, if you can help with the right. And whenever you're ready Olivia, go ahead and bare down like you're trying to poo." The physician instructed. Elliot helped support his wife's leg in the stirrup, a clear view to the birth of his daughter. Through clenched teeth, Liv bared down, channeling all of her energy into her pelvis. "Good Olivia. You're doing wonderful." The cycle continued: Olivia pushing with each contraction, followed by brief moments to catch her breath. "One more push and her head will be out," Dr. Lewis guided.

"You're doing wonderful, Liv," Stabler encouraged, stroking his wife's thigh. "She has a full head of dark brown hair". Just like the doctor said, following the next push, their daughter's head emerged. Immediately Olivia felt relief once the small bowling ball was free. "Just a few more pushes, Olivia, and your daughter will be here." Liv gave it everything she had left, exhausted and drenched in sweat; her wavy brown hair stuck to her damp face. After the final push, there was a sudden release followed by a gush of fluid.

"Happy birthday little one!" Dr. Lewis exclaimed as he placed the infant on Olivia's belly. Her small cries soon filled the delivery room as Aly worked to clean her up.

"Hello little one!" Olivia greeted her daughter through happy tears has she moved the baby to her bare chest. "Oh my goodness. You're so beautiful!" Elliot beamed with pride as he watched the woman he loved with their daughter. "I'm so proud of you," he adorned, placing a kiss on the top of Olivia's head. "She's perfect." His right hand cupped the infant's damp head as he studied all of her features.

"Dad, would you like to cut the cord?" the physician asked as he extended a pair of scissors. Just like his other children, Elliot cut through the umbilical cord, freeing the little one from her connection to her mother.

"While we work on the placenta, can we take you're little one and get her cleaned up?" Aly asked as she approached Olivia with a blanket.

"I'll go with her," Elliot reassured as the infant was swept up to be examined.

"You're going to feel some pressure as the placenta is delivered," the physician instructed. He grasped the umbilical cord, giving moderate steady traction, urging it to detach from the uterine wall. The pressure grew in Olivia's pelvis, but the epidural made sure that there was minimal pain. There was a sudden jolt as the placenta detached from its home for the past nine months. A circulating nurse quickly carried it off to be examined, but soon came back and whispered something to the physician.

"I don't… feel so good…" Olivia replied groggily before going limp. Her heart rate began to climb.

"Olivia!" Elliot shouted as he ran to his wife's side. "Olivia! Wake up honey." He stroked her cool, damp face frantically. "Do something!" he demanded of the medical staff. Dr. Lewis stuck his hand into Olivia to search for the missing pieces of placenta. Sure enough, portions were still adherent, but more so than normal.

"I'm afraid she has something called placenta increta. It's when the placenta embedded too deeply into the wall of the uterus. Unfortunately, there is nothing we could have done to see this coming, and she's lost a lot of blood, so we have to rush her to the operating room for an emergency hysterectomy, because that is the only way to stop the bleeding," the doctor explained as nurses tended to Olivia, prepping her unconscious body for emergency surgery.

"Do whatever you have to to save her," Elliot ordered. He was not going to loose his wife. Not when it was supposed to be one of the best days of their lives. His wife was soon whisked to the operating theater, leaving Elliot with his daughter.