Chapter 63, and dammit this story wouldn't do what I wanted it to do so here's the deal, I had to break up that last chapter because I couldn't get it to flow the way I wanted to. And I'm currently cursing myself because I thought this would be the last chapter! Anyway, roll with me a little longer.

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"...so, will you make me the happiest, proudest man alive, and marry me?"

As she looked down at him kneeling in front of her with that ring, she had so many questions, so many doubts! Here he was, asking her to marry him, but was this what he really wanted? Was it what she wanted? She'd had so many ups and downs this past year, and she had to wonder if him wanting to marry her was a mistake on his part. Did he really understand what he was asking? And not of her, but of himself?

When he asked her before the court date if she would, they both understood that it was simply out of need; at least she did. She loves him so deeply, but what if she's too broken?

"Olivia?" He called softly, bringing her out of her thoughts and she looked at him wide eyed as she held Serena. "Please say yes…"

She looked down at her daughter in her arms, then back at Elliot. She didn't think when they agreed a week ago that they wouldn't get married that he would surprise her with another proposal so soon, and she was scared to death! What about her daughter? What about him? What about her own insecurities. Could he really handle what he was asking of her? Could he hold enough love in his heart for her child, herself, and her problems? They wouldn't be just living together, they'd be man and wife and have to handle all of the responsibility that came with that. Serena was only 3 weeks old, but she loved him and there was no doubt in her mind that he adored her baby girl but was that enough? This was marriage he was talking about; and not for show or play, but real marriage!

Still, she sat there, and as it became clear, and she knew in her heart the right decision to make, she didn't question it, she accepted that it was in fact the right thing and she said to him with tears running down her face…

2 years later…

This was officially Amanda's third month back at work since going on extended maternity leave for a year. She ended up taking her degree and going to work for the DA's office as a Forensic Analyst. She'd decided right away in her pregnancy, as she told Fin she would, to get out of police work and she didn't hesitate. Being as she was, without Darrell, and knowing why he couldn't be there for her and the baby was a huge awakening to her and she had to think smarter. She, like it or not was all her baby had, twins as she would find out at her first sonogram, and she couldn't risk one day, not being there.

"I love you, little man!" She said to her son, as he began kissing her cheek while he threw his arms around her neck and hugged her tight and quickly decided that he'd had enough of that.

"Down mama!" He said as he wiggled out of her arms. He saw a puzzle block that he wanted and had to get to it before it got lonely and Amanda laughed as she put him down and watched him toddle off.

"Bye bye mama!" Imani said, waving to her. Amanda went over and kissed her, missing them both already and looking at both her babies. Both were a perfect mix of she and Darrell, having heads full of long, dirty blonde curls and beautiful café au lait skin. Both their faces were his alone, even down to his big brown eyes on Trey, Mani having big clear greens; they were truly beautiful babies.

A year and 3 months ago, in spite of the doctors telling her that multiples didn't go all the way to term, she went two weeks and 2 days overdue before she gave birth to a set of healthy twins, a girl, weighing in at 7lbs 4oz, and a boy weighing in at 7lbs 9oz. 37 hours, 2 broken waters, an earload of bad language and finally, Imani Rose and Darrell James Collins III were born nine minutes apart!

She was lucky that with Darrell leaving her a sizeable inheritance, that she was able to take a whole year off after having the babies to just bond with them, and she was so happy that even though Darrell was taken from her, he left her with two blessings that she loved beyond all else. Olivia was right, the worst physical pain she'd ever go through but, totally worth it. It was the greatest thing she and Darrell ever did. She got teary as she looked down at them. It was crazy that she still missed him so much especially when she looked at his babies and wondered like she often did, how much he'd love them.

"Okay, I'd better go you guys. I'll be home early so we can go to Serena's party okay? Be good for Mimi!" She said, kissed them and and left, the babies happy that they'd get to go out this cold winter day.

"Melinda's gonna be a no show, pileup in the Bronx, she sends her apologies. Cragen and Munch are on their way… What are you doing?" Elliot said as he came in the kitchen

"Putting the candles on Serena's cake. What does it look like?"

"You're supposed to be taking it easy!"

"Elliot will you stop? I'm fine and doctor Morgan said I could be up for 2 hours today."

Two years and three rings later and it was the second best decision of her life, the first being deciding to have Serena. She truly couldn't imagine her life different from where it is now and was so thankful every day that she said yes when Elliot asked her to marry him. He's been an incredible husband and father, even if right now he was getting on her nerves.

"Limited. She only let you up because it's Serena's birthday and you wanted to be present for the party; and I hope you're not planning to carry that when it's time." He said as he wrapped his arms around her and planted kisses to her ear.

"Eli, will you tell your father that I can do it?" She said to the youngster who was sitting at the kitchen counter eating chips and handing Olivia the candles.

"I think you better listen to her, dad." Eli said

"I think you'd better get out of this kitchen!"

"Sorry Olivia." Eli shrugged, laughing and left the kitchen after he grabbed a handful of chips.

"And I think I distinctly remember that the doctor said, no lifting!" Almost nine months in with number two with five weeks to go and they couldn't be happier. But, to say that Olivia was shocked when she found out was an understatement! She was terrified! Remembering the trauma that was Serena's pregnancy, and how in the beginning she wished, prayed that it was wrong and that there was no baby, especially every time Harlan or Doc, or one of the other men raped her. She thought that god wouldnt bring a child into such a situation and when she realized that in fact, she was, it was hard for her and even harder after she'd escaped! She didn't know if she should have it and when she did, she went through months of doubt. Not knowing if it was right up until the very minute she held Serena in her arms. But still, when she found out that there was to be another on the way, she lost it! Between going back to that time, not to mention the fact that Serena was just 15 months old, Olivia had a moment that went on for a month of crying and telling Elliot she didn't think she could do it. She had stopped asking him to use condoms exactly nine months earlier after one broke and she surprisingly didn't freak out, but she didn't think that she could even get pregnant again. Serena had just been an extreme fluke. Plus, with her age, being almost 46 at the time she conceived her second baby and having had problems in the past. But Elliot wasn't surprised at all though, actually telling her she was pregnant before she even took a test! "Come on honey, I'm trying to keep my girl and my baby safe."

Damnit, could he be sexier right now?

"Fine! But if you don't stop kissing me there, things are about to get x-rated in the kitchen!" She whispered, turning her mouth to him and skimming his lips before she moved his hands and waddled out of the kitchen, leaving Elliot to finish putting the big number 2 candle on the giant Doc McStuffins cake. She would never admit it but she loved how Elliot fawned over her.

...

In the living room, Olivia came in from the kitchen to see Serena running around with with Imani and Trey and Milo, Maureen's 1 year old son, and they all ran right past her, bumping her legs.

"Sorry mommy!" Serena shouted as the chase continued, the four of them laughing their heads off as they ran. Olivia was about to sit down when the doorbell rang.

"I can get it, Liv." Lizzie said as she finished arranging presents on the gift table.

"Thanks honey but I go back on bedrest in an hour, I wanna do as much as I can before then." She smiled and slowly made her way to the door, taking a breath before she opened it to see Brian's mom on the other side. "Joanie. What a surprise." She tried to put pep in her voice but who was she fooling? She and Joanie knew just where they stood with each other even though they kept the peace for Serena. When Serena was 6 months old, feeling sorry for Joanie that she'd lost her only child and had no one. Olivia decided against her better judgment to allow Joanie to see Serena. She was her only grandchild and for Brian's sake, she wanted to let his mother have a part, albeit a small one in Serena's life even if she couldn't stand the woman but she let it be known that one misstep and that was it.

As Joanie came in from the cold, her arms and hands stuffed with bags of presents, she quickly put them down there in the foyer and began taking off her coat. "How are you?"

"I'm doing well, thank you."

"These are for my grandbaby." She said, referring to the piles of gifts that were in several bags. Olivia wanted to say something but she held her tongue, deciding that it was Serena's birthday and if this is what made Joanie happy...

"That's very thoughtful, thank you."

"Grandma!" Serena yelled, happily as she ran to Joanie who immediately handed her coat to Olivia and picked Serena up, hugging her.

"Happy Birthday darling! How's grandma's girl?"

"I'm 2 today! Right mommy?"

"That's right sweetie." Olivia said as she hung Joanie's coat.

"I know, and look at all the presents I got for you!" Joanie said as she put the child down to see the bags of gifts.

"For me? Thank you, Grandma! Mommy, look, mine!" Serena said, not knowing where to look first at all the brightly wrapped gifts. She was just excited to pieces!

"Thats nice of grandma, huh? What do you say?"

But Serena was already in her grandmother's arms. "Thank you grandma!" She exclaimed, Joanie hugging her tight while she gave a kiss to her cheeks.

"You're welcome sweet girl.

"I have a toy puppy!"

"You do?"

"Yes. His name is Bobo and he's over there. Come see!" Serena said pointing as she and Joanie walked off and Olivia watched her in amazement. Just that fact that Serena was only two years old and had such a capacity for language, not to mention already developing reasoning and math skills, it was astounding. Especially since Olivia worried that because of the circumstances surrounding Serena's first three months in the womb, she would be born with setbacks but she wasn't. She was healthy and beyond smart and Olivia was beyond thankful.

"Can't believe baby girl is 2 years old, where does the time go?" Fin asked.

"Oh gosh; I'm sorry." Olivia said, coming out of her reverie and stretching her back.

"Don't apologize, you okay?"

"Yeah, I just need to sit down." She said. "this baby is brutal! Would you mind taking those gifts over to the table?"

"Yeah, no problem. You just get yourself comfortable"

"Thanks Fin." She smiled then went to sit down, Nick coming to approach her as she was with Amanda and Maureen, Maureen feeding Milo.

"God I miss that with Serena. She stopped 3 months ago when my milk changed and never looked back."

"Maybe she'll want to nurse again after the baby comes." Maureen said, looking down at Milo. "My friend Robin, her 2 year old and 8 month old were the same, now she has to contend with all 3!"

"Mani seems to be letting it go. Mainly a bedtime thing but Trey, my god he wants it nonstop when I get home."

"Mama, hab mik?" Trey said as he came over, leaning on Olivia and laughing as she played with his face while Mani was off with Serena showing Joanie her toy dog.

"See what I mean? Come on baby." She said and he gladly ran and climbed up on her lap.

"Excuse me ladies. Hey Liv, can I talk to you?" Nick said.

"Hey Nick." Maureen said with a smile.

"Hey. Liv?"

"Are you gonna help me up?" She said, Nick looking at Maureen funny.

"Oh, sorry." He said and helped her up, them walking away.

"Sometimes, I really wish that I wasn't married!" Maureen said with a grin on her face.

"What; Nick?" Amanda had a sour face.

"He's really good looking."

"And I'm not married!" Kathleen sang, smiling.

"...and dad would kill you!" Maureen sang back to her.

"Sorry to be the one to burst your bubble, Kathleen" Amanda said. "but he has a girlfriend and it's serious.

...

"If that damn McFlubbins doesn't get here with her crew…" Elliot said, dialing his phone.

"McStuffins."

"What?"

"You said McFlubbins and it's McStuffins, Doc McStuffins." Fin said and Elliot looked at him. "What? Between Serena, Mani, Trey and Ken's little one, I know stuff!" He said and Elliot laughed.

"I never could keep it all straight. How is Ken, by the way?" He got a busy signal and hung up.

"He's good, loving the west coast."

"That sounds like a plan, California. A house on the beach."

"Yeah, maybe in my dreams." Fin laughed.

"Wait grandma." Serena said and climbed off of Joanie's lap.

"Serena!" Joanie called but she kept on running across the room to Elliot and Fin.

"Hi uncle Fin." She smiled. "Daddy, I have to go potty!"

"Be right back Fin. Come on princess." He picked her up and hurried towards the bathroom.

"So what's so dire?" Liv said as she took a seat in the study, rubbing her belly.

"I wanted to ask you-" He pulled up a chair and sat down. "-a question."

"O-kay." She wondered what the question was as he was acting so strange.

"Do you really- what I mean is, do you-" He took a deep breath. "man this played out easier in my head."

"Nick, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I… Liv, are you sure that El is it? I mean, do you really, truly love him?" He asked and she smiled.

"What brought this on?"

"I don't know." But when she looked at him, a sweet knowing glance and he cracked. "I've just been thinking about Carolyn and me and I love her, I do, it just… how did you know it was right?"

"I guess part of me had always known since the day I met him." She smiled, remembering him at that desk. When he got up to introduce himself and shake her hand, she got this feeling. It wasn't love yet but she had definitely just met somebody that would become very important in her life. Suddenly, she shook off the memory, rejoining Nick. "How did you know with Maria?"

"That wasn't… we only got married because she was having Zara and you see how that turned out.

"Nick, if you love Carolyn; really love her, don't let go. You deserve to be happy! Now help me up, I really need to pee."

Later that evening...

Well, everybody's gone…" Elliot said as he came into their bedroom where Olivia was lying down and reading while Serena was asleep beside her. "Everything's been cleaned up, the dishwasher is loaded and running and now, I want some cuddle time with my favorite girls!" He said, climbing carefully onto the bed so he didn't wake the baby.

"We squeezed a lot into four hours today didn't we?"

"That we did." He said and kissed her.

"I just wish I could've stayed down for everything." She smiled. "But I'm glad I got to see her blow out her candles." She said as Serena snuggled up closer to her as she continued sleeping.

"Somebody's out cold!" He laughed at the baby, seeing her passed out.

"She had a big day today, turning two." Olivia said and stroked Serena's chubby little cheeks.

"Wait till she opens all those gifts tomorrow, she'll really have a big day."

"I'm sure she'll be beyond excited!" She said and sat up, the top of her gown letting her breast go free.

"You trying to entice me?"

"No, but it works!" She said laughing and kissed him. "Right now, I need some of that attention you were giving me in the kitchen earlier!" She reached over to the night table and put her book down as she undid his pants, kissing and stroking him to a hard on.

"Shit, that feels good!" He seethed at the feel of her hand on him and she smiled before she kissed him again, biting his lip. When she felt precum start to leak out, she took her thumb and rubbed it over the head of his penis before she climbed on top of him, quickly sinking down with a whimper as she started to ride him. They didn't get to do this as often as they liked now that she was on bed rest and tired all the time, and his size was always something she had to get used to as he grabbed her hips and started to move his. "You alright?" He asked, the sensations hitting him as hard as they were her. God he loved to be inside of her and wished that Serena wasn't sleeping beside them so he could let it out!

"Yes...keep going!" She moaned, her hands on his chest and made circles with her hips before she went up and down on his cock. And even though the sheer weight of her belly had her already feeling tired, she was determined to cum before she stopped and kept going.

As the feeling intensified, she wanted to cry out, Oh my god! Wanted to scream his name but she couldn't with Serena in the room. Instead, she grabbed their headboard with one hand as she leaned on his chest with the other and bit her lip as she squeezed her eyes shut as she gripped his cock. He continued thrusting while he pulled her nipple.

They continued their love making; breathing hard and trying to be quiet, crashing their lips together to absorb each other's cries when it became too much but when she felt that orgasm, that wonderful feeling, when her toes began to curl and she felt herself start to shake as her muscles started to twitch. Oh god oh god oh god! "Elliot!" She cried in a whisper trying to catch her breath as she felt flushed all over and before she knew it, she erupted as it hit, shaking as wave after wave of pleasure so extreme took her, it bordered on painful as they came together and she collapsed beside him.

"Oh my god!" It came labored as she tried to regulate her breathing after such a mind-numbing climax that she was still feeling. And Elliot was equally speechless.

"You're going to be the death of me!" He said, flat on his back. She simply smiled, gave him a kiss and cuddled up next to him, fully sated and within seconds, was out! "Liv?" He called in a hushed tone before he realized that she was asleep. But he was still fully clothed, down to his shoes with the exception of his penis. Olivia's leg was thrown over him and she was comfortably nestled against him, sleeping soundly. He decided that he didn't want to disturb her so he carefully reached for the lamp and turned it off, kissed her head and settled in for the night.

A week later…

"Carolyn, I gotta go!" Nick said and kissed her.

"This would be so much easier if we moved in together."

"Cari, we've talked about this."

"We haven't actually, I bring it up and you change the subject."

"Carolyn"

"Nick, I'm not rushing, or pushing you. But it's been two years… We've met each other's families; I've met your little girl. I just think it's time for us to have something more… solid, if we're going to continue this." She said and waited for him to respond; she was very disappointed when all she got was

"Baby, I'm gonna be late. I promise, we'll talk about this later!" He said and kissed her lips quickly and walked out the door, leaving her in bed and feeling pissed.

"What is it with you Amaro? You're gonna miss this if I take it somewhere else!" But out in the hall, he smiled, knowing that he had the ring and was going to surprise her tonight.

Reminiscing on everything that's happened the past two years, Olivia felt like she had finally finished a long journey and she had. William and Harlan Lewis, all the men that she never thought she'd never get past for what they'd done to her; even Bronwyn. They had all once been so fresh in her mind, so painfully vivid! Their voices and smells, the feel of them and their bodies; their words. At one time, they were enough to break her and after her time with Harlan, she thought they would be forever, but she was wrong. She had so much in her life to be thankful for; so many truly remarkable people and Dr. Lindstrom had been just one but he had made such an impact.

Twenty minutes later, looking out the large, picturesque bedroom window, she was happy that she got to stretch her legs, even if it was only going to the bathroom. She looked out at the snow, sad that she didn't get to play with Serena in it this winter, having to settle instead for listening to her laughs as Elliot was out with her enjoying the snow and she was stuck in bed.

It was too quiet around here and she was literally counting the minutes until Elliot was back with her baby girl and she smiled as she felt more kicks as she sat with her hands on the top swell of her large belly and began to rub it in circles.

"You gotta come out sooner or later!" She said to the baby as she managed, with a struggle to stand, and after getting up from the chair, she stood there for a moment, catching her breath and was answered with a more kicks. Unlike Serena, this baby was taking a lot out of her. She was always tired and had gained significantly more weight this time around and the backaches and swelling were unreal! That, with her blood pressure that had been high almost since this pregnancy started, plus her having to be on bed rest for the last three months for borderline preeclampsia, she was definitely ready to get this over with!

Any day now! She thought as she waddled to their bed, getting in it as fast as a nine months pregnant woman could, and after some maneuvering with the pillows, she passed out the minute she got comfortable!

A lot had changed in two years, and since Olivia had decided not to come back and with Murphy itching to get out; it was Fin who'd stepped up, doing what he thought was right at the time and taking the sergeant's exam that year to become the new CO of SVU. And he'd done a damn good job at it too, easily falling into a leader's position, effortlessly Only now, the Lieutenant's exam was coming up in April of this year, and he wasn't exactly sure if he'll stay in a leadership position since he didn't want to take the exam.

This morning, he and Nick were sitting around his office, having nothing better to do since work was caught up and with it being a slow day, they just sat back and shot the breeze this cold February morning.

"I think I'm going in."

"Going in?" Fin asked, confused, to which Nick went in his pocket and sat a black velvet box on the desk that Fin reached out and picked up, opening it.

"I knew it!" He laughed. "Beautiful ring man! I told you a year ago that you would marry that girl!"

"Yeah, you were right."

"So when's the big moment gonna happen?"

"Tonight. I got it all planned!"

"You got a winner there Nick, don't fuck it up!" He said as he handed the ring back to Nick while looking out over the squad room. "Shit, here comes Dodds!" He quickly put on his serious voice. "I'll expect that report on my desk no later than 5! You can go Amaro."

"Chief." Nick said on his way out.

"Chief Dodds, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"God, I cannot wait to get this baby out! Casey, I'm miserable."

"I know it's hard-"

"I've been in bed for three months, I'm about 2 seconds from going insane!"

"You'll be thankful when you're holding that beautiful new baby. Speaking of babies, how's my chunky?" She asked, referring to Serena. She had given her that nickname when she was just a little baby and was so fat and squishy. Now however, the weight had come off but the nickname still stuck.

"2 going on 20! She's so smart and beautiful, I'm just, I can't believe sometimes that she came out of me."

"Just like her aunt Casey! Anyway, I've got court in 15 minutes, you give her a big kiss for me, and hopefully, I'll see you guys in a week. I love you."

"You too." Olivia smiled and tossed the phone across the bed when she was done, sighing as she rubbed her stomach.

"Anybody home?" Elliot yelled jokingly as Serena came running to Olivia the second she and Elliot got upstairs.

"Mommy!" She yelled, her long dark pigtails swinging as she ran, immediately using her little staircase to climb onto the bed.

"Hi my love!" Olivia said as she leaned forward and hugged her tight, giving her a bunch of kisses. She still couldn't believe that this little girl was all hers as Serena hugged her tightly. "How was the doctor's?"

"Perfect. Isn't that right, Princess? She got a clean bill of health." Elliot said as he came into the room after locking the gate at the top of the stairs and bent to kiss Olivia's lips. "You okay?"

"I'm fine, just tired." She said as Elliot palmed her belly and leaned into it.

"Hey little man, mommy's ready for you to get out of there. I think it's time to leave." He said as the baby gave a series of big hard kicks and Serena, who loved to feel him moving just laughed as she felt him beneath her hands.

"Oh, Elliot don't." The baby whose kicks while welcome, were nothing short of painful, and always incited by Elliot talking to her belly. Always. She actually got bruises on several occasions as a result.

"Sorry babe." He apologized, rubbing her belly.

"Sorry mommy." Serena said. "Mommy, I did not get a needle!"

"You didn't?"

"No, and and look, I have a lollipop." Serena showed Olivia. "and I have one for you too." Serena said as she handed Olivia a red one like hers.

"Aw, thank you baby! But what about daddy?"

"He ate it in the car." She said, shrugging her shoulders and Olivia laughed.

"Oh did he?"

"Guilty." Elliot said.

"See mommy, Daddy is guilty!" She said as she kissed Olivia's belly before she turned to give Elliot a kiss. "I love you, Daddy!"

"I love you too, princess.

"And baby, and mommy, and mommy again!" She said as she leaned against Olivia and began hugging her stomach, trying to whisper to it. "Hi brother!" Olivia loved it when Serena played with and talked to her brother.

"Mommy twice?" Elliot pouted.

"No, three times." She said, kissing Olivia's belly. "I love mommy one more! Can I go play?"

"You can go play." Elliot smiled as she ran off to her little table and Elliot quickly sat on the bed with Olivia, moving a lock of her hair behind her ear. "You ever sorry that you married me?"

She shook her head 'no' as she looked into his eyes. "Not for a second. What about you, are you sorry that you asked me?"

"I'm just wondering why it took me so long; I should've done it years ago!" She smiled at his words as he leaned in and took her lips in a sweet kiss.

"Mommy, Daddy, come draw." Serena called to them.

"The princess calls."

"Well the queen is starving." She was rubbing her stomach. "You go ahead, I'm gonna go and get something to eat."

"No you're not, nice try. I'll get it." He said and went over to Serena. "Princess, you wanna come with me to get mommy a snack?"

"No, thank you!" The child sang while she continued coloring. "Daddy look, I made a bird!" She told Elliot and it was a good thing she cleared that up because the bird looked like a blob!

"Would you look at that!" He said, making Olivia grin as Serena ran to her with the drawing. "Be back." He said and lifted the baby onto the bed, kissing her before he left.

"Mommy, look!" She said excited as she showed it to her. "It is a bird."

"It sure is baby, look at that!"

"Mommy, can I have my birday again?" Serena asked.

"Well your birthday only comes once a year, and since it just came…"

Later, as Lizzie was in the living room, reading to Serena and Milo, Dickie and Maureen were in the kitchen helping Elliot prepare dinner, chopping up the ingredients for the salad while Elliot stirred the risotto and Maureen basted the chicken.

"Okay honey, see you in a little bit." Elliot said then put his phone in his back pocket, continuing to stir the risotto. "That was Kat, she and Eli will be here in about thirty minutes!"

"I'm just glad that she volunteered to pick up Eli. I hate driving from Jersey." Maureen said as she put the chicken back in the oven.

"So I guess Robert won't be making it?" Elliot said of Maureen's husband who was a doctor.

"Afraid not, he got tied up with a surgery."

"I tell you dad, I still can't believe you and Liv are having another baby." Dickie said as he chopped the tomatoes.

"Okay, where did that come from? And I'm gonna regret this, but why?" Maureen said as she laughed.

"Because, that means they're still having sex!" He said with a shiver and Maureen laughed.

"Lots of it." Elliot grinned.

"Dad, that's gross!" They both cringed as Elliot's phone rang. He took it from his pocket and looked at the screen, amused to see that it was Liv calling from upstairs.

"Need help getting out of the tub?" He signaled Maureen to keep an eye on the risotto before he left the kitchen.

"No, I'm out...and I made a mess."

"A mess huh?" He said as he walked into the living room, kissing Milo and Serena who were so enthralled in the book that Elizabeth was reading that they barely paid him any attention.

"El, my water broke!"

"Your wa-" He quickly hung up the phone and ran upstairs to the bedroom while Elizabeth looked on and Serena spoke up.

"No running in the house daddy."

"Sorry Princess." He yelled as he ran by. "Liv, baby, are you in pain?" He asked as he burst in the bedroom and made his way over to the chair where she was sitting, trying to put on her Uggs. He noticed that she was sitting in sweats with a zip up jacket and he dropped down to put on her shoes.

"The contractions haven't started yet. El, I'm scared."

"Listen to me, I'm gonna be right there by your side the entire time. I don't want you to worry." He said and kissed her head. "you just concentrate on getting this baby here, alright? We're gonna do this together now let's get your shoes on, I'll clean up the fluid and we'll get to the hospital, okay?"

"Okay, but El…"

"Yeah babe?"

"Can we eat dinner first? I really want some risotto!" She said, looking slightly embarrassed but meaning every word.

"You want a plato ng risoto? Ngayon kung paano ay na gonna tumingin kung Harlan ay bumalik?"

"What the hell, are you speaking? Thai?"

"Filipino, ngunit iyan ay sa tabi ng point. mataimtim, ikaw gotta isip tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay!"

"Elliot?"

"El!" She called. "Elliot...!" Louder and more urgent and finally opened her eyes to the dark of the room. She let out a deep, shaky breath when she realized she was dreaming again and threw the covers back, attempting to get up and looking around slowly. "This isn't…" She said but quieted herself when it suddenly came back to her; she was in the right place! She ran her hands through her hair and moved to stand up, as soon as she did, the baby kicked her quite hard and sent her reaching for her stomach as she held on to the wall by the bed, taking deep breaths as she tried to soothe it.

"You're so active now!" She whispered to the baby, careful that she wasn't loud enough to wake Harlan if he was indeed here. She simply couldn't take him forcing her tonight, although there wasn't much physical force used, just mental; she'd given up fighting in her third month after he found her with the scalpel and beat her so badly she lay bleeding and cramping horribly for three days, praying that she'd lose the baby and die with it but she didn't. Somehow the baby stayed with her and though she cried, over time she grew to accept it and by the time she felt those first kicks, she knew that this was her baby and she had to protect it but how? She was a slave to Harlan and all of his sick tendencies; she couldn't help herself and now she was charged with this innocent little life.

She winced at the pain in her head before she stood up as straight as she could, keeping her hand on her belly. She was feeling nauseous in addition to the headache and thought she'd throw up. Standing by the bed, she hadn't moved, not sure if she could as sick as she was feeling and slowly sat back down.

Why was she still having such dreams after so many months; almost nine she thought as she rubbed her belly; the nightgown she wore barely fitting as it was now stretched taut across her stomach, her navel poking out. She never thought that the baby would survive all of the forced sex and beatings she'd endured over the months but yet somehow, here she was, she thought as she rubbed her bump.

"Still think it's a girl?" Beach house asked.

"Yeah" Liv answered "I do." She whispered but it was still only her guess and she smiled briefly. Five more weeks by her count and she'd be giving birth to this baby just to lose her. When she thought about it, she got so upset that she needed to walk and rose up rather quickly, a very bad idea she found out seconds later when she got an unmistakable urge and ran as fast as her now limp leg could carry her and dropped to her hands and knees in front of the toilet and began vomiting, quickly heaving the contents of her stomach.

She caught her breath and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She didn't mean to let them but tears fell from her eyes and dropped down her face. So much was going through her mind and her tears inadvertently got the best of her. She sat back against the wall, hands trembling from her fear though she tried to control it but, she was scared and as more tears flowed... "...why am I here?" She cried, protectively holding her baby. The baby, as if knowing started to kick her softly, as if talking to her, telling her to hold on.

"I've tried little one, I've tried so hard!" She cried. This wasn't happening, this couldn't be happening but it was. This was her reality, though as hard as she tried, she couldn't come to terms with it. She would give birth any time now and when she thought about it...

"You just have to hold on-" sealview started but Olivia didn't want to hear it.

"Hold on to what?" She spat angrily just as she heard the locks on the bedroom door and her heart sank as she cradled her belly as she tried quickly to get up. Why couldn't her dreams be reality and he be dead? She'd killed him twice in her dreams, she'd settle for once in real life.

"Darlin, where the hell are you?" He said, drunk out of his mind as she struggled to stand."Come on and get this dick, if I gotta chase youuuu..." He said and began laughing at himself.

"I'm here." It came simply, flat. No emotion. As she held back her tears. She wouldn't keep him waiting. He'd get so angry-

"When I call you, you better git yer ass to me, pronto!" He yelled as he gripped her hair from behind.

"I can't walk as fast-" She started but she was quickly thrown on the bed and he was on her.

"Did I say speak? Mmm, god you sure look good!" He said as she felt his disgusting hands travel her belly then painfully grab her breasts as he stuck his tongue in her mouth and kissed her while he harshly pinched her nipples and she squirmed. He finally let go of her nipples and wet stains ran down the front of her gown but he gave no care as he ripped her gown and still with her hair in a grip, he forced her on her hands and knees and she started to really cry. Bracing herself for this intrusion, it was just too painful!

"Harlan, plea-" But it was short lived as he brutally began fucking her and as she cried and tried to take it, she prayed to endure until it was finished!

I know. Feel free to curse me.

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