Chapter 6: A New Beginning
With the case finally wrapped up, Cragen ordered Olivia and Nick to take the next two weeks off to relax and clear their minds. As they walked out of the precinct, Nick hesitated for a moment before gently taking Olivia's hand. "Liv, can I come to your place? I just… I can't be alone right now," he said softly, his vulnerability apparent. Olivia saw the uncertainty in his eyes and gave him a reassuring smile. "Come with me," she replied quietly.
The ride to Olivia's apartment was silent, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. It was peaceful, filled with unspoken understanding. When they arrived, Nick made his way to the couch while Olivia went to grab them both a glass of water.
"Sorry, no booze," she said with a smile. "But, you know, I can't drink for a while thanks to you." Nick chuckled, resting his hand on her flat stomach. "Liv, I promise, no alcohol, no sushi, and any morning sickness you might have will all be worth it when you're holding that little baby in your arms." Olivia raised an eyebrow and teased, "Oh, I'm sorry. Did you carry a baby for nine months, or was that Maria's job?"
She placed her hand on his and smiled gently. "I'm still scared that I'll be terrible as a mother, but then you smile at me, and I know I can do this with you." Nick leaned in to kiss her, and after a few moments, they pulled apart, both gasping for air. He gazed at her, his eyes filled with longing and affection. "Liv, you're going to be an amazing mom. I know you're scared, but trust me, parenthood doesn't come with a manual. It's something you figure out as you go."
Olivia's voice was softer than usual when she spoke again. "Nick, how is this going to work, with you already having an ex-wife and a young daughter? Can I, and this baby, fit into your life?" Nick looked at her with love in his eyes, taking both of her hands in his. "Liv, I have room for all of you. My heart is big enough for you and this baby." He grinned mischievously. "But if we have a daughter, I might have to get a male dog just to balance out all the girl power." Olivia picked up a pillow and threw it at him, laughing. "You ruined a perfectly sweet moment."
Nick wrapped her up in his arms, smirking. "Yeah, but admit it—you still think I'm incredibly hot." She rolled her eyes playfully, her lips curling into a smirk. "I said hot. But if you want to go for incredibly hot, take me to my bed."
Nick grinned and effortlessly scooped her up, carrying her toward the bedroom. They both disappeared behind the door, the world outside fading away.
Over the next two weeks, Olivia and Nick decided to start dating, keeping it private for the time being. Without the pressure of work, they enjoyed simple pleasures—walking through the park, sharing lunches and dinners, attending plays, and spending quiet nights together. Nick made sure Zara spent time with them, introducing Olivia as a friend from work, and they cherished the time spent in each other's company. They even had their first ultrasound, hearing their baby's heartbeat, making everything feel more real. While both were nervous about the future, Olivia was especially anxious, but they were both determined to make things work—not only for the sake of their baby but for themselves, too.
The night before returning to work, they lay in Nick's bed, cuddled up, and trying to figure out how to navigate their return to the precinct. "Obviously, we need to keep this between us for now," Olivia said, and Nick nodded in agreement. He glanced at her, his expression turning serious. "Your morning sickness is going to raise some questions. Our team is sharp—they'll figure it out." Olivia sighed. "I know. I wish they weren't so good at their jobs." Nick rolled his eyes, and she couldn't help but laugh. "You're right, I don't wish that."
She ran her hand through her hair, a nervous habit she only displayed when she felt flustered. Nick noticed and asked softly, "What's on your mind?" Olivia hesitated before responding. "Well, I'll have to tell Cragen eventually. But not yet. I'm not showing, so I have a few more weeks before that happens. And don't give me that look—I'll be careful at work, I promise. Just give me a few more weeks before everyone else finds out about the baby... and about us."
Nick gazed into her brown eyes, which were filled with concern, and finally relented. "Alright, you win." Then, as the thought fully sank in, he looked at her, surprised. "Wait, did you just say you'd tell them about us too?" She rolled her eyes. "Nick, you're the father of my baby, and I'm not going to hide that. Plus, they'd figure it out sooner or later—especially when you start acting way too overprotective and, well, when our baby comes out looking just like you, with my luck."
Nick pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. "Liv, thank you. You don't know how much that means to me. And if this baby comes out looking just like me, then you'll be one lucky lady—because I have great genes." He winked at her, making her laugh.
The next morning, Nick was busy in the kitchen cooking breakfast while Olivia dealt with her relentless morning sickness. She stumbled out of the bedroom, glaring at him. "You did this to me, Amaro. You better hope your kid is cute, because this morning sickness? It's not just in the morning. It's all day long." Nick gave her a sympathetic smile. "Olivia, if I could stop it for you, I would. But I made you a light breakfast that I know you can keep down, and I packed you some lunch to take to work—hopefully, that'll help." She softened at his thoughtful gesture and said, "Thank you, Nick." She was about to apologize for her outburst, but he held up his hand. "Liv, no need to apologize. You're allowed to feel however you feel. And if those feelings are directed at me, I can handle it." Olivia smiled gratefully before biting into the toast he'd made for her, appreciating the warmth of his kindness.
Later, they both arrived at the precinct and were immediately swept into the chaos that was SVU. Olivia's nausea lingered, so she decided to take a break and get some fresh air on the roof. She stood there for a few moments, taking deep breaths as she placed a hand gently on her stomach.
"Little bug," she whispered softly, a smile tugging at her lips, "I know you probably can't hear me yet, since you don't have ears, but I want you to know I love you. I'm terrified I'll mess up being your mama, but I love you so much already. We haven't even met, and I feel it." She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady her breathing. "You just need to calm down in there and not make me so sick at work. Your Aunt Amanda, uncles Fin and Munch, and Grandpa Cragen don't know about you yet, but soon enough, they will. I know they'll love you just like I do. We've got a unique family, kiddo, but you'll fit right in."
After taking a few moments to gather herself on the roof, Olivia felt steadier. She took a deep breath, brushed away a stray tear, and headed back into the squad room, ready for whatever the day had in store. Inside, the precinct was a whirlwind of activity—paperwork, interrogations, and nonstop research into their current case. Olivia was so engrossed in her own work that she didn't notice Amanda approach her desk.
"Hey, Liv," Amanda said, leaning against the edge of Olivia's desk. "Can you help me with this interrogation? The perp will handle the two of us better than any of the guys." Startled by the interruption, Olivia blinked a few times before nodding. She quickly gathered her things and followed Amanda, asking, "So, what's the plan?"
Amanda smirked. "He thinks he's God's gift to humanity and that every woman will bow to his every whim." Olivia chuckled knowingly. "So we ignore him and focus on each other instead?" With a playful wink, Amanda replied, "Exactly. Besides, you know I have a thing for brunettes." Both women laughed, sharing a brief moment of levity before entering the interrogation room, determined to break the suspect.
Meanwhile, the men watched from behind the observation glass. Fin shook his head in admiration. "Damn, these two are impressive." Munch chuckled. "Yeah, they are. Don't tell them I said this, but they're way better than us." Nick smirked, leaning against the wall. "I hate to be the one to break it to you, but I think they already know that." The men laughed, clearly impressed as Amanda and Olivia expertly maneuvered the interrogation. Within minutes, the suspect was confessing to everything, and the two detectives emerged triumphant.
Later, Olivia headed to the break room to grab some water. Nick followed, leaning casually against the counter as she filled her glass. He lowered his voice, asking, "How are you feeling? I noticed you went up to the roof earlier." She rolled her eyes with a soft smile and whispered back, "Nick, I'm fine. I just needed some air. Look, I know you want to check on me, and I appreciate it, but here at work, you've got to dial it back. Otherwise, the squad's going to figure it out before we're ready to tell them." She flashed him a teasing grin, adding, "Even though I do find your protectiveness oddly attractive." Nick's eyebrows lifted, and he leaned in slightly, giving her a confident smile. "Attractive, huh? That's good to know." As she brushed past him to head back to her desk, she smirked over her shoulder. "Don't let it go to your already too big head." Nick laughed quietly, watching her with an amused glint in his eyes before heading back to his own work.
It had been six weeks since Olivia and Nick had returned to work, and today was the day they had decided to share their big news with Cragen and the rest of the squad. Keeping the secret hadn't been easy—especially with Olivia still battling relentless morning sickness that struck at all hours—but somehow, they'd managed. Olivia suspected Amanda might have already figured out something was up. Amanda had been acting a little differently around her lately, which made Olivia wonder. Standing in front of her bedroom mirror, Olivia noticed the faintest hint of a bump starting to show. A small smile spread across her face as she rested her hand on her belly.
Deciding to capture the moment, Olivia snapped a quick selfie of her growing bump and sent it to Nick, who was at home with Zara for the week. His reply came back almost instantly, full of excitement that she was starting to show.
After debating what to wear, Olivia settled on a pair of jeans (held together with a hair tie because she refused to buy maternity jeans just yet), a simple black T-shirt that covered the waistband, black boots, and her signature brown leather jacket. Satisfied she looked like her usual self, she grabbed her things and headed to the precinct.
Nick was waiting outside when she arrived, grinning as she approached. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "You waited for me?" He nodded. "Well, I wasn't sure if you wanted to go straight to Cragen's office and just get it over with. We talked about how we'd tell him but forgot to plan the timing." Olivia laughed. "Of course we did," she said, thinking for a moment as they walked toward the elevator. "Let's just tell him as soon as we get upstairs."
When they entered the squad room, it was still quiet—thankfully, they were the first ones in. Taking a deep breath, they headed straight to Cragen's office. Olivia poked her head in and asked, "Captain, can we talk to you for a minute?" Cragen, curious but calm, motioned for them to come in. Olivia sat down, her nerves evident as she fidgeted with her hands, while Nick quietly shut the door before taking a seat beside her. Cragen studied them with a look of interest. Olivia rarely showed this kind of nervousness, and Nick's supportive hand on her thigh didn't go unnoticed. Olivia offered Nick a small, grateful smile before turning to Cragen.
"Captain, you know how much this job means to me," she began, her voice unsteady. Cragen nodded, his expression neutral but attentive. "And you know I'd never do anything to jeopardize my position here," she continued. Taking a deep breath, she finally said: "Nick and I… we're having a baby."
Cragen's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but his reaction quickly softened into a smile. "Congratulations, you two. I'm so happy for you." Olivia blinked, momentarily stunned by his response, while Nick hesitated, his voice tinged with doubt. "Captain, what does this mean for our spots in the unit?"
Cragen looked at them thoughtfully, his tone gentle but firm. "You two have obviously been in a relationship for a while and have managed to do your jobs well. But I can't have you working as partners anymore. Olivia, you'll partner with Amanda, and Nick, you'll work with Fin. I know this unit functions as a team, but when it comes to day-to-day pairings, that's how we'll handle it." Both Olivia and Nick exhaled in relief. Olivia's eyes welled with gratitude as she stood and hugged Cragen. "Thank you, Captain. Thank you for your support."
Cragen returned the hug, his voice soft. "Anytime, Liv. You're family to me—you both are."
Olivia and Nick left Cragen's office feeling a weight lifted off their shoulders. The first hurdle was over, but the hardest part was still ahead—telling the rest of the squad and, eventually, Nick's ex-wife, Maria, and his daughter, Zara.
As the rest of the team started filing into the squad room, Olivia and Nick exchanged a glance. Amanda was the first to notice something was up. She dropped her coffee cup on her desk and raised an eyebrow. "Alright, what's going on? You two look like you're about to either win the lottery or confess to a crime." Fin chuckled from his desk. "Probably both, knowing these two." Olivia smiled nervously while Nick rubbed the back of his neck. "Can we get everyone's attention for a minute?" Olivia asked, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach. Amanda, Fin, and Munch all turned their focus to her, curiosity evident. Olivia cleared her throat and started, "Nick and I… we have something to share. It's personal, but it's going to affect the squad in a positive way." Amanda narrowed her eyes but stayed silent, while Fin leaned back in his chair with a knowing smirk. Munch, ever the skeptic, folded his arms. "This should be good." Nick took over, his voice steady but warm. "Olivia and I are expecting a baby."
For a second, the room was silent as the news sunk in. Then, Amanda practically squealed with excitement. "I knew something was going on! Oh my God, Liv, you're going to be a mom! I can't wait to spoil this baby!" Fin grinned and nodded. "Congrats, you two. You've been through a lot. This is good—this is really good." Munch, for all his sarcasm, smiled warmly. "Well, if this kid inherits Olivia's determination and Nick's… occasional charm, they'll be unstoppable. Congratulations, both of you." Olivia let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Thanks, guys. We're really excited—and maybe a little terrified."
Amanda immediately moved closer to Olivia, her excitement contagious. "Terrified? Girl, you've handled way scarier things than a baby. You've got this—and you've got all of us to help." "Especially when it comes to spoiling," Fin added with a grin. "This kid's going to be swimming in onesies and toys." They all laughed, and for a moment, Olivia felt like everything was going to be okay.
Later that evening, Nick braced himself for a different conversation. Maria had always been cordial with him post-divorce, but this was big news, and he wasn't sure how she'd take it. When Maria opened the door to her apartment, Zara immediately ran out to greet Nick, throwing her arms around his waist. "Daddy!" Nick hugged her tightly. "Hey, munchkin. How was your day?"
"Good! I got a gold star in art class!" she said proudly, holding up a drawing. "That's amazing, Zara," Nick said with a smile, glancing up at Maria, who was watching them from the doorway. Maria raised an eyebrow. "You're early. What's going on?" Nick sighed and gestured toward the living room. "Can we talk for a minute? Just the two of us." Maria hesitated, then nodded. "Zara, sweetie, why don't you finish your drawing at the table? Daddy and I need to chat."
Once Zara was occupied, Nick and Maria sat down. He wasted no time. "Maria, I wanted to tell you this in person before Zara hears anything or before word spreads. Olivia and I are in a relationship, and… we're having a baby." Maria blinked, her expression unreadable. "Wow. That's… a lot."
"I know it's sudden," Nick said quickly, "but I wanted you to hear it from me. I also want to make sure we handle this in a way that makes Zara comfortable. She's my priority, always." Maria let out a long breath and leaned back in her chair. "Well, I can't say I'm thrilled, but I appreciate you telling me directly. Zara loves you, and she deserves to know in a way that doesn't confuse her. Have you thought about how to explain this to her?" Nick nodded. "I was thinking of keeping it simple at first—just letting her know that Olivia and I care about each other and that she's going to have a little brother or sister. I don't want to overwhelm her with too much all at once." Maria pursed her lips, then nodded. "Alright. I'll back you up when you talk to her. Zara adores Olivia, so I think it'll be okay." Relieved, Nick smiled. "Thanks, Maria. That means a lot."
The next evening, Nick and Olivia sat down with Zara in Olivia's apartment. Zara was sitting cross-legged on the couch, clutching her favorite stuffed animal. "Zara, sweetheart," Nick began, his tone gentle, "we wanted to talk to you about something exciting." Zara's eyes lit up. "What is it?"
Nick glanced at Olivia, who smiled and said, "You know how your dad and I are really good friends at work?" Zara nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! You guys catch bad guys together." Olivia chuckled. "That's right. Well, your dad and I care about each other a lot, and we've decided we're more than just friends." Zara tilted her head. "Like boyfriend and girlfriend?" Nick smiled. "Exactly. And there's more. You're going to be a big sister."
Zara's eyes went wide. "I'm getting a baby sister? Really?!" Olivia nodded. "Or maybe a brother—we're not sure yet. But either way, you're going to be an amazing big sister."
Zara's face broke into a huge grin. "I'm going to teach them all my games! And show them my stuffed animals! And…" Nick laughed, pulling her into a hug. "I knew you'd be excited, munchkin." As Zara chattered excitedly about all the things she would do with her new sibling, Olivia felt a warm sense of relief. They still had challenges ahead, but for now, everything felt right.