6. Night Anouncement

"Quite the little detective, isn't she?" Elliot asks.

"I'm calling Amanda."

I take out my phone and do so, seriously wondering if Amanda told her that.

"Yeah, I did, actually," Amanda tells me when I ask. I can hear her smile.

"So she's allowed to have sex anywhere else?" I ask incredulously.

"I didn't say that. I said no sex in my apartment. She told me she didn't want to have sex or kids so I assume she was alright with my telling her that."

"She definitely is closer to you if she told you that."

"I egged her on. Logan came over to work on homework and then I came in the room at around 8. They were making out by the door so I threw a rag at them. Logan left and we started talking," Amanda explains.

"Never use the term "they", referring to my daughter and "making out" ever again."

Just then, I hear Ellie's door open. She comes to throw her apple core away. She hears me. "I just called you out on making out," she says.

I slap her lightly with my hand and she scurries off.

"So do I get my Babydoll back tonight?"

"You actually miss her?" I ask jokingly.

"Maybe that's why we're closer! That was mean," she replies, just as serious, which is not at all.

"Well, it's late, so she can come back to you tomorrow."

"Why can't she come back tonight? I'm bored."

"You won't ever be bored once you have those kids," I tell her.

"Yeah, actually, I wanted to talk to you and Ellie about that."

She didn't say it in a scared or sad tone, but it still makes me nervous to hear that.

"When?"

"Bring her over. Now."

"Wow being pregnant sure made you needy," I comment.

"Well, I miss her. Sorry," Amanda says only partly serious. "And then you and Elliot can get back to whatever the hell Ellie doesn't want to be there for."

I feel the blood drain from my face. "How did you know about that?"

"She texted me, and I quote, 'damn I wish I went back to your place tonight. I don't like walking in on my mom making out with somebody."

I pull the phone away from my face. "Ellie! Get in the car!" Then, into the phone, I say, "I'm gonna kill her. We'll be there in ten minutes."

I hang up and Ellie emerges from her room. "What, Mom?"

"Wanna stay here or go to Amanda's?"

"What's going on?" she questions. "Wait, never mind, I don't wanna know."

*Ellie's POV*

I just want to get out of here. I know I interrupted...something I don't want to admit to myself.

So as soon Mom drops me off and closes the door behind her, I say to Amanda, "They're hooking up now, happy?"

She laughs, remembering when I was all bent about my mom being so harsh. I told her never to say that my mom was hooking up with someone ever again.

I take off my shoes and throw them down the hall to the guest room.

"10 bucks, you trip over those and break your other ankle," Amanda comments.

" I won't. I'm not hungry this time."

She smirks. "I guess your mom wanted to get back because I wanted to talk to you two about something."

I raise my eyebrows, forcing the part about Mom from my mind. "What?" I ask, sitting.

"Well, your mom forced you away from me and...thank god for that..."

I open my mouth in shock but she holds up her hand.

"...hear me out. I was actually really bored without noticing it until you weren't around."

"Just because there haven't been huge cases lately doesn't mean you're not busy. Once a case comes, you're gonna really be stressed," I point out.

"I know, I know, but still."

"Okay, so what?" I ask.

"I want to keep the babies."

A smile forms on my mouth. "Really?" I ask. Not eagerly, just in question.

She nods. "You and your mom...I just don't get how you could be so close. Maybe it's because it's just you two."

"She gets mad, actually. Even jealous, thinking we're closer than me and her are. She doesn't get it," I admit.

"You two are closer than you think. I wanted that so bad if I had my own kids."

"What if I'm better than them?" I joke.

"Then me and your mom can trade."

I shake my head. "You'll be a great mom."

"I hope so."

"You kept me in line when Mom flipped, so, I'd say you're good."

She laughs. "Thanks, Babydoll."

"So what do you think they'll be?" I ask.

"I dunno. Probably both boys."

"What do you want?"

"One of each. Even though I have been through raising a girl."

"Not the pregnancy," I say. "My mom said she hated being pregnant with me. Not a day of her first trimester did she not throw up."

"Fun." She looks horrified.

"Well you're already six weeks. Maybe they are boys."

"Or maybe they're waiting."

I laugh. "For what?"

"Me to be somewhere with no bathroom."

I smirk, rolling my eyes. "Hopefully I've moved back home by the time your cravings start."

"I've literally gone through my whole chocolate stash already."

"That's...not good. Don't get fat yet!"

"That'll be fun too," Amanda comments sarcastically.

*Amanda's POV*

~1 week later~

"They still aren't found?!" I ask incredulously.

"No, unfortunately not," Cragen replies.

I roll my eyes and look back down, severely wanting pickles. I cannot wait to get off of work for those damn pickles.

As the minutes tick by, Liv sits on the edge of my desk. "So how's it going with El?"

"Fine. Already looking at baby name books," I tell her with a smile.

"When do I get her back?" she asks.

"She told me she'd move back, but would spend a lot of time at my house anyways."

Olivia rolls her eyes. Quietly, she whispers, "When are you telling everyone else?"

"I don't know. Are we getting off early today?"

"Yeah."

"Let's all come over to my place, then. I'll tell them then," I say.

Olivia smiles, touching my shoulder. "I'll let everyone know, Amanda."

I smile up at her. "Thanks."

*Ellie's POV*

I head to the elevator and down the hall to Amanda's apartment. Using my key, I unlock the door and go inside.

When I hear chatter, I look up to see my mom's squad in the living room.

"Hey, guys."

They all say hi while I head down to the guest room to put my bag down. When I get back to the living room, the only spot left is in between Nick and Fin, so I sit there. Everyone else is on the other couch, except for Mom who's sitting on a chair.

"So, uh, I've got something to tell you guys," Amanda says. She looks at me and I look back.

"They don't know?" I ask.

"Nobody would have if you wouldn't have broken your ankle," Amanda retorts jokingly.

I lean back and roll my eyes. "Would've found out anyways..." I tell her, earning confused looks from everyone except Mom.

"Would you just let Rollins talk?" Fin asks, poking me in the ribs. I giggle and hit his hand.

"Okay, okay!" Amanda exclaims, quieting all of us. "So...I'm...well, pregnant."

Everyone starts talking all at once, but Don tells everyone to shut up. "Wait," he continues, "a 14 year old knew first!?"

They all go shouting out again. This time, Amanda's the one to interrupt them. "She found the pregnancy test, sorry!"

"So how far along are you?" Nick asks.

"7 weeks. With twins," she answers. And everyone freaks, yet again.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Pleeeeeeeeeeaaase Ellie?!" she begs, holding out her money. "You can even get some candy..."

"Okay...?" I say questioningly.

"Wow you gave in surprisingly easy," she comments. "I only asked twice."

"You offered candy." I start putting on my shoes. "Call if you come up with any other deranged thing you need me to get."

"Be careful, Babydoll."

I head out and down the street. The weather finally does not call for the heaviest coat on earth, but I still have a jacket on.

I walk to the nearest convenience store and get what I need, ignoring the look the clerk gives me.

"Need a bag?" he asks.

"No thank you. Have a nice night," I ret before rushing out.

I have nothing to hold my phone so I slide it into my inside jacket pocket. If it even is a pocket...whatever.

But all of a sudden, I feel someone grab me from behind. Cold, intense fear runs through my body and I start screaming. As loud as I possibly can. My eyes shut without my knowing. I only realize it when I open my eyes and it's dark.

We're in an alley.

I look down the way and I see a car with an open trunk.

That's when a hand slaps my face so hard my head whips to the side.

"Scream and I kill you. Right here. And nobody will come to save you." I feel something cold against my skin where my shirt rode up. In the midst of my struggle I can't tell if it's a gun or a knife.

I stop screaming. But I do manage, "You don't know how wrong you are."

Another slap. "Oh really?" a deep voice asks as he puts me in the trunk. I let my hand fall awkwardly so it touches the outside of the car. I hope to god I left a solid print.

"Ever heard of SVU? I know every person who works there."

Another slap. "Last warning," the man says, and I can see a bit of his shadowed face. He's white. He has really dark eyes and bushy eyebrows. 5 o'clock shadow. Oh and he has both a gun and a knife, how nice?!

I nod and keep my mouth shut.

He closes the trunk and I wait for the car to start. Immediately I grab my phone and dial 9-1-1.