Chapter 18

4 Months Later

"Be quiet." Elliot whispered.

"Dad, come on. I can't even speak a little?" Eli questioned.

"I told you to be quiet." Elliot replied, and I opened my eyes slowly.

"I'm awake." I sighed, and they looked at me.

"Nice going, Dad." Eli spoke, before pushing past him. I smiled and ruffled his hair before he hugged me.

"Yeah, nice going El." I teased, and Elliot just smiled.

"So, where is my little brother?" Eli asked, and I smiled.

"He is getting some more tests done. He'll be back soon."

"What did you name him?" Eli questioned, and I looked at Elliot.

"His names is Alexander Isaiah Fin Stabler." Elliot spoke, and I smiled.

We wanted to honor Fin since he took care of me after Lewis hurt me horribly.

"So, his name is really big for such a little dude." Eli spoke, and Elliot laughed.

"We are already calling him Alex."

"Now that works!" Eli smiled.

We talked for awhile, before a nurse pushed in Alex. Eli's eyes lit up, and he watched with a smile on his face. The nurse placed my son in my arms, and I smiled before kissing his forehead.

"Alex, this is your brother, Eli. He has been waiting so long for you to get here." I whispered, before looking at Eli.

"Here you go." I spoke, and his eyes went wide. He held onto his brother as I laid him in his arms. Eli slowly sat down and stared at his brother in amazement.

"I promise you, Alex, that I'm gonna be the best big brother in the world to you."

+++

We were released two days after Alex was born, and shortly after we got home, Elliot's older children showed up.

"Where is my little brother?" Dickie asked, and I slowly came out of our bedroom, Alex in my arms.

"Here he is." I smiled. I carried my son over to Dickie, and slowly lowered my son into his arms. He smiled.

"See, when we were babies, mostly Eli, we were ugly. But look at this little guy."

"I wasn't ugly!" Eli exclaimed, and I smiled.

"I agree with Eli. I was there when he was born." I replied, and Eli stuck his tongue out at his brother before hugging me.

"So, what did you name him? Dad was being a jerk and not telling us." Kathleen spoke, and I shot my husband a nasty look and he laughed.

"Alexander Isaiah Fin Stabler." Eli spoke proudly.

"It is so cute!" Lizzie squealed. I smiled. She was always the most excited Stabler. She was always smiling and laughing.

"Dickie, make sure everyone gets to see him." Elliot stated, and Dickie shook his head.

"Nope. Not gonna happen."

+++

The kids stayed till after dinner, than they went home. All of them got a bunch of time with Alex, and were satisfied for the time being. 

Elliot and I got into bed for the first time, and I was nervous. I didn't want to not wake up if Alex cried, or if he ended up in our bed, that one of us would end up rolling over onto him. My mind was full, and when Elliot sunk down under the sheets and started to doze off, I continued to sit up and watch my son sleep in his bassinet.

"Liv, you gotta sleep." Elliot spoke, and I looked over at him.

"I can't." I breathed.

"Hey, why not?" He asked, as he sat up. Some tears welled in my eyes as I looked at him.

"What if I don't hear him crying, and he is hungry or needs his diaper change? He will be uncomfortable until one of us do." I whimpered, and he pulled me into his arms and kissed my cheek gently.

"You will wake up when he cries. Something with a mother and child bond. You will know when he is uncomfortable."

"Are you sure?" I sniffled, and he nodded.

"I'm sure. Now, take advantage of our son sleeping." He spoke, before pulling me down. I cuddled close to him, and he kissed the back of my head before we fell asleep.

+++

Alex was up an hour later, and I was already ready for him to sleep through the night. But I was fine with it, because I am happy to have a son. Finally.

"Make him stop." Eli groaned, as he came into our bedroom one night. It has been a week since Alex was born, and he wasn't quieting down. 

"I'm trying." I whimpered, as I tried to rock him back to sleep, but he wouldn't.

"Did you feed him? Change his diaper?" Eli yawned, as he flopped down on the other side of the bed, because Elliot was working late at the office.

"I did. Eli, go back into your room and maybe put on your headphones. I'm sorry that he woke you up." I spoke, and he frowned.

"What about his pacifier?" He spoke and I nodded.

"Grab the one from his diaper bag?" I asked, and he nodded.

He left the room and came back with three pacifiers. I grabbed the frog one, and placed it into my son's mouth.

"Alright, it's okay, Alex. Mommy is here. Everything is fine." I breathed. I rubbed his little back as I held him to my shoulder. His breathing was shaking and coming in hiccups, but he was calming down. 

I let out a sigh of relief and gently kissed his head.

"Eli, go to bed before he wakes up again." I spoke, and he jumped up and ran to his room.

I sighed and laid my son down in his bassinet again. I moved out of the room, leaving the baby monitor on, and then walked out into the living room. 

I wanted Elliot to come home right now, but he had to work, and it was annoying. The night when I needed him, and I needed help with Alex, he didn't say no to Marcus.

I heard the apartment door open, and I stood up and looked at Elliot as he walked into the room.

"Hey, baby. How are you?" He asked, and I looked at him.

"I wanted you here tonight." I breathed.

"I'm here now." He smiled, and I shook my head.

"Alex is having a hard night, and I have never been a mother before. I've never had to deal with a crying infant by myself, and Eli was the one who knew how to get him to calm down." I whimpered. Tears started to stream down my cheeks, and he came over and held me close.

"Hey, don't cry. I know that it is hard with a new little life to take care of, but don't worry. It does get easier, and you know that when he smiles at you, that it is gonna be all worth it. Or even when he is older and hugs you out of no where, these sleepless hard nights are worth it."

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