All I Ask [A Bensler Fan Fic]

Chapter Twenty-Two

Elliot continued to be a very supportive and helpful co-parent. He made sure Olivia got plenty of sleep, while he did all the late night changes, and he always got up to calm Evie down when she got fussy. Olivia appreciated it so much, but having Elliot around didn't seem like something that would last. 

"Say good morning, mama." Elliot cooed, as he stood with Evie in his arms and waved her tiny hand at Olivia. 

Olivia smiled as she padded into the kitchen and smiled. It had been two weeks since Evie was born, and it had been such an enjoyable two weeks. Evie was an amazing baby, and she was loved so very deeply by her parents.

"Hey, you two. When did you get up?" Olivia asked, as she moved to where Elliot stood. She leaned down and kissed Evie's hair before pecking Elliot's cheek. The small kiss made Elliot blush, but he attempted to keep himself relaxed.

"We got up at six. Evie enjoyed an early morning bath after having a very large blow-out. Then we had some cuddling time, another bath, and now we are just chilling." Elliot spoke, his voice shaking a bit. He didn't realize how a soft kiss on the cheek could make him feel this way.

"You should have gotten me up. Especially to help with cleaning her up." Olivia spoke, as she turned around and looked at Elliot.

"I enjoy the quiet time I get with Evie. I haven't taken care of a baby in eleven years, so I need to get the practice in."

Olivia settled down at the kitchen table before Elliot passed her their baby. Then Elliot made breakfast for Olivia. Once he was done, he sat a plate in front of Olivia before sitting across from her.

"Have you heard from Casey?" Olivia asked, as she took one hand away from Evie so she could eat the omelet that Elliot made her.

"I haven't, why?" Elliot mused.

"I was just wondering, especially since I'd kinda like to know how she is."

"Liv, she was pretty pissed off. I don't know if two weeks is enough time to get her to cool off."

"Another thing I was wondering about is Manhattan." Olivia breathed. She looked up from her plate and gave Elliot a small smile.

"What about Manhattan?" Elliot asked weakly. The idea of going back to Manhattan made him almost sick to his stomach. After everything that had happened, he wasn't sure he'd ever want to go back. However, if Olivia wanted to go home, he'd join her and Evie in a heartbeat.

"Do you wanna go back? If so, I'd understand."

"Ba- Liv, I won't go back unless you want to. You really have nothing keeping you here, so we could go back and start a life together. We could buy a house and go back to working at SVU together. Oh, and-" Elliot stopped when Olivia frowned deeply and almost stopped paying attention.

The idea of going back to Manhattan was almost exciting, but she could never go back to SVU. She had been transferred and then quit. Manhattan would never really feel like home unless she could work at SVU again, and she wasn't sure that Cragen would welcome her back with open arms.

"Livvie?" Elliot asked softly.

"Can you take her?" Olivia whimpered.

"Hon-"

"Please!"

///

Elliot gave Olivia over an hour before he approached her. Evie was sleeping once again, so they'd have plenty of time to talk.

Elliot opened the door to Olivia's room slowly, before moving and laying Evie in her crib. He had assumed that Olivia was asleep, but she moved when Elliot walked in.

"Is she hungry?"

"No, not yet. She had a bottle earlier, so you shouldn't have to nurse for a while." Elliot replied softly. He gave Olivia a weak smile before walking back towards the door.

"I know you want to talk about my meltdown, but I'm unsure if I'm ready. Talking about Manhattan overwhelms me."

"Hey, if you don't wanna go back there, then we don't have to. We can make Sedona our home. I can get a job here, maybe at their local precinct. You can continue to stay home and be a baby hog." Elliot said with a weak laugh. 

"I miss home so bad, El. I miss my friends and how nice and cold it would be right now. I miss the snow... but Cragen tossed me out. He picked you over me, just because Kathy and Maureen couldn't keep their mouths shut. I don't wanna go home, just to be told that they don't want me back. For Fin and John to hate me."

Elliot sank down onto the foot of the bed before smiling at Olivia. He rubbed her leg for a moment before speaking.

"When I was searching for you, they asked how it was going. Fin offered to help, but I told him that if you didn't want to be found, no one would be able to find you. I just lucked out coming here to see Casey and finding you instead. If I had postponed my trip for much longer, I wouldn't have been there to watch our child being born or be allowed to spend days with you."

Olivia pushed herself up before nervously playing with the rings on her fingers. She twisted them around, before wondering quietly if there would ever be a wedding band joining the rings she wore daily.

"Do you think your kids miss you?"

"Maybe Lizzie, but not the rest. They hate me."

"If SVU didn't take me back, could we still figure something out? Like, maybe I could work somewhere else and we could still get an apartment together? I really don't wanna think about living in a home without you there with us." Olivia breathed. Elliot smiled and nodded.

"I don't think you could ever get rid of me. The last two weeks have been some of the best days of my life, especially since I get to spend them with two incredibly special ladies."

"Evie and her pink teddy bear, huh?" Olivia said with a weak laugh.

"Nah, Evie and that old lady next door." Elliot grinned before slipping closer and hugging Olivia tightly.