Out of the Blue [A Benson and Carisi Fanfic]

Chapter Forty-One

Serafina ran from the elevator and towards the nurses' station on the maternity floor. She was just about to ask for Olivia's room when her husband came up behind her and laid his hand against her back.

"Hey! Do you have any updates? How much longer until Milo is here?" Serafina asked rapidly. She was excited about meeting her grandson, but worried about Olivia's delivery. She kept wondering if it would go smoothly, as she had prayed it would go.

"No one has been out for a while," Senior replied.

"How did you end up bringing her here? I thought she was on leave and spending all her time at home?" Serafina asked, as Senior led her to a small waiting room. She and her husband sat side by side in two very uncomfortable gray chairs.

"Her car finally died, and she called me to see if I could fix it."

"She called you?" 

"Yes, I know it's shocking," Senior grumbled. Serafina smiled softly before patting her husband's leg.

"She trusts you, honey," she replied with a soft smile. Senior shrugged as he leaned back against the chair.

"I was probably her last call," He grumbled.

Serafina didn't say anything else to her husband as she sent texts to her daughters and informed them about Olivia being at the hospital, either in labor or having already delivered. It wasn't long before Dominick walked down the hall and into the waiting room. He smiled largely as he saw his mother.

"Sonny, is Milo here?" Serafina asked, as she stood up slowly.

"He's here, and my son is perfect. Milo has Olivia's dark hair and I swear he's the cutest little boy." Dominick smiled. He rushed to his mother before hugging her tightly. They stayed in the embrace for a few minutes before Dominick stepped back and looked at his father. 

He swallowed hard before reaching his hand out to his father. Senior looked at it for a moment, before stepping forward and hugging his son tightly. Their hug didn't last nearly as long as the one Dominick had with his mother.

"Congrats," Senior breathed. Dominick nodded slowly before stepping back.

"I need to get back to Olivia and Milo. I'll come and get you once Olivia is ready for visitors," Dominick smiled.

///

After a few hours, Olivia was ready for visitors. She had taken a shower and was in clean pajamas as she laid in bed with Milo swaddled and resting against her chest.

"Hi, sweeties," Serafina smiled, as she walked quietly into the room. Dominick looked up and expected to see his father walking in behind his mother, but instead, Bella and Teresa came in.

"Hi, Ma," Olivia spoke tiredly, as she caressed her son's dark brown hair.

"How are you doing?"

"We are exhausted," Dominick grinned. Bella smacked his arm before he wrapped his arm around her and tugged her close.

Everyone gathered around the bed as Olivia shifted Milo into the crook of her arm so everyone could get a look at him. From his chunky little cheeks to his thick eyelashes. Bella took lots of pictures and sent them to Gina, since she wouldn't be home until closer to Christmas. 

"Mia is going to be so angry that she didn't get to come up and meet him with the rest of us," Teresa breathed, as she held her nephew close and swayed slowly.

"She'll get to meet him soon enough. I'm thinking probably Christmas Day, since I'm not sure I'll be up for midnight mass," Olivia replied, from where she still laid in bed. Serafina sat beside her, an arm wrapped around her shoulders.

"If you aren't feeling good enough-"

"This is the first Christmas since my mother passed... I know I haven't spent a Christmas with her in a very long time, but that doesn't mean it isn't going to be hard. I want to spend the day with you all," Olivia smiled tiredly. 

Dominick listened to his wife for a few moments before slipping quietly to the door. He walked down the hall and found his father sitting in the same chair he had been sitting in for hours.

"Hey, Pops," Dominick breathed.

"Junior."

"Uh, do you want to go in and meet your grandson?" Dominick asked quietly. He didn't want to force his father, but he also didn't want Milo to grow up wondering if his grandfather loved and cared for him. Mia was loved deeply by his parents, and Dominick wanted Milo to be loved just as deeply. 

Yet he was scared that since Milo was his child, that his father wouldn't give that beautiful baby boy the time of day.

"The girls are probably hogging him. I'll wait."

Dominick nodded slowly before sitting down beside his father. He stared at a picture on the wall for a while, before turning to look at his father.

"Do you love Milo?"

"Huh?" Senior grumbled.

"My son, do you love him?"

"Why would you ask that?" Senior huffed. Dominick sighed softly and scrubbed a hand over his face before turning to face his father again.

"I asked that because I'm not sure you'll love him, because I'm his father. If he came from the girls, you'd already be in there holding him. Instead, you are sitting out here," Dominick replied.

Senior closed his eyes and hung his head as a deep sigh left his chest.

"Maybe we can put aside our issues for the sake of Milo."

"Huh?"

"You heard me... Now, show me that boy," Senior grumbled.

///

Dominick laid beside his wife in her small hospital bed that night and watched as Olivia fought off sleep. Milo was down in the nursery, so they were the only two in the bedroom.

"Pops says that Milo looks a lot like me," Dominick whispered as he caressed his wife's wavy brown hair.

"I agree with him," Olivia yawned.

"Yeah?" He asked, an enormous smile growing on his lips.

"Yes, babe. But can you close your mouth? I'm exhausted."

"Oh really? You did nothing but lie around today," Dominick teased quietly. Olivia opened her eyes and rolled them at her husband.

"I love you, Dom."

"Yeah, I love you too, Liv. You were a badass today, by the way."

"I know... now close your mouth. We can talk more tomorrow morning," Olivia smiled tiredly.