Seeking Comfort

Reproductive Abuser

I wake up and I hear Elliot talking softly, his breath tickling my skin.

"I can't wait to meet you little one..." Elliot whispers softly, talking to my stomach, "I can't wait to raise you with your Mama. She's the love of my life. And you, you're so lucky. She already loves you so much and she's going to be an amazing Mom for you."

He kisses my belly and I run my fingers through his hair.

"You weren't supposed to hear that..." He says, kissing me softly.

He pulls me tight against his body, sitting in his lap, with his arms wrapped around me.

"How'd you sleep?" He asks.

"Really well..." I say through a yawn, "You?"

"Good." He says, "Especially since I got to sleep next to you..."

Elliot traces his fingers over my stomach and smiles softly.

"What?" I ask.

"You already have a little bump." He says smiling.

"No I do not." I say swatting his hand away.

"Whatever you say..." He says smirking.

I get up and stand in front of the full length mirror that hangs on my door. I roll up my tank top and stare at the tiny swell below my belly button.

"I do." I say, running a hand over my stomach, "I really do."

"I told you." He says grinning.

"Ugh." I say, still staring at my stomach. "This is going to destroy my body."

I drop back onto the bed staring at the ceiling.

"No it won't." He says. "You are gorgeous. Your body is phenomenal, I'm not gunna lie, you're killing it, you're turning heads babe, this won't change that."

He drops onto the bed, next to me and I roll over, straddling him.

"God I love you." He says, kissing down my neck.

"El, baby, stop, we have to go to work." I mumble.

"Maybe we could be a little late today..." He says as he pulls my tank top over my head.

"Maybe we can..." I moan.

Elliot slips my underwear off and his are around his ankle when his phone rings.

We both groan equally as loud, knowing it's Cragen.

"We'll be there in 10." Elliot says.

I get up from the bed, rolling my eyes, and grabbing a clean bra and the matching thong.

I pull black slacks and a black t-shirt out of my closet before putting on my brown leather jacket.

I quickly put on my makeup and walk into my bedroom.

"You ready?" I ask Elliot.

"Yeah, I'm ready." He says, taking my hand as we walk out the door

We get to the hospital and find our way up to the NICU.

The call was about a male infant left out in 30 degree weather behind a children's gymnastic center.

The doctor gives us all the information she has before taking us to see the baby, and it absolutely breaks my heart.

"How long does he need to stay in the incubator?" I ask the doctor as the baby grips my finger.

"Not much longer." She says, "You can hold him if you want, he seems to like you."