I Need Saving [A Bensler FanFic- Editing]

Chapter 24 [Edited]

After lunch with Casey, I took Noah home and tucked him in for a nap. Stepping quietly from my son's room, I walked into my former bedroom, and the smell of vomit smacked me in my face. The bed was a mess, and a trail of my husband's clothes guided me to the bathroom. Elliot was lying on the cold tile, the bathroom destroyed. I stepped over my husband's legs and swung open the window.

"El, get up," I frowned, tapping his foot with mine.

"Go away," Elliot grumbled, a hand protecting his eyes from the overhead light.

"Get up right now," I huffed, kicking his foot again. Elliot let out an obnoxious groan as he rolled over onto his back and then sat up slowly. He glared at me before standing and brushing past me as he moved to the bedroom.

I watched as he tossed the sheets back and tried to climb onto the mattress.

"Go take a shower."

"Why? You aren't my boss," Elliot huffed with a roll of his eyes.

"You slept in a pile of your own vomit last night, so shower before you contaminate our bed," I replied. Elliot smacked his hand hard against the bed frame, but I didn't jump. I was tired and knew I had to stand up for myself.

"Stop trying to control me, Olivia!" Elliot yelled.

"It's been two months of this fucking attitude! I've been verbally and physically abused by you! I don't want to deal with it anymore! So figure out how to stop drinking or the next call you'll get will be from a divorce attorney," I replied firmly. Elliot stood slowly as I took one step back. He eyed me as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"You'd divorce me?" Elliot asked.

"Yes, I would. You promised to be different from my other partners... but you are so much like them. Will abused me and you have been too," I replied, trying to remain emotionless. I fought so hard to have a good life and to make sure my kids were happy. The last thing I wanted to do was fall back into a pattern of abuse that Emily, Noah, and Serena would have to witness.

"I miss her so much," Elliot whispered, the anger in his body morphing into sadness. He sobbed as I hesitantly stepped forward and cupped his cheeks in my hands.

"I know you miss her, and I do too. It's hard to lose a parent... I know how it feels, and it does get better. You need help, because the kids miss you, and I need a sober partner to hold my hand when it's time for Serena to arrive. No more drinking to numb your pain... face it head on and get help. For your children and yourself," I breathed. Elliot nodded tearfully as he leaned in to kiss me.

I leaned back quickly and shook my head.

"Take a shower and brush your teeth... Once you smell less like vomit, I will kiss you."

///

In the weeks following our talk, Elliot worked hard to process everything happening. He helped a lot with the kids and assisted in the finishing touches for Serena's nursery.

"I'm going to head to my session, and then I'll grab Em," Elliot spoke, as he sat Noah on the couch next to me. I looked up from the clothes I was folding and nodded.

"Mind picking up dinner too?" I asked, smiling at my husband. 

"Yes, I can get us dinner. Any cravings I must fulfil?" Elliot asked, ruffling Noah's hair.

"No, you can decide."

Elliot nodded before kissing me softly and leaving the house. After I finished folding the laundry, Noah and I went into the playroom and got out all of his blocks. I made the mistake of sitting on the floor with him, but the excitement on my son's face as we built a tower together was worth it.

"Momma? Noah?!" Emily called when she and Elliot got home. Noah jumped up and ran from the room as I sat helplessly on the floor.

"A little stuck?" Elliot asked, smiling as he leaned against the door frame.

"I made a mistake, I'll admit that," I said with a tired smile. Elliot walked over and helped me to my feet before kissing me softly.

"How was your session?" I asked, rubbing my back as I followed Elliot towards where Noah was talking to his sister about his day and how much he missed her.

"It was very good today. He thinks I'm ready to do occasional sessions instead of weekly," Elliot smiled, stopping to look at me. I reached out and touched his prickly cheek gently before kissing his lips gently.

"That is great news, El," I whispered, resting my forehead against his.

"It is great news, because it frees up more time to spend with my family."

///

Elliot was half asleep as I got ready for bed. It was taking longer than usual because I was having intense back pain that would wrap around to my lower stomach. I didn't want to admit these pains were contractions, because I was so scared to give birth for a third time.

"Babe? Are you coming to bed?" Elliot yawned loudly from our bed.

"Soon," I panted. My fingers gripped the counter to the point my knuckles were white. Elliot padded into the bathroom and placed his hand against my lower back.

"What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing. I'm just exhausted and need some sleep," I lied. Elliot tried to believe me, giving me a tight hug before leading me to our bedroom.

I lay in bed beside my husband, but I barely dozed between contractions. The pain got worse over the next few hours, and I couldn't lie silently in pain any longer.

"El," I whimpered, tears streaming down my cheeks. 

"Liv?" Elliot yawned, rolling over slowly.

"I-I'm having contractions," I moaned, another contraction tightening my already aching stomach.

"What?" Elliot asked, quickly turning on his lamp.

"I'm in labor," I whimpered. Elliot gently touched my cheek as he took a slow breath.

"I'm going to call Maureen, and we will head to the hospital once she gets here. Just keep breathing."

///

The pain it took to bring Serena into the world was worth it. Her cries finally convinced me that I survived hell to reach this point. I didn't die after being kidnapped because I was meant to bring this little baby into the world. The same little baby who survived so much with me.

"Is she healthy?" I asked, waking to the soft breaths of my newborn beside me. I had passed out not long after Serena was taken down for testing after so many exhausting hours.

"Your daughter is perfect, Olivia," the nurse smiled.

I nodded tearfully as I looked at my daughter from a distance. The nurse looked at me before picking Serena up and placing her carefully in my arms.

"Hi, Serena Grace... It's such an honor to meet you and have the honor to love you," I whispered, before leaning close and kissing her forehead softly.