A Protector's Love [Benson and Carisi]

{Thirty-Two}

July was fading into August and the married couple only had three months until they welcome their bundle of love into the world. The pair had finally found a two-bedroom apartment that wouldn't cost them an arm and a leg or expose their little one to any known addicts. Slowly Olivia and Dominick moved into their new home and got settled but it was hard. With Dominick interning, working, and attending classes and Olivia with a bump and strict instructions not to move anything heavy the pair was unpacking very gradually.

"Hey Livvie Belle, I'm here!" Serena called into her daughter's new apartment.

"I'll be right out, " Olivia called back from the bedroom.

Serena looked around at the boxes that were being lived out of, in the beautiful apartment and was wishing her baby girl would've called sooner. Serena saw that almost nothing was completely unpacked and she finally understood why her daughter was a bit stressed and refused to start shopping for the baby.

"Okay, I'm ready, " Olivia spoke appearing out of the master bedroom in shorts and a tee-shirt.

"Oh my goodness, look at your belly, " Serena spoke excitedly placing her hands on her daughter's growing belly, "He's going to be a big guy, huh?"

"Dominick was big but I was small so we'll see, " Olivia sighed, "Dom was almost ten pounds and two feet long when he was born. I was, what, a little over six pounds and just over seventeen inches long. Our baby will truly be a surprise, " Olivia smiled as her mom pulled her into a hug.

"Okay, so where do you want to start?" Serena asked looking at all of the boxes.

"The kitchen, I had Dominick put all the boxes in their respective rooms so we shouldn't have to do too much lifting."

××××

It took most of the day to get the apartment in order, but when they did finish, Olivia was exhausted. Dominick was on his way up hoping to see at least the living room cleared and was ultimately shocked when the entire living space was cleared.

"Wow, you two really got it done, " he smiled as his wife and mother-in-law turned to look at him.

"We did, all of it, " Serena spoke standing to pull her son-in-law into a hug.

"Amazing, and how are you feeling?" Dominick asked kissing Olivia's forehead over the back of the couch.

"Tired and my hips are achy, but I'm okay and your son is just, " Olivia winced,  "fine, " she sighed.

"Is he kicking up a storm?"

"Yes, all day long, I'm not sure he's napped once since I got up this morning. Hopefully, he doesn't go all night long too because I'm exhausted."

"Well, let's get the two of you fed and then you can relax, okay? Serena, are you staying for dinner?" Dominick asked removing his coat and moving to put his briefcase on the counter in the kitchen.

"I am not, in fact, I should probably head out. Robert is making smoked ribs tonight because Lola is with her friend and her family in the vineyard."

Olivia stood with a huff and hugged her mom and Dom did the same before Serena left. After his mother-in-law was gone, Dominick turned to his wife and judged her facial expression.

"How are you feeling, and don't butter it up?"

"Okay, truly. My hips are achy and my lower back is stiff, but I'm really okay. Now, " she kissed her husband's lips, "what are we having for dinner?"

"Mmm, " he stole a kiss, "I was thinking a pasta dish and some breaded pan-fried chicken strips."

"Sounds delicious, what kinda pasta?"

"Alfredo?" Dominick hoped his wife would be okay with the creamy white sauce.

"Sounds delicious, " Olivia hummed, moving to the kitchen.

"I reserve the right to kick you out of the kitchen, and I'm kicking you out of the kitchen, " Dominick spoke wrapping his arms around his wife's midsection and kissing the top of her head.

"Why?" She pouted turning in his arms placing her hands to his chest.

"Because you're twenty-five weeks pregnant and you've been on your feet all day and as excited as I am to meet our son, he needs to stay put for fifteen more weeks."

"Fine, I'll go relax, " she sighed seeing her husband's valid reasons.

"Think of it as a date night, I'm pampering to you because I love you, and I love our child, " Dominick smiled.

"That sounds nice."

××××

Dominick cooked dinner and prepared his wife's plate before catching a glimpse of her curled up on the couch with her eyes closed. He sat their plates down on the breakfast bar and made his way over to her. She looked peaceful but he knew she wasn't completely asleep.

"Olivia, " he spoke gently sitting on the edge of the coffee table until her eyes opened, "dinners ready."

"It smells delicious, " Olivia spoke slowly sitting up before Dom helped her to her feet.

They dug into the delicious meal and Olivia felt their little one kick, "babe, " Olivia smiled, "your son wants your attention."

"Hi, big man, " Dominick said placing a hand to his wife's swell, "did you have a good day?"

Their son kick which made both of them laugh. Dominick continued to talk between bites of food and was slowly rubbing circles to where his son would kick. Eventually, the little boy moved gently settling against his father's hand before stopping his movement.

"I think you put him to sleep, " Olivia smiled feeling her little one move once more.

Dom hummed, "now you can relax, " he smiled kissing his wife's cheek.

"Yay, " Olivia squealed gently before giggling.

Dominick kissed her temple before getting up to put a second helping on his plate, "would you like more of anything babe?"

"A bit of everything, " she spoke sliding her plate to him.

"What do you think about working on little Sawyer's nursery this weekend?"

"I like the sound of that, " Olivia smiled, "our landlord got back to me, said he didn't mind if we painted any of the walls as long as we don't pick anything dark and we prime the walls when we leave. I was thinking we could keep ours white because I really don't care about our room because we have decor, but for his room, I'd like to do a light pale blue color or maybe a grey."

"Sounds good to me. We can look at paint this weekend and shop around a bit check out some decorations and things you want to add to a registry for your baby shower."

"Sounds like a perfect weekend and we can end it with Sunday dinner with your mom. With Sydney off at a photography camp and Bella off with her new boyfriend, your mom was going to be alone so she asked us to attend church with her and have Sunday dinner with her."

"Perfect, " Dominick spoke convinced he was falling more in love with his wife.

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