A Protector's Love [Benson and Carisi]

{Forty}

Dominick came home late in the evening hoping his wife and son would both be fast asleep, but he was out of luck as his wife soothed their son by pacing gently across the living room. He was quiet as he slipped off his shoes not wanting to startle his family.

"Hey, " he heard Olivia's soft voice slip across the room.

"Hi, " Dominick spoke running a hand over his neck.

"You good?" Was all Olivia asked, not wanting to push her husband.

"Yeah, I'm good. Sorry, I wasn't back this morning."

"All that matters is you're home now. He was just bathed, fed, and changed, I'm just trying to get him to go down."

"Let me, " Dom spoke reaching for his growing boy, "you look tired, I'll put him down and be in soon."

"Okay, " Olivia sighed, "I'm actually going to grab a shower."

Olivia kissed Dominick's cheek after passing over Sawyer. She kissed her son's head before making her way into the en-suite bathroom. Dominick waited until his wife was out of the clear before sitting on the couch with his son. Sawyer gurgled and settled against his father's chest. Time ticked by and Dominick felt a hand be placed against his chest.

"Dominick, " his wife's voice whispered.

"Hmm, " his eyes opened and focused on the beautiful woman in front of him.

"You're tired, come to bed. Plus, I don't think sleeping sitting up with a baby against your chest is very safe."

"You're right, " Dom spoke standing and following his wife to bed.

××××

Weeks passed and Sawyer grew. The family hadn't circled back around to Melissa or the number of unresolved emotions Dominick had about the car accident. Life got busy as Thanksgiving came and went and Christmas was now right around the corner.

"Dominick?" Olivia spoke searching for her husband.

"Kitchen, my love."

"Hey, um guess what?" Olivia smiled brightly with Sawyer on her hip.

"What?" Dominick questioned not wanting to jump to any conclusions.

"Sawyer's two months old today, " Olivia giggled as her husband matched her smile.

"You're growing up so fast buddy, " Dominick spoke lifting his son.

"Time flies when you're having fun."

Dominick smiled at his wife and pulled her into his chest. Her head rested almost parallel with her son's who was grunting and gurgling happily at his parents. Olivia felt her heart fill with love for her husband and son as they all just stood together for a moment taking it all in.

"My mom was wondering if we'd have dinner with her tonight, with Syd and Bella both gone back to college she's not handling the empty nest well, " Dominick spoke rubbing his wife's lower back.

"That sounds nice, I feel like I haven't seen her since Thanksgiving dinner, " Olivia spoke meeting her husband's gaze.

"Perfect I'll call and let her know, " Dominick spoke as his son began to whimper.