Stabler Family Vacation

Chapter 9:

Okay guys, I made a boo-boo. The darned document manager has documents called "Stabler Family Vacation08" and "Stabler Family Vacation09" I must have hit 08 by mistake. Well, now here is the correct chapter. Enjoy.

Though Rachael was stubborn she could not fight sleep forever. She soon dozed off, curled up in a chair in a quiet corner of the waiting room. Dickie and Elizabeth had taken up seats near her and kept dutiful watch over their sleeping sister.

Elliot sat with his arm wrapped protectively around Olivia's shoulders. Olivia laid her head on Elliot's chest, managing against all odds to stay awake. Elliot and Olivia had each gotten to see Kathleen earlier. She seemed to have come through surgery just fine though she was worried, as they all were, about her baby.

The doctors had said that the family could go to the hotel and rest; they wouldn't know anything for another day or so. But Elliot and Olivia had insisted on staying. They didn't want to be any great distance away if Kathleen needed them.

Maureen returned to the waiting room a little after ten in the evening. She gathered up Dickie, Elizabeth and the sleeping Rachael, despite the protests from the twins that they were adults and could choose to stay if they wanted to.

"You should go with them Liv," Elliot suggested, looking at his wife with concern "Try to get some sleep."

"And leave you here by yourself," Olivia countered "Not a chance," she grasped his hands with hers and held them tight "We're in this together," she told him "I'm not gonna budge."

Elliot sighed, watching as Maureen carried Rachael, who was still sound asleep, out of the room. If only he could get Olivia to go back to the hotel so easily. He knew though that if he could manage some trick such as that that Olivia would be mad as hell. He felt sorry for Maureen and Noah, knowing what they would have to deal with when Rachael woke up and realized that she wasn't at the hospital anymore.

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It was three in the morning and Elliot had gone to the coffee machine to get them both a much needed caffeine boost. Olivia was sitting in the waiting room chair, fighting a battle with her ever heavier eyelids when a doctor appeared.

Olivia didn't notice him at first until he tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped but quickly recovered and he began speaking "The baby appears to be doing much better," he told her "We've taken her off the ventilator and she's breathing on her own."

Elliot reappeared in the waiting room just in time to hear this news. He handed Olivia her coffee and sank down beside her. He looked up at the doctor and waited for him to continue.

"The baby's with her mother right now, you can see them both if you want to," the doctor told them.

In a flash Elliot and Olivia were on their feet and headed for Kathleen's room. The two of them stopped in the doorway, awe struck by the scene before them. Kathleen was sitting up in bed, cradling a tiny bundle in her arms. She looked up toward the door and smiled "Hi," she whispered "Come look at her."

First Olivia, then Elliot made their way quietly into the room. Both pulled chairs up beside Kathleen's bed and stared in awe at the precious miracle before them.

The little girl's tiny head was covered in soft blond hair and her brilliant blue eyes shone with innocence. She seemed to lock eyes with each of her grandparents before making a soft gurgling noise of approval.

"What's her name?" Olivia asked softly as the baby's eyes closed, the infant was obviously exhausted.

Kathleen smiled at the bundle in her arms and brushed a kiss against her daughter's forehead before looking up and answering Olivia's question "Chloe Madison Stabler," she replied with a wide grin.

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It was another day before Chloe and her mother were released from the hospital. The whole family was waiting for her in the parking lot. Kathleen had been convinced to spend some of her maternity leave with the rest of the family at the rented house.

Olivia and Maureen had both made the excellent point that they had raised babies before and that Kathleen could benefit from having them around for the first week or so. This was a point that Kathleen couldn't argue with. So, having come in only two cars, they returned in three. Maureen had offered to drive Kathleen's car for her since Kathleen was still recovering from the C-section.

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"It's so good to have them all together under one roof again," Olivia mused as she examined herself in the mirror. She wasn't showing yet but she knew that she would start soon.

"Again?" Elliot laughed, coming up behind her and wrapping her in his arms "I don't believe that they've ever all been under one roof at once."

"Not since before Max and Mary were born," Olivia mused.

"Exactly," Elliot smirked, running his hand gently over her still flat stomach "This family's always changing. With all the new members, this is the first time that we've all been together."

Olivia turned in his embrace and kissed him "I love you," she whispered.

"And I love you," Elliot told her, returning the kiss and adding another one for good measure.

"Guys," Maureen called from downstairs "Noah's got dinner ready."

Olivia smiled, taking Elliot's hands in hers "Are you ready to let them in on just how much this family is going to expand?" she asked with a wink.

"Only if you are," he returned with a grin of his own. And together, the two of them exited the bedroom. They walked downstairs to wher their family was waiting for them.

THE END

A/N: So there you have it, the final chapter. Honestly, I could have gone on forever writing this story but then people would have gotten bored. This was a good place to end it. I hope you have all enjoyed this story. Please review and let me know what you thought of how I wrapped it up.