Back to You

Ch.68

"How are you feeling about leaving today?" Elliot asked Olivia as he packed up their belongings, setting their duffle bag against the wall by the door.

She shrugged, sitting in the chair nursing Max, "Happy to be able to be in our own home but nervous all the same."

"What are you nervous about? You've been doing great," he encouraged, standing behind her and kissing the top of her head, massaging her neck.

"We'll be all alone with him...no nurses or doctors...what if something happens?" She sighed, looking up to her husband for support and guidance, he didn't disappoint.

He kneeled in front of her, resting his hands in her knees and giving a gentle squeeze, "You have better instincts than anyone I know...you're a phenomenal mother. Anything that happens we'll face it together, I'll be by your side the whole time."

Her hand found one of his, lacing their fingers together, "Thank you."

"Anything for you," he smiled, kissing her lips softly. Waiting for Max to be finished feeding so he could take him from her, settling him on his shoulder and burping him. "The nurse said she would be by in a little bit so we can sign some papers and be on our way," he told her, rocking Max in his arms, staring down at his little features and smiling.

Olivia loved watching her husband with their son, the way his face softened and the light shined in his eyes as he admired the infant made her fall harder for him with every passing moment. He felt eyes on him and he picked his head up, giving in an innocent smile, "What?"

She shook her head, a wistful smile gracing her face, "Seeing you with him...it's just incredible to me."

"I love you," he told her, bending down to kiss her lips.

"I love you, too," she replied, caressing her husband's cheek and kissing him once more.

The nurse came in a little while later, letting them sign some papers for Max and the release form for Olivia to finally go home.

"I'm not using that. I'm perfectly capable of walking out of here on my own," Olivia said certainly, crossing her arms over her chest as best she could with her winter coat on, starring distastefully at the wheel chair they were trying to get her in.

"M'am, it's hospital protocol," the nurse told Olivia, hoping to encourage her to just sit so she could move on to her next patient.

"I'll sign whatever I have to so I don't have to get wheeled out of here like some kind of invalid," Olivia replied, holding her own.

"Can you give us a minute?" Elliot cut in, giving the nurse and apologetic look as she nodded, leaving the couple alone as asked.

She sighed, looking at Elliot as he set the car seat on the ground with their son tucked safely inside. "I'm still not leaving here in a wheel chair."

He tried not to laugh but couldn't keep back his smile. His wife was as stubborn as ever and he couldn't decide if it was because she felt stronger than that, she didn't want to be told she was weak or if it was because with everything that had changed in their lives she was trying to take control of whatever she could. "Okay."

"Okay?" She repeated, taken slightly off guard by his calm ans short reply.

Elliot shrugged, sitting on the bed across from where she stood, "Yeah, we'll just unpack, have Fin bring all of Noah and Max's stuff, maybe some clothes for us and we can live here for the rest of our lives." She smiled but tears gathered in her eyes and her body sagged, dragging herself forward into Elliot's waiting arms, her head falling to his chest. "Baby, it's okay...everything's okay," he said softly, wrapping his arms around her and rubbing her back soothingly.