You and I [A Bensler Fanfiction]

Twenty

Elliot and Christine argued outside for a while before she eventually slammed the door to her car and sped off. Elliot walked back into the house and saw the kids sitting on the sofa, staring at Elliot as he entered.

"Were you and Mommy fighting?" Avery asked, as tears welled in her blue eyes. Jackson reached out and grabbed her small hand as he looked at Avery with concern. Landon was in tears himself, since he could remember when his Mama and Daddy fought about the baby.

"Avery-"

"Daddy, is it my fault? Were you fighting about me?" Avery sniffled. Elliot quickly walked to where his daughter sat before gathering her in his arms. He looked at Serena, so she walked over and took the boys and led them outside to play.

Elliot sat down on the floor with Avery and held her tightly in his arms as he rocked her back and forth slowly.

"Baby, Mommy and I were fighting about Olivia and the baby. Not you."

"Why? Our baby is good! I'm so excited to have a sibling! And Olivia-"

"Slow down, AJ. I know that you and I love Olivia and the baby. We love Jackson and Landon too... but Mommy doesn't think it's the right thing for us to be living here. But after seeing Olivia in so much pain, I know that the right thing to do is to be here. For us to take care of them," Elliot spoke gently. 

Avery nodded slowly as she buried her face in Elliot's shirt. He caressed her hair before kissing the top of her head.

"I wanna be here with you, Daddy. I want to be here to see our baby," Avery whispered. 

"That is the plan, pumpkin. Now, we need to take care of Olivia and the baby. You need to be a great friend and almost like a big sister to Jackson and Landon. What happened was very scary for them."

Avery nodded quickly before squirming from her father's arms. She walked towards the stairs, but Elliot's voice stopped her.

"Where are you going, Avery?"

"I need to apologize to Liv for what Mommy said. And I kinda want to just sit with her," the little girl smiled. Elliot wanted to stop her, but he resisted and gave her a nod of approval.

///

Olivia was still pissed off when a light knock sounded on her door.

"Go away!" Olivia huffed. But the door opened slowly, and before Olivia could grab a pillow and chuck it at the imposer, Olivia noticed it was Avery.

"Liv?" Avery asked softly. Olivia swallowed hard before nodding.

"Hey, Avery. You can come in." 

Avery wandered into the room and smiled when she saw the picture of herself and Olivia on the bedside table. She turned to Olivia before smiling softly.

"I'm sorry that you are angry," the little girl breathed.

"I'm not angry at you, Avery. I'm-"

"You are angry at my mommy ... I get that," Avery sighed. 

Olivia's eyes went wide as she offered her hand to Avery. The girl took it and climbed onto the bed. It only took a few seconds before her hands were resting against Olivia's belly. She kept her eyes focused on her hands as she spoke.

"Mommy gets angry a lot. At Daddy and at me. She's mad that Daddy is in love with you, and that you are having a baby." 

Olivia looked at the little girl with wide eyes. She didn't expect for her to understand the situation in the way she does. How she knew Christine was angry that Elliot was moving on in a big way.

"Avery, why does she get angry at you?" Olivia questioned softly.

"I think it's because I like you more than her. That I want to be here with you, the baby, and the boys..." Avery trailed off. She sounded much more mature than the delicate age of nine.

Olivia ran her fingers through Avery's soft curls before gently tracing a finger over her cheek.

"So you want to move here?" Olivia mused.

"Of course I do, Livvie!" She grinned. 

"Then I guess, if you'd like, we need to figure out a room for you to stay in. Your Daddy and I need to still set up the baby's nursery, since I am far from prepared for this baby to come."

"I'll help!" Avery exclaimed. Olivia pulled her close and kissed her hair softly.

"Thank you, honey... Can I tell you something?" Olivia whispered.

"What?"

"I love you."

Avery's eyes grew bright, and she quickly leaned close to Olivia, her arms wrapping around her neck.

"I love you too."

///

Olivia still wasn't super happy, but her conversation with Avery helped to ease her anger a lot. She had held the girl for a while before they took a nap together. The family ate dinner in Olivia's bedroom, and Serena decided to stay the night and put the kids down for Olivia and Elliot. 

After a long bath, Elliot got Olivia into clean pajamas and laid beside her in bed. He caressed her swollen midsection with one hand and smoothed her waves with the other.

"I'm sorry about today," Elliot breathed.

"Christine hates me, and that isn't your fault. She can't accept the fact you have moved on."

"She'll never accept that... so that means that I'll have to file with the courts to make sure that I can take Avery from Virginia so she can live here with me. I'm still waiting back on my interviews, so I have time to get this custody issue ironed out."

Olivia nodded slowly as she kept her eyes on Elliot's face. 

"I'm worried that something will happen again. Something to fuck things up and make this entire thing fall apart," Olivia whispered. Elliot frowned and reached out to caress Olivia's cheek.

"I will not let things fall apart. I'm already too attached to you and our baby... It'll be you and I forever," Elliot breathed, before pressing soft kisses to Olivia's slightly parted lips.