Their Secret Family [A Bensler/EO Fan Fic]

Thirty-Eight

Olivia pushed Oscar's swing at the park a few blocks from One Police Plaza. From where she stood, she could see the building, and her son squealed as the swing went higher than the last time. 

"Olivia?" Alex asked, as she nervously came to a stop behind Olivia. 

Olivia blinked away tears as she stopped pushing the swing and turned to face her former friend.

"Are you following me?" Olivia questioned.

"I had a few meetings today, and it's nice, so I had my lunch here. Why aren't you at work?"

"You were there when Cragen called to bitch me out for sleeping with Elliot. I'm suspended until the board decides if I get fired or demoted," Olivia replied bitterly.

"What? Liv-" Alex started.

"Don't act like you are worried about me, Alexandra! If you had kept your mouth shut, everything would be fine! I would still have a job! If they fire or demote me, everything is going to be so much harder. All of my hard work will go down the drain, and I'll be the shame of the NYPD," Olivia spat, her face red.

"I'm sorry, Olivia. I didn't think they'd blow this up so much... If you and the babies need financial help-" Alex started, but Olivia interrupted her again.

"I know what I did was wrong, but it happened and I wouldn't change anything for the world. I love my son and the twins, even if I haven't met them yet. However, it wasn't your right to tell my boss about everything. Go away, and never come back."

Alex swallowed hard, her eyes moving to the little boy she adored. She had never liked kids, but Oscar was special. He was her favorite person and enjoyed spoiling him.

"I-I can't walk away, Olivia. I love you and Oscar so much... Can we talk more about this?" Alex asked, her voice shaking.

"No, we can't. My life is falling apart, and I don't have time to make you feel better about assisting with it."

///

Olivia ignored calls from Alex, Casey, and Elliot all day. When she wasn't taking care of Oscar, she was looking for smaller apartments out of the city. If she got fired, her current apartment would eat up the money she had. If she got demoted, it would be too expensive on a uniformed officer's salary. Even if she needed more space for Oscar and the twins, she quickly realized her bed may be a pullout couch.

"You can't ignore my calls," Elliot spoke after Olivia opened her door.

"I can, and I did. Why are you here?" Olivia replied, turning on her heel and letting Elliot into her apartment.

"I've been worried about you all day. We talked for fifteen minutes this morning, but then it was radio silence afterward. What happened?" Elliot asked.

"Nothing happened, Elliot. I'm pissed off at the world and needed space," Olivia frowned. Elliot wrapped an arm around Olivia's waist and pulled her close.

"Everything will be okay," Elliot breathed, his lips pressing a soft kiss to Olivia's temple.

"Elliot, I had a meeting with Cragen and Dodds today. They are going to the board to decide if I get fired or demoted to a uniformed officer," Olivia whispered. Elliot's eyes grew wide as he stepped in front of Olivia.

"Why didn't you tell me about this meeting?" Elliot asked.

"I knew you'd run in there and try to change their minds. Nothing will change because I fell in love with you and fucked everything up... Can you go home?"

"Of course, I'd try to change their minds! You are fucking amazing at your job, and our sleeping together doesn't change that! If they think firing you or demoting you is right, they will find out differently. I will get you a lawyer and-" Elliot started, but stopped when Olivia placed her hand firmly over his mouth.

"If you want to get our son up from his nap and spend some time with him, that's fine. If you want to keep talking about work or anything regarding my meeting, you can show yourself the fucking door. I'm not in the mood," Olivia huffed. 

Elliot looked at Olivia for a long moment before pushing her hand from his mouth and tugging her into a tight hug. He caressed her hair before leaning back and kissing her lips softly.

"I think you should move into my house so I can take care of you, Oscar, and the twins. Think about it, okay?" Elliot breathed.

"Okay."

///

Olivia was suspended for two weeks before the board gathered to discuss a variety of topics. She was leaving her anatomy scan when her phone rang from her purse. Olivia took a shaky breath as she read Cragen's name. 

"Hello, Captain," Olivia whispered, her voice shaking.

"The board just adjourned," Cragen replied.

"I'm not too far from the precinct. I'll stop by to clear my desk and turn in my service weapon." Olivia frowned. She had slowly started accepting the fact she was never going to be a cop again but prayed the call would come when she wasn't happy. This call was going to ruin her day.

"You won't need to do that, Detective Benson."

"Huh?" Olivia asked.

"I told them if they fire you, they fire me."

"Sir-" Olivia started.

"You are the most passionate detective I have ever worked with. You gain the trust of victims faster than any of the guys do. If we lost you, the NYPD would lose something amazing. You will be on probation for a year, but once the year is up you'll be up for promotion again and can still afford those three kids of yours," Cragen spoke.

Olivia cried quietly, a hand placed over her mouth as she listened to her boss. The disappointment in Cragen's voice had haunted her for two weeks, but he still cared about her. 

"Benson?" Cragen asked.

"T-Today was going well, sir... It got better because of this call. Thank you so much for going up to bat for me, and I promise to be better. No more fuck-ups," Olivia choked out.

"Good, because I can only threaten them to fire me once."

"I appreciate it, Don... I really do. I couldn't stop thinking about how I'd be able to support Oscar and the girls," Olivia breathed.

"Girls?" Cragen asked. Olivia let out a small laugh as she looked down at the sonogram she was holding.

"I haven't even told Elliot yet, but the twins are girls. I should probably go tell him... Uh, thank you again, sir. For everything."