A Protector's Love [Benson and Carisi]

{Sixty-Two}

It took a bit of tough love from Serena, for Olivia to realize everything she's feeling and going through is normal, and just happens sometimes. Serena explained it to her the way her doctor explained it to her, it's a mix up in the brain from all of the emotions of having a baby. Dominick and Serena both knew that the pregnancy with Charlotte was a lot harder on them all with Olivia's medical scare and Dominick not being able to be there for the start of labor and delivery. Those extra moments of anxiety and fear didn't help the already high-rise emotions Olivia had been feeling during her pregnancy. They both also knew that she just needed some guidance to be able to connect with her daughter.

"What's wrong with me?" Olivia choked out after Serena let Dominick join them in the bedroom.

"Nothing's wrong with you baby and none of this is your fault, " Dominick reassured as he held his crying wife, "your brain just isn't understanding everything going on, so we're going to help you get better, okay?"

"Y-yeah, " Olivia whispered, clinging to her husband's shirt.

Serena stepped out of the room undetected to her daughter and slipped into Charlotte's nursery. She knew better than anyone that this wasn't Olivia's fault and that she would get better. Serena knew Olivia loved her daughter more than anything in this world and that the bond after this all got fixed would be so strong between mother and daughter that it would hurt. Charlotte would have no idea that this occurred unless Olivia shed light on it later in her life, and the mother-daughter relationship would flourish on this little hardship.

"I know you don't like my help because you're adamant about being independent, but I had to step in this time, babe, " Dominick sighed, "and I hope that you can forgive me."

"I forgive you. I want you to be my protector, Dominick. I need someone to be by my side, that's why I married you because even if I was adamant you still gave me your protective love."

"Good, " Dominick spoke, gently stroking his wife's long brown hair, "I called Doctor Smith and she's able to fit you in tomorrow afternoon, Lucy is going to come by and watch Sawyer, and I've cleared my afternoon so you say the word and I'll go with you."

"Come with us, " Olivia whimpered, "and I don't want medicine to help fix this. My bond with our daughter needs to be real, not artificially given to me. I love our daughter, " Olivia hiccuped, "I promise that I love our daughter."

"I know you do, baby girl, we just have to give you a strong foundational bond as we did with Sawyer, " Dominick spoke, kissing his wife's forehead as she tried to stop the tears.

It was a long emotional afternoon and by the time everything was said and done exhaustion had taken over the family. Dominick reappeared outside the bedroom he shares with his wife not long after Serena had slipped into Charlotte's nursery.

"Hey, is she napping?" Dominick asked from the doorway of his daughter's room.

"She is, " Serena spoke softly, "is she?"

"Yeah, out like a light. The good thing is that she wants to get help and hopefully before we know it, everything can be back to our semi-normal routine."

"I'm proud of you, Dominick, " Serena spoke, moving to her son-in-law, "you're a good man for noticing the changes in her and helping her. Thank you."

"Just doing my job as a husband and a father, " Dominick smiled as Serena tugged him into a hug, "I love you too, mum."

"Oh Dominick, love you too, sweet boy."

Serena left shortly after Dominick and she hugged it out. Olivia was safely napping as was Charlotte, so Dominick made his way downstairs to spend some time with Sawyer who'd been sat in front of some cartoons to keep him busy.