A Protector's Love [Benson and Carisi]

{Seventy}

Twenty-weeks. Usually, this would be a bigger milestone in a pregnancy, but this pregnancy was everything but usual. Olivia was still struggling with pain in her hips and now it had crept into her lower back from the weight of carrying twins. At this point, Olivia was grateful for her family and friends who were willing to lend a hand with Sawyer and Charlotte whenever she needed it.

Dominick was working hard to provide for his family and was quickly looking at a promotion to becoming a District Attorney. With Dom working lots of long hours, finding time to search for bigger homes, and finding time with his family his life was moving like a NASCAR race. Today he was fighting a high-profile case that he'd been preparing for over the last several weeks and during this time Olivia was staying with her parents in Queens to be away from the house and have extra hands to help with the kids.

"Mom, " Olivia spoke, coming slowly down the stairs.

"Yeah, honey?" Serena spoke, meeting her daughter at the base of the stairs.

"Can you grab me a bottle of water?"

"Of course, sweetheart, have you been able to get any rest?"

"Not yet, " Olivia sighed, making her way to the living room sofa, "my back is killing me today and something just isn't right so my stomach feels like knots."

"You're anxious, " Serena spoke plainly, sitting on the coffee table across from her daughter.

Olivia nodded, letting the cool water slip down her throat, "I'm nervous about the case Dominick is working. The preparation had him in shambles for weeks, his whole promotion is practically riding on him shutting this case. He's been working extremely hard and barely getting any shut-eye, so that's the knot in my stomach."

"I have faith he'll do great and I know you do too. You love that man with your entire being, Olivia, and I just know that everything will work out."

"Thanks, mom, " Olivia spoke, pulling her mom into a hug before a foot ended up in her ribs.

Serena watched Olivia's face scrunch as she pulled away from the embrace, "are you okay?"

"Yep, " Olivia let out a slow breath, "someone just didn't like that."

Both women chuckled before hearing a squeal come from the sliding glass door, "Momma, " Sawyer spoke excitedly.

"Hi, my sweet boy, " Olivia smiled, as Sawyer climbed up beside her on the couch, "did you have fun with grandpa on the swing set?"

"Yeah, yeah, I went so high, momma, " Sawyer spoke, his eyes widening with every word.

"I bet you did, you'll have to show me later, okay?"

"Okay, Momma."

"Where's Charlie?" Olivia questioned, looking at the sliding glass door waiting for her father to come trailing behind her son.

"Outside with Papa, I'm just grabbing some water for us to share, " Sawyer smiled, "Grandma can you help me get it down?"

"Of course, Soy, come on, " Serena spoke, lifting Sawyer on to her hip.

Olivia sighed happily, loving the bond her son had with her parents. Everything in her teen years seemed like a battle and Robbie had told her it'd get better after she moved out, but she never could have pictured this back then. Life was so much simpler now that she was living a version of her life she loved. It was a blessing to have two healthy parents that would get to watch her kids grow up, and she wouldn't trade it for the world.

"Olivia?" Serena spoke, trying to grasp her daughter's attention.

"Hmm, " Olivia hummed, slipping out of her trance.