A/N: SO SO Sorry for the huuuuuggggeee delay! I've had personal problems to deal with and I went on vacation. But here it finally is. Please read and review.

Disclaimer: Don't only anyone or anything you recognize.

It was getting close to eight that night and Olivia still had not heard back from the Chief of Detectives.

"Livia, go to bed, baby," Elliot whispered for the third time in the last hour, walking back into the living room from putting Bella down for the night. He'd caught his wife laying down on the couch, drifting off to sleep yet again. She was exhausted, but was determined to wait for the Chief's call.

Olivia groaned and went to shake her head but Elliot took a hold of her hands and lifted her up.

"Bed," he insisted, gently pulling her to him. She truly was exhausted, she couldn't even hold her own body up.

"No, El," Olivia mumbled, half asleep, into his chest and holding on to him so she didn't fall. "The chief hasn't called yet."

"He will, baby," Elliot whispered into her ear and placed a kiss there. He rubbed her back and began to guide her into their bedroom. "He's probably busy."

"Hmmm," she murmured as Elliot helped her into bed. She was pretty out of it and couldn't form any coherent words for the life of her.

Just as Elliot tucked her in, the home phone began to ring. He groaned and picked up the cordless handset from Olivia's bedside table, where it had been discarded hours before when she'd been on the phone talking to a friend.

"Hello. Stabler residence," Elliot answered the phone softly, as he rubbed Olivia's back. The exhaustion was too overwhelming for her to even bother reaching for the phone, to take it off of her husband. She was too busy snuggling into her pillow. Well, Elliot's. She'd stolen it as she laid down and Elliot tucked her in.

"Hello Detective Stabler, it's Chief Monaghan. Is Detective Benson there?"

"Hi Chief. She's here of course, but she's exhausted. She wouldn't have a clue what you're talking about, she's out of it," he explained to the man over the phone, who was requesting to talk to Detective Benson.

"Ah, of course. Sorry for calling so late. Been trying to handle the huge drama that she brought to my attention," he informed Elliot.

Listening to the chief of detectives, Elliot furrowed his brows. "Huge? It wasn't that big, Sir," he said, confused.

The man on the other end of the phone line sighed. "Actually, it was. There is more to it. Much more," he told Elliot softly and honestly.

Sighing himself, Elliot looked down, only to find his wife completely out cold. She hadn't even had enough energy to listen in on the conversation between her husband and their Chief. "Okay. So, ah..."

"Oh right, yes," the chief mumbled, scratching his prickly haired chin. "How about you and Olivia come into my office at eight sharp? Is that okay?" he asked.

"Um..." Elliot started and picked up Olivia's diary from beside the bed. He opened it to the next day's date, to see if there was anything planned for any of the three of them. The page was almost blank except for a reminder note at the bottom. "Sure, Chief. Olivia and I will be there at eight sharp. Thank you for calling."

"Not a problem, Elliot. Just wished it could have been earlier and I could have spoken to Olivia. I'll see the two of you tomorrow morning."

"See you then. Goodnight," Elliot whispered and pressed the top left button to end the call.

"Hmm," Olivia murmured in her sleep and rolled over.

"Liv?" Elliot whispered, rubbing her arm, thinking about she was awake but as she sighed and moved again to get comfortable, he knew that she was in fact still asleep. He leaned over and kissed her on the head. "I love you," he whispered and very carefully walked out of the room as to not wake her.

He went to walk past the nursery but hear Bella whimper. "What's wrong, Princess?" he cooed as he picked her up from her crib just as she let out her first cry.

Bella cry again but then settled into her loving father's strong arms.

"Yeah, see, you're safe, Bella Boo, Daddy's got you," he whispered and kissed her head as he reached into the crib to get her discarded pink and purple pacifier. "You want your pacifier?" he asked, not expecting an answer as he slipped it into her tiny mouth.

Bella snuggled into him, sucking her pacifier in response. Her tiny brown hair drooping back down. As sleep took over her little body again.

"Goodnight, my sweet baby girl," Elliot murmured as he laid the infant back down in the crib and walked back out.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Olivia woke the next morning to the feel of Elliot's chest beneath her head. As usual he'd become her pillow during the night. As she rubbed her husband's chest as she slowly woke up properly, the night before's events replayed in her mind. Had the Chief called? What did he say? She remembered bits and pieces but most of the night was a blur.

"Liv?" Elliot grumbled, half asleep, as he rubbed her back. "I can hear you thinking. What's wrong?" he asked, his eyes still closed. Not really wanting to actually wake up yet.

"Just thinking," she answered simply.

Elliot couldn't help but laugh softly. "A: the Chief did call and... B: you're a terrible liar, Liv."

"I thought he did. I was just so tired so everything is a bit of a blur," she answered and kissed his bare chest.

"I know, beautiful, there's no need to explain," he assured her and kissed her on the lips softly.

Olivia smiled and they broke away from tender but passionate kiss. "So what did the chief say?" she asked, turning over to face him properly.

Cupping Olivia's face in his hands, he looked into her eyes. "He wants us to go to his office this morning... We got to be there at eight," he informed her on what the chief had said over the phone.

Olivia nodded and turned to take a quick glance at the clock on Elliot's bedside table. She gasped. "El, it's nearly seven already!" she screeched and jumped out of bed. To get herself and Bella ready.

Elliot jumped out of bed behind his wife and headed straight for the shower.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

After his shower, Elliot walked into the nursery to find Olivia still nursing Bella. "Hey girls," he greeted them as he entered the bedroom. "Thought you'd be changing her by now, Livvy."

"She's a little fussy this morning," Olivia explained, finally lifting the infant to her shoulder to burp.

"Okay, baby. Why don't you let me burp her while you have a shower?" he suggested, reaching for Bella.

"Thanks, El," she thanked her husband and passed him their child before heading out.

"Hey Bella Boo," Elliot cooed, taking the tiny girl and rested her as his shoulder as she began to fuss in discomfort. "Hold on, sweetie," he whispered and kissed her cheek before beginning to rub her back until she burped. "We're running very late this morning, aren't we, princess?" he said, looking at his watch as he walked down the stairs, after he'd changed her into a pretty yellow sun dress. "As soon as Mommy is ready we'll have to get going."