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Eli was doing his best to hold back from wrapping Becky in bubble wrap but when she insisted on doing things like going bowling he couldn’t help it. She wouldn’t even use the lighter weight bowling balls but insisted on the ten pounder instead of child’s size.
“If you don’t stop hovering I’m going to make your life miserable,” she said as she sat down next
to him, cradling her very prominent baby bump in her hands. He immediately placed one hand over the top, hoping to feel the baby kicking.
“I can’t help it,” he mumbled so that none of his siblings would overhear and start teasing him mercilessly about his new dad fears. They were already being impossible with the Elliot Junior jokes because his paranoia was taking on dad level tyranny.
“Tell you what,” she said with a soft smile, “you get me a cherry icee and I won’t get on the go carts.” At his alarmed look she started laughing hysterically before pressing a kiss to his cheek.
He grumbled about her teasing but secretly he loved it. He loved the way Becky was so free and open with her affection. It filled a hole inside his heart that he never thought would heal. So he got up to get her her icee and whistled to himself as he went.
Maybe that’s what this family outing was all about. Kathleen said that they needed to have family time together because even though they had their own lives they were still family. She’d suggested bowling at the arcade and everyone agreed. Even if competitive sports with the Stablers had a tendency of getting bloody.
Maureen had shown up with husband and kids in tow, Dickie brought Melissa and even dad put his cell phone away for the night of bowling. Of course that might have more to do with Liv’s presence than anything else.
Absolutely no one had been surprised when Liv and Noah showed up. Noah eager to bowl and Liv looking a little nervous about how she’d be received by the Stabler kids. But the truth was that everyone knew she and dad had been dating for a couple for months. They were terrible at hiding it with their Davy Jones’ eyes and obscenely wide smiles.
At first he’d been dubious about it. He’d heard plenty of stories from his sisters and Dickie but he expected her to be another rebound. He had a hard time imagining dad with anyone but mom. Of all of the Stabler kids he’d taken the longest to warm up to her. Even after finding out she’d literally been there when he was born and had been the first person to hold him while mom flatlined.
She was okay. He could live with it. If she made dad happy. If she made him present then he wouldn’t complain.
As he walked back with Becky’s drink he rounded the corner and was halted in his steps by a coyly asked question as Melissa sat down beside Becky who were just out of sight around the corner. They couldn’t see him but he could hear everything.
“Is it true that size runs in the family? Dickie and I haven’t been dating very long but - let me tell you.” That would be Melissa. New to family gatherings. But he was shocked at the question that made him want to hurl because he suspected what she was insinuating.
Good thing Becky would never respond to a gross question like that.
“Well,” Becky said, “I’ve never been one to kiss and tell -” Of course she wouldn’t. She would never - “But I have zero complaints.”
“You know,” Melissa said with a sigh, “I never thought it would be serious with Richard but he kind of wore me down. I’ll tell you the real clincher was meeting papa Stabler though. The man is the definition of a zaddy.”
Becky laughed and it sounded a little too knowing.
“They couldn’t be further apart personality wise - but that build. Those muscles. Total dilf.”
Becky laughed but to Eli’s relief she said, “I cannot in good conscience admit to wanting to bounce a coin off that ass, but I will say that I’ve seen baby pictures - I have zero doubt that Eli is going to look just like him in his 60s. And I thank my lucky stars for that.”
Eli began to feel distinctly uncomfortable with eavesdropping and the topic was really turning his stomach but he kind of liked Becky imagining a time that far into the distance with him. He wanted to grow old with her. But they still had their whole lives ahead of them. The thought of walking through the years with her by his side made him happy.
“I keep encouraging Richard to go to the gym with his dad. Maybe get some pointers.” Melissa laughed. “Maybe we can convince the family to take a beach trip because I would love to see that man shirtless.”
Eli’s eyes went wide and he felt like the conversation was stepping over the line of fun gossip and bordering into being extremely inappropriate.
It was time to interrupt.
Until one more voice joined the two.
“Room for one more?” It was Olivia and Eli breathed a sigh of relief because that would put an end to that line of talk.
“Sure, come join us,” Becky said happily. “Melissa is comparing the Stabler men.”
“Oh,” Melissa giggled. “Just some innocent girl talk. You know. The Stabler men are hotties. We’re just talking about how they get it from their dad. I’m sure you know all about that.”
Olivia made a non committal noise while Becky laughed.
“Oh, come on. Just nod your head if it’s true what they say about shoe size.”
It sounded like Olivia choked on her drink and Eli wanted a hole to open up in the ground and swallow him whole.
“I don’t kiss and tell.”
“That’s what I said,” Becky said, “but she’s insistent.”
“Ah, that’s okay. Don’t answer. The way you stare at his ass tells me everything I need to know. Captain Benson, you are one lucky woman.”
There was a long moment of silence and Eli was grateful Olivia wasn’t about to say anything about any of his dad’s body parts.
Unfortunately after a long pause she did say, “I’m not going to give details, but let’s just say if I had to make a ranking - number one, ladies. Number one.”
It took all his self control not to vomit and he made a scene making a lot of noise as he pretended to approach around the corner with the icee.
Olivia had stood to her feet and was passing by him to go find Noah. Eli flushed red and he couldn’t look her in the eye. But as he passed her she leaned in and whispered, “That’ll teach you to eavesdrop.” Which only made him blush harder.