A/N: Okay, this is going to be a short but important chapter. Apologies again for the long wait, I'm still without internet access, so I write these chapters beforehand, and they often go days without posting until I can go somewhere with wireless. Thanks for the feedback, keep it coming!

Previously:

Fin's eyes immediately fell upon his usually strong, tough captain, huddled on the cold floor, hugging his knees and sobbing so hard his whole body shook. "You all think I'm cruel, I know. You think I'm cold and emotionless, and all that, but how can I not be? He looks so much like her...and just seeing him there...he's so helpless, Fin, and we are two detectives, an ADA and an old man...how are we supposed to give him the life he deserves?"

Fin felt the truth in the captain's words but stayed silent, knowing the biggest reason was yet to come.

"How can I look at that baby, knowing I lost my baby, that same day?"

Fin stood speechless as the captain's words washed over him. He had known that the captain had cared deeply about his only child, but he had never known just how much he had loved her, and he didn't know what he could say to assuage that grief. Suddenly all thoughts of yelling at him, all thoughts of berating the captain for his selfishness were gone from his mind. Nonetheless, Fin knew the little boy up in the nursery needed all the family he could get.

"Captain...maybe you're thinking of this the wrong way...maybe the baby reminding you of El and Liv is a good thing. He's a piece of them."

"No!" Don said venomously. "I don't want to be reminded of her. She's gone. Why can't you just accept that that is painful enough without the constant reminder of her and Elliot's death?! I told you, he doesn't belong! He shouldn't even be here! I would expect you to understand, you don't seem to care about your son. Wouldn't it just be easier for you if he didn't exist?"

Despite previous thoughts, Fin felt anger wash over him again.

"My son has nothing to do with this, but for your information I love him very much and I would never want to cut him out of my life. We are all mourning over El and Liv, and it's going to take a long time to get over, if ever, but we need you to get over your selfishness, because that little boy needs all of us."

"Selfishness?! I lost my daughter today!"

"And he lost his mama and his daddy! He lost the people that gave him life, and he'll have to grow up never knowing them. What do you think he's going to feel like when he asks where his mom and dad are, and someone has to tell him about the car crash, and that he was the only one who came out alive?"

Cragen stopped dead at Fin's words. Taking that as a good sign, Fin switched his tone to a pleading one.

"We can't let him go home with strangers. We're all he has left, and he's ours."



"He's so little."Cragen whispered. "We can't raise a little baby, plus two little girls."

"We have to try." Fin persisted. He paused. "They're family."

That seemed to have an effect on Cragen. Raising his head and wiping his eyes, he stood shakily.

"Can...can I see him again?" he asked tentatively.

Fin smiled. That wasn't all it was going to take, he knew, but it was a good start.

"Of course. He's been dying to really meet his grandpa."

A/N #2: Well, Cragen's starting to come around. I think I have a name for the baby in mind, but I'm open to suggestions.

Random Fact: When I was writing this, I was listening to You Can Let Go by Crystal Shawanda and One Breath from a Heartache by Adam Gregory on repeat, try listening to them while reading it, they strangely work with the story!

So:

Will the doctors let the gang take the baby home?

Who's home is more set up for children?

Who will the babies live with most of the time?

How will Cragen react to really meeting his grandson?