To keep things clear, the year is now, roughly, end of summer 2022. Olivia is 53, Elliot is 55, Maureen is 37, Kathleen is around 32 (the show had her age screwed up, season one kathleen was 12, and season 8 was 17,) Liz and Dickie are 27, Allie is 14, Elijah is 12, Don is 69, Casey is 51, John Munch is in his 70's, and Alex is 45. This is just reference so everyone knows how old everyone is. I'm not sure how old the characters are in the actual sho, but this, I'm hoping, is close.


Olivia laughed as she dashed between the trees in the park half a mile from her home. Elliot chased behind her, followed by Casey, Lizzie, Allie, and Maureen. Her age wouldn't hold her back from the race against her co-workers and family at the picnic. They started the event at 7:30 with races, and would be followed by the softball game at 9:30. Elliot loved the yearly picnic and ball game. His team had played the Brooklyn's SVU, Queens, and The Bronx already that summer. At some point a few years earlier, Brass attempted to do away with the teams. George Huang explained to them the Burroughs needed recreation with their co-workers. Psychologically speaking, it allowed them to be in compititiong under peaceful terms with no horrible images invading their every thought. Elliot suspected this wasn't true; George really enjoyed watching the games. He'd never missed one in all the years they'd worked together.

Elliot knew he could run faster than his ex wife, but chose to stay a few steps behind; the veiw was better. His daughters were laughing. Allie had gotten home the day before, and was taking the next week to get ready for Millerville. Her Australian accent suited her well. She sounded authentic, and had such a tan. Elliot had missed her laugh.

They ran past the picinic blankets toward the finish line. Elliot caught sight of John from the corner of his eye. He smiled and ran faster. He wanted to win this one for his friend, and barely made it into first place when he hit the finish line. Olivia came in second, with Maureen in 3rd. Brooklyn's squad was almost 30 seconds behind, and 15 years younger.

"Good...run..." he panted to Olivia. She nodded and grabbed a water cup. Alex and Casey glared at them.

"Cops...that whole...chasing the perp...so we can prosecute...sucks."

"Take my gun, go chase a perp. I'll have to arrest you, but hey, it'll give you a thrill," Maureen teased.

"Just wait until the ball game," Casey growled.

"Hey, Mom! Great run! I didn't think you had a chance, racing the cops," Ron said, hugging her. Casey kissed the top of his head. "Eli's setting up the guitars with Dickie. We need a lead singer though."

"Ah, count me out."

"I'll sing," Maureen offered.

"Um...Maureen...maybe you could hum along quietly?" Ron asked. Maureen glared at him. "Lizzie knows all our music."

"Okay." Liz jogged off with Ron toward her brothers.

"Am I that bad?" Maureen asked softly.

"Sweetie," Elliot said, putting his arm around her shoulders. "You are a woman of many talents. You can dance, you're a great cop, a terrific Mom, but no. You can't sing." Maureen looked up at her father.

"At least I have all my hair."

"Ouch," Olivia said from behind.

"So, where's Alex?" Casey asked. "I thought for sure she's be running today." Olivia pointed to the picnic blankets, where John, Alex, Hannah, and Hope sat, talking quietly. "Anyone care to clue me in on those guys?"

"What?"

"Alex has been out for two weeks, and skipped the race-"

"I hope she's not sick," Ron added, frowning. Looks were exchanged but no one spoke on the subject.

"Come on, Ron. I need to warm up," Lizzie said, dragging the boy away to where Dickie and Eli sat, tuning the guitars.

"Hey, guys," Hannah said. "Ma asked me to give this to you before you started." She handed the note off to Lizzie and joined her parents on the picnic blanket. As soon as people settled a little, Lizzie went to the mic. The band read the letter, laughed, high-fived each other.

"Everyone, we have an announcement," Lizzie said into the mic. "This next song is going out to John and Alexandra Munch. Its an oldie, but I know it's a favorite of Alex's. She sang it to her daughters, Hope and Hannah, when they had trouble sleeping. And they want to tell you that they'll be singing it again to a new little person in about 9 months," Lizzie added, grinning. "Here's Brown Eyed Girl, for the happy mommy and daddy-to-be!"

Casey, Olivia, Elliot and Don stared, slackjawed, at the couple, cuddling happily on the blanket in front of them. Olivia tok notice of how John touched her stomach gently while the kids sang and played. Every few minutes, John would kiss her cheek, or whisper something in her ear. Hannah was grinning ear to ear, and Hope was smiling gently. As the song ended, Alex turned and looked over her shoulder. The sight of the group staring, completely stunned, brought forth a laugh. Before she could blink, Casey and Olivia were squealing and hugging her, John was on his feet, shaking hands with Fin and Elliot, and Don was slapping his shoulder.

"Oh my God!" Olivia said, hugging her friend. "You didn't say anything! How far along are you?"

"When did you find out?"

"Have any names picked out?"

"When are you due?"

"Do you need any thing?"

"I'll get you water." Alex put her hands up.

"Slow down! I'm 10 weeks along, I found out two weeks ago, no names picked out yet, I don't need anything, and I have water. Now would you two relax? Everything is fine. I'm 45, and healthy. Now, let's just listen to the music." Alex sat back on the blanket, and leaned into John's side the moment he sat next to her. "Love you," she whispered." His response was to kiss her neck.

"Love you, too," he whispered back.


School started, which brought Allie to Princeton, and Eli and Ron back to the same school. The previous two years, Eli was in middle school, while Ron was in Elementary school. Now, Ron was 11, and in 6th grade. He was back in school with Elijah, where he wanted to be. But Jacob and Rebekah were in Ron's old school, and Don was home with Ruthie. Ron hated the three kids. He loved them because they were family and they needed him. But some times, he just wished they'd go live somewhere else. They were always there, always needed his parents' attention, messing with his things, and following him and Elijah around. Millerville was looking better every day.

By Christmas, he was spending most nights at the Stabler/Benson house. He and Eli took the same bus to school in the morning,and did homework together when possible. Christmas with the three younger kids was a test in kindess for Ron.

They got gifts, sure. Ron thought it only right that he get the kids some nice things. He'd always had a safe home, and two parents. But when it came down to it, he just wanted to have dinner with his Mom and Dad on Christmas Eve quietly, where they'd talk about all the good things that had happened in the year. Every year before, Casey made a very elegant, but simple dinner for them. They ate by the light of the Christmas tree, and by candles on the table. Casey and Don would have a small glass of wine, while he'd have sparkling cider. They would clear the table in silence, and leave the mess in the sink for the morning. They would change into matching Christmas pajamas that Casey would get a few weeks early. Then, as a family, Ron tucked between his parents on the couch, they would each pick the best things that happened over they year. Not just to them, but to people they know. And Don would always finish with, 'So even if Santa forgets our house, we had a great year, and I think that's a pretty good gift.'

Ron knew that Santa wouldn't miss their home, but he had to agree with his father. It had been a damn fine year. The later they stayed up talking, the better the year, and the better Christmas they had. A few years earlier, they stayed up all night talking about the good in their lives, and Ron forgot that Santa was supposed to bring him toys. When he remembered, he gather up a decent portion of his old toys to give to Good Will, so other kids could have a nice Christmas like he'd had.

But this year was not like any before.

Rebekah whined through dinner, Ruth spilled her juice, Jacob called Ron a butt-face for getting upset that his Christmas wasn't going well. Don yelled at him for picking on Jake, and then Ruthie threw up on Casey's nice Christmas pajamas. Ron gave up and went to hide in his bedroom. It was over an hour before someone went looking for him.

"Hey," Casey called into the room. Upon receiving a sniffle as an answer, she moved and sat on her son's bed. "Hey, Red. What's wrong?"

"Christmas is messed up."

"No its not, Ronny."

"Christmas is s'posed to be quiet, and peaceful. We're supposed to talk about our year, and hang out on the couch, and look at the tree."

"And Santa comes."

"Its not about Santa, Mom," he said, softly. "Christmas day is about Santa, and toys, and gifts. Christmas Eve is about family, and how good of a year we had, and its what makes Christmas Day so...cool. You could buy me any gift you want, any time, and its would be really cool, but Christmas Morning, after spending the night talking about how happy we are...-"

"Its the magic in Christmas to you?"

"Yeah."

"My pajamas are in the dryer, and Dad's putting the girls to bed."

"No!" he pleaded.

"Why not? Don't you want to have our Christmas?"

"Well...yeah...but they should learn now, so next year will be easier...on all of us."

"Ron, you are so smart." Don stood in the doorway in his dark green flannel pajamas.

"I thought he was putting the girls to bed."

"Well, maybe I wasn't completely honest." Ron glared at her. "We reached the same conclusion about 30 seconds after you left the room and had a talk with the kids. We explained our tradition, and, well, we thought you'd think it up too. I thought you might need a little time to cool off, first." Ron threw his arms around his mother and sniffled again.

"Mom," he whispered. "Thanks." Casey smiled and squeezed her son. "Thanks for everything."


"Al?" came a man's voice through the house.

"Which one?" the two kids called. The man chuckled softly.

"Allie, there's a phone call from your mother." Thumping was heard throughout the upstairs of the house, coming down the stairs, and the squeak of sneakers through the kitchen to the downstairs phone gave everyone in the house a clue that it was important.

"Ma?"

"Dad's on his way to get you. Be ready in an hour, honey." There was something in her voice that scared the girl.

"Okay." She hung up the phone. "Elliot's picking me up early, Jimmy. Is it okay?"

"Of course. Will you come back next week?" Allie shrugged. "Depends on why she called?" Allie nodded. "Worried?" Allie nodded again.

"Alex isn't due to have the baby until Mid April, and its still 10 weeks away," she said, looking at the calender, reading February 5, 2023.

"I'm sure everything is fine, honey." She nodded as she headed up the stairs.