AN: A brief epilogue to tie it all together.

Epilogue

He'd hadn't been following the case on the news, but it was hard to miss, between the TV coverage and little Kyle's face splashed across the front of every newspaper and magazine. The case had drawn national attention and he didn't envy Captain Stephens the anxiety and indigestion that always accompanied such a media frenzy.

He'd tried to ignore it, not because he didn't care, but simply because he didn't want to know when little Kyle's body was found, abused in terrible ways that ought to put people off their dinners but would instead be plastered over the same news rags as though the gory details of his murder were far more interesting than the fact that he played short stop for his little league team.

But he wasn't blind or deaf and so hadn't been so lucky as to avoid it.

And he was glad for that.

Because if there was one thing the media loved almost as much as a dead baby, it was a hero.

Because he couldn't have been prouder when he saw the photos of Elliot carrying the frightened, dirty boy from the shithole he'd been stashed in, not even if Elliot had been his own son.

And so, a year after he'd last set foot in Haggerty's on an entirely different occasion, Don found himself back there, pulling open the heavy wooden door.

He was surprised that Olivia wasn't there, even more so when Elliot introduced him to his partner. He hadn't even stuttered or tripped over the words like it had been a new development. His heart broke then, watching Elliot and his friends celebrating a tough case with a beautiful outcome. Andrew Stephens raised his glass, calling for a toast to Elliot and the commendation he'd earned. Don wasn't sure he'd be able to choke down a polite sip of his soda. He hadn't believed Elliot could ever be happy without Olivia at his side.

Elliot interrupted Stephens, telling him to wait.

Don didn't know what to make of that - he could have understood Elliot refusing it altogether, but postponing it seemed strange.

It wasn't so strange anymore a few minutes later when Haggerty's door opened again, revealing an absolutely radiant Olivia. She didn't hang back or watch quietly from the bar. No, instead she walked right through the hole the group created for her, stepping right up to Elliot.

"Sorry we're late." Her smile was so bright Don thought it seemed to light up the gloomy bar.

"That's ok. We waited." Elliot was smiling back.

And as he watched Elliot's arms wrapping around her, Don noticed for the first time that the thin gold band that had been on his hand for so many years was gone. And as he watched what he thought was going to be a hug quickly turn into an intimate kiss that no one else seemed surprised by, he noticed her hand where it lay against his face.

Rather he noticed what was on her hand. It was small, not designed to be flashy or get attention. But it sparkled in the light and Don smiled at it.

He knew they probably had no intention of getting married. It was simply a way for Elliot to mark her, to stake his claim on her when he wasn't around. And instead of balking at the idea, at the institution of marriage on the whole, Olivia wore the ring proudly.

He saw the way the four of them interacted with ease. Elliot and his partner, Olivia and her partner. Obviously they knew each other well, had spent time together. They were comfortable with someone else watching the other's back, something Don hadn't been sure would ever happen.

But then again, with the way Olivia leaned into him and the way Elliot kept his arm around her, he realized they were probably too happy with the way things had worked out to object.

And that time, when Stephens once again lifted his glass to Elliot, Don was proud to raise his as well.

He'd raised the kids right.