Everything wasn't fine.

Callahan John Munch was born 9 weeks and 5 days early. He weighed in at just 4 pounds, and was in NICU due to a lung infection that developed at 3 days. Olivia, Casey, and Hannah were always with Alex and John at the hospital. Allie looked in through the glass at the baby boy. He was so tiny; much smaller than Maureen's daughter had been. Eli and Ron watched the other adults with Allie on one side of the glass.

"He's small," Ron said softly.

"He looks..." Eli's voice trailed.

"Fragile?" Ron asked. Eli nodded.

"He looks strong." Allison's Voice was firm, and final. "He will be a strong kid. Give him time."

"Al?"

"Hmmm?"

"Are you sure?" Eli asked, so softly that she almost didn't hear him.

"No." Elijah took his sister's hand and squeezed it gently.

"Hey, little brother," Hope whispered, her gloved finger touching the baby's tiny hand. Cal's eye-lips fluttered lightly. "You have a lot of people worried, y'know. But, don't worry; they'll fogive you. Everyone gives them a scare upon occasion. Papa had a heart attack, I went blind, Hannah had a really bad kidney infection once. We're tough...but don't test that.

"I know you're only a week old, but you have no idea how much everyone loves you already." The labored raising and lowering of the little chest touching Hope's hand tugged at the young woman's heart. "I know is hard, Cal. I know you want to give up," she whispered. "But its too soon to quit, baby boy. If I had quit when it got hard, I'd have never met Papa or Ma. They want you, more than I could ever understand.

"I know its hard, sweet heart," Hope whispered as the tiny chest raised again. "Just hold on. Just fight a little longer, lovie. Please..." A hand rested on Hope's shoulder. "Hannah?"

"No," Alex said, gently. "Hannah's with your Papa. How is he?"

"He's strong," Hope insisted. "He's got your stubborn nature."

"Mrs. Munch," the nurse called. "If you'll scrub up, he needs his massage, and to be fed. Are you up to it?"

"What if I mess it up?"

"Ma," Hope said softly. "He needs you. You haven't held him since he was born. He's fighting so hard...hold him."

"He knows your voice, Mrs. Munch. It could really help him along if you would talk to him, hold him...touch him." Alex nodded, unsure of herself. "Come on, Mommy," the nurse said, leading Alex to scrub up. Hannah rubbed her brother's hand.

"Little wonder," she whispered to the baby. "You're strong, and you are going to be healthy."

February rolled into March, and Cal was released to go home with Alex and John just before he turned one month old. He would be able to go to Allie's birthday party. The girl, at 15, had finally grown out of the 'tom boy' phase and was starting to date. Elliot was taking it well, while Olivia was in panic mode. Always watching the clock for her daughter's return home from her dates while she wasn't in school. The winter months went by in a hurry.

As fast as winter moved for the families, summer moved twice as fast. Allie went with James, Robert, Alex and the House Catastorphe (as she nicknamedthe family) to France for the summer, while Ron and Elijah went back to the summer music camp. Before anyone had time to blink twice, Allie, Eli and Ron were in Millerville, Jake, Becca and Ruth were in school, and life moved on. Cal was a healthy, happy baby, and John's best friend. He was a normal boy, who crawled at 9 months, walked at 12 months and said his first word, 'Hope,' at 13 monthes.

Before Olivia knew what had happened, Allison Paige Stabler, her baby girl, was 16, and home for the summer before her junior year, and wasn't going away with James and his family. Jimmy was going to stay at home for the summer, and Allie would be visiting as she deemed fit.

It was mid-Agusut, 2024, when Don and Casey Cragen called the family meeting to discuss adopting Jacob, Becca, and Ruth. The kids were thrilled. Especially Ron, who'd come to love the three younger kids. It had taken a lot of time, and a lot of therapy for the whole family, but they were a family.

By Callahan's 3rd birthday, the family was closer than ever. Hannah and Hope spoiled the boy with love and affection, as did John, Alex, and, well, everyone. Allie was in her senior year of high school, and picking schools to start at in the fall. Olivia retired, and Elliot was 7 months away from retirement himself. Don was happy as a stay-at-home dad. The kids were happy to have someone at home when they needed him. And he'd been able to convince Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson to get re-married.

"I feel a little rediculous," Liv said, straightening her veil. "We're divorced, and getting married."

"Mom," Allie said. "You look fantastic."

"You were a guest at the first wedding, you know."

"Yeah, yeah...Grandpa's waiting."

"Don's here?"

"I meant Dad." Olivia shot her daughter a playful stern look before turning back to the mirror one last time. "You look happy."

"I am, honey."

"You and Dad are meant to be together, Mom. He loves you...so much." Allie hugged her mother. "Time to go, Mom."

"Olivia," Father Michael said, nodding to the woman.

"Elliot," she said gently. "We're been on a road through life together. There have been mountains to climb, and rivers to navigate, and we've gotten lost in valleys and darkness along the way." Olivia took a deep breath. "Through everything, everything we've been through, good and bad, I wouldn't change anything. You have always been with me on this journey, my Elliot." She wiped a tear. "The hard times weren't as hard because you were with me. You loved me and pulled me through the darkness into the light. You are the light of my life, and you are my soul mate. I vow to love you for the rest of my life, and beyond."

"Elliot," Father Michael said, smiling.

"Its funny your should say I'm the light of your life...'cause you've always been the light of mine. Time falls away when I look at you, and we're just us. Its amazing to look at you, knowing you as well as I do, and still not knowing you at all. You...saved me. You saved me from myself, from the evils in the city, and the evils within me. You pulled be back from the edge of insanity and gave me hope. No one has ever loved another the way you love me. The honesty and love you show me amazes me...every day. Thank you, Liv, for Loving me. I vow to give everything I am to you; heart and soul. 'Cause you are my heart and soul."

"Olivia, do you take this man before you, as your husband, to love, honor and cherish, until death do you part?"

"I do," she whispered.

"Elliot, do you take this woman before you, as your wife, to love, honor and cherish, until death do you part?"

"I do."

"By the power vested in me, I now prounounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride!"

Elliot took Olivia in his arms and kissed her with such gentle honesty, tears falling from both sets of eyes, that her breath caught in her chest. The church errupted in cheering and clapping, but the two didn't hear it. All Elliot hear was Olivia whispering 'I love you,' in his ear when he hugged her tightly to his chest.

The two made their escape to a car out back for a 3 week honeymoon before they could be pulled apart to talk to guests.

"Papa!" Cal called, laughing. He ran to his father and hugged his legs. "Hi Papa!"

"Hello, off-spring. Did you have a good day with Hannah and Hope?"

"Yep!" John lifted the boy up. "Read Thomas, Papa?"

"Of course, my little clone. I'll be in soon." He set the boy down and headed for the kitchen. "Smells fantastic, Hannah."

"Thanks. Ma's on her way up, too. Papa, you okay?" she asked when John staggered slightly.

"Yeah...just a little dizzy." His speak was slurred and he felt off-center.

"Hannah?" Alex called.

"We're in here, Ma!" Alex headed into the kitchen. "Papa's dizzy," she informed.

"I'm not-"John stopped mid-sentence. Hannah turned in time to catch him as he collapsed.

"John? John!" Alex called. Hannah grabbed for the phone.

"Olivia," Elliot said, gently, nudging his wife away. "Liv, you need to get up, sweet heart."

"What's wrong?" she asked, seeing his tear-stained face.

"We gotta go home."

"But we've only had 2 days-"

"John had a stroke." Olivia felt a wave of fear hit her. "He's gone."

"no," she whispered, tears filling her eyes. Elliot pulled her to his chest where she sobbed with her husband.

Elliot closed the last box and looked around the squad room.

"Hey, Elliot," Casey said. Ron was hanging out a few feet behind.

"Hey Case. Ronny, come on in."

"Hi Elliot."

"Eli with you guys?"

"Nah, he has a date this weekend. Staying at school." Elliot nodded. His youngest had a date. "So, my office is cleaned out as well."

"You taking off too?"

"Nah, promotion. Alex decided to take early retirement after..." Elliot nodded. Alex had been through so much over the last six months. John had died in her arms with Hannah holding his hand, and Cal waiting for his Papa to read him a book in the next room.

"How's she doing?"

"Better. She and Hannah are moving on. Oh, the new ADA is moved in."

"Who should I warn?"

"The World. Hannah holds a grudge against pedifiles as much as you do." Elliot chuckled lightly. "She grew up so fast. All of them did," Casey said, looking at her son.

"Aw, don't go all sentimental on me, Ma." Casey and Elliot laughed at the kid.

"So, any news on who is taking your place?" Elliot shrugged.

"Aw, Dad, you know this place wouldn't survive without a Stabler," Maureen said, bringing her first box in. "They can't afford to repaint the whole name on the door, so they're putting me here and just changing the E. to an M."

"You're the new Captain, Maur?"

"Brass likes that I was raised with two SVU Detectives. Hannah put in a few good words, so did Mom and Fin."

"So, my daughter made Captain. You're not even 45 yet."

"Like I told you, Dad. Brass liked me for this position. I have two very decorated officers in my immediat family, both of whom were SVU detectives, and my husband is a fire-fighter." Elliot felt his chest rise with pride for his oldest daughter.

"What do Olivia and Kathy think of this?"

"The moms are proud," she said.

ADA Hannah Munch stepped into her new office and smiled. At one time, it had been Alex's, then Casey's, and for a short time, they shared it. Casey started vacation 3 weeks ago after her son, Ronny, started summer break from Millerville. Ronny, Jacob, Rebekah and Ruth were growing up so fast. Don was a fantastic father to the 4 children, and they loved him. This summer, however, Casey needed to be near them.

Alex decided to retire to raise Callahan. John wanted her to quit when he was born, but she'd been stubborn.

"Hey, Hannah-bear," Alex said, helping move a box.

"Give me that!" Hannah said, taking the box from the older woman. "You'll hurt you back, Ma."

"Your Papa would be so proud, Hannah." Hannah smiled sadly.

"Yeah," Hannah said, placing John's picture on her desk. "I hope he is proud of me."

"He always was proud of you. he was proud of you for graduating high school at 15 when you didn't even learn to read until 10. He bragged to the world about you getting in to Harvard Law at 18 and here you are at 26, as an ADA! That's monumental! You're a full 10 years younger than most first year ADA's." Hannah smiled.

"I think they werenervous that I asked for the sex crimes position."

"They're nervous about this whole unit. I promise that they went through your past and found out exactly why-"

"My biological family has little to do with my descision, Ma."

"Really?"

"Papa worked until the day he died for this unit. You worked until they tried to kill you. Elliot and Olivia met through this unit. Out whole family exsists because of the unit. I'm here to keep that going for the next generation of Detectives and Captains, and ADA's. This unit has to remain close. Its the only way to survive it."

"You have a point, Hannah."

"Maureen is the new Captain," Hannah offered.

"That's wonderful!"

"And as soon as Ron goes on summer break, he's going to work with me as an assistant. He wants to go to law school. Don almost had a corinary when they talked about it."

"Hannah," Alex said softly. "Are you dating anyone?"

"Not lately, but I'll meet a nice guy. Don't worry, I'll have children and let you be Grandma to them," she groaned.

"Its not that," Alex said quickly. "Its that I had so many chances to be with John, and always let them slip away, and we could have had 25 years together instead of 14. Don't lose that time because you're too busy, Sweetie."

"Ma, I may not be dating anyone, but I've always put love first. I can find another job, but I only have a few chances at love," she said. "Anyway, I have awsome examples to follow; you and papa, Elliot and Olivia, Casey and Don, Kathleen and Rose, Maureen and Luke, Lizzie and Connor, Dickie and Laura...everyone finds love when they're ready. I will too."

"Good."

"Ma?"

"Hmm?"

"I hope he's proud of you, too."

"Me, too, Hannah." Alex sighed and looked at her late-husband's picture. "I hope I make him proud, too."

"Mama?"

"Yes, Love?"

"Tell me about Papa..." Alex lifted 6-year-old Callahan onto her lap and hugged him tightly.

"Well, Cal," she started. "You were his best friend, and he loved you...so much."

"Is he proud of us?"

"I think so. He loved him family...very much."

"Do you still miss him?"

"Every Day."

"Me, too."

"Do you remember him much, honey?"

"I remember him reading Thomas to me after work every day before dinner, and I remember him telling everyone 'I love you,' before he even took his shoes off after work." Alex smiled. "I remember...he loved me."

"Yes, he did. John loved you, Hope, and Hannah...so much." Alex hugged the boy and rested back in the cozy old chair. Off on the wall in the distance, smiling down on them, was a picture of John Munch. It was 20 years old, but it was still the face she fell in-love with. Next to it, was a picture of the family; John, Alex, Hannah, and Hope, just before Hope went blind.

Alex focused on one picture as her son dozed in her lap.

It was one of her and John, taken years ago, long before they were married. It was before she went into WPP. Even then, the two looked deeply in-love. She told Hannah that she and John could have had 25 years instead of 14. However, the heavy child in her lap, and the two women, one sleeping down the hall, the other somewhere across town, probably working on a case, were reminders that she wouldn't want to change anything about her life.

Except one thing.

John would be with her again.

"Someday," she whispered into the night. "We'll be together again...someday.

This is the end of the series. Thank you for reading. I know its not a happy ending, but life doesn't always end on a happy note.