Apologies! It's been awhile hasn't it? Time to get things moving again...

Disclaimer: I do not own L&O SVU =(

"On the road again!" Elliot sang, smirking at Olivia. He pulled their SUV out of its parking spot and headed for the highway on their way to Boston.

"You locked the doors right?" Olivia asked, staring at their building in the side view mirror.

"Yes. Locked the windows, the doors, all of it. For the fiftieth time."

Olivia playfully hit the side of his arm.

"I can't wait to see the kids. They're pretty excited we're coming up there. We haven't seen them since…" Elliot thought back in his head.

"Spring Break, last year. Well, that's when we saw them all together." Olivia answered.

Olivia knew it was hard for Elliot to be at such a distance to his older kids. He was very dedicated to his Skype chats, but talking online just wasn't the same as seeing the kids face to face. Since Ava's disappearance, Olivia had even noticed he put more effort into talking to each of his kids individually, online or on the phone. The kids had put more effort in as well, especially Maureen and Kathleen, knowing how much their dad was worried about their little sister.

"What are you thinking about?" Elliot asked, glancing over at Olivia. He placed his right hand over the center console, his palm facing upwards.

Olivia placed her hand over his, entwining her fingers and smiled to Elliot, "You."

Elliot pulled into the parking lot at their hotel and turned off the car. Olivia had fallen asleep over an hour ago, and he hated to wake her. She looked so peaceful, with her head tilted against the window, mumbling words under her breath. Elliot smiled and reached a hand over to nudge Olivia awake, but stopped when he heard her whisper their daughter's name.

He looked up in his rearview mirror and stared at the backseat. They had long since taken the car seat out and cleared away the toys and stuffies that had littered the back of the car. Except for one. Elliot pulled open the center console and saw the small rattle Olivia had refused to take out of the car. He smiled and closed the lid, and the sound awoke Olivia.

"Are we here? Sorry El, I should've kept you company." Olivia apologized. She stifled a yawn stretched her arms out. She offered Elliot a half smile, which he returned by squeezing her hand.

"It's okay." He shrugged.

"Did you call Kathy yet?" Olivia asked, as she hopped out of the car.

"I'll call her once we check in." Elliot replied, as he helped Olivia unload their luggage out the back of the car.

"Dad!" Lizzie cried out as she opened the door. She bounded straight into her dad's arms and hugged him tight. Once she let go of him, she greeted Olivia with a hug just as tight.

"Everyone's out in the back. Tim's barbecuing burgers, and hot dogs, and I think mom's making a salad. Well, Maureen and Henry aren't here yet, but she called and said they'd be here in an hour." Lizzie explained as she led her dad and Olivia through the main hallway and out onto the deck.

"Look who's here!" Lizzie announced, stepping onto the deck. Dickie and Kathleen got up from their seats to greet Elliot and Olivia. Kathy headed over from the table and hugged the two.

She had long since made peace with Olivia, as she and Elliot had both tried their best to remain amicable after the divorce for the sake of their kids. She had struggled from time to time, and expected the two to never have a perfect relationship, but they always managed to put aside differences to come together as a family for the kids.

They spent the next few minutes being introduced to Kathy's boyfriend, Tim, and Kathleen's boyfriend, Mark, and after the late arrival of Maureen and Henry, everyone was seated around the table enjoying their dinner.

"So Elliot, guess who made the Dean's List after her first year of college?" Kathy smiled, looking to Kathleen.

"I heard! We're very proud!" Elliot replied, smiling to Kathleen. She blushed from the sudden attention she had garnered from everyone, but thanked the family for their well wishes.

Elliot and Olivia continued to catch up with the kids, finding out from Maureen what life was like after college, and all about what being a Junior was going to be like for Lizzie and Dickie once they headed back to school in September.

They had managed to keep the conversation going well on into the evening, past dessert and drinks, Elliot soaking up as much information and interaction from his kids as he could get.

Olivia couldn't help but smile and laugh along, recounting stories of Elliot's parenting mishaps from the kids' younger days, and joking with Kathy about Elliot's own mishaps and accidents. It was times like these where she was happy to be a part of a family, and times like these when she could laugh and talk, and for a little while, she could forget about the pain.

Later on in the evening after Maureen and Henry had headed home, Lizzie and Dickie had headed out with a group of friends from school, and Olivia had offered to help Kathy tidy the kitchen, Elliot found himself with his arm around Kathleen as they sat in the swinging chair on the deck.

"So dad, I applied to transfer my credits to Hudson."

"What? As in, Hudson in New York?" Elliot asked, staring down at Kathleen. His daughter was already at a good school, a school where she was achieving high academic status.

"Yeah. I miss New York. I miss my old friends. And I really miss you, dad." Kathleen said to him softly.

"I miss you too, kiddo," Elliot replied, placing a small kiss on top of his daughter's head, "But are you sure you want to move back? What did your mom say about this?"

"I already told her all the details. I'd still come back here for holidays and stuff. Well, I'd switch between you and mom, but the advisor I spoke to at Hudson said that my marks are good enough that I'll be able to get a partial or full scholarship, and I can stay in residence, so I won't be a bother to you and Liv." Kathleen told him.

"Kathleen, you wouldn't be a burden to us, you know that." Elliot said to her gently. Kathleen nodded.

"I know dad. I think I'd have a bit more fun in residence though." She smiled. Elliot raised his eyebrows and Kathleen laughed, "I mean, I'll come over on some weekends and stuff, you know, get you to do my laundry, raid your fridge for groceries. I could even babysit when Ava comes back home."

Elliot smiled at his daughter and gave her a hug, "It'll be good to have you close to home, sweetheart."

"I love you, dad."

"I love you, too."

Yes, I know. It was a pretty short chapter, but this is just kind of filler to get back into the swing of things. Hopefully there's still a few of you interested in this story- if you are, review and let me know =)