a/n: very sorry about the delay! Life grabbed me by the ankles and ran off giggling …well, I can't say I didn't have fun :P
a/n: I'm all embarrassed, I've been spelling Olivia's name differently! Note to self: it's officially Lynwood, with a Y. Very sorry about that.
a/n: A reminder that Ghost didn't happen, because I hadn't seen it when I started writing this.

Elliot grunted as he pulled the last suitcase off the luggage carousel. He grumbled as he dragged it over to Liv and dumped it on their cart while she yanked the last of the plastic cover off the stroller. They were finally back in New York, after much delay.

"How the hell did that take 10 hours?" Liv demanded. She was not amused.

"Just be glad that we're home and that all our luggage made it," Elliot tried to calm her down, but he was quickly running out of patience too. Air travel with a crying baby is never fun.

Liv tried to bring the stroller out of it's collapsed position, but it wouldn't budge. Elliot took the stroller from her hands and yanked on it so hard that she was afraid it would break. But in the end the stroller relented and Elliot put it down, satisfied and a little better for having expended some energy. Liv eyed him but didn't call him on the unnecessary force; she didn't feel like a fight right now. And Alex and Bob were heading towards them.

"You guys got everything?" she asked Alex. Bob was on his phone.

"Yes," she said, sounding as tired as Liv felt. At least Abby was asleep, now. The little girl had cried for almost the entire four-hour stopover in Chicago, no matter what anyone had tried. She seemed to like planes though.

In their tired state, the adults just fell into silence waiting for Bob to finish,

"So Mom's gone to sleep then? … Yes. I'm sorry we're so late, we were delayed in Chicago…a big storm parked itself right over the airport…no, don't wake her up, we'll get a hotel," Bob said to his phone. Liv poked Elliot,

"Still have that spare bed?" she whispered to him. He paused, thinking about whether he really wanted anyone else in his home that night. He just wanted to go home with his family, but he never could say no to Olivia. Elliot waved to get Bob's attention,

"Bob, you can crash at our place," he said. Bob looked at him in surprise,

"Hold on Dad," he said to the phone before covering it with his hand. "Are you sure, Elliot? We can go to a hotel."

"No, it's late. Come home with us."

"We don't want to impose," Alex said.

"It's no problem, come on," Liv said.

"Alright, we're okay now Dad. We'll see you tomorrow… you have a good sleep too," Bob said and hung up the phone.

When they finally got a minivan cab, the driver was such an ass that it was all Liv could do to keep Elliot from strangling the man. Thankfully the ride was quick, and Elliot managed to keep his hands to himself.

Even more fortunately, the elevator in Elliot's building was working. They piled the luggage in the small device while Olivia headed into the apartment with the first trip to put Abby to bed.

When the rest of them came stumbling into the apartment Liv came hurrying out to shush them,

"Abby's almost asleep," she said softly, and she seemed much happier than before. Then she gestured Elliot to follow with a smile on her face. Elliot stepped around the corner and felt his lousy mood lifting. On his dining room table sat a welcome home basket and a card. Elliot picked it up,

"Welcome home Dad and Olivia! We're so glad you're back!" it read. His kids had all signed it, though he knew it was Lizzie who'd faked Maureen's signature. Liv moved in and hugged him, resting her head on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead and held the card out to her,

"Oh, I read it already," she said grinning. "Come on, you need to see what else Kathy left for us," she said, pulling him towards the bedroom.

Elliot followed Liv into their bedroom and grinned. There in the corner was the crib he'd raised all of his children in. Every one of them had slept in that crib, and now Abby would too. The proud parents stood at the side and watched their daughter sleep.

"She's so beautiful," Liv said in wonder.

"And now she and you are exactly where you're supposed to be," Elliot said, hugging her closer. "Welcome home," he said.

"Thank you," Liv grinned, and kissed him.

Stepping out of the kiss later, a note caught her eye. She held it up for them both to read:

"I knew I hung onto this crib for some reason, but I always thought it would be for Maureen. The kids will be home tomorrow afternoon, and we're all excited to meet Abby, even if they don't know it yet. Kathy"

"Tomorrow is going to be hell, isn't it?" Liv asked. Elliot pulled her closer,

"It's all going to work out. They'll love her, you'll see," he said, kissing her forehead. He hoped he sounded more confident than he felt.

Forgotten, Bob and Alex still stood in the entryway,

"Thirsty?" Bob asked, gesturing towards the kitchen. Alex shrugged,

"Sure."

Abby heralded the new morning with her wail, and soon everyone was up and bustling around.

Alex found Liv and Abby at the table a little later and joined them with her breakfast. She smiled at the sight of Liv eating with one hand, while Abby explored the other.

"You're getting good at that," Alex said.

"Well, I don't have much choice in the matter," Liv pointed out, but she was smiling.

"So, big day ahead."

"Yeah," Liv sighed, "big, long day. But I will finally introduce my daughter to my fiancé's children. It is so nice to be able to say 'fiancé'," she smiled, but stopped when she saw Alex's worried face, "It's a big day for you too. Are you ready?"

"I have to admit I'm worried about meeting Bob's parents," Alex said quietly.

"What, you think they won't approve of you?" Liv asked flippantly, but changed tactics when she saw Alex's face fall. Liv reached out and took Alex's hand, "Honey, they're going to love you. You're a smart, beautiful woman. Bob's probably been talking about this mystery woman he's fallen in love with for months, if not years. They're probably relieved to be finally meeting you," Alex started to look less miserable. "Plus, you're a Cabot. Who can say no to that?" Liv added, and Alex swatted at her arm.

"Thanks," Alex said. Liv grinned at her friend.

"You guys ready to go?" Elliot asked before stealing a kiss from Liv.

"Yep, just need to pack Abby up."

Their first stop was the precinct. On the way up the elevator Abby spat up on Liv's shirt, so she passed her baby to Alex while she wiped herself off. She was still wiping while she stepped off the elevator, and spotted Cragen.

"Hi Cap," Liv said, grinning. He was at the vending machine and stilled when he heard her voice. Standing up slowly, his eyes were shining.

"Olivia," he said, and grabbed her in a hug. He meant to say other things, like great to see you or so glad you're back, but saying her name was all he could manage. She and Elliot shared a smile.

"It's good to see you too, Cap," he said. Cragen let go and stepped back at that,

"Welcome back, you two," he said as he shook Elliot's hand.

"It's good to-" she was cut off.

"Liv! Holy Shit! I knew you weren't dead, man, I knew it!" Fin hollered, marching towards her, "Man, it's good to see you," he said and grabbed her in a big hug, "You look good."

"Thanks Finb," she said into his shoulder. He laughed and released her.

"Elliot, man, you lucky bastard," Fin said, and then lowered his voice so just Elliot could hear, "no blowing it this time, you got that?" Elliot nodded, very serious. Little did Fin know…

Fin was shaking his head and laughing to himself.

"What?" Liv asked.

"Munch owes me so much money now." At their confused looks, and Liv's raised eyebrow, he continued, "I bet him that Liv wasn't dead."

"Wait, you bet against Munch about a cover-up?"

"Are you kidding? Bullets can't stop my girl," he said, one-arm hugging her to him.

"Well, I'm glad you had some faith in me," she said, and all of them were laughing.

That's when Abby decided to speak up. Her little baby noises drew everyone's eyes to where Alex, Bob and Abby were waiting in the wings. Shock fell short in describing the looks on Fin and Cragen's faces.

"Alex, is that you?" Cragen eventually asked, as he moved down the hall to them. He was vaguely aware of the handsome man next to her, but mostly hyper focused on the baby in her arms. "Who's this little guy?"

"This is Abby, but…"

"But she's mine," Liv said, stepping up and taking her little girl back into her arms.

"Seriously?" he asked, and watched Elliot move to stand with Liv and her little girl. Cragen smiled at the happy family, and at the bond between them that seemed stronger than ever. "Looks like congratulations are in order," he said. Fin clapped Elliot on the back,

"I can't believe you, man," he smiled, and then he too congratulated the happy parents.

TBC…