A/N:Noah graduates! (Also, notifications have been wonky, so you may want to make sure you read the past handful of chapters).
THE NOAH SERIES: GRADUATION NIGHT
The day happened so quickly. One minute Olivia and Alex were waking up unsure where time had gone; the next minute they were watching their son walk across a stage to get his high school diploma.
Noah Benson-Cabot.
Olivia and Alex glanced at each other, tears filling their eyes as they wanted their baby walk across the state. Olivia put her hand over her heart and Alex reached over and took it. Maggie and Addie, sitting on each side of them, leaned in closer.
Once the ceremony was over and the hats were flung across the football field, everyone gathered around for photos. For once, there was no complaining, no whining, and no attitude. Everyone was happy for Noah and his future, whatever that looked like.
"So, you promise you're just going to project graduation? No parties? No drinking?" Olivia asked both Noah and Emily. Kristen nodded in agreement with Olivia's question.
"I promise, Mom," Noah said. "We'll be locked in all night. You won't need to worry."
"I'll keep an eye on them, Mom," Addie grinned. She was going to be one of the underclassmen helping run the event, at least for most of the night. "Well, at least until I come home at 2 a.m."
"I can't believe you signed up to help knowing you're leaving for camp training tomorrow," Alex said.
"I'll be fine," Addie said. "That's why I'm allowed to leave early, so I can get some sleep."
"Ok, just please be careful coming home," Alex said, giving Addie a hug. A friend of Addie's was driving her home.
"Always," Addie said. "So, just the two of you and Maggs tonight?"
"No, Maggie is going to a sleepover at Raylen's house for a post-8th-grade graduation party," Olivia said. "Just the two of us tonight … until you get home."
"Kristen, you're still welcome to join us," Alex said.
"Thank you for the invite," she said. "But, my sister is in town, so I think the two of us will also enjoy a quiet night at home."
Kristen had gotten noticeably weaker with the cancer. Her sister had been in town for the past week for Emily's graduation and Olivia and Alex were happy to see Emily getting to celebrate graduation night. The two families had a party planned for Sunday afternoon.
"Noah, I'll catch up with you in a few minutes," Emily said. "We need to find Aunt Jeanie."
Emily and Kristen left to go find Kristen's sister, leaving the Benson-Cabots alone.
"Noah, we are so proud of you," Alex said. "Who you've become, and are becoming."
"I know, Mama," Noah said.
"And we know that you're probably going to be the best police officer NYPD has ever seen, if that's the direction you go," Olivia said. "But more than anything, we just want you to be happy."
"Well, I have some stiff competition being the best NYPD officer," Noah said. "There's a certain SVU Lieutenant I hear is pretty good." Noah smiled real big and gave Olivia a hug, then reached for Alex. "I love you both. Thank you for loving me and for everything you've taught me, even when I wasn't listening."
Addie and Maggie joined the group family hug and Emily, walking back over to Noah, stopped when she saw it and snapped a photo.
A picture-perfect moment.
#
One home, after dropping off Maggie at Raylen's house, Olivia and Alex plopped down on the couch after the long day. There was an eerie quietness about their home.
"Wine?" Alex asked, getting up.
"No, I think I'd rather not, just in case we need to leave tonight for something with all the kids gone," Olivia said. Graduation was always a busy time for the police department and Alex knew it made Olivia anxious. It made her anxious, too.
"Good idea," Alex said, putting the wine glass she had in her hand away and opting instead for tea. "Tea?"
"That sounds good," Olivia said, smiling.
In the past, a child-free night would have been a bottle of wine and a lot of bedroom time, but tonight, they were both feeling emotional. A night together on the couch with some tea and conversation sounded perfect to both of them.
"What do you think of Noah's decision about college? Do you think he made the right one?" Alex asked.
"I don't know," Olivia asked. "But, I trust he thinks it's the right decision and I think he's making it for the right reasons. I just wish he wasn't growing up so fast and could experience the full college effect, minus the drunken party part."
"You think he's taking on too much responsibility?" Alex said. "For Emily and her mom?"
"I just don't want him to feel like he has to do that," Olivia said. "But, I know he's doing it because he wants to. But he's just so young."
"You know, Liv, even going away to college may not have changed that," Alex said. Olivia looked at her curiously. "I mean, you went away to college, and I know part of it was to get away from your mom for a bit, but you still ended up taking on responsibility for her at times. I mean, how many times did you say you left school mid-week because you were worried about her?"
Olivia shrugged.
"All I'm saying is, I know you want him to not feel burdened like you did," Alex said. "But, genetics or not, he's your son, through and through. He's always going to care and do for the people he loves."
"So, you think he's doing the right thing?" Olivia said.
"I think he's doing a noble thing, something most kids his age wouldn't even consider," Alex said. "I don't think I would have considered it. Is there a part of me that feels he may regret it if he and Emily don't work out? Sure. But I think, even if they don't, the likelihood of Noah ever regretting helping someone he cares about is pretty low."
"No, you're right," Olivia said. "Come here." She reached her arm out for Alex to lay against her while they sat on the couch.
"One down, two to go," Alex said as she snuggled into Olivia.
"Did you and Addie get everything she needed for the new school this week?" Olivia asked.
They had all decided to send Addie to a new school for her final two years, a college prep school where she could earn some college credit as well. The past year, she had really applied herself and managed to get in. It could only look better on college and law school applications, and if she planned on going to Harvard, she would need more than good grades.
"We did," Alex said. "I really like the school. I wish we'd have done it earlier."
"Maybe it's best we didn't," Olivia said. "I don't know if Addie would have been ready before this year. But speaking of new schools …"
"I know, I was hoping Addie and Maggie would be in high school at the same time like Noah and Addie," Alex said. "It will be different, but at least we know all the teachers at Maggie's school." Maggie was attending the same high school as Noah and the one Addie had gone to – at least until the following year.
While Addie's attitude had done a complete 180, Maggie's had quickly declined. In fact, even letting her go to the graduation party sleepover was something they hadn't been sure about. But, she had just graduated 8th grade and had kept her grades up like she promised, so they agreed after talking to Raylen's mother.
For the next few hours, the women laid on the couch together. Talking. Kissing. Cuddling. They had decided they would wait up on Addie to get home before going to bed, knowing they wouldn't sleep any that night anyway.
Of course, they dozed off on the couch, only to be awoken by a buzzing noise from the front door buzzer.
"What time is it?" Olivia asked groggily.
"2:45," Alex responded. "Did Addie forget her key?"
Olivia shook her head that she didn't know and stumbled to the front door, half-asleep. Olivia looked to see who it was and frowned when she looked back at Alex, confused and worried.
Alex sat on the couch watching as Olivia opened the door, only to see a patrolman standing there. Both women looked terrified.
"Lt. Benson, I know it's late, but I need you and your wife to come with me," the young officer said. Olivia glanced back at Alex who was getting up and hurrying to the door.
"There's been an accident."
A/N: Don't kill me or I can't finish this. I PROMISE a new chapter tomorrow (it would be sooner, but I'm working until midnight).
As always, your reviews are appreciated. Love it, hate it, have ideas? Let me know with a comment or on Twitter -rileyclocks!
