Alex and Olivia had a better idea of what they wanted for their big day by time Alex was feeling like a human again. It was a relief. Judge Donnelley even arrived very quickly to help them navigate the logistics.

"I'm so relieved that you're safe, Alex." the judge said as she sat in a chair beside the bed. "Am I right to assume you're on the mend?"

"Yes, and so is the baby." said Alex. "Thank you for your kind thoughts."

Donnelley smiled before turning to Olivia. "How are you? Elliot called to fill me in on everything."

Olivia exhaled noisily. "I'm just pleased with my love and my baby daughter being safe. Thank you for getting over here so fast."

"I would do anything for either of you. That is a promise I'll keep forever." Donnelley turned her attention to Alex again. "How long do you have to be here?"

"A few more hours." came Alex's forlorn answer.

"Noted. And I see that you're on oxygen?"

Alex nodded a second time. "Yes. It's an extra measure while I work on eating regular food again—there's nothing to worry about."

"Good to know."

Donnelley pulled a portfolio out of a bag she was carrying. It was fancy, looked like it had cost a fortune, and was even made of purple-colored leather. 'THE HONORABLE ELIZABETH ALEXANDRA DONNELLEY' had even been stamped along one side in gold lettering. It was her middle name that had caught the attention of her companions.

"What's the matter with you two?" Donnelley asked when she saw them looking at her in surprise.

Alex bursted out with, "Your middle name is Alexandra?"

The judge regarded the personalization with a smile. "Yes, it is—after my late grandmother. She was very kind. My husband gave this portfolio to me for my last birthday."

"And your favorite color is purple? I never knew that."

"You just never asked. I do have a soul." Donnelley said with a completely straight face. "And as always, when we're doing things off the clock, just call me by my name. Please."

"Okay." Alex agreed. "We'll remember."

"Thank you." Donnelley said. "Now let's get to work."

The portfolio contained a blank legal pad, and a few other things. Chief amongst them were a line of engraved fountain pens. Olivia counted four. Each of them was nicer than the next. Donnelley selected one at random, uncapped it, and held it over the paper. She was ready to write.

"When Olivia called me," the judge told them. "She said that you two would like to get married on Christmas Eve. Any specific reason why?"

"We don't want to wait for too much longer. Providing that you're available, Elizabeth two days is just enough time to gather what we need. It isn't much." Alex watched her teacher's hand fly across the paper as she began taking notes. "The twenty-fifth also happens to be Harper's birthday. We're about to steal her birthday and Christmas from her."

"That's considerate. Any more solid reasons for the twenty-fourth being your day of choice?"

Olivia chimed in, "We also love the Christmas season in general. It also feels like we should have done this years ago."

Donnelley suppressed an approving "I should say so!" comment with some difficulty. "Sound reasons, my friends. Do you have any specific time that you would prefer the ceremony to take place?"

"Nothing that keeps you away from your family because of us."

"The twenty-fourth is always a housekeeping day for me, so I only have to be in the building until noon. It will be slow."

"Alright." Olivia looked to Alex. "Then what about eleven?"

"Eleven works." Alex agreed. "Let's do that. We also have our fingers crossed that we can find rings, but we can always get them later."

"That's the time sorted... and a pin on wedding rings." Donnelley looked up from her latest round of notes. "Have you decided anything about who is taking whose name?"

Alex's tone was merry. "Olivia is going to become a Cabot!"

"Oh, congratulations." Donnelley's tone was genuinely sincere. "What led to this choice?"

Olivia provided the answer. "The practical reason is that I'm fairly certain that Casey will choose to become a Benson when she marries my daughter. I don't know about you, but four Missus Bensons in one family..."

Donnelley picked up the torch. "All kinds of confusing."

"Exactly. And who knows?" Olivia threw her hands in the air. "Plus... As an adult, Noah could fall in love with a man and take his name. The little daughters could carry on the Benson family name if they fell in love with women who took the name. But that's a hell of a gamble. It isn't one we want to lose."

"Of course." the judge said compassionately. "Something also tells me that you have one last reason for wanting to become a Cabot."

Olivia nodded. "Alex is presently the last of Manhattan's Upper West Side aristocratic Cabots. Me taking the name is a surefire way to make sure the name doesn't die out."

Donnelley finally failed to hold back a grin. "I'm really proud, and very pleased. This is exactly how I always thought things would turn out."

Olivia just gaped at her.

Alex interjected, "Wait. What do you mean by 'always'? Have you been rooting for us, or something?"

"Since 2000." the judge confirmed.

Of course, this was the year that Alex and Olivia had met. To hear that the one judge they knew best had been holding out hope for them was heart-warming.

"Wow." Alex breathed. "Thank you, Elizabeth."

"You're so very welcome." she checked her watch. "Have you seen your children yet, Alex?"

"I've seen Sophia and Harper. Just not my babies. Not yet."

"Then I won't keep you for too much longer." Donnelley decided. "I just have a few more things to run with you and Olivia."

"We're all ears."

"Do you still wish to include the walking down the aisle part of the ceremony?" Donnelley wanted to know. "The room where I conduct these events is arranged similarly to a church sanctuary, with an aisle and things. It's not impossible to pull off."

"We would really like to be able to do that, yes." Olivia nodded. "We've also decided not to have a wedding party, and that I'll be walking to Alex."

"Understandable. Has everyone else been acquainted with what's happening?"

"Elliot, Amanda, Carisi, and Fin don't know. But only because we haven't told them yet."

"Also understandable. What about Sophia, Harper, and Casey? Did you reach them yet?"

Olivia nodded again. "Through a video call. All of them were hanging out together."

Donnelley took this in stride before moving on to the last item on her agenda. "I can expedite everything you need, and I can even have it processed by the end of business hours tomorrow. Are you able to make it my office at ten?"

Olivia almost wanted to pinch herself on account of how helpful the judge was being.

"Yes." she finally said. "Alex and I can make that appointment. Thank you."

"You are both oh so very welcome." she winked at them and gathered her things as she stood. "Just think of me as your squad's fairy godmother."

Elizabeth Donnelley was already genuine friends with Sophia and Harper, so getting used to her as a concerned mother who had their best interests at heart wouldn't be that much of a stretch.

Olivia finally remembered how to use her words. "We can definitely adjust to that."

"Terrific. I'm going to go get started on everything, but I'll drop you a line when I'm done."

"Perfect."

Judge Donnelley was replaced not even five minutes after her departure by not one, but two new people.

"Violet? Senior?" said Alex in surprise at the sight of two familiar faces in her doorway. "What are you two doing here?"

Violet Novak pointed at the double-decker delivery cart she and her husband had been pushing. It was lined with a plethora of floral arrangements and gift baskets.

"Working, technically. All of these are for you." she said. "Might we please come in?"

"Of course." Alex made a beckoning motion. "Where are my manners? I'm delighted to see you both."

As it happened, she had been sent things from all of Olivia's main team, Casey, Sophia, Harper, the remainder of the Fifth Avenue Novaks, the Langans, Judge Donnelley, and various other people from the courthouse and around Alex's officebuilbing. She was incredibly touched.

"You two went out of your way to come here, didn't you?" she asked. "Junior and Virginia usually make deliveries at this time of day."

"Gold star." Senior chuckled as Olivia tipped them and signed for the deliveries. "We also wanted to see you."

"Then it's just as well that you've come, because we've officially settled on wedding date: eleven o'clock, at the main courthouse, on the morning of Christmas Eve."

Hearing this news gave Senior quite a turn. "That's a little under two days from now!"

"Mhm." Olivia patted him on the arm. "You're both invited, of course."

"There's no way that we would miss your wedding. Is there anything you need help with?"

At this, Alex turned a little shy. "Flower bouquets. We were actually going to call about that, too."

Violet gave her a reassuring look. "We've got your back. When do you think you'll be out of here?"

"Definitely before the evening."

"Why don't you come around to The Watering Can at seven? Augustín and I will be around to help with whatever you want."

Alex beamed. "Alright. We'll see you later. Thanks for everything."

"It's our pleasure. Take care of yourself and your precious cargo."

Once the Novaks left, it wasn't that much longer before Lucy finally arrived with Noah and Serena. They were scarcely in the room for a minute before Noah ran straight to Alex's bedside.

"Mommy!" he squealed as Lucy gave him a boost up. "Mommy, mommy, mommy!"

Alex immediately pulled her son into a warm hug and kissed one of Noah's little hands. "Hello, my little prince. I missed you."

Noah just gave her the biggest hug he could.

Alex helped him settle against her before turning to the Lucy. "I would love to hold Serena, please."

"You bet. Here we are."

Serena gave Alex a heart-melting smile when she was in her arms before curling up and closing her eyes for a snooze. Noah saw this and copied her. It was wasn't long before Alex was having a snuggle with both of her middle children.

She gave her attention this time to the nanny. "Olivia and I decided that we're going to get married on the morning of the twenty-fourth, at eleven. Will you be available?"

The casualness of this pronouncement surprised Lucy as much as it had the Novaks, but still she managed an answer. "Until the evening. What's going on?"

The couple told their friend about what had transpired. She was transfixed. Completely.

"So," Olivia said when they were done. "Do you think you can make it?"

"I do." said Lucy. "The main courthouse at eleven, on the twenty-fourth?"

"Yep. Just wear something nice."

"I'll be there. Thank you for the invitation." Lucy stood and checked her watch. "We did a few things today. The grocery store is next. Anything else I should know?"

Olivia thought about it. "Just that Alex will be home tonight. I'll call you around five to let you know what's what—how's that?"

"Sounds good to me." Lucy looked at her tiny charges, both comfortable with Alex, and sighed. "This is going to be hard."

Noah and Serena didn't depart without a lot of hugs, kisses, and reassurances from their mothers. Lucy even managed to get them out before the kids had any meltdowns.

Alex and Olivia were alone. Yet again.

One look at Alex told Olivia that she was about fall down a rabbit hole. But she had reasons. Many of them. She'd been gone from home, tortured in a cruel and unusual way, and had even been apart from everyone she loved. It was enough to drive anyone mad.

Olivia spoke gently to her. "How about we Skype our friends at the precinct?"

"Yes. It's also about time we give them a head's up." Alex looked around. "Where's your phone? Mine was returned to me, but it's dead. And on the other side of the room."

"Here, beautiful." Olivia pulled out from her pocket. "I'll call Amanda. She's the tech whiz. Are you ready?"

Alex bobbed her head. "I am."

Amanda was quick to corral Carisi, Elliot, and Fin into the file room with her. They would be able to talk to their friends with zero interruptions.

"Olivia! Alex!" Amanda sounded like a child acting too hard to prove innocence. "How are things? What's up?"

Olivia arched an eyebrow. "Everything okay over at the ranch, partner? Did the guys from homicide put people in our holding cells again because theirs was overcrowded?"

Amanda shook her head. "No..."

Elliot laughed nervously. "Is everything okay?"

"Yep." Alex eagerly reported. "We have some news."

"Has Diana been hiding a twin, or something?" Fin guessed.

Alex blanched. "No. She is definitely alone in there."

Fin let out a disappointed huff as he, Carisi, and Elliot each handed Amanda a ten dollar bill.

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Think you can all be mature now?"

"Depends on what you have." Carisi teased gently.

"Alex and I have officially decided on when we want to get married!"

Everybody cheered. The boys even handed Amanda a second round of ten dollar bills.

"What day did you settle on, then?" Amanda pressed.

"The morning of the twenty-fourth."

This drew a noise of delight from Amanda as the guys forked over even more money.

"Okay," Alex laughed. "How long has this pool been going on?"

"Since you showed up in October. I even just won the jackpot because I even called what day the wedding would fall on. These jokers," Amanda indicated her colleagues. "Took me up on extra deal to up the ante."

"And you still got all the dough. Amazing."

Olivia rolled her eyes again. "Elizabeth Donnelley is officiating the ceremony for us. It's going to be at the main courthouse, at eleven. Will you all make it?"

"Of course." Amanda and Carisi said in unison.

Elliot said, "You know it."

"I can't wait." Fin added.

"Thank you all, so much." Olivia said graciously. "We'll see you there."

When they hung up, Alex put her glasses aside and leaned against Olivia. The exhaustion was really beginning to sink in.

Olivia responded by taking her in her arms. "How are you doing now? Are you wiped out?"

Alex yawned as she got comfortable in Olivia's hold. "I've never been so tired. But we still have calls to make."

"Don't worry." Olivia soothed. "Just rest."

Alex's eyelids were now leaden. "You sure?"

"Very. I'll be right here when you wake up." Olivia whispered. "Everything else can wait."

"Thank you. I love you."

Olivia dropped a kiss to Alex's crown. "I love you, too. Close your eyes now."

Alex fell asleep listening to the sound of Olivia's beating heart.