Beth Anne and Benoît both walked Amanda down the aisle. Every eye? On the bride. Happily so.

At the altar, everyone was in their place. Olivia. The bridal party. The groom.

His eyes? Fixed on Amanda, from the moment she entered the room. He saw no one else. Not her parents, not the flower girl, or the ring-bearer. Just her.

And Amanda only saw him.

The looks of joy her detectives had for each other brought Olivia her her own bout of joy. Dominick and Amanda had grown up.

The room fell quiet after the Rollinses reached the altar, the music ended, and she began to speak.

"Dearly beloved," Olivia addressed everyone before her. "We are gathered here today to witness the union of Dominick Abramo Carisi Junior and Amanda Coraline Grace Rollins in holy matrimony. This is a day of great celebration and reverence, on which we come together before God to recognize and commemorate the sacred love and dedication shared between these two wonderful people. It is wonderful to have family and friends here to join us today. The bride and groom would like to thank their guests for being here, and would like for you to know that each of you were invited here on this day because you have played an integral part in intertwining their lives..."

Olivia kept talking from there.

But Amanda was concentrating hard on remembering her upcoming part. She let Olivia's words wash over her. It was easier that way.

She came back to it when Beth Anne gave her hand a gentle squeeze of reminder.

And the matriarch's timing was impeccable.

Olivia said to Amanda's parents, "Who gives the bride away today?"

"We do." said the matriarch and the patriarch together.

Under Olivia's indication, Amanda's parents brought her on to the altar to stand across from Carisi. The bride hardly noticed her parents resuming their seats. Bride and groom only saw each other. No one else. Just each other.

But finally...

It was time for the vows.

Carisi went first. "Today I say, "I do," but to me that means, "I will." I will take your hand and stand by your side on the good days and the bad. I dedicate myself to your happiness, your success, your smile. Every little bit in between. Give me your hand, Amanda, and I will give you forever. It was always you."

Amanda took a few beats to gather herself before she could recite her own vows.

"You're everything I ever dreamed of. And all I will ever need." she said to the man opposite her. "Today, Abo, I vow to be here with you. For you. Forever. Always. It was always you."

Olivia spoke to her detectives again.

"Dominick, Amanda, the sacred vows that you make to one another today present you with the opportunity to express your love even more. Dominick, you may begin."

He stood straighter as he looked at Amanda as if there was no other person on the planet. "I, Dominick Abramo Carisi Junior, take you, Amanda Coraline Grace Rollins, to be my lawfully-wedded wife, from this day forward. For better or for worse. For richer or for poorer. I promise to be good to you in good times and bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you an honor you all the days of my life, until death do us part. It was always you. This is my solemn vow."

Amanda was lucky she still remembered how to speak. Forever was almost here.

Olivia said to her, "Amanda, you may now make your promise to him."

So she began. "I, Amanda Coraline Grace Rollins, take you, Dominick Abramo Carisi Junior, to be my lawfully-wedded husband, from this day forward. For better or for worse. For richer or for poorer. I promise to be good to you in good times and bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you an honor you all the days of my life, until death do us part. It was always you. This is my solemn vow."

Amanda and Carisi looked to Olivia again.

Once more, she was filled with deep love towards them both. And… She was having a hand in the start of their new life. What a terrific privilege.

"Dominick Carisi Junior and Amanda Rollins, please face each other and hold hands."

They did.

"Under the eyes of God, Dominick Carisi Junior, do you take Amanda to be your lawfully-wedded wife?" Olivia said. "By making this commitment, you are joining in the sacred covenant of marriage. Do you promise to honor her in love, to be sensitive to her needs, to comfort her in difficulty, and to put your full and complete trust in her, so long as you both shall live?"

Carisi nodded. "I do."

Olivia now turned her attention to her other detective. "Under the eyes of God, Amanda Rollins, do you take Dominick to be your lawfully-wedded husband? By making this commitment, you are joining in the sacred covenant of marriage. Do you promise to honor him in love, to be sensitive to him needs, to comfort him in difficulty, and to put your full and complete trust in him, so long as you both shall live?"

"Yes." Amanda said. "I do."

Here, Olivia beckoned to Melissa. She had been waiting off to the side for her cue. Why? She had the rings.

But Melissa was extremely proud of herself to be able to follow through on her part. She liked helping people. The girl even high-fived Abigail Novak upon returning to her seat.

Olivia spoke to her detectives again. "To commemorate this union, you may now exchange rings. The circle formed by each ring symbolizes your eternal love and commitment to one another. Let these rings remind you always love and of the promises you have made on this day. Will each of you please repeat after me as you place the ring on your loved one's hand?"

Carisi followed his boss' prompting. "I, Dominick Carisi Junior, give you Amanda Rollins, this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment. With this ring, I thee wed."

Carisi slipped Amanda's ring on to her correct digit.

His other half began to speak.

"I, Amanda Rollins give you, Dominick Carisi Junior, this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment. With this ring, I thee wed."

Amanda put Carisi's ring on to the intended finger.

Olivia delivered her detectives of a very genuine smile.

"Then by the power vested in me, by the state of New York, I pronounce you, Dominick Abramo Carisi Junior and Amanda Coraline Grace Rollins, as husband and wife, wedded before God."

Olivia's grin broadened now.

"Dominick, you may kiss your bride, forever sealing your union."

Carisi pulled back the veil kissed his new wife. She deepened it.

They then turned to face the crowd.

Olivia spoke to the room at large. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Mister and Missus Carisi!"

The room broke into thunderous applause.


Wedding photography happened in another part of the hotel after the ceremony. Olivia and her family did their part quickly. But it still gave them enough time to go back down to where everyone was in one hall, socializing. The reception room was not open yet.

Olivia soon reconnected with Alex again after stopping to chat with a few people. Working a room at a social event came naturally to her. And she wasn't even a politician.

But... The lieutenant also didn't fail to notice that only a handful of their children were present.

Diana snuggled close to Olivia when Alex passed her over. Baby Amanda was near to a doze in a sling on Alex's front. Olivia didn't see Serena, but trusted she was close. Noah stood idly by, holding tight to the skirt of his mother's dress. His turn to be held would happen. Soon.

Olivia looked to her wife. "Dominick and Amanda are married now."

"Yes, and," Alex kissed her. "You officiated the ceremony."

"I did…"

"For your first wedding ceremony officiating, babe, you did a wonderful job of it. But now it seems like your mind is elsewhere. Am I wrong?"

Olivia shook her head. "No. It just feels like two of our kids really grew up today."

Alex made a sound of agreement. "Oh, they did. And there's another family wedding tomorrow. Feels unreal, doesn't it? All these milestones…"

"And they're happening to people we love so dearly." Olivia finished. "Most people get decades for family milestones, you know. But everything is happening all at once now because…"

"It is how the universe is having it." finished Alex.

"Mhm. Would you have it any other way? At all?"

The Cabots asked this of each other every once in awhile. To see where the other person's head was. Neither had any intention of leaving New York together with their small children to raise them elsewhere. Like in the California countryside.

So… They met each other in the middle.

Alex kissed her again. "No. I would not have it any other way. How about you?"

Olivia replied, "The same."

She then looked to Noah. He was observing all the activity around him. It was fun. For now.

Olivia called to her only son, "Hey, baby boy!"

Noah blew her a kiss. "Hi!"

"You having fun?"

The boy bobbed his head.

Olivia offered Noah her hand to hold. "Want to hang out with me and sissy?"

Noah hurried over at once. Between his parents, Olivia was better at holding two kids at the same time. It was almost funny. But Noah's perception was dead-on.

"Up?" he held his arms up Olivia. "Please?"

Olivia easily scooped Noah up. And settled him.

"How's that?" Olivia kissed Noah on the top of his head. "Better?"

Noah nodded. "Yes."

But then he settled his head in the crook of Olivia's shoulder and zeroed in on Diana. She noticed him. And began to giggle, especially when he began to play peek-a-boo. The children only saw each other.

Olivia looked back to Alex. "And how about that? Noah just wanted to play with Diana."

"Mhm." Alex nodded. "That's love he learned from you because you found him in his darkest hour."

"And it love given to the sister you gave him." Olivia pointed to the sling. "How's our little Sapphire?"

Alex checked. Her youngest child was fast asleep. Still curled up against her in the sling. But she frowned in her sleep as the cold air hit her.

"Go back to sleep, Saffy." Alex whispered as she made her daughter comfortable again. "I'm sorry for waking you."

Amanda Sapphire immediately relaxed and sank into a deeper slumber.

Alex looked back to her wife. "She's asleep now."

"And these two," Olivia indicated her middle children. "Are playing together. Sophia is about with her family. Somewhere. Amanda and Dominick are busy. Where did Serena get to?"

Alex shuffled her feet hastily. "Violet has offered to look after her for awhile."

Olivia arched an eyebrow. "She insisted, didn't she?"

"Mhm. We both know it's her way." Alex was very casual. "But I think she just wanted an excuse to hold a baby. Look.."

Olivia followed Alex's gaze.

The Novak matriarch had taken a seat away from the traffic. Serena was leaning against Violet, smiling to herself. Her friend was patting her on the back. It felt nice. Maybe she would have a nap now.

As the Cabots watched, Maisie and Trevor approached. They had befriended Violet earlier. Now all three adults were talking together. And bonding over one very blissed out baby.

Olivia looked back to her wife, yet again. "Where are the Baileys? Haven't seen them for awhile."

Alex pointed to different area now. "She really knows how to make powerful allies. For a fledgling socialite, I'm extremely impressed."

Harper was holding court with both Judge Donnelley and Colonel Kemper. All seemed to be having fun. Junior and Zoelle? Both fast asleep in their stroller nearby. Zero cares at all.

Olivia said to Alex, "I agree. Could you make friends like that when you were Harp's age?"

"I could not." Alex admitted. "Judge Donnelley is one thing, but the colonel, too? Quite another one. Harper's charisma is powerful. And her charm."

"That is for sure. And… Mother would have also been so proud."

The bureau chief bobbed her head. "I imagine so."

All around them, the crowd began migrating away. Word had been spread. The reception room was finally open. Fun was not far off.

"Come on." Alex tilted her head in the direction of the traffic flow. "Let's go do something normal. Fun."

Olivia found herself agreeing. "Yes. Let's."

'Normal' was a rare commodity for Alex and Olivia. And this fact was not lost on them. At all.

So they would take any chance they would to enjoy any normal moment possible. Fun ones? A bonus.