Barring any complications, Olivia was due to be released that Friday with a list of things they'd have to take care of to ensure she healed properly.
Rafael spent nearly every night at the hospital with her, thanks to Amanda and Sonny being willing to stay with the kids, but he went home every day to spend time with them.
They've been having the time of their lives spending so much time with Jesse and Billie, getting to play all the time.
They all knew that Liv was hurt but not the severity because as it stood, neither she or Rafa wanted them to be anxious or worried about it when it seemed like she was going to be fine.
Friday when Rafa and Carisi helped Liv through the door all the kids gathered, Jesse and Billie included, to welcome her home.
Noah seemed to realize she needed to get to a chair and helped wrangle the kids and said, "Uncle Sonny is next on trial, we gotta pick spots!"
And all the kids had run off to pick their spots in the court for the people versus Uncle Sonny.
"I'm really glad you're home, Momma," Noah said as he gave her hand a little squeeze before he too had run off.
Amanda, Carisi, and the girls continued to stay over sleeping on the various couches because Olivia had insisted they go forward with the plans for Aspen's birthday party on Sunday.
She was sticking closely to her restrictions and resting and taking it easy.
Aspen said they should have the housewarming party and her birthday party together so that was currently the plan.
This meant that Carisi had thrown himself into taking advantage of their large kitchen to cook almost all day Saturday in preparation of Sunday. He hadn't let anyone see the cake he made and insisted it remain that way until the party.
Sunday Morning
Rafael woke up and rolled over to check on Olivia.
"Good morning," he said as he brushed hair from her face gently.
"Good morning," she mumbled back.
"You feeling okay? Need your pain medication?"
"Not yet," she replied, "I feel better today than I have any other morning since this all happened. I feel like I can actually do something today."
"That's good, we've got people coming later," he said softly, "unless you want me to reschedule it."
She shook her head, "I'm ready for it."
"Liv, you were shot."
She looked at him and blinked sleepily, "Rafa, I'm okay. I'm alive and these are our friends and family. If I need to disappear to come rest for a bit, none of them will give me any shit."
"If you're certain," Rafael said softly, "I just don't want you to overexert yourself."
"I promise if I get overwhelmed or I'm in pain or anything of the sort, I will come lay down for a while."
He traced his fingers lightly over her cheekbone, "we haven't really had a chance to talk."
"I know, I'm sorry for sleeping all day yesterday."
"You don't have to apologize, my love."
There was a soft knock on the bedroom door.
"Come in," Rafa called.
The door opened and then Amanda appeared by the couch on that side of the room, "I'm so sorry to interrupt. I was just peeking in to make sure it's still okay that I take Aspen to get her nails done and to get a pretty new outfit with Jesse and Billie before the party?"
Olivia nodded, "I'll send you some money."
"Sonny and the boys are already downstairs whispering about all the decorations they're going to put up when we're gone while they make breakfast."
"She's not up yet, right?" Liv sat up.
Amanda shook her head, "everyone is creeping around as quietly as they can so no one wakes her before breakfast."
"We'll be down in fifteen minutes?" Liv looked at Rafa.
He nodded, "thanks, Amanda. I lost track of time."
Amanda gave him an apologetic look, "sorry to interrupt."
He shook his head, "it's totally fine. We were just chatting."
The blonde pointed toward the door and headed back out quietly, closing the door behind her.
Rafael uncovered and got up, moving around the bed to help Liv up.
"Thanks, Raf," she whispered.
"You contacted Dr Lindstrom about an appointment, right?"
She nodded and gave him a small smile as he helped her to the bathroom.
"Good," he pressed a kiss to her temple as he let her go.
She leaned on things and started getting ready.
"We'll talk tonight?" He asked as he was looking for the shirt he had in mind for the day of celebration.
"Is there anything specific you want to know now?" She asked as she looked over at him holding her toothbrush and raising an eyebrow.
He paused in his looking and crouched down, "it's kind of a, uh, couple heavy questions."
"I'm okay, if you want to ask."
He sat all the way down onto the floor and turned, pulling a box so he could look at her as he dug through, "why were you so upset that the girl who did this-"
Liv didn't let him finish, "she was distraught, Raf. Something horrific had clearly happened to her. I wanted to help her. She needed help… and whoever did that to her and pushed her to that point… is a monster. She was lashing out. I know people died because of it, but if someone had helped her before it got to that point…"
"You think she went to a precinct and they didn't call SVU."
"I do. The way the officers on that roof wouldn't approach, there was something that happened before I got there. Her reactions, the look in her eyes. I think there's a lot more to the story."
Rafael nodded as he found the lavender button down t-shirt he'd been digging for.
"What was your other question?" She asked as she leaned against the doorjamb.
He looked up at her, she was wearing one of his old Harvard hoodies, it made his heart pound. He loved it when she wore his clothes. Her legs were bare and he could see the stitches in her thigh. He felt a bit less sympathy for the girl but he also understood what Liv was saying.
"Rafa? Staring again."
"Sorry," he mumbled, pulling his eyes away.
"You know I'm teasing you when I say that, right?"
He looked at her again.
"I don't know," she looked at the floor, "it makes me feel kinda special."
"You are," he said without hesitation, "and absolutely stunning."
She rolled her eyes.
He pushed himself off the floor, approaching her slowly, "you're fucking beautiful, Olivia Benson."
"Thank you, Rafael," she said softly.
He kissed her carefully, "okay. The other question is heavier."
They swapped spots, he got dressed in the bathroom and got to work on his hair.
"Go on," she said as she flipped through some of her clothes.
There was a long pause.
She glanced toward him, he was staring at he counter in front of him.
"Raf?"
He looked over, "I'm afraid to ask."
She limped toward him, using the wall for support when she felt she needed it, "it's okay, I'm okay."
"It's more… personal, so if you don't want to answer, you don't have to."
"Go on."
"Did… did you have any dreams or anything like that?"
"Like did my life flash before my eyes?"
He shook his head and then paused and shrugged, "maybe?"
"No… my life didn't flash before my eyes," she said softly as she turned to go back and look for what she wanted to wear.
"I'm sorry if that's too much of a heavy question."
She shook her head, "I just don't want to take too long, if you don't mind me digging through clothes while I talk?"
"That's fine."
"Okay," she took a deep breath as she started getting dressed, "I should start with the last things I remember on the rooftop…"
"Wherever you want," he was brushing his teeth.
"Physically it was white hot pain in my abdomen, not that you want to know that."
His jaw worked in a way, "I want to know all of it."
"I remember Fin appearing above me and him yelling to hold on. White spots in my vision, telling him to make sure he talked to you before you saw it online or on the news. I knew you were in court but I was worried you'd have a recess and see it," she said.
"You were shot and you were more worried about how I'd find out?" He rushed over to help her with her shirt.
She let out a breathy laugh, "I guess so," she was momentarily distracted by how close he was and how handsome he looked in the simple button down.
"This color is beautiful on you," he whispered, playing with the bottom of the loose light blue-green shirt she'd just pulled on.
"Thank you, you look very handsome," she leaned and kissed him before shuffling out to the chairs in the corner of the room.
He followed and sat in the other one.
"In unconsciousness, I found myself with you," she whispered, not looking at him, "here."
"Here?"
"In our bed," she gestured, "just talking."
"What about?"
"Getting married," she admitted as she slid the flats she wore as slippers on.
Rafa was quiet.
"We were talking about getting married," she repeated, staring at the floor in front of her, "once they introduced the pain medication for surgery… it shifted. At least I think that's what it was that made it shift… we were at a beach somewhere, us and the kids. They were a bit older, building sandcastles while you and I sat on a blanket and just enjoyed the sun. Your hair was a bit more silver than it is now."
He looked over at her.
"My silver fox," she laughed softly.
He rolled his eyes a bit, "was that it?"
She shook her head, "there was more, but we can talk about it later. It was just lots of little dreams of the future or future possibilities, I guess. There is one last thing I want to tell you about before we head downstairs, though."
He nodded, a small smile on his face.
"When I woke up and you were the first person I saw, the lights in the room and the blurry my eyes were," she started, "I looked at you and was absolutely certain I was seeing an angel."
"Is that why you called me beautiful?"
"I think you're beautiful anyway, but yes," she smiled, "and sometimes… sometimes I think you may actually be an angel, sent to me when I needed you most."
He tilted his head.
"I was in such a weird and stressful time, Stabler left… Cragen and Munch retiring… I'm the only remaining member of my original team… moving up the ranks. You supported me through so many things. You were by my side."
He looked at her with a soft look on his face, "and I'll stay here beside you as long as you want me to, my love."
She gave a small smile and looked at her phone, "our fifteen minutes are up, let's go."
Carisi and the boys made pancakes with sprinkles in them topped with whipped cream and chocolate chips sprinkled over the whipped cream.
When Olivia and Rafael came downstairs the boys all shushed them as they had their ears pressed to Aspen's door trying to determine if she was awake.
"She's asleep," Noah whispered.
"Can I wake her?" Rafa asked them.
They nodded and moved out of the way.
Noah came over and helped Liv get to the leather recliner they'd moved to be by the dining table for her to sit in so she could be comfortable.
"Thank you, sweet boy," she said softly.
"I gotta watch Rafa wake Aspen," he leaned and pressed a kiss to his momma's cheek before shuffling away.
Rafael opened her door and slipped in while all three boys leaned to peek around the corner. Felix was kneeling, Maddox peeking over his head, and Noah peeked over both of them.
Rafael snuck over to the side of Aspen's bed and sat down as gently as possible as to not wake her before he was ready. He sort of just admired the sleeping girl he had so quickly grown to love.
The boys were watching excitedly, looking like the Scooby-Doo gang, all stacked, as they peeked.
Rafa rested a hand gently on her shoulder, "good morning, Aspen. happy birthday, darling."
Aspen woke the moment he touched her, her eyes fluttering open and she rubbed at her face. As she heard what he said, her sleepy eyes widened, "birthday."
"Yes, you're seven today," Rafa reminded her.
She sat up, blinking sleep away and hugged him, "I'm seven."
"Are you hungry? Sonny made a special breakfast for you."
She yawned a little and then nodded, "can I get dressed first?"
"Of course," he leaned and gently pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
"Happy Birthday!" The boys in the doorway called.
Aspen jumped slightly but then giggled, "thank you."
Aspen and the Rollins girls were talking excitedly about what colors they were going to get their nails painted while they ate breakfast.
Maddox was flipping through a short chapter book while he ate and asking Rafael about any words he didn't know.
Felix and Noah sat at the bar with Carisi because they wanted to try to figure out how to hang a piñata from the ceiling, which was quite high, without Aspen hearing.
Rafael sat in the dining chair closest to Liv's recliner and relished in the buzz of conversation between helping Maddox with words.
Olivia had eaten a pancake or two without any of the crazy toppings and was now resting with her eyes closed, listening to all the conversations.
"Okay," Aspen turned to Amanda, "what do you think of these fingers light blue and these ones darker blue, Aunt Amanda?"
Liv's eyes opened as she looked toward Amanda.
Amanda was already looking at her with wide eyes and a soft smile, it was clear that that Aspen had called her was the first time either of them had heard it.
Olivia rested a hand over her heart.
"I think that sounds very pretty, Aspen," Amanda reached over and ruffled her brown hair, "maybe the dark blue could be sparkly since there'll be less of it and you want to really make it pop?"
"Oh! I love that idea!" Aspen clapped excitedly and finished her breakfast.
Liv's heart felt full, hearing the first sort of familiarity from any of the children, she was so happy that the kids were settling in so well to this odd sort of family structure she had built with their friends. She knew it would likely be a while before any of the kids referred to herself or Rafa as their parents and she was okay with that, but she was also so very excited for the day that she would get to see Rafael's reaction to being called whatever they choose to refer to him as.
Amanda and then girls left soon after everyone had finished eating.
Aspen had hugged all of her brothers, Rafa, and very gently, Liv, before skipping off excitedly to follow them.
Following their departure, the boys had instantly launched into decorating mode.
Carisi was more than happy to be the tall guy hanging things up high for them or lifting them to hang things.
They put up blue and purple streamers and blew up balloons of the same colors, clearly Aspen's favorite colors.
Fin, Phoebe, and Jaden were the first guests to arrive.
Ever the big brother, Noah immediately took Jaden under his wing and they got the work decorating the dining chairs and the half-wall by the sitting area near the front door.
This was the first time Maddox and Felix were meeting Fin and they both found him hilarious, which made Fin incredibly happy. They immediately took to calling him Uncle Fin and Phoebe was more than happy to be called Aunt Phoebe.
Rafael's mom was the next one to show up, bringing a stack of dishes with her. She came to sit near Olivia while all the boys ran around decorating.
Rafael, Noah, and Jaden were working on hanging streamings on the bannister.
"Hello, Olivia," Lucia Barba said as she sat in the seat her son had been in during breakfast.
Olivia smiled at her, "Ms. Barba, it's wonderful to see you again."
The older woman laughed and rolled her eyes, "we're family now, please call me Lucia."
Liv's face flushed slightly pink, "of course."
Lucia looked toward her son, who currently had Noah on his shoulders trying to reach the top of the bannister as he slowly released streamers to the boy from the roll, "I had been hoping when I commented that you drove him kind of crazy all those years ago it would've set a ball rolling sooner."
A small laugh left Olivia as she looked the same direction, "if it had, I don't know if things would be as good as they are now."
Lucia turned back toward her, "I think I agree with you. He used to talk about Noah quite a lot, he adored that little boy quite early on."
"Did he tell you that the first time he ever held him he held him like two feet from his body like this?" Liv held her arms out and widened her eyes.
The laugh that left Lucia was long, she seemed absolutely delighted by this information, "no, but so can absolutely picture it."
Rafa looked over from where he was lowering Noah back to the floor, the laughter from his mother concerned him. He was terrified of what embarrassing stories she and Liv were discussing.
Olivia caught him looking and laughed slightly at the look on his face, pointing it out to his mother.
"Relax, Rafi," Lucia called as she laughed even harder.
Fin walked passed Rafael, "better look out. Never good when women laugh like that."
Phoebe slapped his arm, "I'm sure it's fine."
There was a pause and then Rafael went to sit with them, claiming he needed a break.
Noah and Jaden flocked to Fin who had been in charge of setting up the present table next to the bar in the dining room.
"He asked me how to hold a baby around the time he told me that you'd gotten custody of Noah," Lucia said quietly as they watched her son rush over, still laughing and wiping under her eyes, "I assume that would be why."
"Mami," Rafael said as he sat down, "you're not embarrassing me too much, are you?"
Liv's face was soft as she looked at him, learning that he had asked his mother how to hold a baby once she'd gotten custody of Noah made her heart feel full once again.
"Oh, no," Lucia chuckled lightly, "never, Rafi."
Maddox rushed over, "Rafa."
"What's up, buddy?" He immediately turned to the boy.
"I made a drawing for Aspen yesterday when I was sitting with Uncle Sonny and I was wondering if it would be okay if we hung it over there?" He held up a big piece of pale blue construction paper.
"Of course it would," Rafa told him, "do you want me to help and then you can sit with us for a bit?"
The boy nodded.
"I can hold it while you go get tape if you want?"
There was another nod and then he held it out, once Rafa took it, he ran to find some tape.
Rafael turned the paper to peek, making it so his mother and Liv could see, too.
It was, for a five year old, a very good drawing of the four kids, Rafa, and Liv sitting around the dinner table. Across the top "happy birthday, Aspen" was written in all capital letters and the 'R' in birthday was backwards.
"That is absolutely adorable," Lucia commented.
Rafa flipped it back as Maddox ran toward them again. The two of them went to hang it.
Liv could hear Rafa telling Maddox how good it was and asking if he liked drawing.
"He's really good with them," Liv whispered to Lucia, "I am so grateful to share this time with him."
"It broke his heart when you weren't talking," Lucia informed, her eyes following Carisi, who had begun laying food dishes on counters and trying to decide where each thing should sit, discussing with Felix, who had been attached to his side through most of the cooking yesterday, "I've never seen him that way. Ever. He wouldn't let me be upset with you, though."
Liv looked at her, but Rafa and Maddox returned before she could respond.
Rafa sat down and Maddox sat in his lap. He looked so excited that the boy was showing this level of trust and familiarity following everything he'd seen and been through.
"Hi," Maddox waved shyly at the woman he hadn't been introduced to yet.
"Maddox, this is my mami," Rafael introduced him, "mami, this is Maddox."
"Does that make you my new abuelita?" Maddox asked quietly.
Lucia's eyes went wide and she looked to Rafa.
"Yeah, Maddox, if you're okay with calling her abuelita, that's what she'll be," Rafael responded around the slight lump growing in his throat.
"Hi, abuelita," Maddox said with a sense of finality, "it's nice to meet you."
"It's wonderful to meet you, Maddox. ¿Hablas español?"
"Sí," the boy nodded excitedly.
Lucia gave him a playful suspicious look, "would you like to come see what foods I brought with me? I have a feeling you'll like them."
Maddox looked at Rafa, "is that okay?"
Rafael smiled, "of course, kiddo."
Lucia stood and held a hand toward the boy, leading him over to where Carisi and Felix were organizing food.
Maddox introduced Lucia to Felix, "Felix, this is Rafa's mami, our new abuelita."
"¡Hola!" Felix cheered and immediately hugged her.
Rafael looked like his heart could explode in that moment and Liv couldn't stop watching him, she was so happy watching the way he reacted to parenting these children.
Carisi looked over at him, a small smile on his face.
Together, the twins, Sonny, and Lucia, figured out the best way to lay out the buffet of various foods that were made. There were things like; pigs in blankets, pizza crescent rolls, cheese, pepperoni, and crackers, a big pan of mac and cheese, a huge veggie tray and various kinds of chips with dip. Then there were other foods like polenta and arancini made by Carisi with his mother's recipes and appetizer sized pan con lachón, Cuban tamales, plátano maduro frito, and tostones made by Lucia.
Both boys cheered at the sight of the plátano maduro frito which made Lucia beam with pride and joy.
"You feeling okay?" Rafa asked Liv.
She nodded, her face soft and full of adoration as she looked at him, "things have barely even kicked off and I already feel as though my heart is going to burst."
There was another knock on the door alerting them to a new arrival.
"I got it!" Noah called as he ran to the door.
"Slow down, Noah," Liv commented.
"I don't like making people wait!" They heard him cheer as the door opened, "Uncle Munch! Grandpa Don!"
Olivia looked that direction, there in the doorway stood Cragen and Munch. Each of them holding two gifts.
"We said you didn't need to bring housewarming gifts," Liv groaned.
"Who would I be if I didn't bring something to help up the security of the home?" Munch shook his head as he approached the gift table and placed the box with prettier wrapping paper down by the gift Fin had brought and the one Carisi had put there.
"Mine is just something I saw and thought you would like," Cragen said dryly, mimicking Munch's actions.
"You can put the others over here," Rafael gestured as he moved to help.
Cragen appeared to sit with Liv once he put his down.
Munch had roped Barba into a conversation about the security measures of the apartment.
"How are you feeling?" Cragen inquired.
"I'm doing alright," she gave a tight lipped smile, "it's been a lot."
"Well, you got shot, Liv," Cragen rolled his eyes at her downplaying.
"I did. I'm okay, though. Rafael is taking good care of me. Amanda and Carisi have been such huge helps."
"And Elliot?"
Liv was quiet, "I think he's starting to understand."
There was another knock at the door before Cragen could respond.
"I got it," Rafael headed for the door.
"Am I late?" Elliot Stabler asked.
Barba shook his head, "no, not at all. We're just finishing setting up."
Stabler stood there quietly for a long minute, "it's okay with you if I'm here, right?"
"I respect and trust Olivia," Barba replied, "she wants you here. If you upset her or any of our children, I may have to say something."
Stabler shifted uncomfortably, "I'll be good."
Barba sized him up, considering the few inches height difference, "good," he moved aside to let Stabler in.
Munch immediately approached and grabbed Stabler in a hug, striking up conversation.
Rafael returned to Olivia's side, "am I interrupting if I sit?"
Cragen looked up, "Mr Barba, nice to see you. Not at all, sit."
With a nod, the defense lawyer sat, "you as well."
Lucy was the last guest to arrive, bringing a couple tubs of ice cream and a big bag for Aspen.
Olivia settled into her chair, listening to the conversation rumbling around her. She was glad to be in her one chair and not mingling, letting people come to her and she was glad for Rafa and, every once in a while, Elliot snagging people when she looked overwhelmed.
"They're on their way up!" Carisi announced.
All three boys and Jaden gathered excitedly with party poppers, they had promised to clean up the streamers afterward.
Rafa and Carisi each stood on one side of Liv to hold her up if she needed it.
"I don't know what it means," Carisi said, "but she said 'tell Barba he's going to love the outfit she picked out.'"
Rafael looked intrigued.
Billie and Jesse entered first, giggling excitedly in pretty blue and purple sundresses.
Amanda came next, "introducing the stunning birthday girl, Aspen!"
In walked Aspen wearing a grey three-piece suit with a blue and purple tie, her hair was done in a beautiful dutch braid with blue and purple ribbons.
"Happy birthday!" Everyone cheered and clapped for her.
The boys excitedly shot off their party poppers, showering Aspen with confetti and streamers.
She giggled and waved at everyone with both hands, clearly a bit nervous but excited by the cheering.
Liv looked at Rafa, "that is your daughter, not a doubt in my mind."
Rafael looked like he was on cloud nine, he was absolutely in awe of the little girl and the outfit she'd chosen, "are you okay here?"
Nodding, "go get her."
Rafa moved forward and crouched next to Aspen, whispering to her. When he stood back up, he took her hand and twirled her for everyone and then scooped her up into a hug.
Aspen hugged him tightly and whispered, "I wanted to dress up like you, Rafa."
He hugged her so tight that she let out a little squeak and giggled, "you look absolutely amazing, Aspen."
Liv turned to Carisi, "looks like we got a daddy's girl on our hands."
Carisi laughed, "she's got your hair and mouth but other than that she is a spitting image of him."
"Good," Liv smiled, she was so happy that the little girl loved Rafael so much.
Noah, Maddox, and Felix all gathered around the pair and hugged Rafa's legs, cheering for Aspen some more. Rafael's smile had never been bigger than it was in that moment, he looked absolutely over the moon. He looked like he'd just won a billion dollars.
Olivia slid her phone out and snapped a photo of the moment.
Carisi shook his head, "go join them."
Amanda appeared next to them with a black backpack that she handed Carisi and then helped lead Olivia to her family.
The bag had apparently had Carisi's camera in it because soon they were having a little family photo shoot.
"Let's eat!" Aspen yelled after a while.
The kids all sat around the dining table with their plates, all of them tried something new and found things they liked from the plethora of food choices.
Stabler had found a spot with Munch and Cragen sitting in the little area by the front door as they chatted and caught up, eating their food. Carisi and Lucia were trading recipes. Lucy was talking with Fin, Phoebe, and Amanda.
Rafael had pulled a chair over to sit with Liv, "what do you think?"
Olivia looked at Aspen, who was laughing with Jesse and Noah. At Maddox and Felix who were talking with Billie and Jaden. Then back at him, she was smiling.
"I think we've got a good thing going here, Rafa."
"I think so too, my love," he leaned a bit and pressed a kiss to her shoulder lightly.
"I can't wait to see what Carisi did for her birthday cake."
"He's a cook, not a baker, right? Like it can't be that amazing?"
"Are you underestimating him right now?" Liv raised an eyebrow.
"No."
"You totally were."
"No, I just mean… decorating a cake is like a really serious skill. People make a lot of money doing that."
"Who's to say he doesn't secretly have a super artistic side?" Liv pursed her lips.
"Red or white?"
"You're betting wine on Carisi's artistic ability for our daughter's birthday?"
"Papi!" Felix yelled as he ran to Rafael and Olivia.
The whole room fell silent.
The three other kids followed him.
All eyes were on the group.
Rafael had frozen in space and time, being called that made him freeze. His face was soft and full of adoration and awe once again.
"So, it's, like, definitely my birthday," Aspen said as she approached, "but we wanted to say thank you for giving us all a second chance and a new, super amazing family."
"All four of us," Noah added.
"Momma Liv and Papi Rafa," Maddox gestured.
"So while we were shopping," Aspen said, "I asked Aunt Amanda if she would help us get you each a gift."
Olivia looked toward Amanda.
The blonde smiled at her.
Rafael was entirely entranced by the group of children in front of him, that they were calling him Papi.
Aspen patted her jacket like she was looking for something, "hold on."
"Me first while you look?" Noah asked.
"Yeah, but they gotta open them together," Aspen said.
Noah nodded and handed Olivia a little black box, "for you, Momma. But you gotta wait for Rafa."
"Try your inner pocket," Rafa whispered, "I always forget to look there."
She reached into her jacket and pulled out a similar black box and handed it to Rafa.
The kids all looked so excited.
"Go ahead," Maddox urged.
"Open them!" Felix cheered.
Carisi had come over with his camera again.
Simultaneously, they opened the boxes and inside were silver puzzle pieces on chains.
The kids all tugged at chains they were wearing to reveal that it was a matching set of six and when placed together, they fit together to spell family.
Rafael was in tears immediately, pulling the kids into a group hug.
Olivia let out a soft breath, tears pricked at her eyes. She was frozen, staring at the puzzle piece with the "F" etched into it.
"Momma," Noah said softly as he took her hand.
"It's beautiful," she whispered, "thank you."
"Thank you, momma," Aspen whispered back.
"You mean so much to us," Maddox added.
"And we're like a whole puzzle of pieces now," Felix added.
Liv laughed and carefully sat up to gently hug the kids.
Carisi started the clapping and was very quickly joined by everyone.
Elliot clapped too, he had tears in his eyes, as did almost everyone in the room. His were different though, his were the solidified realization that this was exactly where Olivia belonged. He'd been saying that he accepted it and that he understood, but it wasn't until this moment that he truly saw it. And in that moment, he was so happy for his former partner for finding what she'd always wanted… needed… deserved.
A real family.