"Okay," Aspen said as she wiped at her eyes, "let's have cake and do birthday stuff."

And that's exactly what they did.

Carisi, with his camera hanging around his neck, went to the refrigerator and pulled out the cake. He hadn't let anyone go near the refrigerator all day, insisting he get whatever anyone needed.

"I have to say," he announced quickly, "when I decorated this, I had no idea how today was going to go. I just knew that this was one of the things Aspen liked since…"

He placed the large sheet cake on the dining table in front of Aspen.

"All the puzzles I did at the office!" She looked at him and grinned, "and our big puzzle family!"

Carisi had very carefully decorated the cake to have blue and purple puzzle pieces all over it and there were seven connected for her seven birthdays. He snapped a few photos of her with the cake before Amanda came to put the candles in it.

Everyone sang Happy Birthday as Amanda put the candles in and carefully lit them.

Carisi took a few more photos to get the process of Aspen giggling while she blew out the candles.

Everyone clapped and cheered for her as the candles went out.

After cake and opening gifts and getting toys, books, and a dress or two, Aspen was handed the one that had Elliot's name on it. It was the last gift.

She very neatly pulled the shiny paper off the box and pulled

it open. She grinned and looked up at Rafa and Liv before to Elliot.

"Thank you," she grinned wider as she produced a small gavel and sound block.

All the kids who'd been playing court cheered with them.

Most of the people in the room knew that court was their new favorite thing to play but there were a few who didn't.

Elliot gave her a small smile, "just don't bonk anyone with it, alright? Your parents will never forgive me."

She giggled, "I won't."

The boys all gathered around her to look at the smooth wooden gavel.

"Maybe we can play court with all the people here," Aspen commented to them.

"After the piñata," Felix nodded and looked at Maddox.

"You'd obviously be the judge," Noah said.

Maddox nodded in agreement.

"Jesse and Jaden on prosecution?" Aspen leaned forward and looked across the table.

"Yeah!" Jesse cheered, bouncing up and down.

Jaden nodded excitedly.

"Who's on trial this time?" Carisi asked as he was cleaning up from the cake.

Noah looked around, there were a lot of people to pick from.

Olivia looked at Elliot and found him already side glancing at her with a small smile on his face. She smiled back and gave a small nod of approval.

He looked back to the kids, the small smile remaining on his face.

"Uncle Fin," Noah pointed.

Fin put a hand to his chest, "what did I do?!"

"You made a comment that made Papi Rafa nervous earlier. You're charged with making him nervous!" Noah nodded.

Rafael laughed once he'd recovered from hearing Noah call him Papi Rafa.

Fin gave a playful glare.

The kids headed to do the piñata which had been hung by Carisi and Fin earlier.

After that, they started organizing everything to play court.

Lucia came to sit with Olivia and Rafael again.

"You got a good bunch of kids," she bumped her shoulder against her son's, "and they like to play court?"

Rafael nodded and smiled, "Noah told them about the work I do and they've been playing court ever since."

"Last week he was found guilty of bedtime fraud," Liv informed her, "the kids had wanted to stay awake two hours later to watch a movie the night before and he told them they could watch it the next day but instead they put him on trial for stealing those two hours from them."

Lucia looked at Rafa with mock surprise, "it's summer vacation!"

He turned to her, "my bedtime was 7:30 until I was twelve! Summer or not!"

That made Lucia laugh again.

The two Barbas started chatting and Olivia forced herself from her chair.

Rafa turned to help her up, "you okay?"

She nodded, "I'm just going to mingle a bit, everyone's been coming to me all day."

He did a silent check in, "let me know if you need me, okay? I'll come over immediately."

Phoebe had been tapped to be a witness and was the first on the stand as the trial began.

Liv made her way slowly to where Cragen, Munch, and Stabler were sitting to watch the trial.

Elliot stood immediately upon seeing her and moved to help her to the couch.

"Thank you," she said softly to him.

He nodded and returned to his seat.

"Hello, Aunt Phoebe, I'm sorry to put you on the stand today," Jesse began.

Phoebe had a tissue that she wiped under her eyes dramatically.

"What a creative group of kids," Munch commented offhandedly, "they always do this?"

"It's Jaden's first but our four and the Rollins girls have been doing this for a week or so," she nodded.

"They switch up jobs?" Cragen asked.

Liv laughed, "they do, but it seems since there's such a crowd, they went to where they're most comfortable. Noah on defense, he likes being like Rafa and Jesse on prosecution to be like Carisi."

"Is Aspen the judge often?" Elliot asked.

Liv shook her head, "she usually lets everyone else pick and then gracefully accepts what's left. You solidified her spot as judge for her birthday. She's only been up there once before, but she loved it."

Elliot looked happy to hear that, "good."

Noah was whispering to Fin.

Fin nodded and smiled a bit as he whispered back.

"How are you, Olivia?" Munch inquired.

"In what sense?" She questioned, "physically or generally?"

"Well, you were shot," he said plainly, "so physically, I would assume you're in pain. I meant generally."

"I'm really good," she smiled at his bluntness, "I'm happy."

"You seem happy," he nodded, "it's really good to see."

"Thanks, John," her heart was so full of joy being here with everyone.

"It is good to see," Elliot added, "you deserve all of this, Liv."

She looked at him, trying to find any sort of envy or malice but he seemed so genuine and happy for her.

"They're right," Cragen nodded.

Olivia felt so happy, these three men had known her at the beginning. They'd known her when she would stay at work for days on end and sleep in the crib, shower in the locker room. They knew her when she had nothing in her fridge because she had nothing to come home to or any reason to fill it when she could just order in when and if she was going to be home. They'd been her first hint of a family. Hearing approval from all three of them made her feel like she'd really made it.

"And you're captain," Munch began.

Cragen said, "as I had hoped. It's where you belong."

"Things fell exactly where they were supposed to," Elliot continued.

Liv put a hand to her chest, "I couldn't have done it without you guys… and I'm sure Fin would be sitting here with us if he wasn't on trial. Almost the original squad."

Munch laughed as he looked around the group and toward Fin, "we got old."

"Speak for yourself, man," Stabler commented.

"Objection!" Noah stood.

"Overruled!" Aspen pointed the gavel at him, "sit down in my courtroom, Mr Benson."

Noah grumbled to Fin as he sat back down.

Jesse went to Jaden and he whispered in her ear, she nodded and turned back to Phoebe.

Liv looked at Rafa.

He was smiling, he looked so full of love for these kids.

"You did good, Liv," Munch commented, "I know it didn't go how you meant it to, but it went the way it was supposed to."

She looked at him.

He was right in a way. Had she and Rafa done things the way they'd joked about all those years ago, she wasn't sure it would've turned out this way. She wasn't ready for Rafa or to receive the love Rafa had to give before now, she had to go through the last few years to really understand that she was ready and deserved it and had they waited until now to try to find a surrogate, she would've felt they were well past the right age to have these kids… she felt awful that they'd all been through such horrific things, but she was so damn happy that they were here and happy now.

Carisi was moving around the fake court snapping photos as Lucia took the stand.

"Hey, Noah," Liv called.

He turned immediately, "yeah?"

"Can we borrow Fin for one minute?"

Noah looked around the court and called for a recess.

Fin came over and sat down, "what's up?"

"Carisi," she waved him over.

All four men seemed to realize at the same time what she wanted and shifted to surround her.

Carisi smiled, "alright, guys. Everyone smile."

And they did.

This was the first evolution of Olivia's family; Cragen, Munch, Fin, and Elliot. They'd known each other for so long at this point that it really was like they were family.

"Thanks," Liv said after they'd taken a few photos, "I'll need a copy of that."

"You're getting copies of all of them," Carisi smiled.

"Good, thank you."

He smiled and nodded before heading off to take photos of Jaden and Jesse, who had their heads close together discussing their next play.

Noah came over, "I think we're losing the jury."

This made all the adults laugh.

Noah smiled, "I'm glad you all find this funny."

Olivia held an arm toward the boy.

He came over and hugged carefully against her side, "this is a good day, momma."

"It sure is," she kissed his head.

"You're pretty good on defense, kid," Fin commented.

"I'm making it up as I go along," he shrugged.

"Don't tell Barba, but I think that's what they all do," Fin commented.

Elliot laughed, "I don't know about all of them. Barba is meticulous."

"But that one?" Munch pointed at Elliot.

Elliot pointed back, "you remember him? God, that must've been eighteen years ago."

Cragen squinted, "I don't remember most of the defense lawyers, but I do remember Alex kicking a- butt," he looked at Noah.

"You were gonna say a bad word," Noah raised an eyebrow, "in front of my mom."

That made Munch and Fin laugh.

"I apologize," Cragen said to the boy.

Noah squinted, "just don't let it happen again."

Aspen banged the gavel.

Fin and Noah went back to court.

"You'll have to make sure to email me a copy of that photo," Munch said.

"You still trust email?" Elliot snorted.

"Barely," Munch replied, "the internet became way more dangerous than even I anticipated."

Liv went to stand again.

Elliot moved to help her.

"I gotta make my rounds," she said.

"We understand, go do mom things," Cragen smiled, "we'll be here."

Olivia made her way to Amanda, who was standing with Lucy and Phoebe, now that she wasn't on the stand anymore.

Amanda immediately grabbed a stool and helped Liv onto it, "easy does it."

Liv gave her a grateful pat on the shoulder, "what're we talking about here?"

"Aspen's suit," Lucy answered, "why she'd gone with grey."

"Billie told her that the grey made her eyes look sparklier," Amanda informed.

Liv smiled, "I love that."

Once Liv finished checking in with everyone, she finally made her way back to her chair. She was starting to be in pain and she knew it was because she was pushing it with moving so much to chat with everyone.

Rafa stood immediately to help her sit, he'd been engrossed in the trial and whispering to Carisi who had finally settled down from being fully in host mode.

"How's the trial going?" Liv whispered, seeing Felix was now on the stand and Lucia had moved to go chat with Amanda and company.

"Maddox and Billie are the jury," Rafa whispered in return, "they're doing really well hiding their reactions which is funny since real juries full of adults rarely do."

Liv smiled.

"Noah and Jesse are both doing really good with questioning," Carisi added to the quiet conversation, "and Jesse always has really good questions after she confers with Jaden so I think he's helping a lot."

"Objection, badgering the witness!" Jaden called after a whisper from Jesse.

"Sustained, take it back, Noah," Aspen squinted at him.

Noah had been pressing Felix pretty hard, "I'm sorry, your honor."

Liv wanted to laugh but she was also just entirely fascinated by their courtroom growth after the last week with Carisi and Rafael to coach them. Sometimes they really did sound like little lawyers and judges.

"The people call Mr. Barba," Jesse announced.

Rafael looked up and looked around before making a face at Liv and heading toward the chair.

"Ra- Mr Barba," Jesse began her questions.

Carisi shifted to sit closer to Liv and whispered, "I think this is the best birthday party I've ever been a part of."

She turned to him, "I want to thank you for all of your help. This would not have gone nearly as smoothly as it did if not for you, Carisi. You took care of everything and helped with the kids this week and… I owe you big time."

He smiled and shook his head, "nah, you don't. That's what family does. We step up when one needs help and we take care of each other. Plus it was fun, getting to know the kids… playing court. It reminded me why I wanted to be a prosecutor in the first place, honestly, and you know I love cooking so I didn't mind making a bunch of stuff for this, I was going to anyway… I just had a bigger space to do it being here."

Liv's smile was big, "mock court helped you remember why you wanted to be a prosecutor?"

He nodded, "at least some. Obviously protecting the victims and helping get justice is a huge part that I keep in mind everyday, but these little fake court scenarios have reminded me just why I picked law enforcement and then moved to lawyer. I wanted to do better, when I was a cop… I wanted to help stop bad guys, and being a prosecutor helps me stop them for longer."

Olivia smiled at him, "and you do a good job. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you're a good man, Dominick Carisi."

He reached and gave her shoulder a small squeeze.

Noah was asking questions now and he was doing a really good job of breaking Jesse and Jaden's case against Fin by arguing that Fin was just joking with his friend.

It was funny that Noah had chosen to defend Fin when he was the main one who witnessed what Fin had said to Rafa to make him nervous earlier.

Liv didn't even know what it was that Fin said to Rafa or what all happened, but she was entertained and the kids were having fun so she didn't really care that she didn't have all the information.

Aspen handed it over to the jury not long later.

Billie and Maddox went to the stairs and sat on the landing, whispering to each other.

The other kids went to grab leftover snacks from the counter and have some juice.

Fin and Rafael came over to Liv and Carisi.

"You've got a Hell of a little court here," Fin commented.

Carisi shifted to give Rafa his seat back as he said, "they're going to be some scary teenagers once they start learning actual laws."

"I fully intend to let the defense lawyer here argue with them. I would lose every time," Liv laughed.

Rafael took her hand, pressing some of her pain meds into it, "I don't even know if I'll be able to win arguments when they're teenagers if they keep doing court like this."

Olivia picked up her water bottle and took a sip, slipping the meds into her mouth.

"The jury is coming back," Noah announced.

Everyone in the room fell quiet as the kids took their seats again and Maddox handed a note to Aspen, she read it and nodded before hanging it back.

"On the case of the people versus Uncle Fin, how do you find?" Aspen asked.

Maddox stood and looked at the note, "we find the defendant not guilty."

"You are free to go, Uncle Fin. To the jury, the people of the dining room thank you for your service," Aspen said and then she banged the gavel twice.

Fin stood up and held both fists in the air and then high-fived Noah.

Noah cheered and then hugged Jesse and high fived Jaden.

"No justice for the victim," Rafa mumbled with a laugh.

"Noah's joking with a friend argument was strong," Carisi replied.

The entire room broke into applause as Noah raised one of Aspen's hands and announced, "our wonderful birthday judge!"

It was growing late and Jaden seemed like he was getting sleepy so he, Fin, and Phoebe were the first to depart. Slowly, one by one or duo by duo, everyone left until it was just the Rollins' and Carisi left helping clean up.

"Will you be alright if we take the girls home tonight?" Carisi asked Rafael as they were doing dishes.

"I think so. We really, really appreciate all of your help this last week."

Carisi smiled, "it was nice. It was like a mini vacation for the girls to play with other kids and Amanda and I had a lot of fun taking part in court."

The kids were all sitting around the table snacking on leftovers for dinner and talking about the little trial. Billie, Maddox, and Felix all looked exhausted but Noah, Jesse, and Aspen were lively and chatting away.

Amanda looked at Liv, "you're sure it's alright if we go home? You'll be okay?"

"We'll call the second it feels like it might be too much if it gets to that point," Liv assured her as they sat together listening to the kids.

Once Carisi, Rollins, and the girls had said their goodbyes and headed out, Rafa got the kids started getting into pajamas and ready for bed. It was pushing eight o'clock once everything was said and done.

Liv went to tuck the twins in earlier than Noah and Aspen as they were falling asleep before they even headed upstairs, she slowly made her way back downstairs even though Rafa had told her he could get Noah and Aspen to bed.

She wanted to tuck Noah in and check in with him.

Rafa rushed over when he saw her coming back down the stairs.

"I told you I could take care of them," he didn't sound upset or irritated, just in awe.

"I want to tuck Noah in," she whispered.

He helped her down the stairs and to Noah's room.

"Momma, you should be in bed," Noah said as he sat up in bed.

She shook her head as she sat on the edge of his bed, "I haven't gotten to tuck you in in almost a week. I had to."

"I'm going to go tuck Aspen in," Rafa gave Noah a kiss on the head.

"Goodnight, Papi Rafa," Noah said softly.

Rafael paused for a moment, his face soft as he looked at the boy, "goodnight, mi hijo."

Liv watched as Rafa left the room and then turned back to Noah, "how are you?"

The boy was quiet for a moment before he said, "I think this is one of my favorite days."

Her heart softened, "yeah?"

"I really love our family, momma," he said softly, "I loved our little family, me and you, before, but I love our big family with Rafa and Aspen and Maddox and Felix."

"Me too, sweet boy," she smiled, tears in her eyes.

"And I love all the people who came today," he added, "I love that they made Aspen's first birthday with us special."

She nodded, "I agree with you."

Noah was quiet for a long moment before saying, "thank you for giving me this family."

Liv tilted her head as she looked at him, "what do you mean?"

"I meant it when I said you gave all of us a second chance, momma. I know I got really lucky when they gave me to you," his voice was soft, "I love you, momma."

A tear slipped down Liv's face as Noah sat up and gently hugged her, "I love you, Noah."

"Now go lay down, you're still hurt," he looked at her sternly, "you have to sleep to get better like you always tell me."

"Of course," she smiled and pushed herself up from the edge of his bed and made her way to the door.

Rafael was in the room across the hall and the door was open, Aspen's voice traveled quietly.

Liv turned Noah's light off and pulled his door closed, then went to sit on the stairs to wait for Rafa's help up… and maybe to eavesdrop a bit.

"-and getting to play court," Aspen was saying, "I don't want to go to sleep because that means my birthday will end and this is my favorite birthday."

Rafa didn't respond right away, when he did he said, "your birthday is what made today special, but you have the ability to make everyday your favorite."

"How?"

"By doing what you like and spending time with people you love," he replied, "everyday is special, Aspen, you've just gotta find what makes it that way."

She was quiet for a minute, "that was the first birthday party I ever remember having. I'm sure maybe I had some when I was littler but I don't remember."

"Well, darling, you've got many birthday parties to come," he said quietly, "and maybe next year some of your school friends can come, too."

"Are we going to have another party with everyone for the twins?"

"I hope so, we'll have to see."

"Your face when I came in in my suit was really good," she giggled, "I picked the grey one because the day we met when I was doing puzzles you were wearing a grey suit and I really liked it."

Rafa was quiet.

Liv's heart ached as she was eavesdropping, she could picture the soft, adoring look on Rafa's face and the tears he was holding in.

"That's very sweet, Aspen," he said, finally, "I'm really happy you had a good birthday. You deserve it."

"Will you be home tomorrow?" She asked quietly.

"Yes, and Tuesday, but Wednesday I have to go back to court, so Lucy will be here. Is that okay?"

"That's okay."

"Okay," the smile could be heard in his voice, "it's time to get some sleep now, okay?"

"Goodnight, Papi Rafa," she said softly.

"Goodnight, Aspen," he replied, "Happy Birthday."

He appeared in the doorway, turning the light off and pulling the door closed a moment later. He jumped slightly when he saw Liv on the stairs.

"Sorry," she whispered, "I needed help up."

"No, no," he rushed to her side and helped her stand, "it's okay, you just startled me."

They climbed the stairs together, him helping the entire way.

"How hard was it to not cry when she said she chose the grey suit because of you?"

"You heard that?"

Liv nodded.

"It took every ounce of effort," he smiled at her, "that was one of the sweetest things I've ever heard."

"Me too," she said softly.

"How were the boys?" He was referring to all three of them.

"The general consensus is that today was the best day," she told him, "Noah did make me cry a bit. The twins fell asleep really quickly after saying that, though."

"Noah made you cry?"

She nodded as he handed her one of his Harvard shirts to wear for bed.

"What'd he say?" He inquired as he was unbuttoning his shirt.

"He thanked me for this family and said that he got lucky when they gave him to me," she pulled the crimson t-shirt over her head.

He paused and looked up, his shirt unbuttoned, "that's… we have the most wonderful children."

Liv nodded, her eyes skimming over the skin he'd just revealed in unbuttoning his shirt.

Rafa raised an eyebrow at her and moved toward her, one hand coming up to brush her hair behind her ear. He leaned to press a soft kiss to her lips.

She kissed back, her arms moved to rest around his shoulders.

He backed up and whispered against her mouth, "you have to rest and heal."

She groaned, "I know."

"Come on," he helped her into bed.

"You're annoyingly handsome."

He rolled his eyes, "hush. You need rest."

"Fine."

"Fine."

She settled into bed.

He smiled at her, "I'm going to work on some case notes. If you need me, just call, okay?"

Nodding a little, Liv yawned, "don't work too late."

"I won't," he leaned across the bed and pressed another soft kiss to her lips.

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