Elliot's eyes opened unexpectedly. He glanced over to the nightstand not sure what had awoken him. The clock ticked steadily away at 3:27A.M. He sighed quietly knowing he still had a good two and a half hours of sleep before he had to go to the precinct, where he worked in New York City. He shifted his gaze over to his wife, Kathy, who was still in a deep and peaceful sleep. Lately Elliot had noticed her looking a little more tired these days. He understood though, there was a lot going on.

Slowly he rose from the bed and pulled his robe on, doing his best trying not to disturb Kathy. Elliot knew that he would have to navigate in the dark, but he was used to it. He wove around the kitchen. He headed straight to the cupboards where he got a glass from the bottom shelf. Moving along the counter to the sink he turned the tap on. He let it run a few second before dipping the glass into the constant stream of water. He finished the drink in three big gulps then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Heading back to the bedroom he noticed something peculiar: light shone from underneath his daughter, Elizabeth's, undersized bedroom door. Listening meticulously through the door, he thought he heard crying.

Approaching the door he couldn't imagine was wrong. When he got close enough he tapped softly then waited, when there no answer Elliot became extremely concerned.

"Lizzie, honey it's, Dad can I come in?" he whispered almost inaudible. He heard stifled sobs, he opened the door little by little, until he could enter the room. Originally Maureen and Kathleen had shared it, then Kathleen and Lizzie shared it, now that both the older girls were out of the house, she had it all to herself. Elliot gazed around the room noticing what had changed over the years. When Elliot was done looking around he looked towards the bed, which was between the entertainment corner and her dresser. He saw Lizzie, curled up on her bed crying softly.

"Honey, sweetie what's wrong?" Elliot asks.

"I didn't say you could come in, did I?" Lizzie snapped through her sobs.

"Lizzie, I've known you for your entire life and I have never seen you this upset, so come on, tell me what is going on. It is 3:30 in the morning you should be in bed, lights out and asleep. No why is my princess crying instead of sleeping peacefully?"

Lizzie wiped her face with the back of her hand and asked, "Dad, are you even aware of what yesterday was?"

Elliot paused, searching through his clutter of a mental calendar. After a few seconds, he frowned and quietly said "Oh." Looking pretty guilty he knew exactly what she was talking about.

"You're upset that I missed you and your brother's 16th birthday thing, huh?" he asked knowing the answer already.

"Gee Dad, how did you ever figure that out? Instead of coming home a little early, like you promised us, you were out with Olivia interrogating or arresting whatever it is you do." By now Lizzie had stopped crying and was sitting upright with her back against the wall and her arms crossed and a glare in her eyes. Her cheeks were still streaked with tears.

"Oh honey, I am so sorry. I know I promised you and Dickie that I would be home in time, but I can't be in two places at once. I wish I could be, so I could be home with my family and out getting the bad guy, I really do. It just isn't possible." Elliot attempted to comfort his daughter, but he knew it wasn't helping.

"I know Dad, but..." Lizzie was cut off in mid sentence by her father trying to recover.

"I don't expect you to understand fully the extreme importance of what I do. And you never might, but knowing that I can get one more rapist or one more pedophile off the streets let's me feel like it's safer for my own kids. I'm sorry that I can't be there for everything important in your life, I truly am." Elliot's voice had been a little loud at this point, remembering that Kathy and Dickie were still asleep he shut the door and returned. Lizzie had now moved over so her father could sit on the edge of the bed.

"Dad, I know you think I am still a little girl, but the reality of it is I know a lot more about your job than you probably would let me."

Elliot had been working quite a bit lately, but he couldn't help it. He had never wanted to do crime in New York City. He knew that the rate was way higher than that of a more rural area. Now that he was working there and getting involved he really couldn't see working anywhere else. He has raised all four of his children there. From the oldest Maureen who had graduated college and living on her own, to the middle child Kathleen who was just in the middle of college, to the youngest: Lizzie and Dickie, they were twins, who would graduate in a few years.

"Listen sweetheart, I know I haven't been around lately and I know it's not easy around here for your mom. I'm not going to make some lame excuse, I know better. But you know Olivia and I get overloaded." Elliot explained.

Lizzie had heard that little speech before. She knew that it wasn't his fault, but it always seemed to be that he got swamped at a really bad time. She can remember all the times her dad wasn't there because of work. He had shown up late at her recitals, plays, and games, he even left a parent conference.

"I know Dad, but it just isn't fair. I'm not talking about just the family. We understand your career is important not just for us, but it isn't fair for you either!" Lizzie had started to cry again, and started to stumble over her words when she finally just stopped talking and sobbed uncontrollably.

"Hey, how about I take the weekend off and we take ourselves on a short vacation. I have Monday off anyway, you know federal holidays. And by we I mean you, me, Dickie, and your mom. How's that sound?" he asked. Lizzie couldn't answer him between breaths, but he knew it was a good idea.

Elliot had now moved up right next to her and put his arm around her in a gesture to comfort his "little girl". He stroked her hair and hushed her, kissed the top of her head. He let Lizzie cry on his shoulder until finally she had fallen back to sleep. By then it was close to 4:30A.M. He put her back under the covers slowly, so she wouldn't wake. Kissed her on the cheek and whispered in her ear "Goodnight, see you in the morning."