"What?" Beau asked, voice catching instantly in his throat.
"I haven't looked at it yet," Kathleen whispered, looking up at him. "I don't… my mind isn't…"
"I know… I know it's okay," he whispered. "Where is it?"
"Bag," she sighed, putting her head into his chest.
"Can I look?" He asked gently.
"I don't wanna know yet…"
"Okay," he said, "but I do…"
"Don't tell me?"
"Won't…" he nodded, kissing her nose.
"I'm not gonna drink," she clarified, "just with this episode anyways…"
"I trust you, Kate."
"I don't know why… I don't even trust myself."
"That's the disease talking… every one of your siblings, and not to mention your parents, would trust you with their kids.
"How did I find you?" She choked out softly.
"God works in mysterious ways."
She smiled small into his chest and he gave a squeeze. "C'mon. Let's go."
The whole family was gathered in the living room when they came out.
Teddy was standing on the couch between his parents, looking over the back at the doors, having heard their voices.
He gasped when he saw them, holding his arms up to Katie and giving a huge a smile.
"Hi buddy," she smiled, wiping her eyes and lifting him.
He snuggled in immediately and the pair sat down with the rest of the crew.
"Everyone ok?" Liz asked, looking around the room.
"We should be asking you," Noah teased and and ruffled his hair dramatically.
"Alright so we do need to make a Kathy decision," El said, crossing his arms. "And by we I mean you guys."
"I don't see a problem with it," Liz shrugged lightly. "I mean… we told her to try. I'd consider this trying… I don't want to see her but I don't think presents is bad?"
"I can kinda see that," Mo sighed softly.
"You guys insane?" Dickie asked, his temper flaring.
Eli shot him an "Olivia Benson" look that made him slouch back dramatically with both a groan and a sigh.
"Look," he said, standing and looking at everyone. "It's either all or nothing. We decide to accept the gifts or we say fuck it and donate them."
"You guys do what you want. Me and my girls aren't taking a damn thing from her," Dickie grumbled.
"Dick, that's enough," Eli said, suddenly a stern and commanding presence like his dad, while remaining loving and approachable like his mom. "We're deciding either way cause you're gonna act like this if we don't. This is a huge Christmas for our family: Anna Kate's first Christmas understanding it, the twins and Ted's first Christmas, Sam's first with us," he paused to give him a knowing look, "and we have two more babies on the way. None of that is gonna be ruined by your grumpy attitude. Okay?"
He looked down, embarrassed and a little ashamed before nodding. "Okay…"
"So what do you suggest, alpha dog?" Liz teased in a tone that suggested more pride than malice.
Sammi was trying to hide the grin on her lips as she watched her best friend step into a new role within their family, and both Liv and El watched and admired the sweet and stolen glances the pair gave one another.
"I think that me, the kids, and mom and dad should go see her and bring dinner and the gift Emma made for her as planned, and see what she even has for everyone. Then mom and dad can decide."
"I think that's a good plan," Mo nodded and Katie agreed.
"I still think we shouldn't give her anything but, I guess that's why we have an Emma right?" Liz said, looking down to her little sister.
"She makes us all better," a slightly calmer Dickie whispered, winking at her.
"So it's settled," El nodded. "Can we start enjoying this time together now?"
"Enjoying time without me?" Came a voice from the front entrance as Bernie shuffled in with a laughing Carl.
"Grandma!" Noah exclaimed, rushing off to hug her and help her in. "We're having a sleep over, isn't that awesome!"
"Well of course dear! There's no place I'd rather be. Now come on, show me to my room and then we can get the party started," she nodded, waving to the rest of the family as she shuffled down the hall with Noah at her side.
The twins cries filled the space and Sammi smiled small, standing and making her way to Eli's room ahead of him to collect the pair while everyone chatted.
Shutting the door to give them some privacy so that Sam could nurse, he expertly lifted them both while she got comfortable in the middle of his bed.
"Daddy's got you," he whispered. "Right here, guys," he cooed softly, bouncing them gently. "My big one month olds huh? Times going too fast," he whispered, kissing their heads and passing them over to Sam.
"Go see that mama…" he said with a smiled as she took them and the latched on immediately.
When he looked up, Sam was looking at him, and leaned forward for a kiss that he willingly gave.
"I'm so proud of you," she whispered against his lips.
"S'nothing," he said, kissing her again a few times.
"What?" She asked after a minute of gentle kisses when she felt him squeeze her leg.
"I wanna take you on a date for your birthday… a night out with a proper fancy dinner and hotel room. What do you think?"
"The babies," she said, breath catching.
"Mom and dad said they'd watch them… but if you don't wanna do a hotel I'd like to take you to dinner at least… would that be okay?"
"That would be perfect," she whispered, blinking quickly. "Just think I'd rather come home and be with them after…"
"I understand," he smiled, cupping her cheek. "We can even order in… what I'm trying to say is I really wanna do something nice for you… special and fancy cause you deserve it."
"I have you… 's'all I need."
"Shush," he teased, kissing her again.
"I'm serious," she moaned softly against his lips.
"I'm serious, too."
"I know… scares me."
Pulling back a bit, he found her chocolate eyes and searched for answers within them, waiting for her to elaborate.
"I promised you I wouldn't talk about it…"
"You can talk to me about anything."
"E…" she breathed out, a few tears falling.
"What do you want me to do?" He asked, genuinely and calmly and for the first time, ready to listen to her.
"Go to school…"
"I know that..."
"Princeton," she clarified.
He nodded slowly. "Okay… but when I get done? I'm coming home and making you a Stabler."
She breathed out a soft laugh through her falling tears and leaned in to kiss him several more times.
"What's inspired this change huh?"
"You," he whispered. "Our kiddos. The thought of doing whatever it takes to have all three of you be mine for good. So if that's Princeton? The moon? I don't care, I'd walk through fucking fire for you guys."
"Fuck I love you," she breathed out and he couldn't help his smile.
"I love you way fucking more."
It was still early in the day, but everyone either retired to their rooms to relax and nap, or, in the boy's cases, escaped back down to finish building toys for Christmas.
Beau got Katie all tucked for some rest time after their hell of a morning. Once she was asleep, he quietly rummaged through her bag, finding the small stick he was looking for and tucking it away in the inside pocket of his heavy jacket.
Emma and Noah decided on spending some quality time with Eli, Sam, and the twins, as to not disturb their napping but ever-feisty grandmother, and the six remained in Eli's room to watch a movie.
Teddy had fallen fast asleep at his usual nap time against Liz who was soaking up every moment of baby brother cuddles, and Liv took the opportunity to spend some alone time with her youngest older girl.
"So… whose the guy?" Liv asked softly, sitting beside her.
"He's amazing," Liz sighed softly, gently pulling at Teddy's hair the way she knew he loved it. "You know Eli always fell right to sleep if you played with his hair like this," she said, continuing.
"He still does…" Liv smiled small, "now… why're you avoiding?"
"It's awkward," she whispered, showing a rare nervousness that Liv had barely ever seen from Elizabeth Stabler.
"You can talk to me about anything… said I know him?"
"Yeah it's… I guess it's not awkward cause or like… who it is," she said shaking her head and back tracking a bit, "I mean that's definitely awkward but more uh…. How I… we…"
"Baby I've been a sex cop for 26 years…"
"Uh huh and still… having your daughter admit her promiscuity to you has to be a fresh theme."
"You would be surprised at what your sisters have shared with me over the years," she mused, her statement finally making Liz look up.
"He's… an attorney and," she sighed. "We met as a joke through a friend… said he wanted a sugar baby I mean… it was a joke, kinda. But then he started really spoiling me and I mean… oh god he's so attractive, but I was enjoying his company anyways, aside from the gifts, and then…." She trailed off.
"You fell in love," Liv whispered.
"Sound familiar?" She tried to tease, making Liv laugh softly.
"Minus the sugar daddy part."
Laughing again, Liz looked down. "It had hit me a while ago but… then the whole Kathy actually being alive shit happened last month and boom. He was there and like… researching law for me and us and I mean. It was then I knew and I just like… blurted out that I loved him and wanted to bring him home."
"How long have you been seeing one another?"
"Year and a half," the younger woman admitted.
"Serious…"
"Very, but…" she trailed off again. "You know him and I don't want it to be weird and dads gonna flip..." she breathed.
"Is it Rafael Barba?"
Liz scoffed. "My god no!"
Liv couldn't help but laugh. "Trevor Langan?"
"Nope," she said, pausing, "you won't guess it."
"Tell me?"
"PETER STONE??!" Elliot cried loudly later that night once he and his wife were safe in their bedroom suite.