"July 3rd, 4 PM Queens public pool.

"Izzabella Zara Lizzie it's time to go!" Elliot called from his seat beside Liv as they had both chosen to tan instead of swim that day.

"But I don't wanna go daddy..." Izzabella pleaded.

"Baby I know but we have errands we have to run tomorrow is a special day and you guys have to dry off before we get in the truck!"

"It is?" she asked, her attention successfully grabbed then.

"Sure is! I'll tell you more about it if you come on and get out of the pool!"

"Really El? You're bribing her?" Liv asked through a teasing chuckle.

"If it works it works," he said as she chuckled and smiled and all 3 girls got out, Lizzie helping the little ones.

"Daddy! Daddy what's special about tomorrow?" she asked eagerly running over.

He chuckled "lets get you sitting down first kiddo," he said as he pointed to an empty lawn chair and once she was sitting he faced her "237 years ago tomorrow is when our country was created and we celebrate that every year."

"What's our country?"

He smiled "it's the place we live in."

"But we live in our house..."

He nodded "that's right but if there was no country there would be no house."

"So it's just like a big house?"

"Yeah you could say that," he said with a smile.

She nodded "how many houses are in our country?"

"Millions and millions baby."

"How... How do they all fit?"

"Because our country is really really big."

She nodded "are you and mommy in charge of all the houses?"

Olivia and Elliot both chuckled "I wish..." he said through his laughter that wouldn't stop "but no we aren't someone called the president is in charge of all the houses," Liv continued where he left off.

"So you and daddy aren't really in charge?"

"Well we're in charge of our house just not all the other ones."

She nodded taking it all in "do you know the president?"

"I don't sweetie."

"But I thought they were in charge..."

"He is honey he's in charge of the country but it's so big and so many people live inside it that it's not possible for him to meet everyone."

She nodded "then how does he tell everyone what to do?"

"He doesn't sweetie the people in charge of the houses do that," she said as she then sighed "this'll all make more sense to you when you're older."

Izzabella nodded her head taking Liv's word on that for now "Liv? Mr. Elliot? Will we be at your house in time for daddy to meet us?" Zara asked.

"You're sleeping over tonight honey you're dad's gonna come in the morning remember?" Elliot asked gently as his phone rang.

"Ahhh mmhmm yeah," she said as she nodded remembering "daddy and Amanda are having grownup time."

Olivia nodded "that's right and we're gonna have fun sweetie," she said as Elliot gave her an appreciative look then grabbed his phone "Stabler."

"This is him."

"Okay," he said seriously a minute later as he nodded, the call now having all his attention.

He smiled "that's great to hear! When does she start?"

He frowned "isn't that a bit early?"

His features relaxed "Ahh okay that makes sense. Will we need to buy any school supplies?"

"Wait wait hold on. Liv you got a note pad?"

Olivia grabbed one out of her bag and handed it to him "is that Margaret Fuller academy?" she whispered.

He nodded to her "you said 3 coloring books, 2 glue sticks, 2 boxes of Kleenex, 1 bottle of hand sanitizer and what?" he asked the person on the phone while scribbling the items down.

He frowned "I don't want her touching any scissors."

"Ahhh okay," he said writing down plastic scissors "what else?"

He nodded to himself and wrote down magic markers x2 and loose leaf paper x3 "is that everything?"

He nodded his head "she's lactose intolerant but she doesn't have any other allergies that we're aware of."

"Okay yes sir we'll be there."

"Will do thank you for calling," he said as he hung up with a bright smile "she was accepted! We meet her pre-k teacher on the 29th and she starts on the 5th."

Olivia nodded to him with a smile "girls lets head to the truck we're dried off enough."

Lizzie nodded and herded an oblivious Izzabella and Zara to the car "isn't August 5th early to start El?"

He nodded "it is but her class is only gonna go on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays so that's why."

"Ahh okay. I'm glad she'll be eased into it this year too."

"Me too I'd love to just keep her home forever but..."

"We can't," she whispered knowingly as she flung her bag over her shoulder and stood up.

He grabbed the cooler and stood too "it's a good school, the best school we made sure of that."

"Yes we did," she said as they walked to the truck side by side in sync "El have you had the talk with her yet?"

"What talk?"

"The you know... Places where adults can and can't touch talk?"

"I haven't I figured that was something you'd wanna do."

She nodded "I'll definitely do that before August comes along."

He nodded "sounds good honey, so we're hitting TNT , food land and the ABC store?"

"Yeah and I was thinking Little Caesars for dinner does that sound good to you?"

"Sounds great pizza and cheesy bread'll satisfy them and it'll only be around 10 dollars for all of us."

She nodded and smiled "I wish more restaurants were like them," she said as she buckled herself into the passenger seat.

"Me too Liv, me too," Elliot said as he buckled up too then drove off.

xxxxx

"Cause I'm TNT! I'm dynamite, TNT! And I'll win the fight, TNT! I'm a power load, TNT! Watch me explode!" Zara sang off key to the song on the radio and Elliot smiled "she's finally come out of her shell around us," he whispered to Liv proudly.

She reached over Zara and touched his shoulder "I told you she would in time," she whispered.

"You sure did," he said with a smile as they were quiet again till the song ended "that was beautiful sweetie," Liv commented once she was through.

"Thank you," Zara said and the adults smiled "are you thinking of joining any after school sports when you start back?" El asked.

"I might do tea-ball i donno."

He nodded with a smile "well if you do let us know and we'll come to a game of yours," he said as he then noticed that TNT and food land were across the street from one another "you know Liv we should hit these at the same time it'd be faster," he said.

"I agree. You take TNT and I'll take food land?"

"Sounds good to me," he said as he parked in Food Land's parking lot "and we agree we're only buying poppets and party poppers?" Liv asked.

"Yeah that's all we need," El said as Zara frowned "but I like sparklers..."

"Maybe your dad will get you some, honey when you go in there grab tea-bone steak it's on sale for 99 cents per pound."

"Okay. How many pounds should I get?"

"15," he said.

Olivia nodded "Lizzie would you like to come and help me?"

"Sure," she said with a smile and once her and Liv were out Elliot drove across the street "why can't we get sparklers Mr. Elliot?" Zara asked.

"Because it's just best that we don't they can be sort of dangerous if they aren't used right, they all have to be lit and I'll be busy cooking."

"But can't Liv light them?"

"No honey it isn't good for her to be close to fire right now."

She frowned "why not?"

"It just isn't. Lets head inside girls," he said as with that they went into TNT and bought everything they needed within 5 minutes.

xxxxx

Olivia checked items off her list with a pin as she had bought the things they needed for her to make her famous fruit salad, dales sauce, more soy milk and a couple more odds and ends "the meat is all we need now," she told Lizzie as they made their way over to the meat freezer.

Lizzie nodded as she was slightly ahead of her "dad said we need tea-bone right?"

"That's right."

"Umm a man just grabbed the last package."

"Shit," she said as she walked over there to see what else they had "Olivia... Long time no see are you doing well?" Ed Tucker asked.

She nodded "I am you?" she asked cordially.

He smiled "I'm doing great just here buying steak for the bbq IAB is holding tomorrow."

"I see," she said.

He nodded "would you like to come? We'll be fixing tea-bone."

"I'll pass we're doing something at home thank you though."

Tucker just nodded "I tried to call you last month."

Olivia shrugged noncommittally as she grabbed a few packs of bbq and put them in her buggy.

"Why didn't you answer?" he asked.

She sighed "I didn't wanna talk."

"Why not? I was only concerned."

"Yeah that's what Amaro said but how could I know that your concern wouldn't turn into you trying to take my badge again?"

"You're still mad at me for that?"

"Of course I am did you not consider how traumatizing that would be for me? I was almost"- she then remembered Lizzie was there and shook her head "I'm not getting into this here."

Tucker sighed "I'm sorry I know you weren't guilty."

She just sighed "you should have used your damn common sense when me and Elliot told you I wasn't instead of continuing your vendetta against us. I appreciate your concern I really do but I can't... I don't trust you and I can't talk to people I don't trust," she said as she then looked to Lizzie "lets go check out sweetie your dad and sister are waiting."

Lizzie nodded and quickly walked forward as Tucker's jaw dropped open in shock "I didn't have a vendetta against you!" he called after a moment but she was already gone and he just sighed.

xxxxx

"I had to get barbecue Tucker got the last of the Tea-bone," Olivia said as she loaded the groceries into the truck.

"I didn't know he lived in Queens," Elliot said.

She nodded "I don't know that he does he said he was buying it for IAB's 4th of July cookout."

Elliot nodded "hopefully they have a blast. I'm sure the officers that'll be working tomorrow will appreciate that they all took the day off."

She chuckled "probably so. You know he had the nerve to invite me?"

Elliot chuckled "he did huh?"

"He did," she said as she buckled up "we sort of got into it."

Elliot frowned "how come?"

She sighed "he wanted to know why I didn't answer his call last month and we got to talking about the Clyde Vandyne case."

"Ahh," he said with a grim knowing nod as he drove off "you let him have it?"

She nodded "I did I think I was to harsh though."

"Did you say anything that wasn't true?"

"No," she said.

He nodded and squeezed her shoulder "then you weren't baby," he said as Zara looked over "whose Clyde Vandyne?"

"He was a criminal sweetie," Liv said.

She nodded "did you and my daddy put him in jail?"

Olivia shook her head "that case was before your dad's time."

She nodded "so daddy wasn't born yet?"

"He was alive just worked somewhere else," she said as Izzabella looked to them from the back "what's a criminal?"

"A criminal is a person who does bad things," Liv said.

Izzabella nodded "why do people do bad things?"

"You know I ask myself that question every day kiddo," she said as Elliot pulled into Little Caesars's drive through "is everyone good with pizza?" he asked.

"Yeah!!" Izzabella and Zara cheered and he smiled, nodded and ordered.

Stabler residence, 7:30 PM.

"Mom just texted she says she's coming," Elliot said walking back from the kitchen with several bowls of popcorn as the Little Mermaid ended.

"That's good I was thinking about maybe inviting Simon too."

He handed the kids their bowls then sat back down beside Liv on the love seat as he put their bowl between them "I think that's a good idea I just hate seeing you sad when he doesn't show up."

She nodded "I won't do it with any expectations I guess I just wanna you know..."

"Give him the opportunity? I get it baby and I admire you for it."

She nodded slightly "I guess I always just figure if I extend invitations and he doesn't come then that's on him but if I don't make an effort at all then it's on me plus you know he's going through a hard time has been for a couple years."

He nodded while putting the tv on Cinderella "it's not always your place to reach out baby that goes both ways and whether he's having a hard time or not you're his sister and siblings support each other through that stuff so in my opinion you're blameless no matter what you decide because you've been making an effort these last couple years when he hasn't."

She nodded slightly "I-I hear you."

He nodded and put the popcorn in his lap so he could pull her close "don't take what I just said wrong though he whispered after kissing the top of her head "I want you to do whatever feels right to you if it's messaging him then message him if it's leaving it be then do that I'll support your choice regardless."

She nodded "I-I think I'm gonna text him El I think his kids would have a really good time if he can work it out with Tracy and get them here. What time should I tell him to come?"

"They would," he said as he kissed her head again "anytime after two."

Olivia nodded, sent the invitation via text, ate a little popcorn then let her head fall onto his shoulder as she wrapped her left arm around his back "you know whether he comes or not tomorrow you've still got tuns of people who love you and care about you right?" Elliot asked softly.

"Of course," she said with a genuine smile.

He nodded "that's all that truly matters then," he said as they then grew quiet and watched the movie.

9:15 PM.

"Izzabella Zara it's time for baths then bed," Elliot said as Cinderella had ended 15 minutes ago and Zara was wrapping up her call with Amaro.

"Will you wash my hair tonight mommy?" Izzabella asked.

"Honey I need to help Zara tonight but I'll do yours tomorrow okay?" Olivia said as Zara had gotten chewing gum in her hair earlier in the evening and Liv and El agreed that with her age it'd be best for Liv to help her.

"Okay," she said as Elliot stood "you get to use the big tub tonight," he said cheerfully.

Izzabella stood and jumped up and down and they both smiled "here's your phone Mr. Elliot," Zara said handing it to him.

"Thank you honey. Goodnight i hope you sleep well."

She smiled and nodded "I know I will with that awesome bed."

He chuckled "ah well you won't be sleeping in there tonight."

She frowned slightly "why not?"

He smiled "cuz that's mine and Liv's bed."

"Ohh," she said nodding and he slightly smiled "the bed you'll be on is comfortable though and big you'll like it I promise."

She nodded with a smile and he took Izzabella's arm gently "night honey," he said again.

"Night Mr. Elliot," she said as once they were gone Liv lead her to the guest bathroom and everyone went about their nighttime routines.

10:25 PM.

"Were you able to get it all out?" Elliot asked while putting his dirty clothes from the day into the dirty clothes hamper.

"Yeah but I ended up having to cut it there was to much it was all in her bangs," she said from the bed.

Elliot nodded and sighed "kids right?"

She nodded "definitely but we wouldn't have it any other way."

"No we wouldn't," he said agreeing as he climbed into the bed "you think Amaro and Rollins are having a good date night?"

She smiled "anything would be better than the last time we saw them together."

"Aint that the truth. She knows not to bring her dog tomorrow right?"

"Yeah I told her."

"Good I don't ever wanna scrub the couch as much as I did the day she left last time again."

She nodded "I hear that the smell dogs give off is disgusting."

He nodded "it sure is, did Simon ever message you back?"

She sighed "he said he'd see."

Elliot sighed "the least he could have done was given you a yes or no answer."

Olivia shrugged "hey at least this time he actually answered my text that's a step forward from last time."

Elliot nodded "true. I love how you see the positive in every situation you know that?" he said as he then gave her a gentle kiss.

She returned it then smiled "I try I hate being down so I try."

He nodded "I know baby," he said.

She nodded "you gonna be grilling early tomorrow?"

He shook his head "I'm not starting till around noon or so."

She nodded and moved her head onto his chest "I love you El."

"Love you too Liv. Sleep well," he said as they then promptly crashed.

July 4th, 12:50 PM.

"Can we play outside now mommy?" Izzabella begged as Olivia was mopping the living room floor.

"Baby I can't keep an eye on you guys and clean too give me a few more minutes please."

"Mr. Elliot's out there," Zara chimed in.

"You're right he is but he's working on the barbecue. Patience girls just show a little patience."

"Where's sissy Lizzie?" Izzabella asked.

"She's in her room talking to one of her friends."

"Can't she play with us?"

"Baby she's on the phone with her friend she doesn't wanna play right now maybe she will later," she said as her phone then went off "motion detected, back door. Motion detected, back door," it said and she froze for a second then quickly grabbed it and looked at it.

She sighed in relief seeing that it was just Bernie "Zara would you go open the door please?" she asked as she went back to mopping.

Zara ran off and a minute later Bernie walked over "wow you guys have a beautiful home Olivia... it's so clean..."

She smiled "thank you I've been working hard on it this morning."

Bernie nodded "that's really unnecessary dear I think I could probably eat off the floor right now."

Liv nodded with a smile "that's what I'm aiming for. How was your drive?"

"It was great I saw so many skyscrapers on my way here. I love looking at the skyscrapers they're so beautiful. Has Elliot been helping you at all? When he was with Kathy a lot of the time he would just sit on the couch and watch tv while she cleaned. He hasn't done that today has he?"

"No he hasn't he's been marinading the barbecue and cooking all morning but I have to say if anyone deserves a lazy day it's him."

"That's sweet of you dear. I brought a two leader of cherry cola where would you like for me to put it?"

She smiled slightly "in the fridge would be great, thank you."

"You're more than welcome," she said as she put it on the middle shelf then walked back over "you look a lot better than you did the last time I saw you."

"I feel a lot better I'm getting a little better every day."

She nodded "I can tell it when you guys were at my house last time there was no light in your eyes. I kept trying to cheer you up but it never worked then you left."

"Mama!" Elliot admonished as he had come in to wash his hands and check on Liv "it's alright El she's only speaking the truth," she told him then looked back to Bernie "you're right I didn't a lot happened I was dealing with that. I'm still dealing with it but I'm trying my best to be happy and normal again."

She nodded "that's really great dear. Whose the little one who answered the door? She seemed really sweet."

She smiled "that's Izzabella's friend Zara," she said while putting the mop away as she heard the kids follow Elliot back outside.

She nodded "where's Lizzie? She hasn't gone back to Florida has she?"

"She hasn't I don't think she's going back either. Not to live anyway El got her enrolled into Hudson university for next semester. She's just in her room."

She nodded "I'm glad she'll be staying here she hated Florida."

Olivia nodded slightly "I know she did. Feel free to take your shoes off and make yourself at home everyone else is gonna be another hour or so but we've got a great cable package and I'm sure you'll be able to find something you like on there."

She nodded and had a seat in Elliot's lazy boy recliner that he had insisted on buying but never used as Liv smiled and went into the kitchen to work on the potato and fruit salads "Olivia!" Bernie called five minutes later.

"Yes?" she called.

"I don't understand... I don't understand how this remote works I've mashed every button but it won't work."

"I'll be right there!" she called as she washed her hands then went over and quickly figured out the problem "you have to point it that way," she said showing her as she had been pointing it straight in front of her instead of at the tv.

"Oh okay thank you Olivia."

"You're welcome," she said as she went back to the kitchen just as Lizzie came out of her bedroom and the next little while was smooth sailing.

1:40 PM.

"Liv! Hey it's good to see you it's been a few weeks you look well!" Cragen said as he greeted her and gave her a friendly hug.

She smiled, put her knife down and hugged him back "I'm feeling much better a lot more like myself it's good to see you too captain."

He chuckled "when we're not working it's Don. Just call me Don."

She smiled and nodded "I'll try. El and the girls are outside I'm just chopping up some cucumber and watermelon to take out there."

He nodded "I saw them Fin's out there with them Izzabella and Zara are having a blast on the slip and slide. You want a hand with that?"

"Sure," she said with a smile as he nodded and put the napkins and plates he and Fin had brought down then moved to help her.

"Olivia!" Bernie called when they were around the half way point.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Can I have more lemonade?"

"Has she not got two arms and legs?" Cragen whispered.

Liv just shrugged "I'll be right there with it!"

"Thank you!" Bernie called and Liv just sighed to herself "we told people two she got here at 10 till 1. That wouldn't bother me any but she's slowing me down asking for things every five minutes," she whispered.

Cragen nodded understanding "I'll keep working on this you just fix her lemonade."

She nodded "thanks c...," she caught herself "Don."

Cragen chuckled at her near slip up "no problem Liv," he said as she then stepped away and fixed it.

"Thank you dear I think I'm gonna take it outside. Days was really good today I saw you were recording it."

She nodded "sounds good. Yeah I did I record them every day then watch several in a row when I'm in the mood."

Bernie nodded and took a sip of her drink "Olivia why do you keep writing my name on these cups?"

"So no one mistakes your cup as their's," she said with a smile.

She just nodded and sighed "you're to organized you know that?"

Olivia nodded "that's what a lot of people say but me and El have tried several different ways doing these get togethers and this is the one that works for us."

Bernie just nodded and the front door opened "I come bearing chocolate cupcakes and apple pie!" Rollins said.

Olivia smiled smelling the delicious aroma right away "those smell amazing Rollins! Put them in the fridge so they don't get hot?"

"Sure thing," she said and Liv nodded and followed her in there "how was last night?"

"Ah it was amazing girl the makeup sex was soooo..."

"Don't finish that sentence," Cragen said seriously but he smiled a few seconds later "I'm glad you two are friends again though truly."

"We're getting there," Liv said and Rollins nodded "Liv I should give you the heads up Carisi's here."

She smiled "that's great it'll be good to get to know him better."

She nodded "I agree but..."

Liv frowned "what is it Amanda?"

"He's on call so he brought his"-

"Ohh.." she said as she gave a knowing nod "I-it's fine it has to be I-I have to get used to them again someday right? May as well be today," she said nodding to herself a few times "you want some lemonade? Or we have cherry Cola, water or tea?"

"Lemonade sounds good girl. You sure you're okay?"

"Y-Yeah," she said as a grim looking Elliot walked in and straight over to her "Liv, baby I need to talk to you," he said softly.

She poured Rollins a glass then handed her a sharpie "w-write your name on the cup please," she said as she then turned to Elliot "I-I already know."

He nodded slightly, wiped his dirty hands on his genes then pulled her aside and wrapped an arm around her gently "you gonna be okay? Because if you aren't okay with this you just tell me and I'll tell him to lock the stuff up in his car."

"I-It's fine it has to be."

He shook his head "you don't have to force yourself into anything you aren't comfortable with especially at your own home."

She nodded "I-I know but I'm gonna try and handle it. If I get to where I can't I'll tell you I promise."

He nodded "and it'll be so I can tell him to put them away? You won't leave the get together to avoid causing waves?"

"I won't I'll only do that if I really need to do it not for something that can be easily fixed."

He nodded, sighed in relief then kissed her temple gently "you smell like smoke and a hint of barbecue sauce El," she said.

"Sorry honey... I can go change but"-

She shook her head "I wasn't criticizing I was just saying."

He chuckled slightly and nodded his head "you ready to go out there? Only people who haven't shown up yet are Simon's bunch and Munch."

She nodded "let me see if Don finished slicing the watermelon if he's done I'll come."

He nodded and a minute later she walked over with the slices in a large bag and they walked outside together, Rollins and Cragen not far behind them.

2:24 PM.

"Sorry I'm late I was at TNT for 2 hours!" Munch said as the entire bed of his truck was loaded down with fireworks.

"My god Jon how many did you get?" Elliot asked.

He smiled "50 mortars, 10 packs of firecrackers, 30 artillery shells, 250 whistling rattlers, 10 grab bags and 150 bottle rockets."

Elliot's mouth dropped open in shock "you know we can't shoot them off here right? There are to many houses nearby?" Liv said after a minute.

"Yeah I know I figured we could drive out to Vally falls later tonight."

"T-That works for us," she said and El nodded "h-how much did you spend Jon?"

"800 bucks. I wanted to spend it though."

"I would hope so," he said and Bernie smiled "don't pay any attention to him he's a cheapskate always has been."

Munch chuckled as Carisi walked back from inside the house, his gun still holstered on his hip and his handcuffs hanging off the side of his belt as Liv put her hand on Elliot's knee underneath the table "you planning on being called out there Carisi?" Munch asked.

"I'd touch your hand but mine aren't clean," El whispered regretfully and Carisi chuckled at Munch "no but it's always better to be prepared right?"

Liv nodded and he tapped his foot against the wood gently "sure is," Munch said.

Carisi nodded and Rollins smiled "whose ready for some drinks?"

"I'm not bringing them out till later," Elliot said.

Rollins frowned and Cragen gave her a stern look "you can't drink anyway because you're on call."

"But cap..."

He shook his head "no buts if you drink I'll write you a rip."

She sighed heavily and crossed her arms as a truck pulled in and a car followed in behind it "were you guys expecting anyone else?" Cragen asked.

"My brother said he might come it might be them."

Cragen nodded as Elliot glanced to her "I've gotta flip the meat baby," he whispered.

Olivia nodded and moved her hand from his knee and he stood "aunt Livia!" Tie said with a bright smile as he barreled over to her.

"Hey buddy it's been so long! How are you doing?" she asked with a bright smile as she pulled him into her arms and hugged him tight.

He held on to her tightly "good! I got a knew truck."

"You did?" she asked excitedly.

"Mmhmm it's black," he said as his sister nodded from slightly behind him "vroom vroom!"

Olivia smiled "it goes vroom vroom?"

"Vroom vvroom!"

She just smiled "come on over here honey it's been so long you've gotten so big," she said as she put Tie down.

Elliot retook his seat and wiped his hands the best he could with a wet-wipe as little Olivia stepped a little further back shyly "aww it's okay honey that's just your uncle Elliot."

"Hi there," he cooed with a soft smile and she just glanced timidly at all the other strangers as Tracey walked over "sorry guys she's not super great with strangers especially after"-

"That's okay we totally understand," Liv said as Tracey pulled her into her arms and Simon walked over "Olivia," he greeted.

"Simon! Hey I'm glad you guys could make it!"

He nodded "yeah me too... I uhh heard about you know what happened with..." he shook his head angrily "b-but I didn't know what to say so..."

"It's fine Simon I understand how was the drive?" she asked trying to change the subject.

"Fine the GPS lead me straight here you have a nice place Olivia."

She smiled slightly "thank you you want me to show you guys around?"

"Sure," he said as she nodded, stood and lead the way "I'm so glad he finally showed up for her," Elliot said looking at Cragen.

Cragen sighed "I've never liked him Elliot he's used her since he met her so what do you think the catch is?"

"Hopefully none. He really is a good guy cap he's just gotten dealt crappy hands all his life."

Cragen nodded "I hope things go well I really do but they probably won't so just make sure you're there for her through the fallout okay?"

Elliot nodded "you know I will be but you also know I'm not gonna discourage her from having something to do with the only real blood relative she has left," he said as now their conversation was whispered.

"Izzabella is her blood relative."

"Yeah but you know what I mean," he said as Cragen just nodded warily and light chatter began again.

xxxxx

"My god you have so much cookware..." Tracey said as her gaze darted between the waffle maker, toaster oven, deep fryer, George Forman grill, milkshake blender and air fryer.

Liv smiled "El loves to cook some of the stuff he makes is better than what you could get in any restaurant."

"Elliot never seemed like the cooking type to me," Simon said.

"He's changed a lot since he retired... If I'm being honest with you a lot's changed Simon."

He nodded slightly "like the ring on your finger?"

She shook her head "that was there last year you just didn't notice."

He nodded slightly as his gaze lowered a little in shame "so this is our din," she said walking on.

"It's so beautiful... This hole place is beautiful," Tracie said.

"Thank you," Liv said with a smile as Amaro walked in with a crying Izzabella in his arms "what's wrong?" she asked immediately turning her focus to them.

"H-Hurts... M-Mommy it hurts..." she cried.

"What hurts baby?" she asked softly as Simon stared shocked that she had a kid.

She just continued to cry "she scraped her knee where's your first aid kit?" Amaro asked.

Olivia walked over to them "I'll take her," she said as she cradled her in her arms "shhhh it's okay my love, it's okay it's okay you're okay..."

"H-Hurts..."

"I know baby I'm gonna take you upstairs and look at it okay?" she said as she gave Simon and Tracie an apologetic look.

Tracie shook her head dismissively "it's okay really take care of your daughter."

Olivia nodded and rushed off as Simon glanced at Amaro "I remember meeting you at the station you're Liv's partner right?"

Amaro nodded "yeah," he said.

Simon nodded and Nick just smiled "why don't we all head back outside? They have a slide, swing and slip and slide that I'm sure your little ones will love."

He nodded "sounds great... I-I need to ask my sister's been taken care of after that man took her right?" he whispered.

Amaro nodded "Elliot's amazing to her she's had everything she's needed and she's come a long way."

Simon sighed in relief then nodded "I wanna pway mommy! Pway daddy!" Tie said.

"Alright buddy we're going we're going," Tracie said with a soft smile and they all walked back outside.

3:50 PM.

"Hey sweetheart whatcha doing?" Liv asked softly as she was heading towards the deck when she saw little Olivia wandering around in the garden.

"Pretty," she said quietly.

Olivia smiled "it sure is honey. You wanna come with me? Join the others?"

"Mama bye bye."

"She did? Where'd she go?..."

"Bye bye..."

Olivia nodded "I'm sure she'll come right back. Lets go see uncle Elliot I bet he knows where she went," she said scooping her up.

She nodded slightly and laid her head on her shoulder "tired," she whispered.

Liv nodded and rubbed her back while walking over "hi there," Elliot cooed at little Olivia again as he used the sweetest voice he could muster and smiled at her softly.

"Awww you going soft on us?" Fin teased and Elliot glared at him slightly "don't even," he whispered.

Fin just chuckled as she smiled at him shyly and Liv smiled "there we go that's progress! Can you tell him your name?"

"Olivia," she whispered.

Elliot nodded and smiled as his heart melted "that's exactly what this world needs is another Olivia in it hmm? I bet you're gonna grow up to be just like your aunt," he cooed.

Liv blushed and Olivia reached her small arms out towards him as he gently took her and cradled her to his chest "awww," Rollins cooed.

Cragen, Munch and Fin just smiled as Liv snapped a picture "where are Simon and Tracie? She seemed a little upset because Tracie had apparently left?" she whispered to El.

He rocked the now almost asleep Olivia "Simon's over there with Amaro, Carisi and the other kids Tracie went to TNT to buy some sparklers. Where's Izzabella?" he whispered.

"Napping I bandaged her knee then gave her some children's Tylenol and she fell asleep."

He nodded slightly "the food'll be ready in a little while."

She nodded "sounds good," she said with a smile and everyone was quiet and listened to the radio while little Olivia slept.

xxxxx

Simon took turns tossing Zara and Tie into the air then catching them as Amaro and Carisi watched on "I gotta say I don't know him but from what I'm seeing right now cps's decision was a crock," Carisi said.

"It was Liv was torn up about it for weeks after it happened."

Carisi nodded "I bet she was I mean he's her brother."

Amaro nodded as Rollins walked over "you guys having fun? I can relieve you Nick if you want me to you've been on kid duty all afternoon."

"We are and nah it's okay I like watching them play."

She nodded as she then glanced over at Simon "hey I thought I'd let you know you're little girl's napping if you wanna..."

He nodded and put Tie down "I'll go check on her. Where is she?"

"She's on the deck with Liv and them Elliot Stabler has her."

Simon nodded "thanks," he said walking off as Tie wandered over to Carisi "hi," he said brightly.

"Hi there what's your name?"

He smiled "I'm Tie."

Carisi nodded "I'm sonny nice to meet you."

Tie chuckled "that's a funny name. What's that?" he asked pointing at his handcuffs.

He smiled "those are my handcuffs I use them for work."

He nodded "can I play with them?"

Carisi nodded "sure why not," he said as he unclipped them from his belt and they played with them together while Amaro and Rollins played hot potato with Zara over by the slide.

5:05 PM.

"El I'm gonna go get Izzabella and bring the drinks out here," Liv said since the food was about done as the kids were popping snapping pops nearby.

"Okay," he said with a smile as when he saw Carisi approaching handcuff free he sighed in relief "looks like he finally put his cuffs in the car," he whispered.

"Thank god," she said relieved as Elliot smiled "agreed but you did great though."

She nodded "having everyone around helped, be right back," she said as she walked off and Elliot just smiled, neither one of them aware that a child had a prank in mind.

"Mommy!" Izzabella said with a smile as she was sitting on the couch when she walked in.

"Hey baby have you been up a while?"

She shook her head and Liv nodded "does your knee feel better?"

"Mmhmm," she said with a smile.

Liv nodded "that's great baby, head on out to the deck I need to grab some drinks then I'll be right behind you."

"Okay," she said with a bright smile as she ran off and Liv hummed slightly to herself while walking to the refrigerator as she opened it and reached in to grab the drinks.

Tie watched her open it from behind her with Carisi's handcuffs in hand this is gonna be so funny. She's gonna laugh so much he thought to himself as he quickly cuffed one side to the refrigerators handle then closed the other one around her left wrist once it was in his reach as he stood there then and waited for her to laugh.

As soon as Olivia felt the cool metal on her wrist she grew wide eyed and the tighter it got the more scared she became this isn't real it's your PTSD, I-it's your PTSD, she tried to tell herself as she kept a hold of one of the two leaders and tried to move away from the fridge.

When she couldn't get away she grew even more panicked as she pinched herself lightly hoping that would get her out of whatever headspace she was in but that didn't work either so she finally reopened her eyes and looked down, seeing then that she was in fact handcuffed to the refrigerator "i-is anyone here?"

Tie didn't respond as he waited for her to laugh "I-I know someone must be in here w-whose in here w-why did you do this?"

He started to get nervous as he moved out of her line of sight just as she whipped her head around "E-E-Elliot!!! ELLIOT! Elliot!!!!!" she finally yelled as loudly as she could seeing no one as she tried to control her terror.

Tie frowned to himself more puzzled than ever from where he was standing she was supposed to laugh why isn't she laughing? he wondered to himself.

A minute more ticked by with no response and she was getting more and more terrified "E-E-Elliot!!! Elliot help Elliot please help!!!"

No one responded again and at that point she began to struggle furiously to try and escape as after trying that for a few minutes and almost breaking her wrist again she finally just slumped to the floor and wept as flashbacks took over and Tie just stood away from her perplexed and scared to do anything.

5:20 PM.

"Has anybody seen Liv? She's been inside for over ten minutes," Elliot asked.

Cragen, Fin and Munch shook their heads "maybe she's cleaning Izzabella up?" Tracie suggested.

"No Izzabella's playing with Zara and your daughter."

She nodded "I can go check on her if you like."

He nodded "please? She might just need a little help knowing her she's trying to figure out a way to carry everything out here at once."

She stood, chuckled and walked off as Fin sighed "you check on her to much man you know that?"

Elliot shook his head "I think I've found a good balance."

"If you say so," he said as they started taking the food off the grill together.

xxxxx

"Olivia? Olivia do you need me to grab something?" she asked as she approached the kitchen.

There was no response and she frowned "your husband sent me in here to check on you are you okay?"

She was met with silence again as she frowned and walked into the kitchen I'm not intruding her husband knows I'm in here she told herself as she approached the fridge "Olivia? You in here?" she called again.

She was met with the sound of shallow breathing as she looked around for the source "my god what the hell? Olivia how did this happen?" she asked when she saw her cuffed to the fridge, her wrist bleeding and her laying in the floor curled into a ball.

Olivia curled further away seeing visions of Lewis in her head "L-Lewis n-no s-stop," she whispered.

Tracie frowned in shock as she turned away from her and saw Tie "Tie honey? Do you know how this happened?"

"N-No... N-No mama I-I don't," he lied in terror.

Tracie nodded slightly "I-I'm gonna go get uncle Elliot you go back outside and play with the other kids okay?"

"O-O-Okay," he said as once she was gone he tossed the key hurriedly then ran out.

"Elliot I-I need you to come inside! I-I need you to come inside Olivia's been handcuffed to the refrigerator," she said as she walked up to him.

"What?!!" he said angrily as he stood up quickly.

"I-I don't know how or why but that's what's happened to her and she's not okay..."

Elliot ran as fast as his legs would carry him to the house "there's absolutely no acceptable reason for this to have happened whoever did this is in a world of trouble!" he bellowed.

"Please calm down s-she's gonna need you calm trust me on that..."

Elliot said nothing to that "did you see anybody in the house besides her?"

"O-Only Tie and he didn't know how it happened."

Elliot nodded his head then shook it several times in anger as he walked into the house then made it into the kitchen quickly "Olivia? Baby it's okay you're okay," he said soothingly although his hands were still shaking with rage.

"L-Lewis no p-please no p-please don't..."

"He's not here baby... He's not here I swear to god he's not here..."

She continued to cry as her arm began trying to wrench free "please don't do that anymore baby please y-you're gonna hurt yourself, please," he murmured.

"Is there anything I can do?" Tracie asked wanting to help in some way as Olivia was starting to hear voices around her and she was starting to come back into awareness a little.

"Find the damn key," he snapped as Olivia jumped and tensed more and Cragen and Fin walked in "Olivia, Olivia sweetheart," Cragen whispered gently while Fin and Tracie looked as Elliot stepped away for a moment.

"C-C-Captain?"

"I'm right here Liv, right here."

"W-W-Why? W-Who w-why?"

"I don't know who or why right now but I promise you we're gonna find out," he said as Elliot walked back over and kneeled down to her level as he gently dabbed at her face with a cool rag "we're right here baby, right here just focus on us okay? You're safe..."

She nodded slightly "p-please take it off me El, p-please..."

"I'm going to the moment I have the key," he whispered as he stroked her hair "we don't see any key!" Fin called.

"Whoever did this must have taken it with them then! Go get Carisi's key from him!"

"Who the hell would have done this? Nobody new's been here!"

"Whoever it was has a fucking death wish," Elliot said.

"Hey," Cragen chided and Elliot shook his head at him "why would they handcuff her then leave? I don't understand that at all..." Tracie said.

"Neither do I," Cragen said as Liv began trying to wriggle her wrist free again "baby do you know who did this?" El asked softly as he took her cuffed hand in his and rubbed it gently to stop her.

"N-No I-I don't I-I asked if someone was here and why b-but no one ever said anything."

He nodded slightly and continued rubbing her hand and stroking her hair as Fin ran back in "he didn't have it he said he gave his handcuffs to Tie apparently he asked to keep playing with them and Carisi said yes."

Elliot glared angrily "so your son did do this," he said looking at Tracie.

"H-He said he didn't h-he said he didn't know how it happened."

"Kids lie all the time especially when they're scared and have done something they know they shouldn't have," Cragen said.

Tracie sighed "I-I'm so sorry h-he shouldn't have even been playing with them... He's gonna be grounded I promise you that..."

"Good he should be," Elliot said as Liv wriggled her wrist around again "easy baby," he whispered as he then looked to Fin "go up to our bedroom, in the walk in closet there's a bag in the very back behind my suits. It's got two sets of handcuffs with keys in the bottom of it. Grab one of the keys and bring it down here please."

Fin nodded and rushed off and Elliot sighed in relief "just another minute longer baby you're so brave I'm right here."

She nodded slightly "m-my wrist really hurts."

"Maybe we should take her to a doctor once she's free," Cragen said.

Elliot shook his head "if I can avoid it I'm not doing it they'll think I did it and that'll just cause her more stress."

Cragen just nodded "you'll take her if she wants to go right?"

"Of course," he said adamantly and she frowned "I-I don't wanna go to the hospital."

"You don't have to it's not broken I'll take care of it myself."

She nodded slightly as Simon walked in "I got Olivia and Tie settled at the picnic table and sergeant Munch said he'd pass out the food do you guys need me to do anything at all?"

Cragen nodded "if you and Tracie could take the drinks, plates and napkins out there that would help us out a lot."

Simon nodded and the two of them moved to do that "how the hell did this happen?" he asked Tracie as Fin came down with the key.

"Tie... Apparently Tie did it," she told him as they were walking off "here you go Elliot," Fin said handing it to him.

Elliot took it from him gratefully "okay baby I have the key I'm gonna take it off you now okay?"

Olivia nodded quickly and Elliot unlocked the cuffs then gently freed her wrist as she flung her arms around him right away and he held her close "you're safe honey... You're safe it's alright everything's alright..."

"You want me to head back outside?" Cragen asked Elliot now that she was free and in his arms as her head was buried into his chest.

He nodded slightly as he stroked Liv's hair "will you check on my mom and Lizzie? Make sure they eat they've been hanging by themselves for a while," he asked as he then used his other hand to gesture to Fin "take this key back upstairs where it belongs please?" he asked and once both men were gone Olivia allowed herself to fully break down in Elliot's arms.

Elliot swayed gently with her as he rubbed her back and stroked her hair "I know baby, I know this should have never happened I'm so sorry it did but you're safe, you're safe."

She nodded slightly "I-I was doing so good Elliot... S-So good a-and this has hurt my recovery so much..."

Elliot shook his head as he struggled to find the right words to say "you're right you were and you still are... Baby you still are this was scary and traumatizing for you I know it was and if it wasn't a kid who did this to you I'd beat their ass but Liv you got through it... You got through it and I'm here and I've got you and we can get through anything together right?"

She nodded slightly as she was calming down a bit "mmhmm we can."

He nodded with a smile and continued to hold her as after a couple minutes more she began to try and wriggle free so he gently put her down "why don't you go sit down wherever you'll feel the most comfortable and I'll come behind you with the first aid kit?" he suggested.

Olivia frowned "I-I can do it myself we have a lot of guests outside."

"I know you can baby but please let me? I-I need to be overprotective right now."

She nodded slightly at that "O-Okay," she whispered as she made her way over to the couch and he went to get the stuff.

"You know I can send everyone home right? All you've gotta do is say the word and the four of us can eat barbecue on the sofas and me and you can cuddle for the rest of the night," he said as he applied cream to the broken skin on her wrist with a gentle hand.

"As nice as that sounds that would be a little rude of us wouldn't it? Cuz I think it would be."

"I don't think it would be no but me and you usually disagree about stuff like this," he said with a soft smile.

She nodded and chuckled slightly as he was relieved to see it "you're running this ship baby I'll do whatever you want me to do," he said softly.

"L-Let them stay I don't want this ruining the holiday if we wanna cuddle before the night is through we can just use one of our oversized lounge chairs a little PDA doesn't hurt anyone as long as it's appropriate."

He nodded "we're supposed to go to Vally falls in a little while remember?"

She nodded "the chair'll fit on your tailgate won't it?"

"It will," he said as he gently wrapped nonstick gauze around her wrist "is that comfortable? Not to loose not to tight?"

She nodded "it's good," she said as he nodded relieved "you ready to eat?"

"I-I don't know if I can eat yet but I'm ready to go outside."

He nodded "alright baby," he said as he moved from his kneeling position, grabbed the desserts then they headed out together.