A/N: Picture the italicized memories as split scenes. Jack and the kids are having the same conversation with their parents, just at different times. Elliot's responses are italics, Liv's are bold italics.


"Guys I don't wanna fight with your mom."

"I don't wanna fight with your dad.."

"It's necessary!" Jack exclaimed. "You guys don't talk and you need to have a knock down drag out fight, and then a heart to heart, because that'll lead into Act 7, which leads into Act 8."

"Go on," El said, sitting back with his arms crossed.

"Dad, after you guys talk… get it all out in the open, you have to make a commitment to fixing it. A real, dedicated commitment."

"Act 7?"

"Step 4?"

"Exactly," Jack nodded with a grin. "Now you're catching on!"

"Okay… so what's 8?"

"Do I even wanna know what Step 5 is?"

"Momma," Jack said, kneeling down in front of her. "You gotta ask dad to come home. You have to fix this under one roof."

She blinked quickly and brushed back his short hair. "When did you become to smart?" She whispered.

"It's a skill," he said in his signature tone that made everyone laugh.

Elliot smiled small and stood, putting his hands on his son's shoulders. "Jack… this is gonna be really hard… painful. For not just us, but you guys too. You, buddy," he whispered.

Jack sucked in a deep breath. Despite his aloof and funny exterior, he'd taken the breakup the hardest and was actually the most sensitive Stabler kid.

"I'm not worried… I mean… I'm a little worried, but hey that's what therapy is for right?" He said with a half laugh that faded when his dad gave him a look.

Clearing his throat, he looked down and nodded. "If one or two bad days is what it takes then…" he shrugged. "Please try, dad…"

El leaned in and kissed his head, pulling him in for a tight hug. "I promise."

Jack melted into the hug before realizing that all of his siblings were around, and pulling back quickly. "Alright man don't make it weird," he cried, wiping his eyes and making everyone laugh.

"Okay… therapy, knock down drag out, make up, move in… what's 9 & 10?"

"Gala, therapy, fight, make up, dad comes home… baby, that's not going to fix everything."

"Mom," Jack said with a grin. "Let him come home, and then leave the rest up to dad," he winked.


It was 6:45 am and still dark out as Jack sat on Liz's couch.

His eyes were puffy and he'd slept barely 4 hours.

She knew he was steaming, and let him be. Let him stew and be upset like she knew he needed.

Her eyes widened when her phone buzzed with a text from him.

J: I hate them.

N: No you don't stop it.

J: No I do. It's shit.

Liz noticed immediately that he was texting in their family group chat, not the siblings one.

She started to speak, but then her phone buzzed in a separate group from with all 5 older kids.

E: They don't realize. Just let them do it.

D: Agreed.

M: Yes

K: Yep.

L: Okay

Glancing back to Jack again, she winced a bit as he hit send and tossed his phone in his lap, and her phone buzzed.

J: Fuck this. Fuck this! It's so insane. They're so stubborn. Mom is being a bitch and dad is being a pussy and we're in the middle. They have no idea what they're putting us through!!!! Dad first because he refused therapy till it was too late, and mom now because she refuses to let him in.

N: I agree. And you know what, fucking having Tucker over last night and dad flirting with that blonde? What was that?!

N: You're right.

J: I'm worried about Max, too!! He's a baby!!! Fucks sake.

D: Guys… what's gonna make this better? A divorce or dad moving home.

J: Dad moving home!

N: Yep. A divorce isn't gonna change a damn thing.

J: They'll still be BFFs. They're still gonna have sex and talk every day.

N: Divorce will confuse Max and hurt us more.

J: Yep!!!!!!

M: Okay Jacky, Noah… you guys need to sleep. Please? It's been a long night

J: Too upset.

N: Same.

Liz stood finally and set her phone down, plucking Jack's from his hand.

"Lay down for 5 minutes. If you're not asleep I'll give you your phone back."

"Fine," he grumbled, doing as he was told and passing out almost Immediately

Liz texted again in the older kids chat.

L: Jacks asleep.

E: Noah too. I'm gonna text dad.

M: Already putting them in a separate chat with us.

Just five minutes later, Maureen texted in a chat with the older kids and their mom and dad.

M: We let them keep going for a reason. Your boys need you… both of you. We need you both. You needed to hear the hard truth. Make the right choice, guys. This has gone on too long.

M: And don't you dare tell them you know about the chat.


Jack slept hard, waking only when Liz sat beside him and began to gently play with his hair.

"Noon, buddy… gotta eat something," she whispered.

"Tired," he sighed and she nodded. "I know… but try for me?"

"Hm," he sighed, sitting up slowly and rubbing his eyes, a waft of coffee and syrup hitting his nose.

"You make pancakes?" He asked hopefully, and she nodded and smiled. "Of course."

"Best," he said and she laughed. "I know."

Lizzie was a pre-teen when Jack was born, and he immediately became "her baby". While Noah, Jack, and Eli were three peas in a pod, she and Jack were truly best friends.

"Talk to dad? Mom?" He asked softly, and Liz nodded. "Dads at home and mom just texted to check on you… she wants to know if she can come over? Do you wanna see her?"

His lip quivered and he nodded. "Please," he asked, clearing his throat.

"Okay, I'll text her. Eat something please?" She nodded to the kitchen.

"Yes boss," he chuckled.


Elliot had gone home to get a little bit of rest, setting his alarm for 11, though he accidentally slept through it, waking up at almost 1.

With a groan, he rolled over and read the family chat first, and then the messages from Maureen.

His tears were immediate and he took a few minutes to compose herself before texting Noah.

E: Checking on you. I love you, son.

N: Love you dad. Just trying to cool off.

E: I understand. Get some rest and call me if you wanna talk.

N: Will do.

N: We just want you home dad. We want this all to end.

E: I know buddy. I know.

Elliot sighed and set his phone down beside him, screwing his eyes shut and thinking about the previous night.

Thinking about texting Olivia.

Thinking about going to her.

Thinking about making up.

He groaned instead, though, and rolled into the middle of the bed, facing his wall away from his door.

He worked on collecting his thoughts for a bit before he heard his front door unlock.

Remaining silent, he sucked in a deep breath as steps he knew all too well filled the space and his bedroom door opened.

Liv was wearing leggings and one of Elliot's old t-shirts, and very quietly, sat on the side of the bed with one leg tucked under her, looking at him snuggled under the covers.

Placing a hand on his arm, she spoke softly.

"I love the way our sons look at you… how you're they're hero and best friend. How they want to be like you in every way. How Jack wants to fight bad guys and Noah wants to work on the psychology side cause he knows your squad needs it. How Eli is already almost finished with the academy and so excited to have you pin him, and how Dickie is the second best father in the world, cause he learned from the best."

She started to rub his arm softly when his breathing indicated tears were forming.

"I love how our daughters are always looking for men that are just like you: loyal, faithful, kind, loving; always putting them first. How they come to you on the worst days because they're all a bunch of daddy's girls," she whispered with a smile.

Running her hand slowly up to his neck and jaw, she cupped her hand lightly there and spoke again.

"I love how far you've come. How much you've grown. That you go to therapy twice a week," she whispered, making him turn back to look at her, shocked that she knew.

"I love that you've worked so hard over the last few years… to be my best friend even when I turned to others. To be my lover even though I was a jerk…" she trailed off, letting some tears fall.

"Worked to be my confidant and my wine buddy. To hold me when we watch scary movies or when I'm crying at a rom com. To make me laugh harder than anyone else. To make me dinner and send me sweet messages throughout the day…"

He was on his back now, his hand covering her's that had moved to his chest, and she gingerly moved to straddle his lap.

"To be my everything and make up for all the missed time. Elliot the time you've give me over the last 8 years… it's been incredible. It's more than I've ever deserved. I've been your everything, and truthfully? You've been mine…" she paused and choked up fully. "And I'm so sorry I made you feel like anything less."

"Olivia," he breathed, sitting up and wrapping his arms around her tightly as they nuzzled into the other's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry Elliot… I'm so, so fucking sorry," she gasped. "I've been so afraid of losing you that I didn't realize you were there all along," she gasped. "I couldn't see what was in front of me until I almost lost it for good," she sobbed. "I'm so sorry for dragging our babies into this even longer… I'm so sorry."

"I couldn't see it either, Liv," he admitted, shaking his head. "All those years ago, when I lost you the first time... that was how I felt… I'm so sorry Olivia."

She pulled back and covered his mouth with two fingers. "You've apologized enough… so fucking much, actually… you're done. It's my turn," she said, and they nodded in sync.

"And I'm done… I'm done being afraid to love you. I'm done hiding from you. I'm done pushing you away. I'm don't hurting our babies. Because the truth is," she said, pulling back and putting both hands to his cheeks. "You're my person… and I need you, Elliot. I need you and I love you," she whispered

"I love you too baby," he choked out, pressing his lips to her's in a passionate kiss.

"And I want you to come home… tonight. I need you home," she added, pulling back again, but her sentiment only made him want to kiss her more, so he did.

"Our boys need you to come home," she whispered against his lips and he nodded quickly as she pulled back again.

"You'll come home?" She asked, holding his head steady so she could look at him. "Still? After everything," she was in disbelief and he slowly laid her back, her head nearing the end of the bed and his body crushing her in the best way possible.

"After anything," he whispered.

"Elliot," she breathed out, allowing him to kiss and touch her everywhere.

He was slow and succinct, and after several days apart, they were both needy and filled with an insatiable arousal.

"I brought boxes… for you to pack up and bring home," she said as he kissed her neck.

Looking up to her with a giddy smile, he kissed back to her lips, roughly and passionately, and she pushed down his boxer briefs followed by her leggings.

He was moving within her before either realized, both too caught up in the passion of their lips on one another.

"Don't stop… please don't stop," she gasped, as he sped up and raised her leg higher to his hip. "Yes… yes Elliot…"

"Whose are you," he growled against her lips.

"YOUR'S," she screamed when he knelt up to change the angle and fill her even deeper.

He was fucking into her so hard she was being forced towards the edge of the bed, but instead of stopping him, she held onto his arms for support.

"Yours forever!!" She cried out again as she began to flutter around him. "Fuck Elliot," the words tumbled from her lips. "Yours and only fucking yours."

"That's right," he moaned, moving his thumb to her clit and rubbing tight circles until her back was arching and she was constricting him so tightly he couldn't move.

"And I'm your's"


They were dressed a bit later and attempting to pack up his clothes, waving off one another's looks of lust and desire in order to get home more quickly.

Home.

Liv laughed a bit to herself at the drama and insanity and love and passion, not only of the previous 24 hours, but the previous 24 years.

She thought back to her earlier conversation with their Jack; their first baby together who had the quiet sensitivity of his dad, the passion and heart of his mom, and the hard-shelled exterior of them both.


"John… doing okay buddy?" Liv asked, sitting beside him.

He shrugged lightly and leaned into her. "I want dad to come home…"

"I know…"

"Was all this for nothing?" He asked quietly after a moment.

"I hope not… I just spent 200 on moving supplies," she said, nudging him gently and making him smile up to her.

"But I have to ask," she whispered, "did you also come up with a plan for dad?"

"Duh," he said and she laughed softly. "Just make sure he's home when we get home tonight."

"I promise," she said, holding her pinky out to him. "And Jack?"

"Huh?"

"Thank you," she said softly.

He smiled and leaned into her again, getting comfy and closing his eyes.

"Don't thank me yet… two more acts in his plan."

She threw her head back in laughter and nodded. "You're something else… and while I hate that you had to play matchmaker I uh… I'm damn glad you did baby boy."


She was roused from her memory by Elliot's soft touch to her cheek.

"You okay?" He whispered and she bit her lip, nodding. "Perfect… just thinking of that incredible boy we made."

"Ah," he laughed softly. "Should have know he parent trapped you, too."

She smiled.

Big and genuine, giving a little crinkle of her nose. "He said you have a few more 'acts'."

"Little bit more to make up for," he whispered, kissing her cheek. "Come on… let's go home."


Noah looked at his younger brothers with a nod as they stood outside their apartment door. "Listen… no matter what happens, they're adults and they have to make their own decisions. Okay?"

Both Jack and Max nodded quickly, and Noah sighed, opening the door and stepping through the threshold.

The music and laughter that filled the apartment hit them square in the face, as did the smell of his dad's famous vodka sauce.

Max noticed three of their dad's pairs of shoes on the shoe rack first, and looked excitedly up to Jack who was staring at his keys on the key rack.

Noah was looking over them both, staring at the shadows of their parents dramatically ballroom dancing in fits of laughter in the kitchen, blissfully unaware of their presence.

"He came home," Max whispered, leaning back into his brothers who protectively wrapped an arm around him.

"I knew he would," Jack whispered, wiping his eyes.

Nudging his little brother, Noah smiled small. "You know this means we have to plan three surprise dates and a vow renewal right," he whispered to a slowly grinning Jack.

"Yeah… but right now? Let's go enjoy our mom and dad," he smiled, calling hello and making their presence known.