A/N: Thank you for joining me on this one! Stay tuned for a little epilogue next week :)


Without overly explaining why going back to their villa wouldn't be the best idea, El and Liv changed and retreated back to the kid's villa to nap and hangout for a bit.

Max and Jack, though exhausted from the long flight, were over the moon and attached to their parent's side, settling on the couch with them and crashing quickly.

The older kids retired to their respective rooms for a nap, while Noah eventually joined his parents and brothers, chatting quietly before falling asleep himself.

"I can't believe you did all of this," Liv whispered, looking over to him.

"I'd do anything for you," he said seriously, leaning across their boys to peck her lips. "Spent too much damn time not doing it… today Stabler? Today we start anew."

"God I love you," she breathed out, wiping her eyes and leaning over to kiss him.

"Guys," Jack muttered, half awake, "please keep it in your pants."

They both laughed, leaning back and closing their eyes.


The couple and their three youngest were still asleep on the couch until noon or so when Cora came running to them and the older kid's voices began growing louder in the kitchen.

"Waaaake uppppp," Cora sang, crawling up in Jack's lap and leaning into her grandma.

"We're awake," she yawned sleepily, forcing her eyes open to meet her granddaughters bright and smiling face.

"I made mimosas!" Mo called, quickly bringing her parents and Noah each one.

"Woah if Noah gets one, I get one!" Jack said, fully awake now.

"John, the world doesn't need to see you under the influence," Noah quipped and Eli snorted, walking over to cheers his brother and parents.

"Plus, your brain is still developing. We can't damage it more than it already is," Eli added making Noah crack up and Max giggle.

"Boy you gotta pick a side," he said to his little brother who only laughed harder.

"I'm on your side Uncle Jacky," Cora said, hugging his neck tightly.

"Thank you, princess," he said cutely but incredulously, glaring at his brothers playfully and hugging her back.

"That's cause Uncle Jacky is a sucker and gives you anything you want!" Eli laughed and El nodded. "Ain't that the truth!!"

"Listen, she has four uncles and maybe I'm a little competitive? What's wrong with that? Huh? Mom?"

"Nothing wrong with that, baby," she laughed, sipping at her mimosa and standing to hug her three daughters.

"Mom we're sooo happy," Kathleen sighed and Liz nodded. "Forreal… and I already have dresses for you to try on."

"Of course you do," she laughed.

"Alright we're gonna go get ready and do dude stuff at a hotel room while you guys get ready here," Dickie announced. "See you guys at 5, okay?"

"Wait why can't we get ready together?" El asked and Liv smiled, reaching up to kiss him. "Tradition!"

"But-" he tried to protest but was quickly pushed away and towards the door by his youngest daughter.

"Byyyye daddy," Liz sang, shutting and locking the door once all six Stabler boys and the husbands had left.

Turning to her daughters, she couldn't help but blush and press her hands to her face. "I can't believe this, you guys… he really did all this?"

"All by himself!" Mo said with the biggest grin, hugging her tightly. "He loves you so, momma."

She buried her head in her daughter's shoulder, allowing herself to be vulnerable for a moment or two and letting some tears flow.

"Oh mom," Katie breathed, stepping in to join the hug, followed by Liz.

Breathing out a few quiet sobs, she shook her head into her daughter's hair as they hugged her tighter. "I'm sorry," she whispered, laughing pathetically.

"Don't be sorry… mom you've been through so much, but he got it together and he's finally able to do anything for you," Liz smiled.

"I know," she said, pulling back and smiling as she wiped her eyes. "I know…"

"Alright come on! Let's try on dresses!" Mo said with a smile, stepping back.


"Dad I literally can't believe this worked," Jack exclaimed once they'd gotten to a hotel room in the resort where the girls already had matching white shirts and khakis laid out.

"I can," Noah chuckled and Eli nodded. "Yeah for sure… but… wouldn't have been possible without you, bro… thank you," he said, nudging his younger brother.

Jack looked down trying to hide his smile and nodded.

"You know… I'm kinda thirsty… gonna head down to the store thin. Jack, come with?" El asked, noticing the slight change in his boy's demeanor.

"Sure!" He smiled, perking you and following his old man like a baby duckling.

"They're awesome," Eli said once the door shut.

Exhaling, Noah nodded. "Was worried about him…"

"Been worried about all of you," Dickie chimed in. "Guys ok?"

"I'm so happy," Max said sincerely, leaning into Eli who pulled him close. "And I feel like I have my Jack back," he added.

The statement was soft and thoughtful and made all the boys and the husbands look down at him.

He shrugged. "Just is way happier… I missed him."

Noah cleared his throat and looked away for a moment to get his tears at bay. "Me too, buddy," he said finally.


"You seem lighter," El said on the elevator, giving his son a small smile.

"Well, I have lost weight," he said, putting his hands on his permanently lean stomach.

Elliot snorted. "Can you be serious for one second?"

"Dad, I can't I try and I just can't," he sighed, an tinge of drama in his voice.

El just laughed again and put his hand on his shoulder once they got off the elevator, stopping him in his tracks. "I'm serious… you haven't been yourself in a long time."

"Well… to be fair, neither have you or mom," he said, kind of shyly.

"Buddy… I'm so sorry," El began, but Jack shook his head.

"Dad… I know… it's okay, I promise," he said, nudging him. "I'm just glad I have you back in more than one way, ya know," he shrugged.

"Me too, son," he said, voice full of emotion.

Wrapping an arm around his shoulders, the pair walked to the small store in the lobby, picking out some snacks and water in silence.

They'd just paid when El spoke again. "I added an act, kinda… maybe just replaced the dates.."

"Oh?" Jack asked, and El nodded.

"Uh huh… I'll tell you but… it's a surprise, for real."

"I promise," Jack nodded.


"Why am I so nervous," Elliot wondered allowed as he stood up at the make shift alter on the beach.

"I don't know but," Jack piped up from the end of the line before pausing to look down at his watch, "you have another 10 years before you chance messing it up again."

All the boys puffed out stifled snickers.

"I'm not above drowning you," Elliot deadpanned and Jack cackled.

"Where is she," Max sighed, leaning back against Elliot with an impatient groan.

"Oh here they come," Noah said in wonder as soft music started and the girls made their way slowly down the beach wearing shorter white and pink sundresses.

Jet was first, a small grimace on her face that made her brother in laws start laughing hysterically while her husband drooled.

Lizzie followed, beaming, with an already crying Kathleen walking behind her.

Cora skipped behind them, excited dropping petals and spinning for her dad and uncles to show off her pretty dress.

The soft music changed as Maureen walked with her arm locked in Liv's.

She wore a long and flowing white maxi dress and had an updo that was topped off with a delicate flower crown.

Elliot couldn't take his eyes off her, but couldn't stop crying either as all the boys began to get a little emotional too.

When she reached the alter, Maureen fell in line behind her, taking her bouquet, and the pair held each other's hands, immediately getting emotional.

"I've been told by the kids that you two are talkers… so I'm just gonna let you go," the pastor said with a chuckle as everyone joined in.

"You first," she whispered.

"Nuh uh… you."

She smiled and stepped closer to him, laughing when he gave in and wrapped his arms around her hips, hand settling at her lower back.

Taking a deep breath in, she slid her hands up her chest and around his neck, finally making eye contact.

"For almost thirty years you've been my everything," she said, "even when you were gone.. you were the first thing I thought of before I went to bed and the first face I saw before I opened my eyes…"

Her pause and glance down was so that she could catch her breath, and she smiled when his hand slid up the curve of her body to her face to cup her cheek and neck, lifting her chin back up.

"And I prayed and prayed and prayed… that when I woke up it wouldn't just be a dream… that it would be my reality again. And God somehow answered my prayers, and he brought you back to me," she ended on a whisper.

"'S'cause I was praying too," he whispered, "every night… that you would forgive me.. that I'd have the strength to apologize and tell you how sorry I am… how I'd be the perfect man for you and the perfect father to our kids."

"You never had to be perfect… just had to be you," she whispered with a smile. "You is all I've ever needed."

"Well with that… here's to new beginnings," the pastor said as the kids all wiped their eyes.

"I promise, forever," Liv whispered, echoing her original vows.

"I promise, even longer," he replied, echoing his and leaning in to kiss her as the kids cheered and cheered.


The rest of the trip was a blast, but by day nine, both were ready to head home.

"You know baby, as incredible of a trip as that was, I've gotta say im happy to be back in the city," Liv sighed contentedly, settling in the passenger seat for their ride back to their apartment.

"My city girl," El chuckled, reaching for her hand to hold while he drove Eli's car away from the airport.

It was 20 minutes into the ride that she noticed they were going in a different direction than usual, and 30 when she finally spoke up.

"Babe? Where are we going?" She half laughed, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Home," he said casually, pulling onto a street full of Brownstones and parking in front of one.

"Elliot?" She asked, looking at him. "Babe?"

He remained quiet and got out of the car, walking around to open the door for her.

"Elliot," she whispered, sensing the hidden joy in his demeanor as he helped her out and turned her around to look up at the large brownstone before them with a sign on the door marked "sold."

"Welcome home, baby," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her from behind and holding out a pair of silver keys on a key chain.


"Oh?" Jack asked, and El nodded.

"Uh huh… I'll tell you but… it's a surprise, for real."

"I promise," Jack nodded.

Elliot paused while looking at a snack, and then turned back to his boy.

"I bought us a house… brownstone," he said, hint of a smile. "Fresh start… for all of us. We move in next week."

He barely got the final word of the sentence out before Jack was in his arms having dropped all of his snacks haphazardly on the counter beside him.

Laughing softly, Elliot hugged his boy tightly.

"You're a crazy bastard," Jack said into his shirt that was getting more and more damp with his tears.

"Yeah well," Elliot said, breathing out a soft laugh. "Your mom makes me that way most of the time," he said, pushing his son back to look at him.

"Best lesson I can ever give you?" He offered and Jack nodded, wiping his face with the back of his hands.

"Shoot," Jack smiled up at his dad, eyes full of admiration.

"If she makes you this crazy? She's worth every damn second."