The Night Before:

Elliot and Olivia were laying in bed, reading their respective books when Noah came bursting in, tears streaming down his face, and bee-lined for his mom's arms.

They'd just said goodnight to the older boys, and the clock was turning 10:30 as the scene unfolded.

Tossing his book, Elliot ran right into Eli in the doorway on his way to find out what happened.

"What the hell," he growled.

"Wasn't me!" Eli whisper yelled, holding his arms out as the pair went into the kitchen.

"Baby… baby what's wrong," Liv whispered, rocking her baby boy back and forth in her lap as he worked to get his breathing and tears under control.

"N-N-…." He couldn't stop sobbing, so he just held his tightly, patting his back and singing his favorite bedtime melody.

"Eli what happened," Elliot said, crossing his arms.

Eli, now trying to hide his smile, looked down. "We were talking about everything and uh… Nate woke up and…"

"Dada… Eyi…" came a tiny voice from behind them.

Nate was holding his "buddies" his three brothers had gotten him and his blanket. He looked tiny compared to all the things in his arms, and rocked gently back and forth on his footied pajamas.

"Why Noah sad…" he whispered.

"…called Noah well…. Noah," Eli finished with a whisper.

"Oh…" El said with a slight smile of his own.

"He's got your timing," Eli teased softly.

"How 'bout that," chuckled.

"Dada… Eyi?" Nate asked again with a yawn.

"C'mere," El said, crouching down to his level and opening his arms for him.

Nate toddled sleepily to him, curling into his arms with his stuff elephant, bear, and sloth, separating them.

"No sad," he whispered to him.

"Our family has a lot of changes happening…" he began lifting him and setting him on the counter smiling when he laid his head against his stomach.

"Eli is going to college… you have a new sister… and you're growing up, buddy. Sometimes all of these things are a little hard to process. Your big brother is having a hard time with that, but that's okay?"

"Tay sad?"

"It's okay to be sad," Eli confirmed, gently brushing back his brother's hair.

"You know what always makes him feel better though?" El asked softly.

"Nater cuddles," Eli finished, tickling under his chin lightly.

With a sleepy smile, Nate giggled softly and nodded. "Wan Noah," he whispered.

"Let's go get your Noah," he smiled, bringing him back into their bedroom.

Noah was calmer now, and curled up into Liv's side. Stuttered hiccups filled the room as he squeezed his eyes shut, embarrassed at his outburst.

"No," Nate whispered, crawling in between his brother and their mom and snuggling up.

"Hi…" Noah choked softly.

"Tay sad, No," Nate whispered.

"Agreed," Eli nodded, taking his usual spot across the foot of the bed while El laid on his side.

"It's true," he said. "We've got a lot of changes and things happening and it's very okay to be sad… I promise you that."

Noah sniffled again and hugged Nate close to him.

"Just can't believe how big you're getting bud," he whispered.

"Wuh No," he nodded.

"I love you more buddy."

"Everyone okay?" Liv whispered, smiling to shyly to Elliot.

"Yeah," Noah whispered. "Can…" he started and smiled small when Elliot finished his sentence. "Yes you can sleep in here."

"Peep ohber," Nate asked, pointing to all of them.

"I'll sleep in my bed," Eli chuckled

Both his brothers gave him a look and he nodded slowly. "Or I'll get the air mattress and sleep in here?"

They relaxed, smiling, and he shook his head laughing as he and El went to set it up.

"You're wrapped," El said and Eli shrugged. "And who do I get that from."

They got all cuddled up, and just as Elliot was about to shut off the lights, Nate sat up suddenly. "Eyyi!!"

"Ellie has to stay in her bed baby," Liv whispered to him.

On cue, the little one whined on the monitor and Eli cracked up from where he was laying. "Suckers!"

Graduation Day:

"Mooooom where's my tie?" Eli called from his room.

"Baby I have it out here!" She called back, holding it out as he rushed out to grab it.

"Okay… okay I'll see you guys there!" He said, waving and rushing out with his cap and gown in hand.

"Bye buddy," El called laughing and glancing to his wife.

"Think he's nervous?" She asked sarcastically, making El laugh.

"Yeah just a bit. Everything set at Maureen's?"

"Yeah, I told Eli he had to stay till at least 8 and then he could go back out with Jenny."

"Sounds good, considering we're forcing him to spend all of Saturday with us," he chuckled and nodded. "Noah, Nate… c'mon guys," he called, watching Liv fix Ellie's bow.

"Forcing isn't the right word, that boy loves his family," she winked.

The pair shuffled out, Nate with several trucks he'd picked to bring and Noah with their ties.

"Dad can you help?" He asked, and El nodded, "cmere."

Liv watched him kneel before the pair and fix their school-color ties that matched their brother's.

"Ready?" Liv asked once they were done.

"I guess, better get this over with," Noah said, only half kidding.

"Proud of you Bud, you're doing well with this!"

He waved him off and trudged to the car.

The boys attended a smaller Catholic school, so the football field thankfully wasn't too packed and the ceremony wouldn't be too long.

Eli had to bribe his principal, however, for extra graduation tickets for his whole family to attend- it was the joke of his senior class.

Elliot and Liv walked up with the boys ahead of them. Ellie was in her carrier on her momma's chest with her giant bow peaking out.

"Oh there's the princess," came Carl's booming voice. Dickie nudged him out of the way.

"Uh uh, big bro first," he said, kissing Nate and Noah's head before reaching for Ellie.

"I told you you shouldn't have put her in," El laughed and Liv shook her head with a smile, letting Dickie take her.

"Don't be a baby hog, Dickie," Liz called, crossing her arms at her twin as Mo lifted Nate and Noah got distracted with his young nieces and nephews.

"He's always a baby hog, and hey! I'm a big bro, too," Carl said, making Mo laugh. "Tell him, baby."

"Could her bow be any bigger? I literally love it," Kathleen cried as she walked up.

"I wonder who go it for her," Liv teased, hugging her.

"Just saw Eli… he looks so excited!"

"Ohhh my baby boy.. I can't believe it!"

"Oh Livie this is your first kid to graduate!" Dickie said with a smile.

Liv nodded with a sweet smile and blinked a few tears away. "I guess it is!!"

"Mom can I stay at Mo's tonight?" Noah asked, looking over at her from where he was playing with the kids.

"If Mo says it's okay then sure baby."

"My Noah is allllways welcome," Mo sang.

Nate had found Bernie's lap and looked at his parents. "Mama dada tay my bee?"

"Of course you can stay with your bee," Bernie answered for them, laughing when he did a little happy dance.

"He can stay," Kathleen nodded and laughed softly.

"Well I guess it's a girls night for daddy huh?" El chuckled, reaching for Ellie when she whined from Carl's arms.

"Poor you," Liv teased.

The graduation began and went off smoothly.

Eli's cheering section was, of course, the loudest, and he waved and blew kisses to them as he crossed the stage.

Liv and Ellie were tucked into El's chest as Liv's tears of pride dripped down her cheeks and she sniffled several times.

Looking over her head at Noah, Elliot gave a wink when he saw his younger son in a light mood instead of upset.

They stood in a crowd waiting for him to find them after the ceremony ended. Ellie was in El's arms while Liv snuggled a sleepy Nate.

"Guys!!" They heard their boy call as he ran to scoop up Noah.

"Congrats bro!!!!!!" Noah cried with a huge grin. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks baby brother," he smiled, kissing his hair.

"Dude that was so awesome watching you walk the stage!" Noah said, leaning back and smiling at him.

"Thanks buddy… that makes me feel way better," he chuckled, setting him down to take Nate in for a big hug.

"Eyi!!"

"Nater!" He smiled, taking his cap off and putting it on his head.

Noah laughed and hugged onto his side and looking up at him while Kathleen snapped some discreet photos.

"Boys smile!" She finally called, and they all turned their attention to her.

"Atie eyyi!" He cried, pointing to his sister.

"I got her!" Noah smiled, taking her from their dad. Eli knelt down, still holding Nate and the boys smiled for the camera while Ellie looked to Maureen making faces behind Katie, finally smiling big.

Liv laughed and looked up to El who's eyes were on their boys and grinning.

"Okay, mom's turn," Liv said finally, moving in on the boys and hugging all three, putting a hand on the back of Eli's head.

"I'm so proud of you son," he said, kissing his cheek.

"Thank you mama," he grinned, giving her a squeeze and chuckling at her emotions.

"Oh my first baby," she laughed, stepping back to wipe her eyes.

"Still your baby, mom," he smiled, setting Nate down and giving her a proper hug. "Thanks for everything, mom… I…" he cleared his throat. "Wouldn't have survived without you."

"Ti amo, ragazzo mio," she whispered.

"Ti amo, mama," he said back, kissing her cheek and laughing when El wrapped them both in a tight hug.

"Dad's turn," he said, finally crying.

"You owe me," Noah said, looking up at Dickie who made a face and handed him a 20.

"Okay mom and dad you're important, but you know who is more important?" Bernie asked, pushing her grandkids out of the way with her cane and stopping beside the trio.

"Beeeeeeee!" Nate called from Carl's arms, sending everyone into hysterics.

"That's right!" Bernie nodded, pushing Liv and El away and pulling Eli into a hug.

"Congratulations honey. I'm so proud of you," Bernie smiled. "You're going to do great things… I know it."

"Telling fortunes again?" He teased, squeezing his eyes shut and hugging her tightly.

"No. That's not a fortune. Just the obvious! Now come- I made cake!" She smiled up at him before hobbling away.

The crew spent some time taking photos before heading off to Mo's for pizza and cake in a small celebration before the big party the following day.

The graduation cap was making its round and was currently atop Ellie's head (being held in place by Nate as he chomped on pizza) as she drank a bottle.

"So Livvie we heard you're considering retirement???" Katie asked with a laugh as Bernie's head popped up.

"Mhm. Mama dada tire tay me an eyyi," Nate said between bites.

"Oh my littlest boy, no way is your mommy ever gonna retire. There's something big in store for her," Bernie said matter of factly, touching the tip of his nose and making him giggle.

"Here we go," Dickie snorted.

"That's right. Cause whose the smartest woman in the world?" She asked, looking to Nate.

"Beeeeee!"

"You're the smartest one," she winked.

"Well I'm gonna head out before grandma starts making any more predictions," Eli laughed, giving everyone hugs and kisses and stealing back his cap.

"Love you guys, thanks for coming!" He smiled, waving to all of them.

"Love you boy, be safe okay?" El nodded.

"Text us!" Liv added, smiling. "Love you baby."

"Love you guys!"

El got Noah settled in the kids room and then the pair followed Katie and Bernie with Nate who was already snoozing.

"You sure you guys want to take him?" Liv asked as El unloaded him.

"He'll be sad if he doesn't wake up with his Bee. I have to keep my title of his favorite grandparent."

"Mama you're his only grandparent," El said with a laugh, handing Katie him and his backpack.

"Don Cragen!" She exclaimed, crossing her arms. "John Munch. Don't make me go on, son."

Liv laughed and blew them kisses. "Text us in the morning."

"Wuh mama," Nate yawned in Katie's arms.

"Love you baby. Be good okay?"

He nodded and nuzzled into his sister as El walked them up and into the apartment.

The ride home was peaceful, and Liv held Elliot's hand in his lap as he drove.

"Being loud," he said, breaking her concentration of her thoughts.

"Hm? Am I?"

"Mhm… been distracted. What's going on?" He asked as they parked.

Rolling her head towards him she chewed at her lip nervously. "Eli would have been your last kid…"

She stopped talking when he squeezed her hand. "Don't even go there, Benson."

Laughing softly, she looked down. "Now you've got another 18 years added. You don't regret it?"

He scoffed. "Course I do. Regret I didn't do it 12 years ago."

She burst into laughter, tossing her head back, and he joined her, leaning over to kiss her gently. "We'd have so many kids."

"I'd have been pregnant every year!"

"The minute we could have sex again I'd be knocking you back up!"

She laughed harder, doubling over for a moment to catch her breath before sitting back up and sighing happily. "I love you, El."

"I love you, Liv. No c'mon. We have a house to ourselves!"

Her joyful laughter filled the car once more.

Liv was on top of him several hours later, both having just cum but choosing to remain connected as they often did.

He rubbed her back gently as their breathing evened out and they kissed languidly.

"What else?" He asked her between kisses.

"Whatcha mean?" She whispered, resting her head on his chest.

They moaned in sync as he began to grow again inside of her, filling and stretching her just right as her hips rocked lazily.

Rolling them over, he looked down at her knowingly. "You don't have to retire. I never want you to do something you don't want to."

"Just don't know what I want," she said, closing her eyes and reveling in the moment of silence and the feel of his hips moving at a deliciously teasing pace.

"If you don't know then you don't do anything," he reasoned and she nodded.

"All I want to do right now is celebrate our son and this life we've built, fuck babe right there," she squealed as he sped up lightly, hitting a particularly deep spot within her.

"Then let's do that… can I just add one thing?" He grunted softly into her mouth, and she nodded.

"Take advantage of no kids and make love all night?"

"God yes, El."