It was the night before they were to take Eli to college.

The SUV was packed, ready to hit the road first thing in the morning, and the boys were in their room watching a final movie together while Nate slept.

It was just midnight, and despite a pair of mind blowing orgasms from her husband that had sent him in a deep sleep, Olivia was wide awake.

After tossing and turning for a solid three hours, she finally got up, slipped on Elliot's tshirt and sweats, and quietly shuffled out to the kitchen to make a cup of her favorite sleepy-time tea.

She smiled to herself when she heard footsteps.

They weren't heavy enough to be Elliot's, not soft enough to be Noah's, and too slow to be Nate's.

"You want tea, baby?" She asked softly, turning to face her older, middle son with a small smile.

Eli nodded, hopping up on the counter and swinging his legs lightly.

"Talk to me," she asked, pouring hot water from the instant kettle her husband was obsessed with into two mugs with waiting tea bags.

"Jen and I broke up," he said when his mom turned.

Offering him a sad smile and a mug, she nodded. "She told me… you okay?"

He shrugged. "We knew it was coming... just weird that it's official."

"C'mere," she whispered, nodding towards the couch.

He padded over, popping down beside her and exhaling softly.

"Entire life ahead of you. She's a great girl and she'll always be welcome here, but maybe this is a good thing, yeah?"

He nodded, giving a slight smile before sipping his tea and leaning back.

"You have a high school boyfriend?" He asked.

Liv snorted a little, taking a long swig of her tea. "Yeah. But that's a story for a different day."

"Bad huh?"

"Mhm… especially in retrospect."

"Yikes," he breathed out and she nodded, her heart fluttering when he set his cup down and snuggled Into her.

"Talk to me, son," she said, putting her own mug down and wrapping her arm around him.

"Nervous."

"That's okay… you've got a right to be. It's scary, but you'll do great."

"I know… just thinking about how weird it'll be to not see you and dad or the kids every day. They're gonna change so much," he sighed.

"Eli, baby, we'll be seeing you at games and we'll come to visit… talk every night or whenever you need."

"Yeah," he shrugged. "But…"

"This is a new stage in your life. You're allowed to be scared but you're gonna do just fine."

"I know…"

"And," she smiled, sinking back and getting comfy. "Your brothers will be just fine, too. Okay?"

"Alright," he nodded.

Both turned back when they heard the quiet patter of double footsteps and laughed when Noah climbed on the couch on her other side and Nate crawled up in her lap.

"Hi," she chuckled. "Why aren't you two asleep??"

"Eyi an mama," Nate yawned and Noah nodded, falling back to sleep almost immediately.

"Dad is gonna be jealous," Eli teased, sitting up so she could get comfy before laying back in her lap.

"Mhm," she smiled, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep with her three boys for the last time for a while.

The next morning, the Stabler Family group chat buzzed with a video from their dad.

It was one of his infamous whisper videos; a close up of his face and Ellie's, who was in his arms, smiling and wobbling.

Hi guys. It's your dad. I just woke up and saw Liv wasn't in bed. So I got up to get Ellie, figuring she was with the boys. But then the room was empty. So I came out here and what do I find?

The camera flipped briefly to Liv and the boys still sound asleep on the couch.

"That's right. They had a sleep over without me. Can you believe it?" He hissed, shaking his head. "Ellie? Thoughts?"

He turned the camera to her face, and she just smiled at her own reflection.

"That's right," he said, pulling it back to his face. "Guess we are gonna have to have some Ellie and daddy time, no brothers or mommy allowed!"

"I can hear you," came Liv's voice from off camera as Elliot's eyes went wide and he directed it so both his and Ellie's faces which were squished together were in view again.

"Gotta go. Ciao!"

Elliot sent the video and sat in his chair, motioning for her.

With a small groan, she eased herself from her boys, laid Nate down, and stretched, before climbing beside Elliot on her side and sliding her leg between his.

"Good morning," she said softly, kissing his lips and then Ellie's cheek.

"Say 'morning mama'," he whispered, and Ellie cooed softly reaching for her mommy's hair.

Elliot's phone began buzzing with responses from the older kids.

D: LOL.

B: Oh Elliot. Wake her up and have a heating pad ready for her poor back!

K: Yeah, Elliot!

L: Gosh DAD

M: Have you no shame sir???

Liv was laughing hysterically and silently, and Elliot turned on his camera again, furrowing his brow for another whisper video that just had him pouting and Liv laughing.

"Why am I always the bad guy?"

"You're not they just love me more."

He hit send on the video just as they boys began to stir.

Nate was first to sit up, shooting a big grin towards his parents and baby sister.

"Morning baby," Liv smiled.

"Eyyi baybee, mama," Nate said, getting up and making his way to the chair where Elliot pulled him up.

"You'll alllllways be my baby!" Liv smiled, pulling him into her.

"Noah an Eyi?"

"Noah and Eli, too," Liv smiled, kissing his nose.

"Even though Eli is leaving us forever," Noah said dramatically from where he was still laying, eyes closed.

"Not forever, just a few months," Eli yawned, reaching a long arm over to his brother.

"Eternity," Noah said pathetically.

"C'mon," Eli said, sitting up with a yawn, "one more breakfast till I'm home in two months for Halloween," he winked.

"Two and a half," Noah corrected, "but yes."

"Me toooooo!!!!" Nate sang, sliding off the chair and sprinting into Eli's arms.

Liv blinked quickly, emotion filling every cell in her body as she watched her three boys head to the kitchen for their last Saturday routine for quite some time.

Noah had been over compensating with humor in the previous few weeks, and the three boys were in stitches as they made waffles, bacon, and eggs.

She felt Elliot's arm wrap around her tightly, and his face press to her ear.

"Remember what we said that first night together?"

"How we wanted our boys to be best friends?" She whispered, eyes not leaving the pair who was cackling over stolen sips of coffee.

"Yeah…" he whispered, his eyes filled completely and tears wetting her hair. "Better than I expected."

"Better than I could have ever dreamed."

Ellie and Nate were asleep in their double stroller by the time they'd finished moving Eli into his dorm.

"Alright buddy," El said, proudly sporting his "Boston College Dad" shirt while Liv opted for a less conspicuous "Eagles Soccer" one with a subtle "mom" on her ball cap.

"I think that's everything," Eli nodded, shooting them a nervous smile.

"Eli buddy! Pool party down at the student center you coming!" His roommate, teammate, and new friend called excitedly from the common space.

Eli looked between his bedroom door and his family, both with excitement and nerves.

"Go, Bud," Liv whispered with a watery smile, reaching out to him.

Noah wouldn't look up and Eli gave a quick nod and smile. "Give me 10- let me help my parents get the babies in the car," he said with a smile.

"Sounds good!" His buddy said excitedly. "See ya Stablers!!"

Eli chuckled and they family of six walked out to the car, Elliot, Eli, and Noah ahead of Liv and the stroller.

She snapped a quick photo, of the three; Elliot in the middle with an arm around both sons.

When the got to the SUV, Eli helped Elliot get the kiddos in the car, kissing Ellie goodbye and waking up Nate just enough for a big hug.

Elliot was next, pulling in son in tight and getting immediately emotional.

"Elliot Joseph I'm so damn proud of you," he whispered.

"Learned from the best," Eli said, squeezing his dad tightly.

"Love you son. Don't forget to call, okay?"

"Never dad," Eli smiled pulling back to laugh a little.

Grabbing hold of both sides of his head, he pulled his forehead down to his lips, pressing a kiss and then pushing him playfully off to Liv.

"Oh man," she laughed, already crying as she pulled him in.

"It'll be okay, mama," he smiled, hugging her tightly.

"I'm so proud of you. You're gonna be so amazing and I love you so much."

"I love you more, mom," he whispered, as a few tears sprang into his eyes.

"Call, text, FaceTime… visit. Whatever, whenever," she smiled.

"You too," he ribbed. "Love you."

"Love you, baby," she said, voice husky. "Daddy and I are gonna get in the car… give you two a moment," she nodded to Noah who was literally kicking around a small rock.

Eli opened the car door for his mom and kissed her cheek before shutting it and going to stand beside his brother, looking out to the field they were facing.

"You're the big brother in charge now, you know," he said, putting a hand on his shoulder, voice finally cracking.

Noah was silent for a while, rocking back and forth and trying to force down his emotions.

"What if I'm not ready?" He finally whispered, giving in fully to his tears.

"You're ready," Eli said simply. "You learned from the best."

"Dickie is pretty great," Noah teased, as fat tear drops rolled down his cheeks and both boys laughed heartily before falling back into silence.

"Eli I'm really gonna miss you," Noah said finally, leaning against his brother who pulled him in close.

"Noah? I'm really gonna miss you too man."

Noah nodded, wiping his eyes and finally looking up at him. "I'm glad you're my brother."

"I'm glad you're my best friend," the older boy countered.

"Me too," Noah said.

"C'mere," he said, pulling him in close for a hug. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"See you soon," Noah said, hugging him tight and pulling back with a nod.

"Text me whenever," Eli said.

"FaceTime?" Noah asked, starting a backward walk to the car.

"Pigeon?"

"Raven?"

"Owl?"

"Email!" Eli called, laughing now.

"Potato gram?" Noah giggled.

"Potato gram!!!!"

Noah smiled, waving as he opened the car door. "Love you brother."

"Love you more." Eli said, waving as Noah shut the door and his parents drove away.

In the way back of the SUV, Noah finally broke down fully, and when they were out of sight, El pulled the car over to switch with Liv and climb in back with his boy for the ride home.

Once Noah has calmed down fully, all three kids slept the entire ride home.

When they parked, Elliot detached from his grasp and was replaced by someone while he and Liv got Nate and Eli out.

"Hey buddy… you're home. Wake up," Dickie whispered softly, running a hand through Noah's curly mop.

"Dickie? What are you doing here?" Noah asked with a yawn.

"Being your big brother," he winked, kissing his head. "What do you think about a Mets game and sleepover? Just the two of us?"

Noah's eyes went wide and his smile did too. "Really?"

"Really," Dickie grinned.

"Yes!!!" Noah cried, launching himself at his oldest brother who wrapped him in a bear hug. "Come on, buddy."

Nate was awake by the time they got back inside, and couldn't help but pout a little. "No I come too?" He asked, watching him race to get his Mets stuff.

Dickie went over and lifted him up from his spot on the counter, and Nate wrapped his arms and legs around him tightly.

"You know how you sometimes need some time alone with your Noah?"

Nate nodded into his chest.

"Noah needs some alone time with me… okay? But tell you what. We'll pick you up for breakfast in the morning okay?"

"Tay Dickie," he said with a nod.

Noah came rushing out of his room and playfully slammed into his brother. "Let's gooooo!!"

Dickie laughed, setting Nate down and kissing his cheek before nodding. "Let's go buddy!"

He gave everyone quick hugs goodbye before sprinting out to the car. Liv smiled small and hugged her oldest boy. "Thank you so much."

"Of course, Livie," he whispered, kissing her head. "We'll send pics," he said on his way out of the house.

Once El locked up, they both turned back to Nate who was trying not to cry on the counter.

"I'm gonna let you have some boy time while I feed Ellie," she whispered, snatching up their baby girl and pressing a kiss to Nate's temple on her way to the nursery.

Elliot walked over slowly, dropping a hand to either side of the counter where he sat, and lowering his head to find his baby boys sparkling blue eyes.

"Nate…" he said gently, only to have a head shake in response.

"Nathan," he said again, nudging him with his head and smiling small.

"I Tay daddee," he whispered.

"Nathaniel John," he said, getting low enough to touch their noses and finally make his baby giggle.

"Dada I tay," Nate said unconvincingly, laying his head on his shoulder.

El was just beginning to push more when his two boys came bustling back in.

"What did you forget?" He teased, catching Dickie's keys when he tossed them.

"Our brother," Noah smiled.

Nate sat up and gasped, looking between his brothers and dad.

"Pease pease pease pease," he begged, already climbing into Dickie's arms.

"Of course!" He laughed, watching Noah run back with Nate's diaper back pack, Jersey, and hat.

"Well this works cause I just got called in," came Liv's voice as she came in from the nursery, expertly passing a still eating Ellie over to her husband. "You good with her?"

Elliot laughed. "Of course babe. We'll swing by in a few hours with dinner," he said, kissing her cheek before watching her kiss all her boys and then run off to change.

"Okay," El said, looking at his little ones and laughing when he saw Nate had changed right there in the kitchen.

"Yeah, yeah be good, listen, we got it, dad!" Noah exclaimed, picking up Nate.

Shaking his head, El laughed again. "Alright, go on! Love you guys."

"Wuh daddee," Nate grinned, leaning over to kiss hug him fast before the three were off again.

Liv brushed by him next, giving him a quick peck, and then Ellie one.

"I love you, be safe," he said.

"Always. I love you more."

"Bye baby," he smiled small, watching her blow a kiss and then rush out.

Ellie had fallen asleep amidst the commotion, her bottle almost gone, and Elliot stood for a few minutes, taking in the quiet of his home and watching her shallow, baby breathes.

After finally putting her in her crib, he walked slowly into his boys room, silently examining the bareness of his oldest's side.

It was a few minutes later that he found himself sitting on his son's lofted bed and breaking down completely.

Tears of pride at all his boy had overcome; how he was starting his life and had big plans to be successful.

Tears of sadness that his most unlikely best friend was now four hours away from him.

Eli had a blast with his buddies at the pool party, and later on, they found themselves back in their dorms getting ready for a soccer social.

"Yo, Eli, coach says wear your practice jersey!" his friend yelled.

"Okay!" He said, groaning as he dug through one of his bins, finally finding the shirt.

With it, fell out a photo Noah had hidden inside; the one from his graduation with all four younger Stablers. On the back, Noah wrote his name, helped Nate write his, and then signed Ellie's.

His tears had welled up when his buddy called for him again

"Stabler! Let's go!"

Eli wiped his eyes quickly. "Coming!" He called back, pinning the photo to his bulletin board before changing and heading back out.

The following day, the boys came back home from their bro date to find Liv making dinner.

"Hi mom," Noah said brightly, walking over to give her a hug.

"Hi mama," Nate cheesed, following suit. "My dada?"

"Daddy's in your room," she said, giving them a little look of wonder and making them gasp.

They sprinted down the hall to their bedroom, breaking into hysterics when they found their daddy snuggling a giant teddy bear wearing a BC t-shirt on Nate's bunk.

"Daddeeeeee wha dat?!" Nate cried through his giggles, climbing up into his bed.

"It's from your Eli... he was worried you wouldn't have anyone to snuggle before your big first day tomorrow!"

Nate couldn't stop laughing, and climbed on to the bear, burying his face into the soft fur that covered it.

El have his older son a look, and slowly raised his eyes upwards towards Noah's bunk, indicating a surprise for him too.

Racing up his ladder and onto his bed, his breath caught when he saw the framed photo of he and Eli that Liv had snapped as they said their goodbye.

Wiping his eyes quickly, he set the frame up in one of his cubbies and then, as his baby brothers giggles still filled their bedroom, quickly texted his best friend.

N: I love you

E: I love you more, brother. Kick ass tomorrow. Can't wait to hear all about it.

N: Always- have the Stabler reputation to uphold!!

E: Haha!! Hell yes you do!!!

N: FaceTime tomorrow night? I wanna hear about your first day too.

E: Already on my calendar. :D

Noah loved the message and smiled, setting his phone down and sitting back against the wall that faced his brother's empty side of the room.

He sighed happily, with a renewed confidence, both in their friendship and his status as "big brother in charge."

"Nooooo tome heeeewwwe," Nate exclaimed through giggles from the bunk below.

With one last wipe of his eyes and glance to the photo beside him, he nodded and smiled. "Coming!"