Cragen called John, Finn and Stabler into his office on Monday morning. Elliot noted that Nick Amaro was already sitting there. He had been shadowing Olivia in the last two weeks and she had taken him under her wing. It tugged at his heart as he watched them. It was so reminiscent of them when she first started. He had wondered if Nick would eventually be assigned as her partner, which if he were honest conjured up jealousy within him that he knew he had no right to feel.

"We have a couple of cases. Finn and Elliot you take the rape case at Hudson University. Munch and Amaro there's another dead body in Central Park. I'll more than likely rotate you four in partnering with each other." Cragen could hear Elliot's unasked question. Before he dismissed them he asked Elliot to stick around.

"Elliot, Liv's handed in her papers." Elliot sharply looked up to meet Cragen's eyes. Whilst she has more than earned it, he knew it wasn't because she was ready for it. Cragen took out her badge and gun and put it on the table.

"Is this what she wanted to tell me on Friday?" He asked already knowing the answer,

"How long?"

"She gave me her notice when she came back from her time off. She wanted to give the four weeks to make sure someone would be in place for her. Give everyone time to get used to the change gradually."

"She okay?" He asked surprising Cragen who expected Elliot to blow a gasket.

"Son, what happened?"

"I pushed too hard. I pushed too far. God Cap I blamed her for Ryan. Accused her of not being able to do her job. She's put up with me for over 7 years. This past year, I have been more than an asshole. Even more so these last months. To her and to everyone. She never wavered. I have no right to hold her back and you and I both know if she were still here I would be doing just that because she'd never leave me behind. I hurt her every day Cap. I broke us. I broke her. She deserves a new start. I'm just sorry I'm the one who didn't have the balls to leave her where she belongs. She took that decision from me because she believes I need this job, this family unit more than she does." Elliot answered with tears in his eyes. His heart aching with the loss of his best friend and partner. Both he and Cragen knew his words to be true.

"Come see me before you leave for the day?" He said to Elliot who nodded before standing to his feet to join Finn who was waiting for him.

Jo Danville had called Don earlier that morning to let him know that Liv had asked him to pass a letter on to Stabler. That she said he would know when would be the right time. Judging from his conversation with Elliot he felt, that afternoon might be the right time.

When Elliot returned to the office and knocked on the Captain's door Don gestured for him to come in and take a seat. As he sat Don pushed an envelope towards him with his name on it in Liv's handwriting. His heart skipped a beat as he tentatively picked it up.

"Jo dropped this off for you. She was the last one to see Liv." Elliot nodded,

"Thanks Cap't," he said gratefully holding it to his chest before leaving Don's office. Without stopping he headed straight for the roof for privacy. He and Liv hung out there a lot when they just needed some air or they were bouncing off ideas. With tears in his eyes he tore open the envelope and began to read.

Liv as promised touched base with them the moment she settled into her rented shack by the beach close to the North Shore, but far enough away from tourists. She wanted to take full advantage of the sun and beach. She was open to the idea of having to do nothing for awhile.

Days, weeks and eventually months passed, but it was within the month of arriving that Liv had made the call, she wasn't going to come back.

"Cragen," he answered not looking at the caller ID,

"You used to greet me friendlier than that Cap't," she teased knowing he was probably in the middle of paperwork swearing at it.

"That was before you abandoned and left me here with the crazies all by myself," he retorted with a chuckle,

"Well it's a big island Cap't, you can always come and hide out here with me,"

"Wouldn't that get the tongues wagging,"

"Well you're no Munch but I guess that would still be scandalous." Cragen let out a hearty laugh. If he were honest those were few and far between since she'd been gone. Whilst their team remained functional, it was missing the heart and soul she had brought to it. Though he always knew it, the gravity of her absence was undeniable in real life.

"Don, I just wanted to let you know. I won't be back. You can officially hand in my papers, badge and gun."

"Are you sure?" Olivia swallowed hard,

"Yeah Cap't. Deep down I think we both knew that I wouldn't be. That there would be no turning back. It wasn't until I got here, I realised just how true that was." her voice cracked with emotion. Cragen stood to his feet and closed his door. Elliot had looked up just in time to see the worry that passed through his captain's face.

"Are you okay?"

"I will be. I can't really go into it now, but I will. I promise. It's a lot that's all."

"Of course, do you need anything?"

"A dad hug wouldn't go astray right now," she confessed suddenly feeling alone,

"Kid, if I could I would in a heartbeat."

"I know. The means more to me than you know." Olivia replied before hanging up. Something in him didn't sit right. After he hung up the phone he stared at their team photo on his desk. He picked up the phone and called the landline in her beach shack. He wasn't altogether surprised that a little girl answered the phone. Lahni was a neighbour's 10 year old daughter who had taken a shine to Olivia. More often than not she was at Olivia's hanging out. They were all well versed with Lahni.

"Hi Lahni, it's Captain Cragen. Is Liv there?"

"No, she's still at the hospital. They said she'll be there for a couple of days. I'm here feeding the kitten."

"Hospital? Is she okay? What happened?" He asked rising to his feet.

"I don't know. The ambulance came this morning." Don told himself not to panic knowing he just spoke to her so she was fine but why hadn't she said anything?

"Okay, thanks Lahni. You be good." He replied as he picked up his coat to head out.

"I'm always good Captain," she answered sounding so much like Liv it made him smile.

He came out of his office and called out the the boys that he was taking the day. Elliot followed him silently to the elevator,

"She okay Cap't?" He asked standing beside the Captain waiting for the elevator, as though he knew the reason for his panic was Liv. Cragen turned his head to Elliot.

"I don't know Son, but I'll find out and let you know." He promised as Elliot nodded with gratitude.

Cragen with his Go Bag grabbed a taxi to the airport, got himself a ticket to Hawaii to check on their girl. He had made all of the necessary calls and bought himself a few days from work. He would extend if required. He had called Lahni's mother who was a contact Liv had given him if she couldn't be reached. She had given her the hospital details but felt it was up to Liv to give him the details after reassuring him that for all terms and purposes that Liv was okay and not in danger.

"You got a kitten, so I guess that really means you're not planning to come back," a voice startled her thoughts. Liv's eyes welled with tears at the sight of her Captain and friend.

"I'm not even going to ask how but I've never been so glad to see you." She replied as he took her in his arms and hugged her. Liv began to cry overwhelmed,

"Shhh, it's okay Liv. Whatever it is, you're not alone." There was a part of him that was so scared that she was ill. He couldn't handle the thought of it.

"Don, I'm pregnant." She whispered through her tears,

"Oh sweetheart," he replied dropping his lips to to the top of her head feeling the weight of those three words. Without a shadow of doubt he knew that she carried Stabler's child,

"I didn't know about his night with Kathy. We had had just barely started before Gitano. We were still trying to figure things out." That explained their shouting match in the corridor of the precinct for all to hear. It explained why she looked so defeated when Elliot finally shared that Kathy was pregnant and asked him to move back home.

"At my age I never even thought it was possible to fall pregnant. I mean obviously I knew it could happen but just not to me. I thought I was just tired because of all the drama in my life. It never occurred to me I was pregnant. I collapsed at home yesterday and Lahni had found me. Her Mom called the ambulance. I feel so bad that I frightened her,"

"Liv she's okay. I talked to her, she was feeding your kitten. She was the one that told me you were still in hospital."

"I can't tell him Don,"

"Liv, he has a right to know." He said gently,

"That he knocked up his wife and partner within months of each other? You know as well as I do that he will feel obliged to take care of me and this baby. The moment he tells Kathy he's knocked me up, she will think we'd been having an affair for years and she'll take his kids away. No."

"Liv he and Kathy weren't back together when you got together. He didn't cheat."

"Semantics. She will never see it that way. No, I will not bring my child into that hostility. I can do this on my own."

"Liv, you are far from alone. I may not agree with it, but I support you. I will back your play, just know that you will have to tell him eventually or you will never forgive yourself for depriving your child of the opportunity to know their father."

"Maybe, but not now. I'm sick of giving him opportunities to pick me when he never does. I can't put my child through that. Worse yet, I don't want him to pick us out of some obligation." Don understood her reasons but he also knew she would never deprive her child or their father the chance to get to know each other.

Don stayed with Liv for a few days, got her settled back at her place. He could see that despite the surprise of her news she had never looked more peaceful. Hawaii definitely agreed with her. Liv enjoyed having him with her. He doted on her, fussed over her as she imagined a normal father would and was grateful that he had flown all that way to check on her.

He had checked in with the John and Finn when he first arrived. He kept it brief letting them know where he was and that he would explain once he got back. He had sent Elliot a separate message with only two words, "She's okay," knowing that was all he was really at liberty to say to him.

"Don, thank you for coming all this way." She said gratefully as he hugged her goodbye. Lahni's Mom Luana had insisted on driving him to the airport knowing he didn't want Olivia to drive him.

"You're welcome. You need anything you call me, got it?"

"Yes Pops," she promised. Don teared at the sentiment, knowing she was giving him the gift of being a grandfather to her baby.

"And you little one, you take care of your mother. Get her to relax more will you?" He said to the tiny bump that had suddenly protruded in the last couple of days as though making their presence known to their newly appointed grandfather. Olivia rolled her eyes,

"God help me when this kid comes out with your personality," he joked exasperatedly,

"Could be worse you know, they could have Stabler's" she teased back making him groan.

"Let me know when you're home." Don nodded giving her one last hug before getting into Luana's car.

In the months that followed Liv diligently checked in with Don who for months was the only one who knew she was expecting. Liv wanted to wait after the first trimester before telling her friends but as the weeks rolled on she could never find the words. When Jo came for a week to visit her mouth dropped at the sight of a very pregnant Olivia who was already at 6 months.

"Excuse me, we talk every day. FaceTime even. How did you manage to not divulge this information or that you're dating someone."

"Err, I'm not. I wasn't."

"It's Elliot's…" Jo finished for her as Olivia found herself in tears again.

"I found out a month after I got here. I collapsed and was taken to hospital and that's when I found out. Because of my age I didn't want to say anything until I knew it was safe and then it seemed silly to blurt out I'm pregnant after 5 months you know."

"So when Cragen was here for an impromptu visit, that was because you were in hospital?" She deduced,

"Yes Detective,"

"How, I mean…you owe me a long story. Give me the car keys, I'm driving." Jo said bossily as Liv rolled her eyes.

Jo listened as Olivia rehashed the story she had told Cragen months before. Whilst Jo suspected that Liv and Elliot had crossed the line, it was different to hear context. Jo didn't have the heart to tell Olivia that Elliot was not the man he was when she was with him. He was subdued and looked as though he carried the weight on his shoulders. She had seen him at the bar with the team a few times and she sensed that all he wanted to do was ask about Olivia but as though he deserved to be punished, he never did. Like it was his penance. He walked around as though he was missing a vital organ. Jo would like to think that he faked it better when he was with his kids, but she wasn't sure

"Dad, have you talked to Liv recently?" Kathleen asked. Whilst all of his kids adored Olivia, it was Kathleen who had a bond with her. It was Kathleen who first knew about he and Liv. She had come over to hang out with Liv on a Saturday afternoon, which was something they regularly did and Elliot had come unannounced. She immediately noted that there was a difference in both their countenance and called them on it. They admitted that they were just starting to explore the possibilities but definitely no longer just partners. Maureen was told not long after Kathleen. During that time Maureen and Kathleen were already in college therefore they came and went as they pleased. They had their own relationship with Liv that started 7 years before when she had first become Elliot's partner. They had been together a few weeks by the time he was allowed to see the younger kids and they had told them too. They seemed supportive and accepting of their new status quo which relived Olivia. Therefore it stunned them all to hear that their mother was pregnant and had asked their father to come home.

"No baby, I haven't." He replied.

"Have you tried calling her Dad? Her personal number is still the same."

"No, I don't want to disrupt her life. She deserves to be able to move forward. She asked me to choose. I didn't choose her."

"You chose wrong," Kathleen said softly. Elliot met her gaze, his eyes told her what he couldn't in words.

"Oh Daddy," she said tearfully wrapping her arms around his waist. Elliot held his daughter close,

"Is she okay?" He asked knowing that despite it all Olivia never cut his kids out of her life and still made herself available to them. He later found out that she had said goodbye to them before she moved that she had reassured them that she will always be there for them. Even made them promise to take care of him.

"You two make a pair. Not a conversation with her ever ends without asking if you're okay."

"Leen,"

"She's okay Dad. She misses you like you miss her. Dad I know you're trying really hard to pretend like you're happy but I know you're not. Mo knows your not. Dickie and Lizzie too. We know why you did what you did, but Dad you can't continue to pretend like you don't need her. That you're okay about not being with her. It hurts to see you hurting. I know you feel like it's what you have to do Dad, but at what cost? So much of who you are is because she was a part of you."

"You kids are the most important in my life. Not having access to Lizzie and Dickie those months after that night with your Mom was the worst. I couldn't keep going like that. That night with your Mom was a mistake. I was an idiot and your Mom had every right to hate me after that. I shouldn't have gone to her. I couldn't blame her but I couldn't take her keeping the twins away from me."

"But Dad, who kept you afloat?" She asked unnecessarily,

"Liv," he breathed,

"She has always been your anchor Dad. Did you honestly think you could choose Mom and she'd stick around for the scraps you have left like she's been doing for the last 7 years. Does Mom even know how responsible Liv is for keeping you married as long as you were? What she sacrificed to make sure you got to come home to dinners. To our games and recitals? When I got in trouble do you know it was Liv who went to see Grandma? Did you know up until she left she visited Grandma every couple of weeks so that she wasn't alone. That until now she checks in with her by calling her. It may not have been ideal but she loved you. In turn loving on everyone you loved. She just wanted you to be happy, even if it cost her her own happiness." Elliot's tears were unstoppable at that point and Kathleen continued to hold her father hoping that her words would get through to him.

"Dad, Mo, Dickie, Liz and I just want you to be happy. Whatever that looks like. That's more important to us than you being honourable."

The owner had allowed Liv to turn the smaller bedroom into the nursery once she found out that Liv was pregnant. Jo had helped her set up some baby furniture that Don had ordered and shipped for the baby. She also promised Liv she would fly bag for the baby's birth, as did Don. Due to her age, they had suggested a cesarean birth therefore allowing her to provide a specific date to Jo and Don who had already booked for time off. She had decided not to find out the sex of the baby despite her need to be practical. In some ways there was a part of her that had hoped he would show up in time for the birth and they would find out together, but it was a pipe dream she allowed herself when she needed a moment.

"Hey Leen," Liv greeted cheerfully as the young girl's face popped into her screen. Kathleen smiled, Liv had called her Leen from the first time she met her. As the middle child and significantly shy Liv went out of her way to make her feel special. Not long after her Dad had started calling her Leen too. No one else called her Leen and it made her feel special that only and her Dad called her that.

"Hey there. How goes that beach life?" Liv laughed,

"Getting browner and browner my friend. You jealous?"

"You have no idea." Kathleen was one of the few who actually knew where she was.

"Well don't you college students get breaks? You know you're always welcome."

"I'm working on it." Liv didn't even want to think about how she was going to explain that to her parents.

"How did your date go?" Liv asked with great interest. Kathleen began to tell her and for the next hour they discussed boys and Kathleen's plans for her last year on college.

A week before Liv was due to give birth and days before Jo and Don were due to arrive Olivia opened the door to find Kathleen on the other side.

"Oh my god," they said in unison. Olivia is sheer shock to see a Stabler before her and Kathleen looking at a very pregnant Olivia.

"Err, surprise." Kathleen said sheepishly. Liv chuckled and drew the young girl into her arms hugging her.

"Good to see you Leen,"

"You too, I've missed you. Hey Liv,"

"Yeah kid?"

"Something you want to tell me?"

"Like what?" Liv replied feigning innocence before letting out a short laugh,

"You mean the literal elephant in the room,"

"Stop it, you look great."

"Spit it out Leen," Liv said reading her mind,

"Is that a Stabler in there?" Liv rolled her eyes,

"Such a Stabler question,"

"Oh Liv, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry you have been alone all this time."

"Hey, hey it's okay. I'm okay. I haven't really been alone, you know." Without asking Kathleen knew her Dad didn't know about the Baby, otherwise whether or not her mother had been pregnant he would have been here. He would have chosen her. But Liv would always think he had chosen her for the baby.

"How long do you have to go?"

"You young Stabler have impeccable timing because your little sibling here is due to come into the world at the end of the week. I have a scheduled cesarean." Liv paused,

"Please Kathleen, don't tell him. Not like this. I promise I will tell him but not like this. Days before I give birth. He rightfully chose your Mom. That doesn't change because I'm pregnant. As much as I want him to be there when I deliver our baby, I don't want it to be out of duty."

"Liv he loves you. It wouldn't be duty. He would want to be here."

"He chose your Mom kid. I asked him what he wanted. He said your Mom. That doesn't change just because of my little nugget here. I know it's a lot to ask, and I promise I will take the hit when the Tim comes but please don't tell him. Let me be the one to tell him."

"Okay Liv, I won't tell him. I hate that you've had to go through these last 8 months so far away from all of us."

"I'm okay Leen, I promise."

Kathleen and Olivia enjoyed the next couple of days together. Am they went for walks, sat by the beach, sat in the hammock, talked a lot. Kathleen confirmed that her Mom had indeed her her baby brother Eli who was named after her father. Kathleen saw the flicker of pain that flashed before Olivia's eyes. She knew it was because she would never be able to give her child his name if it were a boy. By the time Don and Jo arrived the Inn was definitely full. Kathleen remained sleeping beside Olivia in her king size bed, Jo was in the spare room/nursery in a fold out bed whilst Cragen was on the sofa bed in the living room.

On the day Olivia was due to give birth Kathleen surprised Olivia with a visitor,

"Mo," she exclaimed surprised as they walked into her hospital room,

"You said to not tell Dad. You didn't say I couldn't recruit another Stabler. If Dad can't be here, we want to be here. We want you to be surrounded by Stabler's because we love you and you're our family." Kathleen explained. Liv began to cry.

"I'm so glad you're both here."