Sixty-four. (Remember-in this universe, Olivia did not allow Sheila to meet Noah when he was younger!)

The life Ed envisioned-dropping Noah off at school, enjoying lazy mornings with the twins, and making love while they napped-did not materialize over the course of September's first week. Olivia spent a few hours each afternoon at the Benson Center. Its full-time staff was preparing for the official "opening" the following week, and Olivia was busy meeting with commanding officers, including Rollins. She needed to make sure her vision for the Center was crystal clear so neither time nor resources were wasted. Since the Center was not yet active, she took one or both of the twins thinking she was giving Ed a needed break. By the end of the week, the apartment was spotless, orderly, and decluttered, Ed had visited the doctor and dentist for routine check-ups, and, by Friday, he was desperate for interaction and met his now-retired former partner for lunch at one of their old haunts.

Cole and Ed ordered beers and a shot like they'd done after difficult days at the office. Neither man seemed interested in eating right away. "Summer good?" Ed asked, his eyebrows raised with genuine interest.

"About as good as it can get with two in college," Cole wisecracked. "We pay for them to have fun all school year and then we're expected to take them on vacations in the summer…"

"Where'd ya go?"

"Cruise and then to Texas to the family reunion."

Ed chuckled. "Noah's wanted to go to Texas since about January," he explained.

"Really?"

"Yeah-he saw some pictures on a map they had in his classroom last year-cowboy hats...horses...guess it looks like an adventure to him."

"It certainly can be," Cole replied, "How 'bout you? Spend a lot of time at the beach?"

"We did. My mom came down. It was nice," Ed stared straight ahead and lost himself in his thoughts for a moment, "Still need to travel more. Probably when the twins get a little older."

"Two now?"

"Twenty-eight months to be exact."

Cole smiled at his clearly-smitten friend. "And you don't even look exhausted. I like you look younger, actually."

Ed merely smirked and held up the shot glass. "To looking younger," he said.

"Where's Olivia?"

"She's at work at the Center...we're goin' to the premiere of the show she was working on this weekend. It's a pretty big deal. Brand new suit and everything."

"Can't let go of it, huh?" Cole asked of Olivia.

The question hit Ed like a gut punch. "The Center's gonna help...cushion that shock of letting go. I almost didn't wanna come back from the beach," Ed lowered his voice, surprised he was revealing so much to Cole, "Like a different world there. She disconnected. I saw it. But we get back here and I could tell she was itching to get there," Ed trailed off and added, mumbled, "Back to work…" Ed felt his former partner's scrutiny, took another, longer drink, and continued.

"Cole," he said through a sigh, "You ever...look at your wife, this beautiful person, inside and out, who you love more than anything-" Ed took another gulp, "-I mean, words do not exist to describe how much you love her-" he knew he was getting carried away, but he trusted Cole and didn't care, "-The mother of your children, the person you need in your life just so you can breathe, and you want to be with her all the time, at the very least so you can make sure every second of her life she knows she's safe and loved, and think," Ed paused for effect, to take another drink, and also because the next question was painful, "You're not enough for her?"

Not only was Cole not used to Tucker being outwardly sentimental, he was unaccustomed to his old partner speaking with such a lack of confidence, so it took him a minute or so to respond.

"Tucker, I gotta tell ya," Cole began, "I've felt like a shitty husband from time to time. I know how that feels. But I don't think that's what you're talking about. But Imma tell you one thing-the last time we all went out and had dinner? When was that? Christmas?"

"Yeah."

Cole smirked, "That woman loves you as much as you love her, man."

Embarrassed, Ed ducked his head. He signaled for another round and said, "Cole, you sound just like my mother."

The fresh drinks came and Cole held up his glass, "Can't go wrong with Caroline."

…

Mia disappeared backstage after her performance and let Noah know via text that her mother was immediately taking her out to Long Island for the weekend, so the invitation to go to dinner would have to be saved for another day. So, a slightly disappointed Noah and star-struck Maggie sat down for dinner at a midtown bistro where Maggie got her steak and Noah patiently listened to his sister recall her favorite parts of the night. When their food arrived, Noah snapped photographs and sent them to Ed and Olivia,

Perched on a barstool, Olivia leaned on the island countertop, smiled at the pictures, and reminded Noah to have someone take a shot of both of them together. Ed closed the dishwasher, turned on the under-cabinet lighting, and plucked the bourbon and two small glasses from a top cabinet. He poured two servings and rounded the island to personally hand Olivia her glass.

"For my wife."

"Thank you." She grinned and kissed him before taking a sip.

Ed clutched one of her thighs and leaned forward for a kiss, "I love you."

After the kiss, Olivia glanced down at his hand. "You know that that reminds me of?"

"What's that?" He asked, his eyes dancing with excitement and affection.

"Us," she answered with an eyebrow cocked and her voice soft yet seductive. Ed appeared puzzled, so she explained further, "I remember, when you put your hand here," she covered her hand with hers, "For the first time, I remember how it was so...bold, but how much I loved it."

Ed smirked and shrugged. "Logical hand placement."

"Logical, huh?" Olivia stood up and put her arms around him. "Logical…"

"Log-" He couldn't finish the word because Olivia practically mauled him. She shoved him toward their bedroom, not worried about waking Wyatt who had eaten dinner and taken moderately strong meds. Olivia figured she and Ed had about an hour before Noah and Maggie were home and she intended to use it to their full advantage. The two of them still enjoyed an active sex life, but they were respectful of their children and were almost more careful when having sex now than they were when Noah and the twins were little.

"Goddamn I love you," Ed gasped on the way.

"Shhhh," Olivia's lips vibrated against his.

"No," Ed replied, "I'm never gonna be quiet about loving you."

…

Olivia pretended not to be offended when she picked Noah up from school and he immediately asked why Daddy was not there. She smiled, kissed his head, and explained Ed had a meeting with his friend Cole and he would meet them at home later. Noah scrunched up his face as he tried to picture Cole and finally smiled and nodded.

"Oh yeah," he said slowly, "Da Sergeant."

"Yes."

"Gold Badge!"

"That's right."

"Lieutenant's better."

Olivia chuckled softly. She and Noah talked about his day as they made their way down the street. Noah skipped alongside the stroller, and, after he'd answered Olivia's questions he asked Maggie and Wyatt about their time at the Benson Center. When Wyatt pouted and moaned, "No skooo!" Noah gave his brother a clumsy hug.

"Got the whole Saturday and Sunday with ya, Wy!"

"SAH! Park!"

"Yup! I'll push ya on da baby swings then I go on the big swings! Mommy? What else we gonna do?"

"Well, sweet boy, tomorrow you're going to be with Sarah and Brooke. You'll have a little party with Sofia while we go to the show premiere."

Noah jumped up and down. "That's gonna be a good party!" He exclaimed and then proceeded to list snacks and drinks they would need for the night. "How come Sonny and Justy aren't comin?"

"They're both working," Olivia said, "Do you think you'll be able to help out with Maggie and Wyatt?"

"Yup! I know how to take care of ya, right babies?" Maggie and Wyatt were babbling incessantly and Noah grinned. "Yep! They know! That's 'cause I'm the big brother, OH! Mommy! Maybe G will come over to Sare Bear's too! That'll be really fun."

"Have you seen G at school?"

"Nope! But she can get da number for my phone and send me a message like Sare Bear. Dat's how they talk to the 'sistants."

"Oh…honey, um, do you, you don't use your phone at school, do you?"

"I text Sare Bear at lunch," Noah said with a shrug.

Olivia decided not to reprimand him at that particular moment, but she remembered the tears when he saw the two on the first day of school. Later she would remind him to follow the teacher's rules for phone use at all times, even if he was simply letting Sarah know what was on the school lunch menu for the day. Besides, Olivia enjoyed looking through his text messages which were a combination of proper early elementary grammar and punctuation and a plethora of emojis.

"Noah, what should we make for dinner? We're going to cook for Daddy."

Noah giggled, "Daddy's always cookin for us!"

"I know," Olivia replied, "So let's surprise him."

"Daddy likes cheeseburgers!"

"Oh," Olivia said, "Good idea, should we grill on the roof?"

"YES!" Noah continued skipping along but tilted his head back for an upside-down view of his mom, "And we gotta get cookies, Mommy, okay?"

"Absolutely."

…..

Ed and Olivia saw one another from opposite sides of the street. Ed was about to walk into the bar when he sensed eyes on him and glanced back. There she was, grinning back at him as she jaywalked across to him.

"Hey there," she said flirtatiously, pretending to be a little out of breath. "How are you?"

"Helluva lot better now." Ed jerked his head toward the entrance, "C'mon. Lemme buy you a drink."

They cozied up at the corner of the bar. Ed's back was to the wall and, once they'd had their initial sips, Olivia inched closer to him. "You know, Captain Tucker," she said, "You don't have to always buy me drinks to spend time with me."

He raised his eyebrows, "No?"

"No."

Ed put a hand on her thigh and leaned in for a kiss. Olivia met him halfway and savored the dual pleasure of the kiss and the sensation of his fingers gripping her leg. Soft twinges of arousal swirled around her midsection. She smiled against his lips, opened her eyes, and whispered, "Hi."

"Hi." He took a quick breath and asked, "What if I wanna buy you drinks? And dinner?"

"I'd love to have dinner with you."

A proud smile formed on Tucker's face. His hand remained attached to her thigh and he gazed into her eyes. Electricity sizzled between them. He could tell by her pursed lips and cocked eyebrow that she wanted another kiss. The second smooch was longer, a bit sloppier, and felt like a prelude to a night of torrid lovemaking.

"Where ya wanna go?" He asked softly.

"Some place quiet, small, romantic."

"Table by a window?"

"Yes." She replied, grinning.

"Busy outside; relaxed inside?"

"Exactly. Perfect people watching setup."

Ed smirked shyly, "I don't think I'll be able to pay attention to anyone but you."

Olivia leaned forward for another kiss, "Starting with the romance part, Tucker?"

"Yeah," he said softly, "That alright?"

"Absolutely," Olivia replied, "I like it. A lot."

"Good."

…

Ed and Cole drank more than they ate, so when Ed entered the apartment he stumbled a bit as he removed his shoes. Maggie, Wyatt, and Noah came running to greet him. Quickly regaining his balance, he crouched and collected all three kids into his arms for a group hug.

"How're my kiddos?"

"Great! We're makin' dinner!" Noah exclaimed among the twins' excited babbles.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yep! We got da burgers ready for da grill! And Mommy put vegt'bles and potatoes in foil and wrapped it all up, so we have that too! And cookies!"

Maggie and Wyatt screeched "Cookies!" and ran back into the living room. Ed and Noah followed and met Olivia in the kitchen. The kids, each eating one pre-dinner sweet treat, went back to their toys, leaving Ed and Olivia alone.

She smiled and held up the platter of uncooked burgers. "Perfect timing." Ed rounded the island and kissed his wife hello. She could smell the booze and studied his eyes. "You alright?"

"Yeah, yeah," Ed replied in a husky voice, "Kinda lost track of time...and drinks...sorry." His apology was genuine and his face contorted in a pathetic pout.

Olivia patted his chest. "You need food," she said, "And then a good night's sleep. Big day tomorrow."

"Can't be lookin' rough bein' your arm candy," he quipped, smirked, and put his arms around her waist. "Seriously, Liv, I'm excited. I'm so, so proud of you. I know how much it means...how important it'll be."

Olivia smiled sweetly but narrowed her eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," he answered firmly, "I just want you to know...I'm behind ya one-hundred percent. With the show. The Center. Anything and everything you want to do."

"Thank you." Olivia sensed there was more Ed wanted to say, but he'd been drinking and they needed dinner. She'd ask him more questions later. They traded a few kisses. The kids were getting louder and more rambunctious.

"Let's get upstairs," Ed said, "Burgers were a good idea."

"Noah's idea."

"Good man. Hey, No! What kinda cheese do you want?"

"What kind you want?"

"American."

"Then I want 'merican too!"

…

Even though Noah had a credit card and money, Maggie insisted on taking the subway home and he acquiesced to his sister's demands. After all, Noah was never one to decline a ride on the trains. He'd been named to the Crain's Twenty Under Twenty List for his work to bring more accessibility and other services, including pop-up barber shops and personal hygiene giveaways for the homeless, to the subway stations. At their C Stop, he and Maggie bounded the stairs and he jokingly complimented her on her ability to walk around in semi-high heels.

"Probably next time I'll fit into Mom's," she said.

"Then we'll definitely need a cab."

Maggie shoved him and Noah gamely laughed. His childhood love for his siblings had never waned and he harbored a lot of uncertainty about his college choice. He was eager to study, but terribly reluctant to leave Maggie and Wyatt. The siblings ribbed each other as they meandered down their block but came to a halt when a woman stepped from the shadows of a stoop and smiled at them.

Noah and Maggie screwed up their faces because the woman stood there, in front of them, and said nothing until Noah finally stepped in front of Magge and asked, "Can I help you?"

"Noah?" She asked in an airy, dreamy voice.

He studied the woman's features, trying to place her, but couldn't. "Who are you?"

"Are you Noah?"

Instinctively, Noah ushered Maggie to their building's entrance. The doorman stepped forward and greeted them. Noah told Maggie to go inside, but she refused, rushed to her brother's side, and repeated Noah's words.

"Who are you?"

"I wanted to meet you."

Rolling his eyes at his redundancy but also feeling confident in his suit, Noah repeated his question for the second time. Counting Maggs' inquiry, the third overall. This time, he paused between each word. "Who. Are. You?"

"I know you, from when you were a child."

Arms akimbo, Maggie glared at the woman. She and Wyatt knew the very G-rated story of Noah's adoption, and this woman didn't fit the narrative. "Are you-"

Noah clasped his hand over her mouth, something he rarely did. Cowed, Maggie bowed her head and took a half step behind her brother.

"How do you know me?" Noah asked, hoping she was a teacher's aide or some other assistant he didn't remember. The problem was, the woman's eyes were too intense. She was too still. Too composed. Noah was both freaked out and intrigued.

"We go way back."

Maggie couldn't help herself, "Way back where?" She snapped.

"Maggs!"

"Noah you need proof!" She hissed, "She prolly knows you from those people in the shelters." As soon as Maggie uttered her hypothesis, she doubted it. The woman, even if she was unstable, was clean and well-dressed, Nevertheless, Maggie had a few years of street sense under her belt and remained skeptical. She stared ahead with narrowed eyes.

Noah couldn't dismiss the woman so easily. "What's your name?" He asked.

"Sheila."

Tentatively, he reached out and shook her hand. "Noah Tucker," he said, "Nice to meet you. This is my sister, Maggie.

Maggie did not extend her hand. Instead, she dug her phone out of her coat pocket and called Olivia.

….

A novice at show business, Olivia assumed, since the series was produced for an online streaming service and not a major cable network, there would not be a lot of fanfare surrounding the premiere. To her shock, she and Ed were picked up by a limousine and walked into the screening venue via a red carpet. They posed for photographs in front of a screen emblazoned with the logos of the show and the production company. The men and women behind the cameras shouted her name, imploring her to turn their way; she and Ed fell into an improvised, back-and-forth two-step until they were ushered out of the spotlight and into the next room where Olivia finally saw the familiar faces of the writers and directors.

She held Ed's hand while she returned hugs and accepted friendly kisses on the cheek. The show's creator led her to a group of journalists who peppered her with questions about her career and involvement with the scripts. Both proud and overwhelmed, Ed remained by her side and, as he listened to the conversations, became appreciative of everyone's sincerity. One of his concerns about the venture was the possibility that Olivia's career would be trivialized when translated to a fictional world, but those worries appeared to be unfounded.

After the Q&A, the press, cast, and staff moved en masse to a small theatre. There were, maybe, a hundred seats and every one of them was occupied by the time the lights dimmed. Ed reached for Olivia's hand. "I'm a little nervous," he whispered.

"So am I."

He pressed his lips to her knuckles. "It's gonna be great."

It was great. The first installment introduced the characters and the work of the Special Victims Unit. The plot centered around a powerful politician who had been using his money and his clout to coverup and brush aside sexual harassment allegations for years. It was, sadly, a familiar story; nevertheless, the way the investigation was written was interesting and unpredictable. At the end, when the credits rolled, Ed didn't move until he saw his wife's name listed among the others.

"Whadja think?" Olivia asked as soon as the room was illuminated again.

"It was great," Ed smiled and kissed her, "I could see your influence there...could practically hear your voice," he leaned in for another kiss and whispered, "You shoulda played the main role...you're way better looking than that actress."

Olivia grinned and swatted at his shoulder. "Let's not tell her that."

"Never. But I wanted you to know."

…..

In the midst of their shared, post-coital haze, Olivia and Ed didn't initially hear the phone. Ed was lazily kissing Olivia's shoulder; her eyes were half-closed and she basked in the comfort of Ed's kisses and touches as he used his last reserves of energy showering her with affection. When she reached for the phone, Ed whined.

"Kids are out," Olivia reminded him. She stretched for the nightstand and Ed used the opportunity to move into a spooning position. Olivia laughed softly when she returned to her spot and it was only partially vacant. She answered the call, expecting to be asked for a curfew extension. "Hey Maggie."

In her most urgent voice, Maggie reported there was a strange woman outside of their building and she knew Noah's name. Olivia immediately jumped out of bed and threw on a t-shirt and sweats. Ed asked what she was doing, what was going on, and she muttered something about Sheila. She knew it was her. After Noah brought home the New York Times Magazine with his picture inside, Olivia had been living with the fear that Sheila would see it and try to make contact. Ed hurriedly dressed and followed his wife out of the apartment. He swiped a set of keys from the bowl on the counter and grabbed their coats. Olivia twisted her hair into a ponytail and mumbled her thanks as she zipped the parka.

On the street, Sheila stood there like a deer in headlights, frozen, her unblinking eyes fixed on Noah. Bewildered, he looked back and forth from the stranger to his sister. When Olivia burst through the door, he whipped around and his knees buckled at the terror on her face. Ed trailed, barely keeping up, his arm extended as if he were trying to pull her back inside.

"Maggie, Noah, upstairs," Olivia said, making an exaggerated show of putting herself between her children and Sheila.

Usually compliant, Noah didn't budge. Maggie, in the too-big, leather-sleeved trench, glued herself to Ed's side.

"I only wanted to congratulate him," Sheila said softly.

"Daddy," Maggie whispered through clenched teeth, "Who is that?"

Ed didn't answer. Olivia glowered. Ed could hear her sharp breathing and he briefly considered letting go of Maggie and putting himself between his wife and Sheila. He was relieved Olivia didn't have her gun because he swore she would have wielded it even though Maggie and Noah were standing right there.

"Leave," Olivia said through clenched teeth. She stabbed the frigid winter air with her arm and pointed to the busy avenue a block away. "Get out of here. If you come back, I'll have you arrested."

"Mom what is going on?" Noah asked in a voice that sounded much younger than his eighteen years. It had a visible effect on Olivia. "Mom?"

Olivia was irate and heartbroken. The secret she'd kept from Noah for all these years was going to have to come out, and she had no way to do any damage control. Seething yet near tears, she turned to Ed and silently begged him to intervene.

"Noah, Maggie," he said, "Go upstairs."

"Dad, I-"

"Go." Ed ordered.

Taking one last quick glance at Sheila, Noah and Maggie did as they were told. They made their way into the building, keeping one eye on the three adults, and reluctantly stepped into the elevator when it arrived.

"Do you think Mom's gonna kill that lady?" Maggie asked with wide, concerned eyes.

"No…" Noah screwed up his face, "But...that was so weird…"

"She's probably a psycho stalker," Maggie said, "She saw you in the magazine and, like, she got obsessed with you. Are you scared, Noah?"

"Not really scared," he replied, "More like...intrigued."

"Well, if Mom kills her, I hope they make it look like an accident."

Noah laughed and gave his sister a playful shove. "You watch too many movies."

Ignoring his comment, Maggie nodded, "Yeah...Mom and Dad can totally make it look like an accident...no problem. They know what they're doing. When they come back up, if they change clothes real fast, we'll know."

"Okay, small sister," Noah replied absent-mindedly. He couldn't get the woman's face out of his mind.

"Did they have on gloves? Can't leave fingerprints…"

Noah looked down at her and grinned. "You really do watch too many shows."

….

#Tuckson