Seventy-three. (Didn't proof, I'm away)

Ed settled into bed next to Olivia. He kissed her cheek and slung an arm around her; as usual, she melted into his chest, sighed a bit, and gripped his forearm. Ed breathed in the scent of her shampoo. "Never switch brands," he whispered, smirking at the feel of her face break into a grin, "Was fun today."

"It certainly was," Olivia replied, "I love it when we're all together like that. Everyone smiling and happy. And I'm so proud of myself for not freaking out when the twins went on the rides."

"I'm proud of you, too."

"After the first one it was all easier. I don't remember being so nervous about Noah...but maybe he was a little older."

Over the course of the afternoon and early evening, Maggie and Wyatt went on the car carousel twice more and on an similarly tame "rollercoaster" which was nautical themed. The riders were seated in one of six bulky tugboats. Maggie and Wyatt sat on either side of Noah and he protectively put his arms across their shoulders. Olivia's favorite part was when they passed the area where the Tucker adults were standing and the twins squealed, "Hi Mama! Hi Dada!"

"Did we put him on a ride the first time we took him?"

"No," Ed replied, "They didn't have the rides that first time. Or maybe...I was too wrapped up in winning prizes and buying cotton candy and impressing you."

Olivia smiled. "I'm sure that was probably it." Her eyelids fluttered closed and she yawned. "Love you, sweetie."

"Night, Liv. I love you."

Silence engulfed the room, but Olivia and Ed did not fall asleep as easily as they should have. Olivia fidgeted. Ed apologized for being so close. Olivia insisted she wanted him there and that an apology was never, ever necessary. Not for wanting to hold her. Hearing this, he smiled and kissed her cheek with his lips parted-it was an offer, really, and Olivia accepted. They made love slowly, sweetly, and tenderly. Ed stroked her face and tried not to gasp for breath too harshly as he came. There were very few combinations more appealing, more pleasurable than gazing at his satisfied wife as he finished inside of her. He didn't want to ruin this particular moment with carnal grunts and groans.

"Mmmmm," Olivia ran her fingers through his closely cropped hair. Her chest pressed against his as she took a deep breath. Almost all of Ed's weight rested upon her and she shivered at the extra close contact. "I love you," she whispered.

"Love you," he shifted to his side and held her against his chest.

"Okay, seriously," she said though her voice was full of levity, "Sleep."

"Sleep," he repeated.

A few more minutes passed and Olivia spoke again. "Ed?"

"Hmm?"

"Carisi was talking to me about work today…"

"I know."

"How did you know?"

"He kinda commandeered your attention for a while," Ed replied softly, "I put two and two together."

"Of course you did."

"What's goin on?"

"Everything...SVU...keeps going...unfortunately. And some cases come back full circle. Apparently they caught one, similar to one of the Chicago connections-a boy, grew up being abused, now he's the perp...cycles...never end…"

"You remember the case?"

"Yes. Vaguely. It was a long time ago. Carisi mentioned it because he saw my notes...noticed my handwriting."

Instinctively, Ed started playing with her fingers. Olivia glanced down at their hands-his thick, a few hangnails, a scratch here and there and hers a couple of shades darker, smooth and elegant, nails painted a soft neutral shade. There were so many things to love about Ed, but those hands represented stability and assurance. A simple touch to her back was enough to fill Olivia with immense gratitude.

"You wish you woulda stayed on longer?" Ed asked cautiously, slightly afraid of the answer.

"You know what?" Olivia cocked her head to one side. "I don't. When he was rambling on and on today-"

She and Ed shared a quick laugh.

"-All I was thinking is, God, this sounds exhausting. And of all the emotions I've been dealing with, exhaustion isn't one of them. I'm not tired anymore. Haven't you noticed that?"

Ed twisted his lips and grimaced. "I dunno if there's a right answer to that one, sweetheart."

Olivia raised her eyebrows.

"If I say yes, you might take it as sometimes you looked like hell when ya came home, which," he kissed the tip of her nose, "You never do. If I say no, I sound like an asshole."

"Withdrawn, then," Olivia replied. "Maybe that was a little unfair."

"I think…" Ed murmured, "What I've noticed isn't...you being less tired. It's, well, I can tell when something's bothering you, I see it in your face, and I haven't seen it in a while, so, yeah, I've noticed a difference. Still a lot goin' on, but I nothin's ever going to weigh on ya like SVU."

"At least we hope not?"

"No," Ed kissed her fingers, "Nothing. Ever."

It was getting difficult for Olivia to fight the drowsiness now. She yawned and smiled as her eyes drifted shut. "You're the first person to say things like that so I believe them," she mumbled.

Ed gave her one last kiss before he, too, surrendered to sleep. "You believing me is a compliment that'll never get old."

…..

Over the course of their beach home ownership, the only major redesign had been the back porch. Ed and Olivia were constantly updating and adding to the outdoor kitchen, and they replaced the outdoor furniture cushions at least twice per year. Every spring Ed and Noah spent a weekend at the house repainting, restaining, and otherwise sprucing up the yard. Recently, their work included installing a new swing and pounding nails into two palm trees that were finally mature enough to hold a hammock which Noah tested while Ed, arms akimbo, turned around in a slow circle. He was incredibly proud of their coastal abode.

In Manhattan the family's furniture was sleek and modern, but, for the Bethany house, Olivia preferred bulky, cozy sofas and chairs in soft, pastel, beachy colors. In the center of the living room was a large, rustic coffee table locally made with reclaimed wood and metal. The walls represented both Ed's and Olivia's tastes. She chose large, impressionist oil paintings and he became obsessed with finding, purchasing, and framing vintage advertisement posters from local businesses. Family photographs were displayed on every table and shelf. A veritable timeline of years of beach activities snaked through the Tucker home.

Ed and Olivia sat together on the loveseat, their usual spot. Ed rested his legs on the table and Olivia curled up, perpendicular to him, her head on his shoulder. They were watching the ten o'clock evening news and passing issues of a local events magazine back and forth.

"What in the hell are they doing up there?" Ed glanced at the ceiling and tracked Maggie's and Wyatt's footsteps from their side of the second floor to where the master bedroom was located.

"Maggie! Wyatt!" Olivia called without moving, "Come here!"

The twelve-year-old twins immediately bounded down the stairs and skipped into the living room. Their faces were guilt-free, so Olivia doubted they had been up to any type of criminal behavior. Maggie's sunstreaked brown hair was pulled into a messy, off-center ponytail, her typical summer hairstyle. She and Wyatt both wore school t-shirts and khaki shorts. Their blue eyes were even more prominent against their tanned skin. Around Wyatt's eyes and forehead and along the side of his head the hue was a shade lighter due to his penchant for wearing his goggles either over his eyes or pulled up just over his eyebrows whenever he was outside. The habit was one of his endearing childhood quirks Olivia was happy he had not yet outgrown.

"What's goin on?" Ed asked.

Maggie bounced from foot to foot. "Noah's out there. With a girl!"

Olivia reproachfully shook her head even though she was smiling. "Don't spy on your brother."

"Which girl?" Ed asked, smirking as Olivia rolled her eyes.

"Mallory," Wyatt replied. His eyes drifted to the glass door leading to the back porch. Like his sister, he was wanting to get back to their mission.

"Which one's that?"

Three lots down from the Tucker home was large, sprawling, three story home owned by a family from Maine. Each summer they hosted an assortment of aunts, uncles, and cousins, so the Tucker kids had no shortage of neighbors to hang out with during the day and, as they got older, at night.

"He took her on the jet ski today," Maggie replied impatiently.

"Give them some privacy," Ed said.

"They're right out there on the beach!" Wyatt protested.

"Yeah! Everyone can see," Maggie added, "Why can't we?"

"You have a different motive," Olivia pointed out.

Maggie groaned. "C'mon, Wyatt, let's go out and play cards." She grabbed the Skip-Bo deck from a nearby basket and waved it in front of her face. "Now we have no motive!" She announced with a sly grin.

Olivia and Ed dropped their objections. Maggie and Wyatt went outside, slamming the door behind them.

"Wonder if he'll get a kiss tonight," Ed mumbled.

"I think they're just friends," Olivia confidently replied. Noah had always been more likely to hang out with a group than go on a date, and he'd never had a serious girlfriend. Both she and Ed assumed this was mostly due to the fact his longstanding, close relationship with Mia had permanently taken him off the teenage dating market even though Noah was adamant in his insistence that he and his childhood best friend were strictly platonic.

"Every kid needs a summer fling."

"I never had one."

"Oh come on! Olivia Benson never had to break some poor kid's heart at the end of August?"

"Nope. What about you?"

"Every summer. Yes. Always had a girlfriend in the summer. Even if I didn't really like her."

Olivia swatted at his belly. "You're horrible."

"Maybe...but I couldn't be the only guy without a girlfriend."

"I'm shocked you were ever that concerned about your reputation."

"I was," Ed admitted with exaggerated shame and a sigh, "But I haven't had to worry about that in a long, long time."

"No?"

"No," Ed smirked and kissed her, "My rep's been bulletproof since we've been together. I'm the envy of everyone."

Olivia chuckled, "Good for you," she said sarcastically, "But, I hate to tell you, I'm not sure there are many people paying attention anymore."

"Oh they are," Ed replied. "Trust me."

…..

On the observation level of the One World Trade building, Noah and Sarah wandered around, pointing out familiar sights, and took innumerable selfies. The pair had been to the top of all of Manhattan's skyscrapers, and this one was still Noah's favorite. Not only could they enjoy the views, but there was a restaurant and a bar where Sarah always treated him to fancy non-alcoholic cocktails. After a few laps around, they found a table for two facing northeast and enjoyed their drinks.

"Sare Bear I wish they had ropes up here so we could swing around to da next building like Spiderman!"

"Noey, that would be extremely scary."

"Not scary," Noah said, "If you hold on real tight and you prolly need some gloves. And maybe some shoes that are spiky or sticky, then ya push off and zoom! Ya jus' go to the next one and the next!"

"We'll work on that plan," Sarah tightened her blonde ponytail by dividing it into two sections and yanking each in opposite directions. "So, other than you doing stunts across Manhattan, what else is new?"

Noah's eyes grew wide, "Did you know," he said dramatically, "Mia's Mommy and Daddy don't live in the same house anymore?"

"I hadn't heard," Sarah leaned forward on her elbows, "What happened?"

Noah shrugged. "I dunno. Mia said her Mommy wanted to go live with where her horses are and her Daddy said no, so now they have one, two houses!"

"Oh," Sarah said, "Well, some people have two houses. Like you. You have a beach house and then you also have the apartment here in the city."

"But Mia's Daddy isn't 'lowed at da horse house!"

"Really?"

"Uh-huh," Noah took a gulp up his drink and wiped the dribble of pineapple juice from his chin using his sleeve.

"Is Mia sad?"

"No."

"Oh, well, sounds like maybe it's all working out for the best," Sarah concluded. "That's some pretty serious news you had for me."

"You have some news?" Noah asked with genuine interest.

Sarah giggled. He sounded so much older than six-going-on-seven. "We're training a bunch of newbies, that means new people we hired, and they're young so they don't know anything, so it's been a struggle." Sarah groaned. For her, the last few weeks had indeed been exasperating, "So that's why I missed last Wednesday," she explained. "Sorry, cutie."

"S'okay! Mommy and Daddy and da babies got me and we had ice cream before dinner!"

"Lucky!"

"Yeah."

"Oh, and the big news is," Sarah said theatrically, "This is Justin's last week riding with the ambulances! He's going to work for his professor full time and get his doctorate!"

"Whassat?"

"It means you are an expert in whatever you're studying. So Justy's going to study really hard and he'll be Dr. Vidal!"

"That's cool!"

"Sure is."

"I wanna be a doctor, too!"

"The kind that makes people feel better or the kind like Justin who reads a lot and writes papers and does research?"

Noah twisted his lips and pondered the question for a minute. "I think...the Justy kind. What's he gonna write about?"

"About kids and their parents-people who need some extra help because they had some hard times when they were growing up. He wants to show the government how they can make sure kids get a good education and are cared for and, at the same time, their parents can get better jobs." Sarah wasn't sure Noah was following her watered-down explanation of Justin's complicated project, so she paused.

Eventually Noah nodded his head and grinned after he figured everything out in his head. "Justy loves helpin' people," he concluded. "B'fore, with da ambulance and da bag he helped 'em after they got hurt!"

"Yeah," Sarah smiled sweetly at the thought of her husband who not only had a huge heart but also had a calling to make a difference in the lives of others, "He's a good helper for sure. So," she tapped the tabletop and looked around, "What else do you want to do today? Where should we eat?"

"C'we go to play skee ball?"

"Absolutely! And then we can get some noodles or dumplings for dinner."

"Kay!"

"Noey, you are the most delightful companion on this whole Earth. Promise me we'll always have our dates? Even when you're a hundred and fifty."

"Sare Bear, people don't get that old."

"Maybe someday they will. Be optimistic."

"What's that mean?"

"That you always think on the bright side, always think good things!"

"Okay, I'll be opt-mistic," Noah said, "Can we have another one a these please?" He lifted his empty glass.

"Of course. You can have anything you want."

….

A familiar number popped up on Olivia's office phone and she smiled at the screen. She let Ed's call ring a few times before picking up and answering with a coquettish "Hey." She pictured Ed leaning back in his chair, smirking, holding the phone with one hand and spinning a pen between his thumb and forefinger with the other.

"Hey," he replied. "How's is going over there?"

"Fine."

"Just fine? Well, lemme make your day better."

"How are you gonna do that?"

"One of the attorneys of a guy who lived in that homeless shelter," Ed explained in a more formal tone, "Filed a complaint about Carisi's undercover op. It's nothing, baseless, but I have to at least review the file and his notes. Can I come over and pick it up this afternoon? Maybe bring you lunch?"

Olivia peered into the squad room. The day had been oddly slow. She felt bad wishing they would catch another intense, fast-pace case like the one they'd recently solved. Working only felt normal when they were busy. During down time their interactions felt strained and awkward, at least to Olivia. To her, everyone was trying so hard to be normal they created the exact opposite atmosphere.

"How about I bring it to you?" Olivia suggested. "I wouldn't mind getting out of here for a while."

"You sure?"

Olivia told him she was, took his lunch order, and strode out of the building. Less than forty-five minutes later she knocked on Ed's office door even though it was ajar. He responded with a gruff "come in" and his face filled with remorse when he realized it was her and not a colleague requesting entry.

"That didn't take ya long," He stood up, set the lunch bags on the credenza, and nudged the door closed with his foot. "You're staying to eat right? Lemme take your coat."

"I was planning on it," Olivia replied. Before Ed could help her with the trench she handed over the file. "Here's everything."

"Thanks." He tossed it haphazardly next to the food and slid the coat from her shoulders.

"Ruse?" She asked, her eyebrow cocked and her lips ready for the impending kiss.

"Nah, I really need it," he said in a soft, low voice, "But I really needed to see you, too, so," he shrugged, "Two birds..." Ed threaded his fingers through her hair and gave her a deep, passionate kiss. He backed her against the wall. Other than softs smacks and moans, the only sounds in the room were belts and shields colliding at their waists. "This is, by far," he whispered against her lips, "The best thing to ever happen in this office."

"Yours is more private than mine," Olivia said, "All those windows…"

"Goddamn horrible windows."

They grinned at each other. Their eyes sparkled and cheeks flushed with hints of arousal.

"Wanna eat?" Ed asked.

"Sure," Olivia replied in a tone tinged with disappointment. She actually wanted more of Ed, but that would have to wait until later, after Noah had gone to bed and they retreated to her sofa for a drink and classic sitcom reruns. She sized him up as he unpacked the food-he was so sexy in his dark suits, freshly dry-cleaned shirts, and sleek ties, but she couldn't wait to see him in his sweats, and then, after they went to bed, in nothing at all.

"Damn, still extremely hot, careful with yours."

They sat on opposite sides of Ed's desk and ate slowly in order to prolong their time together. Ed stirred the ramen and blew on each bite before shoveling it into his mouth. It was an act, like many she'd witnessed over the past several months, that seemed wildly out of character for the tough IAB investigator.

"Good," he murmured. "You get the same thing?"

"I did. It's their classic. The only thing Carisi orders there. So," she grinned, "Please don't get rid of him. He's full of valuable tips."

"Pro forma," Ed replied. "Nothin' to worry about."

"Excellent."

"Supposed to be another terrible weekend weather-wise. You, uh, you wanna take Noah up to Legoland Saturday or Sunday? Make a day of it?"

"Legoland," Olivia said the name of the amusement center slowly as she broke into a huge smile. "I bet Noah will love it."

"Looks fun."

"Been researching kid-friendly getaways, Captain?"

Ed stopped eating and gazed into her eyes. "Yeah I have."

"The weekend's clear," Olivia reached for one of his hands, "Legoland it is."

"Then after maybe we can find somewhere interesting to eat up there."

"I love the way this whole thing is coming together," Olivia said. "How about we go Saturday...then that gives us Saturday night?"

Ed lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "Really lookin' forward to it, Lieutenant."

"So am I...and Noah will be too. Are we seeing you for dinner tonight?"

"Sure."

Olivia groaned, "I wish I could cut out early, leave now, but, no can do."

"Some other time."

"Yeah…" Olivia glanced down at her half-empty bowl. "We may be having leftover ramen for dinner."

"Nah, I'll cook."

"Again?"

"Yes, again. Probably a bad time to ask what you feel like eating."

"Probably."

"Then I'll surprise you," Ed watched her put the lid on the bowl, "Gonna head back?"

"Yes." Olivia stood up, planted her palms on the desk, and leaned forward for a kiss. "I'll see you tonight."

Smiling dazedly at the kiss, he replied, "Hope the rest of your day goes by fast."

"Same to you. Seven-ish?"

"I'll be there."

….

Reading glasses perched on their noses, Ed and Olivia sat against the headboard concentrating more on their phones than Noah and the twins who were camped out at the other end of the bed watching shows on the rarely-used bedroom flat screen.

"Got me by not much that game," Ed mumbled, tapping the rematch icon, "You're goin' down this time, Benson."

"We'll see about that. Hah! Yahtzee! First roll!"

"Ugh," Ed grumbled. "Well, it's early." He kissed her cheek and whispered, "I'm gonna owe you big time."

Olivia eyed their three pajama-clad children. They were sharing one pillow and engrossed in the newest version of Boss Baby. Wyatt's fist was already in his mouth, signaling sleep was imminent, but Maggie and Noah looked nowhere near ready to turn in for the night. She predicted Noah would request to sleep "all in the big bed" so whatever Ed was planning on "paying" her would most likely have to wait until the next night.

Since Brooke introduced Ed and Olivia to the Yahtzee app, they had developed an addiction for the game. Not only did they relish the competition, but they enjoyed trash talking each other through the chat feature. It was silly and fun and another simple kind of intimacy they shared.

When Ed won the current game after a remarkable, two-Yahtzee comeback, Olivia reacted by shouting "NO!" so loud it startled all three kids. Wyatt scrambled to his knees, Maggie dove at Olivia's legs, and Noah sat up, his face crinkled and full of concern.

Olivia laughed and hoisted Maggie above her head. "Daddy came back and won, Maggie May! Mommy was beating him but he got really, really lucky!" She nuzzled Maggie's neck until the little girl was consumed with giggles. Wyatt scrambled for his turn as soon as Maggie was on her back between Ed and Olivia.

Noah, however, didn't readily join in the fun. "Wha'happened?" He asked.

Ed explained how he'd been losing by a hundred points but caught up with his final two rolls. Noah accepted the explanation, but wasn't completely assuaged. "You mad 'cause ya lost, Mommy?"

"No, honey," Olivia said, a little breathless from lifting Wyatt up and down. "I won wayyy more games than Daddy, so I'm very, very happy. And, I'd be happy even if I didn't win because I'm here with my family and I love you so much."

"What's the matter bud?" Ed pulled Noah into his lap. "You know we don't get mad when we play games. Even if we lose...that's part of playing, remember?"

"You gonna move to a diff'rent house?" Noah asked.

By the time Sarah dropped Noah off, they had spent two hours at the arcade, had dinner, and stopped at her apartment, so she'd forgotten to mention what Noah had told her about Mia's parents, if, that is, she remembered in the first place. Unintentionally left in the dark, Ed and Olivia were blindsided by Noah's serious question.

"No, I'm not moving to a different house." Ed made sure to directly and clearly address the question first. "Why'd ya think I'd do that?"

Noah launched into the same story he'd told Sarah. Ed and Olivia exchanged worried glances. Noah needed reassurance that his parents weren't separating, but Ed saw the wheels turning in Olivia's head. She needed to know whether or not Mia would be staying in Manhattan or moving out to Long Island with her mother.

"Sweet boy," Olivia reached over to smooth his hair and gently pat his cheek, "Daddy and I are always, always going to live in the same house, okay? Neither one of us is ever going to move away."

"But what if ya get really, really mad?"

Ed held Noah even more tightly. "If we get mad we talk about it," he explained, "Everyone gets mad sometimes, Noah. But Mommy and I know that we have to talk and listen to each other, then we're not mad anymore," Ed kissed the top of Noah's head, "And I love your Mommy way too much," he added, his voice softening, "To live anywhere else."

Noah looked to Olivia, needing reassurance from her as well.

"I'm never leaving Daddy, honey," she said, "I love him and he's my best friend."

"And he cooks all da food!" Noah quipped and started giggling. It was contagious and he fell into a heap with the twins.

"Hey," Olivia objected good-naturedly and started tickling them, "I cook sometimes!"

"Ahhhhh!" Noah shrieked and managed to retort, "Daddy makes your fav'rites!"

"That's true."

"Like tacos!"

"TAH-OHS!"

"Tahohtahohtahoh!"

"Daddy," Noah disentangled himself from his siblings and sat up, "You wanna make us tacos right now?"

"It's almost bedtime, pal. Tacos tomorrow."

"C'we sleep here?" He asked.

"No sweet boy. It's a school night. Everyone in their own beds on school night."

"Please? Jus' till I fall asleep then Daddy can carry me to to my bed?"

As if she figured it would be tougher for her parents to say no if she were already under the covers, Maggie peeled back the blanked and top sheet and curled up next to Olivia. Wyatt was already snuggled at her side.

Ed turned to Olivia and they nodded at one another.

"Okay," Olivia said. "Only until you fall asleep."

"Kay."

Ed got up and went to get the twins' blankets. He returned with three of their favorite bedtime books. Olivia turned off the movie and dimmed the lights. Soon, the kids were dozing off, the reading glasses were back on, and Ed and Olivia were back battling for Yahtzee wins.

…

#Tuckson