Seventy-nine.

The Missing Moms case quickly became a local election debate topic, and Rafael Barba, who was running for a State Assembly seat, was uniquely suited to respond to citizens' concerns and present options for crime prevention in the future. Though drawing on his experience was sufficient, he enlisted Olivia's help in the final two weeks of the campaign. While she and Barba strategized in his office, Noah helped his staff organize flyers, sort t-shirts, and stuff goody bags that would be distributed at the next rally. At one point, an aide poked his head in to take their coffee orders and grinned when Olivia asked if Noah was bothering them.

"Are you kidding?" The young, college-aged man asked, "He's on it. He's probably done more bags than all of us combined." He typed their drink preferences into his phone and darted off to the campaign's favorite cafe.

Barba grinned, "I think Noah has politics in his future, Liv. I can tell by the way he carries himself and interacts with everyone."

Olivia's first instinct was always to protect her children and she shuddered to think of Noah in the middle of a nasty, mudslinging election. "I hope you're wrong," she said.

Reading her mind, Barba replied, "Maybe by his time politics won't be so ugly."

"It's never not been ugly," Olivia pointed out.

"True." Barba slid a legal pad across to Olivia, "Here's what I've come up with so far. We've debated this topic before, but that was prior to this...case," Barba screwed up his face, and asked rhetorically, "The media couldn't think of a better name for it? Seems insensitive at best."

"You don't want to alienate them," Olivia said, "But maybe find some way to bring up that very point? That reporters aren't helping by making this sound like something out of a cheap novel."

Barba tapped a pen against his chin. "I'll work that in," he jotted down a line of notes and looked up at his former colleague, "Squad been filling you in?"

"Nope," Olivia said proudly, "I've kept my distance. I'm sure they would, Brooke's told me Carisi has barely been home, but I fear one tiny tidbit of insider info will suck me back in. Unless evidence points to a prior case and I can provide some insight...I'm staying away."

"Smart move," he muttered. "Does this qualify as staying away?"

"It does," Olivia replied. She put on her reading glasses and scanned the page. It felt good to work with Barba again. During their time together it felt like the old days when they would pore or squabble over cases. Their old symbiosis returned easily returned and an hour passed before they were interrupted again by the same staff member who took the coffee order.

"Raf, we're going to go out on the canvass now. Ma'am? Is Noah allowed to come along?"

Olivia felt bad saying no, especially when Noah was looking at her with wide, hopeful eyes, but they had been away most of the day and Ed deserved a break. And dinner. "Oh, wow," she gasped, "It's late. Noah, honey, maybe next time you can go out with everyone but we have to get home."

"Please Mommy? We gotta hand out all dese papers!"

"Honey we have to go," Olivia replied, "But I'm sure we're invited to the rally this weekend?" She looked at Barba with her eyebrows raised.

"Absolutely," he said.

"And Noah, we'll need a lot of help handing out the bags," the staffer added.

Noah nodded and replied slowly, "Okay...Mommy? I gotta wear a tie. Everrone has ties! 'Cept the girls." He added with a giggle.

"Deal," Olivia said. She said goodbye to Barba and held Noah's hand. "We'll see you Saturday. At the rally. With a tie."

…..

The elevator in Ed's building was small, rickety, and scheduled to be overhauled as the building and neighborhood attracted younger and wealthier residents. Several small, octagon-shaped, black-and-white tiles were missing and the original oak wall paneling was nicked and gouged in several places, most likely from years of residents moving and in out without the benefit of a service elevator. On the ride to his fourth-floor unit, though, Ed saw none of these imperfections. He didn't hear the creaking gears and pulleys. And he definitely didn't feel any of the jolts.

Olivia hadn't had much downtime after the whirlwind manhunt that took her from the city to upstate New York and then to Chicago, but she'd had the benefit of a few regular shifts and consecutive nights of solid sleep. Ed gave her space to rest, even though he was desperate to talk to her, so when she called and suggested they have drinks and dinner he was thrilled and eagerly made the plans. The night had been full of flirtation and sexual innuendo. Rather than the usual divey cop bar, they had cocktails at a classier lounge and shared sips of their drinks and several kisses across the small round table. Once they had tried to ban "shop talk" from their conversations but quickly realized the restriction was impossible. On this night, however, the only police-related topic was Ed asking about Mike Dodds' injury. After the update they chatted about books, movies, the frigid winter, sports, Noah, Ed's daughters, and then, finally, music. Sarah and Brooke were attending a concert at the Bowery Ballroom and Olivia teased Ed when he relayed this information with obvious disgust.

"I suppose I shouldn't hold my breath for an invite to a show then?" She asked, her eyes twinkling with jest and then satisfaction when she saw him blush.

"It's standing room only there," he explained weakly, "I'm game for the Garden."

"I never recognize the bands playing at the smaller places anyway," Olivia admitted.

Ed grinned and moved closer. He wanted another kiss. "Me neither."

"Something else we have in common."

"List is gettin' long."

Had they not been in a dark corner of the bar, Olivia probably would not have let the kiss get so passionate, but she, too, was caught up in the moment. She smiled when she felt Ed's fingers in her hair. Ed grinned back at her. "You're beautiful, Olivia Benson."

Ed briefly considered forgetting about dinner and taking her back to his place, but he worried the change of plans would be perceived as impolite and tawdry rather than spontaneously romantic. At the next stop, a tapas restaurant, they shared a pitcher of Sangria and a few small plates. At one point Olivia, after raving about the mussels, dipped a piece of bread in the buttery broth and offered it to Ed.

"The sauce is delicious," she said in a low, sultry voice, her eyes locked on his lips as he took a bite.

Ed had barely swallowed when he leaned forward, rested his hand on her thigh, and kissed her. "I'm really enjoyin' tonight," he said in an extra gravelly voice. They were several drinks in, relaxed, enamored with each other, and he was feeling bold, "You wanna come to my place for a little while? I'll take you home later?"

She answered with an unequivocal yes and their first taxi make out session ensued. On the way in to the building they held hands and then practically mauled each other in the elevator. Ed hand trouble containing his excitement. Olivia was pawing at him, grabbing for his shirt, cupping the back of his head. By the time the car stopped at Ed's floor, her lipstick was smeared. They were both noticeably disheveled. Olivia pecked at the back of Ed's neck as he unlocked the door, but she felt his shoulders stiffen before he actually pushed it open.

"Someone's in there," he muttered.

A different type of adrenaline rushed through their veins. Neither one of them were armed. Olivia reached for her phone, the next best option. Before she could unlock it, however, Sarah's voice caused them both to breathe a sigh of relief...and also one of disappointment.

"Daddy, it's me!"

"Sarah?"

Ed screwed up his face. Olivia smoothed her hair and wiped the area around her mouth with her thumb and forefinger.

"What are you doing here?" Ed asked, making no effort to conceal that he was annoyed by her presence.

Sarah saw Olivia and smiled. Her eyes filled with delight and maybe an iota of remorse. It did not take keen observation skills to conclude Ed and Olivia had been headed straight for the bedroom.

"Brooke had a headache after the first set," Sarah explained, "So she Ubered back home. I stayed but it wasn't great, so I figured I'd come back here for the night since there's an extra room and it was closer. I sent you a text."

Ed found his phone. "So you did."

"I'm...sorry...I can head up to Brooke's, I didn't know-"

"We were just comin' here for a nightcap," Ed replied, "No problem."

"Yes," Olivia said cheerfully, thankful the embarrassment had subsided, "Join us. So good to see you again." She gave Sarah a hug, removed her coat, and hung it on the rack. "Ed? Jameson with a little ice for me, please."

Ed grinned and kissed her cheek on his way to the liquor cabinet. "Comin' right up."

…

The project Justin was working on at the university took him away for two weeks, and, after only two days, Sarah had had enough of alone time. Making the solitude worse, this time of year was always slow in her line of work, so she wasn't able to dive into her job. She spent most of the day helping Brooke with Sofia and then wound up at the Tucker home for the evening. When she arrived at the building an ambulance was parked outside. She thought nothing of it, but the doorman gave her a reassuring pat on the back when he directed her to the elevator and Sarah quickly found out the EMT crew was there for one of her family members. She rushed to the apartment, expecting to see one of the twins or Noah bloody or injured, but it was Ed who was strapped to the gurney. There was an oxygen mask strapped to his face and one of the techs barked out readings from a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff.

"Daddy!"

Noah, Maggie, and Wyatt were sitting on the couch gawking at the action. Noah held each of his siblings by the hand. Sarah could tell he was trying to be brave, but his lower lip jutted out and his eyes glistened with unshed tears. Ed was conscious and Olivia hovered over him while listening to the paramedics' report. She reached out for Sarah, held Ed's arm, and nodded as the man gave her an initial diagnosis.

"With the normal vitals, probably low blood sugar or something like that," he said, "But we'll take him in to get looked at by a doc. They'll probably want to keep him for observation."

"I'm fine," Ed muttered through gritted teeth.

"Livvie, go with him," Sarah said. She was trying not to panic and her voice sounded like a child's. "I'll stay here."

"Ready?" A member of the EMT team asked the group.

"Let's head out. Mt. Sinai, ma'am."

Olivia hurried over to the children and gave them hugs and kisses. "Daddy's okay, sweethearts. We're going to go see the doctor to see if he needs any medicine. I'll be back in a little bit. I love you so, so much."

"Mommy, why'd Daddy go like dis?" Noah let the top half of his body go limp and his head bobbed lifelessly.

"I don't know, honey, that's what we're going to find out," Olivia replied soothingly. She kissed his forehead and forced a smile. "Sarah's going to stay here until I get back."

"Kay."

Sarah gave Olivia a quick, tight hug. Olivia mumbled something about the kids not having had their dinner yet and Sarah told her she'd take care of it. "Go, Livvie. I got it." Olivia gave the kids each another hug and followed the medics. Sarah put her hands on her hips and assessed her three young charges who were still very much bewildered at what had just occurred.

Wyatt started crying and screaming for his Mommy and Daddy. Maggie sniffled. Noah finally let his tears fall. Sarah gathered all three into her arms and rocked them back and forth. Like their mother, she assured them everything was under control. "The doctors are really good, remember, Noey? They take care of people and they'll take good care of Daddy."

"He comin' home today?" Noah asked in a shaky voice.

Sarah wanted to say yes, but she didn't want to lie. "I don't know, Noey. Sometimes, if there aren't enough doctors working they have to wait a little bit. But the good thing was that Daddy was awake and talking. Was he sick today?"

Noah shrugged. "I dunno. Mommy and me got home and he was playin' with da babies and then Mommy said 'ED' and Daddy was like dis!" Noah slumped over and let his head bob again. "Then Mommy called the people, the people like Justy usedta be, but then Daddy got up but then he fell down again!"

"That sounds so scary," Sarah said softly. She strained to reach for the tissues Olivia always kept on a side table. Wyatt's face was a mess of snot and tears. Maggie had calmed down, but she remained plastered to her brother.

"Very scary."

Sarah did her best to be cheerful, "Well! How about something to eat and drink? Everybody hungry?"

"I want Daddy," Noah said, "And Mommy."

"They'll be back soon," Sarah said, "And when they get back we don't want to be hangry."

"Hangry?"

"Yes, that means you're so hungry you're angry. Hangry."

This new word got a smile and a soft chuckle out of Noah. "Han-gry…" he said slowly.

"Yes. So. What do you want? Pizza?"

Noah nodded and hearing pizza perked up both Maggie and Wyatt.

"P'ZA!"

"P'za w'cheeeeese!"

"Pizza it is," Sarah said. She picked up her phone and ordered, keeping the kids by her side. Whenever she babysat, the trio played boisterously and crisscrossed the apartment in quick strides, always searching for another toy or game or whatever else they needed to entertain themselves. Over the next few hours, even when she had to open the door for the pizza delivery, the three of them were never more than a few inches away from her grasp.

…...

Before shopping at the local market, Ed took Maggie to cafe for a smoothie. The place was so tiny it offered no seating, only a walk-up window, so father and daughter sat on a bench and watched the main street slowly populate with locals and tourists. Bethany was the typical east coast beach town complete with a boardwalk, quaint shops, and a predictable population increase from June-August. Ed and Maggie recognized some people and waved, but most passersby were strangers to be ignored.

"When's Mari and Anthony gettin here?" Maggie asked before she slurped another gulp of her smoothie. She dressed herself in blue jean shorts and the field day t-shirt. Her flip-flopped feet swung back and forth.

"This afternoon," Ed replied, "Probably around dinner time."

"And Brookey?"

"Not until the weekend."

"We can sleep in the sunroom this year?"

The beach house had four upstairs bedrooms. Noah and Wyatt occupied one, Maggie a second, and guests had the use of a second master suite on the opposite side of the house. When a second group arrived, Maggie bunked with her brothers, but sometimes they were allowed to sleep downstairs. The "sunroom" probably had originally been part of the porch but was now a cozy ten-by-twelve space with three oversized chairs that converted to beds and windowed walls. The kids loved to sleep there because of the flat screen TV they could watch all night.

"We'll see."

"Sare Bear and Justy have FOUR!" Maggie said adamantly. "The only place with FOUR is my room!" She took a sip and swallowed triumphantly. Indeed, her room boasted a queen-sized bed and a pull-out sofa. It was also large enough for a crib where Mari still slept.

"We'll see."

Maggie grumbled. "Daddy, you always say that then you talk to Mommy and then the answer is NO!"

Ed laughed, "Not always. But, yes, I always talk to Mommy."

Maggie groaned again. Talking to Mommy usually meant she wasn't getting what she wanted. Around Kindergarten she and Wyatt learned their mother called the shots and she'd had a few years of experience under her belt.

"You ready to shop?" Ed asked.

"Meh."

Ed grinned. If there had been nothing else to do, Maggie would have been content to sit on the bench for at least an hour and people watch.

"Let's at least make the list," Ed suggested, "So we don't waste any time."

"Kay."

"What for lunch?"

"Chips, bread, meat, and da chicken salad. I LOVE IT!"

"Absolutely."

"Mommy wants the cherry salsa and and we need chips and cookies."

"What about smoothie stuff so you don't have to drink coffee?" Ed asked with a smirk.

Maggie shook her head as if Ed should have known better, "Daddy!" She admonished, "You ALWAYS take me to get these smoothies!"

"Oh yeah…"

"But for everyone else we can get juice."

"Yep. And what else?"

"The list is my head," Maggie tapped the side of her face, "Eggs, bread, bacon-you make the best bacon, Daddy-the cheese crackers, the meat in da roll, the brownies," she rubbed her stomach, "we love those brownies!"

"Maybe some veggies and dip?"

Maggie crinkled her nose, "Okay."

Ed put his arm around his daughter and kissed her head. Moments like these would become more and more rare as Maggie got older and he soaked up the closeness. He loved each of his children, but their bonds were different. Wyatt was content with down time and he liked museums. He studied things; and Caroline reminded Ed he had been the same way when he was young. Noah was smart, but he picked up on things quickly and knew a lot about a wide range of subjects. Ed often had trouble keeping up with his intellect. Maggie was silly. She had always been. And she brought out the more lighthearted side of her father. Wyatt and Noah made Ed think. Maggie always made him laugh.

"We'll get veggies and dip," Ed said, "But you don't have to eat it."

Maggie fist bumped her Dad and then wrapped him in a ferocious bear hug. "I love you, Daddy."

"Love you, baby girl. More than you know."

…

#Tuckson