Ninety-eight.

Ed heard the key in the lock and scrambled to close Olivia's book and slide it back in its place on the shelf. He expected her to be home much later since meetings with Barba's staff often ended with drinks at what had become their unofficial campaign bar. The television was off and the apartment was still; to Olivia it must have appeared as if Ed were sitting in the apartment surrounded only by the lights of the table lamp and the Christmas tree, doing absolutely nothing. She either didn't notice or chose not to question what he'd been doing. Instead, she kicked off her shoes, hung up her coat, and greeted him with a hug and a kiss.

"Hi," she closed her eyes and held him tightly for a few extra seconds.

Ed splayed his hands across her back and kissed her head. "Hi," he whispered back, "Good day?"

"It was...challenging," Olivia said. She pulled away but grabbed his hand and led him to the couch, "It's confirmed...I despise politics."

Ed chuckled softly, "I bet you're good at it."

"Opinions and beliefs are one thing," Olivia said, brushing off the compliment, "But when it's time to put those into action? Develop policy? With all those strong personalities in the room, it's difficult and frustrating."

"Thought Barba's the one who's supposed to set the course?"

"I think," Olivia examined her fingernails and frowned at a chip in her gel polish, "He's given a little too much control to the staffers. He has someone on schools, someone on adult education, someone on public safety, but none of it is very well-coordinated, at least, from what I see, which is shocking, considering Barba...but maybe that's the way it works?"

Ed put his arm around Olivia's shoulders and she leaned against him. He felt terrible for garnering a modicum of consolation from her complaints, but he couldn't ignore the sense of calm that had engulfed his body and mind. "What were you workin on?"

"Similar to what Justin's doing," Olivia said, "Childcare and job training for single parents. Such a simple, glaringly necessary concept but there are so few options for anyone who's on their own with little kids. Can you imagine? Doing it all alone?"

"No," Ed replied. Worried Olivia would realize the irony in the question, Ed quickly pivoted to a lighter subject. He gestured toward Noah's phone which was charging next to the flat screen. "In more serious news, Noah came back from Sarah's today with a phone addiction."

Olivia grinned, "What'd he discover?"

"Yahtzee."

"Uh-oh."

"Yeah, he was barely talking when Sarah brought him back. Maggie and Wyatt were bringing him toys, trying to get him to play, but he was dialed in. He was playing with G and Justin and he only put the thing down when they stopped." Ed chuckled again and shrugged, "At least there's some strategy involved?"

"At least," Olivia echoed. "Smart to make him charge it out here."

"He didn't mount a protest. I think he was tired. They went to Gulliver's Gate and then back to Sarah's and played with the dog...until he found that app."

"He'll probably want a dog soon."

"I dunno. I don't think he liked the fact that it's a dog owner's responsibility to pick up the shit."

Olivia laughed, "Of all the reasons not to own a dog," she said, "That's my number one."

"Mine too."

…

Olivia waited until everyone cleared the squad room before she called Tucker back. He'd left two voicemails-one a dinner invitation and the second an assurance that he was still open to meeting up later if she had time after what he guessed had been a grueling day and evening. She found his persistence charming, especially since his voice, though always deep and gravelly, sounded friendly and affectionate. Olivia could tell he felt bad about her having to work late and not only because he wanted to see her.

"Want me to come pick you up?" He asked after they decided to meet at a spot that had become a regular haunt-it was off the beaten path, close to their homes, and more upscale than the typical dive or Irish Pub their colleagues frequented. The sunken bar also allowed for a level of privacy they appreciated.

"Sure," Olivia had planned on taking one of the cars home, but she threw Ed a bone, and she pictured a satisfied grin forming on his face.

"Leaving now."

Ed sent her a text when he was a couple of blocks away and Olivia made her way downstairs. She nodded to the desk sergeant and tightened the belt on her black trench. Prior to leaving the office she'd touched up her makeup and smiled at herself in the small pocket mirror. Ed would have a hard time taking his eyes off of her, and she couldn't wait to see them dance when she got into the car.

His SUV rolled around the corner and came to a stop outside the precinct doors. Ed gave her a shy little wave and Olivia hurried over. Tucker had barely said hello when she leaned across the console and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks for coming to get me," she said, her eyes sparkling, "And hi to you, too."

"My pleasure," he replied, giving the car some gas and continuing down the street, "Get anywhere tonight?"

"We think so." Despite the tragedy, Olivia couldn't help filling Ed in on the gossipy details. "I had no idea familial DNA was going to not only lead us to the killer but also expose years of marital infidelity."

"Oh yeah?"

"Boy do I have a story to tell you."

…

Backdropped by a gray, overcast, early December lower Manhattan skyline, Sarah sat at her desk crunching numbers across three computer monitors. Two cups of lukewarm coffee sat on a piece of blank white paper folded in half lengthwise as a makeshift coaster. She took a sip from one cup, frowned, and called her secretary to ask for a refill. When she delivered the fresh drink, she mentioned Brooke had called the main line a minute or so earlier.

"She needs you to check your phone? Something about her daughter?"

Alarmed, Sarah unearthed the phone from under a stack of papers and saw multiple text messages and missed calls. "Shit," she hissed and pounded the screen to dial Brooke's number. She answered immediately. "Hey," Sarah said, "What's wrong?"

"Sofia's sick, Sonny's working, and I absolutely cannot miss a meeting this afternoon. It's with a lawyer, about a student's IEP, I have to be there, I did the testing. Is there any possible way you could pick her up, at least until I'm done with the meeting? I'd ask Dad or Olivia, but I don't want the twins or Noah to get whatever she has."

Sarah gritted her teeth. Sure, she was the boss, at least of her division, but higher-ups were watching and she was sure, although her work was impressive and commendable, someone would notice her pesky habit of ducking out early and it would come back to bite her at some point in the future. Despite sensing it was a possible bad move, Sarah would do anything for her sister, so she agreed to get Sofia.

Brooke gave her instructions about medication, monitoring for fever, and making sure the one-year-old drank plenty of fluids. She managed a bit of levity, joking that she'd pay to clean any of Sarah's garments that were soiled with vomit. Sarah laughed and applauded Brooke for wisely not mentioning the exact nature of Sofia's illness until Sarah was already in the car and headed for Brooklyn.

When the day care staff handed over Sofia, the little girl was flushed and cranky yet happy to see Sarah. She wrapped her arms around Sarah's neck and rested her head on her shoulder. "Oh, my poor niece," Sarah cooed, "Let's get you home sweetie pie." Sofia whimpered and Sarah hugged her with both arms.

For a split second, Sarah feared she'd taken a different set of keys with her that morning, but she did, indeed, have the ring that included Brooke's key. The apartment was only three blocks away, and, minutes later, Sarah was parking the stroller in the downstairs lobby and trudging up the stairs. Before Sarah could unlock the door, though, it opened and Sonny was on the other side.

"Oh, hey," Sonny gently touched the back of his daughter's head and felt her cheek, "Thanks for pickin' her up. C'mere, Sof." Sonny took his daughter into his arms and swayed her back and forth.

"Careful," Sarah said, "Word on the street is she's been puking."

"Oh, yeah, that's what Brooke said, I forgot."

Sonny placed Sofia on the couch. She was in the midst of a fitful sleep and Sarah sat down next to her so she didn't topple to the floor. He buttoned his wool coat. Sarah screwed up her face; she was sure Sonny had come home from work at the last minute and was here, heeding Brooke's call.

"You can stay right?" Sonny asked, noticing her consternation, "Brooke said you were good until she was done at school?"

"Yeah I am," Sarah narrowed her eyes, "But, you're here, Dad."

"Change of clothes," Sonny said, "I've been on for twenty, twenty-one hours."

"And you're going back? Aren't there other people working there?"

Sonny's jaw dropped. Sarah rarely hid her feelings, but he wasn't used to direct attacks. His voice caught in his throat and Sarah continued, albeit in a kinder tone. "I mean, Brooke's constantly doing this mother thing by herself. Every time we get together or I talk to her, it's always, Sonny's out, Sonny's at work. It's not fair to her."

Sonny's shoulders slumped in defeat. He sat at a kitchen chair and briefly buried his head in his hands. "I know," he admitted gloomily, "But since Liv left, well, we've had a revolving door of detectives come through. They don't last. It's been tough. If I'm here I feel bad leavin' them in the lurch and if I'm there I feel guilty that I've abandoned my wife and kid."

Unable to ward off sympathy, Sarah cocked her head, "You haven't abandoned them," she said. "But, how long can this arrangement last? When's the last time you and Brooke actually did something together that didn't involve Sofia?"

"I have no idea."

"Look," Sarah wasn't smiling but she was trying to sound as sisterly as possible though she was annoyed, "I haven't talked to Brooke. She seems okay, but, with her, she's okay until she's not and then? She's really not. I don't want to tell you what to do, but if your family's important, you're not showing it. And that's totally not the Sonny Carisi I first knew."

Carisi looked like he was going to cry. He stared at Sarah and nodded slowly.

"So, go back to work," Sarah said, "But for God's sake come home tonight."

"Yeah...you're right...thank you."

"Bring Brooke dinner...that's as romantic as it's possibly going to get with a sick kid. Oh, and some Pedialyte."

"Pedialyte?"

"Yes. That'll really turn her on."

…..

Olivia closed the laptop and handed the credit card back to Ed. "Well, that does it," she said, "Toddler beds by Christmas."

Ed put the card into his wallet, tossed it on the counter, and rounded the island. He gave Olivia a kiss and asked, "You okay?"

"Yes," Olivia sighed, "It's either this or one of them does a header over the railings."

Ed winced, "Ouch."

"Sorry, that was a little dramatic. But...you haven't seen Maggie or Wyatt try to get out without Noah, have you?"

"No."

"Then, I'm not worried...much."

"They're good," Ed kissed her again and moved closer so he could take her into his arms. "Everyone's asleep," he commented, "Whaddya feel like doin?"

Olivia ran her fingers through his hair with one hand and held his forearm with the other. "Want to watch a movie? Or catch up on The Crown? I have a stack of books in there but I don't feel like reading at the moment."

"Sure," Ed kissed her forehead, "Drink?"

"Yes, please."

"Flavor?"

"Surprise me."

….

Olivia and Ed toweled off and sat together on top of the covers propped against the headboard. After a long day in the sun and sand, they were tired and had to force themselves to shower, but the pulsating water was energizing, and they weren't quite ready to turn in for the night. Rather than turn on the television or grab a magazine or his phone, Ed addressed the elephant in the room.

"What's wrong with Sarah?" He asked, smirking proudly because he was sure Olivia thought she'd get away with keeping quiet about her hour-long hiatus in Sarah's room earlier that evening.

"I promised I would keep it between the two of us," Olivia admittedly did a terrible job of being evasive, "But," she played with the hem of his shirt and ended up sliding her hand inside, "I tell you everything."

"Tryin to change the subject?" Ed asked, feeling twinges of arousal. He clenched his teeth and tried to think of the matter at hand, but not even the thought of his daughter in some sort of distress could temper the pleasure Olivia was inducing by simply running her fingers across his abdomen.

"Maybe," she replied with a mischievous grin, "But...well, are you ready for this, because it's big."

"What?"

"She's pregnant."

That did it. Ed relaxed and tensed again, this time for a completely different reason. "I thought-"

"-We all thought," Olivia said, "Nature works in mysterious ways."

After a few minutes of silence, Ed replied, "That's definitely a lot. But they can handle it. They're great parents. Prolly, right now, more of a shock than anything?"

"She's already stressed," Olivia said, "It hasn't been easy for them-"

"-I know, I didn't mean it's been easy. We are talkin' about Sarah, the one who never wanted kids in the first place. Now, in less than a year, she has three. That's why I said-a shock."

Olivia kissed him. "Why aren't you more...in shock?"

"Because it's gonna be okay," Ed replied, "She talked to you. Justin's a great husband. He'll be there for her. We're here for her. It'll all work out. The way I see it? The more the merrier."

"She's going to need all of us on board," Olivia said.

"We're always on board." Ed took a sharp breath as Olivia's hand traveled up his chest and then slowly back down, "How long do I not know about this?" He clasped his fingers together behind his head and pretended to be unaffected by his wife's movements.

"She said she was going to tell Justin tonight. We'll have to play it by ear." Olivia slithered up his body and kissed his chin, "The more the merrier, huh?"

"Yeah."

"I know you're tired," Olivia kissed along his collarbone.

"I'm not that tired."

"No?"

"No."

…

"Surprise."

Ed handed Olivia an expertly garnished tumbler. He'd stuck a lime and lemon wedge over the rim and threaded Amarena cherries on a toothpick. Olivia reached for the glass, her eyes fixed on the skewer. Ed let her take the glass but he swiped the cherries away. "Not so fast." He took his spot on the other side of the mattress and offered a toast, "To us," he said in a whisper.

"To us."

Olivia swallowed and shot him a serious expression, "Are you going to make me beg for those?" She asked of the cherries.

"Nope," Ed replied, "Here." He fed her the first piece and as soon as she took the bite, he planted a fierce smooch on her lips. "Good huh?"

"Very good," Olivia grabbed the toothpick, "You try."

Ed chewed. "So good."

They kissed again and fell onto the stack of pillows, somehow managing to keep the glasses steady enough to avoid spilling the contents on the bed. "This is so much better than reading," Ed remarked with his signature smirk. He took another gulp, let Olivia take one, and set both their glasses on his nightstand. When he turned back to her, she was so close he had to remain on his side.

"Make love to me, Ed," she said in a deep, throaty voice. "I want you so badly right now."

He raised an eyebrow, "Right now?"

"We've been a little...distant," she said, "And I know it's my-"

Ed put a finger to her lips, "-nope, don't say it. 'Cause it's not true. There're gonna be times we drift a little, there have been times we've drifted, for good reasons, but, Liv, we always find our way back."

Tears welled in Olivia's eyes. "Our way back," she echoed in a whisper.

"Yeah," Ed kissed her lips then each cheek, "The way back."

"It sounds so pessimistic, so arduous."

"Nope," Ed shifted his entire body on top of hers. "It's us. And I don't know about you, but any path that ends in this, us, right now, well, it's the right one, Liv."

"Ed…"

He kissed both her eyes, lifted his head, smirked, and buried his face in her neck. "Enough thinking for one night," he said during a rare pause for breath, "No more thinking."

…..

Midway through her explanation, Olivia started to realize she loved the way Ed looked when he was truly baffled. His brow furrowed, but, somehow, his eyes grew, forming wide circles and his entire face reddened. The capillaries along his cheek and jawbone darkened and a crimson flush flooded his neck. There was a very thin line between perplexed Ed and angry Ed.

"He had four kids sleepin' around on his wife?"

"Apparently," Olivia replied, "And that's just on City Island. Then again, he always made it home to his wife and family, so maybe the infidelity is confined."

"Confined infidelity," Ed cynically huffed. He cupped his drink with both hands and stared into the rows of liquor bottles.

Olivia rested her elbow on the bar and poked her cheek with a knuckle, "Did I say something wrong?"

"No," Ed turned to her. The insides of their knees touched. He leaned forward for a kiss. "It's, uh, the height of disloyalty. Doin' that to your family, and the other person's family. Wrong on so many levels, affects so many lives."

Olivia agreed with Ed's assessment, but she told the story thinking the two of them could get a sarcastic laugh out of it. She gripped Ed's shoulder and forced eye contact. "Is it difficult to have such a high sense of honor like you have?"

An embarrassed smile formed on Ed's face. "No one's ever asked me that before."

"I'm trained to ask the probing questions. So?"

Ed shifted in his seat. "Yeah," he answered, "I suppose it is. And I think that's why, Olivia Benson, why I like bein' with you so much. I don't have to constantly be on guard. When we're together? I feel myself relax."

Olivia reached over and played with his collar. "I enjoy relaxed Ed Tucker a lot," she said. They kissed again before the bartender interrupted them and asked if they wanted another round. "No," Olivia answered and glanced at Ed, "I think we're ready to get out of here."

Ed pulled out his wallet and fumbled it a bit. The tone of Olivia's voice suggested they were going to either his or her apartment together, for a nightcap that involved a level of intimacy they couldn't quite achieve in the middle of a crowded bar. He calculated the tip, signed, and helped Olivia on with her coat. Her sultry "thank you" sent ripples of pleasure down his spine. He put a hand on the small of her back and led her out, careful to put his body between her and the most crowded sections of the room.

…

Due to evening rain showers followed by an overnight dive into freezing temperatures, schools were running on a two hour delay on Friday morning. Olivia and Ed took the opportunity to make breakfast and eat all together at the dining table, a luxury they didn't usually enjoy on school days.

"Babies, what you gonna learn today?" Noah asked between bites of his pancake.

"Dip, dip, dip," Maggie sang as she smothered a piece of her own pancake with syrup. She took a bite and grinned across the table at Olivia through brown bedhead wisps of hair.

"Yummy?"

"YUM!"

"Bay, No?" Wyatt meant berry and he offered a strawberry to his brother.

"Thanks," Noah said, "But what you gonna learn? Adding? One plus two equals…." He waited for a response.

"One, two, TEN!" Maggie said, slamming her fork on the table. "Pay dum! Boom, boom, boom!"

"Maggie," Ed said, "Use the fork to eat. No drumming at the table."

"No dum?"

"No."

Maggie continued to tap the table and Ed reached over for the fork. "No drumming."

"Wa' DUM!" Maggie whined and pouted. She picked at her food with her fingers but held her hand up and whimpered, "Sticky!"

Olivia grabbed the nearby wipes and cleaned her hand, "Maggie, Daddy's going to give you the fork back, but you have to eat with it. No drumming."

"Eat, Magg!" Wyatt said, "Eat pa'cay!"

"No dum," Maggie whispered. Ed handed the fork back to her and she compliantly took another bite.

"Thank you, sweet girl," Olivia said.

"Mommy?" Noah asked, "You think there's still gonna be ice outside when we go to school?"

"Probably a little."

"But you said school was later 'cause da ice had to melt!"

"That's right," Olivia explained, "The ice has to melt on the roads so people can get into and out of the city, so it's safe. Most of the sidewalks will be ok to walk on, but some places don't get enough sun, so those spots could still have ice."

"We gotta walk in da sun."

"We will honey."

"It's almost Christmas," Noah murmured.

The twins heard him and squealed, "SANTA!"

"Ji'bells!" Wyatt said and added a sentence that sounded like Santa's coming with reindeer.

"We gotta go see Santa," Noah said.

"HO HO HO!" Maggie bellowed. "Fosty! Fosty on jammies!" She clutched a handful of her pajama shirt to emphasize it was, indeed, printed with snowmen.

"We'll go soon, bud," Ed answered, "And you know what else we have to do? Someone's gotta take my mom shopping."

"I'll go," Olivia said. She always savored one-on-one time with Caroline. They got together often, but the gathering usually involved multiple family members and Caroline was either cooking or playing cards. "This weekend or early next week, I'll call her this afternoon."

"Babies, we can't go 'cause Gramma's gonna buy presents for us," Noah explained to his siblings, "Then she hides 'em in da attic."

"I don't like her goin' up there," Ed muttered to Olivia.

"I'll do it," Olivia replied.

"She's gonna want to do it herself," he said, "She's stubborn."

Maggie started rapping the table with the fork again. Olivia grinned, reached over, and gave his thigh a squeeze, "Runs in the family."

….

#Tuckson