109. Well, are our on-screen Tuckson hopes permanently dashed? Sadly, I suspect they are, even though I expect Warren Leight to give the character a more gracious, intriguing, and respectful exit than that Eidteen fool tried to do. I'm unsure how my fic heart will react after being forced to say a final goodbye to SVU Tucker, but, for now, Rest of Our Lives continues!

…..

The family-friendly beachside restaurant Noah picked out with Justin's help featured live music, and while the adults sipped after-dinner cocktails, Maggie, Wyatt, and Noah danced wildly in front of the singer. She had a deep, bluesy voice, and, if asked, the audience most likely would have agreed she belonged on a stage much bigger than that of a coastal seafood shack. When she sang, she threw her head around, sending her long dreadlocks and heavy beaded necklaces flying in loops. Her hand-sewn tunic's sleeves were cut broadly, so when her arms were outstretched it looked like she could easily fly away. When the kids took a break from dancing, they stared at her in awe.

"I can't believe they're still standing," Olivia stifled a yawn, "It's been a long day."

"Great music helps," Justin said.

Ed downed the rest of his beer and added, "They'll sleep well." He punctuated the remark with a kiss on Olivia's cheek.

To everyone but Sarah, the kiss was routine, mundane even, but she couldn't contain her satisfied smile. Things were back to normal. When the waiter arrived hoping to get everyone another round, Sarah was the first one to suggest they call it a night. Back at the condo, Noah was thrilled to share the sofa bed with his siblings, especially so when Sarah showed him how to work the flat screen.

"We're settin' the timer, bud," Ed said as he and Olivia kissed the trio goodnight.

"Kay."

"Noah," Olivia said, "When you wake up tomorrow, come and get me and Daddy. Don't go on the balcony without us."

Putting forth maximum effort, Sarah tried to lock the sliding glass door, "Livvie, this is pretty childproof...almost Sarah proof, actually. Justin, help!"

"You gotta push it this way," Justin leaned into the handle with all his weight, "Then lift up. There. Locked."

"Okay," Olivia said. She smiled at the kids' faces peeking out from under the covers. All three of them looked like the long day had finally taken its toll and she was sure, when the timer ran out, all three would be sound asleep. "Goodnight everyone."

"Hey," Noah said, "We didn't play games."

"We will tomorrow, Noey," Sarah said.

"Yeah, bud," Ed replied, "We're all tired. Get a good night's sleep and we'll stay up later tomorrow night."

"Kay, Daddy."

Ed and Olivia entered their room and gently closed the door. Ed walked over to the beachfront slider and cracked it open so they could hear the waves in the distance. The moonlight gave the room a purplish glow. Olivia was standing in front of the bed, and, when she was sure Ed was watching, she slowly removed her shirt. Ed did the same and nonchalantly tossed his polo aside. Olivia unbuttoned and unzipped her shorts and let them fall to the floor. Ed followed suit. Down to only his boxer briefs, Ed slowly walked toward Olivia. Once he was close enough, he reached out and stroked her arms with the backs of his fingers.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered. "I'll never get over how beautiful you are."

The corners of Olivia's mouth turned upward. She reached behind her back and unclasped her bra. Ed's breath caught in his throat-the waves, the lighting, the memory of seeing her completely naked for the first time-it was the most welcome of sensory overloads. He peppered her collarbone with kisses and massaged her breasts while growing hard against her. She moaned softly and cupped the back of his head, encouraging him to keep going. Her entire body tingled and jolts of electricity shot through her midsection when Ed's hips rocked against hers. They were only getting started, and Olivia already felt ready to explode.

Impatient, she tugged at his boxer briefs. Once she was out of her panties, Ed teased between her legs, pressed his forehead to hers, and rasped, "Goddamn, baby, you feel so good."

"Keep going," Olivia managed to croak, "Oh, Goddd…Ed, I want you so bad."

Slowing down a bit, Ed wrapped his arms around her back and initiated a fierce, hungry kiss. He walked them backwards until they fell on top of the mattress, still kissing, and Olivia frantically pawing at his hips, desperate to for him to be inside of her.

Ed stared into her eyes the entire time, even when his breath caught in his throat, even when he clumsily kissed her cheeks, chin, and lips. He smiled when she started to come and propped himself on his forearms, freeing his hands to brush strands of hair out of her eyes. When her body jerked and she threw her head back against the pillows, Ed buried his face in her neck and thrust vigorously until he finished and rolled onto his side.

Olivia stroked his cheek and gazed dazedly at him.

Ed puckered his lips and turned his head so he could kiss her fingertips. It was quiet except for the waves and he collected her into his arms. The love they had for one another was palpable, and words were unnecessary. He and Olivia were never ones to pass up an opportunity for spoken I love yous, but the ambience was so perfect in that moment, even that phrase would have detracted from the mood. They fell asleep entangled together in the center of the mattress with Ed trusting his internal alarm clock to wake him before the morning Tucker trio invasion. Olivia must've trusted it too, for she slept like a rock and barely moved the entire night.

…..

Olivia had just dressed Noah for the day and was running through her mental options of toddler-friendly things to do when she noticed two missed calls from Ed Tucker. She smiled at the notifications and pictured him, disappointed at the first non-answer, calling again and then using all his willpower to avoid dialing for a third time. Poor guy.

"Should we call Ed sweet boy?" Olivia cooed at her son. Noah smiled and pointed to the miniature police helicopter Ed had recently given him.

Ed picked up on the first ring and greeted her with a breathless, "Hey."

"Busy?"

"Nah, just put the backseat down in my truck. My daughters did a little shopping yesterday and didn't think about how they were gonna get two chairs and an old card catalog back to Brooke's apartment on the train." Olivia heard the sound of a car door closing and Ed continued, "Was callin' to see if you and Noah maybe wanted to take a little road trip to Tarrytown? There's a lighthouse up there, a few good places to eat-"

Olivia needed no more convincing. "I was just thinking to myself that I wished I had more exciting plans for Noah and me today," she said. "We'd love to go."

"Great! How long ya need?"

"We're ready now."

"I'll put half of the backseat back up and be there in a few minutes."

"We'll meet you downstairs."

…..

Maggie walked between Olivia and Caroline, holding their hands and, every ten steps or so, stopping in her tracks and demanding they swing her in the air. When she wasn't kicking her white-sandaled feet and giggling with delight, she pointed at the brightly colored photographs and canvasses displayed at the artists' market and asked over and over, "Dat one, Sah?"

Olivia laughed each time. They hadn't planned on bringing Maggie, but the little girl had been clingy with her mother that morning, so she tagged along. Sarah explained the purpose of the shopping trip in the car on the way and Maggie had apparently understood.

At one point Caroline led Maggie to a kiosk featuring handcrafted children's toys, chunky jewelry, and a few naturally-sourced cosmetics leaving Sarah and Olivia to flip through a seemingly endless array of gulf sunset panoramas painted by a man who reminded Olivia of Colonel Sanders.

"They're all starting to look the same," Sarah remarked. "I think I need to just pick a few and roll with it." She glanced at Olivia out of the corner of her eye, "So, uh, sleep okay last night?"

"Oh yeah," Olivia replied casually. "We cracked the door...so nice to fall asleep listening to the ocean."

"Mmm." Sarah grinned, though she didn't make full eye contact.

"Thanks for letting us have that room," Olivia added, "I know it's supposed to be the master."

Sarah shrugged, "Really dual masters. No big deal, but, that one's...on the side of the condo all by itself…" she trailed off speaking suggestively and nudged Olivia with her elbow. "And the kiddos on the sofa bed." When Olivia merely smiled, Sarah groaned, "Oh, come on, Livvie, are you made up yet?"

Sarah's blue eyes were intense in a way Olivia had come to realize was unique to the Tucker family. Even Brooke, who was significantly less outwardly emotional than Sarah, was capable of a stare that emulated her father's. Across the way, Maggie stood on her tiptoes and grabbed for something with the same expression. All of her facial muscles seemed to radiate from those determined aqua-colored eyes.

"Yes," Olivia said firmly, confidently, and with no hint of modesty.

Sarah yelped and clapped her hands. Olivia had to laugh-a minute ago she noticed how closely Maggie resembled Sarah, and now Sarah was reacting to all that Olivia's "yes" implied with a Maggie-esque response.

"Thank gawwwd," Sarah gushed. "Omigod, I love makeup sex so much."

Olivia cocked her head, "You and Justin have that often?"

Sarah giggled, "No...I mean, well, I don't mind having a little argument...every once in a while. But we get along so well and he's always so calm, it's hard to fight with him."

"Your Dad too."

"Livvie," Sarah bit her lip, "I have to disagree with you there. Daddy doesn't fight with you because he would die if he ever said anything to hurt you. He loves you so much, gawwwd, I know everyone thinks I'm crazy but I really believe I see more of what's between you two than anyone does. It's like a sixth sense sort of thing."

Olivia pulled Sarah into a quick side hug, "I love that about you."

"Mama!" Maggie and Caroline came over and Maggie, looking very pleased with herself, held a small shopping bag in one hand and a lollipop in the other. Her mouth was already a pink sticky mess. "Lippick, Mama!"

Olivia took the bag and peered inside. Caroline had purchased lip balm, soaps, and a few small tubes of hand lotion as well as a few cloth miniature dolls.

"Good to have in your bag, dearies," Caroline explained. "The cream, not the dollies. Those are for my Maggie girl."

Sarah unscrewed one of the caps and took a whiff. "Mmm, I love it! I hate perfumey stuff but this is subtle."

Olivia agreed. "Thanks, Caroline."

"Grandma, what do you think of these?" Sarah gestured to the display.

"I like them all, Sare Bear," Caroline said, "They all look the same."

Laughing, Sarah shook her head, "My sentiments exactly."

"So make a couple of purchases and let's go have a girls' happy hour before we go back."

Sarah yanked out her wallet, "Now that I can do."

….

The Uno games were followed by Travel Yahtzee and by the time Noah and Wyatt were crowned as winners, it was too late for a second visit to the pool. Noah and the twins set up camp in the living room-the two large easy chairs converted into beds for the boys and Maggie took the couch. Wyatt tossed his sister the remote control, for it was her turn to choose the movie. Each morning Ed and Olivia found the three kids conked out and the mounted monitor frozen on the title screen of whatever movie that had lulled them to sleep.

"Night kiddos." Ed kissed the top of each of their heads.

Olivia did the same and took an extra few seconds to gaze at the trio before following Ed into the bedroom. Her children were just as precious at ten and fourteen as they'd been at four and four months.

"Comin?" Ed tugged on her wrist and spoke almost directly into her ear sending shivers down her spine.

Noah, Maggie, and Wyatt were already ultra-focused on the beginning of the film. Olivia let Ed lead her into the bedroom and closed the door gently behind them. They wandered over to the huge picture window and gazed into the night.

"It's a painting," Olivia murmured.

"Yeah it is," Ed twirled a thin strand of her hair that had escaped the clip and began kissing the side of her face. He got a kick out of how Olivia pretended to be uninterested in his advances and kept her eyes trained on the Parisian night. He slid the collar of her loose t-shirt off her shoulder, kissed her there, and slowly made his way to the other side of her body.

"One more day in Paris," she said softly.

"One more day."

"Do you think we'll ever come back here?"

Ed stopped what he was doing and squinted at her. "Whaddya mean?"

"It's, well," shades of agony clouded Olivia's face, "Life goes by so fast. It seems like a few days ago we had babies crawling around and Noah's first day of Kindergarten and now they're getting so big, so independent. It's taken us over ten years to get back here again. In another ten we'll be almost seventy, and then-"

Ed interrupted her with a quick kiss to the lips. "We'll come back next year if ya want. Rent a car. Do a European road trip. Anything," he said insistently, "To make more memories, to be all together."

Olivia took a deep breath then took his face in her hands. "You always know what to say," she said lovingly, "How do you always know what to say?"

"I just wanna say whatever I can to make you smile again," Ed replied with a shrug.

"Ed Tucker…"

"C'mon," He took her hand again, "Let's go to bed."

"The door doesn't lock."

"We'll be quiet. Trust me.

"I trust you."

…..

Back at the condo, Justin and Ed cleared the breakfast dishes, collapsed the sofa bed, and stowed the extra blankets and pillows in a hall closet. Noah and Wyatt played contentedly while the older men worked, but once everything was back in order, Noah begged to go outside.

"We can jus' go to da pool," he said before running to the balcony and reporting there weren't many people there, "And then when da girls come back we go to da beach!" Noah started to lay out his case in more detail, but Ed and Justin didn't need much convincing.

"Sarah had some pool toys delivered," Justin said. He hunted around in the hall closet and found an unopened Amazon box. "Yep," he said after tearing one side open, "Dive rings and a couple of rafts." Justin emerged from the foyer and grinned at Ed, "We're in luck. They have an air pump down in the parking lot."

"Thank God," Ed replied. "When Sarah and Brooke were little I almost went into cardiac arrest a few times...then I got one of the electric compressors for Father's Day."

"Good gift," Justin joked.

"Yeah," Ed muttered.

When they finally arrived poolside, they had their choice of lounge chairs, and Noah chose a spot near the shallow end with an unobstructed view of the Gulf of Mexico. Behind them was a covered area with barbecue grills and a bar that wasn't yet staffed. Beyond that was a sandy area with a small jungle gym and chin-up bars. Even though they brought their own towels, a pool attendant rushed out with an armful of extras.

Noah skipped to the side of the pool where the water deepened and jumped in cannonball style. He surfaced with a grin and paddled back to the edge. "You comin in too, Daddy?"

"Yeah bud."

"How's the water?" Justin asked.

"S'GREAT!"

Ed tried to put Wyatt's arm floaties on, but he whined and wriggled out of Ed's grasp. Wyatt ran over to where Noah was holding on to the side of the pool, crouched, and pointed at the water. "Swim, No! Jump!"

Tossing his t-shirt and the floaties aside, Ed jumped into the pool and held his arms out for Wyatt. "Let's see if he remembers swimming lessons," Ed said to Noah.

Noah pushed off from the side and treaded water, "I bet he does! Justy! C'mon! You do a cannonball, too!" Justin obliged and expertly cannonballed into the deep end. He swam to Noah and tossed him in the air while Ed waited for Wyatt.

The little boy carefully dipped a toe into the water. He looked at Ed and grinned. "Cold!"

"It's a little cold, pal," Ed said, "But it's nice when you're in."

"I go in!"

"C'mon, jump to Daddy."

Suddenly brave, Wyatt flung his body toward Ed and hit the water feet-first with his arms flailing. Ed remained close but let Wyatt bob to the surface on his own, reminding him to kick and paddle. Once in the water, all of the swimming lessons came back to Wyatt and he cut through the water toward Ed, kicking furiously but making smooth cuts into the water with his arms.

"Good job, Wyatt!" Ed hoisted him into the air, "Good swimming!"

Wyatt laughed as Ed hugged him to his chest. Wyatt was always one to enjoy a good hug, but Noah called his name and the two-year-old fought against Ed's grasp. Ed grinned and let him go.

"Daddy! Lookit Wyatt! He's swimmin!"

"I know, bud! Lookit him go!"

Amazed, Justin asked how many lessons the twins had had.

"They did a whole intro course," Ed replied, "But it was a year ago. I guess...it all came back to him once he was in the water. Kinda hard to tell when we're at the beach."

"He's gonna be an Olympian," Justin remarked.

Ed stationed himself in the middle of the pool while Noah and Wyatt took turns jumping in. Realizing he'd completely forgotten to take pictures, Ed grabbed his phone and sent a few action shots to Olivia and went back to cheering on his sons with Justin.

After, perhaps, the twentieth jump, Noah noticed the vending machine and also the fact that they hadn't brought any drinks down to the pool. "Dad, can I get a water bottle?" Noah asked.

Ed mumbled, "Sure," but he made his way out of the water in a stunned fog. Behind him, Justin played with Wyatt, but their splashes and laughter were muted and distant. Ed plucked a few dollars from his wallet and helped Noah make the purchase. Noah took a few sips and returned to the pool, oblivious to what was going on inside his father's head.

Until a few minutes ago, Noah had, since that day on the street outside of day care, always called Ed Daddy. He had never, ever used the truncated version.

"HEYYYY GUYS!"

All four of them looked up at the source of the sound. Sarah was on the balcony and, lacking consideration for anyone who may have been trying to enjoy peace and quiet, called out another, louder, "WE'RE BACK!"

"Thanks for the warning," Ed muttered.

Justin bobbed Wyatt up and down in the water and shook his head, "Hope no one was sleeping," he said. "Might have an HOA letter at our door tomorrow."

"We gotta go in?" Noah asked dejectedly.

"Nah, bud," Ed replied, "I bet Mommy'll bring Maggs down for a swim."

Noah nodded, "Small sister and Wyatt c'race!"

Ed watched Wyatt take another swim from where Justin was positioned to the steps and thought to himself that Maggie would have to learn to graciously lose swimming races.

"It c'be the TwinLympics!" Noah shouted gleefully.

Ed grinned, "TwinLympics," he repeated and added, "Good one, No," but Noah didn't hear him for the seven year old had ducked underwater, determined to pick up five dive rings before he was out of breath.

…..

The store where Sarah and Brooke had purchased the antique furniture was packed with interesting pieces from a variety of different eras. Ed and Olivia wandered around while the clerks wrapped and loaded the two items into the back of his SUV. They laughed at a 1970s-era loveseat in the shape of a pair of lips and shook their head at other oddities. Ed pretended to shiver at a case of dolls, murmuring that they looked like they would come alive and run around at night.

There was no discernible departmental organization in the store other than a small children's section cordoned off by two rocking horses, one solid wood and the other supported by four rickety springs. Noah made a beeline for a box full of alphabet blocks. He parked himself on the floor and started constructing a tower.

"Sir, your items are loaded and ready to go. Ladies paid, so you're all set."

Ed plucked some bills from his wallet for a tip.

"Noah, sweetie," Olivia said, "Put the blocks back. We're going to go see the lighthouse!"

No matter how exciting Olivia tried to make the lighthouse visit sound, Noah didn't appear ready to leave the blocks any time soon. He continued to add to his tower.

"Sweet boy, let's go."

"Pay BOCKS!"

"How about we buy a few and take them with us? Let's get a…" Olivia sorted through the pile, "An N, an O, and A, and an H? For Noah?"

Noah held up another pair of blocks that were decorated with images of zoo animals rather than letters or numbers.

"And we'll take those, too."

Satisfied, Noah hopped to his feet and allowed Olivia and Ed to lead him out of the area and to the cash register. Olivia tossed the blocks into the bag and handed it to Noah. She reached into her purse for her wallet, but Ed had already paid.

"Thanks," she said sweetly.

"My pleasure. Ready? Lunch or lighthouse first?"

"Lighthouse," Olivia replied, "Let's do the sightseeing first."

"You got it."

On instinct, Ed put his hand on the small of her back as they made their way toward the exit. Olivia slowed her gait, presumably to absorb the full effect of Ed's touch. She was so close to him, within kissing distance. Ed capitalized on the opportunity and planted a firm smooch on her cheek.

Olivia smiled approvingly and leaned into him. "Such a nice day," she cooed.

"And a lot of it left."

She squeezed his fingers as they approached the car. "There sure is."

….

Seagulls squawked and swooped, waves crashed, families and friends lounged and played on the white sand beaches, and the Tucker children oozed pure, uncomplicated joy as they played together in the pool. The bar opened and the adults sipped frozen cocktails. Sarah and Caroline parked themselves on lounge chairs; everyone else was in the water. Everything seemed perfect, but Olivia knew all wasn't right with her husband.

"You okay?" She and Ed rested their elbows on the ledge and watched Justin tirelessly toss the kids around in the shallow end.

Knowing there was no point in dancing around the source of his poorly-hidden turmoil, Ed immediately confessed. "Noah kinda threw me for a loop earlier," he said. "Called me Dad instead of Daddy."

Olivia gave him a reassuring pat on his abdomen. "Ouch…honey..."

"Yeah," Ed groaned.

"Would you mind telling him not to say Mom for another couple of years?" Olivia asked, trying to keep the conversation as lighthearted as possible without dismissing Ed's heartache.

Ed kissed the side of her head, "I'll do that."

"Was he...maybe he was in a hurry?"

"He was thirsty."

"Well, there you have it," Olivia said, "Didn't have time for that extra syllable."

"Maybe that's it."

"DADDY WATCH!" Noah was standing on Justin's shoulders and when he was sure Ed was looking, he leapt backwards into the water.

"See?" Olivia nudged Ed's thigh with her knee, "You're still Daddy."

She uttered the Daddy in a low, seductive voice, and, despite the blazing sun and eighty degree temperatures, Ed shivered.

"Lieutenant…"

"There's the Captain Tucker I know." She grinned and gave him a peck on the lips before wading over to Noah. "That was easy."

….

#Tuckson