201. Thank you for all the #200 love in the reviews! I'm glad a few people are still reading and enjoying this little, well, not so little, story. It's one of my favorite hobbies and occasionally keeps me out of trouble! Speaking of trouble, let's see how Mommy reacts to the twins' tattoos!

G's meeting with Olivia concluded on the venue's expansive terrace. Olivia wandered around among the tables and chairs and gazed out into the skyline. The crisp fall air washed across her face, and he couldn't wait to stand in this same spot with Ed in a few weeks. She would wear her hair in the half-pulled-back style he liked and he would play with the tendrils and look for any sign she was cold so he could wrap his arms around her and sneak a quick, passionate kiss. They would be among a hundred or so guests, but, with Ed, romance was always within reach.

Olivia made her way to the brick ledge and leaned against the wall. "I love it," she said to G who was eyeing her nervously, "I love it all. Perfect. Everything, the slate, the food, the lighting...all very well done. Now," Olivia cocked her head and furrowed her brow, "What am I going to wear?"

"You don't have your dress?" G asked. Olivia's style was always so effortless, she assumed there were several options in her closet.

"Not yet."

"I'm sure you'll easily find one. Ed can help you out." G was one-hundred percent joking and expected a laugh, but Olivia reacted with only a slight smile and glanced at her rings. G wondered if Olivia realized how often she did this or if it was an involuntary reaction. At the beach, G picked up on this quirk and was seconds away from pointing it out to Sarah before deciding to keep the observation to herself.

"He could," Olivia replied after a minute or two, "But I want to surprise him. The last time he was surprised by something I wore, I'm pretty sure, was at our wedding."

Sarah's gawwwwds echoed in G's mind. Ed and Olivia's devotion and love for one another was always on display, but it was never awkward or annoying because the emotions were so pure. Olivia's tone suggested she'd been thinking about surprising Ed with her benefit dress for weeks, maybe months.

"I've seen the picture," G said.

Truthfully, she had studied the wedding picture of Ed, Olivia, and Noah every single time she was over to babysit. It was one of the only photos that Olivia never changed. In it, Noah stood between Ed and Olivia, his chin tilted upward, smiling broadly. Olivia held a bouquet in one hand and rested the other on Noah's shoulder. Ed had looped an arm around Olivia's waist and held Noah close with the other. Four years later, and captured in a photograph, their happiness was contagious.

"It was a lovely dress," she added, "Do you still have it?"

Olivia bit her lip and nodded, "I do." She grinned and mused, "I wonder if Ed would notice if I wore it."

"Oh, I bet he would."

"Yeah," Olivia laughed and briefly exchanged a knowing glance with G. Even without saying it, Olivia admitted she had looked amazing in that dress. "He would, wouldn't he?"

G nodded. "No doubt."

….

Maggie sat on the island and swung her legs from side to side since back and forth couldn't quite work. She and Ed were the only Tuckers without a lesson or other obligation on this Saturday, so Ed declared it Daddy-Daughter day and announced they could do whatever they wanted. Before buying taco ingredients, Maggie and Ed had bowled three games, eaten gelato, and chosen paint colors for her bedroom redesign.

"Daddy," she said, "What is it that makes your tacos da best?"

"You think my tacos are the best?" Ed asked, "You've eaten a lot of tacos. That's a huge compliment."

"Your tacos are da yummiest," Maggie said.

"Well, I make sure to cook the meat low and slow," Ed slid the ground beef around in the skillet, "And I don't drain the fat."

Maggie giggled.

"They always tell ya to drain the fat," Ed continued, "But ignore that. And also don't tell Mom."

"Kay…"

"And then you put a little butter on the tortillas. You have to use real butter-"

"-Kerrygold."

"-yup. Kerrygold. Let it get soft. Sit it out. And brush it on the tortillas."

"Kerrygold makes everything good," Maggie said.

Ed grinned. "Yeah. That's what your grandmother always said."

"I wish we still had Grandma."

"Me too." Ed stopped what he was doing and gave his full attention to Maggie. "She was an amazing woman."

"I 'member her a little."

Ed gripped the edge of the opposite countertop, simpered at his daughter, and felt like the luckiest man in the world. Maggie, his eight-year-old sassy, gorgeous, hilarious daughter, sat in front of him, and she had no idea how miraculous she was

"Grandma loved you so much," he said, "What do you remember?"

Maggie contorted her face. "I 'member...bread," she giggled and ducked her head as if she were slightly embarrassed that the first memory popping into her mind was as simple as bread. "Always bread…"

"Yup. Perfect for sopping up the pot roast gravy."

"Oh yeah….pot roast. With those carrots."

Ed nodded. The kids weren't averse to all vegetables, but he was certain the last carrot Noah had eaten had been prepared by Caroline. He kissed the top of Maggie's head, grateful she wasn't yet at the age where kids recoil at affection, and said, "I'm glad you remember those things. It would make Grandma happy and it makes me happy."

"Daddy? Do you believe in heaven?"

"I don't know," Ed answered honestly, "But I do believe, when people die, their spirit sticks around."

"Like a ghost?"

"Kind of, but a good ghost. One that watches from far away to make sure everything's alright and only shows up when we really need it or when something really important happens."

"Like when we eat tacos?" Maggie asked with a wry grin.

She tilted her head to one side and looked so much like Olivia Ed had to do a double take. "Maybe," he replied, "But I don't know if taco night is really important."

"S'very important."

Ed grinned. "If you say so." He slid her over so he could access the drawer where they kept the small cheese grater. He handed it to Maggie along with a block of Monterey Jack. "Get shreddin' kiddo."

"You can buy dis cheese arready cut up," Maggie said as she started working.

"Yeah but Mommy read there's sawdust in it."

"Sawdust?"

"Somethin' like that," Ed replied, "So we're grating the cheese."

"Whatever Mommy says," Maggie said with a resigned shrug.

"You got that right."

…...

Ed and the twins easily idled away the rest of the afternoon. After lunch and a pit stop at home, they went to the park armed with bubbles, a soccer ball, and a few books in case Maggie and Wyatt got tired and needed downtime. Ed admitted to himself they probably did need a nap, but he didn't want to waste the gorgeous day. However, thirty minutes after claiming their spot, the twins were curled at his sides snoozing away. Ed propped his head on their tote bag and forced himself to stay awake both for safety and so they didn't forget to pick up Noah. A photograph of Ed and the tattooed twins lying on the blanket was Instagram-worthy, and he did his best to get a selfie of the three of them to post later. All the pictures would have to be posted later after the big reveal.

Yes, he left the tattoos so Noah and Olivia could see the art for themselves.

Noah was first.

Second graders were delivered to the adults in a small courtyard adjacent to one of the school's secondary entrances. It was a gated, enclosed area with benches and gardens which would soon be cultivated and tended to by students. Chatting among a cluster of classmates, Noah skipped down the steps and down the paved path. The group gradually separated, and Noah scanned the area for a familiar face. When he saw Ed he broke into a grin and a trot. When he saw the twins, he stopped in his tracks.

"Whoa!" He crouched to examine the twins' still-suntanned legs, "What happened?"

For once, Maggie and Wyatt were speechless. They smiled and giggled but also glanced up at Ed with uncertain eyes as if to ask, What exactly is our story, here, Daddy?

"They ran out of paper at preschool," Ed replied matter-of-factly.

Noah screwed up his face, then, noticing Ed's smirk, he laughed. "Daddy," he said, "What really happened?"

"Maggie and Wyatt wanted to give themselves tattoos."

Noah shook his head, "Babies, you are silly! We gotta get some of those press on ones. Sare Bear got me some once at Coney Island."

"Yeah, we'll have to look into that." Ed put a hand on each of the twins's heads and jostled them. "Let's go. We have to hit the market to get ingredients for dinner."

"What are we cookin?" Noah asked.

"I was thinking tacos."

"Tacotacotacotaco," Maggie chanted in a low voice.

They made their way out of the courtyard and Ed asked Noah in a low voice how he thought Olivia would react to the marker all over the twins' bodies. Noah shrugged as he skipped. "She's prolly gonna laugh," Noah said, "Then tell 'em to get in da bath! What do you think Daddy?"

"I think you're spot on, bud," Ed replied, "But we're gonna make the best tacos we've ever made just in case."

"Yeah, Mommy loves those tacos. Good idea."

"Thanks, pal."

"No problem."

….

When Olivia got home she was talking to Brooke on the phone, so she was sufficiently distracted and didn't notice anything other than the aroma of the ground beef cooking on the stove. She dropped her tote near the coat rack, tucked the phone between her cheek and shoulder to unzip her boots, and meandered into the kitchen. The kids were sitting at the island. Wyatt was playing with a car with interchangeable parts, Maggie was rolling Play-Doh, and Noah worked math problems with a souvenir pencil from Bethany Beach. Olivia said goodbye to Brooke, kissed the kids, rounded the island to kiss Ed, and raised her eyebrows when she saw the twins' faces.

At first glance, she thought they were bruised, but upon closer inspection, she realized the "bruises" were actually faded marker streaks. "Did we do an art project after school today, Maggie and Wyatt?"

"Do'art now," Maggie said, holding up a handful of Play-Doh.

"S'all over their legs, too," Noah said gleefully. He had been sitting on the edge of his seat waiting to break the news to his mother.

"And it was an in-school project," Ed added.

Olivia went to the other side of the island and examined their legs. The marker lines swooped around their calves and knees like ribbons. "You drew on yourselves at school?"

Maggie and Wyatt nodded.

"Tattoos, Mama," Wyatt said softly.

Ed jumped to their defense although Olivia sounded and appeared more amused than angry. "We had a talk about drawing on paper not skin," Ed replied, omitting the part that the talk occurred over pizza and he was trying not to laugh the entire time. "So now they know, right you two?"

"Ri'Daddy," Maggie said.

Olivia smiled and gave them both a hug and another kiss. "Daddy's right. No tattoos until you're thirty years old."

"But Mommy, we have da tem'prary tattoos!" Noah protested.

"No marker tattoos or permanent tattoos until you're thirty," Olivia clarified. Ed slid the skillet from the burner to the warming tray. "Tacos ready?" She asked.

"Yup," he replied, "Gotta get the tortillas warmed up and we'll be good to go."

Olivia put the twins on the floor and sent them to the bathroom with Noah to wash their hands. Alone with Ed, she leaned forward on the island and asked what kind of punishment the twins received from Miss Diamond.

"None that she told me about," Ed replied, "Didn't think to ask. Maybe we should ask teh artists themselves."

"Was she mad?"

"She seemed annoyed more than anything. But she was smiling."

"Well," Olivia's eyes drifted toward the bathroom where the kids were washing up, "I hope she's not going to hold this against them. We'll talk to her Monday."

"Yeah, we don't want them gettin' a bad rep already," Ed replied, "All the teachers groaning when they see they have the Tucker twins in their class."

Olivia half-smiled, half-pouted, "But they're so cute."

"Sometimes the cutest ones are the worst. Looks can be deceiving, you know."

"Ed!"

He grinned and, with one hand, expertly flipped the tortillas in the skillet. "I think they learned their lesson," he said assuredly, "We did have a serious talk."

"Yeah," Olivia replied, "I bet."

….

Olivia opened the door to a version of Ed Tucker she was very quickly beginning to crave. It was the version who dressed in well-worn jeans, and, in this case, a plain black t-shirt under a black canvas jacket with deep cargo pockets. Later, with the jacket removed, she was sure his thick upper arms would deliciously fill the t-shirt's sleeves and she would have to remind herself not to stare. It was late on Saturday night, and, given the state of the stubble on his chin and along his jawline, he hadn't shaved since Friday morning.

Despite the casual appearance, Tucker got nervous with the initial hello. He was on the fence, trying to decide what was appropriate. A simple "hey?" A kiss on the cheek? A hug? A "hey" and an arm tug?" Olivia endured a moment of awkward silence and made the decision for them both. She opened the door as wide as it could go, invited him inside with a swoop of her arm, and grabbed his wrist as he proceeded inside.

"Thanks for coming." She flashed him a smile and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Lucy's off for the weekend, and it's been a long day anyway."

Ed hung his jacket on the coat rack. He saw Olivia's bare feet, and, to match her laid-back appearance, he kicked off his Chukka boots. The footwear had been a birthday gift from his daughters and he was still getting used to the fashion-forward look.

"I like those," Olivia said, toeing the suede.

"I'm still on the fence," he replied.

"Very chic."

"Yeah," Ed replied, "I'm known for nothing if not being chic."

Olivia laughed and patted his chest. "C'mon, sit with me. What can I get you? Brown? Red? Beer? And I have cupcakes from today."

"Brown's good, thanks," Ed leaned on the counter as Olivia poured their drinks. "How was the shower?"

"It was nice," Olivia said, "Gorgeous place. A little long, well, I'm never sure how long I'm supposed to stick around at things like that. Noah was a trooper for a while...I was, I'm sorry so say, thrilled when he started to get fussy."

"I recall using my girls as an excuse to bow out of many social functions."

"Another hidden perk of being a parent," Olivia said with a grin. She handed Ed his glass and tapped hers against it. "Cheers."

"Cheers."

"So, anyway, Rollins' mother, wow...I don't know if I can accurately describe her. She's overbearing...and almost a stereotypical southern matriarch. I felt bad for Amanda. The tension between the two of them was very real and very obvious."

"Been a strained relationship for a long time," Ed murmured.

Olivia raised her eyebrows, "How'd you know?"

Ed grinned sheepishly, "IAB investigations...they can uncover a little more than what's intended. I was on the case with her sister and the boyfriend, remember?"

"Oh, I remember," Olivia replied in a voice tinged with flirtation.

Ed's cheeks turned red.

"You were extremely IAB then."

"And now?" He leaned even closer to her.

"You're still extremely IAB."

Both Ed and Olivia broke into muted laughter. Olivia rounded the island and jerked her head toward the sofa. "So tell me," she said as she sat down, "Those IAB files...there must be a book on me and my mother."

"Not a book…"

Ed answered light-heartedly, intending to tread lightly even though it was Olivia who had broached the sensitive subject. Their conversations lately had started to include more personal, private details. Ed had kept his hidden as a matter of pride. He hated to admit failure. Olivia carried far more painful burdens.

"A chapter?"

"There's probably something in your psych profile. Maybe some notes in the margins of an investigation."

"You don't know?" Olivia asked, puzzled at how Ed had unfettered access to all of this information and genuinely seemed to be unaware of what exactly Internal Affairs had noted about her.

"Liv, I haven't looked at your stuff for a long time. I haven't needed to. And I probably won't ever again. And, believe it or not, we don't pick through everyone's files for the fun of it when we have downtime." He smiled and paused to make sure Olivia knew he was being truthful.

Olivia returned the smile, but she pressed Ed further. "Surely...what I did...for Simon...I risked my whole career for him. More than once."

"But it never got to us. There was talk, sure. But I remember at one point the FBI was involved. And Cragen always had your back. Sure, we knew about Simon and your connection to him, but it all...unfolded in a way that kept us out of it." Ed took a few seconds and sized up her non-verbal reaction, "Look, Liv, we've all crossed the line for family. Every single one of us in one way or another, to some degree or another. Unless we're really trying to hammer someone, we leave that type of thing alone. If we didn't we'd be chasing after fixed parking tickets half the time."

Olivia sipped her wine. She hoped she hadn't sent their night irretrievably into the serious discussion column, so she inched closer to Ed so she could hold one of his hands. "Thank you for being honest with me," she said, "I guess I...I don't know-"

Ed made a concerted effort to lock eyes with her. "-Liv, I'm here because I want to be here. I like you...a lot. You might look back and question what you've done in the past, analyze it over and over, but, I'm not gonna do that. I'll listen if you want me to, whatever you need me to do, I'll do it. But, as far as we're concerned? Us? I want to focus on right now. And tomorrow. And all the other days ahead."

Olivia put her glass on the table and hugged him. She whispered "thank you" in his ear and didn't let go for a long time. What Ed was saying, without actually saying it, was that he wasn't leaving. He was in this for however long Olivia wanted to keep him around, and he loved her and all of the bumps, bruises, and doubts she kept wrapped up inside. She was slowly revealing bits and pieces to him, testing the waters, and the more she opened the vault, the more comfortable she became doing so. Ed was becoming many things, but, most importantly, he was proving to be a trusted confidante. The days ahead had the potential to be brighter than she ever imagined.

….

Ed had barely come out of his sex trance when Olivia murmured, "I don't understand how they were able to draw that much before the teacher found them. I'm wondering about the supervision. They're three."

He chuckled into her collarbone and finished his trail of kisses. She'd seemed so into it earlier-the moans, the whispers, the touches and caresses-all of it had been...so...pure and genuine. "You still thinkin' about that?" He asked, intentionally sounding disappointed.

"It just popped into my mind." She stroked his back apologetically, "You have to admit it's a little odd they were able to color their whole bodies before anyone stopped them."

"Admitted."

Olivia chuckled.

"We'll interrogate 'em in the morning," Ed mumbled.

"Yes," Olivia said, "We'll have to get back in character."

"I'll be good cop and you be bad cop?" Ed asked.

Olivia cracked up.

"God I love it when you laugh," Ed murmured into her skin. "I love it more than anything."

"I love how you make me laugh," Olivia said. Ed collected her into his arms and she sighed contentedly, relishing being so close to him. "No one's ever made me laugh quite like you do."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously," Olivia put her hands over his. "But I don't think you're going to be a very convincing bad cop. These kids have your number."

"We'll try it out and see," Ed replied, "I might still have it."

Olivia kissed his head and settled more deeply into her pillow. "I'm sure you do," she cooed, "I can't wait."

….

#Tuckson