234. Sorry for the delay! The work-vacation cycle has left little time for fic, but I'm back and fall is right around the corner LOL. Love writing fic while watching football!

Right when it was looking like Mia was going to be spending the better part of the afternoon and possibly evening with the Tuckers, her nanny showed up downstairs. Ed told the doorman he could send her up, but the woman insisted Mia be brought to her. After an annoyed glance at Olivia, he told Noah to get his shoes on and instructed Mia to pack her things and put on her coat. Normally a happy-go-lucky, go-with-the-flow type of girl, Mia uncharacteristically burst into tears.

"I wanna stay here!" She said, planting her feet in the middle of the living room and making no effort to catch her tears or wipe her nose.

Olivia rushed over and took her into her arms. "Honey," she said softly, "Oh, sweetheart, why are you so upset?"

Mia sniffled and snorted. "I was having fun!" She wailed.

"You can come over and have fun again very soon, okay?" Olivia patted her back and met Ed's eyes again. Olivia continued trying to soothe the little girl while simultaneously attempting to determine if there was something more serious she should be worried about. "You'll have fun with Tasha, won't you?" Olivia asked gently.

"Tasha only reads," Mia said as if reading were a mortal sin. "She. Is. No. Fun."

Relieved, Olivia held Mia at arm's length, grabbed a tissue, and wiped her cheeks. "How about we check in tomorrow, okay? I bet we're going to go sledding and we'll pick you up so you can go with us."

Mia brightened and replied, "Promise?"

"Promise."

Mollified, Mia trotted over to Maggie and Wyatt, gave them hugs, and went to retrieve her backpack. Ed slung an arm across Olivia's shoulders and kissed her cheek. "Good job," he said under his breath.

"Thank God," Olivia said, "I was worried there was something…really wrong there. But I suppose being no fun and reading while nannying isn't a crime."

"Should be," Ed muttered.

"Hey," Olivia whispered, "See if you can get the nanny's last name." Then, she switched to a cherry tone, looked up at him, and grinned. "So we won't have to twist your arm to go sledding?"

"Are you kidding? I love sledding. You remember that Christmas with you, me, and Noah? We got him that blue sled that looked like a racecar?"

"I remember…what a perfect day."

Noah and Mia came skipping toward them. Noah gallantly carried Mia's backpack.

"Kay," Mia said, sounding exasperated, "We're ready."

"Let's head downstairs," Ed ushered them down the foyer. He glanced over his shoulder at Olivia and smirked. "We'll be right back."

Olivia smiled, nodded, and went to go find the twins. She was in need of a cuddle with her babies.

….

Early the next morning, Ed slowly crept into Noah's room and sat down on his bed. The night before, as they wrapped up their snow day with a movie and popcorn, Noah overheard Ed talking to Caroline on the phone and demanded to accompany him to shovel snow in the morning. Ed warned Noah he was going to get an early start so they could, in turn, get a jump on sledding, but Noah insisted he did not care. Now, Ed was debating whether to keep his word or let his son continue what looked to be a deep, peaceful slumber. As it turned out, the decision didn't need to be made, not by him. A minute or so after he sat down, Noah spoke.

"Ready for Gramma's?" He asked, sounding remarkably coherent for a boy who was, a moment earlier, borderline snoring.

"Yeah, bud."

"Kay." Noah sat up, yawned, and stretched. The moves were so precise and practiced, Ed assumed Noah was trying to imitate something he'd seen in a movie or a TV show.

"Bud? What are you wearing?"

"I got dressed," Noah said of his jeans and hoodie.

"When?" Ed asked, certain Noah had worn pajamas to bed.

Noah looked at his bedside clock. "Um….I dunno. I think one."

Ed chuckled and stood up. "Good thinkin, bud. Go brush your teeth and get ready to go. I'm gonna go change my clothes."

Noah giggled. "I'm one step ahead'a'ya, Daddy," he said.

"As usual." Ed flipped Noah upside down and then put him on his feet. "Meet you in the kitchen in ten."

Noah nodded.

"You gonna have coffee?"

Noah giggled and replied, "Daaaddddy!"

"Well I'm havin coffee," Ed said with a shrug. "How 'bout hot chocolate for you?"

"Kay," Noah replied, "Er, yes please, but, jus' a little one 'cause I bet Gramma's gonna make me some, too."

"No such thing as too much hot chocolate," Ed replied. He was in the mood to bend and break rules.

"Yeah," Noah said, "But…Grandma's is really good."

"You mean better?" Ed asked, smirking.

"Yeah. I mean better."

Not more than twenty minutes later, Ed and Noah were rolling north to Riverdale with their travel mugs in their hands and rock music playing on the radio. The snow had been plowed and pushed to the shoulder of the highway, but there was very little traffic and the trip time would be cut almost in half.

"Daddy?" Noah asked after a few minutes, "Do you believe in superheroes?"

"Like Superman and Batman?"

"Well, yeah," Noah replied, "But do you think real people can be superheroes? Those guys aren't real."

Ed chuckled to himself. He hadn't wanted to directly answer the question and burst Noah's bubble about the traditional characters, but Noah already knew the truth. "I think everyone can be a superhero, bud. We can't fly or anything, but, like right now? We're superheroes for Grandma comin' out to make sure she doesn't have any ice or snow in her driveway."

Noah considered this. "So…bein' a superhero is kinda like bein' nice?"

"It's being nice, but also, some of us, we're really good at some things. And when what we're really good at helps people, then I think that's a kind of superpower. Like Mommy, when she was at police, she did a really good job of helping people and listening to them and helping them out when they were havin' a rough time. And I think that's pretty heroic and it's super 'cause not a lot of people can do that job."

"Do you think you're a superhero?"

"Well," Ed thoughtfully rubbed his chin, "A lot of people coulda done my job, bud. And a lot of people did. So, I think I did a lot to help people but I don't think that falls into the superhero category."

"Well I think you are," Noah stated firmly and pressed his lips in a straight line to emphasize his point.

"Thanks, bud."

"You're da best Daddy."

Ed smiled at him and tapped the stereo to the beat of the current song playing. One day, maybe Noah would understand how much those words meant to him, but, for now, he basked in the compliment.

…..

Rollins escorted a woman into the interrogation room adjacent to the Captain's office and marched back out to her desk. "Where's Liv? She asked me to bring Sally in and now she's out?"

"She's not out," Sonny said with a smirk.

"Definitely in there," Fin added.

"What are you talking about?"

Sonny gleefully added more details. "She's in the office," he said, "And Tucker's in there, too."

Rollins rolled her eyes and squinted at the office windows. The blinds were drawn and the sun was setting. She couldn't tell if the lights were on or not, but it was definitely dim in there. "Maybe she didn't hear the knock" she said of the door leading from her office to the room. It typically remained locked, so Rollins wasn't immediately suspicious. "I guess I'll go knock again."

When she rapped on the main office door, it was Tucker, not Benson, who answered. "Hey, Rollins," he said casually and stepped aside, inviting her in.

Rollins didn't move. She angled her head so she could see Olivia sitting behind her desk, and muttered that Sally Landry was next door.

"Oh, okay, thank you," Olivia replied.

"You did want me to bring her in, right?"

"Yes, I did. Thanks." Olivia smiled and searched the pile of folders on her desk for whatever it was she needed for the discussion. Finding it, she stood up and told Tucker she would only be a few minutes. "Thanks, Rollins," she said.

"Want me in there?"

"No…I'll handle this one solo."

Rollins left, closing the door behind her. Alone in the office, Ed stood at the window and watched Olivia sit down across from Sally and fold her hands in front of her. He couldn't hear what she was saying, and he didn't want to break her confidence by turning on the speaker, but Olivia's body language, every inch of her, oozed comfort and compassion. Ed knew bits and pieces about the case, but he knew almost nothing about the victim herself. And there she was, not more than eighteen, and she must not have had much support from friends or family. Otherwise, Olivia probably would not have called her in for a chat now that the case had been closed.

The conversation didn't take long, and Olivia escorted Sally out through the squad room. When she returned to the office, Ed was sitting in one of the armchairs, patiently waiting. She gave his shoulders a quick rub and kissed the top of his head. "Told ya I wouldn't be long."

"Never doubted you for a minute," he replied in a deep, soft voice.

Olivia tossed her hair back and glanced at the items on her desk. "Whaddya say we get out of here?"

"Sure…if you're ready. I didn't mean to come by and commandeer the evening."

"Well you did," Olivia replied with a teasing grin. "And I'm glad you did."

Ed smirked. "Where ya wanna go?"

"Someplace quiet…maybe…maybe that Italian place near your apartment?"

"Sure."

"I'll text Lucy and let her know."

"Sure you don't need to get back?"

"She was planning to stay much later," Olivia replied, "But…I've been commandeered." She winked at him and made the call.

Tucker didn't let on, but he was having trouble catching his breath after the overt flirting.

Olivia ended the call and slid the phone into her tote.

"So, uh, what did you and Sally talk about?" Ed asked as she gathered a few other things. "If I may ask."

Surprised at the question, Olivia lifted her head and raised her eyebrows. Ed looked genuinely curious. "I wanted to know how she was holding up," Olivia replied, "She's just a kid. And she's been through hell and around men who preyed on her…I wanted her to know she could come in, just to talk, if she ever needed it."

"That's…good of you."

"If I don't check on her, no one will. So heartbreaking when that happens, so many of these women never get a chance to recover. Never have a chance…"

"I admire you, Liv."

Olivia had appeared exasperated at the system while replying to Ed, but now she broke into an appreciative smile and replied with a soft, "Thank you." She slung her tote over her shoulder and kissed Ed before they opened the door and said goodnight to the rest of the squad. "See you tomorrow," Olivia said, clearly impatient to leave. Then, in full view of everyone, she looped her arm around Ed's elbow, and for the second time in a span of thirty minutes, Ed struggled to breathe.

…..

It seemed half of the city's children and their parents were in Central Park to play in the snow, so Brooke considered it a miracle she and her family were able to find Ed, Olivia, and the three kids. Even though Olivia had shared her location, all the bundled-up people looked alike. Nevertheless, the Tuckers were exactly where technology told her they would be-at the top of one of the most popular sledding spots. They'd carved out a little space for themselves with two small camping chairs and a large thermos. Noah and the twins were piled into one of the three sleds and Ed gave them a push. They were on their way when Noah spotted Brooke, waved, then quickly regained his grip on Maggie.

"Hi guys!" Brooke said, jogging over with Sofia in two. "Happy snow day!"

"Happy snow day to you," Olivia hugged Brooke and Sofia.

Sonny, trailing with the sled, shook Ed's gloved hand and gave Olivia a hug. "Good to see ya Liv," he said, surveying the action, "Seems like it's been a long time."

"It has," Olivia said in a slightly stern voice, "I thought you were ghosting us."

"Never ends in the DA's office," Sonny said, "It's conducive to being accused of ghosting."

"I hear ya." Olivia motioned for Brooke to hand over Sofia and Olivia cuddled the little girl. Sofia didn't seem too excited or eager to get on the sled, so Olivia figured she would initiate the first run by describing what was going on.

Ed unzipped his jacket a few inches and revealed a flask in an interior pocket. "Anyone want a sip?" He asked.

Brooke laughed and shook her head.

Sonny waved a hand, "I'll go for one. Thanks, Ed." He popped the top of the flask and took a long swig. "Ahh, that hits the spot. What is it?"

"Some kind of brandy I found at my Ma's," Ed replied.

"You raided her liquor cabinet?" Brooke asked.

"Not raided. More like…inspected. I get worried about her this time of year when she's not getting out much."

"I need to get back to my weekly visits," Brooke said, "I fell off my schedule when classes started."

"How's it going?" Ed asked.

"Good. I'm easing in to the new routine. It's…the content and the training, it's been hard. But I'm getting the hang of it."

Pride filled Ed's face as he said, "No doubt in my mind you are."

"NOAH!" Sonny bellowed. Noah was trudging up the hill. He placed himself slightly behind his siblings and dragged the sled behind him.

Noah grinned and shouted, "SONNY! I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE COMMIN!" He broke into a jog and Maggie and Wyatt picked up the pace. They jumped around, chattered about their fast slide down the hill, and yanked the other sleds to the edge.

"You come," Wyatt said to Brooke. He handed her the twine cord attached to his bright green race car sled.

Brooke was game. "Okay." She eased into the sled and waved for Wyatt to sit in front of her. "Are you steering?"

"Dere's a steering wheel," Noah explained, "But it doesn't do anything so ya gotta steer with your body."

"Ah, okay." Brooke dug her boot heels into the snow and started inching forward. "Ready, Wy?"

"Ready!" Wyatt said.

Olivia whispered to Sofia. "See? Wyatt's getting ready for the ride! See how your Mommy is holding onto him and he'd holding the rope?" Neither Maggie nor Noah showed any fear or hesitation about sledding, but Wyatt, at first, appeared a tiny bit apprehensive. Even now, on his tenth or so run, his smile and giggles suggested there was still some nervousness lurking somewhere within him. But, in true Wyatt form, he went for it anyway.

Sofia began sniffling and then broke into a full cry. She reached out and whined, "Mommmmyyyyy!"

Sonny rushed over and tried to calm her down. "It's alright, Sof. Mommy's okay. Look." The slope began steep and fast, but the terrain evened out quickly. The ride down didn't take longer than ten or so seconds. "See?" Sonny said, "She and Wyatt are on their way back!"

"And now we're gonna race," Noah said. He calculated the number of sleds, "We can all go!"

Maggie tugged at Olivia's hand, "Race, Mama!"

"Am I on your team, sweet girl?"

"YES! My teammmmmm! Guh'power!"

Sonny cracked up. Brooke and Wyatt were back and Sofia clamored to go to Brooke. "What's wrong?" she cooed at Sofia who was no longer crying but still showed evidence of tears.

"She didn't like ya goin' on the sled," Sonny said.

"Sweetie….Mommy's okay," Brooke swayed with Sofia and wondered what she was doing wrong. She wished Sofia would be more brave and wondered if this was an ingrained personality trait or if it was a phase. "I heard racing?" She asked, mostly to deflect attention.

"Yep!" Noah said, "Me and Daddy, Mommy and Maggie, and who's takin' Wyatt?"

"We were pretty fast," Brooke said. "Sof? Do you want to come on the sled or wait here?"

Sofia gripped Brooke's neck even harder.

"I'm going to go with Wyatt," Brooke said. "Here, go to Daddy."

Sonny peeled Sofia from Brooke. The little girl whimpered, but the sobs didn't come. "I'll call the start," Sonny said as the racers lined up. "But, maybe next round I can go?"

Nobody answered. The teams were gearing up for the race.

Sonny rolled his eyes. "Alright," he said, "On your mark! Get set! Go!"

…

Early one summer morning at the end of June, Noah and his siblings approached their parents with a suggestion. Olivia and Ed, seeing the united front squeeze through the door, sat back, sipped their coffee, and waited for what looked to be a well-planned argument.

Twelve-year-old Noah began. "Mom, Dad…we think we should probably get another jet ski."

"Yeah," Maggie said, "Me and Wyatt are gonna be able to drive soon and then we'll need three to go on adventures."

Ed and Olivia exchanged amused glances. The twins were nowhere near independent jet ski driving age. Noah was only allowed to operate one solo on the calmer intercoastal and only if another adult was riding alongside. Olivia could not picture the day when she let her three kids go out on what Maggie seemed to be envisioning as elaborate, hours-long, jet ski trips.

Ed read her mind. "Gonna be a long time before we need three," he said, much to his kids' disappointment. "But, I'll tell ya what. Since you have time to save up. If you can save enough money for half, I'll cover the rest."

"How are we gonna save up all that money?" Maggie asked.

"You'll have to get jobs," Olivia said.

"Jobs?" Noah said, "We're too young to work!"

"We could do a lemonade stand," Wyatt suggested. He had seen several stands in town over the years.

"YES!" Maggie shouted. "And we could also make some cookies and sell those! Everyone wants cookies and lemonade on the beach!"

"Can someone take us to the market?" Noah asked. "To get supplies."

"Sure," Olivia replied, "After coffee. Why don't you have some breakfast and make a list of what you need?"

The trio nodded and went back inside. Through the window, Olivia and Ed watched them set up at the table. "Are we setting them up for failure?" She asked, "There's no way they can possibly raise enough money from summer lemonade stands for half a jet ski."

"I dunno," Ed replied, "They could get close. And if not, it'll be good for them. Build the entrepreneurial spirit."

"I guess you're right. Are we planning to front the start up costs?"

"I think we can do that."

Olivia grinned and kissed his cheek. "This will be fun."

Noah came back out and rattled off the list. "We're gonna go regular lemonade and strawberry lemonade," he said, "And Wyatt said to add iced tea."

"How about…you can offer an adult lemonade and put some vodka in those. You could charge a lot more."

"Ed!" Olivia said, elbowing him in the side. "Noah, you're not serving alcohol at the lemonade stand. Absolutely not."

"We would make a lot more money," Noah said. He and Ed had a similar mischievous glimmer in their eyes.

"You are not selling alcohol on the boardwalk," Olivia said, "It's illegal."

"Maybe we could have like a password if they want the adult lemonade," Noah suggested, trying desperately to control his laughter.

"You two…" Olivia shook her head. "Turning an innocent lemonade stand into a speakeasy."

"What's a speakeasy?" Noah asked.

"I'll let your Dad explain that to you," she said, standing up and patting Ed's shoulder, "I'm getting a little more coffee and then we'll go."

…

Olivia tilted her head back against the folded towel and took a deep breath. The air in the bathroom smelled of the eucalyptus and mint bubble bath and it was heavenly. "What a fun day," she murmured to Ed who was standing at the vanity, "Fun, but, wow, I think I'm going to feel it tomorrow."

"We didn't realize it was leg day," Ed replied before swishing mouthwash.

"We did not."

Ed splashed water on his face and turned around. His wife looked deliciously attractive covered in bubbles. She'd pulled her hair back and clipped it at the top of her head so he could see the beads of water and soap remnants on her neck. "But, you're right, it was a hell of a fun time. I'm glad Sof finally got the courage to go down the hill."

"Me too, I felt bad for Brooke."

Ed chuckled, thinking about how Maggie and Wyatt and Noah ended the day with head-first plunges down the slope. "I guess we probably have the opposite courage problem with our three."

"Exactly."

Ed rolled his neck and stretched his shoulders. "I forgot it was also back and shoulders day for me."

Olivia laughed softly. It had been a long day. Ed and Noah going to Caroline's to shovel snow seemed like a distant memory. "We better get some rest. We have round two tomorrow in Brooklyn."

"We're really doing that?"

"Yes! You thought we were joking?"

"I thought it was a ploy to get the kids to leave without throwing tantrums."

"No, that was the pizza."

"Ah, okay," Ed smiled at her.

Finally opening her eyes, Olivia gazed back at him. She lifted a hand and waved him over. "Come here," she said in a hushed voice.

Ed sat on the side of the tub. He kissed her hand and then leaned over to give her a kiss on the lips. "Want me to bring you a glass of wine?"

"How about you help me out of here and we have one together?"

"Or that," Ed said, smirking and turning red. He stood up and grabbed a fresh towel. "C'mon, Mrs. Tucker. Let's dry you off." She exited the tub slowly, for effect, and Ed wrapped her in the towel. He kissed her again and brushed a few damp strands of hair away from her face. "Kinda hard to stop kissing you," he whispered.

Olivia cocked an eyebrow and returned his sultry expression. "Don't fight it, Captain."

"No?"

"No."

…..

#Tuckson