November:

"Maaaaammmmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa."

"Oh dear god," Liv mumbled into Elliot's chest as they both laughed softly in the early hours of the morning.

They were just starting to fall back to sleep after an early morning feeding for their quickly growing, 3 month old baby girl.

She was fast asleep, again, in the bassinet they kept in their room for moments like that, but their boys certainly didn't need to know that.

"Sh!!! Teddy! You're gonna wake up Finney!"

Noah's sleepy voice as he padded down the hallway to his brothers room filled the house next, and from where Liv was laying, she could see Finley stir ever so slightly.

"Sowee," Teddy drawled, not sorry in the least.

El blindly reached for Teddy's monitor, clicking it on and holding it between himself and his wife.

Their little boy was reaching over his crib for his big brother who scooped him up and kissed his cheek.

"You need your butt changed?"

"Yup," he nodded, hugging Noah's neck and yawning.

"Okay, but then we're going back to sleep cause it's so early."

"No woom?"

"Yes we can snuggle in my room but you have to go back to sleep!"

"Tay," Teddy nodded before they disappeared from camera view.

"Thank God for big brothers," Liv mused, hugging Elliot's middle and nuzzling her face into his bare chest.

"They're kinda the best."

"Life savers," she insisted.

"My favorite kids, one could say."

"It's true. Much more patient than big sisters."

"Isn't that weird?" El laughed, but Liv shook her head.

"Not really… our girls have all taken after you," she smirked.

"Ohhhhh you're in for it," he growled playfully, rolling her to her back and crawling above her.

Elliot had gotten snipped a few weeks after their baby was born, and was healed just in time for her to be medically cleared for sex.

They'd wasted no time, and he'd never been so thankful for a procedure in his life.

"Fuck," he muttered, kissing her pulse point while his hands ran up and down her still naked body from the night before and their early morning baby feed. "You're a fucking anomaly."

"Well," she husked, sliding her hands down his sides, tracing the deep v that extended to where his morning wood was bouncing proudly. "When you have a very persuasive trainer…"

"You just like fucking me on the weight bench," he grumbled, nipping at her earlobe and soothing the bite with his tongue.

"Maybe," she smirked, grasping his cock and stroking her palm slowly up and down.

He grunted, bucking his hips involuntarily before kneeling up and letting the covers fall down his back and pool at his knees.

Releasing her grip on his aching member, she slid her hands slowly up her body, pausing to tweak her puckered nipples, before stretching her arms above her bed and wiggling a little beneath him.

He was salivating.

The Captain looked damn good.

She really had bounced back, quicker than even her young daughters had after giving birth. That combined with the weight training regiment he had her on and the fact that her already huge boobs had doubled in size thanks to a year and a half of breast feeding...

Well, she looked like something from a centerfold.

"I want this for me," she'd insisted during their first session in their new home gym they'd splurged on.

"I know… but just remember that I love you the way you are."

She really did want it for her; after baby number three and kid number nine, she felt she needed an outlet to work out her frustrations of the day; something that would make her feel good.

The weight bench sex and the way he drooled a little extra over her, now, was simply an added bonus.

Olivia Stabler had always exuded an air of confidence, but post-baby number 3, 54 year old Olivia Stabler?

That version was living her best life.

"I think I knew we were gonna have another," she'd told him as he lay out of breath and sweating on the workout bench.

"Huh?" He asked breathlessly, still a little delirious from his orgasm.

"Yeah… I wasn't concerned about being in shape after Teddy came. I think I knew you were gonna knock me up again."

His softening cock jumped a bit between his legs, and she chuckled, gently grinding her hips downwards.

He was still seeping out of her, and their combined releases were coating his balls and the base of his cock.

"Such a kink," she mused.

"Something about watching you carry my babies…" he trailed off.

She felt fulfilled; completed by their baby daughter's entrance into their family and surrounded by the love of all their kids and grandkids.

"Where'd you go?"

Her husband's deep grumble made her eyes dart up. His were sparkling, deep blue in the early hours of the morning, as he admired her beauty.

"Just thinking about how damn happy I am… life is so good, El," she whispered, lowering her hands from above her head to grasp his that were on either side of her waist.

"Yeah?" He asked, slowly nudging her legs apart and settling in between them; lowering himself on her body and meshing their lips together in light, unhurried kisses.

"Yeah… I love you," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck and smiling in his kiss when he raised her leg slowly, holding onto it at the back of her knee.

"Yeah… well I love you more," he mumbled, pushing himself into her; stretching her tight cunt and burying himself to the hilt where his pelvis made perfect contact with her already throbbing clit.

"Fuck," she whimpered out, arching her back lightly and stretching her neck to find his lips again.

"You feel so good," he mumbled into her mouth, rocking his hips back and forth slowly for several passes before he raised her other leg up.

"Oh fuck," she gasped, rather loudly when his next thrust dragged along her g-spot and made her eyes roll back.

"Feel fucking good, baby?" He asked, groaning when she clenched around him in response. "Keep your voice down. Don't wanna wake those babies up yet," he whispered.

"Feels so good," she mumbled into his shoulder.

"So tight in the mornings, Liv," he praised sweetly, finding a steady rhythm while he paid special attention to her swollen breasts.

"Uh huh," she gasped, undulating her hips up towards him and gasping softly when he bent her legs a little further back for better access to her g-spot.

"Fuck… God, I love your pussy, baby," he groaned, lowering his mouth to her breast again and nipping.

"Kiss me," she whispered, moaning loudly when he crashed their lips together, bringing them both to an intense, early morning orgasm.


"Our baby has one year olds," Liv whispered into his chest after they'd gotten dressed, checked on the littles, and snuggled back together.

The sun was finally rising, peaking over the tall building that surrounded them and shining through their curtains.

"I know… our baby comes home, today," he added softly.

"I'm so sad for him… for both of them but… I'm really excited to have him back," she admitted, looking up to her husband who nodded shyly.

"Me too… everything happened too fast."

"That's how I feel…"

"Gonna be a hard transition for him."

"Yep," he nodded. "He's gonna be down the the gym a whole lot… we might have to quit our afternoon rendezvous."

"Noooo," she whined playfully.

The tiniest cry came from the bassinet beside him, and he looked down at her.

"Well… least she waited till we were done."

"She's kinda the best," Liv laughed.

"Yeah… easiest baby ever," he nodded, getting up and holding his hand out for a high five that she gladly gave him.

"Go team!"

"Hell yeah!" He laughed, making his way to gather their infant and get her into a fresh diaper while Liv got situated to breast feed.

Elliot was back just a few minutes later with Finney snuggled into his chest and pouted.

"She hates her diaper change, though," he said, continuing their conversation as she chuckled.

"Her sister did, too, didn't she?" Liv cooed sweetly, taking their little girl and settling back with her.

Her brown eyes were trained on her mommy's, closing only when she latched on and her daddy began running his fingers through her wild brown hair.

"You both also love your daddy," she whispered. "Don't you?"

"Can't say her big sister does right now," El sighed sadly, earning a sympathetic smile from his wife.

Emma was in a phase that the upcoming dance school trial and everything they surrounded it, especially Jules, had only made worse.

"She loves you," Liv promised, "she's just…"

"14," he mused and Liv nodded.

"She's 14."

"Don't grow up," he whispered into the dark brown hair of their newest baby. "Please?"


Downstairs, Sam woke up to an empty bed.

She sat up slowly, and smiled when she noticed the bedroom door was open just a smidge. From there, she could see Eli pacing back and forth with their new one-year-old in his arms.

It was still early, and their little girl should've still been asleep.

Truthfully, they should've still been asleep. Lord knows, after the night they'd had, they needed it.

From the way he swayed with her, Sam could see the messy, brown bed head her daughter was sporting, and could tell that her equally brown eyes had began to slip shut.

In the few short months since the seasons in New York had so rapidly changed from summer, to fall, to winter, so had her babies.

Joey's dark hair had grown even darker, and her once crystal blue eyes were transforming slowly to a deep, chocolate brown. Her daddy called her her mommy's mini, and Sam reveled in it every time.

EJ's hair that once mimicked his daddy's at the same age had darkened and his curls had begun to relax. He'd recently gotten his first haircut and his dad styled his soft waves off to the side every morning when he woke up.

His eyes, however, were still bright blue, and she prayed they'd never change.

The father/daughter duo were facing the backyard, enjoying the silence of the morning when Sam's small hands wrapped around his middle.

"Morning," he whispered, voice still thick with sleep.

"Morning," she said timidly, relaxing only when he used his free arm to cover her's.

"Someone tried to wake up her brother… but I think she just wanted some daddy time, huh baby?" He whispered to Joey who was dozing in his arms.

"She's got a good daddy, Eli," Sam whispered against the bare expanse of his back. "Some might even say the best."

"Hmph," he grunted softly in response.

"Why don't you put her back to bed?" She asked him after a few silent moments, pressing soft kisses to his shoulder blades.

"We're having daddy/daughter time," he shot back with an air of levity in his voice she was unbelievably thankful for.

Exhaling a soft laugh, she pressed her forehead to the spot just in between his shoulder blades. "Well I was hoping we could have some daddy/mommy time before chaos kicks in today?"

Chaos.

Chaos was the twin's first birthday party, plus Eli's first night back at home with his parents.

He was dreading it.

Not because he'd be back with them or his siblings, and not even because he'd be away from the kids while they slept.

He'd still see them as much as he had before: he'd be there in the mornings, spend time during the day with them, and even help put them to bed at night.

He surprised himself a bit, not being worried at all about his relationship with his babies; feeling strangely confident that it would stay strong.

But her?

He was gonna miss her.

Miss the way she kissed him goodnight or stole the covers; how she made him coffee in the morning and he made her tea at night; how she sang in the shower to Taylor Swift, and 9 times out of 10 danced her way into their bedroom while he waited for her; how she snuggled up to him on cold mornings; how they could always read each other, reaching in for a hug at the perfect moment.

Miss seeing his ring on her finger and miss waking up beside her.

Miss the way she rode him on the couch after a boring "boy movie" and miss the way she let him make love to her after a rom com.

Miss calling her his girl.

So while he was gonna miss being able to watch his kiddos sleep at night, he was as gonna miss her way damn more.

More than he could put into words.

"E…"

His eyes darted up. "Sure," he nodded. "Go wait in bed… I'll be right there," he sighed softly, shuffling back to the nursery where both twins still stayed.

After getting Joey settled back into her crib, Eli cracked the door before returning to a waiting Sam.

"Hi," she whispered.

She'd ditched his shirt she was wearing, the one she'd put on the night before after a fight/fuck session that lasted until well past 3am, and was curled under the covers, clearly fully nude and waiting for him.

He leaned against the door frame, cock noticeably hard under his gray sweats, leaving little to the imagination.

He was quiet; standing with his arms crossed as he drank her in.

The way her brown curls cascaded down her shoulders and how the remnants of her eye make up was a little smudged from the breakdown they'd had the night before.

The way her big brown eyes shined with fresh tears at his hesitation.

Pushing himself off the door, he made his way over to her, watching her exhale a soft sigh of relief.

"'S'our last time," he said, reaching to take her outstretched hand.

"Yeah… for now…"

"For now," he echoed, nodding slowly.

"C'mere, Eli," she whispered, reaching for his sweats and pushing the down with no hesitation.

He bounced free, bobbing until she grasped him in her small hand stroking him several times as she looked up through hooded eyes.

Reaching his hand forward, he threaded it through her hair and took a step forward, gently tilting her head up to him.

"M'gonna miss you, baby," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

She tugged his cock gently, encouraging him to move closer and climb in beside her, an invitation he gladly accepted.

He settled himself in between her legs after pulling the blankets high over them and cupping her face with a large hand while the other held him propped up.

"Show me," she whispered, finally answering his statement.


"Ohhhh there's the birthday boy and girl!!!!" Liv cried, rushing to the door as Eli and Sam walked in holding their babies in matching outfits, all smiles.

Joey giggled wildly and EJ shot everyone his sweet and lazy smile while offering a little giggle himself and reaching for his Papa.

"Come see me, big boy!" El grinned, taking his grandson from his son and smothering him in kisses.

"Hang on, dad, let me get a picture," Eli laughed, snapping several pictures of the two.

"Daddy is allll about the pictures, now," Sam laughed, kissing Joey's cheek before handing her to her daddy and hugging Liv.

"Ohhhh look at your chairs guys!" Eli cried sweetly, pointing to the pink and blue decorated high chairs that were set up in the kitchen. "Who do you think did that for you?" He whispered to Joey who sat comfortably on his hip.

"Guess," came Emma's voice from around the corner.

"Best auntie ever!" Eli cooed, pulling his little sister in for a hug and kiss to the head despite her embarrassed grimace.

Her new boyfriend, Davey, who'd she began dating just after the dance school arrest was behind her.

Her brothers didn't like him, and barely tried to hide it.

"David," Eli nodded curtly. "Thanks for coming."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he said quickly.

The boy's disdain wasn't lost on the young man, who was desperate to be liked by everyone he came in contact with.

/"Pathetic," Dickie had commented when they'd first met him.

Emma rolled her eyes dramatically and Noah snickered from behind them as he came downstairs with Jake.

Joey screeched when she saw her two favorite boys, aside from her daddy, and reached over for them, excitedly going into Jake's arms.

"Happy birthday, girl!" He cooed

She snuggled into his chest as he swayed with her while EJ reached for his Noah.

"Happy birthday, my man," Noah smiled, kissing his head and laughing when he looked around his back. "Teddy is coming!"

"Edjay!" Teddy called excitedly, finishing his butt-slide down the steps to the second floor.

Sam laughed, walking over to scoop him up. "Hi baby!"

"Hi Sam!" He squeaked, making everyone laugh.

"Where's baby sister?" She asked, walking over and popping on the couch with him tucked into her chest.

They were recent besties.

"Seepin'," he explained, as animated as ever as he sat back and took her hands to steady himself. "Finney owo on, see no heaw," he nodded quickly.

"Her owl is on so she can't hear us? Good!" Sam exclaimed, popping a kiss to his nose.

Eli couldn't help but smile as he watched her interact with his baby brother.

"Did we ever think that Teddy would be the most protective big brother?" Katie asked from the couch where she was nursing little Bea.

"With all of his big brothers and brother in laws as examples? Yes, absolutely!" Bernie exclaimed from beside her, making Teddy and EJ giggle in sync.

Finney whined on her monitor, just then, and Teddy gasped, looking up to his momma.

"It's okay, buddy," she promised, scooping him up from Sam's lap. "She was due to get up anyways! You wanna help me?"

"Pease mama," he nodded with a smile, pointing up the stairs.

"I'll be right back," Liv chuckled, heading upstairs with Elliot following closely behind her.

"He's lucky he got snipped," Bernie quipped once they were out of earshot, "cause they'd already be having another baby if not!"

"Grandma!"

"Bee!!"

"Bernadette!!!"

All of the grandkids shouted at her at once, making faces of disgust.

"What!" She exclaimed, throwing up her hands. "If I looked like that after I gave birth at her age, I'd be hoping my husband would follow me around like a lost puppy dog!"


Upstairs, Teddy was sat on the edge of the changing table, holding onto his dad and watching intently as his mom changes his sister.

"Eli looks sad," Liv whispered, glancing over to Elliot who nodded.

"Yeah… tonight's gonna be hard."

"Worried," she sighed softly.

"Yeah," he said, shooting his wife a sweet but empathetic smile. "But he's strong, so he'll get through it."

"I know," she smiled small, fastening Finley's diaper and looking over to Teddy when Dickie's booming voice filled the home.

The 18 month old loved all of his brothers, but in recent months, Dickie had become his absolute favorite.

The little boy's eyes lit up, and he glanced nervously between Finley and the door.

"Want me to take you down to see brother?" El asked him with a grin.

"Finney," he responded, eyes squinted with concern.

"Will be okay," Liv chuckled, leaning over to peck his nose. "Mommy has taken care of many babies, including you," she said, punctuating the sentence with a tap to his little chest that turned into a tickle.

His giggles were infectious and made his little sister break out into a massive, gummy grin.

They were broken up by his number one best friend's voice.

"TEDDYYYYY!" AK called.

"Go on, boy," Liv laughed.

"Tay mama," Teddy finally nodded, climbing into Elliot's arms.

"See you guys downstairs," El smiled, pecking her lips and taking Teddy downstairs.


The whole crew was there by the time Liv and Finney made their way down, the baby girl attached to her momma's breast.

"We about ready for cake and presents??" She asked with a big smile, reaching down to hug Anna Kate who rushed to wrap around her leg.

"Yup!" She squealed, pointing over to the twins who were playing with a now nine-month-old Livy and Lilly.

"Mama!" Joey called with a smile, reaching up for Sam who was approaching her.

Everyone oohed and ahed, and Eli smiled proudly before picking up EJ.

"Your sister is gonna run circles around you if you don't start trying to talk, buddy," he said, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

EJ just smiled up at him and then laid against his chest.

"They all start at different ages," Liv reminded her boy through a whisper in his ear and a gentle pinch to his arm.

He'd been obsessing about the fact that EJ hadn't talked yet, despite his sister's extensive vocabulary of four whole words. It had become a touchy subject between him and Sam, and the last thing Liv wanted on an already emotional day was an argument.

Sensing her gentle warning, Eli gave a nod of understanding and settled his boy in the seat beside his sister.


After an eventful cake smash, Eli and Sam sat in the middle of the floor with a twin on either lap, opening presents.

"You two are so loved, I hope you can see that!" Sam exclaimed once they were towards the end of the pile.

Joey had been active, crawling around, ripping paper, and touching everything while EJ sat in his daddy's lap, content with watching and being with his favorite guy.

"One final thing before we got upstairs for your big gift from me and Papa," Liv said, looking over to her youngest boy who suddenly had become shy.

"Teddy you wanna go get the gifts you got the twins?" El asked him softly, making a show of whispering it loud enough for everyone to hear.

He nodded very slowly, keeping his eyes cast on the ground, suddenly very aware of the attention on him.

"Want daddy to walk with you?" He whispered, a little softer this time as Teddy nodded.

Liv watched with a teary smile, marveling at the unique way her husband loved their boy and how that love was clearly mirrored on the younger Elliots relationship with one another.

Sam noticed, too, and made quick eye contact with Liv as tears rushed to her eyes at the thought of separating her boy and his daddy.

Their brief moment was interrupted by Teddy's quick footsteps and Joey's excited squeal.

"Alright little ones," Liv said, clearing her throat and plastering a smile to her face. "Your Teddy Bear picked these out allll by himself with papa," she explained, more so to the parents.

Teddy set the bag he'd dragged out behind him down in front of them, and Sam and Eli helped remove the contents for their babies.

Inside were two police officer teddies, one blue and one pink.

"Mama an Dada," Teddy explained in a small voice, handing the blue bear to EJ who was just grinning up at him.

"Wow," Sam drawled cutely. "Thank you so much, buddy! Joey, look," she cooed, holding up the bear and pointing to El and Liv. "It's like Papa and Cap!"

"Papa!" She squealed, taking the bear and hugging it to her chest.

"Can you say Papa?" Eli whispered to his son who just smiled and reached over to Teddy with an enthusiastic but incoherent babble.

Ted giggled, hugging his little best friend with both arms, the bear pressed between them.

"He's babbling," Mo encouraged sweetly from where she sat on the couch behind them. "Once he starts talking he'll never stop!"

"Like Noah," Emma cracked, making everyone laugh.

"That's probably true," the young boy said after mock offense, making everyone laugh harder.

"Alright," El smiled. "We've got one more thing for you guys, it's upstairs."

Eli chuckled softly, knowing exactly what it was.

"Guys… you didn't…" Sam said, looking between Eli and the pair that had become like her parents.

"We did," Liv said, standing with a sleeping Finney in her arms. "Our grandbabies aren't sleeping in pack n plays!!"

"That's far too much," Sam said, hugging Liv tightly.

"Nonsense," El waved her off, "we're happy to do it!"

"Agreed," Liv smiled, kissing Sam and then Joey's heads.

"Just don't argue, life will be easier, Beau deadpanned, making everyone chuckle. "I hope y'all at least bought two, got one free," he added, referencing the crib they'd insisted on purchasing for Bea.

"Mom did the wheeling and dealing, I just swiped my card," El teased.

"Well," Eli said with a small smile. "Let's go see our new room, huh?" He whispered to his baby boy, kissing his temple and leading the way to the third floor of their brownstone.

Unbeknownst to Sam, he, Noah, and Beau had spent about a month separating the large office on the third floor into a room for Eli and a room for the twins. Emma had helped him paint the walls and decorate, insisting on making the space as "homey as Sam's house."

She hadn't been upstairs since El and Liv purchased the homes, so the cribs were more of a ploy to show her the surprise than anything else.

Her jaw dropped when they rounded the corner on the landing, seeing two doors instead of the original one.

"Surprise," he said softly, putting his free hand on her shoulder.

"Eli," she mumbled in awe, slowly walking into the soft yellow room that housed two cribs, two dressers, a changing table, and a play area.

There were photos of the four of them all around the room, along with several of all the littles and them with their aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

"Beau, Noah, and Emma all helped, and mom and dad helped me buy the furniture. But uh.. yeah I mean I just wanted them to have their own space here," he shrugged.

Turning slowly to face him, she gave him a watery smile before her face contorted fully with emotion.

"C'mere," he whispered, wrapping her in a one armed hug and kissing the top of her head. "Gonna be okay."

"Thank you," was all she could whisper as she worked to get her emotions under control.

Carefully, he set EJ down on the floor, followed by his sister so that he could wrap their mom in a proper hug while Liv and El watched on.

"Papa," Joey whispered, reaching up for him.

"How about me and papa sit and explore the new room with the twins and you can show Sam yours," Liv said, desperate to give the overly emotional young girl an out.

"Good idea, mama," El nodded, sitting on the floor between the twins and patting the spot beside him for Liv.

She joined him, and Eli escorted Sam to his room.

EJ's lips curled down into a big pout as he watched his dad walk out, and Liv frowned, passing Finley to Elliot and reaching her arms out towards their grandson.

"Come here, sweet boy," she cooed softly, smiling when he crawled into her outstretched arms.

"This is gonna suck," El whispered to her while watching their granddaughter roam the room and explore.

"It already does, El," she sighed. "It already does."


The party goers eventually all went home, including Davey and Jake.

To say it had been tense with both boys there would have been an understatement.

"I just think it's awkward you still hang with him," Emma said, stopping in Noah's doorway with crossed arms once their parents were occupied elsewhere.

He rolled his eyes from where he was laying on his bed, feeding Finley while his mom showered and his dad gave Ted a bath.

"You never had a problem with it before," he grumbled, getting defensive.

"Well Davey doesn't like it."

"Who gives a crap what Davey likes!"

"I do!" She exclaimed, crossing her arms.

"Jake is my friend! Just cause you dumped him for a weirdo doesn't mean I'm gonna not be his friend!"

"He's not a weirdo!" She yelled, balling up her fists.

"Why are we yelling," El asked, coming out of the bathroom with Teddy in his hooded, bear towel.

"Emma is being a jerk," Noah said, lifting Finley to his shoulder to burp her.

"No I'm not! He's being a little twerp!" She shouted, stomping off to her room as Liv came out in her pajamas with a towel around her head.

"Emma Bernadette!" Liv exclaimed with a sigh, looking at her daughter with her hands on her hips.

Groaning loudly, Emma looked down the hallway at her parents before slamming the door shut.

Eli had just come in the house and was making his way up the stairs, EJ in his arms, when the sound echoed through the house and shook the railing.

"What the…" he trailed off, stopping on the landing when he saw the fire in his mom's eyes and the steam coming from his dad's ears.

"Uht ohhhh," Teddy sang.

Eli looked over at Noah, both boys desperately trying to stifle their laughter at their little brother's comedic timing.

Liv looked up to her husband, eyes wide. "All you, dad," she said, reaching out for Teddy who quickly went into his arms.

Sucking in a deep breath, Elliot made his way down the hallways and threw open his daughter's door.

"Dad!" She screeched from her bed where she was furiously texting.

"In what world do you think it's okay to slam your door?!" He asked sternly, trying desperately to keep his cool.

"None of you understand this! Jake and I are done and I'm dating someone else and you need to respect it!!!"

"We do respect it, but what I don't respect is you disrespecting my house and the people in it!"

"He's disrespecting me!"

"Emma," he said sternly, nostrils flaring and red creeping up his chest. "This isn't a negotiation!"

"No one is listening to me!"

"Give me your phone," he said, walking into her room and holding out his hand.

"Daddy, no!" She said quickly, standing up. "I-I'm sorry!"

"No, you've lost your chance to talk about this calmly," he said, walking over and snatching her phone from her hands.

"Daddy, I'm sorry," she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Go to sleep. We'll talk tomorrow. I love you," he instructed firmly, but still with care in his voice.

She let out an exasperated scream. "I hate you!!!"

Elliot froze, staring at his daughter who raised a hand to her lips when she realized what she'd said.

Shaking his head, he walked to the door and propped it open with her desk chair. "This stays open or it's coming off the hinges. Understood?"

The teenager was already climbing under her covers, hiding her head away as she sobbed dramatically, her actions fully mirroring her older sisters at the same age.

He sighed to himself, his heart breaking, and walked away down the hallway, stopping at a shook Noah's door.

"Are you okay?"

Noah nodded quickly. "You?"

Elliot sighed. "I will be," he said, walking in and dropping a kiss to his head. "Night buddy."

"Night dad… I definitely don't hate you and neither does she."

Exhaling a soft laugh, he kissed his son's head again and nodded. "I love you, too, buddy."


Liv was rocking both babies in Teddy's room when Elliot walked in, looking more defeated than she'd seen him since Maureen's teenage years so long ago.

Teddy was passed out from the day of excitement and Finley was zoning out, eyes fixed on her daddy who'd just walked in.

He beelined for her, lifting her up and holding her to his chest; inhaling the scent of newborn detergent and baby wash and remnants of breast milk.

"Don't do it to yourself," Liv whispered, "she'd be going through this phase whether you were there or not, just like Fin will go through that phase, too."

"Can't help but wonder," he murmured.

She stood slowly, making her way over to kiss him softly.

"Don't. Snuggle your girl to sleep and try to relax while I check on everyone."

"Thank you," he whispered. "I love you."

"I love you. So do all of our babies."

He shot her an unconvincing squint before slowly making his way to the rocking chair in Fin's nursery and settling in to try and relax.


Liv got Ted in his crib before saying goodnight to Noah and kissing Emma's head through the blanket.

"I love you."

She emerged from underneath at the sound of her mother's voice, eyes red and face tear streaked.

"I love you," Liv repeated, sitting on the side of her bed. "And your daddy and brother do too… but that's not acceptable behavior."

"I know," she sniffles, sobs bubbling up again. "I love you, too…"

"We need to talk tomorrow okay? Get to the bottom of all this and Dave and Jake, okay? But right now? I want you to sleep."

She nodded quickly, her heart beginning to race.

"I-I love you m-mommy…"

"I love you more, honey," she nodded, kissing her cheek. "Forever and ever."

Emma smiled small, wiping her eyes at the promise her mom always made to her in times of doubt.

"You want me to lay with you?" Liv asked, brushing her hair back.

"No… it's okay," she sniffled, snuggling back into her blankets.

"Okay… you call if you need me, okay?"

"'Kay mama," she nodded.

Liv gave a small smile before heading out and up the stairs to her oldest boy's room.

"Hi," she whispered, knocking on the door frame.

Eli was curled up in bed, his arms draped across a sleeping EJ on his chest while the TV played quietly in the background.

He gave a small wave, moving over a little for her.

"Why've you got baby boy?" She asked, laying down beside him.

"He's been a little bit of a daddy's boy lately… Joey fell asleep and…" he trailed off.

"Didn't wanna sleep alone?"

Eli exhaled a soft laugh. "Correct."

She looked down at her boy, giving a sad smile before wrapping her arm around him.

He snuggled into her with no hesitation, smiling when EJ reached a hand up to hold his face.

"Loves his daddy…"

"Least someone does in this house… dad okay?"

"Not his first daughter and not his last," she laughed softly. "He'll be okay."

"I know… but it's gotta hurt the first time it's said. I'm certainly not looking forward to it," he chuckled.

"Hmm," she laughed softly, pulling at his hair gently. "You've got a long time for that."

"Yeah… times going too fast you know? I can't believe they're one."

"Best year of your life?"

"So far… this year will probably be better," he smiled, kissing the top of EJ's soft hair. "Mom?"

"Yeah baby?"

"Will you stay till I fall asleep?"

She couldn't help but smile.

"For my Elliots? Anything."


Downstairs, Elliot had finally relaxed enough to place a sleeping Finley into her crib before making his way into the master bedroom, curling under the blankets, and staring at his daughters phone.

Against his better judgement, he unlocked the phone and opened her text thread, expecting a message from Dave or Jake, but seeing another name instead.

Jules - Dance

The message thread was filled with hundreds of unanswered messages from as early as that evening, most vulgar.

As he scrolled quickly though the texts and images...

Elliot saw red.