A/N: I'm so sorry for the delay! I had some unexpected personal stuff come up and didn't have the time needed to devote to this story. Hoping to update Remastered today as well. :)
"This isn't a tomorrow situation," Liv had declared once Elliot had shown her the texts that littered their daughter's phone.
The texts in questions were a months-long thread of threats and screenshots of previously unknown videos from hidden cameras in the dance studio, flooding their daughter's phone non-stop in retaliation for telling the truth.
Emma was mortified into silence; angry and acting out beyond her normal teenage, hormone-induced frustrations, and pushing away the people who loved her most.
The newly discovered revelation was why and how they found themselves in the living room of their brownstone, conversing exasperatedly with their 14 year old at almost midnight.
"Emma, why… why, why, why would you tell us?" Liv pleaded with her for the 100th time.
"We could've helped you… it's what we're here for, Emma, we're your mom and dad," a shell-shocked Elliot added.
He hadn't let go of her hand since she'd joined them on the couch an hour and a half prior, having called her down after they sent the SVU squad and Carisi into their respective offices to investigate the new information.
"You don't understand," she sobbed softly, shaking her head.
"Baby we do understand," Liv sighed, sinking down in front of her. "We understand more than anyone else. We've been doing this job for so long," she said, desperately trying to stay calm while grasping her hands. "So long baby."
Emma's face screwed up with fresh emotion as she gripped her mom's hands and sunk into her daddy's embrace. She opened her mouth, desperate to speak and explain, but only heart-wrenching sobs came out, and she collapsed forward in ruin at the secret she'd been hiding for months.
The front door shutting forced Elliot's eyes open in the early hours of the morning. Glancing to the clock, he groaned silently to himself. It felt like they'd just fallen asleep.
Squinting towards the noise, he took note of the tall figure that was barely being illuminated by the porch light shining in from outside.
"Eli?" He grumbled from his spot on the couch, surrounded by his two emotionally and physically exhausted girls.
"Hey," Eli whispered, equally surprised as his eyes adjusted to make out his father, mother, and sister's figures all snuggled on the couch. "Everything okay?"
"Mhm," he nodded. "Rough night… 'time is it? Where's EJ?"
"Ah," Eli sighed. "Woke up looking for sis so I brought him home," he whispered, offering a sad smile. "It's early… just 5am… I didn't even see you guys when I left?"
"Yeah, well," Elliot sighed. "Been here all night. Your sister…" he trailed off.
"She okay?"
"Yeah… get back to sleep. We'll talk in the morning."
"Alright.. want me to get up with Fin? Looks like you've had a long night?"
"If you hear her and get to her first," he smiled weakly, eyes heavy from the emotion of the previous hours. "Thanks, son."
"No problem… night, dad," he waved, making his way quietly up the stairs.
As his footsteps receded, Liv stirred slightly against Elliot's side.
"Believe that?" She asked softly.
"Not in the least," he said, shaking his head.
Emma woke the following morning to soft whispers coming from the kitchen.
Several different variations of the same hushed tone, interrupted by her baby sister's quiet eating noises and her mom husked sniffles, made their way to the couch.
Her eyes were puffy from hours of sobbing and her ears were ringing thanks to a splitting headache, but even so, she could faintly make out the voices of her three sisters and two of her uncles, along with her mom and dad of course.
She was so exhausted that she couldn't even put any stock into the two voices that were unfamiliar to her.
After working up some courage and forcing her eyes open, she exhaled a sigh that was loud enough to alert the people in the kitchen of her consciousness while she allowed her eyes to adjust to the early morning light.
"Babe?" El said gently, his once heavy and sure footsteps suddenly sounding timid as he approached his daughter from behind the couch.
"Hi," she whispered, anxiety making her chest squeeze as she rolled into the back of the sofa and hid her face in the scratchy fabric.
"How you feeling this morning? Up for talking just yet?" He asked gently, his calming hand covering the expanse of her small back.
She relaxed instantly at his touch, but suddenly the memories of the lie she'd hurled his way in the midst of her anger the previous night flooded her brain and made her wince away from him.
"It's okay," he answered, as if reading her mind. "I love you so much. Okay? We all do and we just wish you'd have told us about all of this," he sighed softly.
Her body began to shake with the effort of holding back sobs, so he rounded the couch, popped down beside her, and pulled her firmly into his arms.
"Baby… daddy is here. You're safe and we'll protect you, okay? Always. I love you, Emma Bernadette. So so much," he soothed softly as she buried herself into him.
"Memma?"
"Teddy," Noah groaned softly, running after their little brother who'd heard the commotion from his playroom where Noah was charged with him.
"I-it's okay," Emma whispered, sitting forward just a bit and scooping him into her arms when he threw himself at her. He snuggled into her lap and she snuggled back into Elliot.
Noah scrubbed his hand down over his face, suddenly feeling awkward, and Emma squinted in light amusement.
"You look like daddy," she whispered the peace offering into their little brother's hair after a few moments of silence.
"Yeah well you acted like dad last night," he muttered, crossing his arms and cocking an eyebrow like their mom.
"Noah," Liv scolded lightly, standing up from where she was nursing Finley.
"I deserved that," Emma whispered, holding up her hand to her mom before looking back. "Noah… I'm sorry…"
She watched her little brother desperately try to hold steady in his frustration; the way his eyes danced between her and their older sisters who sat behind her in hopes of one of them providing some direction.
He held eye contact with Lizzie first, who nodded slowly, and then Kathleen who winked.
Unconvinced, his eyes rolled to Maureen who shot him a sympathetic, tight lipped smile that made him huff out a sigh and look down at his sister; his best friend in the entire world.
"It's okay… but you hurt my feelings," he said.
"I know… I'm sorry."
"And I'm still being friends with Jake!"
"That's fine," she promised.
"And I don't like David and neither to the boys...he gives us bad vibes."
"Yup," Teddy echoed with a nod.
The 18-month-old of course didn't mean it, but he was in a phase where he copied everything Noah said and did.
Everyone chuckled, causing Teddy to crinkle his nose in light amusement and snuggle into Emma happily.
"I love you," Noah added after stealing another glance to his big sisters. "I just want you to be okay and you haven't been you and I hate it," he sighed, months of defeat finally leaving his body in the form of a slouch, a heavy sigh, and tears in his eyes.
"C'mere," she whispered, holding her free arm out to him.
El watched, time traveling briefly to when he first met his babies; when they were little and often escaped to their own little world, even when everyone else was around.
It happened less and less frequently, now that they were getting older, so the easy way they slipped back into a private, public conversation made emotion flood to his eyes.
They were growing up, yes, but they were still little kids who needed one another for support and their parents to protect them.
Liv watched from the table as her husband's shoulders sagged and his bushy brows furrowed in concern.
"Guys, give us the room," she said softly to her daughters and squad.
Everyone nodded and headed into the office off the kitchen, shutting the door and making themselves scarce.
"Emma I'm sorry I didn't protect you, I should have know," Noah said in a small voice once the room had cleared.
"Me too," Elliot sighed, shaking his head hand running his hand through her hair. "Baby I should have known," he said, voice tight
"Both of you, stop," Liv said gently but firmly, rounding the couch and sitting on the ottoman in front of them.
"Agreed," Emma whispered, cracking a small smile.
"Why didn't you tell us," Noah asked, playing absentmindedly with his sister's hand like he used to do when they were small.
"Scared I guess," she muttered. "Embarrassed… Jake… uh…"
She paused and Noah tensed, stopping the light movements on her hand and sitting up straighter.
"Jake what?"
Squeezing her eyes shut, just like Liv, Emma inhaled slowly and nodded.
"Jake's just… we've known each other for so long and he's just um… a little more comfortable and faster moving than David and… and I just couldn't uh… I'm just ashamed and I didn't know how to tell him that I… I just don't want that right now."
Noah shrunk even more into himself, his face going red and the tears he'd managed to keep at bay finally falling down his face.
"Don't," she warned, hearing him sniffle. "'Y'didnt know."
"Should have… Eli is gone and I'm… I'm supposed to protect you and I should have known."
"Noah," Liv whispered, reaching to hold his hand.
"I'm sorry," he sighed simply. "I just should have."
Emma leaned into him, closing her eyes and allowing his arms to wrap around her and Teddy as they all sat in heavy silence.
El glanced nervously to his wife, wincing lightly and unsure of what to do or say to make their daughter feel better.
Liv knew, though.
She always did.
"I think," she said cautiously, passing Finley to her once the baby's soft burp had broken the family's silence, "that Emma, you can answer a few more questions that Uncle Sonny has for you, and then the six of us can have a quiet day together? Does that sound okay?" She asked, looking between them all.
"That sounds good," she smiled small, kissing Finley's head as she scrunched up into her big sister's arms.
"Then we let this all go okay? We don't have to discuss it if you don't want to, babe," Elliot added.
"Thanks, daddy," she smiled small.
"Okay," Liv nodded, smiling encouragingly. "Let me get him okay?"
The rest of their day was, thankfully, uneventful.
Emma and Noah had both stayed off their phones, and Eli had come home around 6pm with pizzas after being with Sam and the twins most of the day.
The babies went to bed at their normal time, followed by an exhausted El and Liv who collapsed in a heap after brushing their teeth and completing their evening rituals.
"That sucked," Elliot whispered finally. "That really…. Really sucked."
"Yeah," was all she could say, burying her face into the bare skin of his chest.
"I always…I mean, you know. You always think 'what if this were my kid…'" he trailed off.
"But nothing prepares you for when it actually is your kid?"
"Yeah," he sighed again, inching down in the bed so he could press their heads together and nuzzle her cheek.
"Tell me she's gonna be okay, El…"
"She's her mother's daughter… she's going to be just fine, plea deal or not. Okay?"
"I don't want her to have to testify…"
"No one does… Sonny is working on it, baby and… I mean the kid is a moron if he doesn't take it. The witness tampering and intimidation charges they tacked onto his original charges? Not to mention the boarder line stalking. He'll never see the light of day at this point when he's found guilty."
"Sonny…" she sighed. "You know, I'm worried that they take him off the case if he doesn't plead out. He's too close…"
"The man can handle himself. I trust him implicitly," Elliot nodded decisively as he tightened his grip on her.
"I know I just…"
"Liv…"
He leaned back just a bit to look down at her, pausing so their eyes could meet for a moment.
"She's the daughter of an NYPD Captain and Sergeant. Any ADA that takes the case will have her back. Do you trust that?"
"I do," she sighed softly. "I just don't… don't want more people to know about it then needs to. She's a survivor now and I don't need her being re-traumatized in a trial."
"I understand that. Only thing we can do is say a prayer that he takes the deal and get Emma talking to someone as soon as possible," he nodded.
Liv didn't answer for a few minutes, choosing instead to steady herself with his breathing and reassuring words.
Finley's soft whimpers rang through the monitor, causing both parents to laugh softly.
"I'll get her," El said, kissing her head a few times before standing to make his way to the door.
"Hey babe?" Liv asked, sitting up in bed and adjusting herself to nurse their little cluster feeder.
"Yeah?" He said, turning around from the door.
"When'd you become to voice of reason, huh?" She teased.
He broke out into a big grin.
"Therapy really does work after all."
Her laughter followed him out of the room and down the hall.
"Wish you'd have told me," Eli said carefully to his little sister once Noah had passed out. "I know I'm... I know I'm not around as much anymore and you know, I'm going to college soon but... but I just want you to know I'm here for you. Day or night, you call me I'm there okay?"
"Never doubted it," she admitted, laying against his arm and pulling her blanket up to her neck. "I guess I just... I was ashamed. I'm.. I'm a victim? And that's you know," she paused, trying to damper down her emotions.
He wrapped an arm around her and nodded. "You hear the stories about victims mom works with, I understand. But you know what?"
"Hm?" She asked, looking up.
"They're victims, yeah... but more importantly they're survivors. And that's what you are, too."
"But I didn't... I wasn't..."
"Doesn't make you any less of a victim or any less of a survivor."
Nodding slowly, and laid her head back against his shoulder, processing his words for a little before looking back up to him.
"I needed to hear that. I love you, Eli."
"That's what big brothers are for," he smiled small. "I love you more, girl."
Liv's phone buzzed early the next morning, waking her up from a deep slumber in the safety of her husbands arms.
He groaned softly, reaching across her with a long arm to grab it and hand it to her.
"Benson," she said into the speaker after clearing sleep from her voice and sitting up on one arm.
"Cap," came Carisi's deep, city accent. "They found the tapes and he took the plea. 30 years and registration as a sex offender. And his visa is cancelled so after he serves his time, he'll be sent home to France."
Liv slumped back on the bed, exhaling a sigh of relief.
"Carisi I… I can't thank you enough. Seriously…"
"Hey, Emma is one of my own. You'd do the same for my girls."
"Absolutely," she promised. "Thank you so much, Sonny."
"Of course. I know it's early but is she awake you think?"
Glancing at the clock, Liv chuckled a bit. "She was up late with her brothers, probably not. But Ted should be waking up soon which means everyone else will be."
"Okay if I stop by in an hour with coffee and donuts and tell her myself?"
"Yes!" Came Elliot's muffled voice in her shoulder.
"Dad says yes," she teased.
"Perfect. See you guys soon."
Liv hung up her phone, tossing it aside and snaking her arms around Elliot's broad shoulders.
"Thank God," she whispered into his stubble covered head.
"Thank God," he agreed.
Carisi made good on his promise and showed up an hour later with coffee, donuts, and breakfast sandwiches.
He and Emma sat on the front steps for a while, where he explained everything and gladly provided answers to all the questions she had.
When he left, Eli and Noah pulled their sister in for the hug of her life, promising to be better brothers as she waved him off, feigning annoyance.
Elliot and Olivia looked on from the kitchen as Teddy jumped into the group hug from the couch behind them, sending them all toppling onto the ottoman and losing themselves in laughter.
"Nice to see her be a kid after months of her holding that in," El commented softly to his wife and he wrapped his arms around her middle from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Him too," she whispered back, referring to their oldest.
"And Noah and Teddy?"
"I pray they never change. Finley?"
"Oh she's not allowed to change," El said seriously, shooting Liv into a fit of laughter that he couldn't help but join.
Thanksgiving was just a few days later, and everyone was thankful for the extended break from school and work to just be together.
After a beautiful meal at Elliot and Olivia's, surrounded by all the kids, grandkids, a few in laws, and Kathy, everyone was scattered about the living room and kitchen.
"Who are you texting," Eli asked Noah for the hundredth time, smacking his head knowingly as EJ giggled hysterically at the interaction and Noah's reaction to the bop to his curls.
They were sat on the floor in front of the couch, and Noah had been on his phone since they finished cleaning up dinner.
"Where are you sneaking off to every night," he hissed back, smirking proudly when his brother's eyes widened.
"I'm not sneaking anywhere!" He defended, lowering his voice and glancing around to make sure no one was listening.
"Mhm," Noah snorted. "Well I'm not texting anyone."
The pair held a squinted gaze for several long seconds before Eli nodded slowly.
"Touché."
"That's what I thought."
"You two are annoying," Emma drawled, plopping on the couch behind them with Joey in her lap.
EJ looked up from Eli's lap, grinning and reaching up to her and his twin.
"Oh come baby," she cooed, expertly lifting him into her lap. "I know, daddy and uncle Noah are so annoying."
"Nope," Noah declared, eyes still on his phone and one finger in the air to silence her.
"Nope!" Teddy echoed, entering the room in a fresh pair of pajamas and fitting himself between his brothers.
"Careful, boys, Dickie is gonna feel left out," Sam sang, sitting beside Emma and reaching for her baby boy.
"Come see mama," she said sweetly.
EJ shook his head, the shy-Stabler smile plastered on his face as he nuzzled his Emma.
"Say 'nope, mama, I have to stay with my Emma cause I'm now her only man!'"
"If that's his first words I'll kill you," Eli quipped, recoiling a bit when Sam shot him a gentle but stern look.
"He'll talk and just cause you broke up with David doesn't mean EJ is your only man," Noah said, answering both Eli and Emma's statements as Dickie entered the room and shuddered.
"Ew, David."
"Too soon!" Sarah scolded her husband.
Emma laughed. "It's fine," she drawled, pausing when everyone looked back at her. "I didn't like him that much anyways," she admitted with a shy grin.
"Oh my-"
"Emma!"
"You suck dude."
A knock at the door ended their giggles and caused Noah to jump up.
"Emma it's for you."
"What?" She asked, brow raised as she stared at her brother.
"Just get the door," he groaned, holding his arms out for EJ.
She glanced between her big brothers and sister in laws before passing EJ to Noah and going to the ornate glass-door of their brownstone.
Through it, she could see Jake standing there with a massive bouquet of flowers, looking more nervous than she'd ever seen him.
Stealing a glance to her proudly grinning brother, she fought to hold back her smile before snatching her coat off the hook and trudging out into the cool evening air.
"Hi," the 15-year-old said timidly, handing over the bouquet of flowers. "These are for you, I uh… wanted to apologize," he said with a frown.
"For?" She goaded, taking the flowers and settling them on the thick, stone railing.
"For not respecting your boundaries like I should have… for not making your feel comfortable enough to tell me what happened," he frowned, looking down. "I… even if you don't wanna date I… I mean I get it," he said, raising his hand to scratch the back of his head. "But I… I mean you know you're my best friend and I always want you to be comfortable with me so… yeah, I'm sorry, Emmy."
He was startled by the way she wrapped her arms around his middle and buried her face into his coat.
She felt him exhale a sigh of relief and hug her back, popping a kiss to her hair before stepping back and smiling small.
"Thank you," she whispered, smiling small.
"So we're good?" He asked, reaching out and taking her hand.
"As friends… I need time and… well, you're gonna have to earn me back," she winked, taking the flowers and opening the door again. "Thanks for the flowers, Happy Thanksgiving," she smiled, disappearing behind the door and taking a moment to steady herself out of view of the window.
"I'm Cupid," Noah announced, throwing his hands in the air in victory.
"Shut up, Noah," Emma called, but there was no malice in her voice and a smile on her face.
In the kitchen, Liv and El had watched the entire interaction on their camera doorbell, laughing to themselves when Jake excitedly jumped up in down in triumph on their front porch.
"She's gonna be okay," El reassured his wife once they set the phone down. "She's too much like her mommy to not be."