Almost three years later…

William looked into the mirror at his dripping face. He ran his hand through his crew cut. His hair grew a little bit since the last time he cut it. Tonight was his last night in Iraq, he was finally going home tomorrow. He wasn't allowed to leave for two years and ten months, it was the longest deployment he ever had.

"Sergeant?" Someone called from outside.

"Yeah?"

"The colonel requested to see you in his office sir."

"I'll be right there. Thank you." He wiped his face and pulled on a dry brown t-shirt. He tucked it in his uniform pants and left the bathroom.

He walked through a room where all the soldiers were either playing pool or video games. The ones that William over ranked quickly stopped what they were doing and saluted him. William saluted them back "At ease." They went back to relaxing.

William got to the colonel's office and knocked on it.

"Come in."

William opened the door. "You wanted to see me sir?"

"Sergeant Grant, yes. Come in." The colonel nodded as he enjoyed his cigar. William came in and closed the door behind him. "Cigar?"

"No thank you sir."

"Take a seat." William sat down. "How long you been here?"

"34 months sir. Almost 35."

"Wow. You sure you don't want a cigar? A cigarette maybe?"

"I don't smoke sir. Thank you."

"A drink?"

"No sir. I don't drink."

The colonel raised his eyebrow. "Holy shit, how did you get through 35 months sergeant?"

"I honestly don't know sir."

The colonel smiled. "You leave tomorrow right?"

"Yes sir."

The colonel nodded and pulled out a manila envelope from his desk. "You have a son right?"

"Yes sir."

"Wife?"

"Ex-girlfriend actually." William answered. Olivia and him broke up after his one year in Iraq, it was too much for them. It started out with fights every time they talked to just not talking at all.

The colonel nodded. "I got a son and two daughters. Ex-wife. Job got in the way." He opened the manila envelope and looked through the papers. "A couple weeks ago, you were the one that called in that bomb right? The one in the center of Baghdad?"

"Yes sir."

"You saved a lot of lives that day kid. Seconds later, downtown Baghdad would have been erased from the map." He grabbed a pen from his table. "You know what these papers are son?"

"No sir."

"It's an honorable discharge. Sign and you never have to look back."

William's mouth practically dropped. He wasn't expecting this. There was talk of promoting him to First Sergeant. He was already promoted twice since being there. "Are you serious?"

"Yup. The General and I are good friends, he said the same thing. You deserve an honorable discharge if you want out."

William nodded. He knew this was very rare to get from such higher ranking officers. "I'm speechless sir."

The colonel smiled and put the paper in front of him. He laid the pen on the paper. "It's up to you Sergeant."

William nodded and stared at the paper. If this was two years ago, he wouldn't think twice. Everything changed. He didn't talk to Olivia for almost a year, the only pictures of Evan he received were from Cragen. He was sure that Olivia didn't even tell Evan about him.

He took the pen and stared at the paper. He took a deep breath and signed his name. He was terrified. The Marine Corps was all he knew how to do. Being a soldier was all he ever was in life. He was no longer a soldier. "Thank you sir."

"Thank you for your service." The colonel got up and shook his hand. "It was a pleasure working with you."

"Pleasure was mine." William nodded and left the office. He felt a huge smile come across his face. He was going home to see his son.

Olivia came into her apartment quietly. It was already nine o'clock. She hated coming home that late. She went to his room and spotted Casey asleep with a book on her chest and Evan sleeping on her arm.

She took the book off her chest and gently shook her. "Case?" She whispered. "Time to go to your room honey." Casey rubbed her eyes and mumbled something that Olivia couldn't make out. "Casey wake up."

Casey opened her eyes. "Hey."

"Hey, time to go sleep."

"Totally." She gently moved her arm not to wake up the sleeping boy. She kissed him on the head and left the room.

Olivia started picking up the toys that she knew Casey and Evan were playing with and didn't pick up.

"Mommy?"

Olivia looked up. Evan was sitting up. She already knew he got his sleeping habits from William. He was easily awakened and always had trouble falling asleep. "Hey honey." She went over and sat down on the bed. "Why are you up?"

"You woke me up."

"I did? I'm sorry." She kissed him on the cheek and laid down on the bed. He quickly laid on her chest. It was the only way to make him go to sleep, by falling asleep on someone's chest.

"Aunt Casey thought me how to blow bubbles out of milk today."

"She did? Mommy has to have a talk with Aunt Casey." She kissed him on the head. "Try to sleep."

"I don't wanna."

"You have to."

"Why?"

"Because it's late."

"No it's not."

"How do you know?"

"I just do." He answered. They heard a knock on the front door. "I'll get it." Evan started to get up.

Olivia laid him on the bed. "You're not getting anything."

"Got it." Casey called from her room. A couple minutes later, Casey came to Evan's room. "Liv, Captain wants to talk to you."

"Grandpa Donnie!?" Evan instantly jumped out of bed and ran to the front door.

"Great, now it will take forever to get him to sleep." Olivia got out of bed and went to the front door.

Cragen was kneeling down listening to Evan tell him all about his adventures with milk today. "And then Aunt Casey made bubbles come out of it. She first said it was a magic trick but I didn't believe her grandpa, I didn't."

Cragen smiled at the almost four year old. "And then what happened?"

"Then she showed me how to do it. It's really easy. Want me to show you?"

"Maybe another time, I have to talk to your mom now."

Casey took Evan's hand. "C'mon, back to reading we go." Evan let out a groan and let Casey lead him back to his bedroom. "I'm going to the bathroom, you stay in your room mister." Casey went to the bathroom and Evan went to his bed.

"What's up cap? The case?"

"No." Cragen stood up and shook his head. "William."

Olivia's eyes started watering up from fear. "Is he ok?"

Cragen nodded. "He is. He is coming home tomorrow."

"Oh." Olivia nodded. "Don't scare me like that."

"Sorry." Cragen smiled. "I know you guys broke up…but…Evan is still his son."

"I know that." Olivia went to the fridge and looked through it.

"Anyway you two want to come with me tomorrow to pick him up?"

Olivia shook her head. "I don't think Evan is ready for that."

"Evan or you?"

Olivia turned around to face him. "That's not fair."

"Evan does know about him right? He doesn't think Ben is his father does he?"

Ben was Olivia's new boyfriend. More like serious relationship she was in for a couple months. "Of course he doesn't think that. I wouldn't lie to him."

"So he knows about William?"

"Yes. He has seen pictures, he asks questions occasionally about him."

"Then what are you afraid of?"

"I…I don't know ok? It's just soon."

"Are you kidding?"

Olivia put her head down. "I'll think about it ok?"

The bathroom door opened and Casey came out. She spotted Evan hiding by the corner of the wall eavesdropping on his mother and grandfather. She crotched down by him. "Anything interesting young man?"

Evan turned around and his eyes got wider knowing he was caught.

Olivia and Cragen both turned around to Casey's voice. They spotted Evan standing there listening to their whole conversation.

"Evan go to your room right now." Olivia ordered.

"I wanna go see him." Evan pleaded. "I want to meet my dad."

"Room. Now." Olivia pointed to the room.

"No! I wanna go!" Evan quickly ran over to his grandpa and jumped into his arms. "I want to meet him. Please."

"Stop it." Olivia tried to take him but Evan wouldn't let go of Cragen. "Evan c'mon."

Evan started crying on his grandfather's shoulder. "Leave me alone."

Olivia took a deep breath. She knew his major tantrums were due to lack of sleep he got. There wasn't anything she could do about it until he calmed down by himself.

"I'll put him to sleep." Cragen whispered and stroked the back of Evan's hair. They all knew about his sleeping problems. The doctor's said there wasn't much they could do since he was too young to take medication. Cragen carried him over to his bedroom and laid down on his bed so Evan could fall asleep on his chest.

Casey looked over at Olivia. "What the hell was that?"

"William is coming back tomorrow."

Casey instantly smiled but then wiped her smile away. "Sorry. Sort of got excited."

"It's ok. Evan heard it and Cap asked if I wanted to go with him and take Evan with."

"Why don't you?"

"Seems very sudden."

"It's not. There was a week where all he did was ask me about William. All freaking day. He wants his father."

Olivia nodded. "Ok. Want to come with me?"

"Is that a question or a pleading statement?"

"The second one. You're Evan's best friend, he doesn't throw that big of a tantrum when you're around."

Casey nodded. "I'm all yours tomorrow."

"Thanks Case." Olivia nodded and went to Evan's room. Evan was finally calming down. He was sucking on his thumb as Cragen calmed him down by rubbing his back. Olivia kneeled down and wiped his wet eyes. "You want to go tomorrow?" Evan nodded. "We'll go" Evan nodded again. "But don't think it was your little tantrum that changed my mind ok? It's not going to work every time." He nodded again and reached his arm out to her. Olivia took him and let him rest his head on her shoulder. "C'mon, grandpa has to get up and go sleep."

Cragen got up and kissed Evan on the head. "I'll see you tomorrow champ." Evan waved and cuddled up to Olivia again. "Stay with him, I'll have Casey lock the door behind me."

"Thanks." Olivia nodded and placed Evan down in his bed. "Want me to read to you?" He shook his head. "Rub your back?" He shook his head. "What do you want?"

"I wanna sleep with you."

"You know you can't always sleep with me."

"But I haven't."

"Or Aunt Casey."

"Please? Just tonight."

Olivia took a deep breath and nodded. "Just tonight." She picked him up again and carried him over to her room. She put him in her bed and found his stuffed toy that he liked to cuddle with. "I'm going to change and I'll be right back ok? You stay here with Mr. Kit Kat and keep him company because he wants to sleep."

"Did he tell you he wants to sleep?"

"Yup. He whispered it to me." Olivia kissed Evan on the head. "I'll be right back."

"Mr. Kit Kat needs a kiss. He won't sleep."

Olivia kissed his stuffed toy. "Close your eyes and try to sleep with him ok?" Evan nodded. Olivia turned off the lights and closed the door half way to let some light in the room.

Casey sat across the table from Evan attempting to teach him how to play cards but he wasn't getting the rules. They were waiting for William's bus to arrive at the base camp.

"Casey Novak?"

Casey turned around to be faced with a tall man in a military uniform. "Adam?"

"Yeah." He smiled. "How you been?"

She got up. "Pretty good. You?"

"Great. Got a job here training recruits, I don't have to go to war anymore so it's good."

She smiled. "Good. I'm glad."

"Wow. I haven't seen you…in like two years?"

"Yeah. Something like that." Casey nodded. She felt Evan wrap his little arms around her leg. She looked down and he was clinging onto her. "Adam…this is Evan."

Adam's mouth dropped. "Whoa. He is grown." He kneeled down to face the little boy. "Hi."

"Hi." Evan mumbled in Casey's jeans.

Adam laughed a little and stood up. "William's shyness?"

"Oh yeah." Casey nodded. "You busy tonight?"

"No. I'm off after eight. Why?"

"Did you want to go see a movie? And maybe have some dinner?"

"Isn't Jake going to mind?"

"Josh." Casey corrected. "And I broke up with him a long time ago."

Evan looked up. "Which movie we seeing?"

Casey looked down at him and covered his mouth. "Kids these days huh?"

Adam let out a chuckle. "You still live with Olivia?" Casey nodded. "I'll pick you up at nine." He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Bye."

Casey started blushing insanely. "Bye." Adam walked away.

Evan moved her hand away from his mouth. "I wanna see the new dog movie."

"Let's go find your mommy." She took his hand and started walking.

"Aunt Casey?"

"Yes?"

"Is my dad funny?"

"Sometimes."

"Like Finding Nemo funny or Teletubbies funny?"

"Barney funny."

"What?"

"Never mind." Casey shook her head and spotted Olivia and Cragen getting sodas. "Guess who I just saw?"

Cragen spotted her. "Adam?"

"How did you know?"

Olivia smirked and opened a water bottle for Evan. "We sent him over to you."

"Oh. That explains why he didn't ask why I was here."

"And he already knew that William was coming. He said their bus will be here in like ten minutes." Olivia answered as she bent down and let Evan drink from the bottle.

Cragen spotted the bus pull in and all the families around them quickly headed over. "And that was ten minutes ago." Evan went over to Cragen and wrapped his arm around his leg.

Olivia took a deep breath. She was extremely nervous about seeing William again. Did he look the same? How was he going to react to her being there? As she caught deep breaths, she found herself taking a seat and staring at the ground.

Casey noticed her best friend's reaction to seeing the father of her son after almost four years without him. She was panicking but didn't want to tell anyone. She sat down by her. "It's going to be ok." She whispered. "I'm here." Olivia nodded. "Take a deep breath."

Evan looked over at his mother and could tell something wasn't right. He let go of his grandfather and wrapped his arms around Olivia's waist. "Mommy? Are you ok?"

"Yeah honey." She gave him a kiss on the head. "I'm ok. Go stand with grandpa." Evan looked at Casey. Casey nodded. Evan left and took Cragen's hand.

"You going to be ok?" Casey whispered.

Olivia nodded and got up. "C'mon." Casey got up and went over to Cragen with Olivia. They stood there for a couple minutes until they spotted William get off the bus.

Casey was the first to speak up. "Hey, why is William in different uniform's then the rest of them?"

"That's his formal uniform." Olivia spoke up. "And I don't know, Don?"

"I have no idea." Cragen shook his head.

"I can't see." Evan tugged Cragen's pants. Cragen picked him up and sat him on his shoulders. "Who am I looking at now?" No one answered him. "Hello?"

"See the dude with the dark uniform? With the white hat?" Casey spoke up. Evan nodded. "That's your dad."

"He looks so cool" Evan's face was covered with a huge smile.

William looked around for his step-father but couldn't find him. The crowds were too big. He knew his step-father would be waiting for him, but he didn't know about anyone else.

Suddenly he felt someone jump on his back. He looked over and it was Adam. "Dude!"

Adam let out a laugh. "Dude!" He jumped off his back and gave him a hug. "Don't leave me again." He whispered.

William smirked at his best friend's comment. Adam was like his little brother. "Honorary discharge." He whispered back.

Adam let go of him and just stared at him. "Don't play with me Sergeant."

"Master Sergeant." William corrected and pointed at his pins. "I'm out."

"About fucking time! Let's get drunk to celebrate!"

William let out a chuckle and kept looking around. "Have you seen my step-father anywhere?"

"Oh yeah. They were around the soda stand."

"They?"

"Yeah…um…Olivia was with him."

"Just Olivia?"

"And Casey." Adam answered. William nodded. "And Evan."

William looked over at him. "Evan's here?"

"Yeah. He is big."

William started taking deep breaths. "Ok."

"Wow…you ok?" Adam asked noticing that William was breathing extremely hard.

"Yeah. Just a tad bit scared."

"You got back from war…and you're scared of a four year old boy?"

"I've killed people before…I've never been a father."

Adam nodded. "Want me to hold your hand?"

William shoved him out of the way. "Just follow so I don't pass out. That will be enough."

"You got it." Adam followed. He spotted Casey and pointed. "Right there."

William went over to them and took his hat off. "Captain?"

Cragen turned around and as soon as he spotted him, he hugged him. "You're not living again. I'm kidnapping you." He whispered.

William just let out a laugh and let go of him. "Good to see you too sir."

Casey sneaked her way over to William. "Hey good looking." She gave him a hug.

"Hi sugar mama." He kissed her on the head. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." She let go of him and moved to the side.

William and Olivia just stared at each other for a minute. "Hi." William practically whispered.

"Hi." Olivia whispered back. Evan was clinging to her jeans and hiding behind her leg.

Adam, Casey and Cragen exchanged looks. "Have I showed you guys my new office? No? I'll show you." Adam spoke up and walked away. Casey and Cragen followed him.

"You look…good." William smirked.

"Not so bad yourself." Olivia smiled and kneeled down. Evan quickly hid behind her back. William kneeled down also. "Hey c'mon, get over here." Evan inched his way to the front. "Baby…this is your dad."

William smiled and put out his hand. "Hi."

Evan kept quiet and hid his face in Olivia's neck. He wrapped his arm around her neck and held on to her.

"He's shy." Olivia whispered and stood up with Evan in her arms. "Get's that from you."

William nodded and got up. "It's ok. Thank you for coming though…I appreciate it."

"He begged to come…he is more outgoing then this. He get's shy with strangers."

William smirked. "It's because they don't have candy." Evan quickly looked over. "What? Did I say something?"

"I like candy." Evan answered. "Do you like candy?"

"Who doesn't like candy?"

"Do you have candy?"

"We can always get some on the way home." William offered.

Evan looked at Olivia. "Can we mommy?"

"Yup." Olivia nodded. Even though she hardly let Evan have candy because it made his sleeping worse, she was willing to break the rules for William.