Sorry for the delay. I'm occupied with Truce and getting that one finished by 9/21 (which is the premiere date for anyone who was just born a minute ago).

Mother's Day Prelude (May, 2017)

Ed couldn't help but grin uncontrollably at Noah's face as Jimmy the Barber trimmed the boy's fine brown hair. He wrinkled his nose and puckered his lips and occasionally tried to blow upwards to redirect the falling wisps. Even though he seemed bothered by the whole process of a haircut, he also appeared to be simultaneously intrigued. Noah's eyes followed every one of Jimmy's movements. When the cut was finished, Jimmy ran the brush over the back of Noah's neck and he giggled uncontrollably.

"Dat tickly!"

"You want me to style it for him?" Jimmy asked Ed.

"Sure, go ahead."

"You want spikes, Noah?"

He nodded eagerly, "Like da stegassssssrus!"

"Ok," Jimmy replied, "I'll do a little faux hawk."

"You get spikes, Daddy?" Noah asked, keeping his gaze fixed on himself in the mirror.

"Nah, bud, that's for you little guys."

"I a little guy?"

"Yup."

"You big guy?"

"Yup."

"I be big guy, too."

"Someday," Ed assured him, "You sure will. Big and strong."

Noah growled, "I STRONG!"

"You sure are, bud."

"You strong, too, Daddy."

"Thanks, pal."

"So what are you guys doing today?" Jimmy asked.

"My wife's working," Ed said, "So Noah and I are gonna pick out a present for Mother's Day, right, No?"

"Uh-huh and we eat lunch at da pub."

Jimmy laughed. "The pub, huh?"

"Yeah, I don't think Liv's too thrilled he says that."

"Ah," Jimmy scoffed good-naturedly, "Men hang out in pubs. Training him well. And," he clapped his hands together and flung off Noah's smock, "With this hair, he'll attract all the ladies."

Noah gingerly patted his gelled hair.

"Like it?"

"I look like da stegasssrus," he whispered, amazed.

"Yep," Jimmy whispered back, "You sure do. You're part boy, part dinosaur."

"Whoa," Noah gasped.

"Don't tell anyone."

Noah nodded with all the gravitas a three-year-old could possibly muster and whispered, "Kay."

….

Ed sleepily looked at his phone and grumbled. "Why do I feel like I'm raising teenagers again?"

Olivia rolled over and lazily draped her arm across his chest. "Hmmmm?" She droned into the pillow.

"Sarah and Brooke. Arguing about Mother's Day. And they have this group message thing going back and forth with me on it."

Still mostly asleep, Olivia mumbled something into the pillow.

"Liv?"

"Hmmmmm?"

"You realize I can't understand you?"

"Mmmmhmmm."

Ed propped himself on a few extra pillows and gazed lovingly at his wife's bare shoulders, interrupted only by two narrow tank top straps, and the familiar tangled mop of brown hair. He kissed the back of her neck, sucking at her hard enough to garner a reaction. Sure enough, she rolled over, brushed the stray locks from her face, and grinned, eyes half-open.

"You wake up too early," she whined.

"It's the girls' fault."

"Why are they arguing about Mother's Day?"

"So you did hear me."

"Of course I did," she said with a little more energy, "You talk so much, Captain Tucker. I never pegged you for being so chatty."

"I like talking to you."

"MOMMMMMMYYYY?" Noah banged on the door with his little fists.

Ed knew his chances for an early morning quickie were dwindling and he rolled back over to his side.

"Come in, sweet boy, you know how to open the door." Olivia said sweetly while winking at her husband.

They heard Noah jostle the door handle. Ed was about to relent and open it for him when Noah appeared, already dressed in jeans and a navy Polo shirt. He'd even included a belt.

Olivia reached out for him but was still buried under the covers, "Noah! You're all ready to go! But…where are we going?"

"Muvvers Day," he replied as if his mother had just asked the world's dumbest question.

Ed wrapped both Noah and Olivia in a giant snuggle, "Mother's Day is next week, bud. But ya know what? Since we're up—"

"We're not up," Olivia interjected, with a bit of an attitude. Her men usually were good about letting her sleep in on the mornings she wasn't on duty, but today neither one of them was operating according to plan.

Ed's sole purpose for waking her up had been to sneak something in before the little guy was up, but since that was no longer happening, he figured they might as well go get breakfast.

Noah, wedged between them, choked out a few words, "I ready. Mommy, I hungy. Lessgo."

Ed extracted him and held him high above the bed. Noah splayed his arms and pretended to fly. "Vroooooooom! I fly high!"

"Where you wanna go, big guy?"

Noah landed on Ed's chest and curiously examined his stubble. "You have beard, Daddy."

"Yeah, pal, I gotta shave."

"I shave?"

"No, not yet."

"I wanna shave."

"Actually, no ya don't."

Noah looked back and forth at his parents curiously and touched Olivia's face. "Mommy shave?"

"Nope,"Well, not her face, Ed thought, then said, "Mommy's face is always very smooth," he touched the other cheek. Olivia had re-buried her head back into the pillows, trying to get a few more seconds of shut-eye, but both Ed and Noah were pawing at her face.

"Now let's kiss her," Ed whispered to Noah. "Let's get her to wake up so we can go to breakfast."

Noah and Ed took turns kissing Olivia's exposed cheek. It only took a few rounds before her face contorted into a grin and then erupted into laughter. "Alright, alright, I'm awake." Can I at least have, maybe, twenty minutes?"

Olivia fought her way out of the covers and went to the bathroom. Noah, still intrigued by Ed's whiskers, absent-mindedly asked, "You gonna get up, Daddy?"

"Yeah, bud."

"My stegassssrus hair fall down."

"I know, bud, you took a bath and we washed the goop outta it."

"We make it spiky again?"

"Sure."

"Sare bear know how."

"So do I."

"You teached Sare bear?"

"Not exactly, but I know how. I'm smart."

"Sare bear smart," Noah declared firmly.

"She tell you that?"

Noah giggled. "Uh-huh. Then we eat Oreos."

…..

Sarah fussily wiped the sticky formica tabletop with the flimsy diner napkins and almost collapsed when her father arrived with Olivia and Noah.

"Daddy," she gasped, "Thank gawwwwd. They were about to make me move because I didn't have enough people. What took you so long? Hi Livvie! NOEY! OMG I haven't seen you in one week and you're already man-ish."

"Hey Sarah," Olivia said, "Sorry we're late. Noah had a complete meltdown about this not being Mother's Day."

Sarah peered, confused at Noah. "What's wrong, Noey Boey?"

Noah only sniffled and pressed his tear-streaked face into Ed's side. "It's my fault," Ed said, more to Noah than to anyone else, "I got him all excited for Mother's Day and it's not 'til next weekend. Sorry, buddy. C'mon, sit up. It's ok."

Noah sat up, albeit in Ed's lap, and pulled something from the pocket of his jeans. "Here Mommy," he said weakly, defeated. Olivia took the object from his little fist. It was a small pebble, pinkish in color. "I gotted it for you at da slide."

Sarah collapsed her head onto the table, swooning.

Olivia took the rock and examined it through welling tears. "Noah," she gasped, "It's so beautiful. You found this all by yourself?"

"I finded it. Daddy clean it."

"Wow."

"It for Muvvers Day."

"I love it, sweetheart. Thank you, baby boy. You know what? I'm going to take it to work and put it on my desk next to the picture of you on the swings."

Noah perked up, "I finded it at the slide."

"Do you want to take another picture by the slide?"

He nodded. "But we eat scrambly eggs first," he grabbed the oversized menu and disappeared behind it. "Yup," he reported, dey have da scrambly eggs!"

"I swear to Gawwwd," Sarah said, "I will pay to clone this boy. He's perfect. I have never met a more perfect man." She took Noah into her arms and stared into his eyes, "Noey, how do you always know how to be perfect?"

The question befuddled him for a moment, but he quickly retorted, "Daddy and Mommy taughted me."

Sarah gave him another squeeze. "And I love your hair! Spiky!"

"Daddy did it."

"Daddy used to braid my hair and Brookey's hair," Sarah recalled fondly, "He was pretty good at it."

Olivia raised her eyebrows and amusedly looked over at Ed, imagining him styling his daughters' blonde locks. He pretended not to notice. "I'm disappointed I missed that," she said.

"Yeah," Sarah huffed, "He always braided it really tight so it wouldn't fall out. Our mother couldn't be bothered to do it."

Ed grumbled. He hated it when Sarah brought up his ex-wife in front of his new wife.

"Are you and Brooke seeing her next weekend?" Olivia asked, annoying Ed even further. Now she was talking about his ex-wife?

"Well, I was trying to explain to Dad this morning that there is absolutely no way I'm going to Connecticut. Dave invited us, they're having a party, and I don't wanna go, but Brooke is insisting I do, and I'm trying to help her understand I can make this decision without making her look bad."

As usual, Olivia had to wade through Sarah's convoluted speech to find and address the underlying issues. Before she could respond, Sarah added, "And Daddy is absolutely no help."

"Whaddya want me to do?" Ed muttered, looking up at the television, trying to ignore the women. Noah was now in his lap, looking around at the crowd.

"Take my side."

"I thought I did."

"You just told Brooke that I could make my own decisions."

Ed frowned, "What else do you want me to do?"

"Brooke seems to think whatever I do reflects on her, like she's my keeper or something. So, if I don't go, Mom's gonna take it out on her."

"You should go."

Sarah grimaced. "Livvie, what do you think?"

"You should go," Olivia repeated Ed's words softly, knowing it wasn't what Sarah wanted to hear, "At least make an appearance."

"I'm gonna go to Grandma's."

It was Ed who hit the core of Sarah's reluctance, "You're gonna have to tell her about Jeff at some point of time."

Sarah groaned, "She knows. Brooke told her for me. I just don't want to see the look. At least at Grandma's we'll just have some cocktails and talk about how men suck."

Both Noah and Ed faced Sarah with ultra-innocent expressions. Us? We suck?

"Well," Olivia said, "We're going to see my old partner and his family, and then we're going to Caroline's. You're welcome to join us."

"Thank you," Sarah said triumphantly, "I'm texting Brookey right now."

"Where Brookey, Sarah?" Noah asked.

Sarah stifled a laugh, "Oh, she sorta, well, she was at a sleepover last night, Noey."

…

Bzzzzt.

Bzzzt.

Brooke read the multiple texts from Sarah, rolled her eyes, and tossed the phone aside.

I'm going with Dad and Livvie for Mother's Day.

Are you home yet?

Are you even UP yet?

"Thought it'd be me getting all the calls," Carisi remarked, nudging her. "The cop's the one who's supposed to get the interruptions."

Brooke threw an arm across his bare chest, "Sorry," she mumbled, "I told you I don't have kids, but that wasn't completely true. Sarah is my child."

"Everything ok?"

"She's never ok, but there's no emergency."

"No wonder you and I get along so well," Carisi said, "We're always takin' care of other people. I think we may be the most stable people in our families."

"My Dad and Liv are pretty solid," Brooke said, wondering if it was weird that they were talking about their families while lying naked next to one another.

"Yeah, they are," Carisi replied, "What are they gonna say? About this?"

"What is this?" Brooke asked.

Sonny ran his fingertips across her back, "I don't do one night stands," he said, perhaps a little troubled Brooke may have considered that a possibility.

"Neither do I."

"I do, however, make breakfast. Hungry?"

"Yeah."

Brooke smiled. Sonny had made them dinner last night and now he was heading back into the kitchen. She could get used to this.

….

"He's starting to smile and make faces a lot more. Getting to be a lot more fun." Olivia held Fin's phone, swiping through the most recent photographs of his grandson as Fin narrated. "Alejandro and Ken, it's amazing, they're naturals. I'm always holdin' the kid like he's gonna break."

"Have you been babysitting at all?"

"A few times, but the kid slept most of it. It'll be different once he starts crawling and running around."

Olivia realized she was looping through the same pictures and handed the phone back to Fin. He was lounging on her sofa on this late Friday afternoon. He and Carisi were on duty over the weekend so the mothers could enjoy their special day uninterrupted.

"Whatcha got goin' on this weekend, Liv?"

Olivia noticed several texts arrive, all from Sarah.

I'm leaving the office now.

See you in 15.

Wait, maybe 20, somebody just came in to my office.

Ok, he's gone now. 15.

"Well, in fifteen minutes I'm meeting my stepdaughter for drinks. Tomorrow, hopefully we're just hanging out, and Sunday we'll see Amaro and his family and Ed's mom."

"Ed."

"Yes," Olivia replied firmly, "Ed."

"I can't get over it, Liv. But I'm glad you're so happy."

"You still can't get over it?" Olivia asked, an incredulous look on her face, "It's been over a year since you found out. We're married. You were at the wedding. You've been to our home. Had drinks with us."

Fin shrugged, "I know how much he loves you. That's easy to see…but, to me? He's Tucker, man, ball bustin' Tucker."

"He's not even in IAB anymore." Olivia hated to point out the obvious, but Fin needed some help letting go of the past.

"Yeah," Fin snickered, "Now he's a hero hostage negotiator."

Ed hated the "hero" label, but Fin was right. Captain Tucker had been mentioned and praised in several newspaper articles since he'd rejoined the Hostage Negotiation Team. Olivia was immensely proud, and Ed tried to be humble about it, but she could tell he, too, got some satisfaction from all the positive attention. It was nice to be the good guy for a change.

"Don't say that to him," Olivia warned good-naturedly as she gathered her things. "Keep me in the loop this weekend. Be nice to Carisi."

Fin smiled, "Make sure you remember this when you're signing off on annual reviews. A weekend with Carisi? That's worth a pay bump or somethin'."

Olivia grinned back at him, "Remind me in December."

….

Sarah seemed more jovial than she'd been in recent weeks which made Olivia feel better. Adjusting to the demands of her new job, facing a divorce, and working through her hostility towards her mother had stressed Sarah almost to her breaking point and it was obvious to everyone close to her.

Even Noah, after last Sunday's breakfast, remarked to his parents, "Sarah mad today."

Now, Sarah announced she'd finally gotten a handle on her job and settled in with her team, and the uncontested divorce was in the hands of the magistrate court and would be finalized in the coming weeks.

"So, let's celebrate," she said, already starting to slur her words. She ordered two shots. Jägermeister for her, Jameson's for Olivia.

"Last one, Sare," Olivia said, trying not to sound too motherly, "Your Dad's getting Noah, but I can't go home too loopy. And…are you coming over for dinner tonight?"

"Lemme see what Brookey's doing," she replied and typed a text. "Some people from my office were going, uh, somewhere, shit, I don't remember, but I don't like hanging out with them. They're so…pretentious. Oh, that was fast, Brookey, she's at home, not doing anything, you don't mind if we join you?"

"Of course not."

"I wonder why she's not with Sonny."

"He's working."

"Oh," Sarah said; she often forgot about the connection between Carisi and Olivia, "That's right. Does he…ever say anything to you about her?"

"Not really."

"Does he know you know?"

"Yes."

Sarah grinned wryly, "So he could end up being your step-son-in-law."

"I'm not sure we need to think about that yet."

"I don't know," Sarah replied mysteriously, "It's getting serious…I think."

Olivia inched closer to Sarah and went into gossip mode, "Serious?"

"He may or may not have spent the past couple of nights at our apartment."

"Really?"

Sarah giggled, "And, last night, he musta been out fighting crime late 'cuz I didn't hear him come in but sure enough he was there making coffee this morning." Olivia's eyes widened. "Without a shirt on," Sarah added, barely able to contain her glee.

Olivia responded only with a breathy, "Wow."

"So," Sarah collected herself, "Are we going to pretend she's poor single old Brookey when we see her later or are we going to make her spill it?"

"Let's let her tell us," Olivia suggested. "I'm not sure how your Dad feels about all this."

"He loves Sonny."

"He likes him a lot," Olivia admitted. The day Sonny helped Ed install the office shelves the two of them spent most of the afternoon admiring their work, drinking beer, and chatting like the oldest and best of friends. "But he's still very protective of his little girls."

Sarah rolled her eyes, "He's such a cop. And a Dad. And…doesn't it drive you nuts that he's so," Sarah tried to imitate his gruff voice, "Don't fuck with my family?"

"Actually, no," Olivia said with a pleasant smile, "I like it."

Sarah lovingly put her head on Olivia's shoulder, "You two. Ugh. So in love. You put the rest of us to shame."

…

"Two, Brookey! You pop two!"

Brooke moved her peg and counted aloud. "One. Two. There. Your turn, No."

Noah pressed the clear plastic dome on the Trouble game. "FIVE! I get five! I winned!"

Brooke patiently explained that he was not yet the winner. "Five means you have to move your peg five times. Just like I just moved mine two. You don't win until you get your pegs here." She pointed to the finish line.

"Five more den TWO!" Noah protested.

"It is, buddy, but that's not the game. You have to get your pegs around the board and here to win."

Noah scrunched up his face.

Sarah walked by and mussed his hair, "Noey, you're still beating her. Brookey sucks at this game."

"Sarah," Ed chastised her from the couch, "Stop saying that around him. We don't need him going to day care saying people suck."

"Sorry," Sarah said, not sounding particularly remorseful, "But I'm sure he hears worse at school."

"He's three," Brooke retorted, "Not thirteen."

"Hey!" Sarah said brightly, "Let's do one of those age progression thingies and see what Noah'll look like at thirteen."

"Let's not," Olivia said, "I don't want to think about him being a teenager."

Sarah danced around the space between the dining table and the living area before flopping on the couch in the two inches or so of room between Olivia and Ed. "You're right. I'll stick with face swapping with him."

Ed moved over, closer to the armrest, "There are other places to sit, ya know."

Sarah ignored the comment. "Are we watching a movie or something?"

"We playin' a game, Sarah," Noah pointed out.

"You're kinda sassy tonight, Noey Boey," She replied.

"You sassy! SASSY SARE BEAR!"

Brooke popped the dome again and cracked up, "Good one, No. That's right. Sassy Sare Bear."

Sarah got up, went over and scooped Noah from his booster seat, and flipped him upside down. "Listen, mister, you better be nice," she blew a strawberry on his exposed belly, "Or the next time we do math, we're doing it with carrots."

"IdonlikecarrotsSarah," Noah rambled through giggles. "We do Oreo maff!"

Sarah righted him and kissed his cheek. "That's right, Noey Boey, and we will forever do Oreo math. Right now, though, you continue beating Brookey at trouble and I shall measure a few more ounces of Chardonnay." Sarah trotted to the kitchen and refilled her glass. "Livvie, there's a little left, you want a refill?"

"Sure."

"Daddy?"

"I'll have another one."

Sarah inspected the unfamiliar bottle, the contents of which Ed was drinking, "What is this?"

"Carisi brought it over," Ed answered, "It's, uh, the first ever whiskey distilled in Italy or somethin' like that."

"Carisi brought it over?" Sarah asked, intrigued. She bumped Brooke on her way to deliver the drinks. "What was he doing here?"

"Installing shelves."

"Ahhhh. Interesting."

Ed took a sip, "Why's it interesting?"

"Oh, no reason in particular."

"Shutup, Sarah," Brooke muttered.

"SHUBBUP, SARAH!" Noah aped.

"Noah, we don't say shut-up," Olivia reprimanded him.

"It would help if none of us said shut up," Ed said, craning his neck to glare at Brooke.

"Now we're ALL saying shut up!" Sarah said, laughing.

"EVVYBUDDY SHUBBUP!" Noah shouted.

It took several minutes for everyone to calm down and wipe away laughter-induced tears. Sarah next proposed they have a dance party, but not even Noah, who was still intent on beating Brooke at Trouble, was interested in that idea.

"Well," Sarah said curtly, "I'll just go inspect these Irish-Italian-installed shelves." She let herself in to the office and loudly commented on the design. "Verrrry niiiiice." She knocked. "And sturdy. Yep, love it. And it creates so much space in here. Good thing, too, because Big Brown takes up a lot of room."

They heard the thud of Sarah hitting the cushions.

Out in the living room, Olivia finished her wine, yawned, and stretched out with her head propped against a throw pillow and Ed's thigh. "Noah, after you finish your game it's time for bed, sweet boy."

"I not going to bed. I playin' da game."

"No, remember what we said?" Brooke coaxed, "We have to sleep for our brain to get some rest and stay smart."

"Brain not tired. And Noah not tired."

Brooke popped the dome, moved her pegs, and slid the board within his reach. "You might be tired after all this winning."

Noah moved another peg into the finish line. "Dat's anovver red one!"

"Yep," Brooke replied, "One more and you win."

Noah sat up eagerly, propped on his forearms, and watched Brooke take her turn. "I winned and da brain still not tired, Brookey."

"Hmmm," she said, "That's strange. Brains are supposed to be tired after winning and they should also be tired on Friday night."

"Uh-uh," Noah objected, "Fun Friday mean brains not tired."

Brooke laughed, "Who said Fun Friday?"

"Sare Bear."

"And who taught you to say Sare Bear?"

"Gamma Caraline. Dats what she call Sarah."

"Do you think Grandma Caroline's a little crazy?"

"No, she not cazy, she nice."

Brooke took another turn, "She is nice, but she gives you anything you want, doesn't she?"

"Uh-huh." Noah replied casually. Most people in his life did give him anything he wanted, so it really was no big deal that Caroline followed suit.

"Did you get her something for Mother's Day?"

"I drawed a picture and we getted her…" Noah trailed off, and looked to Ed to fill in the blank.

"We got her a gift certificate to her nail place."

"Oh, she'll love that," Brooke said. "Whatdja get mommy?"

Noah giggled and whispered, "Itsa suppprizzzze!"

Brooke covered her mouth, "Oh, sorry!"

"I picked it out. Daddy paid da money for it wiff da card."

"Shhhh," Brooke said, predicting an inadvertent reveal, "Don't say anything else. I'll see it on Mother's Day when we meet up at Grandma's."

Noah popped the dome.

"Oooooo! Noah, you got six. That's what ya needed! You win!"

"I WINNED!"

Brooke put Noah on the floor so he could dance around and celebrate his victory. She watched, laughing to herself. Weary of playing, she lied to her little brother. He did roll a six, but he actually needed four.

"Lemme go pry Sarah from Big Brown," Brooke said, noticing both her father and Olivia were dozing off. "Unless you two want to keep her for another night?"

"Pass," Ed hissed. He got up, gently lifting and then placing Olivia's head back on the pillow. "Come on, bud, PJs, story, and bed."

"Three stories," Noah insisted.

"Two."

"Uh-uh," Noah said, his voice growing fainter as they walked down the hall to his bedroom, "Wiff Daddy it's—One. Two. THREE!"

…

Ed turned off most of the lights and the television. The last task was to cajole Olivia from her spot on the couch.

"Liv? C'mon to bed."

She held out her arms and he pulled her up. "That was easy," he remarked.

"You make it seem like I'm difficult."

"You're a little difficult when you're sleepy."

She acknowledged his point, "I know."

Ed closed the bedroom door and immediately latched on to her lips. "I love our family," he whispered, "But I love it when we're alone."

"You can kiss me in front of our family," she said.

"Not like this." He delved deeply into her mouth and she kissed back while trying not to laugh. "And I can't do this." He expertly removed everything she was wearing in seconds, leaving the garments in one heap on the floor. "Damn." He gasped as if it were the first time he'd seen her naked.

She dove on the bed. "Captain, this is not fair. Take off your clothes."

"Yes ma'am."

Ed stripped and jumped into bed with his wife. Playful, light-hearted sex ensued; they jostled for position, teased and relented, flattered and praised, until they were at the point where words were no longer possible and the room echoed with the amorous sounds of two lovers experiencing the heights of erotic pleasure.

Olivia collapsed on top of him, sticky, sweaty, still breathing heavily, and they gazed into each other's eyes. Ed's lips formed into his classic, cocky smirk, her favorite expression—she was so in love with this man, and that love kept getting bigger, more complex, more beautiful, more precious, and it was no longer overwhelming or difficult to comprehend or something she felt she didn't deserve.

It was all she ever wanted. No, this new life of hers, theirs, was more than she'd ever wanted, and she'd finally come to the point where she no longer scrutinized it for defects or irregularities.

Nope.

The rest of their lives were for enjoyment purposes only.

…

#Tuckson