30.

The Tuckers spent the rest of Father's Day with games, a nap, and a casual dinner at "da pub." The three of them walked the short distance home slowly, enjoying the cool spring evening, and the simplicity of being with each other. Noah rested his chin on his Daddy's head and pointed out buildings and other sights that interested him.

Ed clutched Noah's ankles but also tried to be in close proximity to his wife. "I think it's great that Noah gets to grow up in New York."

Olivia tilted her head into his shoulder, "Me too."

"So much here."

"It is a unique experience. But I didn't see much of anything else. I want him to see the world, too."

"We'll make that happen."

"We will, won't we?" Olivia nudged at Ed's chin and kissed him.

"For sure."

Nighttime fell and Noah took a bubbly baff with his favorite minty bubbles and got the special treat of reading goodnight stories with Mommy and Daddy on the big chair. Olivia didn't say anything about the third story, but when Noah bargained for a fourth, she put her foot down.

"Bedtime."

Noah frowned. "Daddy read."

"Bedtime, Noah. Let's go." Ed tried to sound stern but failed miserably.

"Daddy read."

Ed stood up, carrying Noah with him, "I'll tell you one last story, bud," he said as he walked slowly towards Noah's room, "It's the story of how much I love being your daddy."

…

Minutes later, Ed appeared and immediately began nipping at his wife's neck. "Such a great day," he whispered. "That album…"

"I got the idea when I was looking at the cards that play the song, and I thought…there must be someone who can do something similar."

Ed cockily raised an eyebrow, "And you found someone to make it happen."

"TARU can do anything."

"It's the best present I've ever received…Except for you marrying me."

"That wasn't a present."

"No," Ed replied sassily, "That was more a reward. An earned reward."

Olivia's kiss was forceful, insistent and it took Ed by surprise. Ed held her back at arm's length.

"I'm so lucky," she said.

Something clicked with Ed at that instance and his muscles tensed. Olivia immediately felt her husband's reticence and stopped unbuckling his belt. "What's wrong?"

Ed closed his eyes.

"Liv."

"Yeah?" She tried to finish what she'd started but he grabbed her wrists.

"Last night?"

"What about it?" She was kissing his neck now, but he resisted.

"Liv." He shoved her away but still held her arms. "Last night."

Olivia blinked.

"Liv, I'm just…" Ed shook his head, stood up, and walked across the room to the window. "You never owe me anything."

"Last night wasn't a payment."

Ed didn't believe her. "Whadja think, giving me…" Ed paused, not wanting to use a crude colloquialism for oral sex, "that was to make up for not telling me?"

"Ed, no…"

He held his hand up, "I get it."

"Ed, no." Olivia reached for him at that moment but he dodged her grasp, readjusted his slacks, grabbed his keys, and stalked down the hall to the door.

"Where are you going?" Olivia asked.

"Don't worry about it."

…

Tucker went into his old aloof IAB mode and gathered himself once he was on the street. He texted Sarah.

Let's have a drink.

He walked slowly. Hoping. Praying. Well, he didn't pray. But he wanted his daughter to not be with Bill Dodds. In fact, that was the only thing he wanted at the moment. Except for also wanting his wife to not have ulterior motives when having sex with him.

Sarah immediately texted back with a location. It was nearby and Ed walked the few blocks, striding purposefully, trying to shake off the spat with his wife and force himself to believe what Olivia insisted was the truth. Oddly, thinking about how good it felt to have her mouth on him sent ripples of pleasure up and down his spine and he wondered if he'd ever experience that feeling again. Their sex life was great. No, it was amazing. And last night had been even more than amazing, but he never wanted Olivia to do anything out of guilt.

Sarah was at the bar when Ed entered. She'd already ordered a drink for him and she slid it in his direction as he perched himself on a stool.

"Happy Father's Day," she said flatly.

"Thank you."

"I have a gift for you, but Brooke hasn't signed the card yet, so…"

Ed put up a hand, "Don't worry about it."

"So, what's wrong?" Sarah asked, her voice still devoid of any discernable emotion.

Ed stuck his chin out and scratched his neck, spending a few seconds collecting his thoughts. "Sarah, your personal life is none of my business. But…when you drag my wife into your drama, it becomes my business."

"What are you talking about?"

"Stop it."

Sarah frowned in defeat. "Livvie told you."

"Do not," Ed glared at his daughter and repeated himself for emphasis, "Do. Not. Ever put her it a situation like that again."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do. I needed her advice."

Ed ignored her excuse. "Whaddya sleeping with Chief Dodds now?"

"I thought you said my personal life is none of your business?" Sarah retorted sassily.

"I'm gonna tell you two things. First, Bill Dodds is not someone you can trust. Second, if you think he is someone you can trust, it becomes my business because we are a family. You gonna hide him forever?"

"Dad," Sarah sighed, "I'm not getting into a relationship with him. It's…it's not a good idea."

"But you've been seeing him?"

"Three times. The drinks. The drinks the next night. And dinner last night. He's…he seemed so lonely, but…last night we went to this really nice place and I got a bad vibe, like, all of a sudden he was this creepy old guy."

Ed was so relieved he almost instantly forgave Sarah for everything and hugged her. Almost. "I dunno about the creepy part, but he is not a good guy, Sarah. Trust me on that."

"I'm not seeing him again. I don't want to be anyone's trophy. That's what I got last night…like he was out to show me off."

"You deserve better than that," Ed muttered.

"Yes I do," Sarah affirmed. "I'm just now starting to realize that."

Ed checked his phone, expecting a message from Olivia, but he had no notifications. "Listen, uh, I hate to make you come here and just leave, but I haveta get home. Liv and I…we didn't exactly have a happy goodbye."

"I understand."

Ed tossed a few bills on the bar. "See you soon?"

Sarah hugged him tightly, "Yep. Daddy, I really am sorry. I'll get it together. I promise."

….

When Ed arrived back at the apartment, Olivia was still seated on the chair with her legs tucked under her. Instrumental music played softly from the speakers and she held a glass of wine. Ed was not met with a greeting. Whenever he came home, even after a quick trip to the market, she always kissed him hello. Now she just stared at the window into the black Manhattan night.

"Liv?"

After an agonizingly long few seconds, she finally responded. "What?"

"Mind if I sit down?"

"It's your house, too."

"I'm sorry. Hey," he reached over and tapped her knee, "Lookit me. I'm sorry."

Olivia wasn't quite ready to accept the apology. "You know what I've been wondering about ever since you left? Other than where you were going and if you were okay?"

Ed assumed the question was rhetorical, so he sat back in silence.

"I was wondering if we're ever going to be able to have normal sex again. Do you realize how difficult a question that is to ponder?"

Again thinking the question didn't call for him to answer, Ed said nothing.

"Do you?"

"I imagine it's…terrible."

"It is. So," she said firmly, "For the record. When we are having sex, we are having sex for no other reason than we love each other. Is that clear?"

"Well, sometimes, uh, also, I kinda…need you." Ed saw her iciness begin to melt and he got up slowly, "I kinda…want you. And I love loving you. In every way." He hovered over her.

"Whether it's like this," he barely touched her lips as he kissed her.

"Or like this." He pulled her into a standing position and held her cheeks as he kissed her again with more ferocity.

"Please accept my apology," he pleaded, "I don't wanna fight with you. I just wanna love you."

Olivia tried to take a step backwards but the chair prevented her from creating any significant distance between them. It was difficult to resist her husband's remorseful blue eyes and repentant expression. Her lips formed a hint of a smile.

"Apology accepted."

He grinned at her, "Can I love you now?"

"Yes."

….

Olivia tilted her head to put in her earrings and saw her husband attempting to surreptitiously come up behind her.

"Stop," she warned but hardly sounded authoritative.

He grinned naughtily. "Nice dress."

"Thank you."

"I've never seen it before."

"It's new."

Ed frowned and stuck out his lips in the most pathetic pout Olivia had ever seen, Noah included. "You gotta new dress for Carisi?"

"No." Olivia cocked an eyebrow and turned around, "I got a new dress for me. And for you to, um, help me out of later," She faced the mirror again and added, "If you so choose."

Ed came up behind her and nuzzled her neck. "Lieutenant. Mmmm. God you smell good."

"So do you."

Knowing they were running short on time, Ed backed up and watched while Olivia put the finishing touches on her makeup. He loved the way the zig-zag patterned tunic dress loosely fit her curves; it was a different look for the normally pants-and-blazer clad Lieutenant and he relished the change.

They left Noah with Lucy and promised to be back as quickly as possible. She was working for two other families and had an evening shift later that day. Luckily, the medal ceremony lasted under two hours. Brooke, Olivia, and Ed looked on proudly and snapped pictures as Carisi was honored for Meritorious Police Duty. It was a recognition Olivia had nominated him for after he'd successfully worked undercover multiple times. Afterwards, Carisi suggested they have a drink—a few of his buddies were meeting at a well-known cop bar.

"We really have to get home. Lucy can't stay," Olivia explained, "Sorry, Carisi."

"But, congratulations," Ed said, shaking his hand.

"Thanks Captain," Sonny replied proudly. "Thanks for comin'!"

Olivia and Ed were in the car for a few minutes when a text from Lucy arrived. The family who needed her to work in the evening changed plans and she was free to stay longer with Noah.

"Want to go have a drink?" Olivia asked.

"Yeah, sure," Ed readily agreed. He liked hanging out with Sonny and, of course, with Brooke.

Olivia sent Lucy a text saying they'd be another hour or so. They'd have a couple of cocktails and maybe invite Brooke and Carisi over for dinner.

Ed reached over and caressed her leg, just above the knee. "Sounds like a plan."

…..

The cop bar teemed with people. Ed and Olivia weaved their way to the back corner where Carisi and Brooke and a few unfamiliar faces were huddled around a high top table. Already two shots and a half a beer in, Brooke waved at them furiously and then wrapped them in a tight group hug.

"Hiiiiii! You're here!"

"Yeah," Olivia said, slightly taken aback by Brooke's cheer, "Lucy's other family cancelled so we're free for a little longer."

"That's great! Have a shot with us!"

Carisi waved the server over and ordered a round of tequila shots, and two bourbons, one with light ice. "That's what ya want, right Captain?"

Ed, amused, nodded and whispered in Olivia's ear, "We're not staying long, right?"

"Right."

"Captain!" Sonny exclaimed, "You make the toast this time!"

"Yeah, Daddy!" Brooke said, "Toast!"

Ed rolled his eyes good-naturedly and held up the shot glass. "A toast! To one of the best detectives in New York, Sonny Carisi!"

"CHEERS!"

They downed the shots and engaged in friendly cop banter. Most of Carisi's friends were young and a bit in awe of Olivia and Ed. They politely answered questions and offered opinions and advice, but the conversation grew a little too silly for Ed and he suggested they leave after finishing their drinks. Olivia agreed.

Then Sarah showed up.

She flounced in, attracting attention in her bright, flowy blouse, skinny jeans, and bowler hat. Heads turned as she passed by. She was definitely not a cop.

"Hey guys," she said brightly, "Thanks for letting me in on your little celebration." She took a sip of Brooke's gin and tonic. "Ugh. Gross. All tonic."

"I'll getcha somethin' else," Carisi said, "Um, whaddya want?"

"If that's how they do a G-n-T, I want a gin, but, on the rocks no tonic. Thanks!" Sarah turned her attention to Ed and Olivia, "I thought you two had babysitting issues?"

"Not anymore," Ed muttered.

Sarah bit her lip, and, for a second looked alarmed but Sonny delivered her drink and she clinked glasses with Brooke. "Cheers, sister."

Brooke convinced Ed and Olivia to stay for one more round. The bar continued to fill with patrons and, before long, everyone at the table was pressed together in an uncomfortable mass.

"Liv, I'm gonna hit the restroom and then we're leaving."

"Okay. I'm going too."

The broke through the pack of people and made a right turn. Olivia ran into Ed after he stopped suddenly. Peering over his shoulder, she immediately knew why he reacted that way.

"Ed."

He heard nothing. Ahead of them, Chief Dodds stood inches away from Sarah. He gripped both her forearms and was insistently whispering something to her. Apparently trying to attempt to create distance between them, Sarah pressed herself against the wall, skewing her cap. Ed marched up to them. Olivia trailed him step-for-step.

"What the hell's goin' on?" Ed seethed with anger and grabbed the Chief's shoulder, yanking him away from Sarah.

"Get outta here, Tucker. Mind your business." Dodds tried to shove Ed away, hitching his shoulder and whirling his elbow at his adversary. The maneuver caused Dodds' forearm to make contact with Ed's face, causing him to take a backwards step and crash into his wife.

Olivia shouted "Ed" too late. Her husband's fist landed squarely on the Chief's jaw. Sarah shrieked. Dodds backed up, stunned, and put a hand to his mouth to check for blood. Finding none, he glowered at Ed.

"You just cost yourself your career, Tucker."

"Try me," Ed taunted.

Dodds adjusted his jacket and stood up straight, "Fuck you."

Ed took a step forward and both Olivia and Sarah stopped him.

"Daddy, don't," Sarah whined.

"Ed," Olivia held his wrists, "Stop. Let's go. C'mon." She nudged him a little and he came out of his rage-induced trance. Olivia felt some tension leave his body. "C'mon," she repeated, more softly this time, "Let's go home."

…

#Tuckson