Chapter Note: Circa-Season 24 (even if it's technically 3.0…)

Chapter Five

The Ducklings

~oOo~

Tonie likes to arrive at the precinct at 8:15 every morning, come rain or shine, unless there are mitigating reasons as to her schedule changing. Sometimes, a case is non-stop high intensity until it is resolved, other times they catch a lead and need to be interviewing someone at random hours of the day. Occasionally, she is on call during the night and has to turn up at a crime scene at 3am in the morning. She may be a so-called "white shield", but she tries her hardest to be there as part of the team, no matter how difficult the hour, or how challenging the case. She still holds a deep-seated need to prove her capabilities to Captain Benson, and considering her future with the unit is unclear, she has to try her very best.

However…If it is an average day, with no extenuating circumstances, then she likes to stick to a strict routine, as with all things in her life. Enter the building at 08:15, by her desk no later than 08:20. Computer on, coffee poured, and sitting ready to work precisely by 08:30.

The rest of the team do not keep such regimented hours for their day, shuffling in at various points in the half hour after Tonie — Muncy often clutching a coffee bought on her commute, Velasco grunting wordlessly until he has had his own shot of caffeine at his desk, Bruno always far too cheery at those times he actually joins the unit, Fin marching in with the same nondescript expression on his face that makes it impossible to know what sort of mood he's in from day to day.

Captain Benson is the most unpredictable of all, at least in terms of when she arrives. Tonie would prefer to always be in the precinct before her boss, but sometimes Benson is there already, the light shining out of her office and a slightly harried look on her face that implies she's been working for too many hours already. Yet other times, she turns up after the school run, relaxed and smiling. Tonie hasn't met her son before, but she knows Benson tries her hardest to keep certain slots open in her schedule for "family" time whenever a case doesn't demand her full and constant attention.

Today is one of those days where Tonie can already hear the Captain's voice as she settles down at her desk. She can't make out the words, but by the way she sees Benson pacing back and forth in her office, intermittently pinching the bridge of her nose, Tonie figures it is probably the Chief who has called her in this early.

'Yo Churlish, did you leave enough coffee for the rest of us?' Muncy breezes past, dropping her empty takeaway coffee cup into the trash can on her way by. 'I need round two desperately.'

'Me too,' Velasco grunts as he follows on her heels, and when Tonie frowns at him, he sighs. 'Need coffee.'

'Oh, well if you're getting yourself some, can you bring me a mug too please?' Muncy asks innocently, sliding into her chair and twisting it from side to side as she beams up at Velasco. He's not awake nor energetic enough to argue, simply grunting before shuffling off to gather up their much-needed supplies.

Two minutes later, Bruno bursts into the room, carrying a tray of coffee cups and a bag of what looks like fancy pastries.

'Goooood morning, team,' he announces enthusiastically. 'Breakfast, anyone? I thought we might need fuel for our brains.'

Muncy immediately abandons the station's terrible coffee, her hand making grabbing motions as she reaches out for the much nicer offering from Bruno. Velasco looks vaguely disgruntled that all of his effort was in vain, but in the next second, his hand is delving enthusiastically into the bag of pastries.

Tonie receives her coffee and croissant gratefully, overcome for a split second by the camaraderie around her. It's a strange feeling, being free from the toxic environment of the Bronx, and in a team that cares about each other as well as the survivors and victims they are trying to help. Despite a rocky start, she feels as if she's made a place for herself at the 1-6, and she hopes desperately that her Captain feels the same way.

Benson's phone call ends, because her office door opens abruptly and she peers out, looking surprised to see all four of them already in the office at such an early hour.

'You're all here,' she states, stepping out to join them. Bruno immediately thrusts a coffee into her hand too, making the tiny part of Tonie who still wants to be the teacher's pet jealous that he had thought ahead so well.

There's something strange about Benson's demeanor. She's fidgeting slightly with her free hand, her weight swaying from foot to foot as she stands in front of them, and the more Tonie eyes her, the more she realizes she's never seen the Captain quite so uncomfortable in front of the team. Usually, she's composed and exuding confidence, with a take-charge attitude whenever she strides into a room.

'I'm having a…personal get-together next month, and I wanted to invite you all to attend,' Benson announces, her tone rather formal and her cheeks flushed. 'No obligation, but I can email around details.'

Bruno leans against his desk, his face full of curiosity.

'Celebrating something big, Cap?' he queries, and Tonie feels more charitable towards him again, now that he's asked the question that has arisen in all their minds.

'Oh hey, you invited them to your wedding anniversary at last?' Fin's voice interrupts them all as he swans into the station, ten minutes late but with no care in the world. Tonie feels her mouth open in surprise at the realization that the Captain is married. Thankfully she can see her expression mirrored in Muncy and Bruno at least, though Velasco looks vaguely confused.

'I was getting there, thank you, Fin,' Benson says, although her tone indicates there is no thanks at all. Fin just shrugs, refusing to cower beneath her disapproval.

'Yes, we're celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary on the 25th,' she continues hurriedly. 'It's a casual affair, and it would be lovely to have you there if you can make it. Thanks for the coffee, Bruno.'

There's no other word to describe what she does except flee, as she disappears back into her office and closes the door behind her.

'She's a romantic at heart, but never the best at openly sharing her personal life,' Fin muses as he stares after her. 'They had a very small wedding, so it'll be nice for the whole gang to be there for this anniversary.'

'Ooooh, is her husband that hot guy in all those pictures she has on her desk?' Muncy demands, turning her attention to Fin. 'I'd wondered. How long have they been together? How come we've never met him before?'

'He came in here a few days ago,' Velasco offers up, and then immediately looks as if he is regretting saying anything when Muncy turns her betrayed, hungry expression towards him. Tonie feels like Muncy looks, however — and what kind of detective will she be, if she hasn't already noticed all the family photos in the Captain's office? She needs to do better in the future.

'You met him and didn't say?' Muncy demands. 'I thought we were friends, Velasco.'

'I thought you knew already. I assumed he was the kid's dad,' Velasco tries to justify himself, and he's only saved from interrogation by the ringing of the phone. A new case, a new victim, and all the lighthearted conversation gets placed aside for their work.

True to her word however, they do receive an email later in the afternoon, a simple yet pretty invitation to the 10th wedding anniversary of Olivia Benson and an Elliot Stabler. Tonie feels a burst of inner happiness at being invited alongside the rest of the team.

'He really is pretty hot,' Muncy enthuses when they catch a minute in the car, driving between interview locations. 'Captain caught a good one there.'

Tonie happens to think Benson is pretty attractive herself, but she's wise enough not to say as much about her boss. Instead, she dutifully RSVPs, and one month — and several wardrobe panic moments — later, she finds herself pulling up in front of a large, very beautiful house. It's the type of home that hints at cozy family gatherings, and from the sounds emanating from the garden, it's exactly what she might be walking into. It's strange, that she never envisioned Benson to have such a personal life, but perhaps Tonie has been too far caught up in the stereotypes of it all. Benson may be career-oriented and successful in a job which surrounds them all with darkness, but clearly she's found the secret to having the family structure at home too. It makes Tonie feel more hopeful about her own future in the force.

'Hello hello, you must be Churlish!' a blonde woman flings open the door after the first ring of the bell. 'Lovely to meet you!'

It's a lot of enthusiasm to be met head-on, but Tonie takes a deep breath, ready to dive into the celebratory mood.

'Tonie,' she corrects. 'Nice to meet you too…?'

The woman is ushering her inside before realizing she hasn't completed the introductions.

'Kathleen,' she announces. 'I'm kid number two, if you're trying to keep track. It goes Maureen, me, Lizzie and Dickie — the twins, you know — then Eli, and Noah. I'll point them out as we go, don't worry.'

They pass through the house and into the back garden, where the sun is shining down on an array of tables and chairs already set out, decorated with bursts of color from beautiful bouquets. It's understated yet classy, something that matches the persona of Benson very well, in Tonie's opinion.

Kathleen introduces her to more people than Tonie will ever be able to remember, but she dutifully smiles and shakes hands until she's finally joined by the rest of the team, Muncy and Velasco looking similarly awkward in their semi-smart attire. Bruno meanwhile appears to be in his element, or at least up to the challenge of making more friends.

'Munch, meet the newbies,' Fin announces, arriving with a tall, slim gray-haired man in tow. 'They didn't even know Liv was married to Elliot…imagine.'

Munch greets them in turn, his eyes hidden by dark sunglasses but the smirk on his lips clear to see.

'Elliot has happily existed as Mister Benson-Stabler for a decade now,' he says in an amused tone. 'I'm surprised you managed to miss his rather large, ever-constant presence in the office.'

'I'm pretty sure he was writing "Mister Elliot Benson" in his notebook earlier than that,' another man jumps into the conversation, wrapping his arm around Munch's shoulders. 'Nick, nice to meet you all. And Liv assured me that during the first year, they were "best friends" only, but I could see the googly eyes.'

'If we're going by that metric, then he's been making heart eyes at her for twenty-five years now,' Fin grumbles. 'So pity me for being a front-seat witness to it all.'

'And yet, for some reason I was the one who was forced to give my opinion on the engagement ring,' says yet another new arrival, a man dressed in a smartly tailored suit, as if the concept of "smart-casual" means nothing.

Fin seems inclined to agree with Tonie's observations.

'It's cos you dress like that, Barba,' he gestures at the man's outfit. 'Must have given him the wrong impression that you have taste.'

Amanda strolls up leisurely in time to catch Barba's insulted expression, her hands holding two glasses of champagne. Tonie can see Carisi a few paces behind, overseeing the girls sprinting towards a curly-haired young boy before he joins them.

'What are we talking about?' Amanda asks, handing one of the glasses to Carisi and grasping onto his free hand.

'How long Elliot and Liv have been in love,' Fin explains, and Amanda throws her head back with a laugh.

'Do you know, Carisi didn't even realize she was married for the longest time,' she leans forward as if sharing a deep, dark secret, whilst Carisi splutters beside her.

'How was I supposed to know?' he demands, and Tonie is not about to admit that she nor any of the new squad knew either until they received an invitation to this very event.

'Hey Barba, Novak and I were discussing which one of us was the superior ADA in our day,' a statuesque blonde woman calls over. 'Care to weigh in?'

Barba perks up, patting Carisi firmly on the shoulder before departing.

'Neither, because you're both second place to me,' he announces, then throws departing words over his shoulder. 'Apologies, off to defend my honor.'

Tonie allows the conversation to wash over her, until out of the corner of her eye she sees Benson arrive at last. Her boss doesn't look anything like her usual self, switching out her sensible suits for a pale blue summer dress that floats slightly in the breeze, the thin straps displaying her sun-kissed shoulders. There's a lightness to her entire demeanor, and when one of the children runs up to throw his arms around her waist, she laughs and hugs him back.

This is Family-Benson, Tonie realizes — she's set aside the tough persona that works for her so well on the job, and is instead just enjoying being relaxed and happy around the people she loves.

'I told you he was hot,' Muncy elbows her, gesturing with her chin, and when Tonie twists around, she spies a tall, bald-headed man entering the garden, one small boy flung over his shoulder, whilst Amanda's daughter giggles from where she's tucked under his arm.

'Found these troublemakers attempting to start with dessert,' he says, loudly enough for Tonie to overhear. Benson forms a mock-serious expression, pressing a finger to her chin as if she's pondering deeply for a second.

'I'll let you off with a warning, but next time I'll have to arrest you,' she declares, as Elliot places both children down on the ground. They salute dramatically before running off, and the next moment has Tonie blushing and almost turning away as Elliot swoops in to kiss Benson, dramatically dipping her until she breaks it off with her own laughter.

'Disgustingly in love still,' Munch says from over Tonie's shoulder.

'I think it's sweet,' Bruno protests, and beside her Muncy is nodding vigorously.

'You wouldn't think that if you had to deal with their bullshit for a quarter of a century,' says Fin in a long-suffering tone. 'I'm glad they sorted it out rather than let it drag on and on though.'

An older lady whom Tonie vaguely remembers being Elliot's mother starts to wave her arms around in the air, announcing dinner would be along shortly, and people should take their seats.

'Don't be such a Grinch, Fin,' Nick says, herding the group towards a table so that they can all sit together. 'I think it's nice to have a celebration like this, while Bernie can still recall most of it. And I heard Kathy and her new husband even sent flowers as a gift.'

Amanda leans in close to Tonie and Muncy.

'His ex-wife,' she whispers.

There is a ringing in the air as Kathleen and another young woman — Lizzie? Maureen? Tonie cannot remember any more — start to tap their knives gently against their glasses. Elliot stands at the front of the small crowd, waving awkwardly to all.

'I wanted to thank everyone for coming today,' he announces. 'It means the world to Liv and me, and I'm sure she'll tell you that herself shortly. But I also wanted to take a few minutes to tell you about the amazing woman I've been fortunate enough to call my wife for all of these years, and why this last decade has been so important to us.'

Tonie would never call herself a romantic, but she can't help but prop her hand up on her chin, her eyes fixated on the couple in front of her.

'I first met Olivia twenty-five years ago,' Elliot continues, fingers resting gently on Olivia's shoulder as she covers her face briefly with her hand in embarrassment. 'She was this rookie detective, ready to save the world, while I was just some grumpy SVU cop who was horrified to learn he had a new partner assigned…'

The author of this SVU: The Rewrite story will be revealed in July