A/N: I don't own any of the characters.

Tree Decorating Party

Hank and Olivia had gotten their Christmas tree and decided to have a tree decorating party. Olivia invited her squad, Jesse, Peter, Trevor, Melinda and others over. Erin was going to be there anyway and Ed was there more than he wasn't. Hank and Ed spent the day decorating the outside of the Brownstone and when Hank went to pick up Noah at school, Ed started putting the lights on the tree. When Hank and Noah got home, Noah went to do his homework after he said hi to Ed.

"Did she have a tree this size when you were with her?"

"No. Her apartment was way too small for a tree this size. It was never this full either. Did you ever tell Liv you ran into Barba?"

"Nope. He's coming tonight but he wanted it to be a surprise. I did tell him that Peter was going to be here and he was fine with that. He asked if you'd be here and I said you would. Cragen and Munch will be here too."

"As much as they all hated when Liv and I were together, they had seen a different side to me after what had happened with Dodds and after I left IAB. She knows about Cragen and Munch I take it?"

"Oh, yeah."

"Are your daughter-in-law and grandson coming for Christmas?"

"Yeah. Trudy and Mouch and Al and Meredith are coming too. Erin is going to Chicago as far as I know. She and Jay are trying the long distance thing and so far, it seems to be working. I invited Jay to go on the cruise with us and they got back together then. What are you up to?"

"Not much. I don't like dealing with my family. A couple years ago was the first time I wasn't alone."

"Why don't you spend it with us?"

"You sure?"

"Yeah. We've gotten along a lot better than Olivia thought we would."

"Yeah, that's true. You better check with Olivia first. I wouldn't want to interfere with your family time."

"It was her idea in the first place. She had a feeling you'd be by yourself. I know she still cares about you and I'm fine with that."

"I wasn't completely surprised when the two of you got together. I knew she still felt something for you and I was kind of jealous when she went to Chicago when Yates escaped and even though it was at my urging, for your son's funeral. She kept tossing it back and forth and I finally told her to go."

"I appreciated that."

The doorbell rang, so Hank went to answer it. It was Lucy, Jesse and Frannie.

"I had my key but my hands were too full."

"Don't worry about it."

"Hi Uncle Hank."

"Hi Jesse.

Frannie licked Hank's hand and then she ran into the living room to see what Ed was up to, while Hank helped Jesse take her coat off. Jesse ran into the living room after she took her boots off.

"Hi."

"Hey, Jesse. How are you?"

"Good."

Lucy put her bags down to take her coat and boots off.

"Noah is really looking forward to baking cookies. He's up doing his homework right now."

"Good. The outside of the house looks great."

"Thanks. I hope Olivia likes it."

"I'm sure she will. Hey, Ed."

"Hey, Lucy."

Then Noah came downstairs.

"Hi Lucy. Hi Jesse."

"Hi Noah."

"Hey, Noah. How was school?"

"Good. Daddy, can we get pizza for dinner?"

"I think that's what your mom had in mind."

"Yay!"

"Are you two ready to bake cookies?"

"Yeah!"

Lucy took the kids into the kitchen and they started baking cookies, while Ed finished putting the lights on the tree and Hank put up more decorations around the house. A little while later, the doorbell rang and Frannie started barking, so Hank went to answer it with Frannie's help. It was Don, John and Rafael.

"Hey, Hank. Hey, Frannie."

"Hey. Come on in."

"Thanks."

Frannie barked at them and then he 3 of them came in and took their coats and shoes off.

"This is nice."

"We like it. I'll show you around later."

"Great."

Everyone went into the living room.

"Hey, Tucker."

"Hey."

The 3 of them shook Ed's hand and Noah and Jesse ran out of the kitchen to see who was there.

"Grandpa Don!"

"Hey, Noah."

"Hi Uncle John."

"Hey, kiddo."

"Uncle Rafa!"

"Hey, Noah."

"Does Mommy know you're here?"

"No. I wanted it to be a surprise."

Noah hugged them and then Jesse did too. Then they went back into the kitchen and then everyone sat down.

"How's he doing?"

"He's doing great. There are times when he asks about Sheila but Olivia tries voiding the subject most of the time."

"It is definitely a difficult situation. When did you and Liv make it official?"

"In March. We went on a cruise for Noah's Spring Break and got married on board. Erin, Jay, Olive and Daniel were with us."

"Eileen and I were on that same cruise, so I got to see her get married."

"I couldn't believe it when I first heard."

"From what Liv told me, Fin didn't believe it because he wasn't there."

"We just wanted something with the family. I invited Jay because he and I have talked about much he wanted to make things work with Erin again and I thought the cruise would be a good place for that. I decided to retire after what happened with Noah to be here more, so the cruise was for my retirement plus we decided to get married. We had no idea that Don and Eileen were going to be there until we ran into them when we boarded the ship. I know that meant a lot to Olivia because you're like a father to her."

"I had my problems with Olivia over the years, don't get me wrong about that but I think I favored her and Rollins more than any of the rest of them. Neither of them had the best lives growing up and since I had a drinking problem, I can relate to Amanda because of her gambling problem. I'm the one that convinced her to go to a support group. I was worried out of my mind when Liv was taken by William Lewis."

"We all were."

"I wish I had known her back then because if I had, I would have ended him and he wouldn't have taken her again."

"Does she still have nightmares?"

"Sometimes. She's still bothered by what happened with Dodds over two years ago. She was held hostage again just over 6 months ago."

"I did see that on the news."

"Some days are better than others for her. She's looking forward to taking some time off. She's off the week of Christmas and goes back on the 2nd. Fin and Carisi are on their own."

"What happened with Rollins?"

"She's pregnant."

"Carisi's?"

"No. Olivia wishes it was. She's been seeing this doctor and he cheated on her. She doesn't trust him because of that. When she first told him, he told her to have it taken care of but then he sent her flowers and asked her to move in with him. She said no to that. Jesse is too young to understand what's really going on but she adores Carisi. Carisi is so good with Jesse too."

"He can be annoying as hell sometimes but he has a big heart."

"True."

Hank got a text from Olivia telling him they were leaving.

"They're leaving the Precinct. Just act casually when she comes in and see if she notices you."

"Got it. So, Tucker, are you enjoying retirement?"

"Yeah. What are you doing with yourself?"

"Other than driving my mother nuts, not much. I've spent a lot of time in Miami visiting family."

"I've done some traveling. Olivia keeps telling me that I need to get out more and maybe I'll meet someone. I'm going on a cruise next year."

"That sounds like fun. My mom and I are going on one next year as well. That's my Christmas present to her."

"I'm taking the family to Disneyland for Spring Break."

"Just you, Liv and Noah?"

"Erin, Olive, Daniel and maybe Jay. I talked to him the other day and he's thinking about proposing to her. We'll see how that goes. Can I get anyone anything?"

"Sure."

Everyone told Hank what they wanted to drink and then he went to go get it. While he was in the kitchen, the doorbell rang and that got Frannie going again, so Ed went to get it and Frannie was right there with him. It was Trevor, Melinda and Peter.

"Hey."

"Hey. Come on in."

"Are they even home?"

"Liv and her squad are on their way and Hank is in the kitchen."

"Ok. Hey, Frannie."

Frannie barked at everyone and then they came in and took their coats and shoes off before joining everyone in the living room. Noah and Jesse came running out of the kitchen. This time they had their aprons on.

"Auntie Mel!"

"Hey, Noah. Hey, Jesse."

"Hi Uncle Trevor. Hi Uncle Peter."

"Hey."

Hank came out of the kitchen.

"Get back in there, you two. Noah, your mom will be home soon."

"Yay!"

"Mine too?"

"Yep."

Noah and Jesse went back into the kitchen. Hank found out what Melinda, Trevor and Peter wanted to drink and went to get it, while they caught up with Rafael. Then Hank came back.

"Hank, you did a great job decorating."

"Thanks. Ed helped."

"That is a gorgeous tree."

"Olivia picked it out herself."

Hank got a text from Erin saying she was stuck at work and didn't know if she'd get there.

"Everything ok?"

"That was Erin. She's stuck at work and doesn't know if she'll get here. We're planning to order pizza for dinner, so this is very casual."

"I thought Noah and Jesse were cooking."

"He and Jesse are helping Lucy bake cookies. Olivia wanted to have everyone that means something to her here to help decorate our tree."

A little while later, Olivia, Fin, Amanda and Sonny arrived and walked in.

"Hello."

"Hey, Babe."

Hank went out to the hall to kiss Olivia as everyone took their coats and shoes off.

"How was your day?"

"Same crap, different day."

"That sounds about right. Erin texted me and said she was stuck at work and doesn't know if she'll get here."

"That's too bad. I smell cookies and the outside looks great."

"Thanks. Every time the doorbell rings, the kids run out of the kitchen. This is the first time Frannie hasn't come to see who's at the door."

"That figures. She does it for everyone but me."

"Is everyone here then?"

"Yeah."

"Good."

Amanda went to the bathroom, Olivia headed toward the kitchen and Fin and Carisi headed into the living room. Fin, Amanda and Carisi all knew Barba was going to be there. Olivia walked passed the living room and then she stopped in her tracks and went into the living room. She went over to Rafael and gave him a big hug.

"Rafa, I have missed you so much."

"I've missed you too, Liv. Congratulations by the way."

"Thank you. Hank, you knew he was coming here tonight?"

"Yeah. I ran into him and invited him to come over."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Olivia gave Hank and big hug and a kiss. Amanda walked in and Frannie started barking at her.

"What? Mama missed you. Where's your sister?"

Frannie ran towards the kitchen and then Amanda and Olivia followed. Jesse and Noah hugged their mothers. They joined everyone in the other room after Olivia got something to drink for herself and Amanda. After finding out what everyone wanted on their pizza, Olivia ordered them and mostly everyone started working on the tree while they waited for the pizza to be delivered. Hank showed Rafael around before they joined the others. Olivia had put Christmas music on in the living room and by the time Lucy, Noah and Jesse were done with the cookies, they helped to put some ornaments on the tree. The kids wanted to watch a Christmas movie in the family room, so once they decided on one, Lucy put it in for them. She then joined everyone else in the living room. After a while, the pizza arrived and everyone ate dinner together. Noah and Jesse went back to their movie, while the adults talked in the other room for what seemed like hours as they had cookies and coffee. By the time they all decided to call it a night, it was late and Noah and Jesse were sound asleep in the family room. Olivia covered them with a blanket and told Amanda to leave Jesse. They would bring her home in the morning. After everyone hugged Olivia and Hank, they all went home. Hank and Olivia locked up, made sure everything was cleaned up and shut all the lights off except for the tree. They sat down on the sofa and Hank put his arm around Olivia.

"It looks beautiful."

"Yeah, it does."

"I think this should become a tradition for us every year."

"We could do that."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Hank kissed Olivia and they looked at the tree for a while longer before heading up to bed.

Reviews and suggestions are appreciated.