A/N: This takes place now but without the COVID restrictions. I don't own any of the characters.

Birthday

It was Olivia's birthday. Hank and Noah had gotten up about an hour before Olivia normally got up on the weekends and they were going to make her breakfast in bed. This had become the tradition since they had been together. Before they got married a couple years ago, Hank would fly out to New York to spend her birthday with her. She hadn't wanted to do much last year because Ed had just died. Hank was determined to make this year special for her.

"Dad, I'm glad we're doing this."

"Me too. She's had a rough year."

"I know. It was hard for her losing Tucker."

"Yeah, I know. We'll make her breakfast and then we'll meet everyone for dinner later."

Hank made pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon, along with her favorite coffee, while Noah helped. Once it was ready, he put it on a tray, along with one of the roses he bought her and they headed upstairs. Noah went into his room to get her present and cards. They went into the bedroom and Noah got up on the bed to wake her up. He kissed her on the cheek.

"Morning, Mom."

"What?"

"Morning, Mom. Happy birthday!"

"It is that time of year already?"

"Yes. We made you breakfast."

"Oh, thank you."

Hank put the tray in her lap and kissed her.

"Happy birthday, Babe."

"Thank you. It looks delicious."

"We'll let you eat."

Noah left the present and cards and then he and Hank went downstairs to eat their breakfast. Olivia ate her breakfast and opened her gift, which was a 10-day cruise for her and Hank for Valentine's Day from the entire family. Olivia went downstairs.

"Does Fin know about this?"

"He does. I just want this birthday to be perfect for you. I know you didn't want to do anything last year because of what happened to Ed."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Olivia went over to Hank and kissed him and then she kissed Noah.

"I just don't want any more surprises or any more negativity after last year."

"I get it. We're having dinner with everyone tonight at your favorite restaurant and then we leave for Florida tomorrow."

"Good."

Noah went up to his room to get dressed.

"You don't like surprises?"

"Most of the time, no. I heard a very bad rumor that my former partner was supposedly coming out of retirement or whatever he was doing to run the Organized Crime Unit and I'm still trying to process that. I honestly don't want to deal with him again. I just want to be happy."

"The one you compared me to when we first met?"

"Yep except you don't make everything about yourself the way he always did. I always got caught up in his family BS whether I wanted to be or not. I don't need that anymore. I remember Ed telling me that Amaro would never be promoted due to his issues when I told him Nick was interested in becoming my Sergeant. Why the hell would the NYPD promote Stabler then? Fin and I earned our promotions. What did Stabler do for his? Not a damn thing. Ed is probably turning over in his grave. I don't even give a shit what Stabler has to say. I gave up caring about anything involving him a long time ago and as far as I am concerned, he doesn't even exist anymore."

"Nice attitude, Babe. Really."

"Don't be an ass!"

"I wasn't trying to be."

"I'm taking a shower."

Olivia went upstairs and went to take her shower, while Hank cleaned up the kitchen. Then Noah came downstairs.

"Dad, is Mom ok?"

"She'll be fine."

Once Olivia was done in the shower, Hank went to take his. Olive and Daniel called via video chat to wish Olivia a happy birthday and Hank's former squad and Trudy texted her too. They spent most of the day watching movies until it was time to go to dinner. When they arrived, all of Olivia's friends, who lived in New York were there: Don, Eileen, John, Alex, Casey, Trevor, Fin, Amanda and the girls, Carisi, Kat, Barba, Lucia, Melinda, Lucy and of course, Erin.

"Happy birthday, baby girl!"

"Thanks, Fin."

"Happy birthday, Olivia!"

"Thanks, everyone!"

Olivia hugged everyone and then they sat down. They looked to see what they wanted and then their order was taken. Their server brought their drinks and soups or salads.

"It's so good to see everyone."

"You doing ok, Liv?"

"Other than hearing that Stabler is being reinstated to the NYPD after a decade, I'm fine. Ed is probably turning over in his grave."

"Yeah, no kiddin'. I was kinda hopin' Stabler was dead."

Olivia smirked at Fin's comment.

"Unfortunately, we're not that lucky."

"He's just always been full of himself."

"No arguments with me on that."

"Maybe you won't have to deal with him."

"He'll make sure of it. No doubt. I'm not putting up with his BS again."

"You would think that if he cared at all, he would have contacted you after what had happened with William Lewis."

"Yeah, you'd think."

"This is your former partner, right, Liv?"

"Yep. He's a lot like Nick but at least Nick has kept in touch with me and was always there when I needed him. Actually, he's a lot like Hank personality-wise but he's definitely not the man Hank is though. I actually compared Hank to him when we first met. I'm sure he'd have a few choice words for me about being involved with Ed. Ed is really the only one of my exes that I kept in touch with even though I have seen Brian occasionally. The last I saw Brian, he told me that I was the love of his life but he knew that I couldn't say the same, since I was already married to Hank. Ed accepted that I was with Hank and moved on himself."

"It's none of Stabler's damn business. Speaking of Patty, she sends her regards. We invited her to this but she had to work. I kinda got the feelin' that she's not comfortable with bein' around all of us."

"She and I have kept in touch and we have coffee a couple times a month. She knows I still cared about Ed and she also knows he felt the same way about me. She also knows that I've had a rough time with his death."

"I think we all did. As much as we didn't like him, no one deserves that. I don't wish cancer on anyone."

"I agree with Fin."

"Same with me."

"We battled Tucker and IAB for many years but he didn't deserve that."

"Don's right. As we all know, most of the reason he treated SVU the way he did was because of Elliot and then later Amaro."

"That is very true, John. I started respecting him more after he was so supportive when I was adopting Noah. I just never expected to end up in a relationship with him of all people."

"I kind of always thought you would end up with Trevor."

"That I could have seen happening even though I gave up dating lawyers after David Haden. There are a lot of people, who assumed something was going on between Elliot and me but I wouldn't want him if he was the only man on earth."

"I always thought you could have done better than him. You do seem very happy now."

"Thanks, Don. I know I was wrong for not disclosing my relationship with Ed and Barba had every right to do what he did. At least he checked up on me after Ed's death. Of course I never disclosed my relationships with David or Brian either. At least with Hank, our relationship doesn't directly affect my job."

"Like everyone else, I never really liked Tucker. We couldn't understand why you would get involved with him. You obviously cared about him enough and were having a hard time with his death. What kind of best friend would I be if I didn't check up on you?"

"At least you can still call yourself my best friend."

"We all got your back, Liv. Just like always. If Stabler gives you a hard time, I'll kick his ass for you."

"Thank you, Fin. I appreciate it."

"I'll kick anyone's ass for you. You know that. It's my job as your husband to protect you."

"I know you would. I appreciate all of you more than you will ever know."

"Liv, have you heard from Stone?"

"I have not. I've tried texting him but he never returns my messages."

"I think he's back with the Cook County State's Attorney's office working for Mark Jefferies."

"I do miss working with him. Not that Carisi isn't doing a great job."

"Thanks, Liv."

"Carisi has a lot of potential."

"Thanks, Barba but I still have a lot to learn though."

"Liv told me you won your first case against Elana Barth. That says a lot."

"Carisi, you won against Barba. That says a lot too."

"Yeah, it kinda felt good to win against my mentor though."

"I just wish I knew what Rita Calhoun's problem was."

"Whatever it is, it's no little thing."

"She was such a bitch that last case we had that she was the lawyer for."

"Most Defense Attorneys are full of themselves anyway. They've always have been that way. Buchanan is always an ass. The only one that redeemed himself was Langan, since he helped Liv with the adoption."

"That's for sure."

"I'm glad I don't represent the perps any longer."

"So are we."

Trevor shook his head.

"How dancing going, Noah?"

"It's great. I really love it."

"He has a recital coming up in the spring and we hope most of you can be there to support him."

"Just let us know when it is."

"I will."

"I could see Stabler telling me that MY son needs to do something that will toughen him up."

"Who the hell cares what he thinks? Noah can do whatever he wants."

"You're the only man whose opinion matters anyway, since you're his dad. Who's staying with Noah while we're gone?"

"Erin and I have it all under control. She'll stay with him at night and get him to school. I'll get him after school, just like always and stay with him until Erin gets back."

"Thanks, Lucy."

"No problem."

Their food arrived and then they ate. After dinner, they brought out the cake and sang to Olivia. All she could do was shake her head. After they were done eating cake and Olivia opened her gifts.

"Thank you all so much. I'm lucky to have such amazing friends and family."

Olivia hugged everyone.

"Have a great trip, Captain."

"Thanks. I'm sure we will. Hank knows what I need and I'm actually looking forward getting away from the winter weather for a while. Thank you, Honey."

"You're welcome."

Olivia kissed Hank and then once Hank paid the bill, everyone put their coats on and they all left. Erin ended up going home with them. Once they got home, Noah got ready for bed and then they tucked him in. They went into their bedroom, while Erin got settled in the guest room.

"I guess I need to pack, huh?"

"No. I packed for you."

"You did, huh?"

"I did."

"I apologize for being so bitchy this morning."

"I get it. You're obviously pissed that your former partner is coming back to the NYPD after a decade and being promoted without actually earning it. I got promoted to Sergeant when they put me in charge of Intelligence after I got out of prison and I was offered a meritorious promotion to Lieutenant around the time Justin died but that was just to keep me off the streets and behind a desk. That's not me."

"I was promoted to Captain without doing anything for it."

"You're good at what you do and you care about your victims. I'm so proud of you for everything you have accomplished in your career."

"Thank you. I'm glad you decided to give up your career and your life in Chicago to be here with Noah and me."

"I am too. I just felt so guilty after what happened with Al and my heart just wasn't in it any more. You've been the one constant in my life even after I lost Justin."

"I just couldn't make up my mind as to what I wanted with you. Did I just want to be friends or did I want more? We had slept together a few times but decided to leave it as more of a friends with benefits thing for the time being. You said you were ok when I told you I was seeing Ed, even though a part of me knew you really weren't ok with it."

"I was. At the time, I thought you needed someone that was in the same city as you. I am glad you were there for Justin's funeral."

"I am too, even though I almost wasn't because I was feeling sorry for myself after what had happened to Dodds. You don't know how tempted I was to come over to your house to really comfort you but I didn't want to do that to Ed."

"I get it. If it was the Paris thing, I would have taken you."

"I don't doubt that but that is one of the memories with him that I will always hold in my heart. He accepted us together after we broke up and the two of you had become friends. I appreciate you letting me mourn him. I don't know that I would have gotten through that without you."

"If anyone understands that, I do. It'll take a while. Trust me. Even though I'm with you, I do still miss Camille a lot. Seeing Camille the way she was broke my heart in a million pieces. Even when I knew it was time to let her go, it was difficult. Not that I would do it but in a way, I can see why Ed did what he did. He didn't want to burden anyone. The guy was probably gonna lose whatever memories he had and he didn't want his wife to see him like that."

"He always was stubborn and very set in his ways. Did Camille ever want to end her own life when she had cancer?"

"No but I could tell that she was getting tired of suffering the way she was. She told me that she couldn't fight anymore. It wasn't too long after that that she gave up completely."

Hank started to become emotional talking about Camille and Olivia was becoming emotional talking about Ed. They got ready for bed, kissed each other good night and fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning, they got up and got ready to head to the airport for their flight to Florida. They were both looking forward to spending the next 10 days alone with no interruptions. Olivia knew she needed a break from work and whatever was going to happen when she returned. One thing was for sure, she was not looking forward to seeing her former partner again. That chapter of her life had closed a long time ago

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