The vows might be a little much, but I can't help it. Enjoy!

#Tuckson Wedding

"Liv, we're gonna get going."

Tucker did not harbor any superstitions about seeing the bride before the wedding, but Olivia thought it would be more romantic if they arrived separately. Ed was taking Noah to Brooke's apartment where they were going to hang out with Jeff and watch bowl game preview shows. Brooke and Sarah were on their way over to the apartment to help prep Olivia.

The bride-to-be was currently lounging casually on the sofa. An outsider would have no idea she was getting married in a few short hours. She reached out for Noah and kissed him. "I'll see you handsome guys in bit."

Ed watched her intently.

She smiled. "Yes?"

"You're really marrying me, right?" He was only partially joking.

She went over to him and rubbed his arms reassuringly, "One o'clock. Rockefeller Center. Meet me there."

"Don't be late."

"Of course not."

Ed slung two garment bags, one large and the other toddler-sized, over his shoulder and grabbed Noah's hand. "C'mon, bud, we're going to see Jeff."

Confusion crossed Noah's face, "Get married today?"

"Yeah, but we're seeing Jeff first so mommy can get ready with Brookey and Sarah." Noah accepted the explanation and allowed himself to be led out of the apartment.

….

Brooke and Sarah began fussing over Olivia immediately, and they talked about her as if she weren't there.

"Ok, how are we gonna do her hair?"

"Up-do"

"No, Dad likes it down."

"Maybe just partially pulled back in a clip."

"Ok, makeup. I brought my whole kit."

"Smoky eyes."

"Which one of these lipsticks?"

"Not too red."

Entertained, Olivia leaned back against the stove and observed as the girls sorted through the beauty supplies they'd brought which were now taking up all available counter space.

"Ladies?"

Brooke and Sarah's heads snapped up.

"We don't have much time, and if we're late, your Dad may have a panic attack."

"So in other words," Sarah said, "let's make some fucking decisions." Although she loved Noah with all her heart, she was happy to not have to filter her potty mouth.

Sarah plugged in the curling iron and got to work on Olivia's brown locks. "Your hair is so thick and gorgeous, Livvie. I want it."

"You and Brooke have great hair."

"But it's not as thick as yours."

"I'm mad I cut mine," Brooke lamented.

"I told you not to do that," Sarah reminded her. She then started wrapping sections of Olivia's hair around the iron. "If I get through your whole head without burning myself, I'll be shocked."

Brooke poured three glasses of Pinot Grigio. "How are you feeling, Olivia?"

Olivia's head was being yanked back and forth by Sarah. "I'm good. I'm ready."

Sarah craned her neck around from behind to look Olivia in the eye. "No freaking out?"

"Not so far."

"Well, that's good. As you know, I was freaking out for weeks before I married Jeff. Sometimes, I still wake up and almost hyperventilate."

Brooke closed her eyes and shook her head, "Gawwwd, you're so dramatic. You must drive Jeff nuts."

"Oh, I do," she reported glibly, but he's stuck around so far."

Sarah babbled on. "Livvie, what does Dad do that really annoys you?"

"Nothing so far. I suppose, well, he annoyed me for about twelve years, so does that count?"

Brooke and Sarah both cracked up.

"They should write a book about you guys," Sarah said as she went back to curling Liv's hair.

Brooke agreed, "At the very least, the ending would be a shocker."

…..

Meanwhile, the boys, at least the adult ones, cracked beers and parked themselves on Ed's old brown couch. The television was tuned to ESPN.

"Are you nervous?" Jeff asked.

Ed took a swig and lied. "No."

"I was incredibly nervous when we got married."

"Why's that?"

Jeff scrunched up his face. "I don't know. A lot of things. It's a huge step. And also, you know Sarah, there was a chance she wouldn't show up."

After I spent all that money she was damn well going to show up.

Ed laughed. "Coincidentally enough…I had to double check with Liv before I left."

"It probably crosses everyone's mind I guess."

"It would be a horrible feeling."

Jeff looked at Ed earnestly, "I have to tell you, I hope Sarah and I are as happy as you and Olivia are when…" Jeff didn't want to say old, but he struggled to find a more diplomatic way of saying it.

Usually Ed liked to see him sweat, but he finished the sentence for his son-in-law, "in your fifties?"

"Uh-huh," Jeff said sheepishly then, surprised, asked, "Olivia's that old?"

"She'll be fifty next year."

"I would've guessed way younger. Anyway, you two are great. Sarah's always going on and on about how much she loves Olivia."

Ed rolled his eyes, "Yeah, you'd think she wants to marry her."

"I know."

Feeling surprisingly at ease chatting with Jeff about things more personal than sports, Tucker brought up Angela. "It's good, though, that Sarah, and Brooke for that matter, got so close to Liv. They don't exactly have a great relationship with their mother."

"Sarah and I spend a lot of time complaining about our mothers…for various reasons." Jeff whistled, "Whoooweee, poor Olivia. Everyone wants her to be their mom."

"I don't think she minds."

….

Brooke slid the plastic from the dress and gasped.

"What?" Alarm filled Sarah's face.

Panic shot through Olivia's gut and she rushed over to inspect the dress. It had been wrapped and in the closet since she bought it. What could have possibly happened?

Brooke held something in her hand. "Dad, um, left this for you."

Olivia read the note aloud, "I saw this something blue when I was out the other day and thought it belonged around your neck. Love, Ed."

Sarah swooned. "Oh. My. Gawwwwwd." She fanned herself dramatically and fell on the bed.

Brooke handed the necklace to Olivia and she held it up so the blue topaz pendant could catch the sunlight streaming through the window. It was the color of Ed's eyes.

"Should I text him?"

Sarah shook her head, "No. It'll be more romantic if you just have it on when you walk down the aisle."

"You can thank him later," Brooke teased.

"And, by the way, I'm gonna bitch Jeff out later for not doing something like that for me."

"Maybe he did…he just put it on the wrong dress."

Sarah playfully shoved her sister, but it was true that Sarah had a few different dress options lined up and had chosen at the last minute.

Before leaving, Olivia double and triple checked that she had the ring and her vows in her handbag even though she planned to say them from memory. While she wasn't experiencing any nerves, the competitiveness in her wanted to at least match the powerful words Ed had boasted about weeks ago.

"Well, Livvie dear, when you walk back in here later, you'll be Mrs. Ed Tucker."

"She's not changing her name," Brooke corrected.

"That's not the point. The next time she's home, she'll be a married woman."

Olivia broke the news about her decision to keep her name shortly after Ed proposed. She expected him to protest, he did admit some mild disappointment, but he understood the need to keep her professional identity and trying to toggle back and forth between the two in some sort of personal-professional hybrid would be frustrating. She promised to leave the possibility open, but for now she was keeping Benson.

Sarah gave Olivia one final inspection. "Stunning."

Brooke agreed. "Dad's gonna die."

"Let's hope not," Sarah replied, "It would be a shame for him to miss the wedding night. You know what's funny? Our wedding night was, like, the worst sex we ever had. We were so fucked up. I don't even remember all of it. So maybe it wasn't so bad. I'll ask Jeff."

Brooke waved off the suggestion. "Really, we don't need to know. Not necessary."

Olivia, with exaggerated sincerity, assured Sarah that she and Ed would go easy on the alcohol.

…

The ceremony began promptly at one o'clock. The guests were seated in rows of chairs set up in the year-round section of the garden, creating the illusion they were in the middle of a snow-filled oasis.

Judge Linden, who had generously agreed to perform the ceremony, stood under a floral arch with Ed and Noah at her side. Sarah and Brooke left Olivia alone and walked in, taking their places opposite Ed and Noah. Ed felt weakness in his legs; their presence meant the ceremony would begin very soon. He leaned down to whisper to Noah.

"Ready, bud?"

"We get married now?" Noah asked innocently.

The Judge smiled down at him and then at Ed. "He's grown so much. The last time I saw him he was just over a year old."

"Yeah, he got his first bike for Christmas."

The string trio increased its volume. Outside, Olivia spent her final moments alone lost in thought.

"I heard you needed someone to walk you down the aisle?"

She turned to see a smiling Captain Cragen and she grinned back at him. "Captain, thank you for coming."

"I'm honored you asked."

"Any words of wisdom?"

"Don't bust his chops too much, and make sure he takes care of you."

"He does."

"Then I couldn't be more thrilled for you." Cragen offered his arm and led her away.

Ed tried not to audibly gasp when he saw her. His breath caught in his throat. Olivia's long, ivory sheath hugged her body perfectly. Lace sleeves covered her arms and the topaz sparkled. Soft curls framed her face. Sarah's makeup job was darker than Olivia wore on a daily basis, and a burgundy lip gloss added a pleasant shimmer to the sultry look. For what seemed like the zillionth time, Ed had to remind himself she really was for him.

People in the first couple rows chuckled at Noah. "Whoa! Mommy's pretty! Look, Dada!" He pointed excitedly to Olivia and Cragen who were now halfway down the aisle.

Olivia scanned the guests' faces at first but then kept her eyes focused on Ed and Noah, both dressed identically in black suits, white shirts, and ties which matched the topaz pendant.

Cragen gallantly passed Olivia's arm to Ed and nodded. "Congratulations, Tucker."

Judge Linden began the ceremony with kind words about Olivia and Ed, commending them for dedicating their professional lives to public safety and "through that line of work you found safety, security, and love with each other. That is precious."

Ed squeezed her hand.

"I understand you have written your own vows?"

They nodded.

Olivia went first. "When you mentioned we were going to write our own vows, I was…apprehensive. I don't know if it's possible for me to convey exactly what I'm feeling right now and have been feeling for the past year. It took me…I believe…a lot longer than it took you to get used to the idea of us." She giggled a little bit even though she was already starting to tear up, "But then, when I opened myself up to you, I discovered how much capacity I had to love and how much better my life was with you in it. You have become…my best friend and lover, Noah's Daddy," she had to pause and collect herself, "you complete our lives, you take care of us, and you do it so selflessly that sometimes I forget you need to be taken care of, too. So, I promise…to never take you for granted, to be your rock, and to never forget how fortunate I am to have found you."

Ed took a deep breath and began talking. "I wrote multiple versions of what I wanted to say today, but I didn't bring any of them with me. I love you for so many reasons and in so many ways, words just don't do it justice." He noticed a second round of tears welling in Olivia's eyes. "Also, the words I'd written didn't explain, can't explain, how lucky I feel and how committed I am. I felt that from the start. From that time we first had drinks, my life, suddenly, was all about you. It was about trying to savor every moment when we were together and missing you terribly when we weren't. It was an addiction to all things you. These rings, this marriage, this permanence—it means the world to me. I don't have to worry about being without you anymore, and I will spend the rest of my life protecting you and Noah and making sure the two of you are happy and that you never, ever want for anything. I love you. Forever. Always."

Even Judge Linden had to blink back a tear or two, but she collected herself and took them through the traditional vows. They said their "I dos" and exchanged rings, both classic wedding bands. Finally, the judge declared them husband and wife.

"Kiss the bride, Captain Tucker," she instructed with a smile.

Ed paused for a second and held her face in his hands. He didn't say anything, but love and affection oozed from his eyes. They did it. Olivia Benson was his wife.

Then he kissed her, opening his mouth just a little to make it intimate enough but not so R-rated to be inappropriate. Noah, who had been dutifully standing by for the brief ceremony now tugged at Tucker's pant leg. Ed finished the kiss and picked him up.

"This next part is about you bud."

Instead of walking back down the aisle as husband and wife, there was one more loose end that needed tying before they were officially family. Judge Linden briefly disappeared but returned with a familiar manila folder and a pen. "I have reviewed the amended adoption papers requesting that Captain Tucker be named as Noah's adoptive father. The process in cases like these is quick and everything is in order and approved. I thought now would be an appropriate time to officially sign the forms."

Judge Linden signed two copies, folded one together with the marriage certificate, and handed the papers to Olivia.

"Congratulations."

The string trio began playing again and they walked out with Sarah, Brooke, and Jeff, all together, in a huddle rather than a procession. The photographer took several pictures, not nearly as many as at Sarah's wedding, and then they returned to their guests who had been ushered into another area where waiters and bartenders stood at the ready. Considering it was New Year's Eve, Olivia was reluctant to have an elaborate reception, but Sarah and Brooke insisted on appetizers and drinks…and a wedding dance for the bride and groom.

There were only thirty or so guests, so Sarah had no problem getting their attention. "Everyone, everyone, gather around. Thank you so much for being here to see my Daddy marry my Livvie. Please have a few drinks and have some food before you go out and party on. But, right now, Dad and Liv, come on, I know you said no dancing, but you have to have the first dance as husband and wife."

Ed took Olivia's hand and led her to the space in front of the string trio. To their surprise, Rollins emerged from the crowd and whispered something to the bandleader. "You didn't know I could sing, didja?"

Ed took Olivia in his arms and Rollins began. The song was Roy Orbison's You Got It and the detective put on her own, impressive soulful twist. The performance was engineered thanks to Christmas Eve collusion among Carisi, Sarah, and Brooke.

Among the guests were Ed's mother and siblings, his partner, and a few other assorted relatives and friends. Very few people on Olivia's guest list were unrelated to the NYPD. Fin and Carisi were technically on duty, but they came anyway, leaving the precinct in the hands of the new sergeant. Cragen brought Eileen, Munch showed up, and so did Elliot and Kathy. Olivia was glad they had decided to come; since leaving SVU, Stabler completely removed himself from the fold. The only person missing was Amaro.

All of these people watched now as IAB Ed Tucker held their Olivia Benson close as Rollins serenaded them. Pleasant expressions and smiles crossed most of the faces; it was only Stabler who, though not displeased, did not look completely happy. Of all of Olivia's current and former colleagues, Stabler was the last one to find out about Tucker. He still hadn't talked directly with her about it and while he was happy for her, it was still a strange pairing. Also, he harbored a great deal of animosity towards Ed and probably always would. Still, he wanted to be there for his former partner.

Anything at allllllll

Babyyyyyy

You got it

Rollins grinned from ear to ear as she finished the song, but then bent over, completely spent. Ed and Olivia each hugged and thanked her.

"That was fantastic!" Olivia exclaimed. "I had no idea!"

"I used to take lessons," she replied, "thought I wanted to be an actress…but I went to the academy instead."

Ed was extra gentlemanly. "Great job, Rollins."

Carisi, not wanting to be left out especially where Tucker was involved, darted over. "Captain," he shook Ed's hand vigorously, "First of all, congrats you two, and Lieu, you're beautiful. I love that dress. Captain Tucker, your words…" Carisi shook his head in amazement, "When I get married I want you to write my vows."

"I bet you'll be able to come up with something."

"Listen, we gotta get back to the precinct, enjoy the rest of your time off, Lieutenant. We got it covered. Everything's all good." Carisi hugged Olivia and slapped a bewildered-looking Ed on the back. "Let's all get together sometime soon."

Olivia and Ed mingled among the guests and Noah ran around at first, but he quickly gravitated back to his parents' side. When they encountered the Stablers, Elliot broke into a genuine smile as he hugged Olivia. "Congratulations, Liv. It's good to see you so happy."

"Thank you for coming." She reached down and tousled her son's hair, "This is Noah. Noah, meet Elliot." Noah clung to her leg and shyly bit his lip.

Stabler and Kathy both squatted and said hello to Noah. "He's adorable," Kathy gushed. "I'm just overjoyed for you Olivia."

Stabler's smile faded slightly as he shook Ed's hand, "Well, Tucker, if you can't beat 'em join 'em, right?"

Ed took the attempt at good-natured humor in stride. "Yeah, definitely easier that way." As per his norm when he felt threatened, Ed put his arm around Olivia's waist. She felt his fingers press into her side just above the hip.

Stabler shifted his attention back to Olivia. "So, Lieutenant, how do you like being the boss?"

"It's good. Good. Sometimes a bit overwhelming and frustrating, but," she shrugged, "I'm wired for it."

"Did you have a nice Christmas?" Kathy asked.

"We did. Lovely, actually. Lots of laughs…and," she looked down at Noah who was tugging at his tie, "toys."

"Dada, Dada, you take this off please?" Ed knelt down, unknotted the tie, and put it in his pocket.

"So polite," Kathy remarked.

Olivia laughed, "I think he's showing off. He's not always like that."

"Maybe it's the clothes," she said, "Mine always behaved better when they were dressed up."

Olivia and Kathy traded kid stories for a little while longer while Ed and Elliot fidgeted and pretended to people watch. Ed was tempted to use Noah to extricate himself from the uncomfortable situation, but just as he was thinking about suggesting he and Noah go see Caroline, Kathy announced she and Elliot had to leave.

"Maureen's flying in today," Elliot explained.

"Well, tell everyone I said hi," Olivia said, "And, again, thank you for being here."

Most guests were beginning to leave. The reception was intended to be brief so people could get on with their holiday plans. Sarah suggested they hit Quinn's on the way back home, but both Brooke and Ed objected.

"We have Noah, remember?" Brooke pointed out.

Ed didn't say anything, but it didn't take a seasoned detective to decipher the look on his face.

"You and Jeff can go out though, I don't mind."

"No, no, let's watch kid movies and eat junk food."

Olivia hugged everyone. "Thank you for taking him. I think, yeah, Ed, you took his bag, right?"

"I did."

"Everything he might need is in the bag."

"Ok, well, let's go," Ed said impatiently.

….

"Should I carry you over the threshold?"

Olivia did not take him seriously, but Ed's expression was sincere.

"Ah, I think we can skip that tradition." She followed him inside and tugged at his coattails. "Speaking of tradition…you, sir, are a stickler, aren't you?"

He turned around, smirking. "I don't know what you're talking about."

She glared at him with mock annoyance and put her fingers on the necklace.

"Oh, that."

"Brooke found it first, and I thought Sarah was going to pass out."

Ed looked slightly let down, and Olivia reached out for him. "Hey, husband…don't look so sad on your wedding day. It's a good thing Brooke found it, and Sarah was so funny, I didn't even cry…my makeup was already done. We would have had to redo it, and –"

"You woulda been late," he finished for her, and the grin he'd worn all day returned.

"So…thank you. That was so thoughtful and so romantic. But now I don't care about the makeup, so..." She gave him a few kisses and leaned her head back to gaze into his eyes.

He smoothed her hair. "You always look gorgeous, Liv, but, when I saw you for the first time today, I…I had trouble breathing. You're perfect. And, like I said, I'm so lucky."

"We both are. And…I think you won."

"Won?"

"I remember you challenging me about the vows…remember?"

"Yeah. You think I won?"

"They were so sweet, so heartfelt…and I don't think anyone there expected it."

Ed could care less about what other people thought. "They were for you."

"And mine were for you."

"There was one thing I forgot though, and, I don't know, maybe it woulda been weird to say."

"What?"

"About Sarah and Brooke. They're adults…but you're so important to them. And what Sarah said on Christmas, that toast she made, she summed it up pretty good. Thank you for, well, they can be a handful, even in their twenties—"

"I love them…and I love that we can have some girls-only time."

Ed's eyes softened and dropped down to her cleavage. "Just tell me when it's husband and wife time," he said softly and suggestively.

They were still standing in the living room in each other's arms. Olivia moved her hands from his neck to the back of his head and guided him to her lips. He kissed back, but giggled a little as he murmured, "I guess that would be now."

Ed once requested to stay in bed with Olivia all day, and, for the rest of this day at least, he got his wish.

….

A few minutes before midnight the newlyweds moved from the bedroom to the living room so they could watch the ball drop on the larger of the apartment's two televisions.

"I'm warning you, the song makes me cry."

Olivia crying tears of joy was not something new to Ed. "Me too."

"You're lying."

Ed flopped on the couch. "Busted," he confessed with exaggerated remorse. He held out his arms. "Punish me."

Olivia handed him a glass of champagne which neither of them liked very much but drank anyway out of obligation to the holiday and to Brooke who purchased the expensive bottle of Veuve Clicquot. "Is making you drink champagne punishment?"

He took a drink. "Actually, no. This isn't bad."

"Then I'll have to come up with something else."

"You have exactly twelve minutes, 'cause after the clock strikes midnight we're going back to bed."

"You know, you're such a bad liar. That is so strange."

Ed screwed up his face. "You want me to be better at it?"

"One would think you would be better at it."

"It's just that you have such keen detective skills. Not to mention skills in other areas."

She winked seductively at him and raised her glass. "To 2017."

"To us," he added.

They kept their eyes on one another as they each took a sip.

"Ed, I love you so much."

He frowned a little. "It almost seems like, I love you, it's not enough. There must be other words."

She edged closer to him so she was almost in his lap. "I don't think there are…but, you are very good at showing it. You know, nonverbally."

A coy grin crossed his face. "Lieutenant, are you trying to flatter me?"

"Always."

The countdown had begun.

A mile away in Times Square, revelers counted down from ten, jumped up and down, and generally allowed themselves to be absorbed into the holiday's euphoria. Both Ed and Olivia had lived in New York City their entire lives and, between them, they'd been to Times Square for New Years Eve dozens of times, mostly as police officers and only once or twice as the casual visitor.

"Do you wish we were there?" Olivia asked.

"No way," Ed replied immediately, and even though the countdown was still at three, he kissed her.

"You're early."

"I don't want you to cry."

He took her in his arms and held her tightly.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As the fireworks and noisemakers popped and squealed, Olivia and Ed fell into their first kiss of 2017. Ed took Olivia's nonverbal compliment to heart and kissed her fiercely but also with a kind of tender passion-a combination he had a knack for pulling off flawlessly. When they finally came to a pause, he whispered, "Happy New Year, baby," his lips still touching hers and his eyes blazing with unbridled desire.

Olivia's eyes were equally lustful. "The first day of our lives."

He met her eyes one more time before leading her back to bed. Electric, intense passion radiated between them. "I'm going to make you so happy."

"You already have."

Finally, their lives were complete.