Final Chapter. Its done. I hope you enjoyed it :)

The week had been long for Elliot and Olivia. Dickie left 2 weeks after Ellie was born, and was almost to New York by the time Elliot and Liv were ready to leave Seattle. They'd sold off most of their things, except wedding gifts, and shipped what they were able to with Dickie. Olivia was sad to see Don and the squad leave. She knew it would be a week before she saw them again, but it would be different. She would be in New York, in the freezing winter, with the horrible crimes they'd left behind 9 months earlier. It would be back how things were. She would have to be Elliot's partner. She wouldn't be able to wear her wedding ring at work, or kiss him on her way out to lunch. Olivia was worried that their marriage wouldn't with-stand the move back.

Elliot was happy. He packed his two suit cases, his two carry-ons, and was ready to go. But he stopped, the morning they were to leave, and stared at his wife.

"Olivia?"

"What's going to happen, El?"

"We'll tell everyone first thing, Monday morning."

"And if it costs us our jobs?"

"It won't."

"How do you know?"

"We're married now, and they can't fire us for being married. I might have to transfer, but we'll still be married, Liv. No one can take that away from us. Not my kids, not Kathy, not Cragen. No one. I promise." Olivia tucked herself into his arms. "We need to turn the keys in and be on the road in 15 minutes. Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah...mostly."

"What's left?" he asked. Liv held up his ring. He smiled and allowed her to put it on his hand. "We're not taking them off again. Let 'em figure it out " Olivia smiled as Elliot kissed her.

It had been a long week for the boy. He'd driven as long as he could every day with Ellie sleeping in her car seat. Dickie had taken his car to the dealership where he'd bought it and had them turn off his passenger air bag and install the car seat in the front for the road trip across the country. They were understanding and helped him. Ellie was good and slept most of the night, and just hung out in her seat watching her daddy drive during the day. Dickie was happy to have her in the front for the time being. She was his baby, and he never wanted her too far away.

Before he left, Dickie brought Ellie over to visit with Pam. She bought the condo back from him when he told her they were headed to New York. They talked a while, and Pam agreed to visit Ellie when they were ready to see her. She'd offered Dickie more money than he could make in a life time to just disappear with the baby, but he refused. It never occured to him exactly how much money Jen's mother had. As he walked out the door, she'd told him that Jen's trust fund would be turned over to Ellie when she turned 18, and he needn't worry about her utnil then; she'd provide everything Ellie needed until then.

The 8 day drive had been long and hard, but he was nearly home. Just a block away from his mom and sisters. As he rounded the corner to his home, Dickie felt a sense of relief wash over him. If he was going to raise a baby, he was happy to be raising her with his family instead of Jen's.

He stopped in front of his house and carefully maneuvered the car sear from the passenger side. Ellie was sleeping soundly for now, but he had a feeling that his sisters would change that quickly.

"Dickie," a voice called. Dickie shushed his friend.

"Hey Kyle," Dickie said, smiling at the boy he'd grown up with. "Meet my daughter, Ellie."

"Whoa, when did you have a kid?"

"Not mine, biologically, but I don't want to get into it. Its a long, and painful story."

"Guess you won't want to go out for baseball this season."

"Got better things to do, Kyle."

"Yeah," Kyle said looking down at the car seat. "My sister would probably want to babysit for you...any time."

"If my sisters ever put her down, we'll talk."

"I hear ya."

"I'm going to let them know I'm home. See ya later."

"Bring her by tomorrow, let her meet everyone at the skating rink. Sarah and her friend'll be there to baby sit if you want to play."

"We'll see. Its really cold, I need to get her inside." Kyle nodded and Dickie headed up to the house. He wasn't sure if he should ring the door bell or just open. The house was quiet, so he used his key and stepped in. Liz and Kathleen were asleep in front of the television, and his mother was in Elliot's old chair reading.

"Wipe you feet, Maureen," she called, without looking up.

"I did, Ma." Kathy dropped her book and met with Dickie's eyes. She jumped up and hugged him tightly.

"Dickie? What on earth are you doing here? Is this Ellie? Where's Jen?"

"Dad didn't tell you?" Kathy shook her head. "Let me get her down in my room, and we'll talk," he said, gently. "Okay?"

"Okay."

The flight had taken them all night, but Olivia and Elliot were home at last. Instead of going to his place, he took her directly to the 1-6. It was more home to her than anyplace else on earth. She stood in the hallway, taking in the sights and sounds of the building. Fin could be heard complaining about working on a Saturday, and having Munch's coffee. Munch was defending himself as best he could.

"You ready for this, Liv?"

"Not really."

"We could come back on Monday."

"No, we need to get it over with."

"We'll do it on Monday. Let's get a little sleep first, okay?" She nodded and they left without a word.

Dickie woke his 3rd morning home to Ellie crying from her bassinet. He cradled her against his bare chest and headed down the stairs. Maureen, Kathleen and Lizzie were laughing with Kathy in the kitchen. Dickie felt more at home than he had since he got there.

"Need a bottle?" Kathy asked, as she poured the hot water for the baby into a bottle.

"Yeah."

"I figured she'd be up soon."

"Hello, Little Bitty!" Maureen gushed to her neice. "Did you sleep well?" Ellie yawned in response. Kathy handed off the bottle, now just right for the infant. "Can I feed her?"

"Sure," Dickie said, handing off the baby. Maureen and her sisters wandered into the living room. "Show a girl a baby, and they gush all over her."

"They love her."

"I'm glad. I was worried that because she's not mine, they'd be weird about her being here."

"They love you, and they love her."

"I wish Jen was here, Mom." Kathy hugged her son.

"I know, Dickie. I'd fix this for you if I could," she whispered. "You have all the support you could need, son. You've got me, your sisters, your father, and Olivia. And with Liv comes the whole 1-6." Dickie choked out a small laugh.

"I think we'll be okay, me and Ellie."

"I think so, too."

"She'll always know how much I love her."

"What more could a girl ask for?"

"Thanks mom."

"We'll get Lizzie moved in with Kathleen today, and Ellie can have her own room soon."

"I think I want her with me for now," Dickie said. "I like being able to just look over at her, you know?"

"Oh, trust me, four times over, I understand. We'll get your room set up for two later then, okay?" Dickie nodded. They looked over when all the girls went 'Aww!' and Dickie shared a laugh with his mother. "You better rescue your daughter."

"What was so cute?" he called going in.

"She burped!" Lizzie said.

"I burp and its gross. She burps and its cute?"

Kathy watched her children around her granddaughter. It wasn't what she planned on as her family, but it was better than she could have imagined. For the first time that Kathy could remember, her children were getting along and becoming very good friends. They were happy in their own lives, and were grouping together to help Dickie through losing Jen. Kathy smiled and sighed happily. As she started to scrub at the breakfast pans, Dickie kissed her cheek, and grabbed a towl to dry them for her.

Monday came and Elliot kissed Liv once more before heading in to the precinct. They had everything planned, They would tell everyone over lunch. Fin and Munch already knew, but Casey, Don, and the rest of the squad had no idea. As they entered the 1-6, there was the usual Monday noise. Someone brought donuts, Munch was banned from the coffee maker once more, and Don yelled about no one showing up on time, when no one was due in for another 15 minutes.

"Who's catching?"

"I am," Fin called. A paper football hit him in the head from where Elliot and Olivia stood.

"Who-Stabler?" Don called, turning to face the two.

"What?" Liv and Elliot answered in unison. He froze, and Olivia waved her left hand. His eyes bulged when her ring caught his eye.

"Stabler?" he asked again. Liv grinned and blushed. "When?"

"September."

"Do you know how much paper work I have to do now?"

"None."

"Wh-"

"We've been married 4 months, and always kept it out of the office. You hired Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler back, and that's who you'll get. She kept her last name for work. Only for work. You don't have to notice anything if you don't want to, Don."

"Benson, I have a case that needs your attention," he said, without missing a beat.

"I'm on it."

"Its good to have you two back."

"Its great to be back."

"Good, get to work." He handed her a file and closed himself into his office. They'd taken the bait, hook, line and sinker. Don dialed the phone.

"Novak," came through.

"You owe me $500," Don said, grinning into the phone.

"Dating?"

"Married."

"Damn. Will you take a check?"

"Nope."

"Damn it." Don laughed and hung up the phone. He watched the squad room from his desk happily. Elliot and Olivia were happy, going over a case together. Elliot pulled his jacket on, and handed her the coat she'd just taken off. Munch and Fin flung the paper foot-balls back and forth as they talked about a case. Don picked up a cream filled donut and bit into it, squirting the cream onto his tie.

Life was officially perfect for Don Cragen.

That's all she wrote! I hope you enjoyed the story! Sorry about the month break; busy, writer's block, and illness again.