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It wasn’t the first time Amanda was awake early on a weekend; years of being dragged out of bed for a case, a foot against her bladder, an early riser their middlest had somehow become and a baby that clearly takes after his father, she’d had her fair share of early wake up calls.
Though the reason for their earlyness this morning wasn’t that much of an annoyance to her; even if it meant dealing with an overly talkative almost five year old and a grumpy at being awake eight year old.
Jesse was slumped on the kitchen stool, elbow on the island and head propped up by her hand; while Billie was sitting next to her talking a mile a minute about the dream she had last night. All while Sonny was quickly trying to fix breakfast before it was time to get them ready and out the door.
A knock pulled Amanda’s attention away, heaving Nicky up higher on her hip she made to move for the front door - only for it to open itself.
Amanda stepped back into the kitchen and turned towards Sonny. “Your mother’s here.”
There was, after all, only one person with a key who would let herself into their house without an emergency.
“I told her she didn’t need to -“ Sonny started but Amanda cut him off with a chuckle.
“It’s her grandson’s baptism,” Amanda reminded him, not an ounce of true annoyance in her voice. “Did you really think she was going to listen?”
It only took a few moments for Serafina to make her way down the hallway and into the kitchen to mutual happy shouts from the girls. She draped a garment bag over the back of the nearest chair and Amanda was suddenly aware of just how much more busy they were about to be this morning.
Amanda gratefully handed Nicky over and scooped up the coffee cup Sonny slid across the island towards her. She would gladly take the extra set of hands to get the kids ready even with everything else she knew came with Serafina.
The next hour consisted of a slightly slow breakfast; and then a rush to get the girl’s dressed, hair done, as well as getting herself dressed. It seemed as if setting out their dresses last night didn’t help much because somehow socks, stockings and shoes had turned up missing.
Amanda might have ripped her own hair out right then and there, if Serafina hadn’t walked into the girl’s rooms, while Sonny had reverted to checking under the beds, and found them.
“Thank you.”
“Happens to the best of us,” Serafina placed a hand on Amanda’s shoulder, a silent reminder that Amanda wasn’t alone anymore. “Been there myself.”
“What kind of sixth sense does your mother have to find missing items?” Amanda asked Sonny when they were in the driveway, getting the kids settled in the car.
“Being a Catholic Italian mother?”
“Yeah, sure,” Amanda responded with a laugh as she clicked Nicky’s car seat buckle into place.
“Well I feel late to the party.”
Amanda turned around at the voice, a smile breaking through when her gaze fell on Liv and Noah. “Serafina’s just super early….We’re still waiting for a couple.”
Amanda shared a fist bump with Noah before he ran off.
“Well I guess there are advantages to already being over here,” Liv said, flipping her gaze back over from where she was watching after Noah. “Whereas the rest of us had to drive over the bridge.”
Amanda bit back a smile and turned her head. “Who would have thought I’d ever buy a house so close to my in-laws.”
Liv placed a hand on Amanda’s shoulders. “You’ve got some pretty good ones, Amanda.”
Amanda opened her mouth to respond just as a shout came from Billie. She turned her head just as the doors of the church opened again to reveal Bella, Tommy and the kids. Amanda could see the rest of who they were waiting on behind them.
She watched as her youngest daughter saw the newest arrivals, pulled herself away from Dominick Senior and took off at a sprint towards them. And Amanda was once again realizing that it wasn’t just Serafina and Dom that had accepted her and her girls without question; Sonny’s entire immediate family had done the same.
Her kids had present grandparents, aunts, cousins and would forever be surrounded by love .
“Yeah,” Amanda breathed out. “I do.”
Liv had slipped away then, probably to wrangle Noah and get him seated just as Sonny slid up next to her.
“You okay?” he asked, his hand moving to rest on her upper back.
“I’m fine, really I am,” she added at the arch of his eyebrow, even while taking a deep breath.
Maybe she was a little nervous, technically being a part of the center of attention, even if most of the attention was going to be on their son - she’d still be up there with him. But there were also so many other emotions - albeit good ones - warring around in her head.
“Just thinking about the last time I did this,” she said, glancing around at the church, at their families milling about. “How different it was last time.”
And maybe how much smaller it was the last time.
How last time, it was just her, the girls, Sonny, Liv and Noah and Fin in a small church; but this time, the number of attendees had doubled in size in the church that Sonny and his family had been coming to for decades.
“So now is probably not the time to remind you that we’ve talked ma down from the original guest list?”
Amanda swatted his chest, even while they were being called to take their places as Father Ralph walked into the room.
“Dominick Oliver Carisi…I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Amanda heard a slight intake of breath and if she hadn’t known Liv for the better part of thirteen years, she probably never would have noticed it in the first place. But either way, her gaze immediately flipped to Liv standing on the other side of the basin.
Liv met her gaze and the two shared a small smile.
Amanda turned back to her quiet son, still staring at the water, even while Liv was stepping away and chuckled.
She had to admit, even while she was getting used to Carisi family gatherings, it was still a lot - especially when they were cramped into a restaurant with her family and coworkers. It was also loud ; but there was no denying the love and respect there too.
It was good.
Even her mother was in a decent mood - no snide comments or attitude - hadn’t even made a quip at Amanda’s request to not invite Jim. And Amanda could see her out of the corner of her eye, talking to Serafina.
Velasco and Mia had even taken it upon themselves to entertain all the kids - Noah, Grace, Jesse, Mason, Tommy and Billie.
It was a perfect blend of both of her families; and so full of the love she’d almost given up on ever happening for her; but Amanda still felt herself getting more than just a little overwhelmed and needing a break . The next thing she knew, she was passing Nicky to Fin and Sonny was pulling her away to the next room; which ended up with them moving to an even further corner.
Amanda reluctantly pulled back when she had to catch her breath, trying her best to ignore the heated glint in her husband's eyes. She slid her hand down until it was flat against his chest.
“Save some for later, Counselor,” she breathed, stealing a glance away from their darkened corner. “When we’re not still required to be in a restaurant with your family for the next couple of hours.”
“No one’s gonna find us,” he responded, thumb tracing circles on her cheek.
“The girls almost did,” Amanda rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
The way that this was so reminiscent of a darkened courthouse wasn't lost on her; the only difference was there would be no consequences if they were caught. They weren’t hiding even though they were tucked away in a quiet corner.
But there were still some conversations she didn’t want to have.
“You want your mother to be next?”
He turned his head for a moment before meeting her gaze again. “I’m sure she’s busy now fighting Fin over Nicky.”
“If one of your sisters haven’t stolen our boy.”
Sonny smiled, crinkling the side of his eyes and he quickly leaned down to capture her lips, pulling her impossibly closer as he did so.
“ Sonny ,” she warned, pulling back, leaving her hand on his chest. But she knew where the look in his eye came from; the same look that always appeared whenever mentions of their family came up.
She lifted up on her toes, leaving one more lingering kiss on his lips - a wordless promise for later.
“You were gone for a while,” Olivia quipped as soon as she saw Amanda coming back to the middle of the restaurant.
Amanda opened her mouth to respond, opening there wasn’t anything in her face that would give her away.
“No one noticed,” Olivia told her, waving a hand. “Well, no one else.”
Amanda just raised an eyebrow but followed the direction of Liv’s hand to the opposite side of the restaurant where she’d left Nicky with Fin; to find her son in exactly the spot she’d expected him to be - his grandmother’s arms, with Gina and Bella milling out, trying to get their hands on their nephew.
“You’re allowed you know,” Olivia said with a knowing look and Amanda knew it was about more than just sneaking away for a moment alone, it was about being happy , about allowing herself to be.
Amanda took the glass of wine Olivia handed her way. “And has that compass led you anywhere yet?”
Olivia reached up, fingers wrapping around the necklace. “Not yet.”
“Do I need to be the one to get the two of you a hotel room?”
Olivia spluttered against the sip of wine she’d just taken; but Amanda just stood there with a smirk on her face.
“I’ve never told you who gave me this.”
Amanda raised an eyebrow. “You’re not serious, are you? I was a detective for long enough, and I’ve known you for almost as long.”
Olivia just smiled around another sip of wine, giving her a knowing look. However, that was a conversation not to be had in the middle of a slightly crowded restaurant with their families and wasn’t even a conversation Amanda was ready to have again.
A part of her wondered if she ever would be.
“You know, I will make the call if I need to.”
“I’m beginning to hate your mother for ever giving you that advice, ” Olivia said after a while with a roll of her eyes.
Amanda chuckled just as a squeal grabbed her attention and she turned to find that Velasco had apparently found Jesse and Grace; but they’d both taken off running again, rushing past the two adults in their haste.
“Quick, go, go,” Olivia called as they ran past.
“Are you really letting a bunch of kids get the best of you, Velasco?” Amanda teased as he ran past them, even if she knew her girls and the Sullivans could be a handful, especially when they were together.
Amanda ignored Velasco’s grumbled response before turning her gaze back towards Olivia. “Now back to business.”
“I’ve told you, Amanda, it’s a work in progress.”
“Right.”
Well maybe Sonny nudging Steve your way will be a push in the right direction.
Though Amanda knew all about how terrifying it was when the only thing standing between you and what you want most is yourself.
“So baby Nicky’s name?” Olivia asked, obviously changing the subject to which Amanda just rolled her eyes.
Amanda met Olivia’s eyes; the same admiration and shock reflected there, maybe also a little bewilderment as was in the church. Her eyes were only a little more misty than they were back in the church.
“We’ve told you his name.”
“ Amanda .”
“Well we technically did,” she responded, glancing away for a moment, landing on where she could see Billie’s foot peeking out from underneath a table.
They had just been more than a little tight lipped about the boy’s full name.
Olivia just hummed around another sip of wine.
“You’re important to me, Liv,” Amanda said, immediately, albeit softly. “To both of us. We wanted him to have a piece of one of the best people we know.”
“ So this is how you tell me,” Olivia breathed out, her free hand coming up to rest on her chest.
Amanda wasn’t present when Olivia had found out about her godson thanks to her husband’s big mouth; but she could imagine that Olivia had a similar reaction.
“Maybe we wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Well surprised I am,” Olivia told her, with so much awe in her voice. “But I’m also so honored.”
“Good, because it’s a little too late to change his name now,” Amanda joked, her gaze falling on where Sonny had gotten roped into a conversation with his father. “It took us too long to agree on a name in the first place; but you know how stubborn I can be.”
Olivia laughed. “I am well aware… just as long as I wasn’t the reason for the name fighting.”
“It wasn’t really fighting,” Amanda responded immediately, because they didn’t fight in the sense of what Amanda grew up around, had barely raised their voices around each other beyond that one sleep deprived fight in the middle of the squad room years ago. “But no, Oliver was the one thing we agreed on rather quickly…it was more so the order of the names.”
Amanda had been just a little adamant on their son sharing names with two of the most important people in her life, and a small piece of the man who so easily welcomed her and her girls into his family.
“I think it might suit him.”