Title: Countdown
Pairing: Alex Cabot/Olivia Benson
Rating: K
Author's Note: These characters aren't mine. If they were, things would be different, and I wouldn't have to worry about paying for college. They belong to Dick Wolf and NBC. Do I have that right? Anyways, the only things I own are almost a dozen textbooks, an empty box of old candy canes, and a laptop I got for my birthday.
.
Olivia stands in the kitchen of their apartment, admiring the fourteen karat white-gold engagement ring with the 1/5 carat princess-cut diamond resting in her palm.
"Liv, sixty seconds," Alex yells from the living room, childlike giddiness in her voice.
Smiling to herself, Olivia pockets the ring and picks up the two champagne flutes full of sparkling apple cider. Walking into their living room, she sees Alex perched on the edge of the couch, unadulterated excitement in her eyes.
"Forty seconds," she says, looking up at Olivia.
Olivia chuckles and sets the glasses on the table. Sitting on the couch, she pulls Alex close and presses a kiss to her temple.
Thirty seconds.
Olivia reaches into her pocket and grips the ring tightly, pleading with herself to not lose her nerve.
Twenty seconds.
Alex looks over at Olivia, excitement etched all over her face, and studies the detective, noting, in the back of her mind, how anxious Olivia looks.
"Ten," they yell in unison.
"Nine!"
"Eight!"
"Seven!"
"Six!"
"Five!"
"Four!"
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
"Happy New Year," they exclaim, turning to kiss one another.
Olivia pulls the ring out of her pocket. "Marry me," she says, looking into Alex's shining eyes.
Alex smiles wider than Olivia has ever seen and nods enthusiastically. "Yes," she says, letting Olivia slide the ring onto her finger. "Yes."
.
Happy New Year, everyone!