Christmas Day, 1980
Olivia Benson was on Cloud Nine. First, she was riding on her prized gift, a pink ten-speed bicycle from her parents! Second, she was on her way to the Briscoe residence to deliver the cookies she had baked the night before. She looked forward to seeing them---
Nah, who am I trying to fool?! I want to see Kenny. That's why I talked Marmee into driving me to the store near closing time to get the walnuts. Maybe he'll have a present for me.
Just as she turned onto his street, she saw a boy familiar pull out of a yard on a blue ten-speed.
"Hey, yo, Olivia!" Kenny waved as he pedaled towards her.
"Kenny! I don't believe it!" Olivia exclaimed as they stopped beside each other. "We got the same Christmas gift!"
"Yeah! And I put most of it together, too!"
"Say whaaaat?!"
"Well, when I woke up today," he explained, "this huge box is under the tree. I open it up, and it's the bike parts in the box. Then Dad says, 'Open the little box next to it.' So I do, and there's a chest of tools in it."
"Your dad sure believes in his work!" Olivia laughed.
Kenny shrugged. "Either that or he's trying to compete with Uncle Lennie." He gave a subdued laugh. "He did help with some of it."
Meanwhile, Joe Briscoe discreetly watched the children through a living room window. He raised his thick eyebrows as they moved their bikes side by side. He knew what was coming.
"Quick, somebody gimmie my new camera!" He said, reaching behind.
"What is it?" His own father frowned from the couch as Elliei rushed the Canon its owner. "Hoodlums vandalizing one of the cars?"
"No, your grandson is getting his first kissii." He beamed as he took adjusted the lense.
At the word "kiss," Cathy and Julia attempted to leave their respective positions on the couch and Grandpa Jake's lap.
"Oh no, you stay right where you are," the older man stated jovially, restraining them gently and yet effectively. "That's not for little girls to see!"
"Yeah, just their dads," Lennie quipped, joining his brother at the window.
Meanwhile, unaware of their audience, Kenny and Olivia continued to share a series of kisses. They were soft and warm, neither too quick nor too prolonged, and each filled with the budding affection common to the very adolescent. And for the pair, it was a special Christmas moment, for which they would have places in their hearts even after their paths diverged.
Author's note: Canon is a registered trademark.
i Joe's sister-in-law, Lennie Briscoe's wife, and Kenny's aunt.
ii Kenny has not told anyone about the kiss shared last summer on Olivia's first day home from the hospital.