November 29, 1979:

12:34 p.m.

"If you don't want to go over this now, we can change the date again," she said evenly.

"Do I look like I have a death wish," he asked his fiancée with a cocky grin. "After the third postponement, I figured you were about ready to walk, I figure if there's a fourth, I'd better run," he added using a napkin to wipe the mustard away from his mouth, picking up the sandwich wrapper. Tossing what remained of his lunch into the can beside his desk, Jack McCoy reached for the tidy stack of papers.

Liz Donnelly moved the paper cup off to the side along with a legal file, as she leaned over his shoulder.

"The top one has the estimates for catering ," she said ignoring the attempt at banter.

McCoy pulled his chair back and reached out, suddenly pulling her on to his lap, bringing his lips down on hers.

"Come on, Jack." she said breathlessly. "I have to be back downstairs to meet with Lena Petrovsky in forty minutes."

McCoy sighed. "Alright, let's have a look," he said kissing her quickly, as he loosened his grip on her waist.

Donnelly stood over him as he studied the assortment of papers.

He looked up, handing her the stack.

"Everything looks reasonable to me. Well within the figure we discussed. I'll be happy with what ever you want. I promise to show up in whatever you order, I'll eat anything, and I'll sign a blank check. Doesn't get much easier than that."

Donnelly gave him a look. "It's your opinion I'm after McCoy, not your money. If you think I'm planning this wedding alone, think again, counselor. I'm second chairing for Lena on the Wendell case. I'm on call the next three weeks. No, we either do this together or we get married at city hall."

McCoy shook his head. "Come on, Liz, I thought we settled this. Just because I don't want a church wedding, doesn't mean you should settle for five minutes with a city official. You should have a wedding to -"

"Remember, "she said, finishing the sentence she had heard so often. Marrying you should be memorable enough ," she teased. "Alright, we'll table city hall. A outside wedding is way too risky in December. Looking at cost and location, I'd say the bar association hall is the way to go. Unless we wait until spring."

"We've changed the date twice, because of my trial schedule. It's been almost a year since I proposed. No. No more waiting ," he said firmly. " Bar association makes sense. Unless, you've reconsidered Paul and Anna's offer?"

Donnelly gave him a look, as she sat on the edge of the desk. "Even if the yacht club was your style - which we both know it's not - there's no way we're accepting a favor from a mob lawyer. Look Jack, I like Paul and Anna. Having him as your best man is fine, but that's where it stops. Unless, you want to forget about a career in the D A's office."

As much as he valued Paul Kopell's friendship, Jack had been shocked when his friend since law school ,had accepted a partnership with a firm whose major clients were known organized crime figures. Paul rode a line that was narrow, at best. McCoy the day Kopell would tumble and end up in over his head would never come.

"The Bar Association it is."

"I'll take a deposit check over today. When I called this morning, the 22nd was still open. Guest list is ready, so maybe we should look at invitations, next. Mom and Danny can stay at my place when they arrive. As for your family," she hesitated momentarily, as Jack stood up and faced the window. "I know how you feel about your Dad Jack, but what about Colleen and Patrick?"

"We've been over this. If I invite my brother and sister, he'll guilt them into bringing him. No, Liz. They met you when they came in for Thanksgiving and gave us their blessing. As much as they want to be here, they know the old man. They understand. Maybe if Mom was still alive…just trust me and lets move on."

Lena Petrovsky smiled up at Donnelly, as she took a seat across from the SVU Bureau Chief.

"How are the wedding plans coming, Liz?"

Petrovsky nodded as Donnelly filled her in on the lunchtime planning.

"You know, Jack is right. A wedding is something you do once - or at least you hope to do only once- are you really sure you don't want to take a leave and plan something extraordinary?"

"Lena, are you trying to get rid of me?'

Petrovsky laughed. "Quite the contrary."

"Whether I marry Jack at City Hall or St. Patrick's Cathedral, doesn't concern me in the least. I just want to marry him. To be honest, I'd rather do something small with some close friends instead of something splashy, that's going to start us off in debt and take anther year to plan. "

Petrovosky nodded. "Well, selfishly, I'm relieved to hear that. I met with Alfred Wentworth and the Mayor this morning. Seems this town is ready for a female Supreme court judge and you're looking her."

"Lena, that's wonderful," she gasped. "They couldn't have made a better choice."

"Thanks, but they couldn't have picked a worse time."

"The Wendell trial?"

The older woman nodded. "Yeah. Eighteen rapes in nine months. I really wanted to put that bastard away." Petrovsky leaned back in her chair. "Since I can't have the honor, how would you like to do it?"

"You even have to ask?"

"Not really, but with your upcoming wedding I wanted to be sure. You know the case and in the time you've been in SVU, your conviction rate as been well above the average. Besides, you're the most senior of the ADA's that have stuck it out."

"What about Hawkins?"

"Resigned this morning. Liz, let's face it. They drop like fly's in this bureau. The women aren't prepared for the brutality. The men can't deal with the victims," Petrvosky snickered. "Guess you have to be pretty twisted to thrive on dealing with domestic violence and rape every day."

"Well, you've got be twisted to bring the twisted down," Donnelly solemnly commented.

Petrovsky sighed, opening the file in front of her. "True enough. Wentworth and Schiff are sending someone from Major Felonies to assist you," she glanced up adding, "I specifically told them not to assign Jack. I know you two work well together, but this case…It's one thing for him to read about Wendell in the papers, but if he gets a look at what this guy did to his victims…no matter how well he talks the talk, Jack is human. He'd want you out of SVU yesterday, if he knew how sick Wendell really is."