After paying for the bill, Elliot and Olivia walked out into the bitter cold again. They were silent for a moment, and Elliot had a tight knot in his stomach; a huge regret for what he had said in the diner. Did it freak her out? Is the silence an awkward one? Did she never want to speak to him again? All of these thoughts, and more, ran through Elliot's mind, all of them asking their questions at once.

Elliot sighed. He had been trying to figure out what to say to break the ice with Olivia, without making things worse. He decided to go with the old fashioned way; "I'm sorry." He truly meant it.

"About what?" Asked Olivia, looking up at him in surprise.

This surprised Elliot. She wasn't mad? "What I said in the diner. I didn't mean to freak you out."

"Freak me out?" Olivia asked. She shook her head and chuckled. "Elliot, trust me when I say that you didn't freak me out. I thought it was sweet, honestly." She smiled at him, her eyes glistening.

Elliot's shoulders felt ten tons lighter. "Oh, okay, good." He said, as he sighed. "I mean, I just…I…"

Olivia shook her hands, to stop him. "It's okay." She linked arms with him again.

"Liv?" He asked, watching his feet make imprints in the snow.

"Yeah?" She responded, and looked up at Elliot.

"I got you something. For your birthday." He motioned Olivia to a bench, and once she sat down, he did as well.

"El… you remembered?" Asked Olivia. Honestly, she herself had forgotten that it was her birthday. She was having so much fun with Elliot, that the day had just seemed like a normal, beautiful day.

"Of course," said Elliot, smugly, "12/9. My lucky numbers." They were only lucky to him, because that was when Olivia was born. And without her, he wouldn't be the person he was today.

After a brief pause, Elliot flashed his cocky, half-smile at Olivia which, to be honest, made her heart melt every time. He then reached into his coat pocket, and pulled out a velvety box, which was about five inches long.

Elliot had gotten Olivia an emerald cut into the shape of a heart, on a white-gold chain. It wasn't a gaudy heart that was huge, but a small one. He knew Olivia hated drawing attention.

He remembered the time where he and Olivia were investigating a rape/homicide in a jewelry shop, which made him choose what jewelry to buy for her.

"…And he left all of the emeralds. Hmm, that's kind of sad." She had muttered.

"Why?" Elliot had asked. He was a guy, what did he care about green rocks?



"I think they're beautiful. I don't understand why someone would leave them."

"That's just you, Liv." Elliot had retorted.

Olivia looked at him, her smile hiding the true expression of her eyes. "I know."

Back in reality, Elliot opened the box for her, as if opening a ring box. Except, he wasn't on one knee… but he was in love.

Once seeing the piece of jewelry, Olivia let out a small gasp. She wasn't one to be dramatic, but she just simply couldn't contain that surprise and excitement inside of her. "It's… it's beautiful." Olivia said in a whisper, unintentionally.

A smile crept onto Elliot's face. "I'm glad you like it. I knew how you once said you liked emeralds, so…"

Olivia looked up to him and smiled, and then turned her attention to the emerald. She lightly touched it with two fingers. "It's perfect." She looked up to him. "Thank you. So much. You really didn't have to do this."

"I wanted to." Elliot said, softly. Olivia took out the emerald necklace, and unclasped it. "Here, let me," said Elliot, and he put it on Olivia. He smiled. "It looks great on you."

Olivia put the box on the other side of her, and she hugged Elliot. All Olivia truly wanted was to be with Elliot, but the generosity made her heart leap even more.

"You're the greatest person I've ever met," Olivia whispered in his ear.

Elliot's heart leapt and he was glad that Olivia was happy. "I'm glad you like the gift," he said.

Olivia pulled back, and shook her head. "It's not that. I mean, I love the emerald, and I'm never taking it off, but the reason I said that is because… well, it's true. You're the only one who really gets me, who has always been there for me. I can't ask any more for someone like that."

Elliot sighed. He was trying to figure out a way to say "I love you" in a shrouded cloud of mystery. When he came at a loss of words, he then said, "You mean the same to me, Liv. I'd do anything for you." He pulled her in his arms, and kissed her forehead.

They sat on the park bench until nightfall. Both of them not saying a single word, because they both knew what the other was saying:

I love you.