A/N: Thanks everyone for the reviews, and I'm very sorry for the delay! Soooooooooo the funeral is here! Has everyone got the paper tissues in position? Oh God...
I must say, I had a major writer's block on this one. I knew exactly how I wanted everything to happen but it seemed like I just couldn't find the words! I wanted it to be more than perfect, maybe that's why.
I do not own Law & Order SVU or its characters.

The 16th precinct was even sadder than usual. All curtains had been closed in respect to Elliot, so the light coming inside enlightened the room in a different way, making it a little dark.

There was a picture in front of his casket turned towards the door, so that it was the first thing everyone saw as they entered the squad room. It was Elliot in his Marine uniform, holding his hat in his right arm and, even though he was serious, his eyes were shining – you could see he was extremely happy when the picture was taken.

Dozens of cops had come around to pay their respects: Detectives from Homicides, Robbery, Narcotics, Warrants, Bomb Squad, as well as IAB, CSU, Melinda and the team at the M.E.'s office, Morales and the Tech Squad, Arthur Branch, Casey and the team at the DA's office, Dana Lewis and a couple FBI agents, Judges Liz Donnelly, Lena Petrovsky and Lois Preston... And of course, Bernie, Kathy and the kids. Most of the people, though, were civilians – hundreds, if not thousands of them: victims, families of victims, admirers of NYPD and Marine Corps, and others who just passed by to say goodbye to one of the New York's Finest.

People came in and out of the squad room during all the morning. They were supposed to leave for the burial around 2 PM, but the funeral would be over around noon so everyone had time to have lunch, if they managed to put any piece of food inside their bodies, that is. Olivia knew she wouldn't.

Around 12:15 the precinct was empty except for Cragen, Tucker, the chief of D's, the detectives who actually worked there and Elliot's family. The doors had been locked and anyone who eventually came around to pay respects to the detective was invited to join the procession that was going to take place later. Olivia was sitting on the stairs looking numbly at the point where the wall met the floor when Tucker walked to her silently.

- Detective Benson – he started talking quietly –, I'm terribly sorry. I know that this might not be the best moment, but since your partner was no longer married, we would like you to take the flag when the procession starts – Olivia stared at him, shocked.

- I don't mean to be impolite, sir, but this really isn't the most proper moment. Besides, Elliot no longer had a wife but he had five children. I'm sure his older daughter, Maureen, will accept to take the flag.

- I know, Olivia – the use of her first name didn't go unnoticed by her –, but I talked to your captain and he said that Elliot would be very happy if you were the one to take it – he gave her a small, sad smile.

Olivia took a deep breath and extended her right arm.

- Fine. I'll take it.

Tucker handed her the folded red and white tissue and quickly left her alone again. She sighed, put it on a table nearby and went upstairs to the cribs. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep, but maybe she could give her body some rest from this nightmare. She laid down on one of the cots and slowly dozed off without really noticing it, until she felt a hand caressing her hair.

Almost immediately, she started crying. Whenever a case hit hard on her, or even if she just needed to relax, they would sit on the couch, or on the bed, at her apartment – their apartment –, Olivia would lay her head down on Elliot's lap and he would caress her hair softly with his left hand, his right one on her waist, until she fell asleep. No words were needed.

Whoever was touching her hair stopped the motions and hugged her very tightly.

- It's okay, Liv, it's okay – she heard Dickie say in a soft voice, and tried to keep her emotions under control.

She was the one who was supposed to be hugging him and saying it was okay. Dickie was suffering too, he had lost his father, and what terrified Olivia the most was that she didn't know what to say to him. She never got the chance to actually bond with her father, not that she had any intention of doing it, so she couldn't lie to him and tell him she knew what he was feeling. Instead, she just took deep breaths and hugged him back. After several minutes, she finally stopped crying and Dickie let go of her.

- Liv... It's time to go – he said.

- Okay.

Olivia stood up, holding his hand, and they went downstairs to meet the rest of the group. She grabbed the flag that she had laid on a table earlier and was ready to go. Before they left, however, Olivia had a moment to herself next to Elliot, and as soon as she noticed it she took the opportunity to say goodbye to him properly.

- El, I... Oh, my God. I love you so, so much. I don't know how... – she sighed – I just wished I never had to live without you, my love. I already miss you terribly and I'm gonna miss you more everyday – she leant down and kissed his now cold lips.

Elliot looked peaceful, his eyes closed, as if he was asleep. She gave a small, sad smile at the sight and kissed him again.

- I love you – she said, touching his forehead. – And I will be with you again soon.

Cragen, Olivia, Munch and Fin, all dressed in their blues, were the firsts and walked right next to each other, the captain and Olivia in the middle, with John by Cragen's left and Fin by Olivia's right. Since the uniform they were wearing was formal, not the one the other cops used every day, Olivia's set also included, apart from the pants, a knee-length skirt which she was wearing. She knew Elliot loved when she wore dresses and skirts, so it was a kind of homage to him as well.

Right behind them were the Stabler kids, hand in hand, except for Eli who was on Maureen's arms. The walk itself was not the problem – Eli was always running around. But the cemetery was pretty far from the precinct, and she figured he would get tired, so she just picked him up and was supporting him wither body and her left arm. Behind the kids were Bernadette Stabler, Elliot's mother, who was crying silently, and Kathy, who had her left arm over the old lady's shoulders.

Six uniformed cops, three on each side, were taking Elliot's casket, which was now closed. When they finally left the building, thousands of civilians were waiting outside and joined the procession, walking behind the cops, followed by three police cars with their lights on, but no sirens. Three other police cars, also with lights on and sirens off, were going in front of the SVU team.

About an hour and half later, they got to the cemetery and to the Stabler family's tomb. There was a priest talking about Heaven, saying death is not the end and also telling what a great man Elliot was. Olivia recognized the priest to be Father Fryson, the priest at Elliot's church and a close friend of his. When he stopped talking and blessed the casket, she knew it was her turn.

Olivia stepped forward, holding her tears, unfolded the flag and laid it over Elliot's casket. Then she stepped back, raised her right arm and positioned her hand next to her head, the tip of her forefinger and middle finger touching slightly the side of her head. Cragen, Munch and Fin did the same and, as she watched the casket go down, memories ran through Olivia's head.

" – I sure as hell wouldn't drive all the way from Queens to save your ass.

(...)

- Olivia, it's me, I know the issues you had.

(...)

- If you can't trust your partner, Elliot, it's time to get a new one.

(...)

- Olivia! Oh my God, no, no!

- It's okay, I'm okay, I'm okay, where's Gitano? Go, Elliot! Go! I'm fine! Go! Go!

(...)

- What about me?

- Look, we both chose each other over this job. We can never let that happen again. Otherwise, we can't be partners.

- I can't believe you're saying that.

- You and this job are about the only things I've got anymore. I don't wanna wreck that. Can't take it.

(...)

- I like that shirt.

- What are you doing here?

- I heard what happened between you and Blaine.

- What can I tell you? He's a prick – silence. He approached her. – Why didn't you tell me?

- Elliot, we've been partners for seven years, longer than anybody else here. We needed a change. I'm sorry. I should've talked to you. It's just... It's just too complicated.

(...)

- Hey, who's Elliot?

- What?

- You've been mumbling the name 'Elliot' all night.

(...)

- Kathy's pregnant.

(...)

- They said I'm not an appropriate mother.

- They're wrong.

(...)

- What happened at the basement?

- Nothing. I'm fine, El.

(...)

- Hi, I'm Elliot, this is my wife Olivia.

(...)

- Do you Elliot Stabler take Olivia Benson as your lawfully wed wife?

- I do.

- Do you Olivia Benson take Elliot Stabler as your lawfully wed husband?

- I do."

The casket hit the ground.

A/N: SURPRISE SURPRISE! How 'bout that, huh?