A/N: So, it's been an age. but I finally have an update for you! I decided to continue with my 'celebrating events' updating thing so this one is to celebrate my birthday... and what better way to do it than with a nice E/O story (with a wedding, no less.) Also, I managed to work in one of my other ships :) which was a little self-indulgent of me but meh. I always thought they'd be a fantastic couple, even if they are on different L&Os. I'm sorry for the delay, but I hope you think it's worth the wait, and please send me a review and let me know what you think!
Bucken-Berry, you're right. I should have. Oh well, maybe next time.
Hailey, I'm glad you found it so funny, and I hope this is worth days of me saying I'm writing it!
SVUandBonesAddict, I am so sorry this took so long but hopefully you'll still enjoy it and it'll be worth the wait!
Sidle13, I'm really happy you like my fic :) And yeah, I figured a traditional thing just wouldn't really be 'them'...
inspirationimagination, I love your long reviews! And I really wanted to work in things that are very 'New York' to it because the city is such a huge part of the show, as well as putting in a little hint from the actual episodes...
Elliotandoliviababies, I hope you like this and that it's just as sweet as you'd hoped.
balseirocharmed, I don't know if you're still reading (I miss you :( if that doesn't sound really damn creepy) but I'm sorry I kept you waiting so long, and here's more for you at last!
If anyone's interested, the title of this chapter is pronounced 'poh-sah' and is Irish for 'Marriage.'
So, note over, I am so, so sorry about the huge delay, and I promise I will try not to leave you waiting so long for the next one! I hope you all like it, and please, please let me know what you all think!
Pósadh
(Marriage)
'So, uh...' Elliot glanced around the living room, taking in the half-drained glasses and the overflowing ashtray. 'Nice place you got here...'
Judge Donnelly glared. 'Why? Does your house always look immaculate just in case someone drops by unannounced?'
No. Elliot shifted awkwardly. Even when I've got guests coming over I usually just move the couch to hide the worst of it. 'Uh, well...' He suddenly spotted a broken computer on a table the far corner. Thank God. Mention it. Maybe you'll bond. 'Hey, I think I have that same computer!' He smiled hopefully. 'I could probably fix it for you if you like...'
Donnelly leaned forward and glared more. 'That's art.'
'Oh.' Elliot stared at the floor, feeling waves of hatred radiating off Donnelly as she sat beside him on the couch. Really great start to your wedding there, idiot. He squirmed uncomfortably. This must be one of the worst, most awkward moments of all time... He cleared his throat. 'You nearly done there, Liv?'
'I don't know, Alex won't answer her phone...' Olivia swore to herself and hit redial. 'And we need a witness to- ALEX! Hi!'
Elliot breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God. 'All right, let's get her here and get started!' Then we can get out of this awkward hellhole and get started on the honeymoon... He grinned to himself. I'm really looking forward to that...
Olivia was frowning now, pacing up and down the room with the phone pressed tightly against her ear. 'Alex... No, Alex, this is important... I know... it's Christmas morning and you live alone, what the hell could you be-' She stopped, her eyes widening. 'Alex, is that Munch in the background?'
Elliot's jaw dropped. What?
'Yes, Alex, it is, I just heard him!' Olivia was shaking her head in disbelief. 'Why is he there? Why do you sound out of breath? No, don't dodge the question! Alex! ALEX!' She looked at Elliot in shock. 'She hung up on me!'
Judge Donnelly rolled her eyes and muttered darkly under her breath.
'Oh well.' Olivia sighed and started dialling again. 'I'll try Casey...'
Elliot shot Judge Donnelly a nervous glance. 'You do that...' Quickly. I really don't want to be dismembered by a hungover judge on my wedding day.
Olivia had started to pace restlessly up and down the room. 'Come on, pick up pick up pick up pick up- CASEY! Thank God!'
Elliot silently thanked all the saints for sending him Casey Novak.
'Casey, where are you?... Really? That's fantastic!' She smiled at Elliot. 'She's only six blocks away!'
'What?' Elliot frowned. 'Why would she be in this neighbourhood?'
Judge Donnelly smirked. 'I believe EADA McCoy lives around six blocks from here...'
Wow. This is really the day of uncomfortable surprises. Elliot rolled his eyes. Oh well. At least everyone got laid. He shot Judge Donnelly another nervous look. Except her.
'Casey, I need you to do me a small favour...' Olivia gave Elliot a quick thumbs up. 'Can you pop down to Judge Donnelly's house for a few minutes? No, it won't take long.' She looked surprised. 'Yes, of course you can bring a friend...'
Donnelly smirked again. 'Told you.'
Olivia was smiling happily. 'OK. See you in five minutes. OK.' She hung up and grinned at Elliot, her eyes shining with excitement. 'She'll be here in five minutes, El!'
He smiled, putting his arm around her as she sat down on the couch and snuggled up to him. 'That's fantastic, Liv.'
'I know.' She smiled back, stretched up and kissed him. 'I love you, El.'
'I know.' He smiled again and kissed her, stroking the side of her face. 'I love you too.'
'OI!' Donnelly elbowed Elliot hard in the ribs and gave them a dirty look. 'No necking on my expensive couch!'
Elliot rolled his eyes at Olivia and leaned in to whisper in her ear. 'Jesus, it's like my grandmother and the Good Front Room all over again...'
Donnelly's eyes narrowed dangerously. 'Detective, did I just hear you compare me to your elderly grandmother?'
Shit. 'Uh...' Elliot squirmed uncomfortably, hearing Olivia snort with laughter beside him. Nice one, idiot. 'Uh, no. Of course not.' He gave Olivia a look. Hey, it's not my fault that woman has ears like a fucking bat...
Judge Donnelly just shook her head and glared.
There was an awkward silence.
Donnelly was the first to break it. 'That's an interesting ring you have there, Miss Benson.' She nodded at Olivia's engagement ring. 'What stone is that?'
'Uh...' She felt Elliot's arm tighten around her shoulders and she smiled. 'It's garnet.'
'Ah. The stone of passionate devotion.' Donnelly smiled for the first time that morning. 'Beautiful choice, Miss Benson.'
Elliot leaned in and kissed Olivia's cheek. 'I thought so.' I knew that weird book of 1001 gems and crystals Maureen made me buy her would have a use one day...
There was a loud knock at the front door and Donnelly winced. 'Jesus, doesn't anyone have any respect for a good honest hangover these days...' She climbed uncomfortably to her feet and went to the door. 'Unless your name is Casey Novak, I have three large guns and I am not afraid to use them!'
'Jesus...' Elliot gave Olivia a worried look as he stood up. 'This woman is ARMED?' Maybe you were right about gun control...
Olivia sighed. 'Apparently so.' She held out her hand and he helped her to her feet. 'Don't worry, El. I think she's too drunk to aim right now.'
'I know, that's what scares me...' He shuddered. I'd rather not be shot by a hungover judge on my wedding day either...
'That's what scares you?' Olivia smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist. 'Not the whole getting married thing?'
'Never.' Elliot smiled and put his arms around her. 'I love you, Olivia.'
She smiled and kissed him. 'I love you too.'
'I'm glad.' Elliot smiled, looked up and froze. 'Casey! You, uh... brought Mr McCoy with you!' I so wanted Donnelly to be joking before...
'It's EADA McCoy.' Casey leaned in and winked. 'I like to call him that in bed.'
Elliot blinked. Dear God. 'Well, it's lovely to see you, Casey.' Now excuse me while I go and purge my brain of what you've just told me. He pushed down a sudden twinge of nausea and handed her Olivia's wedding ring. 'Do you think you could hold this for me until we need it?'
'Sure, what-' She stopped, staring down at the ring and finally noticing Olivia's dress and veil. 'Fuck.'
Elliot sighed and reluctantly let go of Olivia. 'I know this seems a bit sudden, Casey, but-'
'No, it's not that.' Casey sighed. 'It's just that now I owe Alex fifty bucks.'
Olivia's jaw dropped. What? 'Casey-'
'Miss Benson.' Donnelly cleared her throat pointedly. 'Now that we have our witness, and her, er, 'friend'-' she smirked at McCoy '-maybe we could get started?' She nodded wearily at the couch. 'Anyone mind if I sit down for this?'
Elliot glanced at Olivia. 'Uh... sure?'
'Fantastic.' Donnelly sat down heavily on the couch and slumped back against the cushions, pausing only to pour herself a fresh glass of Scotch. 'Let's get this farcical show on the road.'
Elliot blinked. Farcical?
'Hang on.' Casey frowned and raised her hand. 'Why does your wedding ring say 'Property of the NYPD' inside?'
'Uhhhh...' Elliot shot OIivia a quick sideways glance. 'It's a really, REALLY long story...' One that involves swingers, incest and petty theft...
'We'll tell you later.' Olivia grinned and took Elliot's hand. 'Do you want to start, El?'
Um. 'No.' He smiled and kissed her cheek. 'Ladies first.' For one thing, I've no idea what in the name of fuck to say, and I'm sure you'll come up with something good that I can use.
'No, El.' Olivia's eyes narrowed warningly. 'That wasn't a question.' Maybe if he says his vows first I can steal some of them for when I have to say mine. 'You're first.'
Shit. 'Oh. Ok.' Elliot shifted uncomfortably on the spot. It's OK, Elliot. Make it up as you go along. You'll be fine. 'Uh... well...' Great start, asshole. 'Um...'
'Oh, for the love of...' Donnelly rolled her eyes. 'Look, I've got a hangover on me fit to kill a fucking horse stone dead, so why don't you just start with why it is you love her and we can just leave it there?'
'Uh...' Elliot could feel himself blushing. I hope you know that you sound like a complete idiot right now. 'Liv, I... uh...' He trailed off. 'Uh...'
'Oh, for God's sake...' Donnelly took another gulp of Scotch. 'Is it because she's beautiful? Kind? Funny?'
Elliot squeezed Olivia's hand. 'Yes.'
'Well, Jesus Christ, Detective, am I the one marrying this girl or are you?'
Elliot smiled and stroked the side of Olivia's face. 'I am.'
'Then for God's sake start talking.' Donnelly rolled her eyes, gulping down the rest of the Scotch and refilling her glass. 'And you'd better make it good or she'll spend the rest of your life making sure you pay for it.'
Shit. Elliot felt a twinge of dread. She's right. 'Uh, Liv...' He looked at Olivia, feeling a rush of affection for her as she chewed on her lip nervously and smiled up at him. Actually, this isn't difficult at all. He smiled to himself. 'Olivia... I love you. I have loved you almost since the moment I first saw you, and... I've always wondered how someone as beautiful as you could do such an ugly job, and I honestly wouldn't have thought it was possible before I met you, but you proved me wrong, you keep proving me wrong, and I love you for it.'
Hey, that sounded pretty good. Run with it.
'Olivia, I...' He hesitated. OK, this could either sound really creepy or really romantic... 'Uh...' Oh well. Only one way to find out. He took a deep breath. 'I remember watching you working with the children and seeing how good you were at it, how good you were with them, and it made me smile because it was so sweet, and I could tell how much you loved doing it, but...' He smiled at her and squeezed her hand. 'But it also made me sad because I knew that it would never be my kids, that I wouldn't get to be the one to be with you and watch you raising our children because they wouldn't be mine, they'd be yours and whatever loser you'd ended up marrying, and...' He sighed. 'And I realised just how much I wanted that.' Wait. 'I mean, I wanted you to be the mother of my children, not that I wanted you to marry some other loser. Just so that's clear.' Well said, moron. 'So please don't feel like you have to marry some other guy. Because I'd really rather you didn't.'
Donnelly rolled her eyes and drained her Scotch. 'Well, that's romantic.'
Elliot blushed bright red. She does have a point. He sighed again. 'Olivia, I love you. You've seen me at my worst, there's nothing you don't know about me, and the best thing is we can laugh about it. Whenever something goes a little bit wrong it's not a disaster, it's not the end of the world, because we laugh about it together, and that makes it OK.'
'It does.' Olivia smiled and stroked the palm of his hand with her thumb. 'I love you, El.'
Elliot smiled back. 'I love you too.' He leaned and kissed her. 'Your turn.'
Oh. Right. Olivia bit her lip nervously. Shit. Nothing I come up with will be anywhere near as good as that. 'El, I... um...' If that's all you've got then you might as well just be honest. Who knows, he might think it's cute. She sighed. 'Look, we both know that I'm no good at stuff like this, but... El, you're the only person I've ever truly trusted, and the only man I've ever really let myself close to, and I love that you never let me down, you never made me feel like I'd made a mistake in trusting you, and I know that you never will.' She smiled and started to stroke the palm of his hand with her thumb. Actually, this isn't so difficult after all... 'When I had that awful flu, you went out of your way to come round and look after me. When I was accused of murder, you believed I was innocent even when everyone else was starting to doubt it. You put your house up as collateral for my bail, even though it was all you had and if you lost it you'd be left with nothing, and the fact that you trusted me enough to put all that into my hands... it meant so much to me.'
She cleared her throat. 'You've always taken care of me El, no one else has ever looked after me the way that you do, and I've always felt so safe with you.. Whenever anything bad happened, you could make me feel better, however awful it was, and... and...' She swallowed, trying not to cry. 'El, that time in the bus station when I was stabbed, and I thought I was going to die... it was... well, it was OK. I wasn't afraid. I wasn't afraid because I knew that you were there with me, comforting me, and... and that was enough.' She smiled at him. 'What you said to me in the car earlier, El, it... it made me so happy, and the reason it made me so happy was because I felt the same, and I'd never have believed you could possibly love me too.' She smiled and held out her left hand. 'I love you, El, and I can't wait to be your wife.'
He smiled back, took the wedding ring from Casey and slid it onto Olivia's finger. 'I love you too.'
There was a brief silence, and he cleared his throat. 'Uh... Judge Donnelly?'
Donnelly blinked in surprise. 'Oh, are we done?'
Elliot rolled his eyes. 'Yes.'
'Thank fuck.' Donnelly sat up, stifling a yawn. 'OK, by the powers vested in me by the state of New York, yada yada yada, I now pronounce you man and wife. I'm going back to bed.' She lurched to her feet, drained her glass and stumbled towards the stairs. 'You can stay as long as you want, but don't you go having sex on my couch, I just had that cleaned.'
Olivia eyed the couch. No fear. After a night on the backseat of Elliot's car, she knew exactly how uncomfortable leather could be. 'Don't worry. We won't.' For one thing, it's cream. That's just asking for trouble.
'Actually, we ought to be going too...' Casey glanced at McCoy. 'Jack, wasn't there some... uh... legal stuff we have to go over back at the office?'
'What? Oh. Yes.' McCoy got up, pulling Casey to her feet. 'Legal stuff.' He smiled at her. 'Important legal stuff.' He looked at Elliot and Olivia. 'It's... uh... really important.'
'Damn right it is, EADA McCoy...' Casey grinned, grabbed his tie and pulled him out of the room.
Elliot suppressed a shudder. Ew.
The door slammed behind them and Olivia sighed. 'Well, there goes my plan of a small wedding reception.'
'I guess so.' Elliot squirmed uncomfortably. Yeah, it's probably best you start apologising now. He managed a tentative smile. 'So, Liv... was your wedding as... uh... romantic as you'd always dreamed of?' Please don't kill me, I swear to God I had no idea it would go so wrong-
'Yes.' Olivia wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him. 'It was perfect.' She smiled and nodded at the door. 'Come on. Let's go to our favourite diner for coffee. Just you and me.'
See, this is why I love her. Elliot smiled and stroked the side of her face. 'OK, Mrs Stabler.' He leaned down and kissed her, letting her take his hand and lead him out of the house.
A/N: What do you think? Was it worth the wait? Please send me a review and let me know!
