Here it is fellow readers… The chapter I believe you have all been waiting for!

"How is she?" Elliot asked as soon as he saw the doctor that had tended to Olivia.

"She lost a lot of blood," the doctor replied honestly, "She's in recovery now and we were able to get the bullet out. She should wake up soon."

"Can I see her?"

"Of course," the doctor answered, "Right this way."

Elliot followed the doctor to room 203 as did Cragen. Alex was waiting with Fin in the waiting room trying to get a hold of Kathy and tell her the news.

"She basically uncovered everything by herself," Cragen said to Elliot once they were in the room.

"I knew she would. She's a good detective," Elliot replied grabbing Olivia's hand.

"She almost lost it," Cragen kept on talking, "She worried herself sick over you."

"I can't apologize to her enough for that," Elliot said with a hint of sorrow in his voice.

Olivia started to stir in her bed and it didn't go unnoticed by Cragen and Elliot. "I'll give you two some time alone."

"Liv," Elliot whispered once Cragen was gone, "Liv, open your eyes for me."

Her eyes began fluttering and finally they opened staring Elliot in the face, "El?"

"You did it," he said with a tear escaping from his eye, "You saved me and Alex."

"Have you called Kathy?"

"Alex called her," Elliot explained, "Liv, there's something I need to tell you."

"What?" she asked with a weak voice.

"I love you," he said, "I have loved you since the day I first laid eyes on you. I'm so sorry that it's taken me so long but, I'm saying it now and I hope you feel the same way."

Elliot saw the tears form in her eyes and he reached to wipe them away, "I love you too."

"There's something else," Elliot smiled reaching to his back pocket, "Will you marry me?"

"Oh my gosh," Olivia gasped, "Elliot, you aren't even divorced from Kathy yet!"

"I know. Just think about it," he said.

"I don't have to," she smiled, "I love you. I'd be happy to marry you."

Elliot took the diamond ring out of the black velvet box and placed it on Olivia's left ring finger.

"It's beautiful," she smiled.

"You're beautiful." Elliot leaned over Olivia lying in the hospital bed and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips, "You need to rest. I'm going to tell everyone that you're okay."

Olivia nodded and closed her eyes trying to drift off to sleep. When she heard that Elliot had left she opened her eyes to admire the ring on her finger. She smiled to herself and finally let the sleep take over.

"How is she?" Fin asked standing up when he saw Elliot.

"She's good," Elliot smiled, "She just went back to sleep."

"That's good," Fin sighed sitting back down.

"Elliot!" Kathy shouted running in from the hospital doors. She ran up to him and wrapped her arms around Elliot's waist. "I've missed you so much. I was so worried."

"Kathy…"

"I know you didn't mean it," Kathy cried, "It's okay. I forgive you."

"Kathy," Elliot said prying her off of him, "I did mean it. I love Olivia. I'm sorry."

Kathy just stood there in shock as did Fin who felt like punching something. He just shook his head and walked away.

"No," Kathy said crying, "You're lying."

"Kathy," Elliot said touching her on the shoulder, "I will always love you. You are the mother to my kids. You were my wife for 16 years."

"Call your kids," Kathy managed to say before walking away.

"Tough love," Alex said from her spot next to Cragen.

Just outside the hospital, Fin had called Melinda in search of some comfort. "Hey, Mel," he said, "It's me."

"Hey, did you tell her?" Melinda asked from the other side of the line.

"No," he sighed, "I realize that I love someone else more."

"Who is that?" Melinda asked with a smile forming on her face.

"You," he answered with a smile forming on his as well.

"I'll see you when you get back to Manhattan," Melinda said.

"Bye."

"So," Cragen said breaking the silence in the waiting room, "Who's going to stay with Liv tonight?"

"I think that's the fiancés job," Elliot said figuring it was as better time than any.

"What?" Alex squealed, "Are you serious?"

Elliot nodded his head, "I proposed as soon as she woke up."

"You know she might not remember that," Cragen said.

"I don't mind asking again," Elliot smiled.

"Are you crying?" Alex asked turning toward Cragen who had tears in his eyes.

"I always knew this day would come," he said through his tears, "I'm glad it finally happened."

"Thanks Captain," Elliot said.

"I'm happy for you and Liv," Fin said walking back into the waiting room, "Guess who else just got together."

"Who?" Alex asked demanding to know.

"Melinda and I," he answered sitting in a chair next to Elliot.

"That's great man," Elliot said.

"Congratulations," Cragen said.

"Everybody's coming out!" Alex smiled, "I guess now is a good time to say that Trevor and I have been dating for about a month now."

"Trevor Langan?" Fin questioned.

"None other," she answered. "We ran into each other after a particular hard case and we started talking," Alex began explaining, "We knew that we were the perfect match for each other after that."

"Looks like everyone's in a relationship but you Captain," Elliot teased.

"That's not true," he interjected, "Liz Donnelly and I are a thing."

Alex almost choked on her drink, "Well isn't this a TV moment?"

Everyone started laughing and then they got back to the reality of what had happened to all of them in the past week. Olivia had almost given up on herself and search for Elliot and she was determined to find him. Alex and Elliot were locked away in a house with crazy people and Elliot would never be able to tell anyone what happened to him down there. Cragen had to work with the newbies at the unit on rape cases and with Olivia and Fin on finding Elliot all on top of making sure Olivia was taking care of herself.

"Well," Cragen said, "It's getting late. Tell Liv she's being transferred to Mercy General tomorrow so she can be closer to home."

"Will do Captain," Elliot said.

They all said their goodbyes to each other and when everyone was gone Elliot headed back to Olivia's hospital room.

"I know you're asleep Liv," Elliot said playing with her hair, "I just need to say this. When I quit, a day didn't go by that I didn't think about you. I thought about everything we ever did together. From busting perps to late night coffees. I thought of every time we argued and when you went to Oregon. When you went undercover in Sealview… I realized that I couldn't wait anymore. I needed you. So I was on my way to your house. I hope you can forgive me for waiting so long. I know you said yes but, I just need you to know that I really do love you. More than anything in the world." He smiled to himself and sat down in the chair next to the hospital bed.

"Don't ever leave me again," Olivia mumbled with her eyes still closed.

"I won't," he whispered, "Not ever."

Tear! Don't worry… this isn't the end of the story.