N/A: Happy New Year guys!

"I love you in my own way

I love you better

I love you all inside this

I love you forever"

Snow Patrol

Chapter 12

The following morning, Kate and Fin arrive together at the squad. Their faces are tired, big circles under their eyes, but their eyes have a new glimpse. Olivia notices it as soon as they come in. her eyes are red too, but with tears. Kate frowns when she sees her and, when she goes get some coffee, Kate follows her.

"Hey, something's wrong?" she asks.

Olivia turns to her with a quavering smile and tears in her eyes:

"No..."

"Why are you crying then?" Kate asks with concern.

"El proposed to me."

Kate gasps:

"Oh my god! That's awesome, I'm so happy for you!"

She hugs Olivia and she cracks up in her arms:

"Hey buddy…"

"I'm just…so happy…."

"You bet!"

Olivia laughs and Kate says again:

"Well, I got great news too. Fin and I are together."

Olivia opens her mouth wide:

"That's awesome too!"

"We want to tell the captain", Kate says.

"Oh…"

"Do you think he'll react badly?"

"I can't say. I guess I should tell him about me and Elliot too."

Kate smiles nicely:

"Are you afraid?"

Liv shakes her head:

"Rather worried he would separate us."

Kate strokes gently Olivia's shoulder.

"Let's tell him now."

Liv stares at her and says:

"Okay."

They both want to get rid of it as soon as possible. Kate is way more relaxed than Liv but Liv knows Cragen more. They get back in the room, Fin and El look at them. Liv turns to them:

"We'll tell Cragen. You come?"

Fin gives Kate a surprised look. She shrugs:

"I had to tell her. She's my best friend."

They both look at each other but the guys don't move.

"Oh come on…" Kate sighs.

They pretend they're doing stuff on computers and the two women can't help laughing. Feeling better, Liv heads to Cragen's office with Kate. They knock on the door:

"Come in", he says from inside.

They look at each other and give each other a comforting smile before coming in.

"Hello?" Cragen asks.

"Captain. We have to tell you something."

He frowns, gets comfortable in his chair and stares at them:

"I'm all ears."

Liv walks a step forward and simply says:

"Captain, I'm engaged to Elliot."

Kate joins her:

"I'm dating Fin."

There's a heavy silence: Cragen crosses his fingers and stare at them lengthily. They both hold his gaze.

"So you really think I'm blind?" he ends up asking.

The women exchange a look but don't raise it.

"It's been years I've known for you two", he tells Liv, "even before you knew it yourselves. Same for you Kate, I saw the way you looked at Fin the day you arrived."

They both gape and Liv ends up stammering:

"So… Why did you not tell us?"

"Same reason YOU didn't tell me. It should have been your decision, not mine."

Kate smiles:

"Are you gonna separate us?"

"Of course I'm not."

"Cool", Kate can't help saying with enthusiasm.

Liv chuckle and Cragen hardly holds back a smile.

"Any other news?" he asks.

"No Captain", Liv says.

"Okay. Get back to work."

They get out and Fin and Elliot stare at them. Kate gives them thumbs up and they immediately look weirdly relieved.

After work, they all go have a drink in their usual bar. Liv and Kate are beaming. There music in the bar, a song Kate loves and Fin hates and she drags Liv away to dance. Fin and Elliot, side by side, are watching them dancing and laughing. They are both so happy for themselves and for the other one. It's not their type to look overjoyed so they remain silent and look at the loves of their lives. Eliott ends up saying:

"I'm happy for you Fin."

"Thanks. Same here", he answers. "So, ready to get married again?"

Elliot smiles:

"Yeah, more than ever. What about you?"

"Don't go too fast. And I don't think it would be Kate's type."

"Really? I'm not sure", Elliot retorts. "Would you… be my groomsman?"

Fin stares at him, surprised:

"Why, yes of course. I never thought you would want me."

"Why not?" El asks, frowning.

"Well, we're not that close… Why not the captain or Munch?"

"Munch will be my other witness and Cragen is gonna lead Liv to the altar."

Fin smiles:

"That's great. Have you told your kids?"

Elliot sighs:

"Yeah."

"How did it go?"

Elliot winces:

"That bad?" Fin asks.

"Awful."

"Sorry I asked man."

"Not your fault. Their mother is setting them against me."

Fin sighs:

"I thought she would be more mature than that."

Elliot shakes his head:

"She never accepted the divorce and it was worse when I told her about Liv and me. She was sure I cheated on her long before we split up. Though I didn't."

"I trust you Elliot. I hope it will get better."

"Yeah, me too."

Seeing the girls are coming back, they stop talking about that.

While coming back to Kate's place, she tells Fin Liv has asked her to be her bridesmaid. Casey will be the other one. He tells her it's great and precises he'll be one of El's groomsman.

"That's awesome", she shouts with enthusiasm.

He smiles, looks at her and stops her. She gives him an inquiring look but he doesn't say anything, he just cups her face in his hands and gives her a long kiss, with lots of tongue involved. His hands keep her against him and she strokes his scruff and his face all along the kiss. She loves the way he does that, always full of passion and still kinda romantic. She really has the hots for him, Cragen was right, she always had. She feels like she's been looking for a guy like Fin all her life long.

"You are wonderful", he says after that, before she could ask what was that kiss for.

"Thanks", she says dreamily. "You're not bad either."

He smiles, slips his hand in hers and they go on walking.