Chapter 28
I own nothing
She really felt like it was all a dream. As Olivia lay in bed staring at the wedding ring on her finger she felt like she was in a dream. But as she looked at the man asleep lying next to her in bed she couldn't help but smile. This was her dream come true.
It was almost 11 am and the house was still silent. Olivia put it down to the fact that everyone had an eventful night last night. It had been the best day of her life. She married the man of her dreams, was walked down the aisle by the man she thought of as a father and was surrounded by her friends, her family.
"You still admiring your ring?" asked Elliot groggily. Olivia laughed, half in shock half in embarrassment that she had been caught staring at her ring again.
"And what if I am?" she responded.
"Well as long as you like it baby. Do you understand the inscription?"
"What inscription?"
Elliot sat up in bed and took Olivia's hand in his own as she gently slipped the ring of her finger. "Look" he prompted as he held it up to the light that flooded in the windows.
'mo ghrá,mo shaol'
Olivia knew exactly what it meant. She remembers asking Ciara what it had meant when she had heard a woman say it in the shop one day. She didn't think that Elliot would remember that but this was typical Elliot. He remembered the smallest of things because they knew how much they meant to Olivia.
"Oh Elliot, how did I get so lucky to marry a man like you?"
"I feel the same about you" he replied with a wink as he leant in close to Olivia and placed a kiss on his wife's cheek.
"Mr and Mrs Stabler" shouted Casey from the hallway outside Elliot and Olivia's bedroom "Get up we have something to show you guys"
Olivia and Elliot both rolled their eyes, the just wanted a moment longer in bed alone to relax but that wasn't going to happen.
"What did you want Casey"? asked Olivia as she walked hand in hand with Elliot into the kitchen.
"John found a puppy!" she shrieked excitedly. Olivia laughed as Elliot rolled his eyes.
"Really Casey, you got Olivia and I out of bed the morning after our wedding to see a puppy" exclaimed Elliot.
"It's ok El Olivia loves puppies" replied Casey nonchalantly.
As John stepped aside and allowed everybody to see the tiny puppy that he had found everyone, including the men's hearts melted. It was a small golden retriever puppy that was a bit scruffy and looked as though he had been abandoned.
"Can we keep him John?" asked Casey. John froze. Maybe it was just him but him and Casey sharing a dog seemed like a commitment.
"Yeah of course we can" John replied trying to hide the fact that he as over thinking Casey's question. He looked around and saw that Elliot and Don were looking at him with smirks on their faces, they knew exactly what he was thinking.
As they day turned to night John found himself once again thinking about what Casey had said. His mind was racing. Was Casey ready to make a commitment like that? Was he just over thinking it? What will happen when they fly back to New York tomorrow? He had no answers.
When he and Casey began to pack their bags because of their early flight tomorrow John decided it was time to just go for it and ask Casey where this was going.
"Casey when we get back to New York what is going to happen with this, us?"
"What you mean John? I thought things were going pretty good with us and I was hoping that we could just continue it when we get home"
John smiled as he listened to Casey's reply. It was exactly what he had wanted to hear.
"That's what I was hoping you would say" Said John as he embraced Casey in a warm, loving hug.
Everybody was packed, washed and ready for bed ahead of their early start in the morning. They had all gathered in the living room. Melinda lay with her head against Fin's chest as he placed a protective hand on her abdomen which was home to their growing child. Every time he thought about his child his heart seemed to grow even more. He loved Melinda and he knew that he would love their baby more than anything else. He couldn't wait to meet their little creation and raise it to be a strong, caring child who would have two of the most loving parents around.
Don, Liz and Ciara were all snuggled on the sofa in front of the fire looking through photos from the wedding yesterday. They were laughing as they looked through the pictures of Fin trying to dance with his broken leg. It was quite a sight but only added to the memory of the day.
Elliot and Olivia lay sleeping on the armchair together. Elliot had his arms wrapped around Olivia and it was obvious that they were both happy, as they slept small smiles graced their faces.
The last left in the room were John and Casey who sat on the rug in front of the fire playing with their new pet. They decided to call him Rex. Casey had gone out earlier and bought him a bed to sleep in , some food and a collar.
Before everyone knew it Olivia's alarm had gone off signalling that it was time for them to get up and dresses and head to the airport. It wasn't long before everyone had got in to the mini-bus that awaited them. Ciara cried as she left her home behind and joined her new family in the bus. It wasn't going to be easy adjusting to her new life but she was excited to be starting a new life with Don and Liz.
When the time came for everyone to board the plane Olivia couldn't believe the change in the group from when they arrived in Ireland until now. She had come to Ireland in a relationship but she would leave as a married woman. Casey came single and would leave with her boyfriend John Munch. Melinda and Fin were now awaiting the birth of their first child. She was most happy for Don. He was now engaged and father to Ciara. She couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if they hadn't of followed Casey here, but she was glad that they had.
The plane ascended into the air and Elliot took Olivia's hand in his.
"I can't wait to start our new life together" he spoke softly as Olivia laid her head on his shoulder and fell asleep.
The End
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! It means a lot to me to hear your opinions on my writing. I realise that the ending might seem a little rushed but don't be worried, a sequel is in the works! I haven't uploaded it yet but when I do it will be called Reaching New Heights. Make sure to check it out I hope to have it up this weekend!
Just to let you know the inscription on Olivia's ring means - my love, my life in Irish !
Thanks for reading x
