Thanks for all the great reviews, you are all really sweet reviewers, which is why I try so hard to update as quickly as possible and why I have took the last three or four weeks off college, I can't really remember. I can't wait to start working on the sequel for this.

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine.

Chapter 29

Kate looked around the huge room. On the ceiling there was cream coloured material draped from one wall to another, the colour of them matched the colour of the walls. The floor beneath them had a dark wooden finish. The place really was the most elegant place she had ever been in.

She kept meeting peoples eyes looking at her, as much as she had to admit everyone there looked fabulous, woman in stunning dresses and jewellery and men in black tuxedos, she still felt like she stuck out like a sore thumb, being the youngest and smallest person in the room.

Well, she knew she didn't stand out more than the two guys she had seen wearing bright blue tuxedos and matching coloured top hats, she figured they were the precinct jokers.

The more she looked around the more she noticed the eyes on her, probably because she was ignoring the most important speaker, the mayor. She was too busy being nervous. She still couldn't for the life of her work out why she deserved an award.

She started playing with the table cloth, folding it over and over. She didn't want to see the people looking at her. Probably wondering what some kid was doing at a place like this, that or half of them had tried to arrest her before and recognised her.

She made a mental note to try and work out how many times she had been or had escaped being arrested. She'd been in a cell more times than she had McDonalds.

Suddenly Cragen stood up from the table, she joined in with the clapping, no idea why she was doing it. She watched as he walked up on to the stage at the front of the room, their table was right at the front so he didn't have far to walk.

The clapping died down and everyone was silent. "Thanks for such a warm introduction." Cragen said to the mayor then he turned back to the huge audience.

"All of us here do the jobs we do whether its homicide or special victims or something else, because we want to make a difference. We became officers because we wanted to protect…" Cragen said.

Olivia took Kate's hand and squeezed it. Kate gathered that meant her award was coming up. She felt sick, that is until she felt Ben take her other hand in his. She looked at him and he smiled encouragingly.

"Two of my finest Detectives recently had a gun pointed at them, both were injured and I'm not afraid to say that if it hadn't been for the person who is receiving the award, that I am honoured to present tonight, I'm afraid to say my detectives would probably not be here right now." Cragen continued.

Everyone on their table turned to look at Kate, she felt like jumping up and running. She quickly realised that although she was an expert at out running cops she had never had to do it from hundreds of them and in a dress and heels.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honour for me to award the citizen bravery award to Kate Benson." Cragen said.

Everyone around the table stood up cheering. Olivia pulled Kate up and hugged her, in turn everyone hugged her. Ben walked up to her and held her tight. "You deserve this Kate." He said and kissed her on the cheek.

"Come on up Kate." Cragen said.

Kate slowly walked up to the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, 15 year old Kate Benson, the daughter of one of my finest." Cragen told them all as Kate walked across the stage.

Kate got to him and placed a medal around her neck as well as handing her a small marble plaque with her name and other details engraved onto it as well as 'Citizen Bravery Award'. Cragen hugged her. "Well done." Kate hugged him back, before pulling away.

Kate looked out at all of the people stood up clapping for her. Everyone else who had got awards had thanked someone. Cragen lowered the microphone and stepped back. Everyone remained standing but the clapping had stopped.

'Oh crap' Kate thought. She had never had to speak in front of hundreds of people and the urge to run was creeping back. "Wow." She thought out loud. Everyone laughed a little.

"Look at all you people." Kate said. 'Half of you I've probably ran away from to escape arrest' she was tempted to say, but didn't. "I finally know what this is all about." She said holding her plaque up a little.

"What I did, I didn't do because I was trying to be brave I just didn't want my mother to get hurt or killed in front of me or at all in fact. She's the one who should be up here getting this award. All of you should be up here getting it because like Captain Cragen said what you all do, you do because you want to save people and make them feel safe" Kate said, relaxing more behind the microphone.

"In my eyes that's pure bravery, and I guess if that's what you feel like I did then I'm proud to be up here getting this, I'm proud to be doing what you all do. So thanks, and thank you Mom, without you there is no way I would be here getting this." Kate said feeling a little teary eyed looking at Olivia.

Olivia looked up at Kate, desperately trying to keep herself from crying. They were all looking up at the littlest of their family, all proud of her. "Thank you." Kate said.

She began walking away from the stand as everyone began to clap and cheer. She walked back over to the table. Fin quickly ran over and picked her up as they all congratulated her.

- - - - -

After the awards and the food, everyone had got up and were either dancing or talking. Kate had somehow become totally lost from the others and every time she tried to find them someone would stop her to congratulate her.

Ben came up to her. "I was about to send a police search party out looking for you." He joked.

"Well I can honestly say that you're not going to be at a loss for officers to search for me." Kate said.

"Yea, is it just me or do you feel like half of the cops in this room you've had to run away from?" Ben whispered.

"Tell me about it, I keep waiting for them to pounce on me and arrest me." Kate laughed.

They both started laughing. "I wanna show you something. Will you come with me?" Ben said taking her hand.

Kate nodded and they both made their way through the crowd. Eventually they reached a set of doors which lead them to a garden. Kate looked around. "Wow this is beautiful. New York city is just full of surprises." She said.

The garden was in darkness except for a dozens of stands that held candles, the still night allowed them to stay lit. There were roses and other flowers all over it, and ivy that climbed up the wall.

Ben took her hand and led her over to a marble bench that was next to a similar style marble water fountain. It looks like we're not the only ones who found it." Ben said as he pointed to the left of them.

They both saw Olivia and Elliot dancing in another part of the garden to the music. "Aw..." Kate said with a smile. "He proposed to her." Kate told Ben.

"Well that's great." Ben replied. "Now you'll have a father and a mother." Ben said

"Yea. I mean Elliot's the only real father I've known. Well the only one who hasn't tried to kill me or my mother" Kate joked.

"But if he hadn't of done it you would never have got that award." Ben said pointing to the award in her hand.

"Oh yea this totally makes up for it." Kate said laughing.

They both continued to watch Elliot and Olivia dance, holding each other, looking so natural together. "They look so happy." Kate said as she watched them dance.

Ben looked around as he tried to find the courage to ask her what he wanted to. "You want to dance?" He blurted out.

Kate looked at him. "Yea." She said.

Ben stood up and took her hand and helped her to her feet. As she got up, Kate silently thanked Sally for having shown her and Callie how to dance. She put her award down on the bench. Ben looked over at Elliot he had his hands resting on Olivia's back, he figured he'd try that.

He rested his hands on her back. Kate put her arms around his neck and they swayed like that for a minute, awkwardly. Ben looked at her, he had thought she looked amazing when he first saw her but now he was breathless, as she looked up at him.

He suddenly kissed her, again catching her off guard but once she realised what he was doing she kissed him back. She'd been dying to do it all night. After a moment they pulled apart. Kate rested her head against his chest and he brought his arms up on her back and held her as the swayed to the gentle music.

"I think we have a problem." Elliot said, as he looked over Olivia's shoulders at Ben and Kate.

Olivia turned to see them. She turned all the way around and Elliot moved forward and stood behind her. He wrapped her arms around her front and held his over hers. He rested his chin on her shoulder and she tilted her head so their faces were touching.

"They look so happy." Olivia said.

"Yea they do." Elliot agreed. "They kind of remind me of us." Elliot said.

Olivia moved to the side so she could see his face as he spoke. "They've known each other for years and only realise now how special they are to each other." He said.

Olivia pulled his arms a little tighter around her and settled back into his front. "Then I hope they stay as happy as us." She said.

Elliot kissed her neck and they both continued to watch Kate and Ben, swaying slightly to the music.

TBC

I hope you liked it. This was quite a long chapter to write.

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