"Thanks, Liz. We're on our way." Olivia set the phone down as Elliot pulled out a twenty and threw it unceremoniously onto the table. He tossed Olivia her coat and took her hand as they walked out into the chilly New York air.
The courtroom was chilly and silent as the jury filed back in and took their seats. Olivia inhaled a steadying breath and glanced at Elliot. He was staring straight ahead, focused on the judge.
"Members of the jury," the judge began, "have you reached a verdict?"
The jury foreman stood and Elliot clutched Olivia's hand. "We have, Your Honor."
Liz Donnelly glanced back at the two detectives and then quickly refocused her gaze on the standing juryman.
"On the first count of kidnapping, how do you find?"
"We find the defendant guilty."
Elliot squeezed Olivia's hand tighter.
"On the second count of kidnapping, how do you find?"
"We find the defendant guilty."
A tear trickled down Olivia's cheek and she pulled their joined hands into her lap.
"On the third count of kidnapping, how do you find?"
"We find the defendant guilty."
Suddenly, the courtroom erupted with shouting. Greg was yelling something incoherent while the guards subdued him, but Olivia and Elliot could not have cared less. Elliot stood and pulled Olivia into a tight embrace.
"It's over." He whispered.
Olivia looked up at him beaming. She felt like the world had been lifted off her shoulders.
Olivia was sitting comfortably on Elliot's couch that evening. Her legs were tucked under her and she was completely engrossed in a novel. Elliot had left a few moments ago to "run errands for Kathy." She hadn't questioned him. Didn't really even want to think about him seeing Kathy tonight so she had lost herself in a book to pass the time.
At 6 p.m., Kathleen knocked on the door of the apartment and then let herself in. "Hey KitKat!" Olivia called from the couch.
"Liv! C'mon! Get your butt up. We're going out!" Kathleen ran over to the couch and pulled Olivia up.
"Whoa, slow down! Where are we going?" Olivia laughed as Kathleen pulled her into the bedroom.
Kathleen flung open the closet and began rifling through some of her clothes. Olivia caught up just as Kathleen was pulling out a slim fitting black dress.
"Here." She threw the dress at Olivia. "Put this on while I find shoes."
"Kat, slow down. What is going on?"
"I told you, we're going out. Here, these shoes should work." Kathleen tossed her a pair of black patent leather pumps which landed on the bed. "Put those on while I warm up your curling iron and get your makeup ready."
Olivia rolled her eyes but did as she was told. When she stepped into the bathroom, Kathleen gasped.
"Liv, you are going to look so perfect!" She squealed.
"Okay, I put the darn dress on. Now will you tell me what's going on?"
"We're going out to celebrate the verdict." Kathleen stated matter-of-factly. She pulled stool over in front of the mirror and motioned for Olivia to sit down.
"So where ar-"
"Olivia, your interrogation skills are not going to work on me. I am not telling you where we are going so just give it up." Kathleen laughed as she sectioned off Olivia's hair and began to curl it.
"Fine. But only because you are holding a hot curling iron." Olivia smiled.
The pair chatted about everything from school to boys to siblings, and back again while Kathleen worked. When she finished, it was 6:30 and Olivia's hair was in immaculate wavy curls that framed her face perfectly.
Olivia finished her new look with her usual eyeliner and soft red lipstick while Kathleen sent a few texts. She handed Olivia her shoes and coat and practically shoved her out of the apartment.
"C'mon. We're going to be late." Kathleen said.
A taxi was waiting at the curb when Olivia and Kathleen emerged from the apartment building. The girls piled in and took of into the Manhattan evening.
After a few minutes, the taxi pulled up outside the station house and stopped at the curb. Kathleen handed the driver a wad of cash and grabbed Olivia arm, pulling her out of the cab.
Olivia stopped on the sidewalk, causing Kathleen to jerk back to her. "Kat, what are we doing at the station?"
"You are seriously stubborn. C'mon, Liv." Kathleen answered, pulling her once again towards the coffee truck outside the 1-6.
The man who ran the truck looked up as the pair approached and smiled. He handed Olivia a tea and an envelope, and winked at Kathleen without saying a word.
Olivia looked confusedly from Kathleen to the envelope. "Open it, Liv." Kathleen said excitedly.
Olivia handed Kathleen her tea and pulled out a small card. Inside the card was a Marines medal on a gold chain. Elliot had scrawled the words "Semper Fi, always faithful" on the inside of the card.
Tears pricked the corners of Olivia's eyes as she turned to Kathleen.
"Here, let me put it on for you." Kathleen whispered. "He's had this for years. I was hoping he would give this to you some day."
"...years?" Olivia's voice was horse and shaking.
"Years. Always said that being in the Marines taught him the true meaning of loyalty and what it felt like when someone really had your back." Kathleen gathered Olivia's hair to the side and fastening the necklace around her neck. "He used to say that the Marines taught him how to fight for and defend what he loved."
Speechless, Olivia turned to look at Kathleen and pulled her into a hug.
"You know," the man at the coffee stand interrupted. "Every morning I ask Stabler one question. I always say 'Has she fallen in love with you yet?' and he would always respond 'Maybe today.' and I would hand him his coffee and your tea. I'm glad today's the day."
Olivia smiled and nodded at him as she wiped her eyes. Kathleen took her hand and led her up the precinct steps.
They took the elevator up to the top floor and from there, Kathleen led Olivia to the roof.
Donald Cragen was nervous. This was certainly not an emotion he was accustomed to feeling, but then again, he didn't do this kind of stuff everyday. Perps? Trials? Interrogations? Sure. Not a problem. Emotions? Feelings? Nope.
Kathleen emerged from the access door with Olivia trailing not far behind. Don took a steadying breath.
Candles had been set up around the roof and illuminated Olivia's face beautifully. The woman he had come to think of as his daughter looked stunning and so happy. She was lighter, like a weight had been lifted off her heart.
"Don, what's going on?" Olivia asked, cautiously.
"Olivia, I need to give you something but I don't want you to open it until you speak with Elliot, okay?"
"Okay..." Olivia answered, grasping the envelope from Cragen's outstretched hand.
"I never had a daughter, Olivia. But I always wanted one. Working with you...well, I've come to think of you as a daughter. I only want you to be happy." Don spoke quietly.
"That means a lot to me, Don. Thank you." Olivia smiled and hugged him fiercely, catching him off guard and throwing him off balance for a moment. Cragen recovered and wrapped his arms around Olivia, pulling her into a quick hug.
Olivia pulled back and looked at Kathleen, who had tears in her eyes. "C'mon, Benson. One more stop." Kathleen said, grabbing Olivia's hand once again. Olivia turned and smiled at her captain who waved as the pair disappeared through the access door once again. Left in the quiet of the rooftop, Don could only hope now that she made the right choice.
Kathleen led Olivia out of the 1-6 and headed north. They walked a few blocks and then stopped in front of an apartment building.
"Kat, why are we at my apartment?" Olivia asked, heart pounding in her throat from a conglomeration of anxiety, anticipation, and worry.
"You'll see. Move your ass, Benson!" Kathleen called as she bounded up the front steps.
Olivia rolled her eyes and followed Kathleen. They rode the elevator to the fourth floor, something Olivia rarely did, in silence. Kathleen was clearly nervous but Olivia chose to not push her into talking.
They reached Olivia's door and Kathleen pulled out a key from her jeans pocket. She slowly pushed the door open to reveal a pitch black apartment. Kathleen disappeared into the darkness, leaving Olivia to wander into the apartment alone. She searched along the wall for the light switch and flipped it on.
Olivia's living room was covered in cardboard boxes from a local moving company but nothing in her apartment had been packed. The boxes were all empty. Standing behind four of the larger boxes were Maureen, Kathleen, Lizzie and Dickie, and at the end was Elliot holding Eli who was dressed in a full baby tuxedo with a rose on his lapel. He looked adorable.
"Elliot, what's going on?" Olivia asked, quietly.
Elliot simply nodded at Maureen who pulled up the flap on her cardboard box to reveal the word "Will" written in black sharpie.
Kathleen followed suit and revealed the word "you" under the flap of her box.
The twins, who were giggling at this point clumsily opened their box to show the word "marry." Olivia gasped and her hands flew to her mouth when she saw what had been written. She looked at Elliot with tears in her eyes and he slowly pulled up the lid of his box. The word "us" with a question mark was written in his clumsy scrawl across the flap. Olivia looked from each child to Elliot and back again. They all looked so hopeful.
Elliot set Eli down and walked towards Olivia who was still standing stunned in her kitchen. He pulled her hand gently down from in front of her mouth and then knelt down on one knee.
"Liv, it's always been you. I love you with my whole being and I can't imagine living one more day without knowing that you are by my side forever. You're my missing piece. I know that I'm difficult and not always easy to love. I know that I don't deserve a woman like you but I'm asking. Please, Olivia, will you be my wife?"
Silent tears streamed down Olivia's cheeks as she stared into Elliot's bright blue and hope-filled eyes. Inside, her mind and heart were screaming "yes" but her body was frozen in place. It took all her will just to nod meekly.
"Yes? Olivia, yes? Really?!" Elliot was on his feet now with his arms wrapped around Olivia. He was crying as were Maureen and Kathleen. Elliot pulled back to look at Olivia.
"Yes." She whispered, crying openly now against Elliot's shoulder. He spun her around in his arms, laughing joyfully.
Setting her down, he took both her hands and looked at her seriously. "You know, I'm kind of a package deal." He said, nodding to his children.
"I hope so." Olivia answered, smiling bigger than she thought possible.
Maureen, Kathleen, Lizzie, and Dickie all ran to Olivia and encapsulated her in a huge hug. She had never felt so loved in her life. Elliot picked up Eli and joined in, kissing each of his children on the tops of their heads before planting a chaste kiss on Olivia's lips.
She closed her eyes, absorbing the feeling of true happiness that surrounded her. Everything about this moment, this night had been magical. And then she remembered. Squirming slightly around Kathleen's arms, she reached into her coat pocket and fished out the envelope from Don. The kids separated to give her some space.
"Open it." Elliot whispered against her ear as he came up behind her and encircled her in a hug.
Olivia tore open the envelope with shaking hands. Inside was a letter written in Don's careful handwriting.
Dear Olivia,
I hope by now that you have spoken to Elliot and that you have made the decision
to join his family and to let him join yours. If, for some ridiculous reason, you
said "no", stop reading this, pick up the phone and tell him that you have changed
your mind. Don't be stupid. You two deserve each other. With all the turmoil the two
of you have put me through, I should know. You two were made for each other and
that has been obvious since the first case you worked many years ago.
But I digress. Assuming that you are still reading this and assuming that you said
"yes," I would like to ask permission to walk you down the aisle. Hopefully, I had
the courage tonight to tell you that I have always thought of you as daughter.
If I did not, shame on me. I will tell you to your face one day. I know your father
let you down in the most profound way and I know that I cannot make amends for
his indiscretions, however, it would mean the world to me to give you away on your
wedding day. Even if you are marrying Stabler. Oh, who am I kidding. He's like a
son to me.
Olivia, I wish you the best in your life with Elliot. Never stop challenging him and
never stop loving him. He's a good man, one of the best I've ever known, and believe
me, you deserve the best.
Sincerely,
Don
Olivia finished reading and clutched the paper to her chest. She looked back at Elliot, whose eyes were brimming with tears and turned in his arms. He enveloped her in his arms, kissing the top of her head over and over again.
"I'm really lucky." Olivia whispered after several moments.
Elliot pulled back and looked at her.
"I'm so lucky. I don't deserve any of this, any of you..." She dissolved into tears again as Elliot pulled her to his chest once more.
"Yes, you do. I love you so much, Liv." Elliot whispered into her hair.
"I love you to, El." She answered. "I love you so much."