One year later:
Olivia looked up from where she was sitting at her desk. John and Elliot were on their way back from interviewing some witnesses, and Fin was in court, so the squad room was fairly quiet. Things had been crazy in the city this summer, so she was somewhat glad for the reprieve.
She thought back to everything that had happened over the past year, glancing down at the diamond on her left hand. She smiled…thinking back to the night 6 months ago that Elliot had proposed. She'd been surprised because it seemed like it was too soon. But in reality, she'd been expecting it, even anticipating it, and she'd accepted without hesitation. As of now, she refused to set a date though, and it frustrated Elliot to no end. Somehow, just having that commitment…the ring on her finger…seemed like enough for now. She tried to explain that to him, and he said he understood, but still pushed her on it sometimes.
She ran her hand over her abdomen, caressing the small bump forming there. She smiled. A year ago, they'd had to tell Cragen about their relationship, and he'd split them as partners. Now, when Elliot got back, they were going to tell him about this latest development, and she was certain she'd be on desk duty for the next 5-1/2 months.
Things had gone relatively smoothly with the partner change; a lot better than she had anticipated. She missed working with Elliot. She still did. But now it was almost strange on the rare occasion they did end up partnering together. She could understand why people who were involved shouldn't work together; it definitely changed things.
Olivia was getting used to change. After several months of carting clothes between each other's apartment, she'd finally given in and they had moved in to a new place together. Elliot's kids had finally come around, each in their own way. And now it wasn't uncommon to have several kids camped at their apartment. Kathy and Olivia had some to a level of détente that was tolerable. They would never be good friends, but she never expected they would be.
Olivia had lived a solitary life for so long…and now she rarely had a moment to herself. She rubbed her belly again. And those moments were going to be even fewer very soon.
She wasn't complaining.
She'd never been happier.
Elliot talked about moving to the suburbs when the baby was born. There was no way in hell that was happening. She was putting her foot down about that.
Elliot had asked her if she wanted to stay home with the baby. A year ago, she never would have dreamed about leaving SVU. Now…she could imagine it. She didn't think she was cut out to be a full time mother, but for the first time in her life, she thought about doing something else. And she thought that it might be OK. She hadn't decided yet.
She was shaken from her thoughts when she heard footsteps, and she swiveled around in her chair and saw Munch and Elliot walking into the squad room. Elliot rested a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently.
She watched as Elliot walked by her desk and a small smile crossed her face. Sometimes she was amazed at how much she loved him. Their appetite for each other hadn't changed over the past year, and the fighting and lack of communication were behind them. She would never have thought they would be here.
She never thought she'd be here.
"Liv." She heard Elliot call her name softly, and she looked up to see him standing next to her desk. "Ready?"
Olivia nodded and stood up, following him as they headed towards Cragen's office. She was a little nervous, knowing that her life was about to change again. But she knew it was all worth it.
Elliot knocked on the door and stuck his head in. "Cap'n. Can we talk to you for a minute?" He looked at Olivia and gave her a big smile as he followed her into Cragen's office, shutting the door behind them.
The End.
Thank you!