Hi all! Even if you joined this journey late and are about to wrap up reading the final chapter, I would still love to hear from you. My new readers who appreciated this entire series mean so much, as well!
There is one more
Post Epilogue" after this chapter and then that's the end:)
Well, my friends...this is the end of this wonderful ride. Since this is the final entry, I would love to hear from each and every one who has shared this adventure with me throughout this series!
I hope you enjoy...
"As long as you remember the person who loved you, and whom you still love, then you're making love endure."
― Guillaume Musso, Que serais-je sans toi?
Epilogue:
Love Will Never Leave
Alex entered the bedroom and watched as her wife leaned against the metal frame of the sliding patio door of their bedroom, the brunette smiling—happy thoughts obviously on her mind.
The former attorney folded her arms—already dressed in a sleeveless, V-neck, royal blue dress and bone-colored heels. She leaned against the jamb of the bedroom door, just watching her wife.
Today was their thirtieth wedding anniversary. Thirty years together. Alex's smiled grew as she thought of this undeniable fact. She and Olivia had weathered the ups and downs of marriage, motherhood, been there in times of pain, in times of joy. Their connection, their bond, hadn't wavered in the slightest. It seemed, over the years, any struggle that they experienced only made them stronger, closer, even more in love.
Olivia turned now. Even at seventy-one, she looked amazingly beautiful in a button front, tab-sleeved, red and white, geometric print silk dress. She was wearing red shoes to match, her hair in a low chignon. "Hey, Al…" The brunette turned now and continued smiling, "…you ready?"
"Are you?" Alex moved into the room, the ladies now creeping slowly towards each other. Alex wrapped her arms around her wife and clasped her hands behind her. "Fifteen minutes until we're allowed to go up…"
Olivia smiled, those laugh lines around her face making her all the more beautiful. "Allowed. I never thought we wouldn't be allowed in our own house."
The beach house was now theirs, Cathy Cabot no longer with them. More than ten years after Theo had begun college, and so much had changed in that time. Others who were no longer with them—Landon, Charles, Captain Cragen, and John Munch. The last ten years had been rough ones as far as watching people they loved pass all around them. But they had been there for each other, undeniably there to support as they always had. The bitter was balanced with the sweetness of their children graduating, thriving, starting their own careers and lives, and finding love.
Alex had retired from being an attorney for the state of New York, had given up her teaching job as well, and was now only doing freelance consulting work whenever she so desired. Otherwise, her time was mostly spent giving private piano and cello lessons to little future protégés of Southampton, or simply luxuriating in retirement with her equally retired wife.
Olivia's days of chasing down perps, interrogating pedophiles and rapists, and handcuffing scumbags were long behind her, her wife only teaching an occasional class at the academy only when she felt the familiar itch that once had her yearning for the excitement of police work once more.
Their townhouse on the Upper East Side had been sold about five months prior. The new tenants were a brand new family that was filled with such openness and bright-eyed enthusiasm, that let Alex and Olivia know that their former home of almost thirty years would be enjoyed by a family that was equally as ecstatic as they had been when they had first moved in.
Their future goal of retiring at the beach house had certainly come true and the ladies were now enjoying the fruits of their labor and content in their lives as they had created them.
Alex studied her wife now. She had most definitely changed—they both had. They both had more wrinkles, more gray hairs, and gravity had taken over almost every area of each of their bodies. But the brunette was still so beautiful to Alex. And when she smiled that smile, it still melted her, and her knees became jelly.
"Isabel said that Lilly is driving all the way out here for the party," Olivia cocked her head to the side. "What do you make of that?"
"Well, I think it is probably a good thing. They've been on and off again for three years now. I think the fact that she's coming out here to support Isabel says that she's ready to commit to her. Don't you?"
"I hope so, Alex…I hope she's finally found love. She's solid on Broadway now as Christine in Phantom…all she needs is the love of her life." Olivia pulled the blonde closer, wrapping her arms around tighter around her wife, bodies pressed as they swayed slightly. "She's been through enough frogs in the past few years and she's twenty-eight…"
"My age when I first met you…" Alex said over the brunette's shoulder.
They pulled away and smiled at each other.
Olivia nodded, "Yep…maybe it's the magic age, then…"
"I think it might be," Alex smiled and squeezed her wife's waist. "Theo and Samantha are gonna come down and let us know when everything is ready and Grace and Gregory are helping set up." Alex pulled away now and held her hand out, Olivia placing hers into it. "You ready for our anniversary party, my love?"
"More than anything, Alex. More than anything."
A light knock was heard at the door and Alex moved to answer it, opening it slowly and smiling at Theo who had his hands in his pants pockets, white shirt and purple tie on, sleeves rolled up for the August heat. Samantha, on his arm, was wearing an emerald green cocktail dress to match her hazel-brown eyes.
Theo, at twenty-nine, was now a geriatric physician, following the doctor route just like his Uncle Jonathan, and was practicing in New Rochelle, working at a hospital, but was hoping to start his own practice either in Easthampton or Southampton where he hoped to live once he and Samantha got married.
"It's party time…" Theo smiled. "You two animals, ready?"
"We're ready…" Alex linked arms with her wife and they moved toward the doorway. "I hope our son is making you feel at home, Sam. Our future daughter-in-law should feel relaxed while she's here. This will be your home one day, too…"
Samantha turned as they walked. "Oh, Theo? Theo is always such a gentleman, Mrs. Benson-Cabot, ever since we met our senior year…right, Theo?" Samantha looked at her fiancé next to her now and then Alex watched as she bumped hips with their son.
"That's right…raised by the best…" He turned and winked at his mothers as they began ascending the stairs.
"And thank you for his cooking skills, too," Samantha offered. "He can really cook a mean omelet and an amazing pan of lasagna," Samantha offered.
"Once again…the best teachers…" Theo offered as they continued up the steps.
They finally made their way to the top few steps and Theo turned, "Don't be alarmed…"
Alex looked at Olivia, "Why would we be—?"
They continued onto the last two steps and then heard a "Surprise! And congratulatory cheers were heard throughout the crowd of twenty, or so, guests.
The ladies made their way around, greeting everyone there, handed a glass of champagne by their son and then Alex saw Isabel appear from the kitchen entrance leading to the staircase. She looked gorgeous—the spitting image of herself at that age. Her hair was in a low bun, parted in the middle tendrils loose on either side, those piercing blue eyes and darker eyebrows contrasting so well together, a rosy hue on her cheeks. She had a definite glow about her.
Lilly then appeared next to her, her long-time girlfriend mesmerizingly breathtaking, as well, very much resembling a young Linda Evangelista, only with long, wavy hair. Isabel had on a beautiful, fitted sundress in pinks, yellows, turquoises, and whites, strappy sandals to match. Lilly wore a simple fuchsia sheath dress and bone-colored heels.
Their blue-eyed daughter caught eyes with her mother and she smiled, whispered something to Lilly and then the two began walking toward them.
"Happy Anniversary, Mom…" Isabel hugged Alex tightly and then moved to Olivia, "Mama…you look beautiful…"
"So do you, Iz…" Olivia smiled.
Lilly spoke, wrapping her right arm around their daughter, "Happy Anniversary…everything looks beautiful and smells wonderful. Thank you for having me…"
"Always, Lilly…"
"Mom?" Isabel's face was priceless, her smile growing with each passing second.
"Yeah, Baby?" Alex reached for the strap of her dress and untwisted it.
Isabel held her left hand out, all three looking as her naturally manicured hand shook wildly. A huge diamond sat atop her milky ring finger, glinting in the light.
Both Alex and Olivia gasped and looked at each other before they saw Lilly hold out her hand, as well, displaying her own diamond.
"Oh, my God, Isabel…Lilly…when?" Olivia questioned.
"Just now…about fifteen minutes ago when Lilly first got here. She took me on a walk and proposed down by the beach and gave me mine and I had mine ready, too. It was like…" Isabel looked at Lilly, a love in her eyes, "…fate…" Isabel grabbed the back of Lilly's neck and pulled their faces close as they rested their foreheads together.
"It was…" Lilly said softly.
Alex looked at Olivia now, "Sounds just like fate…"
Hugs were had, congratulations given, and tears shed. Their daughter was getting married. Their son was getting married in less than two months. The only child left was their brown-eyed daughter.
OOO
Olivia watched their Grace, who was speaking animatedly in the kitchen to Melinda, Fin, JJ, and JJ's wife, Sasha. She looked classically gorgeous in an off-white, sleeveless sheath dress, her hair in a high, neat bun, her make-up natural, but ever-on-point.
She and Gregory had been together, full-force, since they had both graduated college six years ago, had been living together the past two, and the Benson-Cabot ladies had yet to hear of an engagement. It was Grace that was the hesitant one. Gregory had already asked Olivia and Alex for their daughter's hand in marriage and they had already enthusiastically given their approval. But, Grace was the one with the cold feet, the one that wanted to make sure her career was established, that she had her bearings professionally, before diving into marriage and popping out kids, as she so eloquently put it. Their brown-eyed daughter was so passionate about environmental law and her career and what she did to help the Earth daily, that Alex and Olivia knew that she had chosen the right career path, her desire to help animals and plants and all things nature evident from a young girl.
It wasn't that she didn't want to marry Gregory. She loved him more than anyone she had ever loved any man, and had since high school—was head over heels for him—she just wanted everything to be perfect before they did end up spending the rest of their lives together.
"I'll be back," Olivia whispered and smiled at Alex before she walked up to her daughter and leaned behind her, listening as she spoke to Fin and Melinda about a new project that she was working on with the environmental clean-up law firm she was working for, Weiss & Luxembourg, part-time in New York City and part-time in the Bronx.
"I'm hoping that I can start my own firm here in Southampton with Gregory and be closer to our mothers. He practices in Manhattan and in rural areas of northern New York. He deals with fracking and air quality with his firm, Shields and Webster."
Olivia took a sip of her champagne and folded her left arm over her midsection, moving into the conversation now.
"Hey, Mama…Happy Anniversary, by the way…" Grace smiled and leaned in and kissed her mother's cheek. "Cheers to thirty more…" Grace held up her champagne glass and clinked with her mother before everyone sipped.
"Hey, Liv…" Fin smiled. "Congratulations. Thirty years is somethin'…" He kissed her cheek and Melinda did the same.
"You'll be there soon, Finneous…"
"Yeah, we will…" Melinda smiled. "Did I see what I think I saw over there earlier, with Isabel and Lilly?"
Olivia smiled. "Maybe…but I think they want to make their own announcement soon."
Grace gasped, "That little devil! She didn't tell me anything!" Grace turned to Fin and Melinda, "Excuse me for a moment, Uncle Fin, Aunt Mel…" Grace marched over to her sister and linked arms with her, pulling her away from talking with Jonathan and Casey and Kimberly and Katie and her boyfriend, Anthony, and virtually dragged her from the room.
AAA
A contented lull came over the eight adults as they sat around on the porch of the first floor. They were all in Adirondack chairs and wooden benches with cushions, a low, wooden coffee table with a large hurricane lantern on top, its glow flickering in the warm, light evening wind. The song Summer Breeze by Seals and Crofts playing softly on the speakers that were Bluetooth connected to Theo's iPhone.
"For you, Mom…" Theo smiled and set his phone back on the table, picked up his wine glass and leaned back as Samantha leaned back against him. He began stroking her hair now, their future brunette daughter-in-law closing her eyes and smiling.
"I like more than that mellow stuff, Theo…" Alex smiled.
"Uh-huh…" Isabel smiled, beginning to giggle. "I am woman, hear me roar…" she sang, sitting up and swinging her arms stiffly, as though marching.
"Hey…" Alex tried, "…that's a good song…"
The kids started laughing and Alex turned and looked at her wife who was stifling a laugh.
They had all shared champagne and wine and were feeling tired and mellow. The party had been wonderful and now the only guests left were those that were staying the night—their children and future spouses of their children.
"But, Mama…" Theo looked at Olivia, "…you have the best taste in music." Their son smirked at his brunette mother, "Right?"
"That's right, Theo…your Mom won't admit it, but she likes some of those songs I used to listen to…back in the day…"
"Like this one?" Theo leaned forward and pressed a button on his phone.
Wiggle began to play by Jason Derulo.
Alex felt her wife's body shaking with laughter beside her on the bench and looked and watched as Olivia leaned her forehead against her wife's shoulder.
"Remember this, Al?"
Isabel started in with the first verse, standing for effect, "You know what to do with that big fat butt…wiggle, wiggle wiggle…" Isabel began dancing and Grace stood and joined. Before long, Samantha and Gregory, Lilly and Theo were all dancing, their son clapping his hands like an alligator in front of him, all of the kids having fun dancing and laughing to the song they considered old.
At the end of the song, they all stopped dancing to recite the last line of the song, "Damn, Baby…you got a bright future behind you…" And then broke out in unrestrained laughter.
Alex and Olivia began clapping and cheering, sharing their enthusiasm.
Alex watched as the kids sat back down and Gregory leaned over towards Grace and whispered in her ear. Her smile widened and then she looked at him, her face turning serious now. Gregory now looked at Olivia and Alex and cleared his throat.
"I still have your permission, right?" His brown eyes searched the older women's.
Alex looked at Olivia. "Of course you do, Greg…"
Gregory stood now and then knelt in front of Grace, their little girl's eyes filling with tears instantly as she placed her hand over her mouth.
"It's a special night tonight…your mothers' thirtieth anniversary, your sister just got engaged…" Gregory took Grace's hand now and placed it on his knee, "…it's the perfect night, the weather is beautiful, the waves are rolling on the shore, and I have my beautiful girlfriend in front of me…"
Tears began streaming down Grace's cheeks now as she continued to cry. "I love you, Greg…" she whispered, "…I always have…"
Gregory smiled, "So…I'm gonna ask you, on this perfect evening, with everyone you love here…if you'll make me the happiest man in the world and be my bride…?"
Grace only nodded adamantly before grabbing Gregory and pulling to her, clutching him tightly. "Yes, baby…yes…I'll marry you…" She pulled away and grabbed his face and planted a firm kiss on his mouth, the two relishing in the moment.
Laughing, they pulled away and he lifted her hand and reached into his back pocket, and with one hand, opened the small black box, revealing a princess cut diamond surrounded by tiny diamonds. He took it from the box and slipped it onto her finger before she grabbed him again and held him tightly.
Alex looked at Olivia, the brunette's tears falling now. Alex reached for her wife's face and wiped a tear away from her cheek, the brunette looking at her now.
"All three of our babies, Al…" Olivia said softly. "Married…"
Alex nodded, trying a smile. "I know, babe…"
Everyone stood now and congratulations were had, hugs and kisses offered. Olivia leaned over and blew out the hurricane candle and then stood erect.
"Greg and I are gonna go on a walk on the beach."
"We were gonna go, too…" Isabel declared.
"So were we…" Theo claimed.
"Let's all go, then…" Grace smiled, linking arms with her now fiancé.
"Mom? Mama? You coming?"
"No…you guys go on…your Mom and I are gonna clean up a little and head on to bed. We're tired. OK?"
"OK…goodnight…" Theo offered.
OOO
Other goodnights were said, hugs and kisses had before the groups of twenty-somethings began walking down the dock that would lead to the beach.
"There they go…" Olivia said softly.
Alex moved to stand in front of her wife, "And here we are…"
"It started out just us, Al…remember?"
Alex nodded. "And we knew that's how it would end, right?" Alex's eyes dipped to her wife's mouth now before returning to her eyes. "Time to pass on the love…the good times…"
Olivia began giggling, "We're not dead yet, Alex…"
"No…" Alex reached up and cupped her wife's face in her hands, "…you've made all of my dreams come true, Olivia. You know that?"
Olivia smiled, sliding her hands up the blonde's back and pulling her into a hug. "I know, Babe, because you've done the same for me. Every last hope and dream I have ever had about happiness…about life…about living the life I've always wanted to live, with someone who loves me unconditionally. I always dreamed of it, Al…the perfection that could be…" Olivia pulled away now and looked into those blue pools. "And you've made it all come true…"
"Let's go inside, Liv…" Alex cleared her voice of the rasp and then smirked.
"Oh, Baby…yes, let's go inside…let the kids close up…" Olivia held her hand out to Alex and the blonde placed her slender fingers into her palm before interlocking fingers.
They slowly walked into the house, closing the door behind them, and made their way down the hallway to their bedroom.
Alex pushed the door open and they saw Joy sitting on their bed, sleeping soundly. Their feline yawned when she saw them and Alex moved to lift her from the bed, holding her close to her chest, whispering, "Sorry, fur ball…" She kissed her whiskers. "Mama and I are about to disrupt your sleep…"
Olivia giggled as she watched Alex set Joy on the floor outside the bedroom and then close the door, eyeing her blonde wife's every move.
"Ride 'em, cowgirl…" Olivia purred.
"Hey, Joy…" Isabel sang as she leaned down and picked up her mothers' cat and held her close. She stopped for a moment, listening casually, smiling to herself as she heard the faint sounds of love that could only be made by two people that had never been more in love. Isabel's smile grew, knowing that true love was possible and knowing in her heart of hearts that Love Won't Leave.
THE END
"The last love is the most lasting of loves." ― Amit Abraham
A/N:
A little twist on the last paragraph throughout the saga/series, the POV has either been Alex or Olivia, and no one else. The final paragraph was from Izzie's POV. Just a little switch, if you caught that...
Wow…so much has been written over the past year and a half. So much of my heart went into this. I almost can't believe it's over.
From the start, these characters have changed, grown, developed into the women that you see in Part IV. They went from women who were unsure, afraid of losing each other, and grew into women that knew that they would never lose each other. As people, as women, they changed, they evolved, became closer, as relationships of this magnitude should.
I will just thank all of you who have faithfully read and reviewed, talked with me about the story, indulged me in this world of Alex and Olivia for so long. Your words, your compliments, your faithfulness to this saga has inspired me about humanity and the connections we can make if we try to reach out. My binge watching of all 12 seasons of SVU over a year and a half ago fueled this series and I hope that I have done these characters justice and thank each and every one of you for your support.
If you do review, please leave one as your username, not under "guest" so that I can thank you, personally...:)
With all of the love in the world, all of you take care, be strong, do what you love, and know that you are not alone.
With love,
Patricia
Side Note: Amen to the Joyful Heart Foundation. What Mariska Hargitay has done with that particular philanthropy has been admirable and has benefited so many men, women, and children. Her heart is as big as her beauty and I believe she will do even bigger things one day.
Stephanie March has been through a lot in her life lately, but her own humanitarianism and her huge heart shows that she will find a real love one day.
Let love always live on! It makes the world go round.
With much love,
Patricia
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
― Dr. Seuss
