Thank you for reviews/alerts/favourites. I hope this next chapter pleases as much.
Benson-Stabler residence, Manhattan, New York
Friday, April 17th 2009
6.24 am
Olivia lay in bed and looked up at the ceiling as she listened to Elliot's even breath beside her. A small smile played on her lips, a combination of excitement and nerves flooded through her veins because tomorrow, she was getting married to the man of her dreams. She rolled over to face him and began to gently stroke his chest, slowly waking him from the sweet dream he'd been having.
"Hey baby." He smiled as his head turned to face her.
"Morning." She smiled happily.
"Are you ok?" He asked as she shifted so her head lay on his chest and he absentmindedly began to play with her brunette locks.
"I'm perfect." She replied. "Are you ok?"
"Perfect." He replied before dropping a light kiss on her head.
The bedroom door swung open and Olivia let out a gentle laugh as Melissa pounded into the bedroom and dove onto the bed.
"Get in here." Olivia smiled peeling back the duvet so Melissa could climb in.
A small cry echoed through the baby monitor and Olivia realised that her whole family would be awake now, Nicole's cry seemed to wake Don and Anne too.
"I'll go." Elliot smiled climbing out of bed to go and get their youngest from her crib so she could join them.
"Mommy..." Melissa started as she pulled her hair out of her face.
"Yeah baby?" Olivia asked as she spooned her daughter.
"You and Uncle El are getting married tomorrow." She smiled.
Olivia let out a gentle laugh at the thought, yes she was, she was getting married to Elliot tomorrow and everyone knew about it.
"Yeah baby, are you ok with that?" Olivia asked hoping to God she wouldn't say know.
"I'm super excited!" Melly replied as Elliot came in with a wailing Nicole and a bottle of formula.
"Me too baby." Olivia replied as she pushed to sitting so she could feed her youngest daughter.
"Go to Momma baby." Elliot cooed as he slowly handed Nicole over to Olivia's waiting arms followed by the room temperature formula milk that she quickly gave the screaming baby quietening her instantly.
Benson-Stabler residence, Manhattan, New York
Friday, April 17th 2009
8.14 am
Everyone was in the kitchen having breakfast, Melissa was talking to Elliot about her latest school project, Nicole was in her bouncer between Olivia and Cragen and Anne was busy keeping her own nerves at bay by making cookies.
"How are you feeling?" Don asked Olivia who was playing with the toast crust her mind somewhere else.
"Excited and nervous." Olivia replied giving him a gentle smile.
"I bet." He grinned.
"It's going to be so weird not sleeping here beside him tonight." Olivia sighed, she would be sleeping in Anne's house as would Melly, Nicole, Alex, Casey and Melinda, Anne and Don, Maureen, Kathleen, and Lizzie while Elliot, Munch, Fin and Dickie would be sleeping at this house.
"Just think, tomorrow you're going to be Cragen-Stabler." He smiled and she grinned at him.
"Cragen-Stabler, now that's going to take some getting used to having been Benson for all my life and career." Olivia smiled, it might have been difficult but she wouldn't have had it any other way.
"Have you decided which one you're going to use?" Cragen asked her and she smiled and nodded.
"Elliot's my partner, Stabler and Stabler doesn't quite sound right." She explained.
Cragen just grinned, now he was ecstatic.
"Detective Cragen the second." He winked making her laugh loudly and catch the attention of everyone round the table.
"Come on you, we need to get you dressed." Olivia said turning to Nicole to hide the scarlet blush on her cheeks.
Benson-Stabler residence, Manhattan, New York
Friday, April 17th 2009
1.56 pm
"You're still here?" Munch asked in disbelief as he walked into the living room closely followed by Fin carrying two six packs of beer.
"Yes and I hope you're not going to try and make my fiancé pissed!" She warned.
"No, we won't!" Fin replied firmly. "But that doesn't mean Munch and me have to stay sober!"
Olivia threw a cushion at him and caught him square on the head.
"So when will the bride be leaving us?" Munch asked because they had lots of stuff to do to annoy Elliot between now and the wedding and he didn't want to miss a moment of it.
"As soon as Cragen and Mom are ready." She smiled hearing their footsteps on the stairs.
"I'm going to miss you." Elliot whispered pulling her closed into him and dropping light kisses all over her head.
"I'm not going to be far El, and tomorrow we're getting married!" She beamed.
"I know, but one whole night without you is going to be tough!" He replied squeezing her shoulders gently.
"Yeah it is but think about the hot passionate sex we can have tomorrow night." She whispered seductively but Munch and Fin's laughter proved she hadn't been as quiet as she thought making her cheeks flush scarlet once again.
"Hot passionate sex we can have tomorrow night." Fin mimicked.
"I hope not! One couple in the office is bad enough!" Cragen chortled making the whole room burst with a fit of laughter.
"Right Olivia are you ready to go?" Anne asked.
Olivia took a deep breath and turned to look at Elliot, he pulled her into his arms and locked their lips together in a deep passionate kiss making Munch and Fin both wolf whistle will Don and Anne looked away.
"I'm gonna miss you." He whispered.
"I'm gonna miss you too." She replied a tear twinkling in her eye.
"Don't cry baby, think about how amazing it's going to be when I next see you and you'll become Mrs Cragen-Stabler?" He beamed.
"I know, we're going to be Mr and Mrs Cragen-Stabler in less than twenty four hours!" She giggled nervously, Elliot hadn't told Munch and Fin he would be taking the hyphened name yet and they hadn't even be told that Olivia would be dropping Benson completely.
"So do we have to call you both Stabler?" Fin asked in shock.
"No ... uh ... I'm going to be using Cragen at work." Olivia explained glancing nervously at Don who smiled happily.
"Ok I thought two Stabler's would be bad but I don't know what to make of having two Cragen's one Detective and one Captain that's going to be tough to get used to!" Munch laughed.
"Yeah but you will soon enough." Olivia replied as Anne handed a giggling Nicole over to her.
"Right come on we should be going." Don smiled picking up his and Anne's overnight bag.
She walked over to Munch and Fin to give them a hug, Fin held her for a few seconds and whispered in her ear.
"Tomorrow is going to be perfect, don't worry." He told her.
"Just make sure he gets to the Church on time." She laughed softly.
"Promise." He replied and then after one more gentle kiss with Elliot they left.
Jefferson residence, Manhattan, New York
Friday, April 17th 2009
6.32 pm
Olivia looked around at all the women and Cragen who were in the room, she couldn't believe how happy and at peace she felt and everyone else seemed happy too. They (much to Anne's disgust) had ordered in pizza and they were now all watching a movie together, after the kids would go to bed and Cragen would go over to the men for a few hours was when the fun would begin, even though Olivia didn't know that yet.
She glanced over at Alex and Casey who were both snuggled up with Nicole and she looked down at Melissa who had an arm wrapped around Melinda, Maureen, Kathleen and Lizzie were sat on cushions on the floor and they all seemed to be wrapped up in the movie, she was the only one who's mind wasn't on the Disney flick chosen specifically by Melissa.
"Ok?" Cragen asked taking her hand.
"Yeah." She nodded giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
"Everything's going to be fine Liv, I know you're nervous but that's normal." He whispered hoping no one could hear him, he didn't know Anne was listening to every word.
"I'm just overwhelmed." Olivia replied.
"Why?" He asked.
"I've got everything I've ever wanted Dad, I've got a family, two loving parents, a loving soon to be husband and two amazing children and four step children, I couldn't ask for anymore than this." She explained the tears stinging her eyes.
"You didn't even ask for this Olivia, good things happen to good people, you my darling beautiful daughter are a very good person with a heart of gold and a soul to match, I'm so proud to have you in my life." He whispered and tears stung their eyes, unbeknown to them everyone apart from Lizzie, Melly and Nicole also had tears stinging their eyes at this beautiful moment.
"Thanks Dad. I love you." She whispered cuddling up into his shoulder and wrapping an arm around his waist.
"Love you too Liv, always." He whispered back before wrapping his arm around her shoulder and both of them pretending to turn their attention back to the screen.
Jefferson residence, Manhattan, New York
Friday, April 17th 2009
9.36 pm
"Ok now the kids have gone to bed and Cragen's gone to hang out with the boys it's gift time!" Casey squealed.
"Oh guys." Olivia groaned as the women pulled out piles of gifts and placed them in front of Olivia.
"We know you said no gifts but we couldn't help it this is your bachelorette party and you're going to enjoy it." Alex replied handing her the first gift bag while Melinda pulled out a camera.
Olivia saw there was no name on the label and opened it to find a sash, crown and wand.
"Put them on!" Melinda called and Olivia put the items on and grinned cheekily for a photograph before continuing to the second gift which was off Casey.
"Really?" Olivia gasped in shock horror a laugh playing on her lips as she pulled very lacy garments from the box.
"Well you said you weren't sure about the underwear you'd chosen to go with your dress so now you have a choice, I think Elliot won't mind either way!" Casey replied laughing hysterically.
Olivia smiled and quickly placed the garments in the box, Maureen and Kathleen were still in the room as was Anne, three people who Olivia could go a lifetime without letting see her undergarments.
The next gift bag was from Anne and Don, Olivia gave her a grateful smile as she began pulling out small boxes which contained her something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.
"That's old." Anne explained for the first box Olivia picked up.
It was an antique diamond and pearl drop necklace and Olivia looked at her Mother in shock, she'd seen this item twice before.
"I wore that for both marriages, it's only right that the first daughter of mine to get married should have it." Anne smiled, the truth was she wouldn't have given it to her other daughter who had been estranged from the family having taken a new job in Miami and had said she'd 'try' and be back for the wedding which told everyone not to hold their breath.
"Mom I ..."
"Yes you can." She replied firmly.
"Thank you." Olivia smiled reaching out for her mother's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Now that's you something new." She explained and Olivia opened it to find a pair of diamond and pearl drop earrings not indifferent to the necklace.
"Wow they match perfectly!" Olivia noticed as she held the chain and earrings side by side.
"I had them made so if you decide to wear them tomorrow then they'll match." Anne explained.
"They're beautiful." Olivia smiled getting teary eyed.
"No tears come on you've still got your borrowed and blue to go!" Anne laughed and Olivia picked up the third box.
She opened it slowly and found a blue and white garter and a pair of white stockings.
"Mom!" Olivia gasped.
"What?" Anne asked innocently as Olivia turned scarlet and everyone else laughed.
"Thank you." Olivia smiled thinking it was quite funny that her mother, the upper class woman had some sense of romance and a bit of a kinky side to her.
"Well that's your something blue so come on open your something borrowed." She smiled.
Olivia nodded and picked it up to find a simple piece of ribbon and she looked up at her mother in confusion.
"That is the ribbon from your father's first wife's wedding dress, he wanted you to have a part of her with you in the same way you'll have a piece of me and Cole with you." She explained smiling, it had been Cragen's idea but she hadn't objected one bit as she thought it was a lovely way for them to remember their lost ones on such a joyous occasion.
All in all Olivia was spoilt rotten by her friends and when it was finally time to turn in that night they could only be excited and nervous for the next day.
I leave for the hotel in less than 12 hours, will be away from the computer for around 48 hours so I am trying to finish this story before I go. Only one chapter left guys I'm afraid but the sequel is in the works, there will be an epilogue to prepare you for the sequel which I will then write when I have finished AFTER UNDERCOVER, RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME, REGAINING LOVE AND LOST IN TRANSITION, I know it's a lot of writing but I have a hectic few weeks, a lot to be spent on trains and so that's where I do my best writing and so maybe they'll get done!
3 SteffieDawn 3
