Disclaimer: SVU and its characters belong to Dick Wolf. I own nothing

The day she never thought would arrive was here – well, one of them anyway. Olivia lay wide eyed in bed, having woken up well before she should have. Thoughts kept running through her mind of everything that could possibly go wrong today at her doctor's appointment. If she was this nervous now for her visit with Dr. Shaw, she could only imagine how she was going to feel when she saw Dr. Cook next week. It was hard to believe she'd been staying at Elliot's apartment for seventeen days now. Her life had changed so much since that day a little over two weeks ago. She never would have imagined one event playing such a pivotal role in the relationship between her and Elliot.

As if she didn't have enough to think about, today would also be her and Elliot's first real date. She doesn't know exactly how he managed to pull it off, but after she'd agreed to go out with him on Sunday, he'd surprised her with dinner reservations and theater tickets for tonight. He had even relented in his rules about letting her go back to her apartment and driven her there yesterday so she could pick out something to wear. Granted, he had stayed right by her side as they made their way slowly up the stairs, and insisted she take a break as soon as they got inside her door, but she hadn't argued. The only thing she did insist on was that he not peek at what she had picked out.

Olivia was distracted from her line of thinking by a chime from her phone. Curious as to who would be messaging her at this hour, when everyone she knew was most likely working, she checked the display.

She was surprised to see that it was none other than Maureen. It was rare for her to get messages from Elliot's children, but not unheard of.

Hey Liv. I hope you don't mind, but Dad told me he was taking you out on a date tonight. I thought I would offer to come over and help you get ready, if you wanted? That way, it will seem more like a real date. I know it won't be the same if he has to be the one to help.

Olivia felt a mix of emotions, then the more she considered it, realized that she didn't actually mind that Elliot had told his children about their plans. He had already basically said as much this past weekend about his intentions toward her. Plus, even though Kathleen had been outspoken at times, none of his kids had really objected to the idea. Deciding that even though it would be a bit awkward accepting assistance from Elliot's daughter, it was much better than having Elliot himself dress her for their date. Now, when it came to getting undressed afterward – that was another matter entirely. She felt her skin flush as the possibilities swam through her mind. Maybe tonight they could push the boundaries a little, and take things a step beyond just kissing.

That would be great, thank you. But only if it won't interfere with your classes.

Olivia sent back her response, and got a reply seconds later. Maureen was confirming that she would be at the apartment at four. That would give them plenty of time. Elliot had made their dinner reservation for five thirty, and the show was at eight. It was a bit early to be having dinner, but he had said he didn't want her to feel rushed in any way.

No sooner had she placed the phone back on the nightstand, the bedroom door was opening. It was Elliot, he didn't seem surprised that she was already awake. Judging from the smirk on his face, Olivia figured that Maureen must have sent a message to her father as well.

"Morning, Liv. Did you want to shower this morning before your appointment today?"

"I think I'm good for now, but I might take one when we get back. If it's not too much trouble, maybe you could wash my hair for tonight, too?"

Rather than answer her verbally, he instead crossed to the bed, and bent his head to capture her lips with his own. Olivia was grateful she was still lying down as the intensity of the kiss made her feel light headed. Still, she managed to curl her left hand around the back of Elliot's neck while she became an active participant. After a few moments, he reluctantly pulled away as he tried to regain his focus. He gave her a pointed look, and Olivia knew he had her figured out. Not that she hadn't been eager to kiss him, but she'd had an ulterior motive.

"Not fair, Benson. You are always trying to distract me, especially when you know I'm going to bug you about eating breakfast."

Olivia had the decency to manage a somewhat guilty expression. She had been busted, after all. But she hoped he would understand where she was coming from with her next request, and not push the issue.

"I know what I've promised you before, El, but I just don't think I can eat a big breakfast today. I'm too nervous."

Knowing what that cost her to admit to him, Elliot was willing to compromise. When they mutually decided that she had to eat something in order to take her medicine, he got her to agree to half a bagel. Then, they went about getting Olivia ready for her visit with the doctor.

Olivia's nerves were not put at ease any when they got to the medical office building and found out that Dr. Shaw was running about half an hour behind. If this had been just a routine appointment to have staples removed, she would have been able to see one of his associates, but since she was also getting assessed to make sure there were no lingering symptoms or complications from her head injury, she had to see Shaw. Elliot offered to go and get her a cup of coffee while they waited, but she declined. The last thing she needed right now was anything with caffeine. When he gently questioned her again, Olivia acquiesced and let him get her some tea instead.

He returned a few minutes later with their drinks, which at the moment were still too hot to consume. As they waited for the beverages to cool, conversation drifted to their plans for the upcoming evening. While he had given her a few basic details, Olivia was still mostly in the dark about just what the the night would hold in store for her. She didn't even know what restaurant Elliot had chosen, or even what show he had manged to get tickets for. He was so insistent on everything being a surprise. While she wasn't typically one to hand over complete control, Olivia had no issue with it in this instance. Not only did she trust Elliot implicitly, but for the first time in forever, she didn't have to worry about a date being interrupted by work – even though she missed her job more than anything.

Before Olivia realized it, the time had quickly passed, and the nurse was calling her name to come to the exam room. While she was always a private person, Olivia recognized that Elliot had been by her side throughout this entire journey, and wanted him to be part of this process, too.

"Come back with me?"

She paused and turned to face him, her voice soft. Elliot's eyebrows raised ever so slightly in response, but nothing else about his expression gave away his evident shock at being asked to accompany her. Falling in step behind her, he followed as the nurse led them to an exam room that had already been prepped with the necessary tools to remove the staples in the back of Olivia's head. In addition to a traditional exam table, there was an odd looking chair with a circular cushion in place of a headrest. He figured that was likely meant for Olivia to sit in backwards, face down in the pillow.

They had been left in the room for all of five minutes before there was a polite but brief knock at the door, and in walked Dr. Shaw. He greeted both Detectives warmly. Olivia was quickly reminded of just how capable this man was of putting her at ease. Much like Dr. Cook, he had an excellent bedside manner. She had no problem in telling him to address her by her first name instead of her more formal title.

"How have you been feeling Olivia? Any headaches or dizziness that I should know about?"

As he asked the questions, Dr. Shaw began his exam, his touch gentle. He shined a light in each of Olivia's eyes, checking the reaction of her pupils.

"In terms of my head, I'm feeling okay. I had some headaches and dizziness the first couple of days after I was hurt, but they didn't last."

The doctor regarded her again, his expression kind, but stern.

"Yes, I saw in your files that you had a return trip to the emergency room for some torn stitches. I know our instructions aren't always easy, but we really do have your best interest at heart."

Olivia felt her cheeks flush slightly as she recalled that day not that long ago. She still felt shame when she realized how much damage she could have caused herself. On top of it all, she almost had done it a second time this past weekend. She really needed to get better control over her emotions and impulses.

"Now, lets get a look at your staples and see how your head wound has healed."

Offering her his hand, Dr. Shaw helped Olivia off the exam table, and led her to the nearby chair. As best as she could, she made herself comfortable, relieved that Elliot had arranged her hair in a ponytail this morning before they had left his apartment. His offer had initially surprised her, but it made sense, since the doctor would need access to the back of her head. The doctor moved a tray of tools closer, and before he began, explained the process.

"This has healed nicely, Olivia. You may feel an odd sensation as I remove the staples, but you shouldn't have any discomfort. If you do, please tell me immediately."

Olivia nodded, then realized that he wouldn't be able to see her response, so she also answered verbally. The next thing she felt was the doctor place his palm gently on the base of her head to hold her steady. Involuntarily, she held her breath as she felt him tug at the first staple to pull it free. Without even realizing what she was doing, she held her hand out, and only fully relaxed when she felt Elliot's fingers encircle her own. At the moment, she didn't care about being perceived as weak or not in control – she was only grateful for his presence. The reality of everything that had happened to her was crashing in on her from all sides. Her head injury could have been so much worse, it was only now that it had occurred to her how lucky she really was.

Before Olivia even was aware, Dr. Shaw had finished taking out the last of the staples. There was no need for any additional treatment, and he assured her that her hair would grow back without any issue. While he didn't need to see her for any further visits, she was to call him again if she started having any new or frequent headaches, vision changes, or dizziness. Any of those symptoms could still be residual problems from the head injury, and should not be ignored. Olivia not only promised, but Elliot gave his word to keep an eye on her as well.

The doctor wished them well, and left the exam room, then they were free to leave.

On the way back to his apartment, Elliot had stopped for takeout. It wasn't anything fancy, just a couple of sandwiches from their favorite deli, but he was insistent that Olivia eat something. He had been understanding about her nerves this morning before her appointment, but it was almost noon. Even though their reservation was at five-thirty, it was likely their meals wouldn't be served until around six. That was too long to go without food.

Since she was planning to shower immediately after lunch, Olivia didn't bother having Elliot help her change into something comfortable. She took a seat at the table and waited for him to bring over their food. Even though she had said it wasn't necessary, and they could eat directly from the wrappers, he had insisted on plating their sandwiches. When he brought them over to the table, she understood why.

Rather than having her entire turkey on wheat in front of her as she had ordered, instead she found only half. To go with it, there was half of a roast beef on marble rye. Olivia couldn't hide her smile as she realized what Elliot had done. In addition to splitting their meal, she noticed that he had also put both pickle spears on her plate. He always had known they were her favorite.

When they were done eating, Olivia took her shower. She spent a little longer than usual under the spray of the water, as her nerves were starting to get the better of her yet again. In just a few short hours, Maureen would be coming over to help her get ready for a date with Elliot. She still was having trouble grasping that concept.

As she was having her hair washed a short while later, she reveled in the feeling. Even though he had always been gentle with her, sometimes Elliot's fingers would inadvertently bump against the staples. It had never been painful, just felt strange. To be able to enjoy his fingers on her scalp without any interference was wonderful.

"I guess we should get you changed, Liv. What were you wanting to wear? Leggings, sweats, something else?"

Olivia tried to focus her attention on what he was asking her, then realized that he had already helped her sit upright and was towel drying her hair. Knowing that if she was going to be in any condition to go out with him tonight, she needed to rest, she spoke up.

"Actually, I think I'm going to stay in my robe until Maureen gets here."

That statement prompted Elliot to raise an eyebrow, and Olivia acknowledged to herself just how suggestive her words sounded.

"I mean, I think I'm going to take a short nap, and I really don't see the point getting changed when I'm just going to have to do it all over again in a few hours."

"Fair enough."

He walked with her into the bedroom, and helped her into the sling. Olivia crawled beneath the covers, and got as comfortable as she possibly could while making sure she was staying decent. Not that she would mind at this point if Elliot got a peek, but she was hoping to save that for after their date tonight.

"If you don't mind, I'm just going to grab a few things from the closet while I'm in here. That way I can get ready in the other room later when Maureen is helping you."

"It's your closet, El. You don't need my permission."

He smiled at her impish comment, and couldn't resist stealing a kiss. Even though he could tell she was already halfway to drifting off, there was one thing he wanted to know. He hoped she would be willing to give him an answer.

"Liv, I know you didn't want me to see what you picked out to wear for tonight, and I absolutely respect that. Can you at least tell me what color you chose? I'd like to coordinate my tie to match."

"A dark navy blue."

Elliot searched through his ties until he found what he thought was an appropriate match. When he held it up for Olivia's approval, she nodded. He slipped it over the hanger to accompany the crisp white shirt he had chosen along with the charcoal gray suit coat and pants. After he had shut the closet door, he turned back to the bed, hoping for another kiss, but saw that Olivia had already drifted off, her breathing slow and even. Resolving to himself that there would be plenty of time for kisses later, he tiptoed out of the room, leaving his date for the evening in peace.

Despite the fact that she thought she wouldn't, Olivia slept peacefully. She also slept longer than she even planned to. She woke up at three thirty, and was surprised that there was so little time now before Maureen would arrive. She'd like to think there wasn't any time left for her to get nervous, but that simply wasn't possible. She didn't know exactly why she was nervous - it's not as though this were a blind date – she's known Elliot for years. Even if for some reason they found that the chemistry between them wasn't right, it wouldn't preclude them from enjoying one anothers company.

Olivia felt her face flush at the thought. Judging by the kisses they've been sharing and the way they kept pushing the envelope, chemistry definitely wouldn't be an issue. The issue more than likely would be keeping their hands off of one another while she continued to heal. Still, she hoped to provide Elliot with a little bit of encouragement tonight that despite her limitations, she wasn't going to break. They may not be able to take things as far as she'd like, but they could definitely have some fun.

Pushing back the covers, she managed to get up on her own. As she padded out into the hall and toward the kitchen, Olivia caught sight of Elliot sitting on the couch. He was slouched down against the cushions, his head tipped back. He was obviously asleep, as his mouth was open slightly. Taking a few steps closer, she observed how at peace he seemed, but she couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't stretched out across the couch entirely, or even gone to lay in Dickie's room. For that matter, she also admonished herself for not asking him to rest with her while she took her nap. Resting together was something they often did, it just hadn't occurred to her that he would be tired, too. Perhaps sleep had eluded him the night before just as much as it had her.

Olivia wasn't entirely sure what had gotten into her, but she was suddenly filled with the impulse to straddle Elliot's lap and wake him by kissing him senseless. However, given that there was no way possible for her to achieve that without falling over as she simply couldn't balance herself properly, she filed that thought away for another time. Instead, she brushed her hand over his forehead, and touched her lips to his. When his eyes opened, blue met brown, and she gave him a radiant smile. Before she could say anything else, though, the sound of keys in the door could be heard. It would have to wait until later. Maureen was here.

"Hey Dad, Olivia. Liv, how did your appointment go this morning?"

Maureen walked into the apartment, a backpack slung over her shoulder. She headed directly to embrace Olivia first, then her father, who had stood to greet her.

"It went really well. I was able to get the staples in the back of my head removed, and the doctor doesn't think there will be any lingering side effects from hitting my head."

"That is good news."

Next, Maureen turned to Elliot. There was a stern look on her face, a surprising role reversal for father and daughter. With a teasing tone, but still being completely serious, she said there were a few rules.

"There will be no rushing us, Dad. Olivia will be ready in plenty of time for you to leave, so no knocking on the door and asking. Just worry about yourself. Let's go, Liv."

Heading into the kitchen to grab a couple bottles of water from the fridge, Maureen led the way to her father's bedroom. Olivia followed behind almost mechanically, but couldn't help sending a glance behind her. Elliot couldn't hold back his chuckle as he took in her panicked, 'what did I get myself into?' expression just as the door to his bedroom closed behind the two women. Still, he was grateful that Olivia had someone helping her. Not that he would have minded, but this just made their date all the more special. He'd get to be surprised when that door opened in an hour's time, and he could get to see his beautiful partner all dressed up – this time for him.

In her father's bedroom, Maureen took inventory. It hadn't phased her in the slightest that the older woman was wearing only a robe when she arrived. The only thing she needed to determine was if Olivia needed a shower, or if she'd already had one. Once she'd learned that had already been taken care of, she focused on the next task at hand.

"Does your dress slip over your head, or is it one you can step into?"

It didn't occur to Olivia how Maureen had intuited she had picked a dress to wear for the evening, she simply answered the question.

"I picked one that I can step into. I'm still not really supposed to be lifting my arms above my head all that much."

"Okay. If that's the case, I'll do your hair and makeup first, then we can get you dressed after. We won't have to worry about messing it up that way, or getting anything on your dress."

Olivia's head was spinning. Granted, nothing Maureen was saying was anything out of her usual routine for preparing for a date, but it was all becoming just a little too real. Makeup? Hair? Dress? This was all actually happening. The intensity of it all made her feel slightly dizzy at it overwhelmed her.

The next thing Olivia was aware of was Maureen's hands on her shoulders, easing her down to sit on the edge of the bed. She felt as a bottle of water was pushed into her hand, and mechanically took a sip when she was instructed.

"Liv, are you feeling okay? You just kind of zoned out on me for a second."

The concern in the young woman's voice was evident, and Olivia felt bad for having worried her. She really needed to get a grip on her emotions.

"I'm fine, honey. I guess I'm just nervous."

She figured a little honesty never hurt, plus it would serve to verify that this was in fact the first date she and Elliot had ever gone on. Olivia wasn't certain whether Maureen harbored any suspicions the way her sister Kathleen did. If she had, it was doubtful she would have offered to help, but better to keep the air clear.

"You have nothing to worry about, Liv. Dad really cares about you. I'll admit, its still a little strange to get used to the idea of him dating someone other than Mom, but I couldn't be happier that he chose you."

With that said, Maureen squared her shoulders and got to work. She opened her backpack, and began pulling out what she'd need. Olivia tried not to let her eyes widen as she saw all that the young woman had brought with her, but it was evident that she'd been more than serious when she said she'd help.

A set of hot rollers were placed on top of Elliot's dresser, and plugged into a nearby outlet so that the inner coils could heat. While she waited for that to finish, Maureen asked Olivia where her makeup bag was, figuring the woman would prefer to use her own cosmetics. Thankfully, it had been one of the things the detective had grabbed when she had been at her apartment with Elliot the day before, so she was prepared.

Olivia closed her eyes as Maureen began applying a trio of shadows, starting on her eyelids, working her way up to the crease, all the way to the highlight just beneath the brow. They were in a shades that would bring out the chocolate color of her eyes. Complimentary tones of brown were added with a liquid liner and a hint of mascara. The finished effect enhanced Olivia's eyes, and made them even brighter.

Finding no actual blush in the bag, Maureen's next step was to add a hint of bronzer to accentuate Olivia's face. A light dusting on the temples, the tip of the nose and chin, and finally a more liberal swipe across the cheekbones gave her a healthy glow. Finally, she found a pale tinted lipstick – not quite nude, but not quite pink either – and applied it to Olivia's lips. A touch of clear gloss to add a hint of shimmer, and the look was complete.

By now, the rollers were hot. Separating Olivia's hair into sections, Maureen placed it into the curlers, and secured them with the pins. The process took about fifteen minutes to complete, and when they were done, it was still only quarter after four. It was to their advantage that Maureen had arrived earlier than originally planned.

The minutes passed quickly though, as the two women filled the time waiting by talking. Olivia had asked Maureen how her issues with her roommate were going, and it was obvious that Elliot's daughter was grateful for the opportunity to vent. It wasn't anything that couldn't be resolved, it was just that the pressures of college were getting to them both, and being stuck in the confined spaces of their dorm, they were taking their frustrations out on one another.

"Okay, Liv. Let's get your hair out of those rollers."

After confirming with Olivia that she didn't have a preference one way or the other how her hair was styled, Maureen made the decision herself. Rather than try to debate endlessly over whether to pin it up, or leave the chestnut locks down, she opted to do both. Pulling the top and sides back, she secured them with a barrette, leaving the curls she'd put in cascading down over Olivia's shoulders.

Finally, and using the most care she'd exercised all afternoon, Maureen helped Olivia out of her sling. Knowing it wouldn't cause her injuries any distress, Olivia slipped into some stockings and rolled them up. While on any other occasion she would have preferred to use a garter, the fact that she wouldn't be getting undressed alone later convinced her to use the kind with an elastic band around the thigh. She had already swapped out her usual boy shorts for a pair of black lace underwear that rode low on her hips. There would be no need for a bra, as her dress already had one built in.

"Ready for your dress, Liv?"

Olivia nodded, and turned her back as she undid the sash on her robe and shrugged it off her shoulders. Maureen unzipped the garment bag that hung on the back of the door, and removed the dress. It was a sleeveless dark navy blue dress with a sweetheart neckline, and the A-line hem ended just at the knee. Standing behind her, she carefully lowered it to the floor so the woman could step into it, while taking every precaution to preserve her modesty. Once the dress was up over Olivia's hips and chest, Maureen slipped the straps onto her shoulders and zipped her up. Before putting the sling back on, she dabbed a touch of perfume on Olivia's pulse points.

At last, it seemed everything was in order. Still, there was something making her feel a bit self conscious. Olivia remembered what she had almost forgotten.

"Maureen, can you grab my shawl, please? It's on the hanger in the garment bag."

"Of course."

Moments later, they were on their way out to the living room, after the shawl had been strategically draped over Olivia's shoulders to conceal the straps of the sling. Just before they left the confines of the bedroom, Maureen had told her how beautiful she looked. That feeling was only compounded when Olivia saw the look in Elliot's eye as she rounded the corner. He was wearing the charcoal gray suit he had pulled from his closet earlier, with the white shirt underneath. The tie he had chosen wasn't just close in color – it matched her dress perfectly.

"Liv."

He wasn't able to say much beyond her name, which had come out at barely a whisper. She had, quite literally, taken his breath away. The sheer fact that this gorgeous woman standing in front of him would be on his arm tonight, standing beside him, humbled him to a degree he could not even express. Before he could say anything else, Maureen was pushing the two of them together toward the far corner of the living room.

"Okay you two, I want photos."

He tried to protest, but it was no use.

"No way, Dad. You don't get to argue. Just consider this payback for every dance I ever went to in high school."

She pulled out her phone, and snapped several photographs in succession, but then took mercy on them. After promising to send copies, she insisted they be on their way so that they wouldn't be late for their reservation.

"Don't worry about anything, Dad. I'll lock up when I leave. You two just concentrate on each other and having a good time tonight."

Even though Maureen was trying to rush them out the door, Olivia paused to hug the young woman goodbye. She wanted to thank her again for all her help. Then, she slipped her hand into the crook of Elliot's arm and let him lead her out into the night. Their date had finally begun.

A/N: While I'm unable to include links for this, I wanted you all to have an idea of the dress I envisioned for Olivia in this chapter. If you google "jjs house a-line sweetheart knee length chiffon bridesmaid dress" and go to images, its the first row that comes up below the sponsored links. It shows up in black (for $106), but if you click on it, it takes you to the page, and the first color swatch is for the dark navy. Elliot's charcoal gray suit is much more easily left to the imagination. But the tie matches Liv's dress. :)