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

Olivia fell into step beside Elliot as they walked to his Jeep, and she let him open the door for her and help her into the passenger seat. Even though it was something he'd been doing for her for awhile now, she startled slightly when he reached across her body to fasten her seat belt. He murmured an apology, his lips ghosting across a spot just behind her ear and sending a shiver down her spine.

Once he was behind the wheel, they were on the road shortly after. It wasn't a far ride to the restaurant he had chosen, but traffic at this hour was always questionable at best. Twenty minutes later, they were pulling up to the valet stand outside of an Italian restaurant she had been longing to try for quite some time. Olivia recalled having mentioned this once to Elliot in passing, but couldn't believe that he had actually remembered.

An attendant opened her door for her while Elliot was giving the keys to the valet, and Olivia didn't know what to do. She used her left hand to free herself from the confines of the belt, and tried her best to turn sideways. From the corner of her eye, she caught Elliot jogging around the car.

"Thank you, sir, but I've got it from here."

Elliot excused the attendant who was trying to assist Olivia, and reached into the open door himself. Taking hold of her left hand, he waited until she swung her legs out onto the pavement and was able to stand. Then, just after closing the door, he took a moment to situate her shawl around her shoulders before offering her his arm. They walked into the restaurant side by side.

Bypassing the line of people who stood waiting, they approached the podium, where he gave his name to the host. After checking it off in the book, they were promptly seated at an intimate booth for two. There was a sconce on the wall that provided ambient lighting, as well as a votive candle on the table.

Once they were seated, they were approached by a formally dressed young man. He introduced himself as Josh, and said he would be their server for the evening. Elliot figured him to be only a few years older than Maureen. Josh set goblets filled with water at each of their places, then passed them their menus. He also produced an extensive drinks list, filled with not only some of the finest champagnes and wines the restaurant had to offer, but several non alcoholic options as well. After making certain he could be of no further assistance, he gave the couple a few moments to decide.

"What looks good to you?"

Elliot asked the question, noticing the way Olivia was studying the menu as though she expected to find all the answers to life written on it. She startled slightly at the sound of his voice, then immediately flushed, embarrassed for having reacted the way she had. Even though this was anything but the first meal they'd shared together, he understood if she was feeling a bit out of her comfort zone. Truth be told, he was nervous too.

"I'm not sure, everything sounds so good."

"Did you want to share a bottle of wine with me? I know you can't drink because of your pain medication, but they have a non-alcoholic sparkling rosé that sounds promising. Plus, it says here it will compliment salads, cheeses, and pastas."

Any hesitation Olivia was feeling immediately evaporated. He was trying so hard. Obviously, a glass of wine would be preferable with dinner, but she was so close to being healed now, she didn't want to do anything to mess herself up. What Elliot had suggested sounded like a wonderful alternative.

"That sounds amazing. Now I just have to figure out what I want to order."

After spending several more minutes perusing the choices, Olivia had narrowed down her decision. Elliot had made up his mind as well. A few minutes after they had closed their menus, Josh returned to the table. He placed a basket of warm bread in the center, accompanied by a shallow bowl filled with olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and herbs. He then inquired if they were ready to place their order. Glancing at his partner curiously, Elliot asked without words if she would mind if he took the lead. He knew instinctively that letting someone order for her was not something she did often. When she gave him a subtle nod by way of response, he turned to the young man who was waiting for his reply.

"To start, if you could please bring one each of the Caprese and Antipasto salads, please. Then, for our main course, the lady will have the Cacio e Pepe, and I will have the Carbonara."

Josh had no need to write anything down, as the order was fully committed to memory. Instead, he made one additional inquiry.

"Have you decided on anything to drink, sir?"

"Yes, please bring us a bottle of the Señorío de la Tautila Espumoso Rosado."

The young man nodded, then went off to not only submit their order to the kitchen, but get their bottle of sparkling wine. Elliot and Olivia were left alone yet again.

Feeling more at ease than she had at first, Olivia leaned back against the booth and let herself relax. She was about to ask Elliot a question when Josh returned briefly to present them with their bottle of sparkling wine, and pour each of them a glass. He also gave them assurances that their salads would be out shortly.

Helping herself to a piece of bread, Olivia dipped it carefully in the oil mixture before taking a bite. She noticed as Elliot copied her movements. When they both set their bread down on the small plates in front of them at the same time, Elliot reached for the glass in front of him. Olivia caught the look in his eye, and lifted hers, too. As he made a toast, she felt herself getting a bit emotional.

"To spending a wonderful evening with an amazing woman. No matter what happens tonight, I couldn't be happier to have you by my side."

They clinked glasses, then each took a sip of the bubbly beverage. It had a pleasant taste, and neither of them missed the fact that they weren't drinking something with alcohol.

Several minutes later, Olivia took the opportunity to ask a question that had been on her mind ever since the other day. Just what else was in store for her tonight? She understood his wanting to keep the element of surprise for awhile, but they were due at the theater soon, and she still had no clue what show they were going to be seeing.

"El? Just how much of a surprise is the show we are going to see? Am I going to have to wait until we pull up in front of the theater?"

Elliot tried to hide his smile as he considered the question. He knew how hard it had been for Olivia to put the control of the evening completely in his hands. Perhaps it was the nature of the job, but she was always asking questions, wanting to know what was waiting for her next. He should have known he wouldn't be able to keep a surprise from her for very long. In fact, he was impressed she'd held off on questioning him until now.

"I suppose, now that we are at dinner, I can finally tell you. I don't want you to faint from shock when we get there. The point is for you to actually watch the performance."

Now, she was more intrigued than ever. She just simply couldn't imagine anything having an effect on her like that. Unless – no, he couldn't have. There was no way for him to have known. Still, it was on the tip of her tongue to ask.

"Where are we going?"

"The Broadhurst Theatre"

Elliot waited for a moment for what he had said to sink in. He knew the exact moment his words had registered, because Olivia's eyes grew wide, and her hand came up to cover her mouth, which had dropped slightly in shock.

"That's – that's where the revival of Les Misérables is playing! El, how did you ever manage to get tickets?"

"I have my secrets. Plus, I know what it means to you."

She must have looked confused then, because he hurried to explain. Reaching for her hand across the table, he took it gently in his own. With a soft squeeze, his voice became something only for her to hear, and nothing that could be carried to the other tables in their vicinity.

"You once told me that the book is one of your favorites. I know for a fact you own two copies – one of which you never touch. That's because it is a first edition print given to you by your mother, the last gift she ever gave you before she died."

He let go of her hand only briefly to reach up and wipe away the lone tear that was resting at the corner of her eye. Then, he continued.

"I also know, that whenever we have a difficult case that you're having difficulty recovering from, you go home and immerse yourself in the soundtrack. Despite all that, you've never once seen it performed live on stage."

Olivia couldn't believe she was about to lose it right here in the middle of a Manhattan restaurant. Elliot had managed to do something for her that no one else before ever had, and she was so deeply touched. Fortunately, she was able to compose herself quickly enough when she saw Josh approaching out of the corner of her eye with their salads. It seemed that the young man had thought ahead, and brought along two additional plates, correctly guessing that they planned to share. Before leaving them alone once more, he refilled their bread basket, then said he'd be back to check on them shortly.

As she watched Elliot divide up their salads, she didn't know quite what to say. She was still reeling from the news he'd told her about what their next destination would be. The words 'thank you' just seemed so trite compared to the emotions she was feeling in her heart. She wasn't sure there was an adequate way to express what it meant to her. Olivia temporarily tabled her thoughts and focused on the moment, resolving to come up with a solution later.

Elliot passed her a plate, filled with equal portions of both the Caprese and Antipasto salads. To compliment the first, there was a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, while the latter was tossed in the restaurant's own housemade dressing. It was apparent that the fresh mozzarella in both salads was made in-house as well.

As they ate, conversation between them continued. Not knowing much about the musical they were going to see other than the fact that Olivia adored it, Elliot asked her a few questions so he wouldn't be going in completely clueless. There was one thing on his mind though.

"I know you grew up with an English professor for a mother, and she would have encouraged you to read, but how is it that a French novel became your favorite?"

Olivia set down her fork, a pensive expression on her face. She hadn't expected things to take such a serious turn, but not once had it occurred to her to shy away from the question.

"I read the book long before I probably should have. It was after I learned the truth about my conception from my mom. I didn't want to believe it."

She took a drink from her water glass, then when she set it down again, felt Elliot take her hand in his. Bolstered by the strength he was offering, she continued.

"I don't remember exactly how, I think it was a librarian, told me about a story where a young girl grows up with people who are unkind to her, but they aren't really her parents. Someone comes and rescues her, and she grows into a beautiful woman."

Remembering the brief synopsis she had given him earlier, Elliot made an educated guess.

"You saw yourself as Cosette. You wanted someone to come and save you, take you away from the life you were living."

"Yes."

By the time the main course had arrived, they had shifted back to much more pleasant topics. Elliot felt somewhat guilty for having asked Olivia those questions in the first place, but she didn't seem to be bothered by it at all. If anything, she seemed lighter, as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Maybe talking about it had been cathartic for her in some way.

"How is your Carbonara, El?"

He looked up at her, watching as she expertly used her left hand to twirl some pasta on her fork. She really gotten quite adept at using her less dominant hand. With a smile, he gave her his answer.

"It's fantastic. I'll admit, this is usually one of my go-to dishes when I eat Italian, but this just might be the best I've ever had. Did you want to try some?"

Olivia hesitated, not because she was afraid of eating anything from his plate – they'd been doing that since their first year as partners – but because she didn't know if anything could compare to her own. Ultimately, she decided that she was curious as to what his tasted like, and nodded her head. However, instead of pushing the plate in her direction so she could help herself, he gathered some on his fork, and and held it across the table to her so she could sample his dinner.

As he carefully fed her that lone bite, she was filled with a sensation of warmth throughout her body. Unlike the previous times he had fed her, this brought an additional layer of intimacy to their evening. She found herself wanting to return the gesture. After carefully chewing and swallowing, she took a slow sip of the sparkling wine. When she gave him the reply he was expecting, her expression was soft.

"That's delicious. Would you like to taste mine?"

"I'd love to. What is yours called again? Cacio e Pepe?"

Olivia nodded to confirm that his guess had been correct. While her dexterity wasn't as great as she would have liked, she managed to get some on her fork, and extend it across the table to him. When she felt Elliot's hand lightly wrap around her own and assist her in feeding him, she felt her heartbeat quicken. To try and keep her composure, she offered an explanation.

"The translation literally means 'cheese and pepper'. It's a simple enough dish, exactly as it sounds – pasta tossed in a mixture of Pecorino cheese and black pepper."

"It's wonderful, and so simple. I may have found something else that I'll like to order after all."

They soon finished their dinner, and with it, the remnants of the bottle of sparkling wine. When they were done, Elliot casually checked his watch to see how they were doing on time. It was only six thirty, and the theater was only ten minutes away. They still had plenty of time.

"Did you want to have some coffee and dessert, Liv? Or would you rather wait and go somewhere after the show?"

Olivia leaned back a little in her seat, resting her back against the cushion of the booth. She knew there was no wrong answer to give, and that he was just after her honest opinion. Truth be told, she didn't know if she could eat another bite, but she didn't want the magic of the evening to end just yet – even if they still had the theater to look forward to. Finally, she came to a decision, and suggested a compromise.

"There is no way I can eat an entire dessert on my own, but I won't say no to a cup of coffee. Maybe we can share something?"

"I like the way you think. What did you have in mind?"

Not needing to look at the menu, her response was immediate.

"Well, we are in one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever eaten at. It would be almost criminal if we didn't get the Tiramisu, don't you think?"

"Tiramisu it is, then."

Olivia excused herself momentarily, while Elliot promised he would place their order for coffee and dessert as soon as Josh returned. True to his word, when she got back several minutes later, everything but their water glasses had been cleared, and two steaming coffee cups were in their place. In the center of the table was a plate with a generous portion of Tiramisu, along with two spoons. Elliot gestured toward it with his hand and a nod of his head.

"You go first, Liv."

"No way. We're in this together, remember?"

The smile she gave him made him think she wasn't only talking about dessert. At least, that's what he was hoping, as he picked up the spoon. He noticed as she copied his movements and they sampled the after meal sweet. Just like everything else they'd had here, it was quite possibly the best food he'd ever had. Elliot was beginning to think that it wasn't just the restaurant that was responsible, but the energy of the evening as well – not to mention the company of the beautiful woman who was with him.

Before long, their dessert had disappeared, and the coffee cups were empty. Knowing that the meal was finally over, Elliot informed Josh they were finished. The bill was brought to the table discretely, and Elliot paid it without even batting an eyelash. Tonight there was no such thing as too extravagant an expense.

Once dinner was paid for, Elliot stood from his seat, then helped Olivia from hers. He carefully rearranged the shawl back around her shoulders, and offered her his arm once more. When they got to the valet stand, it wasn't a long wait for his Jeep to be brought around, then they were on their way to the theater. Since it was a weeknight, parking wouldn't be as problematic as it would have been on a weekend, but he had still planned ahead and reserved a spot at one of the nearby garages when he'd purchased their tickets.

A few minutes after seven, they were walking into the theater. The auditorium itself wasn't open just yet, but they spent some time looking around the lobby. A small stand was set up, selling souvenirs and memorabilia from the show they were about to see. There was also a second stand located a short distance away, selling beverages and a few select snacks. Since they had just come from dinner, neither Elliot nor Olivia had an interest in much. He did, however, purchase a bottle of water for them to share.

Since the Broadhurst was an older theater, that meant there was no elevator, and the restrooms were located solely on the main level. Elliot felt a bit guilty that the seats he had purchased were on the second floor, but by the time he had gotten the tickets, his selection had been limited. He'd been fortunate to get the ones he had. Prior to going upstairs, they took turns using the facilities, so that Elliot could hold Olivia's shawl for her. As they made their way up the staircase, he kept his hand positioned lightly at the small of her back – a way to provide support and reassurance without seeming like he was going overboard.

By the time they had reached the second level, the auditorium doors had just been opened. An usher came to assist them, and Elliot passed the older gentleman their tickets. They were in the center of the mezzanine, row A, seats seven and eight. This gave a perfect view of the stage, with no one sitting in front of them. Prior to departing, the usher passed them two copies of the Playbill, and best wishes that they enjoy the performance.

Elliot took his seat on Olivia's left. While he had originally considered sitting on her right hand side, and thus protecting the shoulder encased in the sling, he didn't want to give up the opportunity to hold her hand during the show. He was hoping that she would be agreeable to the gesture, as visions of her smacking him with the program danced before his eyes. But, before he even had a chance to reach for her, he felt her fingers closing around his. He looked over, only to see that Olivia's eyes were sparkling, and she was smiling – she was really truly happy.

"I know I said it earlier, but thank you, El. You have no idea what this means to me."

He squeezed her hand, then leaned toward her. Not knowing exactly how she felt about public displays of affection, plus wanting to keep himself in check, he placed a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth. When he moved away, he hoped his expression conveyed a promise of more kisses to come.

They continued to talk quietly between themselves as the seats around them gradually started to fill. The show wasn't quite a sellout, but it came pretty close. As the murmur of the crowd seemed to grow louder and louder, in the background, they could hear the orchestra beginning to tune up. Finally, just as the anticipation was beginning to get the best of Olivia, the lights dimmed, signaling for everyone to be seated. A voice came over the speakers, instructing those attending to make certain that their cell phones were turned off for the performance. Then, the house lights went out completely, and the overture began as the curtain rose.

As much as he wanted to watch the performance, Elliot had to admit that he wasn't paying complete attention. Rather, he was getting more enjoyment watching Olivia watch the show. The expressions that flitted across her face for a certain scene or musical number, he could tell she was completely immersed in the world that the actors on stage had drawn her into.

Even though he knew as much from the details she had given him at dinner, he didn't find himself quite prepared for the emotional impact of the story. Despite the fact that he hadn't anticipated such a reaction, he found himself getting choked up. Particularly when Fantine died without ever being reunited with her daughter, and again when the young girl, Cosette was rescued by Jean Valjean from her horrible living conditions. As the story continued to build, he too was more and more engrossed in the plot. There were times when Olivia's hand would hold more tightly to his own, and he would squeeze back to reassure her. Finally, just when everything was becoming almost too emotional for either one to bear, the music swelled in a great crescendo, and the first act was over. The curtain fell, and the house lights came on.

Elliot blinked rapidly a few times, trying to adjust to the light, turning to his side, he tried to see just how Olivia was faring. Judging from the look of her, he wondered if she had even taken a breath throughout the entire first act. Her eyes were wide with awe, as though she were still trying to believe that she were actually here witnessing this in person.

Suddenly craving a deeper connection than just holding her hand, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his body. To his relief, she didn't resist, but leaned against him with a soft sigh. With his lips against her temple, her asked the question at the foremost of his mind.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Liv?"

He felt as she nodded against him, momentarily at a loss for words. Still, Olivia wanted to convey what she was feeling to the man who currently held her.

"I never imagined that it would be like this. All those years – reading the book, listening to the music – but to actually see it for myself, it's better than anything I could have ever dreamed possible."

"Don't forget, there's still an entire second act to go."

She exhaled a laugh on a shaky breath, and muttered something about not being sure she'd be able to handle it. Chuckling softly, he promised her he'd lend her his handkerchief if things got too bad. Before she had a chance to reply, the lights were dimming again, signaling the end of intermission.

The first act had ended on an emotional note, and act two didn't waste any time picking up right where the other had left off. As tensions continued to rise, the young revolutionists were building their barricade. A standoff was coming soon, and they were going to be prepared for it.

Then, another young woman was on the stage. Elliot remembered her from the first act as Éponine, the daughter of the same couple who had mistreated Cosette. She was lamenting over an unrequited love, and as he took a moment to glance over at Olivia, he noticed that she had tears in her eyes. Pressing his handkerchief into the palm of his partner's hand, he focused harder on the lyrics of the song. He could have sworn at dinner that Olivia had said she related most to a young Cosette – why was she now crying and empathizing for a grown Éponine?

As the words hit him full force, it felt like a blow to his gut – could it be that Olivia was in love with someone whom she felt didn't return the feelings? Realization hit him even further, and he felt like the lowest of the low. Unless he was terribly mistaken, this song was an interpretation to Olivia what her feelings had been like for him. What it must have been like for her all those years he was with Kathy, and even worse, these past two years while he kept trying to save a marriage that his ex wife didn't want to save. Was he really that blind?

His feelings of guilt didn't improve any as the second act continued, in particular when the attack on the barricade commenced. Even though she knew the feelings weren't returned, Éponine had been determined to get a message to Marius, going so far as to dress as a boy to disguise herself. At a pivotal point in the battle, she saved him from a bullet, even though she had been mortally wounded in the process. The duet that had followed was heartbreaking.

Elliot was aware of Olivia sniffling softly next to him during the song and Éponine's subsequent death. But sadly, he was in no position to offer comfort, as he was lost in his own turmoil. The scene had brought back memories of a traumatic moment in their own past, one that he was reminded could have had a vastly different outcome. He closed his eyes and ears to the sights and sounds going on around him, and gave in to the possibility of what could have been.

Olivia had her gun trained on Gitano, threatening to fire. Unfortunately, he was using the young girl as a shield, and she didn't have a clear shot. Without any warning, he raised the arm that held the knife, and slashed her sharply across the throat, then took off at a run toward the stairs. Olivia's hands flew up to cover the wound as she landed hard, striking both her back and head on the cement. Elliot shouted her name with a harsh cry as he ran toward her. Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he saw the boy. In a split second decision, he changed direction. In what felt like hours, but was only minutes later, both kids were safe, and Gitano was in custody. Pushing his way back through the crowd, he went to where he'd last seen his partner. He found her, lying in a pool of her own blood, struggling to breathe. As he cradled her in his arms, taking in her pale face and the blue tint to her lips, she rasped out four final words - "It's not your fault." Then she was gone.

The sound of a gunshot pulled Elliot back to the present as he jumped in his seat, reflexively reaching for his hip. He relaxed when he realized that the noise had come from the stage, and it was just another intense scene that he had almost missed. Perhaps something else that had put him at ease was the feeling of Olivia's palm resting gently on his thigh. He swore to spend the remainder of the show paying attention.

The rest of the show continued to play out, culminating in its emotional finale. Olivia was no longer attempting to hide her tears as she rose with Elliot and the rest of the audience to give the cast her applause in a standing ovation. As the curtain fell for the final time, and the lights came back on, everyone around them began scrambling for the exit. Only the two of them hung back, in no immediate rush to leave. As he used his handkerchief to gently dab at Olivia's eyes, Elliot was grateful that by the time it was their turn for the steps, the majority of the crowd would have left.

"Did you enjoy the performance?"

"Yes. It's something I'll never forget."

Standing on tiptoe, Olivia lightly pressed her lips to his. The kiss was brief, but full of emotion. Knowing that he was likely to ask if she wanted to continue their evening by going somewhere else, she made certain he understood what her intentions were – at least for the time being. The rest she could share once they were safely back at his apartment.

"I've had the most wonderful evening, and as much as I don't want this night to end, I think we should go back to your place."

Elliot nodded, though he couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed. He had hoped she wouldn't have wanted to go back quite this soon. Placing his hand at the small of her back, he began to gently guide her out of their row.

"I understand, Liv. It's been a long night. You're probably tired and want to go to bed."

Leaning back ever so slightly so she could whisper in his ear, even though there wasn't anyone around to overhear them, she completely took him by surprise. He fervently prayed traffic on the way home would be nonexistent. Her words were still ringing in his ears.

"You're right, I do want to go to bed. But I'm anything but tired."

* I just want to say that the rating is going to be bumped up to M for the next chapter. I just didn't feel comfortable leaving it at a T. I'm anything but a skilled smut writer, but things are going to be heating up a bit between our two characters. ;) So if you aren't specifically following this story, don't forget to adjust your settings so you can still find it! *

A/N: Additional disclaimer for this chapter – Victor Hugo wrote the novel Les Misérables. Music from the Broadway show belongs to Claude-Michel Schönberg, with English libretto attributed to Herbert Kretzmer. No actual lyrics are used.

A/N2: I want to confess here and now that I have never in my life attended a show on Broadway. I have seen plenty of musical productions touring in my city, though, and I love them – wish I could go more often. I did extensive research for this chapter on Google and BroadwayWorld, trying to make it as accurate as possible. The drink that Elliot orders at dinner is a real non-alcoholic sparkling wine. While I've never tried it, it sounded intriguing enough to include in my story.