The room had already been cleared of all else but the groom by the time Olivia went to see Carisi. Everyone understood the significance of what about to happen.

Olivia closed the door behind herself. "Hi, Dominick. How are you?"

"Nervous." he admitted. "But that's normal… Right?"

"Mhm. I totally had super-jitters on my wedding day. What you're feeling is one hundred percent normal." Olivia quickly closed the gap between them. "You look so sharp. I love it."

Carisi stood with pride. "Thanks."

While the shirt he was wearing was white, Carisi's vest, trousers, and jacket were all a charming grey color. The buttons on his shirt were also of the same shade. He was also wearing cool brown Oxfords. Even the man's hair was done in handsome way.

But… Where there should have been a pocket square in Carisi's topmost jacket pocket, Olivia spotted a metal clip and a chain.

She pointed to it. "What's going on over here?"

Carisi perked up. "Liv, check this out."

She watched Carisi remove a pocket watch. Though the item was highly polished, Olivia noticed that the plating had little scratches and the like from decades and decades of use. But this added character.

Olivia looked back to Carisi. "This is a beautiful treasure. Is anything engraved on it?"

"Mhm. Right here." he flipped the item over and pointed to a script. "Sotto lo stesso cielo."

The lieutenant translated the words in her head on the fly. "Italian for 'under the same sky.' Quite specific."

"It's a family saying. Another story for another day." Carisi put the watch away again. "Dad gave it to me earlier. The watch was his. Belonged to his dad before him."

"Your nonno Carisi. What was his name?"

"Darien. The man was really smart and so funny. I know that he would have really loved you."

Carisi pulled out an engraved photo card from his shirt pocket next. He could be seen on the front, in his younger years, beside an older man. He bore such a strong resemblance to his grandson that there was no mistaking who this could be. Both Carisis were even dressed for a good time. The picture's date was inscribed on the back of the card.

"Someone took that of us at my police academy acceptance party." Carisi explained.

"It's a thoughtful gift." Olivia said approvingly. "Was it from Solomia?"

"That's right. So were these."

Carisi showed Olivia three more cards. Each was in the same format as the first, but each was a snapshot of him with his other three grandparents at different points in his life. A very thoughtful gift.

"I was close with each of my grandparents. And I feel so lucky that I knew them. Each are with God now." Carisi told Olivia. "Looks like Solomia figured out a way for me to keep my grandparents close today."

"That is incredibly sweet. And thanks for showing me those pictures. I'm honored."

Olivia tucked the pictures away in Carisi's pocket before touching his bare shirt collar.

"Do you have something to go right here?"

Carisi shuffled his feet. "I have a bowtie over on the table. Tried putting on, right before you joined me. But… No dice."

Olivia retrieved the long bowtie cloth. "And why's that?"

"I had an absolute memory blackout." Carisi admitted. "For the life of me, I cannot remember this procedure."

"But I know how to do it." Olivia put the cloth where it belonged and began the tying process. "Have you realized by now that I'm a jack-of-all-trades?"

"Yes. I've always known. But I really saw that side of you in action when the power stopped at the precinct this winter. Why do you ask?"

"Not too many months into my first year at SVU, Elliot and I were invited to a smart party at 1PP." Olivia began. "It was our chance to rub elbows with fancy people. And I know it was a chance for him to show me off."

Carisi felt amused. "Were you his first female partner?"

"No. But I was his first partner who was younger than him, and by his terms… I was absolutely normal."

"You? 'Absolutely normal'? Fin has told me stories about your adventures over he years, but…"

"Yes?" Olivia finished fixing her detective's bowtie and proceeded brush wrinkles from his tuxedo. "Care to finish?"

"Let's just say that even before I made it to Manhattan SVU, tales of your heroics reached us on Staten Island. Police out there talk about you like you're an urban legend."

"Wow. I'm flattered."

"Good answer." Carisi laughed. "Fin's tales more than solidified what I'd already heard. Who were Elliot's partners before you?"

"Just before me was the wild card Jo Marlowe. You can look at files about her." said Olivia. "Before her was Pete Breslin, Dave Rosetti, and then one guy I've only ever heard El call 'Old Fatso' Alfonse. A detective called Dani Beck also briefly replaced me at one point when I was reassigned elsewhere."

Carisi couldn't help feeling curious now. "Did you ever meet Jo, Pete, Dave, Alfonse, or Dani?"

"Mhm. I met Jo, but I always just kept missing Pete. Dani was a blip on my radar but only for a few minutes."

"Then what Rosetti and Alfonse?"

"Never had a chance to meet either of them." Olivia gave a shrug. "Still… Elliot has always told me that I'm normal in comparison to the other five."

Carisi laughed. "Then Elliot must have really pleased to take you to that party."

Olivia chuckled as another memory from that night came back. "Elliot showed up to my apartment on time and dressed right, but the bowtie cloth was in his hand."

"Uh-oh…"

"El had been in such a hurry to get from his place in Queens to mine in the city that he only just remembered his bowtie on his way out the door."

Carisi was hanging on to every word. "What did you do?"

"I laughed at him, but still fixed his bowtie for him right there in my building hallway. Elliot showed me gratitude about it for the rest of the night. He even danced with me when I asked him to. It was great." Olivia recalled. "My intuition had already told me that one of us would have a mishap that night, so I found instructions for tying ties and bowties. Just in case."

"That's incredible." Carisi murmured.

Olivia winked. "I've come through for Alex like that before, but I think she'd appreciate being able to tell those memories on her own."

Carisi bobbed his head in acknowledgement. "So noted. Thanks for sharing that memory with me."

"You're very welcome." Olivia grinned at Carisi. "When you know someone for many years, you get to know them, anticipate them, help them, grow fond of them. Bonds like that… They leave a lasting impact."

"Very true." Carisi said seriously. "I've also heard that you've literally been through life and death with Alex before?"

"That's an understatement. And it didn't even take us too long to start acting married after we got to know each other. No one in the vicinity stood a chance if they were in our way during a fight."

"Knowing you two, that is not surprising. Did you and Alex always make up?"

Olivia was emphatic. "Always. I've been in love with Alex ever since we first met, but I still knew she was it for me after the first fight. We just didn't get together because life happened."

"That's just the way things go, sometimes. Who initiated the apology after that first fight?"

"Alex did. Her apology was very sincere. From the bottom of her heart." Olivia looked at Carisi in a motherly way. "Don't think I haven't noticed that you and Amanda have always been close enough to act married."

The detective turned a slight shade of red. "Seriously, lu?"

Olivia didn't miss a beat. "Seriously. I hear and see all in that squad room."

Carisi laughed nervously. "That's us at home with a trio of small children..."

"All the same, Dominick, I'm insanely proud of how far you've come since we've met. As a detective. As a man. As the keeper of Amanda's heart. As a dad. As my friend."

Carisi beamed. "Thanks."

"Being able to officiate your wedding will certainly be one of the greatest joys of my life." Olivia straightened out one last wrinkle in Carisi's wedding suit. "By the way, I've just come from seeing Amanda. She's doing so amazing. Can't wait to see you."

Olivia handed Carisi the small box Amanda had entrusted him with earlier.

"She got your bracelet, and she loves it. This is from her to you."

Carisi opened the box to find brand new engraved silver cuff links. His and Amanda's first initials were on one. 8/24 was on the other. Their wedding date. What a thoughtful gift.

But Carisi was already fumbling with getting them on.

With deft fingers, Olivia affixed the cufflinks in place, too. Nice and secure.

Carisi felt a rush of gratitude towards Olivia.

True, she was his boss.

And yes, Olivia was older than him.

It was even true that his own mother was alive and well. But it was little moments like this one that had always led him to regard Olivia as a second one. Carisi's favorite part was that Olivia was aware. And that she liked it. Especially when he called her by 'Lu.' Their friendship was a bond he treasured. Very much.

Carisi spoke again when his companion had finished. "Thank you, Olivia. For everything."

Olivia understood. "Anything for you and your family. I love all of you very much. That's the truth. Do you need anything else before I go?"

"Would you send my parents this way if you see them out there? Both of them promised they'd come back. I think they just wanted to make sure I got a moment with you."

"Okay, Dominick. I'll tell them." Olivia embraced him again. "See you later."

Carisi hugged Olivia in return.

She exhaled noisily when the door had been closed behind her.

First a heart-to-heart with Amanda. Then one with Carisi. And she still had yet to even officiate the wedding. It felt as though she'd had deep conversations with two of her actual children. Such a thought brought her immense joy.

But at the same time, Olivia was now the one feeling her nerves.

Today was one thing…

But what would she be like tomorrow? At Sophia's and Casey's wedding?