Olivia Benson had never been a huge fan of weddings. Sure, celebrating the love of two people was special, but between her time with SVU and then caring for Noah, she rarely had time to attend one. She had never been the type of person that had her wedding planned out at a young age. In high school, she'd nod and smile quietly as her friends would take turns looking at bridal magazines, squealing in excitement when they found the perfect dress. She'd been a bridesmaid at a few weddings – her friend from the Academy, a sorority sister from college – and while she enjoyed herself, she never got particularly emotional.

Until the morning of Fin and Phoebe's wedding.

She felt something palpable in the air as she looked into her closet, teetering on the edge of changing her dress choice once again. She'd never admit it, but COVID ignited a new love for online shopping. It was the first time she could properly dress up since her awards dinner back in March. Plus, it was the first time in months where she was going to have a night to herself. She loved Noah with every fiber of her being, but after months of quarantine and online school, she knew the night apart would do them both some good.

She eventually settled with her original choice – a dark blue satin dress, gold jewelry, and nude high heels. She let Noah watch a show on her iPad as she applied her makeup and curled her hair.

She heard her intercom buzz, and after confirming it was Lucy, Olivia double checked she had everything in her overnight bag and let Lucy in.

"Lucy, thank you so much for taking Noah to Joey's," Olivia said.

"Not a problem," Lucy replied. "Enjoy Fin's wedding! You look great, Liv!"

"Thanks," she grinned, and then turned to Noah. "Noah, are you all ready to go?"

"Yup! Bye, Mommy. I love you!" Noah said after giving her a tight hug.

"Have fun and be good for the Andersons', Noah. I'll see you soon. I love you too," Olivia told her son.

Olivia was one of the first to arrive at the church. They'd only invited fifty guests, even after COVID restrictions were lifted. Olivia wasn't surprised, though – Fin and Phoebe had never been the type to want a large wedding.

Amanda, Carisi, Kat, and Barba soon arrived after, and they settled in a pew in the first few rows, making small talk. Olivia broke out into a large grin when she heard Munch's distinct voice greet her, with Cragen following in tow.

She was so engrossed in catching up with them that she hadn't noticed Elliot's presence.

"Is this seat taken?" he asked.

"All yours," Olivia replied. She quickly studied him, admiring the way his navy suit brought out his eyes.

The ceremony soon began after Elliot's arrival, and Olivia had a feeling in the pit of her stomach that she could not quite decipher. There was definite nostalgia, with Munch, Cragen, and Elliot all reunited. And there was a sense of pride and protectiveness over her second chosen family. She never thought old and new would intertwine. She'd compartmentalized herself when Elliot left, refusing to outwardly show the parts of Elliot that had bled into her.

For once, they were all together to celebrate love and happiness. Day after day, they'd seen the darkest of humanity, clouding their outlook on the world. Sometimes, days were so long and cases were so difficult that they clung on to any glimpse of positivity they could. Today, the genuine and all-consuming joy colored every one of their senses.

Before Olivia knew it, she was bawling. Her heart surged as Phoebe and Fin recited their own vows. She'd never seen Fin smile so big after they said their "I do's." She felt alive in the best way possible.

"Didn't think you'd be the one to cry at weddings," Elliot whispered after the couple walked down the aisle.

Olivia gave a small laugh. "It's Fin and Phoebe. They don't count," she replied.

Between the mix of alcohol and comradery, Olivia was the happiest she'd been in a long time. Fifteen years ago, she'd never imagined how much she would miss Munch's conspiracy stories and Cragen's candor. Five years ago – hell, even a year ago - she'd never imagine watching Carisi and Elliot bonding over their Italian American upbringing. Her favorite interaction to watch was between Rafael and Elliot – she loved seeing their personalities clash and eventually mesh together.

She took another sip out of her champagne flute and eyed the dance floor from her chair. Elliot was in the next chair over, and the two were in the midst of comfortable silence. After months of angst, tears, and conversations, they'd finally gotten back to the rhythm of their former partnership.

"Want to dance?" Elliot asked.

Olivia laughed. "Me?" she asked incredulously. "It's been too long since I was on a dance floor."

"C'mon, Liv," he encouraged. "Noah's at his friends for the weekend, you're strictly off duty, and you're not the only one that'd be dancing with their former partner. Look at Rollins and Carisi."

Olivia smiled. "Okay, let's go."

The two leisurely walked to the dance floor and found a spot that made it seem like they were the only two people in the room. The music soon switched from an up-tempo song to a slower classic.

She felt her pulse quicken as Elliot loosely wrapped his arms around her waist. She immediately cradled her arms around his neck, and it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

"This is giving me prom flashbacks," Elliot said, breaking the ice. "Except I have less hair."

"You're not wearing a white tuxedo either," Olivia quipped. "I've seen the pictures."

She felt Elliot's shoulders vibrate against her hands as he laughed. "Why haven't I seen yours?" he smirked.

"Because Noah isn't old enough to want to embarrass me in front of people he knows," she responded.

"Let me guess. Dickie showed them to you?" Elliot mused.

"Bingo," Olivia said.

Olivia had no idea where her casual nonchalance was coming from. All she could focus on was the sensation of Elliot's hands against his waist, the slow rhythm they quickly fell into, and the unwavering look in Elliot's eyes.

She didn't want this moment to end.

They stared in each other's eyes, swaying against the soft music that filled the room. She felt the weight of their unspoken dialogue with each step.

"You know, I've really missed this, Liv," he said.

"Me too, El," Olivia responded. "I never thought we'd get to where we are."

"I did," he responded, and she was about to laugh until she realized the steady, serious tone of his voice.

"I guess one of us had to hold onto the faith," she whispered.

"Always, Liv," he replied.

Maybe it was the alcohol coursing through her veins, or a response to the intensity and demeanor of his words, but before she knew it, she stepped closer to him until she was gently resting her head on his shoulder. Elliot tightened the grip on Olivia's waist as she closed her eyes, reveling in the feeling of her chin against his suit jacket, and took in the scent of his crisp cologne.

The tension in her body that she didn't know she was holding quickly dissipated. This was only the fifth time she'd been in his arms, and it dawned on her that this was the only occasion that hadn't been fueled by any kind of strong emotion. Memories of Eli's birth, Sonya's murder, and Kathy's death flickered through her mind. She instead was fixated on their last embrace. Olivia could still feel the sharpness of the wind against her body as she finally unloaded the anguish and pain she'd held onto for the past nine years on the precinct rooftop. The storm in her mind had only intensified, even when she found out he had lived in Italy as a special terrorism liaison for the NYPD. Despite the emotional, intense declarations in Elliot's letter, Olivia needed time to rebuild their relationship. She needed him to know about her stages of grief after he put his papers in, the thoughts and doubt that plagued her at night, the tears shed, and the grace of her found family. Most importantly, she needed him to know about Lewis.

She didn't tell him that being in his arms was the safest she'd felt in the past ten years.

To anyone else, it would seem that their partnership was built on ferocity. Of course, there was intensity with every interrogation and case, and it had spilled into their personal relationship as well. But with Elliot, Olivia had always felt stability. It was more than anticipating what the other was thinking, and more than their unspoken communication. Even after years apart, she was struck by their effortless dynamic, their steadfast commitment, and the sheer force of their trust toward the other that threaded every move they made.

She was brought back into reality as she felt Elliot hum against her ear. For once, she pushed her thoughts aside, and let herself enjoy the respite of his embrace.

Before Olivia knew it, the music died down, and Fin and Phoebe were saying their goodbyes to each guest. Olivia gave them a tight hug with a heartfelt congratulations, and she beamed as Elliot did the same.

"Heading home?" Olivia asked, nervousness pooling through her bloodstream.

"Decided to treat myself to a night here at the hotel," he responded. "What about you?"

"I did the same," she said with a smile. "Do you want to come back up for another drink?"

"I'd love to," he replied.

The two walked in sync to the elevator, and Olivia stared at the flashing buttons as she tried to assuage her nerves. She felt a spark tonight, but then again, she'd felt like this since the day they met. Plus, she'd asked him to come up for a drink – which had a multitude of interpretations.

"Isn't this your floor?" Elliot asked.

"Oh yeah, sorry. Let's go," Olivia replied, ignoring her stream of consciousness in her head.

Olivia focused all of her energy into making sure the hotel card would light up green at the door. She quickly walked toward her suitcase and immediately took off her heels.

She wanted to ask whether he wanted water, a drink, anything, but Elliot's eyes on her had stopped her frozen in her tracks. The way they looked at each other was like their own secret language, but the mix of desire, love, and astonishment in his eyes was clearer than she'd even seen. Neither could deny their magnetism any longer.

He slowly stepped toward her until he cupped her face and pulled her into a delicate kiss.

In one simple moment, over twenty years of desire was finally embraced.

This was where she was meant to be.