Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. just the stories. I wanna thank my AH-MAZING group chat peeps for allowing me to spin theories until these stories were born. This Series tells the story of Healing through a series of lenses, and i hope you guys enjoy it!
Forgiveness Starts Here
Office of Captain Olivia Benson: 16th Precinct: April 20th: 9:30 PM:
"So how about dinner tonight Liv?" Elliot asks as he signs off on his part of the DD5 from the case we just closed, the first joint case SVU/OC have worked together since his return. I stand up out of my chair in order to stretch my back as he pushes himself into a standing position from where he leans against my desk. I can feel the nervousness rolling off of him in waves before I smile and say "Yea Elliot, I'll have dinner with you" and feeling my smile getting wider as I watch his face light up. He suddenly reaches out and wraps me up into a hug that takes my breath away. I feel him begin to pull and way and hear the beginnings of an apology on his lips before I latch onto him, holding him to me for dear life.
"Livia.." he whispers back, pulling me closer into his chest and tucking my head under his chin, his entire body relaxing as he realizes I'm ok with him hugging me. It's as he holding me to him, that I feel like all the jagged edges of me from the past 10 years without him, are softening and locking back into place. My grief of losing him, Lewis, getting my son without him by my side, becoming Sgt., then Lt. and then Captain of the unit that made us who we are, Benson and Stabler. I slide my hands up his back to curl around his shoulders and bury my face deeper into his neck as I feel his fingers press tightly against my lower back under my jacket and I hear his sigh against the top of my head and for the first time in years, I feel completely and totally safe because I'm Home.
16th Precinct Squad Room: April 20th- 9:30 PM
"I thought that they'd still be at each others throats" comes the southern twang of Detective Amanda Rollins as she looks over at Fin. Amanda stops as she sees tears in her beloved Sgt's eyes before saying "Fin you ok?" "I'm Fine. I've waited 10 years for this moment, for the forgiveness and the true healing. Liv was never gonna be whole without him, and to know that he never meant to hurt her, speaks volumes about what's going on in that office right now" he says, using a thumb to wipe away his stray tears. Amanda, Kat, and Sonny all look on as their beloved Sgt. Witnesses his two friends make peace with each other. "She looks really happy Fin" Carisi says his heart full at seeing someone he considers a second mother, finally finding her happiness in life. "That she does Carisi, That she does" Fin replies before his eyes goes wide and says "and now I gotta call Bony Ass and tell him that he owes me $350" as he witnesses 23 years of longing come to fruition in a space that his greatest father figure called home, as the rest of the squad bursts into cheers.
Captain Bensons Office:
Elliot pulls back from me and at the sight of his tears, I feel more of my own fall down my cheeks as I Fall even more in love with this man in front of me. He pulls in a deep breath before saying "I was gone before but I'm here now Livia, and I'm never leaving you again", his voice rough and shaky as he rests his forehead against mine. I reach up and cup his cheek as I ask "Can you promise me that Elliot? Can you Promise you won't leave me again?" as I search his perfect blue eyes, despite then being red rimmed from crying. "With all my heart Livia. I come home for you. and despite everything, I wanna try and build something with you. You've been my rock for the past several months Liv, I just wanna give that back to you. I'm so sorry I hurt you, but I've NEVER stopped loving you. Every day I thought of You Liv. You never left my mind EVER and I'll Do whatever it takes to get you back" he whispers, and I can hear the sincerity in his voice as he wraps his hands around my waist to hold us close together.
I look over his shoulder, out through the opened blinds and see my squad, my chosen family, standing arm and arm in the squad room, before turning my gaze back onto Elliot and saying "I Forgive you El. It's time for me to have my full family back" in a whisper against his lips. He anticipates my next move as he widens his stance slightly while I curl my hands around the back of his neck and press my lips to his, hearing the entire squad cheer in the squad room. Upon hearing the Squad cheering, Elliot begins to smile against my lips as I do the same before pulling back slightly from each other. "How long have they waited to do that I wonder?" he says, a small chuckle escaping as he slides his nose against mine. I Smile brightly, before leaning my forehead against his again and whisper "Oh about 10 Years" before fusing our lips back together and finding it slightly funny that we find ourselves beginning again in the same place where 23 years ago this ride began. Once again I am filled with the joy of being able to say that my partner is finally home, and in this precinct is where Forgiveness Starts for the both of us.
Hi, I'm Detective Stabler, and this is my Partner Detective Benson...