Prompt #Bow/Giftwrap

Underneath The Tree

~oOo~

"I still can't believe you got such a huge tree in here."

The tree was at least seven and a half feet tall and sparkled with enough lights Olivia had legitimate concerns an overloaded circuit would start a fire in Elliot's apartment. A particularly sparkly silver reindeer ornament swayed, tossing colored lights across the living room.

Olivia could feel Elliot's chest rumble in amusement. He dropped a kiss on her head as he pulled her closer.

"You never got a proper Christmas growing up. I wanted to make it special for you." Olivia craned her head to look at him. The amount of tenderness in his gaze made her want to scream.

"Sap," she said instead. Elliot leaned forward and captured her lips in a soft kiss.

"Only with you."

Elliot buried his nose in the crook of Olivia's neck, breathing deeply. He wasn't wrong, Olivia thought, she never really got the chance to celebrate a "proper" Christmas with Serena. She wasn't one for decorations and even less a fan of presents. Of course, Olivia received books, but nothing a little kid would want.

When she was twelve, Serena bought Olivia Anna Karenina (in Russian) and expected her to read it. At seven, Olivia was desperately jealous of her friends who had received dolls and not a first edition Oxford English Dictionary.

"Hey," Elliot said, "I got you a present." Olivia scooted out from his embrace to give him a reproachful look.

"We said no presents." Elliot's eyes crinkled in amusement at her expression.

"I know, but I couldn't resist." He pulled out a small box from somewhere under the pile of presents for his children and waved it.

"Plus," he said, snatching a bow from one of the gifts and reaching out to stick it on Olivia's forehead, "you're all I need for Christmas."

Olivia arched an eyebrow and the bow fell from her face.

"You're an idiot," she said.

"Yeah, but I'm your idiot," Elliot replied. He frowned. "Don't get weepy on me, you haven't even opened your present."

Olivia slid off the ribbon. Inside the box was a small metal flower on a chain – it looked almost like a fat star.

"Nemophila," Elliot said. "It means 'you are my one and only.'"

"It's beautiful, El." Olivia, eyes blurred with tears, looked up to see Elliot twirling the fallen bow between his fingers.

"Turn it over," he prompted. On the reverse of the pendant was a small etching. Olivia brought it closer to her face.

6313

"So, y'know," Elliot said, "you can keep me close to your heart even when I'm not around." Elliot looked up at her, unusually bashful. Olivia gently placed the necklace aside, and Elliot's eyes grew wide with worry until Olivia launched herself into his arms.

"I love it, El. I love you," she said into his shirt. Elliot wrapped his arms around her and pressed his nose into the crook of her neck.

"I love you too." Olivia felt his hand on her head and heard a slight crinkle.

"That bow better not be in my hair, Elliot."

(A/N: nemophila is also known as "baby blue eyes")