Prompt #38: Elliot surprises Olivia with a garden proposal


The Good Apples

~oOo~

Detective Elliot Stabler would never forget the conversation that had pushed him to ask Captain Olivia Benson out on that first real date.

Elliot's mother, Bernie Stabler, had been after her son for months, before the two had even started dating, to get his act together, and on this particular night, she had given him her opinion in no uncertain terms.

"That woman is the best thing that has ever happened to you and our family. You need to do something about it before you lose her forever," Bernie had admonished.

"Mama, I abandoned her for ten years and I've been nothing but trouble for her since I've been back. She deserves someone better," Elliot had countered.

Bernie had let out a snort. "I whole-heartedly agree, Son. So, be better. Be the man she deserves."

Elliot had huffed and shaken his head. It couldn't be that simple. Could it? The answer was no. It was not that simple. But, he decided, it was definitely worth the hard work. He had decided right then to take the first step. He had called Olivia to ask her to dinner, just the two of them, and she had accepted.

Now, Elliot and Olivia had been officially dating for about eight months. The kids had all met and were beginning to form a bond as strong as real siblings. Eli had been told the story of his birth and was beginning to understand what it was that drew his older siblings to Olivia and had lately started to form a bond of his own with her. Elliot had become the father figure Noah had always wanted and deserved, and Olivia loved each of the Stabler kids as if they were her own. In fact, Maureen's two little boys, Seamus and Keiran, had recently started calling Olivia 'Grandma Livvie.'

It was for these reasons and more that Elliot was prompted to take the next big step. Tonight he was taking his family and Noah out to dinner to let them in on his plans to propose.

Olivia had to work late and, since Noah had been given permission to have a sleepover at his place with Eli, Seamus, and Keiran, this was the perfect time for Elliot to discuss his plans with the rest of the family.

He took them all to Schnipper's and after everyone had ordered their burgers and shakes plus a couple of orders of cheese fries to share, Elliot took a deep breath and began.

"So guys, there's actually a reason I brought you all here tonight."

"Other than great food?" Noah questioned, making the others laugh.

"Yeah, Noah. The food is really good here, but the reason I got us all together is that I want to talk to you about something I hope to do really soon," Elliot explained.

Bernie smirked. "You're finally going to do it, aren't you? You're finally going to ask that remarkable woman to marry you."

All at once, all eyes were on Elliot.

"Is it true, Dad? Are you actually going to propose to Olivia?" Kathleen asked.

"So you'd be my real dad?" Noah chimed in.

"And Grandma Livvie would actually be out Grandma?" added Seamus.

"Go for it, Dad. You both deserve to be happy," Maureen encouraged.

"Yeah. We can all see how you feel about her," Richard insisted.

"And it's obvious she loves you too," Lizzie jumped in.

Eli was quiet and contemplative.

"Eli, how do you feel about all this?"

After another brief pause, the teenager spoke up.

"Well, I'll always miss Mom, but I honestly think she'd want you to be happy. So do I. Olivia's awesome and she makes you happy. We all love her." Eli ruffles Noah's curls before adding, "And Noah. I think you should go for it, Dad."

"Me too," Noah agreed.

"Me three," Keiran stated excitedly.

"We all do, Dad," Kathleen assured him.

Elliot couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face. "It makes me really happy that you all feel that way. I'm going to ask Liv this week then."

"Do you have a ring yet?" Carl asked.

Elliot nodded. "I do. If you all weren't ok with the plan, I was going to hold onto it to give everyone more time. When I saw this, I just had to get it. I knew I would never find a more perfect one for Liv."

He took the ring box out of his jacket pocket and showed it to the group.

"Hey, check it out, Eli," Noah said when he saw the ring.

"It's engraved," Eli observed.

The ring had two linked hearts. On one heart were the numbers 6313 and 4015. The other heart was engraved with P4L.

"P4L means partners for life. The numbers are our badge numbers from when we worked at SVU together," Elliot explained.

"Wow," Noah breathed out.

"How are you going to ask her?" Richard asked.

"I am planning on doing it at the next family dinner. She and Noah are coming and I'm going to take her out to the garden after we eat and ask her there," was Elliot's decision.

"Perfect. That sounds beautiful," Lizzie approved.

Noah had a really hard time not letting the cat out of the bag over the next several days. A couple of times he almost let it slip. By the night of the family dinner, Olivia was getting slightly suspicious.

"What has gotten into you," she asked when she noticed Noah bouncing off the walls.

"Nothing. I just can't wait to play Fortnite with Eli and the twins."

Olivia looked at her son skeptically but chose not to respond further.

At the Stabler home, the dinner was delicious. After helping Bernie clean up, the younger boys headed to Eli's room for video games and Elliot asked Olivia to take a walk with him In the garden. Hand in hand, they walked along the path. Pausing by the rose arch, the detective took the Captain's other hand and turned her so they were facing each other.

"El?" she inquired in confusion.

"Liv, I know that I really don't deserve to have you back in my life. I abandoned you for years and then I was a horrible example of a best friend and partner when I finally returned.

"Elliot," Olivia began.

"Shh. Let me finish," Elliot stopped her.

Olivia nodded and Elliot continued.

"Whether I deserved it or not, you forgave me. You allowed me back into your life and your heart. Now I want to spend the rest of my life trying to be the man you deserve. I want to keep proving to you how much I love you and I want to do all I can to remind you that you deserve to be loved and you deserve to have all the best life has to offer."

"El, I…" Olivia tried to say, but Elliot wasn't finished yet.

"Don't worry about our kids being ready for the change. I already talked to them and they are all on board."

Olivia gasped as Elliot pulled a velvet box from his pocket.

"El, what…"

Elliot got on one knee and held the ring out towards her.

"Olivia Margaret Benson, will you agree to marry me and officially be my partner for life?"

Olivia was sobbing at this point. Happy tears streamed down her face as she nodded rapidly.

"Yes!" She managed to choke out.

"Yes, Elliot Joseph Stabler, I will marry you! I love you so much!"

"Well, it's about damn time!"

Elliot and Olivia jolted and spun around at the sound of the new voice.

Both of them chuckled as they saw the entire Stabler family and Noah watching them.

"Mama, watch your language. There are kids around," Elliot complained.

"Well, she's not wrong!" was Noah's response.

Olivia and Elliot laughed and were quickly joined by the rest of the group.

As she and Elliot were surrounded by those they loved most, Olivia suddenly remembered the lyrics to a beautiful song her mom had taught her on one of the rare good days they had shared.

They went like this: When will the good apples fall on my side of the fence? When will I taste the sweet fruits of life? When will the sun smile on me through grey cloudy skies above? When will I find my true, true love?

Olivia realized as she accepted and received hugs and kisses from Noah and the Stables that the good apples had finally fallen on her side of the fence. After all the heartache she had endured, it was at last her turn to taste the sweet fruits of life now and forever.


A/N: 'When Will The Green Apples Fall' is a song that was made popular in the 60s by a group known as the seekers. I thought the lyrics kind of fit. It is a beautiful song if anyone cares to look it up.