A/N: A little Season 8 AU that we frankly should have had and never did ;)
"Stop watching me eat," Liv scolds, one foot kicking out and connecting with his leg.
He laughs, grabbing her foot and pressing his fingers into the sole until she hums happily.
"Should I get you another pint?" He points to the Ben n Jerry's that she's just finished.
"Stop judging me!" She kicks with her other foot and he catches that one mid air and gives it the same treatment.
He laughs gently again, "Not judging, just enjoying."
Olivia sighs, running her hand over her swollen belly. "I swear the cravings are getting worse. Listen kid, you're gonna have to make an appearance before I gain another 10 lbs." She pokes gently at her stomach with a smile.
"You look beautiful, just like always."
She rolls her eyes at him, "You don't need to sugarcoat it."
"I'm not," He scoots closer to her until she's nearly in his lap. "I'm just telling it like it is." He leans in, kisses her until she's breathless.
He pulls back and she sighs against his lips, "Fine." She allows with a smirk.
"Let's get married before the baby comes." He watches her smirk turn to a frown. It's not the first time he's suggested it. Not even the third or the fifth or the tenth. But it doesn't matter how he asks, how he phrases it, whether he tries to give her a ring or does what he's doing now. Each and every time, her response is the same.
"Ugh, we're not getting married because of your Catholic guilt, Elliot." She pushes against him, swings her legs off his lap and struggles to her feet.
He presses his lips together because he knows if he laughs at her as she tries to walk away in a huff, there'll be hell to pay.
She finally makes it upright, moves towards the kitchen and when he follows her she's standing in front of the fridge, peering inside.
"Hungry?" He asks, trying not to chuckle, and she glances at him and scowls. Finally she settles on a yogurt and moves to the drawer to grab a spoon. She looks at him as she tugs the lid open.
"What?" She scoops a full spoon and sticks it in her mouth, pulling it out slowly as she looks at him. He crosses his arms and leans against the wall.
"I'm just going to keep asking."
Liv taps the spoon thoughtfully against her pursed lips. "There's no reason to get married."
"Well that's not true. There are plenty of reasons people get married. I have several myself and none of them are about my Catholic guilt." He raises an eyebrow at her and waits, but she stubbornly takes another mouthful of yogurt, apparently refusing to hear his reasons.
"Are you telling me you never want to get married?" He tilts his chin down and tries to read between the lines.
"I didn't say that." She sighs, fiddling with the spoon and staring at the yogurt.
He moves closer. "Then what do you want?"
She rolls her eyes, still avoiding his gaze. "I want to get married because it's what both people want and not just because I'm pregnant or because anyone feels obligated." She mumbles the last few words.
"I'm not asking out of obligation, Liv."
"Aren't you?" She finally looks at him, hard. "You've done it before."
He nods, "I did. But that was a different situation. I was different too. I promise that I really want to marry you. I want to do it so we can be a family, officially, even before the baby comes. I want to do it because the thought of it makes me happy. I want to marry you because I'm so head over heels in love with you that the idea of not marrying you feels like the dumbest thing ever.
She exhales, apprehension causing her to wrinkle her nose.
"You don't believe me?"
"I didn't say that." Her response is quick, but her tone gives him nothing.
"Then what?"
She puts the yogurt down, smooths her hands over her belly, eyes locked on the motion. He waits for several long moments as she gathers her thoughts.
"How do I know you won't change your mind?"
He frowns hard, confused by the question. "Change my mind? About you?"
She shrugs a little, still staring at her belly.
"Liv, I'm not going anywhere. Tell me you believe that much."
"Serena's constant refrain was 'everyone leaves'. And so far…she's been right."
"Then what were the past ten years?" He counters, firmly.
She turns her head to the ceiling, takes a deep breath that lifts her shoulders before she pushes it out and rolls them back. "We were partners. Where were you gonna go?"
"We're still partners. Liv. We'll always be partners now." He tentatively lays a hand on her belly and is surprised when she presses down on top of it with both her hands, like she's trying to keep him rooted to her.
He tucks a strand of hair behind her ear with his free hand. "I know it's been a whirlwind. I know we didn't plan for anything. But I'm still thrilled that everything happened. I can't wait to raise this baby with you. And I just want to make you happy. If you really don't want to get married then we don't have to. But I'll always want to. The second you change your mind-"
Her hands come suddenly up to cup his jaw and her eyes rove over his face, taking in all the details.
"You really mean it." But it sounds less like a question and more like an affirmation.
"I really mean it."
She pauses, thinking as she looks at him.
"Ok," she finally says in the barest whisper.
"Ok?" He asks tentatively.
"Ok." Her voice is steadier, a bit louder.
"You'll marry me?" He asks, face breaking into a slow grin.
She sighs, smiles a little shakily. She blinks and shakes her head and the tears fall onto her cheeks. "I'll marry you." Her voice is husky and a little incredulous and he laughs and brushes the tears away with his lips.
"You won't regret it, Benson." He swears.
"I better not, Stabler." She teases.