I tuck my hair back behind my ears, unconsciously. Here we are, undercover again. This time, we're trying to bring down a couple who is suspected of kidnapping, drugging and raping children. We set this one up on the Internet, pretending to be a couple who shared their perversions.
It's been six months since we were undercover last. Things have changed a hell of a lot, since then, for both of us. I'm actually happy with him, now. And I don't think he's got any intention of leaving me.
We've also managed to keep it a secret, surprisingly. His kids know, because we didn't really have a choice. We had to tell them. But nobody else knows. I think Cragen's getting a little suspicious, because we actually get along, now, but he hasn't said anything.
I think I've stopped letting the job run my life. I still get two a.m. phone calls and I do work a lot of overtime, but it's not the only thing I think about, anymore. I have other things to think about. There's someone in my life.
There is one thing that's frustrating about this situation, though. I meet a guy that I can see myself with. One that isn't a complete jackass. But I can't marry him. It's typical, for my screwed-up life, but it's still frustrating. I can't marry him, unless one of us quits our jobs. And neither one of us will. I've offered to quit, but he won't let me. Won't let me quit. Something about that should piss me off, but it doesn't.
I pull the tiny mic and earpiece out, to wire up.
"Hang on." Elliot stops me.
"What?" I turn around, looking at him.
He produces the same tiny box, with the rings. "Marry me, Liv?" He's grinning, like an idiot.
I smack him, lightly, shaking my head. "Stop it."
He lets me wire up and slide the rings on my left hand, again. Here we go. Pretending to be what we're not. But this time, I don't think it'll be as awkward. Our act as a couple isn't going to faked, this time.
(A/n: One last thing and then you'll never have to hear from me again. You, the people who actually read this, are awesome! I wish I could thank everybody, but I can't. So thanks to everyone who read and reviewed. You helped me push this past a random, pointless one shot-thing that I wrote just to get the idea out of my system.)