Tradition

Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just like to play with them for a while

Summary: Elliot and Olivia get closer as a case threatens to pull them apart

A/N this is my first fanfic, so please be nice! I hope you like it!

Chapter 4

Olivia was floored by the restaurant. It was by far the most beautiful place she had ever eaten at. Elliot handed her coat to the coat check, and the matré de lead them to their table. Elliot couldn't help but smile as every man in the place turned green with envy when they saw Olivia. He knew that they all desperately wanted to be him. He put his hand on the small of her back just to make sure all the men knew that she was with him. Olivia shivered a little under his touch, which only caused Elliot to smile wider.

They finally reached the table, and ordered their meals. The dinner went smoothly, and they chatted about Elliot's kids, and work, and just enjoyed their day away from the filth they saw each day. Even thought the two were in an extremely fancy restaurant they couldn't seem to break the habit of sharing food. Elliot ended up with half of Olivia's salmon, and Olivia ended up with half of Elliot's steak.

After dinner the two ordered chocolate cake for dessert. As they waited for it to arrive Elliot noticed for the first time that night that there was a dance floor. He would have noticed it sooner, but every time he just couldn't seem to take his eyes off of Olivia.

"You wanna dance?" he asked, getting up at the same time. He already knew that her answer would be yes. He extended his hand, and she took it. Elliot led her out to the dance floor and they began swaying to the orchestra music playing in the background.

Olivia rested her head on Elliot's chest, and he breathed in the scent of her shampoo. He loved the way she smelled. "I love you." He whispered in her ear.

She responded by lifting her head to kiss him. Then he said, "I want to give you your present. With that he took a long box out of his pocket. And out if it he pulled a simple necklace with a diamond heart on it. He slid in onto her neck and said "Olivia, I wanted to give you my heart." She kissed him again, as her eyes filled with tears. Then she said "I guess I have to give you your gift now, huh?"

She led him back to the table where she had a small box waiting in her clutch purse. It had been extremely hard for her to find a gift for Elliot. She had usually just bought him what she bought all the guys at work. This year that would have been a wallet and a photo from the Christmas party the previous year. He was her boyfriend this year, and she knew that she had to get him something special.

Olivia handed Elliot the box and he pulled out and ornament with a picture of them in it. It was one that Elizabeth had taken when Elliot had taken her, and his kids ice skating in Rockefeller center. On the back there was an inscription that read:

I didn't know what love was until I met you

I couldn't have asked for anything more this Christmas

Than what you've already given me

I love you with all my heart, and hope we will be able to make

Many more memories, like the on in the picture, in the time to come.

Elliot couldn't believe how touched the small gift made him. It was then that he realized that he would spend the rest of his life with this woman. He didn't realize that he was staring at her until she asked, "What, do I have something in my teeth?"

"No" He answered, "let's get out of here."

"Okay" She replied a little confused. But she had learned sometimes it was better not to ask with Elliot. He paid, and they left. He hauled a cab and they rode back to his apartment in comfortable silence, hand in hand.

When they returned back to his apartment, Olivia was completely speechless by what she saw.

Elliot had lit candles all around his apartment, and turned his Christmas tree on full power. There were presents all around it. On his coffee table was a bottle of champagne, and two glasses. The couch looked especially inviting with an afghan draped over it and a pillow leaning against the arm.

Elliot wrapped his arms around Olivia's waste and gave her a small kiss on the back of the neck. "I figured we could wait up and try to catch Santa in the act." He whispered.

Olivia smiled, and turned to kiss him. "Sounds like a plan." She said. And hurried off to change into sweats that she had left at Elliot's apartment for the nights she stayed over.

When she emerged from the bedroom, Elliot had also changed into more comfortable cloths. He couldn't believe that she even looked amazing in sweats. Olivia loved the way his icy eyes looked at her, and giggled a little out of embarrassment.

Elliot broke his gaze to pour some champagne. The two sat on the couch, and it wasn't long before they were lying down. Elliot had pulled Olivia to him so that her back was pressing against his chest. He had his arm draped over her and the two were quietly singing to Christmas Carols.

Olivia loved the way it felt when he held her. They just seemed to fit perfectly together. They could never seem to find an uncomfortable position. She loved that he made her feel warm when he held her, and hatred it when he had to let go.

Elliot broke her thoughts when he began kissing the back of her neck again. She turned so that she was facing him, and kissed him passionately on the lips. Elliot deepened the kiss, and before long was pulling at her shirt. He successfully pulled it off, and she followed suit, by pulling his over his head. Their hand explored each other bodies, even though they knew them well. Elliot scooped Olivia into his arms and carried her off to his bedroom where he laid her gently down on his bed. He crawled on top of her, and started to kiss her stomach, and then her breasts gently He took off her pants, and then she did the same to him. He entered her, and the two made love like they never had before.

Sometime around midnight, the phone rang, waking them both up. Elliot answered, relieved to hear his son on the other end.

"Hey dad, I hope I didn't wake you, but we always go down to see how many gifts I have under the tree at midnight on Christmas. I figured that even though you're not here now, we can't break Stabler tradition."

Elliot smiled at his sons words and said, "no you can't, can you? Okay, here's what we do, you go to the tree at mom's house, and I'll go over to the one here. Then you can tell me what you see, and I'll tell you what I see"

Olivia watched Elliot climb out of bed, slide into some pants, and go out to the living room. She took the opportunity to put on a robe, and waited until he returned to ask about the phone call.

When Elliot came back in, she was grinning ear to ear. "What's got you so happy?" she asked.

"Dickey." He said. "When he was little he could never fall asleep on Christmas Eve. I would stay awake with him all night. One year I was so tired that I decided to let him peak at the tree, figuring he would see that Santa came, and that would allow him to get some sleep. We went to see the tree, and then I took him back to bed. Every year since then, even after he stopped believing in Santa, we've gone down to see the tree. He called because, well, you can't break Stabler family tradition!"

Olivia smiled as he climbed back into bed. "What do ya say that we make our own tradition?" he asked as he crawled back under the covers. "Next year, same time, same place, we wait up and see if we can't catch Santa."

Olivia smiled and said 'Okay Stabler, it's a date." She fell asleep wondering what it meant to be making a year in advance. She hoped that it was because Elliot saw her in his future. And what had he meant by "Stabler Family" tradition. She supposed she would just have to wait and see.