users: I am so sorry about the formatting of the first chapter. I didn't realize it was messed up until after I posted. There was a whole paragraph missing; it is fixed now if you want to go back and read. It is the paragraph before the talk about the gray hoodie.

Fin huffed and hit the button for FaceTime, "play along old man."

"Hey! Who you calling old?"

He rolled his eyes, not bothering to look down at his phone as he walked over to Olivia's office door. He knocked and heard quick whispers and scuffling as Elliott and Olivia scrambled to do something with the ring they didn't know he's already seen.

"Come in!"

"Hey Cap," He looked at Olivia first and then let his eyes wonder over to Stabler who was still stuffing what Fin assumed to be the ring into his pants pocket, "Stabler, I hope I'm not interrupting something."

He wanted to laugh as Elliot almost tripped over the chair in his haste to put a little distance between himself and Liv, but he refrained not wanting to let on just yet that he had seen anything.

Liv cleared her throat, "What can I do for you, Fin?"

He decided to take his time looking between the two, knowing it would annoy Liv and make Stabler even more jumpy than he already was. Fin decided he had earned the right to be the annoying older brother in Liv's life. He took one more glance between the two before finally making eye contact with Olivia. He nodded his head in Stabler's direction to say, what's up with him? He knew Stabler wasn't the only one who could communicate with her without words, but Olivia didn't take the bait, "Sergeant?"

"Oh, nothing. I just thought you might want to talk to an old friend." He shrugged as he held his phone up, "Ol' Munch finally learned how to use his phone."

He barely heard Munch's mumbled response, mentioning something about how they talk on Facetime at least twice a month, before Olivia quickly took his phone from his hand.

"John!" Olivia excitedly exclaimed once Munch was clearly in view, and Stabler was conveniently not, Fin realized.

"Well. Well, if our girl didn't make Captain and talk Odafin Tutuola into becoming a sergeant." Munch smiled and sat up in the chair, "How have you been Olivia? Noah still questioning authority?"

Olivia snorted, "Thankfully he didn't take after you." She shook her head clearly amused and smiled, "We're all good. Missing you every day, but not your coffee."

"Or your conspiracy theories," Fin supplied as he stepped closer to the phone not wanting to miss whatever Munch had up his sleeve. Munch already knew everything he had just asked as he and Fin regularly kept in contact and up to date about their little family of misfits.

"Hmph, I feel the love." Munch's eyebrows raise before he quickly covers, and Fin knows Munch has just seen a glimpse of Elliot. Elliot had just shifted his weight behind Olivia and was clearly visible now, but he had yet to notice as he was staring at Liv like he was afraid she would disappear. Lovesick fool, Fin thought as he turned his attention back to the FaceTime call. Munch shifted in his seat and leaned forward, noticeably ready to move forward with his plan to get them to confess, "do my eyes deceive me or is that the SVU prodigal son?"

Fin held back a snort as Elliot groaned and stepped closer to the phone so that he was in frame, "Hey Munch!"

Munch scratched his chin, choosing to clearly ignore Elliot's quick hello, "hmmm, it's kind of early on a Monday morning for a visit to your old squad just to chat, isn't it? Unless you transferred back to SVU, and my partner neglected to tell me, but then again, that wouldn't work if you and Liv—" Munch trailed off as he winked at Fin. They both watched as Olivia turned to look at Elliot, obviously not listening to what Munch was saying anymore.

Fin grinned and mouthed, "hook, line, and sinker." Munch gave him a subtle thumbs up that was just barely off screen. Neither Elliot or Olivia saw it as they were clearly, to anyone who knew them well, discussing whether or not to finally admit they were together as more than friends.

Munch and Fin waited knowing eventually the two would include them in the conversation again; they had been playing along to this particular song and dance for years. Fin grinned at the subtle nod Elliot gave Olivia before she smiled and turned back to the phone she was still holding, "It's true John."

"What is?" Munch smirked, playing coy, "Stabler's coming back to SVU? They finally kick him out over at OC? Been undercover too many times?"

Olivia shook her head and laughed. Fin smiled, trying to play completely innocent as she looked between him and the Facetime call, "don't think I don't know Fin called you just to tell you Elliot and I are together."

Fin shrugged, deciding to still play up his innocence, "he had to know. We've all waited long enough."

"Oh, I sort of figured that out when Stabler appeared on the call." Munch nonchalantly replied as he took a sip of coffee, "I may be old, but even I can see that's not Stabler's shade of lipstick. Yours maybe, but not his."

This time Fin almost chokes on his own laughter as both he and Olivia turned to look at Elliot. Right on the side of his cheek, is a perfect and unmistakable lipstick stain.

"Busted," Fin turned to Elliot, laughing at the other man's discomfort, "may want to take care of that before you head over to OC." Fin itched to get his phone back so he could text Jet; she would absolutely love to hear about Elliot's lipstick stain.

Olivia busted out laughing as Elliot started scrubbing at his cheek with his hand, mumbling something about their meeting later at 1PP. Fin, amused at the prospect of Elliot running into McGrath with a lipstick stain on his cheek, busted out laughing.

Liv swatted Elliot's hand away before handing him Fin's phone and taking a tissue to wipe off the lipstick. She shook her head, "we should have known we couldn't get anything past these two."

"Yeah," Elliot ran his hand down the back of his neck, "pretty sure they've always known."

"You think?" He and Munch had spoken at the same time much to the amusement of both Liv and Elliot. He craned his neck to see if he could see Munch's expression, but realized he couldn't with the way Elliot held the phone. Knowing Munch though, he was probably sitting there with a smirk playing across his face.

Fin looked up as Olivia takes the phone back from Elliot, amusement evident in her voice when she speaks, "knowing you two, one of you is currently cashing in on a bet."

"It's a possibility," Munch offered, and Fin shifted so he could finally see Munch again just as he leaned further into the frame, raising his eyebrows, "depends on if we have confirmation or not."

Fin observed the subtle nod Olivia gave Elliot before he pulled her into his side and kissed her. Fin realized he was giddy with the very real possibility he was about to win the decade long bet. He had decided long ago what he would choose if he won, and he grinned knowing Munch would absolutely despise his idea.

"It's true John," Elliot's voice broke through Fin's thoughts, "we're together. Finally, as more than just friends and partners."

"Well, I guess Fin does win." Fin wanted to bust at John's final agreement he was the winner. Oh, John Munch would absolutely not like what he was going to be required to wear to the wedding, and that was only the beginning.

"Not so quick." Fin whips his head around along with Liv and Elliot as they all turn at the sound of Cragen's voice as he steps into the open doorway, "I think I actually win."

Munch's voice broke through the silence, "is that Cragen?"

"Cap?" Olivia turned to her former boss after giving Fin his phone back, "you were in on it?"

Cragen laughed as he stepped forward and met Olivia with open arms for a hug, "only officially after I retired. I wasn't your Captain turning a blind eye anymore." Cragen winks as he wraps Olivia into a tight hug before whispering, "I'm happy for you."

"Is anyone going to tell me what's going on? All I can see currently is the picture of Noah on Liv's desk, and while I agree he is an adorable boy, I would rather—" Munch continued before Fin adjusted the phone, "thank you. Cragen! Was there a meeting of the old squad I missed?"

"Hello John," Cragen smiled as he walked clearly into the frame of the call. "Nah, I was on my way to see Olivia to return Noah's jacket when this one—" Fin looked up as Cragen pointed at him with his thumb, "texted and facetimed both of us with his news. I knew I had to dash his dreams of winning, in person."

"Wait, how do you win?" Munch questioned as he fully sat up in his chair.

"If I remember correctly, first one to find out wins the bet," Cragen's focus shifted, "Elliot?"

Fin's gaze shifted to Elliot as he spoke, "Hold on. We have to officially share something first. The kids and Mama already know."

Fin saw Olivia's attention focus to something outside her office, and he glanced out into the squad room as Sonny walked in with Amanda following close behind. Liv nodded at him, and he called out, "Rollins! Carisi!" They both turn toward the sound of his voice, "get in here!"

Rollins came in first with Carisi hot on her heels; they both stopped short as they noticed how many people were in Liv's office. Amanda looked around confusion on her face, "Morning all, what's going on?"

"Cast this and listen," Fin tossed her his phone. He was sure he sounded like a little kid with as excited as he was.

Amanda did as she was told, "Hey Munch!" Munch waved back and then sat on the edge of his seat as he waited for the news.

Fin watched as Olivia pulled Elliot's hand out of his pocket allowing the diamond ring to catch the morning light. The sparkle it cast around the room was unmistakable, "while we were gone to the beach, I decided," she took a breath, smiling, "I deserved happiness. I decided I wanted my partner back," she took a second for Elliot to place the ring on her finger. Olivia held up her hand, "I officially said yes to partners for life!"

"Finally!" Fin exclaimed and then shrugged as everyone turned to look at him after his outburst, "what?"

Munch looks like he's about to burst from excitement, "I knew the universe would pull you two together. Congratulations!"

Olivia and Elliot both turned to look at the screen, "What?"

"The universe?" Elliot questioned as he pulled Olivia into his side, whispering in her ear something Fin barely catches as in a parallel universe before they're kissing again seemingly forgetting they are surrounded by people and in Liv's office.

Munch cleared his throat, "why do I suddenly feel like I'm missing something?"

Fin shrugged his shoulders as Olivia and Elliot pull apart, "because you are. I think we all are."

"Still doesn't explain how Cragen wins."

Fin looked over at Cragen who has a look on his face Fin can only describe as fatherly pride. It's then that Fin gets it; he understands how Cragen wins. Elliot must have asked him first, not for permission as everyone knows Olivia wouldn't appreciate that but for guidance from someone they both respect and see as a father figure.

"Before I asked Olivia to marry me, I asked Noah if I could join their team."

"And then, he asked for my blessing," Fin saw the tears that had formed in Cragen's eyes as he spoke, "I told him it was about time."

No one held back their laughter at Cragen's last words, and Fin had known they all wanted to echo the same statement, but before he or anyone else could speak, Elliot was talking to Cragen again, "I know how much Liv has always respected you," he took a breath, and Fin was sure he was holding back tears, "how we both have seen you as a father figure many times, so I wanted to make sure you knew first."

Cragen didn't have time to respond before Olivia wrapped her arms around Elliot's neck, "Elliot, "I love you."

"I love you too."

Fin looked at the two lovebirds, knowing without a doubt, they were back in their own world. No, universe?Either way, they had blocked out everyone and everything around them.

"Anyone have a paper wad?" Fin snickered as every head turned to look at Munch with eyebrows raised.

Fin grinned, "You're doing it again." He took the chance to purposely walk into their space in order to break the spell that was pure Benson and Stabler.

Elliot turned his attention to Fin, "doing what?"

"That thing you do where you get so lost in each other you forget the rest of the world exists."

Olivia looked at him, "we don't. Do we?" Fin laughed as she turned to Stabler who shrugged his shoulders.

"You do," was the chorused answer from Rollins, Carisi, Cragen, Munch, and Fin as they all laughed.

Fin grinned as Olivia turned a few shades of red, "I guess we do."

"Hey Stabler!"

Elliot turned to the screen again, "yes, Munch?"

John stared directly at Elliot, turning completely serious, "Treat her the way she deserves, or her two big brothers will have no problem kicking your ass."

Fin for the humor of it popped his knuckles right next to Elliot's ear, "they won't find you. That's a promise."

"I promise," Stabler wrapped his arms tightly around Olivia, "I will. I know what she's worth, and I know what she deserves." He kissed her temple again, "Noah too."

"Good," John leaned back in his chair again, "not that you asked for it, but I approve."

Olivia laughed, "thanks John!"

"So, when is it?" Munch looked up, "I'm not getting any younger."

"We just got engaged, Munch." Olivia laughed as she looked at the screen.

Munch scoffed, "times flitting so quickly by." He trailed off into his own thoughts.

"Why do I think he would get along well with Mama?"

Fin snorted as Elliot whispered the words into Olivia's ear, and she almost spit out the coffee she had just drunk. He leaned in, letting them know he had heard, "because he would."

Elliot's ears turned slightly red, "don't tell him I said that."

"Said what?" Fin raised his eyebrows, letting them know he had no intention of repeating that. At least, not right now.

"Munch, slow down," Olivia interrupted Munch's droning about marriages and love between longterm partners and the way the government had intercepted everything and anything good. Honestly, Fin thought he wasn't making any sense, or maybe he was. He had been right after all about the universe pulling these two together. Olivia took the chance when Munch stopped talking to take a breath, "We know we want the wedding to be small, and we know we want it soon. We don't want to waste anymore time."

"Oh finally," Munch pulled something off the table next to his chair. "Let's see," he said as he flipped the pages of his datebook, "next month is full. There's a conspiracy theory convention that I'm most excited about. April or May would be a great time, or even June. A little hot in the city, but maybe the beach? When can I pencil you in?" He looked up, pencil to his lips as he tapped it, waiting to write in a date.

"Munch!" Cragen's voice split through the noise, "give them time!"

Munch looked up over the rim of his glasses, "they've had time!"

Fin interrupted before Munch could start again, "so Cap?"

"Yes?" Both Olivia and Cragen responded.

"Uh- Cragen," Fin focused on his old boss, "deal was winner chooses his prize. What will it be?"

"You two are paying for the honeymoon," he turned toward the screen, making a point to look directly at Munch, "to anywhere they want to go without question or conspiracy theory. Got it?"

Fin grinned as Munch narrowed his eyes, "yes, Captain." Fin saw the little smirk Munch gave after he agreed, and he knew Munch wasn't bothered in the slightest and was having a little more fun with his old captain while he could.

Fin tuned the rest of the chatter out as he turned to look at Olivia and Elliot and saw, much as he had for years, the way they were consistently in sync even after years apart. He could see the way Elliot looked at her, the way he was so enamored by her that he couldn't look away, and the way Elliot stood close to her, providing her with the anchor she had been missing since his departure. And Olivia, the one he saw as his little sister looked happy, so incredibly happy. A kind of happy he hadn't seen in so long that he had almost forgotten what this Olivia looked like. The Olivia who was lighter, more carefree, and the one who felt unconditionally loved. He had worried about her for years, and now, he knew she would be okay. Her partner was back, for good and forever.

He looked at Munch, and decided, that maybe, just maybe, and not that he would admit this to Munch, ever, but maybe Munch did know what he was talking about with "the universe will pull those two together" because it had. Not in a parallel universe either, but in this one.