Captain Cragen was the last to arrive that afternoon. With a non-alcoholic beer in hand, he made his way around the living room with the others, absorbing the minor changes. The atmosphere was the most noticeable, and it felt lighter than it had been. Elliot's house felt like a home.
The pictures on the mantle were a blend of Olivia and Elliot. It made him chuckle, finally seeing a younger version of his newest detective photographed in a wood frame.
After a long and tortuous battle wrestling with the strings of icicle lights, Elliot and Fin rested on the couch, repping sports jerseys with their undivided attention directed towards the football game. Munch posted himself in a recliner chair close by, thumbing through The Davis Cup Conspiracy. The ladies stationed themselves up in the kitchen with a glass of wine and a cheeseboard crafted by Casey.
Olivia strolled out of the kitchen and let out a struggled sigh. She sipped lightly on her wine and couldn't help but wonder if her mother was doing the same somewhere in the city.
Four months of rehab for nothing.
Four months of sobriety gone to shit.
Olivia looked to her captain and offered a small smile. She saw the bottle in his hands and remembered Elliot had bought the non-alcoholic stuff just for him. Cragen's sobriety was sacred, and she wished her mother would be that way.
Cragen grinned, "You look just as lost as I am, Olivia."
"I don't know what to do with myself, Cap," she laughs nervously, "It's a lot to take in."
Cragen nods, "I know the feeling. The first year without Marge, I spent it in front of the television eating a frozen dinner."
"My mom wasn't the type to cook a whole feast with all the trimmings, not when it was just the two of us. This is so different."
"Different is good. Different is what evolves us. Traditions that are different, as scary as they may be, open your heart to something good."
Melinda came out of the kitchen with oven mitts on, likely looking for help.
"I need a nice strong man to take the turkey out of the oven," she joked, feigning weakness.
Munch stood up from the recliner, "That would be me, fellas!"
"Sit your ass back down. I got it," Elliot chuckles, "It's a twenty-pound bird, John. I can't expect you to lift half of your body weight."
Hearty laughter erupted, and Olivia nearly spits out her wine. Everyone joined in the kitchen and helped set the table.
"I think we went overboard this year," Casey said, admiring the spread before them.
Roasted Turkey. Stuffing. Cranberry Sauce. Green-Bean Casserole. Mashed potatoes. Pumpkin pie in the kitchen.
"Fin ate an entire basket of rolls last year. This isn't overboard. This is just enough," Melinda giggled.
"The turkey was late, and I'm not accountable for my actions if the turkey is late," Fin said.
"Lay off the carbs Fin, they'll slow you down when you have to chase Santa Clause in about a month," Casey said, grinning and smiling.
Fin shook his head, "You ladies show no mercy."
"Alright, who's saying grace this year? Munch doesn't even think about it," Casey said
Munch cleared his throat, "The original pilgrims at Plymouth Rock were of the Puritan faith, not Jews at all, but there are strong historical connections between Judaism and Thanksgiving, Casey. The Puritans strongly identified with the traditions and customs of the Israelites, as so colorfully told in guess what! The Bible."
"What's Thanksgiving without a history lesson?" Cragen said, remembering the same outburst from last year.
Elliot rolled his eyes. "I got it."
At the head of the table, Elliot joined hands with Olivia and bowed his head.
"Blessed are you, loving Father, for all your gifts to us. Blessed are you for giving us family and friends to be with us in times of joy and sorrow, to help us in days of need, and to rejoice with us in moments for celebration. Amen."
"Amen," they all said.
"Turkey time?" Fin asked hopefully.
"Not so fast. We need to say what we're thankful for. It's tradition. What are my people thankful for?" Cragen asked.
"I'm thankful I got those stupid fangs off in time to eat," Fin said.
Casey looked across to Fin, "I'm thankful for 90210, my best friend, and creative first dates.."
"I'm thankful none of you were on my exam table this year." Melinda nodded, raising a glass in a mock toast.
Munch lifted his bottle, "I am thankful that I am not being forced to retire just because my knees hurt."
Under the table, Elliot squeezed Olivia's hand. Out of view and out of sight. They knew what they were thankful for. They just couldn't say it out loud yet.
Elliot raised his bottle, "I'm thankful for new beginnings, my new partnership, and second chances."
All eyes were on Olivia, "I'm not good at these things, so bear with me," she laughed nervously, "I'm thankful for right now. I'm thankful for the friendships I've made coming to SVU and that we'd do anything for each other at the end of the day. It's like a little family. It's an honor to be around such good people. Cheers.''
"I don't think I can eat another bite," Elliot griped in his seat.
Fin let out the same groan, leaning back in his chair, "I can't move."
"Why did I always wear jeans? There's absolutely no give to them," Casey whined.
Cragen pushed his plate away and laughed, "Goodness gracious, Liv's falling asleep."
Olivia blinked hard. Drowsy from eating probably the most whole meal she's ever had, "I know there's pie. I need to stay awake for pie."
Elliot tilted his head and watched his love try her best to stay awake.
God, she is so cute.
"Ya know, there's a chemical called tryptophan found in turkeys. It makes the body produce melatonin, which in turn, makes our newbie over here sleepy."
Fin groaned again, "Even on a holiday, the dirty old man still needs to fit his conspiracy quota."
"Who you callin' old? It's not a conspiracy, dear friend. It's a scientific fact! Right, Doc?"
"That's right," Melinda confirmed, "Hank typically falls asleep right after dinner because of it."
"Mel, wasn't Hank supposed to join us tonight?" Elliot asked.
"His station mixed up his leave time. He'll be home for Christmas."
"Where is he stationed now?" Elliot asked.
"Tullahoma, Tennessee. Airforce. Same as I was."
"You were in the Airforce?" Olivia asked, surprised.
"I did it to pay for medical school. I served two tours. We got engaged within three months of knowing each other."
"How'd you know he was the one?" Casey asked.
"When a man looks at you with love in his eyes and every time he speaks to you, it's like it might be the last, you just know. After my tour, we got married, I had my daughter, and…he went back." She said proudly.
"Where is Emily?" Cragen asked.
"Skiing in Pennsylvania with one of her friends and their family, she got excited when she got asked, so I let her go. When she comes home tomorrow, we'll celebrate then. In the meantime, I'll enjoy my time being away from the lab," Melinda said, sipping the last of her drink, "You never thought about going back, right Elliot?"
Elliot glanced at Olivia, who looked back at him tight-lipped and waiting for an answer, "Never," he blurted, "I haven't thought about it once."
Cragen left after dessert, and the friends started to go one by one, leaving Elliot and Olivia alone in the living room to reflect on the holiday. After Cragen left, Elliot stood in front of the mantle and started to flip the pictures back.
"Did you have a good day?" Elliot asked.
Olivia smiled, "Of course, I did. Felt a little strange not seeing my mom today."
"I told you to bring her if you wanted…."
"She'd out us to Cragen the first chance she got," She explained, "It's better this way."
Elliot shrugged, "Whenever you're ready, Liv, I'm there. Then there will be nothing to hide."
"Yeah, but then I lose you."
He sat down and threw his arm around her, "You won't. You're stuck with me forever," he kissed the top of her head."
Olivia cuddled up to him and closed her eyes, "Forever nice."
Olivia's breathing began to even out, and he knew she was a blink away from sleep. She'd been that way since dinner.
"Are you falling asleep on me?" he whispered.
"Mmmhmm"
He kissed her head again, "Go head up to bed. I'll be there in a few minutes."
"Mmm, Okay."
Olivia yawned and climbed out of his arms, and up the stairs, she went. When he heard the door close, he reached for his coat and went outside to see the lights on the house. The white lights twinkled and hung from the gutters uniformly, confirming that Munch didn't screw up his section when it was his turn on the ladder. He swallowed. He was thinking about Melinda's husband, Hank, shuffling between states, having a wife and daughter hundred if not thousands of many miles away. Spending birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays alone.
It's gotta suck.
Elliot looks above and sees the bedroom light turn on, knowing that Olivia is waiting up for him inside. He smiles, looks out to the street again, and turns to head back inside to join her.
This was his life now, and no one could sway him otherwise.
Friday morning, Elliot and Olivia were given a pink slip to Central Park East High School. A male teacher had been accused of molesting and raping a freshman boy in his class. After first period the student, Jeremy Asher, went into the nurse's office complaining of a stomach ache and begged to go home. When the nurse had him lay down on a cot, she saw the blood on his pants and called the police. The DNA was being analyzed, and Olivia and Elliot were back playing the dreaded waiting game at the precinct.
"Jeremy was in the teacher's office when it happened. The rest of his class was in the gymnasium playing dodgeball," Elliot said
"I hated that game," Munch shook his head, "I literally weighed ninety-eight pounds. I can still hear the kids in my gym class yelling break the pencil."
Fin gritted in disgust, "Poor kid was probably going out of his mind."
"He was," Olivia assured, "Passed out cold in the nurse's office, blood was collected off the cot as well as his pants."
"And Joseph Laudermen looks good for this?"
"Sure does," Olivia confirmed, "Laudermen has no alibi. The other gym teachers can't vouch for his whereabouts."
Elliot began filling out the forms, "Now we wait."
The Detectives dispersed off and began their individual tasks, none paying attention to whoever had just come in through the double doors, but Olivia immediately caught a whiff of cheap cologne. She'd recognize it anywhere, but by the time she looked to see who it was, the unwelcomed body was already next to her, eager to greet her.
"Hi, Liv," he said.
Olivia stopped breathing, "Brian, what the hell are you doing here?"
Brian grinned, "I work here."
A/N: Like Fin and his affinity for bread rolls, I am not accountable for my actions. Was this worth the wait? I hope so. I can't leave these characters in limbo for long. They could get into some trouble. Your encouraging reviews are what's keeping me going xoxo