Originally written for prompt #7 of the 2022 Bensler Valentine's Fic Challenge: Elliot and Olivia have been together since she spent Christmas with his family. Olivia tells Elliot Valentine's is just a made-up holiday for Hallmark to make money and they don't need to celebrate. But Elliot sees past her. He knows she's always worked Valentine's Day and has grown to expect the least from the few past relationships she happened to be on during that time of year. So this year, he's determined to give her the holiday she should always have had.

•••

The Perfect Valentine's Day

•••

It was two weeks before Valentine's Day when Elliot walked up to Olivia as she looked over her last file for the night. "So is there anything specific you want to do for Valentine's Day?"

"Oh, you know that's just a made-up holiday for Hallmark and candy companies to make money, El." She never looked up from the file as she answered.

Elliot watched her face carefully as the words rushed out of her mouth. He nodded in response. Then it occurred to him that probably no one had ever taken her out for Valentine's Day. She'd given up any expectations to avoid the pain of being let down. The anger he felt at her previous love interests ripped through his heart.

"Well, what are your plans for the day then?"

She finally looked up and made eye contact with him. "I'm working that day, like always, but that evening I'm just going to have a quiet night in with Noah. Besides, it's the kids who enjoy it the most anyways." She went back to what she was working on. "What are you planning to do?"

"I'm not sure yet," he admitted. "Still trying to figure some things out."

As he began to walk away she called out, "You're more than welcome to join Noah and I for a movie and dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets with macaroni and cheese." She smiled up at him, knowing how cheesy that sounded. It was her son's current favorite meal though, so she'd agreed to it.

He looked back and laughed. "Thanks, but I think I'm going to pass. I appreciate the offer though."

•••

It was the evening of Valentine's Day when Olivia and Noah sat on the couch together and watched a movie. She had worked all morning while he was at school. They went to the park afterward and returned home to take showers and change into their pajamas before starting the movie.

"Mom, if it's Valentine's Day, why are you home with me and not out with Elliot? Don't you love him?"

She looked at her boy, contemplating her response. "Of course I do, Noah, but you're my valentine. You'll always be the love of my life."

His cheeky grin made her smile and she kissed him on the head.

Just then there was a knock at the door.

"Coming," she yelled as she got to her feet. She wasn't expecting company and wondered who it could be.

"Elliot," she gasped as she opened the door. Bernie was beside him. "Hi, Bernie," she added, clearly confused. "It's nice to see you again. Is everything alright?"

Elliot handed her a bouquet of red roses with a box of chocolates in the shape of a heart. "These are for you. Bernie has offered to babysit Noah tonight so we can go out."

"What? I told you not to worry about it. Besides, I've already promised Noah this would be our special night."

"It's okay, Mom," Noah yelled from the couch. "I'd rather you and Elliot go out and have a good time. I wanna hang out with Bernie."

She looked back at her son and rolled her eyes. Turning back to Elliot, she shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I guess I'm free then. This is very sweet of you, Bernie. Thank you."

"My pleasure, my dear. I miss little Noah."

She walked past Olivia and joined him on the sofa.

Olivia sat the flowers and chocolates down on the table beside the door. "Thank you for these. Are you sure she's up to this? I mean, I can call Lucy…"

"She's on her medication, and she's fine. I wouldn't leave him with her if I didn't trust her."

"Alright," she agreed. "El, I told you this was just a fake holiday. We can do something any other day of the year and it'll be just as special."

"Olivia, you deserve to be celebrated every day of the year, but especially on Valentine's Day. Now, go get dressed and grab your coat."

She went into the bedroom, coming out fifteen minutes later with a dress and a pair of dressy boots. Elliot could see her beautiful hair had been done, and he could smell her perfume from the other side of the room.

She walked over to Noah and kissed him on the head. "Be good," she told him.

"I will," Bernie replied, winking. "Olivia, we'll be fine. Go and enjoy yourself."

Olivia chuckled, grabbing her coat.

"And Elliot, you treat her as a lady should be treated, you hear me?"

"Yes, mom. We won't be too late."

"Get a hotel room if you want," she yelled as the happy couple shut the door behind them.

"She's hilarious," Olivia laughed, walking down the hall arm in arm with Elliot.

"Yeah, she's something else. Oh, I almost forgot, I brought these for Noah." He pulled a box conversational hearts out of his pocket.

"Aww, that's so kind of you. He's so lucky! I've never gotten those before."

That stopped Elliot in his tracks.

"You've seriously never been given conversational hearts before?" The amazement was obvious in his voice.

She shook her head. "Why is that so surprising?"

"Wow, your previous boyfriends really were douchebags."

Olivia burst into laughter. "Well, you don't need to worry about competition."

"I never did! I always knew I could take any one of them." He kissed her softly on the lips. "These are for you then. I'll get him something else later."

"You don't have to do that."

"Don't argue with me. You are going to finally be given conversational hearts this year."

They both broke out into laughter.

"So where are we going," she asked as they got into his car. He held the door for her before going around to the driver's side.

"You'll see."

The drive was silent until they pulled up to a restaurant.

"Elliot, Le Bernardin?" He could hear the shock in her voice.

"Only the most romantic restaurant in New York for my dear friend Olivia."

"I thought we agreed when we celebrated Christmas together that we were more than friends now."

"Oh we are, but you're not just my lover, you're also my best friend. Now, wait here."

He walked around the car and opened the door for her, holding out a hand to help her up.

"Elliot, I can open my own…"

"Shhh, never say chivalry is dead."

Olivia laughed as she took his offered hand. She didn't let go until they arrived at the revolving doors, at which Elliot let her go first and helped her push through to the restaurant. The reservation meant there was no wait.

At the candlelit table, a waiter brought menus and took their order. Not being a wine connoisseur, Elliot just asked for the best wine they had. They both ordered the four-course dinner and chose the caviar and lobster for the first two courses, with dark chocolate sorbet for dessert.

"This is my favorite restaurant. I've always dreamed of coming here on a date."

"My lifelong goal is to make all of your dreams come true." He reached over to her hand lying on the table and put his on top, squeezing it. "Olivia, I'm sorry you have never had a proper Valentine's Day date, but I promise you, until the day I die, I will make sure you are treated as you should be now. You'll never spend another Valentine's Day alone at work or just with Noah. I think of him as my son now and you will both know this holiday is more than just about companies making money."

Olivia had to avert her eyes from his gaze. The tears were welling up, and she couldn't hold them back. Why hadn't she listened to her instincts all those years ago? She had put herself through hell for so many years, and her true soulmate was in her life all along. Yes, Kathy had been in the picture and Elliot had left, but she should have realized she'd never find anyone that measured up to the man in front of her. Elliot was her soulmate, and she knew it from the moment they had first met. Even if they couldn't be together when Kathy was in the picture, she had realized the hard way there was no one who would ever be good enough for her, other than Elliot.

She looked back up at him and saw his brow was creased.

"Are you alright? You haven't spoken in a while."

"Yeah," she croaked. "I'm just so happy we finally made it to this place."

"What, La Bernardin?"

"No," she laughed through a stray tear that had fallen. "This place in our relationship. I've loved you since the moment I met you."

"I know." He reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small, long baby blue box with a white bow tied on top. "I feel the same way," he replied, handing her the gift.

She knew it was something from Tiffany's. Her fingers untied the bow carefully and lifted the lid. She gasped as she revealed what was inside the box. It was an Elsa Peretti Diamonds by the Yard bracelet in platinum. There were five small diamonds perfectly placed around it. "El, you shouldn't have."

"Noah helped me pick it out when we went out for lunch last week."

She shook her head and smiled. "Remind me to have a talk with him later."

"Do you like it?"

"I love it! Thank you so much."

"My pleasure." He helped her put it on her wrist.

They finished their dinner and headed back to the car.

"Normally I'd take you to a movie or Broadway show. I know Phantom is playing tonight, but with Covid…"

"Yeah, I'd rather not visit a cinema or theater yet."

"So how about ice skating?"

"Are any rinks even open this late?"

"The Rink at Rockefeller Center is open until 11:30. It's really not that late, Liv. It's only 8:00."

"Oh, wow!" It had been such a long day until Elliot picked her up that she assumed it was much later. "Do you even know how to skate?"

"I've been taking lessons for you."

"Oh, El," she gushed. "That's so sweet of you."

The next thing she knew, they were both in skates on the ice. He hadn't lied to her—he really had taken lessons. She wasn't prepared when he attempted to lift her like professional ice skaters did in competitions though.

"El! What are you doing," she screamed.

"Just showing you some of my moves!" He did a few twirls with her in his arms and gently placed her back down on the ice. "I'd never drop ya!"

Her laugh was music to his ears. They were surrounded by other people but it felt like they were totally alone. They skated hand in hand, reflecting on all the years they'd missed and talking about all the years ahead.

Time flew by and, before they knew it, the rink was about to close.

"That was so much fun," she exclaimed while he held the car door open for her. He found a radio station playing romantic music and turned it up. She placed her hand on top of his in the car as they made their way back to her place. She needed to feel his touch to remind her this was real and not just a dream.

He again told her to stay put as he walked around and opened her door. They walked in silence up the stoop.

"Would you like to take Bernie up on her offer and get a hotel for the night," he asked.

"No, I better get back in to Noah. Rain check, maybe?"

"Anytime you want," he agreed.

They headed up to relieve Bernie. Olivia opened the door to find Bernie and Noah fast asleep on the couch together in a pile of blankets with the television on. She found the remote and turned it off.

She nodded towards the door, silently motioning Elliot to go back out into the hallway. She joined him as she pulled the door partially closed behind her to muffle the sound of their talking. "They're fast asleep. She can spend the night here and I'll bring her home in the morning," she offered.

"Thanks, Liv. I appreciate it. Happy Valentine's Day." He gave her a smile. As he turned to leave, she grabbed his hand.

"Hey, Elliot?"

"Yeah?" He turned around.

"Thank you for tonight. It was the," she paused to find the right word, "perfect," she emphasized, "Valentine's Day." She put her other hand on his cheek and leaned in, giving him a soft, sensual kiss.

As she pulled away, he leaned into her ear. "I love you," he whispered.

"Right back at ya," she grinned. "See you tomorrow."

He smiled again as she turned to go inside.