A/n: The premiers are just four days away now I can't wait! This chapter mentions Lewis a little towards the end so trigger warnings may apply. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Saturday morning, 6 AM.
Beep beep beep, beep beep beep, beep beep beep, Liv and El heard as he quickly reached to turn the alarm off then groaned lowly.
"Nnnhnnn," Olivia shook her head several times and burrowed further into him.
Elliot held her close and kissed her head several times "I know I know," he whispered groggily.
"We can't move I'm to comfortable... Slept better last night than I have in years..."
"Ohh baby..." he whispered as he stroked her hair gently "you're making this hard."
"Mmm how did I get here?"
"You fell asleep during your massage," he said with a soft smile.
She nodded "that was so good El y-you think you could do it again sometime?"
He kissed her temple gently "anytime you want baby."
She nodded slightly, yawned and relaxed back into his hold "I've gotta go," he whispered softly.
"Nnnhnnn," she said.
He kissed her head a few times "I don't like it anymore than you do baby but Noah thinks I'm out there."
She sighed heavily "right now I really, really don't like that kid," she grumbled.
Elliot chuckled "that's not true babe and you know it."
She nodded and sighed again "you're right it's not..." she said as she pulled herself from his arms and stood "I think I'm just gonna work on some laundry I haven't done it in weeks," she said glancing at her completely full clothes hamper.
Elliot frowned "but you still look a little tired you can always finish it later. Hell I'll help you later."
She sighed slightly "I can't ask that of you El."
He nodded "you're not I'm offering and you're not supposed to be doing strenuous activities anyway. Comere honey," he said softly.
"In my world doing the laundry isn't strenuous," she said while stepping over.
"I know baby," he whispered as he reached out for her "let me help you back to sleep for a while then next thing you know you'll wake up and find me right out there."
She nodded slightly, sighed and let him pull her into his arms "tomorrow I'll set it for a little earlier that way I won't have to go right away," he whispered.
She yawned as he stroked her hair "you might not have to Rollins might keep him for the night."
Elliot nodded slightly "this'll get easier I promise."
She nodded "as soon as I know he trusts you I'll tell him the truth."
"Don't rush it baby this'll get easier," he whispered.
She nodded slightly "love you El," she whispered.
"I love you too baby," he murmured then kissed her temple when her eyes closed as he waited around 5 minutes before easing her head onto her pillow, redressing in to his jeans then heading to the couch.
7:45 AM.
Noah tiptoed out of his room as he heard snoring , smiled and fixed himself a bowl of cinnamon captain crunch.
Mom likes the peanut butter captain crunch should I fix Elliot that or what I eat?
I can just let him fix his own bowl he decided then shook his head to himself no I shouldn't fix mom's bowl and not his that's bad manners. I'll put a little of both in there he'll like that he decided as he quietly poured a little of both cereals into the bowl then mixed it up with a plastic spoon.
xxxxx
"Morning," Elliot said groggily from the couch hearing noise in the kitchen.
"Good morning Elliot did I wake you up?" Noah asked.
"It's okay buddy whatcha doing?" he asked.
"Making cereal. Do you like grape juice?"
"Yeah but you don't have to fix breakfast buddy I can order something."
"I like fixing mom cereal when she's hurt it makes her smile."
Elliot smiled "that's really sweet. What kind does she like?"
"Peanut butter captain crunch. I like cinnamon."
Elliot nodded "I haven't eaten cereal in a while but when I was a kid I liked cinnamon too."
Noah smiled, nodded and brought his bowl into the living room "your mom lets you do this right?" El asked not wanting to let him get by with anything that wasn't allowed.
Noah sighed "no but I'm hungry and wanted to keep talking to you."
Elliot nodded and stood from the couch "how about I sit in the kitchen with you while you eat?" he suggested.
"Okay," he said satisfied with that and Elliot poured him a glass of grape juice then sat down at the table "I made you a bowl of cereal too," Noah said.
Elliot smiled "thank you buddy that was very kind I'll eat when your mom does."
Noah nodded "okay. You wanna build a tower with me?"
Elliot smiled "absolutely but lets save that for a little later we would hate to accidentally wake your mom up."
Noah nodded "she's almost always up by now."
Elliot nodded and smiled "all the more reason to let her sleep in right?"
"Mmhmm," he said and a few minutes later his cereal bowl was empty "can I watch cartoons?"
"Yeah sure," El said as he turned the tv on low then washed the dirty dish and Noah let himself be entertained by Sponge Bob's antics.
9:15 AM.
"Morning Liv," Elliot said with a smile as he heard her quietly enter the living room.
"Morning," she said with a smile sitting down beside him on the couch "I made you breakfast!" Noah piped up with a smile.
"You did? You didn't have to honey..."
"I know but I wanted to. I made Elliot breakfast too."
"That was really sweet baby thank you."
Noah nodded with a bright smile "can we build the tower now Elliot?"
"Soon buddy just let me eat first okay?"
"Okay," he said and Liv and El went into the kitchen together.
"He hasn't given you any problems has he? I didn't mean to sleep this late," Liv said worriedly.
"He's been fine baby a little impatient I'll admit but he's a little boy and don't worry about sleeping in you deserved it."
She nodded slightly "I really did sleep better last night than I have in years."
He nodded "I'm glad I was able to help," he whispered softly as he chuckled when he saw his cereal.
"What is it?" she asked.
"He made me cinnamon and peanut butter captain crunch mixed together."
Olivia's face scrunched up slightly "feel free to pour it out if you want I won't judge you."
Elliot chuckled "it's fine baby really I've eaten a lot worse and I appreciate the thought he put into it."
Olivia nodded "so do I it was really sweet."
"Sure was you taught him well you gonna eat yours?"
"Mmhmm," she said as she dug in and Elliot did too.
20 minutes later found him in Noah's bedroom with him looking at blocks "so shall we use the red or green ones?" he asked.
"I was thinking both that gives us more to work with."
"Okay that works where were you wanting to try this at?"
"In the living room," he said with a smile.
"Lets ask your mom first," El said and once Noah got the okay the two of them began to build.
xxxxx
"Well buddy we're out of blocks," Elliot said as they had a 5 foot tower built but it wasn't touching the ceiling.
"We just need to put them together a different way," he said determinedly.
"I'm sorry buddy but it doesn't matter how we redo it it'll be the same size. We tried our best you can be proud of that."
Noah sighed as Liv walked through carrying some clothes and accidentally knocked it over "mom..." Noah wined.
"Sorry honey... Sorry sorry," she said as she then looked to Elliot "did you guys get it?"
"Not quite we made it to about 5 feet."
"That's really tall," she said as she smiled at Noah.
"Not tall enough... Mom I need more blocks."
"We can't buy any right now maybe we can later."
Noah pouted and Elliot thought quickly "listen I need to help your mom do some laundry then after that if she's okay with it we can build the tower on the dining room table. I bet it would touch the ceiling then."
He nodded eagerly "can we mom? Can we?"
She nodded "yes but you have to put the coasters and things back once you're done."
"I will I promise," he said as she nodded then her and El started doing laundry.
xxxxx
An hour and a half later found all three of them working together on the tower as they were smiling brightly while building it "it's gonna make it I know it will!" Noah said excitedly.
"It's possible," Elliot said with a smile as his arm then accidentally knocked down the four foot tower "nooo!" Noah cried.
"I'm sorry I'm sorry we can start again," he said in a rush trying to cheer up the upset boy.
"We were so close and you!"-
"Noah Porter Benson," Olivia said sternly.
"I'm sorry mom," he said.
She nodded "it's okay but we don't yell at adults you know that and if you do it again we'll have to stop."
He nodded chastised and they started again "the third time will be the charm buddy I know it will," El said enthusiastically as Noah nodded with a smile and they kept trying.
Eventually the blocks did touch the ceiling and Olivia took several pictures proudly "well now that we've accomplished this I think it's time for lunch!" she said brightly as it was 1 o'clock.
"Can we have homemade pizza mom? Please can we?" Noah asked excitedly.
"Well umm I'm not to sure about that kiddo..."
"Why not?"
Olivia sighed and pulled him aside "Elliot is a guest here and I'm not the best cook you know that so we should get takeout."
"You're a really good cook mom... Please? I really want your pizza."
"Honey..." she said through a sigh.
Noah shook his head adamantly "you make really good pizza and if Elliot doesn't like it then he's crazy."
"Elliot what? I heard my name," he said walking over with a smile.
Olivia blushed as Noah looked to him "mom doesn't think you'll like her pizza."
"T-That's not what I said."
"It pretty much is mom," he said and Elliot walked over to her "that's nonsense Liv I'd like anything you fix it'd be better than anything I know how to cook."
"You didn't pick any cooking skills up in Rome?"
"No I didn't have the time I was a workaholic there just like I'm a workaholic here," he said as Noah looked to her again "please mom...?"
She nodded "okay okay I give Noah... I give I'll fix it."
"Thank you thank you thank you!" he said as he ran off with a smile and grabbed his tablet as Liv sighed, took a couple deep breaths then made her way to the kitchen.
"Honey please don't stress," El whispered as he walked into the kitchen a couple minutes later finding her trying to mold the dough into perfect pizza slice shapes.
She didn't hear him as she continued to focus on her task "shit!" she exclaimed when part of the dough tore as she tossed it in to the trash.
"Baby it was alright, it was alright this doesn't have to be perfect it's just lunch," he whispered.
"I want this to be good. It has to be good," she said as she tried again.
Elliot frowned "it will be. Honey what's this really about?"
She sighed "this is the first time I've ever cooked for you and I want it to be perfect. I-I want you to like it."
"Baby I'd probably like it even if it was raw. I want you to stop worrying about that though okay? There's no pressure here yeah we're dating but we've known each other for years I think we're passed the infatuation stage."
She nodded and exhaled "y-yeah you're probably right this is just still all so surreal to me."
He nodded and pulled her close to him "I know it is but listen to me even if a slice is uneven or the pizza burns I won't be going anywhere."
"I know El," she said through a slight chuckle.
"Do you though?" he asked while rubbing her back as Liv nodded, stayed in his embrace for a couple minutes more then worked on the pizza again with a lot less nerves.
1:30 found the three of them at the table eating "this is amazing Liv," Elliot said as he grabbed himself a third slice.
She exhaled a sigh of relief "I'm really glad you like it El."
"I told you he would," Noah chimed in and she just smiled as 10 minutes later all eight slices were gone "Noah honey I need you to decide what you wanna wear tonight," she said.
"Why? I didn't think we were going anywhere?"
Liv smiled "well I thought you would enjoy watching Fantom of the opera with uncle Sonny, aunt Amanda and the girls they got tickets for you."
"They did? They really did? Are you coming too?"
"They did sweet boy. I can't go but you'll have a blast with them you always do."
"Why can't you go? I thought you didn't have work."
"I don't have work but a really important event is happening that I need to go to."
He nodded "because you're the boss?"
"You can say that," she lied knowing Elliot didn't want attention brought to his award "why don't you go pick some clothes out? Something nice please."
Noah nodded and ran off "baby you should be with him tonight," El said once he was out of earshot.
She shook her head "we've seen Fantom 50 times you need me more."
"Liv..."
She shook her head at him "I've already made up my mind so stop trying to change it."
He sighed "alright," he said giving in and they ended up washing the dishes together.
A bit later Noah showed Olivia the outfit he picked out and she approved then sent him to the shower "are you gonna need one too El?" she asked from beside him on the couch.
He shook his head "there's no need I'll just be dressing back into dirty jeans anyway."
She nodded "maybe we can drop Noah off a little early and run by your place so you can change?"
"Baby it's way out of the way."
"Maybe it is a little but you should look nice tonight I'll be wearing a dress."
"You don't have to do that..."
"I know but I want to and not because of the event," she said winking at him.
He nodded his head "in that case I should definitely look nice then," he said as he smiled then winked back at her "has this place got a good hot water tank?"
"It does it usually replenishes itself with in a few minutes."
"That's good," he said and she nodded and smiled agreeing "you wanna watch anything in particular?"
He shrugged "I'm good with anything really I don't even know what all they air these days if I'm being honest."
She nodded "same here I know NBC's supposed to be taking Days of our lives off it's afternoon schedule soon but I haven't watched it in almost nine years anyway so."
He chuckled "me and you are pretty damn out of touch with things aren't we?"
She nodded "with everything but work yeah."
He nodded "well that's gonna change. For me anyway," he said as he began rubbing her back.
"It is for me too," she whispered as she went to lean into him but stopped herself last second "y-you wanna just watch a movie? I kept the collection of them that we used to watch together all the time back in 04 and 05."
"That sounds great baby pick which ever one you want," he said touched that she had actually kept them as when she went to stand he grabbed her wrist gently "wait a second?" he asked softly.
She looked to him silently and slightly puzzled as he gently rubbed her wrist "and feel free to lean into me any time you want I don't want you to ever feel like you can't do that anymore okay?"
"Okay," she whispered and he smiled, let go of her wrist and she started the movie then cuddled close.
They were able to watch around half of it together before Liv needed to get in the shower as after she finished she blowdried her hair then curled it with a curling iron as she ended up burning her hand several times from being in a hurry.
"Ahhh! This is not my day not my day!" she exclaimed the 5th time she burned herself as a flashback wanted to creep up on her and Elliot heard her and knocked lightly "Liv? Are you alright honey?" he called.
"Y-Yeah it's just this damn curling iron I'm fine!"
"You want me to do the rest of it for you? I have 3 girls you know!" he called.
"No no it's fine I'm fine! Thank you though!"
"Any time! I'll be in the living room if you need me!"
"Okay!" she called as she managed to finish with out burning herself again and she was relieved when it was time for her to get her dress on and apply her makeup.
4:13 PM.
"You look really beautiful mom," Noah said with a smile as she walked into the living room wearing light make up, a modest dress which showed off her curves but not her cleavage and a pair of high heels.
"He's right you look stunning Liv," El said echoing his statement and doing his best not to ogle at her right in front of him.
"Thank you, thank you both," she said as she flashed Elliot a quick sexy smile then Noah a warm one "you guys ready to go? We're gonna be dropping you off at aunt Amanda's Noah."
"Yeah I'm ready. Will I be staying the night there?" he asked as Elliot stood up.
"I'm not sure it depends on when the shows over I guess."
Noah nodded "she is okay with this right Liv? Because if she isn't we can drop him off at the restaurant like we planned before and I can just buy a suit," El said.
"She is I texted her while I was getting ready."
He nodded "okay then," he said satisfied with that and they left the apartment.
xxxxx
Elliot pulled his truck into Rollins's driveway and Olivia rolled her window down when she saw her walking outside "wow Liv you look really beautiful I haven't seen you dressed up like this since"- she said with a smile once she had approached the vehicle.
Olivia held up her hand quickly "don't finish that sentence... But thank you Amanda."
"Your welcome Liv but why not? Doesn't he already know?"
Elliot glanced at them, brow raised in interest and she just shook her head "drop it Rollins," she said firmly.
Amanda frowned but nodded her head and Olivia gave her an appreciative look "so do you want us to keep Noah tonight?" she asked as Carisi walked out and opened Noah's door.
"You guys don't have to but if Noah wants to or you guys do I'm not gonna say no because the show ends so late."
Rollins nodded "we'll touch bace with you after it's over?"
"That sounds good to me, come here Noah, give me a hug."
Noah walked over there and Olivia opened the passenger door and hugged him tightly "have fun at the event mom," he said.
"I'll try honey. You have fun at the opera okay?"
"Okay. Will you be at the event too Elliot?"
"I will be buddy," he said with a fake smile.
Noah nodded "you have fun too."
"I'll try," he said and Noah chuckled "why do you and mom say a lot of the same things?"
"Because we're good like that," they said in unison and he chuckled again along with Rollins and Carisi "you guys have a good night!" Amanda said.
"We will," Olivia said and with that they drove off and she rolled up her window "what was that with Rollins earlier?" Elliot asked.
She sighed "we shouldn't get into that tonight Elliot it'll just piss you off and I want us to have a good time. Or as good of a time as we can," she amended.
"Why would it piss me off?"
"It just would. Hey do your kids know this is happening tonight?"
He sighed "yeah I texted Kathleen while you were in the shower but baby whatever that was? I doubt it'll piss me off nearly as much as you think it will I have no right to judge you after everything I've done."
"Y-You say that now but once you know I don't know if you'll feel that way."
"I will baby... I promise you I will unless you robbed a bank or something?"
She shook her head "I dated Ed Tucker," she blurted out as she then tensed up in her seat.
Elliot gasped slightly and nodded slowly "so he was the Ed who you told me about at the hospital... The Ed who died..."
"Yes... I-I'm sorry El... H-He changed though and"-
"Liv you don't have to explain yourself to me and I'm not gonna judge you if he was able to make you happy when I couldn't and he was good to you then that's all I care about."
Olivia sighed in relief and nodded and he rubbed her shoulder gently while crossing over in to Long-Island "the past is the past and I wanna know about yours believe me I do but I'm not gonna judge you for it."
She nodded slightly "that means a lot to me El it really does."
He nodded and continued to rub gentle circles on her shoulder "he was good to you right?"
She nodded "he was. I mean you already know I had never had a massage before yesterday so that says something all on it's own but he wanted to settle down with me and he loved Noah."
Elliot nodded "it does. How old was Noah if you don't mind me asking?"
"Around three or so. He doesn't remember him anymore."
He nodded "that's probably for the best since he..." he then shook his head quickly "I shouldn't have said that Liv it was insensitive I'm sorry."
She shook her head "no need to apologize you're right El. He hasn't forgotten Peter Stone yet and I wish he would."
"Who's that?"
"He was a friend of mine and our ADA for a couple years. He got really close with Noah, taught him baseball then left."
"Damn Liv I'm... I'm sorry honey."
She sighed "by then I was used to it. It only really fazed me because of Noah."
"Baby I'm so sorry..."
She reached out and gripped his hand "El I'm sorry that wasn't a jab at you... Or not just you anyway a lot of people have walked in and out of my life over the years."
He nodded sadly and stroked her knuckles gently "I'd be happy to play baseball with him anytime."
She nodded "that's really sweet of you and you can definitely try but it's possible he won't want to he hasn't played it once since he left."
He nodded "that's understandable it's probably just not the same for him anymore."
She nodded "that's what I think too because he started dance right after."
He nodded "has he ever shown an interest in soccer? Eli would probably play soccer with him."
"No but it's not to late to try an introduce him to it."
"That's true. We can try it once you guys are at my place," he said with a smile as he parked in his drive way.
"Sounds great," she said with a smile and once he parked she got out and stared at his garden "it's beautiful isn't it," he said after a minute.
She nodded and blushed "sorry I was staring El," she said.
He shook his head "no need to apologize Liv I'm glad you like it cuz the inside isn't nearly as pretty."
She chuckled slightly then grew serious "you're alive El. You're alive and that's all I care about your apartment being pretty? That's the least of my concerns."
He nodded, wrapped an arm around her then kissed her temple "you have me Liv. Forever," he said softly and with that they went inside so he could shower and change.
One police plaza, 5:55 PM.
"Do you think he's gonna come?" Nova asked looking at Bell as they were sitting in the front row.
"I hope so he said he was gonna try his best so."
"Is this something he can just try his best to make it to though?"
Bell shrugged "he's Elliot Stabler and he does what he wants."
Nova sighed "he was done wrong I'd be a little prickly about it too."
She sighed "him keeping in constant contact with captain Benson would have hindered the case and made Donnelly suspicious of him."
"I know that. I ain't saying it's right though."
"I hear you," she said as Bernadette looked over to them from a few seats over "Elliot's gonna be here," she said.
"Have you talked to him?" Bell asked.
"No but he told Kathleen that he was gonna be here that's why she brought me here."
Bell nodded and the chatter stopped as at 5:58 the door opened and Liv and El walked in side by side "she really dressed up nice," Nova said.
"Yes she did and so did he," Bell said noticing that he was wearing a suit and tie and was clean shaven minus a little stubble that he left on his chin.
"I wonder why he finally shaved?" Brooster whispered from behind Bell.
"Maybe he was tired of the beard," she said and once Olivia and Elliot said a quick hello to Cragen they sat side by side at the end of the front row and not even a minute later the ceremony started.
"The combat cross is awarded to officers who perform acts of extraordinary heroism engaging an armed adversary under eminent hazard of life," the commissioner said as Olivia went to take his hand but hesitated since they were in public.
Elliot gave her a soft smile and reached out as she took his offered hand and gripped it tightly in her lap as the commissioner continued speaking.
"Detective Stabler came under fire in the line of duty while conducting a joint investigation into two criminal organizations, the Marci killers and a group of corrupt members of the 37th precinct who called themselves the brotherhood. Detective Elliot Stabler."
He gently tugged his hand from Liv's and she gave him a smile as he stood from his chair and walked up front as while he did so memories of him and his father when he was a young boy and his undercover time with Donnelly crossed his mind "you performed above and beyond the call of duty, your selfless conduct was exemplary of valor and heroism and you're a credit to the department and to the shield," he said as he presented Elliot with the metal "congratulations," he said.
There was nothing honorable or selfless about what I did, nothing at all I almost got the love of my life killed, he thought to himself glumly as he took it from him "thank you sir," he said as he then stepped down.
The crowd applauded and Bell gave him a quick hug "you glad you came?" she whispered.
"Hell no I don't deserve this metal and can barely look at it," he whispered.
She sighed "Elliot don't be that way," she whispered as Olivia walked over to hug him too.
He didn't say anything to that as when he saw Liv he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly "I love you El," she whispered knowing congratulations was the last thing he wanted to hear.
"I love you too baby," he whispered and after a minute or so he pulled away to hug Bernadette and Kathleen.
Once all of the hugs were given Olivia introduced Berni and Kathleen to Cragen while Elliot continued to make his rounds receiving hugs and congratulations from everyone else there as by the time he finished with everyone he was overwhelmed and near tears "is dad okay?" Kathleen ended up asking Liv.
"He is he's just not used to being the center of attention like this you know?"
"I do," she said nodding and a couple minutes later he made his way back over to them "Katie, mom thank you both so much for being here," he said softly.
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world son," Berni said and Kathleen nodded "yeah me either dad."
He nodded touched and hugged them both again "where's Eli?" he asked.
"At a friends," Kathleen said and he sighed heavily "it's a different kid dad," she said quickly.
"I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse," he said.
"It can't get much worse than what it was," Liv commented.
"Ohh yes it can," he said and she didn't say anything else on the matter "you ready to go?" he ended up asking.
"I am if you are."
He nodded "I am," he said as he then looked back to Kathleen "I got a hold of a contractor earlier he's supposed to fix the wall on Tuesday."
"That's good dad. No rush though grandma and Eli can stay with me for as long as you need them to."
He nodded "thank you honey that means a lot to me. Good night mama see you soon."
"Night Elliot," she said and with that Liv and El left the banquet hall.
xxxxx
"Well I think we'll be able to make the opera after all," Elliot said with a slight smile once they were in the truck as it was just 6:40 and they were close to the theatre district.
"Yeah that's true we can but is that really how you wanna spend the rest of your evening?" Liv asked slightly shocked.
He shrugged "it's fine with me I figured you might wanna see it with Noah since we can be there on time."
She shrugged slightly "like I said earlier I've seen it like 50 times but it's up to you El we'll do whatever you want."
He nodded slightly, examined her body language closely then thought for a minute before speaking again "Dickie told me about a new steak house on 22nd street that apparently has really good food. We could go there and try it out if you want."
Olivia smiled widely and touched his shoulder doing her best to tamp down her excitement about the fact that they were finally getting to have their date down to a normal level "that sounds amazing," she said and he nodded with a smile knowing he had made the right choice.
7:10 PM.
"This place looks really nice," Liv said with a smile moving to open her door once the truck was off.
"It sure does. Nah-uh I'll get that," he said quickly moving to open it for her.
"You didn't have to do that..." she said touched as she stepped out and took his offered arm.
Elliot nodded, shut her door then leaned down and kissed her temple "chivalry isn't dead Benson," he whispered.
She nodded slightly "you're right it isn't though for the longest time I thought it was," she said as they walked in sync.
He sighed and nodded "society it's... It's changed so much over the years."
"Yeah it has, I'm just so glad we're finally doing this," she said with a smile.
"Me too Liv. Me too I'm so sorry I made you wait as long as I did."
She nodded "it's water under the bridge," she whispered and they made their way inside "I'd like a table for two please," Elliot said to the hostess.
"That way," she said with a smile pointing to the back of the sitting area as he nodded and they both walked off.
They made it about half way to their table before someone called out "Olivia!" the young woman said sorta cheerfully.
She turned and looked behind her to see who it was as her body then went rigid "o-ohh my god..." she whispered.
"What's wrong? Liv who is that?" Elliot whispered worriedly as he wrapped his arm around her gently.
The woman was approaching them now as her expression grew slightly pale "t-that's Vanessa Mayer," she whispered as she approached them cheerfully "Olivia you look so good it's been a long time!"
"Y-Yes it has... Thank you you do as well," she said and Elliot just kept his arm around her gently as he didn't recognize the name but knew that seeing her was distressing for Olivia.
"Me and my husband Mark are eating over there in that corner. I see you found yourself a new man too?"
She smiled slightly and relaxed a little "I wouldn't call him new we've known each other for a long time but this is our first date yes and he's the one."
She nodded "I'm glad you've found happiness it took me a while to trust a man again after what Lewis did to my parents but it was the best thing I ever did."
Olivia nodded and leaned further into Elliot as he rubbed her hip gently "I'm happy for you Vanessa I really am."
"Thank you Olivia... I'm so sorry for how I treated you before he had me completely manipulated I-I really believed he was innocent..."
"I-I know I forgave you a long time ago, we should find our table before it's taken."
She nodded slightly and stepped aside "it was good to see you tonight I-I wanted to apologize to you for years."
Olivia nodded slightly and a single tear streamed down her cheek as she was unsure what to say and Elliot continued to rub her hip gently "you wanna just go?" he asked softly once Vanessa was gone.
She shook her head "I've waited for this day for to long Elliot a-and I'm not letting anything ruin it."
"Alright," he whispered softly and they moved to find the table that the hostess had sent them to "it's taken El," she whispered seeing another couple there "but this one isn't," she said more joyfully as she pointed at an empty booth near by.
He nodded "this is even better I can sit beside you here," he said as she nodded with a smile and scooted in and he fell in right beside her.
Not even 5 minutes later a trey of peanuts was put in front of them and they began snacking on them as Olivia carefully put her peanut shells in between the folds of a napkin "just toss them on the floor baby everyone else does," he said with a soft smile.
"But isn't that rude? I mean the janitors have to clean all that up and"-
He kissed her sweetly "it isn't baby that's what they do here," he said pointing at the shell covered floor.
She nodded seeing it as she smiled and tossed hers down "attagirl there's the spirit," he said as he smiled and tossed his down too and they then slipped into easy conversation like it was 2005 again.
Their date went nicely as conversation flowed the hole time and after they finished their steaks they moved out to the dance floor where they danced to several romantic songs "El I don't want this night to end," Olivia whispered when Careless Whisper by Wham ended.
He nodded and kissed her temple "we can stay until this place closes as far as I'm concerned baby."
"Sounds like a plan to me," she whispered and their waiter walked up and smiled at them "are you two having a good time tonight?" he asked.
"We are," Elliot said and he nodded and smiled "will you guys be eating or drinking anything else?"
"I don't think so no? Do you want anything else Liv?"
She shook her head and the waiter nodded "you guys can stay and continue to dance but I'll need you to go ahead and pay for your meals now."
Elliot sighed at the interruption but nodded and pulled a 50 dollar bill out of his wallet "does this cover it?"
"It does," he said taking it and just then I'll make love to you by Boys to Men began playing and they slow danced to it as when the song ended Liv's phone began vibrating in her pocket "dammit," she whispered through a sigh.
"What is it honey?" he asked softly.
"My cell phone I should have turned it off."
"It's okay it could be Rollins," he whispered and she pulled it out of her pocket and looked at it "no it's Fin but it is 8:45 she'll be calling soon," she said as the call went to voicemail.
He nodded "do you still wanna stay until they close?"
She sighed "honestly my brain does and my feet don't."
He nodded "we've gotta take care of those feet baby they're the only ones you've got."
She nodded slightly , wrapped her arms around him tightly and kissed him "this has been an amazing night El I've had a really good time," she said as someone came over the restaurants speaker "attention all patrons we close in 15 minutes, I repeat you have 15 minutes until closing."
"I'm glad baby I have too and we almost made it to closing," he said chuckling slightly as he then returned her kiss.
"Yes we did. I'm gonna give my leftover steak to Noah."
Elliot nodded with a smile "he'll love that."
"Yeah he will," she said with a smile as they left with the to go box and went back to her apartment "I wanna do that again sometime," she said once they were on the couch.
"Me too and we will. Hey you think everything was alright with Fin?"
She nodded "I listened to the voicemail on the drive it was just the sound of a tv and chatter I think he but dialed me."
Elliot chuckled, nodded and wrapped his arm around her as his expression changed slightly "baby I hate to kill the mood but"-
"But you wanna know who that woman was?" she asked knowingly.
"Yeah," he whispered and she nodded with a heavy sigh "she was William Lewis's girlfriend and first defense lawyer," she whispered.
He nodded solemnly and rubbed her back "so that's the bastards full name?"
She nodded slightly and he nodded "is he still alive?" he asked softly.
"N-No he killed himself."
Elliot sighed angrily "I'm sorry baby he shouldn't have been able to go out on his own terms like that."
"N-No he shouldn't have but he's dead regardless and I just hold on to that."
Elliot nodded, kissed her temple several times and pulled her the rest of the way into him as she just snuggled close until her phone pinged then she moved slightly so she could look at it.
Rollins: 9:48 PM: We're just gonna keep him tonight if that's alright with you? The show just ended and he's exhausted.
Liv: I'm fine with that we're tired too, will probably go to bed soon.
Rollins: Alright see you around noon?
Liv: Sounds great Amanda, tell Noah I love him please.
Rollins: thumbs-up emoji as once Liv read the message she put her phone down and leaned back into him "we have the apartment to ourselves tonight," she said.
Elliot nodded with a slight smile "that's good we've needed this just us time for a while. Did he have fun at the opera?"
She nodded "I think so Rollins said he's exhausted."
He nodded "that doesn't surprise me he was up early. Baby I know I promised I wouldn't ask you questions about your kidnapping but c-can I ask you one thing?"
She nodded slightly and gripped his hand as he held it and rubbed it gently "did he rape you baby? I-I hate to ask b-but it's killing me not knowing and"-
"No El... No he didn't h-he came close once but he didn't."
"Thank god... L-Liv thank god I-I was so scared that he did," he whispered as he pulled her into his arms in relief.
She nodded and rubbed his back gently "he didn't, he didn't I promise."
He nodded again and they just held each other tightly for a little while "you wanna watch a movie in your room?" he asked after a few minutes.
"That sounds great El," she whispered and they made their way in their, changed into their sleeping clothes then turned it on and promptly crashed in each others arms.
