"So what happens now?" Elliot asked as he and Olivia sat side by side on one of the desks in the squad room at the 3-7 a week later. He had his good arm slung across her back and she was holding his hand where it dangled at her shoulder.
Around them, the squad was busy packing up their desks and getting ready to move out.
"Well, given both your statements and all the evidence we found at Donnelly's house, it's a pretty open and shut case," Tucker said, leaning against the wall. "Plus, that little twerp Stucky squealed like a pig to get his murder charge dropped to involuntary manslaughter in the name of self defense. I can't belive McGrath had been involved in everything this whole time and we didn't know it."
"It makes sense though," Olivia said. "Why he tried to transfer Cragen, break up both squads. We were both getting too close to the truth, that Frank was actually on his payroll and he was the real one calling all the shots. He just never factored in how close Elliot and I would have become and what kind of team we'd make."
"I just knew something was up the night of the gala," Tucker said. "The way he was watching you two. It just wasn't normal."
"And he's the one who alerted Frank," Olivia said.
"Yeah," Tucker said. "I knew I had to get in touch with Cragen at that point. I'm glad he was able to slip you the tracker and we got there when we did."
"I guess I owe you an apology," Elliot mumbled. "Thanks for saving my life, but more importantly Liv's."
"I owe you one too," Tucker said. "Maybe if I'd pushed harder I would have seen things more clearly back then. But I let the chatter get to me."
"Well, the Stabler name isn't exactly clean in the NYPD," Elliot said, looking at his shoes.
Olivia squeezed his hand in response.
"It is now," Tucker said. "You're keeping your promotion and your badge, despite the reassignment."
"Is it weird that I'm actually going to miss it here?" Elliot asked. "I mean, this is where I met the love of my life, after all."
Olivia smiled.
"But think of how many more memories we can make at SVU together," Olivia said. "I know you're going to be great with the victims. And, you're so much more approachable without that furry animal on your face."
"I thought you liked my beard?" Elliot said.
"I did," Olivia said. "But I like the clean shaven look too. I really like seeing your face."
"I know you disclosed," Tucker said. "But this is the kind of stuff we can't have in the squad room back at the 1-6. It's why we frown on couples partnering together."
"C'mon Tucker," Fin said, carrying a box across the room. "Just let 'em be happy. Plus, I got dibs on Liv in the move. She's gonna be my partner."
"I wanted dibs on Liv," Munch said from across the room. "Otherwise I have to be with one of the other lovebirds."
He gestured at where Amanda and Carisi were sitting shoulder to shoulder on the floor looking at something on his phone.
"Hey, we're not that bad," Amanda said. "Not as bad as them anyway. I call dibs on Stabler, anyway."
"Manda!" Carisi said. "You're gonna stick me with Munch?"
"I still don't have to do field work, right?" Jet asked Tucker.
"No, Slootmaekers," Tucker said. "You can stay strictly tech and coms, even at SVU."
Jet smiled as she finished loading her octopus and her other desk knick knacks into her box.
"Well, I'll leave you all to finish packing up," Tucker said. "Thanks for all the work you put in to close that case. For not giving up on it. I expect that same sort of dedication from you on every case you work. I have a feeling your new chief, Garland, will expect the same."
"What's going to happen to this building?" Olivia asked. "I mean, it's pretty incredible and the kids in the neighborhood really love having the library."
"We're turning it into a police run community center," Tucker said. "Part of some of our reforms to help with community relations. The library will stay open and George Huang will continue to offer counseling services. We're going to expand the gym and start offering some afterschool and mentoring programs."
"If I can help in any way," Olivia said. "Please let me know."
"You'll be my first call," Tucker said with a smile, before walking out.
When Olivia looked up at Elliot, his brows were knit together, a scowl on his face.
"What?" Olivia asked.
"He was flirting with you," Elliot said.
"Ed Tucker?" Olivia asked. "Flirting with me?"
"Can't say I blame him," Elliot said. "But I don't like it."
"You're such a jealous bastard," Olivia said.
"But you love it," Elliot said.
"I plead the fifth," Olivia said.
Cragen picked that time to walk in.
"Okay, I've got the van ready," he said. "Who has things to load up to move to the 1-6? Cassidy and Jefferies are outside to help."
Slowly the 3-7 squad grabbed their boxes and filed out, talking, laughing, and bickering amongst themselves.
"Are you two okay to get back to SVU on your own?" Cragen asked. "I think the van will be pretty full with everyone else."
"Yeah, we'll be over in a little while," Olivia said.
Cragen nodded and followed everyone else out to the parking lot.
"I never expected to wind up here," Elliot said. "And even though the last five years were hell, I'd say they were worth it."
"I have to say I agree," Olivia said. "I'm so glad you're all getting transferred to SVU. Apparently McGrath always kept us short staffed on purpose to cut down on our chances of catching Lewis. Garland's already trying to right that wrong. In addition to this gang, he's also adding another detective, Amaro. And he's training two rookie beat cops, Tamin and Velasco, in a new crisis prevention pilot program to hopefully fast track them to SVU after they make detective."
"That's great and all," Elliot said. "But selfishly, I'm just glad I got the girl."
"Who says you've got me, Stabler?" Olivia asked. "I'm tough to catch."
"Oh, I know," he said. "But I've got you and you've got me. We're stuck together Benson. Even if you partner with Fin back at the 1-6, you're coming home with me, every night. Partners for Life. Partners in Life."
"That's all I've ever really wanted," Olivia said.
"Me too," Elliot admitted. "But I think I love it even more because I get to do it with you."
Olivia slid off the desk and stood in front of Elliot, between his legs, and put her hands on his knees.
"Do you think we're making things complicated on ourselves?" Olivia asked. "Working together, coming together the way we did? Think you're going to get sick of seeing me so much?"
"I'm never going to get sick of seeing you," Elliot said. "And as for being complicated, I think it kind of works for us. It keeps things interesting. I like you a little complicated."
"Yeah," Olivia said. "I think I like you a little complicated, too."
"Ready to hit the road?" Elliot asked. "Start our next chapter?"
"In a minute," Olivia said. "One more thing I've been wanting to do in this room since I first walked in. Now might be my last chance."
"Oh yeah?" Elliot asked. "And what's that?"
Olivia rose up on her tiptoes, slid a hand behind Elliot's head and pulled him down so their lips could meet.
"Been wanting to do that since the second you stepped out of the shadows that first day and took my hand," Olivia said.
"We've already kissed, Liv," Elliot said with a chuckle. "Way more than kiss, which by the way, my doctors are just going to love at my next checkup."
"But this is where it all began," Olivia said. "Our love story. It deserved that kiss."
"I guess you're right," Elliot said sliding off the desk and pulling her closer by the hand. "But in that case, it deserves something way better than that."
And without much warning, Elliot used his uninjured arm to dip Olivia backward and give her a kiss that left her seeing stars and hearing wedding bells. Maybe not anytime soon, but sometime in the future.
And They Lived Happily Ever After.
The End
A/N: Thanks to everyone who came on this journey with me! To clear up a few questions from the comments, Lewis was supposed to be Gaston, Frank was supposed to be the asylum director from the movie, but he played a little bit of a bigger role because I needed to tie both sets of crimes to SVU and to Elliot.
I guess it's back to my other works in progress now (Flesh & Blood) and the million other ideas floating around in my head!
