Disclaimer: SVU and all of its characters were created by and are the property of Dick Wolf. I make no profit with this story, which is my own original work.

Skating. Elliot wanted to take her ice skating. Olivia hadn't been ice skating since her teen years when she'd sneaked out of the house to go with her friends, and that had been a long time ago. Now, she was absolutely sure that she would spend more time falling than upright. However, no matter how much embarrassment she was certain would be involved, she found herself really wanting to go. Before she could really register what was happening, she heard herself agreeing to Elliot's request.

There was still some time for her to let the anxiety pass – or build, depending on how she viewed the situation. Elliot had told her that he wanted to get dinner started before they left, so that it would cut down on some cooking time once they returned. Once Olivia heard just what all he planned to make, she was incredulous.

"You bought us both turkey and ham? And you plan on making side dishes to go with it all? Plus, I'm guessing you somehow figured out a dessert, too."

"Guilty as charged, Liv. I know I may have gone overboard, but I wanted us to have a Christmas dinner that didn't come from a cardboard box or Styrofoam container. Plus, it's not that much food, not really, I promise. I kept the portion sizes low."

The look Olivia gave him was skeptical, arched eyebrow and all, but Elliot saw the moment she conceded to his expertise in the matter of how holiday dinners were supposed to go. Plus, she had to admit, everything he had mentioned sounded absolutely amazing and delicious. She'd known him all these years, and he'd never once mentioned his culinary talents. She commented on that fact, and received laughter as a response.

"Up until two years ago, Liv, I barely knew where the kitchen in my house was. I certainly didn't know how to operate half of the equipment in it. But, when I found myself on my own, I had to learn a whole new set of skills. Not to mention, most recipes are easy enough to manage, and I like trying new things."

"Fair enough. So what is for dinner exactly? Because I know after hearing all that, and what you've made for us so far, that you're not going to be preparing just plain turkey and ham."

Elliot couldn't hold back his grin. Without meaning to, Olivia had just given him the best compliment ever in regard to his cooking. Not that she hadn't told him before that she'd enjoyed what she'd been eating, but for a woman who existed mostly on takeout, it was high praise indeed.

"Well, our main course will be an apple cider brined turkey breast, and I also bought us a quarter of a spiral sliced ham, which I'm going to baste with a brown sugar glaze."

Olivia listened as Elliot went on to explain the side dishes, with not just one, but two kinds of potatoes – Gruyere and thyme stacked Yukon golds, plus a marshmallow and pecan streusel topped sweet potato casserole. Not to mention he was making green beans with slivered almonds – one of her favorite vegetables. On top of all that, he'd also arranged for them to have pie for dessert – he'd stopped at a bakery and bought three small pies so that they could have a sampling – one each of apple, pumpkin, and pecan. Olivia was quite certain that after today, she would never need to eat again for as long as she lived.

Though she had offered to give him a hand in the kitchen, Elliot had politely refused. He'd assured her there wasn't much to do at the moment, he just wanted to get the turkey breast out of the brine and seared in a hot skillet to brown the skin and crisp it up. After that, it would be going into the crock pot for five hours to finish cooking. The best part of that was not only would it free up the oven for other tasks, but they could easily leave the apartment with the slow cooker on.

Nodding her acceptance of Elliot's reasoning, Olivia turned to make her way down the hall. While the coat she had been given today would keep her plenty warm enough, she needed to grab a scarf and a pair of gloves to ward off the additional chill that would be on the ice. As she started to walk away, something that Elliot had said resonated with her. Since when did she have a crock pot? Realizing that this was either another loan, or perhaps even a surprise gift, she tried not to let it overwhelm her. Instead, she focused on the fact that very shortly, she would be ice skating with Elliot.

True to his word, it hadn't taken Elliot a lot of time to prepare the turkey breast and get it started in the crock pot. Less than thirty minutes from the time he'd first suggested it, they were in a cab on their way to Rockefeller Center. That had been his idea, too. Parking in the city on any normal day of the week was crazy enough, but on a holiday, it was extremely unpredictable. There was no telling what they would or wouldn't find. This way, they didn't have to worry about it.

When they arrived at their destination, before Olivia even had a chance to, Elliot was slipping some bills through the divider to pay the driver. Then he got out of the backseat, extending his hand to assist her onto the sidewalk. To her surprise, he didn't let go once she'd regained her footing, but instead linked his fingers with hers as they began their walk toward the skating rink.

It was still before noon, and given the fact that it was a holiday, the rink wasn't overly crowded just yet. They were able to get their skate rentals and even secure a locker without any trouble at all. Olivia was relieved that there weren't that many people on the ice – that meant there was less of a chance for her to crash into someone. While it didn't abate all of her concerns, her worries lessened a great deal.

"Relax, Liv. I'm not going to let you fall."

Elliot's soft murmur of reassurance reached her ears, and Olivia looked up to find him kneeling beside her. His skates were already laced, and now he was helping her secure hers. Once she was on her feet, he wrapped her scarf around her neck, and held out her gloves so she could slip her hands into them. Then, he took her hand once more to lead her toward the ice.

"Are you ready?"

With a nod, Olivia indicated that she was. As she set foot on the glassy surface, she felt as Elliot kept hold of one hand while the other arm wrapped around her waist. He had found a way to support and guide her while still allowing her to stand on her own. Her heart swelled as she realized just how much that simple gesture meant. Even now, he still had her back.

They made a tentative first loop around the rink, keeping toward the outside circle. As Olivia felt her confidence begin to build, she gradually increased her speed. Elliot allowed her to take the lead, effortlessly keeping up with whatever pace she set. The ability to skate had come back like muscle memory, but despite all that, she felt no need to move from the comforting circle of Elliot's arms. Instead, they continued to move in tandem, just as in sync now as they had always been.

When they had been skating for a little over half an hour, it began to snow again. Giant fluffy flakes floated down from the sky, making the whole area look like a winter wonderland. Olivia tilted her face up and spread her arms out, trusting that Elliot would keep her from falling. The end result made her feel as though she were flying, and she couldn't remember a time when she'd last felt so free.

The remaining minutes passed by quickly, and before either of them realized it, their time on the ice was up. Though she was fatigued from the workout, Olivia was disappointed that their skate had come to an end. With Elliot still holding her hand, they made their way to the edge of the rink and off the ice. Back at the locker, they retrieved their shoes, then found a bench to put them on. That was when Elliot surprised her yet again.

"What do you say we stay for a little while longer? Spend some time watching the people? I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to head back just yet. I'll return our skates, then buy us some hot chocolate."

"That sounds perfect, but at least let me treat for the hot chocolate, El. You've already given me so much."

Not wanting to get into a dispute over who had paid for what, Elliot nodded his agreement. He also knew there was no way Olivia was going to sit and wait for him to return, she wanted to walk with him. So, they went together to drop back off their skates at the rental counter, then went in search of some hot chocolate. Even though it was Christmas Day, it didn't take them long to find a shop that was open. Opting to stay indoors while they drank it, they found a table by the window, so they could continue to watch the falling snow.

"I know I said something similar last night when we were on the roof, but I never really gave much thought to a White Christmas before. It was always just another day to me."

Elliot reached across the table and took Olivia's hand in his own, squeezing softly. He didn't speak, but merely gave a nod, encouraging her to continue.

"The morning I got hurt, when you first asked me to spend the holiday with you, I want you to know that I wanted to accept more than anything. It was only because of my stupid pride that I felt like I had to say no. I was ashamed because I've always been alone, and my mind was trying to convince me that it was just a pity invite, even though I know you'd never do that."

"Of course not, Liv. I wanted to spend Christmas with you even before all of this happened. That's one thing I've always known for certain."

Still holding tight to her hand, he decided to go a step farther.

"Just so there is no misunderstanding, Olivia, what are you doing New Years Eve?"

Olivia's reflex reaction was to remind him that she had to work – that they both did. Then she realized that Cragen had told them he didn't want to see them back until after the New Year. That meant, for the first time in as long as she could remember, she could actually have plans for December 31st. She knew exactly how she wanted to spend the last few minutes of 2006, too – but she wasn't going to voice those thoughts aloud just yet. Instead, she would simply tell Elliot what they both wanted to hear.

"Spending it with you, if I'm lucky."

"That's what I was hoping you would say. I know it's late notice, but I can try to get us dinner reservations somewhere. Maybe we can go dancing, too. Afterwards, what do you say we head to Times Square and watch the ball drop?"

Olivia bit her lower lip. Now she would have to say something. It wasn't that Elliot's plans didn't sound lovely, but spending New Years Eve surrounded by up to one million other people wasn't on her list. No, she had something far more intimate in mind.

"Dinner and dancing sounds lovely, El, but it's really not necessary. As far as watching the ball drop, I was actually hoping we could do that from the warmth and comfort of my apartment. Don't worry, though. I promise to kiss you when the clock strikes twelve."

"I like the way you think."

They sat for a few minutes more, draining their hot chocolate, then headed back out to find a cab that would take them back to Olivia's apartment. Their New Year's plans may have been finalized, but there was still plenty more time left in Christmas day for them to enjoy.

Elliot and Olivia returned to an apartment that smelled amazing. The best part of it all was, it was only going to get better. After taking off their coats and other winter gear, they headed to the kitchen together. It had been a hard sell, but on the cab ride back, Olivia had managed to convince Elliot to let her help him make their Christmas dinner. She admittedly wasn't that skilled when it came to cooking, but she could at least slice potatoes, shred cheese, and do other small tasks that would cut down on some of the prep work. Plus, it just didn't seem fair to her to sit in the living room doing nothing while Elliot did all the work.

Before they could even get started though, Elliot's phone rang. His face brightened into a dazzling smile when he saw who was calling, and he clasped Olivia by the hand to keep her from leaving. Instead, he led her into the living room, where they sat together on the couch. Then, once he was certain she would stay by his side, he devoted his attention to his daughter.

"Merry Christmas, Mo. I was just thinking about you, wondering when would be the best time to call. I thought for sure you'd be busy with your mom and grandparents until later this evening."

"Merry Christmas, Dad. This is the one quiet moment we've gotten so far today. We'll be having dinner in about an hour, then Grandma and Grandpa want to take us to go look at some light displays when it gets dark."

Elliot listened as his daughter explained their plans for the rest of the day, feeling a bit overcome with emotion that he was so far apart from his children this year. He felt as Olivia squeezed his hand, and knew right away that she understood. The fact that he was feeling wistful over what he was missing with his family didn't negate the good times he and Olivia had had together.

"I'm going to put you on speaker now, okay Dad? Everyone is excited to talk to you."

"Sounds good."

There was a soft shuffling sound, and then he heard all of his kids at once. For several moments, the tone of the call was complete chaos as everyone battled to be heard by their father. But then, it was Lizzie's voice that cut through the din and reached Elliot's ears.

"Are you and Olivia having a good Christmas together, Dad?"

The question from the youngest Stabler prompted all the others to become silent. Lizzie had asked the one thing on all of their minds, but something none of them had been able to bring themselves to ask.

"We are having a nice Christmas. We baked cookies together yesterday, and watched some movies. Today I made her breakfast and we just got back not long ago from ice skating."

Elliot was quiet for a minute, before adding to Kathleen's delight that he'd gotten a few photos and some video for her of the falling snow.

Then, his middle daughter had a question of her own.

"Is Olivia there with you now? Can we talk to her?"

The sentiment was echoed all around, so Elliot checked in with the woman sitting next to him before putting his own phone on speaker. There was no disguising the happiness in Olivia's voice as she spoke to the rest of the Stablers. Elliot had no doubt in his mind that she was missing them, too. The pile of presents for them under her tree proved just how much she cared.

"Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you're all having a good time down in Florida!"

Dickie was the first to answer, but no one disputed his words, so it appeared he was speaking for them all.

"We're doing fine Liv, but to be honest, we're worried about you. Are you okay?"

With wide eyes, Olivia glanced at Elliot. Just what had he told them? His expression told her all she needed to know. His children only knew the basics of what had happened, likely because he'd explained why they were spending the holiday together in the first place.

"I'm okay, I promise."

The tone of the questions changed then, and the phone call turned into an interrogation of sorts. Oddly enough, Olivia didn't mind, because she was having fun answering what she was being asked. All of Elliot's kids were wanting to know her opinions on the Stabler family traditions, and just what their father had introduced her to.

"Yes, he made the casserole for breakfast this morning. No, no cinnamon rolls, but we did have some pumpkin muffins that we made yesterday."

Elliot chimed in then, detailing about their plans for Christmas dinner. He promised all of his kids that they would get to spend the day together the following year. Then, Lizzie spoke up again.

"Can Olivia spend Christmas with us next year, Dad?"

Elliot exchanged a glance with the woman sitting next to him, and was encouraged by the smile she gave. Focusing his attention once more on his children, he gave his answer.

"I think we just might be able to convince her."

Not long after that, Kathy had come in the room, announcing that dinner was ready, but the phone call ended on a positive note. Elliot wasn't exactly sure what his ex wife's reaction would be when she learned just who he was spending the holiday with, but he was too happy to care. Nothing was going to dampen his spirits. Not today, and maybe not ever again.

As if they hadn't already been in a good mood after their outing at Rockefeller Center, Elliot and Olivia were even happier after the phone call with his kids. Hearing their voices had really brightened the day for both of them.

With just under three hours left until the turkey would be done, it was time to get started preparing the other components to their meal. Elliot's plan was to prepare the sides first, as the ham was fully cooked, and would just need to be heated through for about ninety minutes at a lower temperature. Since the recipes would be scaled down in size, both potato dishes would easily fit in Olivia's toaster oven to keep warm while everything else was cooking.

So, they worked together in the kitchen, side by side. With the tasks equally divided, the sides were in the oven in no time at all. That left them with some free time as they waited for the potatoes to cook. Elliot and Olivia headed into the living room to sit on the couch, opting for just some music in the background as they snuggled together watching the lights of the tree. The day was passing by so quickly, they just wanted to slow things down for a little while and enjoy one another's company.

After several minutes, Elliot felt so completely at peace with the way the things had been going between him and Olivia, that he felt comfortable enough to introduce one final ornament that hadn't yet made its way onto the tree. Turning his head to the side, he pressed a kiss against her temple and murmured a soft 'be right back' into her ear.

When he returned a few moments later, he was holding a box in his hands. Olivia eyed him with a raised eyebrow, clearly wondering what he was up to. She'd thought for certain that all the gifts had been exchanged this morning.

"I bought this even before you got hurt, but I wanted to wait before putting it on the tree. After last night and today, I know now more than ever that I want it to be on one of the branches."

Elliot passed the ornament box to Olivia, who cradled it as though she were holding something delicate and precious. She opened it carefully, then withdrew the heart shaped bauble. Inside was a picture of the two of them from this year's Christmas party, and inscribed in beautiful script at the bottom were the words 'Our First Christmas Together', commemorated with the year. Olivia felt tears spring to her eyes as she read the words. He'd bought this for them even before she'd agreed to spend the holiday with him. She meant that much to him. Though they'd yet to say the words out loud, Olivia knew in that moment that she was loved. She supposed that she had always known – maybe that was why she'd always trusted Elliot so implicitly.

"Let's hang it up together."

Soon, the ornament had a spot on the tree, front and center. Seconds later, the timer sounded from the kitchen, indicating that the potatoes were finished cooking. Pressing a soft kiss to Olivia's lips, Elliot told her to relax while he saw to making the glaze for the ham and putting it in the oven. Then he promised to come back and join her again.

Two hours later, they were seated at a candlelit table enjoying their personal feast. A bottle of wine accompanied their dinner, something that Elliot had purchased especially for the occasion. Much to Olivia's amazement, even though there was an abundance of food, the amount didn't seem overwhelming. Yes, there would be plenty of leftovers, but nothing that she would tire of easily.

It was no surprise that everything that Elliot had made tasted delicious, but Olivia was impressed that the things she had had a hand in also turned out remarkably well. When she'd made the comment to Elliot, he'd simply responded by saying they would have to cook together more often. Instead of finding the implication of the words terrifying, Olivia had instead felt a calm like she never had before. Granted, there was still a part of her that was terrified at the direction her and Elliot's relationship was heading, but it was more thrilling than frightening at this point. The day – every moment since she'd returned home from the hospital, really – had been an emotional whirlwind, and her life showed no signs of returning to normal anytime soon. She hoped it never would. If by some cruel joke this all happened to be a dream, she never wanted to wake up.

"Olivia, are you all right?"

Olivia was startled out of her wayward thinking when she felt a hand settle over hers, and she heard Elliot's voice calling to her. She had never meant to let herself get so distracted.

"I'm fine, El. Just got lost in thought for a minute."

He squeezed her fingers gently, letting her know she wasn't alone.

"Anything you need to talk about?"

"Not right now, no. But I just might take you up on that offer later."

Elliot was surprised by Olivia's admission. He'd expected her to just say that she was 'fine' and that would end the discussion. The fact that she was willing to open up more to him, even if it wasn't here and now, meant the world to him. Truth be told, there were things he wanted to talk to her about that he'd been avoiding, too. He made a mental note to set aside some time in the quiet hours before going to bed tonight to say what was on his mind. He also hoped that Olivia would ask him to share her bed again tonight – even though he wasn't expecting for anything other than sleep to happen.

After their extensive meal of ham, turkey, two kinds of potatoes, green beans, and rolls, neither Elliot nor Olivia were ready to eat dessert right away. They opted to save the trio of pie for later on in the evening.

Feeling blissfully full after her first holiday meal in as long as she could possibly remember, Olivia understood now why the women she knew often joked about wearing leggings or yoga pants on these occasions. There was some definite truth to that sentiment, as her jeans were suddenly entirely too restrictive. Wanting to enjoy the full benefit of spending a relaxing night on the couch with Elliot, she momentarily excused herself and went to her room to change into something more comfortable.

By the time she returned, she noticed that Elliot had not only cleaned up the kitchen and returned it to its immaculate condition prior to cooking, but had changed into comfortable clothing himself. For tonight, he had put back on the same plaid flannel pajama bottoms and tee shirt that he had slept in the night before, but he promised himself that as soon as he had a chance, he was going to wash the sweats and tees Olivia had gifted him this morning and make them part of his regular leisure wardrobe.

To round out their day, they decided to spend the rest of the night watching movies, just as they had the night before. Elliot let Olivia make the selections, although he did set a few titles out for her to choose from when she said she wanted to watch something funny. Not having any clue exactly what she was getting herself into, Olivia chose Mixed Nuts. The film featured a cast of characters so incredibly unique and a story that tied together in a way like she never would have expected. While billed as a comedy, she experienced almost every emotion under the sun while watching it. Granted, there were moments that seemed to walk a very fine line, but the way the actors played it made it more along the lines of a SNL sketch than offensive. It was easy to understand why it was one of Elliot's favorites. After just one viewing, it had already become one of hers as well.

A little over ninety minutes later, the film had reached it's conclusion, one of the final scenes repeating on an endless loop in Olivia's head. By a strange turn of coincidence, she'd drawn a few parallels between two of the characters and what was happening between herself and Elliot. Now, some of Philip's final words to Catherine were resonating with her in a way that had her nearly forgetting to draw oxygen into her lungs.

Olivia's panic attack did not go unnoticed by Elliot. He tried to keep a casual facade, but his concern was evident. With one arm still wrapped around her, he squeezed the base of her neck gently in an attempt to ground her.

"Liv? Can you hear me? Come on, just breathe."

The woman sitting next to him didn't speak, but obeyed his directive, almost as though responding solely on a subconscious level. He had been expecting a reaction like this since last night, and wasn't at all surprised when the movie had triggered it. It didn't feed his anxiety that Olivia doubted them in any way, but more confirmed the fact that she was just as scared as he was. In an odd way, that was comforting. As soon as she calmed down enough to be able to understand him, he planned to tell her that.

A few moments later, Olivia's breathing had returned to normal and she was once again relaxed against Elliot's body instead of holding herself rigid. When she turned to apologize, her eyes met his, and she knew immediately that he understood her perfectly. There was nothing that she needed to explain. Moreover, there was nothing to say 'I'm sorry' for.

"It's okay, Olivia. This new development between us frightens me too. I'm just as terrified as you are – but I can promise you I'm committed to this one hundred percent."

The words she wanted to say were caught in her throat, so Olivia found another way to express them. She wrapped her arms around Elliot, holding him close. The emotions were getting the better of her again. Maybe they needed to have that talk sooner rather than later.

Finding her voice at last, she was able to ask the question at the forefront of her mind.

"El? What exactly happened the other day? I can remember being in the water and seeing you up on the bridge, but I'm still missing gaps in time. In addition to figuring out how I got there in the first place, there is a whole chunk of my hospital stay that I can't account for."

"All right Liv. I've been avoiding having this conversation for awhile now, more for my own sake than for yours, and that's not fair to you. You deserve the truth. Anything you want to know, I'll answer."

Elliot braced himself for a magnitude of questions, spanning from how many of their fellow officers had witnessed what had happened to details about her less than lucid comments when she'd first woken up. To his surprise, none of those topics were first and foremost on Olivia's mind. Instead, there was something else that she deemed more important.

"Be honest with me – were you hurt in any way?"

"Nothing major, I promise. A few incidental scrapes on my palms that didn't even break the skin, the same for my knees. They did look me over at the emergency room, diagnosed me with mild hypothermia. I was given a few blankets and a single bag of heated fluids. Nowhere near as bad as you. Your body temperature was so much lower."

Olivia was silent for a few moments as she absorbed the information.

"Why'd you do it, El? I told you not to come in after me, that much I do remember."

Elliot reached out and rested his hand against Olivia's cheek, cupping it softly. He could read the anguish in her eyes so clearly, and it made his heart ache. She wasn't worried about anything that may have happened to her, but any injuries he may have incurred as a result of coming to rescue her.

"I wasn't going to leave you there, Liv. You were barely treading water as it was."

To his relief, Olivia didn't argue with him. Her quiet understanding seemed to bring that particular subject to a close. Elliot was surprised, because he'd been expecting her to be more vocal about it. Then again, perhaps she had been waiting for him to admonish her for leaping in front of him in the first place. Perhaps it had been a good idea to have this discussion on the tail end of Christmas, after all. They were both feeling mellow after the peace of the day, and neither were in the mood to argue, especially with one another.

Moving on to her next question, Olivia asked if Elliot had actually been there with her when she'd first woken up, or if she had simply imagined that.

"I was there, Liv. I was worried that I had woken you. I had hoped you would sleep as long as possible, because the last thing I wanted was to see you in pain."

The conversation soon segued into Olivia's dazed ramblings. Upon learning what she had said, her cheeks flamed a bright shade of pink, and she attempted to cover her face with her hands. Elliot caught her fingers in his own to prevent her from doing so.

"You have nothing to be embarrassed about. I thought it was adorable."

Arching an eyebrow, Olivia studied him with a gleam in her eye.

"Did you just use the word 'adorable' in the same sentence as a reference to me?"

Not easily intimidated, Elliot matched her gaze.

"I did. What are you going to do about it?"

"For now, nothing. But I reserve the right to kick your ass if I change my mind."

"Noted."

Things took another serious turn after that, but not for long. Once Elliot had answered all of Olivia's questions and filled in the gaps of missing time - which thankfully weren't as many as she'd originally thought - she was feeling much more at ease.

"What do you say I make us a pot of coffee, then we can have some pie? There are still a few more hours of Christmas left, and I plan on enjoying every last one with you."

"That sounds perfect, El."

A short while later, they were settled on the couch in front of the television with their trio of pie slices, steaming mugs of coffee sitting nearby on the end tables. Miracle on 34th Street was playing on the television, as they'd also decided to try and watch at least one more holiday movie before the day came to a close as well. Elliot had his reservations about Olivia watching the film, wondering what memories from her own childhood it would evoke, but it was such a timeless holiday classic that he felt she should experience it. He would always be here for her if she needed him.

It turned out his theory was correct – but only partially. The film did evoke some bittersweet memories for the woman sitting next to him, but she wasn't upset. If anything, she had been enthralled. At thirty eight years of age, she'd been introduced to the magic of Christmas, and it was never too late to believe. Though neither voiced their thoughts aloud, both Elliot and Olivia had a distant dream in the back of their minds – of a Christmas in the future where they might someday have a child of their own to pass the magic onto. But they each believed it was too soon to speak of anything aloud just yet, so they held on to it tightly, a secret for now.

The rest of the night slipped by peacefully, with music playing softly in the background as they nestled together in one another's arms on the couch. They'd opted not to watch any more movies, choosing to spend the remaining time left in Christmas day in quiet reflection. Outside, it was snowing again, and soon it would be time to retire for the night. Though Olivia had yet to ask Elliot to stay with her again, she had every intention on doing so. There was still one more question she needed to ask, but she wanted to wait for a cover of darkness before she would have the courage to put voice to the words.

Elliot on the other hand, had noticed Olivia's shift in mood. Having a good guess at what might be bothering her, he decided now would be the perfect time to remind her of something.

"You know, Liv, just because tomorrow is the day after Christmas, it doesn't mean that we have to pack up all the decorations and put them away. I've always kept them up until after the New Year. What do you say?"

"We can keep the tree up longer?"

Smiling, Elliot let his lips skim the crown of Olivia's head.

"Of course. Christmas isn't just a day, but a season."

"I like the sound of that."

An hour later, after the lights had all been extinguished and they were lying side by side in Olivia's bed for the night, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Reaching out her free hand – as she'd been relegated to the sling once more – she intertwined her fingers with Elliot's.

"El? Can I ask you a question?"

Part of him wanted to joke that she technically already had, but Elliot knew this wasn't the time for levity. Brushing his lips against Olivia's forehead, he softly murmured his consent.

"Why does our tree have a star? I mean, I know that tree toppers can be so many things, but from what I've seen, typically they are angels. Don't get me wrong, I think it's beautiful, but I was just curious."

Getting choked up with emotion, Elliot struggled for a moment to answer the way he wanted.

"Do you remember when I told you earlier about how you were still asleep when I first saw you in the hospital? Well, there was something I didn't tell you."

In the dim light, he saw Olivia nod, and knew it was okay to continue.

"Between the way your hair was flowing out around you, and the way the light was cast on your pillow, it gave you the appearance of having a halo. For all the world, you looked like an angel. And after what you'd done for me that day, I knew it to be true. You're my Christmas Angel, Liv. I don't need any others."

Feeling a lone tear slip down her cheek, Olivia didn't bother to wipe it away. She moved closer to Elliot, her heart so full.

"I could say the same thing to you, Elliot. I never believed in the magic of Christmas until this year. You're the one who showed it to me. You're my angel, too."

Their lips met in a tender kiss, and when they separated, Elliot pulled Olivia close. This would be a Christmas neither would ever forget. As they drifted off to sleep, each were counting down the days to New Years Day, when the magic would begin to build all over again from the beginning.