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.

One Week Later

On the morning of December 31st, Olivia was the first to wake. At least she thought she was, she could have been wrong. Elliot had admitted on more than one occasion this week that he'd often wake up first and spend time watching her sleep, only to drift back into slumber yet again. He was still sleeping peacefully beside her, so whether or not he'd previously been awake she did not know. What she did know was that she was looking forward to tonight more than she could have ever expected.

She wasn't sure how Elliot had pulled it off on such short notice, but he had been true to his word. He'd managed to find them dinner reservations at a restaurant in Manhattan. The dancing he'd promised would have to wait, as they'd talked it over and decided that most of those venues would likely be wall to wall with people, and they preferred to ring in the New Year in a more private setting.

Though she had yet to say anything to Elliot about it, Olivia had other plans in mind for the evening, too. As they'd grown closer during this past week, the two of them had engaged in a delicate dance with the fine line of intimacy, pushing the boundaries as far as they dared – but they had yet to make love. Tonight, she hoped to change all that. She wanted to start 2007 with no barriers remaining between them.

Olivia felt as Elliot shifted slightly beneath where she was resting against his chest, and altered her gaze. When their eyes met, he gave her a warm smile, and reached out a hand to run it through her hair.

"Good morning, beautiful."

Upon hearing the compliment, Olivia felt her cheeks flush. She still wasn't accustomed to the attention and attentiveness that Elliot paid to her. She wasn't sure why, because these comments weren't exactly new. As long as she'd known him, he'd always known exactly what to say to her. Granted, sometimes it had been in an attempt to push her buttons, but more often than not, it was exactly what she'd been needing to hear.

"Morning, El. I'm surprised I was awake before you."

"You weren't. I must have dozed off again while watching you sleep. I still can't believe I'm lucky enough to have you next to me."

He wasn't the only one still in an adjustment period. Yet in many ways, everything about the shift in their relationship had felt so natural. During the past week, they'd slipped into an oddly domestic routine. Olivia had been expecting a certain degree of awkwardness as they learned to accommodate one another's idiosyncrasies, but the transition had been so seamless.

Like she'd previously reflected, even when Elliot would stir before her, he always stayed in bed until they were both wide awake. Then, he would head to the kitchen to prepare breakfast while she got ready for the day. Afterward, she would clean up while he took his turn in the shower. Now, she listened as he detailed what he would be making for their morning meal as soon as they both were able to drag themselves from the comfort of the bed.

Today, Elliot planned to use the last of the leftover ham and add it to a prepared pie shell along with some shredded Gruyere and some eggs to make a simple quiche. He couldn't remember if he'd thought to buy spinach and mushrooms when he'd gotten the groceries, but if he had, he'd saute some up in a skillet with a little bit of minced shallot and add that to the quiche as well.

The one thing that made Olivia feel wistful this morning was knowing it would be the last day for the holiday blend coffee. They had just enough grounds left to make one final pot. She'd really gotten to be a fan of the brew, but she was already looking forward to when she'd be able to drink it again the following year. As though reading her thoughts, Elliot leaned in and gave Olivia a kiss, before reluctantly rolling away onto his other side and pushing up into a sitting position.

"I guess I should get up and get started on breakfast. We don't want to be eating too late."

His comment was in reference to their dinner later in the day. While he had indeed secured them reservations, they were earlier than he had initially wanted, but given the late notice he was calling for a table, he had just been grateful to get anything at all. So, they would be having their evening meal around six thirty. Typically, that wasn't a bad time, but on New Years Eve, things were barely getting started. Then again, considering they were planning on coming right back to the apartment after anyway, it wasn't that big of a deal.

Olivia stepped out of the shower into the steam filled bathroom, and used the corner of her towel to wipe the condensation from the mirror. She'd spent a little longer than usual under the scalding hot spray, but in her own defense, she'd had things to see to. In case things did progress to the next level between her and Elliot tonight, she wanted to be certain that she looked her best. So, she'd taken the extra time to shave her legs – as well as other places. Now, she was applying lotion, so that her skin would be as smooth as possible.

When she was finally dressed - purposely donning a pair of Elliot's sweats that she had stolen years ago along with one of the corresponding tee shirts – Olivia opened the door and padded to the kitchen. The aromas of their breakfast reached her nose, and her mouth watered involuntarily. Upon hearing her approach, Elliot looked up from where he was sitting at the table with his coffee and the newspaper to greet her with a smile. When he saw what she was wearing, his jaw dropped suddenly. Only Olivia could make NYPD gear look that incredibly sexy. Olivia smirked, then spoke to the man in front of her.

"You said that out loud, you know. I should be blushing, but I'm actually quite flattered."

Elliot rose from his seat and walked over to where she stood. He knew an apology wasn't necessary, but it also seemed that he couldn't stop from speaking his mind – even if his thoughts weren't exactly appropriate. He'd been having this problem ever since he'd first woken up today, and now he was having trouble reigning it in.

"Breakfast still has to cook a while longer, Liv. I'm going to grab my shower while it finishes. I had thought about joining you, but I wasn't sure if my presence would have been welcome."

Not to be outdone, Olivia raised up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss firmly on Elliot's lips.

"The door wasn't locked. I wouldn't have complained. Just something for you to think about in the future."

As he walked away, Olivia was certain she had heard Elliot swear softly under his breath. Smiling to herself as she poured a cup of coffee, she began to wonder just how his shower would go – and what temperature of water he would be needing.

Later that afternoon, Olivia excused herself as she went to her room to get ready. It wasn't like her to take this long, but she knew she needed time to figure out what to wear. The restaurant Elliot was taking her to didn't require a dress code, but she wanted to look her best, and she'd never been this nervous before. Even though they'd shared countless meals together over the years, this would technically be their first date. As she skimmed through her closet looking for the perfect dress, Olivia absentmindedly wondered if she should have spent the morning shopping for a new one. Realizing that she was being a bit ridiculous, and that she had plenty to choose from, she reminded herself to keep breathing.

After what seemed like an endless search, her fingers skimmed over a hanger. Draped over it was a knee length black dress with a deep v neckline that hugged her figure in all the right places. She'd almost forgotten that she owned it. The last time that she'd worn it had been over a year ago when she'd had a date to go and see the musical Spamalot. Instead, she'd been pulled back into work at the last minute, and spent hours on the phone with Maria Recinos. Though thinking about the case stirred up some emotional memories, the one other thing that Olivia could clearly recall was that Elliot hadn't been there, so it was a dress he'd never seen her in. That made it an even more perfect choice.

Now that she had her dress chosen, it was time to concentrate on what to wear under it. On the chance that she and Elliot did take things to the next level tonight, she wanted to look sexy and alluring, and not like someone who had spent the last week at home recovering from an injury.

As she rifled through her lingerie, Olivia's mind wandered back to the day before, when Elliot had taken her to her doctor's appointment. She's still not sure which one of them had been more relieved when she'd been given the clean bill of health. Obviously, she had been ecstatic to learn the sling was no longer necessary – not even at night – but the the best news of all had been that her wound had healed enough that the stitches could be removed and replaced with steri strips.

When she'd shifted the gown they'd had her change into for the duration of the visit aside so the doctor would have access to the stitches to remove them, there had been no mistaking the way Elliot had visibly paled. Olivia remembered the way she had reached for him in an attempt to offer comfort and reassurance. He'd taken her hand without question, and she hadn't been sure in that moment which of them was supporting the other more.

Finally, she'd found what she was looking for. Slipping on the lacy panties and matching strapless bra, the next step was to slip into a pair of sheer stockings. When she'd finished, she slipped back into her robe, and ducked into the bathroom to apply her makeup. Her dress could wait until last.

Once her hair was styled and her makeup was complete, Olivia returned to her bedroom to finish dressing. She'd caught sight of Elliot in his suit out in the living room, so she knew he was ready. Stepping into the dress, she zipped it up, and assessed her look in the mirror. Satisfied, she slipped on her heels and grabbed her evening bag on her way out of the room.

Elliot heard footsteps coming down the hall, and turned to see Olivia approach. Though Olivia was accustomed to seeing him in a suit, he hoped that the one he'd chosen for tonight would please her. That thought quickly left his mind when she entered his field of vision, and his breath was completely taken away.

"Liv, you look beautiful."

"Thank you. You look very handsome yourself."

Holding out her new coat for her, Elliot helped Olivia slip it on. He also couldn't resist pressing a kiss to the side of her neck as he adjusted the collar. The scent of her perfume nearly drove him crazy, as it always had all the years that he'd known her. Offering his arm, he suggested they head to the restaurant so they wouldn't be late for their reservation. Olivia slipped her hand in the crook of his elbow and fell into step beside him.

When they reached the sidewalk outside her apartment building, Olivia was surprised when Elliot didn't raise his arm to hail them a cab. Instead, he led her toward a car parked at the curb. That was when she learned that he'd hired a driver for them for the evening to take them to and from the restaurant.

Fortunately, at this early hour, traffic was still mild in Manhattan, and they reached their destination in a decent amount of time. Elliot helped Olivia from the vehicle, and told the driver that he'd call when they were through with their meal. As they made their way to the doors of the restaurant, they saw that a long line had already formed. Most likely it consisted of people who hadn't thought to call ahead and reserve a table, and were hoping to still find their way inside.

Making their way to the podium, Elliot gave his name to the hostess, and they were promptly seated. While they waited for the server to come and take their drink order, they poured over the wine list together, having already decided on the drive that they would share a bottle of champagne.

Once they had made their selection, and informed their server of their choice, they turned their attention to the menu. One of the benefits of having dinner this early in the evening was that the kitchen was still operating normally, and they had a wide variety of entrees to choose from, other than a prix fixe menu that most restaurants followed on holidays like this one.

"What do you think, Liv? Has anything caught your eye?"

Elliot moved his eyes away from the print in front of him, although truth be told, he hadn't been focused on the words on the paper. Ever since Olivia had stepped out of the bedroom earlier at the apartment, he hadn't been able to stop staring at her. Her beauty had always taken his breath away, and tonight was no different.

"I'm thinking about either the salmon with rice and steamed vegetables, or the four cheese tortellini in the asiago cream sauce with marinated chicken."

As though he could read her mind, Elliot gave her a knowing grin.

"Get the tortellini. New Year's resolutions and healthy eating don't have to start until the day after tomorrow."

Olivia smirked. He'd understood her perfectly, but she couldn't resist saying something back.

"Tomorrow is technically the start of the New Year, El. Why the extra reprieve?"

"Because tomorrow is still considered a holiday, that's why."

Shaking her head, Olivia didn't attempt to debate the issue further.

"Enough about me. What are you thinking about getting?"

Even though he'd barely glanced at the menu, and had hardly any clue as to what culinary delights he had to choose from, Elliot didn't miss a beat.

"Surf and turf. Can't go wrong with a classic."

Raising an eyebrow, Olivia knew she couldn't miss an opportunity to tease.

"A classic, yes, but for as long as I've known you, you've always struck me as more of a 'turf' guy than a 'surf' one. Why the change tonight?"

"Because it's a special night. I'm indulging a little – exactly the reason why you should, too."

Closing her menu and setting it to the side, Olivia nodded. He was right – on several levels. She'd been thoroughly convinced.

As they worked their way through their starter course of salads and bread, Elliot and Olivia were completely at ease with one another. There were no awkward silences, and not once did their work come up in the topic of discussion. Instead, they talked about what they loved most about the city, and what they were looking forward to in the New Year.

The level of comfort continued once the plates were cleared and the entrees arrived. One could even say it was enhanced. As soon as she laid eyes on her plate of filled pasta topped with grilled chicken in front of her, Olivia had no regrets about ordering it. Elliot was right. Tonight was a night for indulging. It was about reflection and celebration, she could always go back to watching her waistline the day after tomorrow.

Elliot looked up from his own meal - a platter filled with a perfectly cooked steak and lobster tail with drawn butter - to again take in Olivia's beauty. He hadn't been able to stop looking at her all night. Truth be told, he hadn't been able to stop looking at her since the day he'd first met her. He was so distracted that he almost buttered his hand instead of the bread he was holding. Thankfully, Olivia hadn't noticed, or if she had, she pretended that she hadn't.

"How is your tortellini, Olivia? Does it taste as good as it looks?"

"It's wonderful. I don't know that I'm going to be able to finish the entire plate, though. The sauce is very rich. Would you like to try some?"

The offer wasn't an odd one, by any means. Years of working and having meals together made it common for them to steal food from one another's plates. It wasn't even out of place for them to share a glass or the same utensil. But in this setting, the gesture seemed far more intimate, and added a deeper layer to the evening.

"Yes, please. Would you like to try some of my steak and lobster?"

"I'd love to."

As carefully as they could without making a mess, they passed one another samples of their respective meals for the other to try. Olivia gave Elliot her fork with a pillow of tortellini and a piece of chicken on it, making sure it had an adequate amount of sauce. He, on the other hand, first gave her a bite of his steak, then a forkful of the lobster dunked in the drawn butter. Both protein choices were so tender that they practically melted in her mouth.

"That tastes amazing, Elliot"

"Yours is pretty great, too. I wonder who it was again who helped you select it?"

Olivia shot him a withering look, but her laughter broke through and gave her away. Determined not to let him get the better of her, even if he was only teasing, she tried to stand her ground.

"Thank you, El, for taking the credit for what I ordered. Even if I did narrow down the choices on my own."

Elliot reached across the table and captured her hand in his own, squeezing once softly before picking up his fork again and going back to eating. Halfway through the meal, he refilled both of their glasses yet again, emptying the bottle.

"Did you want me to order a second one for us to share?"

Olivia considered his request carefully. The champagne was very good, and she was anything but tipsy, but she wanted to stay that way. New Years Eve may be a night for indulging, but she wanted to be sober – or as close to it as possible – when the clock struck midnight.

"No, thank you. I think I'll stick to water from here on out."

Her eyes conveyed an unspoken message that she hoped he would understand. Though he didn't respond verbally, Elliot's eyes widened almost imperceptibly for a fraction of a second, before his features returned to normal. He nodded his agreement, indicating that he would drink water for the rest of the meal as well.

Despite her earlier prediction, Olivia did indeed finish her entire plate of pasta and chicken. Likewise, Elliot had eaten all of his dinner, too. Whether it was nervousness or anxiety or a combination of the two, the prospect of going back to the apartment so soon seemed to have both feeling a little hesitant. To help keep things relaxed, Elliot suggested that they linger a little longer at the restaurant and order coffee and a dessert to share. The relief on Olivia's face was obvious as she agreed to his suggestion.

Now that they didn't feel as rushed, they calmly skimmed the dessert menu, trying to decide on a choice. In this case, Elliot would happily defer to Olivia, but he wasn't about to tell her that. He wanted to make it seem like it was a joint decision, something they had agreed upon together. However, when something caught his eye, he made the suggestion.

"What do you think about the chocolate lava cake? It says here it is made with imported Belgian chocolate, and served with a raspberry coulis and house made vanilla bean ice cream."

"El, that sounds extremely decadent."

Elliot said nothing in return, just looked back at Olivia with a slightly arched eyebrow. For the past week, decadence and indulgence had been the whole point of most of their meals. He'd tried to remind her that the same principle existed tonight. A slow grin spread across her face as she read the description again, her finger trailing across the page over the words.

"You know what? That sounds perfect, actually. I couldn't think of a better way to end the meal."

Some time later, Elliot and Olivia were back in their hired car on the way back to Olivia's apartment. Traffic was crawling slowly at this point as New Years Eve nightlife was beginning to come alive in the city. Neither of them minded though as they were able to just sit back and relax and not have to worry about it.

Nestled close to Elliot, Olivia's mind wandered back to their dinner at the restaurant. She highly suspected that her companion for the evening had purposely eaten dessert slowly, so that she would get the lion's share. Still, the chocolate lava cake had been perfect. Even now, the taste still lingered in her memory.

Before Olivia even realized it, the car was pulling up in front of her apartment building. She accepted Elliot's offered hand as he helped her out, and they walked together to her door. She shivered slightly upon realizing that she didn't even have to invite him to come upstairs, that was already a guarantee.

Once they were safely inside and the door was locked, Olivia graciously accepted Elliot's help in the removal of her coat. She watched as he crossed the room to light the tree, knowing that after tomorrow, it would be time to take it down and put it away. Pushing that thought out of her mind, she tried to figure out how to best convey the feelings in her heart to the man standing just a few feet away. Gone were all traces of doubt that had lingered in the back of her mind. She knew that she wanted to take that next step, and she wanted it to be tonight.

As Elliot approached where Olivia was standing, he was concerned. While she'd been extremely animated during dinner, she'd barely said two words during the ride back. Worried that he might have done something to make her uncomfortable, he wanted to check in with her now to make sure they were still okay. Reaching a hand out to cup her cheek, his eyes flicked back and forth between hers. What he saw there shook him to his core.

"Are you sure, Olivia?"

With a firm nod, Olivia boldly ran her hands up Elliot's chest, pushing his suit jacket off his shoulders and onto the floor. As she reached for his tie, his mouth crashed into hers with a groan that came from somewhere deep in his throat. When they had to separate out of a need for air, he trailed his lips down the side of her throat, softly suckling at her pulse point. Trying to maintain a clear head, Elliot pulled back and focused on the woman in front of him once more.

"The words, Liv. I need to hear you say the words. I don't want to do anything if you're not ready."

With her eyes glazed with desire, Olivia met his gaze head on. Given the heels she was wearing, their height was more evenly matched, so she raised her palms to cup his cheeks, then leaned forward to kiss him intensely, voicing her request into his mouth with a breathy exhale.

"Make love to me, Elliot."

Now that she had given her consent, Elliot gave in to the emotions and desires coursing through his body, mind, heart, and soul. As gently as he could, he lifted her, stifling another groan as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Needing no further instructions, he began walking toward the bedroom, doing his best to avoid crashing into any walls along the way.

Setting Olivia on her feet on the floor beside the bed, Elliot kissed her softly. He hated to bring the night to a halt for any reason, no matter how temporarily, but he wanted to take care of the lighting situation. Candles, however romantic they may seem, would be entirely too impractical. He certainly didn't want to start off the New Year by setting Olivia's apartment on fire. The bedside lamp was another option, but that seemed to harsh. Suddenly, a light bulb went off – almost literally. Glancing toward the window, he saw that it was still framed with the delicate icicle lights that he'd put up to decorate for Christmas. Hurrying to plug them in, the room was soon brightened with a soft and incandescent glow.

Crossing back to where Olivia stood waiting for him, there was no mistaking the heat in her expression. Reaching up, Elliot finished removing his tie, a job she had begun when they had still been in the living room. He started to unbutton his shirt, but Olivia stilled his hands and resumed the task herself. Once his chest was bare, her nimble fingers went to work on his belt. She didn't stop until he stood in front of her wearing nothing but his boxers.

"My turn."

The words came out in a bit of a throaty rumble, and sent shivers down Olivia's spine. She was emotionally torn right now between wanting him to hurry up and get her dress off as soon as possible, and hoping he would take his time with her as she had done with him.

Elliot read all the unanswered questions in Olivia's eyes, and kissed her, hoping that would provide reassurance. This night was theirs, and they had all the time in the world. No way was he going to rush this moment. They would only ever have this one first time together, and he wanted to make it last.

Without breaking their kiss, he reached up and gently removed the clip holding her hair in place. He hadn't realized that she'd taken the time to curl it somewhat before pinning it up earlier, and now it fell in soft waves around her shoulders. Taking a step back to look at the woman in front of him, Elliot gathered her hands in his.

"I know I've said it before, but you are so very beautiful, Olivia. I never want you to doubt that."

Olivia blinked rapidly a few times in succession, trying to reign in the emotions that were starting to run away from her. She did not want to cry right now, but she knew his words were sincere. With a shaky breath, she forced herself to remain still as Elliot moved behind her and began lowering the zipper of her dress, gradually revealing the expanse of her back.

Moments later, the dress was pooled on the floor, laying alongside Elliot's shirt, pants, and tie. Now he was the one who was breathless as he saw what Olivia had been concealing from him during dinner. The matching strapless lace bra and panties flattered her figure perfectly. He watched as she reached behind her back and unclasped her bra, letting it join the rest of the clothing at their feet. Then, for the first time ever, he was actually looking at what he'd previously only ever seen in his dreams.

Admonishing himself for staring, Elliot scooped Olivia up in his arms, carrying her the remaining few feet to the bed. He lay her down gently against the pillows, and followed her down onto the mattress. He made certain to lie beside her, too afraid of crushing her with his weight. Through intermittent kisses, they began a lazy and unhurried exploration of one another's bodies, their hands trailing over bare skin.

Before long though, simple touches were no longer enough to fan the flames of desire, and they both wanted more. As the last barriers of fabric were removed and they gravitated together, Elliot wrapped his arms around Olivia. He hated to break the mood, but there was something important that hadn't been discussed yet, and he didn't want to take things any further until they'd talked about it.

"Liv, what about protection?"

Olivia blinked once as the words registered in her brain. She couldn't believe she had gotten so swept up in the moment that she'd nearly forgotten. She was steadfast in her belief of safe sex practices, and followed her own set of personal rules almost religiously. But this wasn't just anyone – this was Elliot. A man she had trusted with her very life nearly every day for the last nine years. She knew for a fact that she was clean, and it had been a long time since she'd been with anyone – but what about him? How had his life changed since the divorce? As though he'd read her mind, Elliot was answering the question before she could even ask it.

"There hasn't been anyone since Kathy, Olivia. You know I trust you with everything I am, so that isn't what I'm worried about. I was thinking more along the lines of -"

This time, it was Olivia's turn to intuit what he'd been thinking. Leaning forward, she brushed her lips against his, silencing him mid sentence.

"It's okay, El. I'm covered. I use the birth control patch. In fact, I'm surprised you haven't discovered it already."

Looking again, he ran his thumb over the area just below her hipbone, and found the spot that felt different than the rest of her skin. It made sense that she would choose a method other than the pill, because in their line of work, it wasn't guaranteed that she'd be able to take a medication at the same time every single day. Pushing that thought out of his mind for the time being, Elliot once again focused on the present.

"I know we haven't said the words out loud yet, but to me the time couldn't be more right. I don't want to scare you Olivia, but I have to tell you what is in my heart. I love you – I'm in love with you."

Olivia felt her heartbeat quicken, but it wasn't out of fear. No, this rhythmic thudding in her chest was the feeling of being head over heels in love with the man who was currently sharing her bed. Truth be told, she'd been biting her tongue all week, afraid that the words would slip out without warning. Now, though, she didn't have to hold back.

"I love you, too."

There was no more talking then, as Elliot blanketed her form with his. He linked their palms together, intertwining their fingers as their bodies became one. Soft sighs and breathy moans were all that could be heard in the room after that, along with murmurs of each other's names. As they moved together, they each realized that the connection they had shared for so many years transcended every boundary, and was no different now – if anything, it provided them with a deeper understanding of one another. They even reached their peak at the same time – crashing over the edge into the abyss of bliss.

Afterwards, out of breath and sated, Olivia lay against Elliot's chest. His heart was thrumming softly beneath her ear, and her head was tucked below his chin. He'd pulled the covers up around them to warm their cooling bodies, and lightly trailed his fingers up and down her spine.

Down in the street, the revelers could be heard, cheering and celebrating. Lifting his head only slightly, so he could glance at the clock on the nightstand, Elliot noted the time.

"Happy New Year, Liv."

"Happy New Year."

Olivia tilted her head up to kiss him, just as she'd promised to do at midnight. Soon after, she dozed off to sleep in his arms, completely at peace. Elliot remained awake for a few minutes longer, reflecting on the whirlwind of days that had led him up to this very moment. A little over a week ago, he'd been in despair, hoping beyond hope that Olivia would consent to spend the holiday with him. Then, he'd nearly watched his worst nightmare unfold before his eyes. Despite all that, he'd had one of the best Christmases ever, and it was all thanks to the angel who lay sleeping beside him. No matter how long he lived, and no matter what else happened between them now, that's how he would always see her from now on – his Christmas Angel all year long.

A/N: Now that we've come to the end of the month (and our year), this brings us to the conclusion of this story. Thank you so much to all of you for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting - not just this, but all of my writing this year. I would like to take a moment to personally wish all of you a very happy and healthy New Year.