Happy Valentine's Day Darling
Chapter Three Best Date Night Ever
Zebraboymom
Disclaimer: Want to have them. Like that's going to happen. They belong to Dick Wolf and Neal Baer. That's for certain.
Author Notes: The grand finale. The final installment and perhaps the fluffiest of all.
Elliot held out the cape for her to slip on. He came to stand in front of her and tied the cord. His eyes never left hers. The deep blue pools were speaking volumes. The cape was soft and silky and warm.
"Why the cape Stabler?"
"You'll see. You need to stay warm if you are going to be outside for awhile."
Liv's eyes widened in surprise. She was all dressed up. Walking outdoors in four-inch heels was not her idea of a dream date. Elliot grinned at her and turned to their friends.
"Good night everyone."
"Good night and Happy Valentine's Day you two. I hope it's the most special night of your life."
"Thanks Captain…uh Don."
"Have fun you two and Munch you owe me fifty bucks."
"Yeah, but I don't have to pay up until in the morning. Things could still go south you know."
"Munch are you betting against this relationship?"
"Hey, when you've been married as many times as I have, you're a skeptic. That doesn't mean I don't hope you guys make it. If anyone could, it's you two."
"Thanks Munch, now I feel a little better. Shall we go?"
Elliot tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and led her to the elevator.
The team all rushed over to the windows to watch.
When Elliot held the door for Olivia to exit the building her eyes rested on a beautiful white horse drawn carriage. Her eyes flew up to meet Elliot's.
"You didn't."
"I did."
"Oh. Elliot. How did you manage to get one tonight of all nights."
"Hey Bill."
"Hey Elliot. Hey Olivia."
Bill McDonald had a daughter who had been raped at knifepoint 3 years earlier. How could she have forgotten?
"Bill, this is so nice of you."
"It's the least I can do. Glad you two finally got together. My wife said you two belonged together."
Olivia looked over at Elliot as they climbed into the carriage.
"I just have one question. Who are you and what have you done with Elliot Stabler? I just never thought you could be this romantic."
"You inspire me to be. Olivia if anyone ever deserved to be romanced, it is you. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world to be able to give this to you."
They snuggled together under the lap robe and whispered and kissed each other until they arrived at the restaurant. Elliot took Liv's hand as she stepped down out of the carriage. He held onto it as he thanked Bill.
"You two have a great evening. It was my pleasure to make this special for you. Take care detectives."
Elliot smiled at Liv as he escorted her inside the restaurant. After he held the door he placed his hand at the small of her back. It was an intimate and possessive gesture and it made Olivia feel so loved.
The waitress seated them in a more intimate place right next to one of the fireplaces. Liv was grateful to warm up. Everything in this place was so romantic. Elliot held her chair and she sat down to the admiring looks of several men in the room. It wasn't lost on Elliot. Liv noticed some women catching an eyeful of El at the same time.
The butternut squash soup was amazing and the beef wellington was the best Olivia had ever eaten. She and Elliot kept eye contact the whole night. The look on his face was mesmerizing. She had never felt so cherished in her life. When dessert arrived Olivia's eyes lit up. Gianduja mousse. It melted in her mouth. Just then the piano player said, "This is for Olivia, the love of Elliot's life." Then he began to play Unforgettable by Nat King Cole.
Olivia's eyes filled up with tears and Elliot squeezed her hand and leaned over to place a gentle kiss on her lips.
"I love you more than anything Liv."
He began to sing along with the music in his sweet low timbre. She shivered as the hair on the back of her neck stood up. The people seated near them knew they were the couple the piano player was talking about and turned to smile as they watched the interaction between Olivia and Elliot. It was obvious to them that here was a couple deeply in love with each other. The connection was apparent. The men were thinking what a lucky guy he was. The women were wishing their significant other would look at them with that much intensity. What a hunk!
When the song ended folks went back to their meal, but LIva and Elliot continued to stare in each other's eyes.
"Let's get out of here. I have one more stop planned."
"There's more?"
"Just you wait Olivia Benson."
They collected their coats as they left. Elliot tied her cape on again and slipped his arms around her waist under the cape for a hug.
"Have I told you enough how gorgeous you are tonight and how you look in that dress?
"Yes, but don't stop. I feel like a princess tonight. I've never felt that way before El. Thank you."
He nuzzled her with his nose and then placed his hand on her lower back again as he escorted her out. When they walked out of the restaurant a limo was waiting for them.
"Elliot, you didn't."
"I did."
Liv slipped inside and Elliot climbed in next to her. The driver knew exactly where they were going and Liv cuddled up to El, laying her head on his shoulder.
"You know El, This has been a perfect night. You've done enough. Let's just go to my place."
"Are you kidding me? And miss the best part of all? No way."
The limo stopped and Elliot opened the door to reveal the Rockefeller Center. Liv laughed out loud.
"Don't tell me we are going to ice skate dressed like this."
"Yep."
"No El."
"We have to Liv. My final gift won't be complete if we don't."
"I'm just glad this dress has a full skirt."
Elliot picked up their skates to the stares of lots of people already skating. He knelt down in front of Liv and slipped her shoes off to replace them with skates. He did it with such love and tenderness. Olivia felt herself getting weak in the knees. He looked so handsome looking up at her in his tux. He stood and took her hand. They stepped out on the ice to the stares of just about everyone there. Olivia kept praying she wouldn't fall down in the dress. Elliot pulled her along and stopped exactly where she expected him to, in front of the statue of Prometheus. He pulled them to a stop. Olivia looked up at the statue and thought about what had happened in the last two months and how happy she had been that night at Christmas when she had found Elliot there too. That's when he told her he was divorced and Kathy had moved on with someone else.
"Penny for your thoughts, Benson."
"I'd answer with what are you doing here, but obviously you brought me here. I do remember looking up at that tree and making a wish. I had no idea it would lead to this kind of joy and happiness."
"I remember we talked about how we had both lost something. It feels really good to stand here with you and to realize we actually found something so real and so special and so joyful. I brought you here because it's our special place. We both came that night not knowing the other one was here. I will always love this place because it is where we found each other and that love Liv, that love that lasts forever."
Elliot went down on one knee and pulled a small black box out of his pocket. Olivia gasped and her eyes filled with tears.
"Liv, I love you. Make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?"
He opened the box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring.
"Are you sure El? It hasn't been that long since your divorce."
"Liv, I fell for you a long time ago. I know you better than anyone ever has. I have seen you at your best and worst. You've seen me as well. I don't need to date you another year to know you are whom I want to spend the rest of my life with. You are it for me Liv. Please say yes."
Liv held out her left hand.
"Yes, I'll marry you. I have loved you for longer than I can even remember."
She looked down at him as he slipped the ring on her finger. He looked so happy. Why he loved her, she sometimes couldn't fathom, but he did. It was all there on his face as he looked back up at her. They were suddenly interrupted by applause and looked around to find most of the skaters watching their moment. Elliot grinned at her, stood and kissed her with everything he had. The crowd erupted with wolf whistles, expressions of congratulations, awws and louder clapping. They laughed and took a little bow and left the ice. The limo was waiting for them and as Elliot turned in their skates she sent a text to her own co-conspirators.
When they arrived in front of her door music could be heard from inside the apartment. Elliot looked concerned.
"Relax Elliot. You aren't the only one who can plan surprises."
She caressed his face and unlocked the door. Once inside Eliot found a white bearskin rug in front of her fireplace with a fire burning low. There were rose petals scattered everywhere in the room and it was totally lit by candlelight. A bottle of champagne was chilling alongside two champagne flutes. Olivia's new Michael Buble CD was playing softly in the background.
"Wow, Liv! How did you pull this off?"
"Remember last week when you were kissing me good night and my neighbor Mrs. Williams stuck her head out her door?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I ran into her the next day and she said and I quote, "I am so glad that hunky partner of yours finally got his head out of his…well you know. If you ever need my help with that let me know. So, She loaned me her rug and I texted her when we were on our way here. She came and turned on the fireplace and lit all the candles, set out the champagne and started the music in a continuous loop. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to change into something…else.
She disappeared into her bedroom and Elliot watched mesmerized by her walk. When she shut her bedroom door, he untied his tie and opened his collar. He slipped out of his tux jacket, slipped off his shoes and sat down on the rug to wait.
"I'm opening the champagne."
"Okay." Olivia called back.
In a few minutes the door to Liv's bedroom opened and she emerged wearing the beautiful blue silk nightgown he had given her earlier. She couldn't believe her eyes. Elliot was sitting on the rug holding two glasses of champagne. He had one knee bent and he looked so sexy with his tie untied and still hanging around his neck. Olivia just stood for a moment memorizing the moment.
Elliot almost swallowed his tongue. She looked incredible. This was better than any dream he had ever had about the two of them awake or asleep. And now she was his fiancé. He would have forever. Every night, this is what he would come home to: the woman who knew him best, the woman who made his heart beat double time and the woman he would risk anything to love and protect. This night would be a memory he would share with their kids some day. Yep, he wanted kids with Liv. He couldn't wait to see what they would look like. He so wanted a child that was both Liv's and his genes. With her as a mom, he knew the babies would be gorgeous. If they got one tiny part of her personality, they would be amazing too.
"How did you get the CD and the gown here? You never left the squad room today."
"I gave Fin and Munch an extra key and they dropped everything off. My bedroom is full of Elliot presents. They helped my neighbor with the rug and setting the apartment up. They both texted me, but you came back before I could read them."
She picked up her cell off the table where she had left it.
"Fin's says, "Oh to be a fly on the wall tonight." And Munch's says, "Benson, this looks like entrapment to me, but then you know how I love a good conspiracy".
"You know they are going to want details tomorrow."
"I say we just walk in. You flash the ring and then watch their faces. Now come here you."
Olivia dropped down next to him and leaned against his bent knee taking the glass he offered her. Elliot grinned and wrapped his arm around hers so they were linked as they drank.
"To a future and a life together. I love you Liv."
"I love you Elliot. To happiness and love and dreams…and ice rinks."
They drank the champagne. Theirs eyes melded together as they did. Elliot took the glasses when they were done and placed them on the coffee table behind them. He leaned Olivia back into his arms and looked down at her lovingly.
"Liv. As soon as we get married I want to have a baby with you."
"Really? I…I didn't know if that was something you wanted. I mean, you have five already. I want a baby with you so much Elliot, but I was afraid you wouldn't. It doesn't matter to me really as long as I have you.
"Are you kidding Liv? I want to see our child, the two of us in one person. What an amazing way to express our love together. I want to see you be a mom. I know you are going to be truly amazing. I've watched you for years and the mother in you is strong. I can't wait to feel our baby kick inside you and watch your stomach grow and…"
"See my ankles get fat and stretch marks and…"
"And you will glow. I can't wait."
"Elliot, I want to tell you something. All my life I've looked for someone who would see me, really see me. I've longed to be loved unconditionally. I've wanted to spend my life with someone knowing I would never be alone again. Elliot, you've made me feel so special, so wanted, so loved. You are the only relationship that has lasted through all my crap. You have no idea what you mean to me."
"Olivia, I am not an easy man to be with. I destroyed one marriage with my issues and yet you loved me anyway. You have taken so much crap from me over the years that I can hardly believe I am actually sitting here calling you my fiancé. You never gave up on me. You saw through the tough guy act I would put on and knew it was a cover up for how I was really feeling. You taught me how to open up. I can't imagine my life without you in it. So I have to ask now. Was this the best Valentine's Day ever?"
"It was, it really was."
Liv held her ring out and let it catch the light from the fire.
"I want to take your name."
"What?"
"I always thought when I got married, if I got married, I would keep my last name. I don't want to. I want yours. I want to be Olivia Stabler."
Elliot cupped her cheek and kissed her tenderly.
"I like that. It makes me really happy just saying it. Olivia Benson. My Olivia. My Liv."
Elliot laid her down gently on the rug and positioned himself alongside her leaning on his bent elbow. He looked down into her eyes and smiled in a way she knew was only reserved for her. She saw everything in his face, all the years together as partners, all the difficult cases, and finally all the love he felt for her. She reached up and pulled him down to her for a deep and passionate kiss.
"Happy Valentine's Day Darling."
"Happy Valentine's Day my darling."