A/N: So…no reviews on that last update =( I'll try to make chapter three better! The beginning of the story is kind of sad, but the action will start to pick up-pinky promise =) I don't own El or Rose….those rights belong to Dick Wolf and James Cameron desafortunadamente, however it is my personal opinion that Chris Meloni and Kate Winslet would make a beautiful child xP ~platarozaluna
"We are gathered here today to give thanks for the life of Olivia Isabelle Benson, whose short life was a blessing to us all and all who ever knew her," read the priest. Elliot, Rose, Cragen, Fin, Munch, Casey, and a blonde woman wearing a veil over her face (Alex) sat in the front pew, and behind them were many of the other officers and victims that Olivia had helped. All cried, but none more than Elliot. Rose kept a steady hand on his shoulder the entire time, as though to ensure he didn't fall apart completely and break into a million tiny pieces.
Olivia was touched by all of the people who attended her funeral. She sat by each of them in turn, but remained by Elliot for the most part as she had promised. She was glad that he had Rose in his life, if he didn't, well….Olivia didn't want to think about what would have happened on the Carpathia. He may have gone through with it.
"Death is necessary. Death is required and death is sad. It tears at our heart when it happens, but without it, there could be nothing new. No new genes, no species, no new perspectives in the world. Without death, there could be no more birth. Death is the price we pay," the priest continued, and Elliot buried his face in his hands. He wished it had been him. Oh god, he wished it had been him. Why her? Olivia didn't deserve to die. She was so perfect, so beautiful, she was already an angel—she didn't need to officially become one.
"Even though it is the price, we struggle against it with all our might. We guard ourselves and live in resistance to this natural state. When it does come, such as now, there is for some a question of faith, of the fairness of the world, which eventually gives way to acceptance that death is part of the greater plan for the universe. This acceptance doesn't usually come easy or quickly, but when it does, it can strengthen us. To love life and to trust so completely in the ways of the universe and of God, even in its final act, is fortifying," Is there a God? Elliot found himself wondering. Of course there was, wasn't there? Elliot had grown up Catholic, but what kind of God would kill Olivia Benson, whose very existence provided a reason for living for so many people.
"We have come here today to celebrate the passage that Olivia Isabelle Benson has made into the greater wholeness, the loving arms of God," the priest concluded, and then he opened the service for people to make personal statements about Olivia.
Olivia wondered if it would be considered strange that she cried at her own funeral as if she were the one that had lost someone dear to her. Well, upon thought, she realized that she had. If she hadn't died, she would be with Elliot—really be with him, not just watch him from another world. They would have gotten married and then there would be a number of young Stabler-Benson's running around. She sighed when the priest mentioned the part about Olivia being welcomed into God's arms. She could have been, but instead, she'd sold her soul to Bas in order to be with Elliot and walk in his dreams at night. God would want nothing to do with her.
Don Cragen stood up first. Today, he was not just a captain mourning the loss of one of his best officers, but a father grieving for a daughter who had died far too young. He cleared his throat and read:
"May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand." He swallowed sharply and then continued, his voice scratchy with emotion. "Olivia, you were like a daughter to me. I hope that you are at peace and that you know how much I've always loved you," he choked out, before sitting beside Elliot once more. Cragen saw that Elliot was in no fit state to speak yet, so he indicated to the others that they should go first. Everyone took a few minutes to collect themselves, and then Munch stood up, and Fin after him.
"Oh, Fin…" Olivia whispered to him as she stood behind him, with her hand resting on his forearm. With a gentle sweep, she wiped away the tear that was trickling down his cheek as she had done with Elliot earlier. Fin had always been one of her best friends on the force, he was the kind-hearted and protective older brother she had never had. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek, wondering if there was any way that he could have felt it.
Casey cried harder than any of the speakers so far, and could barely get through the memoir she had written about her best friend.
Olivia pulled the ADA into a hug. "It's okay, Case, I'm right here. Thank you for the speech you made, it was beautiful," she murmured into her ear. The next to speak was Alex. She stood up with the veil still shielding her face.
"Who is that?" Munch muttered under his breath to Fin, who shook his head. He didn't know either. After she was done speaking, everyone save for Cragen, Elliot, and Rose were really confused because they didn't know who this mysterious former best friend of Olivia's was. Noticing there looks of shock, particularly Munch's, broke Alex's heart.
Olivia stood beside her friend and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"It's okay Al, you can do it." Suddenly, Alex felt herself lifting off the veil. She blinked back her tears as she felt the eyes of her SVU family poring into her. Munch was the first to say acknowledge her.
"A…Al?" he asked hesitantly, for it simply couldn't be. His fiancé had been killed tragically by a perp in a shooting, yet here she was. He brought his hand to his neck where he had worn her engagement ring ever since that fateful day. Slowly, Alex Cabot allowed herself to be lost in his embrace.
"I'm so sorry!" she sobbed into his shoulder. "I was in the Witness Protection Program, I wanted to be with you, you have to believe me!"
"Sshh…it's okay, Al. You're here now, and that's all that matters," he said soothingly as he rubbed her back.
Olivia was touched that this wonderful couple's reunion happened at such a dismal event as her funeral.
"Pop the question, Munch," she offered with a grin as she unclasped his necklace and Alex's ring fell onto the floor with a clatter.
Munch's eyes widened in surprise, he picked up the ring and dropped it into Alex's palm. "Alex, will you marry me?" he asked earnestly. Alex looked shocked at first, but then her face softened and she smiled.
"Yes, John, a thousand times yes!" she exclaimed and pulled him into a heated embrace and a passionate kiss that earned an "awww" from the funeral attendees. The mood, however soon turned somber again when it was Elliot's turn to speak about Olivia.
"It's going to be alright," Rose whispered soothingly to him as he stood up shakily and pulled the crumpled, tear-stained piece of paper out of his pocket and began to read.
"If tears could build a stairway and thoughts a memory lane I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again No Farewell words were spoken No time to say good-bye You were gone before I knew it And only God knows why.- My heart's still active in sadness And secret tears still flow What it meant to lose you No one can ever know. But now I know you want us To mourn for you no more To remember all the happy times Life still has much in store.- Since you'll never be forgotten I pledge to you today A hallowed place within my heart Is where you'll always stay. - God knows why, with chilling touch, Death gathers those we love so much, And what now seems so strange and dim, Will all be clear, when we meet Him. I Knew you for a Moment."
A/N: I tried to make the funeral as authentic as possible, with legit poems and the opening words that are typically spoken at the opening. Please review this if you read it =) I promise the sadness will be over soon-I'm trying to have El go through the real human grieving process
