It was very late. The sun was setting, and it colored the earth red.
They held hands (friendly-like) as they walked back towards Olivia's apartment. Her thumb absentmindedly stroked the back of his hand. He looked over at her once in a while and smiled when he saw her lost in thought. Yes, he loved her, and right now he felt like he was part of her, an extension. Suddenly, he stopped and pulled her into a hug.
"What was that for?" Olivia asked, breathless, when they broke apart.
"For being my friend," Elliot answered, smiling.
She grinned back and tugged on his hand. "Come on, let's go! It's getting dark out."
"Don't worry, the Valiant Knight will rescue you," Elliot said in his most heroic voice.
"What Valiant Knight? I don't see any," she joked.
"The Valiant Knight is here, and he is not wounded by disbelieving damsel's diatribes."
"Nice alliteration."
"The Valiant Knight thanks you, my lady."
"All right, Elliot, stop it now."
"Who is this Elliot you speak of? He must be a coward, for he seems to have run away when I, the Valiant Knight, entered."
"Right. The Valiant Knight who's scared of dead birds."
"The Valiant Knight eats dead birds for breakfast!"
"That's fairly disgusting."
"Nothing is disgusting to the Valiant Knight!"
Olivia smiled and rolled her eyes. She tugged on Elliot's, er, Valiant Knight's, hand again. He bowed a little and followed.
"Well, Valiant Knight, I was going to suggest we watch a movie when we get back to my apartment, but movies weren't invented in your time, so I guess not."
"Alright, Liv, I get the point."
"A little slow on the uptake, aren't you? A normal person would have gotten it after I said stop it."
"Hey, all I'm good for it catching rapists, abusers, and pedophiles," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
"You got that right."
He pulled her again into a tight hug and laid his cheek on the top of her head.
"Am I making you nervous?" he asked in a low voice.
There was a pause.
"All right," she said, and he let her go. "You're cute, too."
The rest of the walk was comfortably silent.
"Hey, Liv, how 'bout this movie?" Elliot asked, holding up a box.
They were back at Olivia's apartment. They had eaten a small, quick dinner, and had just made a bowl of popcorn. DVD boxes were strewn all over the floor, the result of two indecisive detectives. They could hatch a plan to catch a criminal in two seconds, but they couldn't decide what movie to watch.
"Liv, are you listening to me?"
"Sorry. What?" Olivia looked up from her stack of DVDs.
"How about this movie?"
"It Happened One Night? I'd never take you for a classics guy."
Elliot rolled his eyes. "That's not the point. Do you want to watch it or not?"
"Okay. Put it in."
Elliot put the DVD in the tray and pushed it in. Then he settled back with Olivia on the couch to watch It Happened One Night.
Near the end of the movie, Elliot looked over at Olivia and grinned. She had fallen asleep and looked like she was in a very uncomfortable position. Careful not to wake her, he pulled her to him so she was sleeping on his chest, rising and falling with his breaths. Elliot rested an arm over her hips and turned back to the movie.
Peter Warne, the newspaperman, was in Ellie's father's, Alexander Andrews, office. Ellie was about to get married to her fiancée, King Westley. Peter had supposedly come to offer his congratulations. But Alexander Andrews had a few questions to ask.
Alexander Andrews: Oh, er, do you mind if I ask you a question, frankly? Do you love my daughter?
What? Elliot thought. He couldn't shake the feeling that Mr. Andrews was talking to him.
Peter Warne: Any guy that'd fall in love with your daughter ought to have his head examined.
Alexander Andrews: Now that's an evasion!
Well, what can I do? Elliot thought. I can't tell her I love her. All manner of things can happen. I can't do that to her.
Peter Warne: She picked herself the perfect running mate–King Westley–the pill of the century! What she needs is a guy that'd take a sock at her once a day, whether it's coming to her or not. If you had half the brains you're supposed to have, you'd have done it yourself, long ago.
Alexander Andrews: Do you love her?
Oh, erm… Elliot was caught. Well, she's beautiful, perfect, sweet, caring, loving…
Peter Warne: A normal human being couldn't live under the same roof with her without going nutty! She's my idea of nothing!
Alexander Andrews: I asked you a simple question! Do you love her?
YES!
Elliot didn't realize he'd spoken with Peter until Peter went on.
Peter Warne: YES! But don't hold that against me, I'm a little screwy myself!
Oh, dear God. Elliot thought. He put his head back and let his mind sort itself out.
A few minutes later Olivia woke up. For a second, she thought that Elliot had put her in her bed because she felt so comfortable. Then she realized she was on his chest. She tilted her head up slightly (so Elliot wouldn't know she was awake) and looked at him. He seemed to be lost in thought. She looked over at the screen; heard the trumpet sound, saw the walls of Jericho fall, and all she wanted to do at that moment was kiss him.
"Elliot," she lowered her voice. He didn't respond. She moved up so her nose was touching his.
"Elliot," she said again. Her voice had a tinge of I want you in it.
He swallowed and looked into her eyes. "What?" His voice, on the other hand, was part Oh, my God, if she comes any closer I'm going to melt.
"Elliot," she said a third time. He would never get tired of hearing her speak his name.
"I love you."
Pause.
"I, uh…well I…" He was stuck.
"I love you," she said again.
He had no idea what to do until she kissed him.
Until… Okay, that's a lie. He still didn't know what to do when she kissed him. Her lips tasted like heaven and he couldn't think clearly.
But then she pulled away and her hand touched his cheek and his mind made itself up. He wrapped his arms around her and melted his mouth into hers.
Her hands went under his shirt and lightly traced the muscles. He pretty much flew to heaven right then.
He kissed her nose. "I love you," he said.
His voice was enough to send her over the edge. "Say it again."
"I love you."
"Again," she groaned.
"I love you."
He trailed small kisses from her chin to her collarbone. "Your turn," he said to her heart.
"Love you," she let out.
"God," he whispered. "Please."
"I love you," she said in his ear.
One hand slid under her shirt and caressed the skin. His other hand was tangled in her hair.
"Oh God, Elliot, please!" If he did anything else she would absolutely die. "I love you!"
He stopped suddenly and looked into her eyes. "You love me?" he asked.
"Yes," she was breathless. "Yes."
"Good, then," he said, kissing her forehead. "I love you, too."
They became one again.
The credits rolled.
THE END