Chapter 23

It was probably weird that he'd worked in the same squad as Elliot for years and this was the first time he'd been to the man's house. Equally weird was the fact that he was going to the man's house because Liv's Bridal/Baby shower was there. And according to Liv and Elliot, Kathy expected him to at least make an appearance.

"You are really dreading this aren't you," Olivia's voice was amused and he looked over at her with a grimace disguised as a smile.

"Lemme think," Fin pretended to muse as he drove down the street towards the Stabler house. "I've gotta make nice for at least half an hour with a bunch of women who are going to be talking about weddings or babies. I have to do it without anybody besides you for backup and I get to do it at Stabler's house."

"Put that way I'm amazed you didn't beg Cragen for traffic duty," Liv was shaking her head. "I promise I'll try to spring you as quick as I can babe." She patted his thigh comfortingly and pointed out the house. "We may have to park down the block," She said seeing all the cars already lining the street.

"Pretty sure we'll live," Fin put his hand over hers for a moment before replacing it on the wheel. He took a deep breath as he pulled over and parked the car, "All right, here we go."

"Kathy said John, George, Elliot and the captain were going to be here," Olivia reminded him. "So you'll have a few other guys for back up, even if you don't count Elliot." He looked at her and saw a smile playing about her lips, her amusement almost palpable.

"I really don't," He almost laughed as she rolled her eyes at him but settled for tugging her closer and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "This is just supposed to be fun for you right? I don't see how having me around makes it a fun hen party."

"I think its more that Kathy wants you to know you're welcome if you want to be there," Liv leaned into him and he smiled in spite of his tension. "They're your babies too."

"Damn right they are," Fin did chuckle then. "You know what I keep wondering?"

"What's that?"

"How you're gonna mess around with your hair when you're pregnant," He teased her. "You've been changing your hair every year since I've known you. But pregnant ladies can't have dye or streaks or bleach because of the chemicals. So you're stuck with cutting it or growing it if you want a change."

Olivia laughed and shook her head, "Maybe I'll just grow it out so its long enough for a pony tail." She shrugged and patted her belly, "Something that'll keep it out of my way and out of their hands."

"That'll be something to see," Fin tilted his head trying to picture her with long hair. "I don't think I've ever seen it long." He grinned, "Got some fond memories of that little pixie cut you had though. I remember you catching some rack time and your hair getting all ruffled up. You looked sexy as hell."

"Sexy huh?" Liv shook her head at him, "I recall looking like I had a serious case of bed head. Sexy was not part of the look."

"Looked sexy to me," Fin smiled. "Really had to stop myself from crawling into the bed with you. Didn't care much at the time that it was just a cot and I'd have barely fit."

Her smile was oddly shy, "I remember you taking a nap or two…you looked relaxed. It was before you really started talking to John or me, I remembered thinking you looked so…" She shrugged. "You looked nice when you were asleep. Gentle. No mask you know?"

"Yeah," Fin nodded as they came up to the house. "Yeah I kept up that front for a long time before you and John broke it down. Could see why you'd think I was different when I was sleepin'."

"I think that might have been part of why I started talking to you a bit more," She admitted quietly. "I knew you were a good cop. I knew you were really yummy looking but the idea that you might have a sweet side..." Liv looked at him and gave him a little smile. "And then I saw you with one of our victims. You were so protective and those hands, those strong hands that could be as hard as your expression, they were so careful, tender with her." She pressed a tiny kiss to his cheek, "Well, I was...pretty sunk. Handsome, good cop, kick ass, great in a suit and sweet inside on top of all of it? You were lucky I didn't jump you right then."

They'd made it all the way to Elliot's house and up to the stoop by then and Fin smiled, "First thing I thought a you was most detectives didn't look so beautiful without being undercover. And then... you smiled when I offered you coffee. Felt like you'd put a couple of hooks in my stomach, pulling me in, sweetest sting I'd ever felt in my life."

"Baited you with my looks and hooked you with my smile?" She grinned at him and he couldn't help kissing her quickly before the door opened.

Kathy was smiling at them indulgently when he eased his mouth off Olivia's, "All right you two, get in here."

"Kathy," Fin greeted Mrs. Stabler with a smile he was aware looked more pained than cheerful. The living room wasn't over-decorated with balloons or streamers or a banner, but there were a lot of flowers and everything either shone or sparkled. It was also filled with women, most of whom he and Liv knew from work. "Should I be worried?"

"Nah," She shook her head, "Elliot's in the back yard with John and the boys already. Don called, he's on his way and George is right behind him." Kathy's smile stretched to a grin and he felt a twist of worry in his stomach, "Just escort Liv to her seat of honor and wave hello and you're free, I promise."

"Yeah, I've heard that sorta thing before," Fin resisted the urge to stand (i.e. hide) behind Liv. "Why do I get the feeling there's quicksand under the carpet?" He'd kept the arm around Olivia and resisted, for the twentieth time that day to kiss her senseless and sneak her off somewhere private. But she was looking both shyly excited and nervous about the shower and for the moment excited and happy was winning out over the nervous.

Olivia was also looking at him that that expression that meant he was acting a little stupid and a lot male. He was smart enough to know that a little of that was an all right thing because his woman was amazing and understanding, but he also knew that if he didn't man up and walk her into the party he'd be dealing with a seriously unhappy fiancée and that would be no fun later. "Just ignore me Babygirl," He muttered with a kiss to her cheek as he walked her to the big chair with a pretty green sash that read 'Bride' on it. "You know how I get."

"Yeah, disturbingly guy-like," She grinned up at him teasingly. "It's cool. Go on through the kitchen with Kathy and escape. Tell John and Elliot that I'd better be allowed to come back and say hello."

"I can do that," Fin stroked her hair back from her face and couldn't help smiling. "You have fun."

"You too," Her hand squeezed his tight for a moment. "Now go on."

John was in the backyard along with some of the uniforms from the one six. Kathy had even managed to hunt down his old LT from Vice. The LT and John were exchanging Fin stories and for once Elliot was giving him a sympathetic look as he handed him a beer. "It's kinda like havin' your old girlfriend and your current get together," Elliot joked as he handed him the drink.

"Yeah but worse," Fin shook his head. "Liv's the only woman I dated who habitually carries a gun."

"You never dated anybody on the force before?" Elliot seemed genuinely surprised and Fin remembered again that the ex-Marine didn't know a lot about him.

"Nah," Fin shook his head and took a sip of beer. "When I was a uniform I was dating this pretty little thing from the neighborhood, but she couldn't handle the job. Had a couple of thoughts on some of my fellow officers but ultimately…" He shrugged. "Never trusted anyone enough to ask 'em out. I was married to Teresa and the job but I didn't balance it well what with bein' undercover all the time."

"I thought you were seeing someone pretty seriously a couple years ago," Elliot frowned obviously trying to remember. "It never went anywhere?"

"There aren't a lot of civilians who get it," Fin shrugged. "Probably part of why a lotta cops are single or divorced. Look at John. The man's divorced three times now? And he's a really decent guy."

"Yeah, thought he was sweet on Liv for a while," Elliot admitted. "Kept my eye on him but turned out to be nothin'."

"Oh he's got a soft spot for her," Fin slanted a grin towards his partner. "I think he's just as excited 'bout bein' 'Uncle John' as Liv and me are to be Mommy and Daddy."

"Speaking of Mommy and Daddy," Elliot pointed out the swingset in the back yard. "When they're big enough for it, you an' Liv should bring the twins by to play. Or you know, whenever. Kathy'll want to spoil them rotten."

"Olivia said she'd been waiting years for Liv to have kids," Fin chuckled and waved as Don Cragen came walking up the driveway towards the backyard. "By the way, exactly how weepy do you think Liv's gonna get over this shower?"

"Uh," Elliot shook his head, "Couldn't tell you. But I do know that Kathy decided it was mostly a bridal shower. She's planning on a baby shower closer to Liv's due date. She was making noises about that being a surprise since this wasn't."

Fin shook his head as Cragen joined them, "I didn't hear that." He told Olivia's partner, "I have no knowledge of it and I refuse to do anything beyond letting Kathy in the apartment if she wants to have it there."

"I'll let her know you offered," Stabler was smirking at him, amusement all over his face and Fin rolled his eyes.

"You're all heart man," Was all he said before he saw George Huang coming up the drive. "Here comes a fellow conspirator now."

"What are we conspiring about?" Cragen asked as Elliot gave him a beer.

"Kathy decided this was more the bridal shower/bachelorette party today. She wants to do a baby shower as a surprise for Liv later on," Fin explained as Huang approached. "I just told Stabler that if Kathy wants to use the apartment to let me know and I'll make sure she has the key."

"Ah, the benign conspiracy," George commented shaking his head at the offer of a beer. "The best kind."

John moseyed over to the little group and raised his bottle, "To the great woman we have in common and her eternal happiness." He toasted a bit sentimentally.

"And to her kickin' my ass if I don't do my part makin' her happy," Fin added with a grin.

The bottles clinked and Elliot laughed, "The best thing about that toast is that Liv really will kick your tail before any of us can get to you. The woman sincerely frightens me sometimes."

"Don't piss her off and you won't be scared," John laughed at him.

Fin nodded, "That is the stone cold truth." He agreed and took another sip. "I can also tell you that if she's hungry and you don't give her a burger…"

"Yeah, she gets…edgy." Elliot grinned.

Cragen smiled a bit indulgently, "Well since she's on desk duty now, you all can just keep bringing in food when you come in from the field."

"How do you think I got her attention in the first place," Fin was grinning and couldn't remember the last time he'd enjoyed himself like this without Liv being with him.

"I thought she admired your ass in a suit," John teased. The conversation went slightly downhill from there until Kathy leaned out the door and asked if Elliot would start up the grill.

Author's Note: So just a little bit of fluff because I like Fin and Liv talking together, and also I wanted to show that Elliot is making an effort. He might not like Fin personally but he can see that Fin makes Olivia happy and that's what matters to him.

Next up I think we'll have the wedding and I'm not sure…but after that we might have Elliot and Liv finally discuss some of the things she's been keeping from him. I may do another John POV because I love him and he'd be a great perspective to see the wedding wouldn't he?