Prompt #16: "I'll be home for Christmas."
Home for Christmas
~oOo~
Elliot groans. "Why? I told you my mom isn't doing that well and I need to stay home."
Bell glares at him. "Because you're one of the best. You should be home in a few months."
"A few months? That would be okay if I didn't have a family, but I do. I'm not missing holidays."
"You'll miss as much as you need to."
"Okay fine. But hear me on this. This is my last one. No ifs ands or buts about it."
"Fine."
"When do I leave?"
"Now."
"I need to pack. And you do know I have a fiancé I need to see…"
"Fine. You have til eight."
"Okay. Thank you. Where do I go after that?"
"I'll meet you at Bryant Park with all your instructions. Do not be late."
"I won't."
He grabs his keys and heads over to Liv's.
"Liv?"
"Hey." She smiles and goes over to him. She looks at him and the smile disappears from her face. "What's wrong?"
"I gotta go undercover."
"How long?"
"Bell said a few months."
"But..."
"I know. But I've got an idea. Where's the laptop?"
She gets it for him.
"Thanks." He pulls up a browser and sets up an email account. "I'll send emails from this account when I can. And you can send me emails too if you want. That way we can be in touch."
"Good idea. I'll create one and email you from it."
Noah comes over. "We need to make me one too."
"We will."
"Where are you going?"
"I gotta go undercover, bud. But I'll be home for Christmas. I'm going to make sure of it."
"But..."
"I know. We usually go shopping for mom's presents together but Katie or Mo will take you, okay? They are both on my credit card."
"Okay." Noah hugs him tight. "Be careful."
"Always. I've got family to come home to."
Elliot lets him go with a kiss on the top of his head.
The months go so slow up until December. Before Liv and Noah know it, it's the week of Christmas.
"Mom, can we check my email, please? See if Elliot emailed?"
"Sure baby. Grab the laptop."
Noah gets it and takes it over to her.
Liv opens it and turns it on.
"Okay. Let's pull up the email.." She logs onto his account.
"He emailed!"
"Yes, he did."
To: NPB
From: DESS
Subject: no subject
I'll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents by the tree
Liv smiles. "Know what that means?"
Noah nods. "When?"
"This week sometime. I just need to get us some mistletoe."
"What's that?"
"It grows on trees and if you stand under it with someone you love, you're supposed to kiss them."
"Oh."
"Go get ready and we'll go get some."
Noah runs off to his room and gets ready. "Ready!"
"Ok. Let me grab my stuff and we'll go."
She grabs her jacket, gloves, hat, cell phone, badge, and gun while Noah puts on his hat, jacket, and gloves.
"Do you know when he'll be back?"
"No. Just this week sometime."
They walk out of the apartment and head to a tree lot a few blocks down.
"How can I help you?"
"We need some mistletoe, please."
"Okay. Let's see what I've got."
They follow the lady who runs it.
"Okay. Here we go. How many do you need?"
Liv thinks about it. "Three small ones should be good."
"Here you go." She hands Liv the mistletoe sprigs.
Liv gets her wallet out. "How much are they?"
"Three dollars total."
Liv hands her a five-dollar bill. "Keep the change."
"Thank you so much. Merry Christmas."
Noah smiles. "Merry Christmas."
He takes Liv's hand and they walk back to the apartment. "Where are you going to hang it?"
"I'm thinking the front door, my door, and by the tree."
"Good choices."
Once they get back to the apartment, Liv unlocks the door.
"Where's the mistletoe?"
Noah smiles and runs to Elliot. "You're back!"
"I told you I'd be back."
Liv smiles and shows him the sprigs. "I'm glad you're back."
"Me too."
He goes over to her and wraps his arms around her waist. He pulls her close to him and hugs her tight.
The author of this SVU - Heart for the Holidays story will be revealed in January