Prompt #101: Fake dating at Christmas


Just One Date

~oOo~

"I need a date for this Christmas charity ball. Brass wants all of us to put on a good showing." Olivia inspected her closet while clutching her phone. She'd called the second that Fin filled her in on what he'd heard. "Please?"

"Okay."

"And…I need you to pretend we're dating. Seriously." Olivia held her breath, waiting to hear what Elliot was going to say.

"Liv."

"Tucker's bringing his new wife. He apparently made a big deal about it. And Cassidy's going to be there with his girlfriend. I can't go to this alone." Olivia scrubbed her hands across her face. She failed to mention that she'd heard rumors about a few other attendees who'd be annoying if she didn't have a date. "Say something."

"You want me to pretend that we're dating."

"Yes."

"Really?" Elliot drew the word out unnecessarily long. "Dating as in casually? Dating as in for a while? Or dating, as in we're edging our way to an engagement?"

Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose. She was already regretting asking him. "Elliot."

"I just want to understand the level of adoring I'll need to be." Elliot was smirking. She could tell just from the tone of his voice. "I wouldn't want your ex-boyfriends to see through our façade."

"This was my idea, and I'm already having regrets."

"What time am I picking you up? Is this thing black tie?"

"It is. I figured we could meet there." Olivia pulled a black dress from the back of her closet. It was perfect for the event. "El? You still there?"

"I'm picking you up." Elliot confirmed the date and time and then hung up.

There was a part of Olivia that worried this might backfire on her. Elliot had sounded far too enthusiastic about the idea. Then again, maybe he was just looking forward to snubbing his nose at Ed. Those two were never going to be friendly.

Ever.

"What's the worst that could happen?" Olivia immediately thought about Elliot cold-cocking Ed in the middle of the charity ball. "Fuck."

In the lead-up to their fake date, Olivia thankfully had too much going on to allow her to spiral over Elliot. She'd taken the day off to get her hair done. Fin had smirked when she'd been on her way out of the precinct. She'd chosen to ignore him.

So what if she put a little extra attention into what she wore for the night?

The way Elliot's draw dropped when she opened the door was worth it. Olivia had narrowly avoided a similar reaction. His tuxedo fit him perfectly, another sign his style had changed in the time she'd known him.

He'd shown up with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. All her favorites. He'd easily found a vase and put them in water for her while she'd finished getting ready. Despite everything that had happened, it always felt so effortless between them.

When they stepped into the elevator together, Olivia got a glimpse of the two of them side by side. They made a handsome couple. She tried to squash down the part of her that wondered what it might be like for this to be a real date.

They made an impression when they walked into the event. She could already hear the whisper. They weren't doing much to stop the rumors about their having been in a relationship in the past.

She didn't care.

It shouldn't have surprised her when it was Ed that they ran into first. She steeled herself for the confrontation. Elliot chuckled to himself which only confirmed her thoughts.

"Olivia?" Ed froze for a moment when he noticed her date. His smile tightened into a grimace. "Stabler."

"Tucker." Elliot smirked at Tucker while sliding his arm around Olivia's back. His hand rested on her hip. "Good to see you, Tucker, and your wife."

"I'm sure."

"Baby? Why don't we go grab a drink? I'm sure the Tuckers have other people to meet. Important man like the Captain." Elliot leaned in to brush a light kiss against her neck. "I'm sure we'll see you later, Tucker."

"Baby?" Olivia hissed. She hadn't shoved his hand away or even begun to process that kiss. Her mind seemed to have skidded to a halt at the word. "Baby?"

"Always thought 'baby' would fit you right. And it does. Rolls right off my tongue." Elliot used his hold on her to guide them towards the dance floor off to the side. "C'mon, Liv. Let's show them what they're missing."

The room disappeared around them. Elliot proved himself to be a far better dancer than he'd been when they were partners. She distinctly remembered the few occasions when he'd definitely stepped on her toes more than once. None of those times had felt like this.

Maybe it was the magic of the holidays. The decorations and lights around the room and the Christmas music filled the air. The NYPD had gone all out for the event.

Or maybe it was the magic of finally being free to admit she had feelings for him. There was nothing holding either of them back. The realization made her grip tightly to him.

"Cassidy just walked in, took one look at us, and walked right back out. Was it something I did?" Elliot chuckled. His arms tightened around her. "You're the most beautiful woman in this room, Liv. And I'm the luckiest son-of-a-bitch here."

Olivia laid her head on his shoulder. She didn't want the night to end—a first when it came to official events. "El?"

"Yeah?" His voice had gone soft, the way it only did when he was talking to her.

"I didn't have the courage to ask you for a real date."

"And now?" Elliot stumbled for the first time during their dance.

"Now, I'm wondering how you like your eggs in the morning." Olivia chuckled when he began not so subtly guiding them towards one of the nearest exits. "El?"

"You've got an empty apartment for the evening. And I'm going to need all night to work up an appetite for that breakfast I'll be making us in the morning." Elliot paused by the door. Olivia could see they had the attention of quite a few people. Before she could ask, he'd leaned in for a kiss and then sent fire up her spine. "Let's go home, Liv."

"You smug bastard." Olivia laughed loudly at the smirk on his face. She reached up to rub the slight hint of red on his lips. "Take me home."


The author of this SVU - Heart for the Holidays story will be revealed in January