Prompt #1: "A Christmas to Remember" by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers
A Christmas to Remember
~oOo~
"El? El. I need you to help me…not laugh at me." Olivia was hiding in the bathroom so Noah couldn't hear her. "The McCanns are trying to set me up with the dullest fucking man I've ever met."
"So, what you're saying is they're trying to set you up with 'Mr. Live, Love, Laugh'?" Elliot continued to chuckle on the other end of the phone. She wished he could reach through her cell phone and strangle him. "And you want me to make the trip up to this ski resort to save you."
"Elliot."
"I'll throw some stuff in a bag and head out in an hour. If I'm lucky, I can make it up in a couple of hours." Elliot had thankfully stopped laughing at her. "Save me a spot by the fire and a mug of hot chocolate."
You've made this a Christmas to remember
Springtime feeling's in the middle of December
Change the radio and I'll turn the lights down dimmer
Oh! What a Christmas to remember
Olivia forced a smile whenever Noah glanced in her direction. He was loving spending time with the McCanns. She was not. At all. Not even a little. Hurry, El. I might actually invent a case to get myself away from the pod people.
They were well-meaning and kind. Olivia appreciated how they'd welcomed her son. But the more she spent time with them, the more she felt like she was in a bad remake of the Stepford Wives.
Bobby or Brandon or whatever the hell his name was didn't help matters. He was an accountant who lived near the McCanns. He had the white picket fence, the dog, the nice car, and the house.
He also had bad breath and appalling manners. He kept calling her Olive and then laughing like Popeye. It was taking all of her strength not to demonstrate her ability to throw a punch.
"Liv?"
Olivia didn't know if she'd ever been more grateful to hear his voice. She set her hot chocolate down and practically ran across the room to where he stood. "Thank fucking god."
"That bad?"
"He keeps calling me Olive." Olivia threw her arms around his neck. She wanted to laugh and cry in relief when it rolled with it. "Olive. Like I'm going to find him chuckling like Popeye attractive."
"You realize Noah's going to wonder about me."
"He already thinks I'm in love with you." Olivia froze. She'd been so relieved by his presence that she'd admitted more than she intended. "I…."
"And? Are you?"
"Olive. Is everything okay?"
Elliot tensed before releasing her, though he kept an arm around her when he drew her to his side. "She's fine. Who are you?"
"Arthur."
Elliot held out his hand. Olivia winced at the strength she could see he put into the handshake. "Elliot Stabler. Her partner."
You've made this a Christmas to remember
Springtime feeling's in the middle of December
Though the fire is hot, we'll just have to let it simmer
Oh! What a Christmas to remember
"Elliot. You're here!" Noah raced over from where he'd been playing a game by the fireplace. He sidled up to them, grinning up at Olivia. "I knew it."
"Noah."
"This is going to be awesome. We're going skiing tomorrow. You can go with me and mom." Noah grabbed her and Elliot's hands, dragging them towards the rest of the group. "We've got hot chocolate and cookies. You're on my team."
Olivia surrendered to the madness. She'd called Elliot. There was nothing to do but go with the flow. She could see the McCanns glancing between her and Elliot as if trying to figure them out. "I thought I was on your team."
"You are. Team Benson-Stabler." Noah stated proudly. He seemed completely oblivious to the sudden emotional state of both Olivia and Elliot. "Are you guys gonna play the game with us?"
"Of course." Elliot jumped in when Olivia found it hard to speak around the lump in her throat. "Team Benson-Stabler always sticks together. We'll crush the competition."
"Yes." Noah jumped up and down between them, still not releasing their hands. "Come on, come on."
Elliot glanced over at Olivia. She could see the same mix of emotions in his eyes that were in hers. "Team Benson-Stabler."
Olivia nodded. She didn't quite trust her voice yet but she managed to nod. "Always."
And I had fantasized about Christmas in this way
Curled up by a fireplace in a Tahoe ski chalet
With a fast talking lover and some slow burning wood
But even in my wildest dreams it never got this good
Maybe it was the hot chocolate with more than a little dash of alcohol in it. Or, maybe it was being squashed on a sofa next to Elliot with his arm around her and his laughter filling her ear. Or, maybe it was the ease with each Noah bounced between them, seeming thrilled to have Elliot with them.
But somehow, Olivia found herself having the best Christmas in a long time. She finally allowed herself to relax for the first time on this trip. She let the inane blandness of the McCanns and 'Arthur' wash over her without it affecting her.
They didn't matter.
Her son did.
And…her partner did. The partner who'd driven all the way up to the mountains to spend Christmas with her. The one who hadn't left her side all night and had thrown himself into helping Noah win their game night.
Her partner.
You've made this a Christmas to remember
Springtime feeling's in the middle of December
Though it's cold outside we'll just stroke the burning embers
Oh! What a Christmas to remember
It was late in the evening when they finally got a moment alone. Noah had slumped off to bed, yawning and complaining about wanting one more minute. Olivia had led Elliot up to her room, unsure of where they were in the uncharted territory of their relationship.
"I can get my own room if you're uncomfortable, Liv." Elliot had his bag in one hand, with his other resting against the doorframe of her room. "I don't mind."
"No." Olivia hesitated before deciding she had to make the first move. She reached out to take the bag from his hand. "I want to stop pretending."
"Okay."
"I don't want to pretend that we're in a relationship. I want to be in one with you." Olivia walked backward into her room, letting him follow her. She dropped his bag off to one side. "If you want…."
"I didn't need a compass to lead me to my happiness because it's always been wrapped up in you, Liv." Elliot closed the distance between them. He held a hand out to her, waiting for her to take it. "You're the love of my life."
They fell asleep together—warm and sated. Olivia drifted off with a sense of safety and home surrounding her. It was going to be a Christmas to remember.
You've made this a Christmas to remember
Springtime feeling's in the middle of December
Though it's cold outside we'll just stroke the burning embers
Oh! What a Christmas to remember
The author of this SVU - Heart for the Holidays story will be revealed in January