The Stabler household had never been so full of buzzing excitement and conspiring whispers. It was a rare occasion when all five Stabler kids—Maureen, Kathleen, Elizabeth, Dickie, and Eli—were home at the same time. Add to that Olivia Benson's son, Noah, who was currently hanging out with Eli in the living room, and the dynamic was nothing short of electric.

For weeks, the kids had been quietly observing their parents—Olivia and Elliot—circling around each other like magnets. Elliot had always been close to Olivia, and even though they both insisted it was strictly professional and platonic, the signs were becoming harder to ignore. The kids saw through their denials. They noticed the way Elliot lit up when Olivia was around, and how Olivia softened in his presence.

That's what brought them all together now in the kitchen, sitting around the table with hushed voices and stolen glances.

"Alright, so… we all agree, right?" Kathleen said, glancing around the room. "Dad's totally into Liv?"

Maureen rolled her eyes. "Uh, yeah. I mean, come on. He looks at her like she hung the stars."

"Pretty sure it's the same with her," Dickie added, folding his arms. "I've seen the way she looks at him when she thinks no one's watching."

Elizabeth nodded in agreement. "It's ridiculous. They're clearly into each other. They just won't admit it."

Meanwhile, in the living room, Noah sat beside Eli, watching the older kids with a confused frown. "Are they talking about my mom?"

Eli smirked. "Yeah, they think your mom and my dad like each other."

Noah blinked, considering it. "They do spend a lot of time together," he mused. "And Mom talks about him a lot. I think she likes him… but I don't know why she doesn't say anything."

Eli laughed. "Same with my dad. He's always saying how awesome your mom is, but then he pretends it's just because she's a good cop."

"Do you think they know?" Noah asked.

Eli shook his head. "Nah. They're totally clueless."

At that point, the group conversation in the kitchen had reached a fever pitch. The Stabler kids were officially on a mission—to get their dad and Olivia to finally admit their feelings. But they needed help. Someone who could give them insight, someone who had a connection with both Elliot and Olivia.

That's when Kathleen had an idea. "We should call Fin."

The room fell silent for a moment, and then everyone slowly nodded in agreement. Fin Tutuola was Elliot's longtime friend and Olivia's trusted partner. If anyone knew how to crack the tough exteriors of those two and get them to realize what everyone else already knew, it was Fin.

Without hesitation, Kathleen grabbed her phone and dialed his number. After a few rings, Fin answered, his voice gruff but friendly. "Kathleen? What's going on?"

"Hey, Fin," Kathleen said sweetly. "So, we've got a bit of a situation over here… and we need your help."

Fin sighed, clearly suspicious. "What kind of situation?"

"We think our dad and Olivia have the hots for each other," she blurted out. "But they're both too stubborn to admit it."

There was a pause on the other end, and then Fin let out a low chuckle. "You don't say…"

"Nope," Dickie said, shaking his head even though Fin couldn't see him. "And we need you to step in."

Fin let out a long sigh, but there was amusement in his voice when he responded. "So you're asking me to play matchmaker for your dad and Benson?"

"Pretty much," Kathleen said with a grin. "C'mon, Fin, you know it's time. And you're the only one who can help."

Fin was silent for a moment, clearly considering the request. Finally, he said, "Alright. I might have an idea. But you guys have to follow my lead, got it?"

The kids exchanged excited glances, all nodding eagerly. "Deal," Maureen said, grinning.

A few days later, everything was in place. Fin had devised a scheme that was subtle enough to avoid raising suspicion but calculated enough to get Elliot and Olivia alone and talking.

It started with a supposed "emergency" at a remote precinct just outside the city. Fin called Olivia first, making sure she was free, and then called Elliot separately, telling him he needed backup for a tricky situation. Of course, it was all staged—Fin had worked with the captain at the precinct to clear the building for the night, ensuring it would be just Elliot and Olivia on-site.

When Olivia and Elliot arrived, they were both confused to find the precinct completely empty, save for a few flickering lights and the scent of a fire burning outside. Olivia raised an eyebrow as she glanced at Elliot.

"What's going on?" she asked, suspicion lacing her tone.

Elliot shrugged, equally perplexed. "I have no idea. Fin said there was an emergency."

But before they could leave, the doors behind them suddenly clicked shut, locking them inside. They both turned in shock, finding no one around to explain.

"That's weird," Olivia muttered.

Elliot tried the door again, but it wouldn't budge. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Looks like we're stuck for a bit."

With nothing else to do, they wandered outside where the firepit glowed warmly against the backdrop of snow-covered trees. It was eerily peaceful, the only sound being the crackling of the fire and the soft crunch of snow beneath their feet.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. They simply stood there, side by side, staring at the flames. Then, almost hesitantly, Elliot broke the silence.

"You know… I've been thinking," he said quietly. "About us."

Olivia glanced at him, her heart skipping a beat. "Us?"

"Yeah," Elliot said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I think… no, I know I've been avoiding something. Something I should've said a long time ago."

Her breath hitched in her throat as she searched his face. "Elliot…"

He turned to her, eyes soft but full of emotion. "Liv, I've been in love with you for years. I just didn't know how to say it. And after everything we've been through… I didn't want to screw it up. But I can't keep pretending I don't feel the way I do."

Olivia stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, a mixture of relief and disbelief washing over her. "I… I feel the same way, El. I've been trying to tell myself it's just us being partners, but… I can't lie to myself anymore either."

Elliot reached out, taking her hand in his, the warmth of his touch grounding her. They stepped closer, the space between them disappearing until there was nothing left to separate them.

Their gazes locked, and in that moment, everything else melted away. Slowly, Elliot leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in the gentlest of kisses. It was tentative at first, almost shy, but as Olivia responded, the kiss deepened, both of them finally surrendering to the feelings they had been holding back for so long.

Unbeknownst to them, from a distance, the Stabler kids and Noah were watching from a discreet window Fin had arranged for them. Kathleen and Maureen exchanged victorious grins while Noah and Eli high-fived each other.

"Well, it's about time," Fin muttered from beside them, a small smile on his face as he watched his two friends finally give in to what had always been inevitable.

Back outside, when Olivia and Elliot finally pulled apart, both were breathless but smiling, the weight of years of unspoken feelings finally lifted.

"I guess… Fin knew what he was doing after all," Olivia said softly, her forehead resting against Elliot's.

Elliot chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, looks like it. Remind me to thank him later."

Olivia laughed softly, but it was full of warmth, her heart full for the first time in years. "I think we have plenty of time for that… Captain."

"Plenty of time," Elliot echoed, his arms wrapping around her as they turned back to the fire, content in knowing that they finally, finally had each other.

As the fire crackled beside them, snowflakes drifting lazily from the dark sky, Elliot and Olivia remained wrapped in each other's arms, savoring the warmth of their connection. The world outside their little bubble felt far away, and for the first time in years, everything felt right.

Elliot pulled Olivia closer, his lips finding her again in a slow, deep kiss. This time, it wasn't just the tentative exploration of new lovers—it was years of built-up emotion, all finally being released. His hands moved gently from her back to cradle her face, their kiss deepening with each passing second.

Olivia sighed into the kiss, her hands sliding up Elliot's chest and curling into his shirt. When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested against each other, breaths mingling in the cold air. Elliot brushed a strand of hair away from her face, trailing soft kisses along her jawline. His lips made their way down to her neck, pressing against her pulse point, causing Olivia to shiver—though it had nothing to do with the cold.

"Elliot," she whispered, her breath catching as he continued his slow exploration of her skin.

"Yeah?" His voice was husky, filled with an unfamiliar vulnerability that made her heart race.

Olivia tilted her head slightly, allowing him better access as he kissed his way along the curve of her neck and down to her collarbone. She let out a soft, breathy laugh at the sensation, her fingers grabbing his head.

"You're... pretty good at this," she teased, her voice light but tinged with genuine affection.

Elliot smiled against her skin, pausing to look up at her with that same intense gaze that always managed to take her breath away. "I've had a lot of time to think about how I'd do this if I ever got the chance."

Before Olivia could respond, Elliot kissed her again, this time pressing his lips just below her collarbone, letting the warmth of his mouth chase away the chill of the winter air. Olivia's head tipped back slightly, her eyes fluttering closed as she let herself sink into the moment, feeling the heat of his breath and the softness of his lips.

Neither of them noticed the faint sound of shuffling feet coming from behind the large, frosted window just a few yards away.

Inside, the Stabler kids—Maureen, Kathleen, Elizabeth, Dickie, Eli—and Noah were all watching the scene unfold, though they had originally intended to stay hidden. Their curiosity had gotten the better of them, and they couldn't resist sneaking another peek at the progress of the plan.

Dickie's eyebrows shot up as he took in the sight of his dad and Olivia getting... more than just cozy by the fire. He wrinkled his nose slightly and stepped back. "Okay, look, I want them to be happy, but I don't want to see how happy."

Beside him, Eli grimaced. "Ew, gross. Why are they doing that? Do adults not care if people are watching?"

Kathleen and Maureen exchanged amused glances, suppressing their laughter. "Just let them be," Maureen whispered, grinning. "They've waited long enough for this."

Kathleen elbowed her gently. "Yeah, they're cute. But… maybe we should give them some space."

Noah, however, was too focused on the scene in front of him to notice the others pulling back. He stepped closer to the window, trying to get a better look, but in his excitement, his elbow nudged a decorative candle sitting on the ledge. It fell with a loud clatter onto the windowsill.

The group froze, eyes wide, and before any of them could react, Elliot's head snapped up toward the noise. Olivia, sensing the shift, followed his gaze.

"What was that?" Elliot murmured, his instincts kicking in. He straightened, glancing suspiciously toward the house. Olivia smiled, her hand still resting on his chest, but her eyes narrowed playfully.

Elliot frowned, pushing open the door to the house with a bit more force than necessary. The door flew open with a bang, revealing the cluster of Stabler kids and Noah frozen like deer in headlights, mid-attempt to scatter.

"Well, well, well," Elliot drawled, crossing his arms over his chest with a bemused smirk. "Seems like Fin wasn't the only one in on this little setup."

Olivia stepped beside him, crossing her arms as well, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Looks like we had an audience," she teased, raising an eyebrow at the group of embarrassed kids.

Kathleen blushed but smiled mischievously. "We, uh… just wanted to make sure the plan was going okay."

Dickie groaned, rubbing his hand over his face. "Yeah, but I didn't need to see that much of the plan, thanks."

Maureen rolled her eyes, nudging her brother. "Quit whining. It's cute. Besides, they've been denying it for years. You should be happy."

Eli grimaced again and shook his head. "I'm with Dickie on this one. Gross."

Noah, still holding the now-tilted candle, sheepishly stepped back, trying to shrink into the background. "Sorry, Mom."

Olivia chuckled softly, shaking her head as she glanced at Elliot. "Well, it looks like our kids are more invested in this than we thought."

Elliot grinned, placing a hand on her lower back. "Seems like it."

They both stood there for a moment, their faces softening as they exchanged a look that spoke of so many unspoken words—gratitude, affection, maybe even a little amusement at how much effort their kids had put into bringing them together.

Finally, Kathleen stepped forward, a smile still playing at her lips. "So, um… can we take credit for this? You know, if anyone asks?"

Olivia raised an eyebrow. "Take credit?"

Maureen laughed. "Yeah, for finally getting you two to admit you're totally in love."

Elliot sighed, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Fine. You can take the credit. But maybe next time, try not to spy on us?"

Olivia smirked, glancing at him with a gleam in her eyes. "Yeah, or at least give us a little more privacy."

Kathleen and Maureen exchanged victorious high-fives, while Dickie groaned again, muttering, "I'm still not over this. I'm going to need to bleach my brain."

"Same," Eli added, walking away with a dramatic shudder.

Lizzie just grinned sheepishly, clearly a bit embarrassed but ultimately glad her dad seemed happy. "Okay, I guess we'll leave you guys alone now."

As the kids finally retreated to give them space, Elliot turned back to Olivia, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close again. "Looks like our secret's out."

Olivia chuckled, resting her head on his shoulder. "I think it's been out for a while. We just refused to see it."

Elliot pressed a soft kiss to her temple, his lips lingering as he whispered, "Well, now that it's out… there's no going back."

"Wouldn't want to," Olivia replied softly, her voice full of warmth and certainty. "Not anymore."

And with that, the two of them turned back to the fire, their arms wrapped tightly around each other, finally content in the knowledge that after all these years, they were exactly where they were meant to be—together.