Chapter 4
A/N: Last of it. Thanks for reading!
I know Fin and Phoebe got engaged in 2021. They probably started dating a little before that, but I'm not sure when. For this story, I'm going to pretend it was in 2019.
Rated M.
xoxoxoxo
7:45 am–Sunday
Destin, FL
Olivia stares at his last text, and then types in the first thought that comes to mind.
How? - Liv
A new text comes in from Elliot.
Just lucky, I guess. - El
The word 'How?' again seems appropriate as a response, but before she can type, he sends another text.
Drive to Atlanta. Catch a plane to NYC. - El
Well, it's a way home.
She has questions, so she dials his number. Elliot answers on the first ring. "Liv, hey." She hears him moving around his hotel suite.
"Hey, what's going on?"
"I'm packing. We're going back to New York."
"How did you get a rental car? Places were closed when I checked. Now it's morning, but I doubt anything would be open."
"You're right. But I pulled some strings."
"Okay…?"
"An old Marine buddy owns a car rental place in Pensacola. Almost forgot about him, but I'm glad I didn't. I had him get us a rental car in Destin. The catch is that I have to drop it off at the Atlanta airport. So, we're driving to Atlanta, then catching a plane to New York."
"So, this old Marine buddy owes you a favor?"
"Something like that."
She wonders what he promised his Marine friend to get them home, but probably shouldn't ask. She's very grateful.
"So, can we actually drive out of here? How bad is the damage?" asks Olivia.
"It'll take some time. Probably a good idea to wait on booking the plane tickets until we're outside of this area."
"What about your UC assignment? I assumed you'd stay someplace outside of Destin with power and wait it out."
She hears him zipping up a bag.
"It's on hold for now."
"Well, I guess you got a trip to Florida out of it."
"Saw an old friend too. Best part." There's a smile in his tone.
"Thanks for doing this, Elliot."
"Mm-hmm. Can you two be ready in about an hour?" he asks.
"Sure."
xoxoxo
While getting herself and Noah ready that morning, she gets a frantic call from Fin. The hurricane news had her whole team worried.
Despite groaning about the weather, the sergeant would have gone down there to help them if needed.
She lets him know they're doing okay and mentions bumping into Elliot, which prompts a conversation about her and Elliot's complicated past, and whether she should be open to a relationship now that he's divorced.
Unfortunately, she's now on the receiving end of her own advice after telling him to follow his heart where his former partner, Phoebe was concerned.
"You deserve to be happy too, Liv."
Olivia thanks him for checking on her and Noah, tells him they have to go, and ends the call.
x
Sunday - 9:30 am
Destin, FL
From the hotel's continental breakfast, they grab breakfast bars and fruit; then, because ride-sharing services and cabs are scarce, they walk five blocks through debris-littered and partially flooded streets to the car rental place.
After taking care of the rental agreement, they're on the road. Olivia and Elliot take turns driving, both catching sleep while the other one drives.
Many of the roads leading out of Destin were flooded or closed. The rest had traffic where people were trying to leave. Once they were through the worst of the damage area, the rest of the drive went smoothly.
x
Sunday–5:30 pm
South of Atlanta, GA
Finally, they reach the outskirts of Atlanta. While Elliot takes over driving, Olivia tries to secure their flights.
"Looks like the earliest flight leaves tomorrow morning going to JFK."
"That's fine," says Elliot. "Guess we'll need a couple of hotel rooms for the night."
Heard from the car's radio…
xx
"… Hurricane Lora, now a weak category 1 storm, continues to track to the northeast and is currently 250 miles to the east of Savannah. The storm, which struck Pensacola, Destin, and parts of western Florida as a category 3 hurricane, lost strength as it moved over northern Florida and toward the Atlantic. Tropical storm watches and coastal advisories are in effect for Bermuda and the Outer Banks region.
Across the Atlanta region, tonight mostly cloudy with a low temperature of 58. South winds at 10 miles per hour. Tomorrow sunny with a high of 80…"
xx
Sunday - 10:50 pm
Atlanta, GA
Later that night, after they had checked in and finished dinner and Noah had gone to bed, Elliot and Olivia stood on the balcony of her hotel suite with a couple of glasses of wine.
The view from her suite is not as impressive as in Destin. She can partially see the Atlanta skyline, but the hotel parking lot and a nearby highway also block it. However, her view is better than Elliot's suite across the hallway, which looks out over an office building.
They're talking, laughing, and reminiscing over some of their earliest days on the job. Even the occasional pauses in the conversation are comfortable. Considering the past 24 hours were spent worrying about the weather and their safety, this is a nice reprieve.
"El?"
"Yeah?"
"I wanted to say thank you for all you did to help me and Noah."
"You thanked me already, Liv. And you're welcome." A moment later, he turns to her. "So, are we okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, the concerns you had. About how I left the NYPD without saying goodbye."
She thinks about her response. "I don't like how you left, but it's in the past."
"Do you think we could go out sometime?" he asks.
Olivia smiles shyly and looks away.
"Too soon?"
"Elliot, a few days ago, I didn't know where you were, what was going on in your life, or why you left. I know it's been a long couple of days, but we just bumped into each other yesterday after 8 years apart."
"Okay. Too soon." He finishes the last of the wine in his glass and sets it down on the balcony table. "What would work for you? Because I want to see you, spend time with you, and get to know Noah."
She swallows the last of her wine and puts the glass on the table with his. "Let's just take it day by day."
"Fair enough."
xoxoxoxoxo
September 2020 - (~1 year later)
Friday–11:30 am
SVU - Manhattan, NY
Captain Benson's office
Heard from a news link on Olivia's computer.
xx
"…A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the New York City metro area, including Ocean, Monmouth, and Hudson Counties in New Jersey. Tropical Storm 'Joel' is currently located 100 miles east of Philadelphia with maximum sustained winds of 55 mph. It is moving north at 10 mph. You can expect heavy rainfall and damaging winds from this storm. Please take necessary precautions and stay tuned for further updates…"
xx
Olivia sits at her desk, resting her head in her hands. Elliot taps on the door and walks in.
"Hey, Liv. Tough day?"
She looks up. "Elliot? I thought you were on a UC assignment for a few more days."
He leans on the door frame. "Finished. Paperwork's done. Ayanna kicked me out, though," he admits, chuckling. "Said I needed to take the week. OCCB had a couple of intense days and nights. I probably drove her a little crazy."
Olivia smirks. "I'd buy that. What brings you out here?"
He wanders into her office and pushes the door closed. "I wanted to see if you'd like to grab lunch. Then I thought maybe we could talk about a date for this weekend since we, umm… brought up the topic of starting to date a few weeks ago."
He looks nervous.
She smiles. "I remember. But I doubt we'd be able to go anywhere in this storm."
"You could come over. I'll cook something for us."
"Sounds nice, but not this weekend. Noah qualified for the dance competition finals in Destin."
"Oh, that's great! I remember he was hoping to get in."
"Yeah. Just found out about it on Monday when the finalists were announced. Noah went there ahead of me with the Riordans. I stayed back because of this case, which is with the DA's office. I was planning to leave this afternoon and fly to Destin to join him. But now I can't because of the storm. My flight's been canceled. Trying to find another flight. Best I can do is try to leave Sunday. No guarantees."
Elliot perches on the side of her desk. Arms folded. "When is his competition?"
"Monday at 2:00 pm."
Elliot shrugs a shoulder. "So, let's drive."
"Drive to Destin? That'll take about 2 to 3 days."
"If we leave here soon, we'll get there on Saturday. Maybe early Sunday."
"After a week and a half on a UC assignment, you want a road trip? Are you nuts?"
"Maybe, yeah," he smirks. "But Noah missed last year's competition because of the storm. You've got to be there. I can't confirm, but I haven't heard about any hurricanes or tropical storms around that area or headed there. Just the one headed this way."
"Yeah, how backward is this?" she chuckles.
"This storm is supposed to get worse here by 3:00."
"I'm packed already. How much time do you need to get ready?"
"An hour. An hour and a half, tops. We can take my SUV. I'll pick you up at your place."
"Elliot, are you absolutely sure?"
"Yeah, Liv. Let's go to Florida."
xoxoxo
Friday–11:30 pm
Charlotte, NC
"I'm thinking this is about as far as I can go," says Olivia. She's struggling to keep her eyes open as she drives. She exits the highway and pulls into the parking lot of a hotel.
Elliot wakes up from a nap and glances at his phone with the directions to Destin. "Liv, this is great. We're only 10 hours from Destin. We could get there tomorrow night sometime."
Olivia circles the lot for a parking space, noticing that the lot seems full. She grabs a space near the back. "Hope we can get a couple of rooms, though."
Moments later, they enter the hotel lobby and approach the desk clerk.
"Two rooms. Somewhat close by would be nice, but we'll take anything," Elliot prompts.
"I doubt I can find two, but I'll check. There's some big event in town. Hotels filled up pretty quickly," adds the clerk.
Elliot and Olivia exchange a glance. "Maybe we'll have to head further south, Liv. I can probably go a few miles."
After a minute of checking the computer, the hotel clerk lifts his head. "Okay, I've got one double available. Must be a last-minute online cancellation because there was nothing ten minutes ago. Probably your best option."
She and Elliot exchange another look.
"Are you okay with this?" asks Elliot.
"I'm exhausted. It's just one night," she replies. Then to the hotel clerk. "We'll take it."
xoxo
Once their bags are inside, Olivia changes into a pair of cotton shorts and a tank top while Elliot goes in search of a couple of cold bottles of water.
The AC is not working too well in their hotel room and the fan only blows hot air. They were told by the hotel staff that it takes a little while to cool off the room when no one's been in it.
They open the windows in the hope of some relief. The temperature outside is 74 degrees, but even a little breeze is better than the stuffy inside conditions.
Moments later, Olivia climbs into the bed nearest to the window while Elliot finishes brushing his teeth. He returns, turns out the lights, and gets into the other bed.
"Good night, El."
"Good night, Liv."
They fall asleep within minutes.
xoxo
An hour later, Olivia wakes up to use the bathroom. She looks over at Elliot, who is sound asleep and lying on his stomach. Elliot took off his shirt at some point and tossed it on the floor. Part of the sheet and blanket cover one leg, with the rest of him exposed. Must have tried to kick it off in his sleep. It's still too warm in the room.
She stands near the AC unit and finally feels a little cool air coming through, so she cranks it up and closes the window.
Olivia looks over at him again on the way to the bathroom.
Two months after they got back from Destin last year, she told him about the William Lewis case. Although she was surprised he hadn't seen the news, Elliot explained he'd been undercover in Italy for months and it's possible he missed it. He reacted just as she expected. Took a little time for him to stop blaming himself for not being there.
Kathy may have heard about it but never mentioned it. He'd just finished his assignment when their relationship problems resurfaced because she was concerned about him getting close to some Interpol agent he'd been working with named Tia.
Olivia and Elliot recently had a conversation about their relationship and the idea of dating. Olivia admits she is scared that things might not work out, especially since Noah is getting attached to Elliot.
Both she and Elliot have said they're willing to put in the effort. It seems like they're ready. The chemistry is stronger than ever.
Some days she doesn't know what stops her from just diving in.
x
After finishing up, she opens the bathroom door. Elliot is standing there waiting. Arms folded. An adorable grin appears. "Hi."
"Hey." She smiles. "Sorry if I woke you."
"You didn't."
Olivia looks away, trying to remember what else it was she wanted to do while in the bathroom, but it's forgotten. So, she slides past him and he closes the door.
A few steps later, it hits her. Her ponytail holder was on the bathroom counter and she wanted to pull her hair up to cool off her neck.
She waits at the door for him to finish.
The door opens, and she slips past him again.
"You forget something?" he asks.
"Yeah. You distracted me."
Elliot waits there, watching her fix her ponytail, with a little grin on his face. She's tired and this is definitely not her best look; a lopsided ponytail and no makeup.
Meanwhile, Elliot wears a pair of gray cotton shorts and nothing else. She's already checked him out; the biceps, chest, abs, ass. She couldn't find an ounce of body fat on him, but she'd spend any amount of time investigating.
He looks good to her like a cheat meal does to someone on a diet.
She finishes and turns to leave, and he's holding onto the frame of the door; one hand on either side, just looking at her. He could move, and would if she asked.
"Hi."
"Hey."
It's too damn hot in here.
He moves half a step closer to her. Her heart races. Pulsing reaches her core.
It feels like they're at a tipping point and she's tired of fighting it.
Suddenly, Elliot leans in, tilts his head, and presses a soft kiss to her neck. He's slow to pull back after it. A little tease.
Olivia closes her eyes and her breath hitches.
Fuck.
Yes, he's good. But damn him, too.
Elliot leans back and looks at her. A satisfied grin appears. "Hi," he whispers.
Olivia meets his eyes, lowers her gaze to the floor, and then slowly brings it back up the length of his body to his eyes. "Hey."
Then it's game over.
Elliot and Olivia reach for one another as their lips meet in a kiss. Olivia wraps her arms around his neck and Elliot slips his arms around her back.
She nudges his head lower for better access to his lips, while Elliot slides his hands over her back, down to her hips and her ass.
She gasps the moment he runs his hands over her ass while bringing her close to him, so he's pressed against her.
They deepen the kiss and Elliot backs them out of the bathroom. He guides her toward the bed he had slept on.
"This okay?" he breathes.
"Yeah." She barely grabs a breath to answer him before covering his lips again.
The back of her legs hit the edge of the bed and she's falling over onto it, taking Elliot down on top of her.
Elliot braces himself with his arm, then nudges her to sit up. He helps her remove her tank top. She lifts her legs to help him remove her shorts and panties, then reaches for the waist of Elliot's shorts and he helps her take them off. No underwear, but she already discovered that.
He scoots them up further onto the bed, props himself up on his left side, and resumes kissing her while he runs a finger along her chest down toward her waist, then suddenly stops when he discovers the scars left by William Lewis.
Although it's dark in the room, he knew what he'd found.
Hearing about it months ago was one thing. Seeing it was something else entirely.
"Elliot… Elliot… Look at me. Just look at me," she prompts.
He does.
"Kiss me, El."
And he does.
"Touch me, El," she breathes. She takes his hand and guides it lower. And he does.
He prompts her to spread her legs a little further, then he watches her eyes for a response while he slowly runs his fingertips over her center.
His touches are light and teasing. He watches for her reaction.
Olivia's breath hitches and Elliot grins. He reaches between her folds, allowing the moisture to touch his fingertips while he traces the area.
Olivia moans and tries to reach over and encourage his hand to do what she wants, but he moves her hand away and then distracts her with a kiss.
Then, at last, he's inserting two fingers inside of her. While slowly gliding them in and out of her, he adds another finger. He wants to thrust himself inside of her, but he also needs to do this. To watch her. To focus on her.
Her open mouth gasps and moans and the way she thrusts her hips upward for more just makes him harder.
She needs him right now. Right this very damn minute…
"El… please… Please… Oh…"
He smiles.
Elliot reaches for his cock, wraps his hand around it, and then… while making sure she's still okay with it, he positions himself over her and enters her slowly. He doesn't take his eyes off of hers.
She lets out another gasp and moans and arches her hips toward him, inviting more.
Meanwhile, Elliot's giving her slow, deep, long thrusts. He pauses, letting himself out, while he stops to kiss both of her breasts, one at a time, then sucks each nipple, before moving his mouth back to hers.
With that, he holds his cock and thrusts hard inside of her again.
Olivia arches her hips, moaning from all of it.
Elliot thrusts again, then again, then again. Slow, deep thrusts. He braces himself on the bed and quickens the pace.
Olivia is fisting the blankets in one hand and clumsily holding on to his hip with the other while he sends her closer and closer to her climax.
Olivia cries out his name as she climaxes. It's maybe a few seconds later that Elliot releases it all and follows her.
Elliot slips out of her and rolls onto his back. They lie still while catching their breath, waiting for their heart rates to slow.
Olivia still feels her walls expanding and contracting. She moans softly. Doesn't want to move yet while it's happening. Hasn't had an orgasm like this one in a while.
"What?" he whispers.
"Still…" is all she can manage, aside from a couple more shaky breaths.
"Really… Hmm…" Without looking, she knows he's got some smug grin on his face. Although honestly, he earned it.
Elliot reaches his hand over and takes hers. She smiles.
They look at one another.
"You good?" he asks.
Her heart rate has settled. Orgasm subsides, but she still feels amazing. It's been a while for her, anyway.
"Oh, yeah. And you?"
"Very good. Shower?" prompts Elliot, as he props himself up.
"Yes." She sits up and nods.
They get into the shower together. All she wants to do initially is wrap her arms around him, lay her head against his chest, and let the warm water fall over them.
She savors it. They'll wash off in a minute.
There's just this… Bliss. Happiness. Maybe she gets it now.
She deserves to be happy, too.
xoxoxo
Monday–4:30 pm
(2 days later)
Destin, FL
Elliot and Olivia watch from the audience as Noah is presented with an award for the best dancer in his age group. He smiles at Olivia, exits the stage, and comes toward her for a hug.
"I'm so proud of you," says Olivia
"Congratulations Noah!" says Elliot.
"Thanks."
Moments later, they exit the event.
"So, let's go back to the hotel, and then we'll go to dinner," says Olivia.
"Spaghetti?" Noah asks.
"Of course."
xoxoxo
Monday–7:45 pm
Hotel lobby
"When do we gotta go home?" asks Noah. The three of them return from dinner and go toward the hotel suite.
"I thought we'd stay until Wednesday," says Olivia. "It's a long drive and we'll be home by the weekend."
"Can we stop somewhere like Myrtle Beach on the way home, Mom? I heard that's supposed to be a fun place."
Suddenly, the TV news monitor in the hotel lobby area catches Elliot's attention. Noah and Olivia stop and the three of them listen to the announcer.
xx
"…The Big Apple is in the path of Tropical Storm Kelsey. Although the storm is expected to weaken as it moves north along the Jersey coastline, it will still bring significant rainfall and high winds to New Jersey and New York by the weekend. This storm comes as both regions are still recovering from the record amounts of rainfall caused by Tropical Storm Joel, which left the area on Sunday morning…"
xx
Noah looks at his mom and Elliot and shrugs. "Or we could just stay in Florida a little longer."
xoxoxo
The End