A/N: This is the third (and hopefully the last) part of the previous two chapters. I don't own any of the characters.
Long Road
Olivia was slowly getting her memory back as she and Hank continued to get closer, which even included being intimate. During the summer, Olive and Daniel had come to visit and she even remembered them as well. She had worked so hard to get where she was and that included her physical therapy, which she was pretty much done with. She just had to continue to do the exercises on her own. After summer was over and Noah was back in school, Hank had taken Olivia to Hawaii, where he proposed to her again just like he had the first time and just like the first time, she said yes. They had still planned to marry at the end of the year. If things continued to go well, she would try to go back to work part-time after she and Hank returned from their honeymoon.
Everyone was happy that the wedding was still on and in full swing. Elliot had managed to stay in the background but he hated it. He knew they belonged together. Once Olivia and Hank were back, Olivia had gone out to lunch with Alex and Casey and then they were planning to go looking at wedding dresses. They were sitting in the diner and Elliot had come in to pick up his food. He saw Olivia and felt like it was his lucky day. He headed over to them but Casey saw him first.
"You better stay away from her, Stabler!"
"Mind your own damn business, Novak!"
"I would but you're in violation of the Restraining Order."
"It'll be worth it just to see Liv."
"I have nothing to say to you."
Alex was texting both Ed and Hank. She told them where they were and Elliot was there trying to talk to Olivia. They both responded and said they were on their way but she didn't say anything to Elliot.
"He poisoned you against me."
"You did that to yourself when you chose to lie to me."
"You need to remember what we once had."
"We never had anything! We were partners and that's it. You shot and killed Jenna Fox in the Squadroom and left so you didn't have to deal with IAB. By that time, you were still very married to Kathy."
"You wanted me then and you still do now."
"Don't flatter yourself. Hank is the only man I want."
"You can't mean that. You don't even remember him."
"At the time, I didn't but I now I do. He makes me happy. When I first woke up, I didn't feel anything for you and I still don't. You need to accept that and move on with your life."
"He's the one that's gonna hurt you."
"He wasn't the one lying to me. What you did was hurting me even more. You were using my situation to your advantage to make yourself look good. That's all you care about. You don't care about my feelings, my happiness or what's best for me. All you care about is yourself. You have always been that way."
"That's not true. I have always cared about you and I still do. I know when you're makin' a big mistake."
"You don't know me the way you like to think you do. People change in a decade but you obviously wouldn't know that because you're even more selfish than ever."
"Of course I do. I know you."
Hank and Ed came in.
"Leave her the hell alone, Stabler!"
"Why should I?"
"You're still gonna go to jail for violatin' the Restraining Order."
"It's worth it just so I can see Liv again. I just need to get this asshole out of her life."
"I'm not goin' anywhere."
"Elliot, leave us alone!"
"I will never leave you alone."
Elliot put his hand on Olivia's arm. Hank grabbed his arm and twisted it.
"Don't ever touch her again! You got that?"
"Get your hands off of me, you psycho! I'll touch her if I wanna touch her. She'll never love you the way she loves me. If it wasn't for you, she and I would be happily married right now."
"She doesn't love you and I doubt she would have married you. What part of she didn't feel anything for you do you not get?"
"How do you know she's not lying when she says she remembers your relationship?"
"Because she has been workin' hard on remembering her life prior to the accident and she has remembered things about our relationship that only the two of us know about. She has remembered it all on her own."
"Bullshit! You probably brainwashed her."
"You were the one tryin' to brainwash her to make yourself look good."
"I'm the one that loves her. Not you. I've known her longer."
"That has nothin' to do with anything. You left her for a decade."
"Well, I'm back now and I am not goin' anywhere."
"You've always been full of shit, Stabler and that obviously hasn't changed."
"If I want your opinion, I'll ask for it, Tucker."
Elliot punched Hank and he tried leaving but he was met at the door of the diner by uniformed police officers and Internal Affairs, who then arrested him for violating the Restraining Orders and for assaulting Hank. They took his gun and badge, took him out and went to book him. After they left, Ed and Hank sat down with them. The server went to get Hank some ice.
"Thanks."
"Sure.
Olivia gave Hank a kiss and then he and Ed had their order taken.
"That was satisfying for me to see IAB arrestin' him."
"I bet it was."
"A part of me knew Liv wasn't guilty of killin' that VanDyne guy but I would have rather it had been Stabler I arrested."
"I remember Langan was my lawyer and he came into central booking. He made the comment that he always figured it would be my partner he'd run into there and not me. Unfortunately, Elliot probably won't get that much time for violating the Restraining Order."
"He violated them both. You, Hank and Noah were covered in one and Cabot in the other. He also punched Hank, won't help his case."
"He made the comment that it was worth it just to see her again."
"Yet he still thought he could get Liv away from Hank. If I wanted to, I could have made your lives miserable after we broke up and the two of you got together but I chose not to. We've stayed friends even after we ended things and Hank and I became friends too."
"You've shown that you're obviously not the same person you once were and I started seeing that around the time I adopted Noah. To me, Elliot seems angrier than he was before."
"It seems like he wants to blame everyone else for things he does and he doesn't care whose toes he steps on in the process. He used your memory loss to manipulate you into thinkin' he's the one that was waitin' for you to wake up after the accident. I know better. Hank barely left the hospital the entire time you were in the coma. We had everything we could do to get him to eat 3 times a day or spend time with Noah."
"How could I not wanna be there if she would have woken up?"
"That's why I love you. I guess I'm lucky I don't have any permanent brain damage."
"You're damn lucky. You're lucky you survived that crash."
"I don't remember the accident though."
"You were hit at a high speed and it had actually caused your SUV to flip over."
"The FDNY got there quickly because it happened near one of the fire stations and right after they pulled you out, your SUV went up in flames. You were leakin' fuel. The paramedics recognized you and called Fin, who came to HNT to tell Hank in person. Once he got to the hospital, he didn't want to leave your side.
"Wow! Thank you for telling me that. I think I'm starting to get a feel on what was normal for me prior to the accident and I have remembered quite a bit in the last few months. Hank and I are closer than ever and I enjoyed spending some time with my son. When Hank had taken us to Chicago, a lot of that came back to me. We drove by his house and I remembered that. We went to the District and spent some time there. I remembered that. I remembered being at the fire station and Molly's. Hawaii was amazing. He recreated that for me. Hank has been so amazing and he helped me to remember the details our life together. I don't feel like any of it was a lie."
"I have no reason to lie to you."
"I know you don't."
After everyone ate, the guys headed back to work and Alex and Casey took Olivia home. It was the weekend, so Olivia had both of her boys home for a couple days. Hank was basically only going out for cases during the day.
Elliot had his arraignment and because he was a flight risk, they took his passport and the ADA had asked for remand. The Judge granted it. He tried to put the blame on Hank but the Judge wasn't buying it. He was found guilty and did have to go to jail for a certain amount of time for violating both Restraining Orders. He also needed to seek treatment for his anger issues. Per Internal Affairs, Elliot would no longer be employed by the NYPD, which meant he would lose his pension and he couldn't have any contact whatsoever with Olivia, Hank or Alex upon his release. This meant Hank and Olivia would be able to get married without having Elliot trying to ruin things for them.
As time went on, Olivia was getting more of her memory back. The remainder of the year was focusing on the wedding. She had invited the Stabler kids but they all declined. They had mixed feelings about everything since Elliot had gone to jail. They didn't necessarily blame Olivia or Hank for what had happened but they weren't sure she really wanted them there. She and Hank had them over for dinner and she assured them they wanted them there but they understood why they were declining.
Olivia had a hard time choosing who was going to be in the wedding, so she ended up having Alex as her Maid of Honor with Casey, Erin, Melinda, Olive and Amanda as Bridesmaids, while Hank had Al as his Best Man with Antonio, Ed, Fin, Adam and Sonny as Groomsmen. Jesse and Billie were Flower Girls and Noah and Daniel were Ring Bearers.
Everyone from Chicago, George and Nick were coming to New York just after Christmas. Olive and Daniel had already been there. Olivia was happy to have the entire family together and Daniel was glad to have his Grandma back. The situation with Olivia had been hard on both Daniel and Noah but as Erin had said, Noah's release from all of it was his dancing. Olive helped Daniel deal with it the best she could too.
The afternoon of the wedding, Olivia and her attendants had gone to get their hair and nails done and once they were done, they went to get ready. The wedding itself was not starting until 7. Hank had hoped he and Olivia would be having a celebration of their own by Midnight.
Once everyone was ready, they headed to the venue. Hank had reserved a block of rooms, so he had taken his and Olivia's things and checked in. They were spending the night in the honeymoon suite and leaving for Aruba in the morning. Hank wanted to take her somewhere besides Hawaii for their honeymoon and they had just been to Hawaii a few months ago anyway.
When Olivia, her attendants and Don arrived at the venue, they got out of the limo and went inside. Everything was decorated in various shades of purple.
"This looks great."
"It sure does."
"Can you give us a few minutes?"
"Sure."
Everyone left and gave Don and Olivia a few minutes alone.
"You look happy, kiddo."
"I am. It's been a long road for me but I feel like I'm where I should be. Hank has been absolutely amazing through it all and so has everyone else."
"We were all rooting for you and Hank through all this. Elliot had a lot of nerve doing what he did."
"When he told me we were together, it just didn't feel right and I didn't feel anything for him. I didn't even feel comfortable being around him most of the time. Hank was the one that kept coming into my thoughts and for a while there, I didn't even know who he was."
"It seemed to me that he had started to become too possessive of you."
"Once I figured out what was going on, it seemed like that to me too. Hank and everyone else let me remember things on my own or when they were telling me, I'd have memories of what they were telling me. Elliot seemed like he was telling me what he wanted me to know."
"He was only trying to make himself look good."
"That was obvious. I may not remember everything yet but I remember a lot more than I did a couple months ago."
"I'm glad Alex finally told you what Elliot was up to."
"I am too. I saw my engagement ring with my stuff and I couldn't help but wonder. If Elliot had given it to me, he would have insisted that I wear it but he never did. That's why I questioned it."
"You had every right to. Do you think you'll be ready to go back to work once you're back from your honeymoon?"
"Honestly, I don't know. It'll do me good to be around my squad all the time and Fin has become even more protective of me but for right now, I think I am only going to be there part-time. It might be a little too much for me right now and Chief Garland seems to be ok with my decision as does Fin. Hank even asked if I wanted to retire. I didn't know how to answer that. I guess I'll just take things one day at a time and see how things go."
"That's really all you can do. You, Fin and Rollins have really made me proud."
"I know I wasn't the best to Amanda when she first joined SVU but she has really stepped up when she has needed to. Nick too. If Nick hadn't killed Johnny D, I'm not sure what I would have done. I know Judge Linden has said that she would not have allowed Johnny D to have any sort of visitation but I'm sure he would have continued to make my life hell. Like I told Nick before he retired from the NYPD, I grew more in the 4 years I was partners with him than I did in the 12 years I was partners with Elliot. After he told me that Nick never would be promoted because of his issues, I asked Ed if NYPD brass felt the same way about Elliot. He said they did."
"I can agree with that. Before I retired, I met with the NYPD brass, which also included IAB and I told them that I felt you were the best choice to take over the squad once I retired. I said I would have felt that way even if Detective Stabler hadn't put his papers in. I always thought you were a much better cop than he was and he was clearly holding you back. You've been through a lot in the last 10 years but I think you came out stronger especially after what William Lewis did to you. These last few months have been hard on all of us. We thought we were going to lose you."
"Hank told me that I'm lucky I survived the accident. Ed said they got me out just before my SUV went up in flames. Dr. Lindstrom told me that I may never remember the accident itself, so whatever I do know is what I have been told."
"But you've been remembering everything else?"
"Yeah. Sometimes it's just a matter of someone telling me something and then it comes back to me as if it just happened."
"Have you remembered what happened to Noah a few years back?"
"I did remember that and Noah hasn't asked about her in a long time. Hank was my rock through all of that and I wouldn't have gotten through it without him. He and his squad came out here to help look for him, which I really appreciated. We officially got together the summer before that happened. I don't think anyone could make me as happy as Hank has. I feel bad that I didn't remember him at first but like I have said, I kept seeing this brown-eyed man whenever I closed my eyes. I wondered who he was and as it turned out, he was the love of my life. Fin has always been my rock too. He was the one that helped me out at Sealview. I don't know what I would have done if he hadn't done what he did."
"I understand that. What were your true feelings about Elliot?"
"I cared for him and I loved him in a platonic way but that was a decade ago. I was hurt when he just up and left. I was completely over him. He comes back into my life at a terrible time and lies to get what he wants. He just lost his wife and I almost lose my life in a car accident. People change in 10 years. He doesn't know me the way he likes to think he does."
"You have changed. He hasn't. He made a comment before that he would have just waited until after you were married to tell you the truth. You know what though, I wouldn't have let you marry him. I think I know you better than that."
"I know I wouldn't have been able to marry him. Whenever he was at the hospital with me, I got the feeling that something was really off with him and with us."
"I think it's safe to say he had become obsessed with you, which is why he did what he did. All he wanted was to keep Hank out of your life and he didn't care how he did it."
"That is what it seemed like."
Everyone came back including the guys.
"Mom, you look so beautiful."
"Thank you, Sweetie."
"You look pretty, Gramma."
"Thank you, sweet boy. Noah, how's your dad?"
"He's fine. He's ready for this."
"I am too."
"I'm glad you're finally doin' this, Liv. You deserve to be happy."
"Thanks, Fin."
Fin hugged Olivia and then everyone lined up. Hank and Al were already up front with Judge Linden, who they had gotten to perform the ceremony. Amanda and Sonny went down the aisle first, followed by Olive and Adam, Melinda and Fin, Erin and Ed and Casey and Antonio. They were followed by Noah and Jesse and Daniel and Billie. Alex headed down and then Don headed down with Olivia on his arm. When they got to the front, Don kissed Olivia's cheek and patted Hank on the back before went to sit down next with Eileen, Lucy and the girls. Olivia gave Alex her bouquet and took Hank's hands as the ceremony started. They exchanged vows and rings before Judge Linden pronounced them husband and wife. Hank kissed Olivia and then they headed back up the aisle hand in hand after Olivia took her bouquet back from Alex. Everyone else followed and hugged them
"It's about damn time, Liv!"
"Sergeant Baker has her hands full with you, doesn't she?"
"You know it, Warner!"
Amanda and Olivia both rolled their eyes. Hank had his arm around Olivia's waist as everyone there congratulated them.
"Captain, is the Sergeant givin' you trouble?"
"When isn't he? Did you hear what he said?"
"Yeah, I did."
Phoebe then smacked Fin in the head.
"Damn, woman!"
Melinda couldn't help but laugh.
"I asked him if you have your hands full with him."
"Always. Someone has to put him in his place. It might as well be me."
"Liv and I do too."
"And I'm glad for that."
The wedding party went to take pictures and they went back into the room. Hank and Olivia went to talk to as many people as they could before they sat down to eat dinner and Al and Alex gave the toasts. After dinner, they talked to more people before the first dance. During their first dance, they shared kisses. Olivia danced with a lot of the men in her life, including Hank's former squad, while Hank danced with all the women. Hank had been talking to his former squad and Olivia was talking to someone else. She getting tired and her leg had started to bother her, so she had gone to sit at the table. Hank noticed she had gone to sit down, so he excused himself from the group from Chicago and went to join her.
"You ok?"
"Yeah. I think I over did it with the dancing. My leg is bothering me but I'll be ok."
Hank kissed her and sat down with her. He had his arm on the back of her chair.
"I would love to be havin' a celebration of our own by midnight."
"I love the way you think."
They kissed again and then they stayed at their table for a while. Olivia was noticing how close Amanda and Sonny seemed to be. The cake came out and then they went to cut it, so they could feed it to each other. A little while later, Olivia had gone into the washroom. While she was in there, Amanda had come in with the girls. Olivia was washing her hands by the time Amanda and the girls had come out to wash theirs.
"Amanda, is there something you'd like to tell me?"
"Yeah. Jesse, take Billie and go find Sonny."
"Ok, Mama."
Jesse and Billie left.
"We're together. It just sort of happened after your accident. I wanted to tell you sooner but I wasn't sure when the best time for that was. I thought about waitin' until after you came back to work."
"I get why you didn't. I haven't necessarily been myself for most of this year. I've worked really hard to be where I am now and I'm fine with you and Carisi. All I can say is, it's about time! I think he has been in love with you since you were pregnant with Jesse."
"Thanks, Liv. I'm not sure when I started feelin' somethin' for him. Maybe it was when Billie was born and I wanted him there more than I did Al."
"It took me a while to realize how I really felt about Hank too. It really bothered me that I didn't remember him when I first woke up after the accident."
"Stabler didn't help matters."
"No, I'm sure he didn't."
"Honestly, I wasn't all that impressed by him."
"He has always made everything all about him but 10 years later, he's worse than ever. I appreciate what everyone has done to help me remember my life prior to the accident. I know I wasn't that accepting of you when you first joined the squad but you've been there for me through a lot more than Elliot had. I think our bond got stronger after you became a mom."
"Thanks, Liv. I think so too. I'm just glad you're doin' better."
"Me too. I am happy for you and Carisi."
"Thanks."
Amanda hugged Olivia and then they left the washroom together. Olivia went to find Hank, while Amanda went to find Sonny and the girls. She told him that Olivia now knew about them. Hank and Olivia stayed a little while longer before they headed to the hotel. Hank went to get their coats before they said goodbye and Happy New Year to everyone before they went out to the limo. They were taken to the hotel and headed up to their suite. Hank picked her up and carried her in. They managed to get the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door before they closed it. He took her into the bedroom and put her down on the bed. He sat on the bed with her and they started kissing. They undressed each other and then they made love for the first time as husband and wife. Afterwards Hank had his arms around her and she had her head on his chest.
"Today was so perfect. Thank you. I know you did most of the planning."
"I didn't mind. I wanted you to focus on getting better. I get you still have a long road but we'll get through this."
"As much as I appreciate everything Don, John, Alex, Casey, all my friends and my squad all did for me, I think you were my biggest supporter."
"I just wish there was more I could have done."
"At least you were able to make decisions for me and as far as I'm concerned you did plenty. You took time off from your own job to stay with me."
"If we had been married, I could have done it as family leave."
"I'm glad you did what you did. I love you, Honey."
"I love you too, Babe."
They kissed and made love again as Midnight and the New Year arrived. They heard the fireworks outside. They then fell asleep in each other's arms. Mostly everyone else at the reception had made it to Midnight and then left a little bit later.
The next morning, Hank and Olivia had woken up and made love again before they went to take a shower. They got dressed and then they once again had the limo pick them up to take them to the airport. The grabbed breakfast after they went through security and before they headed to the gate. They video chatted with Noah, Erin, Olive and Daniel while they were waiting for their flight. They boarded the plane and then it took off for Aruba.
During their next week in Aruba, they spent time at the pool or at the beach and walked around taking in the sights. They had also spent a lot of time in their suite making love.
By the time they were getting ready to head back to New York, neither of them wanted to go back. A part of Olivia wasn't sure she was ready to go back to work but this was the longest she had been off of work for any length of time. Hank told her that if she needed him, he would be there for her and he also knew that her squad would help her out. He told her to take it one day at a time. No one expected her to get right back into it the moment she came back. Hank took Olivia drove Olivia on her first day back. She had flowers and balloons waiting for her in her office and everyone cheered when she walked in. Chief Garland, Carisi, Phoebe, Ed, Al, their squad, a lot of her friends and even Sergeant Bell had been there when she walked in as well. Captain Olivia Voight was back and ready to run SVU again!
Reviews and suggestions are appreciated