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They’ve been together for just under a year (next week) and miraculously manage to make it to their anniversary dinner without having to reschedule due to difficult cases, his rapidly declining mother, her pain-in-the-ass chief, or any of the hundreds of other things that could have interfered. They sit together on the same side of the table. She rests her hand on his thigh. He orders her favorite dessert. They’re the very picture of a couple in love.
After dinner, he drives them to Battery Park where they walk along the river. The weatherman is calling for rain overnight and all day tomorrow, so her hip and ankle are both aching. The heels she chose to wear aren’t helping, but she knows they make her legs look amazing. She thinks his back and knees are bothering him, too, but he hasn’t said anything. They pause to look across the water, his hand resting on her lower back.
“Happy Anniversary, Olivia.”
She turns to him and replies, “Happy Anniversary, El. It’s been a good year.” She leans up to press a kiss to his lips, smiling into it.
They separate and continue looking out across the water. He’s still standing close by with his hand on her. “It has. I want all of the good years you’ll give me.” She hears his knees pop and feels him shift. When she turns around, he’s on one knee with a small, black velvet box in his hand.
“I love you, Liv. Grow old with me?”
With tears welling in her eyes and a smile on her face, she mischievously replies, “We’re already old, El.”
“Smartass,” he laughs. “Then, grow older with me, baby. Will you marry me?”
He pops open the lid of the box to reveal a 1.5 karat cushion-cut diamond set in a vintage gold band with leaf-like detailing on the sides. It’s beautiful.
She leans down and presses a kiss to his lips. They separate but just barely; she keeps her forehead against his as she replies, “Yes, El. Yes.” She gives him another kiss as he slips the ring on her finger.
***
Six months later, they’re married. It’s a small ceremony. Well, as small as can be with six kids (plus a son-in-law and three girlfriends), two grandkids, his mother, both of their sergeants, and their former Captain. Judge Donnelly does the honors. There isn’t really an aisle to walk down, but Don fills that role in a way she always knew he would. Ayanna and Fin serve as their witnesses.
After the ceremony, the entire group - Donnelly included - travel to the Italian restaurant down the block from Elliot and Olivia’s apartment on the Upper West Side. When they decided to move in together, she convinced him it made more sense to live there instead of Long Island City, in order to avoid Noah having to change schools. (He didn’t actually need to be convinced; he would do anything she asked.)
They’ve booked out the restaurant, so they will have the whole place to themselves. They’ve invited the rest of their squads, his brothers, and the Rollins-Carisi family (among others) to a dinner supposedly to celebrate Olivia’s latest award. As a surprise for Olivia, Elliot even managed to contact Alex, who is standing near the bar talking with Melinda. Alex is the only one who knows the true reason for the party. Elliot told her, because he knew she would have to make travel arrangements, but she’s been sworn to secrecy.
Fin enters the restaurant first, joining Melinda and Alex. Maureen’s family is next; her kids run straight for their Uncle Joe. Everyone else filters in, and eventually Olivia and Elliot are the only ones left outside.
“I love you, Baby.” He leans down to give her a kiss. “I’m so proud to be able to call you my wife.”
“I love you, too, El.” She reaches for his hand and weaves their fingers together and smiles up at him, almost shyly. “Ready to go celebrate with our family?”
“Ready when you are, Liv.”
She pulls lightly on his hand, and they walk the short distance to the restaurant. He jokes that he should carry her across the threshold. She saucily replies that he can save that for when they get home later. That he can do whatever he wants then , but for now he needs to remember that their kids and grandkids and the people they work with every day are here.
He momentarily releases her hand to hold the door open for her and gives her a quick pat on the ass. “How could I forget, Baby?” He leans in to whisper, almost growl really, in her ear as they approach their group, “Can’t wait until I can get you all to myself, though.” She feels her face flush, but - without missing a beat - he begins greeting their guests. She tears up when she sees Alex, who gives her a knowing look and mouths ‘congratulations.’
Olivia smiles in return and feels Elliot give her left hand a slight squeeze. She turns to face him, and he is positively beaming. She gives him a slight nod, and he calls for everyone’s attention.
“As you guys have probably figured out, this isn’t just a family dinner. Olivia and I invited you all here to help us celebrate our marriage.” His voice cracks at the end when he sees the look of pride on Don’s face. Olivia has tears welling in her eyes; she can see that Amanda and Fin are teary-eyed, as well. “This afternoon, we took the kids down to the old precinct - to the place where we first met twenty-seven years ago, and Liz performed the ceremony on the steps out front. You all are family to us, and we wanted to share this moment with you. Thank you all for being here.”
They’re immediately surrounded by their found family, each being pulled into tight hugs, with whispers of ‘congratulations’ from most and an ‘about damn time’ and ‘Munch would’ve loved it’ from Fin. His comments have a few of them choked up, missing their friend, though they’re sure he’s there in spirit.
***
Later that night when they’re laying in bed - legs intertwined, her hand drawing lazy patterns on his chest and his gently rubbing her back - she feels the emotion of the day catching up to her. He hears her breath catch and says, “I can hear you thinking, Liv. What’re you thinking about?”
“I’m just,” she takes a deep breath. “I’m just so happy.”
He hugs her tighter against his side and presses a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Me, too, Baby. Me, too.”