Protection {A Bensler Fanfiction}

11

Elliot and Olivia continued to fall deeper in love with each other as the days went by. Elliot would plan dates for him and his girlfriend where they went out of town or ate at fancy restaurants. Many times, he'd bring her flowers to work or surprise her with her favorite coffee and pastry. Olivia tried her hardest to surprise Elliot and treat him as well as he treated her, but it was hard. Most of the time, she'd give him a kiss or a hug without being prompted and tried to convince herself it was enough.

"What are your plans for Christmas?" Elliot asked as he wrapped his arms around Olivia's waist. Olivia was standing at the stove making them breakfast before they headed out to work.

"I don't have plans," Olivia replied, as her heart ached for her little girls. Rory and Macie loved Christmas, and they spent hours decorating the house and wrapping gifts.

"Would you like to join me for Christmas?"

"What do you do to celebrate?" Olivia questioned as she turned around to face her boyfriend. 

"My parents do this big party at the house with my siblings and other family members," Elliot replied, his hands moving over Olivia's hips.

"So I'd be meeting your entire family?"

"I'm ready for you to meet them, Liv. We've been dating for a while now and I'd love to introduce you to my family," Elliot smiled, as Olivia dropped her eyes and took shaky breaths.

Olivia leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Elliot's neck as she tried to buy herself some time. She didn't want to say no, but she also didn't know if she was ready to meet Elliot's family. If Hugo gets arrested any time soon, Olivia will need to leave her life behind to raise Rory and Macie.

"Liv, are you okay? If you aren't comfortable, just tell me. I can skip the party and we can do something low-key here," Elliot breathed, before kissing Olivia's hair as he held her close.

"Do you think we will last?"

"What do you mean?" Elliot asked as he held Olivia from his body. She gave him a nervous look as tears burned her eyes.

"I don't want to be introduced to your family, just for us to break up. I love you and want to be with you, but I feel you might change your mind about me soon," Olivia whispered. Elliot brushed a tear from Olivia's cheek with his thumb before leaning close and kissing her lips softly.

"If it wasn't improper, I'd be asking you to marry me right now. I love you so much and know I believe we are meant to be together. Just think about the party, and if you don't want to go, then we can spend our first Christmas as a couple right here. We can frost sugar cookies while completely naked!" Elliot laughed. Olivia cried harder as she clung to her boyfriend once more.

"I don't deserve you," Olivia mumbled into his bare shoulder.

///

Olivia thought long and hard about the party but didn't want to accept the invite until she spoke to Agent Ford. He was now her only handler and was the nicest of the two agents.

"Are you decent?" Ford teased, as he opened the front door and shielded his eyes.

"I just got home from church," Olivia answered with a sigh. She had been joining her boyfriend at church for the last few weekends, and she enjoyed it. Hugo was highly against religion, which makes sense because he might burst into flames from the sins he committed.

"Church? When did that start?" Ford questioned.

"When I fell in love with Elliot," Olivia replied softly. Ford smiled as he looked at Olivia. She may still be angry at Hugo, but she had settled into life in New York and wasn't suffering nearly as much.

"Why did you need to see me?"

"Elliot invited me to a big party with his family. It would be the first time I'd meet his family, and I'm scared that we will meet and then I'll have to leave to take care of my girls," Olivia frowned.

"Olivia, Lewis didn't tell us anything about Hugo. Things have gotten tricky and we don't know if or when we will arrest Hugo," Ford frowned deeply.

Olivia nodded slowly as she settled down onto her loveseat. She raked her fingers through her curls for a few moments before looking at Ford.

"I should move on, right? Like if Elliot wants to get married, I should get married to him? I should have his babies and enjoy being his partner?" Olivia asked.

"The only way we could bring the girls here and not have to ship you off is if we can take down the entire operation. We'd have to tear it down from the top down and pluck off everyone. That could take years, so yes."

"How are the girls? Are they setting up for Christmas?" Olivia asked as she stood and grabbed her purse. She pulled it out and wrote a text to Elliot accepting the invite to his parents' party, as she waited for Ford to speak.

"Olivia," Agent Ford spoke, as she sent the text. She turned slowly to face him as tears burned her eyes.

"A-Are they dead?"

"I don't think so, but Hugo's mother took them from the house in the middle of the night a few weeks ago. I think they went into hiding because of us picking up Lewis Blue."

Olivia nodded weakly as she took a shaky breath. She didn't like the sound of that, especially since it meant no one was watching her daughters. Rory and Macie could be anywhere, and they were in danger until Agent Ford's team got eyes on them again.

"When you find them, please tell me... I'll try not to worry, but these are my kids. I will never stop loving them, no matter what happens."