Mr and Mrs

Chapter Two

Liv sat in her office, staring into space as her mind wandered to her upcoming nuptials. A knock on her office door broke her out of her trance and Elliot entered with a smile. 
"Hey partner" He smiled. 
"Hey partner" She smiled back. 
"You still okay with all of this?" 
"Of course" 
"You just seemed like you were thinking of ways to break the news to me" 
"No, I wasn't, promise" He nodded. 
"In that case, I went shopping myself earlier and I got something for you" He reached into the bag he was carrying and handed her a small box. 
"Another necklace?" He chuckled. 
"How did you guess?" 
"It might be clique but as a woman I know from the box shape" Liv opened the box, finding a silver chain with a small pendent in the shape of a cowboy hat. Liv laughed lightly, her smile somehow brightening the room "Partner, really?" 
"Something new" 
"Isn't my dress supposed to be the something new?" He shrugged. 
"Maybe doubling down will bring us some extra luck" 
"Maybe" She smiled. Liv's eyes dropped back down to the necklace before she sighed "After we're married, don't call me Mrs Stabler. Kathy was Mrs Stabler. I'm, just Liv" He nodded.
"Just Liv?" 
"Just Liv" She nodded. 
"And after the vows? The marriage is usually sealed with a kiss" She nodded. 
"You can kiss me, El" He nodded slowly, the importance behind those words known to them both "Have you told your kids?" 
"I'm working my way up to it" 
"El, you need to tell them. I'm telling Noah tonight" 
"I've told ma. I just know what Eli is going to say" He sighed, running a hand over the stubble on his head. 
"Oh yeah" El didn't miss the way that she raised her eyebrows "At least Kathleen and Bernie will be excited" He chuckled. 
"What about Noah?" She shrugged. 
"He likes you but this is a lot even for a thirteen year old to understand" He nodded. 
"Dad!?" Liv and Elliot both recognized Eli's voice "Dad!?" He called again as Liv and Elliot left her office and moved back into the squad room "Of course you're with her" Eli bit. 
"This is my precinct" Liv muttered back. 
"You're marrying your mistress!?" Liv could feel the venom in his voice "The woman that you cheated on mom with!? You're marrying this bitch!?" 
"El" It was a warning. A warning that she would lay down the law if he didn't stop her. But he didn't stop her, or Eli. 
"This whore!" 
"Listen here you spineless child" Liv bit harsher than she intended, her anger showing "I'm trying to help your dad beat a murder rap, so maybe instead of berating me you can help instead" 
"Helping him? You've seen your chance and took it!" Liv cast a glance at Elliot but it was clear that he wasn't about to stop her anytime soon. She chuckled lightly. 
"I never slept with your dad and I have never thought about it, not once. You want to know the truth Eli? The truth is that your mom is gone and your dad will always love her despite the fact that he was shitty husband half the time, and what is happening between us was going to happen sooner or later" 
"Wait, what's happening between you?" Kathleen looked between the pair "You're together?" 
"We're working up to it" Liv admitted, refusing to meet Elliot's eyes, Eli scoffed. 
"Did you even wait until she was in the ground?" He bit. 
"I don't sleep with married men, especially ones whose kids I watched grow up" Liv bit back. 
"I want you there Eli" Elliot spoke up, breaking the heated gaze between Liv and Eli. 
"Then why did grandma tell us?" 
"Because I'm a shitty person" Liv regretted calling him that "And because I knew how you would react. I was a shitty husband and a shitty father but I'm trying to better. I...I..." Elliot couldn't get the words out but they all knew what he was trying to say. I love Liv. 
"They know what you're trying to say" Liv assured him. 
"There are things happening that I can't say or explain to you all but what I can say is that I want Liv in my life, however she'll let me" Liv finally looked over at him, the desperation in his voice striking her in her heart "This wedding isn't a sham, at least it isn't to me. It is my chance to finally do something right, to show Liv that I not completly shitty" 
"You love her" Kathleen spoke up and Liv felt her heart stop when he nodded. 
"I do" The importance of his confession and those two words was not lost on either of them "Please Eli, leave the past where it is, come to the wedding" Liv could hear his desperation. 
"Eli, you should see your dad get married" Becky told him, her small voice calming him. 
"Fine" He muttered before he marched off towards the elevators with Becky following after him. 
"Eli got a girl pregnant?" Liv asked El. 
"Oh yeah. He's also joining the police academy" Liv couldn't help but smile. 
"Exactly what the world needs, another Stabler running around" 
"So this is the Olivia Benson" Randall teased. 
"Hands off" Elliot bit slightly as his brother held his hands up. 
"So, have you two kissed yet?" Kathleen teased with a smirk. 
"Kathleen!" Elliot scolded but Liv laughed lightly. 
"There has to be something for the wedding day" Liv teased. 
"And what about the wedding night?" Bernie asked, sparking a blush from Liv's cheeks. 
"Ma!" 
"Maybe for the fifth anniversary" Fin teased, earning him a glare from Liv. 
"Do you want to be fired?"