A Protector's Love [Benson and Carisi]

{Seventeen}

On the day of the funeral, everyone woke up to the sound of thunder. There had been snow on the ground the morning before, but now it was like the heavens were opening up and letting as much rain out as possible on a very hard day for several people.

"It's raining," Olivia spoke, as she stood by the window and watched as the sky lit up and Olivia could see the purple and grays that the sky was.

"Clearly." Dominick sighed from where he was still laying in bed.

"Hey, I'm just happy that it isn't snowing anymore. The rain is nice. It cleanses the earth and souls." Olivia spoke, before turning around to smile at her boyfriend. Dominick sighed before shaking his head.

"You are a hippy at heart, Olivia. I should probably go shower and shave. I have to pick my grandparents up at the airport." Dominick sighed.

"Let me do that. I'd love-"

"Liv, you just take your time getting ready here. I don't want my grandparents to know that we are living together yet... they can't know that until we get married." Dominick sighed. He climbed out of bed before moving to his girlfriend. He placed his hands to her hips before leaning in and kissing her neck gently.

"Are you embarrassed by me?" Olivia whispered.

"No, it's just that my father is getting buried today and I don't want to make things worse for everyone. Just go make some breakfast for yourself and I'll talk to you before I leave." Dominick spoke, before kissing her neck one last time. They moved apart slowly, and Dominick sighed.

He knew that something was going to happen today. He could just feel it.

***

Olivia arrived at the Carisi's family church and she waited outside of her car for her parents and siblings. Olivia knew that Dominick was already there, but she didn't feel like approaching right now. She didn't even know if his grandparents knew that he was dating someone. Like a nonpracticing catholic.

"There you are, Livvie Belle. How are you doing this morning?" Serena asked as she held Lola's hand as they crossed the street and to where Olivia was standing.

"I'm okay... not looking forward to this at all... I've never went to a funeral before... not one like this at least." Olivia sighed. She looked over her shoulder and saw a group of officers as they moved towards the doors.

"Was he a cop?" Robert asked before he kissed his daughter's temple and drew her into a hug.

"A retired one... I wonder if they know what I know." Olivia sighed softly.

"Huh?" Serena asked, and Olivia just sighed.

"Nothing. Uh, let's go inside. I'm just sitting with you and Daddy. I don't want to mess up the act that they have been doing for years." Olivia frowned.

They all walked in together and got stuck behind the officers that had come to the funeral. Olivia kept looking over their shoulders and saw as Madalyn cried when she got to meet the Captain that had been overseeing Dominick Sr.'s career.

"Hey, Olivia," Dominick spoke quietly, once the Bensons made it to the front.

"Hey, Dom... how did picking up your grandparents go?" She questioned nervously.

"Not great. Uh, we reserved a pew at the front for you five. Ma wanted you all up there just in case I needed you." Dominick breathed. Olivia shook her head before looking down.

"I think that maybe we shouldn't be dating today or while your grandparents are in town. With everything else getting messed up lately." Olivia sighed.

"Babe, I want to talk to you real quick," Dominick spoke. He grabbed her wrist and tugged her over to an office. He opened the door before closing it tightly behind them.

"Dom-"

"No one knows about Rebecca or Jonah. And I haven't gotten a chance to talk to my mother about it either. My sisters don't even know... I never wanted to have you know either... But what we have is different. We aren't cheating. We are only together with each other. There isn't another outside source. Babe, I want them to know you. I want them to love you because you are going to be a huge part of my life for the rest of my life." Dominick spoke gently.

"Don't you think your father's parents might want to meet Jonah? What I have heard about him, he is amazing. So sweet." Olivia sighed softly.

"He is... it just that right now isn't the time for this. My father just-"

"Eventually you will have to stop using that as an excuse. As an excuse to push people away and to continue hiding things." Olivia spoke quickly, before pushing her boyfriend out of the way and leaving the office.

***

Sr. got as close to a police funeral as possible. Everyone was ignoring the fact that he had been super drunk when he wrapped his car around that pole. Madalyn had to play the part of being the heartbroken widow, even though she was a little relieved that her husband was dead. That she could move on and not think about him sleeping with Rebecca and trying for more babies with her when Sr. made it clear that they were done after Sydney.

"So, how did you and Dominick meet?" Regina spoke, as she moved up next to Olivia. Olivia looked at her and could see the older version of Madalyn standing there.

"Uh, we met a few days after Thanksgiving. In a bank robbery." Olivia spoke.

"What?" Regina asked shocked.

"We were both at the bank and I pulled Olivia to safety. Then we found out we had mutual friends and that is how our friendship started." Dominick smiled, as he came over and stood beside his grandmother and Olivia.

Olivia's eyes went wide when she heard Dominick say friendship instead of relationship. They had been dating for a few months, and Olivia was praying that maybe someday in the future Dominick would actually feel confident enough to not only tell people that they were dating but also tell people about Rebecca and Jonah too.

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