Author's Note: I appreciate your patience in waiting for the wedding. It was a hard chapter to write, mostly because it's the last chapter of this story. I never anticipated this story would go on this long when I started; never anticipated how much you would like it. I appreciate each and every reader, and loved each and every comment. I know people want this story to go on. Some want to see Elise when she gets older, and some just want to see what happens next. I may write more of this story later on – Deception…the sequel! LOL. Anyway. Thank you for your support. And watch for more EO coming your way. Please leave a review or comment, or send me a comment via PM or on Twitter. I love hearing from you. Best regards…EOROCKS

EOEOEOEO

Elliot closed Elise's bedroom door and headed back towards the living room. He stopped short when he saw Olivia stretched out on the sectional with Matthew snuggled against her chest. The room was dimly lit by the flames in the fireplace, but he could see that she had one hand on his small back and her lips were pressed lightly to the top of his head. He could see she was talking to him as he slept, but he couldn't hear what she was saying.

He knew she was struggling a little with the thought of leaving him tomorrow. But they had agreed that having him at the wedding would be disruptive for everyone…more so for the baby than anyone else. It was only going to be 24 hours, but since his birth eleven weeks before, Olivia hadn't been away from him for more than a couple of hours.

The fire crackled in the fireplace, creating a bright glow on the scene before him, and he smiled as he watched the two of them. He was so excited for the wedding…it had taken years to get to this point, but he couldn't remember a time when he had been so happy.

He saw Olivia lift her head, and look over at him. She gave him a big smile and nodded her head to the side, motioning for him to join her. He crossed the room and walked around the back of the sectional, sitting next to her. He wrapped his left arm around her shoulders and placed a gentle kiss on her temple. He leaned over and gave Matthew a small kiss as well, and looked back up at Olivia.

"He's going to be fine."

"I know." Olivia said, rubbing the baby's back lightly. "It was really nice of Kathy to offer to take him." She had been really surprised when Kathy had called her. Kathy had helped them out with Elise in some pretty horrible situations and she was thankful for that. But this was different…this was her ex-husbands wedding to the woman she had blamed for breaking up her marriage. "She didn't have to do that."

Elliot ran his hand up and down her upper arm and squeezed lightly. "Well, I think she knew that everyone else we knew was going to be at the wedding…"

"Still." Olivia really appreciated the gesture, and she knew that while she and Kathy would never be good friends, they had made a lot of progress over the last six months. She would have to make more of an effort when this was all over, since Kathy had really been the one to go out of her way to help them.

"If you want to change your mind, I can call Kathy." Elliot knew that they had plenty of hands at the wedding to help out with the baby.

Olivia shook her head. "No. He's better off at Kathy's. He can stay on schedule and he'll be much happier. Plus, everyone else can have a good time at the wedding and we won't all be distracted." She leaned in and kissed him again. "I have to get used to being apart."

"Are you going to be OK going back to work on Tuesday?"

"I don't want to think about it." Olivia said. The reality was that although it was going to be hard to take him to daycare, she was ready to get back to work. Except she didn't even want to think about trying to get two kids out the door in the morning.

"You know, if you don't want to go back to work, we can talk about that." Elliot said.

Olivia turned her head to look at him. "Sometimes I think you're trying to get me to stay at home."

Elliot shook his head. "No. Don't twist my words. I'm just saying that if you want to wait a little longer or if don't want to go back at all, we can work it out."

"That's not me El. I'm sorry…"

Elliot pressed his lips to her ear. "Stop. I'm happy if you're happy." He meant what he said.

"I'm happy." Olivia said. "I've never been happier."

Elliot let out a little chuckle.

"My happiness is funny to you?" Olivia asked.

"No. I was just thinking the same thing."

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Olivia asked, shifting slightly so that she was leaning into Elliot's body a little more.

"Not in the least." He trailed his fingers down her arm. "But this is my last night as a single man."

Olivia raised an eyebrow. "True. Maybe you should call some of the guys and go out. Take advantage of your freedom." Olivia teased. They had talked about the bachelor and bachelorette party's people had when they were young; agreeing wholeheartedly that they were too old for those things. "Have one last fling before you're tied down."

Elliot nuzzled his nose in her hair. "That's a good idea." He trailed his free hand down her arm. "If only I knew a single woman I was attracted to." He trailed his hand back up to her shoulder. "Hey baby, what're you doing tonight?"

Olivia laughed. "If that's a pick-up line, then I know I never have to worry."

EOEOEOEOEO

Kathy arrived at 9:30AM as planned and Olivia grabbed a few bottles to pack in the cooler while Elliot went down to put the car seat in her car.

"I really appreciate this." Olivia said as she set the small cooler on the table. "It was really nice of you to offer."

Kathy nodded. "I know it would be hard to have him at the wedding. It's really not a problem."

Elise ran into the living room and stopped in front of Kathy. "Hi Aunt Kathy." She said, smiling up at her. "Did you know I get to wear a pretty white dress today?"

Olivia smiled; the dress was all she had been able to talk about all week since they'd picked it up. They weren't having anything formal beyond a best man and maid of honor, but all of the kids were part of the wedding party. Elise had dubbed herself the flower girl after a friend of hers had told her about her own stint in that role.

"No, I didn't know that." Kathy said, humoring the girl. "I'm sure you're going to look very pretty."

Elise nodded. "Yes, I am. I got new white sparkly shoes and Mommy painted my fingernails pink." She held out her hands for inspection and smiled as Kathy told her they looked nice. "I have a pink bow for my hair." She said. "And we get to go to the hair place and Mommy said they would tame my 'ruly hair but I don't know what that means."

Olivia ran a hand through Elise's hair. Her dark hair had grown quite a bit, and it had some natural curl to it. It always seemed in need of brushing. "Your unruly hair." Olivia corrected her. She squatted down next to her daughter. "OK El. Say bye to Matty."

Elise turned her head sharply to look at her mother. "Why do I have to say good-bye?"

Olivia groaned internally. She realized that they hadn't told Elise that Matthew was going to Kathy's. Despite her original concerns about having a younger sibling…she was completely overprotective of Matthew. Most of the time, it was wonderful. She was loving towards him…doted on him…and Olivia loved to watch the two of them together. "Matty is too little to come to the wedding. Only big kids get to come." She appealed to Elise's sense of pride in being old enough to come to the big event.

"But he wants to come to the wedding." Elise argued. "Everyone is gonna be there and he has to be too."

"El." Olivia said. "He's just a baby. He doesn't want to be there. He is going to be sleeping."

"He told me he did." She said, her bottom lip forming in a pout.

Elliot walked into the apartment and the minute Elise saw him, she made a beeline for him. Olivia stood with Matthew still in her arms, and saw Elliot scoop her up when she reached him.

"Daddy. Mommy is giving Matty away."

Elliot furrowed his brows and looked over to where Olivia and Kathy were standing. He quickly surmised what was going on. "He's just going to stay overnight at Kathy's." He said, running his hand down her back. "We will pick him up tomorrow."

"I know but you said our whole family will there today and it's not if Matty's not there." Elise put her hand on Elliot's shoulders. "I talked to him and he won't even cry He promises." She said earnestly.

As if on cue, Matthew opened his mouth and let out a loud squall, and Elise looked over at him with a scowl. "Matthew Joseph Stabler." She scolded.

"Honey. Matthew is going to Kathy's because we're all going to be very busy today. You're going to get your hair done and put on your pretty dress and then we have the wedding and you get to stay up way pat your bedtime. End of story." He kissed her forehead and before she could argue anymore, he set up down. "Now go kiss your brother goodbye and put your shoes on. You and Mommy have to get going."

Elise hesitated a second, and then she must have decided there was no point in arguing. She walked back over to where Olivia was standing. She scrambled up on a chair and peered down at Matthew, who had quieted with a pacifier in his mouth. She reached over and popped it out of his mouth, and Olivia was surprised when he didn't let out another cry. However, she knew Matthew loved Elise and he was watching Elise intently as she peered down at him.

"Sorry brother, but you can't come to the wedding. You're too little and you have to go to bed at the reg'lar time but I get to stay up past my bedtime and I'll remember everything and then I will tell you all about it and I know you will have fun at Kathy's because I've stayed there before and we played Candyland but you're a baby so you can't but…"

"El." Olivia said, trying to cut off her notorious rambles. "We have to get going. Say goodbye."

Elise gave her mother a slightly exasperated look, but she leaned over and kissed her brother on the forehead. "Bye Cap'n Jack." She whispered. Then she popped the pacifier back in his mouth and hopped down from the chair, running to get her shoes.

Olivia gave Matthew a kiss and handed him to Kathy, and watched as Elliot walked her and the bags out the door. She felt a little sad when he closed the door, but then Elise ran back into the room and slipped her hand into Olivia's and gave a little tug.

"Are you sad?" Elise asked.

Olivia smiled, always surprised how tuned in to her moods Elise was.

She shook her head. "Not at all sweetie. I'm very excited."

"Cuz you're marrying your prince?"

Olivia really hadn't thought about it in those terms, but once the words came out of Elise's mouth, she smiled. "Yes…I'm marrying my prince."

EOEOEOEOEO

The late morning and early afternoon flew by. Casey was standing up as her maid of honor, and she and the three other girls had met Olivia and Elise at the salon to get their hair done. Olivia couldn't decide what she liked, and ultimately left her hair down, with only a slight curl. The other girls left their hair natural as well, but they had a lot of fun together, and there was a lot of chatter and laughter and general excitement.

When they were done, they stopped and had lunch at a nearby restaurant, and Olivia was surprised to find that she was a little too nervous to eat.

Casey leaned over. "Are you OK?" she whispered, noticing the untouched food on her friend's plate.

"I'm fine." Olivia whispered back, not wanting to draw attention to her comment.

"You're not pregnant, are you?" Casey said with a chuckle.

Olivia shook her head. "God no." But as the words came out of her mouth, she did some quick calculations. "No." She said under her breath, not even able to imagine herself with another baby on the way.

Casey laughed again when she saw the look on Olivia's face. "Tell Stabler…" She didn't finish her sentence though as Olivia nodded at the kids and she realized the table had gotten quiet.

"We'd better get to the hall." Maureen said. "It's almost 3."

They had found the perfect, intimate spot for their small wedding. It was an old building that had once been an ornate carriage house, just slightly outside the city. The original house had burned down and whomever had owned the property hadn't rebuilt. Instead, this small plot had been sold off and put to use. It had a fieldstone exterior, and the inside had been renovated to be used as an event center. It was appropriately named Whitely Event Center, after the name of the original owners. It reminded Olivia of something you might find in the English countryside, and she wondered if the original owner had been a Brit. Whoever had renovated it had tried to be true to the original design, repairing the high, arched windows and the large beams that supported the arched ceiling. Dark wooden planks had been added to cover the original dirt floor, and the room had a warm glow from the wood that went halfway up the walls. The plaster had been painted a pale cream, and there were beautiful paintings in old wooden frames adorning the walls. The room was relatively small, but was perfect for the fifty or so guests that would be in attendance.

There were two large wooden doors that rolled back on metal rails to give entrance to a second room, and the interior of this room was similar to that of the first. It had an old wooden bar along part of one wall, and it was meant to be used for dinner (or lunch) and dancing if desired. Olivia had fallen in love with it the first time she saw it…and thought it was about as close to a church as you could get without being an actual place of worship. Elliot loved it because she did, and they had moved ahead with their plans.

Olivia was anxious to see the place, with the decorations and flowers in place. When they arrived, Olivia could see a bustle of activity as everything was being put in place. She let out a small gasp when she walked into the first room. There were white padded chairs covered in white fabric lined up in neat rows, and the aisle down the middle was lined with stands full of flowers. There were white lilies and roses, with smaller pink roses and green ivy, and some of the greens and flowers were trailing down towards the floor. Ribbon and tulle were intertwined, and it made a beautiful walkway towards the front.

At the front, a dais had been placed so they would be standing just a little higher than everyone else. A beautiful chandelier was centered over the spot they'd be standing, and two other very large plant stands were on either side with flowers sprayed out so they were at least two feet taller than the stands, and plenty more ribbon, tulle, green ivy and flowers trailing down to the floor. It was amazingly beautiful, and she made a mental note to thank Don, who had insisted on paying for the flowers. He must have told them to take whatever she had told them and amp it up ten times because this was more than she had imagined and it was absolutely gorgeous.

"Olivia." Kathleen gasped. "This is absolutely beautiful." She said reverently. "It's almost looks like a fairy tale."

"It is." Said Elise. "She's marrying her prince."

Olivia heard the girls laugh at what Elise had said, but she barely heard it. She didn't really ever consider herself a girly girl…not overtly sentimental with romantic notions about a fairytale wedding. But when she saw the transformation of this room, she did feel a bit like a princess and she realized she was really happy that Elliot had talked her into a traditional wedding. She didn't think she had wanted it, but now…seeing all of this…she realized that deep down, she did. This was so much better than a courthouse…but not quite a church. It was absolutely perfect.

"Liv?" Casey said, taking her elbow.

Olivia looked back at her and smiled. "This is amazing." She said. She realized that all of the girls were standing there looking at her and she smiled. "Let's go get ready!" All of the girls started moving towards a large room at the back of the main room…probably a former bunk room or office that had been turned into a dressing room. The entered the room, and Olivia saw a two vanities, both with large mirrors, and a rack holding her dress and another holding everyone else's. There was another door at the end of the room, and she saw it was a bathroom.

"Are we all going to get dressed in here?" Elise asked, looking up at her mother.

"Yes." Said Olivia.

"But then everyone will see my underwear."

"We're all girls, kid. We've all got the same parts." Kathleen said. "I don't care if I see your underwear."

Elise seemed to accept that answer and started taking off her shoes. Olivia started to help her, but Kathleen intercepted her. "You only have to worry about yourself today." She said, nodding towards the vanity. "Finish up your make-up. I have this."

EOEOEOEO

Elliot and Dick arrived at Whitely, and he looked around quickly to make sure he didn't accidentally see Olivia. He could hear the girls talking and laughing behind a large wooden door at the back of the room, and he smiled as he imagined the fun and chaos in that room right now.

He looked over at Dick and saw him roll his eyes.

"Girls." He said as he walked farther into the room. "This looks pretty good Dad." Dick turned to look back at his dad. "You look good too."

Elliot smiled and looked down at his attire. He had decided against a tuxedo, and had elected a dove grey suit, complete with a white shirt, matching vest and grey tie. Dick was wearing something similar. "Right back at you."

"So are you nervous?" Dick asked.

Elliot shook his head. "Not at all."

"You really love her huh?" He asked.

"Yeah, I really do. I know this has to be hard for you." Elliot said, acknowledging how hard it must be for his kids to see him marrying someone else.

"It's OK Dad. It was weird at first but Liv's pretty cool."

Elliot closed the gap between them and grabbed Dick in an awkward hug. "You don't know how much I appreciate that."

Dick pulled out of the hug. "C'mon Dad. You're messing up my hair." He said with a laugh.

"Don't worry. There aren't going to be any girls your age here."

"Then I'm outta here." Dick joked as he took a step towards the door. He stopped when he saw Terry and Jamie walk in.

"The better man is here!" Terry announced as he strode right for Elliot, delivering a fake punch to his gut.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Elliot said. He had asked Terry to be his best man because he had really helped him through a rough time when Olivia had left before. He thought it was appropriate, now that everything had worked out for the best.

"When does this shindig get going?" Terry said, looking at his watch. "It's already 4:30."

"Guests should start arriving any time now." Elliot said. "The wedding starts at 5." He took one last look around, and went into the next room to make sure everything was set up for dinner. He saw one large rectangular table at the front, which was adorned with more flowers and place settings for he and Olivia, Casey, Terry, Jamie and all of the kids. Then there were eight other round tables, replete with white tablecloths and white draped chairs. At the center of each table was an old lantern, a candle glowing at the center and more flowers and greens. The table was set with beautiful old china and pale pink cloth napkins. The lights were dim, and sconces all around the room emitted soft candle light around the entire room. It glowed with warmth as the light from the late afternoon sun shone in through the windows. Satisfied that everything was in place, he retreated to the outside to greet their guests as they arrived.

He had just made it out with Dick in tow when Don walked up. Elliot saw a serious expression on his face, and when he reached them, he held out his arm to shake Elliot's hand.

"Big day." He said.

Elliot nodded, and he could see the emotion in Don's face. "Olivia and I are really happy that you're going to be walking her down the aisle."

Don pursed his lips together and nodded his head. "I'm happy the two of you asked. It's been a long road Elliot. Who would have thought…" He shook his head at the memory of Olivia on her first day. "You know, you really have me to thank. I was the one that paired the two of you."

Elliot chuckled. "You're right. Thank you."

"Some days I questioned my decision. You two could be a real pain in the ass." He shrugged. "But here we are." He shook his head again and walked through the door.

It wasn't long before other guests started to arrive. They didn't have a lot of family, but Elliot had invited a few cousins he had been close to. There were a few of his buddies from the Marine Corp and their spouses, his partner Tony and his wife. Fin and Munch of course, each with a date, and Alex had flown into town with her latest boyfriend in tow. There were fellow officers from the squad, past and present, and Elliot was surprised to see people like Cassidy and Jeffries show up. Olivia had invited some friends from work and the neighborhood she'd gotten to know in Connecticut, and from her current job. The kids had each been allowed to invite a friend, and Maureen's fiancé, Sam was there with his parents. It was a hodge-podge of people; a cross section of their life. And he loved it.

The last person there was Judge Donnelly. Both he and Olivia had gotten to know her fairly well over the years, and it was a compromise they had reached to have her conduct the wedding ceremony. She had agreed to something more than the traditional civil ceremony and they had gone over it with her a few days back.

He looked at his watch and saw it was ten minutes until the ceremony. He walked back inside and saw everyone was seated, talking to their neighbors around them. He started to feel a little nervous and excused himself and went into the men's bathroom. He leaned against the counter, his arms outstretched, and took a deep breath. He had no doubts about today…but it was still a momentous occasion.

His heart was thumping wildly in his chest as his excitement and nerves ratcheted up. He wondered how Olivia was feeling right now. He wondered how he would feel seeing her standing at the end of the aisle. He knew she'd be absolutely stunning; he couldn't wait to see her. He took another deep breath and ran a finger under his collar.

He heard the door open. "Dad? Ready?"

Elliot pushed himself up and stood straight, looking into the mirror. He straightened his tie and pulled on the lapels of his suit jacket. He nodded and smiled at his reflection. "I'm ready."

EOEOEOEOEOEO

Olivia took one last look in the mirror when Casey told her it was time. She turned and looked at the girls as she smoothed her hands over her dress.

She smiled when she saw them standing in front of her. They were all allowed to pick out something in a shade of pink, and of course, they had all selected slightly different shades and styles, from tea length to long dresses. But it was a beautiful mix with their blonde hair and their fair skin and they all looked beautiful. Elise was standing in front of Kathleen in her white dress, the full skirt ending just below her knees and her glittery white shoes sparkling in the light. "You girls all look so beautiful." She said, and she felt herself tearing up.

Kathleen shook her head. "No. You're the one that looks beautiful Olivia. That dress is perfect."

Olivia hadn't wanted anything frilly and the dress she had selected was fairly simply. It was a simply V-neck bodice that showed a little cleavage, but wasn't too revealing. Gentle, scalloped lace framed the bodice and trailed up into simple straps that rested right on the edge of her shoulder. The dress narrowed at the waist, with a small band of crème lace to accent her waistline. The skirt flared slightly from there, framing her hips and then flowing more loosely once it hit her knees. It was covered in more lace, but was very elegant and understated. She had wrapped a strand of her mother's pearls around her wrist a couple of time to make a bracelet, wanting a piece of her mother with her on this special day.

She felt a little nervous about her decision not to put her hair up. Or to wear a veil. She had wanted to keep it simple; she hadn't wanted to look like anyone other than who she was.

She had no idea what Elliot was expecting. She hoped he liked it.

"Dad's gonna love it Liv." Said Maureen, and Olivia gave her a big smile.

Olivia walked over to where the girls were standing. "I'm so happy that you're all here and a part of this day. I know this may be a little hard for you…" She wanted to be sensitive to the fact that this had to be odd.

Elizabeth shook her head. "Dad is so excited Liv. He's so happy. That's all we want. For both of you."

There was a knock on the door and Olivia felt her heart skip a beat. Casey opened the door a crack and then looked back at Olivia. "It's Don."

Olivia nodded. "Let him in." She turned to face the door.

Casey stepped back and let him enter.

"It's time. You ready?" he asked as he walked in. But he stopped in his tracks when he saw Olivia. "Oh my." He said softly.

The girls quieted down and moved to the side with Casey, seeming to understand the importance of the moment.

Don walked over to Olivia and she could see his eyes were shiny with tears. "You are the most breathtaking bride I've ever seen." He said when he reached her.

Olivia's cheeks flushed slightly; those words from the man that she'd grown to look at as a father really meant a lot. She knew he was being sincere. She reached out and took his hands in hers.

"Thank you." She said softly. "And I also want to thank you everything you've done for me over the years. Taking me on as a rookie detective, having patience with me and not giving up on me during some pretty rough times, and most of all, helping me out when I had no one else in the world. I really treasure our relationship…you've really become the father I never had. And I couldn't ask for a better grandfather for Elise and Matty." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, and Don pulled his hands from hers and wrapped his arms around her, giving her a hug.

"Thanks Olivia. That means a lot to me. You and Elliot and the kids are the family I never had." He pulled back and saw tears on her lower lashes. "Now, now. No crying. You're going to smudge your makeup." He said with a smile, and he produced a small white handkerchief and handed it to her.

Olivia smiled and dabbed at her eyes.

"You ready?" Don asked again.

Olivia nodded. Casey rushed over and handed her the bouquet of white roses. "Let's do this."

Olivia and Casey moved off to the side, so they couldn't be seen when the wide door was opened completely. The girls lined up…Maureen and Kathleen in the front, holding small bouquets of their own. Elizabeth was behind her, and Dick would meet up with her outside the room. Elise was bouncing with excitement behind them, and Liz turned to give her final instructions on strewing the rose petals from her basket. Little did she know that Elise had been practicing at home with a basket full of Cheerios. Olivia leaned over.

"Girls."

They all turned to look at her and she smiled, so happy at the love and acceptance from these kids. "I love you." She said.

The girls all broke ranks and moved back towards her and they all crushed together in one large group hug.

"We love you too Olivia." Kathleen said. "If we're going to have a stepmother, we're glad it's you."

Casey jumped in. "Liv…the music was playing but now it's stopped. Elliot's going to think you've changed your mind!"

The girls all hurried back to their places and straightened their dresses and their hair. Elise was picking up the few rose petals that had fallen from her basket during the last few minutes. Casey pulled the wide door open, shielding she and Olivia from view, and the girls lined up just outside. Dick was there, and took his place next to Elizabeth.

The music started up again, and everyone gathered turned to watch the processional. The sun was starting to set up this late March afternoon, sending a rosy glow into the room. The candles were all lit, and Elliot was amazed at how surreal it all seemed.

Elliot swallowed hard when he saw the girls standing there. They looked beautiful…and he was surprised by how old they looked. He knew that in less than six months, he would be walking Maureen down the aisle. He was amazed at what wonderful young adults they had become. He beamed with pride, his nerves forgotten, as Maureen and Kathleen headed down the aisle towards him. He glanced over to his left at Terry, and Terry winked at him and smiled.

Maureen and Kathleen reached him then, and he gave each of them a hug and a kiss before they went to sit in the reserved seats in the front. Elizabeth and Dick started their procession as soon as their sisters were seated, and Elliot smiled at the goofy looks on both Elizabeth's and Dick's faces as they knocked into each other lightly as they walked. When they reached him, Elliot repeated the ritual, even giving Dick a kiss before they sat down on the other side of the aisle, closest to him.

He turned and saw Elise standing in the doorway now, shifting from foot to foot. He saw her look back, and assumed Olivia was giving her some last instructions. She must have told her to go…and to walk slowly…because as soon as she turned her head back to face the crowd, she started walking slowly down the aisle. She was sprinkling rose petals and smiling like crazy, obviously happy at being the center of attention. He took a deep breath, watching her walk towards him in her white dress. She looked so much like Olivia that it still jarred him some times.

Elise saw him watching her, and she gave him a small wave after releasing her handful of petals. Elliot smiled and waved back at her, and watched as she resumed her duties. When she had reached the dais, she still had quite a few petals left, so she spun around and walked back up a few feet before Elliot could stop her, and started scattering them around and headed back towards him. That got a small laugh from the crowd, and she beamed from the attention. When she reached Elliot, he squatted down.

"I did it." She whispered. "They're all gone!"

"Good job." He placed his hands on her cheeks and kissed her forehead. Elise wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You look very pretty Daddy." She whispered as she gave him a kiss.

"You too princess." He nudged her towards Kathleen. "Go sit with your sisters." He said. "And be good." He whispered behind as she turned and moved towards Kathleen's outstretched hand.

Elliot stood and took a deep breath, stretching his neck as he ran a finger beneath the color of his shirt. He felt Terry elbow him in the arm as Casey came into view and he realized he had completely forgotten about her; he'd been expecting Olivia.

Casey looked gorgeous in her long, pale pink dress and he smiled at her as she walked down the aisle. She stopped when she reached him and he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, already looking towards the back of the room to see if Olivia was there.

"You doing OK Stabler?" Casey asked in a hushed tone.

Elliot nodded.

"You look nervous as hell." She teased. "Don't worry. She's not gonna stand you up. She's still back there…and she looks absolutely stunning."

She moved to the side then, and turned back to face the rest of the guests.

At that moment, the music changed to Canon in D and Elliot turned from scanning the faces of the guest to the back of the room. His breath hitched when Olivia came into view. Don moved to her side and took her arm. When Casey said she looked stunning…she'd been dead on. The white dress fit her figure perfectly; the white a stark contrast against her dark skin. It was simple and elegant and he loved the fact that she'd left her hair down. The dark locks were curled and framed her face beautifully, and he noticed the rose colored lipstick as she gave him a small smile. His eyes moved up to hers, and he smiled broadly, wishing he could tell her how absolutely gorgeous she looked.

Their eyes locked…and in that moment, there was no one else in the room.

Olivia smiled back at him. Elliot looked so handsome. And just a little bit cocky, with his hands clasped together in front of him. He obviously wasn't nervous in the least, and she took some of his calm for herself.

Don squeezed her arm lightly. "Ready?"

Olivia whispered back. "Yes."

They started their slow processional down the aisle, and Olivia noticed that Elliot's eyes never left her. She really didn't see anyone else as she walked…her eyes were trained on him as well. When she got close, he stepped down from the dais and met her and Don. Don leaned over and kissed her cheek, and then he shook Elliot's hand.

"Take good care of her." He said gruffly and then smiled, knowing that was a foregone conclusion. He stepped to the side and sat down next to Dick and Elizabeth.

Elliot took a step closer to Olivia, holding out his arm as he turned to face the judge. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "You look so beautiful Olivia."

Olivia turned her head slightly and gave him a small smile. She could feel tears welling in the back of her eyes, and she had told herself she was not going to cry today. Elliot moved forward and they both stepped on up the dais to join Casey, Terry and Judge Donnelly.

"Ladies and Gentleman, I have been asked to preside over the wedding of Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson, and it is not a responsibility that I take lightly. I've known these two for quite a while and grown to admire and respect them. For what they do and what they have done, and for the humanity and empathy and generosity they give to the world. I'm happy to see them here, surrounded by family and friends, on this momentous day."

Judge Donnelly looked down at Elliot and Olivia, who were still facing her. "I have a few questions for you." She said with a smile.

Elliot let out a small nervous laugh, as a plethora of questions popped into his mind from their past history. He wiped the smile from his face when he saw her purse her lips, and he couldn't help feeling he was being scolded. He felt Olivia squeeze his arm slightly and he knew she felt the same way.

"Olivia Margaret Benson. Is it your intent to be married to Elliot Stabler on this day?"

"It is." Olivia answered solemnly.

"Will you love him, comfort him and honor him, in sickness and in health and be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"

"I will."

Donnelly turned to Elliot.

"Elliot Joseph Stabler. Is it your intent to be married to Olivia Benson on this day?"

"It is." Elliot answered, glancing over at Olivia, who was staring straight ahead.

"Will you love her, comfort her and honor her, in sickness and in health and be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

"I will."

Donnelly addressed the crowd. "Is there anyone present here that knows of any reason that the two people standing before us should not be wed?"

Elliot tensed slightly, almost expecting Munch to throw out some funny excuse, and Olivia laughed slightly as if she could read his mind again. The judge waited for what seemed longer than necessary, and Elliot raised an eyebrow when he looked up at her.

"OK then." The judge said. She motioned for them to turn to face each other, and Olivia took a deep breath, handed her bouquet to Casey and turned to face Elliot. He took her hands in his, looking down at them before he moved his eyes to meet hers. He could see tears brimming on her lower lashes, and he smile confidently, squeezing her hands lightly. "It's OK Liv." He whispered.

Olivia swallowed hard, trying to keep the tears at bay. She looked into Elliot's eyes, and she could see everything she'd ever wanted. Like that, her nerves were gone and she blinked away the tears. She took a deep breath and gave Elliot a big smile.

They'd opted to go with traditional vows, both nervous that they wouldn't remember them and neither impressed with their own writing skills. However, they'd told the judge that they may adlib a little at the end.

"Repeat after me." Judge Donnelly said. "I, Elliot Stabler, take you, Olivia Benson, to be my wife."

Elliot smiled when he heard the word wife. He took a small step forward, so he was a little closer to Olivia. "I, Elliot Stabler, take you, Olivia Benson, to be my wife." He remembered the rest, so he didn't wait for the judge. "To be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know, I will respect your integrity and your abiding love for me through all of our years, and in all that life may bring us." He leaned down slightly and looked into her eyes, wanting to add his own words. "God has given me my soulmate and I feel like the luckiest man alive. Sometimes I feel like I can't even make you understand how much I love you. I want to grow old with you, and there will never be anyone else for me until the day I die." He lifted their joined hands and placed a gentle kiss on the top of Olivia's hand. He looked up and saw the tears had returned, and he swiped his thumb beneath her eye to catch one that had escaped.

Judge Donnelly looked at Olivia. "Repeat after me."

Olivia didn't wait either and she didn't care what the judge thought. "I, Olivia Benson, take you, Elliot Stabler, to be my husband." Her voice wavered a little as she choked back the emotion. "To be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know, I will respect your integrity and your abiding love for me through all of our years, and in all that life may bring us. I feel like I've been blessed to have you in my life. I've loved you for as long as I can remember and I know it is a rare gift to have found someone that loves me and cares for me the way you do. I will treasure this gift until I take my last breath on this earth."

Elliot squeezed her hands as her last words fell from her mouth, and he wanted to pull her into his arms that very moment. She had swallowed back the tears though, and he saw a smile on her lips.

They both turned their heads to look at the judge, and she motioned to Terry. "The rings please."

Terry stepped over and handed her the rings. She held them in her hand, and picked out Olivia's ring. She handed it to Elliot.

Elliot dropped Olivia's hands as he took the ring from the judge. He turned back to Olivia and she lifted her left hand.

"I give you this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity." He said as he slipped it on her finger. He could feel her hand was shaking slightly, but when he looked at her, he saw only joy on her face. The tears were gone and she had a big smile on her face…almost a look of excitement and anticipation.

Olivia plucked Elliot's ring from Judge Donnelly's hand and took Elliot's hand in hers. "I give you this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity." She said, sliding it on his finger. It stuck a little around his knuckle and she had to push hard, getting a small laugh from Elliot.

Elliot and Olivia turned back towards the judge.

"Elliot and Olivia, in the presence of those assembled here today, have joined themselves to one another as husband and wife. What God has joined together, let no one separate." The judge winked at Elliot then and Olivia smiled at his sneaking just a little bit of religion into the ceremony.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present to you, for the first time as husband and wife, Elliot and Olivia Stabler."

Elliot and Olivia turned to face their guests, their hands clasped together.

"Elliot, you may kiss your bride!" Judge Donnelly said loudly as the crowd started to holler and clap.

Elliot turned to Olivia and pulled her close, wrapping one arm around her waist while his other hand tangled in her hair. He looked into Olivia's eyes and then he kissed his bride.

When he released her, they turned back to face the crowd. Their hands were clasped together, and they both had huge smiles on their face as their guests continued to clap. She heard someone whistle loudly and she quickly found Fin in the crowd. Casey thrust her bouquet back into her hands as the music started again, and Elliot stepped off the dais. He held Olivia's hand and helped her down, and Olivia looped her arm through his as they headed back down the aisle.

When they reached the back of the room, they turned to each other. Olivia wrapped her arms around Elliot's neck and he around her waist. He lifted her off the ground and twirled her around slightly as she leaned in to kiss him. As he set her down, the kids swarmed around them, and they broke apart, taking turns to hug each of them. Elise was tugging on Olivia's dress and Dick picked her up so she wouldn't get crushed in the melee. They were all in a tight knot, and Olivia felt such joy at being surrounded by their large family.

When the kisses and hugs were done, the kids started to move out of the way. Elliot took Olivia's hand again as they turned back towards their guests, and they saw everyone moving in their direction. First in line was Casey and Terry, followed closely by Don, Fin and Munch. They hadn't planned on having a receiving line, but it kind of turned into one, and they accepted congratulations mixed with a few smartass comments, along with hugs and kisses, from about half of their guests before Casey, Terry and Jamie were able to usher everyone into the next room.

Olivia started moving towards the other room but Elliot stayed in place, forcing her to stop. "Wait a minute." He said quietly.

Olivia turned to look at him, and he tugged on her hand, forcing her to close the gap between them.

"I want another kiss Mrs. Stabler."

Olivia raised an eyebrow and gave him a small smile. "We have guests waiting…"

"They can wait." He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her body against his. "I want to kiss my wife." He wrapped his hand behind her neck, letting his fingers get entangled into her hair. He pressed his lips against hers and he felt her relax in his arms.

Olivia snaked her arms around his neck and tilted her head, opening her mouth to him. Elliot smiled against her mouth; apparently the guests were forgotten.

"Ahem." Elliot and Olivia broke their kiss, and saw Don standing there. "Everyone is wondering what happened to the happy couple. I guess I can tell them that you already started on the honeymoon."

Olivia laughed. "We were just coming to join you." She slipped her hand into Elliot's and pulled him towards the doorway to the main room, following Don through the double doors.

There was a low murmur throughout the room and music was playing lightly in the background. People were standing around in small groups, some with drinks in their hands. Elliot snagged two glasses of champagne off a small table as they passed by, and handed one to Olivia. She took a sip of the sweet liquid as they made their way into the crowd.

They worked their way over to where Casey and her date were talking to Jamie and Terry, and thanked them for being in the wedding. They had just finished signing all of the paperwork with the Judge, and Casey noted Donnelly was over at the bar, getting a drink. It was just a few minutes later that she joined them, offering her congratulations as well. They all chatted for a few minutes and then Elliot and Olivia moved on.

"Olivia, you look radiant." Munch said, giving her another kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you John."

"You had a chance to back out Liv." Fin said. "The judge gave you plenty of time."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Elliot said, wrapping his arm around her waist. "She can't back out now."

Elliot saw Maureen waving him over. "I'll be right back." He figured she wanted him to meet Sam's parents.

Olivia was introduced to Fin and Munch's dates, and they chatted for a while longer. She excused herself and moved on to the next group, catching sight of Elise with Kathleen and Samantha out of the corner of her eye. She hoped she wasn't being too much trouble, but Samantha had assured her not to worry about her.

Olivia and Elliot kept working their way around the room, glancing up at each other every now and then, until it was time for dinner. They stood together at the head of the table as everyone was seated.

Elliot clinked his knife on his glass to get everyone's attention and the crowd quieted down.

He wrapped his right arm around Olivia's waist and gave her a quick smile before turning back to their guests. "Olivia and I want to thank everyone for being here and sharing this day with us. It means a lot to both of us. You're more than friends…you're our family. We hope you enjoy your evening…have some food…have a few drinks..." He looked over at his kids sitting on either side of them. "Except you." That got a small laugh. "Anyway. Thank you for all of your support over the years." He lifted up his glass. "And now…a toast…to my beautiful bride."

He clinked his glass with Olivia's, and they heard the tinkle of glasses around the room as they both took a sip.

Dinner was wonderful, but Olivia barely ate. She kept looking around the room, trying to absorb every detail...wanting to remember all of it. The sight, the smells, the sounds, the emotion. She would never have another day like this one…she never wanted another day like this one…and she wanted to commit it to memory.

"I love you Mrs. Stabler." Elliot whispered in her ear, getting her attention. She turned to face him.

"I love you Mr. Stabler." She said with a smile and gave him a quick kiss.

"Mommy!" Elise was standing between them suddenly. They had been so focused on each other, it startled them suddenly, and they both laughed. "I got chicken nuggets and French fries for dinner because the lady said I'm special."

Elliot pulled Elise up on his lap. "You are special." He said, kissing the top of her head. "And I didn't have a chance to tell you how pretty you look today."

"Like Mommy." Elise said.

"Like Mommy."

"Kathleen said there's gonna be music and dancing in a little bit. Can I dance too?"

"Absolutely." Olivia said.

"But she said you get to dance with Daddy first."

Olivia laughed. "I do. But you'll get your turn."

That seemed to appease her, and she hopped off Elliot's lap. "OK but let's hurry it up." And she was gone.

EOEOEOEOEO

There had been a small break after dinner, and while the guests were having dessert, Elliot and Olivia had some photos taken. Some of just the two of them and some with the kids. When they were done, they went back into the room, and saw that many of the tables and chairs had been moved to make room for people to dance. There was a man in a corner with a sound and light board, and the music was queuing up. Elliot and Olivia had left the music to the kids; so they weren't sure what to expect. But Kathleen had assured them there would be a good mix, and something for the "old" people.

The DJ called for the bride and groom and Elliot took Olivia's hand and led her out onto the dance floor. Olivia didn't really like being the center of attention, nor was she a good dancer. But neither was Elliot.

"One dance Liv." He said. "Then everyone will join in."

Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton was playing over the speakers, and Elliot wrapped one arm around her waist and grasped her left hand in his right. He pulled her close, and started moving her gently around the dance floor.

Olivia melted against him, resting her cheek against his. "This has been such a magical day El." She whispered. "It almost doesn't feel like it's real."

"It's real." Elliot whispered back. "One of the best days of my life."

"Thank you."

"For what?" Elliot asked, still whispering quietly.

"For talking me out of a wedding at City Hall."

Elliot chuckled. "It was for selfish reasons. I wanted to see you in that white dress walking down the aisle."

"I didn't think I'd ever be here. That we'd ever be here."

"I did."

"Even…" She stopped herself, not wanting to bring up the darker part of their history.

"I had hope." Elliot said, reading her thoughts once again.

"When I gave you no reason to."

"I had enough faith for the both of us."

"We wouldn't be here if you hadn't." She thought about everything that had happened, and that it had all hinged on Elliot's forgiveness. She would never underestimate the power of love again…and it might have even made her believe in powers she had never had any reason to believe in before.

"Everything happens for a reason Liv. We met…we became friends…we fell in love…we were meant to be together." He pulled back slightly and she did too. "I meant what I said during the ceremony Olivia. They weren't empty words. I'll love you until the day I die." He kissed her gently. "You know that right?"

Olivia nodded. "I know." He pressed her lips to his. "I love you too."

Elliot smiled. "I know. And now... Less talking and more dancing." He pressed his cheek to hers again and whirled her around on the dance floor.

Before they knew it, the song had ended, and another was starting. The kids had swarmed them, and Elliot was dancing with Maureen and Olivia was dancing with Dick and pretty soon they were all dancing together. In another few minutes, it seemed that all of their guests were on the floor and the music turned to something faster. Olivia was dancing with Casey and all the girls, and she saw Elise laughing as Elliot held her in her arms and moved around the dance floor.

By the time 10PM rolled around, the party was in full swing. Everyone had had a little too much to drink, and Olivia was glad to have Don there to keep track of everyone and call some taxis. She had gone over to the bar to get a glass of water; she was slightly buzzed from wine and champagne.

"I'll have some water too." She heard Elliot's voice as he came up behind her and rested his hand on the small of her back. When they had their drinks in hand, they both turned and leaned against the bar, looking at the scene in front of them. Everyone was out dancing, with the exception of Don, Terry and Jamie. Elise was sound asleep, stretched out on the table in front of Don, with a scrunched up tablecloth tucked under her head and his hand on her back. The music was pumping and Olivia laughed as she watched Munch out on the dance floor. "I'm glad everyone is having a good time."

Elliot chuckled beside her. "Me too." He slipped his hand into hers and started to lead her towards the door.

"Where are we going?" Olivia asked, looking back at their guests.

"Don't you trust me?" Elliot asked, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

"Of course…but our guests." She motioned back into the room.

"Won't miss us." They had slipped through the doors and into the room where the wedding had taken place. The room was still dimly lit by the soft light of the candles. Elliot spun around and faced Olivia, stepping into her space. She backed up slightly with each step he took, a small smile on her face. Elliot reached for her before she hit the wall.

"What are you doing?" Olivia asked in a whisper.

Elliot closed the last gap between them, and her back connected softly with the wall. He rested his left arm on the wall next to her head, and the other hand on her waist. "I'm kissing my wife." He whispered, leaning in and grasping her lower lip between his. He released her mouth. "My wife. I like the sound of that."

Olivia wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her mouth against his. When she released his lips, she smiled against his mouth. "Olivia Stabler." She said the name softly. They had fought about taking his last name, but now she was glad she had.

"It sounds good." Elliot placed a kiss on her jaw and then started kissing his way down her neck.

"It does." She let out a heavy sigh. She couldn't remember feeling more content than she did right now. "I'm so ridiculously happy right now."

Elliot lifted his mouth from her neck and straightened up, looking into her eyes. "Me too."

Elliot turned his head as he heard a cheer come from the other room. The music started pumping and he could hear clapping. He looked back at Olivia and pressed a gentle kiss on her lips. "You want to get out of here Mrs. Stabler?"

Olivia smiled and pressed her hand to his heart. "Well, Mr. Stabler…I thought you'd never ask."

Fin