I know some of my readers will be sorry to hear that this is the final chapter of this story. However … before you start crying or yelling at me: there will be more. I need some time to finish other stories to clear my head, but I am fully intending to write a sequel to this story! Just no promises on when, okay? I do have a home, a family and a day job so bear with me.
I have marked this story as completed now, but I will leave a note here (chapter 32) once I start publishing the sequel. So anyone following this story will be notified, as will anyone following me.
It's been a huge pleasure writing this story and very satisfying to learn that I actually have diehard EO shippers rooting for Langan now. Mission Accomplished! :)
Anyway, enjoy this final chapter of Chess Moves - A Knight for a Queen!
...
31. Checkmate
Having lived in New York city all her life, Olivia has never, ever considered going on a dinner cruise in her own city. But it's been amazing, with live music playing on the cruise ship and of course, perfect company. After a romantic evening with exquisite food, wine and dancing, Olivia and Trevor go back to Olivia's apartment for a nightcap.
"Did you enjoy the sightseeing?" Trevor asks during the cab ride home.
"You know, I didn't think I would but I really don't know everything about the city at all," Olivia admits, snuggling close to him in the backseat.
"I'm glad you liked it."
"By the way, you're a great dancer," Olivia tells him.
"Dancing is the perfect excuse to hold you close," Trevor replies and she turns her head to kiss his cheek, telling him,
"You can hold me close anytime."
When they arrive at her building, Trevor quickly pays the driver and they go up together.
"It's not as huge as your place, but I call it home," Olivia says, gesturing around her after Trevor has closed the door behind them.
He has only been inside her apartment once before, but that was before she knew how he lived. She's spent most of her spare time at his place this past week, and she sees the contrast now. Trevor comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist. He leans in to kiss her neck and tells her softly,
"I'd live in a cardboard box if that's what it takes to be with you."
Olivia laughs out loud and turns around in his arms.
"I'm sure you can afford something bigger."
They kiss each other sweetly and after a few spontaneous dance steps, Trevor leads her to the couch.
"Speaking of living arrangements ..." he says, tugging at her hand while he sits down.
"Yes?" she asks, her heartbeat quickening slightly.
What is he getting at now?
She sits down beside him and she can tell that he is thinking, trying to choose his words carefully.
"I've been thinking," he starts. "What if … you and me started looking for a place where we could live together?"
Her eyes widen a bit. Whatever she had expected, it's not this.
"Live together? As in … officially?"
Trevor nods, pursing his lips. Olivia can tell by the look on his face that there is more.
"Yeah. I was thinking that maybe, instead of moving into one of our current places, you'd prefer to find something that's fresh and new for both of us. Sort of a clean slate."
"Trevor," Olivia sighs. "That's a big step. And would you … would you really give up that amazing apartment of yours for me?"
"For us," Trevor corrects her. "In a heartbeat Liv. And if you would want me to come and live here, no problem."
Olivia is touched by Trevor's genuine excitement about moving in together. She's trying to let it sink in a little more each day that this is really happening. That she's really found this incredible man to love, who wants nothing more than to share his life with her. It will take some time for her to relax into the new life he's opened up for her, but they're not kids anymore and they know what they want. Maybe moving in together would be a logical next step.
"Would you really move here? Leave all that luxury behind that you're used to?" she asks him.
She doesn't know yet what she would want, but she can hardly believe he'd move into her tiny one bedroom apartment just to be with her.
"I would," Trevor confirms. "Baby, I haven't always lived like that. My parents had to work hard to help me get through college and law school, and I had a job myself. I'm not some spoiled brat who doesn't know anything else. Deep down, I'm just an ordinary guy and all I want is for us to be together. Everything else is expendable."
Olivia blows out a breath and leans back against the backrest of the couch.
"And Liv," Trevor continues, and Olivia turns her head without lifting it to look at him. "I have one more question to ask you."
He fumbles a bit while he tries to get something out of his jacket pocket, and Olivia sits up straight, watching him. She feels herself getting nervous as if her subconscious already knows what's coming.
…
Trevor has been looking forward to this moment all night. He's watched his beautiful girlfriend and he loves how she laughs so freely these days, like when they were dancing on the cruise ship and he whispered naughty things in her ear. He knows they haven't been dating for very long yet but he knows what he wants. It's her. Olivia is the woman he's been waiting for all his life. She is that one woman who is worth all the outrageousness in the world, as he put it during their very first dinner together. He loves her more than he can express in words and he wants to do everything in his power to help her deal with the aftermath of her traumatic childhood. He wants to see her pregnant with his children and he wants to admire her when she proves to the world, and herself, what a wonderful mother she will turn out to be. He wants it all with her and so he stands up, moves in front of Olivia, who looks up at him with a confused look on her face, and drops to one knee.
"Olivia Benson, I don't just want to live with you. I want everything with you. Basically, I want you - to have and to hold. So I want to ask you …"
He takes a shaky breath and he can see the realisation dawning on Olivia's face. He's thought about doing this during dinner but he knows she doesn't like to be the center of attention. This moment, in the safety of her own apartment, is the perfect moment to ask her,
"My darling Olivia, will you marry me?"
He holds his breath and Olivia stops breathing for a moment too. She's staring at him and he can't really read her right now. He sees a sheen of tears fill her eyes and she blinks a few times.
"Breathe Liv," he says softly and she gives him a weak smile then.
"Marry you?" she says, her voice barely more than a whisper. "You really want to marry me?"
"Yes. I really want to marry you," Trevor says as firmly as he can. "What did you think I wanted when I went after you? Not an affair Liv. I want something real and lasting this time. With you. I've only ever wanted that with you."
He opens the box he's been clutching in his hand and holds it out to her, showing her the ring he's bought. It's not too big, not too flashy. He knows she wouldn't want that. He can afford a big rock but he's chosen a delicate ring instead, with one sparkling diamond set in a smooth band of white gold. It's a ring that matches the real Olivia that he has the privilege of getting to know a little more every day.
"It's … it's beautiful," Olivia stammers.
"Will you wear it Liv?" he asks once more and he almost tumbles backwards from relief when she finally starts nodding.
"I … yes. Yes, I will wear it."
She reaches for him and he moves into her arms quickly, staying on his knees in front of her, and holds her as she wraps her arms tightly around his neck.
"Trevor," she sighs in his neck.
"I love you," he whispers back. "Please marry me."
He feels her nod again and he holds her even tighter when she whispers softly,
"Yes."
…
Five months later
"So?" Olivia asks her partner. "Is she coming?"
Elliot grins widely at her.
"She is."
"That's great El."
Olivia gives him a spontaneous hug.
"You're too late now, Stabler. She's taken," Fin remarks dryly when he sees them hugging.
Elliot rolls his eyes and pats Olivia on the back before letting go of her.
"She's going to be a beautiful bride."
"I can't believe it's only a few more days," Olivia sighs.
She sits down at her desk and looks at the framed photo that now graces her desk. She had been a little reluctant at first but Trevor had convinced her that it was a Langan family tradition to have an official engagement portrait made. She's happy with the photo now and smiles at her handsome fiancé on the photo from time to time.
They haven't started apartment hunting yet. Olivia will move in with Trevor after the wedding and they'll take it from there after their honeymoon.
"Paris huh?" Munch says, walking up to her and perching himself on the side of her desk. "They say it's beautiful this time of year."
"Paris is beautiful all year around," Olivia says. "I still can't believe I'm finally going to see it."
"Are you sure you're not marrying for money, Ms. Benson?" Munch jokes, and Olivia laughs out loud.
"I love that sound," they hear their Captain say as he comes walking out of his office. "But why are you still here, Benson? I thought you'd be busy planning your wedding."
"Trevor's got us a wedding planner," Olivia says, her voice betraying some disapproval.
"Well, that's a good thing, ain't it?" Fin asks.
"I guess," Olivia sighs. "It's just so … I don't know. To hire someone, I mean actually pay them? That's for rich people."
Casey Novak enters the squad room and catches the tail of Olivia's remarks.
"You are rich people now, Liv. Get used to it," she says loudly. "Now just tell me that he has a brother who is still single and point me in his direction on the big day."
They all laugh and Casey makes a pouty face when Olivia assures her Trevor only has a sister.
"But he may have cousins. I don't know the entire family yet," she tells the ADA, who cheers up immediately.
"If you can get me a man like yours, I will forgive you for holding out on me," Casey declares solemnly, and the others chuckle at her remark.
Everyone is happy for Olivia and while she is marrying into the Langan family, Olivia knows that these people will always be her family too. And they're all going to be there on her big day.
…
(A/N: I recommend playing the song mentioned while you read the very last part. It's "Grow Old with Me", the cover by Mary Chapin Carpenter. And maybe take another look at Peter and Mariska's wedding pictures!)
It's a perfect day. The best day of his life by far. Olivia is a stunning bride and they both can't stop grinning from the moment they see each other. Olivia had chosen to walk down the aisle alone and he couldn't be more proud of his fierce, strong and beautiful bride. Linda, Peter and Elliot had all been part of the ceremony and when Elliot and Olivia had exchanged a look of understanding, Olivia had squeezed Trevor's hand.
He doesn't need her reassurance anymore. He can see now that, while Elliot is very important to Olivia, he has a different role in her life. Elliot is her partner and her friend. He is now her husband. Trevor looks around as all their guests file into the room for the party, and sees Kathy Stabler congratulating Olivia. Olivia has told him that the estranged spouses are on speaking terms again, and want to try and work things out once and for all. It was a wonderful surprise when she agreed to accompany Elliot to their wedding as his date and when he sees Elliot look at Kathy, he sees hope in the man's eyes. And he hopes for them both that they will make it work again.
When Trevor set out on this journey, this game of chess, he thought the goal was to conquer the Queen. But when he looks at her now, his heart skips a beat and he realizes that he hasn't conquered the Queen at all. No, he's down on the floor and at her mercy. She has defeated him. In the end, she has conquered his King. It's checkmate for her and it always will be. He has never been happier to surrender the game; his heart; his life.
When the host announces the first dance, Trevor walks over to his wife, and takes her hand. She turns to him and then it's as if there is nobody else in the room but the two of them.
"Mrs. Langan," Trevor whispers, and Olivia answers him with a wide smile.
They have agreed that she will remain Detective Benson on the job, but off the clock, she will proudly be Mrs. Trevor Langan from now on. He holds her close and kisses her forehead when they start to dance, oblivious to the people watching them and blinking away happy tears for the radiant couple.
The band is playing the song they have chosen, the song that will always be their song after today, and Olivia lets the words sink in deeply. She knows her heart has found a home at last and they stare into each other's eyes, their foreheads glued together, and tell each other wordlessly that they want to live by the words of the song forever.
Grow old along with me
The best is yet to be
When our time has come
We will be as one
God bless our love
God bless our love
Grow old along with me
Two branches of one tree
Face the setting sun
When the day is done
God bless our love
God bless our love
Spending our lives together
Man and wife together
World without end
World without end
Grow old along with me
Whatever fate decrees
We will see it through
For our love is true
God bless our love
God bless our love
...
THE END
(for now)
...
Thank you for reading! Reviews are life.
Until next time, Anne.