1:00 pm, Manhattan SVU Squadroom.

Detective Olivia Benson strolled into the 16th precinct completely unaware of what had just transpired between her co-workers in her absence. While Olivia was out to lunch with her best friend, Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot, back inside the squadroom Detectives Elliot Stabler, John Munch, and Odafin Tutuola were heatedly discussing the nature of the relationship between the two extremely private and reserved women.

60 minutes earlier

"I'm off to Alex's office. Call me if something comes up. See you guys in a few!" Olivia announced as she flew out the door with her coat in hand.

"Ah to be young again. She's sure to come back with a smile on her face after her afternoon delight with our illustrious ADA," Munch whispered to his partner Fin.

"I don't know whose luckier: Liv, Alex, or that couch in Alex's office," Fin replied.

"You guys are nuts! I've known Liv for years. She's like a little sister to me. And I know for a fact she trusts me with her life. She'd tell me if something was going on even if she wouldn't tell you two jokers," Elliot declared with a satisfied smirk.

"You never know man, maybe she's stayin' tight lipped about it 'cause she knows you're such a good Catholic boy," Fin offered.

Elliot scowled in response. "She knows that wouldn't change anything. We see enough twisted forms of 'love' everyday in our line of work that I'd never deny anyone real love and happiness if they were lucky enough to find it."

Fin smirked good-naturedly. "I'm jus' messin' with you man. I know you're cool with it. We all are. And we all just want our girl to be happy."

Every the conspiracy theorist, Munch just had to throw in his two cents. "Well let's examine the evidence shall we. People's 1: Ever since Liv and Alex have had their standing lunch date every Tuesday, our ADA has been so much more... 'accommodating' on Wednesdays."

"People's 2: Liv's never taken off without the Cap givin' her a direct order to leave, but lately, she's been eyeballin' the clock. She takes her full lunch break and she's outta here on time whenever she can," Fin continued.

"People's 3: Alex's visit to the squadroom have increased exponentially in number in the past few weeks."

"People's 4: Cabot always takes a seat on Liv's desk and Liv's is the only cup Cabot'll ever refill when she refills her own."

"People's 5: The looks they've been giving each other, the private smile..." Munch started, but was abruptly cut off by Elliot who had turned slightly pink from embarrassment over the fact that he'd failed to see any of this.

"Alright alright already. That's enough. We're Detectives! This is all just speculation - we can't find guilt based on circumstantial evidence! First of all, we don't know what Alex does on Tuesday nights to make her so agreeable on Wednesday mornings. Secondly, we should be glad Liv is finally taking some time for herself. We all know that the last few cases have hit pretty close to home for her. Furthermore, it's becauseof those cases that Alex has had to come down here so much. Hell, half of the time, we'rethe one's calling her down here! She's probably so tired from making her trips here that she needs to sit for a minute and Liv's is the only desk not piled high with crap. And as for the coffee thing, well, she only has two hands and she probably wouldn't want to give one of us boneheads the wrong idea by filling one of ours."

"Whatever El. Look, all we're sayin' is it's possible. Ya know?"

"Right. I mean, it's not like we're saying it's a bad thing. They're both stunning women and they've got a lot in common. If it is true, then I say 'Mazal Tov'," Munch stated matter-of-fact-ly.

"Pfft. Now I know you guys have lost it. What could the Ice Princess and Olivia possibly have in common?"

"Their dedication to justice."

"Their compassion for the victims."

"Their seemingly solitary lifestyles."

"The fact that they're women tryin' to make it in the good ol' boys club."

"Their lack of interest in the multitude of eligible men vying for their attention." Munch and Fin offered their answers in quick succession.

"Whatever. I still say you guys are nuts. Come on now, let's eat! My fries are getting cold." Elliot brushed them off while making a mental note to talk to Liv later.

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5:00 pm. The sidewalk just outside of the 16th precinct.

"Come on Liv, I'll give you a lift home."

"Thanks El."

"No problem partner."

As they walked to the car and got in, Elliot was mentally preparing himself for the conversation he was about to have. He'd been thinking all day about how to broach the topic, but he still didn't know what he was going to say. Sensing her partner's discomfort 30 seconds into the trip, Olivia took pity on him.

"What's on your mind El?"

"Huh?! What? Oh...it's nothing Liv."

"Come on El. I know you better than that. You know I'll get it out of you eventually. Might as well just tell me now and save us both a lot of trouble."

Knowing he'd been caught but still not ready to dive into the deep end of the conversation yet, he shrugged non-commitally and muttered, "lesbians..."

Liv's raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow in question. "Is this one of those things I'll regret knowing about you?" she half-joked.

"What? Oh. No! No Liv, of course not. I was just thinking that I'm surrounded by a number of women and if one of them came to me and said 'I'm a lesbian', that'd be okay with me, you know?"

"Has Maureen been hinting at it or something? Is she...?"

"No, it's nothing like that. But if she was, I would hope that she would trust me enough to talk to me about it. And I'd hope that she knows that I love her and nothing would ever change that." Elliot stated and gave his partner a pointed look as he pulled over in front of her building.

"Okay. Well, thanks for the ride. I appreciate it."

"Anytime Liv. Should I pick you up tomorrow morning?"

"No thanks. I'm meeting with Alex tomorrow morning for breakfast and we're gonna go over my testimony for the Adams case."

"Oh okay. G'night then." Elliot replied succinctly.

"Night El. Say hi to Kathy and the girls for me." Olivia waved as stepped up further onto the curb and rummaged for her keys.

"Will do." As Elliot drove off smiling, he thought to himself, Maybe it's not Tuesday nights that make the counselor agreeable on Wednesdays. What if it's Wednesday mornings? Maybe the guys were partially right...