A/N: This started out as a songfic for the Patty Loveless song "Lonely Too Long," but we all know what a stubborn man Elliot Stabler can be. He sort of took over and started being funny and witty and I just let him get away with it. The story got a little out of hand. R&R as always! Kisses!

Disclaimer: Only my overactive imagination belongs to me.

Elliot opened his eyes to glance at the clock. Fifteen minutes until the alarm would go off. Fifteen minutes to hold the girl he'd fallen for. He wrapped his arms around her a little tighter and snuggled deeper into the down comforter.

"Are you awake?" she asked.

"Mhm. How'd you sleep?"

"Good," she answered.

Now that he was fully awake, Elliot noticed how tense she was.

"What's wrong, Liv?" he asked.

"Nothing!" she answered brightly. "Why would you think something's wrong?"

"Um, because you're my partner, my best friend and I've FINALLY had the extreme pleasure of seeing you naked. I know when something's wrong." He felt her resolve weaken a little.

"Do you think we made a mistake last night?" she asked.

"Nope. Do you?" he asked.

"I don't know, El. Your kids… Kathy…" she sighed.

"Olivia, honey. My kids are 22, 19, and 17. They know their old man has sex. And Kathy's my EX wife, so if she has a problem with it, that's just tough. Liv, I care about you. A LOT. And I've wanted this for a long time."

Olivia smiled. He couldn't see her face, but he knew she smiled. He could read her like a book.

"Me too," she agreed.

"Liv, I want you to know there hasn't been anyone since Kathy. And we probably had sex twice in the last year we were married. And Liv?"

"Yeah?"

Elliot turned her in his arms so she was facing him.

"Having sex with her through 20 years of marriage and four kids will never compare to making love to you even one time," he said very seriously.

"That's very sweet," Olivia said tearing up. "But don't you worry at all?" she asked.

"Of course. I'm a parent. I worry about anything that affects my kids. But I also know this will be okay. I'd never hurt you Liv. And my kids adore you. This is going to be fine, I promise you," he said, dropping a kiss on her forehead.

"Can we work them in slowly?" she asked. "Like one day at a time?" she bit her bottom lip.

Elliot laughed. "Bummer. I was planning on telling them you had a shitty day yesterday and came over here to talk and ended up jumping my bones!"

Olivia smacked his shoulder. "That is NOT what happened!" she exclaimed.

"Sure it is!" Elliot gathered her to his chest.

"Is it? Well please, tell me more, Detective," Olivia rolled her eyes.

"Well, you came over and you were upset, and you said you'd feel better if I'd kiss you all over your body and if I'd make love to you all night. One thing led to another and here we are," he said, the patented Elliot Stabler grin exposing his dimples.

"Oh please! Nice try, Stabler! As I recall, you took advantage of my vulnerability," she teased.

"Oh really?" he asked.

"Mhm," she answered. "I had a terrible day and I came over here to talk to you and you kept trying to take my clothes off!" Olivia grinned. She loved her best friend. She loved the teasing banter of their relationship – it felt like they'd been together for years.

"Hmm. You're right. I did take advantage of you," Elliot agreed, teasingly.

"See!?" Olivia chided.

"So if I took advantage of you, then I guess it's up to me to deal with the kids and you shouldn't worry," he said, kissing her collarbone.

"And you're going to tell them what?" she asked, enjoying the slow torture he was putting her through.

"That you jumped my bones," Elliot answered.

Olivia burst into a fit of giggles. "I hate you," she said.

"No, you don't," Elliot emphasized his point by placing a tiny row of kisses down her stomach.

Olivia shivered. "Seriously, honey. Can we work them in slowly?"

"Whatever you want, baby. I want this to be as easy for you as possible."

"Okay. Thank you."

"Of course. Your happiness is important to me, Olivia. I hope you know that."

"I do. I love you, El."

Elliot smiled. He knew she meant it mostly in the "friends" sort of way, but he'd take it. She'd come around. He'd work at her until she cracked under the pressure of his love. "Right back atcha."

The alarm rang, interrupting their heart to heart.

"Dammit," Olivia groaned. She rolled to her side and sat up on the edge of the bed. Elliot kissed a trail down her spine.

"Don't go yet," he said.

"Babe, I don't want to. But I can't go to work in track pants and a sweatshirt," she smiled.

"Fine," Elliot pouted. Olivia laughed at him, laying there, naked, very much a grown man, pouting like a petulant child.

"Stabler, you're pathetic," she said, pulling on her sweatshirt and track pants.

"I know. Do you feel bad enough for me that you'll stay?" he stuck out his lip.

Olivia laughed again. "Uh, no. But. I will come back tonight if you want. And you'll see me all day at work."

"Yeah, but not naked. And yes, I do want you to come back tonight," Elliot said.

"Okay. I'll see you in a couple hours," Olivia said, slipping her feet into her running shoes.

Elliot pulled her back to him for a lingering kiss. "Oh man," he said as she pulled away at the end. "I'm not going to last all day."

Olivia patted his shoulder. "Be strong," she said.

"I'll try."

Olivia headed for the door of the apartment, stopping long enough to grab her keys off the kitchen table. Before she got the chance to turn the door handle, the door flew open, and Olivia found herself face to face with Lizzie, Elliot's 17-year-old daughter.

"Uh, is my dad here?" Lizzie asked lamely, the key to Elliot's apartment dangling from her fingertips.

So much for working them in slowly.

A/N: What do you think? Want more? Or is it okay as a one shot? R&R! Let me know! XOXO, Kinsey