Disclaimer: I do not own Law & Order SVU or any of its characters. Dick Wolf does. This story is solely for fun, practice, and hopefully someone's entertainment. I only own this story and any characters I create.

What you need to know: Elliot's divorce was finalized two months ago and Olivia has been earnest in her quest to be the best partner and friend she can be to Elliot. Elliot has different plans though. Elliot wants Olivia. Olivia is clueless and trying to be the best buddy possible. Finn is trying to help and keep his new girl a secret. Gillian has a crush on Finn. Trevor has a thing for Gillian. Huang has a thing for Trevor and Munch is greatly amused by his colleague's ineptitudes in romance.

The Dating Game!

It had a rough week in the 1-6. Case after case. One case involving a rather brutal rape of a child had ran for seventy-two hours straight. Needless to say by Friday everybody was edgy.

Olivia sat at her desk her head bent over her D-5 her brown locks spilling from the precarious knot she had piled them into in frustration. She looked up at the rather large sigh that came from diagonal to her.

"Do you realize it is eight o'clock on a Friday night, we all single, and slaving away at work?" John Munch eyed his colleagues over his glasses. "None of us have a life, it's pathetic."

"Speak for yourself old man." Finn said under his breath but not quite quiet enough for Munch keen sense of hearing.

"Do tell my partner; is there something or someone exciting that you are referring to?" Munch grinned like a Cheshire cat when he caught the slow pink flush on Finn's neck. "Are you blushing, Odafin? This should be good."

"It will not be good because there is nothing to tell. I repeat nothing to tell so don't start one of your crazy conspiracy theories around my love life."

Olivia grinned now catching her partner's eye she winked. "Love life, Finn?"

Finn groaned.

Elliot grinned back at Olivia and pushed his chair back from the desk. "You said it Finn, love life?"

Finn glared at them all in turn. "Okay, I have plans tonight."

"With a girl?" John wagged his eyebrows and Olivia burst out laughing.

"Yes, she is a girl." Finn said his jaw tight.

"So who is your new girlfriend?" Munch smiled. "Let us live vicariously."

"First, she is not my girlfriend. She is someone I have plans with." Finn stated firmly.

"Someone you're seeing?" Olivia said smiling at Finn.

"No, I mean yeah. I don't know. That depends on your definition of seeing." Finn responded.

"Definition, Benson. You are longest singleton here." Munch inquired.

"Wow, thank you John. I really needed that reminder." Olivia dryly replied. "Seeing someone means at least three outside the house events at night."

"Wow, Benson. How long have you and Stabler been seeing each other?" Munch grinned then feigned injury when the crumpled ball of paper Olivia had threw hit him square in the head.

"Okay, clarification." Olivia pointedly looked at Munch before continuing. "Seeing someone means at least three outside the house evening outings that end in a kiss."

Finn laughed at his colleagues. "What kind of kiss?"

"Yeah." Munch grinned. "Closed or open, Liv?"

"God, please say open." Elliot said under his breath.

"What?" Liv said looking at Elliot confused.

Munch was now grinning like a Cheshire cat again. "I think Stabler said open mouth and something about God? I didn't quite catch that Elliot."

Olivia looked more confused. Elliot glared at Munch. Finn rolled his eyes.

"I am outta here, guys. You can continue to debate the merits of this topic and I might let you know tomorrow." Finn smirked.

Finn grabbed his coat from the back of chair and with a wave he was gone. Munch focused on his two colleagues left. Olivia's head had dropped back to her paperwork and Elliot had resumed his ogling of his partner. Munch laughed at the look of Elliot face. He was completely totally enamored. Munch did not know when exactly the change had occurred but it had.

Olivia looked up from her now completed paperwork and met her partner's eyes. She smiled warmly.

"Are you done?"

"Yeah." Elliot replied. "You hungry?"

"Starving." Olivia replied.

"You want to go to that new place that we saw on Saturday?" Elliot asked keeping his tone casual.

"Really? That would be great." Olivia said smiling.

Olivia jumped up from her chair and grabbed her jacket. Elliot did the same. Munch watched them smiling it after all Friday night that was going out night. Munch had been privy to this weird buddy thing for the last six months which basically had them spending ever second together. It was actually quite adorable watching them dance around each other.

Elliot waited for Olivia to reach his desk. They both turned to say goodnight to Munch who grinned at them with a mock salute.

"Have fun kiddies. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." He called out.

Olivia rolled her eyes at Elliot. They walked to the elevator together their stride a perfect match.

Elliot and Olivia arrived at the restaurant and were seated by 0930. Elliot watched as Olivia perused the menu, scrunch her nose up every now and then, it was the cutest thing. Elliot Stabler had begun to think everything that his partner did was either adorable or downright sexy. She had begun to occupy his thoughts more and more. It was beginning to difficult for him to concentrate at work. He wanted to talk to Olivia but each time he went anywhere close to the subject she would veer in another direction. Elliot was contemplating whether he should make a more direct move.

"So what do are we having?" Liv asked knowing that they would ultimately split both meals. It was their habit. Olivia looked up from her menu and smiled at her partner. He looked happy. Olivia had been worried when the split with Kathy occurred and the divorce followed. She wanted Elliot to be happy he was her best friend. She felt in some ways with the first split she had failed him and she was determined not to do that again. "I am thinking the filet?" Liv eyed Elliot over the top of the menu.

"Sounds good? What are you doing tomorrow? " Elliot inquired.

"Not to much because we are on call. What did you have in mind?" Olivia reached for the rolls placed in front of them.

"Lizzie and Dickie want to go precollege shopping, I was hoping for reinforcements." Elliot said wryly. "You up for it, Benson?"

"Sure." Olivia laughed at the grimace on Elliot face. "Its not that bad."

"Yeah, they won't be using your credit card." Elliot replied.

Olivia smirked ready to reply back when her beeped. "It's Gillian."

"Hope it is not about the Ryland case." Elliot groaned.

Gillian's text: Hey, Liv. Remember how you said that you wanted to help Elliot be happy well I may have a solution. My friend Ronnie is here. We could do a group happy hour. See how it all pans out. You could tell Finn. Oh, and tell Munch of course. Tommorrow night, I will text you details. Kay. G.

Olivia frowned. She had mentioned this to Gillian awhile back wanting to be a good friend to Elliot. Now, she felt a sinking feeling of dread in her stomach accompanied by a sore taste in her mouth. Ronnie?