Hey everyone! I've had this story idea for a while and finally began to write it. I hope you guys enjoy it, please review and let me know if you want me to continue! If I get positive feedback, I'll put up the second chapter that I already have written. Enjoy! :)

Chapter 1

Olivia sat at her desk in the dimly lit precinct. Her usually well-kept hair was a mess as she cleaned up all of her files. She was putting files of open cases into a box for Cragen when her heart stopped. Under a folder was an upside down picture frame. Picking it up and flipping it over, Olivia's eyes began to water. It was a picture of Elliot, his mother, Olivia, and her mother when they had first started working together. It was taken at a dinner to welcome the two new detectives to the job.

"I miss you, Mom," Olivia whispered, a tear rolling down her left cheek. She put the picture frame inside her bag and almost jumped when the door opened.

"Olivia, what on Earth are you still doing here?" Cragen asked. He flipped the lights on and noticed a tear on her face. "Are you alright?"

She glanced up at the man she looked at as a father. She wiped her eyes and sighed. "I don't want to leave."

"Everyone has a time to go. Look at yourself, you take all of the cases to heart and it's taking a toll on you. Elliot is always concerned about you and I don't want it to ruin how well you work together. Does Elliot know about this?" Cragen asked, sitting across from her.

"About what? Me leaving? Yeah, he's not too happy," Olivia sighed. "I guess everything is just taking its toll on me. Cragen, you know I don't want to leave. I love it here; it's like my second home. Actually, no. It's my only home. Coming to the precinct is like returning to my family after a long day. I don't know how I'm going to function without this job."

"You're still welcomed here any time and you know that. This job is no longer healthy for you, Olivia. You're not as strong mentally as you used to be, everyone knows it. You're still the stubborn yet intelligent detective, but you're just not able to mentally handle this. No one is angry at you for this, you're turning forty soon. Everyone's going to do this sometime," Cragen replied. "I can bet any amount of money that within weeks of you leaving, Elliot does too."

Olivia sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "Are you going to try and find a new partner for him?"

"And do what? Try to replace you? I'd have to go through the whole world to try and find another woman that can stand him. You two had something special, you know. No one could get Elliot to talk after the divorce except you," Cragen pointed out. "And if I remember correctly, you wouldn't let anyone but Elliot see you cry after your last case."

Olivia felt tears brimming her eyes when she thought about the last case. A 16 year old girl called in after being raped by the man who raped and murdered her mother. This particular case brought sadness and anger to Olivia, but also fear. She feared that the man who raped her mother would soon attempt to rape her. No one understood that fear but Elliot and Cragen. The fear prevented her from working her hardest on cases and that was when she knew she needed to go.

"Don't worry Olivia, you're always welcomed back here," Cragen reassured her after a moment of silence. "Have you seen Elliot?"

She shook her head and closed the last drawer, "He went to the cribs but I haven't seen him in a few hours."

"Talking about me again, Olivia?" Elliot said, smirking as he walked into the room. "I see I'm a hot topic tonight."

"Olivia and I were actually just talking about her leaving, and all the good times we've had here," Cragen said. Elliot's smirk quickly turned into a frown and he looked at Olivia as she looked down. "But it is getting late and I'm getting old so I should be heading out soon."

"Don't worry about me, I'll just take a cab home," Olivia said. She handed Cragen her box of open cases and closed the other boxes lying around her table. "I'm just going to put these away and then get going."

"Don't forget the dinner tomorrow night, you know we have to end it with a bang," Cragen flashed a smile. "Goodnight Olivia, I'll see you tomorrow Elliot." Cragen left the precinct after dropping off the sealed box in his office and locking it. Olivia looked at Elliot and bit her lip.

"So I guess this is where it ends," Olivia said, breathing deeply to hold back a sob.

Elliot's eyebrows came together in confusion. "What are you talking about the end for? You think just because your life as a detective is ending, our friendship is too?"

"Well, I guess that's what I'm trying to say," Olivia blinked and a tear slipped out. "Sorry I'm getting so worked up."

"Don't apologize. I'm shocked I haven't gotten upset. Liv, you're my best friend. We're not going to separate because you're leaving. In fact, I don't plan on us ever ending," Elliot smiled. "You can't get rid of me. We're partners forever."

Olivia wiped her cheek and smiled at Elliot. "Promise me you won't find a partner as good as me?"

"Is that even questionable? There is no such thing as someone better for me than you," Elliot said. Olivia blushed as she understood the hint at the deeper meaning. "Do you have a ride home?"

"I was planning on a cab," Olivia said, putting her things together. She stood back and admired the desk that she had sat at for the past thirteen years.

"I know you hate cabs, let me take you home," Elliot insisted. "My car is much cleaner and is free."

Olivia smiled and buttoned up her coat. "Take me home then, Detective."

/-/

The car ride home was silent but not awkward. Olivia's eyes had drooped closed and Elliot's hand had scooted closer to hers, his pinky finger touching hers. Olivia, not completely asleep, could sense that he kept glancing at her every time his pinky finger got closer to hers. Eventually, his finger wrapped around hers. A bolt of electricity shot through her as their fingers interlocked. She knew he felt it too.

"Liv? We're at your house," Elliot whispered.

Olivia opened her eyes and instantly looked at their locked pinkies. She smiled. "Thanks for the ride. It meant a lot."

"I've given you a ride home before," Elliot said, laughing. "Plus, your apartment isn't that far from mine anymore."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, after the divorce I decided I needed a place to stay. Kathy wanted the house and of course she got it, so I came to your apartment complex. There was a room opened right across the hall from you, so I took it. I've been there all week adding things, you just never saw me."

Elliot got out of his car door and opened Olivia's, helping her with her bags. They walked into the apartment complex and rode the elevator silently until they reached their floor.

"Stalking me, I see. You would pick the apartment right across from mine," Olivia teased.

He gave her a warm smile, "I've gotta have your back now that I won't see you everyday." She laughed and pulled out her keys.

"Goodnight El," She whispered.

"Night Liv. If you need me, you know where I am." He offered out a hug and Olivia accepted it. The hug was light and comforting, but it was not yet taking their feelings to the next level. The spark was there, the feelings were there, but the ability to express and confront each other about them was not. She pulled back after a couple of seconds and shyly went into her room, shutting the door after giving him a brief smile.

After taking a warm shower, Olivia laid in bed. It was now one in the morning and it was thundering and lightening. The rain hit her windows hard and she buried herself deeper and deeper under her covers, escaping the loud crashes and the bright flashes. If there was one thing Olivia hated and was legitimately scared of, it was thunderstorms. Not many knew that about her, but it was true. After an extremely loud thunder boom, Olivia whimpered to herself and squeezed her eyes shut. There was a knock at her door and her eyes widened. She grabbed the baseball bat that rested under her bed and tip-toed to the door.

"Liv, it's me."

Olivia jumped a foot in the air at the thunder and quickly opened the door.

"Are you okay? I know how much these scare you. I woke up and wanted to check on you," Elliot whispered, still very tired.

Olivia placed her bat down and shook her head, folding her arms around herself. "I really don't like these."

"May I come in?"

"Of course, sorry," Olivia apologized. "Do you want some water or something? Here, sit on the couch and I'll put on the TV."

Elliot obeyed her orders and sat down as she filled cups with water. After sitting down on the couch, she pulled a blanket around herself. Another thunder boomed and she winced as the bright lights from the lightening lit up her room.

"You really don't like these," Elliot chuckled.

"It's not funny, Stabler. I'm really freaked out," Olivia huffed. She turned on the TV. The pair sat in silence, excluding the soft whimpers as thunder hit, and watched TV. Olivia felt her eyes getting woozy, but a loud pop caused her eyes to open wide. "What was that?"

"The power went out, nothing big. Do you have any candles?" Elliot asked. He turned his phone on for a light source. "Here, take my phone and go look for some candles."

Olivia nodded and looked down shyly. "Can you come with me? I'm scared."

"Yes I will," Elliot smiled and placed his hand on her lower back. The two walked to her kitchen and grabbed a candle out of her cabinet.

"Sorry I only have one, I'm not much of a candle person," Olivia apologized bashfully. "Hopefully it'll work…" They walked back to the couch and lit it on the coffee table in front of them. Olivia could now see Elliot's face and her heart skipped a beat. After all the sappy romance novels she has read, she never understood why candle-lit rooms were so romantic, but now she got it.

"Wow," Elliot breathed.

"Wow what?" Olivia asked softly.

"You look stunning in this lighting," Elliot admitted, brushing hair out of her eyes.

"How are the kids?" Olivia said, looking down at his previous comment.

"They're good. Lizzie and Dickie went to college, Maureen's engaged, Kathleen is almost done with her masters and Eli is graduating middle school soon," Elliot replied, smiling. Olivia loved how proud he was of his kids.

"I bet you're proud," Olivia sighed. "I wish I had a child."

Elliot nodded his head. "When you get the chance to have one, you'll love it so much."

Olivia grinned at his soft side and let out a yawn.

"Come on, we gotta get you to go to sleep. Do you want to go to bed or stay on the couch?" Elliot asked.

"I'm gonna go lay in bed, are you okay with the couch or do you want to sleep in my bed and I'll take the couch?" Olivia asked.

Elliot shook his head and helped Olivia stand up. "I'll take the couch, no worries." She closed her eyes and yawned before walking back to her bed. She laid down under the warm covers and saw Elliot lay on the couch. He blew out the candle.

"Goodnight, Olivia," Elliot said.

"Goodnight, Elliot."

So what did you think? Like it? Love it? Hate it? Review please!