Fantasies turn into reality… in due time.

AN: Chelsea Callaghan is an amazing partner in crime.

Thanks to Emily, my beta.

Let's see where this will take us…..

Why are you such a dreamer?

Put yourself in my shoes.

Careful what you wish for love.

"I don't know how to do this," Olivia confessed.

Elliot smirked, looking at her as they walked side by side. "You don't know how to play house?"

I don't know how to do this with YOU, Elliot because I think of you every night and want you on top of me every night and I just want you...every night. I want you to comfort me when I'm upset and just lay in your arms. I can't play house with you because I'm afraid I'll never be able to distinguish fantasy from reality ever again, she thought.

Olivia's eyes fell to the pavement she was walking on and she bit her lip.

"What did Cragen say was in the undercover description?" she questioned, quickly changing the subject.

"We're supposed to be a couple. Adopting a baby."

Not what she wanted to know. Was she supposed to kiss him? Was he supposed to touch her? How far did this have to go?

"What are our names?" she asked, gulping down the saliva that started to pool in her mouth.

"Well, apparently I am a businessman named Glen Taylor. Glen is a workaholic but makes time for his wife, Beth, and future family. And…"

"What El?"

That half ass grin started forming on his face. Oh how she loved that face but at the same time, something was coming that she's not going to like. He's going to tease her with it, she can tell.

That cocky bastard.

"Elliot." She's not playing games anymore.

"I think it's time to strip away from your blazers….."

"Strip? What is that supposed…"

"It means that your blazers will be replaced for an apron with a dash of bright lipstick."

"Elliot, what are you playing at?"

"You're a housewife….. Beth," the grin turned into a smirk. It gets her every time. Geez. He thinks it's a game that he's winning. He was using this to push her buttons, get her wild up. She can handle his games, hell she's been doing it for the past eleven years, toying with her over things like this. But damn it if she's going to like it.

She tucked a strain of hair behind her ear and rubbed her eyebrow with her thumb, what she normally does when she's frustrated. "How about you be the housewife?" she said simply as she crossed her arms.

"What come on Liv, it won't be so bad."

"Elliot you've been in my apartment, there are cobwebs on my pots. I don't cook."

"I can show you."

"Oh we're being a gentleman now are we? Do you really trust me to cook for you?"

"There's always take out."

"Oh so the gentleman is gone?"

"Well how about this gentleman takes you out for some coffee, we can study our bios there."

He was flirting, or so she thought. How the hell was she going to survive this undercover operation was beyond her. The tension between them was rising, they both can feel it. The operation could break this; they can explore each other beyond the eleven years of partnership. But, something like this can break their relationship; break that bond that they have if it all goes wrong. She's not ready to lose him but she has to do this.

Hector's Diner

Lower Manhattan

She can feel Elliot's eyes staring at her, studying her. His eyes flickered with concern as he watches her exhale a deep breath.

He did it all the time. She did it all the time.

She didn't want to be the one to break this silence, this distorted daze that they've both seem to be in. She wanted answers, she needed answers. They didn't come here to study, well it wasn't Olivia's main intention.

"So, you and Jo," said Liv, barely audible. She saw his back stiffened, his eyes meeting hers in the crossfire.

"What about her? I told you stories about her." his eyes were fixed on the table now, avoiding her gaze.

"But you didn't tell me she was a woman."

"Does it matter?" his veins were clearly visible on his neck, easily flustered.

Her mind screamed yes, it does matter. Her jealousy and curiosity were starting to get the best of her; she was craving more then what she already heard over the years. Olivia couldn't help but think why, why did she come back now?

"Lucky girl working with El," said Jo as she reached out her hand. Elliot's eyes graced her face, looking for that recognition. Jo's eyes retracted to Elliot's face, looking for their old connection but turned away.

"Aw, that what he keeps telling me," said Liv as she returned the handshake. She could feel Elliot's eyes on her. She turned and there were those crystalline eyes staring back.

"Yeah."

End Flashback

"After my tour, Jo came into the picture," pausing to take a sip of warm delight, the foam gracing his lips was easily distracting. "We hardly got along in the beginning, it was just a job. Our opinions and views clashed with one another most of the time, making it unbearable…. I was the rookie after all. Once I had the kids, I don't know what happened, it's as though the bickering and fighting never happened."

Olivia didn't say anything. She was simply listening, waiting for him to continue.

"We were the power force in the unit, nothing to mess with. Then there was this case...." his palms were rising to his eyes, rubbing them profusely until they turned red.

"It was one of the most difficult cases… to this day… as a rookie, as a detective."

"Why did Jo leave you for law school?" it slipped out of her mouth and didn't realize until it was too late.

"Why did you leave me after Gitano?" he asked as he turned to face her.

"Elliot…. I… told you we needed a change…" her voice wasn't as stern as it normally was.

Something happened between them him and Jo. He and she faced the same thing. But their circumstances were different, they had to be.

"Elliot I'm sorry if I…"

"Liv… don't"

"I didn't mean to bring…"

"It's fine, really. You told me your rookie days. Hell I remember when I took you under my wings, taught you everything I know."

"Oh is that so?"

"Ok, some of it."

Olivia tilted her head back, letting out a little laugh. She looked over at Elliot and a smile was on his face.

"You know I had a nickname, well I called her something."

"Jo?"

"Yeah…… I always told her she was a bull in a china shop."

"And she called you El?"

"Elliot… El…. Stabler… Just like you."

El. That was her name. It just didn't suit her so well that she was using it too.

"Well El, I think it's time to pack it in and get some sleep. We got a big day tomorrow," she said as she put on her black blazer. Damn she was going to miss these she thought.

"I'll give you a lift." He placed a ten on the table and slipped his own jacket back on.

Olivia Benson Residence

"Blink your lights when you get inside."

"You're just going to sit here all night until I do aren't you….stubborn son of a bitch."

"Yes I am."

End flashback

"Liv…" he said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Olivia…

"Hmm," she snapped her head in his direction, seeing the concern on his face.

"You ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine," she replied, putting on a half smile.

"Well, I'll come by tomorrow to pick you up. Cragen wants us to make our way to Brooklyn early."

"See you tomorrow," she shut the car door behind her, making her way to the door. Olivia looked back and saw Elliot was still there, waiting for her to get safely inside. She missed things like that. But things change.

"Door's open El," she yelled from the other room.

"I brought coffee… I didn't…" his train of thought was lost.

She came out of the bathroom with her hair tied up in a pony tail. She was clad in jeans that hugged her so well, and a purple v-shaped short sleeved shirt.

Elliot's eyes on her made her self conscious and she brushed her hand down her midsection.

"Beth," Elliot smirked.

Olivia smirked as well. She was so cute when she did that. "Glenn," she crooned.

Elliot cleared his throat. "I have something for you," he said as he passed the manila envelope to her.

She emptied it out, took out her ID amongst other papers. But she didn't realize that there was something more.

Clunk.

A small silver band was spinning around the table. The diamond made a noise as it hit the encrusted wood.

"Elliot…."

"It was my grandmothers…"

"El I can't accept this. It's too…"

"Beautiful? Yeah. My grandfather saved for almost two years to buy that ring," he whispered. "He proposed to her in Central Park… Cheezy I know but she loved it…"

"Wouldn't Kathy..."

"Kathy has her own ring... Anyway we have to go, we're running late," he continued.

She looked down at the ring and placed it on her finger. The ring glistened under the light, providing rays on the wall. Nothing could destroy this moment.

********

They pulled up to a house in Brooklyn. Elliot drove, Olivia in the passenger seat. It was their first 15 minutes of their undercover stint.

"This is it?" Olivia asked, peering out the window. She was already playing with the ring on her finger.

"This is it," he replied, putting the car in park.

Olivia's mouth fell open slightly as she got out of the car, unable to take her eyes off of her and Elliot's house. She wanted to slap herself. She was playing too much into her role already..

She shut the car door and Elliot came up behind her.

"Nice, huh?" He asked.

"Nice," she replied, following him up to the door.

The house was a lovely brownstone in Brooklyn. It was white and light blue with ivy.

When they got in, Elliot took off his coat.

"How long are we staying here?" Olivia asked, admiring the house.

"Did you read the file?" Elliot furrowed his brow with a smile. "Cragen's gonna pull us out if we can't get them in 5 days."

"I'd rather stay until we close the case," Olivia shrugged.

"We're gonna get them, Liv," Elliot assured her.