After a grueling day at work, detective Olivia Benson curled up on her couch with a glass of wine and the remote. Just as she was beginning to get comfortable, she heard a knock at the door. Setting her glass on the table, she quickly made her way to the door. When she swung it open, she was met by the familiar, yet far removed blue eyes of Elliot Stabler.
Olivia quickly slammed the door. Knowing him, and after over a decade of partnership, she did, he would probably get a kick out of her reaction. After taking a few minutes to compose herself, she opened the door and was now met with the cocky grin that only he could pull off.
Olivia wordlessly walked into her apartment, leaving her door ajar. Elliot, not wanting to give her a chance to change her mind, quickly followed suit, closing the door behind him. Elliot opened his mouth in an attempt to speak, but she held up her hand, stopping his explanation.
" Don't. " she said, almost inaudibly, tears already threatening to spill. Her voice was thick with emotion. " Don' t show up at my apartment after two years and expect to be forgiven with a simple explanation. You have five minutes to tell me what the hell happened and why the hell you're here." she said with more confidence than she actually had.
" Liv - "
" Don't you dare, Elliot." she almost shouted.
"Olivia," she tensed at the use of her full name from his lips. It sounded so formal. Not the banter you would expect from people who had known each other for as long as they had. This was different. They weren't just friends, and they weren't just partners. There had always been something else there. Something neither one dared to speak of, let alone act on. " I screwed up." she scoffed at his word usage.
He screwed up when he had shot Jenna. What he had done afterwards was unforgivable.
" Screwed up?" she laughed harshly. " Elliot, that's an understatement. You broke me." she said, her tone softening, a tear finally escaping and rolling down her cheek. This was the first time she had ever broke completely in front of him." Before you, I was so strong..." she trailed off.
He walked over to her, hesitating slightly. He wrapped his arms around her, as she let the tears flow unhindered. She struggled at first punching him and at the same time choking out painful sobs. After a few minutes, she gave in, letting her arms fall limp against his chest. After she had calmed down, he placed his strong hand underneath her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes despite her protests.
" I left because I couldn't face you. I could barely handle my own family. I didn't open up to Kathy, that's what drove us apart." her eyes dart to his left ring finger, noticing for the first time that it's bare." And I came back because I missed you, Olivia.