One Hundred Ways

Author's Note: Law & Order SVU and its characters are not mine.

So new story – any way this story was inspired by a love song by James Ingram called One Hundred Ways. The song of course does not go through one hundred ways of showing someone you love them. But it does say that if you love someone you should show them in a hundred little ways even when there's no special occasion.

So yes, there will be 100 chapters to this story (or more) but it will be a hundred short ones – each chapter will show Elliot showing Olivia how much he loves her. In the earlier chapters he will show his love for her as a friend as we continue on we will see that love change and grow to one that is more of a friend.

I think this may be relatively be smut free – but not completely. LOL. It wouldn't be me without some smut.

Anyway hope you enjoy this new one. And again like you all know by now, I have no beta. I have proofread this but just in case I missed out on an error/s please let me know so I can correct them ASAP.

Thank you for reading.

. . .

Chapter 1 – Quiet

When Elliot first met Olivia he could tell she didn't have many friends. It wasn't because she wasn't likable or anything of the sort – it was because even then she was married to her job.

When her mother died in their second year of partnership, Olivia did what Olivia would do. She retreated into herself and right after the funeral, she went back to work. At least, she did until Captain Cragen put his foot down and made her take the day.

He knew he wouldn't want his pity. And it was never about that. But as much as she might mourn her mother, Serena was far from an ideal parent to her. Olivia was the product of her rape and because of that, Serena had both loved her and despised her – seeing both herself and the man who had attacked her in her beautiful daughter.

He knew that Olivia was not only mourning what she had lost, but what could never be now that she was gone. Despite the fact that her mother was an alcoholic and their relationship tumultuous at best, Olivia had never stopped hoping that one day, Serena would forget how she came to be born and just love her. But now that would never happen and he knew she mourned that most of all.

In the year and so many months that they had become partners, they had truly become that at work as well as best friends. Sometimes it was scary how well they knew each other so quickly but that's how it was.

It started with that – with him wanting to make her feel better. It was supposed to be one thing, but then he realized that he could give more than just this one time. She was his best friend and he could do so much more. And so, he made a promise to himself - if he could show her that she was appreciated, cared for and yes, loved by him and by others, he would.

That decision came later though. It came after this first thing. And the first thing was so simple yet so perfect. That day Cragen sent her home, after his shift ended, Elliot went straight to Olivia's. It was one of the first times he used the extra keys she had given him.

He found her just staring unseeingly at her TV, sitting numbly on her couch, shivering slightly. She saw him but didn't say a word. No greeting, no question. Elliot didn't attempt a conversation. He understood. She just needed him to be there. So he went to her room, grabbed a blanket and when he went back into her living room, he put it around her shoulders, wrapping her in its warmth.

When he was sure she was comfortable, he went into her kitchen, boiled some water and made a cup of tea for her. He placed the tea on the coffee table in front of the sofa and then sat down next to her.

For the next couple of hours, the two of them just sat there. They didn't speak but they just kept each other company. She drank the tea he made her while he grabbed a bottle of beer for himself. They watched the news and a documentary. Basically Elliot kept Olivia company.

He stayed there until she fell asleep on the couch. He tried to carry her to bed, but Olivia shook her head no. And so he let her be. Just before she drifted as she lay down on the couch, she looked at Elliot, who had transferred to another chair beside her and told him, "Thank you."

Elliot had smiled and replied, "You're welcome, Liv. Anytime."

And then with a smile on her face, Olivia fell asleep.

Fifteen minutes later, Elliot walked out of her apartment, his worry about his partner a lot less and a spark of happiness warming his heart at the fact that he finally got her to smile before she slept.

. . .

Hope you guys liked it!

Next chapter should be up tomorrow!

Thank you for reading. And please do review here and on Twitter: Jo_Bautista