Author's Note: This chapter has been edited because I decided to continue this story past a one-shot and needed to tidy up a few things.

As a reminder this is set at the beginning of s14 after Cragen has been exonerated. There is no Cassidy hookup but everything else is canon. Hope you enjoy!

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Olivia silenced her phone for the fourth time in an hour, not bothering to look at the display because she already knew who it was.

Elliot. Again.

Captain Cragen was just released from prison after being framed for murdering a prostitute and she needed to focus her attention on him, the man who had been a consistent father figure in her life and not Elliot. At least Cragen had been there for her and not disappeared for almost a year. Her and Elliot had talked briefly a week or so ago when he appeared at the precinct unannounced and his words still echoed in her head.

Liv, I'm sorry.

I had to see you.

Kathy and I are divorced.

I'm living here in the city.

I didn't want to involve you in my personal mess.

The look in his bright blue eyes was sincere and genuine, but she wasn't ready to get caught up again in the web of Elliot Stabler. He had consumed almost every facet of her life when they were partners. He was everything. A partner, friend, confidant and protector. But as time went on the urge to contact him became weaker and weaker until she eventually found a few moments of each day that he didn't cross her mind.

It was Elliot she had been talking to when she got the call from Cragen and used his arrest as the reason she wasn't available to take anymore of his calls. Now that the word was out that Cragen had been vindicated, he was calling incessantly again.

She sat at her desk wrapping up her DD5's when the phone rang again.

"You know you just press the green button to answer it," Nick commented with a wry grin.

Pressing the ignore button, she gave him a small smile that quickly faded and went back to work . She could feel his eyes on her and knew he wouldn't let it go. "You ok?"

"I'm fine Nick," she assured him as the phone began to ring again. Quickly she got up from her chair and walked into one of the empty interrogation rooms to take the call as Nick's eyes burned a hole in her back.

"Elliot stop this," she hissed into the phone.

"You finally answered. I figured I would wear you down," he joked trying to lighten the mood but she was having none of it.

Her palm pressed to her forehead trying to stop the raging headache that began to form. "Stop calling me. I told you we would talk when I had time."

Elliot let out a frustrated sigh. "How's Cragen?" he asked trying to switch topics.

"He's fine but I'm sure you knew that already which is why you started calling again."

The silence hung heavy between them until Elliot spoke up. "What time do you get off?"

Rolling her eyes, she immediately started reaching into her bag of excuses. "I don't know, you know things are pretty busy around here with the new Captain and everything-"

"Is that so?" he countered, not believing her for a second. "Liv if you were really busy you would've gotten interrupted by now and you wouldn't have time to sneak off to an empty room to talk."

She blinked wildly at his spot on assessment and how well he still knew her after all this time.

"Let me guess," he continued. "You are in the interrogation room. Not the one right by Cragen's office, but the one further down the hall," he added with enough inflection in his voice that she could tell he was smiling.

Her audible sigh let him know that he was right.

"I knew it."

Olivia's lips reluctantly turned up into a smile. "You are still a cocky son of a bitch."

"Some things never change."

There was relief in his voice and for the first time since he reappeared there was a little in hers too. Despite everything, there was still that sense of familiarity between and she was happy that hadn't faded.

"Have dinner with me Liv," he begged in a soft voice. That voice and she felt herself caving. A crash of thunder outside followed by an onslaught of rain interrupted her train of thought. "Ill see," she said noncommittally even though she was leaning toward yes.

"What are you so afraid of?" he asked and just like that the fire in her was reignited.

Son of a bitch.

Reaching for the door handle, she tried to push down the heat that was trapped in her throat.

"What?!"

"What. are. you. afraid. of?" he asked again emphasizing each word.

"I'm not afraid of anything Elliot I just don't always have time to drop everything I'm doing because all of a sudden after a year you decide I'm worth your damn time," she yelled.

"That's not wh-"

"Goodbye," she hung up the phone and stomped back to her desk.

Nick was gathering his jacket about to head out but stopped once he saw her. "Everything ok?"

She took a deep breath trying to compose herself. He moved closer, looking both ways before dropping his voice. "Want to talk about it?" he whispered.

"I'm ok Nick," she murmured sitting back down in her chair. "You heading out already?"

"Yeah this weather is pretty bad and it's slow around here for once so I'm going to pick up Zara from school so she doesn't have to ride the bus. Catch ya later."

Olivia spent the next hour funneling through paperwork, attempting to concentrate but she was still fuming at Elliot and their exchange.

How dare he accuse her of being afraid? He was such an arrogant prick sometimes. What on Earth would she be afraid of?

Finally she gave up, grabbed her black leather jacket, car keys and decided to call it a day. Her vision was marred by the deluge of rain slamming against her window but she was so lost in thought she didn't notice. At every stoplight she would hold her white iPhone in her hand willing herself not to call Elliot and say something else but she wasn't in the mood to argue with him anymore. They had only talked for a few minutes and just like that she was emotionally exhausted. Turning up the radio, she drowned out her errant thoughts with some Adult Top 40 tunes that she normally reserved for her workout session.

By the time she pulled onto her block thirty minutes later and parked the car she was somewhat calmer. Olivia was surprised to see that he hadn't tried to call or text her again and she felt a slight pang of disappointment. Hoping the rain would slack a little, she sat in her car for a few minutes so she could run to the front door of her building without getting sodden.

While she waited, her mind wandered back to that first meeting with him. It had only been about ten minutes and the first five of that was small talk and awkwardness but she couldn't help but notice his appearance.

The man that had been her partner for so long was still all muscles, tall, broad and those blue eyes were still blazing. Although she could tell when she looked in his eyes that he had one hell of a year since they had been apart, he was still the Elliot that she remembered. The same Elliot that she trusted more than anyone in her life, the same Elliot that stood by her almost everyday for twelve years and as much as she hated it…the same Elliot that she was in love with for most of their partnership.

She couldn't quite pinpoint the moment it happened but one day her partner went from being just a coworker to the bar that she measured every man in her life against. No matter how many dates she went on, none of them seemed to measured up.

She scrubbed her hand down her face in frustration, tapping her fingers restlessly against the steering wheel. The rain still hadn't slacked up.

Shit.

Her life would be so much easier if she could just forget him. Everything was finally getting to a place of normalcy for her. Cragen's arrest and her recent breakup with David Haden aside but then there was Elliot ready to turn everything upside down again.

A drink. That's what she needed. She could curl up with a glass of red wine and the book that had been sitting on her nightstand for ages and attempt to forget about all things Stabler.

Satisfied that the rain was not going to stop she took off her jacket, put it over her head and began to jog the half a block to her front door. It was pouring so hard that she could barely make out people along the sidewalk but when the stairs of her building came into view there was a figure waiting for her that was unmistakable.

Those arms, that build, that arrogant stance.

It was Elliot.

Her jaw clenched and eyes narrowed. She dug the heels of her shoes on the concrete prepared to stand her ground.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" she shouted up at him, all sense of self preservation out the window.

"I need to talk to you Liv," he yelled back. His umbrella wasn't doing much to shield him from the downpour and he was getting soaked. He stood directly in front of the main entrance and she stayed at the bottom of the stairs. "Come on let's go inside."

"No," she insisted. "Go home!"

He rolled his eyes in frustration. "Lets just go in the lobby and talk and get out of this weather".

"If you want to get out of the rain, you can go home!"

Olivia had no intention of letting him in her building or in her apartment. She was too angry to have a rational conversation and wasn't interested in having an argument with him in her lobby for the whole building to hear. The only other option was her apartment and she couldn't let him in there. She wouldn't let him in there. Being completely honest with herself she knew exactly why. She didn't trust herself in an apartment alone with Elliot, especially not a single Elliot.

"Why won't you let me in?" he asked with obvious annoyance.

When she didn't budge he came down the stairs and she backed up to put some much needed distance between them.

"Why won't you let me in? It's pouring out here. I'm not going anywhere so—"

"Why?! I told you not today. Everything can't be on your goddamn terms Elliot," she snapped back. Her chest was heaving and slowly she was forgetting that she was getting soaked.

Elliot took notice and moved closer so she could share his umbrella.

"Come on get under here," he urged, pulling her closer to him. Reluctantly she obliged. The umbrella wasn't that big and she immediately regretted her decision. He was close. Too close. She could feel the heat radiating from his body and her thighs tightened at the sight of his biceps bulging underneath his dark jacket. His jeans were beginning to stick to him and she had to swallow back the dry lump in her throat.

Jesus Christ.

This was a bad idea.

She needed to get away from him. His proximity was too much for her to handle. Her chest heaved from breathing so hard, coming into contact with his. She tried to calm herself remembering what it was like to fight with him and she needed every bit of energy that she could muster. Closing her eyes, she tried to get herself together.

"Liv," he rasped and the sound of his voice sent emotions surging through her veins. "Look at me."

She had to unwind before looking at him or she was going to lose the battle before the war even began.

"Liv," he repeated and she jerked at the feel of his hand cupping her cheek. "Please."

"What the hell are you doing?" she accused and jumped back. "I am begging you to just go home."

Olivia backed up from the umbrella and put her jacket back over her head.

"I'm not going anywhere," he countered closing the distance she just put between them.

"Fine then stay out here." Quickly she turned on her heel to run upstairs but he grabbed her arm to stop her.

"Stop this! I said I was sorry!" he shouted. "I needed to get my shit together! I was tired of you having to fix my life for me. I didn't want you to fix it!"

She jerked her arm from his grasp.

"I didn't want you to fix it," he repeated.

"If you didn't want me to I wouldn't have. I just wanted to be there for you but you wouldn't even pick up the damn phone!" she struck back. There was a flash of something in his expression but he quickly recovered.

Elliot walked closer to her and the wind blew his umbrella backwards rendering it almost useless. He threw it down on the ground in frustration almost hitting a few pedestrians along the sidewalk.

"I didn't want you to help with anything. I needed to fix my own damn life. I didn't need you telling me that letting go of my marriage was a mistake or asking me over and over again if I was sure."

"Because you aren't sure," she argued.

"Because I've been sure. I was sure when her and I separated the first damn time. That's why I changed my mind about going back. I wasn't going to go back Liv. If it wasn't for Eli-," his breath hitched and the raindrops flowed down his face. "I wasn't going to go back. And you know why."

At his admission she immediately began to dart back up the stairs.

"No!" he bellowed, running behind her. "Don't run away from me. From this."

"From what?" she yelled back. "There is no this!"

"There was something between us Liv and you know it. You knew back then," he accused and she could see his jaw flexing trying to reel in his temper.

"I didn't know anything!" she screamed.

"Yes you did Liv. You knew!" He moved closer and it fueled her anger.

"You know what I knew. I knew you got your wife pregnant. I knew when you were separated you dated other women and you didn't want to sign your divorce papers. That's what I knew," she shot back and finally dropped her jacket letting the raindrops hit her. "I knew that you kissed your other partner."

Elliot's eyes grew wide, lost for words.

"You don't have anything to say to that do you? I thought so," she added, proud of herself for rendering him speechless.

"Why did you run?" he asked so low that she almost didn't hear him.

"What?"

"Why did you run?" his voice grew. "While you're so busy throwing everything in my face, let's talk about you. Why did you run to Computer Crimes and to Oregon?"

She tried to think of a comeback but words failed her.

"That's how I know you knew Liv. You ran because it was happening. This was happening," he gestured between them, "and there was nothing that was going to stop it," he rambled and for the first time since he'd seen her again he saw her armor start to crack. He closed the distance between them and despite the weather, he knew the water running down her face was not all rain.

"You knew Liv. It was why we barely touched each other and kept the boundaries up. It was why that fuck Porter drove me crazy or any guy that came anywhere near you."

Olivia felt her knees weaken under the scrutiny of his gaze.

She was losing the battle.

Dammit!

"I thought—I thought—I didn't-," she tried to explain shaking her head in disbelief. Her words wouldn't form and her mind was a mess.

"Liv," he choked out finally getting close enough to touch her and this time she didn't recoil. "You knew. I knew. And that's when shit got complicated. I took the last year trying to uncomplicate everything in my life and I didn't want you to run."

"So you decided to run instead," she retorted.

"I didn't fucking run from you, I told you why I left!" he roared in frustration. "I love you Olivia. Do you hear that? I love you. And you can continue to argue with me and get lost in me not picking up the phone and me being an asshole and any other excuse but it's not going to change a thing. I love you. You can't change that."

His confession passed over her in waves. Excitement, confusion, disbelief roared through her veins at once and all she could think to do was fight back.

"You are-"

"I love you," he cut her off.

"Elliot I-"

"I love you. You can keep trying to say whatever you are going to say Olivia I am not going anywhere."

Olivia was stunned. The more he said it, the more she could feel the fight leaving her body. She wanted him to be just as weak as she was so she tried to dig in her treasure chest of emotional artillery to hurl back at him but it was too late.

"I-"

It happened before she had a chance to form the sentence. His lips crashed down on hers and she couldn't breathe. His lips were soft but firm. She opened her mouth to protest and he used it to his advantage slipping his tongue deeper into her mouth. Her moans goaded him on and he put one hand in her wet tangled hair to pull her closer and the other on her chin to keep her mouth open. Initially she was a passive participant but the more his hands touched her she felt her traitorous body giving in and she began to return his kiss.

His body relaxed when he felt her reciprocate, removing his hand from her chin to her lower back pulling her flush against his body. Her nipples began to harden and she felt the friction through their drenched shirts against his rock solid chest causing her to moan again.

This was Elliot kissing, touching and holding her. Her mind couldn't quite wrap around that fact. Just when her brain was trying to make sense of what was happening, he closed the last millimeter between them and she felt his desire for her hot and hard against her abdomen. The evidence that she had that kind of effect on him spurred her into action.

Olivia lifted her leg slightly brushing across his erection and he groaned in her mouth at the contact.

Everything after was a blur. Going inside, getting back to her apartment. She didn't remember how any of it happened. When her brain and vision began to function again they were in her hallway. Clothes soaked. Lips swollen.

Elliot stepped back for a brief moment to observe her and make sure this was what she wanted. Goosebumps formed on her skin, the warmth of her apartment suddenly warming her all over. Wiping the drenched hair from her face she took a deep breath and reached for the buttons on her jacket. Her eyes remained on his. His heated look gave her the confidence to keep going. The jacket dropped to the floor, water pooling at her feet. Her nipples strained against the light green satin of her blouse making the outline of her breasts visible.

His eyes dropped to her chest, taking all of her in. When he dragged his stare back to her, his eyes were almost black. His gaze was predatory, dark. "Liv," he rasped.

He stalked towards her and captured her lips again. She clawed at his clothes, desperate to feel his hot skin against hers. They both made quick work of their shoes and shirts. Her bra barely contained her ample breasts and he stopped in his tracks. Elliot stared at her, immobile. When he didn't move to undo her bra, she reached around her back to do it herself.

"No," he quickly protested, stopping her hands. "Let's go to the back."

Giving him a seductive grin, she laced her fingers with his walking him to the bedroom. His breath blew heavy on the back of her neck, his footsteps in time with the rapid beat of her heart. She wanted to take her time but her and Elliot's dynamic had always been something of a slow race.

Olivia kissed him hard, backing him up towards the bed. His knees hit the mattress and she put her arms on his shoulder gently pushing him down to rest at the edge.

Elliot exhaled as she unfastened the clasp of her bra, slowly pulling it down her arms allowing her breasts to come into view. Suffocated by his desire, he squirmed trying to control the tightening in his pants. Stranded raindrops slid slowly down her chest to her stomach as she lowered her pants, keeping her eyes trained on him. His jaw twitched with restraint.

"Jesus Christ Liv you are so fucking beautiful," he said. In an instant, he stood removing his jeans and boxer briefs and pulled her beneath him on the bed.

Olivia giggled, amused at how aroused he was but miffed that she didn't get a chance to get a good look at all of him before she was beneath him. Her laughter quickly transformed into a moan as he trailed kisses from her mouth and neck to her right breast licking and sucking. Her back arched at the sensation and she couldn't catch her breath. He was all over her, the moisture building between her legs. When his mouth started to travel lower she was embarrassed that he was about to see just how wet she was.

Elliot's fingers curved into the waistband of her black silk underwear, quickly sliding them down her long tan legs before letting them hit the floor. He was on his knees between her thighs, her body shook in anticipation. He rubbed her stomach with one hand to calm her and with the other stuck one thick digit inside her warm core.

"Shit," she moaned and heard his loud intake of air.

"You're so wet Liv," he said, kissing her inner thigh. "So wet."

"It's raining outside," she responded, her head thrashing back and forth as he added a second finger.

He chuckled softly at her attempt at explain away her arousal. "You're so wet…just for me."

Elliot paused for a moment and she used the opportunity to try and calm her breathing until she felt his hot tongue between her folds.

"Oh my god. Elliot," she screamed. The pleasure shot through her and she sat up on her elbows trying to push his head away. "El please—." The sensation was almost too much.

At her protests he flicked his tongue across her clit and she started to clench around him. He was relentless. Licking, sucking while his fingers moved in and out. The pleasure built to an unbelievable peak, her vision blurring and going white as she flew over the edge. Elliot's name rolled off her tongue bouncing off her bedroom walls.

Before she could fully come down from her high he was inside her. "Fuck," he whispered in her ear as he buried himself to the hilt. Elliot held still allowing her the chance to accommodate him.

"You ok?" he breathed, the words struggling to fall from his lips.

Olivia couldn't speak. She couldn't move, managing only to nod her head. She was trying to wrap her mind around the fact that he was inside her. After all this time, Elliot was finally inside of her. In more ways than one.

And although they had so many things to discuss, so many issues they needed to resolve right there and then, they needed to just fuck this out.

The past.

The pain.

The present.

He started to move setting a devastating pace. Her legs fell open and he took advantage placing her right leg on his shoulder while he continued to pound into her.

"Uhh that feels so good El. It's so good," she moaned. Elliot tried to keep his focus because he was so close to coming apart but he didn't want this to end.

He just needed more time. More of her.

She pulled his bottom lip between hers, sucking as he continued to thrust, creating the perfect friction. She moved her leg and began to roll them over, their lower halves remaining connected.

Olivia started her own pace, slowly rolling her hips. Elliot's face contorted, holding onto her hips trying to control her movements.

"Liv baby, you're gonna make me come," he groaned.

"Then come," she commanded and his eyes shot open and locked with hers. Instantly, he saw what she was doing. They were still fighting but this time in a different way. They were fighting for control.

"No," he growled and quickly rolled over so she was back under him. He widened his legs, which spread hers more and began to thrust harder. Each stroke connected with her clit and she felt another orgasm rising.

"Let it go."

"Unhhh," she cried out trying to will herself not to fall but she was losing the battle.

"You're so close baby," he huffed. With one shattering stroke that connected with her sensitive nub and one long suck on her breast she came around him shouting his name. He pushed into her twice more before releasing his warmth.

The room was silent except for their loud breathing. He stayed buried in her while she opened her eyes waiting for her blurry vision to fade. Once her heart rate slowed, she looked out the window noticing the sun was shining.

She was the first to break the silence. "The rain stopped," she said hoarsely.

"Yeah," he agreed sounding exhausted.

He slowly pulled out with a groan and laid out on his back next to her. Laying side by side, he watched her gazing out the window.

"Liv? Everything ok?" he asked rubbing one hand down her cheek.

"Yeah just thinking."

"About what?"

"How bad the rain was one minute and then all of a sudden it's bright and clear. It looks better outside than before. It's like it never rained," she explained wistfully.

His hand moved to her hair, caressing it as his lips lightly grazed her forehead.

In the loud silence of her bedroom surrounded by the feel of him next to her, Olivia thought about how the storm reminded her of her and Elliot. Their relationship had been a terrible storm of pain and regret after his sudden departure that she never thought they would move past it.

But that was ok.

Because just maybe they would end up somewhere better.