A/N: I was going through my hard drive and found this piece on it. I wasn't sure if I should upload it since it's not a piece I'm particularly proud of. And it's old. But I figured, why not? So yeah, the writing is a bit more rusty. Sorry :(

For new readers, if you haven't read my New Familiar story, you can bounce on over for more e/o

For old readers, thanks for sticking through with me! Cookies and peeps for all!

Have a nice one!

He could feel the sand between his toes and the soft waves patting the shore. Elliot couldn't remember the last time he felt so calm, so relaxed. He continued his walk down the beach, enjoying the peacefulness, feeling the soft breeze touching his face, taking in the faint scent of roses, feeling the warmth radiating from his chest…

Wait, what?

Elliot frowned. Heat abnormally radiating from his chest? Roses on the beach? It didn't take a detective to figure out that something wasn't right.

Just then, he felt something moving on is chest. Elliot blinked a few times before glancing down.

He smiled. There she was, sleeping soundly, her head on his chest. Elliot was amazed at how beautiful she was even in her sleep.

Sure, the tranquilizing stroll on the beach was just a dream, but right now him on Olivia's bed with her in his arms, was sure as hell not a dream.

Elliot suppressed the urge to lean in and drop a series of light kisses on the tip of her nose. He didn't want to wake her yet. He wanted to savor the moment for a while.

Elliot really couldn't remember the last time he had slept so soundly. Nights alone were horrible. Cases would haunt him and there were times when he'd suddenly wake up in the middle of the night because he saw the agony of the latest vic and realize that he desperately wanted someone to hold him. Nights after he moved back in were even worse. Cases would still haunt him, but even though Kathy was there, Elliot felt lonelier than ever. They both had to admit it, things between them were different. They were barely holding on to each other anymore. Eventually, he couldn't take it anymore and moved back out.

But last night. That accidential kiss. Elliot felt something that he hadn't felt before. He always knew that he loved Olivia, but never realized that he was in love with her. He was so used to having her around and holding back his feelings that he couldn't quite place a finger on when the chemistry between them started to change. A few months? Maybe years? But he could clearly remember how torn he felt the day Olivia almost had her throat slashed, how he desperately felt like he needed to know where she was when she disappeared, how helpless he felt when she was locked down at Sealview with a rapist. He couldn't lose her, not again.

He felt Olivia stir, she was waking up.

"Good morning, beautiful," he said, stroking her chestnut hair.

She blinked a few times before turning to take in his eyes. "Morning," she said sleepily, "How long have you been watching me sleep?"

Elliot placed a soft kiss on her curled up lips.

"Not long enough, Liv."

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