"Come on, let me take you home," he offers.
"El, I'm fine," she argues.
"You just had a child physically removed from your custody. You're not fine, let me take you home. You shouldn't be alone right now."
"El..."
"Come on, get your coat," he insists.
"You got her?" Fin questions.
"Yeah," he nods.
She opens the door to the apartment, and he follows her in.
"I'm really fine."
"Stop saying that," he insists.
"Drink?" she questions.
"Sure," he nods.
She takes out two glasses, and the liquor from the top cabinet. She pours them each a drink.
"You that I'm probably going to stay, right?"
"I didn't figure that I could get rid of you," she admits.
"Anything you'd like to do to pass the time?"
"You know what we haven't done in a while?"
"What's that Liv?"
"We haven't played poker in...a year? Has it been that long?"
"I hate playing with you."
"Cause I kick your ass?"
"Cause you cheat."
"I don't even know how to cheat," she argues.
"We'll see," he rolls his eyes as he opens a drawer revealing a deck of cards. He takes a seat at the table. She grabs the bottle, and joins him. With each hand, they pour another around, until the bottle is nearly empty.
"Liv..."
"What do you have?" she questions.
"You go first."
"That's how it works," she argues.
"I've got a pair of twos," he shows his cards.
"Ha! Royal flush," she smiles.
"I can't play with you anymore."
"Sissy," she jests.
He gets up. She stands up too. She collects his glass, and the bottle. She puts the glasses in the sink, and the bottle on the counter. She turns around and finds him behind her.
"Do you need something?" she questions.
She leans against the counter. He puts his palms on the counter, on either side of her. She looks up at him. He doesn't say anything, as he tucks her bangs behind her ear.
"I..." she begins to argue.
"I need you," he admits.
"I need you too," she reveals as he closes the gap between them. She wraps her arms around him, wanting the moment to last forever, thinking that it's the closest they'd ever come. He lets go. She finds him lost in her eyes. He stares at her lips. She watches him, thinking that he'll never go through with it. But then his lips land on hers. And all bets are off. She kisses him back, and neither of them back down. She knows that it's really going to happen, when un-straps her holster, and places the gun, and holster on the counter. He quickly adds his to the pile.
When she wakes up she has a splitting headache. She closes her eyes, trying to avoid the day. She rolls over, and finds that her bed isn't empty. Her eyes pop open, and she stares at the face of her partner. He sleeps in her bed. She slips out of bed, and gathers their belongings. She throws her clothes in the hamper, and puts his by the bed. She slips into the shower, and attempts to wash away the sins from the night before.
He slips out while she's in the shower, praying that she didn't remember. Praying that it was a dream. On his way to the car he catches a glimpse of his wedding band. He stops dead in his tracks. Go home to her, or be honest? Be with the one he loved, or the one he was married to? He climbs into the car, and heads home.
Days pass, turning into weeks, and they never discuss it. Weeks turn into months, and he thinks that they've put it all behind them. She comes into the precinct with a red face. She stops at her desk, and grabs a tissue, to blow her nose. He watches as she takes a seat.
"Something bothering you?" he questions.
"No," she lies.
"Benson, Stabler, you've got a case," Cragen announces.
Hours later they're in the car, on their way back to the precinct.
"Liv you want to stop and get something for lunch?"
"I'm not hungry," she admits.
"I think I'm going to stop for coffee. You want something?"
"No," she answers coldly as he pulls up to the curb.
"What is your deal? Why are you so cranky today?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"I'm your partner, you tell me everything."
"Not everything," she says under her breath.
"Liv, talk to me," he begs.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because you don't want to hear what's on my mind."
"Why? Did I do something wrong, again? Just tell me."
"We made a mistake," she answers.
"Oh..."
"You were hoping that I didn't remember?"
"I was hoping that it was a dream," he admits.
"Because you don't want to be with me?"
"I'm married," he answers.
"You're a lot of things, but that doesn't answer the damn question."
"It's complicated. I don't think we should talk about it."
"Why not?"
"Because I want to be your partner. I don't want to ruin that. There is no one that I trust more than you."
"That's nice to know."
"What's with the attitude?" He raises his voice.
"You trust me with your life, with your secrets. You'll screw me, but... you don't want to leave your wife who makes you miserable."
"That's not fair."
"Life's not fair."
"Liv, what happened, whatever we wanted. Whatever we'd like to have, it doesn't matter because I'm married."
"It's nice to know where you stand."
"Why do you say that?"
"I'm pregnant," she answers.