My kneejerk reaction to the saddening announcement of Chris Meloni's departure from Law and Order SVU in season 12. Here's hoping that they give Elliot and Olivia the proper goodbye, whether Elliot retires or dies! Please review!

"I don't think she could be without him. She loves him, he's her other half." Mariska on Olivia's reaction to Elliot's departure.

Disclaimer: Not mine!

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Never had she realized that night time could be so quiet.

Usually, when she lay awake in the middle of the night like this, music blared, horns erupted, and garbage trucks roared. Engines backfired, people yelled in diferent languages, and animals howled.

But not tonight. Tonight there was just... nothing.

She rolled onto her side, toward her sleeping bedmate, and a gentle smile curved her lips. Never had one night been so filled with passion, promise, and...love. She reached out and gently touched his arm, breathing deeply.

He turned over onto his back, snoring as he continued to sleep, undisturbed by anything.

Smiling softly, she laid her head on his shoulder and continued to stare into the darkness. Before this night, her life had been all about pain, about abuse and tragedy. Rarely did she get a glimpse of happiness, and when she did, it was often cruelly ripped away from her before she understood it fully.

Sometimes it seemed as though she was meant to walk the road of life alone, never knowing true happiness, or true and unconditional love.

Draping her arm over him, she gently drew him closer and nuzzled his shoulder, then laid a gentle kiss on his chest.

Her life had been an incredibly lonely one, until tonight.

Elliot turned completely and gently covered her body with his, kissing her deeply.

Olivia eagerly welcomed him closer, but as they connected again, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something dark was on the horizon, and just like everything else in her life, this happiness wouldn't last.

"Liv?" Elliot breathed huskily.

She turned her eyes to him. "Yeah, El?"

"I love you." He kissed her forehead and moved against her, laying gentle kisses along the hollow of her neck.

"Love you, too..." She closed her eyes, but something troubled her deeply, something that shook her to the core. Attempting to shake it off, she arched her back and wound her arms around his neck.

Outside, thunder rolled ominously in the distance.

TBC...

A/N: Please review!