a/n: So here it is another story! Once again probably taking on more than i can handle! lol. I promised myself i wasn't going to post this until Strength was finished, and now that it is complete, Voila!

CHAPTER ONE

Elliot walked into the crib trying to find Olivia. He had searched the whole downstairs; including the woman's bathroom trying to catch her. His hands were sweating and he didn't know why he had to tell her now. He didn't know why he had to tell her at all, but he had to get this off of his chest and he needed to it now.

"Oh hey!" Olivia smiled and started to walk past him; only to feel Elliot's hands around her elbow, and him spinning her around so that they were mere inches from each other. She caught his eye and something worried her, "You ok, Elliot? You look…weird," she said and took a step back. They were too close; way too close.

"I left Kathy," he breathed out more than said.

Olivia's head jerked back, and her eyebrows raised, "What? Why?"

"I---I don't know," he said, and his gaze fell to the floor, "a combination of things I guess. I got over her, and just because she's pregnant doesn't really change the fact that she left me; but, I got over her…and we just can't go back to the way things were…we changed, Ichanged." He said shrugging his shoulders.

"When?" Olivia asked still trying to process this new information.

"I told her this morning," Elliot said, as he leaned his shoulder into the lockers.

"Wow, El. I'm sorry." Olivia said as she placed a gentle hand on his forearm for a second.

"Don't be sorry; it's ok actually. I feel…relieved I guess," He said with a satisfactory smile, "I guess I knew it wasn't going to work, I never gave up my apartment, so..." he said with a half a laugh.

Olivia patted him on the shoulder, "Well if you ever need to talk, I'm here." She said with a smile, and he knew that she meant it.

"Hey, Liv?" He called out after her and walked a few steps so that they were in close range again.

"Yeah, El?"

"Can I ask you something?" He asked as his eyes danced around her face; never looking her in the eye.

"You know you can." She said not sure where he was going with this.

"How come I couldn't wait to tell you? You were the first person I wanted to tell…why is that?"

Olivia smiled awkwardly, and shook her head. If she thought her relationship with Elliot was strange before; it was nothing compared to how strange it was going to be after that question, "I'll see you downstairs," she said with a smile, and was gone before Elliot could reply.

EOEOEOEOEOEO

She couldn't sleep; her conversation with Elliot was driving her crazy. What did he mean: He couldn't wait to tell her that he left his wife? She rolled over replaying the conversation in her head again. Maybe she had made it up; maybe it didn't even happen. Why did it make her so happy though? Why did she feel this…relief wash over her? She tossed again when she heard it; a distinct knock that could only be one person.

She quickly got out of bed, took a glance at her attire: boxer shorts and a NYPD Tee. It would have to do. She thought about putting on a bra but the constant knocking had her running towards the door, "You alright?"

"Fine. Did I wake you?" He asked. He seemed nervous, very nervous, and that made Olivia nervous.

"No, couldn't sleep," she said crossing her arms.

"Can I come in?" He asked finally able to look her in the eyes.

"Yeah, yeah." She said moving away from the door, "So what's up?"

He ran his hand over his face, "Nothing really. I just couldn't sleep." He said as he let out a loud yawn.

"Well you look pretty tired to me." She said with a smile.

He let out a little laugh, "Must have been the walk over."

"You want to lie down?" She asked, and before the words even left her mouth she instantly wanted to take them back. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

"Yeah." He looked at her couch; it was absolutely covered in files, "Burning the midnight oil, Liv?"

"Yeah something like that." She said, not noticing how close his proximity was. She almost couldn't breathe with him right there. She couldn't look at him, she didn't know what to do, "Let me just clean this mess up."

She started picking up the files when she felt his hand on her forearm, "Don't…"

She couldn't meet his eyes, but she did allow him to take her hand and lead her to her bedroom. She didn't know what was going on. Elliot Stabler had his hand in hers and was leading her to her bedroom.

What.

The.

Fuck!?

"Relax, Liv. I just want to lay with you." He said as they both climbed into bed. He moved his body close to hers and wrapped his arms around her snuggly. Finally he was making leeway with his partner.

"This is kind of weird, Elliot." She said but made no effort to move from their embrace.

He smiled against her hair, "I think it's nice," and that was it; because his eyes closed and sleep finally took over.

Olivia lay awake for a little while, not having any idea of what to think about this situation. Finally exhaustion set in; she closed her eyes and slept better than she had in years...

EOEOEOEOEOEOEO

The next morning Elliot was staring at his partner lost in her beauty as usual, when something caught his eye. A young girl about 17 ran into the precinct with a smile on her face that warmed Elliot's heart.

She had brown hair that was pulled into two braids, with thick pink glasses and a small button nose. She looked around the squad room with a silly smile on her face. After observing the girl Elliot thought she must be lost; there was a school for special children down the street, and sometimes the students would wander into the precinct.

Elliot got up from his desk and approached the girl, "Hello, sweetheart. My name is Elliot. Can I help you with something?" Elliot asked, but Elliot could tell the girl wasn't paying attention. She was looking at his partner, and that is when he saw the smile on the girl's face grow from ear to ear.

The girl took off and ran towards Olivia. Elliot saw Olivia turn around to see what the commotion was. He expected Olivia to give the girl one of her famous smiles where she tilts her head and her eyes sparkle; however, what he saw was very different and little did he know that both their lives were about to change, forever.

Olivia stood up very slowly, her eyes were wide and she squinted at the girl as if her eyes were deceiving her. All of the blood from her face drained and her mouth was hanging open; her jaw waiting to drop to the floor at any given second. Elliot could swear he saw her bottom lip began to quiver. Olivia walked over to the girl slowly, with caution, as if the girl might disappear into thin air if Olivia took one wrong step.

"Ally? Baby, is that you?" Olivia asked, her voice was shaky as her hands reached out and cupped the girls face, "oh my God, Allison!" Olivia cried and pulled the girl into her chest, "look at you! You're all grown up!" Olivia said as she studied the girl's appearance.

Elliot watched in confusion as Olivia took in every single inch of the girl. He could see the pool of tears in her eyes; ready to spill at any second; however, these were different tears…happy tears.

He had to admit he was more than a little curious, but he held off his 20 questions in honor of this little reunion, "Liv if you want some privacy; interrogation 1 is open," he suggested.

Olivia looked up at Elliot, and he could tell that she had forgotten where she was, "Thank you," she said but barely any sound came out at all.

Elliot sat back down at his desk as Munch and Fin crowded around, "What do you think that was all about?" Munch asked and Elliot shrugged his shoulders.

"I bet an old case," Fin stated.

"Hello?" They heard a man say and they all looked over towards the elevators.

All three guys got up and walked over to the man who seemed a bit panicked, "Can I help you?" Elliot asked.

"Yes, I hope. Um, have you seen a girl? Glasses, braids, big brown eyes, answers to the name--"

"Allison?" Fin asked.

"Yes! Is she here?" The man asked relief overcoming him.

"Yeah, she's here, and your relationship with Ally?" Elliot asked.

"She's my daughter; she took off into a sprint as soon as we entered the building." The man began to explain the situation, "We're reuniting with her mother, my wife, after 10 years, she's a bit excited." The man chuckled, as he looked around the room for his daughter.

"Ah…" Elliot began, but words failed him. He looked over at Munch and Fin who nodded for him to tell this man where his daughter was, but for some reason Elliot's lips weren't moving.

"She's back here, Sir. Just follow me." Munch said and led them to the interrogation room; Elliot right on their heels.

"Will," the man said, "my name is Will." He outstretched his hand for Elliot to shake.

"Elliot Stabler," Elliot said as the two men shook hands.

"So what's your wife's name?" Elliot asked, as they reached the interrogation room.

"Marissa," the man said relieved when he saw daughter, "oh my God," he gasped when he saw Olivia through the double paned mirror. "She's gorgeous, after all these years; she is still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

Elliot stepped back a minute; confused didn't even begin to describe how he was feeling at this moment. Elliot opened the door, "Liv? Someone is here to see you?" He asked more than stated.

Olivia looked up at Elliot, but was unable to meet his gaze. The man entered the room and both he and Liv locked eyes and just stood frozen in time. Elliot looked at the pair suspiciously and wondered what the hell was going on.

"Will," Olivia gasped.

"Marissa," the man said quietly and walked over to her, "it's over; it's all over, baby. Valdez is dead; Ally's free; we're free." He said and pulled Olivia up and into his arms picking her up as he held on for dear life. He placed his lips to hers and kissed her with so much passion, that Elliot thought he might have to leave and throw up.

Olivia ran her hands through his wavy dark hair, "I can't believe it's actually over." Olivia cried into the man's chest.

"We can be a family again, Momma!" Ally said as she stood up and hugged both her parents.

"I picked up Ally two days ago; she was in Australia, and I was in Oregon. We have been flying ever since then; trying to get back to you," The man explained cupping Olivia's jaw and wiping her tears as they fell down, "I can't believe no one told you that Valdez was dead."

It was at that point that Elliot walked away and gave them some privacy. He itched his head and tried soak in this new information. Liv, was a mom? Was that guy her husband? She had a husband? A daughter? And did he say he was in Oregon? Oregon, huh...

"You look like you've seen a ghost." Don said when he noticed Elliot's pale appearance.

"I think I need to sit down," Elliot said and walked very slowly towards his chair, "Do you have any idea what's going on in there?" Elliot asked.

Don nodded his head, "I have an idea." He answered and walked away.

EOEOEOEOEOEO

At six o'clock Olivia still hadn't come out yet. Feeling uneasy Elliot decided to just go home to his empty, lonely apartment. He thought about the events from yesterday, when he told Olivia that he had left Kathy; he had so much more to say, and now he wondered if he would ever get that chance. God! He had been so close! So fucking close! He slept in her bed for God's sake! And now his chance had disappeared just as quickly as it had come.

Her name wasn't even Olivia; it was Marissa, "Marissa," he said out loud to see how it would sound. Witness protection; Olivia Benson was a fucking fabrication. He chuckled at himself as he cracked open another beer, "Way to go Detective," he sneered, "falling for a fictional character."

EOEOEO

He woke up on his couch to a light pounding on his door; he rolled over and walked towards the door. He looked through the keyhole and although he knew who it was; he was still shocked to see her there.

"What am I doing here, Elliot?" She asked as she shook her head, "I haven't seen my husband in 10 years and I'm standing in your doorway? How does that make sense?"

"What the hell happened today, Olivia? Or is it Marissa?"

"You're mad." She said with her sparkling doe eyes and a smile on her face.

"Mad? No...I don't know…maybe. You could have told me, Liv---sorry Marissa." Elliot said moving away from his door to allow Liv to pass.

"Liv…please call me Liv."

They walked over towards Elliot's couch and sat down, "Can I get you anything? A beer? Water?"

"A beer would be great, thanks." She said as she took off her coat and Elliot got them some beers.

After a long awkward silence Elliot started the conversation, "Was everything a lie? Your mother? Your father? Simon? I mean how does that even work? Witness Protection, Liv? You couldn't even tell me…after 9 years of not even being your partner, but your best friend, and you couldn't tell me?"

"Elliot, don't!" Olivia threatened, "Don't you think I wanted too? Don't you think that everyday I wanted to tell you? But I couldn't Elliot! I would be putting my daughter's life in jeopardy! I couldn't do that. Not even for you."

Realizing that he might have stepped over the line; he took a deep breath, "Can you tell me now? Everything?" He asked never losing contact with her eyes.

"Why I'm here." She said taking a gulp of her beer, "to answer a few of your questions: no Elliot, everything was not a lie. My father is still a rapist; my mother is still a drunk. After I graduated High School I needed to get away…from everything." She said taking a large gulp of her beer, "I got accepted to the State University of Texas and left as soon as I could. I changed my name from Olivia," she said with a smile, "to Marissa. I wanted nothing to do with my mother including the name that she had given me. I met Will the second day of classes and we were inseparable. We got married after graduation and I had Ally shortly after that."

"She's beautiful, Liv." Elliot said looking at the piece of hair that fell in front of her eyes; wanting so badly to tuck it behind her ear.

Olivia smiled, "she's my world." Tears began to flood her eyes, "she has Downs Syndrome," Olivia said nodding her head, "one day after school Ally didn't come home, and of course as a parent you always think the worst," she said as a single tear ran down her cheek, "but you don't actually think it will happen…" Elliot handed her a tissue and moved closer to her on the couch, "he had her for 3 days…three days! He had my baby for three days…" She sobbed out and Elliot threw his hands around her and pulled her into his chest. He couldn't take Olivia crying, it was torture for him.

"Oh my God, Olivia, I'm so sorry," he said as he ran circles around her back. "How did she get free?" He asked as he moved even closer to her.

"She's part Benson, we're fighters." Olivia said with a sad smile; wiping the tears from her face.

"Tough as nails," Elliot said knocking elbow's with her causing another small smile.

"Valdez came after us like nothing I have ever seen before, not even in the 9 years I've been at SVU. We had to pull her out of her school, I had to quit my job---a homicide Detective," she said with a smile, because she knew that Elliot was wondering, "Will had to give up his family business…we weren't safe. We only had one option, WPP. We tried to stay together as a family, but he found us... twice. After the second time our case worker made us split up. It was the safest thing for Ally; we had no choice. I was able to convince our case worker to send me to New York, since Valdez new nothing of Olivia Benson I knew I would be safe here…plus I wanted to patch things up with my mother."

"Wow," was all Elliot could say. He turned his head, his lips just inches from her. He was going to do it; he was going to kiss her.

"Well Will is probably wondering where I went," she said letting the moment slip by them once again. She finished her beer, and moved to get up, but felt Elliot's hand on her thigh; keeping her from getting up.

"You're going to leave me again…" he stated. They caught each others gazes, and both searched for answers they knew they wouldn't find. He felt Olivia's lips on his cheek, and a soft breeze as she walked passed him and walked out the door.

Once again he had been so close...

a/n: So i hoped you liked my new story. I needed another baby, now that Strength is done...and i think this one is going to be it! Don't be afraid to tell me what you think!