Ok, I do not own these characters. I'm assuming Executive Producer Dick Wolf does. If not...well...I told you I didn't. No suing teh Mewkey please.

This started as a one-shot I wrote after reading some really BAD SVU fan fiction lol. The one shot grew into what you see before you. I'm pretty happy with it now.

If you've read this story before then you will note I've totally rewritten it. I've changed the order of the chapters, and I've rewritten the chapters just a tad. Not enough to change the overall story too very much, but enough to make it coherent at least. I hope you enjoy this new form. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! Reviews make me oh so happy!

Olivia woke up and was suddenly hyper-aware of the body lying next to hers. She slid out from between the covers, her primary mission not to wake the sleeping man next to her. She dressed silently and tip-toed to the kitchen to make coffee.

I have to end it. This can't go on. I know he loves me, but I can't be with him like this anymore.

Water began to drip through the coffee filter before Olivia put the carafe on the heating plate to catch it. She quickly slammed the pot into place and sighed, grabbing a dishcloth to wipe up the coffee dripping onto the floor.

He knows I love him too.

She heard him get up then...stumbling around the bed like always...stomping into the bathroom. If there's one thing you can say about Elliot Stabler, it's that he's a slave to his routines.

How can I do this? How can I let him go?

Olivia knew she didn't have long to steel herself. He'd be in the bathroom five, maybe ten minutes. Then he'd be in her kitchen with her, nuzzling her hair as he grabbed a cup of coffee, hunting for his cell phone to make sure she hadn't called during the night. Olivia took a deep, steadying breath as the coffee machine gurgled and hissed to a halt.

I've got to be strong.

She heard the bang of the bathroom door and shot a nervous, hunted look at the bedroom. He walked out groggily, caught sight of her, and smiled. God, that smile! Her resolve almost wavered, almost left her completely.

Almost.

Elliot shuffled over to her and dropped a kiss on her cheek.

"Mornin, Liv. Ahh, great, you got the coffee goin."

Elliot grabbed his favorite mug from her dish rack and filled it. He leaned against her sink and took a long sip, watching as she slipped her hands into her pockets and turned to face him. She avoided his eye, and he knew something was wrong.

"You ok?" he asked.

"No," she replied. "We need to talk."

Elliot's stomach clenched a little at her words. He could pretty much guess what was coming. They'd been arguing about it for a month now. He set his mug down and crossed his arms

"Ok," he said, "talk."

"This has to end. All the sneaking around, lying to Kathy and Captain Cragen, constantly looking over our shoulders...it's not us, El. You know it's not. We're better than this."

"We've had this discussion..."

"I know we have, but it's never been resolved. Look, you know I love you, but I can't be this person."

"What are you talking about, 'this person'? You're you...you're Olivia Benson. Circumstances don't make you a different person."

"Yes, El, they do. These circumstances...this affair...it's got to end. It's making us both into people I know we don't want to be."

"So what, we're just supposed to turn this off? Liv, I love you. I've loved you for years. I can't just turn this off."

"It's not any easier for me..."

"Yeah, well I can't help noticing you're the one telling me it's got to end!"

"You know I'm right. You know it's just too risky! We're risking our jobs...we're risking your kids for Christ's Sake!"

"Don't you dare. Don't you DARE bring my kids into this!"

"I have to! What do you think's gonna happen when Kathy finds out about us?"

"How's she going to find out about us, Liv? You gonna tell her? Or maybe you're gonna tell Cragen, huh? Let your little guilty conscience ruin both our fucking lives?"

"That's a low blow, Elliot..."

"No, bringing my kids into it was a low fucking blow, Olivia."

Olivia turned away from him, fighting simultaneous urges to punch him and to burst into tears. Elliot stood silently for a moment and sighed. He came up behind her, snaking his arms around her waist.

"I'm sorry..." he began, but she twisted away from him, turning angry eyes on him.

"No," she said. "No kisses, no holding each other, no touching, no nothing. This is it, Stabler. We're done."

Her words sank in slowly, and he felt tears spring to his eyes.

"Don't...don't do this to me, Liv. Honey, I love you. I need you. Don't..."

"Stop. Just let me go."

With that, she grabbed her keys and cell phone and walked out the door...and out of his life.

..::**|~|**::..

When he got to the station, he was informed unceremoniously that Olivia had asked to be transferred back to Computer Crimes. She had already cleaned out her desk and locker before Cragen had even called to make the trade. When Elliot got to the squad room, it was as if Olivia had never even been there. He stood next to her desk at a loss for words, fighting to keep his composure.

"Stabler! My office! Now!"

The captain's words rang out through the squad room. Det. Fin Tutuola cast an appraising eye over Stabler.

"What the hell did you do now?" Fin asked.

Elliot didn't even look at Fin as he swept past his desk into Cragen's office.

"Would you mind telling me why one of my best detectives just transferred herself to Computer Crimes?"

"I don't know," Elliot replied, evading the captain's glare.

"You don't know. You don't know why your partner stormed in here this morning, told me you were impossible to work with, requested a transfer, and had her desk cleared out before I even had a chance to get a word in? You don't know why she then stormed right back out of my squad room without so much as a backwards glance?"

"No sir."

"You better think of an answer fast, Stabler."

Elliot maintained a stoic silence, refusing to meet his captain's eye.

"Alright...you don't want to talk, I'm not going to force you. Frankly, I don't have the time to babysit every little tiff you and your ex-partner have. You're on desk duty until somebody tells me just what the hell's going on. Now get the hell out of my office."