A/N: So, I finally have another chapter for you... what can I say, sometimes life just gets in the way. This one's more focused on establishing the current status of the relationship between Elliot and Olivia, so the tone is a little different, but hopefully those of you who enjoyed the first chapter will like this one too.

inspirationimagination - as my sole reviewer for chapter 1, consider this chapter for you. Your review was awesome, and it meant that I felt confident enough in the story's potential to keep writing it, so thanks. I'm glad that you enjoyed the slightly different perspective I took in describing it - I wasn't sure if that would work or not, but it did. Also, the parallels between the victim and Olivia - totally intended, so well spotted. Thanks for the confidence boost.

Anyway, I hope you like this chapter too, and please send me a review to let me know what you think!

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GRAMERCY ACTRESS SLAYING: BOYFRIEND HELD

Elliot rolled over onto his side and opened his eyes, squinting as the light from the window hit him. What time is it? He glanced over at the clock and swore to himself. Jesus... it's only 6.30am and it's already hot enough to make me want to spend the day standing under a cold shower... They'd left the blankets off the bed last night and slept naked, leaving the apartment window open, but he could still feel the sheets sticking to him.

Next to him Olivia shifted and muttered something in her sleep, and he smiled at her and began to stroke the small of her back, her bare skin warm beneath his fingers. I know that you hate it when I say this, but you're always so beautiful first thing in the morning... He wished that he could stay over at her apartment more, be able to see her like this more, but...

He sighed. It just wasn't practical.

He had to be content with a few nights here and there, and he'd had to accept that. Sometimes he thought about how wonderful it would be to come home with her on a Friday and spend the entire weekend lying in bed, talking and laughing and kissing... but that wasn't going to happen any time soon. He sighed again, leaned over and kissed her cheek, breathing in the smell of her hair. It was ridiculous that they'd been a couple for almost three years and they still had to sneak around like a pair of horny teenagers.

He felt her move and smiled to himself, beginning to kiss the side of her face and neck, running his hand up her spine to stroke the side of her face. She smiled and took his hand in hers, pulling it towards her mouth to kiss it, and he pressed his lips against her forehead. 'Morning, Liv.'

She opened her eyes and smiled sleepily at him. 'Morning, El.'

He smiled again and kissed her, feeling her tightening her grip around his hand, moving her other hand up to the back of his neck and stroking it with her thumb as her tongue darted in and out of his mouth and he slid his hand down to her waist, pulling her body tightly against his as she parted her knees, wrapping one leg across the back of his thighs. 'Oh, Liv...'

Oh shit, my goddamn cellphone is ringing...

He rubbed his eyes, sat up and felt around on the bedside table for it, hearing Olivia muttering irritably to herself. For fuck's sake, where... ah, got it. He flipped it open and held it against his ear, stifling a yawn. 'Stabler.'

There was a pause at the other end of the phone. 'Oh, sorry Elliot, I must have dialled your number by mistake. I was looking for Liv.'

'Wha-' Oh shit. Oh shit. He pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it. It was Olivia's. Oh shit. Oh holy shit. OK, act normal. 'Morning, Fin... uh, is it anything that I can help you with?'

'I was sure I dialled Liv's number, but...' Fin sounded confused. 'I needed to call you too anyway, though, so it's no problem. Elliot, there's an important case that's come up-'

Olivia sat up and stretched. 'Who is it?' Suddenly her eyes widened. 'Oh my God, Elliot, is that my phone?'

Elliot made frantic shushing motions. 'Sssshhh, keep your voice down, it's Fin!'

'I'm sorry, Elliot, am I interrupting something?' He could hear a hint of impatience in Fin's voice.

Oh shit, what if he heard her voice? This can't get out. It can't. It just can't. It'll ruin everything. 'Uh, no, don't worry, I was just talking to Kathy.' He felt Olivia tense and she drew away from him, grabbing the edge of the sheet and awkwardly pulling it up to cover herself. Oh, for God's sake, what would you rather I say? He forced down a surge of irritation and tried to concentrate. 'What's this about?'

'Something's come up, and Cragen says that everyone has to come in. Now. It's important.'

That doesn't sound good. 'What case?'

'That thing up in Union Square last week. You know, that young actress who was murdered in her apartment.'

Actress my arse, she was a spoiled rich girl living off Daddy's dime. 'I thought they collared the boyfriend for that.'

He heard Fin sigh. 'They did, but now some other girl's just come forward and told us that he was with her the whole night.'

Shit. I knew that was too easy. 'Well, could she be lying?' It would make life so much easier if she was...

'No, her roommate confirmed it. They got home at around 8, went straight to the girl's room and didn't come out again for the rest of the night. The guy's a creep, but he's not a murdering creep.'

Elliot sighed. 'OK, I'll be in as soon as I can.' He hung up and handed Olivia her phone, unable to look her in the eye. 'Fin's going to call in a minute. Try and act surprised.' He climbed out of bed and headed towards the bathroom, hearing her phone starting to ring as he closed the door quietly behind him.

God, you're a moron. He turned on the tap and splashed cold water on his face, listening to the low murmuring of her voice in the next room. You have a great thing going on here, Elliot. Don't ruin it now. She's the best thing that's ever happened to you, and you know it.

Suddenly he heard the sound of her clearing her throat. 'Elliot?'

Oh no, she doesn't sound happy... He took a deep breath. 'Yes?'

'Elliot, can you come in here?' Her voice was dangerously calm. That was always a bad sign.

Oh no...

She was sitting on the bed with her phone in her lap, staring at him coldly. 'So, do you want to explain to me what just happened?'

Elliot felt an unpleasant twinge of shame. It was the same tone of voice he used on his kids when he'd caught them doing something they shouldn't. 'Look, Liv, I'm sorry, I was tired and it was an accident-'

'Oh, for fuck's sake!' She cut him off angrily mid-sentence. 'God, Elliot, how could you be so stupid?'

'Look, I'm sorry, I was half-asleep and I just-'

'This is why we have different ringtones, Elliot! What, do you want to get caught?' Don't play games with me by making me think that. It hurts.

'No, I-'

'Because you know what? It's not just your reputation on the line here, it's mine as well. I won't be known as a cheap little homewrecker, Elliot, because I'm not.' ...Am I?

'I know.' I'm so sorry that you feel that way, but I don't really know what I can do about it. 'I know that you're not, Liv, and I-'

'Then for God's sake, just try to think before you act.' And I don't just mean with your dick.

'Olivia...' I wish I'd met you first, believe me, but...

She sighed, and suddenly all the fight seemed to go out of her. 'Actually, you know what, Elliot?' She looked up at him sadly. 'Maybe it's time that we did get caught.'

Oh God, not again. I knew this was coming. 'Come on, Liv, please...'

'No, Elliot. I'm sick of all the sneaking around. No matter how many times you tell me that your marriage is a sham and you're just friends who happen to sleep in the same bed for the sake of your children, it's not enough. The lease on my apartment is running out soon and I think that you should seriously consider moving out of Glen Oaks and finding a place with me.'

Why do you keep doing this to me? Why can't you just be happy with what we have? You're the most important thing in my life, but I still have five children to think about, and if being with you means that we have to do things a little differently, then so be it! 'Liv, we've been through this-'

'I know we have, but you still have to think about it.' She tossed her phone into her bag and got up, wrapping the sheet more tightly around herself. 'Because whatever you might want to believe, Elliot, I am not going to wait around forever for you.'

A/N: What do you think? Send me a quick review and let me know!