A/N: Thank you all for the kind reviews! They really motivate me to keep on writing! Especially since I've been away from this fandom for so long! :)
This chapter has been updated with a newer version. The content is more or less the same with less grammer errors :)

Elliot's eyes watched Olivia's every move as she headed his way. He couldn't believe that she was so close. He hadn't seen her since he left without the goodbye she deserved. Elliot knew how his departure had temporarily destroyed Olivia. Fin had raged to the hotel he was staying in at the time to inform him of the mess he made just a few days after he officially handed in his resignation.
He studied her face, looking for any clues as to how she would precede. She was as beautiful as he remembered. Her caramel brown hair was a bit longer, the curls at the end tumbling across her shoulders. She still had the air of self-confidence but there was a tinge of something new about her. Something he couldn't place.

He gave her a small smile when she stopped in front of him.

"Hi."

"Hi," she said, returning his smile with a tentative one. She glanced at the empty seat across from him, "Is that seat taken?"

Elliot arched a brow, not exactly sure how Olivia was playing the situation. He shook his head.

"Do you mind the company? I can't seem to find a seat with comfy chairs."

Elliot looked around the cafe, there were at least three more empty tables with sofas. Getting Olivia's angle, he smiled and turned back to her. "Please," he said, waving a hand at the empty sofa.

She flashed him her signature thousand-watt smile as she thanked him and took the seat.

"I'm Olivia," she said, sticking out her hand after Elliot also took his seat.

Elliot took her outstretched hand and felt her heat radiating. "I'm Elliot. Elliot Stabler," he introduced.

"Elliot, yeah? I had a partner named Elliot a few years back."

"Oh yeah?" Elliot inquired, playing along, "what was he like?

Olivia scrunched up her nose, "He had his moments, I guess."

"Pain in the ass?"

Olivia laughed, "The biggest."

Elliot grinned, "I'll apologize on his behalf then."

Olivia looked at him. A sad smile replaced the radiant one, "Thanks," she said softly, "that means a lot."

He just nodded.

They sat there in silence for a few seconds.

"So what do you do?" Olivia asked.

"Would you believe me if I told you I was an FBI agent?" Elliot rebutted with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Depends on if you have a badge to prove it," Olivia smirked. This was the Elliot she knew.

Elliot made a scene of patting his pockets, "Never thought I'd be asked for ID on my day off," he mock grumbled, "will you settle for my card?"

"You just want to give me your number," she joked, taking the standard FBI card from him.

Elliot just grinned.

"So, behavioral analysis," she commented, arching a brow, "and a senior agent at that."

"Impressive enough?"

Olivia cocked her head, pretending to be thinking about it before answering, "Well, depends on how well you play with others. And from past experience, that's not one of the feds' strongest traits."

Elliot's brow flew up in feigned surprise, "Wait. You work in the force as well?"

"Special Victims, NYPD," she said taking out her badge, "and unlike you, I have my badge to prove it."

Elliot grinned, "Well, maybe we'll have a chance to work together in the future."

Olivia made a disapproving noise, "Don't get me wrong, but I'd rather that day not come."

Elliot threw his head back and laughed, "Pity. I was aiming to impress you and proving that I'm less of an ass than your former partner."

"And maybe one day you will," Olivia tried to hide her smirk by taking a sip of her coffee, "Preferably not in the work field though."

Elliot arched a brow. He knew perfectly what the brunette was suggesting. He knew her too well, and in the twelve years where they practically spent 24/7 together, he could count the times she played the flirting game.

"Light reading you have there," Olivia noted at the two inch "Inside the Mind of a Sexual Predator" on the table.

Elliot rolled his eyes, "Best. Book. Ever." he said dramatically before they both broke into a fit of laughter.

Elliot couldn't remember the last time he laughed like nothing in the world could go wrong.

After he resigned, he and Kathy spiraled down before they both came to realization that they were better separate than together. The kids, surprisingly, were more than glad that their parents finally came to their senses.

Dean Porter, upon hearing that Elliot had left the NYPD, more than once invited him to join anti-terrorism but Elliot shot him down each time. He couldn't take anything from that man, not after what he did to his partner.

He thought he wasn't ready to go back into the world of gray, especially not at a federal level. But after a few weeks, he knew that he had to get back into the game before he lost his mind and turned into a vigilante. The good news was that apparently news traveled fast in the FBI because a buddy from the BAU asked if Elliot was interested in joining his team after an agent had decided to retire to write books and make a fortune. Before long, he was back at hunting down the people that wrote with blood. He liked his job at the BAU, he liked the fact that his days weren't always filled with child molesters and wife-beaters. But he missed the old days. He even went through a phase of missing Munch's coffee. But most of all, he missed the brunette in front of him. He missed the way she got his (lame) jokes, the way that she'd always call his bullshit and the way that she always had his back no matter what kind of stunt he pulled. There were so many times he wanted to stop by her place or to drop by the precinct to say 'hi', but he knew that after the way he cowardly left things, he had no right.

And now she was right in front of him, eyes twinkling, lips curled into a beautiful curve. The weight on her shoulders was significantly less compared to five years ago. Time was more than kind to her.

Elliot thanked Olivia and took the half of the muffin she offered him. It was so natural, they were falling back into the routine that they had for sharing food for over a decade. They talked and laughed at the tiny parts of their lives. Nothing they said was important; a woman wearing the most ridiculous outfit she saw the other day, a student bragging to his friend on the phone on how he got the newest computer game...they shared small details of their lives, both pretending that this was their first time meeting each other. It was a new familiar.

They were both laughing over a ridiculous sign Elliot saw in China Town the other day when the sharp sound of Olivia's phone rudely interrupted.

She looked at the callers ID and was about to apologize when Elliot waved her off. It was the job.

"Hey, Amaro, what's up?" Olivia mouthed a 'sorry' to Elliot.

Elliot shook his head but he slightly frowned at the unfamiliar name. Amaro, was that her partner now? He shook away the forming thoughts and turned his attention back to Olivia, who now had a deep frown creasing her forehead. The weight was on her shoulders again.

"Central Park?" she sighed loudly, it always seemed to be Central Park, "yeah, I'll be there in fifteen. Later."

Olivia gave Elliot an apologetic look as she hung up and was about to open her mouth to apologize when Elliot cut her off, "Don't worry. It's the job. Go catch the bastard."

"It was nice to meet you," Olivia said with a grateful smile when she stood up.

Elliot stood up as well, "Can I see you again?" he asked earnestly.

"Maybe," Olivia smiled coyly, "this is my cafe, after all."

"Oh yeah?" Elliot could feel the corners of his eyes crinkle from his smile, "Guess I picked the perfect corner to do my light reading then."

Olivia picked up her bag and coffee from the table before she smiled her goodbye.

When she was already half way out the door, she looked over her shoulder to find Elliot still standing there and watching her with an intense gaze.

"See you around, El." she said, dropping his nickname before fully stepping outside and walking off to a new beginning.