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He put his hand on her back and they walked up to the house. They were greeted by screaming kids, "Unclie Elwieot!" A little girl with brown hair in pigtails came up to them. He picked her up. "Hi Sweetie! How are you!"

"Whod jur frien?" The little girl asked looking at Olivia.

"This is my very good friend, Olivia" He said to her.

"Hi, my name is Lily" She said sweetly.

"Hi Lily" Olivia said with her famous smile.

"Hi El!" A pretty woman approached him and gave him a hug around the little girl. This must be his sister, Liv thought.

"Hey Jenni, how you doing?"

"Been better, but it's good to see you. And this-" she said turning to Olivia, "Must be Olivia" She said smiling at her.

"Hi It's nice to meet you, I'm sorry to hear about your loss" Olivia said with an outstretched hand.

She shook it warmly.

Olivia was surprised for some reason, she thought that Elliot's family was going to hate her, but Jen seemed to be real genuine.

"here let me take her" Jen said gesturing to Lily. "So how was the car ride?"

"Not to bad considering" Elliot replied.

"Hi Daddy!" All of Elliot's kids where there. They came up to him and hugged him.

"Hi Liv." They all said sweetly to her

"Mom dropped us off a couple of hours ago, she's at a hotel" Maureen said.

Elliot and Olivia made there rounds around the house. Elliot had so much family Olivia was blown away. It was something she had never had. She liked it, she wished for it.

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It was nearing midnight. They had been playing cards, reminiscing and boozing. Despite the tragic circumstances of them being there, Olivia was actually having a good time.

"Ok, I have to get to bed, we have a long couple of days ahead of us. So sleeping arrangements. Lily and Bryan (Jens Husband) and I will be in my old room. Jim, Alice and there kids minus Johny are going to be in Jim's old room. Aunt Betty can sleep in the guest room. Maureen, Kathleen, and Lizzie are already passed out on the couches in the family room. Dickie is sleeping with Johny on the pull out in the living room. And El you and Liv can have your old room. And I think that will accommodate everyone. See you in the morning." She said and left.

Olivia looked at Elliot, He gave her a look that said, 'don't worry'.

They walked up to Elliot's room. She took in his childhood room. "Nice room El" She teased.

"Listen Liv, I'll sleep on the floor, I'm sorry I guess I didn't think of the sleeping arrangements" His eyes were on there way to meet hers when he saw a photo of him and his mom. Elliot couldn't have been more then 12 in the photo. He was wearing his baseball uniform. He looked a lot like Dickie.

He sat down on the bed and began to cry. "I'm sorry, Liv" he said embarrassed of his emotions.

She sat down next to him and put her arm around him and allowed him to cry on her shoulders. "It's ok El. It's hard, it's very hard" She said consoling him.

They stayed in the embrace for a few minutes, before he spoke. "I have a private bath, you can change in there k?" he said releasing himself from her arms.

"Ok" She said. She got up with her duffle bag and went the bathroom. She came out a few minutes later wearing her gray NYPD shirt a short pair of navy blue shorts--showing off her sexy long legs. He stared at her for a moment. Before he realized that It might have been too much of an intimate stare.

"See something you like Stabler?" She joked. God I love when he stares at me with those eyes. Guess I did choose the right pair of shorts. She thought and smiled.

"What? Nah" He lied, "We're just wearing the same outfit is all" He said standing up. He too was in his gray NYPD shirt, and a pair of Navy Blue shorts.

"Well great minds to do think alike." She smiled at him. She walked over and touched his arm, "You sure you're ok El?"

"No, but I'll get there, Take the bed" He said as he grabbed a pillow and blanket and plopped them on the floor.

"Elliot, that's ridiculous. You need your sleep, and sleeping on the floor will not help it. I'm taking the floor"

"You drove all day today Liv, C'mon take the bed"

They just stood there, both thinking the same thing (share the bed) But both scared to actually say it.

He took a deep breath. "Look we're both adults, why can't we share the bed?" He asked. Um because I'm afraid I won't be able to keep my hands off you! He thought.

"ok, " She said sweetly smiling at him. Keep your hands off of him Liv…just don't think about it…don't think about him…lying there next to you. Christ your hopeless Benson. She thought.

The both climbed into his bed, equally nervous.

"You comfortable?" He asked her.

"Mmmhmm…thanks El" She said. They were facing each other lying on there sides.

"Liv, does it get easier?" He asked

"Yes El it does. But --my situation was different you know. Your family is great El. They will help you through this"

"I can't imagine not having them, not having a family…" Shit! Why did you say that! Idiot! He thought, "I'm sorry Liv, I didn't mean it like that"

"It's ok El, It's not news to me"

"I think you're amazing Liv, I really do"

She gave him one her smiles that made his toes curl. He loved when she smiled.

"Liv, can I ask you something, and feel free to say no"

"Anything"

"Can I hold you tonight?"

What the hell? Did he just say that!

She couldn't speak, so she nodded.

She turned to her side, and he wrapped his arms around her. It felt so right, so nice, so wonderful. She smells like a flower. He thought.

I can't believe it, Elliot is holding me. It feels so right. She thought. With out thinking of what she was doing she placed her hands around his, entangling them together.

They fell asleep, in each others arms. Neither one of them had ever felt so complete.