AN: Wow thanks for all of the fun reviews, you guys rock! Thanks and Spanks! This was a nice juicy chapter to write. Hope you enjoy.

"Welcome to Paradise"

Chief O'Neill's Pub and Grill.

2008

Where we left off…

Olivia's long legs straddled the wooden barstool next to Elliot. They joked about family or lack there of, while nursing a pint of Ireland's finest Guinness.

"Okay, spill the beans," Olivia said without even needing to look at him.

Elliot stretched himself straight and tall on the barstool.

"I know not what you mean."

Her elbow nudged him playfully. "Elliot Stabler, this is the seventh time we've gone out in the last month, it's father's day, and tonight you decide to show me your secret motorcycle. Either I've been promoted into the boys club or Kathy kicked you out again," she joked.

"Something like that," he replied like any old thing coming out of his mouth.

Olivia started to laugh, but stopped herself short when she realized that might not have been a joke. "What do you mean by 'something like that'?"

His eyes flickered in her direction as the bartender interrupted the question.

"Another?"

"Make it two," Elliot winked.

"Seriously, what's going on?"

A cocky smile came over his face.

"Relentless," he said to the bartender while taking the beers.

"You started it, speed racer."

"I suppose I did," Elliot grinned.

"So?"

She waited.

He took his good sweet time to answer her question. One sip of beer and a rub of the old belly, then…

"I'm retiring."

And with that, he slammed down the rest of his first beer and started on the next.

Olivia's reaction was less than reactionary. In fact, the only thing reacting to his news was her mouth to the rim of her own beer glass.

"Don't throw me a party or anything," Elliot said with a disappointed sarcasm.

"I...sorry. I wasn't expecting that. I don't know what to say... What are you gonna do? I certainly can't imagine you in an office job."

"I'm not getting an office job, Liv. I'm retiring."

"Okay, so then what? Head security guard for a nursing home?"

"Well, I planned on mowing the grass a lot, but if you insist."

"Mowing the grass? You can't afford to sit at home. Elliot, have you thought about this or did Kathy get a job I don't know about?"

"I know it's crazy isn't?"

Olivia watched him blissfully smile. She'd never seen him like this before.

"You've lost your damn mind."

"Liv, don't you get it. I'm starting over. It's not the end. It's the beginning. Come on, you knew this was coming. Hell, I thought I was losing you two months ago, when you started winding the baby clock."

"So instead I'm losing you to shorter grass. That's real cute."

His hand pulled the pint glass from hers' and placed it on the counter.

"Liv, you should do it too. Me and you. We'll retire together. Like the big bang."

"Why don't you just take a leave of absence for awhile, El. I'm sure this is just a phase."

"You wanted to have a baby right? This is perfect timing."

"What's that have to do with anything? You're making irrational decisions and I-"

"Liv-"

"I can't retire. You may have a family to keep you occupied, but all I have is a long day of shopping, a couple of bad dates, and maybe a few crank calls to your cell phone. Hmm…maybe it wouldn't be so bad."

"This is your time to be a mom, Liv."

"I can't raise a child in New York City on a government retirement check. And if you'll so vividly remember, adoption agencies don't give babies to single women with no family and little pay. You haven't even gotten over your mid-life crisis yet, Elliot, how can you retire?"

He snickered at her red-hot desperation. She was so taken aback by the thought of him leaving the precinct, that she hadn't even realized that when he grabbed her hand thirty seconds ago, he hadn't let it go. In a whirlwind of thoughts her focus paused briefly on his anxious face and the light thump of his nervous thumb to her knuckle.

"Liv," he whispered.

"What are you doing," she jumped. Her hand pulled away from his and had she not known this man better than herself, she would have been hailing a cab as of pronto.

"I left Kathy."

The words hit her at the precise moment for a good beer chock. Once recovered, she wiped her mouth and gruffly replied ", Elliot, you're drunk. Get out of here."

Elliot handed her a napkin.

"She doesn't love me like that anymore, Liv. And let's face it, who I'm kidding. I wasn't happy. There were some brief moments, but nothing substantial."

"You can't do this."

"Why?"

"Because you are out of your mind."

"Actually, for the first time ever I feel pretty grounded and I know exactly what I want."

He placed his beer down and turned to face her. His hand fell effortlessly on her knee.

"What do you say, Liv? Let me take you out."

Again the bad timing with the beer. She had to push the glass away before the very first beer Heimlich was performed.

"Elliot Stabler, we are out?"

"I mean on a da-"

"I know what you meant," she cut in.

"So what's the problem?"

"There isn't one…I just…that's a lot of information all at once like that and then you just kept on going. Couldn't keep your mouth shut. Nothing suave about it. 'I'm old and single. Let me take you out, Liv.'"

"Well, I could have sent you flowers, but I know how much you hate that. Nice beer save, by the way."

Her eyes pierced right through him.

"Sorry," he grinned. "So?"

She knew what she wanted to say to his proposal. There was no doubt in her mind that she loved Elliot Stabler, but the whole thing was so unpredictable and completely left field at the moment. "Elliot, you show up with a motorcycle, divorce papers, and a retirement plan, then expect me to … this a joke, right? You're setting me up on some kind of candid camera…practical joke. Right?"

Elliot turned away from her with a sigh. "Ah…it's pretty serious actually."

He looked to the window as he thought about what needed to be said. His eyes caught site of the cigarette smoke pouring from the Cadillac out front. Blinking back towards Olivia, he began listing off his life as if it were a grocery list.

"Kathy and I parted ways a month ago. I wanted to tell you, I did. But I couldn't, so I'm doing it now. Anyway, the papers were already signed and sealed, so I moved out. "

Elliot continued without pause. His eyes stayed focused on the dusty window.

"I've been crashing at my brother's place, but last week I bought a new mini van, aka –the Harley, and a condo. Eli's gonna be with me on the weekends. You're gonna like the new condo. It has a doorman, an elevator, two bedrooms, two baths, an extra wide futon, and Dickie's old 37 inch TV. "

"So…you're retiring to Florida?"

"No, Liv, I moved out…and in. Literally."

There was a pause. And then…"I live in your building. Fourth floor."

Elliot faced his suductee with a confidant gaze. Her face painted itself into a thousand shades of red. He hoped to god she would accept the pass he just threw at her, otherwise he was pretty screwed.

"Uh…I…why would you do that, Elliot?"

"Saves on gas."

Olivia was speechless and confused. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"Say 'yes' to dinner and a movie."

"I…I'm gonna have to think about it."

"Wow, 9 years you think you know somebody. Liv, I know you think I'm nuts. But…can you just…can you just pretend that you're excited? You know, because I'm gonna have a really hard time working around your elevator schedule every week. Trust me, it's a bitch."

She held back a smile as he leaned into her attention.

"If Kathy and I had never been…you know…and if I hadn't messed things up that first time with you….I would have…wanted-no, I did want…you. I've always wanted you. Liv, you said it before. You've been single your whole life. I know this what you want."

"Stop," she whispered.

"Well, I do…Damn- it, Olivia," Elliot's head sunk a bit. "Now I don't know what to say."

And he didn't. Nor did he have to say another word. Her eyes fell to her lap. Her left hand rested on the bar and he nestled the tips of her twitching fingers with the tips of his own.

"I love when you do that."

"I know," she whispered.

She pulled away, knowing full well that the acknowledgment of such a secret indulgence could lead to treacherous boundaries. It was one thing for her to, on occasion, find herself twitching for him on purpose. It was another to admit that they both enjoyed such a selfish lustful tactic. It was also funny to her how such an innocent comforting thing could be so bad. But it never failed. Except for maybe tonight, when the ball was so obviously in her court, and she was so utterly out of her game.

"You're upset. Why are you upset, Liv?"

She tossed her hair to the side of her ear in thought. "I'm not upset. I guess, I just don't understand how I could have missed you getting a divorce and moving into my very own apartment building."

"I guess your detective skills are just getting rusty. Sounds like you should look into-"

She slapped him. Lightly. "How many more secrets do you have, Elliot Stabler?"

"No secrets. Just surprises."

The engine in the Cadillac roared angrily. Again, Elliot glanced at the smoky hunk of car.

Olivia noticed his lack of focus and reached for the side of his neck. Gently she slide her hand towards his cheek. Her touch melted with his unshaven face. She'd run out of things to say now too, so without judgment or caution, Olivia lifted her lips towards his.

Neither of them moved. Their noses came together as if searching for the right moment. Elliot's warm breath tickled Olivia's willing lips. She knew out of all the things most dangerous in the world, this could be the death of her. Yet, she stayed…slowly making the first move.

The stiffness in Elliot's body stifled as she pulled her face into his own. And as they touched, the power of 9-year sexual frustration was bigger than any force he could have imagined. God, himself could hardly keep up.

Together they touched and grouped places they'd only dreamt about. It was a slow burning fuse that quickly spread throughout them like a wildfire.

The rusty Cadillac watched from the window. Hell, the whole bar slowly began to watch as they kissed and gasped with a passionate precision in the corner.

Elliot couldn't believe what was happening. She wasn't supposed to kiss him. She was supposed to be a pain in the ass. Stubborn and protective. His heart was racing so fast that he thought it might burst…along with other things. He certainly hadn't planned on getting this far tonight. And he'd expected or dreamt to have had more control over himself in the situation, but her lips, her hair, her shoulders, neck, face, ears, the feel of her Victoria Secret bra under that soft cotton T-shirt, and the way her knee accidentally rubbed the inners of his thigh. He was only too glad for thick khaki's and dark Irish pubs. His eyes opened briefly in order to find a way back to earth. In that blink, he caught hold of the Cadillac blinking it's headlights and squealing down the road.

"Stop," he breathed. "Shhh…shh…not here."

He pushed her away but held her with his eyes as she licked her swollen lips and nodded. Looking at him was almost embarrassing for her. She was now completely vulnerable.

Breathlessly she broke his stare and looked around. "Wow." The ten other people surrounding them dodged her eyes in hopes that she didn't catch their stares. "I don't know what just came over me."

He gently placed his hand on the small of her back and put some money for their tab on the bar.

"It's okay. It was my fault. I'll forgive you this time. Let's just get you home," he said.

Olivia followed him to the parking lot. Her legs felt new and unstable. For the first time ever, she invited the feeling.

Stabler Family Mini-Van

2016

Mother's Day

The van rolled to a sputtering halt on the side of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

"Damn-it, Elliot, I told you to get gas at that last station."

"How was I to know there'd be traffic? That last station was over eight dollars a gallon. There's no way I was paying that much for gas!"

Olivia lifted her hands in angry defeat. "Well, now you're gonna have to pay eight bucks a gallon and walk your ass there and back to boot."

Eli kicked the back of Elliot's seat with his growing knee while fidgeting. "Way to save a buck DAD!"

"Hey- HEY-cut the crap Eli! I am this close to grounding your ass for two weeks."

"What! My knee hit the seat-"

"Elliot, he didn't kick the seat on purpose, settle down," Olivia interviened. "Call someone at the precinct and have them get you some back up. I'm sure there's a highway patrol close by."

Elliot grabbed his cell phone and got out of the van.

Olivia and Eli sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity.

Finally Olivia spoke. "What'cha listening to?"

"Huh? Oh." Eli pulled one of the earphones out of his ears. "It's just a stupid game."

His eyes focused on the I-Pod video game.

"I hear guitars. What is that you're listening to?"

"Greenday."

"Greenday? As in Basket Case Greenday?"

"Yeah, it was Dickie's. You know it?"

"Hell, yeah. American Idiot is my fav though."

Olivia smiled, but Eli could only muster a nod. He continued his video gaming.

She turned around and looked in the rear view mirror. Elliot was getting smaller and smaller as he walked on the side of the highway towards the BP station two miles down the road.

She sighed heavy but complacent.

"You don't have to be cool, you know," Eli said, breaking the silence.

"Neither do you," she growled back.

Olivia glanced back at him. He was still ignoring her.

"What's going on with you, big E? You used to give me heart cards made out of construction paper and crayons on Mother's Day. Remember that?"

"Yeah, well, things change."

Olivia turned away in silence. She'd heard that before.

"I suppose you're right."

She hated being the stepmother, but she hated that he hated it even more.

'Welcome to Paradise' blared from the I-Pod earphones. Olivia lightly moved her head to the beat and mumbled along.

"Sometimes I give myself the creeps. Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me. It all keeps adding up. I think I'm cracking up…"

Eli dropped his video game to shake his hair violently and sing with the music. "AM I JUST PARANOID."

"Or am I stoned," Olivia wailed.

Both Stablers head banged while singing the guitar line in unison. "Do, do , do , DOdo, do, do. Dodo, do, do, do, do, DO, do,do…."

Olivia let out a long loud laugh and Eli cracked a smile.

"Nice! Way to be stoned, Mah."

Olivia's heart fluttered at his last word. She kept her cool though. "If that's what it takes. But I don't recommend it; I hear it's not that hip. You know, that's what the cool people tell me."

Again they laughed and the silence returned. This time lighter.

Eli watched a few cars drive by on the highway. A truck passed with a Mother's Day commercial on it and ultimately he felt terrible inside for snapping at Olivia.

"Mum…"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

She held back the fat tears filling up her eyes and threw him a sideways smile. "It's okay."

Blue and red flashing lights came towards them as she wiped the thoughts away with her tears.

"You're father's back. Let's call a truce for now, mkay," she smiled.

He kicked back and grabbed the I-Pod again.

"As long as we can still pick on dad, I'm game."

"Deal."

2008

1am

The Morning after Father's Day

Manhattan Apartment Building

502 W. Chestnut.

Very swank hallway scene.

The off duty detectives reached the elevator. Olivia pressed the third floor button. Elliot stood at attention.

"I thought you said you lived on the fourth floor?"

"Can't a guy walk a girl home anymore?"

Olivia blushed, face to the ground.

The silent elevator ride was one to remember. No words, just vibrant thoughts and anticipation. Once they reached Olivia's apartment, Elliot pulled Olivia's hand to his lips and kissed the back of her palm.

"I meant it. This being serious. When can I take you out?"

"Out?"

"You know, me and you, sans gloke," he smiled eyeing the gun on her belt.

"Tomorrow. Let's say 8pm."

"Sounds like a date, Benson."

"And no showering at the precinct. I already get crap from Munch about dating. I'd rather not open a new conspiracy theory."

"And what conspiracy would that be? The people who work together will inevitably fall in love theory" he mocked.

"Whoa, slow down loverboy. Those are big words you're throwing around."

"Right. Sorry."

She gently laughed. "Goodnight."

He turned for the elevator and she for her door, but she stopped him. "Why now?"

"What?"

"Why me and why now?

"Why not?"

"No really, I need to know."

"Because, I'm tired of pretending. I'm tired of thinking about you. Worrying about you. I'm tired of fighting the butterflies in my stomach every time I touch you. I hate watching you struggle to love men you don't love. I'm tired of being a hypocrite. How am I supposed to be a dad, when I can't even be in love with my wife? It's not right. I could go on…do you need me to go on?"

"No…that's…that's all I needed. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

They turned again, and again Olivia stopped him. "And it's not weird?"

Elliot caught the elevator door with his hand and smiled. "You trying to impress someone?"

"No…"

And there it was the laugh he waited for all evening. Bright eyes, wrinkled nose, wide glowing smile.

"I'll meet you at Starbucks in the morning, bright eyes."

Elliot waved goodnight from the elevator. When he reached his brand new door to enter his brand new life, he breathed in to smell…cigarettes?

"Morning Bright-eyes," growled a gruff looking man with pock marks and a train wreck of a voice. He held a gun to Elliot's head and pushed him face first into the wall.

"What th-," Elliot said at a loud volume.

"Keep your voice down or I'll blow your brain straight out of your nose."

"What do you want? Were you following me? I saw you following me in Brooklyn. I should have arrested your ass right there."

"Shut-up. Empty your pockets."

"You want my wallet? Here, take it," He said pulling all the items from his pockets.

"Put your hands on the wall Casanova, do I look like a petty criminal to you?"

"You smell like one."

The guy smacked Elliot upside the head with his gun.

"Ah!"

"Smart ass. You're gonna watch your mouth if you want to see life again, Stabler."

"How do you-"

Smack! Again the gun beat into his skull.

"Ah…God, not real good at socializing, I see!"

Smack!

"You finished," hissed the man.

Elliot didn't answer him.

"Good. I got a friend who has a message for yeah. Says it's a message you'd die to hear."

"Yeah, so tell it already."

Bam!

Elliot's head trickled with blood, while the man behind him placed a tape recorder next to his ear.

Kathy's screams could be heard. "My husband is a cop."

"You're husband is Big Brother's worst nightmare, lady," yelled a man's voice in the background.

All the while Kathy's cries continued. "You don't want to do this. No! Stop! Leave the baby. Please! Please don't! You can take me but don't-"

"Had enough, Detective?"

"Who are you, you fuck'n stink factory!?"

"Consider me the modern version of Cupid. And my boss. Well my boss is your worst nightmare. He says you two are like peas and carrots. Tom and Jerry. Batman and Joker."

"Really. Which one am I?"

"Right now you're a pussy ass joker that I'm gonna mash into string peas if you don't shut your yap."

"What do you want?"

"I came for you, but after the public display of affection I captured so easily on film earlier this evening…I'm thinking…my boss might want to rethink the proposition. So I'm gonna give you a small present. You got 24 hours. Bring me your girlfriend and I'll let your kids go. Free of charge."

"Don't you touch my kids!"

"That's not my job pal. You gonna save the day or do I have to call in the maids for one big cop kill'n clean up."

"Where? When? I swear to god, you touch one hair-"

But the man pulled back Elliot's arm dislocating his shoulder before he could answer.

"You'll get details later. Until then, might I suggest listening to 91.3. I hear the DJ is all about reuniting lost relationships."

"What?"

He then placed a rag over his mouth and whispered into his ear. "And Elliot, don't try anything stupid. No back up. No guns. No detective teamwork. Olivia can't know about this. Got it!"

Elliot bit the guy's hand.

"Son of Bitch! Mother Fucker!"

The guy slapped Elliot in the face and held him to the ground with the rag pressed firmly against his mouth.

"Don't fuck with me pig. If you tell anyone, even her, especially her…I'll know."

Elliot struggled and squirmed to try and fight the chloroform but the man was too strong. Slowly his eyes closed and his body fell limp.

AN: Tell me what you're love'n. What you're hating. Tell me about you dog. What ever, just give me some kind of feedback on the story or writing. Shalom.