Thanks for all the great feedback on this story. Trying to keep light but still a little bit of drama.

For the reviewer who hoped I would be changing the rating to M, of course it will be, you only have to read my other stories to know this, lol.

This maybe the last update until after the weekend as I am off to spend the weekend with the sheep (If you follow me on Twitter this will make sense) and I don't have much internet. However that just means I get to write a bit more.

Enjoy!

Chapter 3

Elliot lifted his head when Olivia walked into the kitchen.

"There is fresh coffee in the pot," he told her looking back down at the paper he was reading.

She never spoke as she walked past him and got a cup from the cupboard and poured herself a cup. She looked around the kitchen and noticed how tidy it was.

"Your going in this morning, on a Saturday" she asked him, noticing he was in his fatigues.

He nodded. "Some of the guys failed the march the other day, so they are all in for a bit of extra fitness training. Just what I need with the way I am feeling."

"Maybe you shouldn't have gone out drinking last night then."

"Yeah well it was better than sitting alone watching TV like I do most nights," he grunted. "At least I can have a conversation there without being snapped at."

They fell back into an awkward silence as they both drank their coffee.

Elliot stood up and picked up his plate and cup and turned to the sink putting them into the water.

"Leave them I will do them if you need to go."

"It's fine," he said not looking at her. "I wouldn't want you doing everything for me. As you reminded me last night your not here for that."

Olivia sighed. "Your so friggin childish," she said walking away from him and out the back door into the garden slamming the door behind her.

"Damn it!" he snapped throwing the cup back into the sink and breaking it into pieces. He gripped the side of the sink and took a few deep breaths. He hadn't meant to start another argument but he couldn't help it, she drove him crazy. He had got up early and tidied up all his mess from the day before hoping to put her in a good mood, so they could hopefully talk. He pulled the plug from the sink before carefully taking out the bits of broken cup and throwing them in the bin.

He looked out the kitchen window and watched her walking slowly around the garden in the sun drinking her coffee. When he was told about the job he was fine with it. When Dana took him for a drink and told him who would be his wife he tried to get out of it, but Dana wouldn't have it. She told him to get over and sort it out, because she wanted the best two people she knew on the job. He had picked up the phone so many times in the week leading up to the job to call her and explain everything, to try and say sorry. But each time he lost his nerve. Just like he had all those other times he tried to call. Scared she wouldn't want anything to do with him and scared she would tell him to go to hell. The longer he stayed away, the harder it became to make that call.

But he knew they needed to talk. If they were to help this case and catch this guy they had to at least work together again, and hopefully if they managed to work together again it might help to put their friendship back on track.

He snapped out of his daze and shook his head looking back out the window. Olivia was stood in the middle of the garden facing him, watching him. Elliot swallowed hard as he stared back at her. She was wearing plain grey sweatpants and a vest top. Her hair pulled up into a messy ponytail, no make- up on, yet he had never seen her look so beautiful. A smile slowly spread across his face as he watched her.

Olivia watched Elliot from where she was stood through the window and saw him start to grin. She tipped her cup up pouring the remaining coffee onto the grass before heading back inside, wondering what it was that had him grinning like a mad man.

"Something funny?" she asked him throwing her cup in the sink and it hit off his hand.

"Erm….. No, nothing," he said turning on the tap and picking up the cup rinsing it out, the smile dropping instantly from his face. Olivia turned away from him heading towards the stairs. "Did Cragen update you last night, about the husbands?" he asked her turning around.

"Yeah," she said stopping and turning back. "He wants to meet up today."

"I was thinking at the drinks tonight I could the guys if they knew anything, tell them it was a rumour I had heard."

Olivia shrugged. "I guess it's worth a try."

"I will pick up everything we need for tonight on my way home," he told her trying to make an effort.

"You don't need to, Cragen said he would organise it and get it delivered for us."

He nodded as he put the cup down and looked at her. He needed to do or say something; they had to come to some sort of truce before tonight.

"Great…. Listen about last night, I just want to…..to…."

"Apologise," she interrupted.

Elliot narrowed his eyes, "I was going to say explain, not apologise, I thought maybe we could talk, try and sort this out."

"There's nothing to talk about," she said turning to leave again.

"That's bullshit and you know it Benson. That argument last night had nothing to do with taking the trash out or me bringing the guys home."

"So why not enlighten me," she said folding her arms over her chest. "Come on explain to me what it was all about."

Elliot slowly walked towards her his anger building as she cocked her head to one side smirking at him. "This is all about how I left you and never told you why," he said stopping a small distance from her.

"My God you are so full of yourself Stabler. You never left me personally Elliot you left the unit. We were partners and that's it," she said turning around and running up the stairs slamming the door behind her.

"Fuck!" he said slamming his hand against the wall. "We were never just partners, and you fucking know it" he sighed grabbing his jacket and keys and leaving.

xxxxxx

"Do you think they are going to be able to keep working together?" asked Rollins looking to Munch.

Munch just shrugged. "They haven't killed each other yet, so there is hope."

"What do you think Stabler meant by they were never just Partners?" she asked him as she watched Olivia glare up at the camera in the upstairs hall before going into the bedroom grabbing her clothes and going into the bathroom.

Munch chuckled. "You mean you have never heard the rumours?" he asked her.

"Well….Yeah I heard them, but I figured the way Benson was anytime his name was mentioned that, that's all they were rumours." She spun in her chair to face him. "Are you telling me they actually done it, they were more than just Partners."

"Who knows," he grinned.

"That's bull and you know it," said Fin handing Rollins a coffee. "They were Partners and that was all."

"Physically maybe," smirked Munch. "But up here," he said tapping his head. "And here," he said laying his hand on his heart. "Who knew what was going on?"

"So what?" she said leaning forward towards Munch. "They were in love but never took it any further."

Munch wiggled his eyebrows making Rollins laugh and Fin shake his head.

"Don't listen to him," said Fin. "He doesn't know what the hell he is talking about. He just likes to stir the shit."

"What so you don't believe any of the rumours?" she asked him.

"All I know is Elliot was married with kids, and Olivia wasn't the type to have an affair with her Partner, she is too god for that. And Stabler might have been a complete dick at times, but he would never have cheated on his wife."

"That doesn't mean they never wanted to though," she smiled.

"Exactly," said Munch high fiving her. "And if sexual tension was fire, then those two would have definitely set the place alight."