At the precinct

Days later Olivia picked up her phone. Willing and ready.

Coffee? –Liv

She set her phone down just to hear the buzz of the vibration notifying her she had a text.

She hadn't expected a response so quick, considering he couldn't even manage to call or text her back in the last 3 years.

When and where? –El

you could see the desperateness from the simple words. He was ready to fix things, to get his best friend back.

Meet me at Streep's Cafe, at 5pm –Liv

Plans were made. She felt the nervousness set in. She was already playing out scenarios in her head of what could be said or done. Thankfully, she was pulled out of her thoughts by her phone going off, his final response.

See you then –El

4:56pm
Streep's Café
Corner booth

Anybody that was watching her would have probably assumed she was about to do something illegal. She was shaking with nerves and jumped every time the bell rang that signaled the door opening and closing.

5pm on the dot, a blue eyed, Elliot Stabler walked through the door, taking a seat across from her in the booth.

"Hey" she said with a soft smile

"Hey, I'm really happy you're here"

She felt awkward. They had never said things like that to each other. Retirement made him soft.

"So fill me in" she insisted changing the subject rather quickly "the kids, Kathy, you.." she finished.

"Well, Maureen lives in Chicago with her boyfriend of 4 years, Kathleen is in school working on her PhD in psychology, she is can't wait to see you again.." Olivia smiled thinking about Kathleen, she didn't have a favorite, she loved them all but she was closest with Kathleen, and Eli obviously. "Lizzie and Dickie are in their senior year in high school. Dickie the baseball champ and Lizzie the gymnast. And Eli, is in first grade now. Always talking about how he misses aunt Livie"

Olivia's heart melted at the thought of Eli walking around the Stabler household asking about 'aunt Livie' She was his godmother and the closest thing she ever had to a kid. She had spoiled him rotten until Elliot left.

They sat their talking about the kids until Elliot asked about her and Brian

"Well, it just kind of happened. He was working undercover on a case we were investigating. We got close, I almost watched him die, and then it just happened. He's not the same rookie cop he was years ago, He's a detective at IAB now and he's changed. He makes me happy so don't say anything bad about him."

"Liv as long as he treats you right and your happy, I have nothing bad to say" Elliot responded and grabbed her hand giving it a light squeeze.

"So how's Kathy?"
Ugh. The question he hoped she forgot.

"She's good" he kept it plain

"good? That's all?"

"Well I'm assuming she's good. I would guess you would have to ask her or her husband to find out how she really is" there was no point in hiding it. So he let it out.

"Dare I ask what happened?"

"You don't want to know. It's a long story" He figured she wouldn't give up that easily, but he hoped.

"Brian's working late tonight, I got time" She said sitting back in the booth.

"things just weren't working out" he couldn't lie to her but he didn't want her to think the divorce was her fault.

"Don't give me that line of bullshit. I spent years attempting to fix your marriage every time it was broken so tell me what really happened" She demanded

"She left me about 2 years ago. I dropped the kids at school and then went to have breakfast with Kathleen, I don't see her much now that she's dorming. 3 hours later when I got home, Kathy's clothes were packed up in suitcases by the door along with other random belongings and there was a note on the kitchen table that said she was done and we weren't happy together. She got a job overseeing a nursing staff in Albany. She came over later that night packed everything into her car and said goodbye to the kids. She gave me custody of the kids and moved out there with her boyfriend. She comes to see Eli and the twins every other weekend and Kathleen sometimes takes the kids down to see her on the off weekends."

Olivia couldn't believe what she was hearing, perfect homemaker Kathy Stabler left her husband and her kids and moved away.

"Elliot I am so sorry" She didn't know what else to say

"Aw Liv don't be" he said in a nonchalant voice "She is happy now, married to some guy name Matt, they just had their first baby, I'm happy she's happy. We are better friends than a married couple."

They continued talking about random things until 8:30pm came around. Their topics varied from Elliot's new job as a baseball coach to Olivia's New Year's resolution to give up Chinese that only lasted 4 days.

Looking at her watch she remembered Brian would be home at 9 so she said her goodbyes to Elliot, promising each other they would get together soon so Olivia could see the kids.

"Talk to you soon?" Olivia asked

"Talk to you very soon, Livie" He said and laughed before pulling her into a hug.

Olivia rolled her eyes, there were only 5 people in this world allowed to call her that & that was the Stabler children. She hated when anyone else said it so naturally Elliot used it against her as often as possible.

Olivia left feeling better than ever. She had a job she loved, a boyfriend that would give her the world, and her best friend was back. It just couldn't get any better.

After talking about the Chinese food she suddenly had a craving for it so she picked some up before heading home so her and Brian could eat together.

Olivia got home seconds before Brian, in just enough time to take off her coat and shoes and set out plates and forks before he walked through the door.

"Hey gorgeous" Brian said wrapping his arms around the love of his life.

"Hey yourself " she said blushing a little at Brian's hello.

"Chinese smells so good. Throw me some lo mein and pork fried rice on a plate, I'm going to change. I'll be right out." Brian said heading toward their bedroom

When Olivia had just finished scooping her and Brian's food on their plates she heard her phone go off.

If you're off Saturday, Come over for dinner. The kids are dying to see their Livie ;) Bring Brian too. –El

Olivia rolled her eyes and smiled before responding.

We'll be there. Unless you call me that again! –Liv

She laughed to herself at her friendship with him.

"Whatcha laughing at love" Brian asked as he kissed her neck

"Your off Saturday right?" she asked

"yeah, I was thinking since were both off we could do a nice dinner out and then come home cuddle up on the couch with some movies?"

"I'm all for that idea" Olivia pulling Brian into her "but why don't we skip the dinner out and go to Elliot's for dinner with him and the kids. They invited us over and I'm dying to see the kids."

Brian pulled back.

"When did he invite us for dinner?"

"Today?" Olivia could sense the tension

"You saw him?" Brian's tone changed. He was angry.

"We met up for coffee, why are you mad?"

"Because Olivia, I don't want to go to your ex-partners house for dinner. I don't want to be anywhere near him and I didn't realize you 'fixing things' with him was going to turn into you and him having coffee dates" Brian was furious. He didn't want to lose her. She is his world.

"Brian why are you doing this? We met up for coffee, what's the big deal. He's my best friend!"

"best friend my ass. Everyone that has ever worked with you two knows you guys have always been more than 'best friends' and I'm not going to be played by you and Elliot."

"Brian you don't know what you're talking about and I can't believe your actually acting like this"

"Save it Liv, tell someone who will believe your lies." Brian said just before shutting the door.

"FUCK YOU BRIAN!" Olivia screamed at the already shut door. She's sure he heard her though.

Violently throwing out the Chinese that didn't even get touched she was in shock and teary eyed. She locked the door and turned off the lights, heading to bed alone. She cried until she couldn't cry anymore.

She loved Brian with all her heart. He made her happy. But it didn't seem like her love for him mattered anymore. She lay awake stuck in her thoughts until 2:30am when she finally heard the door to her apartment unlock and open and then shut and relocked. She turned on her side pretending to be asleep. She didn't feel like having that conversation right now. Not with her puffy red eyes. She heard him open the bedroom door and he didn't move again. He just stood there for a few moments before turning around to leave the room and shutting the door again.

Olivia felt her heart race and she began to panic.

Was he leaving her?

XXXX
Hello wonderful humans, I know some of you asked me to post the name of the story I was talking about in the last chapter, So big shout out to the guest review that said it was called Save me, the story is written by SVUlover (who may I say is an amazing writer so check out her stories!)

Send some reviews my way! How you guys feeling about this chapter, about the story in general? I don't want to continue if you guys aren't into it, ya know? Btw: If anyone caught the little Meryl Streep reference I was making by 'Streep's Café' Love me some Meryl.

Anyway Happy Holidays all! This is a crazy week with Christmas and then my birthday is 3 days later and then New Year's too! So I don't want to promise you a chapter too soon on the off chance I get some friends that want to celebrate these events with me but I will try my hardest to get one up before my birthday (the 28th)

Have a good Christmas everyone! If you don't celebrate Christmas then have a good Wednesday! LOVE YOU GUYS.