7. Conclusion

It was becoming a beautiful summer and Olivia enjoyed being outside with Noah. Ed Tucker had retreated again, understanding that they would never be more than just friends. Elliot on the other hand, made sure she wouldn't forget that he was back, and that he wanted to be a part of their lives. They had met up for lunch a few times on work days, and he had asked her when they could get together again with the kids. He smiled each time he said kids, and she knew he was so happy for her that she had a child now. And it felt good to share that joy with someone. With him.

The squad was still grieving the loss of Mike Dodds and they all had support from therapists as well as each other to deal with their loss and to continue doing their jobs, knowing Mike might not be the last person they would lose.

Elliot understood loss. He'd lost several buddies in the Marines and the way he'd lost his job had also been a mourning process. He listened to Olivia when she called him at night and their friendship grew over the course of several weeks, mostly on the phone. They agreed to meet up again and when Elliot and and Eli came to her apartment to pick them up, she was pleasantly surprised to see he'd shaven off his facial hair. She felt a small pang in her gut when she saw his clean-shaven face, feeling as if she was going back in time, to when they were still partners. He still looked so good and his blue eyes sparkled at her. And at Noah.

Noah was taking to him and Eli so naturally that it warmed her heart. She loved to see her son interact with other people. He was a little shy sometimes and she wanted him to have positive experiences with other kids. And with men who might be a father figure for him. And who better to have as a male role model than Elliot Stabler ... Olivia had to remind herself not to stare at him. They were still just reconnecting as friends and she shouldn't assume that he would want to be a father figure in Noah's life. Only she didn't assume. She knew.

All the tells were there, like they had been when they were partners. Only now, the tension had been lifted. He was a free man and he showed his affection openly. His hand on her back in a busy street, brushing his arm against hers over lunch, staring at her and not looking away whenever she caught him. It was a little unsettling and it was exciting. Most of all, it felt good. Right. Like it was finally the right time for this. Them. For them to become a real them.

A romantic dinner sealed the deal. It was Benson and Stabler style. Not a lot of fuss, no expensive wine and they hadn't dressed up too much. This was them, finding their way at last after years of denial followed by years of distance. Their time apart had cleansed them in a way. The awkwardness was gone and had been replaced by an adult, healthy way of relating to each other. The baggage of the past was no more. They had both grown as individuals and were reconnecting on a new level, but which was still based on a lifelong friendship that could never be erased. An understanding that had withstood the test of time. And a love that would never be denied again.

He kissed her outside her apartment building. She wouldn't let him go. He followed her up and met her sitter, who left within minutes after they got there.

She kissed him in her living room. He wouldn't let her go.

They kissed each other. They wouldn't let each other go.

So he stayed, never to leave her side again.

THE END
WE ARE ALL DREAMING OF

...

A/N: I know this ending was short and basically just a summary, but the goal of this story really was to create another world around the tuckson scenes. I only added this little chapter so the completely inevitable was also put into words. They say Olivia has grown so much and I'm sure Elliot is somewhere out there, growing as well. So getting back together doesn't have to be complicated. It's simple because it's right. Right?