AN: Sorry for the last transition chapter, but I need you to feel their conflict and understand their state of mind. Hopefully that will make this chapter better! Thanks for all the love!

EOEOEOEO

Olivia pulled a heavy, cream-colored sweater over her head and watched as it fell on her jean clad hips. She decided the color looked good against the dark wash of her jeans, and she brushed her hair back from her face as she leaned in to look in the mirror. She had taken some time doing her makeup, but now she finished it off with a coat of clear gloss. As she straightened, she smoothed the sweater back down her torso and looked head on in the mirror.

"You can do this." She said to her reflection.

Olivia's phone rang, and she saw Brian's name flash on the screen. "Benson."

"Hey." Brian said.

"Hey." Olivia walked out of her bedroom and into the living room.

"Everything okay on your end?" Brian asked. "No sign of White?"

"I haven't heard from him." Olivia said.

"You still got your detail?"

"Yeah." Olivia said, glancing over at the man sitting at her table. She had almost forgotten he was there. She turned and walked back into the bedroom; she didn't need him eavesdropping on her conversation.

"I'm anxious to see you." Brian said. "But…um…so how's this going to work? Is this guy in your apartment 24/7?"

Olivia rolled her eyes, even though Brian couldn't see her. The man had only one thing on his mind. Typically, she didn't mind, but today…things felt different. "He can be outside the apartment." Olivia said. "But maybe we can just have dinner and watch a movie."

"Oh. Yeah. That would be good too." Brian said quickly. "I just want to see you."

Olivia couldn't help but smile at his attempt to recover. He was like a little boy sometimes…so eager to please. She thought that was one of the things she liked about him. Brian was easy going…uncomplicated. What you saw is what you got with Brian. It was easy. "I'll see you soon." Olivia hung up and walked into the living room. Her bodyguard, Ben, stood up.

"Ready to go?" He asked.

Olivia pressed her lips together and nodded, and then followed him out of her apartment.

EOEOEOEOE

Olivia was annoyed by Ben's presence as she walked down the apartment hallway. She knew it wasn't his fault, but tomorrow, when she was back in the precinct, she was going to demand Cragen call off the protective detail. White had obviously fled town, and even if he hadn't, she could defend herself. She glanced back at him, trailing 20 feet behind her. "You stay outside, ok?" She saw him nod and she continued down the hall.

She had to knock two times before the door swung open, and she saw the shock on Elliot's face as he realized Olivia was standing in his doorway. She was certain it matched her own, as she had argued with herself about the wisdom of coming over here all afternoon and even during the cab ride itself. She had tried to adopt of look of calm before she knocked, but her stomach was churning, and she was pretty certain she hadn't pulled it off.

"Olivia." Elliot heard the disbelief in his tone. His eyes swept over her, and then over her shoulder at the big guy standing behind her. "What…" He stopped immediately. He was about to ask her what she was doing there, but he didn't care. She was here and that was all the mattered. Even if she intended to tell him to go fuck himself, he had another chance to talk to her, apologize, beg for a second chance...or just to see her. He felt a small glimmer of hope.

Especially because he knew that showing up here had probably been amazingly difficult for her.

"So, are you going to let me in?" Olivia said, somewhat sarcastically, and that comment alone made her feel a little bit more like herself…a little bolder. Elliot's smirk eased the tension a hair bit more.

"Some things never change." He teased as he stepped back to let her in. She saw him look over her shoulder again.

"Ben's staying outside."

Elliot nodded, but he felt awkward closing the door before Ben entered. He glanced over at Olivia. "Just a second." He said. Elliot grabbed a chair from the table that was to his left and pulled open the door. "Here you go." He said as he slid the chair out into the hallway.

The distraction gave Olivia a few seconds to take in Elliot's apartment. Ever since she'd found out that he and Kathy were separated, she had wondered where he was living. She had called Cragen today to get his address, thankful that he hadn't asked any questions, and was very surprised to find that Elliot lived less than a mile from her. She would have assumed he would have a place in Queens, to be close to his kids. Of course, she had no idea where his kids were living now…so maybe he did pick a spot close to them.

Or maybe he had picked it to be close to her. She shut down that idea right away.

Her eyes scanned the apartment. A small galley kitchen was off to her left and the placement of it reminded her of her own. But the layout differed from there. To the right was a small dining area and she could see a hallway leading away from that. The living room was directly in front of her, and from what she could see, it looked comfortable and completely male. A dark leather couch and shades of navy blue and brown throughout.

"Come on in." Elliot said, motioning towards the living room. "Do you want something to drink?"

Olivia knew it was only 3 in the afternoon, but she felt like she could really use something to take the edge off. Plus, it would give her something to do with her hands. "Do you have any wine?"

"Sure. Make yourself at home." Elliot said as he walked into the kitchen. He heard her walking across the wood floor and he braced his arms against the counter as he tried to slow down his heart. Olivia had come to see him. Over the past four days, he hadn't been able to focus on anything except will she or won't she. Contact from her had been all that he wished for. He had replayed all the things he would say to her if he had another chance…and now…his mind was blank. "Pull your shit together Stabler." He whispered to himself.

"Did you say something?" Olivia asked as she walked into the living room. She saw a large stone fireplace to the left, with a beautiful wooden mantle. Framed photos were lined up, fighting for space, and she walked over to take a closer look. She saw one of all five kids that looked recent, and then several different groupings, some with and some without Elliot. She smiled as she gazed at the kids…they were always Elliot's pride and joy. But then her heart skipped a beat. There, amidst all the other photos, was one of she and Elliot. It was a moment captured during a happier time…and Olivia could feel tears prickling at the back of her eyes. Had he kept this photo here among his most prized possessions this entire time?

"Here you go."

Olivia whirled around when she heard Elliot's voice. "Eli's gotten so big." She said, hoping he didn't hear the emotion in her voice. She turned her attention back to a photo that she assumed was taken on Eli's first day of school. The kid was standing there beaming, with a backpack at his feet and a lunchbox in his hand.

"He started Kindergarten this year." Elliot said with a smile. "He was pretty excited." He knew Eli held a special place in Olivia's heart, and he had never forgotten her role in his birth. "Hard to believe…doesn't seem that long ago that he was born. He still asks about that day sometimes, and the woman that saved him."

Olivia blushed slightly, unsure of what to do with that comment. So, she didn't say anything. As Elliot got closer, he offered the wineglass and she took it from him. Her nerves had blossomed again, so she averted her eyes and changed the conversation back to something safe. "This is a nice place." She said, glancing back around the room.

"Yeah, I like it. I have two bedrooms, and even though one of them is fairly small, it's fine for Eli. He's the only one that ever stays here. At least with any regularity." He watched as Olivia walked around the room, touching things lightly…trailing her fingers along the back of the couch. He couldn't seem to take his eyes off her. The cream-colored sweater was striking against her dark skin, and the denim of her jeans hugged her body. He loved the length of her hair, and there was no other word to describe her except stunning. He had to tear his eyes away before she caught him staring.

"It suits you." Olivia said from her spot across the room. She took a sip of wine and stared back at Elliot. There was an awkwardness between them…but she didn't know how to break it. How to tell him what she'd come here to say.
"The girls might have helped a little, but yeah, I think it's kind of my style. Elliot knew Olivia was stalling; his apartment wasn't that interesting.

Maybe he should break the ice. It would give him a chance to say what he wanted to say…just in case he didn't get a chance.

"I'm happy that you're here." He said, hoping she knew exactly just how much. "I was really surprised to see you at my door."

"Not as surprised as I was." Olivia said. She leaned forward and grabbed her wine glass, staring at it as she held it in her hands. "I…" She rotated her wrist and watched the red liquid swirl around the glass. She looked up at Elliot and saw he was watching her. "I don't know why I'm here." She said.

"I think you do." Elliot said softly. "Or you wouldn't be here."

Olivia furrowed her brow slightly, and Elliot could tell he had surprised her with his comment. But she didn't argue with him. Silence stretched between them…

Elliot leaned forward, bracing his arms on his knees. "Just talk to me Olivia. Please."

Olivia saw the earnest look on his face, and she wanted to be honest with him. "I never intended to come over here…to see you." She sighed heavily. "I've spent the last four days thinking about everything that's happened…about our conversation at the precinct." Olivia brushed her hair back from her face and tucked it behind her right ear. She stared down at her hands. It was almost too painful to look at Elliot. "I've spent the last four days telling myself all the reasons I don't need you in my life." Olivia said as she set the glass back on the table. "I picked up my phone a hundred times to send you a message and tell you…" She looked back at Elliot and could see the hard set of his jaw…as if he was waiting for the blow to come. Olivia pushed herself off the couch and walked around the back of it, putting a little more distance between them. She stared down at her fingers as they dug into the back of the couch. "But for some reason, I couldn't send the message. So, I thought…" Olivia pressed her lips together. "I thought maybe I should tell you in person…" She lifted her eyes and saw him staring at her intently.

Elliot could feel the conflict in her. She was trying to tell him it was over, but her body language was telling him that there was still doubt. "Tell me what?" He challenged.

"That I don't need this…" Olivia started.

"If you believed that, you would have sent that message." Elliot said.

Olivia drew in a sharp breath at his words. "I have a new partner." She said. "I have a boyfriend."

"Then why didn't you just call me and tell me that there's no room for me in your life?" Elliot asked.

"I thought…I wanted…" She was so confused. When she'd left her apartment, she had been determined to face him in person and tell him that very thing.

Or had she?

Elliot stood up. She ws faltering, and he thought maybe…just maybe…this was his chance. "Olivia. I'm not asking you for anything you're not ready to give." He said evenly, taking a few steps in her direction. He stopped when he saw the wary expression on her face. "I'm not asking you to give up anything…" He swallowed. "I'm just asking…don't shut me out completely. I'll take whatever little piece of your life you're willing to give me." He wanted more than a little piece, but somehow, he had to convince her to give them a chance to work on things between them. If she cut him off completely…that would be it.

He watched as she pulled her bottom lip under her front teeth…a sign that she was listening and thinking about what he'd said. "Or…at the very least…just don't make a decision right now."

Olivia let out a groan of frustration as she turned away from him and leaned against the back of the couch. Her defenses were weakening, and she couldn't look at him anymore…the plea in those baby blues and the raw look on his face. "I'm still angry with you."

Elliot took a few steps towards the couch, walking slowly. Olivia still had her back to him, but she wasn't moving. "I know, and you have every right to be. I can't change the past, but I'll make it up to you. I swear."

"I don't know if I can ever trust you again." Olivia said. She knew that was where the deepest pain came from. After a lifetime of independence…of relying only on herself…she had put her trust in him. And he had wrecked her. It was the reason she could barely believe she was standing here, considering a future with Elliot in it.

"I know…but I'm going to work damned hard to show you that you can." Elliot rounded the couch now, and he was only a couple of feet away from her. Olivia looked up at him, and he saw vulnerability in her eyes that shook him to his core. "Olivia." He whispered her name, as he moved closer to her. "I promise." He reached out his right hand and brushed her hair back from her face. "I'll never hurt you again."

Olivia reached up and placed her hand over his as he brushed his fingers down her cheek. She turned her head into his hand, her body filled with an ache so deep that she shivered. "I want to believe you." She said. "But I'm afraid."

Elliot was struck by her words…the very words he had said to her. He realized he wasn't afraid anymore. He loved Olivia…and she had told him that she loved him too. She was here…which meant she believed there was some kind of future for them. What that was, he didn't know. But right now, he had to be brave for the both of them. Before he could even think about it, he pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her hair. "You don't need to be afraid. I'll be brave for both of us…and I'll do whatever it takes to prove to you that I'm here to stay." He wrapped his arms tightly around here, relishing the feel of her in his arms. "Just tell me you'll give me a chance."

Olivia wanted to resist…but she also wanted to believe.

She needed so badly to believe…because she had missed him.

More than she had even realized.

She stopped fighting it, and she relaxed into him as she slid her hands around his waist.

Elliot held her more tightly, and even though she didn't say another word…he knew he'd been granted a second chance.