Chapter 10

For their second date, Olivia watched in enjoyment as she dragged Elliot through an exhibit at the museum she had been dying to see. Central Park was too much of a cliché and she had no desire to spend her Sunday watching skateboarders in the park. Elliot was on to what she was trying to do and at first he kept a smile on his face just to spite her but after about an hour he genuinely appreciated watching her in her element. She talked him through each exhibit but he didn't hear a word she said. He was content just seeing the smile illuminate her face and his chest felt a little tighter when she held his hand while they toured the museum.

They were both nervous about seeing someone from work but thankfully they weren't discovered. After the museum they grabbed lunch at a small bistro around the corner. It was a place she ate often and even though he wouldn't have chosen it on his own, he felt like she was slowly giving him a glimpse of her world outside of the 1-6 and their respective apartments.

When the date was over he dropped her off at home, both of them lingering on her stoop a little longer than necessary not wanting to say goodbye. He stood shyly with his hands in his pockets and a boyish grin while she stood like a love struck teenager swaying back and forth with her hands crossed in front of her. He knew that it was just their second date and that he wouldn't be going upstairs. Although he couldn't wait to feel her body next to his again, it was this side of her that he underestimated how much he wanted to get to know.

Olivia was always somewhat of an enigma to him. He never understood how she managed to do this job considering the circumstances surrounding her conception and still be more passionate about it now than she was when she first started. Despite the depravity they saw everyday, she managed to still have this hope and positivity about people that he felt he was losing by the day.

Elliot watched her walk in her building, sneaking glances at him over her shoulder with a smirk on her face. She looked at him as if she thought he was unreal or a dream and he realized he hadn't ever felt this kind of love in his life. It scared him, humbled him and made him feel like a better man.

XXXX

Olivia stayed in her apartment for the rest of the day after her date with Elliot. Usually she would go stir crazy being in her place for too long because she was used to being called on a case or finishing errands that she didn't get a chance to do because of work. She wasn't hungry because she had just finished lunch and brought the rest of her sandwich home after her date with Elliot.

Elliot.

Repeating the name in her head instantly brought on a curl of her lip. She smiled automatically now at the mention of his name. She didn't know when she became this person. She hadn't felt this way about someone in-well ever. Their time together was effortless and instead of having to waiver through the uncomfortable conversation of what she did for a living and about her lack of family which she had to do on other dates, they just simply got to know each other better.

She was worried initially that their attraction was merely physical and that intense, brooding Elliot would be awkward and boring on dates but that couldn't have been further from the truth. He was actually romantic and funnier than she ever gave him credit for. She didn't know where everything with him was going and she battled with herself to not overthink and ruin it. She decided for once to live in the moment. She took a shower and threw on a t-shirt and some yoga pants to lounge at home for the rest of the evening. Her text message alert went off as she settled on her sofa with the remote in hand.

What are you up to?

She smiled at the message. She was thinking about texting him too but knew he was spending time with his kids and didn't want to ruin it.

Just getting ready to watch some TV. What are you up to?

Leaving the pizza joint with the kids. Going to hang out with them at the house a little more and head home.

She smiled wilder realizing he was just checking in on her.

Did you guys have fun?

Yeah. They are something else. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

I look forward to it.

So…what are you wearing?

She laughed out loud. She could just picture the impish look on his face while he was typing the message.

You are ridiculous.

You're not going to tell me?

Nope.

A few moments went by and he hadn't responded. She got up to retrieve the rest of her sandwich when she heard her phone ring. She answered without paying attention to the caller id.

"I'm not going to tell you what I have on right now."

There was a long pause. "And thank goodness for that," the familiar female voice answered.

Olivia startled. "Casey?"

"Yep and I would ask who you thought that was but I'm pretty sure I know the answer."

Olivia groaned and sat back on the couch. "Don't start. What's up?"

"I need you to be a wing woman for me tonight."

She grumbled and laid her head on the back of the couch. "Oh no not tonight. It's Sunday."

"Come on Benson its not even 6 o'clock yet. I'm at this stupid lawyer thing and I need someone here with me. Plus there is this hot attorney here that I have my eye on and I'm super nervous."

"What does that have to do with me? How would I help that situation?" She got up and walked to the bedroom knowing that she was going to give in and needed to pick out some clothes.

"Because I tend to be a lot more loose when you are around and I may need you to go talk to him for me. You are good at that. Plus you owe me."

Olivia was rummaging through her closet and frowned at Casey's comment. "Owe you? For what?"

"If it wasn't for me, you and that sexy partner of yours would still be pushing each other down on the playground instead of telling each other how you really feel," she began. She lowered her voice into the phone so no one around her could hear. "And you also wouldn't be having some of the best sex of your life. Now get your ass down here."

Casey gave Olivia the address and within thirty minutes she was out the door.

XXXXX

"Since when do you stay hooked to your phone all the time?" Kathleen asked annoyed. "Who are you talking to?" She tried to peek over his arm but he quickly pulled back hiding the screen.

He put the phone back in his pocket. "Nobody. Come on let's get in the car."

Kathleen eyed him suspiciously and got in the car with Maureen close behind. The ride back to the house was full of the usual banter between Liz and Dick and Maureen and Kathleen passed each other glances back and forth. Elliot felt his phone buzz in his pocket and wanted to answer it right away knowing it was Olivia but decided to wait when he felt the stares coming at him from all sides. When they pulled into the driveway all of the kids hopped out of the car and Elliot checked the message.

Casey is dragging me to a mixer with her lawyer friends. She said I owed her for all the great sex I've been having. Have a good night. See you tomorrow.

Elliot smiled. He thought the dynamic between Casey and Olivia was hilarious.

Be careful. Let me know that you made it home safe. And she's right. You do owe her.

He was alarmed by a knock on the jeep window. It was Kathy.

"Hey you coming in? I thought you were going to hang out and watch a movie with the kids."

He quickly put the phone back in his pocket. "Oh yeah I am. Just wrapping up something."

She frowned hoping this wouldn't lead to him bailing on the kids. "It's not work is it?"

"Yeah—uhh no." He was used to equating Olivia with work but they were more than that now. Much more. "No not work. Come on let's go inside."

After the movie was over the twins went upstairs to finish homework and get ready for bed while Kathleen and Maureen whispered among themselves in the living room. Elliot walked into the kitchen to put away the popcorn bowl. He threw away the rest, washed the bowl, put it away and tied up the bag to get ready to throw it out.

Kathy watched him in awe and it wasn't until he came back in from dumping the trash that he noticed her eyes on him. "You're whistling," she observed. She folded her arms and tilted her head examining his body language.

"I was?" He didn't even notice. "Oh yeah I guess I was."

"And you never helped me do anything around the house," she added.

Elliot chuckled uncomfortably and put another bag in the trash can. "Would you rather I didn't help? I saw the trash needed to go out and I took it out." He shrugged his shoulders. "No big deal."

She continued to observe him and he walked in the living room to go and talk to his daughters before he left. They were whispering among one another and stopped suddenly when he walked in.

"So what's going on girls? Who's the latest love interest?" He sat down in the chair and smoothed his hands out on his jeans ready for whatever they were going to lay on him.

"What are you talking about dad?" Maureen asked.

He chuckled at their attempt to be reserved. "Come on. I'm your father. I know when you guys are whispering about boys or have something up your sleeve. Just tell me what it is."

Kathleen and Maureen looked back and forth between each other and giggled before Kathleen got up to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Good night dad. I'm really glad you are doing okay."

Elliot stood up and watched her trot up the stairs. "What was that about?" he asked Maureen.

She shrugged her shoulders and walked to the kitchen to say goodbye to her mom. "Dad are you getting ready to leave? You can walk me out."

"I guess I am. Good night Kath," he waved and walked out with his oldest daughter a few steps in front of him.

He walked her to her car and she stopped when she opened the door. "So who is she dad?"

The question caught him off guard and he couldn't hide the guilty look on his face. Maureen started to laugh and he figured he shouldn't even lie. "Mo it's—"

"It's fine dad. I promise. We all know it's over between you and mom and the divorce is almost final. It's ok for you to have someone in your life," she assured him.
He put his hands in his pocket not sure what to say next. He wasn't prepared to have this conversation with his children yet. He hadn't even talked to Olivia about everything yet. "You really ok with all of this?"

Maureen put her hand over his. "I promise. Kathleen and I are fine. It's actually pretty cool to see you this giddy over someone. I haven't seen you this happy in-in a very long time." She looked a little sad and Elliot knew she realized that her parents hadn't been happy for some time.

"Thanks."

She got in the car and closed the door but rolled down her window. "Is it anyone we know?"

She had his same mischievous smile and he flushed at the question. "Drive safe honey. I love you."

"I love you too."

XXXXX

Olivia and Casey stood near the hotel banquet hall door laughing and drinking while Casey delighted in her plan actually working. Jason Walters was an attractive family law attorney from a small but respectable firm and after some coaxing from her friend, Casey walked over to introduce herself and they had a coffee date on Wednesday.

"See there," Olivia tapped her hand. "He was interested. All you had to do was go talk to him."

Casey shook her head while swallowing the rest of her wine. "Oh please Liv. Don't act like I'm the one that's crazy because I didn't walk up and ask a guy out. If it wasn't for me you would still not be talking to Elliot."

Olivia waved her off. "Yeah yeah you sound like a broken record. We will name our first born after you ok?"

The words were out of her mouth before she realized it. She tried to hurry and drink the rest of her wine hoping Casey wouldn't notice. Of course she wasn't so lucky.

"Well well well. Look who's talking about having kids with Elliot Stabler," Casey teased.

She immediately went into defense mode. "No I just meant—I didn't mean."

"No that's exactly what you meant," Casey interrupted while laughing.

She started to look a little panicked and Casey put her hand over hers to calm her down. "Liv it's really ok. There's nothing wrong with you thinking about a future with Elliot."

She finished off the rest of her wine and checked the time. "It's getting late. You got your date. Can I be excused now?"

Casey started to get worried at her sudden change in mood and gathered her things to leave with her. "Come on. You don't have to take a cab. I'll drop you off."

In the car Olivia was mostly silent so Casey spoke up. "Liv I know I give you a lot of shit about Elliot but really. You guys seem so happy together. I haven't seen him smile this much in the two years I've known him." Olivia smiled listening to her. It was true. She had seen how much happier he had been later. "You either by the way," she added shrugging her elbow against Olivia's. "You're happy Benson. He's happy. I know enough to know that's not just because the sex is great. He loves you. You love him."

Olivia got ready to interrupt and she held up her finger in warning. "I swear to God if you tell me that no one has said anything about the L word again I'm going to stop in the middle of this intersection and put you out of my car."

Olivia rolled her eyes and giggled.

"You love him. Why won't you tell him?" Casey reasoned.

She rolled her eyes and stared out of the window. The city seemed uncharacteristically quiet for a Sunday night or maybe it was just overshadowed by the loud pounding of her heart at the line of conversation. "This all just came out of the blue."

Casey raised her eyebrow. "You call seven years out of the blue?"

Olivia sighed and put her head back against the headrest. "What are we doing Casey?"

"Umm going to your house."

She laughed but couldn't shake the feeling in the pit of her stomach. "I'm serious. We're partners. He has kids and an ex-wife who will hate my guts. It's going to get all complicated before we really get a chance to—"

They pulled up to the curb of her building and she sat in the car for a minute playing with her hands.

"A chance to what?"

"I don't know…. to get serious about it I guess. I've been so busy in la la land that I wasn't thinking about his kids. I don't want them to think that this has been going on while he was married to their mom. And Kathy dear lord. Don't get me started there. He has four kids already. What if he doesn't want more? I want children." she rambled. "And I don't want anyone as my partner."

Casey gave her a sympathetic smile. "Sounds like you were doing better in la la land. This real world stuff is overrated."

She chuckled bitterly. "Yeah. It always comes to this doesn't it? Real life."

Casey turned to her and briefly glanced past her at something in the background before focusing back on her face. "Do you want Elliot?"

Olivia scoffed. "It's not that—"

"Do. You. Want. Elliot?"

She exhaled and threw her head against the back of the seat again. "I don't want anyone else," she responded repeating the words she uttered to him.

"Then you do what you have to do to make it work. I have a feeling that he's serious about you and he's willing to do whatever it takes."

She smiled in response and kept her eyes fixed on the ceiling of the car. "Oh yeah? How do you figure?"

"Because it's getting pretty late and he's sitting on your stoop right now."

Olivia's head popped up and she instantly locked eyes with him. He gave her a shy wave.

She opened the car door in disbelief, stepping out on to the curb. She leaned over in the car to get her keys and cell phone.

"Hey Liv. Enjoy la la land. It's really not so bad there," Casey said offering her friend the last bit of advice for the night. She drove off and Olivia stood in stunned silence at her partner in front of her.

Elliot took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. She was beautiful. She had on black slacks, a deep purple shirt that hugged her curves and her hair was pulled back. He wondered if there would ever be a time when her mere presence didn't knock him off center. He felt like a pubescent teenager. He didn't have a plan when he came over. He just wanted to see her.

"Hey," he said nervously.

"Hey yourself."

They stood at the stoop much like they did earlier in the day not quite knowing what to say to each other but not wanting it to end.

"So funny thing," he started, "I heard that there was some serial killer visiting law mixers and when you said you were going I was a little concerned so I figured I would come check on you. Make sure you got home ok."

She laughed out loud and he immediately relaxed.

She eyed him speculatively. "Serial killer hunh?"

"Yep."

She walked up the stairs closer to him and put her hands at his hips. "I am a cop El just like you so if there was danger then I could protect myself."

He took her hands off his hips and held them in his. "I just wanted to see you Liv."

She blushed and he was relieved that he had the same effect on her as she had on him. They were both novices in this type of situation. They didn't have all the answers but they knew they wanted each other.

"I'm glad you came by. I was just talking about you."

He laughed. "You were in the car with Casey so I bet you were."

"Mhmm," she muttered playfully.

"Do I want to know?"

"Don't you always?"

She was in a playful mood and that made him even more comfortable. He lowered his forehead to hers and heard her sigh in response.

"Do you want to take a walk with me? I know it's kind of late but—"

She smiled up at him. He didn't try to come upstairs again. For a fleeting second because it was pretty late she thought he would try and get an invitation upstairs. He surprised her once again.

"Yes I would love to."

They walked down the few steps to the sidewalk and she stopped suddenly. "Wait."

He furrowed his brow and looked concerned. "What's wrong?"

"With that serial killer out are you sure it's safe?"

She bit her bottom lip to stop herself from laughing.

"Very funny Liv. I'm sure we will be fine. Not only am I amazing in bed I think was the term Casey used but I can also defend a damsel in distress."

"El you call me a damsel or something in distress again and I'm going to knee you in the balls," she threatened lightheartedly and jabbed her finger in his chest for emphasis.

"Ow," he yelped. "I think if you injure me there you will be hurting yourself more than you are hurting me," he shot back.

She started to hit him in the chest. "You arrogant jackass," she said in between light jabs to the chest.

"Ouch Liv."

"Oh yeah you are so hurt. That mouth of yours is really going to get you in trouble."

His face lit up and she knew he was about to make another off the collar remark. She put her hand over his mouth stopping him before he got the chance. "Don't you dare say it."

He held up his hands in surrender and they continued to walk down the sidewalk. The temperature was perfect and the light breeze made for a great walk. There were a few people scattered along the street but for the most part it was quiet and perfect. They walked a few steps in comfortable silence before Elliot spoke up. "Tell me something about you I don't know."

She snickered and thought about his question. "Hmmm let's see. I wanted to be a ballerina when I grew up."

He laughed out loud at her confession.

"You're about to get hit again El."

"Wait are you being serious?" he asked between chuckles.

"Yes I'm being serious. I wanted to be a professional ballerina," she held her hands above her head in a dancer pose.

"And how old were you when you had this dream?" he asked using air quotes.

"I had the dream up until I was about 9 or 10."

"What happened?"

"Boobs," she answered frankly gesturing towards her chest.

Elliot started to laugh again. "Well if it makes you feel better I for one am thankful you are not a dancer and for your boobs."

"You are such a juvenile."

He started to walk backwards and kept in time with her slow stride.

"So now it's your turn. Tell me something about you that I don't know."

"This wasn't a game," he pointed out thankful for the new angle because now he got to look her in the eyes.

"Why not? Games tend to work well for us."

He stopped walking and she followed. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"I don't know that it's either. It just works," she answered honestly.

He nodded and they started to walk again turning the block on to another quiet street. "I'm waiting," she nudged.

"Something you don't know," he repeated thinking about what he would tell her. "Well I found out tonight that I'm pretty sure my two oldest kids know that we are involved, it doesn't bother them and they are just happy to see that I'm happy."

Olivia stopped immediately. He turned around to see her leaning against one of the steps in front of a brownstone. "What's wrong?"

"Your kids know?" She was starting to freak out and he wanted nothing more than to make her feel at ease.

"Yes. It was only a matter of time right?" he asked bending down to get eye level with her. "Come here." He pulled her into a hug. She didn't reciprocate at first but after a few agonizing seconds she wrapped her arms around him.

"My kids are everything to me Liv. And now so are you. They had to know. I would've liked to tell them a little later but they notice things. You would think they were detectives or something," he tried to joke. Her lip slightly curled upwards and he felt like he was starting to get through to her. It wasn't exactly how either of them planned to break the news to his kids but nothing about their situation had gone according to plan.

"So now what?" she asked.

"Now we keep walking." He took her hand in his as they walked. Her mind was racing but it felt nice to just hold his hand and act like a normal couple. "So they don't hate me?"

"No. They don't hate you. I promise."

She took a deep breath and braced herself to ask the next question. "And Kathy?"

"If my daughters know she does too. She was looking at me a little strange all night but she didn't talk to me directly about it…yet."

She squeezed his hand and stopped walking again. "Do you think she will ask you about me?"

He laughed as if it was no big deal. "Oh yeah. It's only a matter of time."

"That doesn't make you nervous?"

He sighed and scrubbed his other hand down his face. "Not nervous. It's uncomfortable to talk to your almost ex-wife about who you are seeing especially since she knows you but it's necessary. I won't ever not tell her the truth."

"I know," she responded. It was one of the things she loved most about him. "I don't want you to lie to her it's just—awkward."

"Yeah but it is what it is. Honestly I don't think she's too surprised."

And that's what Olivia was afraid of. She felt the tension with Kathy here and there through the years and felt like she merely tolerated her at best but deep down she knew that Kathy suspected there was something going on between them.

Olivia started back walking still holding on firmly to his hand.

"So I believe it's your turn again," he declared continuing their game.

"I'm a little taken aback by all of this that's going on between us," she admitted quietly.

"I said tell me something I didn't know."

She blushed a bit at his response. "Sorry."

"Don't be. I'm taken aback too. It's almost 10 o'clock on a Sunday night and I'm walking up and down a street holding hands with my partner who a few weeks ago I wasn't sure could stand me half the time."

She smiled at his admission. "Oh don't worry. I still can't stand you sometimes."

He smirked and she saw a hint of his dimples. "That's good to know but I think you know what I meant."

"Yeah I do."

He exhaled and prepared himself to ask a question he had to know the answer to. "Are you so taken aback that you want to end this?"

"No." Her answer was firm and immediate. "I don't want to end this. This is the happiest I've been in a long time. I don't know how we got here but I don't care anymore," she stopped him again as they turned the corner back on her block. She lifted her hand to his cheek and kissed him. It was a chaste peck on the lips at first but she quickly deepened it pulling his lower lip between hers. "I just want you," she whispered crashing her lips against his. He moaned and wrapped his hands around her waist pulling her close to him.

"I have a question you can answer," he quipped pulling away from her. "How many dates before you go all the way?"

"All the way?" she asked playfully. "You really are a juvenile."

He laughed and kissed her again.

"Well I have good news and bad news for you El. Which one do you want first?" She took his hand and they walked closer to her building.

"Give me the bad news. May as well get it out of the way."

"It takes four dates."

"And the good news?"

"I'll go ahead and count this as a date."

His eyes brightened. He knew she was being lenient with him considering they hadn't really gone anywhere.

"Really? So that makes three dates total then. So close and yet so far," he responded. They were in front of her building and he really didn't want to say goodbye but they both had to be up for work in the morning. She drew him into another embrace and laid her head on his shoulder. He smelled her hair and caressed her back. He felt her take a deep breath and squeeze him tighter. "I don't want to let go," she confessed.

"Me either. It's getting harder and harder to let go."

She didn't want him to leave but it was inevitable. "So I think it's your turn."

"Hunh?" he stepped back looking at her confused. "For what?"

"To tell me something about you that I don't know."

He pondered the question for a moment and put his forehead alongside hers.

It was now or never.

"Something that you don't know. Hmmm," he repeated running his fingers through her hair. He put his finger under her chin, bringing her eyes up to meet his.

"I'm in love with you."

XXX

Author's Note: I know this chapter was a little more serious than the others but it tends to get that way when Elliot's family is brought into the mix. Don't worry this is not a dark fic and won't stay serious for long but I always planned to have them in here in some way. And if you know the order of the episodes you know the next case is pretty intense so we need to weed through that for a chapter.

Also, people ask me a lot about songs to listen to when they read my stories or chapters. This one I had in mind the song "How did I fall in love with you" by the Backstreet Boys. I know what you are thinking… "The Backstreet Boys? Really?" LOL But I swear. Listen to the song and you will get it J Also Merry Christmas.