DISCLAIMER: Characters aren't mine. Just the story.

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews everyone! Hope you all enjoy the next chapter!

Olivia looked down at their softly entwined fingers and realized how much she loved the feeling of Elliot next to her. She'd always loved that feeling. Knowing that Elliot was there made her feel comfortable, made her feel like she was home. For that's exactly what Elliot was to her: the safety and shelter of home. How could she have ever been so stupid as to leave him?

"I've missed you, El." She never thought she was capable of saying those words, but they poured out of her mouth like a waterfall. She looked up into his eyes and saw he was smiling.

"I've missed you, too, Olivia." The words brought warmth to her heart. "So," he said, still sitting impossibly close. She still couldn't believe he was here. "What do we do now?"

What could she say? That they would forgive each other all their sins, she would bear his child and they would live happily ever after? If there was one thing she'd learned over all her years on Earth, it was that her life was no fairy tale. So, when she spoke, she chose the safe route.

"Well," she began slowly. "I could move back to New York after the baby is born and we could draw up papers for shared custody. I… I don't want to keep you from your child."

Elliot nodded, taking in everything she was saying. His face was so damned unreadable sometimes, despite how well she knew him, she couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"No, Liv," he spoke. "That's not good enough."

Her stomach dropped. "You… you want full custody?" There was no way he'd do that to her, he knew how much she wanted a child.

He chuckled and shook his head. "No, Olivia, I don't want full custody."

Could she dare to hope? Was it possible that, after everything they'd been through, he could love her?

"What then?" she whispered, looking down at her swollen belly, feeling her love for the child growing there inside her.

Elliot took her chin in his hand and tilted her face toward his. "I want you."

"El…" she said. That was the only word she was able to get out before his lips were on hers. The kiss was perfect, chaste and sweet. She felt her emotions swell up to the point of overflowing, she felt the baby stir within her.

Elliot pulled away and smiled at her.

"El…" she whispered. His smile faded, he knew she'd try to rationalize her way out of this. He knew she was scared. As much as she wanted to, she couldn't stop the words from tumbling out of her mouth. "Are you sure about this? You haven't even been divorced a year yet and you want to saddle yourself with another woman and child? We can work something out, you're this baby's father. I won't keep you-"

"Jesus, Olivia," he laughed and stood, pacing the room again. "You're trying to run from this? You're trying to run from me, from us? Olivia, it's me."

"I know, but-"

"How long have you loved me?"

His words shocked her. She fought a wry smile. "You smug bastard."

Elliot ran a hand down his face and, clasping both hands behind his head, stretched silently. Olivia's heart stopped for a moment.

"I asked you a question," he stared at her, his look intense, demanding. "How long have you loved me? Because I've loved you from the moment I met you." He spoke the last part softly, kindly. He wanted her to know that she was not alone, that she'd never be alone.

Olivia felt the tears form. Damn her emotions for betraying her; sometimes she hated being pregnant. She felt everything times ten. "I… I don't know."

"You don't know if you love me?" She physically saw him become defensive.

"No, no," she stopped his thought process before it went too far. "I don't know how long I've loved you. It's… it's been such a long time, I can't pinpoint it."

He paused and looked at her, as if trying to decide whether or not she was serious. He closed the gap between them in three steps and his mouth was on hers before she could even take a breath. His hand was behind her head, twisting in her hair, holding her as if she'd slip away from him… again. He pulled away and the room began to spin… until her eyes locked on his. Everything stopped, she was centered, balanced. He grinned at her.

"Yeah, yeah," she smiled. "Okay, so, I love you. Now what?"

He laughed and resumed his seat in the chair next to her bed. "Honestly, I have no idea."

The elation Elliot felt when Olivia said those words couldn't be described. She loved him… she loved him. She'd finally admitted it. All those times he thought he'd lose her, all those times he thought their job would take her life… she was just as scared to lose him. They were finally able to admit it. He was free of his marriage to Kathy. Olivia was here, pregnant with his child, the result of the most perfect night of his life. Now that they were here, finally together, he knew he didn't want to be anywhere else.

But where would they go from here? Olivia couldn't leave Chicago in her condition. But he had his work in New York. He couldn't bear to be apart from her, especially since the baby had been in distress and she was on bed rest. How would she be able to take care of herself? Who would be there for her? Now that Elliot had finally admitted his feelings, now that he was finally in the position to be there for her, they were separated by hundreds of miles.

"Maybe we don't need to figure this out right now," Elliot said. "Maybe we just get you home from the hospital and decide what to do from there."

"El," Olivia said, shaking her head slightly. "We both know you can't leave New York."

"And we both know you belong there," he countered her, smiling.

She returned the smile, nearly making his heart stop. "You got me there." He took her hand and gave it a soft squeeze. "But my doctor's are here, my job is here…"

"No," Elliot shook his head. "Your job is in New York."

"Elliot," Olivia squeezed his hand in return. "We have to face the reality of the situation here. I have responsibilities in Chicago. I've got vics here, a partner-"

Elliot hated that. She had another partner; someone else had been looking out for her while he couldn't.

"Don't worry," Olivia said, recognizing his jealousy and doing her best to quell his anger. "I can't stand him."

Elliot laughed at this. "Good," he said simply.

"Well," she shrugged. "He's nothing compared to what I left in New York."

Unexpectedly, a blush hit Elliot's cheeks. Nothing like a beautiful woman to make him crumble.

"Did, um," Olivia started to ask him something. "Did you get another partner?"

"Several actually," he said. "I drove them all away… they weren't you."

Olivia grinned. Then, surprising Elliot, she leaned forward and touched her lips to his. It was the first time she'd kissed him. He'd always initiated, he'd always been the one to start it. It was an amazing feeling to know that she was acting of her own volition, she was kissing him because she wanted to.

As she pulled away, they both smiled at each other. "We'll make it work, El," Olivia said. "We'll figure this out."

He nodded, trusting her implicitly. He always trusted her… with his life. And now, with his love.