AUTHOR'S NOTE: OKAY HERE IS THE NEXT PART. I MUST ADMIT I FELL BEHIND IN SCHOOL SO I LOST TRACK OF MY FAN FICTION DUTIES BUT, WINTER BREAK STARTS NEXT WEEK SO MY FAN FICTION WRITING WILL PICK UP AND GET BACK TO NORMAL. BUT HERE IS THE NEXT CHUNK THERE WILL BE ONE MORE PART AFTER THIS BEFORE IT ENDS. BUT I HAVE ALREADY BEGUN PLANNING A SEQUEL SO DON'T GET TOO HEART BROKEN. AS USUAL CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS AND LOVE ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.

Chapter 17: The Strength of Our Hearts is Something We Choose

Olivia sat quietly on the couch watching the muted television. Eli sat in her lap sleeping soundly.

"Hey Olivia, can I ask you something?" Kathleen whispered.

"Anything, kiddo." Olivia replied.

"Did my Dad leave the force because of you?"

"Did he say that?" Olivia shifted carefully.

"No, not exactly. But, I just hear my parents arguing and since I was little every argument was about you. I just figured you two finally… you know… took the leap."

"Kathleen, I can promise you that did not and would not happen. I don't know the exact reason your father left, honestly this the first time we have spoken since he left. I think he was a little shaken up by the shooting at the precinct."

"I don't think so."

"You don't?"

"Liv, he started to go back."

"What do you mean?"

"He started anger management; he had weekly meetings with IAB. He was getting ready to come back."

"What stopped him?"

"You."

Olivia paused her mind was racing. It was a feeling she wasn't used to. She had spent her entire life being so consumed with loving Elliot. One might say she was obsessed. But, she was finally happy. She had David. No longer did she need to worry about whether he loved her back. No longer was she forced to wait for a chance.

"Well, I am in a relationship too. We are just friends." Olivia assured her.

"Right, so you're telling me if both of you were available at the same time you wouldn't jump him like a piece of meat?"

"What, I am not having this conversation with you."

"Oh come on, Olivia. I am 20 years old. I am a woman. I understand my father is an attractive man and I see how you have always looked at each other."

"Well, in that case. Yes. I think your father is attractive. I did at one point have very strong feelings for him but, no I would not jump him like a piece of meat."

"Okay." Kathleen said skeptically.

"Why don't you get some sleep?" Olivia replied.

Kathleen finally fell asleep about twenty minutes later. Olivia couldn't help but think about what Kathleen had said. Was it really her fault he left? Olivia's heart skipped a beat every time she saw headlights hit the wall next to the television. She jumped a little when she heard the slamming of two car doors. She lifted Eli into her arms. He stirred as she placed him back down on the couch. She froze in attempt not to wake him. When she was sure he was still sleeping, she walked towards the front door. Carefully grabbing Elliot's gun from the coffee table and aiming at the door. She pulled the door open slightly and pointed the gun out first. She saw a car in the driveway but, it was too dark to see what kind. She carefully stepped out the door.

"El." She whispered into the night. "David." She tried again as she stepped down the stairs towards the car. Her gun still aimed. A shadow emerged.

"Liv?" A voice said from the darkness.

"David?" Olivia answered slowly lowering her weapon. David limped towards her and she jumped into his arms. He kissed her forehead.

"I am so happy to see you. I love you so much."

"I love you. I am so sorry about this." She responded as she kissed his lips as if she would never see him again.

"This is not your fault; you don't have to apologize for this." He said placing his hands on her face. Elliot watched from a far unsure how to feel. He swallowed his insane jealousy and approached them.

"Hey, you okay?" He said nonchalantly.

"I am good. Better now." She said without even looking at him.

"I am going to go check on the kids and call Kathy." Elliot said walking towards the porch.

"El, wait." She said running towards him. She stood in front of him silently for a minute. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. "Yeah, you're always doing the ass saving. So don't go away anymore, okay?"

"I can't leave you alone for three seconds. Trust me I won't make that mistake again." He hugged her again. Leaving his hands around her waist.

"You're my best friend. I don't know who I would be without you."

"You too, Liv."

"I mean you and me we are cool right?"

"Yeah, of course we are."

"I talked to Kathleen."

"Yeah, I figured you would. So what?"

"She told me why you left."

"Look Liv, I made my choice."

"No. I made your choice and I want you to know , you didn't have to do that. I have kept it in my pants for 13 years. I don't think anything will be able to break me. Plus, I have David now." Olivia said motioning towards David. He walked towards her. She motioned for him to go get warm in the house.

"Liv, it wasn't you I was worried about."

"What do you mean?"

"There were too many almost moments. The shooting gave me a reason to just call it quits and move on with my life."

"Yeah, and how is that going?"

"Honestly, I don't have a life without you. You are more than the hot co-worker I have always wanted to screw. You really are the only person I want to talk to about my problems. You are the first person I think to call when something happens. You and I have inside jokes. You truly are my best friends. And I can see how happy David makes you and that makes me happy." Elliot said

"Well, I am guessing we are going to need a new captain. I bet you could get that job easily." Olivia said walking arm in arm with him towards the front door.

"Yeah, not so much when they figure out that I killed the old one." They walked in David sat quietly on the couch. Elliot grabbed Kathleen in his arms and walked her upstairs to her bed. David grabbed Eli. Olivia led him into Eli's room. Laying the sleeping child down, David looked up at her.

"I want this."

"A child."

"Yes, and a wife and a house with a yard and a minivan."

"You do?"

"Yes, and I want it all with you."

"I want all of that with you too."

"Let's get married."

"You are going to have to do better than that."

"Oh yeah? What does that mean?" He asked kissing her.

"You two mind leaving my son out of this. He is young and impressionable." Elliot stood in the doorway. They tiptoed out of Eli's room. David shut the door behind them. Liv turned around and opened it slightly. She remembered Elliot telling her a story about Eli not liking the door shut. Elliot smiled when he remembered that she knew that.

"So is there a proposal in the works?" Elliot asked as they entered the kitchen.

"I am not sure." Olivia turned towards Elliot. When she turned back she was surprised to see David on his knee. "Seriously?" She chuckled.

"Olivia, I know your life has not been easy, not by any means but, ever since the moment I met you my life has been perfect. I want to spend the rest of my life making you forget the bad and giving you happiness. I want to take on all your baggage and of course by proxy all of Elliot's baggage." Elliot chuckled and nodded his head. "So, If you will have me, I would like to spend the rest of my life with you. Olivia Benson, will you marry me?" David asked taking her hand. Olivia paused she looked at Elliot and then back at David.