I seriously can't thank you all enough for your kind words and reviews. It makes me so happy to see you guys are liking this story. I told you I had a lot in store so hopefully even after this chapter you will still stick with me on this. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Have faith in me okay??? :cD

Disclaimer: I do not own any of Law and Order SVU or its characters. The story was written simply for fun and not for profit. They belong to Dick Wolf.

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Chapter Twenty One

"Hey Liv. You got a sec?"

Elliot ran over to where she was sitting at her desk and squatted down next to her chair. He placed his one hand on her thigh under her desk so no one could see as he spoke. It was the end of the night, and pretty much everyone was gone from the precinct, but they didn't want to take the chance of people seeing. They wanted to keep their word to Cragen about keeping it out of the squad room.

"Whats up El?"

"I just wanted to let you know that Munch and I are going to go out for some drinks tonight after we finish up. Ya know, new partner bonding and all."

Olivia placed her hand on top of his and softly laughed into the air.

"New partner bonding huh? Sounds like you are just looking for an excuse to go out drinking with the guys."

Elliot smiled up at her in such a way that his eyes lit up. Even though they weren't partners anymore she still knew him better than anyone.

"Okay, that too."

After glancing around, making sure no one was looking, she placed a quick kiss on his lips before speaking.

"It's fine El. Why don't you ask Fin to join you guys? I was going to go out with Alex tonight anyway. We haven't really had a chance to catch up since she has been back in town. You go out with the boys and I'll have a girls night out."

"Sounds like a plan. Don't forget the kids are coming over tomorrow for dinner so we can talk to them."

"I remember. What time are we picking up Mo from the airport?"

"She called me earlier today. Justin is taking her to the airport tonight and the plane lands at JFK around 1:30pm our time. I figured we could swing by and pick her up before heading out to Queens to get the other three."

"Sounds good. Have fun tonight. Don't get into too much trouble. Love you."

"Do I ever? Love you too."

Elliot winked up at her with a smile and got up from his position next to her walking back towards his desk.

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"So Elliot, tell us. What is it like dating Benson? She got you whipped or what?"

Elliot took another sip of his beer and glared at Fin sitting across from him over his glass.

"What is that suppose to mean?"

Munch nudged Fin hard in the arm and placed his glass back down onto the table.

"I think what my sorry excuse for an ex-partner is trying to say, is how is the relationship going? I mean you guys are getting married already. Isn't it kind of fast?"

"I don't know guys. You may think it is, but honestly. It couldn't happen quick enough for us. We aren't getting married tomorrow or anything, but I mean, with Olivia, it is so much different than it was with Kathy. She isn't afraid to argue with me about shit, and I can talk to her about anything when it comes to the job, or life in general. We were partners for so long that we know pretty much all there is to know about each other and aren't afraid to speak our minds. I have loved her for a lot longer than I should admit to anyone, and to know that she feels the same, it just... it just feels right, ya know?"

"Okay okay, no need to get all sappy on us. I don't want Mr. Insensitive over here to throw up his beer."

Fin put up his hand to cover his heart as if showing he was injured staring at him with puppy dog eyes.

"Hey, that hurts Munch." He took another sip of his beer and looked over at Elliot with a smile. "So tell us Stabler, how's the sex?"

At the same time both Munch and Elliot threw their glasses back down onto the table and glared at the now laughing Fin.

"FIN!!!"

"Calm down, geez. I was just kiddin. Seriously though, I am happy for ya man. She is good for you. You're happy. We can all see it. Plus thanks to you two I don't have to listen to Munch talk about Big Bother planning its hostile take-over all day long anymore."

"Hey! Just because you guys don't believe me doesn't mean that it isn't true. This corrupt society that we live in is..."

"John. Spare me, please. Fin's right. A person can only take so much of that crap in one day."

"Fine, but don't be surprised when I say I told you so."

All three men began to laugh and Munch left to grab another round of beers. As Munch was making his way to get the drinks, they heard the back door of the bar swing open and a woman scream as glasses crashed down to the ground. Elliot turned his attention towards the noise and saw two men wearing ski masks, one of which was holding a crying woman around the waist, a gun to her throat. The other had a gun pointed at the bartender holding out an empty duffel bag.

"Everybody stay where the hell you are! You, put all the money in the fucking bag NOW!"

Elliot looked over towards Fin who was now crouched under the table and to Munch who was doing the same on the other side of the bar. Each nodded to the other, and Elliot slowly placed his hand on his hip to grab his gun. The three of them had come straight from the 1-6 to the bar so they were all still packing their weapons. Elliot grabbed the gun from his holster and slowly began to stand up. One of the two men saw him and turned his attention immediately towards Elliot.

"Sit the fuck down man. I'll shoot you. I swear to God."

Elliot slowly moved his suit jacket to the side to reveal his badge to the two masked men as Fin and Munch began to stand from their positions, each revealing their badges as well. Elliot placed his hands on his gun, being sure to still keep it pointing down towards the ground as to not threaten the man, but was quick to remove the safety with out him seeing. Munch and Fin had theirs pointed at the two men.

"Take it easy man. Let the woman go and we'll talk about this."

The man tightened his grip on the terrified woman, yanking her hair back so she let out a painful scream.

"Fuck you man! This woman is our ticket out of here."

"Let her go. We are NYPD detectives and as we speak back up is on its way here to surround the outside of the bar. There is no way out man. Let the woman go and no one will get hurt. Let's talk about this."

At that moment the other man began to panic and frail his gun in the air yelling at his counterpart.

"Fuck Tim. Now what are we going to do? You said nothing would go wrong. What the fuck! Cops dude?"

"Shut up Mark! These fucking pigs are bluffin'. I didn't see them make any calls. Now you! PUT THE FUCKING MONEY IN THE BAG OR I'LL SHOOT HER!"

The man then put the gun to the trembling woman's head and they all heard him click off the safety. Before anyone knew what was happening. Shots began to fire.

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"Thanks for inviting me out Liv. I've miss you."

Olivia took a sip of her wine and cocked her eyebrows playfully at Alex sitting across from her.

"Hmmm. Could have fooled me. Why didn't you ever call me back Alex? You've been here for almost three years."

It was Alex's turn to take a sip of her wine. She placed it back onto the table and sighed heavily before answering.

"I am so sorry Liv. I wanted to call. I kept picking up the phone to dial, but I couldn't do it."

"How come Alex?"

"Honestly?"

Olivia nodded.

"I was scared. I mean I was gone for years and I just felt like you guys all moved on with your lives. I wasn't a part of any of your lives anymore. I was dead. I was living this completely different life for so long. I didn't know who I was anymore. It was too hard to talk to you and not remember what happened. I thought that if I ignored you, that maybe I wouldn't have to remember anymore and just go back to being Alex Cabot. I am so sorry I didn't call. When McCoy called me to come work with SVU again, I almost said no, but I wanted to see you. I really did miss you Liv. I wish I could take back all those years, I really do. "

Olivia took her by the hand and smiled up at her.

"I forgive you Alex, but you have to know I would have understood. Both Elliot and I would have."

Alex smiled back at her and the two women took another sip from their glasses. Closure was made. There was no more need to talk about the past, if anyone understood that better than Alex, it was Olivia.

"It is about time that you and Elliot got together. I told you that it should have been that way years ago."

Olivia took another bite of her salad and smiled up at her. Man she missed her.

"He was married Alex."

"Yeah, but obviously he was in love with you. Elliot was only with Kathy because of the kids, you were the one he wanted. Even back then."

"Alex!"

"What? You know I'm right."

Olivia couldn't help but shake her head and smile.

"Elliot was faithful to his marriage the entire time. We didn't get together until long after they were divorced."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever the case. How are things going between you two? I mean is this for real?"

Olivia placed her fork back down onto the table and took another sip of her wine.

"Honestly Alex, it is the happiest I have been in a really long time. The both of us are happy. Things couldn't be better with us. I mean I knew I loved him, but until I realized he loved me back, I didn't realize how much I loved him. He was my best friend, still is."

"So what happened that you two finally woke up and saw what we all did?"

"It just kind of happened. We went out for drinks one night at Meloni's and started to dance. Just kind of happened after that."

"Happily ever after from that moment huh?"

Olivia bit down on her lip and turned her attention away from Alex and down towards the floor.

"Ut oh. Spill it Benson."

"The details aren't important, but we did end up breaking up for like two months. We only got back together while we were in Hawaii. I realized that I couldn't live without him in my life. I love him Alex. I love him more than I have ever loved any body, and honestly...I am glad that what happened did, because...it just proves that we can get through anything together. He is it for me. I really believe that."

Alex smiled up at her and was about to speak when Olivia's cell phone ringing interrupted them. Olivia reached down into her purse and pulled the phone up to her ear.

"Benson."

"Olivia. It's Don."

"Hey Don, whats up?"

"I need you to meet me at Mercy General."

"We catch a case Cap? What happened, the boys too drunk to help you out?"

"Olivia, there was an incident at the bar they went to."

Olivia's smile instantly fell from her face, and all of the color left with it.

"What happened? Is everyone alright?"

"Two men tried to rob the bar. Shots were fired and.."

"Oh my God. Are they alright? Is Elliot alright?"

"He was hit...."

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TBC

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