In Too Deep

(Chapter Twenty Eight: The Ties That Bind)

Six months had passed and Elliot and Olivia had managed to sustain a stable, healthy relationship. No lies or sneaking around. Just open communication between them and everyone around them. They had managed to tell everyone at work and the children about their romantic relationship. Everyone around them seemed to be much more accepting than they had expected and so far everything seemed to be going well.

The kids, or the girls rather, asked Elliot nearly every weekend if he and Olivia were going to get married. To that his only answer was, maybe someday, but for now we are taking things slow. This usually resulted in the typical teenaged shoulder shrug or a rolling of the eyes and change of subject.

The truth was he wanted to marry her, he couldn't wait to marry her. But he wanted to do things right this time. And right meant waiting until the timing was right for both of them. He loved Olivia. More than he had ever loved any woman in his life. But he didn't want to rush things or make her feel pressured into doing something she was not yet ready for. For her, he would wait.

It was now the first weekend in December and Elliot stood next to Olivia holding her hand as they gazed into the display window of a department store. Elliot watched the world behind them through the reflection of the glass, the busyness of the city on a cold winter day as snow flurries began to dance on the crisp air. He watched closely as Olivia leaned in close to look at a pair of shoes. Her warm breath laid a thin fog over the glass. Elliot reached up with his gloved fingertip and drew a heart in the fog.

Olivia laughed and smiled over her shoulder at him. He loved her smile. I didn't matter how cold it was outside, her smile was always so warm and kind.

"Why don't you just go in and buy them?" Elliot asked with a simple smile.

"What?" She asked being coy.

"The shoes. If you want them, buy them. Or at least go inside the store and look at them. There is no point in us standing around out here in the freezing cold looking through a frosted window at a pair of shows that obviously belong in your closet beside the two hundred pairs you already have. If you want them, go in and buy them."

Olivia smiled. "You think you are on top of things, don't you?" She pulled her purse strap over her shoulder and placed her arms around his neck. She leaned forward and kissed him. "For your information, Mr. Know it all, I was looking at the purse."

"The purse?"

"Yes. The one beside the shoes. That happens to be the one Kathleen wants for Christmas. And it is really hard to find. I was trying to remember if I still have a charge account here or wondering if I should just put it on my credit card."

"Well," Elliot was trying so hard to be serious, but he cracked a smile and eventually laughed. "Maybe we should go inside the store where it is warmer and I can think of a comeback for that. Because, I think my brain cells are frozen."

Olivia laughed again and smiled as she took him by the hand and lead him inside. Elliot walked around bored out of his mind, as Olivia did her holiday shopping. They went in for a purse. A two hundred dollar purse. But when they left the store they left with the purse and angora hat, glove and scarf sets for Olivia and all three girls. And Olivia bought the pair of shoes in the window as well.

They continued walking along the sidewalk as Olivia snuggled against him. Elliot kept one arm tight around her and in the other he lugged her shopping bags.

"Do you want to catch a movie or something?" He asked flashing his sexy smile at her.

"Sure. We should stop by the car and drop this stuff off first."

They walked to Olivia's car and put the bags into the trunk, then walked hand in hand the few blocks until they reached an old theatre that played old black and white movies.

"Two," Elliot said smiling back at her as Olivia smiled at him.

He handed the woman the money and moved forward to find their seats for "It's A Wonderful Life." As Olivia settled into her seat and turned her cell phone on vibrate, Elliot went back to the front to get them popcorn and drinks.

During the movie Elliot caught himself spending most of the time watching Olivia. The wonder and amazement in her eyes and the emotion on her face as she watched the movie. It was one of her favorites, he knew this. A movie they had seen together at least half a dozen times in the years that he had known her. Yet she still sat here and watched it and got caught up in it as if it were the first time she had ever seen the movie.

And at the end, when all was right again and she witnessed the same happy ending as every time she had seen it before, he watched tears glide gently down her face. Elliot loved this about her. How after seeing some of the horrible things they had seen, she could still be so touched by something so simple as an old Jimmy Stewart movie and a bit of Christmas spirit.

After the movie Elliot took her for a walk in the park and a cup of hot cocoa. Olivia of course donned her new angora hat and scarf as they sat on a bench and watched ice skaters while they made small talk. They had been together for a while now as a couple and saw each other every day, but sometimes it was just nice to be able to sit down and be together. No work or responsibilities. No expectations. Just him and her. Simplicity in their complicated world. These were some of Olivia's favorite moments with him.

Or when the world was quiet and no one else was around and they would just sit and be together. Sometimes at night after a long and hectic day at work, Elliot would stay over. And they would or wouldn't make love. They would lay in bed together in the dark. Side by side. Her hand in his. And just look at each other for hours. No words. Just complete silence and total relaxation. They would simply exist together. This was what made her so confident they could make it as a couple. Or as a married couple. Eventually.

It was funny, she thought now, of all the men she had dated her entire life Elliot was the only one she could ever seriously imagine herself married to. She had always known that one day, some day, she wanted to marry and have children. But the right man had never really come along. Until now. Or he, Elliot, had come along. But he was someone else's right man. Someone else's husband and the father of some other woman's children.

But not anymore. His divorce had been final for some time now. He had made it crystal clear that he wanted to be with her and only her. And someday he intended to make her his wife. And his children, he was working harder every day to make them their children. He had even spoke of them having a child together someday. All thoughts that pleased her greatly. Elliot and the children had become her world.

Olivia felt Elliot's arms tighten around her as he pulled her in for a kiss.

"Tell me what you are thinking," he whispered softly against her ear.

"I have never been this happy," she replied with a smile as she stared ahead at the skaters.

"Never?"

"Well, maybe once. But he the man I loved belonged to someone else."

"No Liv, I have always belonged to you. I just didn't know it until after I had married her."

She turned her forehead in against his neck and breathed in the scent of his cologne. Elliot tilted his head to look down into the depths of her big brown eyes. Olivia smiled softly and brushed the bridge of her nose against his cheek.

"I love you," she breathed into his ear as she drew his face in closer and pressed his mouth to hers.

Her kisses tasted like chocolate and mini marshmallows from the cocoa. And her eyes lit up when she smiled at him. Elliot placed his pointer finger against the puckered pout of her full lips and stared into her eyes.

"And I love you," he said leaning in to steal another sweet kiss.

Afterward Olivia laid her head against his chest and he held her close to him as tiny snow flakes began to fall around them once more.

"I could stay out here with you all night," she said bringing her paper cup to her lips again.

Elliot focused his attention on the brandy colored lipstick mark on the brim of her cup.

"Maybe, if it wasn't so damn cold."

Olivia opened her purse and pulled out her phone. She scooted in against him and smiled as she took a picture of them together. She laughed as she stared down at it.

"It's good. Except my nose is red. I hate that."

"I think it's adorable," he said kissing the tip of her nose. "The kiss of winter on your cheeks and the tip of your nose. You are so beautiful."

"You know, we still have not even began to plan our Christmas with the kids."

"I know. Actually I will have them the weekend before Christmas."

"You don't get them for Christmas? I thought you got them every year?"

"This year Kathy and her mother wanted to take the kids to some uncle's house or something. She wants them that entire week. I didn't really think it was a big deal. I figured we could do our family thing with them the weekend before and that would leave Christmas for you and me."

"Ahh. And what exactly do you plan on doing with me?" She asked with a devilish grin.

"I have a few ideas. I'm still working out a few details. I will have to get back to you," Elliot replied as he playfully bit her earlobe.

Olivia laughed. "I think maybe it is time you took me home, Detective Stabler."

"You do, huh?"

"Yeah, I do. And maybe, since you have been such a good boy," she draped her arm over his shoulder and shot him her best seductive gaze, "I will let you open one of your gifts a little early."

"Oh yeah? Sounds exciting. Does it involve you wearing nothing but a big red bow?"

Olivia laughed. "Not exactly."

"Oh, well I am sure whatever it is will be nice."

She leaned in and blew a bit of warm breath against his ear.

"But it you have your heart set on seeing me naked tonight, I am sure we could work something out."

Elliot laughed and pulled back to look at her. Olivia winked and Elliot kissed her softly.

"Baby, I would love to see you naked every night. I am not particular."

"Take me home, Stabler."

"Yes, ma'am."

Elliot walked with her arm in arm back to her car. He opened the door for her and held it as she climbed inside.

BENSON RESIDENCE (10:28 pm)

Olivia climbed the stairs to her apartment slowly as she fumbled with the apartment keys in her hand. Three steps behind her was Elliot, watching her as she walked, thanking God and Silver Jeans for the way she looked tonight. She had chosen to wear a bomber style waist length coat and her favorite pair of blue jeans that perfectly accented every curve of her body. She often referred to them as her "good ass" jeans and from this angle, Elliot could tell exactly why. She had a perfect ass, he thought to himself as a guilty grin crossed his face. Everything about her body was perfect. And tonight he fully intended to kiss every single inch of it. Starting with the rosy tip of her nose, her chocolate flavored brandy lips and finally ending with her pretty little painted toes. She was so amazing and he was the luckiest man in the world.

Olivia unlocked the apartment door and walked inside in the dark feeling for the light switch. She tossed her keys on the end table beside the couch and kicked her shoes off in front of the door.

"You wait here," she said pointing to the couch. "I will be back in one minute." She batted her long dark eyelashes at him and smiled seductively as she danced down the hallway toward the bedroom.

"Yes, ma'am." Elliot kicked his shoes off beside hers and sat her shopping bags on the counter, then made his way to sit on the couch and wait for her return.

BENSON RESIDENCE (10:38 pm)

Olivia returned to the living room still wearing all of her clothes, including her hat and scarf. In her hand she carried a small red box. She sat on the couch beside Elliot with a smile on her face and handed him the box.

"It is nothing big, but I think you will like it. I hope you will like it." She folded her legs under her on the couch and watched him as he opened the box.

"It's a tie."

"You don't like it?"

"No, I love it."

"Not what you expected?"

"Maybe a little more formal than I expected."

"Lingerie?"

"Well…"

"Christmas isn't over yet."

"Ahh," he said with a sly smile.

"There is more. Here," she said taking the tie from the box and wrapping it around his neck. She tied it and flipped it over for him to look at the front.

"The tie pin. That is nice."

"There are matching cuff links, too."

"I love them. All of them."

"I thought the tie was sexy."

"Well then, that is all that matters." Elliot leaned in and kissed her passionately. "Thank you baby."

"You're welcome."

He pulled her into his lap and kissed her again. Olivia unbuttoned his shirt and moved her hands over his muscular chest. She kissed his neck and pushed his shirt off. She twisted the tie in her fingers as he moved his hands over her hips. Elliot raised his mouth to meet hers again.

"Wait," she said pushing his hands back to the couch. "I'm not finished with you yet."

Olivia stood up and lead him down the hall and into the bedroom by the tie.

BENSON RESIDENCE (10:50 pm)

Olivia smoothed her hands over Elliot's chest as she walked a circle around him, tracing each muscle in his back and abs with her fingertip. She stood behind him and snaked her arms around his waist gliding her hands up his chest slowly and then back down again. Her fingers danced across his waist as she unbuttoned his pants and sent them crashing to the floor. She made her way around in front of him again and pushed him back onto the bed.

BENSON RESIDENCE (10:59 pm)

Olivia pulled off her scarf and hat and tossed them beside him on the bed. She danced around slowly as she pulled her sweater off and tossed it into the floor beside his pants. Elliot watched her from the bed as she moved so seductively. Stopping every few minutes to look over her shoulder at him squirming there on the bed, waiting for her.

Olivia stared back at him wearing nothing but the tie, his boxers and a dumbfounded look on his face. She stared at him over her shoulder as she unbuttoned the fly of her jeans slowly. She turned to face him and flipped her hair back as she lowered herself closer to the floor and pulled her jeans down. Now she stood before him wearing nothing but her black lace bra and matching thong.

"Oh baby," Elliot stuttered reaching out for her.

"You like what you see, huh?"

"Oh yeah," he nodded his head unable to say anything else.

Olivia walked slowly toward the bed as Elliot slid his hand up the back of her leg. He raised it to rest her knee on the bed beside him as he sat up and kissed her waist. He slipped his fingers under the thin waist band of the thong and moved it downward until it rested in the floor between her feet.

BENSON RESIDENCE (11:14 pm)

Elliot stood up raising his knee between hers and pulled her body against his. Olivia gasped softly as she felt his fingertips move up her back and unclasp her bra. He turned her and laid her against the bed as he stepped out of his boxers. He reached to undo the tie.

"No," she said sitting up and reaching for it. Olivia twisted the tie in her fingers once more and used it to pull him on top of her.

He kissed her and moved his hands over her body. After a few minutes Olivia rolled them over so that she was sitting on top of him. She smiled at him and kissed him again. She untied the tie from his neck and laced it around his wrists tying it to the headboard of the bed.

BENSON RESIDENCE (11:24 pm)

Olivia kissed and licked slowly over his entire body before returning her lips to his. She kissed him passionately and slowly lowered herself onto him. She moaned softly and closed her eyes as she moved on top of him. Elliot groaned as his breathing began to speed up.

Olivia laughed tauntingly. She pressed her body hard against his as she rocked into him. Elliot moaned and Olivia gasped.

"God I love you," he moaned.

"I love you," she mumbled through chocolate kisses.

"Let me touch you," he pleaded as she leaned her body against him.

She smiled down at him.

"Olivia, baby, please."

BENSON RESIDENCE (11:40 pm)

Olivia leaned in and kissed Elliot as she reached above his head and untied the tie that bound him to the bed. As she did he sat up and slid his hands against her thighs as he pulled her harder into him.

Olivia gasped and tipped her head back as Elliot kissed up the sensitive skin of her neck. Elliot pulled her down onto him as he thrust deeper inside her. Olivia moaned at his mercy as Elliot laid her back with her head against the foot of the bed. He took the tie and tied it around her like a blindfold.

BENSON RESIDENCE (11:52 pm)

Olivia smiled and laughed as she felt his hands smooth over her body. She moaned softly as he began to kiss and explore her with his tongue. She reached her hands out to rest against his chest, tracing her fingertips along the lines of his biceps.

Olivia curled her toes ad she felt Elliot raise her foot to kiss it. She bit her lip until she couldn't take it anymore, then burst into laughter.

"That tickles," she said with a smile as Elliot massaged her foot.

He moved his hands slowly up the calf muscle of her leg massaging each muscle until he reached her knee and had her moaning for an entirely different reason. Then he switched off and worked the other leg.

Elliot trailed baby kisses back up her belly and around the side of her neck. He positioned himself over her and entered her once more. Within moments he had her moaning softly as he moved slowly inside her and sucked on her neck.

"El, don't leave any marks."

"All the things I could do to you right now and that is the one you are worried about?"

She raised her blindfold for a moment and glared at him.

"Okay, no marks. I get it. Now put that back down. No peeking!" Elliot reached to slide he blindfold back into position over her eyes.

He pressed his mouth against hers and continued with his movements until he had her moaning again. He moved one hand to gently massage one of her breasts. Elliot began to move harder and faster inside her. And Olivia's moans increased speed as well.

"I can't do this. I want to look into your eyes," he said as he pulled the blindfold from her face and leaned his forehead to hers.

Elliot used the tie to bind her wrists to the headboard, much the way she had done to him earlier in the evening. Olivia bit her lip and stared up at him with a grin. She licked her lips and batted her eyes and that was it.

She squealed in excitement as Elliot returned his attention to her to finish what he had started.

BENSON RESIDENCE (12:37 am)

Olivia gasped for air as Elliot fell beside her in the bed.

"That was incredible."

"I think that tie may very well be the best gift I have ever received."

Olivia stared at him as they both burst into laughter.

"I love you, Liv."

"I love you too, baby."

Elliot kissed her tenderly as she stared into his eyes and smiled.

BENSON RESIDENCE (01:28 am)

Elliot laid asleep in her bed. Olivia's back set close to his chest and his arm draped over her waist resting beside hers. Nothing between them but the sheet. Around her left wrist, the tie still tied on one end as the other wrapped around his arm like a ribbon.

BENSON RESIDENCE (03:36 am)

They were both in a deep sleep when the noise startled them. Elliot jumped up so fast he nearly fell from the bed. He sat up and looked around the dark room, for a moment unsure of his surroundings. He took a deep breath and tried to focus his eyes on the glow of his cell phone on the night stand.

Olivia yawned as she reached over and turned on the bedside lamp. She pulled the blankets up over her chest and rolled over to face Elliot's side of the bed.

"Stabler," Elliot growled into the phone.

"Hey, buddy." John Munch's voice rang out through the silent bedroom. "Cragen asked me to call you. We got a real mess going on down here. We need you and Olivia, ASAP. Fin's already here."

"What the hell is going on it's three thirty in the morning?"

"That witness we had to the Massey murder. Let's just say she is not going to be doing any talking now."

"Someone killed her?"

"Well Warner is still trying to put the pieces together. All of the pieces. She took a little flight off of a twenty four story apartment building. From the looks of things on the ground I am guessing she took flight somewhere around the eighteenth floor. Listen I tried to get a hold of Liv, with no luck. Wait, she's not there with you is she?"

"I'll be there when I get there."

"She is! Did I interrupt the….you know?"

"Good bye, John!"

Elliot hung up the phone and looked over at Olivia sleeping peacefully. She had tried to stay awake long enough to see what was going on with the case, but had lost that battle. He slid over beside her in the bed and gently kissed the tip of her nose.

"Liv, baby. You have to wake up."

"Hmm," she mumbled in her sleep.

Elliot laid down beside her in the bed. He wrapped his arm around her and dragged his nose over hers, then kissed her forehead.

"Hey beautiful. It's time to wake up."

"Shit!"

"I know baby."

Olivia groaned and sat up in the bed as she yawned.

"I am going to kill John Munch!"

"You get dressed. I will go start some coffee." Elliot stood and pulled his boxers and pants back on. "My shirt is in the living room anyway," he said as he leaned in to kiss her lips and pulled the end of the tie around her wrist until the bow unraveled.

Olivia laughed.

BENSON RESIDENCE (03:56 am)

Olivia rejoined Elliot in the living room as he handed her a travel mug of coffee.

"I thought we were supposed to be off today?" She mumbled as she took a sip.

"We are off today. Apparently this is not something Cragen feels Munch and Fin can handle on their own."

"So he needs us to baby sit?"

"I'm not really sure. But he said both of us."

Olivia picked up her car keys and headed toward the door.

"Hey," Elliot said pulling her back toward him and holding her in his arms. "I love you. And I had an incredible time last night."

Olivia smiled an exhausted smile. "So did I. I love you, too. We'd better get going before Cragen kicks both our asses."

"Yeah, Munch said they tried to call your phone."

"I must have left it in my purse. I was a little distracted when we got back from shopping."

"Yeah, so was I."

Olivia smiled as Elliot opened the car door for her and she climbed inside.