Disclaimer: SVU and its characters belong to Dick Wolf. I own nothing.

Elliot carried a plate piled high with food, and brought it over to the table where Olivia was sitting. He knew he was probably going to eat too much, but everything at the breakfast buffet just looked so good – he hadn't been able to make up his mind. He'd chosen a little bit of everything.

Olivia on the other hand, had been more moderate with her choices. Her plate contained a selection of fresh fruit, along with a waffle. She was just spreading her napkin over her lap as Elliot sat down. They were about to dig into their meal when she noticed something.

"We completely forgot about something to drink, El."

He held out his hand, stopping her from getting up.

"I'll get it, Liv. I know for a fact you want coffee, but did you want juice, too?"

"Just coffee is fine."

He returned a few moments later, setting down two cups of the dark brew. Cream and sugar were already provided on the tables. Now that they didn't need anything else, they both began to eat.

For several minutes, both were so focused on the delicious food that neither spoke. Taking a break, Olivia set down her fork and took a deep sip from her coffee mug.

"So, what did you want to do today, El?"

It was a fair question. They both had very active personalities, and neither would be content just sitting around the hotel room. Luckily for them, there were plenty of amenities to be found.

"I don't know if you'd be interested or not, but I thought we could go for a hike this morning. We wouldn't have to go too far up the mountain, just take one of the easier trails."

She smirked then, giving him a look that clearly issued a challenge. Though he was curious as to what she had to say, he didn't back down. If anything, he was enjoying their banter.

"An 'easy' trail ? What do you take me for, Stabler? Or maybe its you who won't be able to keep up."

Elliot couldn't keep himself from smiling.

"Is that a challenge, Benson? In that case, you're on. We'll just see who gets to the top first."

They shook hands then across the table, even though they had yet to make any wagers on their mock bet. They finished their breakfast and went back upstairs to their room.

A short while later, they were pulling into the State Park. Elliot parked the car, then grabbed the drawstring bag that he had purchased at the hotel gift shop that morning. Since neither of them had brought along a backpack, this was the next best thing. In the bag were a few purchases he had made – some bottles of water and a few snacks.

They both zipped up their jackets and made their way to the trail entrance. The weather wasn't overly chilly today, but they knew the air would get colder the higher the elevation.

Despite their challenge to one another earlier that morning at breakfast, neither was in any hurry. Instead of a hike, this was more of a leisurely walk. Both Elliot and Olivia were taking their time, enjoying their surroundings.

The pair had only been walking for about twenty minutes when Elliot suddenly halted in his footsteps. He turned and faced Olivia, his eyes wide with wonder. His index finger was pressed to his lips, instructing her not to make a sound. Soundlessly walking the few paces back to where she stood, he placed both hands on her shoulders. He pivoted her slightly, so she turned at the hips. Then, he pointed, indicating a spot about two hundred yards away. It took a moment before Olivia's eyes honed in on what he was referring to, but then she saw it.

There, staring right at them, were a pair of whitetail deer. Their ears were flicking nervously, trying to sense if they were in any danger. Ultimately, they must have decided not to stay, because they turned around and bounded off in the opposite direction, their tails the last thing they could see.

"Well, that's something you certainly don't get to see in the city."

Olivia's words were barely a whisper, her voice still holding a tone of reverence over what they had just had just seen. It was though she had spoken the words on an exhale of breath.

Elliot nodded in response, even though she couldn't see him since he was still standing behind her. His hands were still on her shoulders, as neither had chanced moving while they had been looking at the deer. Finally, he found his voice.

"Shall we go on?"

"Yeah."

They walked on then, both still grateful that the trail they were walking wasn't crowded today. They would pass the occasional other person or couple, but for the most part it was just the two of them.

Two hours later, they reached the first true 'stopping point' set up on the trail. It was a small overlook, along with a few picnic tables for those who chose to use it to take a break. Not really tired, but a little thirsty, Elliot suggested they take advantage of the area and at least get something to drink.

He pulled a bottle of water out of the bag and passed it to Olivia, wanting her to drink first. He was about to get a second when her voice stopped him.

"El, wait. Unless you're really thirsty, we can just share this one."

He nodded, and took his own drink when she passed the bottle to him.

"Did you want anything to snack on, Liv?"

"No, I'm still stuffed from breakfast. If you're hungry though, by all means, eat something."

He shook his head. The truth of the matter was, he was still full from breakfast, too.

"Did you want to keep walking, or should we turn back?"

Olivia regarded his question, knowing that all the joking from this morning had been just that. Neither of them would think any less of the other for wanting to return to the hotel.

"We've already walked pretty far, and it will take us another two hours to get back to the car. I say we head back."

He nodded his agreement, but then someone else came into the clearing to stand by the overlook, and he was suddenly struck by an idea.

"Excuse me, sir, but would you take a picture of me and my friend?"

"Of course."

Elliot opened up the camera on his cell phone and passed the man the device. Then he pulled a somewhat stunned Olivia to stand beside him. Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, he felt when she came to her senses.

"El, what are you doing? I'm not in any condition to have my picture taken - I must look a mess!"

Turning to face her, his arm still around her shoulders, he reached up with his free hand and swept a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"You look beautiful. Please, Liv - one photo?"

Her eyes flicked between his for a moment, but she ultimately nodded. Turning back toward the gentleman waiting patiently with his phone, Elliot smiled. He felt when Olivia wrapped her free arm around his waist, and knew she was smiling, too. A few seconds later, the man was returning his cell phone to his waiting hand.

"Thank you."

"Not a problem. Enjoy the rest of your day."

Elliot glanced down at the photo of himself and Olivia, and quickly saved it to his phone's memory card. It was something he wanted to keep forever. It would be the first picture he would have of the two of them that hadn't been taken for something work related. What he couldn't get over was the look on his face. For the first time in a long time, he looked truly happy.

On their way back to the hotel, Elliot offered to take Olivia to lunch. She declined, but did suggest they order something light from room service when they got back. After all, she reminded him, they did still have their reservation for dinner tonight.

She also suggested that before they ate, they head down to the hotel pool to unwind a little. He agreed it sounded like a good idea. They'd been up early, and it was only a little after one in the afternoon. They still had plenty of time.

Elliot let Olivia have use of the bathroom to get ready, and while she was in there, he quickly changed into his swim trunks. After pulling a tee shirt on over his head, he was ready to head down to the pool. He was slipping on his shoes when he heard a voice call to him from the other room.

"El? Are you decent?"

"Yeah, Liv. You can come out."

The door opened, and Olivia stepped out. She was wearing a cover up concealing her swimsuit. The garment only fell to mid thigh, accentuating her long legs. Despite his promises to himself, he couldn't help but wonder what she was wearing underneath – the one piece she'd worn the night before, or the bikini he'd spotted on the bed. Trying to push those thoughts out of his mind, Elliot focused on the matter at hand.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah, El."

They made their way through the winding hotel corridors. The pool was on the lower level, and in order to be granted access, they had to swipe their room key. Aside from a few other couples, the place was mostly deserted. They found a pair of lounge chairs by the side of the pool, and set down their towels and the room key.

Elliot slid his shoes under one of the chairs, and shed his tee shirt, taking care to fold it first before setting it down. When he turned around to ask Olivia if she was ready to get in the water, his heart caught in his throat.

Olivia had pulled her cover up over her head, and was standing in front of him wearing the dark purple bikini he'd spotted on her bed the night before. Never in a million years could the errant images that had ran through his mind have done her justice. Hoping that he wasn't staring at her like an idiot with his mouth gaping open, he remembered what it was he had wanted to ask her.

"Are you ready to swim, Liv?"

"Of course. Right behind you."

Olivia was no fool. She'd noticed Elliot's reaction to her in her swimsuit. She hadn't been offended in the slightest. Truth of the matter was, she rather enjoyed seeing him in his swim trunks, too. It was one of the reasons she'd suggested he get in the water first. They may have been partners and friends for well over a decade, but she had always known how attractive Elliot Stabler was. She'd be lying to herself if she ever said she hadn't stolen a few glances over the years.

Olivia moved toward the water, noticing Elliot had gotten in at the middle of the pool. The depth was about five feet there. Still, he'd had to crouch down to get the water come up over his shoulders. Turning around, she made her way carefully down the ladder, grateful that the pool was heated.

"Did you want to swim a few laps? No competition this time, I promise."

Her eyes met his, and she heard the sincerity in his voice. They made their way to the edge of the pool then turned until their backs were against the wall. Sharing a lane, they swam side by side in perfect tandem. Even though they had never before swam laps together, it didn't surprise either of them that they fell into sync the way they had with every other aspect of their lives.

After swimming laps for a solid forty-five minutes, they were ready to get out of the water. Elliot exited the pool first. Much like he had when they used the hot tub the night before, he briefly toweled himself off, then wrapped it around his waist. Then he brought the second towel over to the poolside, so he could wrap it around Olivia as soon as she got out.

When they got back to their room, Elliot told Olivia she could shower first. While he waited his turn, he promised he would order them something from room service. Studying the menu for anything that would fit their tastes, he ended up choosing two different appetizers that they could share.

Olivia returned, dressed in her comfortable clothes that Elliot was accustomed to seeing her in when they lounged around her apartment. Instead of taking the extra time to to blow dry her hair, she instead had left it to air dry. It was still damp, and fell to her shoulders in soft waves.

"Your turn, El."

He crossed the room to where she was standing, placing both hands on her shoulders. No longer anxious like he had been the night before, he brushed his lips against her forehead.

"Thanks, Liv. I won't be long. Room service should be here soon."

The light meal of shared appetizers Elliot ordered had been perfect. Instead of using the table, they had opted to move the room service cart by the sofa, and eat in comfort. When they were finished, Elliot pushed the tray so it was outside their door to be picked up.

Joining Olivia back on the sofa, he could see how fatigued she was. Though she was no stranger to extensive workouts and long hard days, it was obvious the day had taken its toll on her. Truth be told, he was feeling it too. Maybe it was just the fresh mountain air.

Either way, they were both in need of some rest.

"Don't take this the wrong way, Liv, but what would you say to taking a nap?"

Her head lolled toward him where she was resting it on the back of the sofa, and she gave him a smile.

"I think that is a terrific idea."

Elliot was the first to stand, and he offered his hand to Olivia. To his surprise, she didn't bat it away. Instead, she placed her hand in his and used his support to rise to her feet. They walked to the bedroom of their suite and climbed into their respective beds. He set the alarm on his phone so they would be up in time for dinner, then relaxed back against the pillows.

Before setting his phone down, he opened up the photo taken of he and Olivia that morning. They were both smiling at the camera, their arms around each other. His first reaction when he'd seen it was that he couldn't remember when he'd last been that happy. It really hit him then. He wasn't just putting on a smiling face to pose for the camera. He had been genuinely happy in that moment – it was why he'd wanted the photo taken in the first place.

Elliot wasn't naïve enough to believe that this meant he had been cured of his depression. He did, however, hope that moments of real happiness would be more frequent and not as fleeting as they had been over recent months. For the first time ever, he almost wished he had taken up the practice of keeping a journal that had been suggested not only by Dr. Simpson, but from many of his counselors at Partial as well. He wanted to document this day and keep the memory forever.

"Are you all right?"

He startled at the sound of her voice, even though she hadn't spoken loudly. He turned his head to the side, to find Olivia watching him intently.

"I thought you were asleep."

"How could I be, when I can hear you thinking so loudly?"

Setting the phone back on the nightstand, he turned on his side to face her. She mirrored his position, never once taking her eyes off of him.

"There are so many things going through my mind right now, Liv. For the first time in as long as I can remember, all of them are good."

He took no offense at her silence, knowing she was just letting him talk to his heart's content. She knew he needed to get everything out into the open.

"I was just thinking about how I wanted to write down everything that was on my mind so I could remember it all, then cursing myself for ever having been against keeping a journal in the first place."

At that, Olivia spoke up.

"Do you really want to write things down, El?"

"More than anything."

Olivia got out of her bed then, and moved around to the upholstered bench in front of it where she had placed her bag. Rooting through the luggage, she found what she was looking for. She approached Elliot then, a book in her hands.

"I've had this for awhile now. Ever since the week you first came to stay with me. I was just waiting until you were ready for it."

He accepted the item with slightly shaky hands. It was a leather bound journal, and the impact of the gift she had just given him touched him deeply. She had known back when she'd first bought it that he wasn't ready for it, but had kept it close by for a moment just like this one. Now, the exact tool he needed was in his hands, ready for his use.

Olivia reached out, placing her palms on either side of his face. She leaned forward so that her forehead touched his.

"I'll go rest in the other room, El. Give you some privacy to write."

"No, Liv - you don't have to do that. Stay."

He implored her quietly, but his words were no less sincere. The last thing he wanted was for her to leave on his behalf. He tried to keep his sigh of relief contained when she nodded her agreement and made her way back to her bed. She crawled back under the covers, and settled back on her side. Within a few minutes, her breathing had evened out, and she was resting peacefully.

With Olivia asleep in the bed next to his, Elliot took advantage of the time alone. He opened his new journal, and was pleased to find that a pen had been included. Realizing there was no right or wrong way to do this, he began to write. He poured all of his thoughts on paper, starting with the events of the prior weekend leading up to this one.

He was still writing when the alarm went off, but he didn't care. It didn't matter to him that he'd never gotten a nap. Again, he was doing something that he'd never thought possible for him, but his months of therapy had already taught him that talking about his feelings didn't make him any less of a man. Writing about them wouldn't either.

It was almost time to leave for their dinner reservation, and Elliot was waiting for Olivia. Even though there was no formal dress code for the restaurant, he had opted to wear a suit and tie, wanting to dress up a little for the occasion. Olivia soon appeared, and he stood to greet her. She was wearing a simple black dress that was slightly off the shoulder. The hemline stopped just above her knees. Her hair was swept back on one side and held in place with an elegant barrette. He thought of something that he'd told her earlier that day – that she looked beautiful.

Coming to his senses, Elliot tried to stop staring. Instead he offered Olivia his arm, which she gladly accepted. They walked next door to where the restaurant was, and bypassed the line of people waiting for tables. It was a good thing indeed they'd called ahead for a reservation the night before. After Elliot gave his name, they were promptly seated.

After studying their menus, they placed their orders, then relaxed in their seats to wait. Elliot raised his glass of iced tea in Olivia's direction. She followed suit, lifting her glass of wine and clinking it with his. The nature of the toast remained unspoken, but the sentiment was still there.

They put their glasses down when their salads arrived to the table, along with a basket of bread for them to share. Elliot waited until Olivia had some bread first before helping himself. As they often did when eating together, Olivia passed Elliot the green peppers from her salad while he passed her the olives from his. It wasn't that they each had a great dislike for the items swapped out, but they each knew the other really loved them.

Soon the empty salad plates were collected, and they were left alone yet again. Elliot tried to resist the urge to take hold of Olivia's hand from across the table. He wasn't sure what was wrong with him lately. Why was his mind trying to insist that he keep pushing the boundaries that had been in place for so many years? Then, while he was still warring with his emotions, Olivia reached across the table and put her hand on his. The contact settled him almost immediately.

"El, are you all right? We don't have to stay for dinner if you aren't feeling well. I'll understand if you need to leave."

At ease now, Elliot tried to think of an answer. He wasn't avoiding the truth, but he didn't want to get into an in depth discussion here. Instead, he went with something that he knew she would believe.

"I'm sorry, Liv. My mind was just running away with me, I guess. I was distracted thinking about what we should plan for tomorrow."

"We don't have to decide anything now. That's the beauty of this little getaway – no concrete schedules."

Elliot was just about to concede how right she was when their meals were placed in front of them. He waited until their server retreated again to speak.

"You're right, Liv. Let's just enjoy the night."

They ate then, sharing bites of their meals with one another. While they had tabled conversation of tomorrow's plans, they did discuss how they wanted to spend the rest of their night. Elliot wanted to know if Olivia was interested in using the hot tub again, and her only answer had been a smile. That told him all he needed to know. She was evidently enjoying that feature of their room as much as he was.

When they were done eating, they gave in to the indulgent nature of the night. While neither of them had room to eat a complete dessert on their own, they did decide to share something. Elliot left the decision up to Olivia, and she selected a decadent chocolate layer cake.

They had just about finished when he looked at her across the table. She had a slight smudge of icing on her upper lip. Before he could stop himself, he reached out and brushed it away with his thumb. His touch lingered for a few seconds longer than was absolutely necessary, and their eyes locked together.

When he ultimately dropped his hand away, Elliot cleared his throat and reached for his water glass.

"Sorry. You – uh – had a little something..."

"It's fine, El. Thank you."

Olivia's reply was so quiet he could barely hear her. Or maybe that was just because his heart was pounding in his ears. All he knew was he needed to calm himself down, or he'd never be able to relax and sit next to her in the hot tub later without embarrassing himself.

Shaking his head slightly, he pushed those thoughts out of his mind quickly before they could run away from him. Instead, he signaled the server and asked for their bill. Once he had paid, he stood and again offered Olivia his arm, feeling the warmth fill him again when she accepted.

Hours later that night, they were sitting together on the sofa, watching a movie. After they had returned to the room, they had spent some time playing a few hands of cards while their stomachs settled. Then, they had spent some time relaxing in the hot tub. Elliot wasn't sure if it had been his imagination playing tricks on him or not, but it seemed to him they had sat closer to one another than they had the previous night. The entire time they were in the hot tub, their shoulders were practically brushing against one another.

Now, it was getting late at night. Rather than give in to her fatigue and admit she was tired, Olivia was fighting it. As though he sensed her struggle, Elliot wrapped his arm around her, coaxing her to rest her head on his shoulder. Even though every rational thought in her brain urged her to resist, she felt herself giving in. Olivia lifted her legs up to the side, and leaned further into Elliot's embrace. When his lips ghosted across her forehead, her eyes fluttered closed.

Meanwhile, as Olivia was dozing, Elliot was counting his blessings. He was so immensely grateful for the woman he held in his arms at that very moment. Not only was she his best friend, but he literally owed her his life. There were still many days when he was an emotional mess, but one thing was becoming clear to him – he loved Olivia Benson.

He supposed it shouldn't come as a big surprise. A part of him had always known it during their years together as partners. There were plenty of times when the lines had blurred, and others worried they had become too close to do the job properly. He also knew his feelings weren't completely one sided. It was just that they'd never spoken the words out loud.

His love for Olivia in no way diminished or minimized the love he felt for Kathy. For the majority of their partnership, he had been a devoted husband – madly in love with his wife. After the first separation though, things had changed. He and Kathy had tried to reconcile, but things were never quite the same. He realized that the impending divorce had been a long time in coming. Now, his and Kathy's relationship with one another would be a healthy one.

Unconsciously pulling the woman in his arms closer, Elliot's thoughts continued on. He was thinking about his feelings for Olivia, and how they'd evolved over the years. This weekend alone, he could feel his feelings for her changing even more. He couldn't say for certain that he was in love with her, but he could understand now how easy it would be to let himself fall.

Shaking his head, he mentally berated himself. Now wasn't the time for that. Not only did he not even know what Olivia's feelings toward him were, but he was still technically married! Maybe he was just reading too much into things.

He pushed that thought away too, as quickly as it had come. What he was feeling wasn't brought on by some misunderstanding or because of emotional dependence. His feelings were genuine, as had been his intentions in giving her the spa package. Above all else, she was his best friend. Nothing could or would ever change that fact.

Olivia stirred against him sleepily, and he turned his mind away from his thoughts to focus on her.

"Come on, Liv. Let's go to bed."

Though she protested slightly, he was able to coax her to her feet and lead her to bed. When she lay back against the pillows, he lifted her legs up, and pulled the covers up to her shoulders. Confident now that she didn't protest the gesture, he pressed another soft kiss to her forehead before backing away.

"Good night, Olivia."

Elliot crawled into his own bed, and made himself comfortable. After finding something to watch, he reached for his cell phone to set an alarm for the following morning. Before putting the phone away for the night, however, he couldn't resist looking at their photo from that morning just one more time. He reminded himself to have a print made as soon as they got back to the city, so he could put it in a frame.

While he waited for sleep to claim him, he barely focused on what was on the television screen. Instead, he replayed the days events in his mind. Real life may still be waiting for them when they returned the day after tomorrow, but he would face it recharged and renewed.

A/N: I hope to have the next update up in five days, keeping up with my usual schedule, but I can't make any promises. My computer is on its last legs, and I wasn't even certain I'd be able to get this update out in time. Thankfully, I have a new computer on the way, it should be here on the 5th. It just might take me a few days to get acclimated to it. Just wanted to thank everyone who has read and supported this story this far. Your comments and reviews always means so much to me!