It was an exhausting, most devastating day for her and for her partner. It happened so fast, shots were fired all over the squadroom, killing some of their colleagues and Sister Peg. Him shooting the teen in order to stop her.

Him realizing he just killed the girl.

The way he looks at her. She knows. It's over. For him, for both of them.

After she gave her weapon and statement she immediately searched for him. In the cribs, gym, there's no sign of him.

Until she found him on the rooftop. His hands still bloodied. He was sitting on the floor, staring at the sky. Probably questioning his faith again.

He must have sensed she's watching him so she sat beside him, also staring at the sky.

"Go home. Get some rest." He said.

"I can't."

"They're gonna come for me, Liv. I'm gonna lose my job in no time."

"I told them, It was a clean shot. You did your job, Elliot."

"I killed her. It wasn't part of the job." He said.

"If you didn't do that she probably killed a lot more," She said

"Including you." He said looking at her.

"No."

"She was aiming her gun at you, Olivia. I had to act fast. Or else…" He trailed off.

"Or else, what?" Olivia said "Don't make this thing about me, Elliot."

"Or else, I'm going to lose you."

Silence.

"You choose me again over the job, Why?"

"Don't you know?" He said.

Then he kissed her.

"See you." He said against her lips. And then left, leaving her with so many questions in her mind.

Days, turned into weeks, turned into months and there's no word coming from him. Cragen finally told her that he put his papers in. She instantly felt her heart crash into a million pieces.

She called him numerous times, Often go straight into his voicemail that she had enough she surrendered.

Until she received his text.

Central Park. After work. - E

She was sitting on the bench when he approached her. "Hey"

"Hey."

"How's everything?"

"Nothing's the same."

"Liv–"

"Why? Why do you have to do that?"

Elliot sighed, "I had to."

"Bullshit." She said.

"You don't understand."

"News flash, I really don't. You didn't answer my calls, hell, It was Cragen who told me you put your papers in, am I not really important to you, Stabler?" She said.

Elliot when she's nice. El when she needs something, Stabler when she's mad. That's what she told Dana Lewis one time.

"You're mad. I get it. But I have to do this. I have to save you from the fall out."

"I don't need saving, Elliot. I...I need you." She said

Silence again.

"The night you kissed me, I have so many questions in my mind. Then I realized that I…"

"You what, Olivia?"

"That I love you."

He brought her hand on his lips, "You deserve better, Olivia."

"I love you."

Silence.

Beat.

"It'll pass."

She was crying. He is too. They're both grieving the twelve years of them being together. He kissed her on the forehead and then finally stood up.

"Liv?"

She lifted up her head and looked at him.

"I love you too."

Then he's gone.

Days, turned into weeks, turned into months, turned into years. The love didn't pass. Not in the least.

Not in the ten years of him gone.