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

Elliot and Olivia woke up around eight on Tuesday morning without the aid of an alarm. They weren't planning to leave until ten thirty anyway, since check in at the lodge wasn't until four. The trip should take them a little over five hours, but they planned to take their time along the way.

After sharing a shower, they got dressed – Olivia now able to accomplish the task on her own for the first time since she'd come to stay at Elliot's apartment – and headed into the kitchen for a light breakfast. Much like the way they shared the preparations for dinner the night before, they navigated the kitchen together perfectly. While he prepared the coffee and cut up some fresh melon, Elliot knew Olivia was only a few steps away slicing and toasting bagels. Even though she'd been at his place for awhile, everything felt had a different air about it, and it felt so comfortable and casually domestic. It was something he could get used to. He wasn't going to pressure her, especially not now, but soon he hoped to do more than just hint at making this temporary situation a more permanent arrangement.

Once they had finished eating, there wasn't much else left to do. Elliot had already called his kids the night before to let them know he and Olivia would be going away for a few days. Aside from Kathy taking the phone away from Lizzie momentarily demanding details, the conversations had all gone smoothly. He still didn't know what had gotten into his ex wife all of a sudden, but he wasn't about to ruin his trip with Olivia trying to figure it out.

They finished a few more tasks, double checked that everything in the apartment was turned off, and then they were on their way. Much to Olivia's exaggerated annoyance, Elliot again insisted on carrying practically everything. He did, however, let her manage a small tote bag containing the GPS he would need for directions, along with a small cooler containing only some ice. Situating their luggage in the back of the Jeep, he announced they would make a stop once they got closer to their destination for a few basic grocery items to keep in their suite. Olivia nodded her agreement, then opened the door that would let her into the passenger seat.

As soon as they were settled and buckled in, Elliot spent a few minutes finding a station on the radio. Then, he leaned across the console to kiss Olivia before starting the engine and putting the vehicle into gear. It wasn't long before they were on the road that would take them out of the city and toward the interstate that would eventually lead to the Adirondack mountains.

"Do you need anything before we get on the highway, Liv? Another cup of coffee, perhaps? Something to snack on?"

She couldn't help but laugh out loud at the suggestion. They had just eaten breakfast less than an hour before. Logically, she knew he was only worried about her, but Olivia really hoped he wouldn't fuss the entire drive.

"I'm fine, El. Plus, if I have anything else to drink right now, I'm going to be asking you to stop at every rest area we pass."

He chuckled at her response, nodding his head in agreement. She was the same way on stakeouts, only drinking the minimum amount of coffee necessary to keep herself awake. He supposed the same philosophy applied to road trips as well, although this was the first road trip they'd ever taken together. In his mind, extraditions didn't count. Before he could get too sidetracked, he pushed work and all thoughts of it completely from his mind. Then he focused on the present – the beautiful woman by his side, the open road that lay ahead of them, and the four nights and five days that waited at Whiteface Lodge.

About an hour into the trip, no matter how hard she tried to keep her eyes open, Olivia found herself getting drowsy. The gentle motion of the vehicle combined with the soothing hum from the radio was as effective as a lullaby. Noticing that she was starting to nod off, Elliot took one hand off the wheel to reach into the backseat, never once taking his eyes off the road. Finding what he was looking for without difficulty, he placed one of his sweatshirts in her lap. Curious, she glanced over at him, her fingers clutching at the gray material.

"I can see that you're tired, Liv. Why don't you use that as a cushion, and get some rest for a little bit. I won't mind."

"But -"

He shook his head, easily dismissing any argument she could try and come up with.

"But nothing. It's not a crime to nap on a road trip, and you're still here with me no matter what. Besides, I have a feeling I'm somewhat to blame for your being tired anyway."

A grin played across Olivia's lips as memories of the previous night before they had fallen asleep from sheer exhaustion came to mind.

"Well, if you would have let me sleep!"

Not to be outdone, Elliot fired right back with his own comeback.

"I don't recall having heard any complaints, or were all those sounds you were making while I had my mouth on you supposed to be protests?"

Feeling her face flame and a rush of heat to her core, along with a sudden sense of frustration at knowing they couldn't do anything about it while he was driving – at least not without risking a crash – Olivia pressed her thighs tightly together to try and ease the tension she was feeling. Then she addressed the man sitting next to her by speaking as sweetly as possible, in hopes to change the subject.

"Hey El?"

"Yes, dear?"

Again, she resisted the urge to either smack him or kiss him. He was purposely trying to incite her now, using a term of endearment he knew she would detest. His tone of voice was playful though, and she had to bite her own tongue to keep from laughing out loud.

"Shut up and drive."

"Yes, ma'am."

With an exhale that was part humor, part exasperation, Olivia shifted in her seat. She picked up the sweatshirt Elliot had put in her lap only a few moments earlier, and folded it up, then placed it between her head and the window, using it as a makeshift pillow. Closing her eyes, she gave in to the need for sleep.

It wasn't a long nap, but when Olivia woke forty five minutes later, she was feeling much better. One of the first things she was aware of was Elliot's hand resting lightly on her thigh. Noticing that his attention was still focused mainly on the road, she placed her hand on top of his, and squeezed gently. His eyes flicked over to meet hers momentarily, a smile on his face.

"Welcome back. Did you have a nice rest?"

Shifting in her seat slightly, she tried to hide her groan. Her nap may have been restful, but even with the use of his sweatshirt as a pillow, her neck was incredibly stiff from the position she had slept in. Reaching behind her to rub out a particularly stubborn kink, Olivia answered his question.

"I did. Just remind me to never do that again."

Elliot chuckled softly, then lifted his hand from her leg to place his palm on the back of her neck, lightly brushing hers out of the way. As best as he could given their current position, he tried to massage and soothe her aching muscles.

"Tell you what, later tonight while we're relaxing in that wonderful jetted tub that our suite offers, I'll give you a neck and shoulder massage."

"I like that idea."

She had other ideas in mind of course, once she heard his suggestion, but none were appropriate to mention now – especially while he was driving. They were a little more than halfway through their journey at this point. It seemed so long ago that they had left behind the skylines and landmarks that they called home. The farther north they traveled, the more free they felt. Not that they couldn't be themselves in the city – but here, in this landscape so far from the chaos they were used to – they could find a freedom and tranquility to discover who they could be to each other.

"Hey Liv? What would you say to a slight detour from our route?"

Still leaning back against the headrest, Olivia lolled her head in his direction, her eyebrows arched suspiciously. She had originally thought they were making a straight shot up I-87 to the Adirondacks, now he was talking detours? Just what kind of plan was he hatching in that brain of his? As though he'd read her mind, his hand rested on her thigh once more, squeezing gently to reassure her.

"Nothing major, I promise. I just thought since we're about halfway through our trip, we could stop for a bite to eat. Plus I could stand to stretch my legs for a bit, I'm getting a little road weary."

Her expression softened immediately at his admission. Why hadn't she thought of that? Here she was, napping contentedly while he had been awake the whole time. Of course he was tired and ready for a break.

"That's more than fine, Elliot. I can drive after lunch, if you want. Give you a chance to rest."

Not wanting to discourage her, he opted for a neutral response.

"Let's just find a place to get some food first, and enjoy some down time. We can figure out who's driving when after we've eaten."

"Deal."

Olivia's next question had been what place he had in mind for their little break. It turned out, that while she had been napping, he had used the GPS to map out upcoming attractions. Just a few miles ahead was the city of Saratoga Springs, which offered many shops and scenic state parks. The perfect place to grab a bite to eat and have an impromptu picnic.

As they drove through the city toward the park, they spotted a small restaurant that looked to be a combination of deli and pizzeria. Exchanging a glance, Elliot doubled back as soon as he found the safest opportunity to do so. They knew without question they'd found their lunch spot.

After placing their orders to go, they put their food in the cooler as soon as they got back to the Jeep. Fortunately, the ice hadn't melted much. Not that it mattered, because the park was practically adjacent to their current location. Had they not needed to keep driving to get to where they were going, they could have likely found their picnic spot by walking to it.

As they drove through the park, one area in particular seemed to call out to both of them. It featured a beautiful fountain, surrounded by a lush grassy area. Apparently they weren't the first to have the idea to take respite here, for several other couples were scattered about the lawn. Still, it seemed like the perfect spot to share their lunch before continuing their journey upstate.

Elliot parked, then headed to the back of the Jeep. Olivia was wondering just how they were going to manage, as she hadn't spied any picnic tables – not that she would mind sitting on the grass, but it would be hard to balance the food properly. The next thing she knew, Elliot appeared at her side, holding an oversized blanket. He draped it over her arm, exchanging it for the cooler. Then, grasping her hand in his, he led them toward the fountain, intent on finding a spot to call their own.

The sandwiches they had selected had been fairly simple, and they had purposely picked two different ones so they could share. To compliment their meal, there were chips and pickle spears. Both had opted for bottled water to drink. Sitting cross-legged on the blanket facing each other, they enjoyed what amounted to the most relaxed lunch of their lives. Not that they hadn't been comfortable in each other's company before now, but everything around them offered an air of complete peace – the sound of water from the fountain, the gentle hum of the wind, even just the quiet calm of being together.

While they weren't exactly in any hurry, they didn't want to take forever either. After enjoying a leisurely lunch, and walking a couple laps around the path surrounding the fountain, they mutually agreed it was time to get back on the road. Both Elliot and Olivia were feeling refreshed after their break, and anxious to travel the remaining distance that would take them to the lodge.

It had taken a bit of persuasion, but Olivia had managed to convince Elliot to let her drive the second half of the trip. It had nothing to do with the fact of him not trusting her with his Jeep, but more concern that she was doing too much, too soon. She'd simply had to remind him that she had been given the clearance to resume all activities the day before. It was with an emphasis on the word all, followed by a sultry look that finally got his attention. There was no mistaking the way Elliot had needed to break eye contact, or how he subtly tried to adjust his jeans for Olivia to know that she had made her point.

Despite Olivia's encouragement, Elliot had decided against closing his eyes and taking a nap while she drove. He claimed he wanted to enjoy the scenery. Instead, he spent the majority of the time watching her. Since she was so focused on the road, Olivia was unaware of his eyes on her, or at the very least, if she did notice, she had chosen not to comment on it.

As he took in every aspect of her profile, Elliot felt his heart beat faster in his chest as he considered just how much his life had changed recently. When they had sat on his front steps early one morning around three weeks ago, never had he imagined that in a few hours time things between him and his partner would be changed so dramatically. Though he would give anything to have spared her from her injuries, he doesn't know that he would necessarily alter the situation that had brought them to the place they were today.

"El, do me a favor will you?"

Olivia's voice pulled him from his wayward thoughts, and brought his attention back to the present. Unsure of how long he'd been distracted, Elliot sat up in his seat a little straighter, and turned slightly to face her more fully.

"Of course, anything. What do you need?"

"Stop staring, will you? It's driving me nuts!"

So she had noticed. Feeling his face flush now that he had been openly called out, he shifted his gaze to stare out the windshield at the horizon ahead of them. Now that they were in the higher elevations, he was more aware that his ears were popping from time to time, something that he hadn't noticed while his mind had been drifting before. Thankfully, Olivia hadn't seemed angry with him, and her tone had been mostly playful in nature. In fact, her next words were instructions, asking him to check the GPS for any stores near their destination, as they were now only an hour away from the lodge.

Wanting to avoid big chain stores if it were at all possible, he was pleased to find a market that was only minutes away from where they were staying. Even better, it promised locally sourced products. They wouldn't need much, but it would be nice to have some coffee on hand, along with some light bites to eat. Now that Olivia was off all her medication, they could pick up a bottle of wine or two, as well.

Before they knew it, Olivia was pulling into the parking area designated for the market. After getting out of the Jeep, she passed the keys to Elliot, letting him know he could drive the remaining few miles to the lodge when they finished shopping. As they walked through the doors, they took notice of the sign, and committed it to memory, just in case they needed to return for anything during their stay here in Lake Placid – Green Goddess Natural Market. It only took them about fifteen minutes to get what they needed, and they were back outside, ready to finish the final leg of their journey.

Minutes later when Elliot pulled into the long drive of the resort, and the lodge came into view, they were equally awestruck at what they saw. The pictures on the website simply did not do it justice. The mountains served as a breathtaking backdrop for the lodge that was nestled in the foreground, lined by trees. After he parked the Jeep under the wooden porte-cochère that led to the reception area, Elliot walked around to help Olivia out and take her hand. They were really here.

At the front desk, the receptionist was going over all the details of check in and check out with them, as well as informing them about several of the other amenities the property had to offer. When she got to the spa, Elliot grew nervous, worried that she would spoil the surprise. Realizing there was nothing he could do about it now, and that it still technically would be a treat, he hoped for the best. As the woman passed them their itinerary full of all available activities, Olivia accepted the paper and scanned it carefully.

"Wait a minute, there seems to be a mistake here – this says we are booked for a couples Great Salt Lake Bath and Massage on Thursday at eleven. We didn't schedule that."

Taking a deep breath, Elliot reached out and put his hand over hers where she was still clutching the paper. Lowering it ever so slightly, he waited until she was looking at him.

"Yes, we did, Liv. Or, I should say, I did. I wanted it to be a surprise for you."

Olivia's eyes grew wide and slightly wet as the realization dawned on her just what he had done, and beyond it all, he swore he could hear the profuse apologies from the receptionist for having ruined his plans. Figuring there was plenty of time to explain things later, he leaned forward and kissed Olivia softly on the lips, and told the woman behind the desk that no harm was done. All that mattered now was they finish checking in.

Minutes later, they had received their keys and been informed that their luggage and other bags would be taken up to their room. Elliot had also arranged for the Jeep to be parked by a valet, but knew he would have access to the vehicle any time they should need it. Walking hand in hand, they decided to wander around the resort for a little while to give themselves some time to orient to their surroundings for the next few days, so that when they did get to their suite, they would have no interruptions.

After taking a brief tour of the property, Elliot and Olivia located their suite without any trouble. Even though they both had a key, she deferred to him and let him open the door to let them in to their home for the next four nights.

As they crossed the threshold into the place they would be staying, they both gasped at almost exactly the same time. Much like their initial impression when they had pulled up to the lodge – the images they had seen online did not even begin to do it justice.

The floor plan was mostly an open one, with a dining table separating the kitchen area from the living room. On the far end of the suite, there was an enormous window, featuring a beautiful view. Placed in the center of the living area was a comfortable looking couch, which faced a fireplace. Above the fireplace was a flat screen television. Off to the side near the entryway a door which led to a half bath.

What they thought was a small closet by the bathroom actually held a small washer and dryer. Then, they set foot in the in suite bath, and were completely blown away. The room was breathtaking in appearance, from its wood paneled walls to the jetted bathtub that took up a good portion of the room. Another appealing feature was the large walk in shower that would easily accommodate them both.

Elliot was about to pull Olivia into his arms and ask her what she wanted to do first when his phone rang. Cursing the disruption, but knowing there was no way he could turn his phone off for the duration of their getaway – he wanted his kids to be able to reach him no matter what – he answered the offending device. When he realized it was his attorney on the other end, he soon divided his full attention to the call.

Though she knew he wouldn't mind if she stayed, Olivia soon excused herself to the other room, not wanting to intrude on a personal conversation. Instead, she headed to the kitchen, with the intention of putting away the groceries they had purchased earlier. She found the bags on the counter, and quickly put away the perishable items. The rest she placed in what she thought were the most logical places she could find.

Elliot soon joined her, and Olivia didn't need him to talk to her to know that he was upset. Trying to alleviate his frustrations, she asked if there was anything she could do. When his only reply was to snap back at her slightly, she was hurt, but didn't take any offense. Instead, she directly her anger where it belonged – at Kathy. Seeing the expression on her face though, Elliot softened immediately, and came to wrap his arms around her.

"I'm sorry, Liv. You didn't deserve that. I just hadn't realized we had brought my ex wife along on our romantic getaway."

Holding on to him tight, Olivia nestled into his embrace, placing a kiss against his neck.

"We didn't, and we aren't going to let her or anyone else ruin our fun. I'm here to listen to anything you want to talk about, but then we're going to drop it. We'll deal with whatever needs to be dealt with when we get back home."

Elliot pulled away then, but only so he could look at her, a big grin on his face. His heart was so full right now, because of her words.

"You do realize what you just said right now, don't you?"

She looked at him, confused, then repeated her last sentence to herself in her head. She'd said 'when we get home', implying that her home was with him. She hadn't even thought about it. Maybe her subconscious was trying to tell her something – to stop worrying and thinking about everything so obsessively, and just give in to what felt right and natural. Nothing had felt more right these past few weeks than being with Elliot.

Olivia smiled at him in return, knowing a verbal response wasn't necessary in the moment. Instead, she initiated a kiss that was full of promise as to what awaited for them later on that evening. Reluctantly pulling back, Elliot put his hands on her shoulders, and gently set her away from him.

"Hold that thought, Liv. That's definitely something I want to continue in the near future. First, though, I think I do need to get that phone call off my chest."

"Of course."

Taking her hand in his, Elliot led Olivia over to the living room, where they sat side by side on the couch. Exhaling a deep breath, he began to explain a bit about what had happened earlier. Apparently, while his attorney felt that Kathy had no grounds for terminating his visitation rights and gaining full custody, it would be in his favor if he could prove that there had never been an affair. That meant, as much as he didn't want to, he was going to have to ask Olivia to speak on his behalf.

"Elliot, stop right there. Of course I will. I'm not going to let you lose your children. Plus, we have it documented with Cragen and IAB when we disclosed, we can use that, too."

He looked at her, a bit stunned. Part of the reason he'd been so hesitant to ask her was he was afraid she'd put herself last again. Say that she couldn't come between him and his kids, and end things between them. Not that he didn't trust Olivia, but Elliot was immensely relieved that her confidence in their evolving relationship had changed enough to give her the strength not to run. In addition to having faith in them, she was also gaining faith in herself. She was finally believing that she was worthy of love – something that he'd been trying to tell her for years.

"Thank you, Liv. Thank you."

They embraced again, both feeling equally emotional. When they separated, each fighting back a few tears, it was Olivia who broke the silence.

"Now that is settled, let's enjoy the rest of our time here, shall we? I for one can't wait to get you into that tub – not to mention enjoy some time in front of the fire out here."

For the first time since he'd received that phone call, carefree Elliot was back. Both of Olivia's ideas sounded appealing, but another more concerning thought had just occurred to him – they were going to need dinner, too. Especially considering they would likely need energy to participate in all the activities she likely had conjured up in her mind for them. Then again, he had quite a few planned out in his own mind as well.

Suggesting that they call room service first to have some food sent up, he was surprised when Olivia readily agreed. That was when Elliot realized that it had been some time since they had shared those sandwiches in the park at Saratoga Springs. No wonder they were hungry.

The first thing he did, though - before dialing room service, was call the on site restaurant to book a reservation for dinner on Thursday. He had some ideas for tomorrow already, and since Thursday was going to be their massage day anyway, he figured why not make it a special day all around and have dinner in the restaurant then, too.

Once that was taken care of, he located the room service menu. Together, they spent a great deal of time studying it, as there were many delectable items to choose from. Wanting to make their first meal here special, they selected an appetizer, two entrees, and even a dessert to share. Even though they had already bought some wine at the market today, they also asked for a bottle to be sent up with their meal. Now all they had to do was wait.

A/N: Once again, I have relied heavily on internet research for the places I am sending Olivia and Elliot. The park they had their lunch at while in Saratoga Springs is real, as is the Whiteface Lodge where they will be having their getaway. I've never stayed there, but its certainly on my dream list of places. Not that I'd be able to afford it anytime soon, but at least in my dream world, Elliot and Olivia can. If you want to see what their place looks like, just search for Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid, NY. At their website, look for the one bedroom deluxe suite under 'lodging', and you'll see pictures of the suite I've chosen for them. Also, you can search for other amenities, like the spa services and room service that will be coming up in future chapters! Thanks for reading!