Olivia Benson had never felt like that before. Being kissed by Elliot, his El, made her body feel so alive like kissing any other man ever did. Sometimes, during the 12 years they were partners, during some lonely and drunk night after a tough case, her brain had led her to imagine how could have been to kiss his partner, the man that had her back, that supported her and trusted her no matter what. The man she loved. The man that was married with someone else. Whenever those thoughts tried to creep their way in her brain, she would push them away cause he was married, she knew he would have never done anything inappropriate with her and she knew she respected him and his wife too much that she would have never ever let him do anything inappropriate...so why wonder. And after he left her with no explanation, after so many years of no hearing his voice... why wonder.

But now it was different. He was a widower, maybe too little time passes after Kathy died, but still... he finally did his move. He invited her for a dance at the wedding, he asked if she wanted to take a little walk on the deck away from the crowd of guests and then he took her between his arms after putting his jacket around her shoulders. Her knees felt so wobbly, goose bumps on her arms, maybe for the chill of the night or maybe for his proximity. He whispered in her ear that he missed her, that he loved the smell of her hair... and then he kissed her gently on the lips. It was quick but gentle, he moved right away like realizing what he was doing was wrong. She noticed his stare was alarmed, like she would slap him or something. In truth she was surprised by his touch, she wanted him to kiss her but didn't think he would, so when he moved away she looked more surprised than him. And then it hit her... he had kissed her! The kiss that she longed for so long but didn't even dare to imagine had happened! Before she knew it, she was kissing him back. Gentle, quick and then moved away like he did. This time his stare was surprised and pleased so she giggled looking away at the sea.

Elliot Stabler had never felt like that before. Being kissed by Olivia, his Liv, made his body feel so alive like kissing any other woman ever did. To be honest, he had kissed only three women in all his life: Jasmine, his first middle school girlfriend when he was 13, Kathy his wife for more than 35 years and Dani Beck, his new partner for few months when Liv was working undercover and he was separated from his wife. He was now finally kissing the woman that had his back for 12 years, the woman he had loved for more than 20 years, the one he trusted with his life, the one he could tell secrets and fears he never dared tell to his wife. He denied for so many years what she really meant to him, he was married and committed to prove to himself and the world that he was a better man, a better husband and a better cop then his father ever was.

It took him so long to admit to himself that he loved her more than a friend... it was hilarious that it was his own wife that helped him realize it! She was so jealous of Olivia and of their relationship that when he shot that girl, Jenna, in the precinct and was feeling at his low, she gave him an ultimatum: it was either her and the kids or Liv and the SVU squad. He chose his family of course, he signed his papers in, he got professional help, joined an anger management support group, put his life together again.

One day, when he and Kathy were living already in Rome and they were admiring a beautiful sunset on the Janiculum hill he whispered to himself "She would love it". Kathy heard him and said "You miss her", she was not mad... she was just staying a fact. She turned towards him, looked him with kindness in her eyes, maybe a hint of resignation he later thought, and added "You love her, you always will". Then it happened... it hit him like a wave, an earthquake... he loved her! Not just like a friend, not like a co-worker, he loved her because it was... simply her. He and Kathy pretended that confession never happened, but their relationship changed. It was painful for both of them: Kathy knew he loved her but after all those years she was finally ready to accept that half of his heart belonged to another woman, Elliot was shocked by the thought that he was never able to be the committed husband he wanted so desperately to be.

But now things were different... he was a widower. Kathy had only died few month back and it felt a bit like cheating on her... but he had loved Olivia for so long and after dancing with her at Fin's wedding, after seeing her so incredibly happy dancing and laughing with Noah, after putting his jacket around her and having her so close to him he couldn't resist anymore, he had to kiss her. Touching her lips with his felt so unreal that he pulled away immediately thinking she wouldn't have wanted it. He was alarmed, he believed he had done an incredible mistake... but she wasn't mad, she looked surprised. And then she was the one putting her lips on his, quick and gentle like he did. When she moved away he looked surprised, she giggled and started to look away at the sea. It took him a moment to realize what happened... Olivia Benson was in his arms, had just kissed him back and now was shyly smiling. The light of the beautiful big pink moon above them made her look even more beautiful than usual, "breathtaking" he thought. She was the most marvelous woman he had ever seen.

He cupped her right cheek with his hand and made her turn her head towards him so he could look into those beautiful big brown eyes of her... and he kissed her again. This time he didn't pull away and Liv was so happy that started kissing him back. It was the most exciting moment of their lives: Liv couldn't believe she was finally kissing the only man she had truly loved and El couldn't believe he was finally kissing the woman he had never dare imagine to be with. To his big surprise she was the one that deepened the kiss and when a moan escaped his throat, she smiled against his lips so he wrapped his arms even tighter around her. He was pulling her so close that she thought he would break her ribs, but she didn't care. His tongue was gently brushing against hers, his broad chest and strong arms were finally holding her and she moaned as well. It was the most beautiful sound he ever heard and drove him even crazier than he already was.

They had no idea for how long they kissed: it felt like it was an eternity and like it was only few seconds at the same time when a voice approaching surprised them with "That's a thing you don't see every day...". They pulled apart immediately and tried to act casually like two kids caught with their fingers in the cookies jar. John Munch grinned and continued with his statement "...an ugly and stupid Detective kissing a smart and very beautiful Captain". Elliot stared puzzled at the former Sergeant while Liv blushed and started giggling hiding her forehead in El's shoulder. When Munch added "I am very happy for you guys" Elliot relaxed and the two men smiled at each other. When Olivia stopped giggling and looked at Munch he said "Sorry to interrupt but Fin and Phoebe are ready to cut the cake and they asked me to come to look for you". "Oh yes of course" answered Elliot, "Yes, yes absolutely" said Olivia still blushing. As Munch turned away and started walking towards the party Elliot whispered "Old bastard! Even if he has a walker he is sneaky and silent as he used to be!". They both smiled sadly realizing that John's health was slowly getting worse day by day.

She suddenly thought of Noah: would he asked where she was, what she had been doing out with her old friend El all that time... would she have to lie to him or be honest? All her doubts on what to say to her son disappeared when she looked in his deep blue eyes. He then took her left hand in his right one, linked his fingers with hers and that gave them both goose bumps on their arms and smiled happily to each other. Few moments later they reached their friend and started to walk at his slow pace enjoying the sound of the waves and the music and laughers coming from the party.

Munch suddenly stopped, looked at them and asked "Who kissed who first?" Elliot grinned and proudly said "I did". "Thank you Elliot... I'll go tell the good news to Detective Tamin" and started walking again. El and Liv looked at each other with surprise and asked in sync "What good news?". Without even turning, waving arms and walker in the air, Munch explained "That the all SVU squad, old members and ADAs included, owe us 50 bucks each" and started laughing out loud. It was Olivia's turn to whisper "Old bastard" and started laughing so loud that Elliot looked at her in disbelief, thinking he wanted to spend the rest of his life hearing her laughing like that and started to laugh as well.

When they finally arrived at the party they were still wiping their tears from their eyes... some from the laughers and some for the happiness they were finally feeling after all those years of denying their feelings for each other.