Written for day 3 of the Women of SVU Week on Tumblr. Prompt: it was always you.

Things were thrown. A couple of punches were thrown too. He took the heat because what else was there to do? After the anger came the silence. Ten years it's a long time. What can you say after ten year?

She sat down on her captain's chair. She's the captain now, the leader. The one in charge. There's a power imbalance in most of her relationships now. Most of her friends are also her subordinates and that comes with a price. Every choice has a price, she knows that very well. She's been paying them all her life.

He's still standing there in the middle of a room that was once somebody else's. A room they've been together in so many times. He's older but still strong. She 's older too. Stronger? Perhaps. She'd like to think so and because of that she was the one to speak first.

"I don't want to hear your excuses, Elliot. I really don't." She sounded resigned because she really was. It happened around year three, she supposed.

"I know." His voice was lower now. Calmer.

Hands on her temples. She could feel the headache crippling in. She still had to take Noah to his friend's birthday party because she promised him. She couldn't forget to send the remaining D5's cause they were due today. She needed to talk to Amanda about their latest case. She has Elliot Stabler in front of her, very much alive, after ten years. What the fuck was this?

She suddenly thought about Oregon. Olivia hadn't thought about her time undercover with the tree huggers in ages but now she couldn't help it. She wished she was back there. Pure air and the smell of nature. Flower tea and conversations about community gardens and weed strains. Blue skies. She missed it.

But she was here now, in the office that used to belong to Cragen and that was now hers. With him.

"What do you want?"

He put his hands over his mouth. Stalling. Ten years and she knew exactly what his mannerisms meant.

"I think we should talk first." He finally said.

Did she want to talk? She was tired. Noah's friend's birthday party wasn't going to stop just because Elliot Stabler decided to reappear in her life. Life went on.

"I'm busy right now."

"Seriously, Liv?" Impatient. You can't erase your nature, apparently. He tried to look calm but it showed. It would always be there.

She exhaled. She definitely didn't have time for that.

"I've waited ten years, Elliot. I… I'm mostly relieved to see you're alive, I guess. I really am. You know where I'll be. Come back tomorrow. We'll talk."

He looked like he'd finally received the punches she had thrown earlier. Being honest with herself, she could've called Lucy to take Noah to the party. The D5's could be late a day and Amanda would know what to do with the case. It was about her. She needed the time. Ten years. She needed to breathe first. It was happening after she had sworn it would never happen. She needed time. She could stall too.

He only nodded and slipped one last look at her before turning to leave.

"It was always you." She whispered.

"What?"

"Nothing… We'll talk tomorrow. Ok?"

"Sure, Liv. Whatever you want"

All the times she'd run this scenario in her head - him getting back to her life - she'd break down. Much like she had when he'd left. Now that it had happened she was left surprised. She was whole. Emotional but not broken. She couldn't deny the importance he had in her life - not anymore. She'd allow herself to feel today and tomorrow… She'd deal with tomorrow when tomorrow came. Whatever happens she'd still have herself. She'd be fine;