A/N: …okay so I know it's been over a year and I put y'all on pause on this one, because I had a great idea in my head at the time of starting this, and then I got stuck. You know how that goes! But I've been thinking about this for the last couple of days with Elliot actually being back in Olivia's life and I think I have a way of where I can take this.

Enjoy!

xx

Olivia breathed out and leaned against the sink and took the tissue that Alex handed her and wiped her cheeks, and blew her nose.

"How are you still beautiful after crying?" Alex made a light joke and Olivia pathetically laughed with her and sighed.

"Why is he here? It's been EIGHT years…. Eight years Alex!" Olivia groaned and ran her fingers through her hair and turned to face herself in the mirror and cleaned up the running mascara as best as she could.

"I thought I heard a rumor that he was in town, and I didn't think to say anything, because I didn't think it was true." Alex sighed and rubbed Olivia's back. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

Olivia shook her head and looked at Alex through the mirror, "It's not your fault, Alex. I…Just… I'm shocked.. Honestly. This day is supposed to be about remembering Ed, and then just seeing…. Him… come out of nowhere?" Olivia laughed gently and turned back and faced her. "It brought back a lot of memories that I wasn't expecting to remember, so suddenly." Olivia shrugged and pulled herself together. "I told him that we would talk, and we will…. Maybe after I drink the bar out from under the table." Olivia laughed.

That earned another laugh from Alex, who then wrapped her arms around her best friend and hugged her tightly. "We can make him disappear, if we need to." Alex grinned playfully and Olivia hit her shoulder and laughed.

"Let's do this." Olivia breathed out and threw the tissue out and walked out of the room.

Fin glanced over at her and Amanda walked over and put her hand on Olivia's arm.

"You okay, Liv?" Amanda asked with genuine concern.

Olivia smiled a little and nodded. "Thanks, Amanda. I am. Get us a round of drinks?" She asked curiously as Amanda smiled and nodded and looked at Alex. "Scotch?" Alex blushed and nodded and bit her lip as Amanda smirked and walked over to the bar.

Olivia raised her eyebrow and turned her body towards Alex. "Oh you little devil!" Olivia laughed and shook her head.

"Liv." Alex blushed and rolled her eyes. "Don't." She laughed and took the drink from Amanda when she returned.

Olivia thanked Amanda and glanced around at the crowd of people gathered for Ed Tucker and talk about what a great man he was. And it was true. Sure, he was evil when she was first introduced to him and hated the man's guts, and wanted nothing to do with him. But something changed… Something made Olivia see the soft, kind side of him, and she fell for him. She fell for him hard. Olivia sighed, thinking of when she turned down his marriage proposal. That man was wrapped around her finger, and he would have done anything to give her the world. And he did. And he couldn't understand why she said no to the one thing that he knew that she wanted. That he wanted. He wanted to be with Olivia, and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

Their relationship did end on good terms. Sad, but good. Ed accepted her for who she was, no matter what. No matter if she thought that she was broken, and her life would never be the same without her partner by her side. No matter if she thought the laugh lines around her faced made her look older, or the wrinkles near her eyes. He mourned their relationship for months after ending things, and he never thought he would love someone else the way he did, with Olivia, until he met Marie. He eventually married her, and he was the happiest he had been, but not as happy as he was with her.

When Ed told Olivia that he had cancer, and took his own life only a few weeks later, she was devasted. She felt like the ground she was walking on could've shattered beneath her. She hadn't been intimate with anyone in the way that she was with him, since then. She made a vow to herself to be the best mom she could to Noah, and the best captain she could to the squad. They were always there for her, and they were the ones that got her through the rough patch. She thought about reaching out to Marie after she found out about his death but she didn't want it to seem like she was pitting the woman. Olivia knew that she was already under enough stress to plan the funeral alone, and not even have time to process that her new husband took his own life.

Olivia glanced over at Marie making small talk with a couple of people giving their condolences and a few hugs here and there. She decided to go over to the widow and looked at her, with the same sadness that they both shared.

"He was a really great man, and I'm glad you two were able to share the time you had together, being happy." Olivia softly spoke and hugged her and felt Marie fall apart in her arms. Olivia closed her eyes and hugged the woman tightly and rubbed her back. "I'm so sorry, Marie." Olivia sighed and hugged her for a second longer and pulled away and held her hands when she faced her.

Marie sniffled and looked at Olivia and smiled lightly, "He talked about you a lot when we first met." She laughed gently and wiped her cheeks. "We were lucky to have him."

Olivia sighed and hugged her again. "Take care of yourself, and please reach out if you need anything at all, okay?" Olivia spoke.

Marie smiled and nodded and greeted a few other people that came through the bar.

Olivia glanced over at Elliot who had his eyes locked on her and she felt her cheeks flush. She walked back over to Alex, who was holding her drink while she talked with Marie, and finished it in one sip.

"I'm gonna head out." Olivia looked at Alex and set her drink down at the bar and glanced back at Elliot.

"Call me later?" Alex asked as Olivia smiled and nodded and wrapped her arms around the blonde and hugged her tightly. "I'm gonna talk to Elliot….and God knows that I'm gonna have to talk about it to someone." She laughed a little and grabbed her coat from the chair and headed towards the door.

Elliot watched her wrap up her conversation and grab her things and finished his drink and grabbed his. He felt an arm grab his shoulder and he was met with Fin. They made small talk when he first walked in and didn't mention Olivia, until now.

"Don't go and fuck her up, Stabler. It took her a long time to get over you, and a long time for her to be herself again." Fin warned.

Elliot sighed and looked at him and shook his head. "Fin, I know I fucked up. I lost a lot of things when I left, and I'm not leaving her again. I know I have to work my trust up with all of you again, and I'm sorry for leaving you all. I'm sorry for leaving her the most, and how everything ended." He sighed, "I'll catch up with you later and I'll tell you what you want to hear."

Fin nodded and pat his back. "I trust you to not hurt her again, man." He warned again and walked over to Amanda and Alex.

Elliot groaned and hung his head back and headed for the door.

"Liv! Wait.." He called out to the brunette walking down the sideway.