After Olivia got home, she changed into some comfy clothes. She was still thinking about Elliot and it was irritating, she didn't want to think about him. It hurt so much, knowing that he was at home with Kathy. Loving her, holding her, kissing her.

Olivia shook her head and sighed. "Get over it, Liv," she scolded as she poured herself a glass of wine. She sat down in the living room and reached for the Reader's Digest book she was currently reading and tried to escape from reality into fiction.

After reading a few chapters, Olivia stretched and checked the time, it was 10:15. She sat there for a moment, putting off going to bed alone. Olivia cradled her head in her hands and was on the verge of tears when the doorbell rang. Olivia jumped and instinctively reached for the gun in the end table's drawer. She grabbed it and crept over to the door. She looked through the peephole and sighed in relief at the sight of Elliot. He knocked on the door and Olivia set the gun aside, chuckling at Elliot's impatience.

"I'm right here, El," she said after unlocking and opening the door. "What..." she began but was interrupted by Elliot who made his way inside and started to pace back and forth. "Elliot, is everything okay? You're starting to scare me." He was breathing hard and shook his head, not able to contain it any longer.

"I love you, Olivia. I have for years, okay? I can't deny it any longer, I can't keep hiding it from you. I'm miserable not telling you how I feel." Elliot stopped in his tracks and looked at Olivia whose jaw was dropped and eyes wide in confusion and surprise. "Olivia Margaret Benson, I am madly in love with you," he declared.

Olivia stood there, her mouth closing but eyebrows still raised. "El- Elliot," she stammered, realizing that yes, Elliot Stabler had indeed just told her he loved her. She was at a loss for words. Olivia shut the apartment door that she had forgotten to close due to Elliot's abrupt greeting and locked it. She turned back to him and noticed tears glistening in his ocean blue eyes. For some reason she felt pity for him...this must not be easy when he's married to Kathy, and the tears starting to fall down his cheeks just proved how emotional this was for him. Olivia stepped over to Elliot and hugged him. She held onto him, pulling him close against her, not wanting to let go.

They pulled back to look at each other and Olivia placed a hand on Elliot's cheek, brushing away a single tear with her thumb.

"I love you too, Elliot." Olivia felt tears well in her own eyes. Elliot's widened in shock; he didn't think she felt the same way about him.

"You do?" he asked and Olivia frowned, her eyes scrunched in confusion.

"Of course I do, El. Has it not been evident all these years?"

"I mean, yeah? I'm just surprised is all."

"I am, too. You love me?" Elliot laughed and nodded.

"Very much so. Like I said, I have for years."

"I wish you would have told me sooner," Olivia whispered, her eyes dropping downward. Elliot ran a hand through his hair, feeling slightly guilty for not telling her. He started pacing again.

"I'm married, I have children. And I work with you, and... I've been telling myself that I don't love you, that I love Kathy but..." Elliot stopped pacing and turned to look at Olivia. "I've been lying to myself this whole damn time." Olivia couldn't help but smile; this was the best news ever. Elliot Stabler, the man of her dreams, loved her, and she loved him. She couldn't believe it.

"I've been doing the same thing, El. Telling myself I don't love you. Oh my god, I should have been the one to tell you sooner. And... and I thought you loved Kathy. I know you guys fight but..."

"I'll always love her. She gave me the best four gifts I could ever receive, my children. But I'm no longer in love with her but..."

"You are with me," Olivia finished for him. Elliot nodded and smiled and Olivia started to laugh. He gave her a concerned look that read, "What the?"

"Why are you laughing?" he asked, starting to laugh himself.

"Because this is wonderful, El." Olivia dabbed at her eye and sighed. "Oh man..." she said taking a deep breath and releasing it. All of this had happened so suddenly and unexpectedly, it was overwhelming. A good overwhelming, but she felt her heart could burst. "So?" Olivia said, making it sound like a question.

Elliot slowly walked over to Olivia. He stepped in front of her and tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "So..." he breathed, "I'm going to kiss you now." Olivia nodded and Elliot cupped her cheek in his hand. She closed her eyes, awaiting his lips to meet hers, and when they did, she could have sworn she was in heaven. Olivia traced Elliot's bottom lip with her tongue and he granted her access into his mouth. She tasted lovely, so sweet and like rose wine. Elliot's tongue swirled around hers and he helped her unbutton and take off his shirt. Olivia tossed it onto the kitchen floor and kissed Elliot hungrily, grabbing his head and pulling him in for a deeper kiss. She reached for the front of his pants but he stopped her by placing his hand on top of hers.

"Liv, I want you, bad, but it doesn't feel right, not when I'm still married to Kathy," he said softly and Olivia nodded and stepped away from Elliot.

"I can understand that," she whispered but she was hurt, and quite frankly, embarrassed and confused as to why Elliot had kissed her and let her remove his shirt. She voiced this to him and he sat down on a bar stool.

"I came here to tell you I love you. I didn't know how you'd respond, but you expressed the same love for me, and then it was a small kiss that suddenly was turning into more, and I hope you understand that I just don't want to do something I'll regret while I'm still a married man." Elliot was slightly out of breath from cramming all of his words together, but he wanted to explain himself to Olivia, he didn't want her to be left confused and wondering why he wouldn't give in to her advances. Lord knows he wanted to.

She stepped behind him and rubbed his back then draped her arms over his shoulders. "It's okay, I do understand," she said, her head resting against his back. Olivia felt Elliot's shoulder start to shake and he sniffled, and Olivia realized that he was crying. She stepped to the side of him and placed her hand on his leg. "Hey, look at me," she said softly. Elliot turned towards her and wiped his eyes.

"I feel so bad for Kathy," he said. "I don't want to hurt her anymore than I already have."

"Do you think she's surprised that you love me? I mean, she knows our relationship..."

"Yeah but it probably still hurts her. And plus, I was always working, we were always fighting. I just don't want to do anymore damage, dammit!" Elliot grabbed his hair in frustration and stood up. He felt like punching a wall and Olivia could tell he was worked up. She could sense his guilt, anger, everything, rising and she wanted to leave it alone until the next day. It was getting late.

Olivia glanced at the clock, it was 10:45. "Elliot, it's late. You need rest and you can process all of your feelings and figure out what to do tomorrow." Elliot nodded and sighed.

"I brought stuff to spend the night," he chuckled and Olivia playfully rolled her eyes.

"And what if I had reacted negatively? What if I didn't let you spend the night?" she joked.

"I would have gone to a hotel. That was my first consideration, anyways," he replied.

"Well, I'll fix up the couch for you," Olivia said. She wanted Elliot, desperately, but she respected his reasoning and understood.

"Ok, I appreciate it, Liv," Elliot said and Olivia smiled.

"Of course."

Elliot went to the bathroom and got ready for bed, and came out in shorts and a t-shirt. Olivia was on the couch when he came out and he sat beside her.

"You can figure this out Elliot... we can figure it out, together." Olivia took Elliot's hand in hers and looked into his baby blues. "I love you, and I care for you, and I'm here for you," she said and Elliot nodded.

"Thank you, I love you, too" he whispered and squeezed Olivia's hand. She pulled him into a hug and just held onto him. Elliot was comforted by her embrace and her scent, his stress eased a bit. "I guess we'll see what tomorrow brings," Elliot sighed and Olivia nodded and patted his leg and then stood up.

"I guess we will," she agreed and then smiled warmly at Elliot. "Goodnight, El."

"Goodnight, Liv." They looked at each other for a moment and then Olivia headed to her bedroom but popped her head out.

"And El?" she said, getting his attention. He looked at her and raised his eyebrows.

"Hm?"

Olivia grinned at him and twirled her hair around her finger. "I'm glad you didn't go to a hotel," she said and Elliot also grinned in response.

"Me too, Liv." He watched her go into her bedroom for the night and then settled onto the couch. His head was supported by his arm and he looked up at the ceiling, not able to stop smiling. Though his heart hurt for Kathy, it was even more filled with joy. Olivia Margaret Benson loved him.