Two seconds it took her to decide to punch him. Ten years into two seconds. It felt right. Needed. The relief from her chest has loosened and she starts to laugh. She just punched the poster boy for rage. He stands there, holding his jaw and she is doubled over in laughter.

"Jesus Christ, Olivia , what's so damn funny?" Elliot moves his jaw from side to side, rubbing it. Watching her laugh brings a smile to his own face despite the stinging pain.

"Your face, that's what's funny." She looks up at him and now he is starting to laugh.

"Ok,ok, yeah that's fair. Good god, nice right hook benson." Olivia looks up with a cocked eyebrow.

"Benson? Why so formal now that you kissed me?" Those words felt so foreign coming out of her mouth. Her heart starts to race. It's not like she hasn't thought about it before. She thought about it millions of times, just not like this.

"Sorry about that, sorta." He smiles and the swelling is becoming apparent.

Slowly rolling her eyes, she motions for him to come inside. Her insides are on fire but she has to ignore it.

"Let's not right now, please. It's your wifes..ex-wife's repast and I really don't want the kids to hate me. This timing is terrible and you know it."

He reaches for her hand and she allows him to take it. Looking back to make sure no one is watching she closes the distance between them.

"Still mad at you."

"I know. You have every right to be. Let's meet up later to have a real conversation about this and I'll try to explain better."

"And you know you're a asshole for changing subjects by kissing me. All these years and you do it that way? Stabler, you are a shitty romantic."

"Oh so who's the formal one now?"

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Later that night once Noah is in bed, Olivia strips down her bed and crawls in. The exhaustion weighs heavy on her but she feels wide awake. He is back and she is allowing him to come back into her life. Pushing way more than what she thought she allowed.

Her mind races, thinking how good he looks. Age has done him well. His skin worn from the sun, lines on his face that are clear from his permanent scowl. His arms, the ones she held onto before, thicker, more muscular. The kiss hasn't left her mind. She hasn't been kissed like that in a long time.

Reaching over she goes into her night stand to pull her vibrator out. The wetness in her panties has been all too apparent since the kiss. Lowering her head back , she slowly opens her legs and finds her spot quickly.

Arching her back, she imagines his tongue sliding through her folds. His rough hands pressing against her thighs as his tongue slowly fucks her. It doesn't take long for her to reach her climax, biting down on her lip, whimpering his name. Falling back, she tries to catch her breath.

'Mother fucker.' She tosses it to the side and curls into her blankets, falling asleep.

———————————

Finding a table at the cafe , she sits with her coffee, waiting. There is a slight nervousness that he isn't going to show. He's bailed on her before , what will change now. Picking at the napkin, a voice interrupts her thoughts.

"Saving this seat?"

Looking up she smiles. He made it. The casualness of his outfit throws her off. Since when does Elliot Stabler wear leather jackets like that? ' God he looks good.'

"So Elliot, are you ready to tell me where you were exactly for ten years and why I wasn't good enough for a phone call?"

"For one, I'm sorry I never called. I really am. I tried to contact the best way possible but it wasn't the best way"

"Your sempre fi chain?"

" No? I mean yeah I tried that but didn't Kathy ever call you?"

She laughs a sarcastic dark laugh. She treads this water carefully, not wanting to be rude about his mother's children.

"Elliot, Kathy was my friend out of convenience. She never reached out to me. Not even when I was-"

She quickly cuts herself off by taking a sip of her coffee. His eyes bore questions into her but he will have to wait.

"Ok, now where were you?" She presses forward. He has to answer her. She has him backed against a corner.

"Italy, Sicily, maybe London for a few months."

That's what he meant by he had to get far away. He literally left the country to get away from her.

"You know Elliot, phones work in Italy."

He picks at the napkin, having a hard time looking at her. She is right. There was many times where he could have but he never felt right doing it. Time passed too long, he assumed she was living her life without him. A better life.

"Elliot."

"You're right." Olivia sits there just staring at him. Words she had rarely heard when they were partners.

"Damn right, I'm right." Elliot laughs and pushes the ripped up pieces.

"I know I didnt handle this correctly or I didn't handle it all but I wanna make things right."

"What makes you think I'll let you right back in after all this time Elliot? I have my son to think about, I have this job."

"You used to say I was the longest relationship you had with a man." He was pushing it and he knew it. He knew it was gonna be hard but he wish it wasn't.

"I'm doing the talking here. You think after ten years , I'd let you walk right in and just..hey , what the hell was that last night."

Wasn't too long till the kiss was on the table. His chest constricted , her eyes fixated on him.

"It was 22 years to late and I was thinking, why not throw caution to the wind and finally do it. Kiss the women that has always been my everything. Even when I selfishly left for ten years." He never pulled his eyes away from hers. Though he could feel his feet ready to run. He wants to say those three words. He just got her back, almost and he doesn't want to tempt that.

She can hear her heart in her ears. He is saying it. Finally.

"Elliot…"

"Look, I get it. You don't have to respond right away. I don't regret kissing you. If I could I would again. Just all I ask, just give me a chance to be a part of your life again." He reaches his hands over and takes her hand that was resting on the table. The constant touching between the two was the most she ever felt with them and it set her insides on fire. Countless what if's always ran through her mind and this wasn't one of them. An apologetic Elliot Stabler, holding her hand in a busy coffee shop. Laying it out on the table for her. She wants to pull away and run. Her senses going on overdrive. The filter she prides herself, lowered, she feels her mouth dry.

"Do you love me?"