Olivia hadn't wanted them to go down to the lobby together, worried any neighbour could end up seeing her with another man but he had insisted that nobody need know that he is the man that's just spent the morning giving her multiple orgasms and she blushes, poking her tongue out and pulling her glasses down to cover her face. It wouldn't be uncommon for a personal trainer to make a house call; she eventually decides so off they go together.

He had ordered them an uber so she couldn't see the destination until they arrived. He had told her it had to be a surprise and he would explain the meaning behind it when they got there. When they pull up next to the empire state building she turns to look at him confused. Her glasses were back in her hair and he could see her brain trying to understand his plan.

"The empire state building?"

"Yep"

"Why?"

He thanks the uber driver and exits the car and walks around to Olivia's side to help her out and closes the door behind her before he answers her question.

"Have you ever been?"

"No"

"Exactly. It's full of tourists, you're not going to bump into anyone here are you?"

She can't argue with that logic. She'd lived in the city her whole life and she'd never been to any of the popular tourist spots. Why did you need to when you lived here?

"So today we're tourists?"

"Yep" he holds his arm out for her to slip hers through and she does as they start walking towards the entrance. "We can be from anywhere, be whoever we want to be. Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler out on a date. What do you say?"

They stood in front of the entrance and he turned to look down at her. She knows what he's trying to do, offer her a parallel universe where they could have it all without the complications. Eventually she smiles, how could she not give this a chance?

"And what are we?"

"I'll be whatever you want me to be"

My partner. Boyfriend sounded too childlike but Partner sounded just right.

She doesn't answer but he's okay with that. He is happy she was giving him a chance to be anything. Patting her arm he motions for them to walk inside the building for their date.

Olivia hadn't realised there were so many exhibitions inside the Empire State Building. They'd spent a lot more time than she had expected learning about the building and the city before making their way to the 86th floor outdoor observatory. She had realised a lot about him as they moved through the exhibitions. He wasn't a brain dead gym fanatic, which she had known since getting to know him but now she knew who he really was. How he loved war time movies and he had wanted to be an architect when he was a child so he'd always admired this building.

They arrive on the floor of the observatory and when Elliot opens the door and stands to the side to let her pass the wind whips at her face. She moves the stray hair from her mouth and tucks as much as she can behind her ears and then she can finally see the view that the building was so famous for. Now she understands why it's so famous. Maybe she should do more tourist things.

"Wow"

"It's amazing right?" He agrees standing next to her looking across the city. "How do you feel about heights?" Elliot asks, pointing to the edge of the building where they could look down.

"I'm a brave girl" she jokes and she takes his hand in hers and pulls him towards the metal outskirts of the observatory as close to the edge as they can get and she leans against the wall leaning her head through the metal fence.

Elliot stands closely behind her, placing his hands either side of her shoulders against the wall and places a kiss on the top of her head. She smiles to herself at the small gesture, even 86 floors up on a building he made her feel safe.

After a few moments she reaches out for his hands on the wall and takes both of his hands in hers and wraps him around her. He takes a step closer to her so he's surrounding her in every way and her eyes slip closed. Even though there was a huge wall in front of her stopping her from falling when her eyes were closed she felt like she could fall right off but her hands could feel his strong arms surrounding her and she felt safe.

"So where next?" Olivia asks as they walk out of the building a little later. She hadn't been into the idea at first but she had realised she really did want to go on a date with Elliot. Not just a date but a date to the random places she knew he would take her.

"Look who's changed her tune"

"Shut up you"

"How do you feel about boats?"

She narrows her eyes as they walk hand in hand down the street. Her earlier worry of people seeing them forgotten now they were out and about. When he was around it was like they were in their own world and hiding him hadn't even crossed her mind like it had when they were leaving her apartment.

"Ok I guess"

"Good. You ever see the statue of Liberty"

"Well of course i've seen it Elliot I live right by it"

"You know what I mean"

"Well no, i've never actually taken a trip to see it"

"Good" he gives her hand a little squeeze before continuing. "Something else you can experience with me for the first time"

Olivia looks at him then and realises his date ideas were not just for avoiding people, they were also to prove to her it's never too late to explore new things with him. She really didn't give him enough credit. He had been brilliant about everything, the divorve, hiding him. She knew he was just trying to tell her what she knew everyone else would if they knew the situation.

An hour later after queuing up for tickets in which Olivia had complained there were too many people around everywhere they were finally on the boat. Again, with too many people but this time it felt more personal as when they finally set sail everyone marvelled in the view, quiet in their own little groups. She watched the other people taking selfies and wondered how far people had travelled for this moment. It was a screaming reminder about appreciating what's in front of you and when she notices all the kissing couples she slips her arm around Elliots waist and they turn to face each other, arms wrapped around each other's backs.

Elliot notices the pensive look on her face and he can't tell if it's good or bad. He knows the cogs in her mind are turning but this time she had him stumped. Maybe he's just too scared to get his hopes up or worse, see the rejection.

"So, have you had a good day?" he asks hoping he will be able to tell from her answer.

Eventually she grins, a huge grin that spreads across her face and he grins back at her. A huge weight is lifted off his shoulders when she reaches up to kiss him and her hands move from being wrapped around his waist to being wrapped around his neck.

They kiss for a long time, forgetting the 100s of people around them as they get lost in their own little world until someone bumps into them and they are brought back to reality with an embarrassed chuckle from them both. The tour boat moves along at a slow speed past the monument as they carry on looking into each other's eyes.

"I love you Elliot"

Elliot is awash with emotions when he hears her say those words to him. He had been so worried today would be the last time he would get to see her but he hopes now this means she will give him a chance. A serious chance in her life to prove they should be together.

"I love you too Olivia"

She kisses him again, only quickly before taking his hand and walking him to the edge of the boat and they stand side by side leaning over the railing and taking in the statue.

"You know I always thought id give my ring to Noah"

She plays with the wedding ring still on her finger as she speaks. It hadn't even occurred to her to take it off before now. It had been part of her for most of her life; she didn't even notice it on her finger anymore.

"I thought I would give it to him to give the right woman when he met her"

"Thats a nice idea"

"It was"

She slips the ring off and holds it between her thumb and forefinger examining it in the light.

"It could be if you have the perfect marriage. I wouldn't want Noah to have a marriage like mine and Trevors"

"It must have been good at some point right? You married him"

"Honestly Elliot I don't think so. Content maybe" she turns to face him and he can see the heartbreak in her eyes. "I was alone, my mother was all the family I had and we didn't get along great and so I wanted love. I was desperate for it and he wanted a wife. It was done all for the wrong reason"

Elliot reaches out and wraps an arm around her shoulder as she looks back out to the water, holding her close to him.

"It was worth it though, right? You have Noah"

She nods and pulls away from Elliot slightly.

"But I don't want him to remember his parents' marriage and think it's what a marriage should be. He should find love"

Olivia turns to Elliot again and smiles quickly before looking back out towards the water and holding the ring up to her face. She kisses it, a goodbye to her past life. The ups and down the bad and the content - ok good times. Then she throws her arm out and flings it into the water. She knows it's not a giant wishing well they're standing in but she makes a wish anyway. To be happy. She says those words to herself as she closes her eyes. It felt therapeutic to throw the ring, it had barely made a dent in the water as it had sunk and it showed her what a small part of her life her marriage had been.

She turns back to Elliot and sees the future smiling back at her and she leans her head against his chest, holding him close.