Elliot strips his jacket off and tosses it into his truck as he climbs into the driver's seat. Before he can even put the key in the ignition, he sinks into the seat, leans against the headrest, and closes his eyes.
It's been a hard day, a hard case.
The trials involving the members of the Brotherhood had finally come to a close, and he'd spent the last couple of weeks working his way back into a normal routine with the task force. It felt good to regain some normalcy, but the cases were challenging as always, and he was tired.
As he finally begins the drive home, all Elliot wants to do is rest, relax, recover from the stress and worry of the day.
He knows when he gets home that it will be empty; his mom is staying with Kathleen for awhile, and Eli is away at school. It helps, some, to have a little time to himself, to focus on his own mental health, to finally, finally begin to rebuild his life in New York City, but the quiet gets to him sometimes, and sometimes the loneliness can be overwhelming. It's been a long time since he's been alone like this.
Elliot stands outside of his building for a few minutes, taking a few deep breaths, trying his best to leave the ugliness of the day outside and away from his home. After a few minutes, he slowly makes his way to his apartment.
As he unlocks his front door, he senses that his home isn't empty.
She's here.
For thirteen years, Elliot and Olivia unconsciously sensed each other's presence, knew every step the other took. Somehow, to their surprise, their decade apart couldn't erase their connection, and after taking their time, having all of the difficult conversations they'd put off far too long, they finally got everything out in the open. Feelings were acknowledged, feelings that had been hovering over their partnership since the very beginning, and they'd cautiously begun to cross long-standing boundaries and finally allow the feelings to deepen, to grow into something more beautiful than they could've ever imagined.
As he drops his keys on the counter and removes his jacket, his eyes search for her until he hears the running water of his shower, and without a second thought, he kicks off his shoes before opening the bathroom door.
His breath leaves his body at the sight in front of him. Though the shower glass is frosted, he can make out the outline of Olivia's figure. Her dark hair cascades down her back, longer than he's ever seen it. The curve of her shoulders, the softness of her hips all makes him clinch his fists in anticipation of running his hands over every part of her.
He loves seeing her, having her in his space like this.
Elliot sheds his clothes before stepping into the shower behind Olivia and wrapping his arms around her waist. A tiny surprised gasp slips out of her before she immediately sinks back into his embrace. Elliot buries his face in her wet hair, breathing her in, the comforting scent of her almost immediately giving him the sense of calmness that he's craved all day.
His lips press behind her ear, in the place that melts her into his arms, as he whispers, "You're here."
Olivia nods, gently tugging his arms tighter around her. "Wanted to see you."
Elliot's lips trail slow, lingering kisses down her neck. "Needed this," he mumbles against her skin. "Needed you."
She turns in his arms, looking up at him, her gaze unwavering as she says, "You have me, El. I'm yours."
His hands pull her closer, one drifting to tangle in her hair, guiding her head to rest against his neck, cradling her against him. Her body sags against him, relaxed as she's surrounded by him, and as he guides them under the spray, the water washes away the weight of the day.
Elliot gently cups her face with his hands, lifting her head until her eyes meet his. Her beautiful eyes; he thinks he could probably stare into them forever, especially when he sees the look of affection in them in the special, private moments like these. He wants to tell her how much he loves her, how he wants to spend the rest of his life with her, with her son, but he can't tell her yet. They're too new, and he couldn't bear it if she walked, or ran, away from him.
Not when they're so close to having everything they've ever wanted.
His hands brush her hair away from her face, giving his eyes a better view of her. Seeing her up close like this, her face make-up free, light smattering of freckles visible, makes him weak, and he can't stop himself from pressing a deep, lingering kiss against her lips.
"I'm yours, Liv," he whispers. "Always."
Olivia's smile lights up her entire face, and he kisses her again, unsure he can stop now that they've started, and he still, still can't believe this is his life now. He can't believe she shares so much of herself with him, her life, her son, her body, her home, and sometimes, it just overwhelms him.
He has to be the luckiest man in the world, and he thinks any man who ever let her go was a complete idiot. He'd give up everything if he could, just to be hers.
She pulls him from his thoughts when her arms wrap around his neck, pulling him into another kiss. His hands trail down her body, tracing her curves until they reach her thighs, and he effortlessly lifts her, pinning her between his body and the shower wall, his lips never wavering.
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Later, they lay tangled in each other's arms, tangled in his bed sheets. Each time they're together like this, Olivia gives him another little piece of herself, their connection seeming to grow with every passing day.
Tonight, he cradles her close, letting himself enjoy the feel of her head on his chest, her limbs wrapped around his, her hand resting over his heart, as if reminding herself that he's here, that this is real.
He kisses the top of her head, the scent of her shampoo filling the air around him, and it almost brings him to tears.
"I'm really glad you're here," he whispers, and instantly, he feels her tighten her grip of him, if only for a brief moment.
Olivia whispers back, reassuring him that she feels every bit of what he's feeling. "Me too, El."
She presses a kiss against his chest, and moments later, the soft sounds of her breathing tells him she's fallen asleep. He kisses her head again, and, unable to hold it in any longer, he quietly breathes, "I love you."
Being here with her, like this, after all this time, he feels safe, settled, content.
Finally.