AN: I am on a roll. These chapters are SOOO long. I'm sooooo sorry. But I hope they're good. And Happy Thursday. One can only hope we get a CRUMB of EO tonight. And if not...you all have this cute little chapter to keep you going.

Chapter 8: L'Amore

George Huang sat across from Elliot scribbling in a notebook. George had retired a few years back, but when Elliot knocked on his door with desperate eyes and a clear need for help, he couldn't find it in his heart to turn him away. So every week Elliot came to his home with cash and wine, and every week George helped him through all of his childhood trauma and adulthood insecurities.

They were seated in his cozy brownstone living room where Elliot sipped on a red blend and smiled like a happy sloth.

"This is Olivia's favorite wine," he started.

George mirrored an equally big grin. "You seem exceptionally happy tonight. What's going on behind that smile?"

"Ha," he blushed. "I shouldn't kiss and tell, but I kind of couldn't wait to get here to tell you. And I can't believe I just said that, but there you have it. I couldn't wait to come to therapy today."

"Elliot Stabler, did you finally have a break through with Olivia," George smiled.

"I did," he lifted his eye brows in merriment, and took another sip of wine. "We did. We did it. Oh..yeah…we did it…a lot. And we're going to do it again tonight."

George laughed. "This is wonderful to hear! Clearly you are feeling good about everything."

"I've never been more alive. And…I don't feel guilty saying that…," he puffed up his chest proudly. "Yeah. I feel balanced….and…you're going to think this is weird, but I had a vision or a dream of Kathy and she wanted this. In the dream, she said 'What took you so long? You have my blessing'," Elliot laughed to himself.

"That's not weird," George warmly beamed.

"I really think…even before the accident…before Italy…after Eli…I think deep down we all knew we were not…I don't know….how do you say this…it was like that little voice in your head telling you what to do," Elliot searched for the words.

"Intuition."

"Yeah… yeah that. Your intuition is screaming at you to change, but the rest of your body and your life is just fighting tooth and nail to shut it up. And all three of us fought so hard to keep things up and for what? The kids? Appearances? Religion? Timing? Eh…I don't know what I'm saying, but it feels like this is exactly where I'm supposed to be."

"Do you think some of what you are feeling is permission to let go of all of the societal confines that stifle our natural flow?"

"Whoa Doc, that's pretty woo woo. I don't know if I need this to go that deep. But yeah," he laughed. "Something like that. And you know what else, I thought the hardest part about all of this was going to be the kids, but that was so much easier than I was making it out to be."

"How so?"

"I just thought Eli would reject the idea of it. But you suggested a weekly family night. I now do that with all of them every Sunday, and it's a hit, by the way. We've been having dinner and game night every sunday for a couple months now, and they all come. All my kids, under my roof at one time. All grown. I have a more open relationship now than I ever have. Talking about Olivia with them was actually nice. And…Kathleen even reached out to Liv. She called her the next day, and she's coming over with Noah this Sunday for Spaghetti and game night."

"This is so wonderful to hear, Elliot. I couldn't be happier for you both. You both deserve this happy peaceful moment. And, I'm really proud of you. I had my doubts about taking you on as a patient, because…of our historical disagreements, and at first it felt like you only wanted to come here because Olivia gave you an ultimatum, and that doesn't always work out well. But I love Liv, so I was doing this for her as much as I was doing it for you. But, you've proved me wrong on so many levels. You've grown so much in the past 8 months. You've gotten a promotion. You won heroic ribbons. You improved your relationship with your kids. You let yourself love again. How do you feel about the man you are today versus the man that stood on my doorstep 8 months ago?"

"I…know now that I needed this more than I thought I needed it. I have pushed people away my entire life, and the man I am today doesn't want to do that anymore. I don't feel that anger like I used to. I feel lighter. I smile a lot more."

"You do," George smiled and poured himself a glass of wine.

"I want to be a part of things now. I want to keep this going. It feels…good. I feel good."

"Cheers," George raised his glass.

"Saluti."

SCENE

Carisi opened the door wearing an apron and pancake batter all over his hands.

"Hey! Come on in, Liv," he beamed at her and escorted her inside. "Make yourself at home. I've got burning pancakes to attend to. Breakfast for dinner! Amanda is in the living room with the baby. He's been hard this week, she'll enjoy your company."

"Got it," Olivia responded. She walked into the living room to find Amanda breastfeeding their newborn baby boy. "Oh. My goodness," Olivia smiled.

"Liv!," Amanda softly exclaimed. "I thought I heard your voice! What a great surprise this is!"

"Don't move. I'm coming to you."

She placed three gifts wrapped in Tiffany blue paper on the coffee table, and sat next to Amanda. Her face melted at the site of their tiny new baby.

"Look at you breastfeeding!"

"I know," she sighed. "Never had the time to do this with the girls. I have to say at first it was a bitch, but now we're getting the hang of it, aren't we Jack."

"Jackson," Olivia repeated. "That name suits you all."

"Yeah, he's going to fit right in with my southern family members when we go for visits."

"Where are the girls?," Olivia asked, noticing how quiet it was. "I brought them a gift too. Didn't want them to get jealous."

"Billy is down the hall at the neighbors house having a playdate and Jesse…is…actually with Declan."

"Declan Murphy?," Olivia straightened up in surprise. "Is…that good?"

"I don't know, yet. It's their first weekend together without us benign there, so we'll see," she said with worry in her voice.

"So this was his idea I'm assuming. How are you taking it?"

"I bought Jesse a phone and an IWatch and I have been checking her location and her heart rate non-stop since she left…so…does that answer your question?"

Liv put a hand on her shoulder and emphasized with her. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It was only a matter of time, and I'm more worried about him not feeding her properly than anything else. At the end of the day, Murphy is a good man. He will keep her safe. Anyway, you miss me yet?"

"Ah, you know I do," she smirked. "Why, you getting bored? You want to come back?"

"Oh…OH am I ever bored. And I mean that. I mean, I love this baby, but I can already feel the walls caving in on me. I was not meant to be a housewife."

"No truer words were ever spoken," Sonny interrupted. "Her cleaning skills are…something. They are…something."

"Hire a maid," Liv laughed. "It's the best money you'll ever spend."

"Nah," Sonny wrinkled his nose. "I can clean. It's fine. Did she tell yeah, we're moving, so she can get a job in a safer neighborhood once Jack is in school. Dinner's ready, by the way. Liv you're welcome to stay."

"Wait, hang on," Liv stopped him. "Where are you moving? You cannot take my only work friend out of the office and then move her out of the city too."

"We're moving to Jersey," Sonny answered. "It's an hour drive or a 40 minute train ride. Not bad."

"The house is perfect," Amanda added. "Huge yard."

"But who are you gonna talk to in Jersey! Who are you going to call when you need someone to help you hold this little baby! Your neighbors are never going to understand you. They're going to invite you to a book club and then not talk about the book. You'll have read every page of some horrible romance novel or self help book ready to talk with view points, and they'll be drinking and complaining about their husbands, Zia pants, and baby diaper brands. Eh. That's my worst nightmare. And working in a small town police station…..? I mean…I couldn't do it. Have you been to a Jersey police station? I have…it's frightening."

"Oh no," Rollins joked. "Not the Jersey shore soccer moms unit. You're right, though. Trust me, I cry everytime a rockettes commercial comes on."

"You guys act like we're moving to Alabama! It's a 40 minute train ride!," Sonny yelled from the kitchen.

"Yeah, Metra train and transfer," Liv jabbed.

"Sonny, maybe we need to get Olivia to move with us. You know, to help boost the neighborhood IQ level. Don't you think Noah deserves a backyard, a tree fort, and a sidewalk he can bike on."

"No thank you, Ma'am," Olivia shushed her. "Noah is fine. He has a bike and Central Park… and the world's largest library.."

"Liv, you want pancakes," Sonny asked as he walked in from the kitchen.

"No, actually, I…have a date."

"Wait, what," Rollins squealed. "With who?"

Olivia shrugged her shoulder with a twinkle in her eye. "Who do you think?"

"Stabler!," Rollins beamed.

"Yeah."

"I knew it!," she jumped.

"Careful," Sonny added motioning to the baby in her arms.

"He's fine. Sonny! Did you hear what this woman just said! She HAS A DATE!"

"Yes, I heard."

"With ELLIOT STABLER!"

"Sweetheart, I get it. Can you please not drop our son."

"Sonny, I got him. And hang on! Back up! Cause…I knew it. I knew it! You were glowing the second you walked into the room. The only women that glow like that are either pregnant or having amazing sex. OH! Sex! You had sex! I'm so proud of you! I should have known! This isn't the first date. You guys…oh my god! You finally Fffffff-"

"OKAY! Yes," Liv stopped her. "We did that…."

This time both women blushed and squealed with laughter simultaneously.

"Oh my god," Rollins rocked back and forth, lightly bouncing the baby.

"I knew you'd be overjoyed," Olivia added.

"I need details," Rollins pushed.

"Ah, well, I would need wine and girls night for that. Let's just say, it was good," Olivia held back.

"Liar, it was good? I see fireworks behind that smile. You tell me it was the best night of your life, right now," Rollins practically yelled.

"It…was the best nights of my life," she blushed and genuinely meant it.

"Sonny, do you hear that," Rollins yelled.

"Yes, Amanda. I'm sure all of Times Square heard it. Liv, I'm happy for you guys. All the more reason to move to Jersey with us."

"Ohhhh, good try," Olivia smiled. "Not happening."

SCENE

The busy Italian restaurant buzzed around them with warm garlic bread, candle light, and patrons. They sat in a little booth facing outward in the center of it all, but they might as well been in a room to themselves. Elliot ordered their meals in Italian to show off his skills with the waiter who was Italian, and every chance he got he kissed and touched Olivia.

On the hand. Down her neck. A peck on her cheek. A smell of the perfume on her wrist. He couldn't keep his hands off of her.

A couple in their 70's walked by and the woman leaned onto their table. Her diamond bracelets and earrings dangled in front of them. "You two are such a handsome couple. I wish my husband would dote on me that way?"

They turned a shade of red and pulled their hands off of one another, and back onto the table. They were so smitten, that they hadn't realized others could see them.

"Ah, you're sweet. I'm sure this guy takes good care of you. We're making up for lost time," Elliot smiled.

"I've been with this woman for 55 years," the gentleman added. His hair was white and thin and he wreaked of cigar. "I have to buy her a diamond just to get my dick touched. You're lady doesn't even have a necklace on. What's your secret? "

"Oh, my," Olivia adably shocked.

Elliot was speechless. He looked over at Olivia and her bare neck and her simple earrings that matched the one plain gold ring on her right finger, and had no idea how to react to the man.

"He works out," Olivia backed him up. "His glutes are as hard as any rock money could buy," she sweetly smiled with a glance at the man's spare tire of a gut and her best 'go fuck yourself' underton.

The man's eyes got wide and he grumbled on by. His wife shuffled along with him.

"Jesus," Elliot shook his head. "Don't ever let me get that decrepit."

"Don't ever buy me diamonds."

"Done," he kissed her hand. "What happened to your necklace, by the way? Fearless? Fearlessness"

She touched her neck out of habit. "Oh, eh…I didn't need it anymore, so I stopped wearing it."

He watched her in admiration. She was the epitome of 'fearlessness'.

"Okay. I get that," he agreed, and she appreciated that he didn't question her about it any further.

They politely finished their meals. The heavy petting was put on hold, while they enjoyed pasta and pleasant conversation.

"You know what makes this dinner better than the last one?," he said as he whipped his mouth.

"What's that," she softly smiled at him. Lost in his eyes.

"We didn't talk about work once. And…"

He pulled her hand back onto his leg and leaned in for a quick kiss.

"And," she asked very close to his face. She teased him with her eyes.

"And…," he kissed her again. "You put your little black dress on for me," Elliot grinned and looked at her cleavage under the silk.

"I did," she smiled bigger. "And I'm gonna take it off for you too."

"Mmmm…," he growled and grew. Then pulled her in for another kiss as he subtly touched the bottom of her breast through the silky fabric.

She was feeling just as uninhibited in her own way. Her hand rested on his leg and she slowly felt for him. She traced the shape of him bulging under his slacks and even teased him with full rubbing until her own insides tingled.

"Mmmm, I don't think I can wait for dessert," she whispered into his ear.

"I don't need it. I got cash. Let's split."

She nodded with a sultry smile. "Let's go."

They had had more sex in the last 2 weeks than Olivia had had in the last 15 years. There was a full grown rational woman trapped under a mountain of hormones, and she had no desire to dig that woman back out. They waited for the valet to drive their car around like a pair of horny teens. The older couple bickered next to them and Elliot squeezed her hands hinting that he was glad they weren't that.

They got in the car and rubbed each other off while Elliot drove. This is what they had become. Wild and recklessly in love. They put Noah to bed and made love in her bedroom. And again in the shower. And again when the 5am alarm went off.

Instead of midnight phone calls they had midnight booty calls. Instead of meeting for lunch, they met at the nearest hotel. They kissed in the elevator. They kissed good bye in the office hallway. They held hands constantly. They were youthful and happy and free.

This happened every time they saw each other, and the after effects of their bliss started to become noticeable at work.

"Elliot, I have to leave early. Can you finish the paperwork," Bell asked.

"Yes, I can!," he smiled a little too big. "Anything to make your day easier, Sarg."

She gave him a questioning lower brow glare and slowly dropped the stack on his desk. "You feeling okay?"

"I have never been better. I love every second of my life! I am what the youth call—woke. I am present. I am in love! And it is fabulous, baby! Bring on the paperwork."

"Mmm. Okay. You white Catholic guys are truly deprived of sex, there is no doubt about that, cause when you finally get it, you turn into Ned Flanders at a Yoga retreat."

"To be fair, therapy did this to me."

"Therapy? Well, damn, I'm going to the wrong therapist."

"And sex. The sex with Liv is Fare L'amore," he grinned.

"Oh! Okay. I don't even want to know what you just said, but I will never be able to look at Benson the same way again. Thank you for that. And goodnight."

"You're welcome. Hey, you're gonna find your Olivia, Bell! You're gonna find her one day, and you're gonna know what I'm talking about. Hell! You might had already found her and you just have to wait it out. It's worth the wait," he yelled at her back as she started to leave for the evening.

Bell shook her head at him from across the room. "If you say so, Stabler."

SCENE

"Listen up, folks," Olivia clopped into the room with a basket of snacks and a smile. "I've got snacks! And I talked to the bar across the street. Open bar from 3-5pm tonight. Stop over on your break, get a drink, get some food, shoot the shit. We closed 6 cases this week. Six. Closed! That's incredible! You all deserve a break."

"Nice," Fin nodded. "Thanks, Cap."

"What's the occasion," Muncy asked.

"No occasion," Liv smiled. "I just love you guys. And I want you know that your appreciated."

Everyone looked at her funny as she walked into her office.

An arrested man sat next to Fin's desk. "Can I stop over at 3?"

"Shut up," Fin glared and then headed to the break room with the basket.

"What's with Benson all the sudden," Velasco asked.

"She's getting laid," Fin grinned.

"Oh…okay," Velsco looked confused.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just…. Muncy and I aren't getting along. She won't talk to me about it, but it's starting to affect cases."

"HO!," Fin grabbed a bag of caramel popcorn from Olivia's gift basket and backed up. "Serves you right. With all the bull shit we deal with in this office. What were you thinking getting all up in that Rookie tail? You better make your bed now that you laid in it. But if you need Liv to step in, this is the day. It's only a matter of time before Stabler does some dumb shit to fuck that up. You Catholic white guys are always the same. Sticking your business where you shouldn't and then crying about it later. Hand me that candy bar. That's mine. I'm saving that for later."

Velasco stood defeated with the basket in his hands now. He tossed the clark bar to Fin.

SCENE

They lay naked and tangled in sheets and a comforter. Elliot on his back, Olivia nestled on his side, her head on his chest, her long legs wrapped around him still. He looked at the ceiling and played with her hair.

"You ever wonder what it would have been like if we'd both been single when we met."

"You wouldn't have 5 beautiful children."

"You wouldn't have wanted kids?"

"Oh…yes, sure, but I like your kids."

He kissed her head. "They like you too. Noah is my best buddy right now."

"He is," she laughed. "He just can't get enough of you. He's got good taste."

"I keep thinking about something that happened a long time ago."

"What's that?," she dreamily asked.

"That moment I went out of town. Years ago. Right before I left SVU. Sonya was…"

"Yeah," she whispered.

"That trip haunted me for a long time."

"What do you mean," she asked sitting up.

"I was out of town and I realized that I called you the whole time and I didn't call Kathy once. She called me. She angry texted. All I had to do was pick up the phone and check in, and I couldn't do it. I was so happy to be without…her. And you and I were in a really good place. Our conversations were keeping me going. And then Sonya Paxton…died. And I raced home. I dropped $500 to take the first plane out of Dallas. And I held you. And it scared the shit out of me. It scared me, because I wanted you more than anything else in my life. It scared me because I thought it would be the last time I held you. I knew it was wrong to pine for you. And Kathy knew what I was thinking. We didn't talk for weeks. She looked up the phone records and saw that I had called you 10 times. And then wanted me to get the plane ticket reimbursed, but the department wouldn't because it wasn't necessary for me to do that. But I had to be next to you. I know I said that I left because of the case, but being without you, and seeing you everyday was killing me. I prayed so hard for the right answer. And the answer was there. It was staring at me everytime I looked in the mirror. Everytime I ran from Kathy or you. I hurt you so badly, Olivia. I hurt you and Kathy and my family so badly, because I was too scared to…change…to face my fears. To love. To love myself."

Olivia touched his face and listened.

"I'm sorry it took me so long, Liv. I'm so sorry," he held back tears. "The last few weeks have been such a blessing, and I'm so grateful for you. I hope that you have forgiven me for my transgressions. If not, I hope you will someday."

"I forgive you," she softly responded.

He pulled her in tight against his body and they made love again.

AN: I haven't heard from some of you in awhile. Let me know if you all are still digging this. I can see that you're all still reading it, but drop me thoughts. Is the sex too much? Is Olivia believable? I feel like I've been focusing on Elliot a lot, but that's because, let's face it, he's the head case in this relationship right now.