I definitely don't own these characters. I just love the show and want to make up my own stories about 'em. Please enjoy.

Thank You for all your comments, I really appreciate it! I'll try to keep it good for you all. Please let me know how I'm doing. Be honest, thanks! J

Olivia had just drifted off to sleep when Elliot woke her.

"Liv. Olivia." He waited a moment for her to open her eyes. "Hey. Sorry to wake you, Cragen called. He wants us back at the station."

"Hmm? Oh, ok. Gimme a minute, k?"

Elliot smiled, "Ok. I got coffee made in the kitchen."

"Thanks, El. I'll be right out."

It didn't take long for Olivia to get into the kitchen for a cup of java. Elliot was leaning against the counter putting the cup to his lips when she walked in.

"Mornin' Sunshine."

"Uh, how are you this perky? It's way too early for that."

"I didn't sleep, so it's not early for me. Sunshine." Elliot smiled over his cup, never taking his eyes off her.

"Let's go, Detective."

SVU Squad room, 4:00 am

"The M.E. got the DNA samples back. There were traces of spermicide, but the condom tore leaving a piece of himself behind. Brian Jasper works in Queens at Joe's Groceries. He was arrested last year for sexually harassing a fellow worker." Cragen posted a picture of Jasper to the board. "We need to get this guy in here for questioning. It could be our man, or just a boyfriend. Find out if he knew the victim."

Stabler looked closely at his picture. "We shop there. It's right around the corner from where I live. This kid delivers to us at least once a week."

"Get down there. Here's his address. Benson, a word." She looked back at Elliot, motioning him to wait, and then followed Cragen to his office. "Keep an eye on him, this may be getting too close. Let me know the moment it does, I'll put Munch and Fin on it."

"Of course, Captain."

Benson and Stabler brought Brian back to the station for questioning. He almost seemed to be expecting them to come for him. He even greeted Elliot before they could even say anything.

"Do you know this girl, Brian?" Olivia showed him a school picture of the victim, 16-year-old Carla Baker.

"Hmmm… Carla, right? Yeah, I knew her."

"What was your relationship to her?"

"There wasn't one. I just brought groceries to her house on Thursdays."

"Were you close to her?"

"No, other than the occasional greeting, we never even spoke."

"Did she tell you her name? Is that how you knew it?"

"No, she didn't tell me. I asked her mother once when she answered the door. I thought Carla was pretty."

"Pretty enough to rape her and beat her in a coma?" Stabler quickly added.

"What? I never…"

"Brian, we found your DNA in her." Olivia calmly added. Brian was quiet for a moment.

"I don't know how…"

Elliot slammed his fists on the table, "Tell us what you did!"

"Not without a lawyer."

Edna's Diner, 10:00 pm

"I'm glad we got that guy. Once I knew who it was, I was afraid for Maureen. They were the same age."

"Nobody is dumb enough to mess with your kids."

"I'm just glad it's over."

"Me too." They sat in an awkward silence for a moment, until Olivia thought she would explode. "Did you get a chance to talk to Kathy earlier?"

"Yeah. It went better than I expected it to. She had the papers all set up; all I had to do was sign. She's taking the kids for now, but I'll get to see them in my off time."

"I'm sorry that this had to happen to you. But as weird as this may sound, something good will come out of it. I'm sure of it. You're a good guy; you're due for something good to happen to you. Especially with what you do everyday."

"Thanks. You're a really great partner, you know that?"

"Don't get soft on me, Elliot." She laughed.

"Listen, I'm sorry about last night. What I said. I shouldn't have. It wasn't necessary."

"You don't have to apologize, Elliot. But you know, when this all blows over, I'm going to make fun of you an awful lot."

"I know. That's why I'm kicking myself for telling you." He smiled at her. He looked gorgeous. Even when he was really happy, she'd never seen him look this good.

"Are you going home tonight? You can stay on my couch again if you'd like."

"Ok, thanks." They finished eating, making small talk the rest of the meal. Olivia picked up the tab this time, and Elliot drove them back to her place. By now, they were both exhausted from lack of sleep, but neither one of them wanted to sleep just yet. They both had this feeling… like the feeling you get as a kid the night before Christmas when you know Santa is coming soon. Olivia set up the couch for her partner. As much as she wanted to stay up and talk to him, she knew that it was a bad idea.

"Goodnight, Elliot." She said as she was walking to her room.

"Night."

After tossing and turning for a good hour, Elliot finally decided he wasn't getting any sleep. He head for the kitchen for a glass of water. When he passed Olivia's room, he saw that she was wide-awake, too. He stopped and looked at her, smiling with those bright blue eyes. All he could think about was how beautiful she looked. Moments later, he found himself crawling toward her on the bed, and her meeting him halfway. He put his hand to her face and as he pushed her hair behind her ear said, "You are so beautiful, Olivia." He looked into her eyes, then back and forth from her eyes to her mouth before finally settling his lips on hers. Kissing her, he put his hand behind her head to lay her down.

They each removed their shirts, and before they continued, Olivia paused.

"Elliot, wait. Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

"But you just divorced, and I don't want to be…"

"You're not the rebound girl, Liv. Trust me. I fell for you. The only thing that held me back was being married. Livia, I love you."

She looked into those eyes of his, and saw how sincere he was. She wanted this too, and now she was certain this was the right time, "I love you too, El."