Casey Novak's Apartment

9 O'clock

Same Evening

Olivia hadn't said anything to Casey about what had happened between her and Elliot; and Casey hadn't asked. She knew that Olivia would tell her when the time was right.

They were watching a sappy Lifetime movie, and eating chocolate ice cream out of the carton. Olivia was wearing her old flannel pjs, and looked very tired. She sighed.

Casey looked over at her, and eyebrow cocked. "Want to talk?" She asked.

Olivia nodded, so Casey turned the TV off. "What's up," she asked.

Olivia shrugged. "I made a mess of things today with Elliot," she told Casey.

"How so?" Casey asked, putting the ice cream back into the freezer.

Olivia explained the days' occurrences, including her breakdown that morning, and how she just about had sex with Elliot a few hours ago.

Casey sat quietly and listened through the whole story. "So how do you feel?" Casey asked.

Olivia shrugged again. "I feel stupid in some ways. I don't know what came over me…it was so weird. But in other ways…I'm sort of glad it happened. It made me realize that maybe I am over what Clay did to me…I finally just cried…I let it all out. Maybe I am ready to move on. I just don't think I'll be able to find the right person," she said honestly.

"What makes you think that you won't be able to find the right person?" Casey asked, moving to sit next to Olivia on the couch.

"Because I think I have feelings for Elliot," Olivia explained.

"Oh, what kind of feelings?" Casey asked curiously.

"I don't know…when I see him, I get excited, my heart speeds up. When I'm with him, I'm happy – like nothing else matters. He knows everything about me – but it doesn't scare me. He's my best friend though…I shouldn't be falling for him," she told Casey.

"Why shouldn't you fall for him? Not that you haven't already, but what would be so bad about it?" Casey asked.

"You're turning into Huang," Olivia joked, smiling for the first time that night. "I guess it wouldn't be that bad. But it's so…" Olivia couldn't find the right words.

"So perfect?" Casey added. "You guys know each other so well…you know everything about each other. You're best friends, and you can talk to each other about things. It sounds to me like you would make the perfect couple," Casey said smiling.

"But how am I supposed to tell Elliot that I'm in love with him when he doesn't love me?" Olivia asked.

"He kissed you didn't he? He took care of you for a week and a half, staying up in the night and helping you bathe. He cares for you more than you think he does. Give it some time… get used to the idea that you might be in love with him. Then tell him," Casey suggested.

Olivia smiled. "Thanks Case…" she said sincerely. She hugged Casey, and stood up to go to bed, when her cell phone rang. She looked at the ID, and saw that it was Elliot. "What should I say?" She asked Casey.

"Nothing, unless he brings it up," Casey told her.

Olivia nodded and answered her phone. "Benson," she said nervously.

"Liv, thank goodness! I need your help," he said, out of breath.

"What is it?" Olivia asked worriedly. "Is everyone okay?"

Elliot laughed nervously. "Lizzie…she, ah…she started her period," he said, embarrassed.

"Oh," Olivia said. "Ohhhh…well call Maureen or Kathy," Olivia suggested.

"I did…they're both out and not answering their cell phones," he told her.

Olivia sighed. "I'll be right over. But don't tell her you called me. And don't baby her…just…just pretend you're invisible," she told him before hanging up.

Casey looked at her curiously. "What's going on?"

Olivia smiled. "Lizzie started her period, and apparently I'm the only person who will answer their cell phone. Can I borrow your car? I've got to go over there," Olivia told her.

"Sure," Casey said handing her the keys. "Call me and let me know if you're coming back or what, okay?"

"Yeah, thanks!" Olivia said, running out the door.

She hopped in the car and drove to the nearest drugstore. She ran inside, and bought a heating pad, some ibuprofen, some tampons, and some pads. The teenage girl behind the counter gave Olivia a sympathetic smile as she rang up the items.

Olivia drove over to Elliot's apartment, and took the elevator up.

Elliot greeted her at the door. "Thank goodness you're here! She won't talk to Dickie or me…I think she's embarrassed," he told her.

"Where is she?" Olivia asked.

Elliot pointed to the guest bedroom. "Good luck," he said.

Olivia smiled and knocked on Lizzie's door. "Lizzie honey, it's Olivia. I'm gonna come in, okay?"

"Okay," Lizzie said faintly from inside.

Olivia opened the door and walked into the dark room. "I hear you're not feeling to well," Olivia said.

"Did Daddy tell you?" Lizzie asked, embarrassed.

"Yeah, but don't worry…us girls stick together about this stuff. Guys get embarrassed talking about it," she told Lizzie. "But it's not that bad," she assured her.

Lizzie smiled. "My tummy hurts," she told Olivia.

"Okay. We'll take some of this. It's ibuprofen, it should take care of your cramps. Take it every six hours…it helps a lot," she said as Lizzie swallowed the two pills. "This is a heating pad. You can put it on your stomach…it also helps with the cramps…makes you less sore and just feels good," Olivia told her as she plugged it in and placed it on Lizzie's belly. Then she pulled out the tampons and pads. "I suppose you know what these are," she said, and Lizzie nodded. "I'll put these in the bathroom, so you can use them when you need them," she told her. "Just try and get some rest," she said, standing up.

Lizzie smiled and snuggled under the covers of her bed. 'Thanks Livia," she said sweetly. "Can you lay with me? I really don't want to be by myself," she said honestly.

Olivia smiled warmly. "Sure," she said, and she got under the covers, and wrapped her arms around Lizzie. She placed a kiss on her head. "Get some rest, then you'll feel better," she said quietly.

Lizzie nodded, and promptly fell asleep in Olivia's safe embrace. Olivia smiled. It was nice to feel like she could protect someone like this; a child no less. She wondered if it would have been like this with her child. The stab of sorrow hit her, but the pain for the sadness had lessened. Olivia realized that she did want a child, one that she could love, nurture, protect, teach, and help to grow. She wanted a child who would love her back. She smiled, and she also fell asleep.

A half an hour later, Elliot walked into the room, and smiled at what he saw. It was a sight for sore eyes. The woman he loved was comforting his daughter, selflessly giving up her evening to help Lizzie. He placed a kiss on both of their foreheads, and turned out the light, shutting the door behind him.

He picked up the phone to call Casey. "Hey Casey, it's Elliot," he said.

"Hey, how is Lizzie?" Casey asked.

"She's fine. Olivia brought over some stuff, and she's cuddling with Lizzie right now…" he said, and you could hear the love in his voice.

"Alright, well just tell her not to worry about my car; I'll just take a cab in the morning," she told him, "And Elliot…"

"Yeah," he replied.

"Let Olivia know you care for her," Casey said.

"Thanks," Elliot said before hanging up. He went back into his bedroom, to find Dickie and Ella sleeping in the bed. He smiled, and laughed when he realized he was out of a bed. He walked back into Lizzie's room, and lay down next to Olivia, wrapping his arms around her body lovingly, and fell asleep.

The Next Morning Elliot yawned and rolled over to find that Olivia gone and Lizzie staring at him. He sat up and smiled at her. "How are you feeling baby?" He asked her sleepily.

Lizzie shrugged. "Better. Daddy do you like Olivia?" She asked innocently.

"Of course I do, she's my best friend," Elliot said.

Lizzie rolled her eyes. "Dad…I don't mean like that…do you LIKE like Olivia," she told him.

Elliot blushed a bit, but was saved from answering when Olivia and Ella walked into the bedroom and Ella jumped up on the bed.

"Elliot, Lizzie, it's time for breakfast!" Ella yelled sweetly.

Elliot pretended to groan and got out of bed. He smiled at Olivia who blushed and turned away. "It's 6 o'clock in the morning," Elliot told Ella as he picked her up and walked into the kitchen.

Olivia followed behind them. "And it's also Monday morning, which means we have to be at work," she reminded him.

Elliot groaned as he sat down to eat. "You made me breakfast?" He asked Olivia.

Olivia nodded. "Yeah, I made you breakfast. We've got to leave in 45 minutes, so I'm going to go take a shower," she told him.

"You're not going to stay and eat with me?" He asked, pouting at her.

Olivia rolled her eyes. "I already ate," she informed him.

"But can't you stay and sit with me?" He asked.

Olivia shrugged. "Sure, but let me get your kids and Ella out the door. They're going to take the bus to the morning care center," she told him as she went to hurry them up.

Five minutes later, Olivia had managed to get the three children out the door on time, and was sitting down next to Elliot who was finishing his pancakes. He got up and put his plate in the dishwasher, and then sat down next to Olivia again. "Liv, about yesterday…" he started.

Olivia held up her hand. "I don't want to talk about it Elliot. I'm sorry for pressuring you to do that…it was wrong of me," she told him.

Elliot nodded. "I'm not holding anything against you Liv," he told her.

Olivia smiled weakly and patted his hand. "Thanks El. I'm gonna go take that shower now," she told him as she went into the bathroom.

Elliot reached into his pocket and got out his phone. He dialed information. "Yes I'd like the phone number for a florist," he said.

1 hour later

SVU Precinct 1-6

Olivia and Elliot had driven into work separately since Olivia had taken Casey's car over to Elliot's the night before. Elliot was already sitting at his desk doing some paperwork when Olivia walked in.

She walked over to the lockers and put her purse in and got out her gun. She went over to her desk, putting her gun in its holster and sat down in her chair. She looked around and saw all 4 men in the precinct watching her. "What?" She asked, confused.

Munch pointed to the corner of her desk.

Olivia saw a large bouquet of white and pink roses sitting there. She lifted her eyebrows, surprised. "From you Munch?" She asked amusingly.

Munch shook his head. "Nope. I'm more of a chocolates guy than flowers…is there a card?" He asked.

Olivia pulled the flowers to the center of her desk and took out the small card. She read it silently to herself. She wrinkled her brow in confusion, but smiled a little bit.

"What does it say?" Fin asked curiously.

Olivia read the card out loud. "It says; 'Have dinner with me on Friday. Meet me at Di Bella at 7."

Elliot looked up and raised his eyebrows. "Who is it from?" He asked.

Olivia shrugged. "It doesn't say," she told them. "Wait, at the bottom it has a heart and then the initials E.R.S," she told them.

"You know anyone with those initials?" Fin asked her.

"I don't think so," Olivia told them.

"So are you going to go?" Cragen asked as he came out of his office.

Olivia shrugged. "I guess so. I mean I want to know who it is. And it's not like someone is going to attack me in a public restaurant. And if they try, I'll kick their ass," she said happily.

Casey Novak walked in a saw the flowers on Olivia's desk and smiled. "Hot date?" Casey asked curiously.

"Well apparently I have a secret admirer with the initials E.R.S., and I'm meeting him on Friday at 7 for dinner," she told Casey.

"Oooh, sounds romantic," Casey said teasingly. "What are you going to wear?"

The men groaned and went back to their work.