Thanks for the great reviews people! Keeps me going….

Next chapter….hope you enjoy it.

Elliot POV

Is it morning? Eh….5:17...morning enough. Look at her, she looks so…satisfied. That's my guess! I mean, not that I'm overly confident in my abilities, but she's smiling in her sleep. Don't wake up….just sleep baby. I know you're worn out, I know I am.

Okay…snuggle closer…without your hair in face if at all possible. But, I do love the way her hair smells, feels…and especially after a night like that. Ah, there much better. She looks so happy; stay in that dreamland, soon you'll have to wake up….get the kids rounded up for school….get them out the door….probably do some laundry, then off to work you go. Leaving me alone….dammit. I have see Huang today. That's enough to make me wanna stay right here….amongst other things.

I can't help but be amazed when I look at her. She is so beautiful. Even after a four kids…killer body. Wonder what she does to keep it that way? Still so fabulous…twenty years, and still she's still got the same smile that won my heart.

I've watched her sleep so many times, especially when I couldn't find sleep. I wonder what she dreams about? Funny, I'm sure some of this wasn't her dream. And it's mostly my fault. Some days, I almost regret being in Special Victims; it's made me distant.

God, I hope she doesn't dream like I do…not like it's entirely impossible. If she did, she'd see those broken souls…those women whose lives were destroyed either by death or violation that one should only have to imagine…and those children….just like the ones yesterday. I hope what I told her didn't haunt her dreams…and I'm even more sorry if it did. You know, I'm even more sorry for leaving her in the dark for so long. Must have been painful.

Holy Mother…forgive me, for making her suffer in silence. Lady, you blessed me with her presence and I've taken her for granted. But I fear that in an attempt to pull her closer to me I may have introduced a whole new terror into her mind. Give her peace, the I know you can grant…give me peace as well. I need it. Amen.

I'm so sorry Kath. I kiss her on the forehead to maybe make myself feel better…but apparently, enough to wake her. Those eyes…they consume me…

"Morning gorgeous. " Big points…

"Morning handsome. Thank you." Wow, truly grateful.

"For?" As if I didn't know.

"For making me feel like your wife…friend, and lover. Not just Kathy Stabler, mother of four and housewife."

Damn, her kiss still has as much fire as it did last night. But she needs to lay off, or else round…uh, oh hell, I lost count.

"God, you're beautiful. I don't tell you that enough…but uh, it's early and you need to go back to sleep. Unlike some of us, you've got work to go to." Or just lay close to me. I'll keep you safe…warm…

"Actually, I think I'm gonna call in. I've got enough sick days I can take."

"Kathy. You don't have to stay here to take care of me." Really, I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself.

"Elliot. I want to. And besides, staying in bed with the man I love…too good to pass up."

Can't let her think it's gonna be all day. "I, uh, have to with Dr. Huang today…at ten…part of it." That was easy.

"That's okay, I'll come with. I know you don't want to do this, but I can see the hurt and pain in your eyes. I bet talking to him will help a lot. Elliot, he's not going to laugh at you…or will he share anything you tell him. You know that."

"Yeah I know. But it's just…weird."

"You're such a guy."

"Brilliant observation…hey, maybe you should be Detective Stabler!" OW….okay, not funny.

"No one will see you as weak…including me." Well, she's got my number today. Can't argue with that.

"Kids'll be up anytime now…and we definitely need to go back to sleep. Who knows what drama awaits us."

"No kidding. You do realize that we have to deal with Kathleen post break up and that, my dear will be a hell of a lot harder than any appointment."

"sigh You got that right….think she'll talk? Or will she just accuse us of…"

"Getting freaky, as she said….El, accuse would mean that we're innocent."

I can feel that sly grin creep on her face and I can't help but do the same. I find myself staring blankly at the clock….5:21...are you serious…oh well, not that I've actually been to sleep. And to be quite honest…not sure I can. Oh, come on Stabler….you know they're all safe….BUT you need to see it for yourself.

Okay…one quick sweep then back to bed.

Look at her, already fast asleep. Still smiling though. I AM the man. Well, if it's one thing other than that I'm good at, it's getting out of bed without waking her. Okay, now where are….there we go. Pants are always a good option. Oh…bathroom, then a quick sweep, THEN bed.

AHHHH! Bright light…..lord, remind me to switch that bulb…seeing, that would be helpful. Alright….next…wow, look at that. Those are lovely teeth marks on my collar bone, verra nice….oh, and even nicer scratches on my back. A twinge painful, but worth it.

Alright…lights out…that amount of light could wake the dead.

I feel like I'm busting in on someone. Weird. I'll check Lizzie…she's a heavy sleeper. Look at my angel…so precious, so innocent. And that blonde hair, looks so much like her mother. Always is gonna be my baby…hey, I remember that teddy bear. She's had it ever since she was two. I guess if this is her way of holding onto innocence, so be it. There, she's safe….hopefully subsiding most of the major paranoia.

Next stop…the pit. I remember when we first put Dickie in his own room. He and Lizzie cried…and for the longest time, they'd wind up in the other's room. Twin thing still creeps me out, just a little.

Good lord, how does he walk in here? I guess you wade through the piles….and how does he tell what clothes are even clean….hmm, Febreeze…a novel idea…nah, that's still gross. Really have to make him clean this pit.

What are you holding boy? Hair ribbon….this must be Faith's. Kinda silly…but I guess hair ribbon is a pretty big deal for a cheerleader. Got that charm from me though….and sometimes, he's so much like me, it's scary. Hard to believe that they're thirteen.

And since he does have a girlfriend, it appears I need to have a serious talk with my son. But man to man….somewhere away from his mother and sisters, hard enough having to talk to your father about sex without drowning in an estrogen ocean.

Plus, no one disturb the conversation….or eavesdrop…oh, what do we have here…a picture? Wow, look at that face. He really likes her alright. But he's still a boy…my little boy…and my only son. No pressure kid to carry on the line….but, uh, no rush either.

Ha… he snores, wonder if Lizzie does? Never heard her…maybe it's from when he broke his nose….good possibility.

Oh, that's a cheerful sign Kathleen….."trespassing punishable by death." Well, too bad your room is in MY house, so TECHNICALLY, not trespassing.

Is she….she is…trying to sob quietly. But I know my daughter, can't be done. She hurts so bad….she needs me to kill that bastard….no, actually…she just needs me…

"Kat?…baby?….what's wrong?"

Tell daddy I'll fix it. No matter who I have to kill/maim/ threaten.