Chapter 4

But sorry wasn't going to bring his family back together, sorry wasn't going to make her feel any better. Sorry wasn't going to do anything.

"It's ok, lets take you home" Elliot sighed

"Bu-But Kathy won't let you drive her car, not now"

"Oh"

"look I'll just take the bus" Olivia's hand on Elliot's arm, but he slightly jerked away, Olivia could tell that he wanted to be left alone, so she turned and continued walking, leaving Elliot standing in the middle of the street with tears forming in his soft blue eyes. But although she wanted to leave him alone, she couldn't leave him just standing there. After stopping and watching him for a moment she walked back over to him quickly. He wrapped his arms around her as she stood close to him. Her hands slid underneath his jacket and around his waist. He was warm. He hugged her tightly as a tear dropped from his eyes.

Elliot whispered something into Olivia's ear she couldn't quite hear him so she just slightly rocked him a bit and gave him a reassuring smile, a smile. The exact thing that used to be plastered across Elliot's face when he arrived at work after seeing his kids off to school. A smile. Olivia wondered would he ever smile again. She knew that this all seemed so dramatic but everything that had just happened was dramatic. Everything that had just happened was so sudden. So out of the blue. Although both of them had waited for a moment where they could share their feelings, this moment didn't seem like it was the right one. Olivia's head rested against Elliot's chest. Elliot could feel her flinch and looked to see what was wrong. She looked ok, just a bit confused, but so was he. There had been so many perfect times where they could have voiced their true feelings but hadn't, so why now when they did Kathy showed up? Elliot should've known better then to say all that stuff in front of Dickie, what was he thinking? "What was he thinking?" that's what Olivia wanted to know, was he mad, happy, was he lying when he said he loved her, she knew that she wasn't lying, she knew she loved him, but she had to ask Elliot if he truly loved her. But was this the right time? She figured why not now. Everything else that could go bad had already happened.

"El?" Olivia whispered.

"Yeah?"

"I need to ask you something" Olivia pulled away from him a little and looked up at him.

"What is it?" Elliot put his hand lightly on her cheek to comfort her.

"El… El, did you mean it?"

"What?"

"Did you mean it when you said that you loved me?" Olivia pulled away slightly as much as she wanted to stay close she had to look at his face. He still kept his hand on her cheek though.

"Liv..." he spoke as he took a step closer to her.

"I meant every word of it...I just... I..."

"You didn't know that it would affect you and all the people around you like it did" Olivia finished for him.

"Yeah..." he nodded as he took his hand away.

"Did you mean it?" Elliot asked Olivia who was growing a tad red in the face.

"Of course" Olivia smiled, but then she realized that she had kissed him, she had kissed Elliot Stabler. By the look of Elliot's face he had realized it too, but didn't dare ruin the moment by saying anything. Elliot usually wasn't a man to show emotion, but at the moment he wasn't holding back. Every emotion shone through his face, but what happened now? They had both admitted their feelings, Elliot had been basically kicked out of his home, what were they meant to do now?

"Elliot..."

"Shhh" Elliot interrupted her.

"Come here" he said as he opened his arms up. Olivia let a small smile form on her face. She wasn't necessarily happy as she cuddled up against him, but she wasn't sad either. It was a mixed feeling. She didn't know where up or down was. She couldn't see, everything was a blur. All she knew was that Elliot loved her, and she loved him. She hoped that would be enough to get them through the times ahead... The times ahead? She didn't want to think about the times ahead, all she wanted to do was stay wrapped in his arms feeling safe and secure. She always wanted to know what true love felt like, sure she had dated before but this was different this was sweet, this was true love. All Olivia's life she had never believed in true love, but she never had Elliot this close to her before either. Just the thought of Elliot, in the past, would lift her spirits. Now, resting against his chest, his arms around her, knowing that he was there for her even more then he had been in the past. It was different. She liked it. You could say she even... loved it. Knowing someone was there for her was a big deal. Knowing she could cry on someone's shoulder, and he would hold her till her tears were dry. Was a big deal in fact. She needed him now, and although she did feel bad about breaking up his family, she couldn't help but feel it was for the better.

Olivia knew that whatever did end up happening between the two of them it would be wonderful. She peered up into his eyes, rubbing away a tear of his with her thumb.

"We're going to make it" She said quietly. Elliot nodded. He knew that she was the only one he could love. Just holding her brought on a sense of devotion, intrigue, dedication, and beyond all pure love. Even if nothing happened between them after this, she still had this memory to keep her spirits up. She would still see Elliot, she would still love Elliot no matter what. She still had the memory of the kiss the exchanging of the words 'I love you', but unfortunately she still had the memory of Kathy storming out and causing havoc, although she would try hard to forget that memory. But she would never ever forget the memory of their feelings being swapped, no way, never. And maybe over time things would change and maybe after awhile the love wouldn't stay so clear. But in both their hearts lived a fantasy of being together.

"Olivia?"

"Yeah?" She asked looking up at him.

"I love you" he spoke from the deepest part of his heart. After a pause, Olivia responded.

"I love you too El".

THE END