Good Lord, I know I've been gone for a minute, but I just had to take a break from this story. But I'm back, hope you enjoy and sorry for the delay. And how pathetic is this, "Somewhere Only We Know" is one of my all-time FAVORITE songs and I made sure that no matter what I did with this story, one chapter would include it.

Lyrics from "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane

I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete
Oh simple thing where have you gone
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

I came across a fallen tree
I felt the branches of it looking at me
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?

Oh simple thing where have you gone
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?

Oh simple thing where have you gone
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?

This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?

Olivia waited anxiously on the bench for Elliot to arrive. She was sitting in the park on a clear Saturday afternoon, one among many townspeople enjoying the warm weather. This day couldn't come quickly enough for Olivia, yet she had been dreading it with all her heart. It was her last day in Lewiston, New York.

She rubbed her sore, cracked eyelids. She had been crying off and on for the last four days over the unfairness of it all. Her mind had been going over and over how she could stay with Elliot, yet still keep their secret safe and intact. No matter how much she turned it over in her mind, examined it at all angles, Dora Stabler's blackmail meant the end of a relationship between Elliot and Olivia.

Olivia looked around at the kids playing in the park, her eyes really not seeing them. Once her mother had accepted the fact that her daughter was a murderer, she went straight into survival mode so fast, it shocked even Olivia. She was now more than willing, desperate even, to get out of Lewiston as fast as humanly possible, fearing her daughter was going to be scooped up by the law at any given moment. They were moving to St. Paul, Minnesota where Serena insisted she had a "friend" that could help them get settled in and find Serena a teaching job. It was also agreed that Olivia would complete correspondence work to earn her high school diploma.

"Hello, beautiful."

Olivia looked up sharply as Elliot approached. The young man looked like the burden of the world had been placed on his shoulders and it took all of Olivia's might not to look away in guilt. Dora's right. She was killing him slowly.

Elliot plopped down unceremoniously next to his girlfriend, giving her a brave smile. He bent his head to the side of her neck and kissed her gently. She nearly confessed right then as she caught a whiff of his musky cologne. "Sorry I'm late, I had to take Tonya to daycare."

"That's okay, I know you've been really busy with your family," she said softly, still feeling his lips on her skin. "I missed you."

Elliot smiled, taking her hand. "I missed you too, babe."

Let the deception begin. Olivia and Serena thought the best way to get out of town undetected was to tell anyone who cared to ask that they were visiting relatives down in NYC. At first, they would only take what they needed for a few weeks, then send in professional movers to pack up the rest of their belongings and ship them to Minnesota. Only then would Serena contact an out of state realtor to broker the sale of the house.

"…can spend some more time with you."

Olivia realized her mind had been on their plans and had totally missed what Elliot was saying. "I'm sorry…what was that?"

Elliot hadn't noticed her preoccupation. "I said, my aunt is coming back into town tomorrow. She'll be able to help out around the house with Tonya and Jimmy, so I can spend more time with you."

Olivia felt a knot in her stomach starting to form. "That's what I wanted to tell you," she said slowly. "I'm leaving town tonight."

Elliot wrinkled his forehead. "Leaving…where are you going?"

Olivia started in on her rehearsed story. "Mom thought it would be a good idea for the two of us to take a girls vacation," she explained brightly. "We're going down to the city to see some relatives and just get away, see the sights."

Elliot couldn't remember Olivia ever mentioning any relatives anywhere but his mind didn't stray too long on the thought. "When will you be back?"

"Next week," she said automatically. She had spent so much of the past few months telling lies, she was having a hard time distinguishing fact from fiction.

Elliot nodded, somewhat relieved. Olivia bit her lip. She didn't want to leave him. She loved him. It wasn't fair. She felt awful lying to him, to her love.

Olivia noticed Elliot was hesitating. "Is…is there something you want to say?" she asked timidly. Olivia had already decided that if he called her on the charade, she would confess wholeheartedly. At least that was what she told herself.

Elliot smiled mysteriously. "Well…there is something I wanted to talk to you about…but I'm wondering if I should just wait until you get back."

"No!" Olivia shrieked, causing Elliot to jump, startled. "I'm sorry," she said laughing, laying her free hand on his arm. "Tell me now, I can't take the suspense."

Elliot gave her an odd look, but let that pass as well. "Liv…we've been through…so much together…"

"Don't talk about it…"

"I know, I won't," he assured her, quieting her protest. "I know we're both young, we have…our whole lives ahead of us to experience things…to experience love."

Elliot looked at Olivia who was staring at him with a faraway look. He trudged on, feeling his palms starting to sweat. "But, I know…even before…everything, that I only want to experience that with you. Not to sound like a cheeseball but I truly believe, God as my witness, that you are the only one for me."

Olivia was still quiet as Elliot disengaged his hand and shoved it into his pocket. Olivia gasped sharply as he pulled out a small ring. He slipped it on her finger, realizing too late that he hadn't asked permission.

"Elliot…where did you get this?" She was staring at a small diamond, encircled with gold leaves.

"It was my grandmother's," Elliot admitted. "She gave it to my mom before she died, but she never wore it because of course my dad bought her a ring…do you like it?"

"It's beautiful…" she breathed, staring at her hand. "I…I shouldn't take this."

"You should if you'll agree to be my wife."

Olivia looked up sharply, speechless. She could not believe the undeniably cruel joke the cosmos were playing on her and Elliot.

Elliot rushed on. "Let's just…let's just, oh I don't know. I've never been this connected to anyone in my life and I know I'll never love anyone as much as I love you. Let's do it Olivia. We'll finish up high school and just go wherever we want to. Do whatever we want to. Be whatever we want to. But we can do it together."

Olivia let out a choked sob. Elliot watched alarmed as Olivia bent her head and started crying with such force he almost thought she was in physical pain. He pulled her shaking body to him and held her tight, not quite sure what to say or do.

"I…I…" Olivia stammered as the thoughts in her mind swirled furiously. She wanted to marry him more than anything, but she knew that she couldn't. It would mean both of them going to prison. She just didn't know what she should say. He just had to make this harder for her, didn't he?

"Olivia?"

"Yes."

He wasn't sure if he heard her correctly. "Yes?" he asked hopefully. "Yes…what?"

Olivia nodded her head, angrily wiping her face. "Yes, I will marry you."

For the first time in almost two months, Elliot's face lit up. He squeezed Olivia tighter.

She could feel her heart breaking and she swore he could hear every rip and tear. It hit her then that this is what she had always wanted – to be Elliot Stabler's wife. She just hoped that one day he would understand what she had to do to protect them

They sat in silence until Olivia realized she had to go. Pulling away from him, she took one long last look at his face, every feature, every line. She pulled him to her and kissed him passionately for the very last time.

"I'll see you when you get back," he said breathlessly, when they finally pulled apart. "I love you."

Olivia stood up to go. "Yes, I'll see you soon. I love you so much too, Elliot."

She turned around and walked away, without ever looking back.

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