A/N: Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter. And since ya'll were so good to me here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy!

Ch. 13 Not Giving Up

The weekend was finally over and Olivia knew that the next morning she was going to have to turn Callie over to Social Services. She and Elliot had spent all day Saturday with both of the kids, getting them to open up about what exactly had happened with those men. She thought that for the most part her son would be okay because he seemed to be the kind of person who got over things fairly quickly. But she was truly worried about Callie, a little girl who had been through so much in her six years of life. Olivia worried that she might get lost in the foster care system because of her inability to trust people. And Olivia knew that Callie trusted her and Oliver, and although it might take a while she had a feeling she would learn to trust Elliot as well, if she could get the chance. It was Sunday night and Elliot had left to spend the day with his kids, which he rarely got a chance to do anymore. So Olivia was at home with Oliver and Callie watching them interact with each other as Oliver taught Callie how to play one of the new video games he had bought. Olivia smiled as she watched them laugh together and she knew she had to do something. So she picked up the phone and called Elliot.

"Stabler"

"Elliot it's me"

"Olivia? Is everything okay?" he asked in a concerned voice

"I need to talk to you about something after you take your kids home" she told him

"Okay well I just dropped them off and I was heading back to my house. Do you want me to come back to your apartment?"

"Oh, no never mind I don't want you to have to drive all the way back over here"

"Liv it's no problem I'm not that far away. I'll be there as soon as I can" he told her before hanging up

Some thirty minutes later there was a knock on Olivia's door.

"Hey, one of your neighbors let me in" he told her as he stepped inside her apartment

She nodded as she shut and locked the door behind her.

"What's this all about?" he asked as she turned back around to face him

"We should talk in my bedroom, it's more private in there" she said as she motioned towards the two kids in the living room playing video games

"Okay" he nodded as he turned to follow her to her bedroom

"Hey kids, what's up" Elliot said as they passed through the living room

"Hi Elliot. Just teaching Cal how to defeat the snake demon" Oliver replied without taking his eyes off of the screen

"Okay then" said Elliot as he shook his head at the two kids before stepping into Olivia's bedroom

Before Olivia shut her door she looked back out in the living room and said, "Hey Ollie, Elliot and I need to discuss some work stuff so if you need anything we'll be in here okay"

"Kay" Oliver replied without looking at his mother

Olivia then shut her door before turning back to look at Elliot.

"Okay Liv, what's this all about?" he asked

"Callie" she answered

"What about Callie?"

"I can't give her up El. She's been through so much and I think she might get lost in the system"

"Olivia, she's not going to get lost in the system. I mean she's a beautiful little girl and she's still young and she's sweet"

"But Elliot, she doesn't trust anybody but us. She pretty much refuses to talk to people that she doesn't know. And she's not going to get adopted that way"

"So, what, you want to adopt her?" he asked

"I don't know. I just know I can't let her go to social services. Something about it doesn't feel right"

"Well Liv, there's a lot more at stake here than your feelings. You know that right. I mean I know you've grown attached to her and I know you feel you have a connection with her, but can you honestly say you're going to be able to give her what she needs"

"How can you be saying that Elliot. You're my partner, you should be on my side, supporting me."

"I am on your side Olivia, but think about it. The extra time you have now, which isn't a lot, you spend with Oliver right? But if you take in Callie then you'll have to split your time between the both of them and I'm not sure if you or Oliver will want to do that. And I really don't know if Social Services would be willing to give her to you with your working hours."

It was fairly dark in Olivia's room since it was dark outside and the only light was coming through her bedroom window blinds. But even Elliot could tell that her eyes were filling up with tears ready to fall at any moment. He knew he had hurt her feelings, which is the furthest thing that he had wanted to do and now he felt terrible, because he knew for a fact that Olivia was a wonderful mother and that any child would be lucky to have her. He knew that Callie would be in good hands with Olivia and that she would actually have a chance at a good future.

"Olivia I didn't mean that you-"

"It's fine Elliot, why don't you just go. You've told me everything I need to know" Olivia said as she turned around to open the door, but before she could open it Elliot grabbed her by the arms and spun her around to face him

"What the hell are you doing Elliot" she asked angrily

"I want you to understand what I meant" he said still holding her arms fairly tightly

"Elliot you're hurting me" she told him quietly

He immediately let her go, "Sorry"

She nodded before he began to talk.

"I don't doubt what you could give her Olivia. I already know that you are a terrific mother. And it's obvious how much you care about Callie, and I can see how much she likes you. I know that she would have a great future if you were her mother, because you would make sure that she gets all the help that she needs. I don't doubt any of that Liv"

"Then why did you say those things?" Olivia asked quietly

"Because...I don't want to get your hopes up and...you not get Callie because of your job and the long hours that's required by us" he told her, "Olivia I think that you would be great for Callie" he told her sincerely

Olivia smiled as she looked at Elliot before walking up to him and wrapping her arms around his neck and embracing him in a tight hug. He hugged her back and smiled to himself, thankful that she understood him.

"Thank you Elliot...For believing in me" she whispered in his ear

"Always" he whispered back

As she pulled back their eyes met and Elliot saw the tears still in her eyes and watched as a single tear ran down her cheek. He reached his hand up to her face and wiped away the stray tear with his thumb. As he did she closed her eyes at his touch, instantly relaxing. He leaned back down and whispered in her ear,

"I'll always believe in you"

When he said that she immediately opened her eyes to find her brown ones staring into his blue ones. She swallowed hard when Elliot began to lean towards her and she began to tense. He could feel her tense, so he looked directly into her eyes, "Relax Liv. Trust me" he told her as his lips captured hers in a tender, yet powerful kiss. The kiss began to grow deeper when his tongue ran along her lips, asking permission to enter. She surrendered and moaned as she allowed his tongue to part her lips and he began to trace his tongue over her teeth before their tongues began to explore each others mouths. His hands moved from her face, tracing down her arms till they gripped her hips pulling her even closer to him. At the same time her hands moved up his chest before wrapping around the back of his neck.

Olivia began to lose complete control of her body and she believed the same had happened to Elliot. Because despite the fact that her head was telling her to stop she still found herself pushing Elliot towards her bed and once the back of his knees connected with the bed he fell onto it, with Olivia landing on top of him. Their lips never lost contact throughout the move, nor when Olivia began to sit up, straddling Elliot. Elliot and Olivia both knew that they had lost control of their bodies, but they both had been wanting this for so long that there was nothing to stop them. But Elliot had just flipped Olivia over on her back, he now on top of her, one set of their hands now laced together, while Elliot's free hand moved to the front of her jeans. And just as he was about to undo them a yell from the living room brought them both back into reality.

"Mooom" Oliver yelled from the other room

Elliot and Olivia immediately jumped apart and off of the bed just as Oliver began knocking on the bedroom door.

"I'm sorry" Elliot apologized "We shouldn't-"

"No I'm sorry" Olivia responded, "I-"

"Mom can I come in?" Oliver asked from the other side of the door

"Yeah sweetie" Olivia said as she walked towards the bedroom door

Oliver opened the door and looked from his mom to Elliot, "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah buddy everything's okay, what's up?" she asked

"The phone rang and I answered it and it was Captain Cragen reminding you to bring Callie in tomorrow morning" Oliver stated obviously upset, "You said you wouldn't let them take her"

"Oliver that's what Elliot and I were talking about. I don't want to take her in tomorrow. But I don't know if they will let her stay here any longer" she told her son

"Mom she knows us and trusts us. Please don't let them take her away. I want her to stay here"

Olivia walked up to Oliver and looked down into her son's brown eyes, "Are you sure you want her to stay here? Because there would have to be a lot of changes around here to accommodate for a six year old little girl"

"I'm sure I want her to stay" he answered

"Okay then. I can't promise anything, but I am going to do everything in my power to get her to stay here with us, okay" she told him

Oliver smiled, "Okay"

"Comere" she told him as she pulled him into a hug

Elliot smiled at the two of them as they pulled apart, "Hey Oliver"

"Yeah" he answered as he turned to look at Elliot

"I'm going to do everything I can to help your mother"

"I know" Oliver smiled as he walked out of the bedroom and back into the living room

Elliot and Olivia were once again left alone, but both were unsure about what to say or do. They both looked at each other and Olivia was the first to speak.

"Elliot I'm sorry. I don't know what just happened...I mean I know what happened. But I don't know why. I mean we can't do this, it's against regulations"

"Is it. I'm not really sorry Olivia. I've been holding this in for so long. How I truly feel about you, and I can't do that anymore. I care about you more than a partner should, but I can't help that and I can't change how I feel. All I know is that when you're with me I feel complete...And when I'm away from you I can't wait to see you again...Your smile, your laugh. I never really thought I could feel this way again...And I'm not even sure that I felt this way about Kathy...But you...I love being with you and I've never been this open with anybody but I'm telling you because I don't want to lose you...ever"

Olivia was shocked at his open confession for his feelings towards her and she had to bite her tongue to stop herself from smiling. But she was still unsure about the whole thing. She knew how she felt about him, but she was afraid that they would be separated at work if anybody found out, and that was the last thing that she wanted to happen.

"Elliot...I don't know what to say. If anybody ever found out...we could be separated...and that's the last thing that I want to happen."

"Your willing to give up what we have in order to remain partners?"

"How do we know that what we have will really work?"

"And how do we know that it won't?" he asked, "If you can tell me that what you feel is just a phase, and that it will go away, then fine. But I don't believe that's how you feel"

"I don't want to lose you as my partner"

"Maybe we don't have to. Nobody has to know, at least not until we know where this is going. But Olivia I really feel that we have something here, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes if it means I get to be with you. But the decision is up to you. You can think about it and let me know" Elliot told her as he walked past her to the bedroom door

"Wait. Where are you going?" she asked as she grabbed his wrist

"I'm going home, to give you space to think about what you want to do" he answered

Olivia stood there for a moment her hand still holding onto Elliot's wrist, before she reached around him with her other hand and quietly shut the door. Then closed the space between them as she leaned in first and kissed him gently on the lips. She then pulled back and took a small step backwards, before sliding her hand from his wrist to his hand and lacing her fingers through his. She was looking down at their hands, noticing how they fit together perfectly.

"Elliot you know it's not easy for me to open up to people...especially men. And I already screwed up big time when I married Oliver's father, but I wouldn't change that because if I did I wouldn't have Oliver and I can't imagine my life without him...But I also know that I tend to push people away who are close to me"

"Tell me about it" said Elliot with a smile

Olivia looked up at Elliot with that look on her face, that he knew meant shut up.

"El I don't want to screw up what we have...because...your all I have. You and Oliver-"

"Liv, no matter what happened, I could never not be friends with you. I will always be there for you, no matter what" Elliot told her sincerely

"You say that, but if it didn't work, you would forget about it"

"Olivia, look at me" he told her sternly, "You mean more to me than anything else, and your all I have...You're the only person I can turn to...I would never forget you or anything about a relationship that I could possibly have with you. You have to trust me. You have to know that after eight years together I mean what I say"

There was a slight pause as Olivia looked back down as Elliot took her other hand in his, so that both sets of their hands were now laced together.

"I do trust you" she said quietly still looking at their hands that were intertwined

"What?" he asked, not completely sure what he heard

She looked up at him, "I do trust you" she said again, this time louder, but still quietly

"Then what's wrong?"

"That's what scares me" she told him, "I'm afraid that I'll trust you and you'll break my heart"

"Liv, I would never hurt you. Please believe that" he begged her

"I do. I know you would never hurt me on purpose" she replied, "But the last time I opened my heart to someone...trusted someone...I got hurt"

"You're talking about your exhusband, aren't you" Elliot stated

Olivia nodded her head.

"Olivia I swear to you that I will never intentionally hurt you. And truthfully I'm happier with you than I've ever been with anyone in a long time. And it's the kind of feeling that I know can last a lifetime if we let it"

Olivia smiled as she looked into his eyes. She knew he was telling her the truth and that's what scared her. It's what she had always wanted and now that she might get it she was having second thoughts. She was afraid of what it would mean.

"I feel it too Elliot" she told him quietly "That's what scares me. I'm afraid of what it means. I'm also afraid that it might not last, because it seems like bad things always happen to me. It's like I'm not supposed to be truly happy"

"I don't believe that Liv. Everyone deserves to be truly happy...Especially you. And I want to help make it that way for you" he told her with a smile

"But I'm afraid that this might work. Then what? It's just so...complex. Things will definitely change"

"Sometimes change is good" he told her

"What scares me is how much I trust you Elliot. I think you know that by now. And there aren't very many people out there that I trust, especially the way I trust you. And I guess a couple years ago I realized that the kind of man I wanted was someone like you, that's when my dates began to last shorter and shorter, I mean that and the job. But then I realized that I didn't want someone like you...I wanted you. But I never thought it could actually happen...And now...Now I'm scared out of mind. Because you're the one person I can always count on"

"And I always will be, no matter what. But I think us not trying...this...I think that would be even worse. Because it would always be at the back of our minds. What if? I think we owe it to ourselves to try it, because I think we can be truly happy" he told her with a smile

Olivia returned the smile before she squeezed his hands and leaned in to give him a gentle kiss on the lips.

"What was that?" he asked, "Was that a 'let's try it kiss' or a 'I think we should just stay friends kiss'?"

She smiled and shook her head, "That was a 'let's try it kiss'" she told him

He smiled again before pulling her towards him and kissing her deeper and longer this time before she gently pushed him away.

"But let's not get carried away. Let's take this slow, okay. I don't want to rush things" she told him

He smiled and nodded, "Whatever you want sweetheart"

Olivia laughed a little when he called her sweetheart.

"What?" he asked with a smile

"Nothing it's just going to take me some time to get used to you calling me that" she smiled as she opened her bedroom door. Before she stepped out into the living room she turned back around and smiled at Elliot, "But no slip ups at work"

"Right" he nodded with a smile as he followed her out into the living room

They both set down on the couch and watched Oliver and Callie continue to battle it out playing video games. They knew that tomorrow was going to be one of the hardest days ever. Olivia knew it was going to take a lot to get her Captain to go along with the idea of her keeping Callie, and she knew that Social Services was going to be even harder to convince. But she was willing to do whatever it took to keep Callie.

A/N: Well that's the next chapter. What do ya'll think? There was some fluff there, right? Anyways, review and let me know!