Thank you so much for the love on this one! It has a special place in my heart. Now…where were we and most importantly…WITL? ;) Don't forget to drop a review!

Previously…

A few hours later, Elliot and Dani were at their desks going over some files when Cragen walked into the office. But he wasn't alone.

"You colossal idiot." The voice said, Elliot looked up and frowned when he saw Star, "She was gone six weeks and you couldn't keep it in your damn pants?"

Elliot leaned back in his chair, "Star…what the hell are you doing here? And more importantly…what the hell are you talking about?"

"Olivia…" She said with a huff, "She's on her way to the airport to take a job with the FBI because she came back and saw you flirting with…her."

Elliot's head was spinning and he stood up, "Hang on…hang on what are you-" He walked closer to her, "Olivia was here?"

"Yes. She came back and was coming here tonight to surprise you." She huffed and shoved him back, "But I should have left you bleeding on the sidewalk you dumbass…"

Fin and John walked into the squad room and looked around, "What's going on?"

Elliot pinched the bridge of his nose, "Star…she left."

"Yes. Because I made her." She said with a sigh, "God, didn't you get the coat? I swear to God if you didn't get the coat…I'm gonna kill my team. She spent forever writing that damn letter."

"Yes I got the coat…but I still don't understand." He said quickly, "She didn't-I never got a letter. You mean the letter she wrote for the custody case?"

"Jesus Stabler." Her hands flew up in the air, "No. Not that letter! You call yourself a Detective?" He looked blankly at her and she frowned, "Coats have pockets, did you know that?"

Everyone looked at him and he cursed under his breath, "Damn it Dana…" He grabbed his keys and pointed at her, "Next time just shoot me again. That hurt less than thinking I lost her."

And then he was running.

A letter.

She had left him a letter and he had no idea. When he got to the car outside, he moved quicker and then frowned looking at it. Something was wrong. And then he saw it, a flat tire. "You have GOT to be kidding me."

"Get in." Fin said from behind him as John climbed in the squad car in front of Elliot's car. "We'll put the lights on and everything."

Elliot laughed, kicked his own car and then climbed in the passenger seat, "Let's go."

He just hoped he wasn't too late…

Olivia could barely think straight when she stood in her apartment packing up a few bags. She hadn't even emptied the one bag she did have, she only packed a second one. Her eyes were burning with tears and all she could see was Elliot leaning over that other woman, touching that other woman. All those insecurities she'd tried to get rid of had creeped back up. That feeling that she was just a placeholder, a warm body, someone familiar, someone who could be so easily replaced as she always had been was right there in the forefront.

She'd been replaced by his new partner. He hadn't waited and there was no place for her here anymore. After six weeks of longing for him, wishing she could come home desperately, now she wanted to be anywhere but here. Lifting up her phone, she checked the flight information that Dean had sent her and then turned off her phone, not wanting to face any of it.

Not bothering to look around again, she slipped the bags up over her shoulder and quickly walked back out of her apartment. She'd figure out what to do with it later. Tonight she needed to get the hell out of here. Walking into the hallway, she locked the door and turned to leave when she saw her Landlord Mr. Wilson walking towards her, "Ms. Benson. You're back."

Sniffling slightly she sighed, "Hi Mr. Wilson. I uh…I'm not really back. I'm leaving again. But I'll forward my rent until I figure out what I'm doing. But I really need to go-"

She started to walk away but he called after her, "Hold on a moment, are you alright Olivia?"

She stood up straighter and turned, trying to smile, "I'm fine. Just tired. But…I have a flight to catch so I need to go."

He watched her take a few steps, "He came here looking for you…"

Olivia froze and then turned to look at him, "What?"

"Your partner…Elliot. He came here to look for you. Came by a few times while you were gone I think." He frowned, "Not that it's any of my business…"

"It's not." She wiped at the corner of her eyes and stepped back, "I need to go."

And without turning back, she walked away wanting to put as much space between herself and New York as possible.

John pulled up in front of Elliot's apartment with a screech of his tires. Elliot was out the door before he was fully in park, rushing towards the building. He didn't even bother with the elevator, ran directly for the stairs, unlocked the apartment and left it open, running to his room to find the suit jacket he wore yesterday. It was lying over the back of the chair in the corner and he instantly started searching the pockets.

And there it was.

A folded up letter in the very pocket he had hid the necklace with his badge number on it for her. His heart was pounding as he fell down on the side of the bed, unfolding it. Before he could read it, he heard Fin and John talking, "What's it say?" Fin asked out of breath.

Elliot looked up, confused, "You followed me?"

"Of course we did. We have been on this rollercoaster with you for years my friend. We're in this." John said pointing at the letter, "So what does it say? Does it say she loves you?"

"Of course she loves him." Fin said, rolling his eyes, "Why, I don't know. But those two have been eyefucking across the squad room for almost a decade. Everyone knows they are in love."

"They were doing it long before you even showed up, my friend. Trust me. I know." John said leaning against the dresser, "I was starting to think they'd never get it together."

"Well they got it together but Liv obviously got pulled and Elliot's an idiot. He didn't think to look in the pocket." Fin said with a huff.

Elliot growled, "Do you two mind? Think I can read the fucking thing?"

"Oh. Sorry." John said, stepping back towards the living room.

Fin followed him, "We'll be out here."

Elliot sighed and looked down, ready to read but then heard John again, "But we wouldn't be opposed to you reading it outloud." A loud smack rang through the room and John mumbled, "Right…sorry. Carry on.

Elliot couldn't help but laugh but then looked down at the paper in his hands. As soon as he opened it all the way, his hands started to shake. He knew her writing better than his own and he hated that he hadn't seen this before now. As soon as he started reading, his heart began to race and he knew everything he had been afraid of, everything he thought was wrong. She had never been running…

Elliot,

I can't really fathom how I'm sitting here on my second flight of the night. Neither of them I was prepared for. Everything happened so damn quickly and I don't know if I can process what is actually happening. Tonight was something out of a dream and I can't believe you went out of your way to make all of that happen. For me.

I need you to know that despite how the night ended, I wouldn't have changed a thing. It is a night I will never forget. I also need you to know that I am NOT running. I know what Kathy said, and what happened with Kathleen may make you think I am. But Elliot, I couldn't run from this again if I tried. After you got hurt I knew that I was in this. That I am fully committed to you. To making this work.

And the one thing I should have said that night, and every night since then is what I was trying to say tonight.

I love you.

I am madly in love with you Elliot Stabler and after eight years, I am tired of trying to pretend that I'm not. I don't know when I'll be back. I don't know how long this will take but I am hoping that when I get back, you'll still want to make this work. That you will still want me. I will be back as soon as I can. I promise.

I love you.
Olivia

Elliot read the letter two more times, his heart pounding as the words washed over him. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. That's all he could see. She was in love with him. She'd said she felt it before but she'd never said the words. To see them written on paper, to know she had written them, desperate for him to know that she was still 100% with him even if she was going to be far away meant more to him than he ever could have imagined.

And then it hit him.

She hadn't been running.

But this time she was.

This time she had seen him with Dani and assumed he hadn't waited. Assumed he had replaced her, moved on and never loved her just as he had assumed she had run. "Shit."

He jumped up quickly and reached into his pocket, "Shit. Shit. Who has Star's number?"

"One step ahead of you." John said outside in the living room, "Fin's on the phone with Cap getting the flight information as we speak."

Elliot took out his own phone as he walked towards them, dialing Olivia's number. "Pick up the phone Liv."

"We don't have a lot of time." Fin said hanging up, "By the time we get to the airport she'll probably already be boarded. Let's go. Lights on."

The three of them didn't hesitate as they ran down towards the door. Once they were in the car, John hit the sirens and slammed his foot on the gas, flying through the streets. It was quiet in the car before John asked quickly, "So…she said she loved you, right?"

Elliot chuckled and held onto the handle, "Yeah John…she said she loved me. Now drive faster."

He slammed his foot down harder and nodded, "On it."

Approaching the desk, something was pulling at Olivia's heart. And yet, her feet kept moving forward and she couldn't stop herself. Sighing, she felt like old habits died hard. Going through the motions, she listened to the instructions, picked up her carry on and moved forward.

As she sat in the waiting area, her mind wandered. New York was all she had ever known. As a child she never had the means to leave, and even as an adult, she threw herself into work and stayed in the city. Being in Oregon had been such a change of pace for so many reasons. Yet she had never felt more alone in her life, never felt so out of place. She knew that this new position would take her many places, and she would be traveling near and far. She'd told Elliot that night that she was fearful of flying, and she was truthful about that. Now she was on another flight, not prepared for what lay ahead but not wanting to face what was behind her.

Yet as she sat there, all she could remember was one night wrapped up in Elliot's arms back at his apartment…

Laying on her back, she stared up at the ceiling, listening to the soft rain pitter pattering on the window. Tonight they had been able to sneak off for a date night which had been rare in the last two weeks. Work had been crazy. But after getting cut early, they went to a tiny little Italian restaurant up town and came home after, barely making it through the door of his apartment before tumbling into bed.

He was out in the kitchen, she could hear him on the phone. He always called to check in with the kids when they were apart. Some nights Kathy allowed him to speak to them, and others she didn't. Tonight she could hear him laughing so she took that as a good sign. Curling up onto her side, she looked at the bedside table and saw a travel magazine laid out under his alarm clock.

Curiously, she picked it up and started to leaf through the pages. She noticed that he'd folded pages over, Paris, Athens, London, Rome and her heart started pounding. What was this and why did he have this magazine? A moment later, she heard him walking into the room and she didn't even try to hide the magazine, she knew he would know just by the look on her face.

"Tonight's been a good night." He sighed and curled up beside her, "Finally got a date night with you after this lousy week and I got to talk to the kids."

She smiled and felt him press his arms around her waist, "I'm glad."

Peeking over her shoulder, he looked down at the magazine in her hands, "So where do you want to go?"

Her breath caught in her throat and she turned her head to look at him, "What?"

Smiling, he kissed her cheek gently and pointed towards the magazine, "Where's our first stop?"

"Elliot…" Slowly, she pulled herself up off the bed and out of his arms, "I…I don't…I mean you can't-"

He lay beside her for a moment, quietly thinking as he traced patterns on her lower back, "I can't what Liv?"

Sighing, she turned her body towards him and stared down at him, "What is this?"

"It's a travel magazine. Picked it up yesterday." He said with a smile, "I was leafing through it this morning picking places I'd like to see with you."

Biting down hard on her lip, she glanced at the magazine again and sighed, "You're serious?"

Frowning, he leaned up on his elbow and nodded, "Course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

Her heart flipped in her chest and she wondered for the millionth time since that first night with him, how could this be real? How was he real? How was this her life? "You have a life here…"

Laughing softly he shrugged, "I'm aware. What does that have to do with anything?"

Sighing, she moved to rest on her knees and stared straight down at him, "Elliot, you can't just drop everything here and run away with me."

"People are allowed to take vacations, Liv. Even cops." He smiled and sat all the way to face her, "Not something we do often but…I think we can swing it." Pointing to the magazine he asked again, "So where do you want to go?"

Butterflies swarmed in her belly and she whimpered, "You want to travel the world with me?"

"Yep." Leaning closer to her, he hovered his lips just above her, "I want to see it all with you Liv."

Falling back slightly, he held himself up over her, "Elliot…"

"If you say you wanna wait…fine. We'll pick our first trip on our honeymoon. Whatever you want." He said with a smirk.

Her eyes went wide and she gasped, "El!"

"Just accept the fact that this is happening Olivia…you're not getting rid of me." He pressed his lips against the hollow of her throat and she sighed happily, "So pick a place."

"I don't care where we go." She whispered, he lifted his head and she smiled, "As long as I get to go with you."

Her eyes were burning as she remembered that moment, and all she wanted was to find a way to go back. It all seemed so good then too good to be true. And maybe it was. Maybe her Mother had been right. He was never meant to be hers. That idea of happily ever after was never meant to be hers. It was time to give up, time to move on and try and find a fresh new start.

Over the loudspeaker, she heard her flight information being called. Taking a deep breath, she wiped her tears away, lifted her bag and got in line to board the plane.

Elliot, Fin and John were arguing as they drove and Elliot had had enough, "John, I swear to God if you don't pull the fucking car over I'm gonna roll out and you can explain to Olivia why I'm paralyzed."

John huffed, "I don't want to get a ticket!"

"We have fucking sirens on the car. I think we're good." Fin said rolling his eyes, "Now pull the fuck over and park."

John pulled the car into the first spot and frowned, "You know, I'm not getting a lot of respect for driving us on this little venture and I don't appreciate it."

"I'll get you a fruit basket, okay?" Elliot said quickly, "But first I have some more important things to do…"

John parked the park and the three of them hopped out, running inside. The place was packed but they moved as fast as they could to the front desk, "Hi. Uh…I need to buy a ticket to Portland Oregon."

"Well there is a flight leaving in a few minutes." The man behind the desk said, "But-"

"No. I need to get on that one. Or at least stop it from going." He said tapping the counter anxiously.

"Well…you can't stop it from going." The man said, "The passengers are all boarded. They're just getting the last of the luggage on as we speak before they take off."

"Sir, you don't understand. I need to talk to someone on that plane." He leaned forward, "I'm begging." The man just stared at him, "What's your name?"

The young man frowned, "Austin. But-"

"Look…Austin…if you saw her, you'd understand. I just have to talk to her. Please…"

From behind him, Fin reached out, "Here."

Elliot followed the line of his hand and saw a picture in his hand before John whispered, "Oh, I love that picture. I have it too."

Elliot turned to look at them both, "Why the hell do you both have pictures of my girlfriend?"

John held his finger up and shrugged, "Technically at the moment…is she really your girlfriend?"

"You really want to argue semantics right now?" Elliot asked, looking back at him.

"Hey…I drove you to the airport, did I not?" John asked, "I'm just saying-"

"Will you two shut up?" Fin asked, shoving them, "We're running out damn time."

Turning back to the man Elliot sighed, "Austin…"

"I see what you mean…" He was studying the photo carefully, "She really is a knockout…"

Elliot grumbled something and leaned further across the counter, "Thank you. Now…with that being said, can you just-"

"The only way you're getting through is if you buy a ticket." He said with a sigh handing back the picture to Fin, "And unfortunately the only seats left are in first class. And they aren't cheap…"

Elliot reached for his wallet and sighed, "Fine…that's fine." And then his heart sunk, "Fuck."

Fin frowned and stared at him, "What's the problem?"

Elliot pinched the bridge of his nose, "I lent my damn credit card to Maureen to buy textbooks for school. I don't have-"

Before he could even finish his sentence, John reached out between them and slid his own credit card across the counter, "Consider it an advance on your wedding present."

Fin gawked at him, "Munch, you feeling okay? You're the cheapest son of a bitch on the planet."

John laughed and shook his head, "You can't put a price tag on love Fin."

Fin chuckled and rolled his eyes, "Says the man who has been married and divorced more times than he can even count."

"Yes…but this is Elliot and Olivia we're talking about. You telling me you wouldn't pay to get Liv back and stop having to deal with this grumpy bastard?" He teased.

Fin was quiet for a moment, then reached into his own pocket and took out his own card, "Split it." Then he looked at Elliot, "You better not screw this one up Stabler. Otherwise, Dana Lewis won't be the only one shooting you."

Elliot looked at them both in shock, "Are you serious?"

John and Fin nodded, "Go on…"

Elliot turned back to Austin who smiled at them, "So, we buying a ticket?"

"We're buying a ticket." Elliot said happily, "We're definitely buying a ticket."

Once everything was processed, Elliot grabbed the ticket and turned to run off. At the last second, he turned, ran back to the two men before him and hugged them each, "I'll never admit this ever again but I love you two assholes. Thank you!"

And then he was off.

Fin sighed and then asked, "You think this is gonna work?"

John laughed and shook his head, "We better hope so. Otherwise, we are all so screwed. He'll be such an ass if it doesn't."

Fin scoffed, "He's always an ass. How will it be any different?"

"A bigger ass, okay? Like the size of his own ass." John grumbled as he walked away.

Fin chuckled and then turned to follow John outside, "He does kinda have a big ass…"

"That's why I don't workout. Bad for you." John said as he pointed to the car, "Wanna grab some dinner?"

Fin nodded, "Not like we're gonna know what happened for a few hours anyway…sure."

Elliot's feet pounded on the ground once he passed through security, he could see the gate but saw that all passengers were already boarded. One of the flight attendants was just about to close the door when he called out quickly, "Wait!"

The woman turned to look at him, "Sorry sir, we're just about to take off."

"I know." He leaned forward, trying to catch his breath, "I have a ticket."

Frowning, she held her hand out, "Cutting it pretty close, don't you think?"

Elliot smiled weakly, "Just a bit. Can I-"

Looking down at him she narrowed her eyes, "You have no bags?"

"No." He said quickly, "I just really need to get on that flight."

A head poked out of the door and frowned, "Ash, you ready? We gotta get going."

Turning back to Elliot she nodded, "Uh…I guess so."

"Great." Elliot's feet tapped anxiously on the ground, "Good. Let's go."

He followed the two flight attendants down and into the plane. He went to turn right but the second attendant stopped him, "Sir your ticket is up front in First Class."

"I know. But I uh…I really need to talk to someone back there." He said pointing back behind him, "It will really just-"

"I'm sorry, but we're already behind schedule and there is a storm coming in soon so we need to get going. You need to find your seat." She said sternly.

Elliot sucked in his lower lip, "Please…if you could just…"

"Sir, you need to sit." She said again, "I'm not going to ask again."

Not wanting to cause trouble, Elliot huffed and followed the woman feeling increasingly frustrated. He was so damn close to her and yet he still couldn't get to her. And she had no idea he was even here. Settling into his seat, he glanced around and reached for his phone again, opening it to attempt to call her, "Phone's need to be off now."

Elliot nodded, "Right…right. Um…do you think-"

But then she was gone and he was once again alone in his seat. But he couldn't sit still. He went to move again, desperate to get in back when the flight attendants came on the loudspeaker, and he knew they were about to take off.

"Shit…Okay, breathe. Relax Stabler. Once we are in the air and we can move around I'll just-" He turned and saw the person sitting across the aisle from him staring at him and he leaned back in his seat, "I uh…hi."

The man turned slowly and looked forward, not wanting to stare any longer. Elliot closed his eyes and wondered how the hell he was gonna make it through this flight being that close to her…

Meanwhile in her own seat, Olivia was gripping the arm rests on either side of her. Taking off was the worst part. Once again she thought of Elliot in the helicopter, the way he'd held her hand, the way he'd distracted her and she hated that every damn thing in her life reminded her of him. Looking out the window, she saw the lights of the city starting to get smaller and smaller and she wondered where he was right this very moment.

Was he still with Dani? Were they huddled over a case file like they had done so many times? Did he lean over her the way he did with Olivia? Did his hand accidentally (or maybe purposefully) brush along her back, rest on her shoulder as he pointed something out. Had it all been a lie?

The tears came again and she must have made a noise, because she was so caught up in her emotions, she was surprised when someone reached for her hand. Jumping slightly, she turned to see an older woman beside her, "Are you alright dear?"

Olivia sighed and wiped at her eyes, "Yes. Sorry…just not a big flier. I hate taking off."

The woman smiled and squeezed her hand again, "You'll be alright. I've flown so many times, it gets easier."

Olivia smiled, grateful for the distraction, "You fly often?"

"Oh I haven't been on a flight in awhile…but I used to." She sighed, "My husband was a pilot and I often traveled with him."

Olivia's heart fluttered in her chest, "A pilot?"

"It was always his biggest dream." Her cheeks flushed, "That and to marry me…"

Olivia leaned closer to her, "Then I see he got both of those dreams to come true…"

She laughed, "He did…we saw the world together."

Tears welled in her eyes again and she knew she wasn't going to be able to hide them. She wanted to see the world with Elliot. Wanted to watch him follow his dreams. Wanted to live out her own dream to have a family with him and it had been right there…

Swallowing hard, she whispered, "That sounds wonderful…"

"Oh it was." The woman smiled dreamily and sighed, "But after he died…I just sort of lost the will to travel. And so I stayed put in New York…but our eldest granddaughter is getting married in Oregon. I haven't been on a plane in nearly three years. For her though…I can't miss this. Her Grandfather would be here if he could be. And he'd be so proud."

"I'm sorry for your loss." Olivia said, "You must miss him."

"Everyday." She lifted her hand and pressed it to the chain at her neck, "But he's still with me. I wear his wedding ring around my neck. He wanted me to keep it. That way a piece of him would always be with me."

And then Olivia remembered she still had the pendant on her own neck. She gasped and pressed her fingers against it, her thumb tracing over the numbers she knew by heart. 6313.

Reaching out, he took the box and slowly took the delicate necklace out of it, "Now that we aren't partners anymore…I wanted you to have a little piece of me with you always. So it will be like I'm there…no matter what. Like I have your back even when we're apart."

Her eyes burned with tears and she looked at him, "It's beautiful."

Carefully, he placed the necklace around her neck and smiled, "You really are stuck with me Liv. No matter where you go…I'll always be with you."

Even if she took the damn thing off, he'd still be there. He'd always be there. He was burned in her memory, in her heart he was part of her soul now. Another tear fell and the woman frowned, "Why are you headed to Oregon?"

Olivia let out a shaky breath, "To start over…"

She smiled, squeezed Olivia's hand and whispered, "Are you sure about that?"

When the plane evened out, she smiled sadly and reached for her bag, "Thank you for the distraction…I think I'm just going to listen to my music and try and get some sleep. I'm exhausted."

The woman smiled and patted her hand, "Sure. Of course. We always think with a clearer head when we've had some rest."

Pulling out her headphones, she placed them in her ears and tried to will her mind to shut off. But everything seemed to be against her today as the first song played out loud.

Well, it's a marvelous night for a moondance

With the stars up above in your eyes

A fantabulous night to make romance

'Neath the cover of October skies

And then she knew there was nothing that could make her forget him…

Elliot waited as long as he could before his nerves got the best of him. Once he was allowed to unbuckle and move around, he got out of his seat and started to walk towards the back of the plane.

"Sir?" He froze and tried to remain calm, "Did you need something?"

Elliot cleared his throat and turned to look at the woman behind him, "Just need to go to the bathroom-"

"We have a bathroom for first class up this way. If you just want to follow me." She said.

Elliot rubbed the back of his neck and sighed, "I can use the ones back there-"

"Sir, you need to use the ones back here." She said more sternly.

Elliot took a breath, "Ma'am, I really don't want to cause any problems. I just need to talk to someone and-"

"I'm going to ask you to take your seat." She said looking back at another attendant.

He sighed and moved closer to her, "If I could just-"

"Sir, I'm going to ask you one more time." She said pointing back towards his seat, "Please return to your seat or use the bathroom up front."

Elliot huffed and pushed past her to walk towards his seat, grumbling to himself. "Can you at least let me-" She shot him a look and he put his hands up in defeat, leaning his head back on the seat wishing this wasn't such a long damn flight.

The man from earlier looked at Elliot again, "Not that it's any of my business…but are you trying to get yourself in trouble?"

Elliot turned towards him, "Hm? Are you talking to me?"

Leaning against his arm rest and sighed, "I can't decide if you're insane or if you really have something you are trying to accomplish. Although…to pay for a first class ticket but trying to get to coach shows a level of insanity."

Elliot laughed nervously and turned further towards him, "I probably do look insane…"

"Just a tad." He said with a smirk, "You got on the flight late. I heard the attendants talking about how you had no luggage. Now…if you're here to cause harm-"

"No." Elliot said quickly, "I swear…I'm sure that you have no reason to believe me. But I'm not going to do anything. I just…"

Elliot's voice trailed away and the man smiled, "Let me guess…this is about a girl?"

Elliot's face turned red and he smiled, "Yeah…"

"So…" Sighing he shook his head, "She's back there?" He asked, pointing behind them, Elliot nodded, "And I'm gathering the girl doesn't know you're here?"

Elliot shook his head, "Not a clue."

"Ahh…a romantic gesture." The man smiled and tapped the arm rest beside him, "A big romantic gesture…"

"You could call it that. Or I'm that desperate." He said with a sigh, "I just…knew that she was slipping away again and I…"

"Couldn't let that happen." Pointing at him he smiled, "Smart man. You know what you want."

"After eight years of knowing her…yeah I know." He laughed, "But…there has always been things. People…situations…standing in our way."

"Seems to be the way it always is. My wife was engaged to another man when I met her. The wrong man. He treated her terribly but her parents wanted her to marry him. I wasn't what they expected for their daughter." He said with a smile.

"But you didn't let that stop you." Elliot said with a smile, "You still pursued her."

"Absolutely. I knew she was the one. And when you know that you have found the one…you will stop at nothing." He smirked, "Even flight attendants…"

Elliot looked back behind him and frowned, "I need to talk to her. But I also don't want to cause a scene…or get in trouble."

"There is all sorts of trouble in this world young man. Some of it…is good trouble." He said with a twinkle in his eye, "So…what do you want to do? Wait six hours to get your girl…or-"

Elliot looked at his watch and then frowned, "I can't wait six hours…"

"Didn't think so." He smiled and cocked his head back, "I'll cover for you."

Elliot jumped up, "I owe you one…"

The man chuckled and nodded, "Names Jack. But you'll only owe me if this works…"

Elliot took a deep breath and quickly started to walk backwards again. He heard a flight attendant calling to him, but the man beside him interfered and Elliot started walking faster. As soon as he passed through the curtain, his eyes started roaming, desperate to find her. He paced the first aisle, looking for any sign of her.

"Sir? Can I help you?" Another attendant asked.

"Uh…" Elliot cleared his throat and looked around, "I-" And then he froze, he saw her.

She was either sleeping, or trying to, her head resting against the window a few rows back. She had headphones in, "Sir?"

"Olivia." He said her name quickly but she didn't hear him with her headphones in, "Liv!"

"Sir…" The woman tugged on his arm, "Sir…what are you-"

Elliot brushed her off and moved forward as more people started paying attention to what was going on, "Olivia!"

"What's going on?" Another passenger asked.

Elliot stumbled forward, "Sorry…I just need to-" He shifted again and yelled her name once more, "Olivia!"

The woman beside Olivia saw him staring at her and she slowly nudged Olivia. Opening her eyes and removing her headphones, Olivia frowned, "What's going on?"

The woman pointed, "Is that what you are trying to run from?"

Olivia frowned, "I didn't say I was running from anything…I just-"

"Liv!" His voice came through and Olivia's heart stopped, "Liv!"

By now, lots of people were watching and whispering as flight attendants swarmed the crazed man in the aisle, "Oh my God…"

Standing up quickly she moved to walk towards him and Elliot sighed with relief knowing she had seen him, "Liv I-"

And then his hands were being held behind his back, "Sir, that's enough."

Olivia climbed over the woman beside her, "I'm-I'm sorry I-"

Elliot tugged his arms trying to get free, "I just need to talk to her. If you could just-"

"Elliot…" Olivia walked to him, "What the hell are you doing?"

He huffed and tried to move towards her but they were both blocked, "Olivia…I just-"

"Elliot…" She pressed a hand to her heart, "How did you…I mean when did you-"

"Ma'am…do you know this man?" One of the attendants asked.

Her head was spinning as she tried to focus on what was happening, "Y-yes."

"Sir, if you do not take your seat we're going to have to land the plane and-"

Elliot tugged his arms again, "Olivia…I didn't get your letter. I just-"

"Sir! This is your last warning!" The attendant said.

Olivia's eyes were wide, "Elliot…"

"I'll switch spots with him." The woman who had been sitting beside Olivia said, "That way they can talk."

"I'm sorry ma'am. But that's not how this works." The attendant said again. "Tickets aren't interchangeable."

Olivia moved forward, "El, you need to go back to your seat." She laughed, "I…I can't believe you're on this flight. What-"

Looking back at the attendants he frowned, "You're really not gonna help a guy out here?"

"Ladies and gentleman." Someone came on the loudspeaker, "This is your Captain speaking. We have a medical emergency on board. We will be landing at the next airport. Please take your seats and bare with us. We'll get back in the air as soon as we can. Thank you."

Elliot smiled, and then he knew, "Liv…"

Olivia looked concerned, but still confused, "El…go."

Looking at the attendants behind him who didn't look amused, he took another chance and leaned forward, pulling her against him, crushing his lips to hers, "Fine."

Her fingers dug into his forearms and she stumbled back, "I-"

"I love you." He said with a smile, "But I need to…"

"Yeah…" She fell back slightly and almost fell into the lap of a passenger beside her, "I…"

Elliot pointed towards her seat, "Go. I'll see you in a bit."

Olivia watched him go, still trying to understand if this was even real life. With shaky hands, she turned and walked back to her seat, falling down. The older woman reached for her hand and smiled, "Well that's not something you see everyday…"

Olivia looked at the woman and whispered, "He got on a plane to get to me…"

The woman laughed, "Sweetie, I don't know a damn thing about you. And he could be the world's biggest asshole. He could be all sorts of terrible things…but to me that seems like a man desperate to get to the woman he loves."

Olivia looked at her, "The woman he loves…"

Squeezing her hand tightly in hers she smiled, "Yes. The woman he loves…"

Olivia took a deep breath, looked back towards the first class curtain and felt the tears burning, "Oh my God…"

By the time they landed in Detroit, Olivia's nerves were on edge. He was so close yet so far. She didn't even know what the hell she was going to say to him when she was reunited with him. What was he doing here? How had he even found her here? She waited not so anxiously to exit the plane with the rest of the passengers, and as they moved forward, the woman took her hand, "Take it from a woman who would give even one more day to be with the man she loved…don't run sweetie. Hear him out. And then make your judgement."

The woman started to walk away from her and Olivia frowned, "Wait! What's your name?"

The woman smiled and turned back to her, "Katherine. Now stop stalling…"

Olivia laughed and then quickly exited the plane, she looked around trying to find him. And then she saw him, leaning over a man on a stretcher. Quickly, she ran towards them and stood back, listening, "You seriously faked a heart attack?"

The older man laughed, "I couldn't let you lose the girl, my man!" Glancing behind him he whistled, "That her?"

Elliot turned quickly, and his heart jumped in his throat, "That's her…"

"Well she's a knockout." The man said with a wink, "I'd have done the same thing."

Elliot laughed thinking about Austin who had said the same thing earlier, "She's something alright…"

Jack sighed and leaned up towards Olivia, "I'd love to stay and chat dear…but I need to go get checked out by the Doctors…bad heart and all."

Olivia laughed nervously and put her hand to her lips, "Well I'm glad that you're not actually sick!"

Jack winked and nodded as they lifted him up on the stretcher, "Whatever he did…forgive him. That's a man in love, sweetheart."

Olivia sighed and looked straight at Elliot, "That's what everyone keeps telling me…"

As they carried him away, Elliot couldn't seem to be able to move as he looked at her. Luckily for him, she suddenly found her courage again. Walking towards him, he opened his mouth, "Liv-"

But he couldn't finish his sentence before she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, "Are you insane?"

His eyes closed tight, and he quickly enveloped her in his arms, burying his face in her neck, "I couldn't let you go again Liv…the last six weeks have been torture."

Pulling away she frowned, "But…I saw you-"

"I know what you think you saw." Shaking his head, he reached out and touched her cheek, "But Liv-"

"There he is!" Someone yelled from behind them.

Elliot cursed under his breath and pulled her up against him again, kissing her quickly, "Liv…I love you. But I think I'm about to be arrested so…can you first bail me out and then we can hash it all out?"

She couldn't help but laugh, "This can't be real…"

Elliot smiled as two men pulled him off of her, holding his arms behind his back, "In all the years we arrested people together…did you think this would happen?"

She shook her head, tears falling down her cheeks as she watched him being pulled back, "No. But then again…I never thought we'd get together either."

Elliot winked at her, "I did."

Olivia sighed, "I'll uh…meet you at the station?"

He shrugged, still smiling as he watched her, "I'll be there."

She stood there, knowing full well that many people were staring but she couldn't take her eyes off of him as they put him in the back of the car. Trying to process what was happening, she took out her phone and turned it on. She wasn't surprised then to see all the messages popping up.

Scrolling through, she clicked on the first voice message knowing full well who it would be, "Olivia…that dumbass boyfriend of yours never checked the damn pocket. I didn't realize I had to write explicit instructions for the man. Anyway…he's on his way to you. If you get this…don't get on the damn plane. I fear for what the man will do if you do. God help us all…I won't be blamed for this one. Good luck."

The second message was quick but she'd know that voice anywhere. Elliot. "Liv…it's me. I need you to call me back. Do NOT get on that plane. Just…please…please don't get on that plane. I love you. Okay? Just…just remember that. Also…remember that I'm an idiot. But an idiot who loves you nonetheless."

The third message made her tears burn even harder, "Hey. It's Fin-" She heard a rustling and arguing and then, "And John!" Fin sighed loudly, "Fine, it's Fin and John. I don't know when you'll get this or if you'll even listen to it. But John and I just shelled out a pretty hefty sum of money…so at least hear the guy out. Okay? You can kick his ass still if you want too. But first just let him talk." More muttered arguing ensued before John added, "Can I officiate the wedding?"

Click.

She laughed before she felt a hand on her arm, "Ma'am?"

Olivia turned to look at the attendant beside her, "We are trying to board the plane with any passengers still looking to go to Portland. Will you be joining us?"

Olivia swallowed hard and looked down at her phone, "No. No…I won't be."

The woman smiled and nodded, "Well good…but your luggage-"

Olivia laughed, "Honestly? I don't even care…I'll fly to Oregon later if I have too." Turning she pointed towards the cop car that was getting smaller as it drove away, "I'm tired of running away…this time I want to run towards something."

Olivia turned back to her and the woman smiled, "Can I just say…that if a man went that far to try and get to me…I'd marry him on the spot."

Olivia laughed and slipped her phone in her pocket, "I'll keep that in mind."

And then she was off, ready to finally fight for what she wanted. No matter what the consequences were. No matter how scared she was. She was ready…he'd come this far. And now she had to prove she was ready to meet him halfway. And boy was she ready…