"They're closing OCCB," Elliot said as Olivia stepped out of the shower.
With a raised brow, she paused and exhaled a soft sigh, snagging her towel from the counter beside him.
"So you knew?" He accuser with a scoff, fists clenching.
"It's nice to see you, too, Elliot."
Remaining silent, he chewed on his lip a minute before nodding slowly. "I'm sorry," he said, holding his hands up.
"El," she said, finally turning to look at him. "There are parts of my job that I can't share with you, and you know that. Yes, I heard the rumor, but that's all. And even if I knew, I couldn't share."
He groaned lightly, slumping back against the vanity and crossing his arms. "It's important to me," he said, looking up, "the OCCB."
"More important to you sometimes than your family," she muttered, drying off and pulling on a matching pajama set.
The silence in the room was deafening as he processed her dig. "That was low," he said finally, his voice sad as he turned and squared himself to her.
Exhaling a calming breath, she nodded in agreement. "It was. I'm sorry," she shook her head. "I've… it's been a long week."
She watched his demeanor relax and his arms drop, and she took a step forward, sinking into his chest. "Feels like the weeks keep getting longer. And I think I'm about to lose Amanda," she whispered.
"Professor Rollins," he said and she exhaled a small laugh.
"Yeah. Professor Rollins."
"I'm sorry, babe… and I'm sorry I came in here so hot. I'm working on it."
"I know you are," she nodded. "I'm sorry I threw a dig."
"Don't be… deserved it. I do miss our boys."
"They miss you… maybe this is good? I love your squad but…" she trailed off.
"I haven't moved on."
"No… not fully, you haven't."
He sighed and pulled back, leaning against the vanity again, weight supported by his muscular arms.
"I see her in every person hurt by these scum bags. Like.. like I used to see the kids in every victim at SVU."
"I know… I know, El and I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry I…" he sighed, shaking his head quickly. "I'm sorry that she's still a shadow…"
"I expect her to be for the rest of our lives. El, she was your wife of almost 40 years and the mother of your kids. I'm not naive to grief."
"Yeah… yeah I guess you're right…" he looked up. "I love you… you know that?"
"Will every fiber in my being I know that," she promised, stretching up on her tip toes to kiss him.
He kissed her back, slow and steady, one hand traveling to hold her cheek and the other covering the small of her back.
"Shower," she whispered against his lips. "I'm gonna check on the boys and then I'll be waiting for you."
"I wanna hear about your case this week," he said with a nod.
"Was a doozy," she chuckled. "Maybe I'll make our drinks doubles."
"Good idea, Cap," he smiled, letting her go.
After making their drinks and shutting off the boy's tv while they snored, she returned to their bedroom to find him with a towel wrapped around his waist, looking at himself in her full length closet mirror.
"Whatcha looking at?" She laughed softly, shutting their door, setting the drinks down, and moving to stand behind him.
"Do I look old?"
"You look tired," she said honestly, laying her head against his bicep. "But old? No. Never."
He laughed a little, and watched her examine his psyique, unable to stop himself from flexing lightly.
"At ease," she teased, turning him away from the mirror so that he faced her. She methodically slid her hands down his chiseled chest and along the deep v that extended beneath his towel.
"Liv… let me take care of you," he offered as she sunk to her knees.
"I wanna be in charge for once, in a situation that doesn't make someone incredibly unhappy," she said, unhooking the knot of the towel and letting it drop.
He was half hard already, and jumped excitedly when she ran her hands up his muscular thighs.
"You can always be in charge with me, Benson," he muttered, threading his fingers through her hair.
"Hmmm," she hummed, taking his growing member between her lips and sucking until he was hard and sliding down her throat.
"That's it, Liv... fuck," he grunted, hands sliding to the back of her head as he rocked his hips slowly.
She looked up, eyes watering with desire and challenge, and he sucked in a sharp breath when he felt her relax her throat.
Accepting her challenge and offer, he slid his cock down her throat, grunting when her lips touched his pelvis.
He released her hair when she gave his thigh a gentle squeeze and she pulled back, breathless with a pop and saliva dribbling down her chin.
"So fucking beautiful," he mumbled, wrapping his hands around her neck and pulling her back to his cock which she hungrily took again.
They lay together after, snuggled under too many blankets to protect them from the winter chill while chatting softly.
Liv took the time to explain the case, getting her fears and frustrations off her chest while he listened and traced circles on her back.
"Just don't get how any parents could… just…" she scoffed lightly.
"If one of the kids ever felt they needed to live their truth like that, we'd love them through it. They're still ours," he said casually, cause her head to raise from his chest.
"What?" He asked, smiling small. "I know what I said."
"Who are you and what happened to Elliot Stabler?"
"Noah Porter," he answered honestly with a shrug. "When he asked me if being bi meant I wouldn't love him… makes me love him more. His bravery and maturity. Maybe I'd have scoffed at it in a past life but… but maybe not. All I know is I love all our kids and if another one of them felt brave enough to come out to me?" He paused to exhale and shake his head. "I'd be honored."
She was staring, jaw agape and eyes wide.
"What?" He asked again, smile a little bigger.
"I just… wow… thank you," she stammered lightly, being interrupted by a soft knock on their door.
El couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Speak of the devil," he whispered to her, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Come in," he called.
Noah opened the door slowly but with a grin on his face.
"Hi," he whispered, excitedly.
"Hi," El chuckled, motioning for him to come over. "Come here."
With an excited bounce in his step, he sprinted towards his parents, jumping up into bed with them and snuggling between.
"You okay?" El asked, brushing his hair back.
"Yup! Just missed you. Can I sleep in here tonight?"
Looking over to Liv with puppy-dog like eyes, El smiled.
"Mommy?"
"Hmmm," she teased. "I don't know daddy… what do you think?"
"Pleaaaaase," Noah drawled, already making himself comfortable against his dad.
"Pleaaaase," Elliot repeated, wrapping his arms Noah and making himself equally comfortable.
Laughing softly, Liv nodded and reached to shut off her light.
"Sleepover it is."