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Elliot exhaled sharply, looking to Olivia to see her sitting back down in her chair. "Looks like we've been found out."

"Probably by Lucille and Ethel." Olivia smirked, getting a smile out of Elliot.

"Which one is Lucy?"

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Fin, of course. If it were still Munch and Fin-"

"Definitely Munch." Elliot stated flatly.

"Exactly." Olivia agreed. She ran a hand through her hair, pushing it back from her face before meeting his eyes. "You know what I've been wondering since you came back. Kathy and the kids, more so the kids, welcomed me back into their lives like I'd never left. They weren't even remotely surprised to see me after ten years. Do they know how you left SVU? Did the kids know we hadn't talked since you left?"

Elliot nodded his head, frowning as he seemed to study the edge of the table. "I told them all together that I put in my papers, that I was retiring. I think the kids assumed I had talked to you, because they were confused when they would ask how you were and I would just say I hadn't talked to you. Maureen and Kathleen really pushed for me to reach out to you, because they knew how much you mean to me, what you mean to our family." He scratched his jaw. "The night I told them, Kathy waited until the kids left or went to bed to ask me how it went telling you that I was leaving."

"What did you say?" Olivia asked, unsure of whether or not she wanted to know. She swallowed hard when she could see the moisture gather in his eyes.

"I told her I didn't." Elliot breathed. "I told her I couldn't say goodbye to you. I told. . .if I had seen the heartbreak or sadness in your eyes after telling you, I would've taken my gun and badge back out of Cragen's desk myself." He crossed his arms over his chest, almost smiling as he huffed out a breath. "Telling her that probably confirmed for her that I was forever going to be yours even if I was devoted to her. If she knew then, she never let on. With me away from SVU and you, she probably thought I'd get over you. But that night when I confessed to her that I could never say goodbye to you, there's no way she couldn't have known what you meant."

Olivia wiped at her own eyes, angry yet understanding just how close yet far apart they were. There were so many times she wished he would show up at her door saying these words to her. That he loved her, that he couldn't say goodbye. But as much as she wished for it, she knew the gravity of those words would most likely make her react differently than what she had imagined. They understood the safety of what they were, the balance they gave each other. This truth would've catapulted their lives into utter chaos if done wrong. "She never let on that she knew in the hospital. She was civil, nice, even surprised we hadn't spoken."

Elliot shrugged. "She probably thought we were to a certain degree. With how much I worked and the connections I had, she might've even thought I was lying when I told the kids I hadn't talked to you."

"Now, it makes more sense why Kathleen was so adamant that I be there for your intervention." Olivia mostly said to herself.

"Stellar job, by the way." Elliot gave her a soft smile, jabbing her a little bit as a joke.

Olivia let out a chuckle of her own. "I told her it wasn't the best idea, but they needed me. Even if you didn't want me there, you needed me."

Elliot rolled his eyes. "I'll always want you. As much as I may push you away sometimes, it's usually trying to protect you because I don't want anyone taking you away from me. As long as you'll have me at least."

"Who else would put up with you?" Olivia grinned, quirking her eyebrow at him.

"I'll let you know I've had offers." Elliot retorted, almost teasing her. "They were nothing but trouble, but they were offers."

Olivia looked him up and down slowly, happy when he seemed to take pride in her gaze. "Who offered?"

Elliot wagged his finger at her, a little of his humor fading. "Nu uh, it's my turn to ask a question. You gotta wait your turn, Benson." He propped his head up on his chin, looking her up and down like she'd just done him and making her blush as she looked away. "Now, let's hear about this boyfriend who wanted you to walk away from the job for him. Must've been pretty special."

"He was." Olivia nodded. "I don't hear a question though."

"Who was he?" Elliot asked. "Noah's father?"

"No, Noah's father is in prison." Olivia stated before seeing his eyes go wide. "I adopted Noah. His mother was in sex trafficking, and we ended up intercepting Noah. Unfortunately, his mom, Ellie Porter, ended up getting killed before she could get him back. So, I adopted him. This also clears up any confusion if you ever hear Noah Porter Benson. I'd hate for you to go tracking down Dean Porter for no reason."

Elliot scoffed, almost grimacing at the name. "I've got reasons. So then, who is this guy?"

Olivia bit her lip, debating whether or not to actually say the name. But, they wanted full transparency. "Ed Tucker."

"Ed Tucker?" Elliot asked, eyes widening. "Please tell me you know more than just one Ed Tucker, because the one we both know tried to get us both fired and put you in prison for a murder someone framed you for."

Olivia sighed. "He was doing his job. We busted his balls, and he didn't know us. The evidence pointed to me." She closed her eyes when Elliot stood up from the table, pacing the length of the room. "You can be mad all you want, but I can date whoever I want. He treated me very well, and he loved me. I loved him. I could've seen us having a real future together."

"Would you have married him?" Elliot asked, swerving to the table and leaning over it. She'd seen him do it a thousand times to a perp. Knuckles pressed onto the table top and aggressive face in full throttle in their space was now in hers.

"If things had been different, maybe." Olivia shrugged. "He and I were on different pages. If he wanted to keep working or if I had been ready to leave SVU, it could've been a real possibility."

Elliot sensed the word she wasn't saying, so he prompted her. "But?"

"It wasn't that way." Olivia admitted. "We wanted different things. He made me happy, yes, but I couldn't choose him over my job. And as awful as it made me feel, I knew I'd be settling, even though he was a great guy, because I'd never felt for him the way I do for you. Even though you'd gone and left and I thought I'd never see you again, just that knowledge was enough to tell me that I couldn't continue in a relationship that he was more invested in than I was."

"How'd he take that?" Elliot asked, his voice soft now as he lowered back into his chair.

Olivia rolled her eyes. "I didn't tell him that, but he knew that I was holding back. I wasn't truly happy the way we're supposed to be truly happy. He was kind and understanding about it. He even moved on and married someone else and reached out to me not too long ago. We remained friendly."

Elliot felt guilty hearing the past tense in her words. He knew Ed Tucker's fate without her having to say the words. "How'd he die?"

"Killed himself a little over a year ago." Olivia uttered. "He found out he had cancer, aggressive cancer, and didn't want his new wife to have to take care of him while he was dying." She met his eyes, shaking her head. "Promise me you'll never do that. No matter what happens. I don't care if I can only see you in a hospital, El. Don't ever do that to me."

"I won't." Elliot whispered. "I promise."

"Guys, it's two o'clock. Did you really order a pizza because you were so hungry?" Kat asked, walking into Olivia's office with their order to find her coworkers staring intently inside the interrogation room. Instead of grilling them further about their eating habits, she took a spot behind them to see Olivia and Elliot holding hands across the table from each other. The intensity in their gaze seemed to fill the room and seep out to the three watching them nosily. "What are they doing?"

Fin sighed before seeing the pizza and soda in her hands. "I'll take that. They're trying to figure out the past twenty-two years. They locked themselves in a few hours ago, so we ordered them lunch. . .and maybe dinner depending on how this goes."

"They love each other so much." Amanda breathed, shaking her head. "Fin, what if they don't work this all out? What if they come out and decide that they can't be more? I've only watched them the past few months, but even I know that they'd be happier as more. They're meant to be more than what they are."

"If they want to be together, they'll be together." Kat stated, confused as to why this was so difficult to grasp.

Fin shook his head. "They've wanted to be together for a long time, Kat. Longer than either of them have been willing to admit up until today. It's not a matter of if they want to be together. Their fear of wrecking things has kept them apart longer than Ross and Rachel. It's not just a fear of wrecking their families or losing friends. The core of it is the possibility of losing each other. It's amplified now because they have both left each other running from their feelings. Elliot way more than Olivia, but still. They'd rather keep things safe to have the stability of each other rather than run the risk of disintegrating. At least, that's how it used to be. It looks like Elliot left because he couldn't stand not being able to be more with her."

Kat sat on the arm of Amanda's chair, seeing the small smiles come onto the former partners's faces. "So, it's up to her?"

"It's up to her."

Elliot squeezed her hand. "I may not be happy you dated Ed-"

"May?" Olivia chuckled.

"BUT," Elliot continued, smiling hearing her laughter, "I'm happy that you were loved. You deserve it more than anybody. I hope every guy who had the chance to be with you knew how lucky they were, because they aren't going to meet anyone better. Not by a long shot."

Olivia blushed at the compliment, biting her lip. "Even the guys you treated like a territorial lion with a vicious jealousy streak?"

Elliot nodded once. "Them, tenfold." He grinned when she laughed outright, the sound filling up the gloomy room. "I was being protective. . .and maybe a little bit jealous. Not that you can blame me. I wasn't the only jealous one in our partnership."

"Oh, really?" Olivia's interest was piqued. Sure, there were a few times she was jealous of Kathy. She wanted to be the one by Elliot's side when he was hurt or share a moment with him when he was filled with fatherly pride. His kids weren't hers, but they were her family in a different way. Yet, she knew she always hid her jealousy extremely well, to a point where Elliot probably never thought she'd have a problem with Kathy early in their partnership and definitely not after they became friends. "When was I jealous?"

"When you came back to SVU." Elliot stated, staring down at their intertwined fingers. "It was only a moment, but I could hear it in your voice. You asked about the detective they brought in to work with me while you were away. We were already on thin ice, but you sounded even more tense when asking about her."

Olivia met his eyes, pursing her lips together. "I saw you two together." That caught him off guard. "I came in to see you. You were doing something, probably in interrogation, and I met her. When I asked for you, she said you were busy but she could help me. Probably thought I was a victim. Surprised the hell out of her when I just went into Cragen's office." She could see the curiosity plaguing him as she continued. "When I was talking to him, I turned and saw you walk out to your desks. You seemed comfortable with her. If you liked her as a partner, I didn't want to ruin that, so I left."

Elliot shook his head. "Cragen never told me you stopped by."

"I asked him not to." Olivia confessed, meeting his eyes as she pulled her hand away. "It's stupid now looking back on it, but I felt replaced."

"If we seemed close, it was only because I was spiraling. Kathy and I were separated. I was worried as hell wondering where you were and if you were okay. I was hurt you couldn't say goodbye." Elliot tried to explain. "I was lost during that time. I regret a lot about that time. I acted like a raging hothead. I kissed her after drinking too much and not being able to stop thinking about you. I-"

Olivia's eyes widened. "You kissed her?"

Elliot felt his face heat up realizing he'd let the cat out of the bag. "It was a mistake. I was stupid. It was-" His words were cut off when the door leading to Olivia's office was repeatedly beaten by someone's knocking. "Whoever it is, we're busy. Talk to Fin." He called out.

"Stabler, get off your sorry ass and answer the door." It was Fin's muffled voice they both heard. He continued to pound on the door, irritating both the occupants inside.

Olivia huffed out a breath, nodding at Elliot. "We won't go out. Let's just see what he wants before he breaks down the door."

Elliot grunted as they both stood, marching over to the door and nearly ripping it off the hinges opening it. "What do you want, Fin? We're in the middle of something here."

"Yeah, I can see that." Fin said, glancing at Olivia who still stood near the table with her own pissed off expression towards both of them probably. "And while it seems to be going downhill really fast for you, we figured you two might need some lunch."

Olivia's eyes widened. "We?"

Amanda stepped into view, a sheepish smile on her face as she held a pizza box and a liter of soda in her hands. "We! Kat is getting glasses for you-"

"Thanks, but we're good." Elliot stated, taking the pizza and soda before slamming the door in their faces.

As he was jamming the door closed with the chair again, they both heard Amanda call out. "We're rooting for you!"

Olivia felt some of the tension leaving her body at the ridiculousness of it all. She almost laughed at the idea of them just sitting outside waiting for them to work things out. But she was brought back to her and Elliot's conversation when he turned back to her, walking over with their lunch. "I can't believe you kissed her. I wasn't even gone two months."

"So, you can see just how far I'd fallen without you." Elliot pointed out. He set down their lunch before taking her hips into his hands, smiling softly at her. "I was reckless with her because I didn't care if she'd be gone the next day. She wasn't you, Liv. Besides, we've done so much more than kiss now." He grinned when a smile broke out across her face as she rolled her eyes. "There's no way I'm done with you either."

Olivia giggled as he pecked her lips. "What? You had plans for this morning?"

Elliot stared at her as if his words weren't already obvious. "Liv, I've got twenty years of fantasies right up here." He tapped his temple with his finger before closing his eyes, pretending to enjoy one of those said fantasies as if watching a movie. "Oh, that's a good one." When she laughed into his chest, he lowered his head down to kiss hers. "Trust me, Liv. I will never be done with you. There's no one but you."

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