A/N: just a little thing I thought of after watching the latest Season 20 preview clip. Liv struggles with the realization that she's getting old and can't do everything she used to, but Elliot cheers her up. Domestic/established EO. Elliot is retired but he and Olivia have been together as a couple for the past 8 years and live together.

By the time she got home, she was physically and emotionally exhausted. She hated the toll the day had taken on her. She didn't feel like herself and wanted to go home to Noah's sweet laughter and Elliot's loving embrace. They were her family and they were everything to her.

It was dark out with only the streetlights to guide her drive to the small, quiet neighborhood just outside the city she, Elliot, and Noah had moved into together. Elliot always left the lamp on in their living room when she had to work late to make sure she got in the house safely. Their home smelled like homemade cooking, a skill Elliot had picked up since retiring,and there was a note saying there were leftovers for her if she was hungry-With all our love, El and Noah. Elliot had been signing his notes to her With all my love since they became more than work partners when he retired. To the outsider, it sounds cheesy, but it means so much to her because she had been alone most of her life, and he never wanted her to forget that no matter how hard the day might have been, there was still someone who loved her very much: him (and now Noah as well). She set her purse down and sighed, despite the aches in her body her heart felt warm. She was home. She heard noises coming from Noah's room and smiled recognizing it as her partner's fatherly/playful voice and her son's childlike laughter. Elliot had told her once that one of the things he missed most was reading to his kids. He had such a soft, tender side that came out outside of work and it made her fall even more in love with him. Sometimes they would read to Noah together if she was home on time, but he always read to the little boy even if she couldn't be there.

She knocked on the door quietly and they looked up.

"Look who's home Noah?" Elliot spoke up with his signature Stabler grin, and Noah jumped out of bed to hug Olivia who picked him up.

"MOMMY!"

"NOAH!" They laughed. "Mommy missed you today sweet boy." She kissed him on the head and squeezed him tight before putting him back into bed and going over to Elliot.

"Hey beautiful." He kissed her and scooted over, making room for her on the bed and she laid in the center snuggling up with her favorite guys.

"So what kind of trouble have you boys gotten into today?" Elliot chuckled and turned to Noah, speaking in a playful tone again.

"Trouble? What's she talking about? We've been on outstanding behavior haven't we son?"

"Yeah! Dad took me to get ice cream, and then we went to the park with Eli and then we came back here and dad played catch with me in the yard cause I asked him to cause that's what other boys in my class got to do with their dads. Then he made dinner and helped me with my homework, I can count to 30 now mommy!"

"Yay! I am so so proud of you."

"That's what dad said! And he said that if I can count to 70 by the weekend he'll take me to the zoo and get me more ice cream!"

"Did he now? Bribery Stabler?" She smirked.

"Hey it worked for the older kids." She rolled her eyes and he kissed her temple. Kathy had died in a car accident a couple years before Elliot retired, and his kids didn't take long to think of Olivia as more of a mom than stepmom. They were 'their' kids now instead of just his, and she loved all of them with all her heart. When they decided to adopt Noah a few years ago, their family grew and the older kids loved their new baby brother like their own. Olivia yawned and groaned causing Elliot to chuckle.

"Noah I think mommy's falling asleep on us."

"I'm sorry guys." She sighed sadly and yawned again. Elliot got off the bed and Olivia inwardly groaned when he had to help her because her joints felt stiff. They tucked Noah in, and the minute they were out of his room, Olivia slumped against Elliot who wrapped his arms around her securely and kissed her head.

"Rough day?"

"I'm old El." He chuckled.

"Welcome to the club." She smacked his chest lightly and shook her head, burying herself in his arms again.

"Not helping Stabler."

"Ok. What's the matter? Why the long face?"

"This is just my face. My old, wrinkly face."

"Hey, you're gorgeous baby. Flawless in my eyes you know that." They make their way into their bedroom and lay on the bed. He pulls her feet onto his lap and unties her shoes. She looks tense, worn out and he wants her to feel loved and taken care of.

"When did you first realize it El? When did your body start betraying you?"

"Hey what is this? What happened?" He takes off her shoes and begins massaging her feet, helping her relax.

"I oh god El you're a miracle worker. I got winded while chasing uhhh mmmm." Her sentence cut off with a moan when he hit a particular sore spot on her arch.

"Does that hurt sweetie?"

"no, no god I've been sore all day but that feels amazing."

"So you got winded huh?"

"Yeah. And now an innocent woman has a broken leg because the old lady cop couldn't catch the guy in time. I was out of breath, my legs felt like lead, and now I just ache everywhere. I don't feel like myself Elliot." He worked his way up to her ankles, massaging the tight muscles there."

"Liv that's life-"

"That's what Fin said. I guess I just never let myself think about the changes in my body getting older. I've always felt invincible, like Wonder Woman. Today I feel like an old, fat useless blob. It's not fair."

"You're my Wonder Woman." Elliot kissed her forehead, massaging the sore muscles of her legs and thighs. "I have some news that might make you feel better." He stopped his ministrations for a moment to get her some sweats and one of his old t-shirts

"You invented a time machine?" He chuckled, walking back over to her and laying next to her again.

"I went to the doctor today. Your old man needs glasses Liv." She gives him a quick kiss on the lips.

"I love this old man." She leans her head on his shoulder. "It's different for you guys El. You're still handsome and sexy no matter how much you age. This?" She points to her body and he cuts her off with a deep kiss.

"Is the sexiest woman I've ever known, and always will be."

"Please Elliot, don't tell me there's not some hot young blonde teacher at Noah's preschool or young single mom in the park today." He kisses a spot behind her ear. "Not my type. I'm a badass brunette kinda man."

"There weren't any of those?"

"Olivia, baby you are my type. Only you." He kisses the pulse point on her neck.

"You're not bored of me?"

"Never." He undid the buttons on her slacks and pulled them down her legs.

"If I wasn't so sore and exhausted this could lead somewhere."

"We'll just have to start earlier next time." Elliot smirked. "Leggings or sweats?"

"Sweats. I'm too fat for leggings. My curves are sagging." Elliot rolled his eyes but pulled the sweats over her legs. With them, intimacy didn't always mean sex. It was things like this, Elliot massaging her and simply helping her dress and relax that made her feel special, loved, and cared for just as much.

"Even if that were true I'd still love those sags, all of them." She smacked him lightly and they both laughed. "Your back sore too?"

"Ugh yes. I think I need a chiropractor."

"Turn on your side." He began to work his hands into the muscles of her back, careful not to hurt her.

"Mmm El I think you were in the wrong line of work." He chuckled, helping her sit up and lean against his chest so he could give the same attention to her tense neck and shoulders.

"I know what you mean Liv. I remember my first time feeling old on the job too. It just happens, but this baby's lasted you a good twenty years." He teased, referring to her body as if it were a car and she laughed.

"It just doesn't feel fair. I want to be able to tackle suspects the way I used to and stay up late and play with my son when I get home instead of being exhausted, and make love to my partner without falling asleep after just a kiss."

"Hey that was both of us, and you're still pretty amazing Liv."

"Elliot we haven't been able to connect the way we did when you first retired in months. The last time was Valentine's Day, you kissed me, got up to make sure the door was locked and by the time you got back I was asleep. We had to have the rest of our valentine's day during my 10 minute shower before work the next morning, and even then you had to be careful because my joints were stiff from our mattress."

"We'll get a new mattress."

"El-"

"Liv-"

"Do you remember when we went to the Bahamas?"

"How can I forget? Honey, we were both younger then, and I don't at all agree that it's not as good as it used to be."

"You don't wish I was more fun?"

"Olivia don't cheapen yourself like that. I love you, all of you. I'm not going to want you less because we have to make sure it's daylight when we spend time together." He unbuttons her blouse and un hooks her bra so he can help her get her t-shirt on. "Besides I'm older, do you wish I was more fun? Am I not as good as I used to be?"

"God no, you're perfect." She snuggled closer to him as he un clipped her hair and massaged her scalp.

"Baby we've known each other for 20 years, and had 12 years where we were only allowed to dream what we'd be like together. I'm never going to get enough of you and be bored. Trust me." He kissed her forehead.

"Thanks El."

"I'll tell you what if it's our relationship you're worrying about we can pick a weekend you have off, let one of the older kids babysit Noah and have a little vacation. I'll make sure to buy plenty of coffee and carb filled food to keep our energy up." She laughed out loud at that.

"I just don't want you to feel like I'm depriving you."

"Never sweetheart."

"Sometimes I miss when we were partners and could both stay up for 72 hour stakeouts and kick down doors and take on 3 cases at once, and interrogate together you know?"

"Me too. But this new arrangement is even better." He pulled the covers over them both and helped her lay down. Then wrapped his arms around her and she rested her head on his chest.

"It is, but I feel like I'm losing myself."

"You're still a great cop Lieutenant."

"When Noah graduates high school, I'll be old enough to be his grandmother, I already am!"

"That just means we get to experience both parenthood and grand parenthood together at once." He teased. "You're an amazing mother Liv. Noah's happy and healthy and loves you more than anything. You're his world, and mine."

"Elliot?"

"Yeah?"

"I needed this tonight. Thank you."

"Of course. We're partners Liv, for better or worse, till death do us part and all that stuff. Maybe we're not as young as we used to be but we still have plenty to explore. This is forever baby. Till the taps are played and I'm buried in the ground."

"That better not happen for a long time Stabler. I don't want to be an old maid. If I'm gonna grow old, you're growing old with me."

"You bet." He kissed her sweetly. "We'll be the dynamic duo of the nursing home and give the nurses headaches like we gave Cragen. We'll sit next to each other to play bingo, synchronize our snores when we're napping in our rocking chairs, remind each other to take our medicine, feed each other if one of us has trouble holding the fork, hold hands when we have to walk with canes, change each others diapers-"

"Woah there, hold on, I am NOT going anywhere near your DIAPER Elliot Stabler you can get someone else to do that." She teased. She looked up and leaned over him, peppering his face with kisses before snuggling into him again, his strong arms wrapped securely around her and the peaceful lull of his heart beat helping her fully relax. "I love you so much Elliot." There are tears shining in her eyes, he always knows what to say. He leans down to kiss her again, long, slow and gentle, but with every bit of the passion and love they've had for each other since the day they were introduced 20 years ago.

"And I hope I never get too winded for THAT." She says when he pulls back.

"We'll just have to keep a timer of how long we can keep the kiss depending on how we're feeling, and a schedule of the best times of day so we have enough oxygen." He teased and paused before continuing. "And I love you so much more."

"Wrinkles and all?"

"No matter what happens to our bodies in these next 30 or so years, Olivia Benson? You will always be beautiful to me. Always. Promise you won't forget that?"

"I promise." At last, the insecurities of the day were fading. She may be getting older, but she had a pretty great partner to grow old with, and she wouldn't have it any other way. At the end of the day, that's what truly mattered. She and her companion drifted off to sleep, knowing that aging was certain and their would be struggles, but the other thing that was certain was the love and bond they shared, and they knew that was one thing that would never get old.