A/N: This one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger although I'm not entirely please with the last scene, I thought I should post something since it's been a few days. Also, I'm not sure how long these regular updates are going to last as I may be going back to work at the beginning of next month. Hope everyone is staying safe and that you enjoy this next chapter. Let me know what you think! xxx

Not long after Elliot's return to work, the dynamics in the Stabler household shifted drastically. Olivia had felt as if she had become a housewife overnight. Of course, she loved being able to stay home and look after the girls but she just wished that her and Elliot were able to spend more time together. In the past, she always thought that when – or even if – she settled down in marriage and family life, her and her husband would have a equal relationship. She had hoped that the person she chose to spend the rest of her life with would be there to shoulder some of the weight that came with running a household. However, she hadn't felt like that was happening in recent weeks.

One night in particular, Liv had been tucked up in bed and fast asleep when Elliot came home from work. She was awoken by her husband who, after climbing into bed, attempted some form of intimacy with her. He began by kissing her neck but when he got no response he turned her body so that she was laying on her back as opposed to on her side with her back to him.

The movement was enough to jolt Olivia and awake and she glared up at him. "What?" She asked groggily. Surely if one of the girls had woken up, she would have heard them by now. Months of being a mother had made her even more of a light sleeper than she already had been.

"I thought it would be nice for us to spend some quality time together." El whispered as he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. He then went to lean in for a kiss was surprised when he was pushed back by his wife.

"Not tonight, El. I'm exhausted. I've had a long day." Olivia sighed and scrubbed at her face. She knew parenting wasn't always going to be a walk in the park but that day just seemed to take the biscuit. First of all, Maria kicked up a fuss and tried everything her little mind could think of to get out of going to school. The six year old thought it was unfair that her younger sister got to spend the day playing at home and that she couldn't. Thankfully, Olivia eventually won the fight but then the day seemed to get slightly more tiresome. The house had been in a bit of a mess so she had decided to do some household chores but every time she left one room, Zoe wasn't that far behind her causing more mess in the way only small children were capable of. Not only that but Liv found herself constantly following the three year old around everywhere as Zoe had been particularly active that day – Olivia didn't want the child to get her little hands into anything she shouldn't touch. The slightly stressed mother was relieved when she had finally had the girls settled into their beds but instead of unwinding with a glass of wine, Olivia had just collapsed into bed herself.

Olivia furrowed her brows when Elliot gave her an affronted look. "You've had a long day? What about me? I'm the one who's been at work. We haven't had alone time in a while. What's wrong with me wanting to be intimate with my wife after a stressful day?" His tone of voice reminded Olivia of a stroppy teenager and he was getting on her last nerve.

She was slightly insulted by his choice of words and wasn't afraid to call him out on it. "I haven't just been sitting around all day, you know? I've been working too. Looking after our kids and housework is a job in itself." Olivia really didn't want to fight with Elliot but he was being slightly irritating. She sighed and pushed her bangs back. "Look, I don't want to argue with you. It's-" She took a glance at the bedside clock, "one a.m. I want to try and at least get some more sleep."

Elliot pouted and kissed her softly. "I'm sorry, Liv. What can I do to help?" He asked when he realised that she had been hurt by what he had said.

Olivia smiled softly and thought for a moment before responding. "I could really do with a lay in tomorrow. Think you could take Maria to school on your way to work in the morning?" Maybe if she was able to sleep in until around nine a.m., she would be less of a grouch. One good thing about Zoe was that she wasn't a early riser like most children her age and was always up for morning snuggles when she did wake up.

Elliot shook his head and rubbed at his face as if her request caused him stress. "Sorry. We caught a big case tonight that's why I'm so late. I said I will be back in the squad room at seven. I will be long gone by the time the school run comes along." Olivia huffed and shook her head. "What? Come on, Liv. You know what the job is like."

"El, I'm not complaining about the job. My problem is that you're never home any more. You don't spend time with me or the girls. I feel like I'm a single parent again." Olivia admitted.

El glared at her. "Are you saying I'm a bad father and husband?"

The husband and wife pair glared at each other, neither of them said a word until Olivia broke away from his gaze and turned onto her side. "Goodnight, Elliot." Was all she said before closing her eyes and going back to sleep.

By that weekend, Olivia and Elliot had made up after their little midnight spat. However, by the middle of the following week, they found themselves fighting more and more. Most of the time it was over silly little things that Olivia would usually find pathetic but once they got caught up in the moment, their fiery personalities seemed to clash and their arguments just escalated from there. Olivia couldn't help but feel as if her and her husband were slowly drifting a part. Maybe when she returned to work, relations between them would improve but...she wasn't so sure about that.

Olivia was relieved when Saturday rolled around once again. Saturday was 'family day' and her and Elliot had planned to take the girls to the aquarium. Elliot had returned home at a reasonable hour the night before and things between them were going fine.

The family breakfast was interrupted by Elliot's cell phone ringing. He shot a look at Olivia before placing Zoe, who had been in his lap, onto the chair as he stood up. Taking his cell phone out of his pocket, he checked the caller ID before leaving the dining area.

Liv felt a sudden sense of foreboding, having an inkling on who was trying to reach her husband. Instead of openly showing her feelings, she made sure to paste a smile on her face as she listened to the kids chatter amongst themselves.

Olivia looked up from watching the girls when she heard footsteps approaching only to see Elliot with a guilty expression on his face. Liv shook her head and stood up before approaching him. "No...Elliot..."

"A high profile case came in early hours this morning and they need all hands on deck." Was all Elliot said. "Cragen says if we make any headway with it, I can leave early. Hopefully I can meet you for dinner later."

Olivia looked over at the dining room table before turning back to her husband and shaking her head. "They're going to be so disappointed. They were so excited about you coming with us. I think we should cancel the aquarium for today and do it next week instead. It won't be the same without you." Whilst the girls would be disappointed with the decision, Olivia knew they would be even more disappointed to not be going with their daddy.

Elliot sighed dejectedly before scooting past his wife and going over to the table, crouching down between Maria and Zoe. "Hey, so Daddy has to go to work today and help Grandpa. Think it will be ok if we to see the fishies next Saturday?" He hated to disappoint his kids but he was aware that there would be occassions where he and his wife would have to let them down, albeit unintentionally.

Olivia and Elliot were both relieved when neither of the girls reacted too badly to their father's news and soon they were stood on either side of Olivia at the front door as they waved goodbye to El.

Later on in the day, Maria and Zoe were playing at the bottom of the back yard when Zoe tripped over a large rock that was lodged in the earth. The little girl immediately burst out into sobs from the shock of the fall and sudden pain.

Maria hurried towards her baby sister and rubbed her back just like her mommy and daddy did for her when she was upset. "It's ok, Zo-Zo. Mommy will clean it and make you feel all better. That's what mommies do." The six year old claimed before helping Zoe back onto her feet.

The toddler sniffled as she shot the child a confused look. "But...I don't have a mommy." Zoe admitted sadly as more tears brimmed in her eyes. How was her pain supposed to be taken away if she didn't have a mommy?

Maria giggled a little. "Don't be silly, Zo-Zo. Mommy is right over there." She said matter of factly as she pointed over towards the French doors where Olivia was stood half paying attention to the two girls.

Zoe looked between the house and Maria, a quizzical look on her face. "You mean... Livy is my mommy too?" She asked slightly unsure. The concept of Olivia being her mother as well as her deceased parent being her 'mommy' was mind boggling for the three year old. She was sure people could only have one.

Maria nodded as if to clarify what she was saying. "Of course. You live here now. We're sisters which means we have the same mommy and daddy." She paused briefly to look down at her sister's grazed knee. "We should go and ask Mama to clean you up. She has magic kisses that makes all sorts of ouchies go away."

The younger girl considered Maria's statement before nodding as if she accepted everything her big sister had just said. "Ok." Zoe chirped as Maria led her towards the patio.

"Mommy, Zo-zo felled down and hurt her knee. I told her about your magic kisses. That will make her feel all better, right?" Maria enquired as she and Zoe stepped through the glass doors which Olivia held open for her daughters. Liv looked down slightly concerned but took an inward sigh of relief when she saw that Zoe's knee was more dirty than bloody. Nothing a bit of soap and water couldn't fix.

Lifting Zoe into her arms, Olivia directed her next words between the two children. "I'm sure I can get that knee fixed up in no time." She assured. Her focus then turned onto her older child. "Maria, could you just check that the play room is tidy? It's almost time for dinner and I thought afterward we could watch a movie. Hopefully Daddy will be home in time to eat with us tonight." Her last statement caused a slight tightness in her chest. Elliot was very rarely home in time for dinner recently but she hoped he stuck to his word and was trying his best to be home in time. She couldn't help but feel as if he was slightly neglecting his family. It was something she definitely had to bring up the next time she was alone with her husband. She would make sure she vented her thoughts in a diplomatic way to decrease the chances of them getting into another fight.

Maria shrugged nonchalantly and trotted off towards the staircase, leaving Olivia to deal with Zoe's injury. "Let's get that war wound of yours checked out." Olivia announced as she placed her little one on one of the dining room chairs. Every now and then, Zoe would let out a little sob or sniffle. Liv hated the thought of either of her children being in pain emotionally or physically and the small sounds coming from her younger child pulled at her heart strings.

Once the first aid items were gathered, Olivia made her way back over to Zoe who was looking at her and the items in her hand curiously. "This is going to sting a little but your knee will be as good as new real soon." Liv promised as she soaked a cotton wall ball in a mixture of antiseptic liquid and warm water. The mother-daughter duo winced slightly as the cotton wall made contact with the graze but were also both relieved when the pain began to subside.

"There. That wasn't so bad was it? Well done for being so brave." Olivia praised before placing a 'magic' kiss upon the injured knee. She looked up to see the blonde girl smiling.

"It hardly hurts at all now! Thank you, Mommy!" Zoe exclaimed before diving into Olivia's awaiting arms.

Liv's throat clogged up slightly in emotion as Zoe wrapped her arms around her neck tightly. This was a moment she would cherish forever. Her baby girl had just called her Mommy for the first time. Of course, Olivia was aware it was going to take time but she felt like she had waited forever for Zoe to refer to her with that particular moniker. She had so far just been 'Livy' or 'Livia'. Sometimes the three year old had referred to Elliot as 'Daddy' but the again, Zoe had spent a bit more time with him whilst Olivia was undercover and she supposed it had been easier to accept him as a father figure more easily since she had never had one before. Olivia knew that deep down she had been feeling jealous but she had no need to now. Both her babies called her 'Mommy'...there was no need for any more jealousy.

Alas, Elliot's last minute shift at work turned out to be long and gruelling. Every time they seemed to get somewhere in the case, someone or something would end up stone walling them. With each step forward, they were forced to take two steps back.

However, they made a lucky break in the case early on in the evening and the squad decided to celebrate with a couple drinks at the local cop bar not far from the precinct. At first El was reluctant to tag along but with a bit of peer pressure and his realisation that he was already late for dinner, he finally relented. A couple more hours couldn't hurt. Besides, he had a feeling that Liv would be upset with him for not being home at a reasonable hour. He might as well enjoy a couple of beers before facing the consequences of his tardiness.

A couple of drinks turned into quite a few and before Elliot realised, it was nine p.m and most of the squad had left. Now it was just him and Beck left at the table. If he wasn't feeling so relaxed and just a little buzz from the alcohol he had consumed, Elliot would have realised that he and Dani were sat a little closer than what was deemed professional.

"What's on your mind, Stabler?" Dani spoke after a while of them sitting in silence. Elliot just shrugged and took another swig of beer. "Trouble in paradise?" She took a guess.

El chuckled at that, the sound was somewhat dark and mirthless. "Nothing I can't handle." He commented without giving too much away although he knew that his words did confirm that there was something going on in his personal life.

Dani reached out tentatively and rested her hand on his forearm which was resting on the sticky table. "You can talk to me, El. I know what kind of problems can pop up in a usually happy marriage."

The blue eyed detective looked down at her hand before bringing his gaze up to meet hers. Both their eyes were glazed due to their slight inebriation. "You'd think she'd understand my position considering she's worked the same job as me for years!" He suddenly burst out without thinking. Dani was his only outlet as of late. He didn't think it would be a good idea to discuss his marital problems with the rest of the squad seeing as though they were just as close to Olivia as they were to him. Beck didn't comment on his exclamation but gesture for him to expand. "I just can't seem to do anything right. Liv is always on my back about me not spending enough time with her but when I try and have sex with her she pushes me away and says she's 'too tired'." He laughed again at his next words and took another sip of his drink. "I just feel like we're in some sort of viscious cycle."

Beck realised her partner was talking more to himself than to her but she still nodded along with what he was saying. She squeezed his arm gently and leant towards him a little more. "Try not to worry too much. I'm sure it will all blow over eventually." Elliot looked away at her words and without thinking, she cupped the side of his face and turned his head so he was once again looking directly at her.

It happened so fast but incredibly slow at the same time. She inched closer and he instinctively echoed her movements and before either of them could register what was happening, their lips merged together. Their eyes closed as they got lost in their tipsy moment. Dani's hand went to the back of his head to bring him closer towards her and he went to do the same.

The feel of her hair – the length and the texture – suddenly made him realise what it was he was doing. The sensations he was experiencing were foreign and just... wrong on so many levels. Plain and simple: the woman he was kissing wasn't Olivia. That was when realisation suddenly dawned on him, his eyes bolted open and he pushed her away.

The two partners panted a little as they caught their breath and they just stared at each other in shock. Without a word, Elliot jumped up from his seat and grabbed his suit jacket and car keys. He refused to even look in her direction.

"El-"

"I'll see you...tomorrow" Was all he said before hurrying out of the bar.

Olivia sat on the couch in the family room wrapped up in a extra large fluffy blanket watching some mindless sitcom. 'Watching' wasn't really the accurate word to describe her current activity. She was more thinking. The girls had been in bed for almost two hours now so she had plenty of time to get lost in her own thoughts.

The brunette had tried multiple times to get a hold of her husband. Just before serving dinner, she had called to tell him she would be saving him a plate but he didn't pick up. At first she assumed he had got caught up at work but then when the kids started asking where their father was during the lead up to bedtime, she began to think otherwise. She gave up trying to reach him after a voicemail and a couple of texts. Liv wasn't about to start behaving like a needy wife and she certainly wasn't going to beg him to come home. However, she had to stop herself from checking her phone on numerous occasions to see if he had responded.

Olivia was about to call it a night when she heard the lock on the front door turn. She didn't move from her position on the couch but took a sideways glance when Elliot appeared in the doorway. "Your food is in the microwave." She told him offhandedly as her eyes remained locked on the TV.

"I'm not hungry." Elliot replied as he stepped into the room but didn't sit down.

Liv looked up then at his tone of voice and that's when she saw that his pupils were slightly diluted. "Drinks after work? Seriously?" She stated rather thatn asked in a slightly incredulous tone of voice although the volume in which she spoke remained low. The last thing she needed was one of their children to wake up to the sound of them arguing. Liv lifted the curtain from the window behind her and saw his car parked outside. "You drove home?" She hissed, her head snapping towards him. It was clear by his slight swaying that he was over the legal limit.

Elliot scoffed and shrugged. "We've all done it. Don't act like you're so perfect." He spat back at her rather defensively. He really was not in the mood to be lectured or nagged at like he was some sort of teenager.

Olivia looked away from him. "You're such a selfish jerk." She muttered more to herself than to him. Liv stood from the couch abruptly. "Don't you think you're being a bit of a hypocrite since it was only a few weeks ago that you were mad about me going undercover? What would I have said to our daughter's if you got into an accident tonight? 'Sorry girls, Daddy decided to get drunk and drive home and now he's dead. But, it's ok, everyone drives whilst intoxicated.'" Her tone was laced heavily with sarcasm as she spat the words out.

"Olivia-"

"No! I can't believe how reckless you were. What kind of example is that to set for our children-" Olivia would have continued her rant but Elliot's voice made her freeze and her blood run cold in her veins.

"I kissed Dani."

It was said so quickly and out of no where, the words didn't immediately register. The three words hung in the air for a few moments before Olivia's expression turned stoic. Without even a look in his direction, she headed for the stairs, her footsteps heavy.

Elliot tilted his head back to look at the ceiling and ran his hands over his face before sitting down on the other couch in the room. He hunched over, his elbows planted firmly on his knees and head in his hands. In that moment he felt like screaming or throwing something but he didn't want to wake either of the kids. Knowing that the piece of furniture would probably be his bed for the foreseeable future, he moved himself into laying position and looked up at the ceiling with an arm behind his head, feeling a lump form in his throat.

In his stupor and fatigue from the day, his eyes closed briefly but he found himself sitting up and going over to the doorway when he heard footsteps and a sleepy little voice out in the foyer.

"Where are we going, Mama?"

Right there, by the front door, stood Olivia who was putting a winter jacket on their older daughter whilst their youngest as in her arms wrapped in a blanket. The gym bag Liv had on her shoulder gave away exactly what was going on right before Elliot's eyes. "We going to have a sleepover with Grandpa, Baby." Olivia spoke gently, ignoring her husband's presence.

"Liv, don't do this." Elliot pleaded as he made his way over to his family. He went to take Zoe from her arms but she jerked away from him, causing the little blonde to whimper slightly in her sleep.

"Don't touch me." The tone she used was strange. Although her dark mood was clear to Elliot, her voice was not harsh enough to arouse suspicion in Maria who was stood between them rubbing at her eyes tiredly.

The two detectives stared at each other in a tense silence. Elliot was able to muster up the courage to appeal to her better nature. "It's late. The girls should be in bed not out there in the cold and dark."

El's words only seemed to cause more anger in his wife though. "What did you expect? That I would just accept what you've done?!" The child in her arms whined again at the sudden loudness of her voice and Olivia was quick to rub her back comfortingly.

"Aren't you coming, Daddy?" Maria asked innocently as she looked at her mother and father. Her innocence just meant she was unaware of the tension between the two adults.

Olivia and Elliot looked at her and Liv made sure to fix a smile on her face. "Daddy is going to stay here and look after the house. I thought it would be nice if we gave Grandpa some company tonight." She said as she ran her fingers through Maria's hair. Liv then looked back up at her husband, a dejected expression clear in her eyes. "I...I can't be here right now. I need to get away."

The front door was yanked open before Elliot could speak again and a rush of cold air was suddenly in the house. Maria clung onto her father's legs and let out a small protest when Olivia separated them so she could usher the six year old out onto the doorstep. Olivia was about to step over the threshold but with one last look over her shoulder she had one last message for Elliot.

"We'll come back when you've made other arrangements for yourself."