A/N: Okay, so here's the scoop…after this I have one more idea, but I want to do more, really I do, but that means that I need your help. I need you, my fabulous readers, to send me requests. You can put them on the review page or you can message me, either is fine, but please, please, please send me requests!
It was almost 1:00 in the morning and Olivia was fast asleep. She was lost in her perfect dream world; one where Elliot was in love with her and they had their own family.
…….
She was startled awake by the shrill ringing of her cell phone, "Ughhh," she groaned as she rolled over and blindly reached for the offending object. She didn't even open her eyes before she answered the phone groggily, "Benson."
"Olivia," came the teenage voice, filled with tears, "It's me, Lizzie."
Olivia felt panic consume her as she sat up quickly, suddenly very much awake, "Lizzie are you okay? What's wrong?"
"I'm okay…sorta. Can you come get me? Please," she almost begged.
"Of course, Sweetie. Where are you?"
"At a friend's. I was supposed to stay the night," she explained before rambling off an address.
"Okay, I'll be there soon," she told the young girl as she struggled to untangle herself from the bed sheets.
"Thanks Olivia."
"Not a problem."
They both hung up and Olivia quickly pulled sweats on over her pajamas and rushed out the door.
Twenty minutes later she was parked in front of Lizzie's friend's house and had just barely gotten out of the car before the girl was in her arms. She gently rocked Lizzie back and forth, stroking her hair, "Shh, it's okay. Everything's okay."
After a while Lizzie pulled back, picked her bag up from where she'd dropped it when she'd flung herself into Olivia's arms, and walked around to get into the car. Olivia got in, but didn't start the car, "What happened Lizzie?"
"It was awful Liv. Can I just stay at your place tonight and we can talk in the morning? Please."
"Okay, but I have to tell your dad where you are."
Lizzie just nodded.
Once they were back at the apartment, Olivia settled Lizzie in her bed and claimed the couch for herself. She sat down, took a deep breath, and called Elliot.
"Hello," came his sleep filled greeting.
"Hi, El, it's Liv."
"It's 2:00 in the morning, Liv."
"I know."
"So what do you want?" he asked sounding harsher than he meant to.
"I just wanted to let you know that Lizzie called me to pick her up from her friend's and so she's with me now."
"Alright, I'll come get her now."
"No, don't. She's already asleep and she wants to talk in the morning."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, I love your kids, El. I'd do anything for them, you know that."
"Yea, I do. You're amazing."
"Thanks."
"So, what happened at Ashley's?"
"I don't know, she didn't want to talk about it, said she'd tell me in the morning."
"Okay, let me know if there's anything I can do."
"I will."
"Thanks again, Liv."
"Not a problem, El."
"Night, Liv."
"Night, El."
They hung up and drifted back off to sleep, both dreaming of the other.
The next afternoon Olivia dropped a much calmer Lizzie off at Elliot's. She watched them hug and then watched Lizzie walk down to the hall to her bedroom. She then turned to Elliot who was staring at her rather intensely, "What?" she questioned.
"Are you going to tell me why she wanted to be picked up?"
"Teenage girl stuff: rumors, gossip, things just gotta little out of hand."
"Oh. Why didn't she call me?" he asked, sounding slightly dejected.
"Because, El, she's a 17 year old girl. Sometimes she needs a woman, not her dad, no matter how much she loves him," she smiled and placed a reassuring hand on his arm.
"I guess that makes sense."
"She'll be fine, just let it blow over."
"Okay, thanks."
"You're welcome. I guess I'll see you Monday."
"Or you could stay for dinner."
She smiled brightly, "Okay, sure, why not."
After dinner, Olivia volunteered to help Elliot clean up the kitchen. She'd just put the last dish away and tossed the towel on the counter, when she turned around to find Elliot standing right behind her, "Jesus, El, make some noise next time. You scared me," she laughed.
"Sorry," he stated simply. "I meant what I said last night."
"What are you talking about, El?" she raised her eyebrow in confusion.
"You are amazing. You're beautiful, kind, compassionate, strong, loving, selfless, smart, funny, and so many other things that I can't list them all. You. Are. Amazing."
"Elliot," her voice was barely a whisper, "Are you okay?"
He suddenly grew angry, "No, damn it! I'm not okay! I have to see you every fucking day and I know you're amazing, I know I love you, but I can't do anything about it because there's no way in Hell that you'll ever love me!" He turned to walk away, but was stopped by her voice.
"Elliot." Once he stopped, she walked around him so that she could look him in the eyes, "I love you."
It took a second for her confession to register, "You…You love me?"
She nodded, a smile slowly gracing her lips.
He grinned, "You love me."
"I love you."
He pulled her against him, "You really are amazing. I love you, Liv," he kissed her passionately.
When they finally broke apart, it took her a few moments to regain her speech, but she finally did, "You're pretty amazing yourself, El."
"This is like a dream Liv. I never thought you'd love me."
"I do and this isn't like a dream, it is a dream," she brought his mouth back to hers.
"Yea…it is," he murmured softly against her lips.