Let me just start by saying how awesome you guys are, thank you so much for your encouragement, every review I get makes me type a little faster lol. I'd like to answer some of the questions I'm getting from multiple reviewers, first, Dickie will be in this, and his absence from the bar will be explained. Second, Yes Kathy is Team Benson, in my story she is absolutely one of the good guys, that will not change, there is no hidden agenda on her part or underlying jealousy. Also, a lot of you want to know about all the different people, I wanted to write a story with interaction from several people, I want to show how much they all pull together and fight for El and Liv, Kathy is a key character and that will be proven coming up. This story is starting to take off with a big twist coming your way…. Enjoy and please review

He heard the knock from his bedroom, he hurried with his shirt, pulling it over his head and walked out towards the door. He stopped in front, he swung it open a little surprised to find his ex-wife standing there, hands in her jean pockets.

''Kath. Is something wrong?''

''No. No...'' She smiled a bit, removing her hands ''Can I come in?''

''Sure… Sorry'' He smiled and opened the door all the way for her to enter the apartment, once she stepped passed him he closed it and turned back to face her.

''You're an Idiot'' She stared him down

''Sorry?'' He looked at her, his face in confusion

''You cleaned up in here'' Looks around the now cleaned space, then back at him. ''Notice your daughter picked up her phone she forgot?'' raises an eyebrow at him, his face drops, not having realized that Kathleen had been there when he hadn't left the house since…

''When d-did she get that?'' his voice was soft, nervous.

''About 6 this morning, we stopped on our way back from Bernie's…'' she leaned against the island separating the kitchen and living room, crossing her arms she never took her eyes off him

He closed his eyes, realization dawning on him, Kathleen knew that Carrie had went to West Chester for the weekend, she had been at the apartment when she left, His daughter had been here, had heard him cheating on her future stepmother''

''Shit''

''Shit is right Elliot'' shakes her head '' How could you do that to her?'' Eyes him

'' I didn't set out to hurt Carrie, it just happened, I didn't intentionally...''

Rolls her eyes. ''I could probably give two shits less about Carrie, Elliot… How in the Hell could you do that to Olivia?!"

His eyes widen, his mouth dropping a bit, he didn't realize that she knew exactly who it was in his bed this morning. ''How did you…'' He looked at her

''Kathleen got her wallet out of her purse to see who she was''

''Oh God'' He sits on the couch before he lost his grip, his balance. He rested his head in his hands.

Kathy smoothed her hands over jeans, closing her eyes for a minute before looking at him again. ''Tell me you are not going to go through with this wedding.''

He looked up at her quickly. ''I made a commitment, I bought her a ring, I can't just throw it away because of one night.''

She gave him a blank stare, she didn't speak for several minutes, just stared at him, internally replaying everything she had heard in the park, everything she had heard Olivia say, every time her voice cracked as she poured her heart out to her brother, she narrowed her eyes at him.

''What in Hell is wrong with you?''

''I messed up'' He turned his eyes away from her, Kathy stands and walks over to the couch, she sat beside him looking straight ahead before turning to him.

''You love her… you've loved her for 20 years Elliot, I've accepted that, why can't you?'' Kathy spoke softly, her tone wasn't hateful, she wasn't accusing him. He turned his head to look at her, his eyes were tired, tired of fighting it, Kathy was sitting here next to him willing to hear it, willing to listen, and talk about her. He had the opportunity to finally open and say it out loud, He knew he was safe with her, he knew even now she would keep his secrets and it would never leave this room.

''She scares the shit out of me'' He spoke barely above a whisper; it was the truth that kept him from admitting the even harder truth

Kathy sighed. ''Love is scary El, you give in, you give it your all, you build a life, and sometimes it doesn't work, it doesn't matter how much time you have together, how many good things, memories that you share with that person, 50 years can pass and it can still fall apart. People change, but sometimes you don't. Sometimes that love never falls apart, you don't change, sometimes it does conquer all.'' She turns to him, taking his hands in hers, making him look at her. ''When you're crazy in love you have to take a chance, grab her, hold her for dear life and never look back.''

She had never seen such fear in his eyes, such emotion, she realized in that moment that it was as real for them as it got, Elliot and Olivia were the unconditional love story that every little girl dreamed about, and if they wouldn't fight for it she was sure as hell gonna do it for them.

'' I thought you would have went to her 4 years ago Elliot. I thought you would have her on a date before the ink was dry, I realize that you both had feelings during our marriage, and you were both very respectful and I thank you both for that. Don't do this, don't do this to yourself, don't do this to her, you both deserve better.'' She stands up, putting her coat back on and heads toward the door.

''She waited a long-time Elliot, I can guarantee you, if you make her wait until your next divorce, she won't be here.'' She opened the door and walked out, she left him with his thoughts swirling around his head, she only hoped that she had helped him take a step in the right direction.

EOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEO

She left work early on Monday, that had been happening more and more over the last few months. 20 years at SVU, giving her life to that place, giving her life up. She didn't regret it, not any of it, all the people she has helped, all the victims, children, she watched start to heal after their own traumatic experiences seem to take over their lives. Then she became one and the world tilted, the grayness of her job became crystal clear, she sympathized with the victims on a different level, a level that she now truly understood. And then there was Him. Elliot… She had met Elliot inside the old precinct walls when she was 24 years old, she laughed when she remembered her first thoughts of him, she told herself that he was going to be the biggest pain in her ass… She was right.

She sat on the couch, rubbing her hands down her face. She wouldn't even think of the pain that had coursed her body when he left, every message unreturned, every call that went to voicemail. Each one broke her a little more, cracks that would never heal. She shook those thoughts away, then there was Simon. SVU was the only reason she knew Simon, she had used her connections there to find him, and it worked. Although a rocky start, followed by years of absence, and then he kidnapped Olivia. He spent 90 days in prison for custodial interference and came back a changed man. He came back a man, not a reckless, spoiled boy that had impulse issues and a careless attitude. A man. It took him a while to get his life on the right path. He finally had been able to gain full custody of his daughter after Tracy had overdosed, a tragedy that sent Olivia right back into the confines of Social Services. He knew with a record he could never work in the Pharmaceutical field again, so with a lot of soul searching he managed to put up a fight and score a small business loan, he bought a rundown bar, just something that rake enough income in to support his daughter. That's when he reached out to her, he had text her and asked her to meet him at a diner, she was surprised when he told her his plan. She convinced Nick to fly in from LA. The three of them worked on that bar day and night for two weeks, renovations in every inch, new paint, floors and a newly built stage in the back corner. She had no idea that his business venture would turn into one of the hottest places in uptown Manhattan.

That's when things began to change, they grew together instead of farther apart, he helped her heal and she did the same for him after Tracey's death. She started helping more and more, and he finally became the brother she wanted.

They were helping each other through parenthood, through life. He had mentioned to her a few times that she should chuck SVU and be his partner. She laughed it off every time. Then she realized he was serious. He had asked her to dinner, laying out a plan of action if she was in, he had ideas for what sounded like a great partnership, talk of expansion, and upgrades. That was the night he asked her to be his partner officially. That was the night she broke his heart. She explained that she had taken a job With the US Marshalls, that she was moving to Phoenix.

She looked around the space, some of hers and Noah's things were still out, but there were stacks of boxes lining the walls where she had started packing. Simon was right, she was running faster than ever, even though she had accepted the job over a month ago, the last couple of days had set it in stone. She wanted as far away from New York as she could get. She didn't want to chance running into him and his new Bride after their wedding, she couldn't even fathom the thought of seeing them, seeing him with a ring on his finger again, she barely survived the last one. She had promised herself she wouldn't, she couldn't help it, it was an overwhelming urge that put a magnet in her hands attaching them to her cell phone. She scrolled through her phone, stopping when it reached his name. Elliot Stabler… She tapped the screen quickly, the short and simple message that held everything she was feeling. The same thing she was feeling for everyone in her life at the moment, she let the tears start flowing as she hit the send icon and fell back onto the couch

''I'm sorry''