Summary: Olivia and Noah join Elliot and his grandsons for New Year's Eve. How do they adjust after finally crossing the line? (This is the final chapter.)

AN: I am so sorry for taking this long to update. Ending a story is so hard for me, so between not having time to write and struggling to write when I did have the time, this chapter just evaded me for weeks. I hope that the chapter makes up for the wait.

Thank you so much for sticking with me and reading my stories. You all have no idea how much I appreciate fic readers. I started writing because I wanted a creative outlet and I feel so bless to be part of such fun and kind fandom.

No beta-I know there are typos despite all my best efforts.

"Spit it out, Noah," Olivia huffs in tired resignation as she fishes for a mug in a cabinet. She knows that she's being a little short with him, but Elliot has just left her apartment to start what was certainly to be another long day at work. She's tired from being up so late and disappointed that she and Elliot hadn't had a chance to discuss last night's events before he left. She really needs a shower and caffeine, not necessarily in that order, before she's ready to have this talk with her son.

But Noah is practically jumping up and down in excitement from his position at the entryway of the kitchen, grinning with wide eyes, as if he's holding onto the biggest secret. "Elliot stayed the night and he said he wants to be your boyfriend!" Noah screeches, hopping from one foot to the other.

As tired as she might be, her son's excitement over her and Elliot's relationship makes her lips curl into a soft smile. "I know he does," Olivia confirms in a much kinder tone as she pours coffee into her mug.

"You do?" he exclaims, surprised. "Then whyyyyy aren't you boyfriend-girlfriend?" Noah draws out and slapping his hands on his thighs, his frustration and confusion at the situation between his mom and Elliot palpable.

"Noah, I've told you this, it's complicated." Olivia doesn't really know what to tell Noah, because she doesn't exactly have a clear answer herself. She and Elliot haven't had a chance to actually talk about what dating and now, having sex, actually means for them.

"That's what he said. But then he said he wanted to be your boyfriend," Noah whines as if that solved every complication his brain could possibly think of. Which is understandable. Olivia knows that tor children, admitting your feelings for another person was the end of the complications, not the start of them.

Olivia shakes her head and sips from her mug. She might not know exactly what she and Elliot are right now, but whatever it is, it's serious and Noah does deserve to know that. He needs to know that Elliot is playing a larger role in their lives than just his mom's friend and that they will all be spending much more time together.

She takes a deep breath and then walks to the living room with her coffee, sitting on the couch and patting it, signaling Noah to sit down next to her. "Noah, please listen to me for a second."

He looks at his mother, excited to possibly get a real answer.

"Do you remember our conversation after Christmas, the one in the car?" Olivia asks.

Noah just nods.

"Well, Elliot and I are friends, and we decided that we are going to start dating soon," she tells him, her voice stronger than her conviction at the moment. She assumes that Elliot won't mind her sharing this with Noah.

Noah nods more, the edge of his lips curling into a grin. "So, you are boyfriend-girlfriend."

"Grown-ups don't always use labels like 'boyfriend-girlfriend.' But Elliot and I are going to start going out on dates and spending more time together—by ourselves and with you," she confirms, trying to explain her complicated adult relationship to her child without being saddled with the juvenile label of "girlfriend" that he seems so stuck on. "How do you feel about that?" she asks.

"That's great!" Noah exclaims, his small body thrumming with excitement, then asks, "Is Elliot going to come back tonight? Is that why he came over last night? Because you guys are dating?"

"He's not coming over tonight. He came over last night because he wanted to check on you. He saw a young boy hurt at work and it made him think of you. He was scared that you might be hurt too," she answers honestly. Noah may be young, but he understands that his mother's job as a police officer comes with scary things.

"But I was at home with you."

"I know. But sometimes when you have been working really long hours and you see something upsetting, your mind tricks you. It can make you fear for the people you love," Olivia explains, not wanting to get into the details of the horrific crime scene Elliot must have run out of last night.

"Elliot loves me?" Noah whispers.

Smiling at his disbelief, Olivia assures him with a tight hug, wrapping her arm around his shoulder and pulling him right next to her. "He sure does. He loves you very much."

Happy with this revelation, Noah lifts his head and asks, "Can we invite Elliot over for New Years?"

Olivia nods. "He might already have plans, but I'll ask him if he wants to come over."

After they finish eating breakfast, a second bowl of cereal for Noah and yogurt and granola topped with berries for her, Olivia texts Elliot. Do you have plans for NYE? Noah asked if you'd come over and celebrate with us.

She wasn't surprised that he wasn't able to respond for several hours, his text coming in late afternoon. I'll be there. Call you tonight?

Grinning, she responded. Talk to you then.

In her happy nature, Olivia decides she needs to message Kathleen to apologize about Christmas. It takes her a while to craft the perfect message, but by dinner time, she's fired off a text.

Kathleen - I meant to text you earlier in the week. I'm sorry for being so short with you on Christmas. I wasn't upset with you, not really. I was just a little shell-shocked. Noah still talks about your shopping trip. Maybe after school starts you could pick him up and take him for the afternoon? I know he'd love it.

Kathleen messages back within five minutes. LIV! I'm still so sorry I pulled Noah into my silly ideas! I'm glad that you aren't upset, though I still think you and dad need to kiss a bit [winky-tongue out emoji] I'd love to take Noah for an afternoon! I love hanging with him!

Biting her lip, Olivia decides that she and Elliot aren't hiding anything, and his girls are already on board so she can divulge a little. Don't worry about me and your dad. [wink emoji; shush emoji] Maybe I can take you for a drink next week?

Kathleen's response is immediate with a gif of a young girl in sunglasses doing a "Happy Dance" followed by her message. I'll be free any night! I need the deets ASAP!

Olivia's phone rings around 10:00 that evening, and she knows it's him. Her heart flutters with excitement and nerves. They'd crossed a significant boundary, the line, last night and then he had to dash out of her apartment back to work before they could talk this morning. Even though her rational brain told her that everything was fine—they had been building towards this, he wanted her, and he still wants her—there was still that small little seed of doubt telling her that she wasn't good enough and that he'd changed his mind. And his distance today, even though she knew he was working, allowed the seed to grow.

"Hey El," she greets him, trying to keep her voice calm, as she slides under her covers, his scent wafting up around her from the sheets, reminding her of his presence here just hours ago.

"Hey," he responds, his own anxiety recognizable in his voice. Elliot's fears echo hers. He was beyond frustrated that he was called back into work so early and hadn't had a chance to hold her this morning and seek the assurance that he needed. He was afraid that he pushed her too far last night. It was only a few days ago when she kissed him for the first time and announced that she was ready to date. And rather than wait to take her out and let her lead them to the next step, he laid in her bed and kissed her, touched her, and pressed his hard body into hers. She'd said that she wanted him too, but he's worried that she just bent to his desires because he was in crisis, always willing to be there for him. And then he ran out this morning before they had a chance to talk. He's beyond anxious to make sure that she's not angry with him.

"Is everything alright?" she asks, perceiving his apprehension. "Is it about last night?" she asks gingerly, her entire body tense, fearful of his answer.

"I just—I just want to make sure you don't regret it," he admits, needing to know where she stood immediately.

"I don't regret it," she answers honestly. She can feel the tension in the air between them lift, despite being on the phone.

Elliot exhales the breath he didn't know he was holding. "Good, that's good."

"Were you afraid that I did?" she asks softly.

"I just…well…I guess I was afraid that I pushed you…or that you may have been upset by the fact that I immediately passed out afterwards," he says with a forced chuckle.

Olivia laughs, thankful for his turn to self-deprecating humor. "You didn't push me. And I know you've had a hell of time the last few days. You were probably exhausted," she assures him sweetly.

Elliot had been asleep when she returned to her bedroom last night. She'd had hoped that they would have had a moment to discuss what had happened and what it meant for him, but she wasn't angry. She was happy that he felt comfortable enough in her space, in her bed, to fall asleep after such an emotionally charged day. She'd just disrobed and crawled into bed next to him, allowing herself to curl into him with her hand on his chest, the feel of his beating heart lulling her to sleep.

"I was, but you deserve more than me zonking out in your bed as soon as I, uh…you know." He's not sure why he's so tongue-tied about this. He's never struggled saying words like finished or come, before. Maybe it's because he never thought he'd be coming with Olivia.

"Give yourself some credit, El, it was at least 5 minutes after you 'you knowed' before you were snoring," she teases back. "You yawned a few times first."

"Geez thanks," he huffs good naturedly. "Okay, so we are both happy about last night then?"

"Yes," she answers.

"And willing to repeat last night?" he dares.

Smiling at the return of his confidence and implied assurance about their relationship. "You don't waste any time, do you?"

"About you? About us? About that? Hell no, I'm done wasting time," he says forcefully, leaving no doubt in her mind about what he wanted.

With all of her worries soothed, she switches topics. "Is your case over?"

"Not over, but we caught a break early this afternoon and are going in a new direction. No more late nights for now." Elliot settles deeper into his couch, taking a swig of beer from a bottle.

"That's good. So, you'll be free for New Years?"

"About that," Elliot starts nervously. Right after he texted Olivia back earlier, Maureen had called him and asked him to babysit her boys. "Can you and Noah come to my place? Mo called me a little after you did, asking me to watch her boys so she and Carl could go to a party with a couple of friends."

"I'll need to check with Noah, but I'm sure he will be happy to change locations. I, uh, I told him that we were…well, that we are dating."

That makes Elliot grin. He takes another sip from his bottle before asking, "How did he take that?"

"He was very excited," she answers, a matching grin on her face. It felt good to finally be here, taking these steps with Elliot.

"He asked me this morning if we were dating. I told him it was complicated, but I got the sense that he didn't want to accept that answer."

"He's been fed up with that response lately," Olivia says, recalling Noah's frustrated Christmas evening. "He's asked me several times why you and I aren't 'boyfriend-girlfriend,'" she adds, the last words feeling heavy in her mouth.

"I'm pretty happy that it's a little less complicated myself," Elliot says.

Olivia can hear the smile on his face, and for a moment, she considers asking him to switch to Facetime so she can see him. But she decides it's too late, so she just says, "Me too, El."

"Eli, sit for a minute," Elliot says as he nods to the spot on the couch next to him when Eli emerges from his room, likely headed to the kitchen for a drink. It's New Year's Eve and Elliot's anxiously waiting for Maureen to drop off the boys and for Olivia and Noah to come over.

Eli rolls his eyes but plops down on the couch next to his dad, swiping through the apps on his phone. "What is it?"

"I wanted to talk to you about something." Elliot's not exactly sure how to broach this subject with Eli. He's his youngest child, the one that may have been closest to Kathy and is suffering the hardest at the loss of his mother. But he's also in the peak of his teen years, where he can't really be bothered to be serious or care about much to his dad. He's been in therapy since last Christmas—something Elliot realizes he should have forced him into much sooner—and he's flourishing at his new school in Colorado. But Elliot wouldn't feel right about going much further with Olivia without talking to Eli and making sure he's comfortable with the new relationship.

"Yes, you can date Olivia," Eli grumbles without looking up from his phone.

"That's—wait. What? I can date her?" Elliot asks, clarifying Eli's remark.

Eli looks at his dad, confused by Elliot's confusion. "That's what you were gonna ask, right?"

"Not quite," Elliot answers. "I mean…I wasn't going to ask for permission, but I wanted to talk to you about her."

"What is there to talk about?" Eli shrugs. "She's been coming around, you like her—everyone else likes her."

"Do you like her?" Elliot asks pointedly, sensing mild annoyance in his son's tone.

"She's alright, I guess," Eli shrugs again and looks back down at his phone. He didn't actually have an opinion on Olivia. He's never really been allowed to form his own opinion on her. All his siblings knew her. His sisters loved her and talked about how she was so strong and independent and had always been there for their family and their dad. Dickie was a little more reserved, but even he never had a bad thing to say about her. Eli had heard the story of Olivia saving his life and his mom's life on the day he was born. But he's never spent that much time with her or talked to her. He knew that his dad was smitten with her and that was confusing all on its own. He was happy that he was living across the country and didn't really have to see his dad fawn over another woman.

This wasn't going exactly as Elliot had planned, but when had anything ever gone exactly how he wanted it to? "How would you feel if I dated her?" he asks, trying to start the conversation again.

"Does it matter?" Eli grumbles, clearly ready to be done.

"Yes Eli. Your opinion is important to me. I want to know how you feel about these things." Elliot says, bumping his fist on Eli's leg in what he hopes is a supportive gesture.

"Why? You are going to date her anyway." Eli thinks about the conversations he's had with a few of his new school friends. None have the exact same life experience as he does, but many have divorced or separated parents and they each grouch and complain about the new love interests of their parents.

"Maybe not," Elliot says. It's the truth. As much as it would hurt him and Olivia, if Eli had a real objection to their relationship, he'd halt his and Olivia's progress until something could be worked out. "Not if it would hurt you that much."

"It doesn't," Eli admits, knowing his dad would sacrifice what is clearly something so important to him. But he doesn't know exactly how to explain his feelings on the subject. "I–I mean, I get it. You guys have this weird connection and history and stuff. And you like her. But it's just weird, I guess. Everyone knows her and has stories about her and you. And I—I just…I miss mom," he says the last bit softly.

Elliot wraps his arm around Eli's shoulder, pulling him into his chest. "I know you do. And I do, too." He kisses the top of his son's head. "This is all new to me. I've known Olivia for a long time, and we were partners and friends for so long, most of it was before you were born—"

"I was a late accident, and I was spoiled. I know…" Eli sighs into his dad's chest, repeating the things he's heard his siblings joke about for ages.

Elliot laughs and pats Eli's back gently. He knows the older kids tease Eli about being unplanned and getting a much better life because Elliot and Kathy were so much older and everyone else was moved out. Eli got to have the undivided attention of his parents and the benefits of their financial security, and he got to live in Italy. "You all were accidents, well maybe not Liz, or maybe it was Dickie. That's not really the point. It's odd for me to be single, and to think about dating. But Olivia is someone that I like and trust."

Eli chuckles and scoffs, "We all know you like her."

"Har har har, I know I've never been great at being chill."

"Don't dad, just don't," Eli grimaces at his dad's attempt to use the younger generation's language and pulls out of their hug. "It's weird to think of you with anyone but mom. But I know that it will happen eventually. And Olivia's okay. So, I guess fine by me if you date her. But I just…it's just probably going to be weird for me for a while," he says, looking down at his lap, fearful that his dad would be upset.

"That's okay, Eli," Elliot says, grasping Eli's shoulder. "This is new for all of us. I want you to feel like you can talk to me about this though. You aren't gonna upset me. And of course, just be kind to Olivia and Noah."

Eli nods. "I know dad. And I will be."

"Thank you. And are you alright if they come over tonight for New Years?" Elliot had already run his plans by Eli, but felt it was necessary to check back in again now.

"Yea, sure. I'm still good to go to my friend's, right?"

"Yes. But remember, you are not to drink, do drugs, or leave their house, and you need to be home by 10:00 a.m. tomorrow," Elliot reminds Eli of the rules for him staying out on New Year's. He might be living on his own in Colorado, but still in the back of Elliot's mind is last Christmas and Eli's foray with drugs and drinking.

"I know. I will be." Eli gets up from the couch and heads towards the kitchen. He turns back to ask," Will Noah and Olivia still be here?"

"I'm not sure," Elliot answers honestly. He's not sure what Olivia's plans are. He knows what he wants, which is to have Olivia in his bed. But it's still so new, he's not sure if she'll be comfortable with that yet. "Is it okay if they are? We can make a big breakfast. Mo and Carl will be by at some time to get Seamus and Kieran."

"I guess…" Eli shrugs again and walks into his room, shutting the door.

Elliot smiles, figuring that the conversation went as good as it was going to go.

Olivia and Noah arrive at Elliot's that night fully loaded down. They picked up noise makers, poppers, silly glasses, and glow-in-the-dark jewelry to ring in the new year. Elliot promised ice cream sundaes and sparkling cider for the count-down.

"Hey guys! You made it!" Elliot greeted them at the door. He lifted his fist for Noah to pound before he rushed into the apartment. Then, he raised arms wide, surrounding Olivia quickly and pressing a quick kiss to her temple.

"Do you need any help?" he asks when he pulls back from their hug, looking at the shopping bags in her hands. "Where are the rest of your bags?"

"I have, uh…our bags in the car," she tells him, nodding back down his hallway.

Olivia packed overnight bags for her and Noah and prepared him for possibly staying over at Elliot's tonight—which caused him to squeal for a good five minutes. She'd left them in the car so as not to seem presumptuous. Though, they were staying until midnight to ring in the New Year, so maybe it wasn't so odd for her to expect to stay the night. And Elliot's question confirms that he'd expected her and Noah to stay over.

Smiling broadly, Elliot kisses her cheek before whispering, "I'll get them. Just set those in the kitchen. I'll be right back."

After dropping their bags in the appropriate rooms, Elliot brought out the throwing burrito game and Jenga, and the boys brought their nerf guns. In no time, the boys were running around Elliot's apartment laughing and shouting and orange nerf bullets were flying all which way.

Olivia and Elliot spend their time circling each other a bit, each nervous about the implications of the evening. Finally, they both relax onto his couch, settling for beer before he pops open the champagne for midnight.

"So, how does it feel to spend New Year's Eve with your new boyfriend?" Elliot teases through an ornery grin, knowing she has a distaste for the juvenile label from their previous conversations.

"I don't know, I'll have to update you when he shows up," she mocks smirking, punishing him for using the word.

"Ouch! I guess I deserved that one."

She smiles at his reaction; happy he was going along with the bit. "Honestly though, El. It feels really good to be here with you."

"Buuuut," he draws out, "You're nervous."

"I'm not nervous–nervous," she tries to explain. "It's just…It's us, you know? We've danced around this for ages, and to finally be here, it's nerve racking…though that word doesn't feel exactly right either."

"I know what you mean," he agrees, resting his hand on her thigh. "I'm so glad you are here, but I'm not exactly sure how to act now that we are doing whatever this is that we are doing."

She covers his hand with hers, comforted by his admission and the warmth of his touch. "What do you mean? You are acting just fine."

He leans in conspiratorially, looking back and forth to make sure the kids are in the other room. "I might be fine on the outside, but all I've wanted to do since you've arrived is kiss you and hold you tight. You look so beautiful and now that I know what it's like to kiss you, it's all I can think about when I see you."

Her eyes focus on his lips as her heart beats quicker. "Just kiss me?" she asks, her voice quiet and low.

"For starters." He winks and squeezes her thigh before he gets up from the couch to fetch another beer.

Noah joins him in the kitchen just a moment later asking for more sparkling apple juice.

"Are you going to kiss my mom at midnight?" Noah asks as Elliot fills the plastic flute.

"I don't know Noah," Elliot answers, placing the juice back in the refrigerator and closing the door. He wants to kiss Olivia at midnight, but he remembers how she panicked at their mistletoe mishap on Christmas and her anxiety about kissing in front of Noah, so he wants to clear the kiss with her first.

"But you are dating now," he argues with a grin, still happy that Elliot is his mom's boyfriend.

Elliot looks at him seriously and clarifies, "She still has to want me to kiss her, even though we are dating. You always need to get permission to kiss someone, even if they are your boyfriend or girlfriend." The SVU detective in him never too far deep down to miss an opportunity to explain consent to the new generation.

Noah nods. "I know."

"Good," Elliot claps him on the shoulder, "And we might kiss at midnight, if she wants to. Is that okay with you?"

"Yup! But not like too much kissing," he adds, drinking half his flute of juice in one chug and letting out a small belch.

"Too much?"

"You know, some kissing looks really yucky," Noah adds with a grimace and dramatic shudder.

"Okay then," Elliot laughs at the nine-year old's description of what he assumes to be French kissing. "If I kiss her, it won't be yucky."

It's about two minutes to midnight and the boys are barely able to contain themselves. They are dressed in their pajamas and completely covered with glow-in-the-dark stick necklaces and bracelets, 2023 hats and glasses, and have noisemakers in their lips and poppers poised and ready.

Elliot walks up to Olivia, wrapping his arm loosely around her low back and he whispers low so only she can hear, "Noah said it's okay if I kiss you at midnight."

A grin curls across her lips, "Did he now?"

"Yea, but no tongues," he says with a solemn nod.

Olivia eyes him, shocked. "That's what he said?"

"Well, he said we couldn't kiss all yucky," he explains. "Which I took to mean no tongues."

Olivia chuckles. Noah might want her and Elliot to date, but he's still nine years old and some kissing is gross to nine-year-old kids.

"Shame."

"Do you want me to kiss you Liv?" he growls directly into her ear.

"Yes." Her voice is huskier than she expected when she answers, but this new proximity with Elliot and impending kiss—even without tongues—has her heart beating faster for the second time that night. She has a pretty good idea how this night is going to end, and if she's right, it won't be the last time her heart pounds against her chest.

"Good, now watch the count down," he nods towards the television where the announcers have started counting the final seconds of the year.

7…

6…

5…

Elliot clinks his glass against Olivia's and turns to face her, pulling her body closer to his with a low-slung arm. "Cheers."

3…

2…

1…

She whispers a soft "cheers" back just as his lips meet hers. And to his credit, he keeps their kiss very PG per Noah's request, just one long press of his lips against hers, never opening his mouth, then two quick pecks when he pulls back. He tastes like champagne and him, when she licks her lips, a taste she's not sure she'll ever grow tired of.

She can tell from the darker shade of his eyes that he'd like to kiss her more, but they are interrupted by the cheering of the young boys and their noisemakers and poppers shooting paper into the air.

"Happy New Years, Mom!" Noah shouts and jumps, losing his hat.

Olivia leans down to kiss his cheek, then puts his hat back on his head. "Happy New Years, baby!"

Elliot kisses and hugs his grandsons, wishing them a Happy New Year as well. Then he manages to steal one more kiss from Olivia before he heads to the kitchen to clean up their mess.

The boys make it about another half hour purely due to the massive quantities of sugar consumed throughout the evening, but when they pass out, they sleep hard. Elliot carries each of them to the guest room that he made up with an extra mattress for Noah.

"They are out like a light," he tells her when he joins her in his room, seeing her standing next to his bed, her overnight bag sitting on the mattress in front of her, pajamas waiting in one hand while the other digs through the open bag. She's flipped on the lamp in the corner of his room and the one on what will be her nightstand, casting a soft glow over her.

He can't stop himself; he wants her so badly at that moment. She yelps in surprise when he grabs the pajamas from her hands and tosses them back in her bag and tugs her into him, his lips finding hers in a bruising kiss.

He pulls back briefly to pant his explanation, "I didn't get to kiss you like I wanted at midnight, all yucky and whatnot." He smirks devilishly before crushing his mouth on hers again, licking the seam of her lips, begging her to open them to him. She does and lets him sweep his tongue through her mouth hotly.

This kiss is new for them. He's leading it with such intensity that she half fears that her lips will burn off under his own. It stands in stark contrast with her sweet first kiss and his timid ones the other night. It reminds her of his fierce kiss that left her so dazed that she could barely put her coat on after Christmas, but it's even more. He's fierce and lewd, his tongue and lips moving sinuously over her mouth. If he's setting the tone for their evening, she's not sure she will survive.

"What do you want?" he asks, when he separates from her a second time, licking his lips and his chest heaving.

Her arms wind tightly around him, keeping him as close as she can. Olivia knows what he's asking—whether she wants to stop and go to bed or if she wants to continue. She's been worried about how they were going to progress through the evening for bed and potentially approach sex, but it seems that he's taking care of all that right now.

"You," she answers quietly, but with confidence as her eyes search his.

"Yea?" He's surprised by her answer. He had purposefully kept his expectations low for this evening, assuming that she'd put the kibosh on anything happening tonight with the kids just next door. But when he saw her in his room, preparing herself to sleep in his bed, he couldn't stop himself and he hoped she'd want more.

"Yea, but I wasn't sure…" she trails off, not exactly certain why she thought that he wouldn't want her tonight, but then she grins recalling their phone call when he asked eagerly if they'd be repeating the other night and his earlier "for starters" comment.

"Liv, I want you…all the time." He kisses her cheek and down her neck, muttering, "Whatever you want, I'm yours."

He turns them around and sits on the bed, slowing them down though his lips never lift from her neck. Pulling her onto his lap, his fingers fanning out over the back of her thighs. Olivia's hands grip his shoulders and then slip down his back as she settles herself on her knees over his legs, urged on as his hands work their way over her ass, squeezing and groping through the soft denim of her stretchy jeans. He groans when her chest presses against his, her warmth surrounding him.

Elliot returns to her mouth and draws on her bottom lip, sucking it deeply into his mouth and nibbling. She gasps at the sting when he bites it a little too hard, "Oh god," and clutches onto him, her nails digging into his shirt just as they did that night. He takes the opportunity to slip his tongue further into her mouth, sweeping through deeply. Guided by his hands on her hips, Olivia tips her hips and rocks over him, desperate to feel him pressed against her so intimately. He grunts at the sensation rushing through his body when she pressed down on his crotch, growing uncomfortably tight against his jeans.

The memory of the other night flood into his mind, how soft she was under his palms. Drawn to that softness again, he slides his hands under her shirt, warm and rough over her skin, her shirt bunching on his wrists as they rise to her shoulders. Reflexively her arms lift. Pulling back from the kiss, he tugs the shirt over her head, tossing it aside, and then lays her down on the bed.

She wonders briefly if she should be self-conscious about this moment, laying so exposed on his bed with the soft lights on, but at the greedy look in Elliot's eyes, she doesn't need to be, he doesn't care about her scars at this moment. Instead, she just focuses on Elliot's lips and tongues as he kisses down her neck, trailing lower and lower as her back arches, pressing her breasts into his face. He breathes in deeply at her sternum before he continues on his downward path.

"Liv, fuck…so sexy," he murmurs against her belly, sucking on the soft skin. His tongue licks into her belly button and he nips right below it, causing her to hiss between clenched teeth. Olivia lifts her hips and shoves at the waistband of her pants and underwear when his fingers fumble with the button on her pants.

Grinning at her readiness, Elliot stands from the bed and slips her shoes and socks off, tugging at the ankles of her pants before tossing them over his shoulder with an ornery grin. "The only regret I have from the other night was not taking my time with you. Take your bra off," he gruffs with a nod as he places her bag on the ground and pulls his own shirt over his head.

Cocking her head at his command, as she reaches behind her to unhook her bra, enjoying this new side of him. "You took plenty of time, El," she answers as she drops it off the side of the bed. The pink crawling over her chest grows deeper as she recalls how slowly he fucked her, loved her in her bed, taking all the time in the world to work them up—scratch of his two-day stubble; the wet velvet of his tongue on her nipples; his weight pressing her into the mattress; and the grip of his fingers on her body—until they were crashing over the edge together.

"Women don't usually complain about that," he teases with a wink, pushing down his pants and briefs before toeing out of his shoes and socks.

Olivia chuckles and shuffles up the bed to his pillows and takes him all in propped up on her elbows, her eyes pausing on his erection. She didn't have an opportunity to truly appreciate his body last time. Her room was too dark, and they were more focused on feeling connected that night rather than spending time familiarizing themselves with each other's bodies. She knew he felt wonderful as he rocked into her, but seeing his cock now in the lamp light, causes want to rise up. She wants, aches, to touch him, tease him, taste him. "I wasn't complaining. I just don't want you to sell yourself short," she mutters as she considers leaning forward and taking him in her mouth, licking at the small bead of precum that's collecting on his tip.

But Elliot's already kneeling on the mattresses between her legs, and trailing a finger over her shin and knee, tickling the sensitive skin up to her hip. "I'd never do that. I just meant that tonight, I plan on exploring you," his tongue touches the inside of her thigh on the last word as he hunches over to kiss up her leg and nip at her hip bone. She falls flat on her back, her arms reaching wide for him.

This is how it was supposed to feel between them—hot, fun, and exasperating—she thinks. Not that she regrets their first time, in a way it was perfect. That night was exactly what they needed then. But their partnership and friendship had always been teasing and taunting; daring and exciting; riling each other up just to see them squirm; and then taking care of the other when they so desperately needed it. Sex between them wouldn't be any different.

"Hmmmm," she hums, letting her legs fall open so he can settle between them, ready for his exploration.

He groans when he finally gets a good view of her, pinky and puffy under her trimmed curls, noticing a thin line across her where hair didn't grow. He knows what it is, but even with that mark and the others he sees peppered across her skin, she is so sexy.

"Shit Liv, look at you…" He trails the back of his fingers over her sensitive skin, taking his time with her, gently kissing and licking, teasing her with a smirk as she squirms beneath him.

"El…please."

At her plea he dives in deeper, devouring her. His tongue thrusts into her, pulls back to circle her entrance, before driving back into her. He finds her clit and sucks it deeply in his mouth. It takes a minute to learn the exact pressure and movement she wants from his tongue and lips on her clit. He knows he finds it when a desperate mewl escapes her and she shamelessly winds her hips against his lips.

Relentlessly he works her over, making up for the lost opportunity last week and the lost time in the last two decades. She stifles a loud moan with his pillow when he slides in two fingers, pressing in deep and curling upward when he strokes them out. He savors her taste on his tongue, the press of her body against his lips, the sounds making their way to his ears as he can tell she's growing closer and closer. He grinds into his soft blanket, his erection desperate for any friction at her honest and almost frenzied response to his efforts.

Relief floods through him when he finally feels her break, her cunt clutching around his fingers, her hips jerking, and her thighs seizing on his shoulders.

Her chest heaves red and sweaty under his lips as he licks his way back up to her mouth, stopping only momentarily to suck a nipple roughly in his mouth, knowing how much she loved the attention the other night, but not able to stay still for too long as his cock begs for attention.

"Fuck…El," she pants against his mouth, hers still open and sucking in oxygen, but he licks in undeterred, forcing her to taste herself on his tongue.

"Yea…fuck," he echoes and watches his cock grinding into her, slicking it in her own release. Before he can guide himself in, he's being pushed back by her hand on his chest.

"Wha–" his eyes grow wide, confused at her sudden movements.

"Sit back," she commands, already sitting up on her knees.

Elliot's eyebrows shoot up and smirks, "Yes Captain."

"Don't," she mumbles gruffly, but the smile curving over her lips tells him she liked his use of her professional title.

Elliot pulls her back onto his lap in the middle of his bed. Wrapping her legs around his low back and her arms around his neck, she kisses him ardently, letting her tongue twirl with his for a minute and trapping his erection between their bellies. She supports his tilted head at the base and scratches at the sensitive skin of his head and neck.

"Shit, Liv…" he hisses through gritted teeth when she finally reaches between their bodies, grasping him at his base and shifts her hips. He slides in easily, the short-lived pinch and stretch that came at their joining before not present this time after he worked her up so skillfully.

Palming her ass as she settles back in his lap, he pushes and pulls her over his cock, rocking into her the best he can from below with his legs crossed under her. In this position they are close, held closer by her arms clutching onto his back and shoulders as they move seeking the better grip on his thick, muscular frame. In the back of her mind, she suspects that he anticipated that they'd be more frantic and enthusiastic this time, but she finds that she doesn't want any space between them, not yet any way. She wants to savor every inch of their connected skin, making up for all the time they had to keep their distance.

Elliot pulls down on her shoulders with a heavy grip and his mouth dips trying to reach her breasts, but he ends up just kissing and sucking haphazardly at the soft skin covering her chest and neck, leaving small red marks in his wake.

"You feel so good, El," she pants at his temple.

"So good," he echoes again, all sense and ability to form thought lost as she takes him into her body over and over again.

Quickly their bellies slip against each other slick with perspiration, and the air feels cool when she leans back, gripping his thighs, so he can thrust into her harder. His thumb finds her clit as her own hand pinches and rolls her own nipple between her fingers.

"Gorgeous…fucking gorgeous," he growls, watching her body move and himself slide into her over and over. "Come on baby, come for me," he begs when he sees her eyes roll back and her nose scrunch, pleasure contouring across her features and starts to feel his own release tingle low in his spine.

"I–I I'm gonna…" she pants, letting her head fall back and surrendering her body to his movements. Her fingers dig into the muscle of his thighs, leaving half-moon indentations, and she moans his name low, barely remembering to be quiet, as pleasure unfurls through her body, staring at her core and rippling through her body in wave after wave.

"Yes, come on." He watches with rapt attention as she falls apart on his lap. Holding her by her hips, he tugs her roughly onto his cock, and jerks twice with a low groan as he spills into her, forced over the edge by the sensation and visual of her orgasm.

He wraps his arms around her and hauls her over his body as he collapses back on the bed, their hot breath mingling when he blindly finds her mouth for the hundredth time that night.

Elliot tiptoes past Olivia as she peaks into his guest room, checking on the boys. She's in his robe and he's covered in goosebumps from the fridge as he grabbed the second bottle of champagne in only his boxers.

He settles into his bed, resting against his headboard, and quietly pops the bottle, pouring a healthy amount into two flutes. She takes her glass from him when she slides under the covers next to him.

"Here's to this year being our year," she offers in toast, when he turns to face her holding his own glass.

"To us," he counters.

She repeats, "To us," clinking their glasses together for the second time this evening.

He kisses her cheek sweetly. "How does French toast sound for breakfast tomorrow? Eli should be home by 10:00 and I bet Maureen and Carl will be here before noon. Plus, I think Noah needs to taste my famous French toast," he adds with an excited smile.

"Sounds perfect to me," Olivia answers. Her eyes drift over his face, tracing his nose and lips and strong chin covered by a bit of scruff, and a happy calm settles over her, realizing that she's finally here; that they are finally here.

"What?" he asks, his eyes narrowing at her staring.

"Nothing, El." She shakes her head. "Just…thank you for being such a good man.