Elliot stood slowly. He wore a green and khaki service uniform, a healing scar ran down his left cheekbone, and he looked like he hadn't gotten a good night's sleep in at least a week. Her heart stopped when she saw him, and tears nearly came to her eyes. She took three quick steps, wrapped her arms around him, and gave him the tightest hug that she had ever given. His arms wrapped around her and he placed his chin on her shoulder.

"I didn't think you were going to be home for Christmas." She whispered.

"Decision just came down a couple of days ago." He answered. "I didn't want to get your hopes up until I was sure."

He made it home. Thank God he made it home.

They finally broke their embrace, and Cragen approached them, placing a hand on Elliot's shoulder. "Liv, why don't you get your stuff and head out? Take a few days off."

Olivia nodded; she wasn't going to argue. "I'll go grab my coat."

She disappeared beyond the door of the office, and Cragen turned his gaze to Elliot. The detective approached him, and pat him on the shoulder. "Thanks for everything, Captain."

"You don't have to thank me." Cragen said. "Believe me, you've done enough."

"Done enough?" Elliot repeated.

"Look at the uniform you're wearing and you'll understand."

A small smile came across his face. "Merry Christmas, Captain."

"Merry Christmas, Elliot."

He walked out of the office, where Olivia had pulled on her jacket. They walked towards the elevator together. "Where are the kids? You're not spending Christmas with them?"

"I'm seeing them tomorrow." Elliot answered. "They're driving in from Jersey after presents in the morning, so tonight, I'm all yours."

When they stepped outside, he placed his cap on his head and noticed her staring at him. "What?"

"You look good." She said, turning her gaze forward.

Eliot smiled, offering her his arm. She looped hers through his. "Thanks."

They walked to Elliot's car, he opened the door for her, and they drove the short way to their apartment building. When they walked into her living room, he placed his cap down on the coffee table, and collapsed onto the couch, letting out a rough sigh.

"Tired?" Olivia asked, sitting down beside him.

He nodded, letting his eyes close slowly. "Maybe a bit."

"A bit?" Olivia asked. "You look exhausted, when's the last time you had a decent night's sleep?"

Elliot's eyes opened. "I was in Afghanistan, Liv, sleep wasn't really the first thing on my mind. I slept a bit on the plane over here." He slipped his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her close to him. "The important thing is, that I'm here now."

It wasn't the first time they had been this close. She leaned on his shoulder, set her head against his, even cuddled with him during those two weeks he stayed with her. She chalked it up to both of their loneliness, both of them wanting human contact. She rested her head against his shoulder, warmth spreading through her.

"Will you spend the night with me?" Olivia asked. "I mean, otherwise we'd be spending it alone, and…"

"Sounds great." He said, his hand rubbing lazy circles on her shoulder. "Let me go downstairs and get some clothes. I'll be right back."

He stood, she watched him leave, and walked into her bedroom to change. When he returned, he wore a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. He dropped onto the couch next to her, and pulled her close once more. She ran her thumb over the healing scar on his cheek. "Where did this come from?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "This kid in my unit stepped out from cover. I grabbed him, there was this explosion… I caught some shrapnel."

"Caught how much shrapnel?"

He sighed, and reached for the bottom of his shirt. She gasped audibly when she saw the side of his chest. Long, ugly scars ran down his skin. They looked brand new.

"Jesus, Elliot." She whispered, running her hand over the scars. Goosebumps rose on his skin. "When did this happen?"

"A few weeks ago." Elliot said, lowering his shirt. "I spend a couple of days at the clinic in Camp Leatherneck. It wasn't bad, Liv, it just hurt like a bitch."

"It could have been worse." She whispered.

He reached for her hand, and squeezed. "But it wasn't. I'm okay, Liv, and I'm going to stay that way."

She stared at him for a moment, and suddenly felt overwhelmed with her emotion for him. She placed her hand on his chest, and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to the scar on his cheek. When she went to pull away, he placed his hand on the back of her neck, preventing her from moving. She stared into his eyes, which were deep, dark, and filled with something that she couldn't quite decipher. She'd seen every emotion in those eyes: rage against a child molester or rapist, pride for his children, happiness, pain (both physical and emotional), fear… but she had ever seen this before. She wasn't quite sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

Elliot hesitated for a moment longer, then moved in slowly and deliberately.

He's gonna kiss me.

Elliot Stabler, my partner, is going to kiss me.

He stopped millimeters from her lips. They were so close that his breath tickled her skin. She felt his arm wrap slowly around her waist, fingers dancing over the small sliver of skin that was revealed from her shirt riding up. Her forehead fell against his, and as soon as he knew she wasn't going to pull away, his lips pressed against hers.

She'd imagined this kiss for years. Sometimes it was slow and loving, sometimes hard and passionate, and everything in between. None of that ever measured up to what she got. It was all of those things, all of things and more. His lips were dry and a bit chapped, no doubt due to all of his time in the desert, but it did nothing to lessen the kiss. It was the best one that she had ever been a part of. Her arm wrapped around him, and she returned the kiss, finally understanding what the emotion in his eyes was. It was love.

"El." She whispered as they broke apart.

"I'm sorry." He said, pulling away. "I shouldn't have done that, but… I couldn't help it."

"I'm not sorry." She answered.

"You're not?" He asked.

"No."

Elliot bit his lip, and nodded. "Would you regret it if I did it again?"

"Only one way to find out." She answered.

This time, there was nothing gentle about their kiss. He tangled his hand in her hair, pulled her in, and pressed his lips against hers. He nipped at her bottom lip, slipped his tongue into her mouth, and held her body tightly to his. By the time they broke apart again, she was laying flat on the couch and he was over her, his body pressed to hers.

"Sorry." He said breathlessly, leaning back. "Got a little carried away there."

"You have to stop apologizing." She whispered, following him. "I want this, El. As much as you do."

They kissed again, this time a short peck.

"I missed you so much." She whispered. Their foreheads were pressed together, their hands were clasped together, and her leg was wrapped around his.

He nodded. "I know. I missed you too, Liv. So much." His stomach growled loudly, and he chuckled. "I also missed food real food. MREs suck."

He jumped to his feet, and headed for the kitchen. "Got anything to eat in here?"

She followed him, unable to help the smile that spread across her face. "Yeah, I may be able to scrounge up something for you."

He opened the fridge, and immediately turned towards her. "A Christmas ham?"

She shrugged, leaning against him. "I didn't think anyone was going to be here, especially you. But yesterday, I just… got a feeling, so on the way home, I bought it."

He smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Well, that's going to be delicious tomorrow."

She reached around him, grabbed some cold cuts from the fridge, and guided him over to the table. He ate three sandwiches before he leaned back in his chair, sighing contently. "Thanks, Liv."

She nodded, smiling at him. "No problem. We should probably talk, though."

"Yeah, we probably should."

"We kissed." The thought made Olivia smile. "So… what does that make us?"

"I dunno." Elliot admitted, reaching across the table for her hand. "I just know that…I love you, Olivia. I've loved you for a long time. It took me until my divorce to realize it. That couple weeks we spend together were some of the best of my life, and… well, I'd give anything to have more like them."

She squeezed his hand, tears welling up in her eyes. She'd waited and wanted so long to hear her voice, and now that he finally said them, she couldn't believe it.

"I love you too, El." She whispered.

He stood, pulled her to him by the hand, and wrapped his other hand around her waist. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that."

"I think I'm just as happy." She said, setting her hand on his cheek.

He leaned in close. "Merry Christmas, Olivia."

"Merry Christmas, El."

A/N: Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think in the reviews!