Author's Notes: I am still relatively new to the world of L&O:SVU. This story was written before I knew of Olivia's relationship with her mother and I've since found it to be contradictory to the SVU version. As this is the world of fiction I have to ask you to go along with it and enjoy the ride.

Wednesday

As a result of their Friday night parting, their working relationship was somewhat strained upon Olivia's return to the precinct. It was noticeable to all, but only Captain Cragen mentioned it.

"Benson, Stabler, in here," he ordered, late Wednesday morning.

"Yes, Captain," Elliot said as he closed the door behind them.

"What's going on with you two?"

"Nothing," they replied in unison.

"Nothing? It doesn't seem like nothing to me. You two haven't exactly been on friendly terms this week. Something wrong?"

"No, sir," replied Elliot.

"Olivia?"

"No, sir, nothing's wrong."

"Alright, I'll accept that – for now, but if I don't see an improvement soon, you'll both be back in here. Got it?"

"Yes, sir."

It was a quiet ride out to their noon interview with Julie Sullivan, a witness in their latest case, but on the way back Elliot decided to broach the problem. He pulled the car into a side street two blocks from the precinct.

"Liv, we need to talk."

"About?"

"About? About Friday. Look I…"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Neither do I but I think we have to. We're not exactly getting along this week and…"
"And…it's my fault, right?"

"No! No! Liv, it's nobody's fault. It was an awkward situation."

"Awkward? Is that what it was? I thought you made yourself clear."

"No, that's not what happened."

"Really? I was there Elliot, I know what happened. I went to kiss you and you backed away. Obviously the thought of me kissing you was too much to bear."

"That wasn't it at all.'

"Then what was it, Elliot – explain it to me?"

"I wanted you to kiss me."

"Sure, that makes sense."

"It does?"

"No, I was being sarcastic. If you wanted me to kiss you, why back away?"

"Because…I thought maybe you wanted something more."

"More? Why would you think that?" Olivia asked, though she knew the answer and she knew he was right, she did want more, much, much more.

"Your hand on my leg during the movie."

"And would it have been such a problem if I had wanted something more?"
"Yes…I mean…no…"

"Which one?"

"Yes, it would be a problem…"

"Why?"

"Because you're in a vulnerable state right now and I don't want you doing something you'll regret later."

"That's chivalrous of you."

"And because I'm still a married man. I can't…I won't…Kathy's still my wife."

"You've been separated for years."

"Two years."

"Well, it's certainly not a marriage anymore."

"I know but I took a vow when I married her and I won't break it."

"So, what do we do now?"

"Can we put it behind us?" He looked at Olivia, a pleading in his eyes; he didn't want to lose her.

"We can try."

Saturday

Elliot's Residence

6.58 am

A month later, their working partnership was still on shaky ground. The Captain had called them in together and separately on several occasions, the latest being the evening before as they were about to leave. Neither Elliot nor Olivia had a chance to speak during the brief encounter. Captain Cragen had simply said, "Figure this out by Monday or I'll reassign you both. Dismissed." Elliot had gone his way and Olivia hers, but after a very sleepless and restless night Elliot decided to visit Olivia. He opened the door to find her sitting on the front steps.

"Liv, how long have you been there?" He asked, sitting beside her.

"Oooh, a while I think."

"Why didn't you knock?"

"I didn't want to disturb you."

"I wasn't sleeping."

"We've got a problem, haven't we?"

"Yep." Elliot took her hand. Olivia looked at him and then their clasped hands.

"Is this going to help?"

"Olivia, Liv, I…I…huh, I think our working relationship is over." He stared at her.

"Oh, I see. You don't think we can figure this out?"

"I figured it out."

"You did? Enlighten me."

"We got along fairly well until all this happened, right?"

"Right."

"And that one Friday night changed everything, right?"

"Right."

"Do you know why it changed everything?"

"Why?"

"Because I think we both realised our relationship had crossed the line."

"It had?"

"Yep. I spent most of the conference in a daydream about you and me..."

"You did?"

"Yep, and I had all these images of what would happen Friday night when I saw you again."

"So, what happened when you saw me, change your mind?"

"No, definitely not. I just couldn't."

"Because I was so vulnerable and you were married?"

"Yeah."

"I'm not so vulnerable now."

"And I'm not married."

"You're not?"

"I signed the papers that night when I got home. I'm officially divorced."

"Oh."

"Oh, is that all?"

"I rang Simon Clifford last week."

"You did? And…"

"He offered me a job."

"What did you say?"

"I said I'd have to think about it but when Cragen gave us 'til Monday, I rang him and accepted. I didn't think our working relationship could be saved. I did want more that night and nothing we could say would change that."

"And now?"

"I still want you."

"Liv, you have me."

"I do?"

"Yeah." He reached in and kissed her, lightly at first but then deepening in intensity.

"Oh, Elliot." Was all Olivia could manage as she broke the kiss.

"Liv, do you want to come in where we could be more comfortable?"

"Aha," she said as he helped her up.

When the door was shut, Olivia moved into Elliot and kissed him with such passion he was grateful for the support of the wall. Then, Olivia took his hands and led him up the stairs to his bedroom. She removed his top and pulled him down with her to the bed. As things progressed, she sensed reluctance on his behalf.

"Uh Liv, could we just hang on a minute?"

"Sure, why?"

"Um, well…um…" He sat on the side of the bed.

Olivia went and stood in front of him. "Elliot? What's wrong?"

"Well, um…oh god…um…"

"Elliot, it's alright – whatever it is." She sat beside him and took his hand. "Don't you want to? Are we going too fast?"

"No, I want to…believe me; I want to – a lot."

"So?"

"You know Kathy and I were high school sweethearts, right?"

"Yeah, I knew that."

"We married straight out of school because she was pregnant with Maureen."

"Yeah."

"Well, Kathy was my first…and, um…my only…"

"Oh, I see."

"So, I…I don't have a lot of 'experience', I mean…"

"Elliot, it's ok. We can take things slowly…"

"Good," he kissed her cheek.

"Anything else you're worried about?"

"No, I don't think so."

He drew her down to the bed and kissed her several times before he stopped again.

"Liv, um…"

"What is it, Elliot?" Olivia asked but continued kissing his body.

"I'm not …prepared."

"You look pretty ready to me." She looked up at him.

"I mean, I've not got any protection…any…um…"

"Condoms?"

"Yeah, condoms."

"Well, I'm on the pill and got a clean bill of health from my doctor two months ago."

"I got a clean bill last month."

"So, we don't need additional protection."

"Are you sure?"
"Positive. Elliot, just relax and enjoy yourself."

Olivia and Elliot spent the best part of the weekend exploring the new phase of their relationship. Sunday night, Elliot spent the night at Olivia's ensuring they would go to work and face Captain Cragen together. They would explain to their boss they had sorted themselves out and leave it to him to decide their fate. Olivia still had the option of working with Simon Clifford but she thought she would see what the police department could offer. Just before falling asleep, Olivia rolled over to Elliot; resting her head on his shoulder and draping her arm across his bare chest.

"Elliot, are you still awake?" she whispered.

"Yeah."

"Good."

"Why?"

"I just wanted to tell you that I love you."

"I love you too." He kissed her head and they both drifted off into a peaceful slumber neither had experienced in a very long time.