The sunlight poured into the bedroom and crept over their bodies. Elliot traced the path of the rays, delicately embracing the foreign body in his bed. Her back, bare and pale was facing him. He knew what happened, but didn't know why.

"Good morning…" she said stretching and turning towards him.

"Did we…." Elliot was about to ask.

"Shh…." she silenced him, kissing his lips. "It was amazing…"

"Kathy…."

"Kiss me like you did last night…"

"No, Kathy…Stop!"

"What's wrong?" she sat up.

"What's wrong! We're making things way more complicated."

"No….Ever since I broke up with Anthony I began to think I made a mistake…."

"Yea, a big one for that matter…"

"Ok, Elliot. I know you're bitter. But I still love you and after what we shared last night, I know you love me too."

"You love me, huh?" Elliot asked skeptical getting up from the bed barely clothed.

"Yes and you love me…." Kathy sad kneeling on the bed grabbing Elliot's hand.

"You can't just keep doing this to me Kathy…I'm gonna take a shower, and when I'm done I want you gone."

Kathy sat silent and motionless on the bed. She knew he was right, staying would make things more complicated. Elliot contemplated this whole Kathy situation in the shower.

"Why!" he yelled slamming his fist against the shower door as the water streamed down his face. He dried himself off and when he came out of the bathroom, she was gone.

Back at work, Elliot looked frantically for Olivia.

"Liv's called 'in sick'" Munch informed him. "I think there's more to it than that if you know what I mean…"

"Oh." Elliot replied surprised. Olivia didn't take too many days off work since she started.

That day preoccupied Elliot with mostly boring, constant paperwork. "Jesus, this is bullshit" Elliot blurted out in frustration. Daniel Anderson's trial was continuing shortly, and Elliot promised Laura he'd be there to support her. Suddenly, his phone began to ring and it was none other than Kathy. "Shit…" Elliot sighed, pondering whether or not to answer it…he didn't. He did expect that she'd leave a message…she did.

"Hi Elliot. It's me, Kathy. I know you probably don't wanna talk to me right now, but I can't stop thinking about you. What happened between me and Anthony was just a stupid, stupid mistake. I love you, and I was stupid to think I could stray from what we had. I know we need some help, but I wanna work things out. Call me, I love you."

Elliot grabbed his hair in frustration; "What the hell is she doing to me?" he asked himself. Getting back to his work, he tried to forget about the whole thing, but only a few minutes later his phone began to ring again.

"Kathy, look, just stop…."

"Hi Elliot." Olivia replied sounding confused.

"Oh shit, Liv, sorry. I thought it was…"

"Elliot, I'm sorry about last night…I got caught up with some shit and you know…"

"No not really, but if you wanna talk I'm free after work…" Elliot replied sarcastically.

"Elliot, seriously." Olivia laughed. "I'd like to talk after work."

"Alright then, see ya sometime after 4."

After work, Elliot headed off to Olivia's apartment in better humor than many nights since the divorce was filed. She opened the door, giving Elliot butterflies.

"Hey you." she welcomed him. "Come in."

"Long time no see…." Elliot replied sitting down at the kitchen table.

"Yea, its been 24 hours…"

"Longer than normal."

"So, Elliot…there is something I wanna tell you. It's the reason I took a rain check last night."

"Let me guess…you're seeing someone?"

"Well, I have been dating around, 'cause you know, I'm in my late thirties, it's about time I settled down, right…?"

"Well, Liv, I…."

"So, when you came around that time I had someone over, I felt really guilty about what happened, you know, me blowing up on you and everything, and…."

"Liv?" Elliot asked realizing Olivia was rambling on.

"Yea?"

"What's buggin' ya?"
"Elliot, I just want to let you know that I love you…"

Elliot was startled. Shocked, in fact. "I love you too, Liv…" he said in his head.

"You're like a brother to me, and I just wanted to let you know that whenever you need me, I'm here. You wanna talk and it's three in the morning, come on over. Don't hesitate. If you wanna go for a couple of beers after work and talk about the divorce, I'm here for you."

Oh. It wasn't what Elliot thought she was saying. And it all made sense! They weren't dating, they flirted at most, but it was nothing but fun. He was humiliated, but he was glad she wasn't in love with him, it made things less complicated. But how he longed to kiss her. To enfold his hands around her face and gently kiss her. He realized that he needed to move away from the chaos caused by Kathy and the confusion caused by Olivia.

But he kissed her anyway, on the cheek, to thank her for what she offered him; solace.

"I better get going…" he cut short of their conversation.

"Are you sure, I can make a cup of coffee or something…Stay…"

"No….no I can't….You know what Liv, I promised to take the kids to a movie and I'm like twenty minutes late already"

"Are you sure you want to leave so soon? I mean, I'd love to talk more."

"I know, so would I but I really got to go."

"Are you okay?" she asked following him as he left her apartment.

"Perfect." he said smiling as he looked at her at the bottom of the staircase.

He drove all the way to Kathy's mother's house to meet up with the kids. He didn't expect to see Kathy answer the door.

"I see you got my message…"

"Sorry I'm late, tell the kids to come on…"

"Elliot, we need to talk…"

"About what!"

"About last night…"

"What? Is it because I didn't wear a condom? I'm sure you going through menopause will take care of that."

"Shut the hell up Elliot, you bastard. I'm not worried about the contraception. I wanna talk like adults for once."

"Kathy, I'm not interested in getting back together."

"Hi Daddy!" Dickey screamed running out from the kitchen and embracing Elliot.

"Hi Dickey, tell your sisters I'll be waiting in the car." Dickey ran back into the kitchen and Elliot turned to Kathy before heading to the car. "End of discussion."

"Elliot…" Kathy moaned from the front door.

"They'll be back by seven…" Elliot replied nonchalantly, not acknowledging her the way she wanted him to.

A/N: Drama is just getting started, I promise. Leave a note when you get a chance, Thanks!