Chapter 3

She woke up the next morning feeling so warm and whole. She felt his arms still holding her. She turned her head.

She was surprised that Elliot was wake. "You're awake." she said yawning.

"You're so perceptive Detective Benson, nothing gets by you!" He joked.

"Watch it there Stabler, you know I could hurt you. So how long have you been awake?"

"About a half hour"

"Why didn't you wake me? Or get up and go downstairs and get breakfast, I definitely smell coffee"

"Nah, I'd rather be here…" He suddenly got embarrassed but he couldn't stop his mouth from moving, "You look so peaceful and beautiful when you sleep"

She gave him one of her crooked smiles.

"But you're awake now, so I guess I will go get us some of that wonderful smelling coffee." He said to her breaking the hold he had on her.

"Do you mind if I hit the shower?" She asked

"Go for it. I'll meet you down there"

"Ok" She smiled with her luscious brown eyes sparkling at him.

As he walked down the stairs, he felt like he was at the zoo. People everywhere just walking around aimlessly.

"Good Morning Daddy!" Dickie said.

"Good Morning Uncle Elliot!" his nephew John said.

"Good Morning boys" He said, and as he looked back up he saw Kathy standing there.

"Hi" She said softly.

"Hey."

"I hope you don't mind that I'm here, it's just I feel…I'm sad too" She said looking at the floor. "She was a good woman"

Elliot nodded his head. "It's ok Kathy, she would appreciate you being here"

"Thanks" She said and headed for the kitchen, as his sister Jenni entered the living room.

"Hey El" She lowered her voice, "I'm sorry I was going to warn you that Kathy was here but I didn't want to walk in on…um you and Olivia"

"What? That's crazy, Liv and I are not together." He said unable to hide his smile.

"Who you trying to Kid? You have those goo goo eyes for her El!" She laughed.

He shook his head 'no'

"Don't deny it, you can't hide it from me. Every time you would call and talk about her, it was in your voice. Mom knew too, you know. As soon as she hung up the phone with you she would say it, "El's got it bad for his partner." I wasn't sure about it though, I thought mom had lost it. BUT-- then I met her, well hot damn El, it was written all over your face. And it didn't help that she's drop dead gorgeous. She's really sweet and nice, I like her El."

"Woman! I don't know where you even come up with stuff!"

"Ohhh man, you have got it reaaaaal bad! Uh! she put her hand to her mouth She doesn't know! You guys really aren't together…but you want to be don't you?"

Elliot took a deep breath, "what if she doesn't? There's no much at stake, it's to complicated, Jen."

"Listen El, she wouldn't be here if she didn't care. And don't worry she's totally into you---call it women's intuition. And if it was really meant to be, then things will work themselves out."

"Mommy! Mommy! I spills duce on my stirt!" Lily wailed!

"Ok sweety, let's go change you!" She whispered to Elliot, "We'll talk more about this later"

Just as Jenni said that Olivia walked down the stairs. Her hair was still wet, and she was wearing a long black skirt, and black blazer, with a tight white shirt underneath. Jenni caught Elliot starring at her, she leaned over to him and whipsered, "wipe the drool off your mouth Big Bro" She turned to Olivia who had just reached the bottom of the stairs, "Morning Olivia, you sleep alright?"

"Good Morning Jenni, I slept great thanks!" Olivia replied, and Jenni walked away.

"Morning Liv, you look…wow! Great!"

"Thank El, Good morning to you too"

"So…you slept great last night huh?" He teased giving her a nudge. He really wanted to hug her but felt that might be inappropriate.

"You know I did" She nudge backed.

They were standing really close. You could cut the sexual tension with a knife.

"So how are you doing?" She asked him

"I'm hanging in there"

"Awww, Come here" She said and drew him into a tight hug.

Blinded by there hug, neither of them noticed Kathy walk half way into the room, see them, cover her mouth with her hand and walk out.

He kissed the top of her forehead, 'Come on, I'll make an omelet!"

"Cheese, onions, and green peppers?" He nodded yes. "You're the best!"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, Kathy is here…is that going to be ok for you?"

She gave him a confused looked, "yeah, why?"

"No, nothing, I just didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable"

"Well I don't" she said, "in fact I feel really comfortable" She said as she rubbed her hand on Elliot's back for just a second.

He smiled at her. They walked into the dining room with smiles that they couldn't hide. All the adults were sitting around the table talking.

"Hello Olivia" Kathy said forcing herself to be polite, but it came out bitter anyway.

"Hi Kathy, good to see you" Olivia said kindly. She was so elegant, she didn't let anything get to her. Elliot loved that about her.

"Coffee is almost ready, and there is stuff to make omelets with in the kitchen" Jenni spoke up trying to break the tension between the trio.

"Thanks Jenni" Olivia said and walked into the kitchen, Elliot following behind her.

They were alone in the kitchen making breakfast together. He looked over at her who was putting toast in the toaster.

"You're beautiful, you know that right?" He said looking into her eyes.

She gave a shy smile. "You're not so bad yourself Stabler" She said winking.

She watched him flip her omelet, he looked so sexy. She didn't know what had gotten into her but all she wanted to do was the fuck the shit out of him every second of the day.

Before she would only get these feelings once and awhile, but lately it is all she thinks about. She licked her lips and put some jelly on the toast that just popped up.

"All done!" He said putting her omelet on a plate, and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Thanks El" She wanted nothing more then to drop the plates; and take him right there on the kitchen floor.

"Liv?"

She was still lost in her little daydream…

"Liv!" Elliot said again louder

"Huh?" She snapped out of it.

He gave her that 'Elliot look' the half smile/smirk. "See something you like there Benson?"

"Shut up Elliot!" She was mortified!

As soon as they sat down at the dinning room table Kathy got up. "I better help the twins with there outfits" She said, but everyone knew it was because she felt uncomfortable around Elliot and Olivia.

When they were all done with there breakfast Elliot went up stairs to shower and get changed. The wake started in two hours.

Olivia watched Lily play so Jenni could get ready.

When everyone was ready they piled into their cars and drove off.