I don't own anything associated with Law and Order: SVU…I just enjoy the show.

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Kathy Stabler watched her oldest daughter pull the macaroni and cheese from the oven and sit in next to the ham. It was Thanksgiving- holiday season was in full swing.

She had a lot to be thankful for- her health, the health of her children, a loving husband- although as of late, he'd been preoccupied with other things. Or another person to be more specific.

Olivia's accident had been really hard on him, harder than she'd expected. He'd felt obligated to help her all the time. They were good friends, after all. So she wasn't exactly surprised when Elliot had slyly asked her if Olivia could join them for Thanksgiving dinner.

She'd agreed, of course. He didn't want Olivia to be alone today. And neither did she, really. She just wondered how long Elliot would be catering to her every need.

Elliot walked up the few steps to his front door with Olivia close behind him. "Elliot," he turned around, "I just wanted to thank you again for inviting me to dinner. It means a lot to me." Olivia grinned up at him.

"Well you mean a lot to me." His blue eyes found hers as they shared a moment. Suddenly the door swung open and Kathleen appeared on the other side. "Hey Olivia. I heard you guys pull up," she let them inside and closed the door behind them.

Olivia had barely opened her mouth to say hello when she heard her name being called. "Hey Olivia!" Dickie said excitedly, running to give her a hug. "Hey Dickie…how are you?" Olivia smiled down at the preteen, whom she had become fond of after Elliot had brought them over a few days ago.

"Good. Happy Thanksgiving," he grinned. "Happy Thanksgiving to you too," Olivia chuckled a bit. Elliot shook his head and grinned, hanging their coats on the rack. His children always found some way to make Olivia laugh…he couldn't get enough of her smile nowadays.

Kathy watched as her other three children happily hugged their father's partner, all glad to see she was doing better. She noticed her husband stare at his partner as he carefully hung their coats, then turn away, seeming to catch himself.

"Hi Kathy," she turned her head toward the recipient of her husband's attention. "Hi," she grinned as Olivia gave her a brief hug. "Thank you for having me over today…it's really sweet of you."

Kathy looked at the woman in front of her- the short auburn hair held back with a headband and flipped up, her peach sweater perfectly complementing her olive skin, big almond eyes, and her pouty lips turned into a small smile. She was beautiful…she had to admit it. And she'd always been nice- not to mention her kids loved her. It was hard not to like her. What she didn't like was all the time she had alone with her husband. That's what bothered her.

"It's not problem, Olivia. It's Thanksgiving…and your Elliot's partner. I know how much this means to him," Kathy found her voice as Elliot came closer to her. He leaned in, giving her a quick peck on the cheek. "Hey honey…what you two chatting about?" he glanced between the two with an eyebrow raised.

"Just girl talk. You guys about ready to eat?" she asked turning into the kitchen. "Yessss! I'm starving," Kathleen touched her stomach briefly, sitting down at the dining room table. "Do you need some help?" Olivia asked Kathy. "Oh, I've got it…thanks though."

Olivia made her way to the table and sat in between the twins at their request. Elliot sat across from her with Maureen and Kathleen on either side of him and Kathy next to Kathleen. "Shall we pray?" Kathy glanced at her husband expectantly once she was seated.

Everyone joined hands and bowed their heads as Elliot began to pray. Olivia watched the tight knit family around her close their eyes and give thanks to a God she wasn't sure she believed in at times. Her eyes closed as well as she started to think. Why would God allow her to lose her memory? Maybe it happened for a reason.

If she hadn't lost her memory, she'd probably be spending Thanksgiving alone…or at best with one of her co-workers. But Elliot was so much more than a partner. Although she couldn't remember, over the last six and a half years something had developed between them- something real.

Real enough that she trusted him with secrets she kept from everyone else. Real enough that he could look at her and almost always know what she was thinking. Real enough to make her feel like someone cared.

She opened her eyes and glanced at the man sitting across from her after he finished the prayer. Elliot's big blue eyes met hers as gave her a reassuring grin. Was God real? She couldn't be sure. But in that moment, Olivia realized their friendship was.

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Please review...feel free to throw random ideas out there...maybe it will cure my writer's block on this story. Thanks :D