"Morning--- oh damn. Sorry." Robert said, pulling the door closed as he backed out of the room.

"Come on in, its fine." Elliot said, climbing over Olivia and pulling on a sweatshirt.

"Stabler, you dog." Robert cried as Elliot shushed him. "How was it; she looks like she'd be pretty kinky."

"Shit man, come on now. Nothing happened. She just stayed here because she had no where else to stay thanks to you and Rachel."

"Now that was good."

"I don't want to hear the details; I heard more than I wanted just walking up to the dorm." he said, grabbing the chip and sandwich wrappings from last night and putting them in the trash.

"So you didn't have sex, but she slept with you? Isn't that like pretty serious or something?"

"I can hear you, you know." Olivia said, groggily from Elliot's bed. "And no it's not serious, unless he wants it to be."

"That is to be decided later." Elliot said, flipping on the radio again.

"So I'm gonna take a shower and then we can head to your parents?" she asked, rolling off the bed onto her feet.

"My parents?"

"You said last night you wanted to go see your parents."

"I completely forgot." he said, rubbing his temple. "Let me think about it."

"Okay." she said, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Whatever you want." he smiled gratefully at her as he left to take a shower. "Where can I shower?"

"Women's bathroom is down the hall and to the left. There are showers in there." Elliot shouted over his shoulder.

"You guys really didn't sleep together?" Robert asked, hopefully as Olivia walked away.

"How shallow do you think I am?" Olivia asked as she stopped and looked at him.

"Does Elliot know about your past?"

"Some of it." she said, coyly.

"So he knows that you are seeing a professor on the side?"

"Why did you have to sleep with my roommate?"

"You're not answering the question." he said, getting more serious by the second.

"No he doesn't, and I'm not actually seeing the professor, much in the same way, I'm not really seeing Elliot."

"You stayed here last night." Robert said as if that explained everything.

"Because I had no where else to go!" she said, exasperated. "Elliot doesn't want a relationship, yet. I don't think that either of us know what we really want, but whatever it is we have right now is working for us right now." she said with a tone that said this was the end of the conversation. She turned and walked quickly to the bathroom wondering why she was being given the third-degree. She was the one who had wanted to take it further and Elliot was the one who kept resisting, although by the end of last night he was finally beginning to give in; she wasn't certain how much she really cared about him, but she was certain that this wasn't just another "professor". She showered quickly and threw on her clothes from last night before heading back to Elliot's dorm where Elliot and Robert were sitting silently.

"You ready?" Elliot said, jumping up from his bed.

"Can we stop at my dorm so I can get new clothes?"

"You look great in that."

"Elliot, I am not meeting your parents in this outfit." Elliot sighed, grabbing his keys and walking down the hall next to her.

"Women," he muttered as he grinned at her.

"I look like a slut." she said, attempting to justify her change of clothes.

"So are you saying that you dress like a slut to pick up men?"

"What college girl doesn't?" she asked as he held the door open for her.

"I'm sorry about Robert." he said, changing subjects quickly.

"You heard us?"

"I just assumed, I heard you talking, but I'm sure he made an ass of himself." Elliot said, starting the car and shifting it into gear. "He has just been a little protective since the whole Kathy thing. I guess it's good of him, but it is a pain. Don't let him get to you, he's not usually like that."

"Did he tell you---"

"He tried, but I told him I want to hear anything about your past from you." Elliot said, taking her hand. "I hope that with time you'll feel comfortable enough to tell me."

"How can you be so understanding after being hurt so badly?"

"I dunno, you bring it out in me I guess." he said, smiling. They sat in silence until they reached NYU campus. "Are you sure you want to go with me to my parents? I don't mind, I mean we haven't even been on one official date yet."

"I'd like to know what I'm getting into before I--- thank you--- get too involved." she said as he held the door for her and then started laughing.

"You can be a mystery sometimes." he said as she pulled him up the stairs for the second time in twenty-four hours.

"Isn't that what makes me fun?"

"I have yet to decide whether it's endearing or annoying."

"Thanks." she muttered as she unlocked the door. "I know you had a long night last night, but it's like noon, get up!" she shouted at Rachel as she grabbed some clothes and headed to the bathroom.

"Nice to see you too." she said, yawning. "Hey Elliot, how was your night last night?" she asked as he shrugged.

"Nothing special."

"You didn't sleep with her?"

"Define sleep with her."

"You know what I mean."

"We slept in the same bed but, no, sex was not involved."

"But we gave you such a good opportunity."

"Neither one of us was ready." he stated simply as Olivia appeared back in the doorway. "You look nice." he said as he studied her new outfit: black high waters, a white tank top, and a light blue cardigan sweater.

"Thanks. You ready?" he took her hand in response as they walked out the door. "See ya, Rach."

"Have fun."

"I'll drive." Olivia said, pulling her keys out of her purse. "I haven't seen my car all weekend, I kind of miss it." Elliot began laughing as Olivia looked up. "Oh shit."

"What?"

"Olivia?" Jake asked as he walked up to her. "Where have you been all weekend? I have been calling your dorm non-stop."

"Now is not the time." she said, attempting to walk by him as he stopped her. "Excuse me asshole."

"You never called." he said as this explained all. "We sleep together and then you never call."

"This is why I didn't call!" she shouted, not believing this was really happening. "What kind of thirty year old man doesn't understand how this works? I don't have feelings for you, and you weren't supposed to have feelings for me. Now I'm sorry, but I am on my way out of town excuse me." she said, grabbing Elliot and pulling him with her.

"Are you the new guy?" Jake asked, grabbing Elliot's other arm. "She's a whore and completely untrustworthy; she doesn't really---" he began as Elliot cut him short, slugging him across the face.

"Leave her the hell alone. I think she made her point." Elliot said, turning away and walking with Olivia. They walked to the car, an uncomfortable silence settling between them.

"Elliot?"

"I don't want to know."

"Let me explain."

"I told you, I don't want to know." he said, pulling the seatbelt over his shoulder.

"Listen to me." she said, grabbing his chin and turning his face to hers. "He meant nothing." Elliot exhaled slowly.

"What am I?"

"I don't know yet." she said, honestly.

"Who is he?"

"Some professor that I slept with." she said, leaning back in the leather seat. "I used to sleep with professors. Actually, the only people I've ever slept with are professors. It was always just sex, I accepted that, but he wanted more. I wasn't about that."

"So what's changed?" Elliot asked, his voice softening slightly.

"The person." she said, turning to look at him. "I am not proud of that part of my past, but I have to live with it."

"How do I know that I'm not just another one of them?" she laughed and nodded her head.

"I haven't slept with you yet."

"Very funny." he said, dryly.

"I'm serious." she said, sighing as she started the car. "Look, I care about you, a lot; I don't know why and I don't know how it happened, but it did. When we sleep together for the first time, I don't want it to be just sex. Do you understand what I mean?"

"I suppose." he said, looking at her willingly for the first time since entering the car. "I just wish that I meant enough for you to make love to me." They sat silently for a minute before Olivia quickly turned off the car and reached over him, kissing him long and hard. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in closer as she began to unbutton his shirt. "Liv." he said, breathlessly.

"What?" she said, sitting up, slightly irritated.

"We're getting ready to go to my parent's house; do you really want to look like you just had sex?" he asked as she started laughing. "Not to mention do you really want our first time together to be in a car?"

"You mean my hot ride? I dunno, that might be exciting, but I get your point." she said, laughing. "Listen, I'm sorry. I should have told you before you had the chance to find out from someone else." She moved back into her seat slowly.

"It's okay. I overreacted." he said, buttoning his shirt back up. "I knew you had a sex life before me, we even talked about it; I guess a part of me is just wondering how much of our relationship is about getting back at him, but I know you aren't like that." he laughed almost inaudibly. "It's hard for me to believe right now that we've only known each other for a few days. I feel like not only have we known each other for months, but we've been dating for months."

"I know." Olivia muttered as she pulled out of the parking spot onto the empty road. "So where am I going?" she asked after a few minutes of silence.

"You need to head towards Queens."

"You're from Queens?"

"Yes?" he said, wondering why she sounded so confused.

"I'm from Queens." she said, reading his expression. "How could we go our whole lives without knowing each other?"

"It's a big borough, Liv." he said, shaking his head. "What part you from?"

"Sunnyside."

"You see, I'm from Glen Oaks." he said, laughing at her naivety. "We weren't that close to one another. Plus, I went to catholic school, so even if we had lived near one another, we could have gone our whole lives without meeting."

"Excellent point."

"I thought that you were some smart NYU student." he said, mischievously.

"Very funny." she said, despite the smile on her face. They sat silently for the rest of the ride, except Elliot's few muttered directions.

"I hope you're ready for this." Elliot said, holding open her door after they pulled into the drive.

"How bad can they be?" she asked, not quite sure what to expect or if she was prepared for whatever it was. Elliot merely chuckled at her statement and led her to the house. He rang the doorbell twice before she heard footsteps, moving quickly towards the door.

"Elliot." said his mom as she opened the door. Olivia wasn't sure if she was more surprised or just happy. "Who is this lovely young lady?"

"Mom, this is Olivia Benson." he said, pushing Olivia towards her. "Olivia this is my mother, Patricia Stabler."

"I've heard so much about you Mrs. Stabler."

"Please, call me Pat." she said, leading Olivia into the ranch-style home. "Your father isn't home yet." she said to Elliot. "He isn't supposed to be home until late."

"That may not be the worst thing in the world." Elliot muttered as his mother looked at him, but chose not to say anything.

"So Olivia, what brings you into my son's life?" Olivia smiled at the warmness of this lady, who had so obviously lived a closed, boring life.

"Well, Olivia and I met at a party, right after Kathy broke it off with me."

"When did you and Kathy break up?" she asked, confusion on her face. "She was such a sweet Catholic girl." she said to Olivia who simply nodded.

"She told me about a week ago that she wanted to see other people."

"I'm sorry dear, I know how much she meant to you." she said, realizing that Olivia was still in the room. "I'm sorry Olivia. It's just that he doesn't come around to chat with us much. So do you go to Rutgers also?"

"No ma'am."

"Pat." she said, automatically.

"No Pat," Olivia corrected herself as Elliot smiled next to her. "I go to NYU, my mom's a professor there, so free tuition."

"That must be nice." she said, quietly. "What do want to do with your life?"

"I'm majoring in Early childhood education."

"And are you a senior also?"

"Yes I am."

"Would you like something to eat? I doubt that Mr. Stabler will be home for quite sometime. Someone might as well eat dinner." she said as the phone began to ring. "Hold on one second dear. Hi honey. Yes, well that's fine, I'll put dinner in the fridge for you. Elliot dropped by to visit with his new girlfriend. Yes of course." she said, covering the receiver. "Your father would like to speak with you." Elliot sighed and took the phone reluctantly.

"Hello father. Yes, Kathy and I did break up." The man on the other end of the line was now speaking so loudly that Olivia could hear every word perfectly.

"I always knew that girl was a whore."

"She was not a whore, dad. We just wanted different things."

"What does that mean anyways, different things? How is college going? Are you still flunking out? Always knew you couldn't handle it."

"Dad, not right now."

"Oh right, you have a new bitch there to impress."

"Don't speak that way about her. You don't even know her."

"Well, then I guess I have nothing else to say. Just try not to embarrass me all the time. Quit worrying about all these no-good women and focus on school work."

"Dad, I get it. I'm a failure. How many different ways can you mock me in twenty-three years?"

"Don't talk to me that way, you arrogant little shit. Put your mother back on, I don't need to take this shit from you." the man said as Elliot shoved the phone back at his mother. Olivia was horrified, how could anyone treat their child like that? Elliot grabbed her arm and slowly pulled her towards the front door.

"Let's go." he said, quietly.

"Without saying goodbye to your mother?"

"I'll call her later." he muttered, sadly as he sat in the passenger seat. She let him have his space most of the way back to NYU campus. "Liv?"

"Yes?" she asked, tenderly.

"I'm sorry you had to see that."

"Elliot, I'm sorry you've had to live that." she said, pulling into her parking spot on campus. "El, nobody should have to deal with that abuse day in day out." she said, reaching over and hugging him tightly. "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry you saw me so vulnerable."

"Elliot, you weren't vulnerable, you were abused. I don't think any less of you, if anything I love you more."

Elliot sat silently for a moment, not sure if he had heard her correctly. Olivia sat silently also wondering if she had blown it; she had uttered that awful word, a word she had never muttered to a man before, a word that she would take back in a heartbeat.

"Elliot, that's not--- I didn't mean--- the l-word--- don't freak out." she finally spit out. "I'm sorry it just slipped; I don't mean to push you, I know---"

"I love you too." he said, taking her hand in his. "Olivia, I don't know when I lost control, but I am completely in love with you, and I like it. This is the best I've felt in a long time."

"Elliot, you don't have to say that." she said, squeezing his hand. "I know that you still love Kathy; that's perfectly understandable, give it time."

"No Olivia. I don't have any feelings for Kathy anymore. I love you."

"You want to come up?" she asked, taking the keys out of the ignition and jingling them.

"Absolutely." he said as she pulled him from the car.

"You wanna stay?" she asked as they walked up to the door to her room. "Heaven knows that Rach deserves it."

"You mean as in overnight."

"That would be the implication." she said laughing. "It's not like we didn't spend last night together anyways. You want to order a pizza? I'm starved."

"Now you're talking'." he said as she dialed the number and ordered a large cheese pizza. "So when am I going to meet your parents?" he asked as she hung up the phone.

"Whenever you want." she said, setting on the floor next to him. "I have no skeletons."

"I wish I could say the same."

"My family is dysfunctional, just in a less obvious way." Olivia said, stretching her legs out. "Everyone's family is a little dysfunctional."

"That's what people who don't really understand say to those of us who do have dysfunctional families."

"True, I don't really know what it's like to have a dysfunctional family. My family is fucked up, but not quite dysfunctional." she said as they both laughed. A knock came at the door. Elliot jumped up quickly.

"Keep the change." he said as he handed the delivery man a twenty.

"Thanks; I would have gotten it." Olivia said as she grabbed a piece of pizza.

"I know, but isn't a rule that the guy pays for the first 3 dates? I wouldn't want to be rude." he said, a grin spreading across his face.

"If you can consider what we do dating."

"Wow that was a little harsh, don't you think?"

"Come on Stabler, what are we doing?" she said, seriously.

"I don't know." he said, honestly. "But we've made out and we've traded the L-word; I'd say we're dating or going steady, whatever they call it these days."

"Dating works for me." she said, finishing off her pizza slice. "Going steady just sounds so juvenile. I'd say we're a little more serious than b.s. high school relationships." Elliot sat silently as he reflected on his relationship with Kathy.

"How do you date someone for five years just for it to end, but you know someone for less than a week and you just know that this wasn't an accident, that they came into your life for a reason?" he asked, leaning against Olivia's bed. "It just makes no sense. I feel so much more connected to you in this week than I did to Kathy--- ever." Olivia sat and looked at him with those gorgeous brown eyes. "What?" he asked as she continued to gaze at him. "Say something." he said, wondering if he had said something wrong. She smiled mischievously at him before pushing him quickly to the floor and pressing her lips to his. He was caught off guard at her sudden motion, but quickly recuperated when she slid her tongue between his lips. A moan escaped his lips against his will; he realized that Olivia was about to be only the second person that he'd ever slept with.

"Hold on." she said, sitting up suddenly. "I need to leave---"

"Money?" Elliot asked, pulling her back into him. "Already taken care of."

"You really are self-assured." she said, kissing his neck tenderly.

"Right now, I'm not about to deny that." he grinned at her as he pulled her shirt off over her head. She quickly began to unbutton his shirt.

"Shut up." she said, breathlessly as she coaxed the shirt off of his shoulders. He lightly stroked her between the legs as she moaned and flinched at the sudden touch. She hastily began to unbutton her pants.

"About time." they heard Rachel mutter from outside as the envelope was removed from the door. They both stopped as they giggled. Olivia bent down and licked Elliot's lower lip before he slowly rolled her to the floor. He pulled her tongue into his mouth and slowly began to work his way to her neck. She giggled as he kissed her neck; she's obviously ticklish here, he thought as he continued to her breasts. He could feel her tense beneath him as she realized his destination. She moaned loudly as he took her breast into his mouth. He teased her with his tongue as her moaning grew increasingly louder. When she was about to burst he began to slowly slide inside of her. He began to thrust inside of her, slowly at first. They rocked together in perfect unison, like this was how it was meant to be all along. They came together as they both lay and breathed deeply.

"Elliot," she said, out of breath. "That was the most amazing thing I've ever experienced in my entire life." Elliot laughed quietly as he kissed her cheek.

"That's what it feels like when you really love the person." he said, rolling on his side and holding her hips. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Elliot." she said, standing up and grabbing a nightgown. "I never knew that it could feel like that. I never knew what it was supposed to feel like." she said, her voice reflecting the awe she felt.

"Can I come in now?" came Rachel's voice from outside.

"Yes." Olivia said, pulling on the gown quickly.

"Hey." she said, nonchalantly as she looked at Elliot.

"Hey Rach." they replied in unison.

"How has your evening been?" she asked, grinning from ear to ear.

"You're funny." Olivia said, tossing a root beer to Elliot as she pulled another one out for herself.

"So how was he?" Rachel asked loudly enough for Elliot to hear.

"You're not getting any info from me."

"That bad, huh?" Rachel asked as Elliot and Olivia both laughed.

"You're right, it was totally awful." Elliot said, clutching his side as he laughed.

"You two are no fun." Rachel said, sitting down and grabbing a wine cooler from the fridge.

"So we have to share every intimate detail of our love life to be fun?" Olivia said, teasingly.

"You used to share every romantic encounter you had with me." she said, almost hurt.

"Well, this is different." Olivia said, leaning over and kissing Elliot. "This time, it's not just sex."