Disclaimer: Law & Order SVU/OC and its characters don't belong to me. This story has been written for fun only, not for money.
Spoilers: SVU & OC, near future (hopefully).
Summary: Elliot finds Olivia in her kitchen in the middle of the night where they finally crossed that bridge.
Notes: This is my first attempt at writing something *after* they cross the bridge of "friends for now" and "something more". I usually write stories where they are in that grey and angsty area (mostly canon). I'm still trying to figure out how they will cross that bridge though and so this story addresses the aftermath of their first night together.
Enjoy and please review!
Middle of the Night
By musical-Aven
Elliot finds her in the kitchen, palms spread out on the counter, an untouched glass of water before her. She's got her back to him, but her head is upright. She seems to be deep in thoughts, looking ahead into the living room but her mind is miles away.
It's the middle of the night. The middle of their first night together. Elliot thinks about their evening of hard and emotionally-charged conversations. About the progression of their relationship as the walls around each of them crumbled. About the touches, the sensations, the sounds, the smells they experienced together, at last.
But watching her now, Elliot thinks she might be regretting all of it. And his heart squeezes in his chest at that. He certainly doesn't regret it. Since he came to terms with the fact that he was in love with Olivia Benson, this was all he could think about, all he could wish for. But he was terrified she wouldn't want to take the chance with him. After all, how could he blame her?
Deciding he couldn't resist staying away from her, he approaches her slowly.
"Hey."
She doesn't seem startled; she's not surprised he's joining her.
"Hey." She replies, her back still to him.
She feels him coming up behind her, circling his arm around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. This should feel weird. Being this domestic with Elliot. But it doesn't, not one bit. It feels right, protective, caring. Olivia enjoys the proximity and relaxes into him for a moment.
"I'm sorry if I woke you." She offers.
"You didn't." he replies gently, his chin still on her shoulder. "Everything ok?"
She nods, but they both know it's not the truth. Elliot pushes, because he wants her to be able to talk to him, just like before.
"I can hear you thinking."
Olivia sighs, and Elliot thinks she might shut off. But to his delight, she doesn't. Instead, she places her arms on his and pulls them tighter around her waist. She wants him there. She's glad he's pushing her instead of leaving her to her negative thoughts. But she knows Elliot. She knows that he's spiralling in his own thoughts, trying to gage her behavior and overthinking this as much as she does.
"You didn't do anything wrong." She reassures him.
Despite her being in deep thoughts, Elliot realizes with her tone that she's in a lighter mood that he thought. He lets out a breath.
"Did I do anything right..?" his tone is light too, slightly suggestive, to steer them away from the darkness.
Olivia smiles and turns her head a little bit towards him.
"Plenty."
Elliot makes a sound close to a groan, but refrains himself. He kisses her shoulder in response.
They stay like this a moment. The atmosphere is less heavy now, giving Elliot another opportunity to open her up. Standing straight, he gently turns her in his arm. She feels the counter on her lower back as Elliot's arms are still around her. She knows what he's doing, so she raises her eyes to him.
"Talk to me." He pleads, his voice gentle.
Olivia studies his face, taking in the rawness of his emotions. He's so open, and he's just waiting for her to be as well. She rests her palms on his bare chest, soaking up his warmth.
"I'm worried about Noah…"
They had talked about this yesterday. How she was afraid of letting Elliot in her life, in her son's life, both being vulnerable if he ever left again. They had agreed to take it slow, and not involve Noah just yet.
"I'll make sure I'm gone before Amanda bring him later this morning." He tries to reassure her.
Olivia has an odd expression and shakes her head twice.
"I don't want you to." She admits, her voice almost a whisper.
Her eyes find his and that's when he realizes that that's what's bothering her. She doesn't want him to leave, doesn't want this to end. Despite the fact that they agreed to take this slow, she doesn't want to, now.
Elliot is overwhelmed with joy, but understands her dilemma. Rubbing his hands over her arms in a reassuring manner, he speaks softly.
"Whatever you want, Liv. It's your call."
Olivia scoffs, shaking her head once again. Her eyes return to her hands on his chest before her next confession.
"I knew this would happen once we…I knew once this door between us would open, I knew I'd fall-" she stops herself and Elliot's breath catches in his throat. "I knew I'd fall right into it, the handle no longer accessible to step back…"
Elliot waits for her to continue but when she doesn't, he asks what he is afraid of the most.
"Do you want to go back?"
His voice betrays his fears. Do you regret this?
Olivia's eyes fly right back to his and her gaze is solid when she answers.
"No."
Elliot breaths and her expression softens.
"But that doesn't mean I'm not scared of how it will turn out. I'm not exactly prone to everlasting happy endings, you know." She finishes with a hint of fatalism.
She's afraid of believing that this will last. That her happiness will last. She's afraid of being hurt again. Afraid of Elliot leaving her. He knows all of that, and not because it's written all over her face, but because he knows *her* and her history.
He feels for her. He tucks a lock of hair behind her ear as he prepares his next words.
"I'm no prince charming, Liv, you of all people know that." She smiles a little. "But I meant everything I said last night. I'm here to stay. This," he gestures between them, "is the most important thing to me. I want to be the person who makes you happy, every minute of every day." He reuses his words from last night.
He also refrains for repeating the three little words he also expressed last night, fearing it would only make her run right now. Olivia softens at his words, wanting to believe him, but she still has reservations.
"But what if life gets in the way, El? What if Bell sends you across the world and you have to leave?"
"Then I'll quit." He replies quickly and seriously.
"Elliot-" she wants to argue.
"Wouldn't you do the same if it was reversed?" he challenges her.
Olivia stops and thinks about it. If McGrath sent her away from Elliot, she would retire in an instant, there's no question about it. She almost gave up her badge for far less. Elliot sees her realization on her face.
"I meant it, Olivia. I'm not leaving you, ever again."
The impulse to pull him to her is stronger that she can resist now. And since she can, she kisses him. She believes him. He's here to stay and she knows they'll both do anything possible to make this work. Emotions are high and the kiss becomes more passionate. His hands touch her everywhere and every cell in her body is vibrating. She pulls him even closer.
Elliot groans as their hips collide. He feels her letting go of her insecurities and he's so grateful that she trusts him enough for that.
He feels her smile against his lips and Elliot knows the conversation is behind them now. As the atmosphere changes, the heat between them is becoming excruciatingly enticing. Olivia yelps in surprise when Elliot lifts her and sits her on the counter. He doesn't leave her space though, stepping into her space.
"I thought you wanted to go back to bed…" Olivia teases between wet kisses.
Elliot attacks her neck and mumbles into it.
"The bed can wait."
Her giggle resonates in the apartment and it's the most beautiful sound Elliot remembers hearing in a long time.
The end! Hope you enjoyed! Please review!
musical-Aven
November 2022