PLEASE READ!!!!! ALERT!!! IMPORTANT!!! I just heard that NBC is thinking of replacing Chris and Mariska. To read about CM/MH, just do an internet search for TVguide or Ausiello + SVU.

We need to contact NBC and let them know our thoughts on this. Just go to NBC's website and click on 'contact us' at the very bottom, scroll down and select the show and then type your response.

The links will not show up on here or I would just paste them.

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Author's Note:

This is it! The end! Time to work on Matters again! Thanks to all who have read and read and reviewed. I am blown away by your emotions, observations, perceptions and responses! Thanks for being such loyal readers! " ) Bensler

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Second Chances

By Bensler

Chapter 3 ~ Visions of the Future

Carmines Italian Restaurant – Saturday, March 14 – 8:15 p.m.

"You know, you haven't been half as annoying tonight as you used to be," Dean Porter leaned across the table and put his hand over Olivia's.

She laughed as she pulled her hand from beneath his, "That supposed to be a compliment, Porter?"

Raising an eyebrow, he shrugged and leaned back in his chair, "Maybe."

He was handsome, Olivia thought. The dark hair was cut a bit shorter and had gray edging the temples giving him a distinguished look. His eyes were just as dark brown and sparkly as she remembered. His smile was warm and easy. He had been interested in her since they met in Oregon when she was undercover with the FBI years ago. He had been her case handler.

They clashed, but she finally gave in and went out with him a few times. He was a wonderful man and she wished she could fall for him, but there was always something in the way. Or rather someone. Instead he had become a good friend although he reminded her from time to time that if she ever wanted to change those dynamics he was all for it.

"Or maybe absence made the heart grow fonder?" she teased, taking the last sip of her wine.

His eyes searched hers for a long moment. "Did it?" he asked quietly and leaned toward her, a serious look replacing the previous smirk.

She was not following him, "What?"

"Did it make his heart grow fonder, Liv?" he knew her too well and he sensed the undercurrents of grief even though she had done a great job at hiding it.

The intake of air was sharp and loud as she lifted her chin, steeling herself not to cry. She looked away for several minutes unable to face the concern in Dean's eyes. Finally, she brought her gaze back to his.

Shaking her head, she whispered, "He's involved with someone."

Dean had known about the breakup because he had come by her apartment one night after being unable to reach her by phone and found her in the middle of stacks of boxes half packed. She ended up crying on his shoulder and he made her promise to at least let him know when she got settled. She had talked to him a handful of times over the last three years and they emailed a time or two a month. Elliot would have a major meltdown if he knew this, she thought.

The nod he gave was barely perceptible as Dean continued to look at her, his eyes softening. "I'm so sorry, Liv."

At his words, her face crumpled and tears rolled down her face. She quickly wiped them away, sniffled and hastily gained control of her shredded emotions. "Yea, me too."

"Olivia?" a questioning male voice called out from a few feet away.

Turning her head, she looked straight into the eyes of Dickie, Elliot's oldest son. She was shocked at how much he looked like his Dad, now.

"Dickie!" she stood and he swept her into a big hug.

"Rick…I go by Rick, now," he grinned.

"Okay…Rick you are so grown and so handsome!" she kissed his cheek and held him by the shoulders to look him over. "And you're so tall!"

"Thanks. You look great yourself," he smiled and then looked over at Dean who had stood when Olivia did.

Noticing this Olivia introduced them. "This is Dean Porter, Dean…this is Di…uh…Rick Stabler, Elliot's oldest son."

The two men shook hands and Olivia glanced at the beautiful young woman with long brown hair and brown eyes standing off to the side.

Rick turned and pulled her next to him. "Liv, this Brinn Stewart, my fiancé," he grinned, his face glowed with his love for her.

"Fiance? Oh, Rick, you really have grown up!" She hugged him again and turned to Brinn, "You have got yourself one very special man. You take good care of him, okay."

"Yes, Ma'am, I will," Brinn smiled and Olivia gave her a hug, too.

The four talked for a few more minutes and then walked out together. Dean was busy hailing them each a cab and Brinn was talking to someone else she knew.

Dickie used the moment to pull Olivia aside, "Why'd you leave us, Liv?"

She was thrown off guard by his question. He must have wanted to ask it for the last three years. She hated what her leaving did to the kids, but there was no way to stay in touch with them without Elliot knowing.

"I…felt I had no choice, Rick. Your dad didn't…he…we didn't want the same things…it hurt too much to stay. But, I never quit loving you guys or missing you," she wiped away tears that steadily streamed down her face.

Somehow Rick seemed to sense her agony, to understand, and he reached for her hand and squeezed it.

"You seen Dad?"

Even though she knew this was coming, she still was not prepared. Putting on her plastic smile, she nodded her answer.

"Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Olivia…" he dragged out her name. "Come on. How'd it go?"

"It was good to see him again," she tried to smile again.

He looked at her as though he were waiting for more. When she offered nothing, he frowned. "That all?"

"Dickie…you know he is with Elise," she was getting upset with this line of talk. She looked for Dean and saw he and Brinn were now talking.

"Liv, she's not right for him…"

"Dickie…I mean, Rick…" she pleaded.

"No! He's never gotten over you. He's never been who was with you, Liv," he spoke in firm, hushed tones.

"Well, apparently you're wrong about that because he let me go, okay. Twice. So, listen, it's been really great seeing you and meeting Brinn, but Dean and I need to head on. Give my love to the others, will you?" she hugged him quickly and started toward Dean.

Once they were settled in the cab, Dean leaned into her, "You okay?"

She shook her head quickly from side to side.

"Wanna talk about it?" he asked tenderly.

She could only shake her head again as the tears began to fall. Dean put his arm around her and pulled her to him.

Stabler Residence – Sunday, March 15 – 12:45 p.m.

Since Elliot, Rick and Eli had prepared the meal, the girls were in the kitchen, giggling and talking loud as they cleaned up from their Sunday lunch, washing dishes, covering food and wiping the counters. It had become a family ritual. Lunch at Elliot's after morning mass. He loved having all his kids with him at one time. Of course, sometimes that now that included a boyfriend or two, if Lizzie, Kathleen or Maureen had one at the time, and Rick's girlfriend Brinn. Fiance, Elliot reminded himself. Today, however, it was just the Stablers.

Rick was sitting on the end of the couch nearest to the recliner Elliot relaxed in as they watched Eli playing a video war game. Elliot looked at his two sons, the pride nearly making his heart pop. Rick seemed preoccupied today and he was a little worried about him.

He pulled the recliner up and leaned toward Rick, popping him playfully on the knee. "Hey, son…you okay?"

"What?" Rick was startled out of his trance.

"You've been quiet and…I don't know…not yourself. Everything okay with you and Brinn? " for some reason the concern in his eyes angered Rick.

"Brinn and I are just fine," he snapped, a scowl on his face.

Elliot frowned. He felt the anger rise in him at Rick's terse response that, in his opinion, bordered on disrespect. He reeled it in, not wanting to get into a fight.

Nodding slowly, he reclined in the chair again, "Okay."

They continued to watch Eli; the silence that settled between them now extremely tense and heavy. The giggling in the kitchen was loud and Elliot found himself smiling in spite of the little exchange with Rick.

"I saw Olivia," Rick blurted.

Elliot's head snapped toward him, his eyes narrowed, "What?"

"I saw Olivia last night at Carmines." Watching Elliot closely he waited for his next response. There was none. So, he tried another tactic. "She was with Dean Porter."

Rick remembered they had run into Porter at a pizza place one night when the whole family was together. Porter had pulled Liv aside to talk and his dad was furious. He had sulked the rest of the night and later when the kids were supposedly asleep, he heard their heated argument, his dad accusing Olivia of being interested in Dean, and the door slamming shut as Liv stormed out of the apartment.

Instantly, Elliot's blood was boiling. He rubbed his chin with his hand and sighed deeply, "That right?"

He couldn't get the image of her with Dean out of his head. And he was imagining far more than chicken scarpariello and shrimp scampi. He purposefully took slow, deep breaths, trying desperately not to let Rick know how much this affected him.

"She said she saw you…"

He glanced over at his son, "Yea…came by the precinct Thursday morning."

"Thursday? You haven't seen her since then?"

"Look, this is none of your business, okay."

Rick looked at his dad for a long time, a look that was filled with both sadness and disgust. He stood up and faced Elliot, "She said you let her go." He shook his head, "I didn't believe her."

With that, he turned and hurried out of the apartment.

Elliot felt like he had been thrown into the middle of morning rush traffic on the Tribourough Bridge and run over by every vehicle. He closed his eyes as the tears began to burn as they sought release.

Matheson Residence – Sunday, March 15 – 7:55 p.m.

Elliot had not seen nor heard from Olivia since Thursday morning. He didn't know why he thought he would, but he did. He had done nothing but think about her and what she had said. 'I want a second chance,' 'I'm still in love with you,' 'I'll never get over you, El.' And after the conversation with Rick earlier, he added 'She was with Dean Porter, ' and 'She told me you let her go,' to the mix of voices clamoring in his head. He was going to go stir crazy if he kept dwelling on these things.

Elise had been unusually quiet the whole weekend. Of course, he had been too. He really was not in the mood to be around anyone. He knew what he should do, but he was paralyzed by the same irrational fear that had stopped him before. What if they got together and it didn't work out? He simply did not believe he would survive losing Olivia.

Besides, Elise was comfortable whereas Olivia made him crazy. Elise giggled quietly. Olivia chortled, guffawed, and sniggered but she never, ever giggled. Elise was easy-going and predictable. Olivia was full of life, passion and you never knew what she might do next. Elise was agreeable, complacent. Olivia would go toe to toe with him in a heartbeat. And win more often than not. He cared about Elise. He was head over heels in love with Olivia. He was. Rick knew it. All his kids knew it. He realized what he had to do.

They were sitting side by side on the couch watching a movie. Well, Elise may have been watching it, but Elliot was thinking about Olivia and all he should say and do. He picked up the remote and put the DVD on pause.

"Elise? I need to talk to you," he told her as he turned toward her.

She tilted her head toward him and smiled, her green eyes glistening with unshed tears that appeared out of nowhere. She picked up his hand and held it, caressing it.

"I wondered how long it would take you," she said as she stared at their hands.

"What do you mean?" he was puzzled by her statement.

"Elliot, I care about you very much. In fact, I love you. But I know…I've known for a long time that someone else has your heart and that I would always be your second choice," she whispered around the lump that constricted her throat.

"Elise…I'm…" he didn't want to hurt her.

She put her finger to his lips, "Shhh…let me finish this…please. I know you care about me, but you don't love me, Elliot. You've never been able to tell me you do because you are an honorable man. You can't lie…especially about matters of the heart. And I appreciate that. I do. But, Elliot, I don't want to be anyone's second choice. I deserve better than that."

"Elise…you're a wonderful…"

"Don't. Okay. Just don't. You deserve to be with the woman you love, the woman who still holds your heart in her hands. Who will always hold your heart. For whatever reason, it took her a long time, but she came back to you. Elliot, she wasn't the only one at fault. Give her a second chance. Let yourself take a second chance. The kind of love you and Olivia have for each other is rare. Don't throw it away again, El," she opened his hand, kissed his palm and then closed his hand into a fist. "I'll be here for you, always."

"I…I d-don't know what to say, Elise. I…I just…thank you," he hugged her.

She broke their embrace and stood. Checking the clock on the wall, she nodded at it, "If you hurry, you can catch her before her flight leaves. She's on Delta 1727 leaving JFK at 9:40 p.m."

He was incredulous, "How did you find out her flight?"

"I'm a detective and I have a badge…remember?" she smiled at him. "Go, Elliot! Go get Olivia."

He hugged her again, grabbed his keys and ran out of her apartment.

JFK International Airport – Queens – March 15 – 9:21 p.m.

Traffic was terrible and he just knew he would not make to the airport on time. He ran from the parking lot to the terminal and even flashed his badge to get to the boarding area and then ran to her gate. It was 9:21 and he knew they would already be boarding. Silently sending prayers to Heaven that he was not too late, he scanned the waiting area under the sign that said 'NYC to Atlanta – Delta 1727'. There were still just a few people waiting to board, but Olivia was not among them.

He went to the counter, showed his badge and I.D., "I need to know if Olivia Benson has already boarded this flight, please."

The woman looked his badge over and then turned to the computer screen before her, "Yes, Captain, she has."

"I need to get her off the plane," he told her.

"Oh…I don't think…"

"Look, please, this is very important…" he pulled her aside and explained.

Delta Flight 1727 – JFK - Queens – March 15 – 9:21 p.m.

Olivia was more depressed than she had ever been in her life. She had taken a chance on coming to see Elliot and she lost. This time she knew it was over and there would be no second chance. Grateful that she had a window seat she leaned her head against it as the tears came to her eyes. She had cried herself to sleep the last three nights and was sure there could be no tears left.

The first two nights she had entertained the idea that somehow Elliot would find out where she was staying, come to her hotel and tell her he was wrong, he couldn't live without her and to please forgive him. Despite her emotional turmoil, she didn't sulk the whole time. She had gone out with Fin, Munch and Cragen. Alex was back in town and they spent a whole day shopping. She got in touch with Dean Porter and they went to dinner last night. Running into Dickie…Rick, she reminded herself… only added to her pain because she missed the kids almost as much as she did Elliot. But it was Elliot that consumed her thoughts and dreams.

The whine of the engines cranking up provided a lulling sound that had her dozing seconds after leaning her head against the window. Minutes later she was startled by a loud, voice calling out. Her eyes popped open and it took a few seconds to get her bearings. At first, she thought she was dreaming, but then she sat up and noticed others near her looking around, bemused at whatever was going on.

"Liv? The voice called her name. Her name. "Liv?" It was louder this time. Then she recognized it. Elliot! No. No way. She sat up straight and saw his head as he made his way down the aisle.

"Olivia Benson?" he very nearly shouted it.

She could not believe this. She could not believe he was doing this. What did he want? Her heart was pumping like mad and the thin air was quickly being depleted by her rapid breathing.

Then he saw her and his face broke into that disarming grin of his, "Liv, don't leave me. Please. I love you. I've been in love with for years. I can't live without you, baby."

He was at her row now and held his hand out for her to take. She simply stared at him in wide-eyed amazement, speechless, unable to move. "Please, Olivia, give me a second chance. I promise I won't screw it up."

"Elliot…I…I…" she stuttered and could not think of what to say.

All of a sudden people started calling out, 'Give the guy a second chance', 'He loves you. You gotta stay,' ' He's hot, honey! Go for it!' 'Come on, Liv.'

She looked around, shaking her head in wonder. She only had one seatmate and he had gotten out of the way when he realized Elliot was looking for her. She took Elliot's hand and he helped her off of the row. Her eyes found his and she nearly drowned in the depths of the blue and the love that shone in them.

"You're crazy, Stabler," she told him with a small smile.

"Crazy about you, Benson. Crazy to not have told you I was in love with you that night, crazy to have let you leave me three years ago, and crazy to let you go the other day. But I've come to my senses, Liv. I've loved you for longer than I can remember and I'm not about to let you go ever again. That is, if you'll give me that second chance," he pulled her closer, putting his arms around her waist.

Her eyes twinkled and she broke into that magnificent smile she had and took his face in her hands, "I love you more than life, Elliot Stabler. And I thank you for giving me that second chance I was looking for when I came to New York."

He brought her closer to him and kissed her amid the cheers and whoops and hollers of Delta Flight 1727. The well wishes continued as he pulled her carry-on from the overhead compartment and held her hand as he led her down the aisle and off of the plane.

She didn't know what she was going to do about her job and apartment and right now she didn't care. Right now she was going to enjoy being with the love of her life.

Elliot stopped right in the middle of the terminal and kissed her again. She wasn't used to all this public display of affection.

"Elliot…" she laughed. "I guess it's a fair assumption that you didn't get over me either, huh?"

"Over you? If I was over you, I wouldn't have dragged you off a departing flight in front of a packed airplane; I wouldn't be standing in the middle of JFK kissing you. Baby, you're in my heart, under my skin, flowing through my blood, you are the air I breathe. You're inextricably entwined with me. I can't live without you," he pulled her close and kissed her again, this time a long, lingering kiss.

When we make unwise choices and mess up, we can't always count on getting a second chance to go back and do it right. But it seemed that this time, God had shown favor on her and granted her request for this second chance. She had heard someone say He was a God of second, third, fourth and so on, chances. She smiled and made a mental note to give Him a second chance, too.

~~~ eoeoeoeoe ~~~

The End