Come Back to Me
Chapter Seven
Zebraboymom
Disclaimer: Not mine. I miss El.
Author Notes: The morning after. The weeks after. The months after.
Sunlight streamed in the bedroom and Elliot pulled the sheet up over both of them to block out the brightness. He looked under the sheet at the beautiful woman curled up to him. She was here. It wasn't a dream although last night had felt like a dream. He smiled when he realized he had not had any nightmares last night. He had actually slept better than he ever had in the last 5-6 years.
She was even more beautiful in the light of day. His eyes traveled the length of her body memorizing every curve and beauty mark. He noticed a small birthmark on her right hip. He would definitely have to kiss that and soon. Just looking at her made him want her again. He couldn't even remember how many times they had made love last night. He knew he would never get enough of her.
"See something you like El?"
"I see so much to like."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. You have a beautiful body Liv and curves in all the right places."
"Back at you."
Liv looked down at his amazing body. No one would guess his age correctly to look at him. He was retired, but he was no senior citizen and in her mind wouldn't be for a very long time.
Elliot pulled her up and over his body and she straddled his torso, pushing herself upright. She smiled down at him and spread her hands across his chest. He slid his hands up her arms and reached behind her neck to pull her to him. They engaged in a passionate kiss before he rolled her under him again.
"Hey! What are you a caveman?"
"When it comes to you Baby, I am."
He leaned up on his forearms and looked into her eyes. They just gazed at each other reveling in the fact that they were here together in this intimate position. Finally they had knocked down the last barrier between them. He leaned in and kissed her, but pulled back quickly.
"Stay right there."
Elliot disappeared under the sheet seeking out his prize. He pressed his lips to her hip and the birthmark there, sending her into gales of laughter.
"You just had to find my imperfections didn't you Stabler?"
"They're what make you who you are Liv. I intend to love that spot the same way I love everything else about you."
He reappeared out from under the covers and once again took her in his arms, making love to her slowly and reverently. They spent most of the day locked in each other's embrace, before Liv's stomach started growling and she begged for food.
"Okay, but only if we bring the tray back to bed."
"You are insatiable."
"Only with you, Baby. Only with you."
The next three weeks were spent either lying in bed in each other's arms or on the beach. Liv dreaded what would happen when she had to go back to New York. Absence didn't always make the heart grow fonder. She knew from her past relationships that her job tended to end things pretty quickly. Her only hope was in the fact that Elliot knew what the job asked of you.
When it came time to leave for New York, she stood by her car trying to fight back the tears welling up. She failed and Elliot reached up and swiped them away, cupping her cheek with his hand.
"I will be at your apartment on Friday and we can go through your stuff and decide what you want to move out to the beach house, okay? I know it can only be weekends for now because you have to be on call, but we will make this work Liv. I was away from you for nine months, but there wasn't a day I wasn't thinking about you the whole time. Come here."
They stood wrapped together in an embrace and a good-bye kiss that quickly turned passionate and Elliot broke the kiss only long enough to throw her over his shoulder and head back into the house.
"Put me down Stabler. I am not letting you seduce me again. I have to go. Put. Me. Down."
She knew he was trying to lighten the moment and she loved him for it. Mrs. Cook was walking by with her little dog and she called out to them.
"Put her down Elliot. Olivia needs to get back to the city before dark. Now you knew she had to leave today."
The older woman strolled up the sidewalk and as he set Liv back on her feet, the woman pulled her into a hug.
"I'm so glad you came Olivia. It's nice to see Elliot so happy. I'll keep my eye on him for you."
"Thanks Mrs. Cook. See you soon."
The old woman walked her dog on down the sidewalk and once again Olivia tried to get in her car. Elliot pressed her up against her door. He ran his hands up into her hair.
"Call me when you stop for gas and call me again when you get home."
"I will. I promise."
Liv kissed him one last time and climbed in the mustang. Elliot hung on the door and refused to let go.
"You're a grown man Elliot and I am driving away now."
El sighed and stepped back. He watched Liv's car until it was out of sight. Liv waved as she settled in for the drive. It was only about an hour and a half, so she decided she could spend the time remembering the last three glorious weeks. Only a day into her remembrances her cell went off.
"I just left you Detective."
"First off, I'm not a detective anymore and secondly, I don't want you to be alone."
Liv grinned and put it on speaker and they talked until her battery started to get low. He finally let her get off and she finished the rest of the drive smiling. They talked for hours at a time now, when they once hardly said more than a few words to each other. It just made her smile.
The rest of the week was torture.
Liv smiled as she filed her DD5's. She looked at the clock and smirked. It had taken everything she had to wait and keep her mouth shut today. She couldn't wait. For the last three months she had been commuting back and forth to the beach house, but today Elliot who had spent the holidays with her was coming to New York to spend the winter with her as well. Cragen had decided to retire in two months and she was starting her training this week. It would mean she could go home at a decent hour most nights and she and Cragen would be sharing responsibilities, so she would have even more time with Elliot. Nobody, but her Captain knew about their relationship. The squad knew she had been in a better mood of late, but they couldn't figure out why. Fin had his suspicions, but he was keeping them to himself.
Liv's thoughts went back to New Year's Eve. She had arrived late to her apartment after a tough case. When she opened the front door music was playing softly in the background. A table was set in front of her fireplace lit by candlelight. Roses were scattered about and several dozen were in vases around the room. Elliot was in the kitchen putting bread in the oven. He was dressed in a gorgeous blue shirt and he looked up at her with a sexy smile showing off his dimples. He stepped over to her and kissed her.
"Thanks for letting me know when you were getting here."
"What's all this? I thought we were just going to have a quiet evening at home?"
"Doesn't mean it can't be special. I put something on our bed for you to wear after you enjoy the bubble bath I just ran for you."
"Uh, excuse me, but have you seen my boyfriend? His name is Elliot Stabler and I'm supposed to be with him tonight. Oh, wait. It looks like Bohemian Man showed up instead. That's okay. I like him better anyway."
She giggled and tried to outrun him to the bedroom, but he still swatted her behind before she cleared the threshold. After a luxurious bath, she found a gorgeous silk nightgown and robe on the bed. The smell of Italian food assaulted her senses and she came back into the living room to find El putting the food on their plates. Dinner was amazing and then El pulled her into his arms and they slow danced as midnight came closer. A few minutes before midnight he opened a bottle of champagne and they sat on the couch together. Elliot suddenly looked extremely nervous.
"El what is going on? It's just us."
"Liv, I…"
He slid down on the floor and reached for her hand. Liv stopped breathing.
"Liv, I love you so much and the last five months have meant the world to me. When I'm away from you I feel like I just exist. When I'm with you I'm alive. You always make me want to be a better person. You make me so happy. I don't know why you'd want to be with me, but I'm hoping you do. Marry me?"
Liv's eyes lit up and she watched as Elliot pulled a ring box out of his pants pocket. He held it open. A beautiful round cut diamond sparkled back at her in the candlelight. Her eyes filled up with tears and she held her hand out for him. She only said one thing.
"Yes."
Elliot slipped the ring on her finger and scooped her up in his arms. They celebrated the New Year over and over throughout the night. Liv's feet hadn't touched the ground since.
Her thoughts returned to the present as she looked up to see Fin and Munch arrive back from a crime scene, both complaining about how cold it was to Rollins and Amaro. A few minutes later the doors to the squad room swung open. Liv knew who it was before he even came into her line of sight. Fin spotted him first.
"Stabler as I live and breathe. You son of a bitch. You choose now to come back?"
Elliot was carrying coffees for everybody. Munch looked quickly to Olivia to gage her reaction, but was shocked to find a smile on her face. El passed out the coffees and finally stepped over to Liv. Fin was on instant alert and started to intercept him. Liv stood quickly and met El as he walked to her. They all stood in shocked amazement as he kissed her full on the mouth and handed her a cup.
"Tea, Baby?"
Fin was stunned.
"What's going on here Liv?"
Cragen walked out of his office and straight over to Elliot. He clapped him on the back as El handed him a cup.
"Thanks for picking these up Elliot. I'm letting her go early tonight so you guys can get reacquainted, but tomorrow night it's beers at the bar. Got it?"
"Absolutely. I wouldn't miss it."
Munch was catching on.
"How long have you two…"
Liv smiled as she held her tea with both hands. Elliot snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her close. It was obvious by the way she looked up into Elliot's eyes that this was not a new relationship.
"El, this is Amanda Rollins and Nick Amaro."
Elliot reached out to shake Nick's hand.
"Thanks for taking care of my partner all this time. She says you're a stand up guy. I appreciate that. I worry about her a lot these days."
Fin finally cracked.
"Liv, how long have you and Stabler been in contact?"
"Um, what is it? Five months now, El?"
"Why didn't you say anything? I was worried about you."
"I didn't want anyone to know until we were sure it was going to work out between us."
"And?"
"Um, we're getting married in the spring."
"What about Kathy?"
"We've been divorced for a year."
Munch held out his hand.
"Pay up Tutuola."
"Yeah. Yeah."
Fin handed him fifty bucks.
"You guys had a bet on us?"
"Fin said you guys would never get your heads out of your…well, he didn't think you'd ever admit how you felt. I on the other hand believed in you two. I knew it was just a matter of time. I have to admit you scared me there for a bit Stabler."
"Sorry Munch. I scared myself for a bit there too."
Liv grabbed her coat and Elliot took it from her to help her put it on.
"See you guys tomorrow okay? We've been long distance for a while now and I just want to take him home."
With that the two of them walked out of the squad room holding hands.
Cragen folded his arms across his chest and smiled. It took them a long time, but they found each other. He always knew they would. His thoughts went back to the day he introduced them. Elliot had just finished arguing with him for a half hour about how he didn't want to be partnered with a woman. Don had smiled when he introduced them. Stabler was speechless as he took Liv's outstretched hand in his.
"Benson."
"Uh…Stabler."
"Nice to meet you. Let's get to work."
Cragen saw it that day and every day after that for all the years they had been partnered. They had that undeniable spark. Together they were electric. The two of them were the best he had ever had on his squad. No matter what happened he always knew they would find their way back to each other.
It was just a matter of time.
A/N: So in my thought world they will always live happily ever after. Wanted to wrap this up. Thanks for so many great reviews. They meant so much to me. Your encouraging words inspire.