A/N: May contain mentions of abuse that might be triggering. Proceed with caution.

They freeze at the sound. Elliot, realizing it was the front door at the opposite end of the house stands slowly and takes the gun out of the bag, aiming it in front of him. They had gone out the sliding door in the bedroom to go down to the beach so they were still hidden from the intruder, but Elliot wasn't taking chances.

"El?" Her voice was shaking and barely above a whisper. They didn't hear any loud noises or threatening voices, just what sounded like someone in the kitchen putting groceries away or something.

"Stay behind me, baby." She kept her hands on his shoulders as he shielded her from sight and they walked slowly in the direction of the kitchen. A crash causes both of them to jump.

"Elliot-"

"Shhhh." He cocked his gun and swung it in the direction of the kitchen, stepping one foot in while leaning against the wall, Olivia still behind him, sheltered by his broad shoulders.

"Police! Hands up!"

"Oh my goodness gracious!" Came an elderly female voice, the exact opposite of what the partners thought they'd hear. Elliot's eyes widened and he lowered the gun, stepping into the kitchen.

"Mom?" Elliot spoke in surprise and Olivia emerged from behind him standing to his side.

"Hi, Mrs. Stabler." It was almost funny how quick the mood had changed.

"Oh please dear, that was my mother in law, call me Bernie."

"Uh, mom no uh, no offense but why are you here?" Olivia elbowed him lightly.

"El." She warned.

"Oh, I was just cleaning out some old things I thought I'd store here for when you came for vacation. This must be Olivia." Elliot cleared his throat and Olivia stepped forward to shake the older woman's hand.

"Yeah, I'm Elliot's partner and uh-"

"I know hun, I'm so glad he got rid of Kathy, I never liked her. You are much prettier. You finally found a good one Elliot!"

"Yeah...I sure did." He looked adoringly at Olivia and smiled, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"What did you come up here for this weekend, where are the kids?"

"Just needed a vacation from work that's all."

"Oh Elliot I brought an old photo album from when you were little, you should show Olivia-"

"No no no no I definitely should not. Thank you, mom, have a safe trip home I'll call you."

"I would love to see it," Olivia replied, smirking at Elliot's nervous ramble.

"You can see it at the luncheon after my funeral." She rolled her eyes.

"But there can't be a funeral cause you said you wouldn't leave me." She pouted knowing he would give in and he shook his head and sighed. He couldn't say no to her.

"You can look at it when I'm not in the room."

"Thank you, baby." She smirked and pecked him on the lips.

"Well, I suppose I'll get going. You kids have fun." Bernie picked up her purse and headed for the door.

"It was nice meeting you."

"You too dear, take care of my boy for me."

"I will."

"Oh Elliot, I left some cookies in the fridge so you guys can help yourselves, especially if you're planning to make me another grandbaby...there's plenty to eat for 3." Bernie chuckled and Elliot and Olivia visibly blushed at her comment.

"Well...that was...umm" Elliot stuttered after Bernie had left.

"An awkward but welcome distraction. You ok El?" Olivia knew his childhood had been rough. He didn't talk about it much and she had never pressed him on it, just promised him she was there like he did for her.

"I will be." She turned to face him and took in his appearance, guilt running through her veins. He looked drained and stressed. A combination of deep worry for her and resurfacing feelings seeing his mother again. His 'Stabler smile' didn't quite reach his eyes, which had bags under them, telling her that he hadn't slept as good as she had. He had likely been up throughout the night watching over her, protecting her. He probably hadn't slept much at all that week. He looked like he had aged about 10 years. He still smelled like Elliot but hadn't showered or done anything that would cause him to be away from her even in a different room besides use the toilet, and even then he left the door ajar in case he heard something. She had leaned on him too hard. She had been so scared and clingy that she hadn't even thought about the toll the situation would have on Elliot. She thought of Bernie's words 'take care of my boy'. She was supposed to be his partner, and yet she had thrown all her baggage on him and expected him to carry it. But now, as she looked at him, as she looked at the man who meant everything to her she realized her rock had weathered. While she had been feeling comfort and safety and was event blissfully happy that morning, he was visibly decaying before her eyes. He had been so strong for her, and it made her feel like a horrible person. She put a hand on his chest and kissed his forehead, nose, and cheeks before giving him a loving kiss on the lips.

"I love you." She kissed the stubble on his chin. "I really do." She kissed the bags under his eyes. "More than anything."

"I love you too sweetheart."

"Baby if you need to talk about anything I'm here. Everything you've told me goes for you too I know that...had to have been hard. To see your mother for the first time in-"

"6 years. I really hadn't expected that we'd run into her or I would've-"

"Elliot meeting your mother isn't going to change how I feel about you any more than you meeting mine changed how you feel about me." He shook his head in frustration.

"Talk to me El."

"She just-she just comes in here and acts like everything's normal. Like we're just one big happy family she doesn't even-"

"She's sick El, but I can see that she loves you and she's trying now. " He scoffed.

"Well, it sure didn't feel like it when she let my dad beat me or when she nearly got us killed driving through a snowstorm or when she nearly shot me with my dad's gun when I came into the room while they were arguing. Is that love Liv!? Is it!? Who the hell does she think she is...you know I didn't, I never wanted you to meet her. Hell I never wanted my kids or Kathy to meet her but she just keeps sneaking into my life and I can't….How many reminders do I need of what a screw up I am!"

"You are NOT a screwup."

"Aren't I? You know I have 3 brothers who you've never met and probably never will cause they hate me. They were always good, strong men to my dad...I was a failure, a mistake. Did I ever tell you how my dad died? Shot himself, in the bedroom one day while I was home from training. The whole family blames me saying I should've stopped him somehow. But how was I supposed to know he'd eat his gun?" There were tears in his eyes.

"Let it out El. It's alright." She repeated the words of comfort he had said to her earlier.

"My brothers haven't spoken to me in 15 years cause his death was my fault. He shot himself cause he couldn't stand to have such a wuss for a son and his wife was crazy and didn't take her meds. I packed my bags and went back to the marine base, didn't even leave a note. No one would have freaking cared." She rubbed his back as she held his head to her chest and kissed the top of it lightly. "My mom though, she wants to act like nothing happened and that I just don't want to see her but I don't have a valid reason for it. That's probably why she wanted you to see that photo album, she wants to convince you of her warped fantasy of the way things were."

"I would never take her word over yours Elliot. I'm sorry I didn't realize what was going on. I won't look honey." Elliot studies her for a moment.

"You need a distraction Liv, I get that. You can look if you want just..ignore anything she might have written in it ok."

"I promise. Baby why don't you go shower and rest for a bit you got a lot off your chest today."

"I'll be fine." The defeated look and his bloodshot eyes told her otherwise and broke her heart.

"El-"

"I need to protect you Liv, even if that's the only thing I'm good at."

"You are an amazing man. I don't care what anyone says. You're an amazing partner, father, boyfriend, cop, you name it. The only flaw I see is that you don't always take care of yourself in the process. Some of that is my fault I've been putting all my baggage on you without seeing how it affects you and I'm sorry-"

"Honey-"

"Elliot you haven't slept through the night in days cause you've been worried about me. You just had a heavy, emotional afternoon that just resurfaced some traumatic memories. You need a break, you need time for yourself." He lets out a stress-filled sigh and she rests her forehead against his. "We're 4 hours away from the city, our squad is looking everywhere for Lester and he has no idea where we are. You'll just be in the other room. You'd hear if something happened. Please, it breaks my heart to see you like this." He gives her a hesitant look and glances at the door, worried that the minute he isn't right by her side someone will burst in and take her from him.

"You promise you'll yell or come get me if you need something?"

"Of course I will." She kisses him gently for reassurance."I love you."

"I love you too sweetie." He presses a lingering kiss to her forehead before heading down the hall. She hears the shower start and notes that despite everything, he left the door ajar again in case she needed him. Here he was, exhausted, drained, stressed, and wounded by his mother's sudden appearance and yet she was still his priority. He was still taking care of her and protecting her. His dad couldn't have been more wrong about him. Elliot was the strongest man she knew and she vowed to remind him of that every day she knew him.

X

The photo album was resting on the kitchen table and she decided to take a look. Like Elliot had said, it was a distraction and she needed one. She wasn't sure how to feel about the death of her mother, 10 years ago she may have been relieved, now she just felt guilty.

Despite everything weighing on her at that moment, she couldn't hold back the smile as she looked through pictures of her partner's younger years. As she turned the page and found herself giggling at one in particular, him in a carrot costume, she felt two strong arms wrap around her waist and light kisses on her neck. It was funny how even though she and Elliot had only known each other for a year and a half, she knew it was him immediately and relaxed into his hold as he knelt down to the chair she was sitting in and embraced her.

"You were so cute." She stands so he can sit in the chair and she can sit in his lap.

"Was? What am I now?" He teased and she smirked.

"Eh." She laughed when he started tickling her. "Ok ok, I give."

"What was that Detective Benson?" He kisses her before she can respond. She smiles into the kiss and breathes in his freshly clean scent.

"Well, Detective you're not so much cute anymore."

"No?" He pouts and she laughs, kissing him again.

"Mmm no, I think you graduated." She runs her hands along the muscles in his biceps that are showing through the muscle shirt he's wearing, one of her very favorite things of his.

"Graduated huh?" He chuckles and kisses her earlobe.

"Mmhm to handsome, sexy, you know all the good stuff."

"Yeah? But still a liiittle cute too right?" She laughs.

"Definitely." She turns in her seat to wrap her arms around his neck and rest her forehead against his. "So why'd you dressup as a carrot?"

"Oh come on Liv, way to ruin the romantic mood."

"I wanna know...plllleeease." She pouts and he groans but kisses her softly.

"You know I can't say no to you."

"I plan to milk that for all its worth." She teased. "Ok Stabler, carrot story."

"This a fantasy of yours or something?"

"Depends on what the story is."

"Wow. Ok well, it was for a Thanksgiving pageant in 5th grade."

"Carrots are a Thanksgiving thing?"

"Shhhh you asked me to tell the story."

"I know I know go on."

"Anyway I wanted to be someone cool like a pilgrim or something but my mom got the date wrong for me to sign up for the part, so all that was left were food costumes."

"So why a carrot? Why not a turkey or something?"

"Ignoring the fact that you think I should have been killed and eaten-" He smirked.

"Nooo, I'd miss you too much."

"Uh huh."

"I would. You keep the monsters away." He kissed her temple comfortingly, knowing that despite the lighthearted mood there was some seriousness to her statement. He really did keep her monsters away, both on the outside and the inside. He was the best source of comfort, safety, and love she had ever had.

"Anyway my mom was way too excited to make me a carrot costume, so that happened. I'm not proud of it."

"Well, I think you look adorable."

"Not nearly as adorable as you probably would have. You realize this means I get to look at old photos of you now right?"

"Ugh. Great." They're silent for a few moments and she relaxes in his lap, resting her head on his shoulder.

"You have a good shower?"

"That you're way of telling me I smell better?" She giggles and buries her face in his neck as if she's inspecting his smell.

"You smell like you. It's that Elliot Stabler smell that I love."

"Yeah? Maybe I should start my own cologne brand." She laughs.

"I am way too good for your ego."

"Depends, you've bruised it before."

"Someone's gotta keep you balanced."

"I didn't take a nap though, had to come back out and check on you. I can't sleep when you're not next to me anyway." She almost makes another sarcastic comment, but as she looks at the man in front of her, her heart swells with love and affection for him. They could both use some relaxation and love after everything they've gone through in the past 36 or so hours.

"I've got a better idea." She leans in and kisses him. "Make love to me El."

"You never have to ask me twice." He carries her back into the bedroom, and at that moment, nothing else mattered. The partners loved each other gently, both oblivious to the alarming message they've received on the phone and the impending danger heading their way. The message went unseen as they dozed off in each other's embrace afterward. Multiple messages piled up afterward as the phone lay in the bag. Neither partner was focused on anything except each other's heartbeats.

Neither would know anything was going on for hours until they were awakened by the feeling of a cold metal object and a chilling voice.

A/N: Nice little fluffy chapter until...crap. See y'all next chapter and thanks for reading?