I'm really sorry for all "y'alls" in this story. I'm from Texas, and it's a permanent word in my vocabulary. Lol

They awoke the next morning in each other's arms knowing their time together was coming to an end. Olivia reached for her phone to see what time it was, and realized they had about an hour before it was time for work. She went to get up from the bed, but was surprised when Elliot pulled her down and started attacking her with soft kisses on her face and neck. Olivia knew they should start to get up from the bed, but she was just too comfortable in Elliot's embrace. After about 15 minutes, she finally told him that they both needed to get dressed and head out. Elliot still had to stop at his apartment for clean clothes on the way, so he decided to call his captain and let him know that he would be running late. The captain told him to get there whenever he could. Satisfied with that answer, Elliot decided to stop at a flower shop on the way, and have a special gift delivered to "his girl."

Liv arrived at work just on time, and knew that Elliot would not be there just yet. That gave her the opportunity to talk to her captain before he came in.

Knocking on the door poking her head inside, "Cap, you got a minute?"

Signaling for her to come inside, Olivia stepped in and asked if she could have an extra 30 minutes on her lunch. Cragen asked her if everything was okay because she usually didn't ask for extra time, and usually she was back from her lunch way before her time was up. She reassured him all was well, and that she just had to run an errand that would take more time. Agreeing to her request, she walked out from Cragen's office noticing that Elliot was sitting at his desk.

"Hey", she said has she sat down at her desk.

Elliot had this grin on his face like a child on Christmas morning who just saw his presents under the tree. He couldn't contain it and Liv knew too well what he was thinking about because it was the same thing she was thinking about. Their night together.

"Hey, why were you in Cragen's office… did we get a new case or something?"

Thinking quickly, "No, he wanted to know where my head was at about taking the Sargent's exam that's coming up soon."

Not pushing the conversation further, they both got to work on new paperwork that had just come in. An hour later a guy with a big bouquet of lilies walked in to the bullpen. "Delivery for Olivia Benson." Liv's head shot up from the work she was doing, and waved the guy over to her. "I'm Olivia Benson, thank you." She knew who the flowers were from, but he never looked up to see because he didn't want to be suspicious.

It was nearing lunch time, and Liv decided to send a text to someone that she needed to meet up with. Not more than ten minutes later she got a response.

"Hey, Liv! I can meet you in 30 minutes if that works for you? I'll meet you at the diner near the precinct."

Liv responded with a simple, "Okay."

Thirty minutes later she walked into the diner looking for the person she was meeting. That's when she saw the woman with blonde hair and blue eyes sitting at a booth in the corner. Olivia made her way towards the lady, and greeted her.

"Hi, Kath. I'm sorry this so short notice."

"Oh, its fine Liv. I was just doing some things around the apartments. I needed to get out for a little bit anyways."

'Have you ordered yet, or…"

"No, I haven't I was waiting for you. We can order whenever you want." Kathy signaled the waitress letting her know they were ready to order. Olivia decided that she would just order a grilled chicken salad because she needed to have this conversation with Kathy, and wanted something light on her stomach.

"So you're probably wondering why I asked if we could meet up for lunch?"

"Well, I did find it interesting that you would want to seeing that you're probably on Elliot's side with the divorce and all."

"Kath, I'm on no one's side, but I do have to ask you something about the divorce."

Kathy seemed a little puzzled, but decided to hear Liv out. "I wanted to know where you were at on the divorce? I mean do you still think there is a chance for you and Elliot? I know y'all are only separated, and there could be a possibility for you two reconcile the marriage."

Kathy looked at her with honesty and truth. "Liv, there is no saving my marriage. What I mean by that is… Elliot and I spent a lot of years together. The high was high, and the low were low. These past few years though have been really low, and we both realized that other than our children we have nothing in common. We married out of obligation and fell in love through that, but we never had that connection from the start. Elliot and I ended up falling out of love because of that. If you don't mind me asking…what's this about?"

Olivia took a deep breath. It was now or never, and she needed to let her know. "Kathy, you know Elliot and I have been partners for years, and it has always remained professional between us. I would never betray your trust, and actually El would kill me if he knew I was here right now. What I am trying to say is that I have fallen in love with Elliot, and I assume his feelings are mutual. I didn't want to start anything with him because I know y'all are still legally married, and I wanted to let you know before we pursued further," Liv took a breath. She was waiting for Kathy to be enraged with her or to storm out on her, but it never came.

Liv thought an eternity has passed when Kathy finally spoke, "Olivia I am going to say this because I still love El as a friend and the father of my children. I am happy you are in love with him, I could see it for some time now, but I just didn't want to admit it to myself that my marriage was failing. I know what kind of person you are and the integrity both you and Elliot have. Yes, we are technically still married, but it's been over for a while, and the fact that you came to me woman to woman to let me know how you felt actually makes me even more happier that you want to be with Elliot."

Olivia could not believe what she was hearing. The words that her partner's soon to be ex-wife just told her made her feel even more comfortable with the decision she made to speak to her. Maybe this was a good idea to be in a relationship with Elliot. She basically got Kathy's blessing. Now all she had to do was talk to Elliot about the conversation she just had.

They finished their lunch, said their goodbyes, and went their separate ways. Olivia more than excited to see Elliot, and tell him that maybe she was ready to take that next step with. She already felt like she knew him on a deep level, and was willing to take that chance.

Entering the bull pen she saw El standing talking to Fin. "Did we catch a new case, she asked?" "Umm, nah I was just talking to Fin about catching a game soon."

"Yeah babygirl, you should join us for one too, Fin responded."

"That sounds like fun, she said with a wide grin."

Elliot couldn't help feel that something was different about her attitude. What happen on her lunch break to make her seem like she was over the moon about something? He knew they were still on a high from last night, but now she looked really happy and relieved. Olivia caught him looking at her, and she decided that she need to tell him. She went up to him and asking him in a soft whisper, "do you have a minute to talk privately, I need some alone time with you." More than eager to oblige they made their way to the cribs where they knew no one would be.

"Okay, you have me, and you said you wanted some alone time," he winked at her.

"Not in that way, is that all you have on your mind right now,' she laughed.

Elliot shrugged his shoulders and tilted his head, "Eh not all the time, but most of the time," he chuckled.

Olivia being amused thought to herself that she needed to get to the serious stuff first. "El, I know this may make you mad with what I'm about to tell you, but we need to have this conversation."

Elliot feeling panicked didn't know what she was going to say, so he led her to one of the bunk to sit down, and she started to speak. "I- I, met up with Kathy on my lunch break, and I asked her about the divorce. Please hear me out before you speak. I needed to know where she was on it, and if there was a chance that maybe you two could reconcile, but she informed me the marriage has been over for a while, and it was just the legal part that needed to be finalized. I told her that I was in love with you, and she already knew. She was even happy that I came to tell her face to face. I'm sorry I didn't tell you what I was going to do, but I am not sorry for telling her. I don't want anyone to think that I made a move on you while y'all were happily married. I mean I would never do that," she finally decided to take a rest. Elliot just looked at her with a blank stare, no expression on his face. Olivia was almost scared that there was not a sudden reaction from him.

"El, baby aren't you going to say something," she asked? He couldn't find the words; he wasn't mad at her or pissed off at her, he was just shocked with what she did. Finally coming to his senses, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her long and hard. There were no words that he could say that a kiss would not say it all. When air became an issue they pulled apart and they put their foreheads together just looking into one another's eyes. Olivia feeling relieved was smiling so wide, she thought her face would start to spasm eventually.

Elliot finally spoke, "So, I guess this means we are together now." Happy with that revelation, they decided to go back downstairs and finish the rest of the work day. They still needed to disclose, but for right now they were content with where they were at.

Next Chapter will hopefully be up later tonight or sometime tomorrow.