Author's Note: And now for something completely different…no, it's just time for the divorce drama. I have finally figured out what to do with Kathleen and I'll incorporate her next chapter. This is going to be the chapter with the divorce lawyer and more of Kathy's…issues.

Afterwords, I'll do an EO scene with more tenderness than spice, although the spice will return soon. I am tentatively drafting their first time together and I am open to ideas. I mean, almost a decade of heat and need being released? Even I (the proudly perverted band geek) would need a bit of help with it so ideas would be very much appreciated.

PS: I know that Alex and Casey never were on the show at like the same time (well, at least not in the episodes I've seen) but since I like the both of them and I always like fics when they're really close to Liv (and Fin and Munch, for that matter), I'm going to go with that for this story.

Disclaimer: "Honestly, it's not mine!"

He checked his watch again for the third time in ten minutes and let out an exasperated sigh. Of course, she'd be late for the meeting. She could be on time for every sale in the city and remember what color underwear he was wearing during the 4th of July in '98 but when it came to this…

"Elliot, is your wife coming?" the lawyer asked with the same amount of irritation.

Kenneth Gregory was one of the top divorce lawyers in the city and he was fair to both sides, which is probably why Elliot found him and not Kathy. Where the hell was she? He wanted this over with.

It actually hurt to hear someone refer to Kathy as his wife. It just sounded wrong. As a matter of fact, if anyone should be his wife, it should be-

The door opened dramatically and Kathy came in, wearing all black and dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. Elliot's eyes rolled and he ignored the looks she was giving him. And the way she was twisting her wedding ring so the light would reflect off the sunlight.

Was she always such a drama queen?

"Sorry, I'm late. I had to drop Kathleen at her friend's. As usual."

"Kathleen only listens to you and I wanted to get here on time since thanks to you, I live all the way across town from here." he returned fire.

Two could play at this game. If she wanted to be petty and stupid, then he could roll with that just fine. SVU had helped him learn to dance with bullshitters as easily as he breathed or shot a gun.

"Okay. So, the papers have been signed. Now, all we need to do is work out a custody arrangement."

"Why do we need one? He doesn't even care about the kids, anyway.", she grumbled petulantly, sounding worse than a first grader.

"And you do? Lizzie called me last night. She and Dickie were alone in the house while I was on shift and Kathleen had some punkass over doing god knows what. Where were you?"

He already knew but he wanted to see if she'd own up to her neglect or if he'd have to wave it in front of her face. The latter seemed to be more likely and that pissed him off immensely.

To his credit, his tone was level and he was suppressing the urge to yell or strangle her. The gall of her to say that he didn't care about their children! Everything he did in he field, all the horrors and depravity he saw, he did it so they can be supported. Kathy paled and looked away from his cool gaze, looking just like a perp with no place to run.

"I...I was on call." she lied weakly.

"No, you weren't. See, after she called me, I checked up at the hospital to make sure you were working and your friend Hailey said that you were out dancing and living it up with your boyfriend while our teenagers were unsupervised.", Elliot informed her matter of factly but with a sharp warning.

Don't lie to me, bitch. It won't work and all it does is just make me want to-

"Is this true, Mrs. Stabler?" Gregory asked frostily.

"Well, I…"

"Is it true?!" he snapped.

"Okay, fine! Yes, it's true but you have to understand! Travis…he's the only person that really cares about me! I love him!"

"What about our children, Kathy?! They care about you despite all of your bull! And you said that he was nothing more than a damned fling less than a week ago or did you forget?!" Elliot finally snapped.

"So, you're jealous?" she asked hopefully.

Elliot exchanged shocked glances with the attorney and then shook his head.

"No! Disgusted! Look, I don't want them with her. I want sole custody of the twins and Kathleen because she…there's something not right and I want to protect them from it." he told the lawyer bluntly.

"You can't do that!" she screeched.

"I can and I will. Call me with the court date, Ken."

Elliot made to leave and Kathy called hatefully, "Fine! We'll see what the custody judge thinks about your own little fling with your partner!"

Turning around, he smirked as a thought occurred to him.

"He'd probably win some money", he replied before heading out the door.

//////////////

She slid the wrapper to him and he looked at her gratefully as he took his half of her thick turkey and provolone sandwich.

They were sitting on a stakeout and the only sound between them was their breathing and the occasional soundoff from Munch and Fin. Unlike before, it was a comfortable silence and it spoke volumes to how far they've come.

"The divorce should be final by next Sunday." he finally said as he finished devouring the defenseless sub.

Her heart stopped cold and then went into double time as he gave her a look.

He couldn't possibly be hinting…could he?

"Really?" she asked calmly.

"Yeah, and then the real fun starts. I get to battle my nutty ex wife for our children. She's taking it to court." Elliot said with a bitter smile.

"That bitch! Does she have a case?"

"Hell, no but you know how juries get. They hear divorce and it's automatically the guy's fault."

"Talk to Alex and Casey. She shouldn't be able to take your kids from you!" she urged heatedly.

He looked at her fixedly and then he asked, "You're really passionate about this, aren't you?"

She blushed and looked away, trying to focus on the dark warehouse instead of his gaze. The sky blue orbs always gave him away and they made her so weak…

His thumb traced her knuckles and he said, "It's okay, Liv. I like it when you're passionate."

Her blush deepened but she looked at him and saw that he was smirking at her.

"I bet you do, Stabler."

"No bet about it. Liv…damn, you nearly knocked me on my ass the other night. No woman's ever been so…"

"Wanton?" she supplied wryly.

"I was going to say hot but that works, too."

Olivia snorted and admitted, "I've wanted to do that for years, El…and I'd like to do it again. Not now, of course but maybe…well, there's something between us and I want to explore it."

His face went blank and she gulped silently, bracing herself for a rejection or worse, an acceptance.

"I want that, too."

Before she could reply, there was a gunshot from within the warehouse and they rushed headlong into the mayhem.

They would definitely talk more later but for now, there was work to be done.