Her Captain didn't have to ask; he knew who she was talking about. Of course he knew whoshe was talking about. The man could read her like a book, and interpret her mind. "You sure, Liv?" He asked. That pissed her off. She knew it was only because he cared, but she didn't have time for this shit today.

"Yes." Simple enough words, but a big enough statement to blow the entire city of New York away.

"Fine." Last words he spoke. Next thing she knew he was handing her a piece of paper with an address on it. His address on it. She sucked in a shaky breath, set her shoulders, turned, and walked out. She was on a mission, and she'd be damned if it didn't get completed.

As she made her way around the corner, she stopped and took a breath. This was it, her last chance to bail without looking like a complete moron. Though, she was pretty sure she was gonna end up looking like one anyway. Elliot seemed to have that effect on her. As she climbed the stairs her heart began to race. Sure, it's raced faster, Gitano, Harris, Captain's office on that fateful day that her partnership officially ended, but this felt different. More irate, almost as if she couldn't stop it, that there was no way to control it. She felt like she was going to pass out. Or throw up, at the least. Raising her fist to knock, the past 12 years of them, came flying back... "I'm your partner, for better or worse."

"Blink your lights when you get inside."

"Your just gonna sit out here all night until I do, aren't you? You stubborn son of a bitch."

"Yeah, I am." That one made her smile.

"I broke a rule, Elliot. A personal one. And now he wants to see me again."

"Can you blame him?" A charmer, even then.

"I sure as hell wouldn't drive to queens to save your ass." Still smiling. Because yeah, she would. Of course she would.

"I always carry at least a pair of earrings in my purse."

"Yeah, like you carry a purse."

"That's cause you carry it for me."

"If that sniper wouldn't have beaten you to it... I know you would have taken the shot, Olivia." No, she wouldn't have.

"What about me?" She is going to lose it, right here, on this porch, the entire fucking amount of composer she has left.

"You and this job are about the only things that I've got anymore. I don't wanna wreck that. I couldn't take it." That line killed her then, and it still kills her now. She knew she meant something to him, but she never realized until that day, just how much.

"Kathy's pregnant." That one still felt like a fresh thrust to the gut.

"What are you doing here?"

"I work here." Smiling again.

"Loves a bitch."

"Tell me about it."

"You know, we've been partners all these years, I don't even know your blood type."

"A-positive."

"How about that? Me too."

"I'd give you a kidney." She knew he meant that. Probably still did.

"Not if I gave you mine first." She still meant it too.

"This is my wife Olivia." She doesn't know why that one comes back to her... But it makes her smile. That's a good thing, she supposes.

Just as her mind clears, the door swings open. "Olivia..." A full on whisper and her full name. He's shocked, floored actually, and she knows it.

Maybe she should have called.

No.

That wasn't enough.

She knew that. She really had to stop reasoning with herself.

She didn't know what to say now. The look on his face was saying so much, she felt like if she said anything, she would be talked over. That look making the boldest statement on this porch tonight.

Now SHE was shocked. Okay, maybe that's exaggerating. But it served the purpose.

"Elliot." She breathed. Literally, because apparently she had been holding a breath, and was none the wiser until now. "I would have written a letter, but I don't do that kind of crap" She said." And a phone call, Jesus Elliot, a phone call just didn't seem like enough. No matter how irately pissed I am."

"Irately?"

"Yeah Elliot. Look, are we just gonna stand here all night or are you gonna invite me in so I can scream at you."

He nodded. She followed.

Standing in his apartment, she had just proceeded to tell him that he was a coward and that yes; she did find him to be ridiculous about now, when he said "I'm sorry Liv. God, I'm so fucking sorry. I mean, I feel like a goddamn reject, but I didn't want to really bother you by just showing back up. If you were truly happy in your life, I couldn't stand the thought of ruining that. Again. I felt like a letter might make less of an impact. I never really expected a reply back. You have all the right in the world to act like I don't even exist."

Her turn now. "The fact that you thought I could be truly happy without my best friend and that I could act like you don't even exist…. Is fucking ridiculous, Elliot. But then again, apparently you could act like I didn't even exist. I mean, do you have any idea how much I needed YOU?! How much I wanted to hear YOUR voice, to see YOUR face?! How much I needed to talk to YOU?!"

"Your hairs longer." Apparently, he was no longer interested in the subject.

His statement didn't faze her though, she continued. "How much I needed MY partner?! How much I needed to know that YOU were Ok, to know that YOU were still breathing?! How much I needed to know that everything that happened didn't tear YOU apart?!"

"You always talked about growing it out." His little tangent that he decided to break off on to, was really starting to piss her off now.

"God you're such an idiot."

"I'm glad you did." He said as he brought his left hand up to her face, and smoothed it back down over her hair, playing slightly with the ends.

"Jackass." She mumbled almost under breath. Almost. Then again, she didn't really try that hard. She couldn't, at this point. She could barely breathe. His hand now resting on her shoulder, was doing nothing short of starving her for air.

"I like it, a lot. It suits you Liv. Badass, but still gorgeous, almost like it's…."

"Elliot!" She screamed, cutting him off. She couldn't take it anymore. He stopped talking then. She was grateful.

She needed her breath, and she needed to really talk to him. She couldn't let this distract her. Too much was at stake.

Continuing she shrugged his hand off her shoulder, and looked him straight in the eye….

"You broke my heart, Elliot. And you didn't even fucking care. You walked away. You just walked out. You tossed out the last twelve years like not only did they not matter, but they didn't even happen. You made me feel worthless. You were the one person who wasn't supposed to do that. But I guess that's my fault. I raised you to that high of a standard, I should have expected to be let down. I thought you cared more than that though, Elliot. I thought you were a better man than that. I really did. But apparently, my intuitions failed me. Because I couldn't have been more wrong."

As the seconds passed, her mind kept spinning. And just as he opened his mouth to speak, so did she.

"And yes, I know I shouldn't assume. I should have given you the opportunity to explain before I formed all these opinions. But Elliot, it's pretty damn hard to think straight when your best friend, your partner, your world, your goddamn everything, the only one who matters…. Abandons you."

She could see that one struck him hard. But she had to say it.

"God Liv, I…." He said, his breath catching in his throat. Shaking his head, he ran his hand up over his face, the top of his head skimming his cropped hair, and then down the back of his neck. Stabler signature, she thought. Then before she could even blink, his hands were on her hips, and his mouth was next to her ear "I am so, SO sorry Liv. And I know that's not enough. But I don't know how the hell to fix this… All I do know is, I love you."

To say she was floored, would be an understatement. Turning his head slightly, he pressed his cheek against hers, and let out a breath. Goose bumps rose on her skin, and a fire ignited in her. Placing her hands on his hips, she turned his body just enough, to give him opportunity. Not even seconds later, his lips were on hers, and her heart was in her throat.