Elliot laid perplexed in the empty bed, he looked around the equally empty apartment, the only memory he had was the picture of his wife and kids and a picture of his ex-partner and lately he found him self speaking to the paper hoping it would give him advice to his still failing marriage, he sighed and picked up the picture of his eldest daughter Maureen.

He had been home for five months, he helped out with the children yet they were constantly on edge, they were like strangers living in a small space, at times he felt like he was suffocating and by the way she looked at him he knew her feeling was mutual. It wasn't like he imagined, he thought it would be alright now, he still loved her, she still loved him so what was the problem? He wondered as he ate his breakfast with the family before going to work; the place he hated! He'd given up being a detective to become a security at shipping company where nothing happened and if anything happened he had to stand aside with the 'police' did there work, but it was a small sacrifice for having his family together under one roof. He leaned over to give Kathy a peck on her cheek and she moved and gave him a smile, this was the third time she had done that and it was starting to irritate the hell out of him, he cleaned his throat then excused himself from the table, picked up his baton and bid them all good bye.

At work as usual nothing happened and he felt like talking to Olivia she was the only one who was always there with a ready smile for him, the only one who would hug him for just because. He shook his head as her smiling face turned into a broken one. He looked at the phone then before he could change his mind he dialed the number of the precinct. "Special Victims Unit, Detective Benson how may I help you?" her voice was crisp, it held no warmth, it wasn't the voice of the woman who had cried when she lost a case. "Hello, is anyone there?" she asked the warmth and compassion he was used to flooded her voice. It was heaven to hear her voice.

"Liv," he whispered his voice tight with emotion. He closed his eyes and he saw her eyes light up and a wide smile spread across her face. Elliot waited for her reaction but he didn't get one.

"Hello you have to speak clearer, I can't hear you, what's your name?" she asked. Elliot felt his feet wobble and eyes sprung to his eyes. 'What are you going to say to her, 'oh Liv I'm so sorry for all the mean things I said to you I was just scared?' his inner self asked, slowly like it was killing him he hung up, and wiped away the tear.

Elliot pulled the front door and walked in to see Maureen setting the dinner table. "Good evening dad" she said her voice unusually happy. Kathy was busy in the kitchen and the twin were placing with their youngest sibling . It seemed like home but something was missing!

Dinner was over and done with yet they sat at the table when Maureen clicked her glass. "Everyone I have some good news, I have been accepted ULCA" she beamed. Everyone clapped except Elliot who was still taking in the news. "Dad is something wrong?" Elliot didn't respond, he just excused himself from the table, it seemed to be routine since lately.

Kathy found him throwing stones into the pond. "Elliot what's the matter?" she asked coming to stand in his way.

"I don't know, just give me some time" he said and moved throwing more stones into the water.

"No Elliot we need to talk, what's going on with you?" she asked holding his hands, the heat that used to radiate through them no longer did she just felt cold and he removed his hands from her grasp.

"Kathy not now, I want to be alone, I need to sort out myself." He said backing away and into the hammock, she followed him there and sat on the chair.

"Elliot why is it you find it so hard to talk with me?" she demanded.

"Kathy I am just not ready!" he retorted.

"Then when will you be? Before we came here all you did was leave work home, now you are home with us yet you aren't apart of us, the children know that we aren't happy and they are feeding off the negative energy, Kathleen stays out late with friends, Maureen is moving away because she can't stand it. Elizabeth and Richard want to spend the summer with their grandmother they are packing now to leave day after tomorrow. Elliot I won't let you destroy my family again, I can't stand it." Kathy said and slipped the ring off her finger and placed it in his hand. Your bags are packed there is a key on the dresser, we are going out for the weekend, when I return I hope you will have settled into the apartment." Kathy said and turned to leave.

"Wait! What is going on, what are you saying?" Elliot asked trying to wrap his mind around the information he just received.

"Elliot am saying we tried this time and we failed, it's best we leave while we can speak to each other" Elliot looked at her as she walked back into the house.

"But I love you" he said his last hope, she stopped turned around and smiled at him.

"Elliot you don't love me, you are only in love with my image, but I am some-one you don't love me." And with that she walked back into the house.

As Elliot looked at the picture though he felt hurt if he was honest it was more his pride that was wounded than his heart, and it un-nerved him maybe she was right. His eyes wondered to Olivia's photo and he felt his heart contract forcefully. 'I did you so wrong' he whispered to the picture…

AN: I hope you enjoyed that. Please let me know what you think. I hope it wasn't too short.

-Ali