A/N: Here is the next chapter, I hope it tides you over while I take a break from posting for a while, since reviews haven't picked up. Please read and review.

Disclaimer: Own nothing you recognize.

It was two weeks to the aniversary of the shooting and Olivia still hadn't managed to take more then ten steps at a time, but she was determined to make it before that day, which would mark one full year since that terrible night.

Olivia Benson woke one quiet Saturday morning to find the spot beside her in the large, comfortable, king sized bed, which was usually occupied her boyfriend, Elliot Stabler, empty.

"El?" She called out as she sat up, looking around.

She caught a glimpse of the clock as she threw back the covers off her legs. 8:02am shined back at her.

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and got up. The brunette looked at her cane, that she was supposed to use, but quickly dismissed the thought of using it and headed in to the bathroom, to relief herself.

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In the kitchen, Elliot thought he heard his girlfriend call for him but he didn't hear her again, so he just assumed he was hearing things. He went back to making his love's favourite breakfast. Chocolate chip pancakes with raspberries on the side. Olivia had a thing about the raspberries. There had to be exactly six, no more, no less, otherwise she'd push the plate away. Elliot didn't know why but he wanted to, he just hadn't had the courage to ask as of yet.

The feel of soft hands around his waist brought him out of his thoughts as he flipped the pancakes.

The blue eyed detective then felt a kiss on his bare shoulder followed by the sweet voice of his beautiful girlfriend. "Morning babe."

Elliot turned around in her arms and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. "Morning, baby....Hang on, did you walk here?"

Olivia nodded with a smile. "Sure did. I was wobbly, but I made it."

Elliot rested his forehead against Olivia's and kissed the tip of her nose. "Where's your cane, Liv? The doctor said that you need to use it until you regain full balance."

The brunette groaned. "I don't like it, El. I wanna be normal again. It's been nearly a year and this morning walking from the bedroom to here is the furtherst I have walked in like fifty weeks. It's all of maybe thirty steps and I have to walk along the walls and hold the bannister to talk down the stairs," she said and a tear fell from her now welled up, frustrated chocolate orbs.

Her very protective lover wiped away her salty, wet tears and kissed her on the lips again, not taking his eyes away from hers.

"It takes time, baby, but you're making impressive progress, ok?" He assured Olivia. "Livvie, come sit down," he continued and got her to sit down at the table before serving up her chocolate chip pancakes and exactly six raspberries.

Elliot set it down in front of her. "Enjoy, my love."

"Th--" Olivia started but was interrupted by the house phone ringing.

"Back in a second, baby," he said with a kiss before heading in to the living room to answer the phone.

He was expecting a call from Casey to confirm that she was on her way to pick Olivia up. They were surprising her with a romantic proposal.

The ADA was to keep the brunette occupied while Elliot set up the house.

"Benson- Stabler residence," he answered politely.

"Hello....is Olivia Benson there?" Asked the unfamiliar female voice.

"Who may I ask is speaking?" He asked, suspiciously.

"My name is Doctor Julia Lang. I'm an oncologist at St Mark's Hospital. I was Serena Benson's physician. Is Miss Benson there? It's very important," she stressed the last two sentences."

"Ah sure," Elliot replied and took the cordless phone in to the kitchen, where he found Olivia still at the table.

She'd already eaten three raspberries and half a pancake.

"Livvie?"

Olivia turned to face her boyfriend and swallowed the half chewed rapsberry in her mouth. "Yeah, hon?"

"A Doctor Julia Lang is on the phone for you."

"Oh...Ok," she replied, hesitantly and slowly took the cordless handset.

Elliot sat down on the chair next to Olivia and motioned for her to sit on his lap.

Olivia got up and sat down on Elliot's lap. "Hello, Olivia Benson speaking," she answered the call and felt Elliot's warm arms wrap around her slender waist.

"Miss Benson, I'm Doctor Lang, your mother's physician. I'm afraid that your mother passed away at 5:03 this morning."

Elliot felt his girlfriend's body tense up before a shaky sob was released. He gently took the phone out of Olivia's hand, knowing that she couldn't form a sentence.

"Thank you for your call," he said and hung up before placing the phone down on the table.

"I--- I didn't even get a chance to reconcile properly with her, El," she cried and burried her head in to his chest. "Or say goodbye."

Elliot rubbed her back soothingly and kissed the top of her head. "Baby, do you remember the last thing your mom said to you before we left after seeing her in the hospital, huh?"

He gave her another kiss on the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her shampoo before continuing, "she said she loved you and that she was extremely proud of you," he whispered.

The distraught brunette hiccupped and was about to mumble something but was cut off by the house phone again.

The blue eyed man picked it up and pressed the answer button.

"Benson- Stabler residence."

"Hey, it's Casey."

"Oh. We're gonna have to do this another day. Serena passed away this morning," he said, sadly.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Give Liv my love and condolences. Let me know when you want to re-schedule, ok?"

"Ok, thanks, bye," Elliot replied and hung up.

Olivia moved her head and looked up at Elliot. "If you need to go somewhere, you can go. I'll be fine."

Elliot rested his forehead against Olivia's again and wiped away her tears.

"I don't need to go anywhere. I'm staying right here with you, baby."

"What were you talking about then?" She asked and saw her boyfriend hesitant.

"Just tell me, El."

"Casey was going to take you out for the day and I was going to propose to you tonight. But now is not the best time."

Olivia shook her head. "No, it's not, but we didn't know that this was going to happen today. But...."

Elliot furrowed his brow. "But what, Liv?"

"Mom had already approved of you and I want to be your wife. I want to be Mrs. Olivia Stabler."

"So does that mean?"

Olivia sniffled. "Yes but....Not today, El. I'm sorry. It's just..."

"It's fine, honey. I completely understand. Just let me know when you're ready and we'll make it official."

Olivia kissed him on the lips, lightly. "Thank you for being so understanding. I love you so much."

"I love you too, honey and I'm here for you all the way."