"Kathy"

It was a loud echo in the room destroying the warmth that surrounded her and leaving her helplessly cold! She wanted to scream but her throat was dry, tears burnt behind her eyelids and she clamped them shut. If only she could shut out the pain she was feeling. If only she could stop her heart from breaking but she knew she couldn't. This was it! His arms were locked around her like those of a lover who didn't want to let her go. But she knew otherwise that it wasn't she he was holding it was Katherine Stabler; now a tear escaped and rolled down her cheer. She had to get out, to get a way. He held her tighter as she tried to move but soon he relaxed and she was free. The house was spinning before her eyes that were blurred by the tears she couldn't hold back.

Elliot awoke on the carpet, he smiled and turned but he was alone, her perfume was still on his skin and he smiled, pulled on his pant and walked to the kitchen, it was empty, he walked to her room with a sinking feeling, Elliot knocked but no answer came, he opened the door and it was empty. Elliot looked at his watch, this was all wrong, wasn't she supposed to wake up in his arms and make love again? Why did she leave? He turned around as he heard the front down open and in she strolled with soaking wet and limping. "What happened?" Elliot demanded going to her side, trying to help her only to have her recoil.

"I'm fine, I went for a jog" she replied and walked past him.

"A jog Liv, with your leg" Elliot asked with anger raising what that hell was happening here he couldn't understand why every thing was going so wrong.

"Yes Elliot with my leg, I'm not crippled you know" she spoke harshly and he could she the tell tale signs that she had been crying.

"Why were you crying?" this was a demand. She glared at him.

"Because I made a stupid mistake and a feel horrible" Elliot was grounded in the spot, was that what it was? A horrible mistake. Elliot looked to the floor, anything was better than looking at her.

"Now if you don't mind-"

"I'm sorry Liv, it's just, last night was-"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"You don't have a choice, last night happened and I want to talk about it. Liv we can't let this destroy our friendship not after so many years."

"It's always about you! You, you! Gosh I hate you!" Elliot staggered backward at her words as she ran towards the door. He didn't move only lower himself to the floor. "I hate you!" the words ran over and over in his mind. Was this the end? It couldn't be. A phone was ringing but he didn't want to move, he didn't care. Everything was over!

_____________________________________________________________________

The weekend was over and the house was crawling with his kids. Everyone was home expect Olivia he had barely seen her since the fight. "Gosh dad couldn't you have shaved?" Kathleen asked as she kissed his face.

"Daddy, where's mommy?" Eli asked as he picked him up and faked his happiness.

"Mommy went out"

"No mommy is right here sweetie" Olivia said from the door way. She looked different with her hair cut short, yet it fit her perfectly, did she always have to be so beautiful? He wondered as Eli struggled to get out of his hands and ran towards her only to be scooped up into a warm embrace only she could give. "Mommy, I missed you." Eli confessed and looked into the eyes of the woman he knew as his mother, the one who wouldn't let any-one or anything hurt him. She hugged him tighter.

"I missed you too baby" she said and kissed his forehead, and she released him reluctantly, she had to let him go she had to let them go soon. It was over.

Maureen stood at the top of the staircase she knew something was wrong, she felt it. Olivia was leaving, her clothes were packed and her shoes, and the sadness on both their faces told a tale, of broken dreams and hearts. It was past midnight when she awoke her sisters and her brother. "What's so important it could wait till morning?" Dickie asked rubbing sleepy eyes.

"Sorry but I think Liv is leaving?" she blurted out.

"Why would Olivia leave she's like family, she wouldn't do that" Kathleen said trying to stifle a yawn.

"Yea what makes you think that?" Lizzie asked

"Because she and dad haven't spoken two words since we got back and look at dad he hasn't looked like that since mom" Maureen explained.

Now everyone had to agree the tension around the house was think enough to be cut with a knife.

"So we have to find out what happened"

"No you don't" they turned to see Olivia standing in the doorway. "I am leaving because I can't stay, I was planning to leave after the wedding but I can't wait that long." She said her eyes were unusually bright.

"Why you said you would never leave us?" Lizzie asked standing to look at Olivia who had tears in her eyes.

"I have to go please understand, I found an apartment and a new job and you all can come and visit whenever sleep there if you like once you father agrees. But I can't stay here. I'm sorry" she said and walked a way. Inside the car she cried, it was cowardly but she had to.

______________________________________________________________________

A broken home was what she left, no-one could explain why mommy wasn't making him breakfast and why mommy wasn't kissing him goodnight.

Elliot looked at himself in the mirror in his white suit, it was the same one he wore to his wedding. He walked to the bride's room where she was being made up by a host of her friends and experts. "Daddy, do I look pretty?" she asked spinning around I her gown, and for a second he swore he was looking at Kathy.

"You look breath taking sweetheart." He said and kissed his forehead.

"People let's go we are running out of time" Maureen best friend Kiley said. "You don't pay me enough for this" she said as she rounded up the Stabler family.

"You forget you aren't getting paid" Maureen said and walked with her father to the car.

The church was picture perfect yet she couldn't walk in. She was scared. "Daddy I'm scared, what if something happens, look you've loved only two people and they both left you. I couldn't live if anything should happen to him." Elliot smiled down at his daughter.

"Baby, once you love him everything will fall into place. You can't live by my mistakes."

"Mom wasn't a mistake was she?" she asked. Dad I can't do this" She said and turned away from the door.

"Yes you can" Olivia said.

"Liv I thought you weren't coming" Maureen said holding onto Olivia.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world now come on the poor guy is in the sweating his heart out."

"I missed you"

"Yea now go on" And she did with her father by her side.

Nothing was normal! The visits the kids make wasn't enough, and she missed seeing his face at the dinner table. She missed it all. She wanted it all, but there was no use. She wanted to go for her laptop the kids wouldn't take it for her. She wanted to talk with Casey and her laptop was the only way. She dragged on her coat and took up her keys and walked towards her car.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Elliot was typing his report when he heard a chime an email from Casey. He smiled as he opened it. The salutation was wrong yet still he read

Dear Olivia

It's been awhile, I hope everything went well with Eli surgery. Gosh I miss you guys. But the shock is I can't believe Elliot is getting married. I really am sorry you held on to him for so long. And this is the end result. I know you love him so why don't you tell him, chances he feel the same way about you and is scared cause you guys have been friends forever. I wish you all the best, I will be away for two months I will email you as much as possible.

Love Casey

Olivia loves me?