Note: For weeks, I've been trying to come up with a perfect Bensler fanfiction. After seeing the finale, this idea came to me. Hope you Enjoy!

Chapter: One

"...Leads you to happiness Liv."

She was in her car, heading to Elliot's apartment, her heart beating against her chest hoping that he hadn't left yet for whatever case he was being sent on. She placed her hand over the necklace, the beautiful compass necklace that he had given her. Ever since he walked out of her office, she couldn't get what he had said out of her head; that the necklace was supposed to lead her to happiness.

But he was wrong, because she had already found her happiness and it just walked out of her door. After everything that had happened with the case, and her getting shot, it made her realize that Elliot was right; life is not only short, but precious and she needs to tell him, let him know the truth.

He is her happiness and she doesn't want him to leave without knowing how she truly feels and confess her long, suppressed overdue love for him. Because who knows when she will see him again.

Pulling up in front of his building to screeching halt, she shut off her car and got out. She felt a sharp pain and let out a wince from the pain in her hip where she was shot. She stopped to take a minute for the pain to subdued before proceeding. Even when the doctor told her no strenuous activities for at least two weeks, she pushed through it. Taking a deep breath, she closed the car door behind her before making her way inside. She just hopes that she wasn't too late.

When she made it to the door, she knocked and waited a few minutes, "Elliot? It's Olivia" She called, knocking on the door again, only a little harder this time. When she didn't get an answer she grabbed her key that he had given her and entered the apartment. "Elliot!" She called as she searched the apartment, checking bedrooms, the bathroom, then she came upon his room and saw that his dresser drawers were open and his closet was almost empty.

The airport.

She rushed out of the apartment taking care of closing the door behind her as she hurried her way back out the building. She got into her car and started up the engine as she took off speeding, with lights and sirens, weaving in and out of traffic heading towards the airport. She felt something wet on her cheek and reached up, as she brought her hand to see it was tears. She was crying, she realized. Crying that she may not see Elliot for a long while. Maybe it was also because of fear, fear that this was starting to feel like when he left the first time.

But this time he had actually told her, she just doesn't know if she can handle it a second time, not without telling him. Approaching the airport in record time, she parked and shut off the engine as she got out with another groan and a wince, closing the door before hurrying making her way inside, despite the growing throbbing pain in her hip.

Weaving in and out of people. Lightly shoving them and apologizing after as she frantically looked for the man she loved. She didn't know how long it's been, but it felt like hours. Then, she saw him, he was sitting in one of the chairs, waiting to board his plane, she sighed in relief that he hadn't left yet. She made her way through the sea of people, never taking her eyes off of the man, "Elliot!"

–XxXx–

Elliot was sitting in one of the many chairs, waiting for his plane to be called. He couldn't get the case out of his mind. He was so scared about losing Olivia when she was shot. He was just relieved that it wasn't any worse, because as soon as she told him she was hit, he felt his heart drop in fear, thinking the worst. He couldn't see and all he heard was the gun going off. He had never felt more scared in his life, scared for Olivia.

Now, thinking about everything they've been through, throughout the twelve years of their partnership and then two years of them repairing their friendship after his ten year absence and recently with the shooting at the diner, that was when he finally realizes that life is to short, and the death of Wealen made him realize that life was precious and that's what Olivia's life was.

It was the shooting that got Elliot to realize that he was in love with Olivia Benson, it was a wake up call to him, after all these years to tell her how he truly feels. For decades, he had always thought about her, his best friend and even a better partner. He doesn't know what he would do if Olivia had died. Losing Kathy almost broke him, but losing Olivia, it would destroy him.

He needs to do something, find the time to tell her how he feels, to tell her that he loves her. He just wishes he could go back in time to a few days and tell her.

He was brought out of his thoughts by someone yelling his name. "Elliot!" The voice sounded familiar but when he looked back, he was stunned because there, in the crowded area was Olivia Benson. The very same woman whom he loved. What was she doing here? She should be at home resting from her wound. He got up and started making his way over to her, "Olivia!" he called out as he made his way through the crowd, pushing people aside to let him through, never taking his eyes off of her.

Finally, they had made it to each other, they both stood there for a few minutes taking each other in. Then she hugged him. He instantly hugged back, being mindful of her injury. "Olivia, what are you doing here? You should be at home recovering." he asked as he pulled back but kept his arms wrapped around her, to keep her from getting jostled around by all these people.

She sighed, cocking her head to the side in her signature way with a teary smile as she placed a hand on his chest, while keeping the other on his bicep, "I was hoping to see you one last time, before you left." she answered.

"You were wrong, Elliot." she added. Elliot was confused, "Wrong about what,Liv?" he asked her, confused as to where this was going.

"This necklace…" she said, he watched as she brought her other hand up to touch it, "It won't lead me to happiness, because it already has." She added as she looked away, getting a handle on her emotions.

"It's you, Elliot." she started, taking the courage to look up at him, "You're…..you're my happiness and I couldn't let you go without…..without telling you." she said as she started to get emotional, and her eyes tearing up.

"Tell me what Olivia?" He asked, voice choked with emotion, he watched as Olivia took a deep breath. "That I…" she sighed and shook her head, cupping his face with both of her hands, "…I love you Elliot! I always had. I'm just sorry it took 24 years to admit it." she confessed. Tears streaming down her face

Elliot felt his eyes getting watery as he smiled. "Liv." he whispered, not knowing what to say, too many emotions hitting him all at once as he leaned down and kissed her on the lips.

She instantly kissed him back, wrapped her arms around his neck as he tightened his hold on her. Her lips are sweet and smooth as he slipped his tongue into her mouth and deepened the kiss, receiving a small groan in return. This was what they had always wanted for so long, to be in each other's arms. To feel each other.

After a few minutes, they slowly parted, their foreheads touching with their eyes closed, "I love you too, Liv. I should've said it before, but I love you so damn much" he whispered.

She opened her eyes as she cupped his face, placing both hands on either side of his face pulling away as they looked at each other. Both with stray tears down their faces. She gently stroked one side of his face with her hand, studying his features one last time to remember.

"I'm gonna miss you El." she whispered with a smile, trying her best not to cry.

Elliot reached up and gently wiped a fresh tear that came out, his gentle touch lingering "I'm gonna miss you too, Liv. More than you know." he admitted, his voice raspy with emotion.

"But, I promise you, I'll be back. And when I do come back, I would like to take you out to dinner." he offered, with a smile. Olivia let out a watery chuckle and nodded.

"I would like that. I'll be waiting." she whispered, taking a deep breath. She kissed him once again before hugging him. "Be careful, El. I need you back safe." She whispered against his neck, closing her eyes as fresh tears fell onto him. "I promise," he replied, rubbing her back in a comfortable manner.

He pulled away and placed a lingering kiss on her forehead, before pulling away but kept her in his arms, looking into her big brown eyes that held so much love for him. He doesn't wanna leave her, not again, but he has to because he has a job to do. But, now that he knows someone is waiting for him, he will do his best to try and come back to her.

Flight 246 boarding at gate 4

They let go of each other, Elliot looked up at the ceiling, hearing his plane being called, "I gotta go." he said, looking back at her. He grabbed her hands and covered them with his own, bringing them up to his mouth as he kissed them before placing a gentle hand on her cheek and kissing her lips, "Goodbye, Liv!" he whispered, letting go of her hands before walking away.

Olivia watched as the love of her life walked away from her, only this time with the intent of coming back. She leaned against the wall that was behind her and felt fresh tears as she covered her mouth with a hand to keep from sobbing. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, getting a grip on her emotions. She opened them to see he was nowhere to be seen.

She removed her hand from her mouth and placed it over her necklace, "Goodbye, Elliot." She whispered as she turned and walked back the way she came and walked out of the airport.

Once she was safely back in the privacy of her car, she let the floodgates open and did something she hadn't done in a long while, she cried. She had just watched as the man she loved was leaving for the second time, crying because after all these years, she's finally admitted to him what she had suppressed all these years. Her undying love for him. She doesn't even know when he will be back, and that hurts her more because he had left before and had returned after ten years.

When she finally ran out of tears she leaned her head back and closed her eyes, taking a couple of deep breaths. He may not be there with her for now, but she can pray and hope that he returns to her. She sniffed and wiped her eyes before starting up her car and slowly driving out of the parking lot.

They had a date, and he promised he would be back. Until then, she could wait.

End of story note: Well, this is it for this story. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks for reading and hope that you enjoyed it. I'm thinking of making a second chapter. Don't know yet, we'll see. Until next time.