Olivia couldn't help but glance over at Elliot with worry-filled eyes. There he was sitting alone in the corner on an abandoned chair staring down at the small plastic cup in his hands. Every now and then he would look up and glance around the room with hopeful eyes, but would just as soon look back down. A disappointed sigh would escape his lips. He'd wait a good ten or twenty minutes and then the cycle would repeat all over again.

Right now he reminded her of Stevie McCoy. A boy whom she had known back in elementary school. Every time her class played a sport or did anything even remotely fun, he was picked last for teams. He always sat alone and was constantly picked on by other boys. He was gawky looking what with his larger than life, thick-rimmed glasses and bony body.

No one had liked him because he was "too nerdy" and "awkward" and a "loser".

Then one day her class played baseball and Stevie McCoy's life changed forever. That boy hit the ball so hard that it went flying over the fence and into the street. A ten year old! It had been incredible. Stevie's team won and suddenly everyone loved him. He was "cool" and "talented" and everyone wanted him on their team. He grew up to be one of the most self-assured, kind, and funny guys she had ever met.

He went on to play baseball in high school and was known as the coach's secret weapon seeing as how he had the batting arm of a gorilla. Olivia had even dated him for a short time before he moved out to California with his parents during their junior year of high school…

Olivia's thoughts paused for a moment as she pictured Stevie McCoy from back in the day. Dirty-blonde hair, dark green eyes that were hardly ever noticeable behind his glasses, a sexy smile, and an amazing body that she had only ever seen once in her lifetime.

Good times.

Very very good times.

Olivia cleared her throat and smiled at Munch who was now giving her a funny look. She motioned for him to please continue telling their little group about his theory on cell phones. Their true purpose was meant—of course—for the government to spy on its people.

Anyways! The point was that if Elliot wanted to move on then he was going to have to be a big boy and figure out how to do it on his own. He was going to have to take a chance just like Stevie had. After all, he was only going to get better if he wanted to.

She glanced over at him once more and felt like her heart was going to explode. He was making her so sad! She couldn't blame him for wanting to go home, but this was something that he had to do. He had to learn how to socialize again, if he didn't he would only get worse and sink further into depression.

I can't let that happen.

Olivia smiled at Munch and gracefully excused herself from the group. She then went over to Fin who was chatting with the captain about something that had happened to him at the supermarket.

"I'm sure you're exaggerating Fin"

Both men turned their attention towards Olivia once they saw her approaching.

"Pssh-ah! Yeah, I wish. Hey Liv what's up?"

Olivia smiled at them both.

"Hey guys. Well I must say you both look so handsome. I mean really wow!"

Fin could hardly refrain from rolling his eyes.

"Forget it Liv. I'm not talking to Fat Albert over there, okay? I'm just not and you can't make me."

Olivia glared at Fin before she looked over at the captain pleadingly.

He straightened his back and pointed towards the kitchen with his thumb.

"Is that the oven I hear?" He asked innocently before walking off in the opposite direction.

Olivia's jaw dropped at his lame excuse while Fin just laughed.

Unbelievable!

Olivia huffed and blew a strand of hair out of her face. She planned to ask Fin again, but by the time she looked over he was already on the other side of the room talking to Munch.

Great. Just great.

"It's not going to work you know."

Olivia jumped at the sudden voice in her ear. It was Casey.

"Gah! Jeeze woman you need a bell. And what's not going to work?"

Casey cast a sideways glance at Olivia with a knowing smile on her lips.

"Trying to get people to talk to Elliot. No one knows who he is anymore. Heck! I hardly even recognized him when he walked through the door! Come on Liv, what did you expect?"

Olivia shrugged and ran a hand through her hair.

"Shit I don't know. Just not this!" she said waving at the Eeyore look-alike in the chair.

Casey shrugged back at her in response.

"I know. He's so gloomy. Aren't fat people supposed to be jolly?"

Olivia smacked Casey's arm.

"Shut up!" Olivia said with venom in her voice.

Casey held her hands up in front of her in mock-surrender.

"Okay okay, lighten up already. It was just a joke."

"Yeah? Well it's not funny."

Casey smirked over at Olivia before taking a sip from her martini.

"Clearly."

.

.

Elliot's hands wouldn't stop shaking nor would his foot stop tapping. His anxiety was killing him. He needed a drink. Something. Anything! Hell, even a shitty little Bud Light would help right now.

Elliot's hand clenched into a tight fist and he took a small sip of his water. His face scrunched up in disappointment as a result. He didn't want water he wanted fucking vodka. He didn't need alcohol on a daily basis like some people, but when he needed it, he needed it. He could control himself, but only to some degree.

Elliot gulped whenever he caught someone looking at him. He didn't want to be here. He wanted hide. Ugh! He just needed something to take the edge off. Maybe just a sip? A tiny little drop never hurt anyone, right?

No, I can't do that.

Elliot took another disappointing sip of water. He didn't dare look at the captain's current selection of alcohol. He couldn't, it was too tempting.

Unfortunately Elliot knew that there was no way he was going to be able to stop once he started. If he started. He was a binge alcoholic which meant that he didn't have limits when it came to alcohol. He was either completely sober or fucked-up drunk. There was no in-between for him.

Suddenly a Corona commercial flashed across a TV screen that no one was paying attention to. He hadn't been either until now. There were half-naked women smiling as they sipped from their beers on the beach.

Just a sip. Just one. That's all I need. Maybe I could hide it in my jacket then drink it in the bathroom. No one would notice. No one.

Elliot could hardly contain his drool at the forbidden fantasy. He could already taste the sinful liquid on his lips. He knew that it would make him feel better. Isn't that what Olivia wanted anyhow? For him to feel better.

A sip of alcohol would do that.

Just one…

"Nah ah Daddy. You pomised Nivia."

Elliot practically jumped out of his skin when he saw his son standing in front of him. He was shaking his finger 'no' with an angry expression on his face.

Eli.

Elliot nodded his head in agreement and smiled sadly at his son.

"You're right," he whispered, "I'm sorry, buddy."

"Hey Dad," Kathleen said all of a sudden.

When did she get here?

Elliot glanced up and smiled at his daughter. He quickly embraced her in a tight hug then looked around for his son.

He was gone.

.

.

By the time dinner rolled around everyone was seated around two long tables with their heads bowed in prayer.

At one table sat Nick Amaro and his daughter Zara, Amanda Rollins, Melinda, her husband Joseph, and her daughter Kim (who was the same age as Zara), Fin Tutuola and his son Ken, John Munch, and Alex Cabot.

On the other table was Captain Cragen, his brother Charlie and sister-law Rosie, Casey Novak, Rafael Barba and his cousin José, Olivia Benson, Elliot Stabler and his daughter Kathleen.

When the captain finished his prayer everyone said "amen" and proceeded to dig into their meals. Olivia was on Elliot's right while Kathleen sat on his left. Across from him was Rafael, who had his cousin and Casey on either side of him.

Elliot hardly looked up from his food. He didn't know why, but the thought of talking to someone that he hardly knew sent a panicked quiver through his body. He felt shy which was so unlike him.

Olivia decided to help the situation along.

She kicked Rafael in the shin and motioned for him to say something to her former partner.

Barba glared at the sergeant, but decided to at least try and be civil towards the weirdo in front of him.

"So…um…"

Shit what the fuck is his name? Barba asked himself.

Elliot, mouthed Olivia.

Barba smiled at her gratefully.

"So Elliot, I see that you have a Princeton sweatshirt on. That's nice. I graduated from there as well."

Elliot looked up then.

"It's not mine."

Awkward silence followed after that and Olivia smacked herself on the forehead.

Well that was blunt.

Elliot was being so boring! He was usually the life of the party, but to be honest it would've been easier having a conversation with a rock.

Rafael didn't really know what to say to that. He settled for scooping up a little bit of mashed potatoes and shoving that in his mouth instead.

Olivia perked up when she saw that Barba was eating something that she had made. It was the easiest thing in the world to make, but still she took pride in the fact that he wasn't choking or something.

Olivia decided to speak up then.

"I'm glad I have the next few days off. El and I are going Black Friday shopping after dinner. I can't remember the last time I did that."

Kathleen rolled her eyes at the thought of shopping on Black Friday.

"Pssh good luck."

Olivia smirked when Elliot looked over at her with wide eyes.

"Wait we are?" he hated crowds "Why didn't you tell me?"

Olivia squeezed Elliot's shoulder reassuringly.

"Because I knew you wouldn't come to dinner if I told you ahead of time. Relax it'll be fine."

Elliot dropped his fork and leaned back in his chair.

"Can't you go without me?" he whined.

"Nope" Olivia said before chomping down on a giant slice of ham.

Elliot laughed as a sudden memory occurred to him.

"Shit, remember when we had to arrest that crazy dude on Black Friday?"

Olivia's eyes widened and she smiled.

"Yes! Oh my God that was insane!"

Elliot bit his lip and turned to the people around him. They were looking at him with curiosity in their eyes. This was his chance to show them who he really was. He was a funny guy okay? He really was. Well…sometimes anyways.

Ah, fuck it.

He was going to take a chance and actually try socializing for once. He was going to fill them in on what had happened. He was a bit nervous at first about talking to these people, but then that feeling quickly subsided once he got lost in the story.

Here's what had happened:

They had been called down to a lingerie store because all other units were "too busy" to handle this stupid situation. There had been two women there. A short, little old Asian lady, and a thin black woman with beautiful wavy dark hair who couldn't have been older than thirty.

They had apparently thrown punches at each other because they both wanted the same lacy black thong. The store was having a sale: all thongs were $1. Every woman in her right mind was there because these thongs were usually seven dollars each!

Two security guards had managed to break them up by the time Elliot and Olivia got there. When the detectives asked both women what had happened, the two ladies stood up and started screaming at each other.

They both accused the other of trying to steal the thong away even though they had obviously touched it at the same time. The Asian lady sprang at the other unsuspecting woman and got a hold of her hair. Elliot and Olivia grabbed them both from behind and tried to pull the two women apart.

When they did finally separate them something unexpected happen. The black woman's hair came off. She had been wearing a wig!

Oh it was just like Jerry Springer.

No, better than Jerry Springer.

The old lady started cursing at the younger woman.

"I had first! It no yours, you…you…"

They couldn't understand anything else she said because it had been in Chinese.

The other woman flailed in Olivia's arms as she tried to break free. She was pissed.

"Let me at her! You fucking bitch!"

The women kept trying to get at each other. A crowd was gathering.

Suddenly a loud pop sounded which caused all the women in the store to scream.

"He has a gun!" someone shouted.

Those in the center of the room hit the ground while others made a break for the door.

The guy with a gun turned out to be a crazy old white dude who wasn't wearing anything but a pair of boxers and a hockey mask.

Elliot and Olivia shoved the two women out of the way. They reached for their guns, but the man snarled at them and told them to keep their hands where he could see them.

Apparently he wanted the panties for himself! He asked the old lady to hand them over.

She did.

And with that he ran out of the store with two other panties in his hands.

It had been the most bizarre thing either detective had ever seen.

Rafael couldn't stop laughing after Elliot described how the little old lady had pulled off the other woman's wig. He impersonated them both so well!

Once he managed to calm down he took a sip of wine. His face was flushed and when his observant eyes caught the look that Benson was currently giving Stabler he got a glimpse at what their partnership must have been like. Some had described it as cute while others said it was annoying and that they wished these two would just get a room already.

She was looking at Stabler adoringly, lovingly even. Whenever his eyes landed on her he would portray the same emotion. They were obviously a lot closer than Barba had originally assumed.

The sight of it made him smile. Olivia looked at him suspiciously with a smile of her own on her face.

"What?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing." He said all too innocently

I give these two a month before they end up dating.

.

.

6:00 am

Elliot helped Liv carry the last of their shopping bags into her apartment. He was exhausted, they both were.

After all they had started their shopping mission at midnight, stopped to grab some breakfast at five, and just now got home. Olivia threw her shopping bags onto her bedroom floor and flopped down onto her bed. She was so tired that she didn't even take her bra or make-up off.

Luckily she had brought a change of clothes so she wasn't too uncomfortable right now. She had a pair of jeans, and a plain black hoodie on with some sneakers. She didn't take the sneakers off either.

Olivia's eye lids drooped heavily and she was mere seconds away from falling asleep. She was about to do just that when she heard something vibrate.

She had a text message.

She sleepily reached for her phone. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust so that she could read the message properly.

It was from Brian.

Can we talk?

Olivia smiled down at the screen in front of her and quickly texted him back.

Sure! When? -O

Let's have lunch. How does 1 sound? -B

Perfect. See u then. -O

I love you. –B

I want this to work. –B

I miss you, babe.-B

Olivia texted a quick "love u too" back to him before she passed out, no longer able to keep her eyes open.

A/N: Thoughts?

Thanks for reading.