A/N: Thank you for all the reviews and comments on the last chapter. Now let's see what happens the on morning after, take two. Haha. Enjoy!

Thank you Chels, for all your support. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own SVU (NBC and Dick Wolf do) and I am not making any money from this story.

Regularity

Elliot blinks awake, blames his job for conditioning his body to be up by seven AM. Even on his day off.

Olivia's not in bed beside him, though he hadn't expected her to be. He wonders how long she stayed, how long he was asleep before she snuck away.

The sound of the toilet flushing startles him.

Olivia shuffles back into the bedroom, and he can't keep a smile from appearing. She's wearing his shirt and her underwear, but nothing else. She stops when she sees that he's awake, staring at her.

"I thought you'd left," he says.

"Do you want me to go?"

Elliot shakes his head.

Olivia hesitates, then climbs back into bed.

"Your apartment is freezing," she says, pressing into him.

Elliot drapes an arm across her waist, curves himself against her and shares the warmth. He places gentle kisses along her hairline, but Olivia's hand comes up to his cheek to stop him.

"El, it's too soon."

He mumbles in understanding and her hand drops away.

"I didn't hurt you, did I?" he asks.

"No. It's not that. I'm just tired."

"Guess that's my fault."

"Don't apologize."

His laugh is deep, rumbling. "That good, huh?"

She pinches his ass, but he can feel the silent laughter shaking her body.

***

Around eleven her phone rings.

"Shit."

Getting out of bed, Olivia follows the trail of discarded clothing to her pants.

Elliot doesn't even need one guess to know who's on the line. Their Captain always calls him first.

Sliding out of bed and into a pair of boxer briefs, he heads to the kitchen and starts a pot of coffee. The task is a convenient excuse to eavesdrop on his partner's conversation.

Olivia keeps her voice low. "I know, Hen. . ..I'm sorry I couldn't make it last night. . ..Yes, we caught a case."

Elliot's eyebrow arches over that lie, but he doesn't interrupt.

"It's my job. You know things come up. . ..Yeah, I'll see you at dinner."

She hangs up and exhales, frustrated.

"You gonna tell him?" Elliot asks over his shoulder, pouring his coffee.

"No." A few seconds later she adds, "Fuck. Where is it?"

He turns and sees her on her hands and knees by the couch, hands skimming over the carpet. Her search for her engagement ring hits a nerve, makes his eyes narrow in disgust.

"So what was this?" he asks. "I thought that—"

"I'm still marrying him, Elliot."

"Why?"

"Because you went back to Kathy once. You'll do it again."

"That won't happen."

Her attention is focused on flipping couch cushions, looking for her ring.

Elliot starts for his bedroom, but whips around and says, "It starts with lies about work. It's all downhill from there. You'll see."

Then he turns and goes into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

***

They both simmer for a while. It's back to only talking about cases, only being together as much as the job requires. They completely shut each other out.

But Elliot can never stay mad at her for very long. His grudge against Reed grows exponentially, but his anger toward Olivia diminishes.

By the middle of May things are better. But he's not sure if he can keep repeating the cycle they have going. He can't sleep with her and then be at odds with her for a month or two afterwards. It's unhealthy, for both of them.

It has to stop.

***

It's his weekend with his kids. Elliot watches the game with Dickie while Lizzie finger-paints with her younger brother at the coffee table.

"You think they could go all the way this year?" Dickie asks.

Elliot nods, loving that his son is speaking to him again. Thank God for hockey.

"They have a great goalie that's got playoff experience. I'd say they've got a good shot."

Their team has a power play opportunity in the third period when Elliot's cell rings.

"Tell me we didn't catch a case," he answers.

"No case."

Elliot's immediately alerted to the strange tone of her voice.

She continues, "I didn't mean to interrupt your time with your kids, but it's important."

"What is it?"

"I won't say over the phone. I need you to come over. Now, if possible."

A/N: Well I couldn't have everything just be peachy between them all of a sudden, now could I? And what is it that Olivia won't reveal over the phone? Hmm....Guess you'll have to come back for chapter thirteen in a week or so. Thanks for reading!

PS: Mariska's Joyful Heart Foundation is up for a $250,000 grant, and all you have to do is vote online. Go to: refresheverything(dot)com/votejoy . You can vote once a day, every day for the rest of Feb. and if JHF comes in first OR second, they will get the grant!!! Wouldn't that be lovely? Please help! (Yes, I realize that this is a shameless plug, but it's a great cause!)