Sanctum will be updating over the next few days - thank you to everyone who is reading my stories. It's awesome to be able to share these stories with other Liv and El fans :-)

Fin sat at the bar, a beer in his hand as he stared incredulously at his partner. He hadn't heard a word Munch had said since he had began his theories on the real reason why Arizona has such a high rate of unsolved missing persons cases.

Glancing back at him, making a half hearted attempt at picking up a thread of the conversation, he tried to pay attention.

"Which makes sense - think about it, what Liv was saying fits right in with many of the unexplained activity along the Devil's Highway. It goes without saying that there's an explanation for these things...but its more sinister than you might think.."

"She was joking, Munch!" Fin said, staring at him exasperated.

"Well, who knows what she has been told to say..." Munch continued.

"You seriously believed her? She isn't involved in any weird government shit Munch, this is Olivia you're talking about!"

"Well, many people who go missing…"

"I'm calling her, I can't take this anymore!" Fin said, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

Olivia answered her phone and laughed. Elliot smiled at her as he listened to her side of the conversation.

-Really...for two hours Fin?

Olivia laughed again.

-Sorry about that...put him on, I'll try and convince him I'm not being controlled by a chip implanted in my head.

At the other end of the phone, Fin was secretly pleased to hear Olivia sounding happy. He had learned to tune out a lot of Munch's commentary but sometimes he couldn't help listening. He would never admit it, but he had found himself looking up some of what Munch had said over the years. He had found Munch insufferable since he had spoken to Olivia though, but was relieved that she was at a point where she could make a joke.

Munch was only partly joking - he knew that Olivia didn't need a heavy conversation and didn't object to playing along if it helped her. He did however, have some very interesting theories about the unexplained disappearances he had been accumulating in a file on his desk over the past few days. When she was on a more even keel, he decided that he would run these ideas past her.

-Munch, I am not anywhere near there, I promise you. I was joking, you're driving Fin mad!

When Olivia got off the phone, she laughed as she turned to Elliot who was leaning back against the table smiling at her.

"He's been driving Fin crazy for over two hours!" Olivia laughed.

"I bet, you were pretty convincing Liv," smiled Elliot.

Olivia stood up and walked over to him sliding her hands across his and she inched up toward him, he leant down to meet her and she placed a soft kiss on his lips.

"Thank you," she said warmly.

He took one of her hands in his, the other reaching up to stroke her hair. Olivia was beginning to love the way it felt when he did that. His touch could be so tender and loving; a side of him that was making her fall all the more in love with him.

"What was going through your mind, Liv?" he asked softly.

Olivia sighed, "Nothing El - I wasn't trying to hurt you..."

"I know that baby, its OK" he said, raising her hand to his lips and placing a gentle kiss.

Olivia gave a small smile, "I wanted to call you that night - but...I just couldn't handle talking to anyone. I just wanted to get as far away...from myself, as possible. The longer I was away the harder it was to call - I felt too guilty for walking out on you, and too messed up...I didn't want you to see me...crumbling like this, El."

"Why?" he whispered, "you're my partner, my best friend, my..."

"Your what, El?" she whispered.

"Don't think there's a word that really sums up what you are to me...I've never felt this kind of connection with anyone..."

"Doesn't that...scare you?" Olivia whispered.

Elliot placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes with sincerity.

"No Olivia, it doesn't. I love you - just let it happen...let us happen."

The next week passed quickly.

Elliot had been discreetly keeping an eye on how much Olivia was eating and was relieved that she had started eating more regularly and while he was still somewhat worried about her, she was certainly happier.

He lay on their bed in the cabin. It was a quiet location, but not too isolated that they wouldn't have access to amenities and see other people. He knew Olivia needed that balance.

Looking up at the ceiling fan his thoughts drifted to the nights he now shared with her. Every night she lay in his arms, they had not taken their new found physical intimacy any further yet. He wanted to - in truth, each night it had become progressively more difficult now to allow his hands to roam more freely over her body. He needed her to see that he understood, though - she was just getting comfortable with the concept of needing somebody else without complicating it with her own doubts of why she needed him.

He wanted to wait until she was feeling much more comfortable and secure within herself before they took things to the next level.

Then he heard the door open in the next room and smiled, knowing that Olivia was back from the store. He realised that she had been gone for over an hour and thirty minutes and he hadn't felt the urge to follow her. The first day they had arrived at the cabin she had told him she was going to go out and pick up some take out from the town; a thirty minute drive. It had taken significant effort not to follow her - not totally convinced that it was a good idea for her to be on her own.

Olivia opened the door and smiled, "Hey El."

"Hey baby, how'd you survive the drive? The air conditioning is completely gone now."

"Well I did say it was a cheap car," she said as she went over and climbed on to the bed,

kneeling next to him.

"It's so much cooler in here - the car is sweltering."

Elliot instinctively eased himself up and put a hand on her hip. She smiled as she let him pull her down next to him, her body lying close against his.

Olivia slid her hand up, under the material of his thin t shirt, her hand roaming his chest. He responded by letting his hand wander from her hip, toward her ass. She twisted around slightly, making it easier for his hand to reach her ass and their bodies moulded closer together.

She raised her head and looked at him as she shifted further until her leg slipped in between his and grazed him.

"Liv," he whispered, as his hands pulled her body against him.

Olivia put her hands either side of him, her leg moving slowly between his as she leaned in and kissed him. Elliot sighed, taking her into his arms as he returned her kiss passionately.

Rolling her over on to her back their kiss deepened, as they explored each other.

"I love you Olivia," he said softly, "it feels so good being here with you."

Olivia looked at him, the want in her eyes unmistakable, as he ran his hand past her hip.

"El," she whispered. Uncertain of the right words, she let her actions speak her intention. Her hands roamed his body, sliding down further until her fingers reached his belt. Looking into each others eyes, they needed no words to know that they would cross that final boundary together.

As Elliot made love to her she felt absolutely wanted and desired. The depth of feeling they held for each other was undeniable.

They remained in each others arms, lying side by side, their bodies close, as they held each other. The air conditioning was finally cooling Olivia as they both fell asleep, contented.

Elliot awoke to the feel of Olivia lying close to him - her skin against his. Waking up with her after making love felt so different to the previous week of simply holding her. He turned to her and noticed that she was already awake. For a moment he felt a pang of anxiety, wondering if she regretted taking their relationship further - wondering if he should have given her a little more time.

Relief washed over him as he looked into her eyes. Propping herself up on her elbow she looked at him and smiled.

"I think we should definitely do that more often," she said with a laugh.

Elliot mirrored her pose and looked into her eyes - he saw a warmth within her that had been slowly returning over the past week.

"I think that can be arranged - personally, I don't want to get out of this bed with you for a second."

Olivia smiled and leaned in, placing a kiss on his lips.

"Well I'm afraid we have to."

"Why? We don't have to be any where?"

Olivia rolled away, smiling slightly at his groan of protest at their loss of contact as she climbed off the bed, pulling on her tank top and panties.

"I'm starving El," she laughed, "come on, let's get some breakfast."

Elliot reluctantly got out of bed and followed her into the kitchen, he watched her for a moment as she opened the doors of the unfamiliar cupboards, finding pots and utensils.

She turned to see him leaning against a counter smiling at her, "Are you just gonna stand there and watch me make breakfast?" she said playfully.

Elliot walked over to her and spun her around, pulling her back towards him, and placing a kiss on her neck.

"No, I thought I would do my best to distract you."

Olivia laughed as she playfully pushed him away.

His heart felt lighter, filled with hope that not only was she going to get past this, but the chance of a future, together, was looking so real.

I personally find it very hard to write a love scene that doesn't go into M territory!

That was a bit fluffy, but I promise it does get a bit grittier. If you like M fics, have a look at Resistance, that goes way into M territory ;-)

In the upcoming chapters - Munch gives Liv some information which takes her and Elliot into an interesting direction, and our favourite detectives unearth something which helps Liv make a realisation.

If you want to join in with some role play, check out Natter. I am Oliviabenson - and Abby (NCIS)- we have a number of role players on there so please do come along and join in, whether SVU, NCIS, or another fandom. If you would like to play Elliot, Munch, Fin, Casey, or Ziva from NCIS please let me know as we may be able to hand some of those over.