Maureen took a deep breath. "We thought she knew dad…"

Elliot looked at her. "You thought she…" It then hit him. "Oh God! Crap!"

He got up and started pacing the floor.

"Why didn't you tell her?" Lizzie asked, not understanding why her father hadn't told her yet. That was the real mistake made here. "Why don't you want to tell her? She's Liv for crying out loud! She should know! I mean…"

Elliot looked at his daughter. "Lizzie, I know… I know… and it's not that I don't want to tell her… Oh, I do… I want to tell her everything… but I don't want to drag her down in my problems. They're mine, and she doesn't need that."

Maureen got up. "Dad," she said as she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "I'm so sorry… we didn't mean for it to happen… and… and she doesn't actually know what happened –"

Elliot pulled away and looked her in the eye. "What? I thought –"

Lizzie cut in. "She knows you're not telling her everything. She just doesn't know… details…"

Elliot ran his hand through his hair as he sighed. "I'll … I'm going to talk to her tonight. I promise, I'll tell her tonight."

Maureen looked at him intently. "Everything? You'll tell her everything?"

Elliot noticed the look his kids were giving him. "What? I'll tell her what really happened and why your mom and I divorced. Isn't that what you guys want?"

Maureen let out a sigh. "Yes… of course we want you to tell her all of the truth about that…"

"But we know you're hiding more," Lizzie continued for her.

Elliot looked back and forth between his daughters. "What are you guys talking about?"

Dickie sighed. "Come on you guys, give dad a break. He's got a lot to think about right now."

The girls nodded and all went silent, leaving Elliot lost thinking about what the hell they were talking about now.

"When… when do you go back to Philadelphia?" Lizzie asked hesitantly.

"We're going back up Tuesday morning," Elliot answered. The others nodded.

"When will you be back?" Maureen then asked.

Elliot sighed. "I… I don't know… probably Saturday. Maybe Sunday. Maybe even earlier."

They nodded. "Can you call us, when you know? I… we want to come visit you, or see you, or whatever…" Maureen said.

Elliot nodded. "Of course. I'll let you guys know right away, whenever I know." He looked at his twins. "Do you guys want me to call you at your mom's?"

They shook their heads quickly. "We're, well … we've decided we're going to be staying with Maureen right now," Dickie admitted sheepishly.

"You… you what?" Elliot asked, not believing what he was hearing.

"She has a guest room…" Lizzie said. "We're staying with her. She said she could drive us to school in the morning and we can usually either get a ride home or she'll pick us up. It's… it's easier."

Elliot looked at his oldest daughter. "Maureen, you don't have to do –"

Maureen cut him off. "Yes dad, I do! I can't handle seeing them so broken up. They're staying with me until you're back here for good."

Elliot looked at them with a confused glance. "What… what do you mean?"

Dickie looked at his dad. "We want to come live with you."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Olivia had needed to get away. Of course, she had in fact promised the boys she'd come see them, but it was mostly because she needed to escape the awkwardness. As soon as she was outside, she felt like she could breathe again. She pushed every thought about what the girls had almost told her and Elliot not telling her everything to the back of her mind.

Or at least she tried.

She wasn't mad. He had told her he wasn't ready to talk about it, she respected that. It just worried her, that's all. He needed to talk to someone, and she didn't care who it was. As long as he talked.

Hopefully his kids would make him talk a little. That would let her sleep much easier.

But for now, she was putting it to the back of her mind. Yes, for real this time.

She made her way up to the squad room, disappointed to find it empty. Well, not actually empty, but Finn, Munch and Cragen were nowhere in sight. So it made it feel empty.

She took a seat at John's desk, realizing that hers was being used by her replacement. She didn't mind though. She didn't really care where she sat, just as long as it made her feel comfortable.

"Olivia?"

Olivia looked up to Casey's puzzled expression. "Hey Case."

Casey had only been back for about a month, but Olivia was glad she was. They had had the chance to catch up, but she hadn't had the chance to explain to Casey her undercover op with Elliot before she disappeared. She just hoped someone else had explained to her why there were two new guys.

"Hey, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Phillie with your fiancée?" she said with a laugh.

Olivia laughed too. "We're here for the weekend. Going back on Tuesday. I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to explain but –"

Casey cut her off. "It's okay Olivia. Cragen told me Friday morning when I inquired about the new guys. They're not half bad you know."

Olivia smiled. "That's what Finn and John we're telling me. I hope El and I haven't lost our jobs for good."

Casey let out a quick laugh. "Never."

Just then, they heard John before they even saw him. "I still don't get it!"

"Get what?" Olivia asked as Munch came around the corner with Charles and noticed her sitting at his desk.

John didn't ask any questions, or even great her. He knew she just wanted to feel useful. He'd feel the same in her shoes.

"Did you talk to the mom alone?" Olivia asked once John had finished catching her up. "I mean, how many couples have we talked to together that keep things away from us until they are not being interrogated in front of their other half?"

John nodded and smiled. "You always were the light of reason, weren't you?"

"Stop talking about me as if I lost my job," Olivia said as she rolled her eyes.

"Well we can't wait to have you back," John said with a wink.

"What about you and Ian?" she asked Charles. "What happens to you two when Elliot and I claim our jobs back?" she said with a laugh.

Charles smiled. "We take everything we learnt here and take it back to our squad. We've wanted to be more and more like the NY SVU for a while, especially since you and Stabler came into the picture. This will give us the opportunity to start us off. Cragen and Whelan are close. They'll probably enjoy getting the chance to find more ways to combine us."

Olivia nodded. "I don't feel as guilty anymore."

"Did you ever?" Munch asked.

Olivia smirked. "No, not really."

They all let out a laugh.

It was about an hour later that Finn came in dragging a man in cuffs behind him.

"Thanks Munch for the tip!" he said as he brought the guy into interrogation. "Got the vic's mom alone, and she fessed about having another man over while her husband was gone away. The bastard is guilty."

John laughed. "Don't thank me! It was all Olivia."

"Thanks baby girl!" Finn called as him and Ian disappeared towards the interrogation room.

"I guess my job's done for the day," she said as she got up.

"Hey, we never asked, but where's Elliot?" Casey said as Olivia started walking out.

"I think he's at home," Olivia said with a shrug.

"Hope the wife isn't too pissed at him for getting engaged with you," John said with a laugh.

Home. Olivia had meant her apartment. But she had said it… so casually. Home. The others didn't know about the divorce. Hell, she didn't know much about it either. But it wasn't her responsibility to say anything either. So she kept her mouth shut.

"Yeah… well I'll see you guys sooner or later!" she called out as she disappeared. She hadn't even made it to the elevator when she ran into Cragen.

"Olivia!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

Olivia smirked. "I just dropped by to say hello. I also solved your case for you. Bet you can't wait t'ill I'm back?"

Cragen laughed. "I would be counting down the days if I knew how many there would be." He looked around and noticed her other half was missing. "How's Elliot?"

Olivia sighed. "He's doing okay.

Cragen hesitated, but asked anyway. "I hope I'm not overstepping borders or causing a mess by asking you this, but those papers…" he trailed off.

"Yeah," she answered. She knew what he was saying.

Cragen nodded. "Is he staying at your place?"

It was Olivia's turn to hesitate before answering. But then she realized that they were sharing an apartment in Philadelphia. What was the difference? "Yeah, just until he can get back on his feet. His kids were by today to see him. That helped."

Cragen nodded. "Tell him I hope everything goes well."

Olivia nodded. "I will."

And with that, Olivia continued her way towards the elevator, her too, hoping everything would go well.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

She had picked up some take-out on the way home. He had cooked breakfast. He had cooked lunch. She couldn't cook. But she was very talented with a cell phone and a take-out menu.

"El, I'm home!" she called out. She frowned when she got no response. She dropped the take-out bags on the kitchen counter, then made her way towards the living room, still looking for him. "El?"

She found him with his face in his hands on the couch, slumped over and not looking so good. She sat down beside him and rubbed his back, but didn't say anything. She would wait until he was ready to talk.

"Kathy's filing for full custody," he managed to whisper.

"What…" Olivia whispered as the sound of Elliot's broken voice made her insides hurt for him.

"I filed for joint custody. She doesn't think I'm a fit enough parent to take care of the twins on my own. She says I'm never home. But I don't want to lose them."

He looked up into Olivia's eyes and she could tell he was near tears. And Elliot Stabler wasn't one for crying.

"Oh, Elliot," she said as she rested a hand reassuringly on his lap. He rested his hand on top of hers.

"And they're seventeen… it's not like they're eight anymore. If I get a call in the middle of the night and I need to go, they can take care of themselves. I… I wish this wasn't happening. I wish everything could just work out fine for once."

Olivia didn't know what to say to reassure him. But for him, her just being there was reassuring enough.

Something didn't click though in Olivia's mind. Maureen and Kathleen were legally adults. The custody battle didn't involve them. And yes, it had to involve Lizzie and Dickie because, even though they were almost adults, they were still considered children in the eye of the law during this divorce. But that didn't answer Olivia's question.

"What about Eli in all of this?" Olivia asked quietly.

Elliot couldn't hold it in anymore. The tears flowed as Elliot's body was wracked with sobs. Olivia just took his hand in hers to show her that she was there for him, no matter what. Elliot was more than grateful for the small action. It gave him hope in the middle of this big mess.

When the tears had finally subsided enough to let him speak, he started. "Two weeks ago… yeah… Eli was at daycare… and outside at recess, he fell. The teacher was sure he had broken his arm… I met him and Kathy at the hospital… I needed to be there for my little boy…" he trailed off as a new batch of tears came through.

"I… I was filling… the doctors gave me medical forms… I had to fill them out… and all… all of his information… his medical information was given to me… I… I didn't think much of it… I didn't know that anything was wrong… but when his medical form… it asked for his blood type… I didn't know… I had never… and so I looked on the form… that's when… All of our kids our A+," he said as he looked Olivia in the eye. "They're all A+ because… Kathy and I… we're both A+… and here's this medical… his medical information says he's O+… And that's when… all these years… I find out… Oh God… My three year old son… isn't my son…"

Olivia didn't know how to react. She had been there… she had helped deliver that precious little baby boy… She had saved both his life and his mother's life that day. And here they were, three years later, and that baby's father was there, in the worst state she thought she had ever seen him in, telling her that Elliot Jr wasn't his baby.

It made Olivia want to break down and cry for him.

"I couldn't… I… I faced Kathy with the proof… and… and… she started mumbling… something about it not… it didn't make sense… but I could see… in her eyes… when I had enough strength… when I could handle looking in them… I could see… I could see that she had had a feeling… all this time… I… shit," Elliot couldn't finish his thought. He had broken down again.

He rested his head on Olivia's shoulder and Olivia ran her hand up and down his arm. He was so vulnerable in that moment, it blew her mind. Elliot was usually as strong as a brick. Yes, he had moments where his emotions overpowered his logical thoughts, but they were usually showed through his anger, never like this.

"Elliot, you're Eli's father in every way that counts. Your name is on that birth certificate. Shouldn't you be able to claim your parental rights?"

Elliot shook in her arms. "I… that day… the day Kathy had Eli… we had a case… remember that case… he wasn't his real father even though, his entire life, he had thought that his little boy was his…?" Olivia nodded. She remembered. "I… asked Kathy… if the baby… if Eli was mine… she assured me… she told me he was… and now… now I can't even… I can't even look at him Liv! I can't… it… it hurts too much… and… I…" Elliot was once again too emotional to continue.

They just sat in silence, a reassuring silence though. Elliot knew he could count on Liv for anything. He wished he had told her earlier. He should of. It probably would have made his life a little easier to deal with, having Olivia know that he needed her.

But as he thought about it, Olivia had made it a little easier to deal with without even knowing he needed her. She had been able to put a smile on his face, and they had laughed. Laughed. It had been the perfect way to make him forget about the rest of the crap. Just having Olivia around made him forget. And it made him think about how he hoped she'd be at his side for another very long time.

When Olivia heard Elliot's breathing slow, and she figured he was sleeping, she tried her best to slip slowly out of her position so she could let Elliot sleep peacefully. She had managed to almost slip away when she felt Elliot's grasp tighten around her hand.

"Stay… please," he said quietly. Olivia couldn't help but sit back down, and Elliot cuddled back into her arms. Olivia felt like it was too much, that she shouldn't let her walls down too, but she smiled lightly and couldn't help but revel in the feeling of being this comfortable with the person she truly loved.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

She hadn't remembered falling asleep. But when she heard the knock at the door, waking her with a startle, she realized she had in fact fallen asleep, cuddled closely with her best friend. The noise hadn't even shaken him though. And this time, she managed to slip out of his hold without disturbing him.

She glanced at the clock on the microwave as she headed for the door. Ten o'clock. Who would be visiting her this late at night?

She was shocked to find Casey on the other side of her door. But Casey didn't notice the look on Olivia's face as she invited herself in.

"I figured you would be home doing nothing, so I thought I'd drop by," she explained. "We haven't had much time to catch up these days. Everything's been so busy and I figured while you were in town, why not try to get you out of your apartment and out having fun! I mean, you'll be married soon, and you won't be able to take advantage of the singles life," she finished with a wink. That's when she noticed that Olivia was still dressed in her jeans and shirt. "Okay, I was expecting you in gym pants and a comfy tee. Plans already Benson?" she asked with a smirk.

Olivia rolled her eyes. "No, and could you keep your voice down?"

"What?" she asked as she grabbed a drink from Olivia's fridge. "Are your walls that –" she paused dead in her tracks as she noticed the feet sticking off the edge of the couch. "Holy shit Benson! I'm surprised you're dressed at all!" she said with a giggle. "Getting lucky? What will your fiancé say?"

"Casey!" Olivia scolded as she pulled her towards the door. "Shut up! You're going to wake him!"

Casey smirked. "Wear him out bad-ass Benson?" Olivia opened the door and was pushing her friend out the door. "Hey! I wanted to meet him!"

Olivia was going to make some sarcastic remark when she heard Elliot awaken. "Shit," she mumbled under her breath.

"Liv?" he called out, a tired note in his voice.

"I'll be right back," she called out. She didn't wait for an answer. She quickly made her way into the hall and shut the door behind her. She turned around and came face to face with an absolutely stunned Casey Novak.

"I might be mistaken, but that voice… it sounded a lot like someone's bad ass partner…"

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Yeah Case, I'm bringing home men now that remind me of Elliot. Like that would go over well with anybody," she said sarcastically.

"Hey, I mean… I wouldn't blame you. You've had the hots for him since –"

"Shut up Casey!" Olivia cut her off, going red once again. That's when she heard the footsteps approaching.

"Looks like I'm going to meet mystery guy," Casey mumbled, a giggle in her voice.

"Liv?" the voice came through the door.

"Shit, shit, shit," Olivia wanted to hit herself over and over again.

"Hey it can't be that –" But Casey stopped abruptly when the door opened and a very very tired looking Elliot Stabler emerged.

"Casey…" Elliot said, noticing the look on her face. He glanced at Olivia, then back at the expression on the ADA's face. "Oh crap. No, Casey, it's not what you think –"

"I… umm… okay, so this is…" Casey couldn't form enough thoughts to even make a full sentence. But she couldn't figure one thing out; why was she so shocked?

"Casey!" Olivia growled. "Elliot is sleeping on my couch. My couch. He's… things aren't good at his place so he's staying here until they blow over. Nothing is going on. Nothing is happening. Nothing is –"

It was Casey's turn to cut her off. "Finn warned me something was going on between you two. I… Wow. I mean, we knew it would happen but –"

Elliot burst in. "Case! Nothing is –" that's when he registered what she had said. "Wait! What do you mean, we knew it would happen?"

Casey looked back and forth between her two closest friends. "You guys… I mean, you guys are Benson and Stabler. The perfect team. If you guys can work so well at work, we could only imagine what the two of you –"

Olivia couldn't listen to this anymore. "Okay Casey, you watch way too many prime time dramas. Goodbye and goodnight."

Casey smirked as she looked from Olivia to Elliot back to Olivia. "Okay then… call me tomorrow!" she called out as she headed down the hall. They could hear her giggle as she made it to the elevator. Elliot and Olivia just stood there in shock a little while longer.

"Let's… umm," Elliot said as he motioned for the door.

"Umm… yeah," Olivia answered. They both headed in quietly.

Elliot was the first one to laugh.

"What?" Olivia asked as a smile found her lips at the sound of Elliot laughing.

"Casey's going to have quite the night tonight," he said with a smirk.

"What are you –" she stopped as the realization hit her like a ton of bricks. "Elliot!" she screeched. He just chuckled. "You're terrible!" she said as she hit him in the arm.

Elliot just continued to laugh. "You've got to admit Liv, it'll make quite the story at work. Finn and John will be even more messed up when Casey tells them what she thinks she knows."

Olivia looked at him incredulously. "How… how can you be so calm? This is serious El!"

Elliot smiled as he pulled her closer to him. "Let's enjoy this while we can. We'll deal with the confusion tomorrow when we go see them. Let me laugh at this for now Liv."

Olivia sighed into his chest. "Fine."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Elliot and Olivia hadn't gone straight back to sleep after that. They had reheated the take out Olivia had picked up that they never had the chance to touch. It hadn't been quite as good, but they were both starving so it had been amazing in their minds. After finishing up and wishing Elliot a goodnight, Olivia made sure she made it to her own room this time. She could only imagine what would have happened if Casey had of had a key to her place. She didn't want to think about it.

When she woke up, the sun was shining bright outside. Olivia caught a glance at the bedside clock and was shocked to state that it was nearly ten o'clock. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept in t'ill ten. And on a Monday to top it all off!

She took her time getting out of bed, and made her way slowly into the living room, where she found Elliot still asleep. She smiled at the peaceful look on his face. She could only imagine how tired he was after the past few weeks of keeping his secrets cooped up inside of him.

"Everything's going to be alright El," she mumbled.

"I know," he answered. This made Olivia jump. "Good morning," he added as she slowly opened his eyes and smiled.

"Oh, I didn't realized you were awake," she answered quickly. "Good morning to you too," she then added with a smile of her own.

Elliot sat up as he checked his watch. "Ten o'clock. What do you say we head out now and go down to the precinct? Pick something up for breakfast on the way?"

Olivia smiled. "Sounds like a plan. Do you want to shower first?"

Elliot shook his head. "I'll shower when we get back."

Olivia nodded. "Okay then, well I'm going to go take a quick one. Make yourself at home," she said with a smirk.

Elliot laughed. "I think I already have."

Her shower only lasted a whole five minutes, but that was the way she liked them. Didn't need to waste the water or the time. It took her another ten minutes to get ready, and before ten thirty, they were out the door. They picked up coffee and muffins at a nice little bakery on the corner of Olivia's street and before they knew it they were walking through the precinct doors.

The first thing they heard other than a bunch of jumbled noises was John whistling. Olivia went bright red and Elliot just let out a laugh. They approached him and Finn and their partners, and Elliot couldn't help but rest his hand on the small of her back.

"Woah there big guy," Finn said with a laugh. "Can't keep your hands off of her, can you?"

John looked back and forth between them and couldn't believe that their togetherness seemed so… right.

"Heard you had a little sleepover last night," Finn continued with a wink. "How about that?"

Olivia rolled her eyes. "You do realize Casey is the worst person when it comes to assuming things."

Munch shrugged. "She said she saw him. I'd say that's as believable as it gets."

Elliot noticed how uncomfortable this was making Olivia. He figured he should tell them the truth, if anything for her. She had done so much for him.

"Kathy and I are getting a divorce. I've been out of a house. Liv's letting me stay on her couch. That's all there is to it."

The amusement in their voices and faces disappeared all at once. "Oh man, crap, I'm sorry," Finn apologized first, and John showed his agreement with his partner. "If we had of known…"

Elliot shook his head. "It's okay," he said with a small smile. "I'm getting through it." As he said this, he looked at Olivia who gave him a reassuring smile. "The kids and Liv are making it easier to deal with."

The others nodded. They stopped with the comments, but it didn't stop them from believing that their fellow detectives were getting a lot closer than they wanted to admit. And that before long, they would in fact figure out that they were made for one another.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Monday went by in a flash. They spent most of it at the precinct, helping wherever they could. Cragen just laughed at them, reminding them that he couldn't wait until they were back for good. Casey had also gotten the actual story of Elliot and Olivia's little sleepover, but like the boys, she knew it wouldn't be long…

They had decided to head out Tuesday as soon as they were up and on the go. It had only taken them a little over two hours on the returning trip, and Elliot didn't hear the end of it for the entire day. They had spent the afternoon with Whelan, Kyle and Dylan, going over the game play again. Arguing more than usual, giving each other the silent treatment. What was usually going on between the couples that Carlos would take a special liking into.

Olivia didn't think it would be too hard to be mad at Elliot. She could just think of all the things that he had done to anger her in the past. The list was long, so she was sure she wouldn't run out.

Elliot, on the other hand wasn't very good at staying angry with Olivia for very long. He had gotten used to their small little arguments, and where as Olivia could go days without saying more to him than necessary, he had always felt lonesome and down when they were arguing and couldn't be mad at her longer than a few hours tops. This was going to be a little more challenging for him.

"Good luck you two," he said as he waved them off.

They went straight for their couples therapy class. They arrived a few minutes before five and found their way to the same seats they had claimed the last time. They were quiet, not saying much to each other, pretending they were in the midst of a conflict, already in character. This didn't fail to catch Carlos's attention, considering they had been so loving their last class.

The entire class had gone that way. When they spoke to each other, it was only when necessary. Otherwise, it was quiet between the two of them. Seven o'clock approached quickly, and they were finally told the class was ended. Olivia had found it harder than she had expected to play mad at Elliot. Things were changing…

"How was today's class, Miss Bradley?" David Tweel, the secretary, asked as they were heading out, a bright smile on his face.

"It could have been better," she said as she glared at Elliot, Sean. Whoever.

Elliot was going to respond, but Carlos had come through the doors and had stopped him. "Oh I'm so glad I was able to catch you," he said, looking at Olivia. "I wanted to discuss the possibility of having you come visit me tomorrow evening Miss Bradley, one on one. Give you the opportunity to…" he glanced up towards Elliot, "… let a little steam out."

Olivia and Elliot exchanged a look. Their plan had worked!

"What time?" she asked, ignoring the look Elliot had been told to use, the one saying 'I don't know sweetie'.

"How about six thirty?" Carlos answered with a bright smile.

Olivia smiled. "I would be delighted."

So you guys got your answer! I hope to hear from you guys, let me know what you think!

.Enjoy!