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Previously on Family

They paid for the shoes then they left the shoe store. As they were walking towards the food court Olivia heard someone call her name, she ignored it at first, but then she heard it again. She was not prepared for who she saw when she turned around, "Elliot…"

Chapter 10

Elliot have thought about what he would say if he ever saw Olivia again, now that he was standing in front of her, he was lost for words, "So…how are you Liv?" Elliot said finally thinking of something to say to her.

Olivia wanted so badly to yell at him for the way he left, but they were in public, so she put on a smile, "I'm doing good." Olivia managed to say. She felt Bayard grab her hand, she figured he sense the mood change. "Um…this is my fiancé Bayard and my soon to be daughter Jessica. Jessica, Bayard this is Elliot my former partner." Olivia said introducing everyone.

"You're getting married, congratulations Liv, I'm really happy for you." Elliot said glad to see that Olivia found someone that makes her happy. "Hey how about sometime next week we get together, grab some coffee and talk." Elliot said wanting to explain himself, he knew Olivia was furious with him for the way he left he just hope that she'll understand.

Olivia nodded, "Sounds good." Olivia said, thinking this would give them a chance to discuss things. "What about Monday, around noon if I can get away from work that is?"

Elliot smiled, "Same place as before?" Elliot asked receiving a nod from Olivia. "Ok, um…is your number still the same?"

Olivia had to hold back a sarcastic laugh, "Yeah."

"Ok, I'll call you Monday. I should get going supposed to meet up with Kathy and the Kids." Elliot said waving as he turned and walked away.

"So that's the old partner." Bayard stated as he watched Elliot disappear in the crowd.

"Yeah, that's him." Olivia said. She still could not believe that she ran into Elliot Stabler, after three years. She often wondered how he was doing, if he still lived in NY. Part of her couldn't wait for Monday so that she could get some answers from him.

"Hey after we grab lunch can we stop by Forever 21?" Jessica asked

"Sounds good to me," Olivia said as they headed towards the food court.

After they had lunch they went to Forever 21 and three other stores before leaving the mall with more bags then they could carry. Bayard was just glad that they could spend some time together as a family.

Later that night Bayard and Olivia sat snuggled on the couch watching TV while Jessica was talking to her friend on the phone.

"I hope I'm not opening wounds here, but tell me about your old partner Stabler?" Bayard asked cautiously.

Olivia was quiet for a minute trying to figure out where to begin, "Well we were partners for 12 years. We became best friends, actually more like brother and sister. We always had each other backs no matter what even when our jobs were on the line. He always made sure I made it home safely. He would check out every guy that I dated." Olivia said with a laugh, "I was there when his youngest son Eli was born, I'm his Godmother." Olivia said pausing remembering that day when Eli was born.

Bayard was surprised when he heard Olivia sniffle. He held her tight running his hand up and down her arm.

Olivia took a deep breath, "It hurt so much when he left. I always thought I'll leave before him. It hurt the most when he left without saying goodbye. It made me feel like our friendship meant nothing to him." Olivia felt a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She had been holding it in for years.

"I knew something was up, just by the way your mood changed and you could cut the tension between you two. Maybe he'll explain everything Monday." Bayard said hoping he'll have a good reason for the way he left.

"I'm hoping that he will too, so that I can finally have closure." Olivia said looking up at Bayard, she smiled, "I can't wait to marry you Bay." Olivia said giving Bayard a passionate kiss.

When air was needed, Bayard pulled back and looked into Olivia's eyes, "I can't wait to marry you too. I love you so much sweetheart." Bayard said kissing Olivia deeply. Olivia pulled off Bayard's shirt, "I think…we should…take this…to the…bedroom." Bayard managed to say in between kisses. He pulled back, "Don't want Jessica catching us." Bayard said before lifting them both off the couch and carried Olivia to their bedroom where they made love all night.

That Monday afternoon Olivia was able to take a lunch break. She replied to Elliot's text letting him know she'll be able to meet him for lunch. When she arrived at the small Deli/Café she saw him sitting in their spot. She walked over to him, "Hey," Olivia said sitting down across from him, "Thanks," Olivia said as she took a drink of her coffee and then grabbed a bite of her Thai Chicken wrap that Elliot ordered for her.

"I'm just glad that I remembered what you like." Elliot said as he took a drink of his coffee.

Olivia nodded as they fell into silence. Olivia decided to break the silence she looked at Elliot, "Why Elliot? Why leave the way you did, I've tried to understand but I couldn't, so please explain to me how you could walk away from a 12 year partnership/friendship without a goodbye." Olivia said wanting answers.

Elliot could see how angry yet hurt she was, he didn't blame her though, if the tables were turned he'll be feeling the same way, "Liv I'm sorry, I'm really am. I didn't mean to hurt you." Elliot paused taking a sip of his coffee trying to figure out how to word his next statement, "The truth is, Liv I couldn't face anyone in the squad, especially you. The only thing I kept thinking about was that I shot a girl the same age as Lizzie."

"El you saved so many lives that day including mines…"

"I know Liv…it was just the fact that I killed her, she dead in my arms when it didn't have to happen like that. I couldn't bear to see the disappointment in your eyes. I just needed to get away from everything and everyone. By the time I got passed it, I figured you wouldn't want to talk to me, so I just didn't bother." Elliot said glad to finally get it out.

"El, I wasn't disappointed in you, you did what you had to do, if I was in your shoes at that time I would have done the same thing. I just wish you didn't shut me out." Olivia said. She knew that was their biggest problem in their relationship, they always shut the other person out.

"I know Liv, and am sorry. Can we try to be friends again?" Elliot asked hoping that they could, yet not blaming her if she said no.

Olivia wanted to be friends with Elliot again, she knew that to repair it would take a lot of work, "It's going to take some time to trust you again but I want to be friends with you again." Olivia said. She missed being friends with Elliot, so she'll give it a try.

Elliot gave Olivia a big smile, "So, you're getting married?" Elliot said seeing Olivia's mood change dramatically. He has never seen her smile like that. "I hope he treats you right." Elliot said going into protective mode.

Olivia laughed as she shook her head, "Yes El he treats me good, better than good actually. Bayard is a really good man. To be honest I would never thought I'll fall in love him, I always figured we'll be friends at the most." Olivia said. Even though she never would have imagined marrying Bayard, she's glad that decided to go out on a date with him.

"How did you two meet?" Elliot asked as he leaned back in his chair, feeling glad that they can talk like they use too.

"Um…" Olivia said knowing that Elliot was going to flip when he finds out that Bayard is a defense attorney. She watched Elliot drink some of his coffee, "Well we met on a case…he's a defense attorney." As soon as the words left her mouth coffee flew out of Elliot's mouth. Olivia couldn't help but laugh even though coffee was on her too.

"I'm sorry did you say he's a defense attorney?" Elliot asked in shock.

Olivia could only nod as she tried to stop laughing. It felt so good to laugh with Elliot again.

Elliot was thinking the same thing how good it was to have a laugh with Olivia. He missed her laugh. "I never thought I'll see the day where Olivia Benson marries a defense attorney. You must really love him." Elliot said

Olivia nodded, "I do love him El, and he makes me so happy. To be truthful I don't think I can live my life without him now." Olivia said. The thought of ever losing Bayard frighten her, "So how's Kathy and the kids?" Olivia asked.

Elliot could tell just by the way Olivia's face lit up when she was talking about him that she truly was in love with him. "Well I'm happy that you found someone. We should get together so I can really check him out." Elliot said holding back a laugh from the death glares Olivia was sending him; it truly felt like old times now. "Hey what did you expect from me? Anyways Kathy and the kids are all good. The kids especially Eli wants to see you." Elliot said.

"I'm glad that they are doing well. What about Saturday you guys come over our place?" Olivia said thinking it would be a good idea.

Elliot couldn't believe she was already living with him Olivia broke up with the last person who asked her to move in with them. "Sounds good Liv, I'll check with Kathy and the kids." Elliot said. The rest of their conversation consisted of Olivia telling Elliot about her being promoted to Sergeant and about Munch retirement, and about Amanda and Nick. Elliot told Olivia about the kids, that Maureen and Kathleen both were going to medical school, Maureen was going to be a pediatrician and Kathleen was going to be a psychiatrist. Dickie wanted to be a cop, Lizzie was still deciding what she wanted to do and that Eli was just happy to start kindergarten

Their conversation was interrupted when Olivia was called in on a case by Nick. "Sorry El, I got to go." Olivia said apologetically.

Elliot nodded, "No need to apologize Liv, I know the job, I was a detective once. I really enjoyed this Olivia, it felt like old times." Elliot said hating that their time together had to end.

"Yeah, it really did, I'll call you to give the final details about Saturday once I talk to Bay." Olivia said standing up to put on her coat.

Elliot stood up also putting on his coat. "Sounds good Liv, talk to you soon." Elliot said surprising Olivia with a hug. Elliot walked out with Olivia and walked her to her car. They said goodbye once more then Elliot watched Olivia pull away before he got into his car and left glad that he ran into Olivia at the mall this weekend, because he now has his best friend back.

After interviewing the victim Olivia and Nick returned to the precinct to fill in the squad about what the victim said about her attack. Fin and Amanda told them what they found at the crime scene. They went to work trying to figure out who rape and beat this young woman.

Fin walked up to Olivia's desk and sat in the chair next to it. "So how did it go with Stabler?" He asked.

Olivia leaned back in her chair, "Good, we talked about why he left and I understood why, but I expressed that he shouldn't had shut me out. It's going to take some work to have things back to where they use to be. But today actually felt like old times, but you know us one minute we're good friends and the next…"

"You're at each other throats." Fin said finishing Olivia's statement, they both laugh.

Once they calm down she said, "Elliot and his family supposed to come over for dinner on Saturday." Olivia then remembered to run it by Bayard.

"Does he know about Ellis profession?" Fin asked knowing Elliot would flip about Olivia marrying a defense attorney.

Olivia had to laugh as she remembered how Elliot reacted, "Hence why I smell like coffee, he spit his coffee out when I told him, thank God I'm wearing a black shirt." Olivia said with a little laugh. "But he seems ok with it, that's why I invited him over so that he could get to know him." Olivia added.

"Good idea, get them a chance to really get to know each other since they will be the two most important men in your life besides Cragen and me." Fin said standing up, "I'm sure everything will be just fine." Fin said patting Olivia's back before walking off, but turned around and said, "Tell Elliot I'll like to see him one day, he's not such a pain in the butt when he's not here." Fin said as he walked back to his desk hearing Olivia laugh.

That night Olivia, Bayard, and Jessica were eating dinner and talking. "So how did it go with Elliot today?" Bayard asked.

Olivia swallowed the food in her mouth, "It went great we talked why he left the way he did. We still have work to do on our friendship but I think we're going to be ok." Olivia said glad to have Elliot back in her life, especially now since she's getting married.

Bayard was glad that they could work out their issues, well some of them. "That's good I was hoping everything worked out."

Olivia nodded in agreement, "Oh I hope you don't mind but I invited him and his family over for dinner Saturday." Olivia said remembering her arraignments she made with Elliot.

Bayard thought for a minute making sure he didn't have any plans, "I don't think I have anything planned for that day, so it should be fine." Bayard said then turned to Jessica, "Do you have to do anything that day?"

Jessica shook her head, "Don't think so…how many kids does he have?" Jessica asked curious.

"Um…five, the oldest is 26 and the youngest is 4 years old. Four of them are in college already." Olivia said.

"Big family…so are you two planning on having kids?" Jessica asked holding back a laugh at the shock looks on their face, "What I want siblings, I've been the only child for twelve years." Jessica explained.

Bayard chuckled a little, "Um…actually we haven't talked about it yet." Bayard said looking at Olivia who looked at him with the same questioning look.

Jessica looked back and forth between them, "Well I vote that you two should." Jessica said still looking at her father and soon to be mother who were still looking at each other, "Ok…Livia great dinner, I'm just going to go finish my homework." Jessica said standing taking her dishes rinsing them off then putting them in the dish washer. She headed upstairs to her room.

"So…do you want more kids Bay?" Olivia asked. Wondering why they haven't talked about this yet. Maybe Bayard didn't want any more kids. Olivia was brought out of her thought by Bayard's voice, "I'm sorry Bay…what you say."

Bayard smiled, "I was saying that if you want to try to have a baby, we can, it's up to you sweetheart." Bayard said he wasn't going to pressure Olivia either way.

"Well I always wanted to have a baby, so we can try to have one only if you want to though." Olivia said she couldn't help the grin that formed on her face at the possibility of having a baby.

Bayard was grinning to at the thought of Olivia pregnant with their child, "I want to sweetheart, you're going to make a great mother, just look at how great you are with Jessica." Bayard said pulling Olivia onto his lap kissing her passionately.

Olivia deepens the kiss, "Bedroom now." Olivia said as Bayard picked her up, Olivia wrapped her legs around Bayard's waist as he carried her up to their bedroom getting started on their project.

I hope you all liked the chapter, up next the Stabler's and Ellis's get together. As always reviews are very much appreciated.