Elliot watched her sleep, the rise and fall of her chest and the beating of her heart soothing him to sleep a few moments later.
Olivia awoke the next morning snuggled into the broad, naked chest of her former partner. Elliot had his arms wrapped around her and was stroking her hair gently.
"Hey." She whispered, looking up at him.
"Morning." Elliot replied, pressing his lips against her hair and smiling. "Did you sleep well?"
"Mm hmm" Olivia nodded, kissing his chest slowly a few times before looking up at him again.
Elliot dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers. She ran her hands up his spine and up to the back of his neck. She pushed him closer to her and moaned as he opened his mouth to let her in.
They rolled together, allowing Elliot to settle comfortably over her. He broke their kiss and looked into her eyes, smoothing her hair out of her face. "I can't believe I woke up with you in my arms this morning." Elliot whispered.
Olivia smiled and pulled his head down to her lips once more. He slid into her slowly, his mouth swallowing her moan.
Last night had been an emotional blur of hurt and healing for both of them but this morning, lying in his bed, making love to Elliot Stabler, Olivia knew with amazing certainty what real love was supposed to feel like. She couldn't take her eyes off him. The way his muscles flexed and relaxed, the tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead and chest, his deep blue eyes, every movement his body made was perfectly in tune with hers.
Elliot rocked his hips slowly, taking his time, taking in every hitch in her breath or moan, cataloging every movement and sound. Sex had always been just that for Elliot. He could count on one hand the number of times he could separate sex from making love with Kathy and to him there was a distinct difference. Olivia didn't give him a choice between the two. She poured love and her whole self into every movement. He was mesmerized by her.
Olivia reached up for Elliot's shoulders and pulled him closer, suddenly afraid that he could slip away. He nuzzled her neck as she dug her nails into his back, encouraging him to push harder and deeper into her.
Olivia tightened her thighs around the outside of his and before he could react, she rolled them over so that she was straddling him. Elliot reached up tentatively and brushed his finger tips along her ribs. She grasped his hands and brought them to her breasts, encouraging him to touch her the way he wanted to. She moved slowly but deliberately over him, sinking down onto him fully with each movement. Elliot was in blissful agony. With each stroke and every movement, she clenched her inner muscles, causing him to gasp. Finally he couldn't take anymore and sat up, never leaving her, and pulled her close so she was sitting on his lap.
They moved together now, his head buried in her neck, nipping and kissing her tender and sensitive flesh. Olivia's head was thrown back, her hands over Elliot's which were still massaging her breasts. She suddenly wrapped her arms around him, holding him to her tightly as she inched closer and closer to the edge.
They came in perfect unity with one another, completely in sync and clinging to each others' bodies desperately and breathlessly.
The stayed, curled into each other, bodies slick with sweat, breathing life back into each other with each shuttering breath. Neither moved, afraid that this moment would disappear too quickly.
Olivia trembled slightly and Elliot pulled her closer, if that was possible.
"You alright, Liv?" He whispered, turning her face gently so that she was looking into his eyes.
"Perfect." She sighed.
Elliot smiled. "You're so beautiful."
"Ha! I'm a mess right now!" Olivia chuckled.
"Yep, and you're my mess. I love you, Liv."
Olivia placed her hand gently on Elliot's cheek and kissed him deeply. That was all it took for him to know that she understood and felt the same. Olivia curled up against Elliot's chest and her eyes fluttered closed. Elliot was softly snoring a few moments later.
Awaking a few hours later, Elliot grasped Olivia's hand and pulled her up and out of the bed. He led her to the bathroom and turned on the shower. As steam filled up the room, Elliot slowly traced Olivia curves with the pads of his fingers. Goosebumps spread across her skin and she leaned against the bathroom counter for support as her knees grew shaky.
"...I promise I'm not normally this weak." Olivia whispered, voice husky and soft.
"You're not weak at all." Elliot responded, breathing into the skin on her neck. "You're the strongest person I know but before long, I am gonna know every spot on your body that makes you quiver."
Olivia gasped, smiling in spite of herself. Elliot pushed his naked body against hers and rolled his hips, pulling a moan from Olivia. He pressed his mouth to hers and led her blindly to the shower without breaking their kiss. Olivia ran her hands up and down his back, feeling his muscles flex underneath her hands. She could not get enough of the feeling of his body against hers.
Her back hit the tiles of the shower and she instinctively brought her legs up and circled his waist tightly, squeezing her thighs reflexively against his sides. Elliot pushed Olivia's wet hair out of her face and looked at her, silently asking for permission. She nodded, understanding his hesitation, and rocked her hips against his, encouraging him to push into her.
Elliot filled her completely and once again, Olivia's breath was taken away and she was aware of every sensation in her body.
Elliot dipped his face into Olivia's neck and held her closely. Olivia writhed in his arms with every stroke, clinging and clawing at his back in ecstasy. He pushed deeper and harder in to her and her muscles began to contract around him. He tangled one hand in her hair and supported her lower back with the other arm as she came hard around him. He was only a few seconds behind her and he clung to her as he emptied himself once again into her.
Olivia slowly unwrapped her legs as he pulled out of her gently and helped her to her feet. She held onto his arms, steadying herself and looked into his eyes. He smiled at her and shook his head. "How are we supposed to go back to work if I can't keep my hands off you?" Elliot asked. Olivia's face suddenly turned darker and she pushed gently away from Elliot and grabbed his bar of soap.
"I'm sorry, Liv. I didn't think. I don't know how I forgot that you're in computer crimes now." Elliot said, taking the soap from her and circling it on her skin.
"El..." Olivia hesitated, sliding her bottom lip in between her teeth.
"No, Liv. You don't have to explain or defend yourself. I know one night together doesn't erase everything that happened between us."
It was Olivia's turn with the soap and she slid it over his smooth skin while she spoke.
"Elliot. Over the last few months, I have decided to start in-vitro and got shot instead; I've had you, the only man I've ever loved, and I've lost you; I've come to terms with the fact that I will never have a family of my own and discovered that I have not one but two half-brothers whom I would rather not have. I would be surprised if I didn't take a break from the craziness of SVU. I'm just sorry that you and your family got caught in the cross hairs of my mess."
Olivia sighed, set the soap down, and picked up the shampoo. She squeezed a bit into her palm and began to massage it into her hair. Elliot replaced her hands with his and rubbed slow circles on her scalp with his finger tips. "Babe, there are so many things wrong with that statement that I don't know where to begin, but I do understand why you left. You know that you've always got a place at SVU. I'll transfer for you, you know that." Elliot gently rinsed the shampoo out of Olivia's hair.
She spun around to face him with a serious and concerned look on her face. "El, I want to come back. I've missed it since the day left. But I want you there with me." She said, smoothing her hands over his chest.
Elliot tipped her face up to him and kissed her deeply. "I'll be there." He whispered, smiling into their kiss.
Elliot turned off the shower and wrapped Olivia in a big, fluffy navy blue towel. He tied a similar one around his waist and brushed his teeth while Olivia ran a comb through her hair. He handed her his tooth brush when he was done. She cocked an eyebrow at him but rolled her eyes and brushed her teeth with his toothbrush anyway.
Elliot's phone buzzed with a text message as they were dressing. He read it, glanced at Olivia and smiled. "Hungry?" He asked.
"I could eat." She replied.
"Good. There's this great diner down the street." Elliot smiled and crossed the room to kiss her one more time, catching her by surprise as she tied her hair into a messy bun. She smiled into his kiss, melting as his lips brushed against hers lightly.
"'C'mon." He said, grabbing her hand. They buttoned their coats and walked to the diner arm in arm.
Elliot opened the diner door for Olivia and a chime sounded above the door as they walked in. Sitting at the back booth were Maureen and Kathleen. They were both waving excitedly at Olivia and their father.
"I think I've been set up." Olivia smirked at Elliot and gently elbowed him in the ribs. Elliot feigned injury and pouted at Olivia who laughed and grabbed Elliot's hand. "C'mon, slowpoke." She said, dragging Elliot towards Maureen and Kathleen. "Let's have breakfast with your daughters."
Walking up to the table, Olivia was able to see that El was there too, sitting in a highchair at the end of the table. Olivia hugged each girl tightly and kissed their cheeks in greeting. She bent down and kissed the top of Eli's head as well. He immediately wanted to be with her so she picked him up. Tears came to her eyes immediately and she hurriedly blinked them away before anyone could notice.
Elliot slid his hand up and down her back and she smiled at him. She slid into the booth next to Katie with Eli sitting on her lap, while Elliot took a seat by Maureen. Eli turned around and played with the buttons on her coat.
"Where are Lizzie and Dickie today?" Elliot asked. He flipped over his ceramic coffee cup so that the waitress could fill it. Olivia did the same.
"Mom took them to grandma's this weekend. I don't know why they let her out of the hospital. She gets these crazy eyes..."
Maureen kicked Kathleen under the table. "What?!" Kathleen giggled.
Maureen smirked back at her.
The waitress came back and took their orders. Eli was still happily playing and talking with Olivia. She was completely lost in him and totally oblivious to the fact that Maureen and Kathleen had begun interrogating their father about last night. Her attention was finally caught when she heard Elliot say, among tremendous giggling, "Maureen Stabler, that is none of your business!"
"What, what did she ask?" Olivia asked.
"Nothing bad." Kathleen insisted. "She only asked if you two had a good time last night. We can't help it if dad's mind is in the gutter."
Olivia smiled. "I think they're using your own interrogation tactics against you."
"Yeah, they're good at that." He sighed.
Elliot reached across the table and took Olivia's hand. Olivia gave him a worried look.
"Girls, let me ask you a question."
"Yes!" They both said at once.
"We'll be bridesmaids in your wedding!" Kathleen giggled, bracing for another kick from Maureen.
Olivia almost did a spit take with her coffee and Elliot was coughing from choking on a piece of his toast. He recovered and beamed at Olivia.
"See? They're okay. You can stop worrying now."
"How did you know..."
"Liv, I know you. Stop forgetting that." Elliot said, smiling.
They spent the rest of breakfast laughing and joking. Walking out of the diner, Maureen's phone rang and she handed Eli to Olivia once again so she could take it. She stopped a few paces away from the group.
"Mom! Mom. Stop!" She hung up the phone in frustration and put her hands on top of her head. She looked at Kathleen in desperation. "Looks like I'm missing my study group again. Mom is staying at grandma's and I'm in charge of Eli. Again."
"Woah, woah, what?" Elliot interjected. "What's going on, Mo?"
"Mom is staying at grandma's. I'm taking care of Eli. I've got to go and get him home."
Maureen had silent tears rolling down her cheeks now.
Elliot stepped towards his eldest daughter and placed both hands on her shoulders. "Maureen. Eli is not your responsibility. Why didn't you call me?"
"I...Because...he's not yours. I didn't think you wanted him."
"Oh, sweetie. Of course I do. I love my children more than anything in the world and Eli is no different. I've raised him since the day he was born. Until a judge tells me otherwise, Eli is my son. I'll take him until your mother contacts me."
"Dad...I can't do that. I can't do that to you." Maureen shook her head, her breathing
"Maureen, slow down." Olivia said, gently, placing a hand on Maureen's shoulder. "Does your mom do this often?"
Kathleen interjected. "Mom hasn't touched Eli since she found out that dad isn't his father. Maureen spends every second that she isn't in school taking care of Eli. She barely has time for her homework. I try to help but Eli doesn't like me the same as he likes Maureen. I'm just not good at it."
The vein in Elliot's neck was starting to bulge and Olivia laid a hand on his arm to calm him.
Maureen began to cry harder and Kathleen rushed to her side, followed shortly by Elliot.
Olivia approached Maureen. "Maureen, he's my nephew. I'll take him. You need to take care of yourself. Your dad and I are adults. Let us take care of Eli." She said, crouching down beside the teenager.
Maureen looked at Olivia and nodded.
Elliot pulled her up and brought both of his girls into a tight hug. He looked at Olivia with frustration and worry in his eyes as she clung to Eli and held open his arm for her to join them. Olivia shook her head and walked towards Elliot and his girls. As he pulled her into the hug, Maureen reached out for Olivia and dissolved into tears.