Thank you all so much for your kind reviews! Now here is a diner scene they can't cut! lol... enjoy!

Dick Wolf owns everything

Millie's

When she arrived at their spot, she saw he was already there. Sitting in their booth. It was a little twenty-four-hour diner they discovered a couple of years into their partnership. They were on a stake out and she desperately needed a cup of coffee. Elliot being Elliot, went around the corner to find some for her, and he came across Millie's.

After Fin and Munch came to relieve them in the morning, he bought her breakfast there. It was a typical diner, booths and a counter with stools. Elliot loved the home-style menu, and she loved the jukebox in the corner. It had the classics, but the owner kept a section of newer songs rotating through as well.

It became part of their routine. A place just for them. A place to talk, or not talk, whatever it was they needed. Sometimes they would be the only ones there, it was like their own little private world. They shared a lot of spoken and unspoken things there. It was comforting to have it, and after he left, it was a stark reminder that she didn't have him anymore. She took a deep breath and walked in Millie's for the first time in a decade.

She was surprised to see it hadn't changed much in ten years. She was also grateful COVID hadn't caused its demise. She made her way over to their booth catching Elliot's attention. He looked up at her, his striking blue eyes taking her breath a little.

She slid into her seat and softly smiled at him. It was a little awkward. This was new territory for them. Sure, they had fought before, but not like this. Not over an ex of hers. He had made his own comments in the past and of course she could always see the judgment behind his eyes when he met any of her dates, but now… now he was her boyfriend… they had been intimate, and he had seen her naked, and been the cause of the best orgasms of her life. So of course, now he could openly comment on her past without crossing that unspoken boundary that no longer existed between them.

"I had the waitress fill a cup for you." He said his voice neutral. She looked at the cup of coffee and smiled softly. She knew he felt the same uncertainty she did.

"Thanks…" she said. She brought the cup to her lips and sipped. It still tasted the same she thought.

She was unsure if she should start, or if he had something he wanted to say first.

"I'm sorry…" they said in unison. They both smiled at each other feeling some of the tension ease. Elliot reached across the table and took her hand in his. She could see the relief in his eyes, and she let out the breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Olivia… I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the way I reacted. What I said to you… it was uncalled for. I can't promise I won't still get jealous… I mean… look at you…" he said, and his eyes made their way over her face and chest, and he brought his other hand to hers, holding it tighter.

"You're beautiful, and amazing… and damn sexy… especially in your glasses…" he said chuckling to himself. He saw the blush creep into her cheeks, and it just made him want her more.

"I know I'm not the only man who thinks that…" he said bringing his powerful blue eyes back to hers.

"But you're the only one who matters…" she said, squeezing his hand. Her deep brown compassionate eyes were doing that thing again. That thing where they sink into the depths of his soul, making him wish he could just worship her forever. She saw his breath quicken at her words and she could feel his love for her roll off him in a constant steady wave.

He smiled that sweet Elliot smile of his, the one he reserved only for when he was looking at her. Then unwillingly, he broke their look closing his eyes, and she felt the ache inside him.

"But…" he said a slight hesitancy in his voice. He paused forcing himself to meet her gaze again as he said, "I need you to understand… how… difficult this is for me. I just don't understand…" and he trailed off looking down at their hands, unable to overcome his own embarrassment at his insecurities.

"How could you… be with someone who… tried to hurt us like he did." He said, looking back up, clear pain and confusion in his eyes and on his face.

She sighed. It was her turn now.

"El… I don't even know how it started. We ran into each other at a bar after work, and it just happened. It was hard at first to… overlook the way he was in the past, but it seemed like he was a different person. I just…" and she sighed out a sorrowful breath, "I didn't want to be alone."

There it was. He felt the sharp edge of his guilt slice at his heart. He was never going to fully let that guilt go. The guilt he felt for leaving her. He needed it. He needed it to remind him now, of what he has.

Her.

And Noah.

He intended on never taking her for granted and holding onto just a little bit of that guilt would remind him daily.

"But there is something else I think you should know…" she paused, and his heart stopped beating.

"It was one of my… longer relationships… we went to Paris together with Noah. And I even thought he might propose, but I'm thankful he didn't."

Elliot's heart jumpstarted at that comment, but he tried his hardest to not react. He was going to hear her out and let her explain.

"When we got back things were just… off. And I kind of expected that. I knew that was going to happen… something inside me just knew. I don't know how to explain it. But then he told me he was going to retire and asked me to do the same. I knew it was over then. You know me… my job is my life. I could never leave SVU when there is still so much work to be done. He was asking me to be someone I'm not."

He felt a little bit of relief hearing her say that. Something he has always loved about her was her commitment, much like his, to the job. It was something they had in common. It was a part of her… and a part of him.

"And about a year ago… he found out he had brain cancer." She paused, taking a moment before continuing.

"He shot himself." She said.

Elliot's jaw opened slightly. He was shocked. Shocked that he didn't know Tucker was dead, and that he had taken his own life.

"He didn't want to be a burden on his new wife…" she said, punctuating the word "new".

Wow he thought. This changed things. He felt remorse for his over reactions now that he knew the whole story. It was sad. He was sad for Liv… and for Tucker. It was a bleak ending. One that all cops have felt at least once in their lives.

Olivia watched him soak in all this information, his eyes looking off somewhere as he thought.

He looked up at her. "I'm sorry Liv. I'm sorry you had to deal with that."

"It's ok… everything worked out the way it was supposed to." She said squeezing his hand again.

"I'm sorry for what I said to you too…" she said.

"I deserved it Liv… I was being an asshole…" he said.

"No… you don't deserve to have me bring up…" she paused struggling to get the next part out, "…you leaving me…" she said, and he could see the pain wash over her. His heart fractured a little watching her face remember.

"Liv…" he said, caressing her hand.

"I want you to know I've forgiven you for the way you left. I understand why, and I want you… I need you to know I forgave you the second I heard you say my name on the street that night. I didn't want to so quickly…" she sighed a little, a small smile curling her lips, "but I did. I swore I'd never tell you, but now I think it's important you know." She paused feeling her vulnerability seeping out of her.

"Deep down in my soul I felt my world tilt back into the place it belonged when I heard your voice, and I knew. I knew I needed to forgive you to keep you… and I promise I won't ever use it in the future to hurt you." She looked straight into his eyes, and he knew she meant it.

He smiled at her. That was a huge step for her. He wouldn't have blamed her if it took years to forgive him, but true to her form, she let the past go.

He took another big breath, and she could see a little uncertainty from in his eyes.

"What is it El?" she said, "You can tell me… you can tell me anything." She said.

"I think… well I know part of the reason I overreacted was because I was blindsided…"

"Trust me, I talked to Rollins about that, and it's taken care of. I never intended for you to find out that way." She said interjecting. "And I was going to tell you… I was just… nervous." She said and he could see she was being truthful.

He laughed a little.

"What would you have to be nervous about? I've never caused a scene or let my temper get the best of me…" he said giving her a knowing sarcastic smile.

She snorted and rolled her eyes at him smiling. "Yeah, you're the poster boy for composure."

He laughed and then sighed, knowing there was still some things he needed to get out. He needed her to know. It was his turn to be vulnerable.

"The biggest reason I reacted the way I did was… fear…" and he sucked in a deep breath at his admission.

"I always knew no one could have your back like I did. And I always knew no one else ever came close to knowing you like I did as your partner… and the thought…" he paused. He felt the sting of tears pricking his eyes.

"The thought that Tucker… could have gotten you like I did. Understand you like I do… Know you and… love you like I do… well… the realization is devastating." He said and a small sob caught in his throat.

Olivia felt her own tears start to slip down her cheeks.

"Every guy I had to watch you date… I knew it wouldn't last… None of them could handle the job, or your brilliance or intelligence… your strength. But Tucker… even though he was at IAB… he was from our world. He could have… and the thought of missing my opportunity… losing you… because I couldn't deal with my own bullshit… it scared the hell out of me… and clearly I didn't handle it well…" he paused, then adding, "Plus the thought of anyone else's hands on you besides mine makes me feel physically sick…"

"El..." she said reaching across the table with her other hand to wipe the tears off his face. She let her hand linger resting on his jaw, her thumb caressing his cheek. She then brought her hand down to where his were holding her other hand, interlocking her fingers with his.

"I could never love or trust anyone else the way I love and trust you…" she smiled at him with nothing but truth in her eyes. And it was the single greatest thing in the entire universe to him.

"You and Noah are the color in my world." She said and it was her truth. The truest of true.

"And I certainly know… without a doubt that no one could love me more than you… ever." She said full of conviction and honesty.

He cleared his throat, trying to control himself, but he just couldn't. He loved this woman more than he ever thought he was capable of loving anyone.

"I wish I could see the world through your eyes…" he said, "Even for a minute..." he took a breath, "I know I'd be a better man for it."

She looked down, feeling her cheeks redden at his earnest compliment, tears slipping off her face and hitting the table.

There was something else biting into his conscience.

Angela Wheatley.

He felt he needed to tell her what happened. He was sure it would come up in the court case at some point and he didn't want it to look like he was trying to keep it a secret. He didn't want to hurt her, but he knew it might.

She looked up, feeling his body language tense.

"There's something else isn't there?" She said.

He lifted his eyebrows and met her eye contact and huffed out a breath. She could always read him.

"Yes… it's something I'm not… proud of and I regretted it the second it was over…" he said feeling the weight of what he was about to tell her sit on his chest.

Now it was her turn for her heart to temporarily stop beating.

He looked down, too ashamed to say it to her face.

"I kissed Angela Wheatley…"

He risked looking up at her. She looked shocked… and then worried. Olivia could feel her stomach twist into a knot. She felt the pang of hurt, and a little twinge of jealousy bubble up in her throat.

It felt like he was waiting on the edge of a cliff for her to respond.

"Elliot… what were you thinking? I mean… how did this even happen?"

"I was confused… and not dealing with my grief… and she seemed to understand the grip it had on me. I didn't know at the time the feelings I was having weren't what I thought they were. I didn't know at the time she was the one who ordered the hit on Kathy… It was only once, and nothing else happened."

He let go of her hand with one of his to run it down his face before replacing it to where it was.

"El… have you told anyone else?"

"No… Wheatley knows. I don't know how, but he does… maybe she told him." He said, feeling a prickle down his spine at the mention of his name.

"You need to tell Bell. The ADA needs to know… this could blindside them in court if the defense attorney brings it up. They could use it to discredit you."

He sighed loudly knowing she was right. He needed to disclose this information to Bell and the district attorney on this case.

"I'll take care of it tomorrow." He said, sighing loudly again. "I don't think I have enough left in me right now to do it today…" he said laughing a little. He gripped her hand tighter and continued.

"Liv… it didn't mean anything to me… I was lost. The real person I wanted was you… but I wasn't in the right place to be what you deserved. I couldn't live with myself if you thought you were a rebound."

She felt her uneasiness subside seeing the wreck he was over telling her this information. She was honestly more concerned for how this was going to play out in court.

She did still feel a little sting of jealousy. Her want to destroy any other woman who so much as smiled suggestively at him had exponentially grown since their weekend of firsts together. She wasn't really the jealous type but if any woman tried… there was no telling how she might react.

"It's ok El… it's in the past. I'm more interested in the present…" she said, a sly smile slowly pulling at her lips.

He saw the gleam in her eyes. He felt heat and arousal spread across his skin.

"So… are we ok?" he asked, already knowing the answer, but wanting to confirm it.

She smiled wide, "Yea El… were better than ok." And they both exhaled a sigh; the feeling of full relief washed over them. This fight was over.

He felt so proud of them. They had been honest with each other… calm… and listened. This was growth. He knew they could do this. Together they could conquer anything.

He felt a little shaky suddenly and needed to feel her in his arms. He needed to feel grounded again. It had been hours since he kissed her, but it felt like years.

"Can I kiss you now…" he said, a little laugh coming out at his own anticipation.

"Yes please…" she said her own restlessness showing.

In an instant he was moving over to her side of the booth taking her face with his hands and pulling her lips to his. He wasted no time sliding his hands down and around her waist, pulling her to him. Getting her as close as he could as he slid his tongue in her mouth.

She moaned as he enveloped her. It was like being swallowed by love itself. She felt whole again.

Then her phone rang. He laughed in her mouth as he felt her groan. He broke their kiss and just looked into her eyes, both of them a little breathless.

She felt her overwhelming need take over again and she pulled him back to her deepening their kiss immediately. One of his hands went to her hair, pulling his fingers through it, and the other went lower to cup her ass.

Her phone rang again. This time it was Liv who broke their kiss.

"UGGHHH…" she said, frustrated his lips were no longer on hers. She had forgotten about the sting that was going down at the park, and Rollins had called her twice now.

"Sweets… I have to go…" she said in a whisper.

His heart swelled as she called him her pet name for him.

"Yea, I probably should too. I'm surprised Bell hasn't call me yet." He said.

"I love you beautiful." He looked deep in her eyes, and then down at her swollen lips and flushed cheeks. He felt her breath hitch.

"I love you too El… so much." She said, feeling the welling of tears again, but this time from hearing those wonderful words of his.

He reluctantly let go of her, helping her out of the booth. He left a few dollars on the table and they both made their way out to the street. He still had her hand interlocked with his and he pulled her in for a hug, holding on to her tight. She wrapped her arms around his neck, breathing his scent, melting into his strong embrace.

"I'll call you later ok…" she said, her phone ringing again.

"Ok beautiful…" he said, kissing her cheek. He took one more look into the striking brown eyes of his soulmate before she gave him another kiss on the lips and turned walking away from him answering her phone.

He watched her stride down the street, appreciating the view, and knowing she was his forever. He would do anything for her.

Then he looked down at his left hand. He took a deep breath, knowing it was time. He slipped his wedding band off slowly, feeling a swell of grief like a wave coming in to shore and then it slowly washed away. He slipped it into his pocket and turned to walk to his car.

EOEOEOEOEOEOEOEO

"See you back at the squad. Good work." Olivia said to Amanda and Kat.

They both nodded their thanks. Kat walked the perp to the police car as Amanda read him his Miranda Rights.

"Fin… finish up here for me." She said looking to her second in command. "Make sure no one gets in CSU's way."

"Copy that Captain."

She headed back to her car and hopped in. She took a minute to herself; grateful the sting went down without a hitch, and they got the guy.

She took a breath and closed her eyes. All of a sudden imagery of Elliot kissing Angela Wheatley flashed in her mind. She quickly shot her eyes open. She felt the slightest sting of jealousy slither it's way into her.

Ok she thought, maybe she was a little more jealous than she should be. She wasn't mad at El. They weren't together at the time, and he made it clear it was a mistake. Still the thought of him kissing someone else bothered her.

She decided to make a stop on her way back to the house. She got out her phone and texted Fin she had an errand to run and then she'd be back.

Her lips curled up into a devilish smile as she thought about her plan. She was going to make sure he would forget any other woman that ever came before her. With of course one clear exception.

EOEOEOEOEOEOEOEO

Elliot was laying on his couch, his eyes shut listening to the sound of a baseball game on tv. After he got back to work, he finished going through all the cases from Liv.

She had called him a little after eight to let him know she was on a case and didn't know when she'd be done. He felt a little worry sneak into his mind that maybe she didn't want to see him tonight. Maybe everything they discussed at Millie's was too much and she needed a little more time.

But she apologized and told him she missed him. She said she really wished she could come see him tonight, and most of his worry disappeared.

So here he was… missing Olivia. He sighed as images of her drifted through this mind. Then he heard a knock at his door.

Instinctively he grabbed his gun looking at the time. It was eleven thirty. Who would be knocking now he wondered? Liv said she would be on this new case most of the night.

He slowly got up and silently walked to his door.

He looked through his peep hole and his heart stopped. When he opened his door he saw a sinful smile, and red lipstick covering the most beautiful lips in the world.