This is for those of you rooting for the Elliot/Olivia/Amanda/Frannie dynamic...

Time. It's a tricky thing really. One moment is slipping through your fingers as you desperately try to hold on, and in the next minute it's crawling along. Each second elongated to the slow deafening beat of a dying clock.

The two years of Elliot's absence felt longer than the thirteen years of partnership, and the three days he spent sedated and fighting for his life felt like an eternity.

He awoke with Olivia's fingers tangled with his. There was pain, physical therapy and weeks in the hospital waiting for his body to heal. As much as she wanted to, Olivia couldn't stay every minute of the day. She eventually needed to get back to work, and she was due to start therapy. They eventually created a rotating schedule, allowing Olivia time away, and his friends and family time to be with him.

Amanda popped in frequently, and they began searching online for apartments to fit their unique family dynamic. They'd spend the evenings with a laptop sitting on Elliot's bed while the three of them narrowed down options for their new place.

Elliot didn't seem shocked when Liv brought up Amanda living with them. He actually wondered why they hadn't considered it sooner. He made sure to mention that Olivia wouldn't be able to live without Frannie, but Olivia knew he was just as attached to that endearing mutt.

Once they narrowed down their possible choices, Olivia and Amanda toured a few places. The first apartment felt too small. They needed something that allowed some space for three adults to live their lives.

The second apartment was perfect. So perfect they didn't bother looking at the third place on their list. The common areas were perfect, and space efficient with an open floor plan. The common area of the apartment was situated in the middle, separating the two bedrooms on either side. The master suite had an attached bathroom, but Amanda insisted as long as the second bedroom's closet was roomy (which it was) she would be fine using the hall bathroom.

Moving day coincided with Elliot's release from the hospital, making the day a frantic rush.

"I swear Elliot, if you touch another box I'm sending you back to the hospital," Amanda scolded. Liv laughed from where she stood in the kitchen. Nick swooped by, snatching the box from Elliot as he went. Elliot glared, and huffed something unintelligible under his breath.

Olivia evaded boxes as she squeezed through the chaotic disaster to find Elliot. She dropped her hands gently on his hips and leaned in to kiss his lips. Just before making contact she spoke softly. "Sit your ass down on the couch, or in our bed. I don't care which."

"Oh," he spoke breathily in return. "What happens if I don't?"

She pecked his lips and stepped back. "I let Amanda haul your ass back to the hospital," she said louder.

"Damn right!" Amanda called from behind a stack of boxes.

Elliot groaned. "I'm going to regret living with two women aren't I?" He was actually a little worried the neighbors might think he was a polygamist.

"Three," Olivia corrected, and Frannie trotted happily to where they stood.

He leaned over to scratch behind Frannie's ears. "Of course. Can't forget about our favorite girl," he all but cooed.

"Eww," Amanda's disembodied voice echoed from a pile of boxes somewhere in the living room. "That's worse than the way you talk to Liv."

"There is no way in hell I would let him talk to me anywhere close to like that," Olivia quipped.

Elliot chuckled, knowing that was true. He leaned down to give Frannie another scratch behind the ears. "Let's get out of here girl. They might eat us both alive if we get in the way."

Olivia shook her head and laughed. "Couch or bed. I'm serious El!" She called over shoulder.

"Got it!" He hollered back.

After opening what felt like thousands of boxes, Olivia wandered into her bathroom to get ready for bed. She glanced over at Elliot who looked completely zonked out, spread out horizontally on the bed. She smiled and shook her head as she pulled open a couple boxes in the bathroom. She found the box that still held all of her bathroom stuff and pulled what she needed from it.

After removing her makeup and brushing her teeth, she peeked out the door to see Elliot still sleeping soundly. She tossed on her pajama shirt and meandered around the boxes until making it to their bed. She dropped down beside him and rolled over so she hovered over him, careful to keep pressure off his still healing chest.

She lowered her lips to his and kissed him softly.

"Hey," he said dreamily. He lifted a hand to her face.

"Hey," she returned, dipping to kiss him again.

He returned the kiss, sweet and sensual. She withdrew and dropped to his side. "I'm exhausted," she admitted.

He grit his teeth as he rolled on his side. "I'm sorry. I feel pretty useless right now."

"I know," she sympathized. "But I'm just glad you're home." Going between her apartment, work, and the hospital had been physically and mentally exhausting.

"Me too." His eyes remained on hers.

"What?," she smiled shyly.

"You're just beautiful," he reached out a hand to tuck some hair behind her ear.

She scooted closer to him, careful to keep a little distance from his chest. He slid his hand to her hip and pulled her a little closer. "You need to rest," she cautioned.

"I'm tired of resting." his voice dripped with distaste.

"I know, but I need you to get better." She ran her fingers down the length of his arm. "And you'll get better faster if you actually do what you're told and rest." She kept her voice soft, hoping he'd understand how desperately she wanted him to be healthy again.

He kissed her lips gently, "I will. I may not always be happy about it…"

She laughed, "I wouldn't expect you to be."

"But I'll try."

"That's all I ask," she said while leaning in to kiss him once more.

-000-

They settled into a predictable rhythm. Elliot was bored out of his mind, which made him a little more short and surly. She tried to be patient, knowing he wanted nothing more than to go back to work, and resume his life. After one particularly crappy day she found him face down on their bed.

It had been weeks, and the gunshot wound was healing nicely, but the pain still kept him from work, and any real physical activity. He hated it, and she could tell he was at the end of his rope.

She shut the door behind her, and quietly clicked the lock before toeing to the bed. She laid a gentle hand on the tense muscles of his back. He inadvertently recoiled from the contact, but she persisted.

"You can't yell at Amanda."

He kept his face buried in the mattress and groaned. He turned his head so he faced her with his cheek pressed against the fluffy comforter. "I know. I'm just so…" he groaned again.

She sat on the edge of her bed near his head. She traced her fingers lightly down his neck and behind his ear. He closed his eyes, savoring the soothing contact. "She's a big girl. She can handle it, but you probably should apologize later."

"How many times did she call me a dumb ass?" He wondered aloud.

"Only once actually," Olivia gave him a side eye and a grin, "but she also called you a stupid ass, selfish son of a bitch, and a stubborn asshole."

"Sounds about right." He lifted his head and scooted towards her so he could rest his head on her lap. "She's not wrong about all those things," he said more seriously. His eyes found hers. "I don't know why the hell you'd choose to be with someone like me."

He never really had an accurate view of himself. Sure, he absolutely was all of those things Amanda said. Sometimes all on the same day, but he was so much more than that.

She shifted his head off her lap and moved off the bed so she could lay on her side next to him. He shifted back to create a little more space for her. She lifted a hand to his face, tracing his jaw with her fingers.

"You are all of those things," she admitted wryly. "But…" her voice dropped to a sweet whisper. "You are also devoted." Her lips brushed over his nose. "You're loyal," she kissed his cheek. "You fiercely protect those you love," she kissed his forehead. "You always want to right all of the world's wrongs." Another kiss to the corner of his mouth. "And you love passionately, without holding back." She placed a lingering kiss on his lips. "Those are the reasons I want you." She kissed him deep with meaning. "Those are the reasons I love you."

He wrapped his arms around her and rolled her on top of him. She supported her own weight so not to put too much pressure on his still healing chest.

"I don't deserve you," he muttered against her lips.

"Probably not," she teased, "but you have me anyway." She sealed her mouth over his and he lifted his hand, tangling it into her hair. She pushed her way into his mouth needing to taste him.

He pressed his palm against the back of her head deepening the reach of her tongue in his mouth. They'd shared varied levels of intimacy since he returned from the hospital, but physically sex couldn't be on the table. But she craved him. Every minute of every day since he had her bare skin pressed into the cool tile of the precinct showers. She needed to feel his lips on her body, and see the fire in his eyes. She needed it more than air.

She wasted no time making her intentions known. She pulled away and sat up, straddling his hips. She reached for the hem of her fitted tee shirt, and quickly whipped it over her head, tossing it carelessly to the floor. She felt his eyes roam over her exposed skin before she dropped down to kiss him again. She pulled away again, and more carefully than before, pulled at the bottom of his shirt. Her fingers unintentionally glanced the wound site, but he didn't seem worried. Based on the rise and fall of his chest she had his full attention.

Once his shirt was effectively removed she dropped towards his chest, letting the delicate lace of her bra skirt lightly across his skin. He responded with a groan, and she grinned with satisfaction. Her mouth dipped next to his ear. "You like that?" She whispered breathily.

He groaned again, pulling her lips to his while slowing his fingers drift from her waist to her bra clasp. "I think you know I do," he breathed.

She kissed him deeply while his fingers managed the clasp of her bra. Once it was loose she flung it into the same pile as their shirts, never removing her mouth from his.

She fell into his chest with more pressure, her soft skin grazing his warm chest. He released her lips in favor of running his tongue down the side of her neck. He pulled her mouth back to his and his hands wandered down her back side. She kissed him deeply, he slowed the contact. Startled, she opened her eyes. His ocean blue eyes bore into her, and she felt like she could see into his souls. "I Love you Olivia Benson." She knew he did, and she loved him. They would get through whatever came next because they had each other, and she knew. She knew they were always much better together than they ever could be apart.

I'm getting ready to wrap this one up, BUT the longtime lovers of this story will be happy with some news I'll share at the end of the next chapter!