I'm SO sorry its taken me so long to get back to this one. I got sick and got behind on a few things. Hope you love this new chapter. THANK YOU for all the comments. I read them all and I love hearing from you!

Noah's bedtime went more smoothly tonight. Elliot enjoyed watching Olivia in this role. A role so different from the one she had at work. 'Mom' Olivia was everything he'd thought she'd be, and that little boy couldn't be more loved. He regretted missing so many years with them. He hated that he missed her becoming a mom. It was time he could never get back.

He heard Olivia quietly shut the door to Eli's room and pad into the kitchen, adorably barefoot. She opened the fridge, and asked over her shoulder, "Want that dessert now? Don't let me eat it before you do." She pulled the box out of the refrigerator, and grabbed a couple spoons from the drawer behind her. He watched, loving the familiarity she already found in his home. This all felt so natural, so real. He wanted this. All of it.

She hopped onto the couch, situating herself under his arm like it was where she belonged. She handed him a spoon and popped open the container. Her spoon dug in before she turned her face to see what the hold up was. Her hair was clipped back, and a little askew, and her makeup removed. She snagged one of his sweatshirts and paired it with a simple pair of black leggings. He was fairly certain she had nothing on beneath that sweatshirt, not even a bra, and that definitely made his mind wander, but the full picture of her, cuddled into him, barefoot and completely at ease made his heart swell. He loved her so damn much.

She eyed him skeptically before asking, "What?" Her spoonful of cake still sat on the spoon, nearly halfway to her mouth.

"Nothing," he answered but he couldn't keep the smile from growing across his face.

She set the spoon back into the box, and dropped the box next to her on the couch, "Okay what?"

He still struggled to contain that smile, "Do you know how perfect you are?"

A self-conscious pink blush crept to her cheeks. He toyed with her hair and placed a lingering kiss on her cheek. "Perfect. Beautiful. Incredible." He kept his voice low, and wrapped his free hand around her knee, " You are everything."

He watched her breathing quicken and her body lightly shudder. He placed a soft kiss behind her ear and watched goosebumps begin to lace her arms. Her breathing became even more ragged. He marveled at her response to him. She was always so guarded, always quick to push him away, but right now she sat motionless, seeming to enjoy his closeness.

He decided to push a little further and see where this could go. He turned her face to his and kissed her slowly, deliberately. Her response was nearly instantaneous. Her lips moved against his, communicating the same longing and desire. He pulled her bottom lip into his mouth and he heard a pleasured noise rise from her chest. The sound encouraged him onward as his tongue found hers. Up till now the lip play had been slow and deliberate, but he was pleased when she turned to straddle him, fisting his shirt to pull him further into her. With her movement he wanted more. His lips became more insistent, and hers reciprocated. Her hands now laid flat against his chest, fingers spread and digging into the muscle there. His hands slid up her thighs and settled on her ass, tightening his grip there. She shifted her weight and pushed her body into his, but the pressure became to much and his lips broke away for hers and he folded in on himself slightly with an, "Ugh!"

She backed off, which was the absolute opposite of what he wanted, but her face dropped with concern before apologizing, "Shit, I'm sorry El. I should have been paying closer attention."

"Damn gunshot wound," he muttered. He lifted his eyes, and grinned in her direction, thrilled over how lost in it she'd become. "We can try again," his eyes danced with mischief.

She returned his gaze and cheekily answered, "I think you probably had enough."

On the contrary, "I'll never have enough." That cute blush returned. As much as he wanted to resume their previous activities he knew his wound needed a little more time before experiencing any more exertion. He tilted his head towards the dessert box, "What ya got for us over there?"

She reached over to pick up the box, "Marbled chocolate cheesecake okay?"

"Mmmhmm," he brushed her hair away from her shoulder, "Perfect." He hoped she knew he wasn't just talking about the cake.

He looked around him briefly, "Where the hell did my spoon go?"

She laughed and tried to get up but he pulled her back down, "No, stay here." They had found a comfortable position and he didn't want to lose the warmth of her body against his. He snatched the spoon from her hand.

"Hey!" She complained.

He grinned, "We can share." She sighed in mock resignation, and held the box closer so he could snatch a bite. "Where did you guys go?"

"A cafe close to campus. I can't remember the name." He handed her the spoon, and she took a bite then handed it back.

"Did it go okay?" He asked before snatching a huge bite of cake.

"Hey!" She complained.

He ignored her protests, "I know you were worried about it." He stole another quick bite before handing the spoon over.

"It went well actually. Amanda is good about not pushing things too hard," she rolled her eyes, "even if she teased me mercilessly."

"She does it because she loves you," he squeezed her shoulder.

"I know," she smiled, "its kind of her way of saying what needs to be said without it all getting too heavy."

She handed him back the spoon. "So, what did Amanda have to say?"

"Beyond the near squeals of excitement? I'm kidding, she has a little more dignity than that, but I know it was happening on the inside." She leaned her head into his shoulder. "She told me it was 'about damn time' and she was happy for me. She only pressed me for a few details."

"Oh? And what details did you relay?" He smiled in self-satisfaction.

Olivia blushed and stammered a little, "Um, well," she apparently needed to change the subject, "I'm sure Kathleen got more details out of you than Amanda did from me." She put her hand out so he could hand her the spoon.

He laughed. "Kathleen is pretty relentless." Olivia appeared to be waiting for an actual answer. "I really didn't tell her much," he admitted. "I'm not sure what you want me to say or not say to people." His eyes found hers, "We haven't even talked about what this is."

Her eyes dropped and she pushed around the last bite of cheesecake with her spoon. "What do you want it to be?"

His lips came enticingly close to her ear, "I think you know what I want this to be."

Her breathing quickened, but she kept her focus on the now mashed cheesecake, "Why don't you tell me anyway?"

His large hand turned her face to his so she could do nothing but look at his face. His voice had a husky quality, "I want everything. I want you to be in every part of my life, and mine in yours. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms, and wake up with you there. I want breakfasts, school pickups, dance recitals, and midday lunches. I want to hug you at the end of a hard day," his voice dropped even lower, "and make love to you at night. I want everything. I want you. All of you."

He watched tears well in her eyes before she whispered, "I want that too."

He pulled her into his arms, the cheesecake discarded to the side as he kissed her again, deep with meaning. She broke away and chuckled against his lips, "I don't think we should wear you out anymore tonight…I'm supposed to keep you from splitting those stitches." She let out a little laugh, "I'm not doing a good job."

A laugh tumbled from his lips, "Maybe not," he pulled her in tighter, "But you are doing a much better job at more important things."

"Yeah?" she smiled against his lips.

"Yeah," he confirmed.

She nuzzled into his neck before saying, "We should probably get you ready for bed."

"Yeah?" he asked suggestively.

"Elliot, I think you have had enough of that tonight." She let out a breathy chuckle.

"I'll never have enough." He was pleased as he watched a slow shudder ran up her spine.

Suddenly she was all business, lifting herself from his grasp, "That might be true, but you need rest before we can get to any more of that." Her eyes danced with flirtation.

He smiled in response, and she pulled him up from the couch. She kept her hand his as she led him down the hall towards his room.

Once in his bedroom she dropped his hand to find hims something to sleep in.

He wandered over to the bed, "You know I don't usually sleep in sweats," he said suggestively.

She didn't even look up as she dug through the bottom drawer, "I'm well aware of that," she snagged some sweats and smirked, "but I have a little boy in the next room who WILL ask questions."

He sighed in mock disappointment, "I guess that's reasonable."

She dropped the sweats on the edge of the bed before asking, "Wanna try to get your own shirt tonight?"

"What fun would that be," his eyes twinkled.

She chuckled, "I have no problems with removing it myself," she said suggestively, "but I need to see if the movement aggravates or pulls your stitches."

"Fine," he sighed exaggeratedly. He easily removed his shirt.

"I think you've been holding out on me, Stabler."

He grinned, "Can you blame me?"

She let out an exasperated chuckle. "Why don't you remove the tape tonight? The instructions say we can start letting it open to room air starting tonight." She smirked, "You can see how easy it is to pull that tape."

"Oh I'm sure I can do it better than you."

"We'll see about that." Her lips teased a smile.

He started to pull the tape and cussed through the entire removal. "I'm not going to have any skin left!" He complained.

"Not easy is it?"

"Okay it's not." She stood in front of him and he brought her hands to his hips. "Now," he breathed, "I know I still can't get my pants."

She leaned in, her lips nearly touching his. "Those pesky pants," she breathed.

His eyes closed in response, "mm damn them."

She let out a small laugh before sliding her hands across his skin from his hips to the button on his jeans. His breathing quickened when she pulled down his zipper.

This time he didn't provide commentary as she removed his pants, but she thought she'd have a little fun while there, planting a row of kisses from his mid thigh to knee.

He groaned lightly, "God Liv, you can't keep doing this to me."

She pulled on the sweats and leaned her face closer to his, "I can't? What happens if I do?"

Her flirtation was almost too much. "Ughhh." He laid back on the bed. "You're killing me." His eyes met hers, "and you are enjoying too much."

"Yes, I am," she admitted while she walked across the room.

She began digging in her bag so he lifted his legs onto the bed, wincing, and slipped between the sheets. He looked up to say something but his draw dropped at the sight of Olivia. She was turned away from him, but he had a clear view of her bare back as she slowly and purposefully pulled a lightweight tee over her bed.

She turned and smiled, and he knew she knew exactly what she was doing to him. Seeming very pleased with herself she pulled back the comforter and snuggled in between his sheets. He scooted towards her and she met him in the middle of the bed. He wrapped his arms around her and she rested both her hands on his chest. She could probably feel his heart pounding out of his chest.

"What was that about?" He asked.

She shrugged, "You are a furnace. I wasn't going to sleep in a sweatshirt."

"Uh huh sure." He knew she was giving him a weak excuse for wanting to basically strip in front of him.

She pressed a kiss into the center of his chest, and snuggled in. "I love you El."

He kissed the top of her head. "I love you too."