Chapter 2

~oOo~

Olivia looked concerned as she stepped back and let her partner inside.

After the two of them sat down she asked, "What's going on, El?"

"Kathy and I are done. This time for good," Elliot said.

"Elliot, I'm so sorry," Olivia said softly.

Elliot shook his head.

"Don't be. It was a long time coming. Kathy and I got married for all the wrong reasons. We loved each other, but we haven't really been in love for a long time. Kathy told me that we both stayed with each other because it was the safe choice. We were both afraid to take the leap. To do what we needed to truly be happy. We decided the best way to love each other is to let each other go."

"Well, I'm glad you are splitting amicably," Olivia said once Elliot finished speaking.

"She also made an observation. She pointed out something to me that I have been trying to deny for years," Elliot continued.

"What's that?" Olivia wanted to know.

Elliot took Olivia's hands in his.

"Liv, she told me that she knew what would make me happy. Who would make me happy. She told me to talk to you. To stop suppressing my true feelings and that it was time for me to admit to myself and to you that you are the one I need. You are my soulmate. And Liv, before you freak out, you are not responsible for breaking up my marriage. If anything you saved it for many years. But Kathy and I can't live a lie any longer. The two of us…it just wasn't right."

Olivia was in shock. "El, we can't do this. We work together. And you're on the rebound now. You and Kathy just ended things. What would your kids think?"

"We told the kids the night after we signed the papers. They all saw it coming. Like I said, it wasn't working for a long time. It was a mistake to go back to her after the first break-up."

Olivia shook her head, still uncertain.

"What about Dickie? He hates me. He's already convinced that we slept together. If we got together, he'd believe he was proven right."

"Liv, Dickie was going through a hard time when he said that. When we told him about the divorce, he said he knew I'd never cheat on Kathy. He knows we never did anything like that," Elliot assured her.

"We're still partners though. It just wouldn't work," Olivia insisted.

"Actually, that's the other thing I needed to talk about. I'm not returning to SVU, Liv. I just can't do it anymore. My heart stopped when Jenna turned that gun on you. I still have nightmares about Sister Peg lying dead on the ground and about pulling the trigger and watching Jenna fall to the ground."

"It was a good shoot, El," Olivia said firmly.

"Maybe. But I just need a change. I'm putting in my papers on Monday. IAB would go over my jacket. They'd tear it apart. Dig into all my past indiscretions. They would go after my badge and maybe yours too. You belong at SVU, Liv. It's time for me to move on. Only from the job. Never from you," Elliot explained.

Olivia had tears in her eyes.

"What would you do?"

"I'm gonna try and get transferred to the Organized Crime Task Force. I'm gonna stay in the city. I really want to give us a chance, Liv. I'm not asking you to jump right into a relationship. I'm just asking for a chance to see where this could lead. Just one date to start. Will you at least go to dinner with me?"

Olivia didn't answer at first. She was going over every possible negative outcome in her head. Finally though, the desire to have a chance for a real relationship with the man she loved more than life itself outweighed any fears she had of it not working out.

"Ok. One date, and we'll see where it goes from there."

Elliot couldn't hide his pure joy at Olivia's reply.

"That's all I'm asking. How about Saturday night? I'll pick you up at seven?"

Olivia couldn't help but smile in return.

"Sounds great."

That first date led to more. After three months, they were officially a couple. The older kids grew closer to Olivia and they, along with Eli, thought of her as a second mom.

Elliot was transferred to OCCB and he thrived there. He worked his way up to second in command and he and Olivia both took the sergeant exam at the same time. Olivia ended up replacing Cragen when he retired. Munch retired right before, so Olivia was the logical choice.

One day, Elliot and his team caught a case that would change his and Olivia's lives forever.