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Olivia sighed happily sinking into the hot water of her bathtub, letting herself relax and rid herself of the stress that accompanied her day. After putting Noah to bed and doing some late paperwork in the living room, she'd lost track of time and soon found her phone shining back a single digit time that meant she only had a few hours to actually sleep. Despite that, she opted for her tub than her bed, not ready to completely shut herself off. And, her phone agreed. It pinged with an incoming text from Amanda responding to a conversation they'd started earlier in the day.
She quickly texted back. It's nearly three in the morning. What are you doing up?
Feeding. I forgot how brutal babies are on sleep. - Amanda
Want to talk?
Amanda's name popping up for a call answered her question.
"Hey," Olivia greeted, "please tell me you're getting some sleep."
"More than you if you're still up. I at least slept for a few hours." Amanda yawned through a smile. "What are you doing up?"
Olivia hummed. "Not ready to sleep. Had some paperwork and you know how thoughts can just swim through your mind without your control." She shrugged. "Nothing significant happened. I just feel restless."
"Want to babysit?" Amanda offered, earning a laugh. "I think you're missing somebody, and it's not me."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Thank you for that psych eval." Her fingers moved to the compass hanging around her neck, reassuring herself it was there. "I've barely had time to think about him."
Utter lie. Ever since he'd walked out of her office, she'd been wondering what his next op would be, where he'd be sent, how long he'd be under. Questioning if he'd be able to talk to his kids or visit his mother who he'd been more worried about even before they worked their case together. Trying to trust that Bell would have him supported the way she would support him, protect him the way she would. While the thoughts were not foreign, they felt more potent after the past six months and everything she and Elliot had been confronting with each other. . .or at least what he'd been confronting with her.
"Uh huh." Amanda teased, clearly not believing her. "I can practically hear Sandra Bullock from Miss Congeniality singing in your head. You're holding yourself back from him even though you don't want to."
"Okay, since when have you and Elliot become the best of friends?" Olivia frowned, staring up at her ceiling. "There's a lot to unpack with Elliot. Over two decades of feelings not to mention a ten year absence and that stupid letter."
Amanda sighed. "Oh, believe me. I haven't led him to believe it will be easy. I'm as blunt as they come." She adjusted the baby on her chest, holding the phone between her cheek and shoulder. "You never told me what was in that letter, just that he gave you it."
Olivia closed her eyes. "Probably because I was thrown by it, and then thrown again when I found out the truth. Elliot gave it to me for God knows what reason. Maybe some Catholic guilt thing about his marriage again, but he didn't even write it, Amanda. Kathy wrote it. The whole letter was about how our partnership was nothing more. That he left so I could let him go and move on. Find someone like him, better than him. What we had was never real, but the letter wasn't real. It was Kathy. Elliot only wrote one sentence and hid it from Kathy by slipping it into the envelope."
Amanda waited, but the information never came. "Liv, what did he write?" She waited again, but nothing came. "I'll give you it was a dick thing to do since he knew what was in that letter, and obviously it's not true or he wouldn't be this persistent in pursuing you. But, think about it from this point of view. Elliot's loyalty and love for you was so strong that his wife, even after a ten year distance between the two of you with no contact, still feared you enough to write that letter. Liv, he gave you the letter, but he only wrote one sentence, and that sentence was important enough for him to slip it in and give to you because he might've thought it was the only way he'd ever be able to tell you."
Olivia sucked in a breath, closing her eyes. "But in a parallel universe, it will always be you and I. That's what Elliot wrote." She huffed out a hushed sob, holding herself together enough to keep tears at bay. "He wanted me to know he would be with me if he could."
"He may be an asshole sometimes, but you have to admire his loyalty." Amanda breathed with a shake of her head. "Liv, I think you know, despite the hurt it caused, why he gave you that letter. It was the only way he could be honest while he was still married, still in the headspace of his marriage. Even at the hospital that night Kathy died, Elliot said he knew he would've stayed if he heard your voice. He's devoted to you, Liv, just was raised to stick to his prior commitments despite what he may want."
"That terrifies me more than you can imagine." Olivia whispered.
Amanda chuckled. "I have an idea. But, you deserve to be happy, Liv, and he makes you happy with the smallest of things." She smirked. "Just turn off that brain of yours for a while. When you figure out he's what you want, go get him."
Olivia rolled her eyes but smiled. "Thank you."
After a few more minutes of small talk, Amanda bid her farewell and hung up the phone. Olivia bit her lip thinking back to her last interaction with Elliot. Amanda was right. The simple act of him snapping off a stupid 'e' on a Christmas ornament nearly melted her into a puddle. Scrolling through her phone, she clicked on Elliot's name and hit the phone icon before she could think too much about it. While she had expected to be leaving a voicemail, he answered his phone. "Liv? That you?"
"Yeah, it's me. I hope I didn't wake you." Olivia sunk deeper into the water, enjoying the warmth a little bit more now with his voice in her ear.
"I was just getting ready for bed actually." Elliot grinned as he sat down on his comforter. "What are you doing up, Captain? You're going to be at your desk in five hours. You should be sleeping."
Olivia smiled. "Couldn't. Brain wouldn't turn off. Decided to relax for a bit in the tub before going to bed." She grinned hearing his sharp intake of air. "Started wondering about your new gig. I know you can't tell me anything, but I figured I could be nosy and thank you again for my necklace. I really do love it, El."
Elliot grinned, a blush threatening to redden his chest. "I'm glad you do. I hope I can see you wear it next time I see you. Hopefully, that's sooner rather than later."
"Chances of that are high. I haven't taken it off." Olivia flushed. She nearly giggled when she swore she heard Elliot groan on the other end of the line. "You better be in one piece when you come home."
"Says the woman who was recovering from a gunshot the last time I saw her." Elliot teased, scratching the back of his neck. "How's your hip doing anyway? Doc clear you?"
Olivia lifted herself from the tub, pulling the plug with her toes before grabbing her towel. "I've been cleared. I get a twinge of pain every now and then, but you know how that goes." She started patting herself dry. "How long do you think you'll be under this time?"
Elliot sighed. "Hard to say. If everything goes according to plan, I could be home in a month. If things go sideways, which something always does, could be three or four months." He stood up before slipping under the covers, relaxing into a mattress that made him curse the NYPD fund for these ops. "I wasn't supposed to be doing this one. Whelan was. . ."
"He was a good cop, El." Olivia whispered. "I wish things could've ended differently."
"Me too." Elliot agreed. "But, it's the job. I just wanted to be around in case Mama needed me. Her memory seems to be leaving quicker, and I'm afraid she won't know me the next time she sees me. The kids visit, but you know they all have their own lives. It's hard."
Olivia shrugged. "Well, how about I go see her? She always liked having me come by your place. We have a good time. I can check in on her from time to time." She spoke again before he could object. "I would be happy to do it, El."
Elliot chuckled. "I'd say you don't have to, but you'll do it anyway. Thanks, Liv." He heard rustling on the other end. "You better be getting ready for bed. I don't want to be the reason you're falling asleep at your desk tomorrow."
"I am, bossy." Olivia retorted with a smile. "I won't be the reason you look like shit tomorrow either, so one of us should probably hang up."
"I don't really want to." Elliot admitted.
Olivia blushed. "Me either, but you and I will talk until dawn. We've had too much practice with all those stakeouts." She sat down on her bed, smoothing out his sweatshirt that she had stolen years before. "Text and call me when you can. Is it safe to text or call you?"
Elliot smiled. "I may not be able to always answer right away, but you reach out to me whenever you want. Honestly, this call has been the highlight of my day." He could almost picture the smile on her face, the smile she gave to him in her office when she pulled out her necklace. "Goodnight, partner."
"Goodnight." Olivia breathed.
It was only a couple days later when she messaged him again, sending a selfie wearing the necklace and a lower cut t-shirt she refused to admit to herself was to taunt him with one part of her body she'd caught him staring at over the years more than once. She had her hair pulled back and held up a bag of carrots in the photo. Thinking of you ;)
His response was almost immediate that Saturday morning. Ha ha, I should've burned that photo when I had the chance. Mama guards those photo albums with her life.
I will buy it from her if I have to. That photo is my favorite. Olivia giggled with a shake of her head, already planning on seeing Bernie at some point that weekend. Noah had dance practice that afternoon not too far from the nursing home she was in. I'm seeing her today. Who knows? That photo could be mine tonight.
If she gives it to anyone, it would be you. Meanwhile, I think your picture has now become my new favorite of yours. I don't have many photos of you.
"Mom, who are you texting?" Noah asked as he walked into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes to rid them of sleep. "You keep smiling at your phone."
"Oh," Olivia shook her head, setting her phone aside. "Just talking with Elliot. I'm going to visit his mom today during your practice. He feels bad that he can't see her right now since he's working a hard case."
Noah smiled. "That's nice. Is Elliot's mom like him? I like Elliot."
"Me too." Olivia stated, not really realizing how smoothly it slipped out until it did. "Uh, Bernie is a little bit different from Elliot. She's getting older and losing her memory, so he gets worried about her. She's very nice though when she's aware of what's going on around her. Very sweet. When I met her, she treated me like family. She'd do the same to you too."
Noah's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yeah, Elliot and I have been friends and partners for a long time. I watched his kids grow up, and now he's involved in your life somewhat. The Stablers let me be apart of their family when I didn't really have anyone. Now that I have you, you're part of that now too." Olivia explained. "It just isn't always easy as things with Elliot were-"
"Complicated. Yeah, I know." Noah waved his hand, knowing the words all too well from his mother. "Should we make her something?"
Olivia smiled. "Like what?"
"Cookies?" Noah asked climbing onto the stool to sit at the counter.
"Pick a recipe." Olivia winked before handing him a cookbook. "We can put a note on there so she knows who they're from later too."
Since when do you make cookies? His text came through late on a Thursday night, making her smile as she read it brushing her teeth.
She quickly replied. Motherhood makes women do crazy things. El, it's almost a requirement for mothers to know how to bake something for their children.
What else can you make? Elliot asked.
Probably nothing as good as your mom. But, I've got a few things up my sleeves. Who ratted me out?
Dickie stopped by to see her tonight and saw the note. Mama pinned it up on her little whiteboard in her room.
How sweet of her. :)
His reply made her giggle and blush. I want something sweet now.
She held her phone up and out, taking a picture of herself with toothbrush in mouth and in a pajama set tonight of a gray shirt and blue and gray pinstripe shorts. Snapping one she approved of, she sent it off. I'll bake you something when you come home.
You're the only person who takes selfies I approve of.
As you pointed out the other day, you don't have many pictures of me. Figured I could at least give you options to choose a favorite.
Only fair to do the same then. His text was accompanied by a photo of himself, stubble adorning his face, with a thick flannel jacket on.
Olivia grinned. Are you investigating a lumberjack crime syndicate?
You're oddly close. No lumberjacks though. ;) I need to head out, but I'll try calling tomorrow night if that works. I need to hear more about your baking skills so I know what to request for my welcome home dinner.
It better involve something that can come in a box or wrapper. Talk to you tomorrow night.
Olivia chuckled, sitting on her counter with her second glass of wine in hand. Noah was playing video games on the couch and oblivious to her current phone call with Elliot. "Since when are you obsessed with desserts?"
"Since I found out you know how to use an oven." Elliot shot back with a smile. "What is your specialty?"
"Betty Crocker." Olivia stated. "If you ask for a pie, I'm telling you now that it will be raw."
Elliot laughed. "No pie then. How was your day?"
"Horrendous." Olivia huffed out. "I need a vacation, but then the work would just pile up."
"Sounds like you need more help or at least better help." Elliot breathed.
"The help I have is good, but I've been understaffed. Even when I get proper staffing, somebody leaves and then I have to get somebody else in and retrained." Olivia grunted. "The times we were told SVU isn't for everyone has become more apparent the last few years."
Elliot nodded. "Cragen was blessed with us. He couldn't have gotten rid of us even if he paid us to leave." He scratched the back of his head. "If you get some staffing trained when I'm back, we can both take a break. I'm sure the kids would love a vacation away from the city."
Olivia smiled. "Are you asking me to go away with you, Stabler?"
"It's about time." Elliot chuckled. "Just think about it. I don't have a timeline as to when I'll be back yet, so you may want to take that break before I pop back up."
"Well," Olivia bit her lip with a grin, "I think I could wait until you're back. After all, who else will carry my bags and rub my feet?"
Elliot laughed. "Ah, I see how it is. I'm just the eye candy, aren't I?"
"Might as well use those muscles for something." Olivia teased before emptying her glass. "How is your case going anyway? You're staying safe, right?"
"As best I can," Elliot nodded. "It's gaining traction, but it feels like we have a thousand more questions each time we answer one. The group we're following - they're crafty, smart. It will takes years for analysts to backtrack all the finances."
Olivia rubbed her temple, stressed for him. "So, you can't get them on anything unless you have concrete proof of any type of money-laundering. Makes you wish for dumber criminals."
"I'd love a sloppy case right now with DNA or a camera with the perp's face." Elliot muttered. "Feel like I'm actually doing my job and putting someone behind bars."
Olivia exhaled softly. "You're doing your job, El. It's just longer than an SVU case. Nobody involved with the crime is working with you. You're in on your own. It's isolating."
Elliot nodded even though she couldn't see him. "You help that more than you know."
"I've got an idea." Olivia bit her lip.
"Ayanna, hi." Olivia's eyes widened seeing the sergeant walk into her office. "What happened? Is it Elliot?"
"Stabler is fine." Ayanna reassured her, smirking seeing the Captain's immediate relief. "He did send me here, however, to give you this." She held out a box, bigger than the one he'd given her a couple months earlier. "He wanted me to tell you to figure out where you want to go on vacation. He's being watched closer, so he won't be able to communicate with you or his kids for a while."
Olivia nodded once. "Okay."
Ayanna smiled softly. "I'll let you know the next time I hear from him."
"He's doing his job, Ayanna." Olivia shook her head. "He'll contact me when he's safe."
"Oh, I'm sure you'll be his first call." Ayanna smirked, heading for the door. "But, he requested I keep you in the loop as you are his emergency contact and the woman who makes him grin like an idiot."
Olivia smiled through a blush. "He better. That grin shows all the stress lines I've given him."
It was three weeks later when she heard from Ayanna again. "He's hanging in there. I guess there's an information leak to a rival group that's putting the leader on edge. Elliot is gaining trust, but the guy runs his men like a ride or die tribe. He's just trying to ride it out and keep in touch when he can."
"He wouldn't let you pull him, huh?" Olivia chuckled into the phone.
"He's like a dog with a bone." Ayanna huffed out. "You told me he was persistent, but you could've explained that he breaks the scale on how far someone will go to see something through to the end."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Explaining that opens up a cabinet full of many cans of worms. Best left for you to discover on your own." She ran a hand through her hair. "He have his phone back?"
"No," Ayanna sighed, "but he gave me specific instructions to not do anything with it. He fully charged it and turned it off so he could make calls as soon as he could." She paused for a moment. "He asked how you were doing. He seemed worried about you."
Olivia bit her lip. "Yeah, personal reasons. He wanted to be around this week, so I'm sure he feels bad for being back under."
Ayanna hummed in acknowledgment. "Well, let me know if you want to get a drink sometime just for the company. I'm not Stabler, but I've worked with him for a few years now. I could probably channel him for a little while."
Olivia laughed. "Thanks, Ayanna. It's okay though. If you and I go out drinking, we're going to be swapping stories about Elliot, not channeling him."
"Deal." Ayanna chuckled.
Despite Ayanna's updates, the worry in her gut didn't ebb away the way it did hearing his voice. It had been a month since she'd gotten a text from him, a week more since she'd heard his voice. Ten years of silence should've made not hearing from him easy, but knowing he was waiting to be done with the case to be with her made time stretch on far longer than it should. It made it hard to sleep on nights she hadn't worked herself to exhaustion, something she'd been doing more of.
She had found herself having one sided conversations with his number, hoping he'd see them all when he felt it was safe to do so.
I hope you're safe.
So, you want me to make this? I can't believe you sent Ayanna to my office with this.
Miss you.
I know you feel bad you're not here, but the compass helped.
I hope you like the woods.
So when her phone beeped with an incoming call at 1:39 a.m., she answered with a resigned voice. "Benson."
"I was hoping you'd be up."
Olivia gasped as she shot up in bed. "Elliot!"
"It's me." Elliot breathed, sitting alone in his trailer. "Sorry it took me so long."
"It's fine." Olivia shook her head despite the overwhelming relief hitting her like a freight train, springing tears to her eyes. "Are you good? Are you okay?"
Elliot smiled. "I'm intact. I'll be good when I'm home." He gave her a moment, hearing the emotion in her voice. "I missed you."
Olivia sucked in a deep breath. "I missed you too. Ayanna let me know how you were doing, but it just wouldn't sink in."
"I know the feeling." Elliot agreed. "Did you like my gift?"
"Yes, smartass. My uni's thought I was losing my mind laughing over a box of carrot cake mix." Olivia chuckled. "I can make it for you when you whisk me away to some glamping resort. I talked to the kids, and they all agreed on glamping."
Elliot grinned. "Ah, that explains the text about the woods. I look forward to it. What have I missed though? What is going on with you?"
"With me?" Olivia faked astonishment. "I've thrown myself into work because your dumb face kept popping into my mind and wouldn't let me sleep with the worry of what was going on. Made me decide to take advantage of the time I do have with you once you get back."
Elliot's eyes widened. "Really?"
Olivia bit her lip. "We've lost so much of it already, El. Time. Been twenty-five years, and you have ruined all other men for me. You make me happy, and I'm ready to finally be happy."
Elliot grinned. "Me too."
"Plus, it will be nice to experience things I've thought about doing with you." Olivia grinned, teasing him. "Things that involve touching and kissing and acts that make you blush."
As if on cue, Elliot felt his face heat. "Jesus, Liv."
"What?" She oozed pure innocence. "I've barely said anything."
Elliot rolled his eyes. "Yes, but the idea of you with me like that will have my hand wrapped around myself as soon as we finish this call."
Olivia beamed, her body flushing as her eyes closed. "Who said you had to wait for me to hang up for you to do that?" She giggled hearing him grunt and bang against something, probably his fist to try and distract himself. "If you're trying to be a gentleman-"
"Not easy at the moment." Elliot rebutted.
"You don't have to be." Olivia chuckled. "Twenty-five years of foreplay, fantasies, longing, we've both gotten off on each other."
This time, his groan echoed through her phone, and her thighs clenched as it played on repeat in her head. Elliot ran a hand down his face. "You've thought about you and me too? For how long?"
Olivia toyed with the waistband of her shorts. "Probably about as long as you. The first time I caught you staring at my ass was a jumping off point. First time you mouthed off to someone who even looked at me the wrong way - that did me in."
Elliot gripped himself through his pants, taking a deep breath. "And, what did you imagine me doing to you?"
"Nu uh." Olivia teased with a smirk. "You first. What did you fantasize doing to me?"
Elliot huffed out his breath. "Everything. God, I wanted to bend you over my desk, fuck a permanent imprint of your ass into the backseat of our squad car. Pin you against the wall in the showers."
Olivia shuddered, whining softly as the images played out in her mind. "With how hard you work your ass out, you could still do all of those."
"So, tell me." Elliot grinned. "What did you touch yourself to?"
Olivia grinned. "Depended on my mood. Sometimes, it was you burying your face between my legs on the interrogation room table. You storming my apartment. If I was really pissed at you for some guilt thing, I thought about what would happen if I snuck into your confessional booth and rode you while you were trying to recount your sins." She bit her lip when she heard Elliot's breath hitch at that. "Other times-"
"Hold on." Elliot interrupted, voice hoarse. "I'm living in the confessional admission right now."
"I can continue with that if you want." Olivia offered. "Help you out with more than just your imagination tonight."
Elliot nearly growled. "As much as I would love that, the first time you hear me cum to you will be when I'm inside you and I can bury my face in that neck of yours, feeling you cum around me." He took another deep breath. "Besides, if I hear you cum tonight, I know I will blow my cover, because I will be at your door within the hour."
You are killing me.
Olivia giggled getting Elliot's text. After their near phone sex session, their texts had remained relatively tame. Work and days and kids were the main inquires. Joking and bantering back and forth about all the things they knew about each other's jobs and histories. It was easy. And while Olivia loved that, she felt a little frisky this morning and sent a picture of herself in a matching bra and panty set, royal blue in color, with a caption reading, If people only knew how dedicated I was to the NYPD blue.
She quickly replied in her office chair. Why I have no idea what you mean. I was just showing my loyalty to the job.
Yeah, I'm sure every straight guy would very much appreciate your display of it. Your loyalty and dedication are out in the open."
Did you just name my boobs loyalty and dedication?
Seems very fitting right now. His text was accompanied by a random picture of some soldier saluting. When I get my hands on them, I'm sure their true names will come to me.
Olivia gaped, blushing furiously despite the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. And, here I thought you were an ass man.
Face, boobs, butt - you've got the whole package, and I look forward to learning EVERY inch.
Please, tell me you're home soon. Olivia typed back before glancing up to see Amanda stroll into her office with a couple coffees. "Hey! What are you doing here? I thought you still had a few more days left of maternity leave?"
"I do." Amanda chuckled, handing her friend the second coffee she'd bought. "Carisi's mom told me to give myself a day of pampering. I think it was more just so she could enjoy her grandbaby, but I won't complain about getting some time to not be covered in baby vomit or wrists deep in dirty diapers." She sat down across from Olivia. "Besides, I hadn't heard from you in a while, and I have an idea why now that I see you."
"What do you mean?" Olivia frowned with a shake of her head.
Amanda rolled her eyes. "You looked like a lovestruck teenager when I entered the squad room with the smile you were sporting." She chuckled seeing the blush on Olivia's cheeks. "So, you and Stabler. . .together now?"
"Not exactly." Olivia sighed with a small smile. "He's still undercover, but I did tell him I'd give us a chance when he got back. Little did I remember just how charming the bastard is when he's just trying to be friends. Now that I've given him the green light, he cuts straight to the core. No mincing words. No innuendos. He is not shy about letting me know exactly what's on his mind."
"And, you?" Amanda smirked. "He's an alpha male for sure, but he's also a reactor when it comes to you. What? Have you been sending him flirty texts, cute pictures? What?"
Olivia bit her lip, a grin nearly splitting her face even as she tried to suppress it. "All of the above and more." She giggled when Amanda sputtered on her sip of coffee. "This does not leave this room. I sent him a rather risque photo of myself to him this morning and he texted back with names for my breasts."
Amanda laughed with a nod of her head. "Carisi hasn't given mine individual names, but he does refer to them as many things depending on his mood. It must just be a guy thing. Depending on the names, it can ruin a relationship. I had a boyfriend once call mine Thelma and Louise; I just walked out of his apartment pulling my shirt on over my head."
"I probably would've too. Although, I think Elliot could call my girls just about anything, and I wouldn't go anywhere." Olivia admitted before rubbing her knuckle just above her eyebrow. "We haven't even been on a date yet, and I can't leave him, Amanda. I can't even pump the brakes. I won't. I haven't been this happy in a long time."
Amanda nodded. "Like I said, you looked happier even just when I was walking in here. I know his ten year absence was traumatic. I don't blame you for being hesitant. Just try to remember that man left for a lot of reasons, but he would've stayed for you if circumstances were different. He would've been with you a lifetime ago."
Olivia exhaled slowly. "When did Elliot call you?"
"This morning. Wouldn't shut up about you. Not that I tried to, but I was honestly more worried about him getting enough air. I've never heard him talk so much." Amanda laughed, making Olivia grin with a shake of her head. "You have that man forever."
"I know." Olivia bit her lip, glancing at her phone when it lit up with his name.
Another week later, Olivia slotted away an hour to go visit Bernie again. With Noah at a sleepover and the week ending on a quiet note for once, she had the chance to go home early, but the thought of going home alone had her craving the attention of her favorite Stabler. While Elliot wasn't available, Bernie was. She walked down the corridor to the door labeled with Bernie's name on it and knocked, announcing her arrival to Bernie and Kathleen.
"Olivia!" Bernie beamed, hands clasping together in delight. "Come in, dear."
"Hey, Bernie." Olivia smiled as she walked over and hugged her gently, knowing Bernie would scold her if she didn't. She leaned over and hugged Kathleen as well. "Hey, sweetie. How are you doing?"
Kathleen grinned. "Doing good. Grandma and I were just talking about how happy Dad has been the last couple times we've talked to him over the phone. I've also found a few glamping resorts. I'll send you the links, so you and Dad can decide once he gets back."
Olivia smiled. "Honestly, I don't care where we go as long as we get out of the city." She reached over and took Bernie's hand into hers. "How are you doing? Staying out of trouble I hope. If your son finds out you have a boyfriend here that I didn't try to intimidate, I don't think he'll be very happy with me."
"No, no boyfriend for me." Bernie shook her head. "But, that boy needs to stay out of my love life and focus on his own. Although, that issue seems to have corrected itself now that he's finally pulled his head out of his ass and asked you out."
"Grandma," Kathleen mumbled through a smile, "we're not supposed to bring that up."
Olivia blushed hard, shaking her head. "I swear. That man is calling everyone we know." She glanced over at Kathleen. "You're okay with this, right? I don't want to upset you or any of your siblings."
"Liv, we all have been waiting for this to happen for a long time." Kathleen reassured her. "Even if we hadn't, how could any of us be upset at how happy he is? He's talking about all the places he wants to take you when he gets back, and the glamping trip has now become my number one priority. I don't want to freak you out or anything, but you know Dad doesn't do anything half ass."
"Oh, I know." Olivia laughed with a shake of her head. "That's why it took me this long to finally agree to give him and I a chance. I knew once I was in it was going to be it." She shrugged her shoulders. "He must be trying to play things cool, because he has not mentioned anything about taking me to places once he gets back. We've talked about the trip here and there, but not much else."
Kathleen smirked. "Well, the last time he had to be cool for a girl was before he could legally drink."
Bernie rolled her eyes. "Whatever he does, let him. As long as he's happy," she turned to Olivia, "as long as you're happy, dear. That's all we want."
"He makes me happy." Olivia breathed with a smile, laughing at the giddy look the two Stabler women shared.
Olivia smiled grabbing a water from her fridge, spotting the picture Bernie had been more than happy to give her of Elliot as a carrot. To be on the safe side, she'd made a copy at the nurse's station so Bernie could still have it, but she had been all too eager to pin the photo where she would see it everyday. When her phone started ringing on the countertop behind her, she picked it up. "Benson."
"Hey, Liv," Elliot's voice greeted her through the phone.
"Hey," Olivia smiled, padding into her bedroom. "I didn't think I'd be hearing from you tonight. I went and saw your mom after work."
"How is she doing?" Elliot asked.
Olivia set her bottle down on her nightstand, kicking off her slippers. "She was beaming ear to ear talking about how happy you've been the last couple times you've talked to her. Seems something in your life has gotten better."
"I wonder what that could be." Elliot teased her. "I've only managed to finally get a yes from the woman I've been in love with longer than I've been allowed to be. But, that couldn't be it."
Olivia smiled and played along. "Not a chance." She slipped under the covers of her bed, sighing contently once she was settled. "How did tonight go?"
"Went off without a hitch." Elliot huffed out tiredly, but the smile crept into his voice with his next words. "So well in fact I was able to drive back into the city." He grinned imagining Olivia's eyes widening. "I arrived about five minutes ago at a building that looks pretty familiar. I'm pretty sure my girlfriend lives here, but she'd probably kick my ass for calling her my girlfriend since I haven't taken her out on a proper date yet."
Olivia shot up, legs swinging over the edge of the bed to place her feet on solid ground. "You're pulling my leg."
"Come to the door, Liv." Elliot chuckled.
Olivia bolted from her room, rushing to the door and looking through the peephole to find him. Stubble still, but he was wearing his clothes. Hanging up the phone, she pulled the door open. "El."
"Hey, Liv." Elliot greeted back, slipping his phone into his pocket.
Olivia snatched his shirt into a hand, pulling him inside and against her. Luckily, their minds were still in sync. Before she could lean up to kiss him, his lips were on hers, hands groping at her hips and behind as he kicked the door closed before pinning her back against it. She vaguely heard him lock the door as her tongue fought with his. It wasn't sweet or innocent. It was primal, fierce and passionate. Baring themselves from the start to let the pressure out of the twenty-five year sizzle that had recently become a boil.
It was only a few seconds before Elliot's hand was reaching underneath her left thigh, pulling it up and hooking it over his hip so he could grind against her. The NYPD t-shirt she'd thrown on with the sleeper shorts felt like too much clothing now, but she was quick to discard his leather jacket. "I missed you."
"Missed you too." Elliot panted back, dropping his head to her shoulder when she moaned against the swivel of his hips. "If you want to wait-"
"I don't. We need this." Olivia whispered in harsh breaths before locking lips with him again, lifting her other thigh to wrap around his waist. The digging of his fingers into her hips only made her crave it more. "Bedroom."
Elliot groaned when she kissed his jaw, allowing him to move about her apartment without being distracted by her lips on his. However, her lips on his jaw were quite distracting as well. Everything about her was distracting. "You let your hair grow out."
Olivia smiled against his stubble covered cheek. "So did you." She gently tugged on his earlobe. "That's not really what you're thinking about right now though, is it?"
"Not the full extent." Elliot breathed before falling with her onto her bed, pinning his knees to the bed as her thighs stayed around his waist. He ran his hands through her brown locks, wrapping them in his fingers and tugging her head back after a moment as he let his lips ghost over her neck. "But definitely, definitely something I'm thinking about." He met her eyes as her hands reached down for the hem of his gray sweater. "Before we destroy your room and I have to buy you new sheets, I just want to say that I love you. Always have, always will."
"I love you too." Olivia whispered with a soft smile, sighing contently when his forehead dropped to hers. "You're wearing too many clothes for my liking."
Elliot grinned as she helped him pull off his sweater. "While I love the outfit you have on now, I would have to say the same."
"Then, get your pants off." Olivia smirked, watching as he pulled back only far enough to be kneeling between her legs. She bit her lip when he started undoing his belt, his stare making her melt into molten lava.
"Is that an order, Captain?" Elliot quirked an eyebrow, pulled the belt from the loops of his jeans.
Olivia sat up and unbuttoned his jeans, proud hearing his sharp intake of breath at the first touch of her hands on him. "Oh, it's an order, but not from your captain." She pulled down the zipper. "From your girlfriend."
Elliot nodded with a smile. "More important title." He fell back onto her when she pulled him down. With precise movement of her feet and the muscles she'd claimed were made for carrying her things, his jeans and briefs were shuffled down his legs and off the edge of the bed with his shoes. "Your turn." He scooped the bottom of her navy blue t-shirt into his hands and lifted it up her torso, letting her rid the material from her arms as his mouth drew to her breasts like a magnet. The resounding moan that erupted from her throat doubled down his efforts, enjoying her hands running over the back of his head and shoulders to hold onto him.
"Fuck, El." Olivia gasped when he caught her nipple between his teeth, aware of his hands pulling down her shorts and panties. She reached down and wrapped her fingers around his member, stroking it and earning a hiss from him. "When was the last time you pictured me doing this?"
"This morning." Elliot breathed, kissing up her chest and back behind her ear. When he slipped his hand between her legs, caressing through her wetness, he felt more than heard the breath that left her. "When was the last time you pictured me like this?"
Olivia hummed as he slipped a finger inside her. "Last night." She giggled when he nipped at the shell of her ear. "My sleep has been shit without taking the edge off a little bit. Sounds like we've both been a little frustrated. I was at least providing you content for your imagination."
Elliot grinned as he added another finger. "I'll be sure to do better if I'm undercover again." He captured her lips again as he removed his fingers from her, letting her guide him to her entrance. "You'll kill me though with your dirty talk."
"I'll kill you now if you don't get inside-" Olivia began, cutting herself off with a groan as Elliot thrust inside her.
Elliot grunted when his hips met hers, enjoying the feeling of her wrapped around him despite his body telling him to move. "Jesus, Liv. You feel fucking amazing." He kissed across her collar bones as she adjusted to him, groaning when she brought his lips back to hers with a swivel of her hips as her signal to move. He pulled back, almost withdrawing from her completely, before thrusting back in. The gasp he captured from her lips nearly made him lose all train of thought. "Beautiful."
Olivia pulled his bottom lip between her teeth, tilting her hips up to meet his next thrust. The power of it jolted her, and it was enough to have her nails digging into his back. "El, you can be gentle later. You've got me. So, fuck me like we both need right now." She yelped out a moan on his next thrust, smiling as he buried his face in her neck. "You feel so good."
"Good, because you probably won't get much sleep tonight." Elliot grinned wickedly before snapping his hips against hers, setting a brutal pace that had them both grabbing at each other. Her legs wound around his waist, and he hiked them up higher as his eyes focused in on the compass sticking to her sweaty skin. "You do wear it everyday."
Olivia's jaw dropped when he ground against her. "Never leaves my neck." She grabbed his face, bringing his lips down to hers. When he nearly folded her in half wrapping his arms underneath her legs, she whimpered feeling his cock pound into her spot. "Don't you dare fucking stop."
Elliot rutted his hips into her harder, growling when her body tightened around him. "That's it. I'm not going anywhere. Just feel me, Liv. I want you to cum around me. I want to feel you."
Olivia grabbed the hand that was closest to her face, sinking her teeth into the fleshy part of his hand with a whine. "El!"
"I've got you." Elliot panted, slipping his other hand between their bodies. As he gently stroked her clit, he felt her flutter around him, getting tighter by the second. "Fuck, sweetheart, you are magnificent." He kissed under her ear before grunting, "cum for me."
Olivia's back arched up into him, body tensing as it caved into itself, with the power of her orgasm, only drug out with Elliot's continued efforts to make it last until she was twitching away from his hand for some relief from overstimulation. "El?" She breathed, panting as he thrust gentler now. Her body still shuddered.
"Yes, baby?" Elliot leaned back on his haunches, widening his legs before grabbing her thighs as leverage.
Olivia licked her lip, feeling another orgasm building. "I want you to cum inside me." She grinned when he groaned, eyes closing as his jaw dropped. "I'm right here, not just in your mind, El. You can open your eyes."
Elliot grinned as he did so, blue meeting brown. "Just taking you in one feeling at a time, Liv. Been thinking about being with you like this for so long, been waiting for my op to be done so I could come back home to you. Gotta remind myself that this is real."
She bit her lip, blushing at the adoration shining back at her in his eyes. "I know the feeling." She propped herself up on an elbow, reaching out with her other hand to run down his chest. "We've always been real, El."
"Yeah," Elliot beamed, "we have." He placed his hand over hers against his sternum, squeezing it reassuringly. "Even when we were apart, we were real." He leaned over her again, capturing her lips and feeling her smile turn mischievous as her hand traveled to where they were joined. Somehow, her fingers managed to slip between them and massage his balls. "Fuck." The word was drug out as his kisses became hungrier, touches became more desperate. He collected his bearings enough to have the mind to grab her hands, twisting their fingers together before he pinned them to the bed on either side of her head. "Perfect."
Olivia gasped when he ground into her, moving his hips back and forth that caused immediate pleasure to wrap around the base of her spine. "God, do that again." She moaned when he did as she asked, his lips fusing with hers as he did. "Shit, El-"
"I know." Elliot smirked, feeling her body tighten around his member again. "Brace yourself."
Next thing, Olivia knew, she was face down against the bed. He'd flipped her like she weighed nothing, and the thought alone made her clench around where his cock was just seconds earlier. Feeling his hands on her hips, she raised up on her knees and elbows, letting him move her legs where he wanted them before he plunged back into her. She vaguely heard his growl over her cry, but the thought fleeted when he snapped his hips against her backside, reaching deeper inside her with each thrust. "Fuck, fuck, fuck."
"You okay?" Elliot asked, stopping his rhythm entirely.
Olivia nodded quickly. "Yes! Don't stop."
Elliot resumed quickly, his body already screaming at him for stopping anyway. He groaned gazing down at where they were joined, watching as her body accepted his every thrust, welcomed it even. His brain nearly malfunctioned when he looked up and caught the look on Olivia's face as she looked back at him. Eyes blown wide, near black, and then her hand was traveling again to where they were joined. Judging by the tensing of her body just a second later, she was circling her clit, and that was enough for him to lose all control.
His body continued to thrust into her a few more times as he came, his ears ringing with the intensity of it. He swore he was going to black out when she came just seconds after he did, her body clamping down on him and threatening to push him out as she road her orgasm out. When she slumped down against the mattress, he followed after her, landing beside her but still touching as much of her as he could while he rested his palm on the small of her back. "I'm pretty sure I blacked out for a moment there."
Olivia chuckled even as her body was still coming down, her back rising faster due to her slowing pants against the comforter. "I'll take that as a compliment." She opened her eyes when he tucked her sweaty strands of hair behind her ear. "Hi."
"Hey." Elliot smiled. "How are you?"
"I feel amazing." Olivia hummed before pushing up and kissing him softly, enjoying the low hum that vibrated in his throat. "How are you?"
"Fucking phenomenal." Elliot muttered before pulling her closer to him, happy when she turned on her side to fully face him. "Very happy to be back. I know I said it already, but I did really miss you."
"Me too." Olivia breathed. She caressed his cheek, more than content with the simple contact. "So, the op is done? You're home now?"
Elliot nodded. "I'm home. We'll have to wrap up the case with court and interviews, all the paperwork that will take up my time for the next month and a half I'm sure." He smiled getting a giggle out of her. "But, for the most part, it's done. The undercover work is done." He turned to kiss her palm. "So, I'll be here for a while if you'll take me."
Olivia tapped her finger to her chin as if contemplating the idea. "I guess you can stay." She laughed when he hauled her on top of him, her legs easily sliding on either side of his hips while their bodies stayed pressed together. "What do you want to do while you're here? I've got board games. I'm afraid Candy Land is probably the most entertaining one I have."
"Oh, I'm sure I'll find things to do around here." Elliot stated, his voice full of innuendo and suggestion.
Please review! I started writing this back when the season ended, but things have been a bit crazy with possible moving and flying to and from home. Hope you guys enjoy!
