The bar buzzed with the clinking of glasses and lively music. The SVU squad had gathered for a rare celebration, an occasion unusual enough to add an extra layer of excitement to the atmosphere. Olivia had already went through a few drinks already, making her body buzz. For once, she let herself enjoy tonight, surrounded by her squad and the DA's team after solving a complicated case.

When she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, her heart skipped a beat when she saw the "Unknown Caller" on it. She answered in the middle of the bar, her enthusiasm a bit out of character due to the alcohol.

"Hey!" she greeted, her voice trying to cut through the noise.

"Wow, it's loud." Elliot remarked, his words barely audible over the chaos around her.

"Hold on a second." She replied, her words accompanied by the sound of her navigating through the crowded bar and eventually stepping outside.

The chill of the New York night enveloped her, a harsh but welcomed contrast to the warmth and noise from the bar. The cool air helped her concentrate on her partner's voice too.

"Hi!" She tried again, stepping into a quiet corner on the sidewalk.

"Hi yourself," Elliot responded, clearly aware that she was in the midst of celebrating. "Is this a good time?"

"It's fine," she assured him. "We're celebrating the end of a case, plus, it's Velasco's birthday, so the night is turning out to be much more of a party than planned. But I'm glad you're calling." She finished, her tipsy state making her more open about her feelings than usual.

"Yeah? Aren't you missing the fun?"

"A few minutes won't hurt. I'm happy to get some fresh air for a few minutes." She reassured him. "How are you?"

"I'm...okay. How are you?" He deflected, clearly not wanting to delve into his own feelings.

"I'm good!" She replied, her voice unusually cheerful.

"Evidently." He teased.

Olivia laughed, a bit heartier than usual.

"Are you drunk, Benson?" he asked playfully.

"No…!" She replied with another laugh, clearly at least a bit intoxicated.

"I'm glad you're having fun." Elliot said, a warm smile evident in his voice.

"I can have fun, Stabler!" She retorted playfully.

He snorted but didn't respond to that. Instead, he fell silent for a moment. Olivia quickly picked up on his mood.

"Something's wrong with the case?" She inquired, concerned.

"Nah, it's slow…so slow...and I..." he trailed off, hesitant. "I just wish I was there with you guys."

The longing in his voice was palpable. He was homesick, missing his friends and family. Olivia felt for him, understanding how much he yearned to be there with them. She wanted to reply that she also wished he was here tonight, but he spoke before she had time to.

"I miss you..." he said softly, surprising her.

Even though the streets were relatively quiet, Olivia wasn't sure if she had heard him correctly. But there was no mistaking that he had left out the word "guys" from his sentence this time though.

Her heart clenched at his admission, and she closed her eyes. Standing alone on the sidewalk at night, with people passing by on their way to bars and restaurants, Olivia was enveloped in her own Stabler-bubble. She missed him too, more than words could express. She wished she could somehow help him to return home faster.

"You know, right?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper, when she didn't immediately respond.

"Know what?" Olivia found her voice.

"That I miss you every minute of every day when I'm away...?" his voice carried so many emotions when he spoke.

Olivia was speechless by his honesty. The confession hung in the air, heavy, opening up wounds they both had tried to heal in the last 13 years.

"I..."

"Then and now." Elliot finished, cutting the air out of Olivia's lung.

Oh. He was going there. Tonight of all nights? He was opening up about his decade of absence, the years of silence. She thought back to his question. Did she know, though? Cutting off communication for so long didn't exactly reveal the depth of how much he had missed her. She might believe it now, with him away on this assignment, but for that entire decade? Olivia didn't know how to respond to that.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Elliot let out a self-deprecating scoff. Olivia could almost picture him rubbing his face in frustration at his own admission.

"I'm sorry," he said, feeling guilty. "That was selfish of me..." He apologized.

Olivia couldn't argue with that. Elliot had always been the one to decide to leave. For this case, and for the decade before. But even tough she wanted to be mad at him, she couldn't.

"It's okay, El..." Olivia began.

"I'm not expecting anything in return...I just...I've been wanting to tell you for so long..." He finished.

Olivia couldn't help but wonder if he was also drunk, talking so openly about this. She had sensed that he was on the brink of saying he missed her during their recent calls, just as she had. But this was the first time either of them had verbally expressed it.

"Anyway, I'll let you return to your party." He said, offering them an exit from this conversation.

Olivia hummed, glancing back at the lively bar. Oddly, she didn't feel as excited to join the gang as before.

"We'll... we'll have another party when you get back." She offered, trying to give him something to look forward to upon his return.

"You won't still be hungover?" he teased about her age and alcohol consumption, lifting the mood.

She laughed once more, and this time, Elliot allowed himself to revel in the sound.

"Ha. Ha. Unless you come back in the next couple of days, I'll be up for it, Stabler." she teased back, her voice carried some hope and question about his return.

"I wish." He answered, and she understood the chance of seeing him in a few days was slim.

Olivia gathered her courage to reply this time.

"Me too."

A brief silence lingered between them, filled only with the sounds of the bustling streets.

"Let's get a drink when I get back. Just you and I." Elliot proposed, and Olivia inhaled slowly, taking a moment to consider his invitation.

"Just you and I?" She repeated, buying a little more time, not correcting his grammar.

"Yeah. What do you say, partner?" he asked, hoping that using their familiar term would make her more comfortable with saying yes.

Another pause, the noises of the city outside their virtual connection. Olivia knew her answer instantly, but the alcohol in her system helped her vocalize it.

"I'd love to."

Elliot let out a relieved sigh, a smile curving his lips on the other end of the line. It gave him hope, something to look forward to. Olivia felt butterflies in her stomach at the idea.

"Good." He replied, not pushing the word 'date' just yet, not wanting to scare her off.

But they both knew what they were thinking it.

"Be safe." She ended their conversation in her usual parting words.

"I will."

Knowing the call would disconnect soon, he couldn't resist one last playful jab.

"In the meantime, don't let some guy pick you up in that bar."

Elliot could almost hear her rolling her eyes at his overprotectiveness (or possessiveness one could argue). Her laughter was the last thing he heard before the call disconnected.