Disclaimer: All characters and basic concepts used in this story are the property of their respective owners. I own nothing; they are used solely for entertainment purposes. Any copyright infringement is not intended or implied.

Credit: A special thanks goes to GirlandHerKeyboard -

So much has happened in the last few years - so much pain and sadness and that's why I lost my motivation - there are still difficult days but there are also a few good days.

Chapter 1.

For weeks, the town had been planning a huge party to celebrate those who served it. This would be the first party Olivia would attend with Elliot, and everyone they worked with would be there.

"Mom, have you decided what to wear to the party?" 10-year-old Noah asked as he walked over to her bed. On top of the quilt were three dresses. Olivia's usual red dress lay between a new cream dress and a fancy black dress with a high slit.

"I can't decide between the black or the cream dress. What do you think, Noah?"
Olivia asked her son. She smiled as he knitted his eyebrows together and looked between the dresses.

"Mom, I think you should go with the black one," Noah grinned.

"Thank you, sweet boy. Lucy should be here soon. Would you excuse me? I have to put on the rest of my makeup."

A few seconds later, the doorbell rang. Noah sprinted out of his mother's bedroom and straight to the door. Olivia laughed softly to herself as she heard her son let the babysitter in, his shouts filling their apartment with such joy. Olivia slipped out of her robe and pulled on the dress, her hands struggling to reach the zipper, but eventually she zipped up her black gown.

When she was finished, Olivia walked out of her room. Lucy and Noah's eyes drifted to her, a smile growing on their lips. Lucy stood up quickly and walked over to her boss.

"You look beautiful, Liv."

"Thank you, Lucy. Be a good boy, Noah. See you later," Olivia said before grabbing her clutch and slipping out of her apartment.

xxx

The party was in full swing when she arrived. Olivia checked in her jacket before glancing around the room. Couples were dancing to a soft classical song, while others stood in groups chatting. Olivia glided toward the bar, stopping twice to say hello. As she picked up her wine, she turned and ran into the muscular chest of a stranger who seemed to appear out of nowhere. The man's hand slid to her hip, his thumb tracing the soft fabric that adorned her curves.

"Wow, Liv."

"Elliot," Olivia breathed, her cheeks turning red.

"Can I get you a drink?" Elliot asked, completely ignoring the glass of wine in Olivia's right hand.

"Actually, I just grabbed a drink...thanks for the offer," Olivia breathed awkwardly.

"At least join me while I grab another," Elliot grinned.

"If you insist."

Unnoticed by the duo awkwardly flirting with each other, an onlooker spotted them and sighed. Sitting at a table in the corner, they rolled their eyes and shook their heads. Why were Olivia and Elliot flirting?

"Good evening, everyone," Elliot smiled as he and Olivia walked to their assigned table. Olivia had her arm wrapped around Elliot's, and that made Elliot feel like the luckiest man there.

Sitting around the table were the usual culprits. Amanda and Carisi sat next to each other, each with a glass of wine in front of them. Fin was next, laughing as John Munch rambled on about yet another conspiracy theory. Jet and Ayanna waved slightly at Elliot and Olivia before returning to their own drinks and conversation.

"Benson, Stabler. I hear the two biggest pain in my ass are coming together," Cragen teased, but his face was set in a frown. He stood and looked over at his detectives before reaching out to Olivia and pulling her into a warm embrace.

"It's good to see you too, Captain," Olivia chuckled. After they parted, Elliot and Olivia joined the others at the table.

It didn't take long before the people around the table were completely absorbed in the stories Munch was telling. No one knew if they were real or completely made up, but they enjoyed it anyway. Olivia looked over the table and couldn't help but feel her heart swell at the sight of the entire crew together. She had missed being with Fin, John, Elliot and Cragen all the time.

But she knew the crew was something she'd never regret. As Olivia's eyes moved from each person at the table, she noticed Nick. He shook his head and rolled his eyes when he saw Elliot rubbing Olivia's arm with his thumb.

Olivia sighed softly and looked down at Elliot's hand. Even if Nick wasn't enjoying what was happening, she was. Elliot squeezed her arm. Olivia raised her eyes and looked at him.

No one else knew, but they had slept together the day the bomb had been found. They had both been so grateful to be alive that they had crossed a line they had never expected to cross. Until they could process exactly what had happened, they had agreed to be friends. But Elliot had a hard time accepting that title, because all Olivia had to do was show up, looking incredible in her tight black dress with the high slit.

Nick rolled his eyes again as he cleared his throat. He didn't like that Olivia and Elliot were in their own little world across from him. That the man who had hurt Olivia so many years ago was back and that they seemed friendly. Maybe more than friendly. He saw Elliot lean in to whisper in Olivia's ear and that was his breaking point. He started to stand up and stop whatever was happening, but froze when he felt Amanda's hand on his arm.

"Nick, just leave her alone. He's not going to hurt her," Amanda whispered.

Nick swallowed hard as he sat back in his chair. No matter how much he wanted to stop this and make sure Olivia wasn't hurt again, he could sense a connection between the former partners.

"I can't just let him sweet-talk her and put her under his spell again," Nick growled as he looked at Amanda. The moment his words left his mouth, the music stopped and dinner was announced.

Olivia looked away from Elliot as all conversations stopped.

"Nick, please," Amanda pleaded, but Olivia was already shaking her head. She couldn't believe that Nick would start something tonight of all nights.

Almost everyone knew what was going on between Olivia and Nick. They knew he was protective of her, especially after everything that had happened in the past. Between Lewis and everything she had gone through to get Noah, the last thing Nick wanted was for Olivia to get hurt by a man who walked out on her.

"Liv-" Nick began, but Olivia stopped him. She stared at him as she took a sip of her wine before setting it down.

"Leave. It. Be," Olivia warned, anger bubbling up inside. Everyone couldn't help but stare, especially Carisi. He started to speak, but Olivia stopped him with a simple look.

As dinner was served, Nick continued to stare at Olivia. It got to the point where she stood up and tried not to yell at her friend.

"I'll be right back. I just need some air," Olivia whispered in Elliot's ear. He looked at her and nodded.

Elliot watched as Olivia walked away from their table and across the ballroom. His eyes were on her ass, but quickly shifted to Nick. Elliot stood up quickly, his chair scraping against the floor.
"Stabler, sit down. Just let them talk...he won't hurt her," Cragen spoke, knowing that if Elliot joined Olivia and Nick outside, someone would get hurt.

xxx

"Liv, wait!" Nick shouted as he jogged to catch up to his friend. Olivia groaned and only turned around when Nick grabbed her hand.

"I don't want to talk to you, Nick. You're trying to start something when there's nothing wrong with what's going on inside."

"Please, Liv. Let's just talk."

"I swear, Nick. You better not want to talk about-"

"I want to talk about Stabler. What he did to you in there."

"Nick." Liv sighed.

"Please. I don't understand how you can forgive him. He ghosted you for over 10 years and now you let him touch you and share smiles with him," Nick breathed.

"A lot has happened in the years you've been out of town, Nick."

"I know, but I want to understand how you were able to forgive him."

"Look, it was hard at first. I was very upset, but we talked it all out and rebuilt our friendship. Besides, he lost his wife and was going through a dark time himself."

"Okay... but why? Why did you let him do that? Why did you get angry with me when I was just trying to protect you?"

"I hate feeling like someone is watching me! I hate the feeling that someone is watching my every move and judging me... or plotting against me..."

"Why would someone watching you?

"I do not know. Maybe I just imagined it.

"Or maybe you weren't? Liv, if someone is bothering you, please tell me. I'll help you, maybe even come up with a plan to protect you with... yuck, Stabler," Nick sighed.

Olivia sighed quietly before smiling.

"I'll be okay, Nick. I promise. Please, just leave Elliot alone... and it's good to see you. I've missed you," Olivia breathed. Nick grinned from ear to ear as he stepped forward and hugged Olivia tightly.