A/N: This storyline is going wherever the wind blows at this point. I'm just having fun writing it.

UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT OWN LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT, LAW AND ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME, OR ITS CHARACTERS.

~~~oooOOOooo~~~

Throughout the next two weeks, Elliot and Olivia created their own rhythm. Nights they shared a bed were rare, some nights they didn't, and some nights Elliot wasn't even in the apartment. Olivia got Elliot on a cleaning schedule. She didn't expect the apartment to be spotless, she was living with a man.

Elliot and Olivia grew closer over these two weeks. Both became more comfortable with sharing stories (and a bed.) Elliot has been trying to move past the fact that Olivia almost married his arch-nemesis, Ed Tucker. He does feel sorry about his tragic passing, but he is partly glad that she never settled.

Olivia hasn't had the time to explain the William Lewis situation in full and graphic detail. However, she has thrown out some of the minor details.

Tonight however is one of the rare occasions they share a bed. Elliot always tries to keep a respectable distance between him and Olivia. As Olivia finally begins to drift off to sleep she is suddenly woken up by a loud chime. Rolling over she faces her partner, "Elliot." Elliot does not wake. She grumbles, "Elliot, your phone." Taking matters into her own hands, she leans her body against his and stretches her arms out for his phone that rests behind him.

Elliot wakes abruptly to the new feeling of weight against him. Trying not to startle her, he lightly says, "Liv…"

Embarrassed by her current position against him, she leans back and removes her body from his, "Your phone, El."

"Huh?" Elliot rubs his eyes with his palms. Trying to brush off the feeling of Olivia propped up on him, he reaches for his phone. Unlocking his phone he sees a message.

SHANNON: Lucky wants to talk to you and your girl.

EMMETT: Why Maggie?

SHANNON: A celebration for you finding the balls to move in with your lady.

EMMETT: Why does that fucking matter?

SHANNON: 10p at Carlow East.

EMMETT: Fine.

"Who texted you at six in the morning?" Olivia asks as she stands up from the bed and stretches her arms.

"Shannon," Elliot rolls his eyes, "Angus wants to meet me at noon across town."

"Normally he just tells you himself," she wraps the fuzzy blanket from the couch around her and plops back on the bed.

"With you…"

"Elliot-"

"She said it was a celebration."

"I don't go out and get the info. I'm just the link between you and Bell. I-"

"Olivia, please."

Taking a deep breath, she remembers what she signed on to when she agreed to play the role of Maggie, "Who is going to be there?"

"Only Shannon and Angus," Elliot answers.

"I'll tell Bell. She's going to want me wired up," Olivia steps away from the bed and grabs her phone which is charging on the counter in the kitchen.

"It's just a double date, Olivia. I don't think you need a wire," he explains further.

"A date?" Olivia whips her head around to face Elliot.

"Well, I assume since it's a husband and wife, and a… partner… or boyfriend… and girlfriend… that it would be a date…"

"Did Shannon say it was a date? Or did she say we were just meeting with them?"

"She didn't say it was a 'date', but she didn't say it wasn't."

"I'm going to tell Bell."

"I don't think this is anything important, Liv."

"Well if it is, I want to be prepared," Olivia opens her messaging app, "When and where?"

Elliot dips his head down and sighs, "Ten at night at Carlow East." Olivia types away on her phone.

OLIVIA: Elliot and I have been called to Carlow East at 10p.

OLIVIA: Angus and Shannon will be there. Nobody else is expected.

AYANNA: I'll get a team to set up. You know what's going down?

OLIVIA: A double date…

AYANNA: A double date?

OLIVIA: Stabler seems to think so.

AYANNA: Let me talk with that fool. Hold on.

Hearing his phone buzz on the side table, Elliot walks around the unmade bed to grab it.

AYANNA: Really, Stabler? A double date?

ELLIOT: What'd I do know?

AYANNA: What the fuck is going on with Shannon and Angus?

ELLIOT: Shannon said that Angus wants to take Maggie and Emmett out for a drink tonight.

AYANNA: Why the hell would he want to do that?

ELLIOT: Because Emmett 'found my balls' and moved in with Maggie. I didn't think it was necessary to let you know. It's only a drink.

AYANNA: I'm still putting our men in the bar. I don't care what kind of meeting it is, but you and I both know that Angus is becoming more hostile.

AYANNA: He could blow at any moment Stabler and I don't want you or Captain Benson in the middle of it.

ELLIOT: Noted.

Looking up from his phone, he notices Olivia reaching for the keys on the key rack by the door, he asks, "Where are you going?"

"I'm hungry," Olivia pauses by the door and turns to look at him, "I'm getting bagels and coffee. Would you like something?"

"I'll take the usual," Elliot waves her off. Flipping the bed back into the wall, Elliot makes his way to the couch, "Thanks, Liv."

"Uh-huh," Olivia smiles as she exits the apartment.

The rest of the day, Elliot and Olivia caught up on some much-needed rest and relaxation. Eight o'clock rolls around and they are still in their pajamas. Turning away from the movie playing on the small television, he looks at Olivia. She feels his eyes boring into the side of her head, "You need something?"

"I don't know. I was just thinking-" Elliot is interrupted.

"That's never good," she giggles to himself.

He continues, "If I'm correct and this is a double date, they're going to expect us to do things… that real couples do…"

"Elliot, I really don't think-"

"Just hear me out, okay?"

"Okay…"

"Whenever Shannon and Angus are out, Angus can barely keep it in his pants. He always has his hands all over her-"

"So you want to put your hands all over me? Is that what you're saying, Stabler?"

Elliot freezes. He would like to do that, very much so, but that is not the point he is trying to make. Clamming up he tries to backpedal, "No, no, no. I'm saying that. I'm trying to say that they might expect me to."

"I really don't think it's that deep," Olivia tries to reason with him.

"I won't publicly have sex or grope you- I just think that if I am more outwardly affectionate with you, they might buy it."

"Elliot, I wasn't thinking you were going to grope me. I-"

"Maybe I could hold your hand. Or- Maybe I could rest my hand on your knee. Small details like that."

"Okay-"

"Small details, Liv."

"I get it-"

"Olivia-" he cuts over her once more.

"Elliot, I said okay. I said I got it. I'm fine with that," Olivia frustratedly exclaims.

Falling back into the couch Elliot feels his face lighten. Olivia pats his knee and wanders over to the bathroom, "I am taking a shower then getting dressed. You said it's a pub, so a casual shirt and maybe a nice skirt should be fine right?"

"I don't think I'm qualified to give fashion advice," shutting the television off he answers, "But if you want to avoid getting stared at, I'd say jeans."

"Well it's either this skirt," Olivia holds up a black leather above-the-knee length skirt in one hand and then a long flowy pair of Christmas pajama pants, "Or these pajama pants. They are the only clean bottoms I have and I don't have any dresses."

"Skirt is your best bet."

"I thought so."

Olivia jiggles the doorknob and enters the main area from the bathroom. Trying his best not to be obvious about his staring, his eyes roam up and down her body. Wearing a black fitted long sleeve that is tucked into the black leather skirt, she does a spin, "What do you think?"

Elliot is rendered speechless. Just letting out an audible gasp, he throws his hands in the air. "You are…" he tries his best to describe her with at least some respect, "You are gorgeous, Liv."

"Maggie."

"Right… You are gorgeous, Maggie."

"Thank you, Emmett. You should be getting ready yourself."

Elliot rises from the couch and side steps past her. Noticing a shimmer, he spins his head back to face her, "Whatcha got there?"

Olivia looks down at the pendant hanging around her chest and answers, "My necklace." Delicately picking the pendant up off her chest, she dangles the compass in front of his face.

"My necklace…" Elliot smirks slyly. With a smile in return, Olivia takes a deep breath. Looking into the compass, Olivia notices an inconsistency. Furrowing her brow, Elliot asks, "You good?"

"Yeah," looking more closely at the pendant she asks, "Something's not right…"

Elliot takes a step back, "Whadya mean?"

"It's not NESW. It has different letters."

"Would they happen to be L, C, J, and E?"

Squinting her eyes, she nods her head, "Yeah…"

"The Four Immeasurables."

"What?"

"Love, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity… and the diamonds-"

"Diamonds?!"

"Two brown and six white. The brown-"

"Elliot, these are diamonds?"

"Yeah…"

"I've been wearing this everywhere. I could have lost it."

"It's meant to be worn, Olivia. That's why I gave it to you."

"Elliot! Elliot, this is too much," Olivia begins to wrap her arms around her neck in hopes of unclasping the necklace from around.

Elliot reaches out and places his hands on hers, "The brown diamonds represent stability and dependability. The white diamonds represent… uh- they represent…"

"Love," Olivia blurts as she meets his eyes. Noticing the shift in tone, she backtracks, "And clarity."

"Mhmm…" trying to process what she had just said, he nods his head. Feeling the heat radiating from her body, he respectfully takes a step back as to not start something, "I apologize if it's… it's uh-"

"It's okay, Elliot… I'm just shocked…" Olivia steps back as well for her own sanity.

He awkwardly shuffles into the bathroom while replying. Closing the door behind him, he locks eyes with himself in the mirror. Elliot whispers, "I love you…"

Even through the door Olivia hears his soft spoken words. With a sinking feeling Olivia responds even more quietly, "I love you, too…"

Before Olivia can place herself on the couch, Elliot comes crashing out of the bathroom, "All ready. You ready to go, Mags?"

It's almost as if Elliot had switched entire personas. Playing along, she jolts up from the couch, "Ready as I'll ever be."

~~~oooOOOooo~~~

A/N: I'm trying my best to write, but the lack of inspiration is hitting hard. Also, finals are kicking my ass.