A/N: The new seasons have started filming (woohooo!) and I'm getting inspired by the BTS content...for future reference, this has been written before S25 and S04.

Olivia sighed as she just changed into comfortable clothes. The familiar surroundings of her home felt both comforting and solitary. Today had been a special day, marked by the presence of friends and family celebrating an important celebration for all of them. Noah was now playing in his room and she settled on the couch with a glass of wine. Settling on the couch with a glass of wine, she absently flipped through TV channels, trying to unwind.

Her phone's vibrations disrupted the quiet environment.

"Hello?"

"Hey," Stabler's voice, like velvet, resonated warmly in her ears. "Is this a good time?"

"Hi…yeah it's good. How are you?"

"Good," he replied, the ease in his breathing more evident tonight. "Caught a break earlier this week, so I'm carefully optimistic." Olivia hummed, absorbing the sound of his voice, the news offering a small respite. "How are you and Noah?"

"We're good… It was Amanda's newborn baptism today." She shared, her voice carried the echo of the day, a mix of joy and melancholy.

"Oh, that's right! Kathleen said I received the invite for it at home, but I was already here… I sent wishes…" his voice carried some guilt for his absence.

"I know."

"How was it?"

"It was beautiful." She sounded dreamy. "The baby's just perfect, El. The ceremony was lovely."

"I'm glad… I wish I could have been there…" His words conveyed not just regret for missing the celebration but also a certain longing to be with her for it, Olivia knew.

"I know." Her voice softened as she absentmindedly touched the compass necklace on her chest.

A moment of silence lingered.

"I hallucinated you yesterday."

Olivia chuckled, amused by the unexpected turn of the conversation.

"Really?"

"Yeah... we were out in a bar with the boys—"

"Do I really want to know this story, Detective?" she teased, a hint of fear underlying her words.

"It's all G-rated, don't worry, Captain," he reassured, causing a delightful flip in her stomach. "There was a bust in the bar. The police showed up and picked up a bunch of drug sellers doing a deal in the back. There was a woman in charge, and I swear when she started shouting orders, I thought it was you for a second."

"Wasn't it dangerous for your cover if they interrogated everyone in the bar?"

He laughed. "You're focusing on the wrong part of the story there, Benson," deflecting her concerns.

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Fine, you thought it was me. And?"

"It wasn't," he simply offered. "My cover was fine," reassured her.

Sensing there was something more, Olivia probed, "Why are you telling me this? I hallucinate you everywhere too." She surprised herself admitting this to him.

"Really?" Elliot picked up on it.

"Well, there are a lot of bald men in New York City…" she teased, recovering from her moment of vulnerability.

Elliot laughed. After a moment, he decided to answer her earlier question.

"Want to know something I wouldn't say if we were face to face?" his tone softened.

"Sure," her stomach fluttered.

"I wished it had been you," he paused. "Because that would have meant that either my op was finally done, or at least I would have seen you in person."

Olivia sighed at his admission.

"Want to know something I wouldn't tell you face to face?" she asked in return.

"What?"

"I prayed for you in the church…" she admitted. Olivia was never a steady practicing Catholic, but she felt the appeal earlier today. "I prayed that you would return home safely, soon."

Elliot hummed in return.

"I'm working on that."

Sensing they both needed to steer the conversation in a lighter direction, he started asking more about the baptism and Rollins' new child. How Carisi was handling fatherhood even though he had been a stepfather for some time now. Olivia shared some stories, and they spent most of the call on that. Then, when they both noticed time slipping away, Elliot sighed softly.

"Liv?"

"Yeah?"

"I really wanted to be there today… I want to be there." He corrected himself, his words carrying more than just about the baptism.

Olivia tried to control her emotions on the other side of the line. His voice carried so much underlying longing; it took her breath away.

"I know, El." She replied, but her voice was mostly a whisper. "I want you here too." She admitted, just before the line cut off.