T: I'm in the city for a few days. Dinner?

E: Sure! When?

T: I think I'll be done here by 6

E: Where do you want to go?

T: You pick. Can you pick me up?

E: Yeah, send me the address. Gotta a case?

T: Just a briefing and file hand off.

E: Great. See you tonight.

-000-

Elliot to Olivia

E: Something came up, can we reschedule pizza night?

O: Oh okay. That's fine. Noah will insist on ice cream for canceling.

E: I can do that.

-000-

Olivia watched Tia apply lipstick as they wrapped up the briefing. "Hot date?" She asked.

"I'm meeting a friend."

She liked Tia. She was competent and she obviously cared about the victims. Olivia loved hearing her native Italian. It would make her want to visit the country, but Elliot had all but ruined the idea of Italy for her.

"Must be some friend," Olivia said lightly. She obviously cared about her appearance around this friend.

She let out a beautiful lilting laugh. "I wish it was more, but he seems hesitant. We were partners and have been friends for a long time. I'm not sure he will ever make the leap."

She thought of her partner. Her partner who was begging her to give him a chance. "Well," Olivia gave her a friendly smile, "you look beautiful. I hope it goes well."

Tia flashed a beautiful grin, "I hope so too." Her eyes suddenly lifted to the squad room entrance, "Oh! Here he is." She waved and Olivia looked up to see who she was so infatuated with.

Her stomach dropped when she saw Elliot, slowly walking towards them, a mildly distressed look on his face.

Olivia wanted to turn and hide in her office. She felt her face flush, and she couldn't tell if she was more angry or embarrassed. Why would she think Elliot was only pursuing her? He could date other people. It wasn't like he had to sit around and pine for her forever. She admitted she wanted a relationship with him, but told him she wasn't ready. There was obviously no implied commitment in that. God, she wished she was anywhere, but here.

She lifted her phone, trying to distract herself. She saw several texts from Elliot. Maybe he tried to warn her. She locked her phone. She wasn't really interested in what he had to say. She just wanted to get the hell out of here.

He finally approached, and Tia greeted him in true Italian form, with a hug and a quick kiss. Elliot's eyes weren't on Tia. They were focused squarely on her and the entire situation felt as awkward as hell.

Finally he turned to acknowledge Tia with a smile, "I see you met Olivia Benson."

"Yes, she's been wonderful to work with." She gave him a flirtatious smile. Olivia wanted to throw up.

She felt Elliot's eyes on her, but she refused to meet his gaze. "Liv, I,"

She looked up and decided it was time to dismiss this entire situation. "Tia was wonderful to work with." She smiled at Tia, "You guys have a lovely evening." She immediately turned, hoping she could duck into her office before anyone said anything else.

She made it into her offices, but some familiar footsteps trailed behind her. She flicked around some papers on her desk. "Elliot just go, it's fine." She couldn't look at him.

"Liv it's not what you think." He followed her to the other side of the desk and stood uncomfortably close to her. She hated how her heart pounded whenever he was close.

"What? That you blew me and Noah off for a date." She couldn't fight back the hurt or anger anymore so she decided to just roll with it. "She is lovely, so I get it."

She felt him grip her hand and she resisted the urge to snatch it away. "She's just a friend. She's only here for a couple days and she wanted to have dinner tonight."

"Just a friend?" She eyed him skeptically. "Okay. Just like how we are friends." She knew she was being a little irrational, but she couldn't help it.

"Liv." His tone was serious, almost scolding. "I think you know it's different with you."

"Are you sure?" She asked bitterly. "Apparently you can find a 'connection' with any of your partners. Should I warn Bell?" Olivia felt the bite in her voice, but she lacked control of her tone at the moment.

"God Liv. Relax. It's not like that." He kept his voice soft, but his attempt at being soothing made her more irritated.

"Oh? What's it like then? Because I'm pretty sure that woman would happily go home with you tonight." From the way Tia looked at Elliot, she'd go home with him right now.

"Oh come on Liv. We're friends." Olivia didn't believe that for a second. He watched the both of them, and they looked a little too friendly to be friends.

"Sure," she rolled her eyes. "I need to go. Noah's waiting and the babysitter needs to go home."

"Liv," his voice was pleading now.

"Maybe we should cancel Pizza this week. She's only going to be in the city for a few days." She tilted her head towards Tia in the other room. "You don't want to miss any time with her."

"That's, ugh, no." He shook his head in frustration. "You're not listening."

She dug her keys out of her bag, "Have fun with your friend tonight." She pushed past him. "I'll talk to you later."

"Olivia!" He grabbed her arm and she spun toward him. His voice was low and sincere, "She's not the one I want."

Damn it. She felt angry tears coming on. "She's a pretty good replacement. I mean, she looks a lot like me. Probably an easier lay though." She looked him up and down. " You have fun with that." She tried to pull her arm from his grasp but he held strong, tugging her closer. "El, just let me go. I'm tired, and I don't want to do this right now."

He pulled her close and she was too tired to put up much resistance. Her face was against his chest, and suddenly his voice was in her ear, low and deep, "There isn't anything there. She knows I love someone else."

She wasn't sure she was breathing anymore, especially after that confession.

His lips were suddenly high on her cheek bone, "I love you Olivia." He kissed lower on her cheek, "the only one I love." His lips pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. "You are the only one I want," his voice was barely a whisper, "the only one I will ever want."

He waited, his lips a whisper away from hers. She couldn't breath, but managed to say, "I want you too Elliot." And his lips were suddenly on hers, warm and insistent, and it didn't matter that there were onlookers in the squad room. It was just her and him. Benson and Stabler. Elliot and Olivia. The two of them together, the way it was always meant to be.