She giggled.
They'd been quietly basking in this, the after- their first after- when Olivia giggled.
Elliot's spooning her, their legs tangled messily, her back nestled perfectly against his wide chest. He paused his ministrations, strong fingers slowly stroking her supple hips.
"Something funny, Benson?"
Olivia found his hand meandering under the sheet haphazardly tossed across them, and wrapped it around her stomach, fingers interlaced. "I don't know why this jumped into my head, but I was remembering when you asked about my numbers."
She felt a frown against her shoulder, lips pausing their intended purpose. "Your numbers?"
"'Bout how many? At the hospital with Eli, when you were trying to make small talk about my love life."
Elliot groaned, pulling her in a little tighter, nose brushing against her shoulder blades. "I remember it now, even though I don't want to."
"Don't be embarrassed, it was cute."
"Cute?"
"Well, cute, and territorial, and ridiculously predictable."
"What made you think of that now?"
She grew quiet, and while he couldn't see her face, she tensed a bit in his arms and he clocked it.
"Wait, are you askin' me?"
She shrugged out of his embrace and turned to face him, eyes full of challenge and amusement.
Elliot leaned into this new angle and nuzzled her neck, inhaling her sweat, her shampoo, and her remnants of perfume. "We finally slept together, and you want to discuss this now?"
"What can I say, I'm curious," she smirked, lifting her chin as his lips dusted her throat.
He groaned and shook his head, letting the confusion of her request sink in. "In Rome? Just Kathy. I don't understand-"
"I mean, before. And since."
"Before…?"
"When you two were apart way back when."
"Oh… um, I dated a couple of people. Didn't sleep with them though. Felt too weird. Like I was cheating on Kathy."
"Not even Dani Beck?" She asserted, eyebrows raised in mock teasing, meeting his concerned gaze.
"I kissed her. Once. It didn't work out. Wasn't right."
She caressed his cheek, feathered his brow, and traced his jawline. "Wrong woman?"
He brought her fingertips to his lips. "Wrong partner."
"How about Angela Wheatley? Was that just a kiss, too?"
He shifted uncomfortably away from her, flopping onto his back. "Yes. Not my finest moment."
The horror quickly emerged as she realized his shift in mood. "El, you were in the throes of grief. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrogate you about all of this."
"That's okay, just means I get a turn to interrogate you about Tucker," he teased dramatically.
"Fair enough."
Still looking at the ceiling, he confessed, "I slept with Flutura."
She cringed at Elliot's perfect recitation of her name. "I know. Why?"
"I just wanted… to feel something besides goddamned misery. Didn't help. You were right, I was losin' myself in that op."
"And what about your old partner from Rome who was cozying up to you during that one case?"
Elliot's head snapped back to hers quickly. "You heard about Tia?"
"I think the entire department heard about Tia."
He chuckled. "Ah, I see… You're not curious, Captain. You're jealous."
Olivia blushed and pulled from his embrace, but he gently yanked her back into him. "Don't be embarrassed, it's cute."
"Touché."
"I got wildly drunk with Tia, and she passed out in my bed. Alone."
"Alone?"
"Apparently, I spent the entire night talking about how much I'm in love with you."
"El…" she whispered, cocking her head, tears in her eyes.
"Liv, you gotta know… that parallel universe? It's consumed me for twenty-five years."
"I know. Me too."
"But I wanted you to be happy. I did, Liv. I mean, if Tucker made you happy-"
"He did. But… we had different futures. And all I could think of was that you would never push me into a life I didn't want. I mean, I thought I'd never see you again, but I still couldn't get you out of my skin."
Elliot looked at her in awe, so incredibly grateful for her grace and forgiveness. It took them years to get here, countless tragedies and difficult discussions, but happiness emerged. A life was blooming before their eyes that they could finally reach out and grab onto.
"And here we are."
"And here we are."
They smiled, lips meeting passionately, the guilt and remorse over the past melting as they explored and caressed.
"You know, I loved hearing you giggle. Any way I can help recreate that?"
"I think that can be arranged, partner."