Despite their committed relationships with Dani and Cassidy, Elliot and Olivia find themselves engaged in a silent dance of jealousy.
They allow their hands to linger a bit long when alone, an unspoken tension hanging in the air. However, neither of them dares to question what it means or to acknowledge the growing attraction.
Bound by loyalty to their respective partners, they dance on the edge, never quite crossing the line yet unable to fully let go of the lingering glances and subtle touches.
knock knock*
Alex calls out to Olivia with excitement, "Hey Liv, come in. I got the blunts ready, and Oz loaded up. And guess what? Elliot's working late, so it's just us gals tonight!"
Time passes as Olivia lit up the blunt, and they both dig into a pizza, the room filled with laughter and the flickering light of the TV screen. Hours slip by without either of them noticing as they immerse themselves in the show.
Olivia takes another hit from the blunt, a cloud of smoke swirling around her as she laughs at a particularly funny scene.
Olivia, caught up in the atmosphere and slightly buzzed, blurts out a question.
"You think Cris and I would make a hot couple?"
Alex takes a beat before responding, her mind processing the unexpected question. She looks at Olivia, trying to gauge her level of intoxication.
"Hot couple? Well, you're both attractive, no denying that," replies Alex, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
Dani comes through the door.
A sudden interruption cuts through the air, and Alex's voice rings out with surprise.
"How the hell did you get in here?" she exclaims, her irritation evident. "Please tell me Elliot didn't give you a freaking key!"
The sound of Dani's voice adds to the mix, her tone tinged with irritation.
"No, we haven't got that far. You should hide your spare key better," she remarks. "And what the hell is she doing here?"
Alex looks a bit startled by the unexpected intrusion, her gaze flitting between Olivia and Dani.
Olivia's voice responds to Dani's accusation, a hint of defiance in her tone.
"Excuse me?" she retorts, taken aback by Dani's aggressive words.
Dani continues her tirade, her jealousy and anger seeping through her words.
"You heard me, bitch! I see the way you look at my man. He doesn't want you to be some ugly whore. Having a man and flirting with mine is wild!"
The growing tension reaches a boiling point as Eliot walks into the room. He looks at the scene in front of him, his confusion evident.
"What's going on here?" he asks, his voice firm.
Dani, visibly irate, immediately points the blame at Olivia.
"Elliot, your little friend here is trying to get between us," she accuses, her tone laced with jealousy.
The situation escalates further as Olivia slaps Dani and storms out of the apartment, leaving a stunned Dani and an angry Elliot in her wake.
Elliot's voice fills the room, his tone firm and final.
"No, Dani, you will not talk to my friend like that. Me and you are done now. Get the hell out."
As Alex contemplates going after Olivia, Elliot steps in, determined to find her himself. However, as Elliot searches for Olivia, he comes up empty-handed.
Meanwhile, Olivia, seeking solitude, heads to a nearby bar. In the distance, she spots someone making out. Squinting her eyes to get a better look, she realizes, much to her surprise, that it's Brian Cassidy kissing none other than Angela Wheatley.
Olivia's voice rings out in a mixture of frustration and disbelief.
"Brian...fucking...Cassidy!" she yells, her emotions getting the best of her.
The conversation takes a confrontational turn as Cassidy reacts to Olivia's outburst.
"Babe!" he tries to interject, but Olivia cuts him off.
"Seriously, Brian at a park and with Angela freakin' Wheatly, Elliot's ex?"
Angela's mocking tone infuriates Olivia even more.
"Seems like you enjoy my leftovers," Angela snarks.
"I've had enough with you and Dani whores." Olivia snaps, her frustration boiling over.
"Liv, what the hell?!" Brian protests, caught off guard by her aggressive behavior
Angela impatiently grabs Brian's hand and propels him away from the scene, her annoyance evident.
"Ugh! Let's go, Brian, now!" she demands, leading him away.
Brian looks back at Olivia, his expression conflicted.
"Olivia, I'm leaving now. We can talk about this later," he states, his voice tinged with resignation.
Olivia vents her frustration, her words filled with finality.
"Oh, f—k you, Cassidy. We are f—kin' done."
She fishes a joint from her pocket, ignites it, and takes a deep drag, letting the smoke swirl around her. Caught up in her thoughts, she remains oblivious as Elliot quietly approaches her from behind.
Elliot's voice cuts through the night air, breaking Olivia's solitude.
"Hey," he says, his voice soft.
Olivia responds with a hint of sarcasm, "Hey, shouldn't you be with your girlfriend?"
Elliot replies, "You mean ex-girlfriend?"
His words hang heavy in the air, hinting at the recent change in his relationship status.
Olivia's curiosity gets the better of her as she asks, "You dumped her?"
Elliot takes a drag from the blunt and blows out the smoke before passing it back to Olivia.
"Yep," he answers, his voice resolute. "I won't tolerate anyone disrespecting my friend... not even my 'girlfriend.'"
Olivia smiles, appreciating his loyalty.
"That's very sweet of you, El," she says, taking the blunt back from him and taking a few draws.
Elliot responds with compassion, "Anything for you, Olivia."
Olivia reveals her grievance, her words tinged with bitterness.
"I should have known you were right about men. All they do is fool around."
Elliot chimes in with reassurance, "Hey, he didn't deserve you. He's a complete assclown for letting you go and hurting you."
Olivia challenges Elliot's claim. Her voice laced with skepticism.
"Oh, and what could you do any better?"
Elliot speaks emphatically, his words flowing with sincerity.
"Olivia, if I had you, I would never make you question your worth. All these girls are nothing compared to who you are. I would worship you and drop the games instantly. I really don't care about any of these women. The first time I saw you, I knew I wanted you to be my wife. I just didn't think you felt the same way."
Elliot moves closer, his eyes locked on hers.
Olivia's words stumble out, her voice laced with concern. "El, but what about Alex?"
Elliot, holding onto the metal part of the swing, leans in even closer, his proximity invading her space.
Elliot's voice, soft and resolute, cuts through the night air.
"You're worth it, Liv."
And with that, he presses his lips against Olivia's, their connection electric. Time seems to stand still as they lose themselves in the moment.
The world around them fades as their kiss deepens. Olivia's fingers entwined in Elliot's hair while his hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer. The sensation of their bodies touching is intoxicating.
Elliot gently pushes Olivia against the support of the swing, his tongue seeking entry into her mouth. She eagerly complies, her breath coming in short gasps. The intimacy between them is palpable, their emotions running high. Their kiss takes on an urgent, desperate edge. Elliot's hands roam over Olivia's body, their touch leaving a trail of heat in their wake. Olivia responds with equal fervor, her fingers tracing patterns along Elliott's back.
As the kiss continues, Elliot gently lifts Olivia off the swing, cradling her in his arms. Olivia breaks the kiss just long enough to look at her, his eyes smoldering with desire.
"I want you," she murmurs before capturing her lips again.
Elliot pulls back, his voice filled with a mixture of desire and restraint.
"Liv," he breathes out, his breath hot on her skin. "Not yet. I want to take my time with you to do this right."
He cups her face, his thumb tracing the contour of her cheek.
"I don't want to rush this or mess it up. I want to take you out on a proper date, spoil you like you deserve."
A smile spreads across Olivia's face as she responds, "I would really like that, Elliot."
Elliot checks his watch, noting the late hour. He then suggests, "Well, it's late right now, but don't worry. I'll keep in touch until our date. Shall we go grab some pancakes?"
Olivia and Elliot enter the cozy 24/7 diner, their hands intertwined. A sense of comfort washes over Olivia as she takes in the quaint atmosphere.
"This place is adorable. I've never been here before," she remarks, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
The hostess leads them to a booth, and they slide into their seats. A moment later, a cheerful waitress approaches their table, her notebook in hand.
As they settle into their seats, Elliot muses about the diner's charm.
"This place is delightful. Alex and I used to come here after long nights. It's been some time since our last visit."
Olivia responds by mentioning Elliot's friendship with his sister, which brings a touch of nostalgia.
"That sounds quite sweet. You guys must have a great relationship."
Elliot turns the conversation towards Olivia's own family.
"How about you, Liv? Do you have any siblings?"
The waitress approaches their table with a bright smile, her comment catching them off guard.
"Hello, you two are just the cutest couple I have ever seen."
Before Olivia has a chance to clarify, Elliot jumps in with a gracious response, his smile growing wider as he looks at Olivia, who blushes in return.
"Why thank you," he replies, his gaze still locked on Olivia's rosy cheeks.
Over pancakes and orange juice, Elliot and Olivia engage in lighthearted conversation, enjoying each other's company immensely. Olivia brings up a concern, and her words are cautious.
"I don't want to let Alex know anything yet before anything is official," she says, looking at Elliot with a hint of trepidation.
"I don't wanna let Alex know anything yet before anything is official." Says Olivia
Olivia's concerns are acknowledged and validated by Elliot, who responds with understanding.
"That's totally understandable, Liv," he says soothingly. "You just let me know when you're ready. I want to do this the proper way."
Elliot grins, pleased with her reaction. He lifts his own pancake topped with blueberry syrup and feeds it to Olivia. She opens her mouth and takes a bite, her eyes widening in surprise.
As they finish their pancakes, Elliot adds with a laugh, "So good you added a f*ck."
They settle the bill, leaving a generous tip for the waitress. Elliot then opens the door, letting Olivia step out first, and grabs her hand again, resuming their walk.
Elliot suggests walking her home, considering their busy day ahead. However, Olivia, now a police officer, protests, asserting her ability to handle herself.
"El, I'm a cop now. I can handle myself," she asserts confidently.
Elliot responds with a hint of concern, his words gentle but firm.
"Yes, you are; I know you can, but you're not superwoman, Olivia."
They arrive at Olivia's apartment, and Elliot kisses her hand affectionately. He takes her the rest of the way, saying, "I would tell you to blink your lights, but I'm going to walk you to your door instead."
Olivia praises Elliot, teasing him playfully.
"Such a gentleman who knew you had it in you, Stabler," Elliot responds with sincerity, admitting that she brings out a side of him he's never shown before. He expresses vulnerability, feeling safe with her, and reveals his desire to protect her.
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me, Liv. You make me feel vulnerable with you, and I want to protect you. I've never had these feelings before, but if you'd let me, I'd love to explore them more with you.
"That's sweet, El, and yes, I would like to," Olivia says
Elliot slowly guides Olivia back against her door, his lips never leaving hers. His hands find her waist, pulling her closer as he deepens the kiss. Olivia responds with a soft moan, her breath hitching in her throat.
Elliot, driven by desire, moves his hands down to her ass, squeezing gently and eliciting another moan from Olivia. He takes advantage and slips his tongue in, meeting hers in a passionate dance. The feeling is overwhelming, and Elliot's groan is swallowed by the kiss. After a moment, he pulls away, their lips parting slowly, leaving them both breathless.
Even though Elliot doesn't want to stop and wants to hear Olivia's alluring moans, he respects his earlier statement and knows he needs to step back for now. He looks at her with a warm smile, his eyes reflecting both desire and discipline.
"Okay, okay, I respect that," he says, his voice filled with slightly disappointed but understanding. "Goodnight, Olivia."
Elliot starts to walk away, but before he can go too far, Olivia grabs him by the arm, pulling him back and pressing her lips to his. Elliot responds to the kiss, his lips meeting hers in a desperate hunger.
He groans her name, "Liv," the sound filled with a mix of pleasure and restraint.
Olivia kisses his cheek with a mischievous smile, her words tinged with lingering desire.
"Sorry, I didn't want to stop. Goodnight, El."
As she closes the door, Elliot stands with a goofy smile plastered on his face. Walking home, he hums to himself, the memory of their kiss still fresh in his mind.
"What the hell got into you?" asks Alex, witnessing his brother's unusually cheerful mood.
Casey teases, "Stabler singing? Plus, he's smiling like a big idiot. Must've gotten pussy."
Elliot stops himself for a moment, the words nearly spilling out about Olivia. He catches himself and replies, "I've got something better than that."
Alex is left curious, but Elliot brushes off their prodding and laughs it off, retreating to his room. He closes the door behind him, shutting out their questions and returning to the privacy of his own space.
Ding* His phone message goes off
L: Hey, did you get home safe?
E: Yeah, Liv, I did. Are you okay?
L: Yeah, I just miss kissing you. Does that sound corny?
E: Just a little bit, But I like it, and I live on the cob baby
L: You're such an idiot, lol, but thank you, El, for tonight. I had an amazing time
E: Anything for you, Liv. I will give you the world if you let me
L: Aww, if you keep up what you did tonight, detective, then yes
E: I can do that. Now get some rest, beautiful.
L: Okay, night El
E: One more thing, Liv, before you get your beauty sleep
L: Wassup El?
E: Go on a date with me tomorrow? I'll come to get you at eight
L: Okay, it's a date :) Night El, sweet dreams
E: Goodnight, Beautiful. See you in the morning3