Disclaimer: SVU and all of its characters were created by and are the property of Dick Wolf. I make no profit with this story, which is my own original work.

From the moment Olivia had heard Calvin's voice, and seen his cherubic face gracing the screen of Elliot's phone, she was convinced that she was dreaming. That at some point after Kathleen had departed, she had dozed off once more, and this was just another bout of wishful thinking where she imagined that she had been somehow reunited with the boy who – however briefly – had been hers to care for and protect. If these images that were playing out before her eyes were in fact only figments of her imagination, then Olivia never wanted to wake up. Or, at the very least, she wished she could remain trapped within this dream world for a little while longer. She wasn't quite ready to let go of Calvin again. Not yet, not when they'd just been reunited.

"Elliot? Is Olivia all right? Why isn't she saying anything?"

Belatedly, Olivia realized that what she was experiencing was, in fact, real. Calvin was asking her partner about her well being, which must mean that he was aware enough to know that she was in the hospital. Knowing Elliot well enough to understand that he was not only the one responsible for this renewal of contact between Calvin and herself, but that he also would have kept the details to the barest minimum, Olivia forced herself to focus.

"I'm okay, sweetheart. I'm sorry if I worried you. You just surprised me is all. But it's the best surprise ever."

"Elliot told me you were sick."

"I am, but I promise you the doctors are taking very good care of me, and so is Elliot. I'm getting better every day. In fact, I think getting to talk to you might be some of the best medicine I've had yet."

Though the concern was still evident on his face, Olivia could tell that Calvin believed what she was telling him. So much so, that he didn't hesitate to reveal his next bit of news. The excitement that he was feeling was obvious in his voice – and it was contagious.

"Grandma says that once you're out of the hospital and in good health again, I would be able to come and visit you. That is, if you would want me to."

The way he had hesitated made Olivia want to cry. Not for the first time since she had been introduced to Calvin, she longed for the opportunity to right every wrong that he had experienced in his young life. So many times he had been let down, and even though it wasn't Olivia's fault that Calvin had been removed from her care, she couldn't help but wonder if somehow the boy doubted whether or not she had ever wanted to see him again.

"I can't think of anything else I would want more. I've actually been thinking of looking at new apartments soon, so maybe by the time you do come and visit me, you'll be able to have a room of your own to stay in. How does that sound?"

"I would love that. Will Elliot spend time with us, too?"

Although it was a struggle to tear her eyes away from the screen for even a moment, Olivia managed to glance at her partner. The way he was looking at her filled her entire being with warmth.

"I'm sure we can convince him to join us. I believe you two have a rock, paper, scissors tournament to finish, anyway."

"You remembered."

Of course she had. Olivia remembered every moment of her time with Calvin. It was indelibly imprinted on her soul. She had believed for so long that the memories alone would have to sustain her. But now, she had been given a true gift – and it was all thanks to Elliot. Olivia didn't know exactly what lengths her partner had gone to, but she knew he had done this for her. Something Kathleen had said during their conversation together earlier that morning came back with an astonishing clarity – and Olivia had to struggle to remain in the present and focused on what Calvin was saying. What the young woman had mentioned about their mutual promise to give one another a kidney having been romantic, along with the assurance of just how much her father cared had struck something deep in Olivia's soul. Any previous doubts she had held onto before now were quickly becoming dispelled. Elliot was doing all this because he loved her. While he hadn't been as vocal with the words themselves, he had more than demonstrated with his actions. Bringing Calvin back into her life was proof positive of the lengths her partner would go to in order to ensure her happiness.

"Olivia, I don't want to go, but I promised Grandma I would get started on my weekend homework right after I finished talking to you. Would it be okay if I called you again sometime?"

"Of course it would. If you don't remember my number, I can have Elliot send it to you. Your homework is definitely more important than me, but I'm so glad you called. This was the highlight of my day."

It was infinitely easier saying goodbye to Calvin this time, as opposed to when he had been ripped from her arms by Vivian that day in the precinct. The call hadn't been that long, but it had meant the world to Olivia. Once she was certain that the connection had been successfully terminated, she allowed the tears she had been holding back to fall. Even though they stemmed mostly from happiness, she hadn't wanted Calvin to see her cry. However, it was getting infinitely easier to allow her vulnerable side show in front of Elliot.

No sooner had Olivia expressed that thought to herself about being comfortable allowing her more vulnerable side to show in front of her partner, then the tears began to stream with even more intensity. It was the most cathartic outpouring of emotion she had allowed herself to experience in months – and certainly since she'd become so ill and had to be admitted here to the hospital. What Olivia longed for more than anything in this moment was for comfort, but she wasn't sure how to ask for it, especially when she'd spent so long pushing everyone around her away so she could suffer in silence.

Thankfully, Elliot had no such reservations. As the one side rail on her bed was still lowered from where Kathleen had been sitting earlier, her partner didn't hesitate to sit as close to her as humanly possible, wrapping his arms around her and enveloping her in an embrace so secure that Olivia felt the warmth of Elliot's love reach her very soul. As little as a few weeks ago, she would have pulled away, rejected his touch, but now, she allowed herself to accept it, tucking her nose into the crook of his neck. Breathing deeply, Olivia inhaled the familiar scent of her partner's cologne, letting that fragrance ground her even further.

Only once she had regained her composure, did Olivia allow herself to withdraw from the comforting circle of Elliot's arms. It was on the tip of her tongue to make amends for her outburst, but she swallowed down the apology almost as soon as it tried to form. Instead, she asked the one question that had been at the forefront of her mind ever since she had seen Calvin's face on the screen of the phone.

"How?"

Elliot pressed his lips to Olivia's forehead, then used the pad of his thumb to swipe at a stray tear that still lingered on her cheek.

"Took me longer than I planned, but I did a lot of legwork. The other day, when you told me to take time for myself – I may not have gone to the gym right away. Don't get me wrong, I did get a workout in, I just made a detour first."

Knowing that Vivian would never have agreed to an arrangement like this one – the animosity the other woman held against her was far too strong – Olivia reasoned there was only one other person in Calvin's life who Elliot could have spoken to on her behalf.

"You went to see David, didn't you?"

"I did. Not that I wouldn't have pleaded my case to Vivian if I would have been given the opportunity, but she's still in the wind. I talked to David, explained what was happening, and asked him to think about having his parents consider letting you and Calvin stay in touch with something more than just the occasional letter."

Olivia was in shock. Not over what Elliot had done on her behalf, but rather, that David and the Dreckers had agreed. Then again, she had never faulted Calvin's grandparents for their role in the arrangement regarding Calvin's custody. That decision had been made solely by Vivian. Olivia understood that Virginia and her husband were acting in what they thought was Calvin's best interest. Yes, they had been doing a few things she hadn't agreed with, but she knew their intentions were good. The more she heard from Elliot, the more reassured she felt. Especially in knowing that Virginia intended to find a therapist – not only for Calvin to see by himself, but someone who would work with them as a family unit as they continued to make an adjustment to the still-new living arrangement.

It also gave Olivia hope in knowing that she would get to see Calvin again. Though she knew she would have to be in better health first, she found herself counting down the days until she could be free of the hospital. Yes, there would still be the outpatient dialysis to contend with, but there was something to actually look forward to. More determined than ever, Olivia scrubbed her palms over her face and squared her shoulders.

"I know I can't do anything about it immediately, but will you help me start searching for apartments? I want to at least have a short list in mind, so that when I do get out of here, I can start visiting some, and make the moving process more streamlined."

"Of course, Liv. I figured you'd be wanting to do that today, anyway, so I swung by your apartment and picked up your laptop. If you decide you don't want to keep it here, I can always take it back with me when I leave again, but I figured it would make it easier than trying to use your tablet."

Nodding, Olivia used what strength she possessed to scoot herself over in the bed, patting the mattress with her hand. Elliot took the hint, and once the laptop was set up on the tray table, situated himself beside his partner, so they could both see the screen easily.

"So, what's the game plan? I know you mentioned that you want Calvin to have his own room when he comes to visit, but is a two bedroom all that you are looking for? Or, are you in the market for something a bit bigger?"

Olivia couldn't help but laugh. Apparently her excitement had been contagious, as Elliot seemed to be as eager as she to go apartment hunting – even if she was only 'window shopping' at the moment. She knew if she weren't careful, her partner would have her looking at houses in Queens.

"Just try to remember that I'm still just a lowly detective, and my paycheck reflects that. While my salary allows me to live within my means, I'm not going to be buying a penthouse anytime soon."

"You and me both."

In the end, Olivia had found a handful of larger-sized two bedroom apartments that she wanted to look at. Some even featured the addition of bonus rooms, that could be used as either a den or an office, which would afford the opportunity of allowing a guest to sleep over – or even double as extra storage. Even better, the majority of the places that she liked were in close proximity to her current residence, meaning that she wouldn't have to travel far to move, and her commute to work wouldn't be impacted much one way or the other.

Having grown weary of the search, not to mention frustrated over the inability to do much about it at the moment, Olivia was just about ready to close her computer and move on to something else. That was when Elliot clicked on another listing, one that she never would have considered in her wildest dreams.

"Elliot? Why are we looking at a brownstone? I don't need something with that many bedrooms. And this place has a ton."

Olivia glanced over at her partner, and the expression on his face immediately made her suspicious. He was up to something, but what, she wasn't exactly certain. However, no amount of working theories that her brain could have come up with would have prepared her for the next words out of the mouth of the man sitting next to her.

"I thought maybe that might be something we could look into together."

Certain that she had misheard, Olivia stared at Elliot, waiting for clarification, because there was no way her partner of nearly thirteen years had just suggested that they move in together – or had he?

"Just hear me out, Liv."

Okay, so maybe he had. Or, Olivia reasoned to herself, maybe she had taken a turn for the worse, and had slipped into some kind of altered dream state. Perhaps none of what happened today had been real. But, she could still see the box of muffins that Kathleen had brought sitting on her bedside table, and she didn't think her imagination would be so cruel to her as to conjure up a phone call from Calvin – not when she had been trying so hard to protect her heart. Then there was Elliot to consider. He was sitting so close, she could feel the warmth radiating off his body, and even smell his aftershave. Maybe she wasn't losing her mind after all.

"Okay. I'm listening."

Surprisingly, her partner's idea didn't sound as insane as Olivia had thought it might. He wasn't proposing marriage, though he had made it clear that he was interested in pursuing a relationship beyond friendship. Before she could get a word in edgewise, he was rushing to clarify.

"I don't want you to feel pressured, Liv. That's not what this is. I've been wanting to tell you how I felt about you for awhile now. I know this may not be the best time, but I want you to know that I'm not going anywhere."

Olivia's head was swimming, but to her great surprise, she didn't feel overwhelmed, or like she was drowning. Elliot having confessed his feelings had somehow left her with a sense of peace. Perhaps that was because it was confirming something she had already known deep down – had known ever since that day in that elevator years before when he had first offered to give her a kidney. And even though she had told him she never wanted him to make a sacrifice that big on her behalf, the gesture behind it told her just how loved she was.

"I know, El. I can't say I'm ready to dive into anything right now, but I can assure you that there isn't anyone else. I care for you, too, and I'm definitely interested in seeing where things go – even if it terrifies me - but I know you'll understand that my health has to take top priority right now. What I can promise is that I don't have any intention of going anywhere, either."

Elliot pressed his lips to Olivia's forehead, enveloping her in as much of an embrace as their current positions would allow. It had been enough for him that she hadn't refused his outpouring of affection, but to hear that his feelings were reciprocated made him want to dance on air. Before he could say anything else, however, his partner was speaking again.

"Even despite all that, El, what makes you think that us moving in together before we've even had a first date is a good idea?"

Easily able to decipher the tone of voice being used, Elliot could tell that Olivia wasn't upset, merely a little bit curious – and maybe a whole lot confused. It made sense. After all, he did kind of spring the suggestion on her unexpectedly as soon as the impulsive thought had reached his brain. In hindsight, it hadn't been one of the brightest ideas he'd ever had.

"Well, in addition to getting to spend more time together – something I always look forward to -"

Olivia held up a hand, interrupting him immediately.

"Smooth, Stabler, but flattery isn't going to work here. Get to the point."

"Noted."

Licking his lips, Elliot tried desperately to think of all the reasons that had inspired him to propose – no, definitely not the word he wanted to use right now – the notion of the two of them sharing a brownstone together.

"Okay, this is the way I see it. My place is barely big enough for me, let alone when my kids come to visit. You have your own reasons for wanting a new apartment of your own, plus you're also looking for more space. A brownstone is – at minimum – three floors. Even if we share the common areas, we'd still each have plenty of privacy. Plus, by pooling our resources, we can probably get a nicer place than if we both rented separately."

Dammit. Olivia hadn't wanted to admit it, but what Elliot had said made perfect sense. Not only was she going to have concede that her partner had been right about this – something she'd never hear the end of – but she would also have to acknowledge that it was what she had been secretly hoping for all along.

Her head still swimming with the information, Olivia hadn't been able to give an answer right away. Thankfully, Elliot hadn't been expecting one, and had only been giving his partner some food for thought. What Olivia had been able to do was agree to keep an open mind to what Elliot had suggested, with the promise to discuss it further when she was thinking more clearly.

Unaware of how much time had passed, Olivia was surprised to hear the sound of meal carts in the hall, announcing the arrival of the dinner trays. Also having lost track of the hour, Elliot rose to his feet, promising to return shortly. Without his having said a word, Olivia knew her partner was headed for the cafeteria to grab some food for himself so they could eat together.

Once he was away from Olivia's room, Elliot's brain was assaulted with reminders of their conversation. He couldn't believe he had actually opened his mouth and put forth the idea of living together – let alone spoken so openly about his feelings. The last thing he had ever wanted to do was make Olivia feel pressured, especially while she was still in such a vulnerable condition. It was as though his speech had taken on a life of its own and started spouting words without properly thinking them through first. It was a miracle that his partner hadn't slapped him, or worse, kicked him out of her room entirely. The last thing Elliot had been expecting was for the emotions he had shared to be reciprocated, let alone for Olivia to actually say that she'd consider what he had suggested.

Yet, despite the whirlwind turn the afternoon had taken, Elliot had to admit he was feeling relieved. Ever since they had learned about the aftercare plans for Olivia's eventual release from the hospital, he had tried to think of way to still support his partner – driving her to dialysis and other appointments, and making sure she was taking care of herself. The only reasonable solution Elliot had come up with so far was either to invite Olivia to move in with him throughout the course of her recovery, or offer to move in with her. It had been a spur of the moment impulse that had made him suggest cohabitation as more permanent solution. That was definitely a conversation that would need to be revisited – along with whatever evolution might take place for their relationship.

For now, though, Elliot's primary focus was keeping his partner company while she ate her dinner. Knowing instinctively that Olivia would be waiting for him before starting to eat, he rushed through the cafeteria line, paying at the register, then headed back to the elevators that would take him back upstairs.

Elliot's guess was proven correct when he returned to Olivia's room to find her sitting upright in bed, dinner tray still covered on the table in front of her. She had, however, taken one step in preparing herself a bottle of lemonade to drink with her meal. Having not been able to remember what his partner had selected, Elliot couldn't help but laugh when he saw that they had both opted for grilled chicken salads tonight. His choice was of no real surprise, as he was still trying to make healthier choices for himself, wanting his body to be in top condition. But as for Olivia, he had believed she had grown weary of that particular options, having eaten it for so many days in a row prior to learning what foods were safe. Then again, the hospital menu didn't exactly allow for a lot of variety, so Elliot could understand why there was some frequent repetition in his partner's diet.

"I suppose great minds think alike, right?"

For a minute, Elliot wondered what Olivia was talking about, then it dawned on him that she was referring to their twin dinner selections. Giving his partner a knowing grin, he gave the best reply he could think of – hoping it wouldn't send her running for the hills.

"Well, considering the options we have here, our odds of getting the same thing are pretty likely. However, as soon as you're back home again, I promise to make you some food with some real variety to it."

Olivia was silent for a moment, but her expression was thoughtful. This told Elliot his words hadn't terrified her, or even annoyed her. After taking a bite of her salad, followed by a sip of lemonade, she finally gave her answer.

"I'd like that."

They ate the rest of their meal in a combination of a companionable silence or interspersed with casual conversation. Olivia shared some of what her visit that morning with Kathleen had been like – obviously leaving out the more intimate details of what she and the young woman had talked about in regard to her partner. Likewise, they also made some plans for the evening. As it was another fairly decent day in terms of the frequent headaches Olivia had been having, Elliot had suggested either another game of cards, or perhaps watching a movie together. Both sounded like viable options. What she truly longed for was the opportunity to stretch her legs, and she hoped she would get there soon enough.

After the empty trays were collected – save for the still mostly full bottle of lemonade that Olivia had saved to drink from the rest of the evening – the partners were on their own again. Olivia shifted in the bed, wincing ever so slightly as the IV site on her arm pulled and pinched. In truth, it had been bothering her more than she'd care to admit the past couple of days, but she hadn't wanted to say anything about it. Of course, she couldn't escape the attentiveness of her partner.

"Liv, what is it?"

Knowing there was no way she could formulate a believable excuse that would convince Elliot that nothing was wrong – especially after everything she'd been through, Olivia decided to be honest.

"It's nothing, really. My IV is just bothering me a little."

"Can I see?"

Obliging the request, Olivia held out her arm. Elliot held her hand in his gently as he examined the site, his brow furrowing in concern.

"Liv, have you said anything to your nurse about this? I think you should. And don't say it's not a big deal."

There was no point in arguing. Olivia also knew that if she didn't say something now, that Elliot would speak up on her behalf. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing though. With a resigned sigh, she pressed the call button, hoping that whomever answered wouldn't think she was being a nuisance.

The last thing Olivia had been expecting when she had summoned someone to come and look at her IV was to have had it removed entirely. But apparently the doctors were satisfied with the fact that she was awake and alert, and even though she was still on restrictions, she was consuming enough liquid to not be at risk of dehydration. Much like when the heart monitor had been removed, it was an immense relief to have one less tether confining her to the hospital bed.

"How would you like to sit up in a chair for awhile, Olivia?"

The question the nurse had asked had taken Olivia completely by surprise, even though she'd considered that very thing not that long ago herself. After all, she had more or less become convinced that her ass was to be permanently affixed to the bed she was lying in. Maybe the notion of walking the halls wasn't such a far fetched idea after all. If not tonight or tomorrow, then perhaps sometime soon.

"I would love that."

After making the wise decision to use the restroom prior to moving to the reclining chair in her room, Olivia was soon settled. While what she was sitting in certainly wasn't going to win any awards for comfort, it was definitely much better to be in a different position than what she had been accustomed to for the past several days. Her arm was still tender from where the IV had been removed, but it was nothing to worry about, and she'd been given a dose of Tylenol to help combat the discomfort from both that and the headache that she felt coming on.

Now, sitting upright and facing her partner for the first time in what felt like ages, Olivia challenged Elliot to a game of cards. They had positioned the tray table between them, and since she was able to think more clearly, had even decided to try a few hands of poker, opting to use the wrapped hard candies that Olivia kept in her drawer in order to combat dry mouth to bet with. After just a few hands, it was clear that Elliot was losing hopelessly, and in attempt to save himself, he decided to divert his partner's attention by striking up a conversation.

"So, Liv, about earlier. I want to apologize if I made you feel pressured in any way. I had an idea and I spoke without thinking it through about how you might react, especially given everything you're dealing with."

"You don't have to be sorry, El. I know your heart was in the right place. Yes, you took me by surprise. But if I'm being honest, even I have to admit that I'm going to need help when I leave the hospital. I just had never considered that you might want to make that situation permanent."

The card game long forgotten, Elliot moved the table between them out of the way in an effort to scoot closer. Taking one of Olivia's hands in his own, he didn't hesitate to speak the words in his heart.

"No matter what happens, or what we decide, I don't ever want to come that close to losing you again. So, at the risk of sounding extremely sentimental, this is me asking, Olivia Benson, will you go out with me sometime?"

"Yes. But I'm still not letting you give me a kidney."

Even though they had made promises to one another, Elliot knew nothing was set in stone. Olivia's health was still the number one priority, and would always come first. He also wasn't surprised by her insistence, though he had been hoping that a chance in their status might have made her more willing to accept everything he was wanting to offer. Apparently, for Olivia Benson, moving in with him was still less of a commitment than allowing him to volunteer one of his organs in order to save her life. However, given the way her condition kept improving, Elliot hoped that would never be a necessity. Smart enough to not dwell on the issue, he opted to again change the subject.

"Did you want to play more cards?"

"You mean, do I want to keep kicking your ass at poker? Always. But I think I will wait until tomorrow. For now, I just want to rest. It was fun, though."

"You only think that because you were winning."

"Of course."

What Olivia really wanted to do, was watch a movie with her partner. No matter what label they gave their relationship, he would always be her partner. But in order to do that comfortably, she'd have to get back in bed. It had been freeing to sit up for awhile, but her body was already weary, and as much as she longed to walk the halls, she knew she wasn't quite ready for that tonight. Thankfully, the nurse had mentioned that as long she didn't travel far, and as long as Elliot helped her, she didn't need to press the call button in order to get back in bed.

"Hey, El?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you help me get back in bed, please?"

He was on his feet in an instant, and Olivia had never felt more sure of her footing as when Elliot was guiding her. Once she was settled, Elliot covered her with blankets and made sure she was warm enough, then even correctly guessed what her next request would be. Pulling the tray table closer again, Elliot set her laptop up, and instead of taking his place back in the chair where he had previously been sitting, perched himself next to his partner, as they cuddled up as best as possible to watch a movie together before he would have to leave.

When he did say goodnight a little more than two hours later, it was with a kiss on the cheek that Elliot bade Olivia farewell. She was relieved, as while she very much appreciated all these gestures of affection, the last thing she wanted was for their first kiss to happen within hospital walls. That was something that would be well worth the wait, an occasion for celebration – maybe even once she got a clean bill of health.

Even though Elliot had stayed until the last possible minute, Olivia was still too restless to try and sleep just yet after he had left. She was however, glad that whatever conversations they had shared throughout the day had left her feeling comfortable enough to ask her partner about taking her dirty laundry back home with him. She still wasn't quite sure how to process the more rent developments, as everything that had happened felt so very surreal, but one thing Olivia was certain of more than anything was that Elliot cared for her, and that would never change.

The other thing Olivia was looking forward to – even if she wasn't quite ready to call it a night just yet – was the ability for more freedom of movement as she slept later tonight. As the amount of medical equipment that surrounded her continued to decrease, she was afforded with more space. Known for being a frequent side sleeper, it had been terribly uncomfortable to have been confined to resting on her back for so long. Yes, she would still have the dialysis catheter on her chest to be mindful of, but it wasn't that cumbersome now that she had become more accustomed to its presence.

Not wanting to admit to herself that her feeling of restlessness stemmed from Elliot's absence, Olivia tried to find something to do with herself. Her partner had left her laptop behind – but only after making her promise that she wouldn't log into the NYPD database and try to read up on any current case files. The goal was for her to be taking care of herself, and not others, even though Elliot knew that concern had not dissipated in any way.

Since the screen in front of her was still on display, Olivia went back into her search history, allowing herself to have another look at some of the residences she and Elliot had studied earlier in the day. If she were being honest with herself, she also wanted a chance to look at that brownstone again with a clearer head now that she'd had more time to absorb what her partner had suggested. It really was a beautiful building, and considering the asking price, very affordable once she factored in the idea of two incomes being involved. Plus, Elliot had been right on several other points he had made – even if they wouldn't be living together in the more traditional and romantic sense right away, there was plenty of space to allow for privacy for everyone involved.

Knowing that she wasn't the only one still awake with thoughts running at the speed of a million miles a minute, Olivia reached for her phone. It didn't matter that she had spent several hours with her partner, he was who she needed to talk to the most right now. She only hoped her call wouldn't panic him into thinking that something was wrong. In an effort to spare him any worry, she decided to first send a text, simply stating that the quiet was driving her crazy and she was in need of companionship. A few short seconds later, Elliot was the one calling her.

"Hey, Liv. Sorry to hear that you're having a bit of a lonely night. If you want, I can try to sneak back in."

"No, that's not necessary. I don't want you getting in trouble on my behalf. But, I thought we could at least talk for a bit."

Elliot was quick to agree, but he had an even better idea. His suggestion was that they watch something together – just as they had earlier in the evening – only on their separate devices. It wouldn't be too hard to sync up the programs, and it would be a great distraction for them both. He also had an additional assurance.

"I also have your clothes in the wash, did that as soon as I got home. I'll bring them back in with me tomorrow. I promise not to shrink anything."

Laughing now, Olivia debated whether or not to be serious or snarky with her reply. In the end, she opted for a bit of both.

"I know you won't. I'm so grateful for your help with that, El. But, just so you know, I'm going to keep track to make sure you didn't steal any of my more intimate things to keep for yourself."

It was perhaps the boldest she had been since things had shifted between them. Yes, they had teased one another often before, and even walked on the fine line of flirting, but never made it as personal as this. What Olivia hadn't been expecting was for Elliot to catch the serve so perfectly and return it with ease.

"Oh, I'll have your clothes added to my dresser drawers one day, just not this soon. Good to know you've had the same thoughts as I have, though."

The conversation shifted again, segued to the topic of what they wanted to watch. Since she had chosen the last time, Olivia left the decision in her partner's control. Also, she switched the call so that it was on speaker, allowing her to be hands free. Sipping on what little lemonade remained from dinner, Olivia settled in and made herself comfortable as the program began to play, knowing that both she and Elliot would have an ongoing commentary between them as they debated the antics of the characters onscreen.

If she were being honest with herself, Olivia hadn't anticipated to stay up as late as she had, let alone keep her partner up that long, too. She was tempted to apologize, but held herself back, knowing it would do no good. Instead, she thanked Elliot for his company, and didn't even bother trying to tell him to take time for himself the following morning, knowing for certain that he would be arriving at the hospital to share breakfast with her.

"Sleep well, tonight, El. I'll see you in the morning."

"You, too, Liv. Remember you can call me at any time. Maybe if you're feeling up to it, we can go for a walk in the hall tomorrow."

With that promise at the forefront of her mind, and the knowledge that she had yet one more day's reprieve before heading back to dialysis, Olivia drifted off to sleep. Her dreams were filled with all of the possibilities for the future – a life where her health was restored, building something more with Elliot, and getting to see Calvin again.