A/N: Last chapter folks. And to the guest reviewer who suggested Elliot's action bordered on harassment, I say to you, reread Olivia's responses to him. She never tells him to stop calling her, she keeps meeting with him and she responds, enthusiastically so, to each touch and kiss. In her office in Chapter 7 he even tells her, "If you really want me gone, you know all you have to do is ask…" She never does. And lastly, it was her who initiated their love making session. I gotta say, I don't think Olivia feels the least bit harassed my friend…lol. Happy reading people!

February 13th, 2017

"I love you Liv," he says after pulling away. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

It dawned on her in that instant that just maybe, he is exactly what she's been looking for and…waiting for, if she's being honest. But still, it took a couple of days for Olivia to find herself in his building.

When she's greeted by the doorman, she takes it as a good sign that Elliot hasn't given everyone her picture and told them to keep her the hell out of his lofts on sight. She thought for sure the man at the reception desk would've stopped her too, but it didn't happen. She enters the elevator, turns the key, and ascends smoothly to his floor just as she had every other time.

When the doors open to his place, Olivia's hit with the wonderful aroma of something sweet baking. She continues inside and finds Elliot in the kitchen, sleeves pushed up on his Islanders t-shirt, clad in dark jeans.

"What are you doing here?" He asks.

He's at the center island squeezing icing onto a pan of heart shaped cookies and doesn't bother pausing long enough to meet her eyes.

"To return this."

She retrieves his key from her pocket, sliding it along the speckled granite towards him. He follows the sound of the metal scraping along the counter but still doesn't bother looking up from his task.

"Could've just as easily mailed it."

There was a reason she couldn't tell him to go to hell the day he walked back into her life after years of silence. All the elements that made up their partnership is what she's sought in every relationship since it ended nearly six years ago. And despite her doubts and fears of them not making it, she knows no one will fight harder with her to sustain what they've found than the man she allowed to walk out of her life…a second time.

Olivia calls herself a changed woman, capable of voicing not just her incredibly strong opinions but her fears. And though she managed to confess them possibly bringing out the worst in each other, she didn't tell him anything else.

"I needed to see you."

This gets his attention and he finally looks up, though Olivia almost wishes he hadn't. He looks about 20% hurt and about 80% pissed. She was already nervous enough but dealing with him in his current state has her a little intimidated now.

"You've seen me," he manages, calmly. "Now you can go."

"I…no," she says. "No, I need to talk to you."

"Really?" Elliot asks, with a tilt of his head. "I was under the impression there was nothing left to say," he tells her, dropping the tube of icing on the counter. "We said our goodbyes two days ago Olivia."

She stuffs her gloves in her coat pockets, lays it and her scarf over one of the low-backed bar stools and rests her purse on its seat, preparing to stay.

"I was wrong."

"About?"

"God, you aren't gonna make this easy, are you?"

He rounds the counter quickly, stopping two feet in front of her.

"I poured my heart out to you," he fumes. "I practically fucking begged you to forgive me and give us a chance," he adds. "And you turned me down," he reminds her. "So, hell no I'm not about to make it easy to say whatever the fuck you came here to say."

Olivia tears up and looks to the floor but she's resolved not to let him push her into an argument so that she'll leave.

"No—you know what," he begins. "Whatever it is, I don't wanna hear it," he says returning to the kitchen and grabbing an oven mitt. "Push the 'lobby' button and it'll take you down without the key," he adds, removing one last tray of cookies from the oven before turning it off.

"No," she repeats.

"Excuse me?" He asks, watching as she moves over to the pool table on the opposite side of the room.

"You heard me," Olivia responds. "I'm not leaving until you hear me out," she explains. "So how about we play one game of 8-ball and if I lose, you never have to see me again."

"You're serious?"

Elliot looks at her as if she's lost her damn mind.

"I am," she says, picking out a cue and chalking it up. "It's not exactly an ultimatum but what the hell, right?"

"Don't you have to be getting home to Noah?" He asks, eying his watch. "I only ask because you usually use him to get you out of shit you don't really wanna deal with."

She winces as if he's slapped her but ignores the dig.

"John's picking him up for me," Olivia answers. "Something about teaching him to question authority and bonding over peanut butter and jelly sandwiches," she adds. "Now quit stalling Stabler."

He rounds the counter and approaches the pool table, crossing his arms against his chest once he reaches it.

"What's to stop me from just calling IAB and making a formal complaint about you harassing me and refusing to leave?"

Dejected, she takes a deep breath, returns her chosen cue to the rack and heads past him for her things, never believing it would come to that. Olivia makes it to a corner pocket where Elliot is planted when he grabs her hand, pulling her in front of him.

Her eyes are shimmering with tears and when they begin to fall she looks away but doesn't try to stop them. Instead it's him who reaches over to frame her face with his hands, swiping at the moisture with both thumbs.

"What are you doin' Liv?" He rasps.

"I-I'm sorry," she manages. "I'll leave if that's what you really want."

"You know it's not," Elliot says, dropping his hands to his sides. "So just—just say what you came to say."

The lieutenant takes a deep breath, settling herself and trying to staunch the tears.

"I shouldn't have let you leave that day," she begins. "I should've stopped you from walking out."

"I thought I didn't make you happy Liv," he reminds her. "I thought you were too scared to take a chance on a relationship."

"I am," she admits. "But I don't wanna keep having moments in my life that I wish you were a part of."

"You're here because you don't wanna be alone?" Elliot asks.

"No, El," she says instantly. "I'm here…because you are."

"What are you saying?"

Olivia moves closer, placing tentative hands on his chest.

"I'm saying…I have wanted to kiss you more often than I've wanted to kick you in the balls," she admits, trying for a smile in him that doesn't quite manifest. "I'm saying Noah and I, we're fine—and I don't need someone to make us any more of a family than we already are—there's nothing missing from that but—I want this with you Elliot and I'm tired—I've spent the last six weeks waiting to stop thinking about you, waiting to forget how good being with you felt but more than that I've waited the last six years to stop looking for your face in a crowd and I just—I'm tired of waiting for—

Elliot quickly erases the distance between them, palms her face again and cuts off her rambling with his lips. She opens her mouth to his and he kisses her deeply and passionately as if he's trying to consume her.

The heat immediately begins to build in the pit of her stomach and Olivia finds the need to get her hands on his bare flesh. She lifts his t-shirt, smoothing her palms up his abdomen to feel his chest before sliding them around to his back.

Elliot tugs at her blouse and she pulls away from his lips long enough to unclip her badge, remove her holster and lay them on the green felt behind her. He wastes no time reconnecting to her mouth as he unbuttons her slacks, and slides the zipper down.

"You want me?" He whispers against her lips.

Their breaths have increased, hearts wildly pounding and are both nearly vibrating with need.

"Yes," she answers, using both hands to pull off her red blouse and the black tank underneath in one swoop.

Elliot's eyes darken to a storm laden blue as the sight of her breasts wrapped in pink satin trimmed in white lace comes into view. He drops his lips to the smooth column of her neck, then her cleavage and finally, he pulls aside one cup of her bra to release a blush colored nipple.

Olivia leans back, palming the back of his head to encourage him to apply more pressure.

"Mm, God El."

He grazes the hardened nub with his teeth before letting Olivia feel the heated texture of his tongue while he slips a hand inside the matching panties. Evidence of just how much she wants him coats his thick fingers as he begins a delicious friction beneath her dark curls.

"Fuck Liv."

She knows, she knows.

The way she's keyed up and on the edge, Olivia is well aware that it won't be long before she's welcoming her first orgasm and so does he. Elliot continues manipulating her sensitive folds with his adept fingers, working her into a heated frenzy of erratic breaths until it hits her full force. He holds her waist after feeling her slip, Olivia's legs having weakened.

But they're not done.

After the initial tremors subside she steps out of her boots, then drops her slacks altogether before stripping the bra from her body.

Elliot is near violent when he pulls his t-shirt over his head, drops his jeans and taking his blue boxer briefs with him before descending on his ex-partner.

He melds his mouth to hers again, slides the useless panties down her legs, picks her up and sits her on the edge of the pool table, standing between her thighs as she wraps them around his waist.

"Still, yes?" He whispers in her ear.

"Hell yes."

This time it's Olivia who invades his mouth with her tongue as he buries himself inside her with his first stroke. He pulls out almost completely then sinks into her warmth again, stealing her breath with the second.

They are pelvis, to pelvis, chest to chest with her arms and legs wrapped around Elliot's body and it's difficult to tell where he begins and she ends.

Olivia loosens her hold as he continues undulating his hips and she's rewarded with the palming of her left breast as he moves, massaging the fullness he's found and teasing her pert nipple with his thumb.

"Shit," she manages.

"God, I've missed you," he says.

"Mm, me too," Olivia tells him. "Faster El."

Elliot increases the speed as she asks, gripping part of her ass with one hand and the lip of the table for leverage.

He's working up a sweat and she kisses his fevered brow as he works to get both of them over the edge.

"So close," she warns him.

"I know."

Elliot pulls her left thigh higher on his hip, allowing him to get deeper, hitting her spot at a more purposeful angle. It doesn't take long for Olivia to begin spasming around him, milking his own powerful orgasm, causing him to climax along with her.

His face is dampened with sweat, her hair is matted with it and both are breathing as if they've just run a marathon. He doesn't immediately pull out, instead using what's left of his energy to hold her legs comfortably as he rests his head against the curve of her neck.

For Olivia's part she cradles him, putting one arm around his back and the other hand on his nape. And, after a few minutes, their breaths even out, their heartbeats return to normal and their bodies begin to cool.

Elliot smoothly separates himself from her and bends to slip on his underwear then scoops up his t-shirt, sliding it over her head as she puts her arm inside the sleeves.

"You planning on rushing out of here?"

Olivia shakes her head in the negative.

"No."

Elliot simply nods as she plants her hands on his shoulders so he can help her down. One of her legs nearly gives out with the first step and he reaches out to steady her, both hands at her waist.

"Thanks."

He releases her to grab his jeans from the floor and slip them back on as she gathers her clothes and heads towards his bedroom.

"I'm gonna take a shower."

"I'll finish up in here and put everything away," he says. "Then…we can finish talking."

"Okay."

When Olivia walks into his bathroom, her mouth hangs open for a moment. Zero attention was paid to the details when last she was there. She can fit her bedroom inside the bathroom. It's designed in cream, copper and gray natural stones with a walnut floor.

He has his and her sinks and cabinets in a combination of bronze, marble and oak plus a stand-alone porcelain tub next to the amazing walk-in shower. It looks as if at least six people can fit.

She thinks she'll have to propose to him in a few months just to be able to use the rainfall showerhead plus however many jets are coming out of the wall. There's even a bench to sit on after long days and her mind is overwhelmed with the possibilities.

Olivia smiles to herself as she pulls his t-shirt from her body, adjusts the temperature of the water then reaches for a towel before climbing in.

She takes her time relishing in the warmth of the water before reaching for his body wash. She'll smell like whatever 'alpine fresh' is but her skin will be clean. After lathering her towel, washing up and rinsing off she reaches for the shampoo.

Axe Apollo, 2 in 1 Deep Clean.

God, she's going to smell like the man from head to toe. She obviously enjoys his scent, but Olivia prefers a more feminine combination of aromas on her own body.

She's wrapping herself in one of his plush bath towels when she notices him leaning against the doorway, chest still bare, jeans hanging open. And, he's eying her from towel dried hair to black -cherry painted toenails.

If Elliot keeps staring at her like that, she'll need another shower.

"You find everything okay?"

"Yeah," she says, approaching him.

"I sent your clothes to the cleaners," he informs her as she searches for and finds a hairdryer in a drawer. "They'll deliver them first thing in the morning."

He wants her to stay until morning.

"Oh."

"That a problem?" Elliot asks.

"No—no problem," she tells him. Even if it were she'd have nothing to wear home. "John's supposed to have Noah overnight and take him to preschool in the morning anyway," she continues. "I'll just have to leave early enough to go home and change."

"Good," he says. "I laid out one of my shirts and a pair of boxers for you on the bed," he adds, pulling off his pants and lifting the lid of the hamper. "I ordered Thai. Hope that's okay."

Olivia's about to respond when he pulls off his underwear.

"I uh," she begins, averting her eyes. "Thai sounds good."

Elliot smirks but doesn't comment on her need to look away.

"It'll be here in about fifteen minutes," he concludes before stepping into the shower.

After checking a few drawers, she discovers a blow dryer. She begins drying her hair and is overjoyed that he didn't mention the visible blush on her tan skin. Olivia pauses momentarily to look at her reflection.

A face free of make-up but has a certain glow that can't be matched with any line from MAC or Clinique. Damp locks, curling defiantly against her neck, tattooed with several love bites. And as she raises the towel to confirm, bruises from where he gripped her thighs as he drove into her.

But what she notices the most, is the silly grin that keeps making an appearance across her face like she's developed some schoolgirl crush. It's ridiculous. Sophomoric even. And if he noticed, it'd be more embarrassing than Elliot busting her trying to avoid ogling his naked body.

Yet…it feels wonderful.

Olivia Benson is standing in a bath towel, blow drying her hair, with Elliot Stabler in the shower, after they've had sex. It's all incredibly domestic and…surprisingly natural. She's going to discuss being in a relationship with someone who knows her better than anyone. Someone she can't hide from. And the clencher is she doesn't want to run screaming in the other direction.

She gives up on trying to dry her hair with his underpowered blow dryer, heads out the bedroom and dresses in the boxers and dress shirt he's laid out for her. But with his hardwood floors, socks are certainly a necessity, so she goes on a hunt.

"Can I help you?" He asks, leaning against his bedroom doorway newly clad in a green pair of briefs.

"My uh, my feet are cold," she explains, having been caught red-handed pulling open his drawers. "I was hoping to find a pair of socks."

He moves further inside the room, opens one drawer to retrieve a pair of sweat socks for her, then a couple of others to put on a t-shirt and a pair of sweat pants.

"El—

"Liv—

They both try and start at the same time when they hear the doorbell.

"I'll get it," he tells her.

Olivia follows him and gets two bottles of Fiji out of the fridge while he carries the bag to the dining table and removes the containers.

"Unless you'd rather eat in the kitchen?" He asks.

"No," she tells him. "This is fine," she adds. "I feel like I'm always on the go and haven't really sat down to eat at an actual dining table since…"

Since Elliot took her to dinner, invited her back here, danced and tenderly made love to her before she ran out on him.

"Well...it's been awhile," Olivia tells him, digging into her Tom Yum Goong. "So, what's up with all the cookies?"

"They're for Eli," he answers. "He has a Valentine's Day party at his school tomorrow and I had to make three different batches," he explains. "One sugar-free, one gluten-free and one regular batch for kids without allergies or helicopter moms."

"They smelled great," she says, smiling at his comment. "I'm guessing Baking 101 was in your recent list of classes?"

"French pastries to be exact," he corrects her. "But I'm pretty sure a bunch of nine-year-old kids won't care how intricately decorated my cookies are."

"True," she says then remembers the new furniture she didn't help him choose. "You uh, you did an excellent job picking out everything else."

"Didn't really have a choice, did I?" He asks, working on his Pad Thai.

And there it is.

It's quiet between them for a few minutes as they eat.

"I'm sorry El," she says, suddenly. "I'm sorry I didn't give you a chance—I didn't wanna—

"Get hurt again," he finishes. "I know," he acknowledges. "You don't have to apologize Liv."

"Neither do you. Not anymore," Olivia tells him. "I get why you didn't come back, and it hurt like a bitch but holding onto that pain—that anger—never made me stop missing you."

"I thought you got over me," he reminds her.

"I deserve that," she admits, with a short nod. "But do you think it was easy riding in the car with someone new—feeding off someone else in interrogation or learning to trust someone to have my back all over again?"

He doesn't bother responding. They both already know the answer.

"So yeah, after faking it until I could make it," she continues. "One day…I looked around and…I didn't have to fake it anymore."

"I'm glad," he says sincerely. "Because severing our partnership…was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do Liv," he confesses. "It felt like…part of me died."

"I know the feeling," she says, covering his hand with hers, caressing her thumb over his knuckles. "It's the reason I was so hesitant to get close again," she admits. "Losing myself to you knowing you could decide to just disappear again one day was more than I wanted to deal with."

"And you haven't tried to 'lose yourself' to anyone else since I left?" Elliot asks.

She pulls her hand back, running it through her hair. David was the closest she came to even putting in the effort.

"Yeah," she confesses. "Tried. Just like you did with Linda," she adds making a point. "And here we both are after all this fucking time because we can't seem to find anyone else who can put up with our shit or knows us as well as we know each other."

He grins momentarily at her observation but then it's back to the seriousness of the conversation.

"Can you honestly say you've forgiven me?" Elliot asks.

"Yes," Olivia responds. "And I know that because I'm no longer angry every time I think about you or hear your name," she adds. "Now I find myself smiling or…blushing."

Elliot nods knowingly.

"You think you're really ready to give this a shot?" He questions.

"You're not?"

"I know what I want Liv," he tells her. "But what happens when you don't wanna delegate at work, when we don't see each other enough because of it, or I think Noah needs more discipline?" He asks. "Because like you said, sometimes we bring out the worst in each other."

Olivia pushes her chair from the table, gets up and straddles her former partner, putting her arms around his shoulders.

"We'll probably fight," she says simply, with a shrug of her shoulders. "But I'm counting on you to be the changed man you've been trying to convince me you've become since walking into my office."

"How so?" He asks, putting his arms around her.

"I'm counting on you to tell me when I'm taking you for granted," the lieutenant begins. "To come to my office on a romantic whim and bring me lunch," she adds, smiling as he gives her a wink. "To remind me that more often than not…we bring out the best in each other," she continues. "And as for Noah, I'll be the disciplinarian because we both know he already has you wrapped around his little finger."

"Maybe," Elliot gives her. "But the kid's adorable."

"He's not the only one," Olivia says, giving him a short kiss on the lips.

"I'm a grown ass man Liv," he points out. "Not a toddler."

"Okay, what about sexy," she counters, placing another peck to his neck. "Or irresistible," she adds, kissing the other side of his neck.

"Better," he says, grinning.

"And in say…six months, feel free to ask me again if I'm sure," she suggests. "And when I am and we haven't killed each other, you can repeat the question at the year mark."

"Before I say yes," Elliot tells her. "I have one more question," he goes on. "It's the same question I had…before I left your apartment that day."

She doesn't wait for him to ask. Olivia covers his mouth with hers, slipping her tongue between his lips and kissing him possessively.

"You challenge me," she begins, after pulling away. "You drive me crazy, you're a natural with my son and you call me on my shit," she explains. "So yes El…you make me happy."

"You forgot great in bed," he says, smirking.

"Smart ass," she whispers against his lips.

"You love it," he manages before she's invading his mouth again.

"I love you," she asserts, after they come up for breath.

This news garners an immediate smile from him.

"You do, huh?" He asks, grinning.

His answer is simply another lingering kiss.

"So, is that a yes?" Olivia asks, sharing his grin.

"Absolutely."

She gives him one last kiss before climbing off Elliot's lap under his protest.

"Where you going?"

Olivia begins taking the empty containers and sticking them back in the bags.

"What's it look like?"

"I thought, you know…"

She looks down at his burgeoning erection and shakes her head.

"Thought what?" She questions. "That I was gonna ride you while you sit in that chair or better still, that you were gonna swipe all this leftover food out of the way and get me under you on this table?"

Elliot looks at her up and down, then at the table, then back at her all while she waits, placing an impatient hand on her hip.

"Well?"

"I gotta say, that neither one of those scenarios sound like a bad idea."

Olivia shakes her head as she continues clearing the mess.

"You're incorrigible."

He gets up and begins to help, taking the bags from her and carrying them into the kitchen to dump them in the waste bin as she follows.

"You're saying that doesn't sound appealing to you?" Elliot asks, approaching her and sliding his arms around her waist. "We did just have sex on that pool table not too long ago."

"We were both very emotional at the time," Olivia reasons. "Is that the plan?" She asks. "To Christen every surface of this place?" She asks. "I mean, our kids are gonna be eating on that dining table at some point," she adds. "And I doubt my back could take it."

He leans down and starts teasing her neck with his mouth.

"That's why God made bleach Liv," he tells her, causing her to laugh. "And I'd be perfectly happy to make the sacrifice and let you be on top."

"I'm starting to think you only want me for my body," Olivia says he continues his assault on her skin.

"You have seen a mirror, right?" He asks, leaning away.

She backs out of his hold, walking towards the sofa.

"Come on, I was kidding."

"Ha, ha," she says, plopping down, grabbing the remote and powering on the television.

Elliot joins her shortly after, allowing space between them. He picks up the remote from the coffee table and turns the television off again.

"I know you were kidding El," Olivia says sincerely. "Can you turn it back on now please?"

"No."

"No?"

"Liv," he starts in that voice of his, before taking a deep breath. "Everything I told you last Saturday was true," he begins. "Even before Katie came up with her ultimatum, I missed you, I missed our friendship and having you in my life again, seeing you smile…I never thought I'd get the chance to spend time with you or fall in love with you."

Olivia meets his eyes but, she's moved beyond words.

"So, if being together means we only have sex on a bed, so be it."

She crawls over to him then sits sideways in his lap, takes his face in both palms and kisses him languidly.

"I already told you I knew you were kidding," she begins. "But I love when say sweet shit like that to me."

"I love when say sweet shit to me too," he counters with a grin.

"And for the record, I'm not opposed to sex in places other than a bed…obviously."

His smile deepens and his dimples are on full display.

"Really? Elliot asks. "Do tell."

"If I told you now, it'd take all the surprise out of it," Olivia reasons, sliding off his lap to stand.

Elliot watches hungrily as she sashays away from him towards the bedroom. He can see her unbuttoning the dress shirt she wears along the way.

"But," she continues, looking over her shoulder. "A bed is softer and offers so many more…possibilities."

Olivia drops the shirt to the floor, tantalizing him with the sight of her bare skin and he knows the shorts won't be far behind. He quickly hops off the couch and follows her path.

"I'm an idiot," he calls out. "Beds are my favorite Liv."

They've said nothing of having forever together. To call them bullheaded would be the understatement of the century. And because they're so damned much alike, they're bound to do something to piss each other off. If they'd decided to try to be together while partners, they would've undoubtedly had the steamiest, hottest love affair that either had ever experienced.

Then they would've spontaneously combusted.

Because they were different people then. Elliot was tired of the routine of SVU and only getting to have half of her. While Olivia worked even harder to ignore the lingering touches, the lust-filled glances and the desire to finally and blissfully give in.

Then life intervened to rip them apart and the decision was made for them.

Elliot is free in every sense of the word. His children are flourishing and he doesn't have the stress of trying to make ends meet. He is more liberal with the honesty of his emotions and the truth of his vulnerability.

Olivia is harder. Between William Lewis, running the squad and becoming a mother…she's had to be. The number of people she trusts are on a very concise list. And the men who've shared her bed showed her one thing.

None of them are Elliot.

So, they're giving it a shot. Maybe it'll last 6 months. Maybe it'll last 20 years. But they are finally letting all the bullshit go.

The End.

E/N: I know I usually end my stories with a flowery exchange between these two but try as I may, I had nothing. I chose a more fun and I believe natural exchange for them. Let me know what you think and thank you as always for reading.