A/N: This is the last chapter… but it's a long one, so… and I have a new SVU FF in my head, so hopefully my muse and I can work together again, and bring you something new. Anyways, thanks to everyone who reviewed, read and alerted. You're awesome! =))

The night drew to a close, and Olivia excused herself, reasoning on an early morning, but she was sure that Elliot read right through her. "I'm sorry, I have to go… you know how it is. I'll um…" she considered her words for a moment. Too much time had passed, too many things had been unsaid, and maybe staying in contact wasn't the best idea.

"I'll call you," he promised, saying what she was afraid to say.

"Okay," she muttered, not believing him.

Elliot stood from the table. "I'll walk you out."

"Thank you for dinner, Kathy. It was very nice."

Kathy nodded. "You're welcome. Thank you for coming."

Elliot walked Olivia down the passage towards the front door. The two of them stood in silence for what seemed like forever, and Olivia finally looked up at him, really seeing him for the first time in six months. The dark circles under his eyes, showed the lack of sleep, and had aged him another ten years. He looked small and lost, and for a moment she wanted to reach out and pull him into her arms, holding him tightly, as if that might change all that had happened.

There was something else in his eyes, something that frightened her – desire. The pair seemed to circle each other without moving, weighing each other up. Elliot tried to read her mind, but for once he couldn't seem to get passed the barrier that she had built up since his absence.

Olivia's gaze moved to his soft luscious lips… kissable lips. It had been a long time since she had forced herself to stop thinking of him that way.

"Tell me what you're thinking?" he begged.

Olivia blushed.

"I used to be able to see it in your eyes, but I- I can't…"

"I was thinking…" there is no way in hell she was going to be honest. "I was thinking that- that I won't see you again," she lied.

"Why?"

"Because you left and this dinner was anything but easy."

"It will get better. I promise. Don't walk away thinking that it hasn't killed me as much as it's killed you."

"It doesn't matter," she snapped. "You are the one who made the choice."

Elliot nodded. "I know. I realize now how much of a mistake that was."

"I'm happy for you," she said sarcastically.

Elliot locked eyes with her and she felt her whole body flush with a kind of warmth that she had never experienced with anyone else. The chemistry was as thick as smoke in a house fire, and she couldn't deny it as much as she wanted to.

"I have to go," she said, nervously. "I'll see you."

He reached for her arm, and a shot of electricity passed between them. Out of fear of her own emotions, Olivia pulled away quickly, just in time to see Kathy enter the hallway. She shook her head and opened the door. She couldn't get out their fast enough.

Elliot stood watching the closed door, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Had he reached out to kiss her, with his wife only a few steps away? What had he been thinking, or not, in his case?

"I haven't seen you like that in six months," Kathy told him, lingering a few steps behind him.

The comment made Elliot nervous. "Like what?"

"Alive," she said, sadly. "Since you quit the force you have barely uttered a word and now that Olivia is back, you… Listen, I don't want to fight with you. I have no strength left for that, and I have done everything I can to support your decision, but I can't help you."

"I don't know what you mean?" he said, looking at her.

"I mean, I don't think I'm the right person to help you anymore."

Elliot frowned. "You want me to see a shrink?" Was she insane? He wasn't going to do that. Ever.

"No, Elliot," she said, quietly. "I can't pretend that I didn't see it, and why should I?"

"What?" he hated it when she played those stupid guessing games.

"The chemistry between you and Olivia. I'm your wife. I shouldn't have to pretend that I feel happy whenever you look my way, or feel like I- I know you didn't do it on purpose and I know you have always been faithful. I know you have tried so hard with me, and I know you love me in your own way."

Elliot listened.

"I used to think that you and were meant to be together. We worked so hard to stay together and we lasted so long, I really believed that you and I were soul mates. No relationship is easy. But when I see you with Olivia, I get this feeling… that maybe we're not."

"Kathy…"

"It's not your fault. I don't blame you. I was the one who invited her to dinner. I could see that she brought you alive, in ways that I have been trying to for months. I don't know why she can change you in a split second and I can't. I guess it's just the way it is," the tears filled her eyes as she spoke to him, hatred and anger non-existent. It was obvious that she didn't blame him, but it still hurt, the expression etched across her her face was evident of that.

Elliot shook his head. Kathy was his friend, and the mother of his children, if nothing else and he deeply cared about her. He never wanted her to be unhappy and he was sorry that he had, even for a moment, because he had given so much of himself to her, sometimes when it hurt to do so, because in his own way he loved her, and he knew he always would. She was his first, and that never went away.

"I'm sorry," he told her.

"I know you are."

"What can I do?" he asked, desperately. Whatever it was, he'd do it.

"I want you to be happy," she answered. "You deserve that, and I deserve a man who loves me the way that you love her."

"Kathy, I-"

"Please, don't say anything. It's already too hard. Okay? So just hold me and tell me we can always be friends. I need that, and I need you in my life no matter what, because you are the father of my children and the love of my life."

He pulled her into his arms then, and held her against him for a long time.

Olivia heard the familiar tone of her phone, indicating that she had a message. She checked it, reluctantly, having a feeling it was the same person who had been trying to contact her for the last three days. The name flashed on the screen of her HTC sensation and she dropped the phone on the desk beside her, and went back to what she was doing.

She didn't want to talk to Elliot. The way he had made her feel when she was with him, made her feel sick and guilty, because he was married and she liked Kathy. Kathy deserved more than a husband who cheated on her, and Olivia wasn't going to be the one to let that happen, no matter how much she loved him and wanted him. she respected Kathy too much to hurt her that way, and she loved Elliot enough to let him go.

If only he would take the hint.

She understood his phone calls and text messages were his way of reaching out, but she also understood that if she receipted them, she was treading on dangerous ground. It wouldn't be hard to start an affair with him, considering they no longer worked together, and it wouldn't take a lot to convince him of that, she had a feeling he wanted it as much as she did. And she hated herself for it.

But even ignoring his calls and text messages, Kathy made an appearance on the fourth day.

"Can I have a word?"

"Again?" she asked, not welcoming her with the warm greeting she deserved. Olivia was tired and overworked, and she had no patience to listen to Kathy talk about how Elliot needed to see her, for whatever reason he had told her of.

"Please," she begged. "I think you'll like what I have to say."

"Doubtful," she mumbled, standing from her desk and leading her down the hallway to the vending machine. She wanted a soda. To hell with tea. She needed sugar.

Kathy got straight to the point. "I asked you to come to dinner because Elliot hasn't been himself since he quit the force, and I was running low on ideas. You were my last hope. I wanted you to make a difference, and you did. He came alive, Olivia. For months I did all I could to do that and I couldn't help him. And in one quick flash, you came in and you changed his world."

Olivia put the money in the vending machine. "I don't think that-"

"Please, listen, because this isn't easy for me. I knew the two of you always had this bond that I could never understand and I think it was supposed to be that way. I hate that I couldn't be the one to make the difference, because I love him so much."

Olivia pressed the button to order a soda. "Kathy, I would never-"

"I'm not finished," she said, forcefully. "Just listen to me. Give me that much?"

Olivia nodded and took the soda can from the machine and stood up straight, giving Kathy her undivided attention.

"I don't know if it was meant to be this way or not, but I think that what the two of you have is rare, and it doesn't happen to everyone, so when there's a chance to make it work, how do you deny it?"

"I don't understand what you're trying to say?" Olivia said, awkwardly. Surely, she couldn't be talking about love.

"I'm trying to say that I know how you feel about Elliot, and I know that he feels the same way. He always has. But he has a strong faith and he believes in God. That keeps him from doing the wrong thing, more often than not."

Or maybe she was. But shouldn't she have been scratching her eyes out instead?

"I don't understand why-"

"I'm not beating the crap out of you?"

Olivia nodded. Not that Olivia couldn't defend herself, she was a trained cop after all.

"I love Elliot, more than you would ever know. But he isn't happy with me and I don't want to force him to be with me when I know he really wants to be with you. Don't think that this is easy for me. I am dying inside, and I don't even know how I am going to cope afterwards. But I have his children, and they'll be the ones to help me through this."

"I'm sorry," Olivia said, unsure of what else to say.

"Will you give-"

"Olivia!" Cragen called. "There's been another attack!"

Olivia sighed and turned to Kathy. "I have to go… you know how it is."

"I remember. Will you just think about it, and the next time that he calls, don't ignore it. It's your life you're ignoring, too. Remember that!"

Olivia nodded, and walked away, her words echoing in her mind.

Next time, Olivia did answer the phone when he called. She happened to be finishing her Chinese take away when the phone went off. She took a deep breath as his name flashed across the screen and she picked it up in her hands.

"Hi," she greeted.

"Uh… um… I- I didn't think you'd pick… hi," he muttered.

Olivia smiled. It amused her that he was nervous. "Yeah, well… maybe you deserve a break."

"Hi."

"You said that already," she smiled to herself.

"Yeah, I- I guess I did."

"Did you want something?"

"You," he answered.

Olivia's body flushed with a warmth she hadn't felt in years, since the first time she saw Elliot in the precinct and shook his hand. "Elliot, I-"

"I don't want to scare you. I just- I'm so sick of lying to everyone around me. I'm sick of lying to myself… and to you. Kathy left me."

"I know," she said.

"You do?"

"Yes. She told me I should answer the phone… give you a chance."

"She did that?"

"That's what love is," she told him. "And forgiving each other. I forgive you, El… for walking away and not calling me."

"Because that's what love is?" he asked.

There was a silence. The question didn't need an answer. It was clear.

"Let me take you out to dinner?" he pleaded. "Will you… please?"

"I don't know what to say," she said, honestly. It was all happening so fast, and she was afraid. Afraid that everything she ever wanted was within her grasp, afraid that if she reached out to touch it, it would simply diminish. "I don't know if I'm ready to do this-"

"Okay," he said, quickly. "So, we'll take it as slow as you want. Start small. Start with dinner and conversation, okay?"

"Okay," she agreed. "I'll see you tomorrow at seven."

"I'll be there."

Olivia hung up before she had a chance to change her mind.

The next night, she didn't tell him about the butterflies in her stomach, and the hope that one dinner conversation could change their lives. She just accepted that it may or may not have been that easy, and prayed that for once, things worked out the way she wanted them to, and left the rest up to Fate.

As she stepped out into the cold New York air, she saw him make his way up the apartment steps. "Hi," he smiled, looking as nervous as she felt, dressed in one of his good suits. The same one that she always told him he looked particularly handsome in.

"Hey," she replied, relaxing a little. Olivia was dressed in a white satin dress, halter neck, that fell to her ankles. Her hair was pulled into a twist, and she was the picturesque of beauty.

As she stepped down onto the pavement, he pulled her gently into his arms. She held her breath, staring into his ice-blue eyes, and feeling the desire scream out from his finger tips. He wanted her. She felt it with every fibre of her being. And it both scared and excited her. Then without warning, he kissed her, his lips brushing gently against hers in way that told her this was more than just a hormonal action. She felt his love and she found herself responding to him, pressing herself against him as he deepened the kiss. Fireworks exploded in her head. It was better than any dream she could conjure up in her mind.

It was better than Christmas.

And as quickly as it happened, he stepped away, smiling shyly. "I didn't want to be thinking about that all night. I want to listen when you have something to say. I thought it was better to just get it done first…"

"Okay," she replied, silently scolding herself for not being able to come up with a better response. Elliot Stabler, her twelve-year partner, had just kissed her and it was heavenly.

"Okay."

"One problem," she replied, finding her voice again.

Elliot frowned.

"Now it's all I can think about," she smiled, seductively. This time, she reached out and gripped the material of his shirt and pulled him to her, resting her mouth over his, and starting the explosion of fireworks, all over again. There dinner reservation would just have to wait.

Because Fate was already working its magic… with the added help of cupid.

I wanted to make it realistic. I wanted to have emotions high, and give the reader a sense of a future, however they want it to be. But also leave you with an E/O kiss… Anyways, your opinion matters, so drop me a line and share your view.

And… have a great day/night!