CHAPTER NINE Say What You Need to Say

Upon arriving to the restaurant, Olivia's stomach groans, the noise traveling above the engine and the soft music playing, causing Elliot to stop mid-sentence. Shit, Olivia thinks. Of course, he's going to ask if she ate earlier. And of course, the answer is no.

Elliot puts the car in park and cuts the engine once he is in a parking spot. He sighs, "Olivia." She looks up at him, meekly. His face softens when she meets his eyes. "You didn't eat." It wasn't a question or an accusation. Just a simple statement. Olivia opens her mouth to respond, but doesn't say anything, only shakes her head and looks away. She hears him let out a huge breath, as if he's trying to stay calm. His temper never bothered her because it's who he is. But she didn't want any fighting before their, um, date?

"I'm not angry, if that's what you're wondering. Just disappointed," he tells her. His voice is relaxed, almost soothing. Too relaxed for Olivia's comfort. She's too used to him getting pissed off at the littlest things that this opposite reaction shocks her.

"Disappointed? Why aren't you-"

"Mad? I'm trying to work on my temper, Liv. I no longer have reasons to be angry all the time. I don't have to live with Kathy bitching at me all the time. I don't have to deal with those horrible cases and perps anymore, though sometimes I really miss it. And," he reaches an arm over and grasps one of Olivia's hands resting in her lap, "I have you back in my life. I can't be angry about that." He gives her a warm smile, to which she returns, then squeezes her hand. "C'mon, let's have a good time." He releases her hand and gets out of the car. Her hand is left numb, craving his touch. Her door opens to Elliot's pull, and his hand is in front of her, waiting. She smiles and takes a hold of it, allowing him to help her out. With a tug of her arm, she's nearly pressed against his chest. Her brain tells her to back up, but she doesn't listen. Probably because her hand is no longer the only thing numb. Elliot shuts the car door with his other hand, and the noise shocks Olivia, making her aware of her own body again, so she begins to back up, but Elliot's hand is now at the small of her back to keep her in place.

"Liv," he whispers.

"Yes," she barely manages. Heat rushes to her cheeks, her heart races, and her breathing is unstable.

Little does she know, Elliot is feeling the same way. He's lost his train of thought, forgetting what he was going to say. So he says the first thing to come to his mind. "Have I told you that you're beautiful?"

"You've mentioned it once or twice tonight."

"Well, I'll mention it again. You're beautiful, Olivia Benson."

She looks away, mumbling a thank-you. The hand holding hers lets go and finds her chin.

"Why don't you believe me when I compliment you?" The serious tone is back.

"I- I don't know, El. I just don't." She sighs, feeling defeat. Her eyes leave his again and look to the side.

"Look at me, Liv." It's not demanding, it's pleading. Slowly, her browns find his blues. "I don't know why you don't believe me when I tell you that you're beautiful, but I promise I will convince you no matter what it takes." The hands on her back and chin fall, but one finds her hand and links fingers with hers. "I know you're starving, so let's eat."

"How many?" the hostess asks.

"A table for two," Elliot responds and glances around, then adds, "preferably away from all the noise.

She nods, grabbing two menus and leads them away from the busy bar and into a more secluded room with a fireplace and dim lights. She places the menus at the table next to the fireplace. "Does this work for you two?"

"Good?" Elliot asks Olivia.

She nods. "Perfect."

"Great. Your waiter, Daniel, will be out in just a moment. Enjoy," she smiles, her eyes lingering on Elliot for longer than Olivia's liking. Her jealous eyes follow the hostess out of the room while Elliot prepares her seat for her.

"Wow, you weren't kidding when you said you were going to be a gentleman tonight," Olivia chuckles, sitting down.

"Please, Liv. We both know I'm not funny, so why would I be kidding?" he asks with a straight-face.

"You, Stabler, are something else," she muses to which he cracks a smile.

Daniel appears to take their drink orders as the two are looking over the food menu. Olivia would probably think he's attractive if Elliot wasn't sitting across from her, captivating her attention.

"So," Elliot begins once Daniel has left to retrieve their drinks, "I have to pick up Eli from Kathy's tomorrow morning and-"

Olivia cuts him off. "And was wondering if you'd like to come along? I hope that's what you were planning to say."

"That was my intention," he smiles. "So?"

"Well, you don't have to ask me twice. I'm taking the weekend off anyway." Elliot notices her giddiness to spend the day with him and his son, and that makes him truly happy.

"Excellent. I figured you'd like to."

"El, I would love to."

"More wine for the lady?" Daniel asks.

"Please," Olivia answers, smiling at Elliot.

"You trying to get drunk?" Elliot asks Olivia.

"Just having a good time, El."

"Well, okay, but this is your third glass, and we haven't even gotten our food yet," he chuckles.

"Then it's a good thing you're driving, isn't it?" she smirks.

"I suppose so," he responds.

"So, El, where do you work now?" Olivia asks, taking a sip of her wine.

Elliot's cheeks flush. "You'll laugh."

Olivia smiles. "Will I? Are you a male stripper now?" she teases, flashing her glimmering teeth.

He chuckles and rolls his eyes. "Please, if that were the case, I'd be rich."

Olivia raises an eyebrow and smirks, "You know, I think if you were going to be a stripper...First, you would need to take some of that cockiness out of your personality and-"

"Are you really going to go there, Olivia?" he asks as he leans forward, his eyes darkening.

She follows suit, "Maybe I am."

He stares at her for a few seconds, seeing the smoldering look in her eyes, in which keep growing darker. He's the first to begin leaning back, in attempt to change the mood, although, if being honest with himself, he was enjoying how the conversation was going.

"Are you going to tell me or not?" Olivia asks, startling Elliot with the seductive tone in her voice.

"Well, Liv," he begins, pausing to take a drink of his beer. "I'm a bartender."

Olivia is silent for a moment, letting the information sink in. A bartender? She can't picture Elliot as anything other than a cop. He notices the confusion on her face.

"What are you thinking?" he asks.

"That I can't see you as being anything other than a cop," she answers, then adds with a smaller voice, "or my partner... A bartender? You must get plenty of women willing to tip you extra," she smirks.

He grins at her, enjoying her flirtatiousness. "You know, Liv. I really haven't done a lot of dating," he admits, with a shrug.

"Haven't you? I'll admit, I'm surprised, Stabler."

"It's okay because I have a feeling this is a first of many to make up for it."

Again, her infamous eyebrow raises. "So, you call this a date?"

"Well, didn't you ask me out?" he questions.

"I don't know, did I?" she smirks.

"I think you did," he shrugs.

"You think a lot of things," she adds.

"But I'm usually right," he points out.

She laughs, "You're such an ass."

"Mhmm, but you like it, Liv."

"I do?" She tries to sound like she's simply playing along, but the redness in her cheeks give away her bluff.

"I may not be a detective anymore, but I can take the hint," his voice is low, lower than usual.

"Then why couldn't you take all the goddamn hints in those twelve years?" she asks, her voice louder than she intended. Her teeth chomp down on her bottom lip as soon as it's out her mouth. She stares down at the table in embarrassment, cursing herself internally.

As Elliot opens his mouth to respond, their waiter is at the table, delivering their food and offering Elliot another drink. When Daniel walks away to retrieve another beer, Olivia shovels pasta into her mouth nervously, refusing to make eye contact with Elliot. He doesn't begin eating yet, instead watching her with curious eyes.

"Liv?"

She slowly lowers her fork back to her plate and looks up at him. "Yes?"

"Are you saying-"

"I don't know what I'm saying, Elliot."

"Liv, whatever you have to say, just say it," he encourages, reaching his hand across the table to give hers a reassuring squeeze. She returns the gesture and sighs.

"It's not that simple, El." Her eyes fall back to her plate.

"It's okay, Liv. I have something complicated to tell you as well."

"Then say it," she nearly begs.

"Look at me. Please."

She does as he requests, her chocolate brown eyes meet his glowing blue stare.

"Say it at the same time as me?" she offers.

He nods, agreeing. The two sigh in sync, not breaking eye contact. He squeezes her hand once more, she repeats, and they open their mouths to say what they need to say.

And finally, Elliot and Olivia both admit it, after all these years.