Chapter One: Confessions

A loud knock at her front door jarred Olivia Benson from her sleep, and she looked at her alarm clock.

"Three a.m.," she moaned as she climbed from her warm haven. Grumbling, she wrapped a robe around herself and walked out of the bedroom.

The furious knocking continued as she stormed through the living room and to the front door.

"Who's there?" she called out, suddenly wary.

"It's me Liv." The familiar, deep voice of her partner, Elliot Stabler, rang in her ears.

"Open the door, Liv. It's an emergency," he called out urgently. Quickly she unlocked the door and threw it open.

There stood her partner, soaking wet and shivering. Concern quickly replaced anger, and she ushered him inside, closing the door and relocking it.

"Elliot, what's the matter? Are you alright?" she asked.

Sighing, he replied, "No, I'm not alright."

Walking into the kitchen, she asked, "Do you want some coffee?"

"Sure," he answered distantly.

Putting the coffee on to brew, she walked back over to Elliot and touched his shoulder gently.

"You're shaking, El. Here, let's get your jacket off," she said gently, peeling his jacket off of his shoulders.

Touching his shoulder, she said, "Elliot, tell me what's wrong."

Taking a shaky breath, he asked, "Olivia, we've been partners for about seven years now, right?"

"Yeah, just about. But what does that have to do with anything?" she questioned.

He startled her by grabbing her shoulders, forcing her to stare into his stormy blue eyes. Suddenly he couldn't speak.

"Elliot, you're scaring me. You show up at my apartment at three in the morning, ask me how long we've been partners, and now you're staring at me. Something's wrong, but I can't help me if you won't talk to me," she stated, suddenly acutely aware of his large, warm hands resting on her shoulders.

"Liv, I love you," he said, touching the side of her face.

"What?" she whispered.

Stepping closer, Elliot wrapped his arms around Olivia's waist and pressed his mouth to hers.

She had always wondered how it would feel to seek refuge in his strong, protective arms, with nothing but feelings between them. But this was her partner. Her best friend. Her colleague. This couldn't happen.

Suddenly she pulled away from his embrace and stared at the floor. When she raised her eyes back to his, tears blurred her vision.

"Elliot," she began slowly. "I think you should go now."

"But, Olivia-" he protested.

"Please, just go. I need to think about all of this," she insisted.

She watched through tearfilled eyes as he rushed out of the apartment, all the while wondering if she made the right choice.