Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything belongs to Dick Wolf.

This is going to be my last chapter. Hope you enjoy it.

I heard a knock on my apartment door at 7:00 that evening and wondered who the hell it could be. I flung open the door and nearly slammed it shut again. Standing in the doorway was Elliot Stabler. "You just don't give up, do you?" I asked him.

He shook his head and answered with a smug, "Nope."

"How did you know where I lived?"

"I'm a detective," he told me, as if that explained everything.

"So am I, but 'detective' is not synonymous with 'stalker.'"

Elliot gave me an approving nod. "You haven't changed one bit."

"Aw, thanks."

"Can I come in?"

I rolled my eyes. First of all, my apartment was a mess, and even now I felt the childish urge to impress him. Secondly, I knew that if I spent even ten minutes with him, I would be forced to remember. And if I remembered, I knew I would never be able to forget. I wanted so badly to start fresh and move on because rehashing our history would only complicate our working relationship – if a working relationship was even possible at this point.

Finally, I conceded. "Okay." I knew he was just as stubborn as me – he would stand out here all night, banging on the door until I let him in.

He raised his eyebrows. Obviously, he'd been expecting a much more emphatic refusal. But he quickly masked his surprise as I stepped aside and he followed me in.

I sat down on one end of my couch and Elliot sat down on the other side. He was just staring at me, his clear blue eyes boring into my soul, penetrating my core.

I held his gaze. I wasn't the child I'd been fifteen years ago, the victim, the one who looked to big, strong Elliot for help. Now I could stare back into his eyes without flinching. Whichever one of us blinked first lost, and it wasn't going to be me.

Amusement quirked his lips upward. "What are you doing?"

I blushed and looked away. But then I met his eyes again. "Elliot," I said seriously. "We're not kids anymore. Things are never going to be the same."

He blinked. "Why did you leave?"

"You know why."

"If you'd stayed, I could have – would have – helped you."

"I didn't want you to."

"I know." He gave me a rueful smile. "You always wanted to be so independent."

Tears sprang to my eyes but I blinked them back. "Let's – let's not talk about that, okay? Let's start fresh."

He hesitated. "Liv – can we do this?"

I knew what he meant. We could do this. We could work together, be friends again. We could be partners. We could be the best team the police department had ever known because we were. We loved each other. Not in a romantic manner, but in that way only old friends can. Old friends who know each other better than they know themselves.

I allowed myself a small smile as I looked up at Elliot. "Yes," I told him. "We can."

So that's the end. Sorry if it was slightly abrupt or unsatisfying. Hope you liked the story. Please review!