"Today's the day." Said Fin with a smirk on his face. He looked at Elliot and saw the nervousness in his eyes. He smiled lightly. "Man, I never thought I would live to see the day Elliot Stabler was afraid of something."

Elliot scoffed. "I'm not afraid." Fin looked at him with disbelief. "I'm not afraid." He insisted. "I'm just a little nervous."

It had been six months since the fateful day he laid a bullet into that girl. That sweet, innocent, girl whose only crime had been seeking justice for her mother. Unfortunately, her method of seeking justice involved a gun in a precinct and Elliot was forced to take her down.

He hadn't wanted to, but it was something he had no control over.

So here he was, six months later, standing in front of Maroney's bar and waiting for the rest of his group to show up. That's what it took to get him there.

Six months of therapy after he couldn't cope with what he had done.

Five months of fighting with his wife and finally signing the divorce papers after the stress had become too much.

Four months of self-sabotaging and hurting the people he loved because he was angry with the world.

Three months of mending his relationships with his family, his friends, his partner.

Two months of forgiving himself and trying to move on.

And one month of realizing what he needed to do to be happy again.

That's what it took to get him here, waiting for Olivia so he could finally take that next step with her.

And she looked exceptionally beautiful tonight, with her hair in curls, like she wore years ago when she came back from Oregon. She was new, fresh, like he wanted their relationship to be.

The past months had been hard for them. He had been cruel and accusing when she was only trying to help him. But like every other time in their relationship he had only lashed out, pushing her away.

But that would all change tonight because any moment now she would walk through the glass door of Maroney's bar and find the table that he and Fin were now sitting at and sit down with them, sip their drinks, and laugh like they use to.

Fin noticed the nervous sweat on Elliot's forehead as he squeezed the beer in his hands. "Relax, man." Said Fin. "Its just Liv. Its not like you haven't talked to her before."

"Not about this." Elliot began. "And she's doing a damn good job at building up the suspense by waiting outside the fucking windows."

Fin chuckled. "Therapy has made you soft. She probably doesn't know we're here. Ten bucks says shes waiting for us. Go talk to her."

Elliot looked at Fin and nodded before getting up and heading out the door of the bar. He was nervous, he had to admit. Kathy was his first date, the only woman he had ever slept with. The only woman he ever had to impress.

But this was Olivia. He felt like a teenager, hopelessly in love with his best friend and not knowing what the hell to do about it. She turned around and smiled when she saw him.

God, that smile. He missed it. He missed her; missed the way they use to talk, laugh, missed the late night chats in the cribs, or the constant battle of who had to make the ninth pot of coffee after working a long case.

"Elliot." She said with a smile.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "It's good to see you." He said.

She pulled back but stayed in his arms and nodded. He loved the way her hair bounced at the movement and was about to comment on how stunning she looked before a man came up behind her and put his hand on the small of her back and turned her around to him.

"Hi Liv." Said the man.

Liv? He thought. He calls her Liv?

"Ben." She cooed with warmth in her voice. "Its about time you got here." She pulled away from Elliot and wrapped her arms around the man before her, holding him tight.

He was pretty sure jealousy was a fatal disease.

He kissed the top of her head and smiled at her with the love and passion that Elliot had in his own eyes.

For the same woman.

"Elliot", she said finally, "This is Ben."

He was pretty sure his heart fucking stopped right there.

"Is he. . . Are you together?" He asked, trying to hide the pain in his voice.

"Five months." Said Ben, sticking out his hand to greet Elliot. "Ben Carson. Nice to meet you."

Elliot accepted the man's gesture, though he squeezed Ben's hand angrily. He look at Olivia, who was still enveloped in one of Ben's arms.

Breathe Stabler. Now is not the time to lose control. "I, uh. . . I'm sorry." Said Elliot. "I didn't know that you were bringing a date. I thought it was just going to be the two of us."

"Isn't Fin here?" She asked.

Fuck. He had forgotten that Fin had agreed to help him meet with her.

After the harsh words they had exchanged he was afraid she wouldn't want to have a drink with him alone. Fin was supposed to keep the peace, then when things were good he would suddenly get a headache and leave. Then he would tell her he was sorry and hopefully she would accept his apology.

He would tell her that after six months of medical leave he was transferring so they could be together. He was taking himself out of the equation to make things easy for her so when he told her he loved her she wouldn't have to choose between him and the job because he had already made that choice and it was her.

It was always her.

But she wasn't his, wasn't in his arms and it wasn't his lips that placed a quick kiss on hers.

"It was great seeing you Liv." He said as he began to walk away, completely ignoring Ben.

"Elliot?" Asked Olivia as she hurried after him. "What's going on? Where are you going?"

He just glared at her, refusing to let the hurt show through and instead replaced it with anger. "I'm going home." His voice was thick with sarcasm as he ground out his final words. "Have fun with Ben."

And with that, he walked away, leaving her to walk back to the bar and sit down with Ben and Fin, who left shortly after Ben ordered his first drink.

"Think your friends like me?" Asked Ben, sarcastically, when they were alone.

"They're just protective." She said as she scooted closer to him in the booth. "And what matters is that I like you." She placed a quick kiss on his lips which he deepened shortly after the initial contact was made.

"I love you." He said when she finally pulled back.

She looked at him with shock written on her face as her mouth hung open and her throat ran dry. Ben cupped her face and ran his thumb under her eye, wiping away one lone tear. "What is it, baby?" He asked.

She shook her head and kissed him once more. "I love you too."