A/N: Felt like I hadn't had a flash back for awhile, hope you all enjoy!

By this stage Elliot had tuned out of whatever tirade Olivia was on about, he took a deep breath as if he may never breath again, you said it before, say it again, he coaches himself.

"I LOVE YOU!" it was like this incredible weight was lifted off his shoulders. Elliot had never felt freer than he did in this very moment. It only took his entire life, but Elliot Stabler, finally took the plunge. However, Olivia's face did not look the way he expected it to. He felt ill, suddenly he couldn't breathe.

Olivia was taken aback, moments ago, she was practically screaming at him, wondering why he had to do this to her, time and time again. Wishing and praying he would just man up and say it. Yes, he was right, she knew it, and felt it, always had. It was obviously, painfully obvious, to everyone around them, their squad, his children, his wife. IAB and Tucker knew. She wanted to scream it back, to take him in her arms and never let go. This was the first time in her entire life, Olivia Benson, outside of Noah, felt completely whole, and wanted and necessary.

Say something, you idiot.

Elliot's words echoed her thoughts, "Liv, say something, anything. Please, Liv. I am begging you."

All she could do was cry, but it was a different cry, she slowly slid down the wall she was previously leaning against. She couldn't stop crying, what is wrong with you?

What have I done? He thought, you're supposed to fix her, this was supposed to fix her. Elliot ran over and sat on the floor beside her, wrapping his arms around her. She leaned into him, and a began to stain his shirt with a mixture of mascara, tears and snot. He didn't care.

"Elliot," she begins, trying to find the right words to say. There were so many words and feelings; memories and images flashing through her head right now. Ones of her holding his bloody body, screaming for a bus. Pacing the halls of Mercy, praying he'd never need that kidney. Through to his face on that fateful day. She's remembering all the times since that she wished he would come bursting through the doors. Her hands instinctively trace over some of her scars, Elliot watches her, trying to decipher what she was thinking and feeling.

Olivia turns slightly to look at his face, which was uncharacteristically soft and vulnerable, something she had only been privy to once or twice, "do you know how long I've wanted to hear that, needed to hear that?"

And do you know how long I spent hating myself for that, thinking that I was delusional to think someone, anyone, especially you could love me? And I waited so long for you, now you're back, and you waited outside my door for hours, and I'm still trying to figure out how you knew where to go-"

"Connections," he interjects and is met with her infamous look, which made him feel both weak at the knees and scared at the same time.

"Let me yell at you and hit you," she continues, "only to have you tell me that you love me. I just," she stops to compose herself, and can't help but note how well, even after all this time, they fit together, like each other's missing piece.

"I just, I have more than me to think about, we both do," referring to both of their young boys especially, "and I need to be sure that you're saying it because, well because it's true, not because it's what I want to hear." Her words barely audible, Olivia bites down on her lip, trying to read Elliot.

He closes his eyes, only wishing that she was here all those hours ago, to hear what he had said, although he couldn't blame her for thinking and feeling that way. She said it herself, everyone she loved had left her. Elliot knows that he left her before, and he wasn't going to make that mistake again.

"Liv, you know me, more that I know myself. I never say anything I don't mean," he began, "I was honest and I meant what I said earlier today, I will be here now-,"

"For better or worse," she half mocks the trademark statement.

"Yes. For better or worse. And I will fix this. I will fix us, I will spend the rest of my life proving this, if you let me. I love you Olivia, I always have and I know you do too."

Silence.

"Come on, Liv," he says, trying desperately to control his emotions, something the former detective has always struggled with, "we spent sixteen years knowing but denying it. Nothing, no one, but us are in our way. No marriage, Tucker, nothing."

No one, but us are in our way. Out of everything Elliot just said, this is what hits her the most. It was probably the most accurate thing he has ever said. It was true. They were both as stubborn as each other. They both been hurt and people leaving was so normal that pushing others away was the only way to cope; to be in control. They had this ability to bring out the best and the worst in each other.

"I love you," he begs.

She shakes her head, the concept, this moment, it's too much, too foreign.

Elliot realises that he's fighting a losing battle. He knew, he absolutely knew that she loved him too. He knew that she wouldn't be reacting like this if she didn't. Elliot was also far too aware of the heartache he put her through, and he was foolish to think it would be this easy. He sniffs, and his voice is thick with heartache, "It's alright," and begins to get up.

"I'm sorry," Olivia says as she watches him walk away. Then it hits her, like it was only yesterday;

"You better make sure you take me out with one shot. One perfect, perfect, shot," she was poised, she was ready. But Elliot, the gun was there, right it's there. His life, was in her hands and she couldn't take it. But what if I do it, she thought, oh god, what if I don't? Their partnership had already caused one fatality; it didn't need to cause another.

Looking at Elliot's face she committed it all to memory It was as if it was the last time she would ever see him again. Right on cue, as if he could read her mind, "It's alright," it was barely audible, but she heard it.

Gitano was ready, Elliot was ready, Olivia was ready, "I'm sorry."

-bang.

Elliot slamming her door brought her back to the present, "shit," she jumps up and kicks the wall, cursing again.

Always in sync, Elliot remembers that day as well, the day that confirmed everything for him. When he chose her, consequences be damned.

"If you had a choice between saving your partner or saving a member of the public, which would you do?"

"My partner, and a boy died."

"I wish I didn't…"

"Care so much? That's what makes you a great partner, Elliot."

"What about me?"

"Look, we chose each other over the job and that can't happen again, otherwise we can't be partners."

Almost as quickly as he had left she checks on her sleeping son, and runs out the door, and she sees his back at the end of her hall, "Elliot," she calls out, "Elliot, wait," she's leaning out the door with one foot working as a door stop, "I meant what I said," she waits and he stops, his back still facing her, "that it's not too late, that it couldn't be too late."

Elliot is still standing, digesting and comprehending what the beautiful brunette is saying, "What are you saying?" it's him who needs to hear the words now.

"I'm saying that, I love you," she leans against the door breathing out all the rage, "I love you, I always have; always will," she shrugs, as if she just accepts that Elliot Stabler, will always be a part of her, and that she will always be a part of him.

Elliot runs back to Olivia and kisses her again, but this time he's not holding back. They're laughing and crying and whispering between kisses. Elliot hands run through her soft brown hair, it's better than he's ever imagined. Olivia places her hands over his heart, feeling it beat in time with hers, like it always has.

Olivia is like a magnet, pulling him in closer, he kicks the door shut. He can feel her smiling with his kiss and it's like all the broken pieces of him are slowing coming together, and the world makes sense, "I love you."

"I know," and she starts laughing and abruptly stops, and it's like she doesn't even recognise the sound. Happiness and love and laughter are all emotions she's only just beginning to learn.

"What?" he asks, genuinely curious as to why his technique was a source of humour for Olivia, "not what you imagined?" he looks at her, relishing in the fact he can freely drink her in, without repercussions.

"It's everything and more," she sheepishly admits and looks down, and wipes at her eyes, feeling slightly self-conscious of her puffy, mascara face.

Sensing this, his hand replaces hers, "you're beautiful."

"Stay," Elliot is taken aback by her forwardness, slightly embarrassed, Olivia clarifies, "just stay, and hold me, please?" intimacy was something Olivia had struggled with all her life, and especially in the last twelve months. However, after all this time, it seemed that with Elliot, it was effortless, it always was.

"Yeah," he nods, "I'll stay. For as long as you'll have me, Liv, I meant it."

"Good."

The rest was history.