Sweet Relief

Our Girl

Let me take you to dinner." Elliot says, a soft smile on his face, his thumb stroking her her fingers gently as she lets him hold her hand, "You can catch me up over a glass of wine."

He didn't think he'd get this far with her... He had prepared himself for this to be the last conversation they ever had, and he knew anything short of that would be a miracle, and he's still stunned that she's standing in front of him after so long.

As Olivia contemplates his offer, she thinks carefully about what that really means. "Catching him up"... Although she's not ready to give up the things she's holding closest, she knows they need to be alone. She can't fathom going back inside and attempting to focus on anything or anyone else. She looks up at the gentle smile on his face as he looks down at her, unbothered by the time it's taking her to answer his question and she can feel herself going soft. The logical part of her brain is telling her to leave, to tell him to leave. It would be better if they spoke in the morning after she'd had time to consider her feelings, and the weight of what it means that he's come home, what that is bound to do to her life. But after all this time.. She can't walk away from him, a night alone with the knowledge that he's back sounds unbearable.

"Maybe we could order in." She offers, "Give ourselves a bit of privacy?"

Elliot smiles. He's relieved she's the one that suggested it, there's nothing he wants more in the world than to talk to his Olivia, the one he only gets in their most private moments. He knows he's no longer entitled to that version of her, and he's surprised she's offered it, but not enough to question it. He leans in and gives her a gentle kiss, mostly to confirm that he's still allowed this privilege before he takes her hand.

"I'd like that." He says with a soft nod, "Do you want to make the rounds inside or should we disappear out the back door?"

Olivia bites her lip. As much as she wants to duck out the back and avoid any and all explanation, she can't disappear from her own party without thanking her friends. "I can't leave without thanking Amanda, or Don..." She says, looking back towards the banquet hall.

Elliot nods. He understands.

Olivia wipes at the makeup under her eyes, hoping no inside will be able to tell she's been crying. She looks up at Elliot and he smiles his approval, wiping away at the last hint of mascara on her cheek.

"Perfect." He whispers, tucking a loose piece of her back behind my ear, his fingers lingering.

The loving touch gives her butterflies, the same way it used to. The mix of her lingering anger and the pull she feels to be close to him is enough to make her feel dizzy but she does her best to set aside as they walk back into the hotel. She drops his hand and they separate themselves as they walk back towards the table where the SVU squad is still seated.

Olivia is relieved to see everyone has taken full advantage of the open bar and is oblivious to their return from the garden. As they approach the squads table, Elliot is met with a barrage of dirty looks. Fin stares at him, a familiar but intensified hatred in his eyes as he refuses to shake his hand. Don gives him a firm handshake.

"Good to see you home, son." He says.

Munch gives him a stiff welcome back before turning his attention back to Olivia, who's saying her goodbye's to a very grumpy Fin. He hugs her back and she whispers in his ear, "Cut him a little slack, okay?" As she pulls away Fin shakes his head.

"He's lucky I don't cave the side of his big head in..." He grumbles, just loudly enough for Elliot to hear.

"Fin..." She says gently, giving him a look he knows means business. She's not unaware of how much it hurt Fin to watch her in the years after he left, and she knows Fin more than picked up his slack. He became her person, her family. He's entitled to his rage, just as she is.