Life of Surprises

Chapter 5

Location: Benson Residence

Date: May 28th, 2014

Time: 10:10 PM

"Damn straight it's me." Alex replied.

"What are you doing here?" The man asked.

"I could ask you the same thing." Alex spat back.

"Alex who's at the d-" Olivia stopped dead in her tracks.

"Liv?" The man asked sounding relieved.

"Elliot?" Olivia asked when she found her voice.

"Yeah...it's me." He said nervously.

Olivia just stood there, her head spinning. He was really there. At her apartment door after 4 years of no contact. No goodbye.

"Why are you here?" Alex asked, breaking the silence.

"Alex. Let him in." Olivia said slowly.

"Are you sure, Liv? Remember what he did to you? The leaving unannounced, the no goodbye, no contact for four years!" Alex warned her.

"And that's what I'm here for. I came to apologize. For everything." Elliot said as he slowly entered the familiar apartment.

"So you think you can waltz in here after four years, say sorry, and we go back to normal?" Olivia asked becoming angry.

"Liv I-"

"Don't Liv me." She spat. "You left. LEFT. You didn't even say goodbye! I cried myself to sleep for months! I went through partner after partner because none of them were as good as you! I answered phone calls angrily because it wasn't you calling! You hurt me Elliot." She screamed at him. The screaming woke up Noah and he began to scream too.

"I'll get him." Alex said already walking toward the room.

Elliot was about to ask before Olivia put a hand up to stop him.

"Later. Right now we have other things to discuss." She said calmly.

"I know I hurt you, Liv, and I'm sorry but I had to go." Elliot started to explain taking a step closer to his ex-partner.

"Why? WHY did you HAVE to?" Olivia asked becoming angry again.

"I shot a kid, Liv. A KID!" He yelled as tears began to make their way down his face. "How was I supposed to go to work everyday knowing that I shot a kid. Knowing that we did everything we could to try and help her and then I shot her! How was I supposed to face you? You would never look at me the same again. You would think I couldn't protect you!" Elliot finished now crying.

"You know I wouldn't think that, El." Olivia said putting a comforting hand on his bicep.

"Why? I shot a kid." Elliot began to sob. Olivia pulled him toward the coach and sat down. She let him cry on her shoulder for a good 5 minutes before he calmed down.

"I missed you, Liv. So much and I regret everyday that I didn't call or text you. I regret not saying goodbye." He said quietly.

"Why didn't you?" Olivia asked.

"Because I knew I couldn't. If I tried to say goodbye, just looking at your face would kill me." He admitted.

"I missed you too, El." Olivia said as tears gathered in her eyes.

"You don't know how sorry I am." Elliot said as he enveloped her in a hug.

"Yes I do." She said as she hugged him back.

"I need you back, Liv. For good. There's things I never told you before I left." Elliot said, becoming nervous.

"What do you mean?" Olivia asked as she looked into his tear filled eyes.

"Kathy left me, Liv." Elliot said.

"Oh my god. El, I'm so sorry." Olivia said as she hugged him again.

"I'm over it. And plus, it helps make this next sentence less complicated." Elliot said. Olivia pulled back enough to look him in the eye.

"I love you, Liv."