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It quickly becomes a shorthand, a language that only the two of them can speak and ever hope to translate. One of them will send the other the duck emoji, the other will reply with a heart. Simple, easy, but loaded with meaning for both.
Let’s go feed the ducks. Or, more accurately, let’s spend some time together.
Both of their jobs are so insane, so unpredictably intense, that even the best-laid plans sometimes have to get thrown out the window at the last minute; the promise of “feeding the ducks” – of taking that brief moment out of their days to get together, even if it’s only for a little bit.
“Hey,” Olivia says, throwing her arms around him, as they meet by her car in the parking garage. God, I’m never going to get over how it feels to be in his arms, am I? I hope I don’t. It’s been one of those weeks, another hard case, another victory that doesn’t feel as sweet as it should. “I’m so glad you came.” She’d been the one to send him the duck, needing to see a friendly face that would let her be, without demanding anything more of her.
“You quacked, I came running,” he says, tapping her nose with his finger and grinning at her. I’m never going to get over seeing her smile and knowing I’m the reason for it, am I? No, never. “Bell let me go early today; she’s wanting me to start studying for the sergeant’s exam, since she’s going for lieutenant and doesn’t want to lose me as her number two.”
She looks at him, pride reflected in her eyes. They’ve come so far; once they got past the hurdles that stood in their way, being with Elliot is more than she ever dreamed could be possible for her. “I’m so proud of you, El,” she whispers. “Sergeant Stabler has a nice ring to it.”
“It does,” he says, tipping a kiss, then another, onto her jaw; she arches her neck, allowing his lips to drag along her throat, leaving a trail of tiny kisses in his wake. “And I have the very best tutor who will make sure I pass.”
She grins. “Oh, I have my methods…”
Soon, studying for the exam is the last thing on either of their minds.