\n<\/p>\n
#Bensler forever. There are many great TV partnerships, but nothing quite like the relationship between Law & Order\u2019s<\/em> Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler.<\/p>\n The twosome, portrayed by Mariska Hargitay<\/strong><\/a> and Christopher Meloni<\/strong><\/a>, were partners for over a decade on Law & Order: Special Victim\u2019s Unit<\/em><\/a> until Meloni\u2019s departure from the series in season 13. While the pair had their ups and downs over the course of their tenure together, their dynamic flourished due to their opposing personalities. Benson\u2019s empathy juxtaposed with Stabler\u2019s blunt nature created two complex characters who worked well together \u2014 and caused fans to fall in love with their relationship.<\/p>\n While Meloni exited SVU<\/em> in May 2011 before anything could romantically happen between the two characters, his return in Stabler\u2019s spinoff, Law & Order: Organized Crime<\/em> <\/a>in April 2021, offered viewers a glimmer of hope that the duo would take their relationship to the next level.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s a world [where they could get together],\u201d the Man of Steel<\/em> star told Today<\/em> in January 2023 of Benson and Stabler.\u00a0\u201cI used to not, but I think we\u2019re all trying to still figure out what the exact steps are and what that endgame is.\u201d<\/p>\n Hargitay, meanwhile, confirmed in January 2022 that fans are not the only ones who feel the chemistry between the detectives.<\/p>\n \u201cOlivia Benson is hurt! I mean, he left me in a lurch for 10 years. She\u2019s frightened,\u201d she explained on\u00a0The Drew Barrymore Show<\/em><\/a> at the time. \u201cThe energy\u2019s there. Olivia\u2019s been in love with him\u00a0for many a year<\/a> and I think that we are slowly finding our way back to it, but I want to give him the amount of time he needs to grieve [late ex-wife]\u00a0Kathy Stabler.\u201d<\/p>\n However, the Leaving Las Vegas<\/em> star played coy later that year\u00a0when asked about the longtime partners turning romantic when asked on the 2022 Emmys red carpet.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want the tea, baby? Sweetheart, get in line,\u201d she joked to E! News<\/em><\/a> at the time.<\/p>\n Despite not giving up any spoilers about the pair\u2019s romantic future, both Meloni and Hargitay have gushed about working with each other<\/a> over the years \u2014 and how they knew there was a special connection from the very beginning.<\/p>\n \u201cI just knew that Mariska was going to be The One,\u201d Meloni confessed in\u00a0<\/b>2009\u2019s\u00a0The Law & Order: SVU<\/em> Unofficial Companion<\/em>\u00a0book. \u201cI was in the middle of telling her this story, this joke. So we got up on the stage and I\u2019m like, \u2018Hold on just a second, I\u2019m going to finish telling this story.\u2019 Not being disrespectful, but this is important too. This may change my life, but the story is that funny. And I think that put us at ease, and unconsciously there was a connection<\/a> you could see: That she was now my partner.\u201d<\/p>\n Hargitay echoed Meloni\u2019s sentiments during an interview with TV Line<\/em> in 2018. \u201cFrom the second we met, bells went off. We knew we were going to be a huge force in each other\u2019s lives. He was intense and mercurial but also fun,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n Keep scrolling for Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler\u2019s complete relationship timeline:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n