Chapter One - "Good To You"
Olivia walked over to the door, she had Noah on her hip and with her free hand he opened the door. It had been about four months since the judge had asked her if she was interested in fostering and possibly adopting Baby Noah. She knew this was something she wanted. She just hadn't expected the change, it was a good change and it was a bad change, but she was still getting used to it. She hadn't been expecting anyone so when there was a knock on the door she expected to it be the social worker stopping by to see how everything was going. Only it was Nick on the other side of the door. Olivia couldn't help but smile.
"Nick," Olivia said. The two hadn't really gotten a chance to talk to each other since everything happened. She regretted it, but it wasn't like she was trying to avoid him. She just had Noah now and she was back in charge of the squad, it was a process.
"Did I come at a bad time?" Nick asked.
"No, not at all," Olivia said. She stepped out of the way to let Nick in. As Nick walked in he couldn't help but give a baby face to Noah and a wave. Olivia closed the door and join Nick in the living room. "As you can see I wasn't expecting anyone today. Still getting used to the transition. When I was taking care of Calvin it was a little different."
"I don't think he's complaining," Nick said talking about Noah.
"Why don't I go put him down," Olivia said.
"You don't have too," Nick said as he walked over to the couch. "I mean no on my account, I was just hoping we could talk."
"Yeah," Olivia said. She never liked those words we could talk, it never lead to anything good. Olivia walked over and placed Noah down in the playpen in the living room, before joying Nick on the couch. "What's up?"
"First I'm not here to beg you for my job back, because I know it's only going to take time," Nick said.
"You will get it back," Olivia said to him. "We are going through the motions too."
"I'm actually here to say I talk with Maria and have a long talk," Nick said to her.
"That good," Olivia said. She knew things have been really rocky.
"I talked with Cynthia as well," Nick said to her. "I'm going to move to California to be with Maria and Zara."
"What?" Olivia said. She was hoping she was hearing him wrong.
"I have nothing left here Liv," Nick said to her. "I'm literally hanging by a rope that's being held together by a single strand. If I mess up again I lose my badge and I'm done. If I go to California I can get a job where I won't have to worry about anyone looking over my shoulder."
"You still have people who care about you," Olivia said. "What about Fin and Rollins? You just going to leave them behind?"
"No," Nick told her. "I want to tell you first before I told anyone else. It's your squad again, I owed it to you to tell you in person."
"I'm not accepting it," Olivia said. "You are one of our best Detective Nick, I won't lose you."
"You'll all be fine, if not better off with my gone," Nick said. "I think it be better if we all just had a clear break."
"When are you planning on leaving?" Olivia asked him.
"Not for another two months. Still working some things out," Nick said to her.
"Good I have two month to change your mind and I will," Olivia said to him. "You told me your life was here and I'm help remind you of that." Before either could say another word Noah started to cry. Olivia stood up, but Nick stood up and stopped her.
"I'll get him," Nick said. He walked over to the playpen and picked up Noah.
"I think he's hungry," Olivia said as she made her way to the kitchen.
"Are you hungry Noah?" Nick asked him as he walked back over to the couch. Nick sat down and placed Noah on his knee. He then gentle started to bounce his knee up and down. A few moments after Noah stopped crying and started laughing. Olivia walked back into the living room with a bottle in her hand. When she saw Nick and Noah she couldn't help but smile.
"How did you do that?" Olivia asked him.
"I used to do this with Zara from time to time. Maria would get mad at me, tell me I was going to drop her," Nick said with a laugh.
"Thank you," Olivia said. "Still figuring things out. I am loving every minute of it and Noah is everything I want and more. It's the whole new mom."
"From what I can see is you're doing great." Nick said with a smile. "I should get going."
"You don't have too," Olivia said as she took Noah back from Nick.
"I've got my mandatory angry management course to get to," Nick said to her.
"Right," Olivia said. "I'm glad you are sticking with that."
"I actually thought I was going to hate it and part of me does, but I'm also glad too," Nick said to her. "As much as I didn't want to admit it, it was something I needed."
"That's really good Nick," Olivia said. "It's great you're working through this all. You stick with it and you'll be back at SVU in no time."
"Liv," Nick said.
"You talking to someone?" Olivia asked. She remember the last time she mentioned it, hoping maybe this time would be different."
"Yeah," Nick said. "You were right. I was just to busy in my head and trying to make everything how it should be. I missed every red flag that was out there. Almost losing everything puts things in to prospective. This is why I think it's best."
"I'm gonna change your mind on that one," Olivia said.
"Good luck," Nick said. "Someone looks like he's ready for a nap and that would be my cue."
"If you need anything don't hesitate to call or stop by," Olivia said.
"Will do," Nick said to her. He then started to walk to the door, but stopped when he reached it. He turned back to Olivia. "Thanks for everything, Liv."
"You're a good partner Nick," Olivia said to him. Nick then walked out of the apartment. Olivia carefully got up off the couch and walked into the bedroom and put Noah down for a nap.
AN: The new version of this story and yes like I said it's a new story. Taking the finale and adding on to that. I kind of felt that that with everything that happened he'd kind work on getting his life back together. Then I kind of thought maybe he'd see tings a bit different and want a change. That's just how I'm setting it up, but trust me it's not going to end up that way.
