* Oh would you look at that, another story started. This doesn't mean that I'm done with Unexpected Encounter, I will still be working on that one (in fact, I'm almost finished with a new chapter now). But this idea, whatever the inspiration was, came to me and I just had to roll with it. And a disclaimer, I have nothing against Tuckson; actually, I really like their relationship and I am happy with anything that makes Olivia's character happy, but because the show is only telling us that their relationship is complicated, I thought I might try to write my own version of their complications. Enjoy! *

"Is this all we have? Her doctor couldn't tell you anymore?"

Olivia stared at the board in front of her, looking at the pictures of the victim and of the suspects the team had so far for their current case. From what she could see in front of her, there wasn't much to go off of and it wasn't looking like they were headed in the right direction to find more answers.

"She said as much as she could without violating patient privilege, but it really wasn't any more than Melinda was able to tell us." Amanda told her.

Liv let a long, agitated sigh. "So we have nothing more than we started with… Let's see if there isn't something we are missing in her background, some boyfriend or man in her life, her parents would be really helpful, or even an aunt or uncle, someone who might know more about her."

"We're on it, Lieu." Carisi promised.

She watched as everyone got up from their seats at the table and moved back to their desks. But Liv waited for a moment, taking a few deep breaths.

"You okay?" Liv jumped slightly at the sound of her detective asking her the question.

Rollins watched her turn around slightly to face her. "I'm fine, Amanda."

Olivia stood up slowly and walked to her office. Amanda watched her boss closely, a little worried about her, but she didn't wanted to say anything more because she wasn't sure it was her place.

Moments later, just as everyone was settling back into their desks in search of more information, Olivia emerged from her office. She had her coat on and her phone in her hand. "I need to get out for a little while. Anybody want anything? I'm going to go get some coffee."

"Coffee?" Carisi asked her.

"It won't kill her Carisi." Amanda said. "Mind of I come with you?"

Liv shook her head. "No, not at all."

The women walked out of the squad room together, Amanda putting her coat on as they went and Olivia trying to shake the comment Carisi had made. They rode the elevator down in silence, but the blonde detective couldn't stop herself from trying to start a conversation.

"Are you sure that you're alright? I didn't mean to ask you in front of everyone, I know you probably don't really want to discuss it out in the open like that."

"Amanda, it's okay." Liv assured her. "It's not that I don't want to discuss it, it's kind of hard topic to just dismiss, but I don't want all of you to feel like you have to watch and worry about my every move."

Amanda understood. She had been in the exact same position just a year earlier. The whole squad was watching her, especially Fin. But because Olivia was leading the squad and Nick had since left, everyone, Fin, Carisi, herself, even Chief Dodds had taken it upon themselves to make sure nothing happened.

Rollins nodded. "I get it, I do. And if I ever overstep my bounds just tell me, okay?"

"You won't, I'm sure." Olivia and Amanda turned the street corner, the precinct no longer visible, leaving the case behind inside of it. "I'd rather have you asking the questions than Fin or Carisi. I swear those two worry more than Ed does and I didn't even know that was possible."

"How is he? Ed?" Amanda asked.

Liv thought for a moment before she answered. "He's good. Just really busy. He hasn't been home much lately, so now instead of getting babied every night at home, I'm getting phone calls from him throughout the day making sure I'm eating and drinking enough water and not consuming extreme amounts of coffee."

"But he's excited about this, isn't he?"

"I don't know if… excited is the right word." Olivia admitted. "I think he's happy about it, but I also know that he feels like he's in over his head. And, I can't really blame him. It's a lot to take on just me and this job, let alone Noah and another child."

The conversation halted for a few minutes as the women walked through the door of the coffee shop, which was rather quiet for midday, but they didn't mine the lack of commotion. Their squad room and homes' had enough of that for them both. They ordered their drinks, decaf for Olivia, and those for Fin and Carisi, as well.

As they walked out, Olivia was the one who restarted the conversation. "And none of this is normal. It would be one thing if we were in our thirties and had the energy to run after a toddler while expecting another baby, but we most certainly aren't. That much has become more and more obvious as this pregnancy has gone along."

"Maybe he's just a little scared? I would be and I know that he wouldn't be someone who would admit that to you." Amanda hadn't known Tucker as long as Olivia, but she knew enough to know he wasn't a man of many feelings.

"Maybe…" Liv thought.

"I'm sorry, I'm asking too many questions." Amanda apologized.

Olivia was aware that Amanda was only asking, or more like interrogating her, because she cared about Olivia. She knew what it was like to be pregnant on this job and how difficult it could be, even for she, who was young and healthy without any of the worries of a high risk pregnancy. And although they had a bumpy past, Amanda wanted to be a support for Liv when she knew she would need it the most.

"It's really okay, Amanda." Liv knew her detective meant well. "You're the only one who is really asking me anything these days other than when the last time I ate was or how many hours of sleep I got."

Amanda chuckled. "I'll remember to avoid those. But really, are you feeling okay? I know it's an annoying question, but I recognized that look you had on your face earlier and it wasn't because you were feeling good."

"I'm fine now." Liv gently pressed her hand to her seven month bump hidden beneath her jacket, feeling the baby's soft kicks. "I had just been sitting too long today; the baby isn't really a fan of stagnation, likes to start using me as its punching bag."

"I remember that, Jessie was the same way."

Their conversation dwindled as they made their way back into the precinct. Amanda halted her questions returning to work mode, just as Olivia did. But Liv couldn't shake the conversation she had just had with the young blonde, mostly what had been spoken about Ed. It had occurred to her that maybe he was worried about this new little life they were bringing into the world, but scared wasn't an adjective she ever thought would describe how Ed Tucker was feeling. And the more she thought about it, the more she thought about how he was acting lately, Liv could see where Amanda had a point.

The talk from that afternoon, was stilling running through her head when she opened the front door to the new apartment she was sharing with her boyfriend and son.

"Mama!" Noah ran straight into her legs, showing how truly excited he was to see his mom again.

"Hi my sweet boy." Olivia bent down as well as she could, the day had taken a toll on her back, and planted a kiss on top of his head. "How was preschool today?"

"I played with the plato and colored."

Olivia smiled, proud of her son. "That sounds like such a good day, No."

Ed watched from the kitchen as she spoke to her son. He got a lot of joy from watching the two interact, their relationship was only what he could hope to have with both Noah and their newest addition some day.

Liv stood back up, a concerning cracking come from her back as she did so. Trying to ignore the pain, she slowly walked toward the kitchen. "And how was your day?"

Ed looked back up from cutting up vegetables for the dinner salad. "It was fine. You?"

His answer was cold and distant, setting Olivia off. And usually when she first walked in, if he was home before her, he was giving her the third degree about every moment of her day to make sure she was taking care of herself.

"The baby's been moving a lot today and I can't seem to get rid of this back ache because of it." Liv wouldn't normally have mentioned the pain, but she wanted to see if she could get a reaction out of him.

"Maybe you should slow down a little then." Was all he could say in response.

Something was very off and Olivia couldn't figure out why. She knew Ed had been busy lately, under a lot of stress, but that hadn't stopped him from being overly protective and concerned from the moment they met every evening.

The night went on very quietly. And Liv could not handle the growing distance.

"Ed is something wrong?" She had wanted to be able to talk to him tonight, really talk to him. Noah was now asleep, allowing for them to be alone, just the two of them. After what Amanda had said, she needed to be able to talk to him and now he wouldn't say more than one-syllable words.

"Not really…" His answer as evasive as he had been all evening.

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Okay, seriously? What is up?"

"It's just that…"

"Just that what?" Liv pressured him. "Is this something to do with me or the baby?"

Ed shook his head. "No, Liv. This isn't about you or the baby."

"Are you sure? If it is you can tell me. I want you to tell me."

"Liv this isn't about you!" Ed's voice rose with anger.

Olivia's eyes widened. She had seen Tucker get angry, plenty of times, but this was the first time that she could remember him reacting to her or something she said in such a way since they had been together.

"I'm sorry Liv…" Ed tried.

But the lieutenant was up from the couch in the living room and was already halfway to the bedroom. Ed got up to follow her, but by the time he could see the bedroom door it was shutting in his face.

"Olivia." Ed pushed the door back open. "I didn't mean that."

"Ed, I'm not in the mood tonight. I don't feel good and you are obviously not wanting to tell me what's going on." Liv sat down on the bed, her back facing him.

"I got a job offer today."

Liv turned back around quickly, as if looking at Ed might make what he said more clear to her. That wasn't what she had been expecting.

"What do you mean you got a job offer? You just started this job." Liv questioned him.

Ed let out a deep sigh. "I know and I wasn't expecting this. But it's a good offer, Liv… a really good offer."

"What is it?" Liv asked.

"Its… I got offered to be the head of the hostage negotiation team."

"Wow, that's…. Wow. Ed that's what you've always wanted to do."

"For the LA PD."

Olivia opened her mouth and then closed it again, realizing that she didn't actually know what to say in response.

"I know this isn't… that this isn't the best case scenario."

Liv just continued to stare at him. She had walked through the door of her apartment that night thinking that she would be able to talk to her boyfriend, work through some of their unspoken worries. And now here she was listening to Ed tell her about an offer that would change absolutely everything they had worked for. She was at a complete and total loss and she could feel her future, the one she had just started to picture with Ed, slipping away from them.

* Okay, let me know what you think. Is is worth continuing? Is anyone interested? Reviews are greatly appreciated! *