Disclaimer: Alex and Olivia aren't mine. They belong to Dick Wolf.

This is an established A/O oneshot that takes place during Ghost, so spoilers there. It's my take on what happened when they spent the night at the hotel after Elliot left.

"I can't believe you're really back," murmurs Olivia, absently threading her fingers through my hair.

We're lying in bed together for the first time in what seems like forever, even though it's only really been two years. But I've longed for Olivia every day since I left and this – this is bliss. A few moments together erases the years of pain in the blink of an eye.

But tonight, there will be no sex. We don't need it. We're already as close as two people can possibly be. We love each other and we've both waited so long for this. All we need is to be near the other and sex, no matter how passionate, would undermine our feelings for each other. It would be too simple if our love was purely physical. But it isn't. I never believed in soul mates until I met Olivia, which is when I truly realized what it's like to love someone so much that you would do anything for them, that you would spend the rest of your life with them, that you would lay down your life for them without a moment of hesitation.

And now, wrapped in her arms, I feel safer than I've felt in two years/

"Me neither," I whisper against Olivia's neck.

She plants a kiss on the crown of my head. "Are you here to stay?"

I wish she wouldn't ask me that. "I don't know. I hope so."

"I'm sure we could find you a job," she tells me, and I'm not sure whether or not she's being serious.

Deciding she's probably just joking, I smile. "I think Casey already feels like I've stepped on her turf."

She shrugs. "She'll get over it."

"Oh, you're so considerate," I tease.

She laughs and presses a soft kiss to my temple. "It's so good to do this again."

"I know." I rest my head on her shoulder and let out a deep sigh of contentment.

"Tell me about Wisconsin," she whispers.

"It's quieter than New York," I tell her. "This is my home. With all of it, the police cars swarming the city, the hustle and the bustle, the pungent fumes of diesel exhaust, New York is the best of the best." I smile a bit. "Sometimes when I get homesick, I hum the Mr. Softy song."

Humming the song herself, Olivia goes back to stroking my hair. I laugh in spite of myself and shift to get more comfortable.

"Everyone misses you," murmurs Olivia.

"I miss everyone," I reply, then admit, "I never thought I'd ever come back. But now – now, here I am, and it's like a wonderful dream."

"If it's a dream," she says, rubbing gentle circles into my back. "I hope I never wake up."

Me too, I think, relaxing at Olivia's touch. This is the most amazing feeling in the entire world.

I hope you enjoyed my little oneshot! Review if you did.