What A Wonderful World

Chapter 1: A Knock on the Door

Disclaimer: I do not own.

A/N: This is a sequel to my first fic Coveted. I wasn't sure if I should write it, but I decided to. Well that's obvious. I don't know if this story is any good so please read and review. It would be much appreciated. Now my fickle fic-reading friends read on! Enjoy!

Olivia was in the shower when she heard a knock on her door. 'Damn.' She thought. People always came at the most inconvenient times. The knock came again, louder this time.

"In a minute!" she yelled. She threw on jeans and a T-shirt and started for the door. She stopped when her hand was on the doorknob. It had suddenly occurredto her that she had not buzzed anyone in. She looked through the peephole and saw the top of a blonde head. A very familiar blonde head. Olivia opened the door.

"Hi, Kathy." Olivia said flatly. Kathy stopped rocking back and forth on her heels and looked up.

"Hey. Um, could I talk to you for a minute?" Olivia nodded curtly.

"Want a beer?" Olivia asked.

"Please." She handed Kathy a beer and sat beside her on the couch.

"What's up?" Olivia asked, not really sure if she even cared.

"It's about Elliot." Kathy answered looking down.

Shit.

"Elliot?" Olivia asked as if she had no idea what Kathy was taking about. Of course, she knew all to well.

"Yeah. Elliot. And, uh, you too."

Double shit.

Olivia said nothing.

"Well," Kathy continued glancing briefly at Olivia. "Um, I figured since he seems to be able to talk to you about anything that you must give good advice. Or, at least, you're a good listener." She paused and took a deep breath. "I have been cheating on Elliot for quite a while." She said slowly as if tasting her words. "I got drunk a few weeks ago and brought the "other man," she laughed sarcastically. "home with me. I slipped up and told Elliot I was sleeping with this man. I don't remember much except Ben telling me that Elliot wanted a divorce. When I was sober I realized that I wasn't upset. I love Elliot. I will always love him, but only as the father of my children. We…I don't know, fell apart a long time ago." Kathy looked straight at Olivia. "When he met you, I guess." Olivia couldn't speak. She nodded for Kathy to continue.

"He's a good man." Kathy continued. "He's strong, gentle, kind and protective. Hell yes he's terrifying when he's angry, but he's a good man. They don't come like that anymore." Olivia laughed at Kathy's words. She had experienced Elliot's fury only a few weeks ago. "He's one of kind, that's for sure." Kathy started again. "But he's not the one for me. And I am not the one for him. I know that and he knows that. Olivia, I just don't understand!" Kathy burst out suddenly. "I married one of the best guys in the world and even though we knew we weren't meant to be he never cheated! But I did." This time Olivia did speak up.

"Kathy, I don't' get it. I thought that you thought that Elliot and I were sleeping together. Or did I get that whole 'your slut partner' thing wrong?" She hadn't meant for that last comment to slip out, but she didn't regret it. Kathy hung her head.

"Jesus, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I knew he wasn't cheating on me, but I just wanted to believe it wasn't only me. I acted like a child. I am so sorry." Olivia only nodded. Kathy continued. "I felt horrible about everything. About losing him, hating you, and cheating on him. It's just," Kathy looked down at her hands and her voice was barely above a whisper. "He loves you. I know he does. I've seen the way he looks at you. He never looked at me like that." Olivia inhaled sharply. Kathy looked up. "You love him too, don't you? No, don't shake your head at me. I know you do. Your eyes get this sort of look in them when you're around him. That look is for him and him only. It's hard finding the right guy for yourself. It's even harder when you know you've found him and he's with someone else." Olivia felt tears gather in her eyes. Kathy was right; it was hard. Elliot was the first man she'd fully let into her life. He was the one. But…Kathy. As if Kathy had read her mind she said, "We're going through with the divorce."

Olivia could only nod. He could be hers. 'But did he still want to be?' Olivia wondered. Kathy set the empty beer bottle down and stood up.

"Thank you for listening." Kathy whispered.

"Kathy, wait!" Olivia called. Kathy turned around.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"For what?" Kathy asked.

"For understanding."

Kathy smiled. "Anytime." Then she was gone. Olivia sat on the couch, dumbfounded. A sudden crash from her bedroom startled her. She stood and reached fro her gun. Too late did she realize that she had left it in her room.

Shit.

TBC

A/N: So should I continue with the story? Please read and review.