Thanks for all the reviews and PMs. All you Brian haters, I appreciate you giving this a chance. I am not a Bensidy fan, but I did watch several episodes to try to give him a fair shake in this story. Sometimes we are all too hard on him.

Elliot fans...hang in there. He'll be making an appearance soon. Not in this chapter...but soon. I promise!

Enjoy chapter 2 and I look forward to your thoughts.

6 Months Later…

Olivia walked down the hall of Brian's dingy apartment building. They'd agreed to occasional get-togethers, that over the past few months had become more and more frequent. Sometimes she would meet up with him at his apartment if they both had a free lunch break and other times she ended up stopping by on her way home from work as long as she wasn't running too late. If he was working late or off on an assignment he always tried to let her know before she made the trip to his place, and so they were averaging a couple of times a week now. It wasn't the relationship they'd had before, but she had to admit it was nice…freeing. When they'd broken up Brian mentioned he thought they had more fun hooking up than they did living together, and after all they'd been through during their years together, she believed he was right. It was refreshing to just have fun with him, and she had no desire to take it any further.

Today she'd had a miserable day at work that started with her being late because Noah's daycare drop-off had taken a turn for the worse when he was moved to the two year old class for the first time and tantrumed at the sight of his new teacher, and ended with one of her detectives dropping a huge bombshell that she wasn't sure how to deal with yet. She was frustrated as she took out the key Brian had given her and unlocked his door, expecting to wait for him a while. The key stuck in the lock and she shimmied it, "Damn this whole day," she yelled as the key finally turned and the door pushed open. "Fucking pregnancy hormones…how the hell am I supposed to deal with that in the squad room everyday?" She looked up from her mindless chatter to see Brian sitting on his couch with a beer, his eyes widened in surprise.

"What did you say?" he asked, his face pale and nervous. "Did you say pregnancy hormones?"

"What?" she shook her head. "Yeah…this day…"

"You're pregnant?" he swallowed the lump in his throat and stared up and down her body for any sign that would clear up what she was saying. "Liv…"

"No…" she laughed a little. "I'm not pregnant, Bri…but it's nice to know you haven't changed your stance on that subject."

"You're not…pregnant? You're not...you're sure?" he asked again, the relief apparent in his voice. "Then why are you rambling about dealing with pregnancy hormones?"

"Not my pregnancy hormones," she said, flopping down on the couch beside him and laying her head on his shoulder. "Rollins…she walked into my office today and told me she's pregnant. Then she started bawling because she doesn't want it to ruin her career and when I tried to calm her down she blamed it on her pregnancy hormones. God…this is gonna be a mess...can you believe her?"

Brian shrugged, "I guess…I mean she's young and maybe she really wants a family."

Olivia's eyes narrowed questioningly, "Are you serious? She's a mess. She can't handle a kid…there's no way. Plus she's already sixteen weeks pregnant and she didn't say a damn thing until now. For four months she's been out there working cases and putting her kid in danger…and she's not saying who the father is but I have my suspicions and she isn't going to tell him."

"Who do you think the father is?" Brian asked.

Olivia rolled her eyes, "Nick…it has to be Nick."

"Nick?" Brian laughed, "Liv…he's been in California for six months."

"They were seeing each other before," she told him. "They thought I didn't know…but I did. She went out there to see him a few times since he left…I mean, I assume that's where she went. She asked for time off to visit a friend. She should tell him. It's not right. She is going to just go on like everything is fine and he's not even going to know he has a child, Brian. He's my friend and I can't tell him because it would be a violation of her privacy and I'd be overstepping as commanding officer. But, I can't imagine that she'd be a great parent on her own."

"You've got to be kidding me. This really isn't any of your business." he snickered. "People could've said the same about you, Liv, before Noah. And maybe she's not ready for a baby, but I don't think anyone is until they have one. Hell…I wouldn't be ready for a kid, but if it ever happened I'd pull my shit together."

"Really?" Olivia shook her head. "So we'll just forget your reaction when we thought I was pregnant a couple years ago. You didn't really pull your shit together then."

"I didn't have to," he reminded her. "There was no baby."

"Yeah, I know...you really dodged a bullet," she sighed, standing to her feet. "I have to get home…"

"What? Why?" Brian stood up and grabbed her, turning her toward him. "Are you mad at me? Liv, look…no more baby talk. It always causes a wedge between us and we've been having fun. You've been having fun, right?"

"Yeah…" she leaned into him and he pulled her into a hug, "I'm sorry, Bri…it was just a really rough day and Noah was a mess at daycare and then this thing with Rollins. I'm down a detective now and they never replaced Nick. Fin and Carisi can't take care of everything…I'm so tired," She kept her head resting against his chest and he ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her softly on the head.

"It's okay…" he whispered. "I think it's that damn lieutenant's exam. You've been studying for it day and night and you've wiped yourself out. At least it'll be over tomorrow."

"Maybe I shouldn't take it," she suggested, although they both knew it was an empty threat. "Maybe I should be out working in the field more and I should let some other jackass run things."

"Maybe you shouldn't take it," he teased. "I don't like you outranking me anyway…"

She laughed, "I already outrank you."

"I know…" he kissed her. "That's why I let you give the orders around here."

"Oh really?" she kissed him and pulled him toward the bedroom. "I only have a few minutes…so let's get started on those orders." Suddenly he swooped her up in his arms and she squealed with surprise and giggled as he carried her into the bedroom. She felt like a teenager again…and it seemed that he was the only one who could bring that out in her.

SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU

The next day she surpassed the trip to Brian's and went straight home. She was exhausted, having spent the day taking the lieutenant's exam and thrilled that it was finally over, but her whole body was tense and tired to the point that she just wanted a hot bath and snuggle time with her little boy. So when she pushed open the door and he ran to her, jumping into her arms it was the most delightful feeling in the world. She'd said good-bye to Lucy and ordered Thai noodles, changed into comfy sweats and pulled Noah onto the sofa with his favorite book and she was yawning as she read through it time after time, but it felt nice…peaceful. She was glad to be home.

The knock at the door startled them both as they were so caught up in the book. "Mama…get it," Noah laughed and she smiled at him and sat the book down beside him.

"It's our noodles…they're early…" she said walking to the door.

"Yum," Noah shouted after her and she laughed as she pulled the door open, expecting the delivery person.

"Brian?" she asked with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Mama…noodles…" Noah was at her side, tugging at her shirt and she bent down and picked him up.

"No noodles yet, buddy…" she said, situating him on her hip and turning her attention back to Brian. "Is something going on?" she asked.

"Can I come in?" he asked and she moved so he could walk into the apartment, and they went to the sofa and sat down, Brian wringing his hands and Olivia sitting Noah in her lap.

"What's going on?" she asked. "I thought you were working tonight?"

"He's getting big," Brian forced a weak smile at Noah. "How're you, little man? Keeping your mama busy?" Noah snuggled closer to his mother and Brian sighed, "Liv…I need to talk to you…"

"Noah, why don't you go play with your blocks until the food is here," Olivia suggested, sitting him down on the floor and he ran off to his toy box. Then she looked seriously at Brian, "What's wrong?" she asked nervously.

"Liv…" he looked at the floor and then back at her, "Have you talked to Tucker? Did you tell him about us?"

Olivia was confused. "Why would I tell him about us?" she asked. "I didn't think there really was an us anyway…remember…we're just having fun."

"I'm being serious," he said with a sternness that worried her. "Liv…he knows about us. He told me to stay away from you or he was going to start an investigation into inappropriate conduct and that he'd keep you from becoming lieutenant. He meant it."

"He can't do that," Olivia seemed to dismiss his concerns. "He's just messing with you, Bri. Maybe he's a little jealous, but he has no power here. We're not doing anything wrong. I outrank you, but I'm not your commanding officer…he is. Besides, even if you did work for me…our relationship goes back years…way before I was promoted and they have to honor that."

"Liv…you're not hearing me," he looked at her son playing across the room and then back to her. "I'm not sure it's safe for us to keep seeing each other…just for fun or not…"

"Brian…I'm not scared of Tucker," she said seriously. "What's this really about?"

"It's about Tucker," he insisted. "Liv, you don't see everything I do every day. Trust me on this…I've been looking into things and I can't get into it, but just know you can't trust him."

"Then why don't you just tell me what you've been looking into," she argued. "Maybe I can help."

"I'm not dragging you into this," he sighed, as the knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

"Noodles, Mama…" Noah dropped his blocks and ran to the door and Olivia went to answer it, paying for the food and carrying it into the kitchen.

She sat Noah in his high chair, carefully cutting up some noodles on his plate and looked back at Brian, "Come eat with us," she offered.

"It's okay…I should go," he said, standing to his feet.

"Come on Bri…after dinner I'll put Noah to bed and we can talk more," she suggested.

"All right," he agreed, walking to the kitchen and she divided the rest of the noodles onto two plates, handing one to him. He took a bite and smiled, "These are good…" he looked at Noah with sauce on his face and a noodle stuck to his chin, "He likes them."

"I've been wanting these all day," Olivia said, taking quick bites while Brian looked at her and chuckled. "What," she asked between bites. "I'm starving…"

"You just look cute," he winked. "I don't get to see this side of you very often…the hair up, sweats on, eating like a pig side of you."

"I'm not eating like a pig," she put down her fork. "I didn't eat today. I was so nervous about the test…I just felt sickish. I think I might have an ulcer of something."

"I doubt Thai food will help with that," he said.

"You're probably right," she agreed, scraping the rest of her food on his plate and taking her plate to the kitchen. "My stomach already feels a little weird."

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she smiled. "I'm fine." She cleaned up Noah's mess and took him out of the highchair and went to get him ready for bed.

SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU SVU

"You did the dishes," Olivia put her arms around Brian's waist as he dried the final plate and stuck it in the cabinet. "You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to help," he twisted around and kissed her softly on the lips. "I miss having a nice kitchen to work in."

"You miss doing dishes?" she asked. "Feel free to come here and do them whenever you want. My kitchen…is your kitchen."

"Technically…this whole place is mine," Brian joked. "I noticed the other day that I never changed my address on my license. Guess I should get on that."

"You're supposed to do that within fourteen days of moving," she reminded him. "It's been over a year. Maybe I should write you a ticket."

"Is that a threat?" he grabbed her and tickled her while she laughed. "I bet I can find a way to pay you off…"

"You could try," she pulled away from his grasp.

Is Noah asleep?" he asked.

"Yep," Olivia grinned. "He is all tucked in and already snoring. Is it normal for a two year old to snore? I swear…his snoring could rival yours…" she laughed.

"I don't snore," he teased.

"Yeah right," Olivia laughed. "I can handle it though…I just jab you in the ribs and you usually stop."

"Is that why I wake up with bruises anytime we sleep together?" he asked with a chuckle.

"You wanna stay tonight?" she asked. "I promise not to bruise you."

"What about Noah?" he asked. "You said you didn't like me staying over because he might get the wrong idea."

"I know," she agreed. "But he's little…you were right…he won't know and sometimes I just think it'd be nice to spend the night here instead of me sneaking over to your apartment at random times for a quickie."

Brian laughed, "A quickie? So what…you want a nice, long night of passion. Is that it?"

"Maybe," she said, walking into the living room and they both sat down on the sofa, curled up together. "Maybe I just want this all night…that's one thing I've missed since we were together…having someone to cuddle up to all night."

"We hardly ever had all night together anyway," he reminded her. "I was always undercover."

"But we had some nights," she added. "And they were nice."

"Liv…we agreed that hooking up once in a while was better for us," he said seriously. "Us together…as a couple…you're the one who said that would never work."

"We both said it," she argued.

"Okay, we both said it," he agreed. "But are you starting to change your mind? Because if you are…"

"No," she rubbed her hand over the back of his neck, "I just want our hook ups to last longer than an hour sometimes…that's all…don't worry…"

"I'm not worried," he assured her. "I just don't want us to be on different pages as far as our relationship goes." He held her close and took in the intoxicating scent of her hair. "I can stay tonight…if that's what you want."

"That's what I want," she insisted.

"I thought you weren't feeling very good though," he added.

She shrugged, "I'm just tired and the Thai food didn't agree with me at dinner…I'll be okay."

"We could just cuddle and sleep," he offered. "We don't have to have sex…"

"You don't want to?" she asked.

Brian laughed, "I always want to…" he smiled. "But if you don't feel good…I mean I'm not just here for sex, Liv…I'm here to be with you."

"Thanks…" she kissed him and his phone buzzed, forcing him to take his attention off of her.

"Damn…" he groaned.

"Just like old times..." she sighed, already knowing he was going to leave.

"It's Tucker…" he sighed. "He wants to see me. Says he has an assignment and I should pack a bag."

"Bri…if you're worried about him…maybe you shouldn't go," she suggested.

"I have to," he argued. "I'll be careful…I just have to stick it out a while longer until I get all the information I need."

"Brian…what do you have on Tucker?" she asked again. "If you'd just tell me, I think I can help."

"No…" he said, grabbing his jacket and kissing her good-bye. "Just stay away from him, Liv. I mean it. I'll fill you in when I can." He kissed her once more, "You get some sleep…I'll call you tomorrow…let you know when I might be back."

"He didn't even say where he was sending you?" she asked. "Brian…"

"I'll be fine," he promised. "I'll be back before you notice I'm gone." He gave her one more peck on the cheek, "Feel better, okay…" and then walked out the door.

I'll post chapter 3 soon. Thanks for reading!