Please let me know what you all think xo

When the pair got off the plane, it seemed much cooler outside than either had expected. Maybe it was the lack of humidity, or maybe it was a lower temperature - they didn't know or really care, it was just a nice break from New York's scorching heat.

"So, what, we pick up a rental and drive up the coast and stop in the states where the victims are?" Amanda asked with a yawn. She hadn't even bothered to ask Olivia what the plan was before they left, but now that they were there, she was curious. Amanda didn't mind being in the car for long periods of time, but she knew Olivia could get a bit antsy, especially if she wasn't driving.

"Yeah, hold on…" Olivia said, noticing her phone was ringing. She felt panic run through her - she hadn't left the city since she'd taken Noah in. Now, her phone was going off and it would take her at least three hours, if not more, to get back home. By then, anything could have happened. But she stopped the panic for a moment, just so she could answer the phone. "Lucy? Is everything okay?"

Amanda wanted to listen, to make sure that Noah was okay, but she was interrupted by the sound of her own phone going off. She went to answer it, but realized it was just a few texts all coming through at once. She didn't have service on the plane, but now she did, and the real world came back too fast. All of the texts were from Nick, asking if she had a good flight, if the weather was better in Virginia, what she and Olivia were up to, and when they'd be home. She knew all he really cared about was when she would be back in New York, but he was being desperate now. It was getting a bit ridiculous, and Amanda didn't even bother replying.

She looked up to Olivia at the front desk of the car service, and Amanda waited until the brunette came over to her to ask her how the phone call went.

"Everything okay with Noah?" she asked gently, looking at Olivia carefully, trying to read her. She couldn't help it - it was the detective in her to study people's reactions.

Olivia nodded with a smile. "Yeah, the sitter wanted to know if she could bring him to the park."

"In that weather?" Amanda questioned, a strange look on her face. Olivia knew what it was even if Amanda didn't. Amanda's motherly instinct was showing, and it made the sergeant smile to herself. "I don't think that's such a good idea." Amanda noticed the smile that had crept up on Olivia's face. "What?"

"Nothing… you're right, it would have been a terrible idea. I would've said yes on a cooler day, but with that heat, there's no way he wouldn't have burned himself on something," Olivia told her, knowing that was what Amanda was already thinking.

"How are things with Noah?" Amanda approached the subject softly. She wasn't entirely sure that Olivia wanted to share that part of her personal life with the blonde. The duo was walking out of the airport; they still had to make their way up to the car garage to pick up the rental car, and Olivia was walking a bit fast. Maybe, Amanda thought, she was just anxious to get this all over with. She had a life to go home to now, a little boy to raise. Amanda had herself. And although that was fine with her most days, it was days like today when she realized she didn't mind the company that this would provide.

Olivia gave her another smile. "Good… better than good, really. He's incredible. I think he'd like you," she said with a nod. She knew Amanda had been through her fair share of shit the past few years, and even before then. Amanda didn't realize how much she had changed - for the better - over the last couple of months, but Olivia and the team saw it.

Amanda shook her head. "I'm not great with kids," she admitted sadly. She wished she was, but honestly, it was for the best that she wasn't. Best not to get attached to things - especially not a kid that she couldn't handle. She had a pregnancy scare once, back in college, and she wasn't sure what she would've done if she had actually had the kid. It was a less than ideal situation, and to be truthful, it would be less ideal if she wanted to become a mother now that she was working in SVU. "But I'm sure he's great with you. You're always so kind and compassionate with the little ones," the blonde told her cheerfully.

Olivia had to grin. "I think you'd be fine with kids if you had the time to hang out with one. Maybe you could come over and visit Noah when we're back in New York. What are you doing next weekend?" she asked, pushing her way into Amanda's life a little bit. Olivia knew Amanda was lonely. She was exactly like Olivia used to be. The sergeant knew that the detective and Nick Amaro had been sleeping together, but she also heard through the grapevine that someone called it off. That someone didn't seem to be Nick, and Olivia knew it couldn't be good for Rollins to be spending all of her off time alone. Not with her past.

"No, I'd be intruding. Besides, don't you have plans for the holiday weekend?" Amanda insisted, feeling her stomach flip. Those feelings she'd been having for that someone else were back, and in full force. Unfortunately, those feelings were for her sergeant, her straight sergeant, and they could never come out. Not if she wanted to keep her job; which, by the way, she desperately did.

"I don't, actually, and I'm thinkin' if you don't, we should do something together, with Noah," Olivia pushed, knowing it would be good for Amanda, and for her to do something out of the norm. The women hadn't really hung out together outside of work, and Olivia decided they should have quite some time ago. She just never knew how to approach the subject.

Finally, the women reached the car in the car garage. Olivia slipped her key into the vehicle and unlocked it, and she and Amanda proceeded to get inside.

"C'mon," Olivia continued the conversation. "Wha'daya say?"

Amanda took a deep breath, partially calming her nerves from just being around Olivia, and partially giving in to what sounded like a terrible idea in her current state of puppy love, and said, "Okay. I can come over on Saturday, just let me know what time."

Olivia turned on the engine and began to pull out of the spot as she answered, "I was thinking around eight or so… I wanna take Noah to see the fireworks, and I'd love some company."

Amanda began to smile before she heard a car coming their way, and fast. "Watch out!" Amanda almost screamed, as Olivia slammed on the breaks and heard breaks from her left squeal to a stop, and Olivia became a mother bear. She got out of the car and slammed the door as Amanda followed her to see what she was going to do.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" she yelled at the other driver, before he even got out of the car. When he did, Amanda watched Olivia tense up. Did she know the driver? Then it dawned on her that they weren't in New York and the likelihood of that happening was very small, but then again, maybe she had seen his picture on a suspect database… he did kind of look like he could be aggressive, and his driving actions weren't helping his case.

"Olivia?" the driver asked, taking off his sunglasses, looking like he had seen a ghost.

"Elliot…" Olivia managed to get out, moments later.

'Oh, shit…' was all Amanda could think.