July 11th 1996-

She sits in the living room, on the couch, watching the morning news. She waits patiently for him to come down stairs. Finally he finishes his shower, and gets dressed. She flips off the TV as he heads down the stairs. He reaches the bottom of the stairs, and pulls the keys out his pocket.

"Are you ready for work?"

"Sit down for a minute, we need to talk," she tells him.

He looks at her. It only takes a second for him to realize that there is a packed bag by her feet. He shakes his head, and folds his arms across his chest.

"I would rather stand."

"Please."

"Liv, what's going on?"

"This is too much, too fast. I just need some time. I don't know if I'm ready for this."

"You don't know if you're ready for this?"

"I don't know if I am ready to be a wife. I want a career. I don't want..."

He cuts her off, "You don't want the same things that I do. You don't want to be my wife, and have my children, and live happily ever after?"

She shakes her head, "I didn't say that."

"Then what are you saying?"

"I am going to go back to my apartment, tonight after work. I need some time alone."

"Ok. Then what?"

"I have to figure out what I want for myself, before I can be with you."

"Olivia if your heart isn't in this, then you shouldn't stay," he tells her.

"You are the one who keeps telling me that you don't believe in divorce."

"I don't. I also don't believe in staying with someone, if you're unhappy, either. We have give this a month. I don't know if that is enough time, to say that we really tried. I mean we are still getting to know each other. I wish I could change your mind, but I respect you enough to let you do your own thing."

She wonders how different her life might have been if she had left the first time, and never come back. She wonders if she would have the career she has now. The one she wanted so badly. The career she sacrificed everything for. It's funny how the things you want the most, can be the ones you end up hating the most. As she tosses from side to side the thought of regret plagues her.

July 25th, 1996-

He's halfway asleep, on the couch, dozing to the evening news, when the sound of someone at the door wakes him up. He sits up, and looks at the door. He grabs the first weapon he can find. The person on the other side of the door doesn't knock. He watches as the door pushes open. The party on the other side steps inside. He lowers his weapon, when he sees who it is.

"You're soaked," he comments.

"It's pouring out there," she admits, as she sets her bag down, closing the door behind her.

"What are you doing here?" he queries.

"We need to talk," she admits.

"What is there to talk about? You have barely spoken to me in two weeks. You've been at your place. I've been here, in this empty house."

"I'm sorry."

He sips his morning coffee, sitting at his desk, at work. He wonders what life would have been like, if she walked out on him, in the middle of the July, and had never returned. He wonders if their paths would have ever crossed again. Would he have ever seen her face again, or known what happened to her? The phone at his desk rings, and he answers. After a brief conversation he hangs up the phone.

As he waits for his co-workers to arrive his mind continues to wander. He thinks of all of the missed opportunities they have had. There are so many things they have left unsaid. He wishes he could go back, and make her stay. If only he could have convinced her never to walk away. They would be together, instead of at odds all the time.

His glance turns to his left hand. There is a tan line, where his ring once was. His wedding band is noticeably missing. A decision that he has only recently made. He knows it is better to walk away, from a loveless marriage, than to stay to keep kids out of a broken home. He knows he can't stay married, when he is still in love with someone else. His co-worker walks into the room, and flashes a smile.

"Where is your ring?"

He just shrugs. His co-worker doesn't push it any farther, knowing when to let things lie.

July 25th 1996-

He steps forward. Without a second thought he presses his lips against hers.

"I love you," he reminds her.

"We need to talk."

He studies the look on her face. He notices the look of fear in her eyes. He swallows hard, and points to the couch. He takes a seat next to her, and finally has the courage to ask, "What is it?"

"I've had a lot of time to think," she admits.

"Yeah?"

"I don't want to be alone."

"But, you're scared?'

"What if we can't make this work?"

"All we can do is try."

"I want to try. I want to make this marriage work."

"Olivia what is on your mind? You know that you can tell me anything."

"It's just that, I still barely know you. We got married the day that we met. Every time I see you I learn something knew about you."

"What are you afraid of?"

"What if we aren't compatible? What if we grow apart?"-

Olivia looks over at her partner. They are at a crime scene. He stares at the lifeless body of a ten year old. Her partner listens to Melinda, carefully as she squats next to the body. He swallows hard.

"Are you going to be alright?" Olivia questions.

Nick simply nods, "Yeah."

"I know that these kinds of cases always bother you," she points out.

"Don't they bother you too?"

"I think they bother everyone," she admits.