So it looks like I'm not going to finish this story before the new season starts. Sorry about that! I hope this chapter meets with your approval anyway.

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10. Memories

"I was just thinking … maybe you two would like to see this place I'm subletting at the moment. It's got a huge flat screen in every room."

"Yey!"

Olivia rolled her eyes when Noah let out a happy cry. Peter hadn't kept his voice down and she knew it had been intentional.

"Can we go, mom? Can we?"

"You don't fight fair," she mumbled under her breath, giving Peter a gentle nudge in the shoulder with her fist.

Peter laughed and then replied softly,

"Well, you know the saying, right? All is fair …"

...

"Alright, alright," Olivia said quickly.

She wasn't sure if she wanted Peter to finish his sentence but her heart was doing that weird pitter-patter thing again. They'd held hands in the movies for crying out loud. His intentions should be clear to her by now and she wasn't discouraging him. Maybe they should talk. Get it all out in the open so she could explain to him that he really didn't want to be with an old woman like her. Maybe he liked her now, but surely it wouldn't be a long term thing. She didn't want to sacrifice their friendship and improved working relationship for some temporary pleasure, no matter how pleasurable it would probably be … She needed to get those thoughts out of her head as quickly as possible, before she'd cave even more.

Noah was unstoppable and once they got to Peter's place and he saw the enormous flat screen in the living room, he plopped on the couch as if he lived there and started channel surfing. Olivia glanced at Peter to see if he'd mind, but he was all smiles. Noah quickly found a cartoon that he liked and found a way to incorporate his action figure Dash in the story as he watched it with the small figure.

Peter had moved into the kitchen area and asked her if she was up for some coffee. She nodded and then took the opportunity to look around. She knew Peter was subletting and the furniture wasn't his, but she liked the place. It suited him, even if it was rather luxurious. Everything was big and spacious. The living area consisted mainly of a huge sectional and although it was enormous, there was still ample room to walk around it. The windows were large too, making the place light despite the grey overtones in the carpeting as well as the drapes. Peter seemed at home there, too, and she watched him prepare them both a cup of fresh coffee from a coffee maker that looked like it cost a whole month's salary. When Peter handed her a mug, his fingers brushed against hers and she knew it had been intentional. Everything seemed to be intentional today and it was as exciting as it was unsettling. Because this was not a good idea.

Yes, Peter was a decent man. Yes, he was wildly attractive and yes, he made her body respond to him in a nervous way that was all too familiar. But still …

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Peter had been watching Olivia as she took in her surroundings. He knew she had watched him as well as the apartment and he couldn't help wondering what was going on inside that clever head of hers. She had let him hold her hand. Kiss it even. She knew that they weren't hanging out just for Noah's sake and he found himself very hopeful that maybe tonight they'd do something about this pull between them. Not that he expected them to fall into bed together right away, but he hoped that they could at least make things a little more official.

He stared at her plump lips when she licked them after taking a sip of coffee. Would it be too much to hope for a kiss tonight? He saw her eyes drift to her son and he sighed inaudibly. He was very fond of the boy but right now, he wished he could be alone with the mother. Surely Noah would get tired soon. Maybe if he asked them to stay for dinner, the kid would fall asleep eventually.

Peter suddenly hated how selfish he was being. He would have to be patient and take Olivia out on a proper date soon. But while Noah was with them, he deserved their attention.

Olivia shook her head and he remembered the question he'd asked her.

"I wasn't really thinking anything," she lied. "Just that this place seems to suit you."

Peter chuckled.

"In what way?" he asked, curious what she would say about him.

"I dunno," she shrugged, turning away from him, coffee mug in hand. "You seem at home here."

Peter followed her into the living area, where Noah was still engrossed in the cartoon.

"Must be the company," he told her sincerely. "This isn't a place to enjoy by yourself."

Olivia watched him as she took another sip, hiding most of her face behind her coffee mug but her dark eyes were perusing his greens. He knew she was aware of what he was trying to do, but when her eyes dropped to the five-year old on the couch, he deflated slightly. Olivia sat down next to her son and Peter decided to sit down on Noah's other side.

"You want a drink too buddy?" Peter asked Noah, and the boy nodded.

"Yes please."

Peter set down his mug on the coffee table and walked back into the kitchen to get Noah some juice. Olivia had registered his body language and she had to admit she was thinking some of the same things Peter was thinking. They needed to talk but they couldn't as long as Noah was here. Maybe he'd nod off soon. He was stuffed with popcorn anyway so if he slept through dinner, that wouldn't really be a problem this time.

Peter returned and Noah drank his juice, his eyes still focused on the big TV screen. They all watched TV quietly for a while and both adults glanced at Noah from time to time to see if he was getting tired. Sure enough, the boy started rubbing his eyes after another fifteen minutes. Olivia scooted close to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Noah snuggled close to her contently and she knew he would fall asleep soon. Peter stood up, walked into the kitchen once more and grabbed a bottle of wine. He held it up for Olivia to see and she simply nodded, a faint smile on her lips. He grabbed two glasses, put everything on a small tray and when he returned to the couch, Noah was asleep.

"You think we could move him to the guest room?" Peter whispered.

Olivia wasn't sure if she could carry Noah without waking him. He was getting heavier each week lately.

"I can carry him if that's okay with you," Peter offered. Olivia nodded.

He smiled when the young boy clutched his action figure a little tighter when he scooped him up in his arms. Noah's eyes didn't even open. Peter carried him easily into the bedroom and Olivia followed them to take off her son's shoes and tuck him in. Peter left them alone and poured them both some wine. He put their coffee mugs away and walked back into the living area just as Olivia returned.

"Is he sleeping?"

"He's out like a light."

She watched the ADA pick up the glasses and walk up to her. He handed her a glass and she thanked him quietly. Maybe the wine would help her relax now that they were finally alone. She hadn't sat down yet and turned to face the impressive book cabinet that lined almost an entire wall in the room.

"Are these yours?" she asked him over her shoulder.

"No. Just the ones on the lowest shelf to the right. My law books and my photo albums."

Olivia reached for one of the photo albums on the lowest shelf but hesitated. Maybe those were too personal.

"It's alright," Peter assured her.

He put his glass on the table and invited her to sit with him and to bring the blue album. It contained photos of his childhood, of him, his sister, his parents and grandparents and a few childhood friends.

They flipped through the pages, sitting closely together, and Peter told her more about the people in the pictures and the stories that went with the images. There were lots of pictures with him and his sister in the album and they seemed very close. Peter laughed at some of their childhood adventures and all the trouble they got in with their father, and Olivia enjoyed listening to his stories. After a while, she could tell he was becoming a little melancholic at the memories. Those had been the good times for Pamela, before she got ill and even before their parents divorced.

When Peter rubbed his eyes, Olivia put a hand on his back comfortingly. Peter sighed and shook his head, trying to shake off the emotions that had bubbled back to the surface.

"Hey, it's okay," he heard Olivia's gentle voice tell him.

Feeling her hand on his back and hearing her acknowledging his pain, made it impossible for him to force it back down, no matter how badly he wanted to. But this wasn't why he had invited her over. He should get a grip on his emotions.

"I shouldn't complain. I had a good childhood for the most part," he said, more to himself than to Olivia. She had it much worse and he should count his blessings.

"It's not about that," he heard her say softly. "You're entitled to grieve, Peter."

He hung his head and felt Olivia's hand move up and down his back gently. He hadn't meant to get emotional with her tonight but it seemed like when he was alone, the tears just wouldn't come. He thought he'd been doing so well dealing with his losses but now, with her, with someone to see it, the weight of his loss took him by surprise. It was all still there, just waiting to be seen by someone.

Peter wiped his nose and Olivia could tell he was trying to force his emotions back down. He didn't have to. Not on her account. She was used to seeing people cry and it gave her a sense of purpose because she could comfort them like no other. Her nervousness about what was growing between her and Peter had dissolved completely and when she placed a hand against his cheek to make him look at her, it was simply a gesture of comfort. Nothing more.

"Peter, it's okay," she said softly. The last thing she wanted now was for Noah to wake up and see his hero cry but Peter needed to know that he didn't have to hide from her. Back when Pamela had just been killed, it had all been too fresh to hold in, but he needed to know that he didn't have to hold it in now either. "It takes as long as it takes."

Peter let her pull him close and he rested his forehead against her temple. He had a massive lump in his throat and tried to swallow. Seeing all the family photos again made him realize once more that they were all gone. He was the only one left and all those memories would die with him once it was his time. There was nobody left who shared those memories with him and nobody to talk about them with.

But Olivia was all alone too and her memories weren't very good ones. At least he had good times to look back on. It didn't seem fair to burden her with his troubles but he had to admit that it felt good to share them with someone. And it made sense that that someone should be her.

A stray tear trickled down his cheek and Olivia wiped it away with her thumb.

"It's okay," she whispered once more.

Her eyes were moist as well but there was a calmness in them that was pulling him in. Their faces were very close now, their foreheads only inches apart, and he could feel her breath on his skin. They breathed together for a few moments, both very much aware that the mood was shifting. Peter's eyes dropped to Olivia's lips and she stared at his eyes. When he looked into hers again, she stopped breathing. He wasn't drowning in his loss anymore. His focus was shifting back to her and her chest constricted when she registered his intense gaze. She opened her mouth in an attempt to say something to break the spell they were under, but when Peter's eyes dropped back down to her now parted lips, the words just wouldn't come. All she could manage was a soft whimper and then Peter moved in.

His heart was pounding hard against his rib cage but he couldn't help himself. He just had to kiss her, now, before he lost his nerve. The soft sound she made was his undoing and then his lips were on hers.

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To be continued ...