Sorry for the wait. Here's the next one. There are only two more chapters before it's done. I hope you like it.

For the first time in a long time, Olivia was dreading the conversation with the parents of the victim. It was something unusual for her after all these years but from the moment Fin called her thirty minutes ago she knew that it wouldn't be a normal case.

They were both walking to the room of the victim without speaking, both silently preparing themselves, knowing who would they find on the other side of the door, as the victim name was Elisabeth Stabler.

Fin knocked at the door after crossing the look with Olivia and once the door opened they saw their former co-worker.

"Hello," Elliot said quietly, knowing that if he saw them under other circumstances their conversation would probably include more insults and yells at him.

"How is she?" Olivia asked, looking how broken was Elliot right now.

"Sleeping," He said shortly. "The doctors had to sedate her, they said she will be out until tomorrow" He explained.

"Ok," Fin said. "Do you know something? Did she tell something so we can start digging?"

Elliot went outside the room to speak with them.

"She was in shock" Elliot started. "Saying incoherent things, I don't really know" He seemed thoughtful.

"I know it's a lot," Olivia said.

"Yeah..." Elliot murmured. "She named her boyfriend, Marc. But I don't know if it was in a good or bad way. It's the only thing I can think of."

"Ok. It's something" Fin said. "I'm calling Rollins so they can start." Leaving Olivia and Elliot alone.

"Kathy?" Olivia asked subtly.

"Not in the picture anymore"

"Elliot" Olivia murmured as she tried to comfort her friend squeezing his shoulder with her hand.

"I know I did it wrong. I shouldn't have left that way" His smile is tired. "And I know you would like to say some nasty things to me. And I deserve them." She tried to say something but he didn't let her. "But once I recovered I didn't know how to reach you. I didn't know what should I say. It's a poor excuse but is the truth..."

"Hey..." Olivia stopped his rambling. "Breath" She looked at him in the eyes. "Let's make a truce. We concentrate now on Lizzie and once the bastard is behind the bars we'll talk, ok? And then I'll probably yell at you." She smiled lighting a bit the mood.

"Yeah, it's a good idea" He admits. "Does your boss know about the possible conflict of interest?" He asked.

"Actually..." She said nervously. "I'm the boss now" She smiled at his surprise face.

"I should have known" He smiled too despite the situation. "I'm happy for you"

"Thank you," Olivia said

"I should probably go inside."

"Ok, I'll see you tomorrow," She said before she went to Fin.

"This was not as awkward as I supposed it would be," Fin said.

"Fin!" Olivia admonishes him laughing, thanking him for his silliness always appearing when she needed despite the circumstances.

"You are thinking the same, little sister"

"You are insufferable sometimes."

"And you love it"

While the investigation went on Elliot saw his former co-workers a lot more than he would have ever thought after he left. Their offices were in the same place, but the people in there had changed a lot.

He had always thought a lot about Olivia. They had harbored strong deep feelings between them. Sometimes good ones and sometimes bad ones. And at the end, he knew he had failed her. Since the moment he left he had been hurting because of that, but he had never got past his shame to go to talk to her again. Even when he knew that if he hadn't meet Kathy, Olivia would have been the woman of his life.

During the investigation, they hadn't talked a lot. Both respecting their truce. But this hadn't stopped him to look at her while he accompanied her daughter to the precinct or to talk with the ADA.

She was so beautiful and strong. Every time she looked at him he could still see all this strength and courage in her brown eyes.

But he had also noticed other things. Like the smiles she made out of nothing, the ring she wore on her right ring finger or the photograph that stood on her work table.

He could see she was happier and even when it hurt him that she had found that happiness without him he was also happy for her, she deserved it.

At the end, they caught the bastard. Turning out to be the best friend of Lizzie's boyfriend, who had obsessed with her since the moment they were introduced to each other. And along with the ADA's work they had got the maximum penalty, even when his attorney tried the mental illness card.

Elliot didn't like the ADA too much. But despite the cockiness of the man he had done a fair good job on the court, so he had kept to himself his snarky comments, as he has the feeling that Olivia wouldn't like them too much. It was easy to see that they both had a very close relationship.

After he left Lizzie at his place with her big sister he had come back to the precinct. He knew he had to talk with Olivia, and they wouldn't be any moment better. It was mid afternoon and if he was lucky he might get Olivia to take a coffee like the old times and talk without pressure.

But as he had to cross the threshold he heard happy child screams. That would always be an unusual thing there. He stopped in his tracks before they noticed him. Seeing as two toddlers about five and four ages ran circling Fin, while other two of about two years or less were being entertained by Dodds. And a baby was in Carisi's arms. Then he spotted Rollins walking to Carisi's side with a feeding bottle. But it was Olivia who stole his breath.

She was laughing, probably at something that one of the kids said while resting her back on Barba's front while the man hugged her from behind, resting his face on her shoulder laughing too. Both leaning on Dodds table, interacting with the kids too.

"Papi!" The little girl screamed astonished at something Dodds said to her. "It's true?" She asked Barba like the world was falling apart.

Elliot could not understand Barba's answer, but it was good enough to calm the child. He didn't want to intrude but before he could go away Olivia saw him. Once she looked at him he didn't know what to do. But as always she knew how to read him. And after she said something to the man and kissed his check she went to him smiling.

"Elliot" She started "I didn't think that you would come here so soon."

"Yeah" He admitted. "Me neither. But I couldn't stay at home. Once I started to move I found myself I here."

After that, they both stayed silent watching the kids. They had so many things to say that neither of them did know where to start.

"Which ones are yours?" He asked as she smiled.

"The boy playing with Fin is Noah and the two with Rafael and Mike are Katia and Javi" She was a proud mother. "I almost lost them," Olivia said. Noticing Elliot silent question she continued. "Those little two miracles." She pointed the two kids beside Barba "I had an early labor with only seven months of pregnancy. They were so tiny. And they had some complications later. He was my rock" Elliot knew that she was referring to Barba. "I don't know what I would do without him." She admitted.

"He's a little over-dressed, but it seems a good guy in the heart." That made her laugh.

"He is."

After they made some small talk, catching up on their lives, Elliot was a bit calmer.

"I should go home," He said.

"Me too. It's going to be my first free afternoon in a lot of time."

"All of you deserve it."

Elliot took her hand. "I'll see you soon."

"Ok, but don't be a stranger. I know it's going to take time and it's not going to be the same but..."

"Yeah"

"And you still own me some yelling," She said smiling.

"I won't forget. Bye" He said kissing her on the cheek before leaving.

Once alone she went to Rafael wanting a hug from her man. She clasped her arms around his neck hugging him hard, needing his comfort.

"Everything ok?" He asked as he hugged her too.

"It will be," She said separating herself enough to look into his eyes, kissing him chastely on the lips.

"What do you say, some pizza and movie night?"

"It would be perfect"

"I think we still haven't seen Moana enough times." That made her laugh knowing that when their kids heard the word movie they would be asking for that one with the same excitement as when they first saw it.