Couple of weeks later…
Mike finally packed the last CD he had in the box. He dug threw his closet and found Olivia's shirt that she left there the night they told each other they loved one another.
"Hey Mike" Rick came in the room slowly "Is that all cause I have to take Sarah to soccer practice?"
Mike just nodded and kept looking at the shirt "Yea man, thanks"
Rick nodded and patted him on the shoulder "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"I got offered a job in L.A. and I'm taking it. I need a change of scenario you know?"
"Sure" Rick nodded "Eric should be here soon to help you with the rest of the stuff"
Mike nodded and grabbed an empty box and put Olivia's shirt inside. He had to move on from her sooner or later.
Olivia sat at her desk finally being back at work. She had piles of paperwork in front of her and they seemed to get larger as the day went on. The captain still wasn't letting her be out on the street until her arm made a full recovery.
She didn't talk to Mike at all and only saw Eric sometimes when he picked Casey up for a date since the two were now dating.
Casey walked into the precinct and all the male detectives were out on a case and Olivia was sitting at her desk lazily doing the paperwork.
"Hey" Casey greeted as she sat across Olivia "How you doing?"
"Good, at least I'm back to work so I got other things to think about" Olivia answered with a small smile "How are you and Eric?"
"We're really good, he is really sweet" Casey answered with a smile "Have you talked to Mike at all?"
"No, it's too hard after that night"
"Look liv…I don't want to be the one to tell you this but someone should…Eric told me that Mike is moving to Los Angeles tonight, he got offered a job at a community college and he took it"
Olivia tried to hide the freaked out look she knew came over her face "Oh…well that's good"
"You should tell him how you feel before he leaves"
Olivia shook her head "Can you excuse me?" She got up and quickly went to the bathroom.
Casey just sat there knowing that Olivia and Mike still cared for each other. Eric told her that Mike was still in love with her and she just knew by the look in Olivia's eyes when someone mentioned him.
Eric came into his brother's apartment and quickly noticed all the packed boxes in the living room. "Mike?"
Mike put one of Olivia's DVD's in her box and went out of his room "Hey man"
"Hey, how's the packing going?"
"Fine" Mike answered, "How are you and Casey?"
"Great, she's really cool" Eric answered with a smile "Did you tell Olivia you're moving?"
"No, she's my ex why would she care" Mike answered as he went back to his room to pack his stuff.
Eric said nothing and packed some of his boxes for him in the living room.
Mike pulled out his jeans and noticed another pair fall out. He picked them up and they were very small. He looked at the number and knew right away they were Olivia's. He sat down on his bed and smelled them. They still smelled like her.
Eric came to the room and just found Mike sitting on his bed with a pair of jeans to his chest and staring at the ground. "You ok?"
"Yea" He nodded "Just finding her stuff you know?" He cleared his throat and folded her jeans and placed them inside the box.
Olivia finally finished her paperwork around three in the afternoon and got to go home. She sat there watching TV and eating chips. All she could think about was Mike and his moving without telling her. One more thing ran threw her mind. Her pregnancy.
Mike walked down Olivia's hall with the box full of her stuff. He took a deep breath trying to control his emotions to do this. He knocked on the door after getting enough courage.
Olivia opened the door and just looked at him with the box in his hands "Hi"
Mike took a deep breath "Hi" She looked even more beautiful then the last time he saw her.
"What are you doing here?"
"I found some of your stuff in my apartment and thought you might like them back"
"Want to come in?" Olivia moved out of the doorway a little.
"No, I have to go, I just came to drop this off"
"Oh c'mon you're moving across the country you'll have enough time to ignore me"
Mike opened his mouth to say something but he just bit his lip "Casey told you?"
"Yea" Olivia nodded "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't think you would care"
"Come in Mike"
He put his head down and came into her apartment. He placed the box on her kitchen counter top "What are you going to yell at me now?"
Olivia closed the door and shook her head "No. I'm not going to yell at you," She whispered as she went to her couch. Her hand went automatically to her stomach but she couldn't tell him cause then he would just stay for the baby and she didn't want him to stay with her out of pity.
"How have you been?" Mike questioned looking at her.
"Finally went back to work but I'm on desk duty" Olivia answered as she picked the bag of chips off her coffee table "You?"
"Good, I'm finally getting a job"
"When are you leaving?"
"Tonight at nine"
"Excited?"
"I don't like airplanes so not that much"
Olivia smiled a little "Right. Do you want something to drink?"
"No, I still have some packing to finish so I just wanted to give you this stuff"
Olivia nodded "Good luck in California" She whispered as she gave him a hug.
Mike hugged her back "Thanks."
Olivia tried to keep her tears to herself and slowly let go of him "If you're ever in New York again don't be scared to give me a call ok?"
"Same goes if you're in Los Angeles"
"Sure" Olivia nodded a little.
"I'm going to go," Mike whispered as he opened the door "Bye"
"Bye"
He went out of her apartment and closed the door. He took a deep breath and leaned on the wall.
Olivia leaned on her door and let her tear slide down her cheek. She touched her stomach and looked down at it "I'm sorry" She whispered softly.
It was around seven when Mike got all his stuff together to go to the airport.
Eric just leaned on his door and watched him "You ok kiddo?"
"Yea I'm great" Mike answered as he placed his bag over his shoulder. He took out the key to his apartment and placed it on the countertop "I should get going"
"You want me to drive you?"
"No, go on a date with Casey since you finally have a day off" Mike answered "Hug or handshake?"
"I'll give you a hug since you're my little brat of a brother" Eric teased as he hugged him "Be good in L.A. ok?"
"I'll try. Don't mess this up with Casey cause you know you wont find a girlfriend anytime soon"
"Well thanks" Eric playfully pushed him away "You said bye to mom and dad?"
"Yea, this afternoon" Mike answered "I'm going before I'm late"
"Sure" Eric patted him on the shoulder "I'll see you around little brother"
"Yea" Mike nodded and left the apartment.
Eric pulled out his own key of the apartment and placed it on the counter top. He looked around at the apartment they all had memories in and finally left and closed the door behind him.
Olivia sat on her couch with her arms wrapped around her stomach. She knew that not telling him that she was pregnant with his child wasn't the smartest thing but she couldn't keep him away from his dream that he gave up for her.
She heard a knock on her door. She got up slowly and unlocked the door and went back to the couch.
Casey came in quietly "Hey, what's wrong?"
Olivia lay on the couch and stared blankly at the TV "Everything. What are you doing here?"
"I came to borrow that DVD you told me about cause Eric and I were going to watch it" Casey answered as she sat down on Olivia's hand rest by her legs. "Sweetie what is going on?"
"I don't want him to go" Olivia whispered softly trying to keep her tears to herself. "Everywhere I go, things remind me of him. It just wont be the same without him"
"Why don't you go talk to him?"
"It's too late now, it's already eight, he is probably at the airport by now"
"So what? Call him, tell him how you feel"
Olivia looked at her watch "No" She got up and grabbed her hoodie "I'm going after him"
"That's the spirit…wow wait a minute" Casey quickly got up "You mean you're going to go after him in the airport?"
"I have to, I can't just let him go" Olivia argued as she pulled on her hoodie.
"What are you going to say?"
"I don't know" Olivia answered as she grabbed her car keys "I'll figure it out on the way"
"I'm going with you"
"What?"
"Well I'm your best friend, I can't just let you run around an airport by yourself" Casey grabbed her car keys from her hands "Plus I drive really fast"
"Ok" Olivia nodded sort of confused and followed her out of the apartment "What about Eric?"
"He'll be fine, I'll make it up to him" Casey ran down the stairs as Olivia quickly followed.
Olivia looked at her watch. 8: 32 Casey dodged another car.
"Can we make it there alive please!" Olivia yelled at her.
"What? I'm trying to get you there on time"
"You're nuts" Olivia shook her head "can you slow down just a little please?"
Casey made a hard left turn "When we get there yes"
"I don't even know what to say to him"
Casey pulled into the parking lot of the airport "Speak from the heart"
"This is coming from the lunatic driver?" Olivia rolled her eyes and unbuckled her seat belt. She got out of the car and quickly ran to the sliding doors.
Casey rolled her eyes and quickly followed her into the airport. "What flight is he on?"
Olivia looked at the screens full of flight times "I don't know, there's three flights to LA"
"Want me to call Eric?"
"It will take too long" Olivia mumbled and looked at her watch. 8:46
"Two flights are leaving at nine, gate E8 and D42"
"You get E8, I have D42. Go" Olivia quickly ran on one side and Casey ran on the other.
Olivia got to gate D42 and started to look around but couldn't see Mike anywhere. "Mike?" People started to look at her but she didn't care at all "Michael?"
Casey got to gate E8 and started to look around "Peterson? Mike are you here?"
Olivia pulled out her badge even though she knew it was wrong "Excuse me, NYPD, coming through" She went through the crowd of people and went to the ticket taker "Detective Olivia Benson, did a Michael Peterson get on the plane yet?"
The woman looked through her computer "No, I'm sorry detective, he isn't scheduled for this flight"
Olivia nodded "Ok, thanks" She pulled her cell phone out and dialed Casey's number.
"Hello"
"Did you find him?"
"No. You?"
"He is supposed to be on that flight. I'm coming to that gate"
"Ok, I'll check again." Casey closed her phone and looked around again. She didn't see him anywhere. She pulled out her phone and dialed Mike's cell phone number.
"Hello"
"Where the hell are you?" Casey yelled.
"Casey? I'm on the plane. Why are you calling me?"
"Get off the plane right now"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Get off that plane right now Peterson or I swear I'm going to kick your ass next time I see you!" Casey barked angrily.
"Fine. Fine. I'm getting off the plane jeez. How is my brother not scared of you?"
"He says he finds it cute, I don't know" Casey answered with a shrug "Are you getting off the plane?"
"Yea. What is going on?"
Casey saw Olivia coming over to her "You'll find out" She closed the phone. "He's coming"
Olivia nodded "Thanks"
"I'll be over there calling Eric" Casey pointed to the corner and walked away.
Olivia just nodded with a small smile. She looked over at the gate and spotted Mike coming out. He went through the crowd of people and came over to her.
"Olivia what is going on?"
"I don't want you to go" Olivia whispered as she took his hands in hers. "Don't go"
"What are you talking about?" Mike whispered "Olivia I have to go"
"No you don't. We can find you another job if you want, what about New Jersey? It's not the closest thing but its closer then California. Michael I don't want you to leave, I love you," She whispered as tears filled her eyes.
Mike wiped her eyes gently "Olivia I have to go, not just for the job but for me. I can't get over you when I'm in New York or anywhere near it."
"You don't have to get over me, I'll be your girlfriend again if you let me ok? We can work through this just don't go ok?"
Mike looked over and the last person boarded the plane. "Olivia they are waiting for me, I have to go"
"No" Olivia managed to whisper as tears rolled down her face "Don't leave Michael, you cant just give up"
"I'm sorry baby," He whispered as he placed his hands on her cheeks and gave her a kiss. He still loved her and wanted to be with her but he couldn't confess what happened to him since he still wasn't ready for anything intimate "I'm so sorry"
"No…please" Olivia grabbed his hand as he moved away from her.
"I'm sorry" He pulled his hand away and boarded the plane.
"Oh god" Olivia whispered to herself as she placed her hand on her stomach and sat down in a chair. She felt someone sit next to her and hug her. She looked up and noticed Casey holding her "I love him"
"I know honey, I know" Casey whispered, "It's going to be ok"
"I'm having his child, its not like I can just forget him"
"We'll figure it" Casey whispered as she rubbed her back to calm her down.
They got in their car and Casey drove slower this time. Olivia had her head resting on the window and looking outside. Both kept quiet the whole time.
They got to Olivia's apartment and Casey parked the car "You want me to stay with you?"
"No. It's fine. Eric is probably waiting anyway" Olivia got out of the car and went up to her apartment. She unlocked it and noticed Elliot was already sitting on her couch. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard that Mike was leaving so I came to check up on you"
"How did you get in?" Olivia questioned as she closed the door behind her.
"Extra key you gave me" Elliot answered "Where did you go?"
Olivia sat down by him and rested her head on his shoulder "Airport. I asked him to stay but he didn't"
Elliot took her in a hug "It's ok, it'll be fine sweetie"
"No. I love him," Olivia whispered as tears fell down her cheek and she buried her face in his chest "I need him"
Elliot just nodded and held her "You'll get over him"
"No I wont, you don't understand El…I'm-" A knock on the door interrupted her.
"You want me to get it?" Elliot offered. She just nodded. Elliot let go of her and got up to open the door. He opened the door and shock and relief took over his body at the same time "Hey"
"Hey" Mike whispered "Is she here?"
Olivia quickly looked up hearing Mike's voice. She wiped her eyes and got off the couch and stood behind Elliot "I'm here"
Elliot looked at Mike and then Olivia "You going to be ok?" She nodded a little "I'm going to get coffee" He walked past Mike and went out of the apartment.
Mike and Olivia just stood there looking at each other.
"I couldn't do it" Mike whispered, "I couldn't leave after you said you loved me"
"What about your job?"
"I don't care, I just care about you Olivia"
She wiped another tear that filled her eyes. She walked over to him and hugged him.
Mike hugged her back and held her "I love you so much"
"I love you too"
"Good" Mike nodded and let go of her "Will you marry me?"
"What?"
"Marry me" Mike repeated as he got down on one knee "Please?"
"Did Eric tell you?" Olivia asked knowing Mike would do this if he knew about the baby.
"Tell me what?" Mike asked being totally confused.
"About the…" Her hand went on her stomach "He didn't tell you did he? You just want to marry me?"
"I haven't talked to Eric since this afternoon, what's going on?"
"I'm pregnant" Olivia whispered with a small smile.
"Really?" Mike smiled a little "And its…"
"Yea, its yours" Olivia smiled with a nod.
"Oh my god"
"Is that engagement offer still on the table?"
"Yea, of course"
"Then yea…I'll marry you"
"I don't have a ring or anything right now but I'll get you one though"
Olivia smiled and pulled him up and hugged him again "I don't need a ring, I just need you"