Much to the girls disappointment Emily was out on a case when Stella and Liv arrived Friday afternoon. Penelope jumped up from her couch when she heard their knock on the door. They had called a few minutes before to let her know that they were close by as they always did. When she swung the door open she grinned at the sight of her best girlfriends standing there with their over night bags thrown over their shoulder seemingly younger than they truly were ready for a slumber party. Penelope was engulfed into their arms for a much anticipated hug. It had only been weeks since they had last seen each other but so much had happened in their time apart. The official engagement, which they had yet to announce to everyone else, Stella and Mac's finally getting together, Liv herself had news she had to share, and the of course there was Em's pregnancy.

"Oh my God Mags, we've missed you." Olivia exclaimed happily as their little trio was reunited.
"I've missed you guys too. Come on in." Penelope said ushering them into her apartment. Stella and Olivia, no longer a stranger to the Prentiss/Garcia Sorority house habitually dumped their belongings in the spare bedroom and joined Penelope in the kitchen as she made them all a cup of tea.
"So Miss Liv, you've heard my news and Stella shared hers on the way here I'm assuming." To which Stella was nodding to confirm,
"…that leaves you. Something's going on with you. What is it? And don't even try to look, I don't know what you're talking about. You've been the queen of evasive and that's usually my throne, so spill, what's going on?" Olivia looked at her two friends and swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat and held back the tears as best as she could.
"Elliott and I, we crossed a line, and we can't take it back. Now it's all weird and then yesterday Kathy came into the precinct and they're back together." Pen inwardly gasped, not so much that something had finally eventuated with Liv and El, but that he would complicate his life by going back to his wife, after everything that had happened.
"Oh sweetheart," Penelope said softly wrapping her arms around her friend as Stella held one of Liv's hand.
"I don't know what happened. It was so simple, we were partners, he was my best friend, and then one day it became this. Everything was so intense all the time, and we became fiercely over protective of each other, for all the wrong reasons. How did we get here?" Liv asked in quiet desperation.
"Honey, you were more married to that man that his wife ever was."
"Because he was my partner,"
"Do you doubt he cares about you?"
"Of course not, but I know how much he loves his wife and I would never come between that."
"So what do you want to do?" Pen asked though she recognised a runner when she saw one,
"I told Cragen I was going to take some time off. He knows how hard the last case was for me, and though he was surprised that I am willingly taking myself off the line of duty, he was more than happy to give me his blessing."
"Does Elliott know?"
"He knows I'm coming here for the weekend."
"Your luggage states differently," Stella observed, she had noticed that Olivia had brought a larger bag than usual.
"Yeah, I was hoping to hide out here awhile if that was okay with Mags and Em."
"I'm sure it won't be a problem honey. We'll work something out."
"I'd hate to point out the obvious, you do realise if you don't show up on Monday and he realises that you've taken time off it'd be easy for him to find you."
"I know, but he won't."
"How are you so sure?" Pen asked,
"Because I know him." Was all Olivia said simply

Just as they were getting dinner organised, Stella working on the vegetables while Penelope kept her eye on the roast in the oven, Olivia was setting the table.

"How do we navigate this?" Stella asked
"Carefully, she's ready to fall apart." Penelope replied recognising the signs, it was a little too close to home. Stella quickly gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Penelope Garcia I love you for making the apartment smell this way, but you better have enough for me too," bellowed a voice from the doorway. Stella and Penelope exchanged a smile before looking up to see Emily standing by the door. Olivia grinned and excitedly made her way towards their friend.
"What happened, when I spoke to Derek earlier he didn't mention you guys were coming home."
"That's because I wanted to surprise you guys, so I asked him not to say anything." Emily answered as she gave each friend a hug hello.
"Em, I love you and you're far from fat but did you gain weight?" Stella asked carefully as Penelope smirked.
"I'm pregnant." Emily announced excitedly as Olivia and Stella squealed with excitement throwing their arms around her.
"You have been quiet the secret keeper." Olivia accused pointing a teasing finger at Penelope who merely shrugged sheepishly.
"So tell us, how far, and what's the plans?"
"Before I do, Pen, Derek had something for you but in all the excitement I left it in my car."
"I'll go get it." Pen assured her taking the car keys from her friend. As she closed the door behind her she saw him leaning against the wall smiling.
"Hi Baby." He greeted, and with only two steps she was wrapped tightly against his chest.
"I've missed you Baby Girl."
"Me too." She murmured against his chest.
"I know you have the girls, but I just couldn't go home without seeing you first."
"I'm glad!"
"You okay P?" Derek asked sensing that not all was well with her.
"Yeah I'm okay. Just worried about Liv that's all, she's in the middle of something at the moment."
"Anything I can do?"
"No, but thanks for asking Baby"

Penelope stayed in his arms for a few more moments before reluctantly remembering that she had a roast in the oven. Derek kissed her tenderly on the lips before hugging her once more. By the time she walked back into the apartment she noticed that the girls had changed into their comfortable clothes ready for a night of movies, talking and high volumes of junk food. She could also tell from the worried look that Emily threw at her when she walked in that Olivia had filled her in. At dinner, they encouraged Olivia to let it all out, and thankfully she was cooperative and not insisting on burying it deep within.

"I know I speak for both Pen and I that you can stay here for as long as you want. The amount of time each of us spend in this apartment varies, so if you were wanting some time to yourself, the chances are you'd get it here, but if you're wanting to just hang with your girlfriends, just say the word. We usually come home most nights anyway."
"Thanks guys I appreciate it. I was hoping to make this my base. I was actually thinking of heading over to Florence to visit one of my college friends and bum out there awhile."
"Honey, how long did you tell Cragen you were going for?" Penelope asked worriedly,
"I didn't give him a time per say, he said to take my time, so I plan to."
"Have you ever taken more than a couple of days off?" Emily asked doubtfully,
"No, which is why I have so much leave owing to me, I may as well use it till I know what I want to do."
"Where are your thoughts leading?" Stella asked realising the Olivia was ready to walk away from her life in New York, at least indefinitely.
"I'm not sure. All I know is that I don't want to be in New York right now." Penelope couldn't fault her for that. She was after all the girl that ran to New York for a lot less than that. Her heart broke for her friend, knowing how much she was hurting.

Leaving the heavy topic at the dinner table, the girls parked themselves in front of the TV after cleaning up the dishes. Stella had cleverly picked out friend flicks instead of romantic comedies, and they had a blast watching the classics like Girls just wanna have Fun, St Elmo's Fire and The Big Chill. By the last movie Liv was fast asleep and by the bags under her eyes they knew it was the first time she had allowed herself to just rest. Penelope ran her fingers through Liv's hair as she lay her head peacefully on her lap. Emily was curled up in one of the arm chairs snoring leaving Stella and Penelope to catch up.

"So how's Mac?" Pen asked mischievously,
"You've been holding that in since we knocked on the door haven't you?" Stella asked highly amused,
"Since his confession thank you very much," she corrected.
"It's going much better than I ever imagined. I mean not much has really changed, but I don't know," Penelope's heart warmed to see the excitement on her friend's face.
"I'm so glad Stell. I'm really happy for you both. I'm so glad he finally pulled his foot out of his butt."
"I'm just glad he got there on his own." Stella admitted.
"It's a long time coming Stell."
"Is it ever." Stella let out a deep sigh as she fell back into her arm chair.

They stayed up talking for another hour before calling it a night. They decided to leave Liv on the couch not wanting to disturb her slumber, but woke Emily not wanting her to end up stiff the following morning from being curled up on the chair. They said good night to Stella and headed upstairs to their own rooms,

"Hey Mags,"

"Yeah Em,"
"I know you're having flashbacks right now, but remember you're on the other side now, and there's a difference, whether he knew it or not, his heart was always in love with you, and there was no one else." Penelope met her friend's gaze with tears in her eyes and nodded.
"I know, sometimes I still find it hard to believe that he would choose me."
"It was never a choice Mags, it's always been you."
"Thanks Em. I'm glad you're home Roomie."

Penelope was wide awake and opted for a long hot bath to soothe her to sleep. With her ear phones on she almost missed her phone vibrating beside her on the window sill.

"Hey Baby." She greeted,
"Hey princess, did I wake you?"
"No, we said our good nights a little while ago but I was wide awake so I opted for a bath."
"Did you girls have a good night?"
"Yeah we did, we chilled mostly. Watching old movies and eating crap. Which may be acceptable at thirteen but I'm sure we will regret it tomorrow, or should I say later on today," as her eyes fell on the clock on the wall sporting that it was three in the morning.
"What are you doing awake?" she asked,
"I couldn't sleep. I also wanted to check in on you, you seemed a little upset earlier."
"Aww I'm fine Dirk,"
"What's going on with Liv?" Penelope bit her lip before answering knowing Olivia wouldn't mind her telling Derek. Derek listened as she gave him a recount of Liv's story.
"What is she going to do?"
"Hang here awhile. I think she's heading to Florence and do some travelling, she has more leave that all of us put together, she'd be able to take her time."
"Does that worry you?"
"No. I know it's running, but sometimes you need to run so that you can stop everyone else's voice in your head and hear your own. They have been partners for twelve years. She's spent more time with him than his own wife I can understand why she would not want to be in his presence after what happened between them."
"But Florence is so far away,"
"He's not like you Derek, whether it be Florence or Virginia, Elliott Stabler will not come after her."
"But he loves her,"
"He does, but he also loves Kathy and they have children together. Whether they fail or succeed Olivia knows that Elliott owes it to his children to keep trying, however wrong that may be to those who can only see one or two sides. Especially now with Elliott Jnr, he has to try even harder."
"Then why try with Liv at all?"
"You and I both know that you deny yourself something you want so badly that one day it will explode on your face. Besides wouldn't you rather try than wonder for the rest of your life?"
"I guess, it makes me even more grateful for us P."
"Me too handsome."
"I love you P,"
"I love you too Derek."