Season Fifteen, Episode Nineteen: Downloaded Child

The whole way to the courthouse for Baby Doe's custody hearing, Olivia thought about her and Brian. Not just what happened this morning, but the last few weeks in general.

She was ready, beyond ready, for children, and she couldn't help but realize she'd probably never get that with Brian.

When they were just sleeping together it was fun, and they bonded even more after Lewis, but now things were weird between them. She felt like she was fighting extra hard for their relationship to work, and she hated it.

Tonight, they were going to fix whatever was bothering them. She was determined to make everything okay again.

Olivia smiles slightly when the cab pulls up to the courthouse and she climbs out and heads inside to the hearing for this beautiful infant still without a home.

XXX

"You know what? I don't want to fight with you anymore so let's just-let's just go out. We'll get some dinner." He sets his bottle of beer down and shrugs. "We can talk about it there."

Olivia sighs and opens the bottle in her hand, pouring it into a glass. "You know what? Maybe we should just order in. I'm tired. You're tired."

"We're tired." Brian spits out before turning around and sitting back down, cranking the T.V. back up.

Olivia raises an eyebrow and lifts the glass of wine to her lips, taking a long drink. The tension is thick as the two of them distract themselves from talking. Brian was engrossed in the game as Olivia just stands at the island and drinks her wine.

Brian was right-they are tired. And aside from the obvious things, Olivia never did tell him what happened with William Lewis. He was her boyfriend, he helped the squad look for her, cared for her after everything, and he barely even knew what happened. It wasn't fair to him, to either one of them.

Olivia quickly downs the rest of the wine that was in the glass before turning on her heel and muttering "I'm hopping in the shower" before disappearing into the bathroom that was off of their bedroom.

We have to let each other go. She thinks as she steps into the bathroom and closes the door. If we want any chance of being friends after, I need to let him go now. Before this gets unbearable.

She sighs before undressing and stepping into the shower, letting the water rush over her as she tries not to cry over a relationship she's felt been in trouble for a while.

XXX

"Liv? Hey, Liv." Barba's voice flooding her ears brought her out of her thoughts, and she brings her focus back on him. "You okay?"

Olivia nods rapidly. "Yeah, yeah I'm good. Just, yeah, get it done, okay? I gotta-I'm gonna leave. Just turn the light off when you leave, okay?" She nods once to Barba before standing up from her desk, grabbing her coat as she bounds out of the room.

Hey, I'm leaving work early. Can we meet? She types on her phone and hits send before shrugging her coat on.

Liv was walking into the elevator when she hears her phone going off with a text.

Twisted some arms and got off early. Our usual spot?

Olivia smiles and sends a yes before pushing the button to close the doors and adjusting her bag on her shoulder, trying to push away the emotions.

XXX

"I have something I have to tell you."

Olivia swallows hard and nods slightly. "Go ahead. I can take it."

Brian shakes his head. "No, it's not like that, not at all. Not even close. I love you."

"I love you too, Brian. Always will." Olivia says through tears, and Cassidy reaches forward to hold her head, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

When they pull away, Brian offers his arm to Olivia, and she takes it with her hand. "So do you want to get some dinner?" He asks finally.

Olivia shrugs before shaking her head. "Can we just go back to the apartment? Watch a movie or something?"

Brian nods and the two of them head back to the apartment that would soon become owned by only one of them. The apartment that changed so much for them.

This apartment gave Olivia a fresh start, she got promoted while living in this apartment. It was the apartment she and Brian almost had a future in. Now they were starting the next chapters of their lives, separately.

When they got back to their apartment, the two of them took their coats and shoes off and just crawled into bed together, tangling up immediately.

A movie wasn't turned on, nor was music, it was just the two of them laying there, holding each other one more time.

"I'm sorry, Liv." Brian whispers finally.

"For what?" Olivia whispers back.

"For not giving you what you deserve."

Olivia sighs and leans forward to kiss Brian softly. "It's okay, Bri. It's okay."

The two of them alternate between kissing and snuggling up before Olivia puts her mouth to his ear and sighs. "Make love to me? One more time?"

Brian smiles and nods, leaning down to kiss her again before pushing her onto her back, her legs falling open naturally.

"I love you, Olivia Benson."

"I love you too, Brian Cassidy."

XXX