That doesn't change anything Ed. It can't'

'Are you kidding me Olivia?'

'What do you expect me to say Ed?'

'I want you to be honest with me Olivia. You seem to have given up on us. Why am I even bothering to fight for us when you clearly don't care about me anymore?'

Ed turned away, his heart silently breaking when he felt Olivia's hand on his pulling him back towards her. Stopping, Ed looked over his shoulder at Olivia, whose face almost exactly mirrored hid. Pale, withdrawn, eyes full of tears. For a minute, they looked at their joined hands. Olivia didn't know why she had grabbed Ed's hand, but she knew they couldn't keep going round in the same vicious cycle, they'd only end up hurting each other and that was what Olivia was precisely trying to avoid.

'I do care Ed.'

'Well you have a funny way of showing it Olivia. You've ripped my heart out and trampled all over it. That's you caring?'

'Ed… I… I don't want you to get hurt'

'You've already hurt me'

'Not by me'

'Well by who then?'

Olivia let go of Ed's hand and folded her arms across her chest. She shouldn't be telling Ed all this- but she couldn't hide it anymore. The worry and fear would eat her alive from the inside out. And Ed was right- she should have a say shouldn't he?

'Olivia?'

'I…I am really sorry Ed, for what how I've acted these last few days. But I thought it was the best'

'Best for who Olivia? Because it's nearly killed me and you don't look too pretty right now either, just give me a yes or no answer. Do you love me?'

'Ed…'

'Yes or no Olivia?'

'Yes. But it's because I love you that I did this'

'Olivia, that makes no sense. Why would you shut me out because you love me?'

'Because of this!'

Olivia threw the piece of paper at Ed from her pocket. She had been carrying it around with her since it had been delivered- she was too scared to leave it behind. Collapsing onto the chair again, she began to cry even harder, burying her face in her hands to avoid eye contact with Ed.

Ed stared at Olivia for a moment, and then picked up the paper from where it had landed at his feet. Opening it, his eyes widened when he examined the contents. Suddenly everything made sense again- Olivia's behaviour and her need to try and maintain some kind of control within the situation.

'Olivia… why didn't you tell me?'

Olivia didn't answer Ed, instead crying even harder behind her hands. Ed's heart broke even more in that moment and he sat down on the chair next to Olivia, wrapping his arms around her.

'It's okay…'

'It isn't okay Ed. It isn't okay at all.' Olivia sobbed into Ed's shirt.

'Why on earth didn't you tell me?'

'Because I thought it was best Ed. I love you too much to watch you get hurt along Noah and Aaron. None of you deserve any of this. You all deserve to be happy.'

'Don't you get it Olivia? You make me happy. More than you know. Noah loves you because you're his mother. Aaron is happier than I've ever seen him. You're right that we don't deserve it, but that goes for you as well. You don't deserve this. Brian is a bully, and he can't stand it because you were brave enough to stand up to him, so he's trying to scare you'

'Well he succeeded Ed'

Olivia withdrew from Ed's embrace and wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. Ed noticed she still wouldn't look at him so he took the initiative yet again and grabbed Olivia's hands while they were poised in mid-air, forcing her to look in Ed's direction. But Olivia immediately removed her hands, focusing on Ed's trainers, as if they were the most interesting thing since sliced bread.

'Have you told Cragen about this and reported?'

'No… I'm too sacred and too ashamed'

'It's intimidation and harassment Olivia. You have to'

'I don't and I won't. What do you think he will do to you, Noah and Aaron if I speak out? Ed, I can't watch you get hurt. This is the only way to keep you all safe.'

'It isn't Olivia. Please. Trust me when I say… he can't get to you from prison'

'But he did. He got this to me. Ed, I love you I really do, but I need to protect you.'

'And who's going to protect you Olivia?'

'I'll be fine'

'No you won't. It nearly killed you last time… you wouldn't cope again. I love you; I cannot sit by and let you end this.'

'We don't have a choice Ed.'

'There's always a choice. You're taking the easy option of running away, when you could choose to face it head on.'

'Face it? I can't face it head on, not on my own. I need to run away, it's the easiest thing.'

Ed took one of Olivia's hands, squeezing it gently.

'You are not on your own Olivia. We can face this together. Noah, Aaron, me and you. Together, as a family. I love you, you love me. What is stopping us? Brian is a minor bump in the road. We can do this together Olivia. Please trust me'

'My head says this is a bad idea Ed. Brian will never back down'

'Don't listen to your head. What does your heart say?'

Olivia hesitated for a moment, closing her eyes and regaining her composure. She was silent for a while, and Ed watched her with a look of hope and fear on her face- afraid that Olivia would reject him again. But when Olivia opened her eyes, all fears of rejection were alleviated. There was a steely determination in Olivia's eyes that hadn't been there a moment prior.

'I don't want to run away Ed. The only thing I want to run to is you.'

'Does that mean you want to do this together?'

'As long as we do this together. Because I can't do it on my own.'

'I will be with you every step of the way I promise Olivia. I love you'

'I love you too'

CAN YOU LEAVE A REVIEW PLEASE ON THIS CHAPEL SO I KNOW THAT YOU ALL CAN READ THEM BECAUSE I NOT SURE THAT YOU CAN SO PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW SO I KNOW YOU CAN.

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