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Her alarm goes off but he's already awake. He quickly turns it off before it wakes her up because he wants to be the one to do it. He doesn't wake her up right away because she looks so peaceful. She's balled up under his arm with her blanket covering both their bodies. She's either unaware or very comfortable because she has an arm resting on his chest and her face almost buried into his neck. It bothers him that he has to wake her because he wants to stay like this all day, but he has to because she has to get to work and ensure Noah makes it to school safe. He breathes her in one last time before he moves the hand that's secured around her back to brush hair strands out of her face. He's careful not to get too loud as his husky morning voice whispers her name to her get up. He stops when she begins to stir and blinks a few times before opening her eyes fully.

She's almost surprised when she looks at him and he's staring her directly in her eyes. She isn't sure when he unbuttoned his shirt but she's not complaining about the warm body under hers and her hands shifts slightly across his chest.

"Good morning Liv, come on you have to get up."

He smiles when he hears her groan but eventually sits up and stretches her body. He can't help his eyes that are glued to her because she looks so beautiful and he isn't sure when he'll be able to see her like this again.

"What time is it." She ask with tiredness still evident in her voice.

"It's 6:11 I'm sorry I didn't wake you right away you looked really tired."

"It's fine." Her Hands come up to rub her eyes.

She doesn't move as yet and they're still so close to each other since they're both sitting up. Their faces inches apart.

"I should get going, you going to be okay?" He asks her.

"Yes, may be late because I forgot I'm dropping Noah this morning and didn't set an earlier alarm, he's a bit slow when he's getting ready not much of a morning person but we'll be fine." She smiles while talking about him. It just feeds the thought that he knows she's a good mom.

He hums and nods his head then puts on his shoes that he's left beside her bed.

"I'll see you."

He pulls her in and kisses her on her forehead before he pulls away and leaves and she hears her door close. She's still smiling when he leaves from his lingering kiss on her skin.

"Morning Captain." Amanda said as she was the first to notice Olivia walking hastily through the precinct doors.

"Morning everyone sorry I'm late." She almost seems disoriented this morning. She held both her glasses and hand bag in one hand whilst trying to adjust her blazer over her left shoulder.

"It's okay, Cap." She heard Velasco respond. Still trying too hard to get on everyone's good side.

She moved pass everyone going directly into her office so she can align herself for the day. She fondled with the fabric of her clothing and ran her fingers through the curls she managed to work in this morning making sure she looks as presentable as possible.

She sat placing her new blue framed glasses on and went on to reviewing a victim's statement. Her eyes go straight to her office door when she hears a knock from the opposite side.

"You got something for me?" She asked returning her eyes back to the file in front of her.

"Uh yeah Alice, said she's now willing to testify in court."

"Good, have her come in today."

Olivia kept her easy on the paper thinking Amanda would've left by now.

"Everything okay Liv?" She genuinely asked. Sure she has been late very few times, she doesn't make it a habit. She's obviously trying to keep busy and it's clear to her that she is a bit off kilter.

"Everything's fine."

Amanda sits there and watches her because she can tell everything isn't fine. Olivia's eyes look up at her and clearly Amanda isn't budging.

"Stabler came to see me last night and before you say anything it's not what you think."

Amanda's facial expression changed completely. The mention of him going to see Olivia bothers hers especially since he left her with no reason at all then ghosted her again while on an assignment.

"So why did he come to see you?" She ask trying to hide her annoyance. She's trying to like him, see whatever Liv sees but it's still taking some time.

"He wanted to speak to me." She took a breath and rolled her eyes over to the other side. She really wasn't in the mood for crying. It's all too tiring right now. She wasn't even sure that she could.

"He found out about Lewis and he told me he had to see me. He even risked blowing his cover." Her whole demeanor changes and she automatically notices how quickly she is ready to defend his actions.

So many comments ran through the blondes mind, comments she was sure her boss wouldn't want to hear right now so she kept them to herself.

"How'd it go?"

"Fine, Rollins."

She took that as her hint to get back to work. It was evident that Olivia did not want to carry on with the conversation.

Amanda nodded her head before she left her alone in her office, shutting the door behind her. It seems desolate especially since she hasn't even open her blinds yet. She runs her finger through her hair and lets out a shaky breath. She knows she's going to be distracted all day. She needs to call him, just to hear the voice that helped her sleep so peacefully. Sleep she hasn't had in a long time.

He follows her into her office. The place is quiet and the only audible sound comes from the clicking of her boots against the cold tile. Everyone else watches from their desk and it's obvious that he has done something wrong.

"Where were you last night, detective?" She motions for him to come in closer into her office. They stand opposite from each other separated by her desk. She stands with her arms folded as she waits for a reasonable answer from him.

He stood vacillating between options in his head. How is he going to tell her that he went to see his ex-partner last night. Let alone why. He's racking his brain, upset because he had turned it into a bigger issue than it should. If he had called her and let's her know where he would be going he knew he wouldn't be in this predicament.

"I went to see Liv last night." He tells her the truth.

"Is something wrong?" She asked almost lighting up on him.

"Uhh no just something personal I wanted to make sure she was okay."

"Well Stabler when you're Eddie Wagner there is no time to get personal. You could have put Liv and her son in serious danger."

"Yes, I understand that." He chose his words carefully. He intentionally left out "it won't happen again" since he was already thinking about seeing her again tonight.

"Look I don't understand you and Captain Benson's relationship but please keep it out and away from work. And as your sergeant you check in with me before you do anything."

"Got it"

She leaves him in her office and he's about to follow after her before he stops due to the ringing of his phone. He doesn't usually keep his private cell phone with him since he's Eddie now but today he has it just in case and it looks out. He smiled slightly when he saw her name on the top of his screen.

"Hey Liv, how are you?" He's a bit shocked that she called. He thought that maybe once she's up one hundred percent that she'd probably panic and avoid him. The old Olivia probably would've torn herself apart for letting him stay the night in her bed, but she needed him and couldn't push not having him to the back of her mind anymore.

"Hey…I'm good I hope this isn't a bad time."

He was quick to answer "No, I was just checking in with Bell." He didn't want to give her time to regret calling him or to spend too much time in her head rethinking it.

She portrayed concern in her voice when she asked "How did that go?" She already knew that he more than likely got into some trouble considering the stunt he pulled.

"Not as bad as I thought she just wants me to make sure I notify her whenever I go somewhere."

"Did you tell her….." She said nearly interrupting him. He didn't have to think to know what she was referring to.

"Of course not Liv."

She felt relieved. Of course he wouldn't tell her it wasn't his story to tell. Further more he knew if anyone else were to find out it'll just add another barrier between them. She has already dealt with it in the past when it happened. Everyone constantly giving her sorrowful looks and asking if she was 'okay'. A question she grew irritated of hearing. After what she went through how could she be okay.

"I know you wouldn't, I don't even know why I asked." Her voice got lower as she spoke. She began fidgeting with the spoon that was placed in her coffee mug continuously stirring even though everything had dissolved.

"It's okay, Liv." He doesn't mind the some what odd behavior from her. He knows she's trying to understand and get them to a place of calmness and comfort between the both of them and so is he. They've both changed and missed so much that they're not sure of what has evolved and what stayed the same. One thing is for certain, their trust in one another never left.

He heard her let out a calming breath and a few seconds went by before she spoke.

"Yeah, well I actually called to thank you for staying last night."

"Anything for you."

She almost wish that he could she the smile his words has put on her face. She doesn't show it much and hasn't said it…yet. But she loves that he's trying to show her that he wants to be there for her.

She hears her name being yelled outside her door and she shamefully dreads having to get working. She's going to have a long day of persuading a sixteen year old victim to testify after only getting one to agree.

"I have to go."

She hesitates on what she says next but if she doesn't she probably won't hear from him until another three months.

"Think I'll be able to see you again anytime soon?"

This time he's the one whose smiling. Maybe she's finally allowing herself to get closer to him.

"I'll do everything I can, and Liv I meant it when I said I'm not going anywhere."

"Goodbye." Is the last thing he hears from her before the phone hangs up.

He walks out of Bells office and he knows they've probably been watching him based on how they look at him as he leaves.

"I'm heading out serge."