Chapter One: Paris

Ed fucking Tucker.

What the hell was Olivia Benson thinking?

What did she even see in him?

From the moment he found out about their relationship during the sex trafficking ring investigation involving the vice cops and St. Fabiolas, Rafael Barber could not control his jealousy. Although they managed to salvage some of their friendship after that disastrous transfer mishap, the emotional space between Olivia and himself grew vaster everyday she was still with Tucker.

And now, that asshole was whisking her and Noah away on a fairy tale trip to Paris.

Rafael ran a frustrated hand through his hair as he paced his office at 1 Hogan Place, ignoring the way it left his normally perfect hair disheveled. Letting out a huff, he doffed his suit jacket, rolled up his shirt sleeves one at a time, and threw himself onto the couch with a half empty bottle of scotch in hand.

He lost his chance. Why the hell didn't he have the big brass… ego to make a few years ago? He knew exactly what a trip like that meant. There was no way Liv and Tucker would come back without a sparkling diamond on the ring finger of her left hand. He just knew.

His heart shattered into a million little pieces.

"Enough. Enough now," Rafael whispered to himself and swallowed a large gulp of liquor straight from the bottle.

…..

Paris was a dream. It was beautiful and majestic and all the things she ever hoped it would be. So, why wasn't she blissfully happy on this vacation of a lifetime?

The tension between Tucker and her was getting thicker by the moment. The space between them expanding as it became clearer to her, they were not on the same page in their relationship. Hell, they probably weren't even in the same book anymore!

"Liv?" Tucker inquired as she absently circled her index finger around the rim of her glass of cabernet. She was staring off into space again, he sighed. This was not going how he planned, the small box with a classic princess cut diamond ring in it weighing heavily in his pocket. Feeling like he was losing her lately and not knowing how else to fix it, Tucker picked up the ring right before they left for Paris. It was his Hail Mary attempt to woo her back to him.

"Hmm?" She blinked a few times. "I'm sorry, did you say something, Ed?"

"Penny for your thoughts?" He replied, valiantly trying to contain his exasperation.

Not wanting to admit to her actual thoughts after such a lovely dinner in a city designed for romance, she said "Just thinking how beautiful it is here."

"Indeed, it is." Reaching across the table to grasp her hand away from the wine glass. "And I have the most beautiful view in the house."

Despite the previous wandering of her mind, Olivia blushed. It was always nice to get a compliment. "Who knew you were such a charmer, Ed?"

At the sight of her first sincere smile of the evening, Tucker's body seized the opportunity before his mind fully understood what was happening. One second, he was sitting up straight in the chair, napkin on his lap, and the next he was on one knee on the floor next to Olivia's chair, small black box in hand and his heart in his bright blue eyes.

Oh SHIT!

Olivia's thoughts were spiraling out of control before Tucker even opened his mouth. She glanced around at the other tables in the restaurant, full of happy couples and families dining on their savory meals. No one seemed to notice what was about to happen… yet.

"Liv," Tucker murmured drawing her attention back to him. "I know things have not been perfect lately, but here in Paris, where romance fills the air, I did not want to miss this opportunity."

Olivia sat frozen in stunned silence as he paused for breath.

"Olivia Benson, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I promise to take care of you and Noah for the rest of our lives." A bead of sweat rolled down Tucker's temple, a clear sign of how uncharacteristically nervous he was at the moment.

People were starting to notice, and Olivia still sat frozen until Ed's gentle nudge on her knee broke the spell.

Olivia swallowed hard; her eyebrows still peaked in surprise. This could not be happening.

"Oh, Ed," she said, her voice heavy with regret at both his timing and complete lack of reading the situation.

…..