Olivia had gone to work on that Monday morning and tried to pretend that everything was all right. The school had tried to tell her to take as much time off as she needed, but she wanted to go back to work. She needed to go back to work to get her mind back on track. A part of her had contemplated having more time off, but what would she do? She would only sit in the apartment and go stir crazy. She didn't want that. She was trying to get back to normal. She had gone out with Ed on the Friday night and he had asked her out for dinner on the Saturday and she had agreed.

Jim had been convinced she was moving quickly, but he let her do what she needed to do. He trusted that she knew what she was doing. She remained silent while eating breakfast, chewing down on her bottom lip before she left for work. Jim had agreed to drive her to work on his way, considering her car was still being used for evidence.

Going to work, Jim picked up a coffee on his way. Holding it in his fingertips, he wandered into the precinct and saw Harvey stood behind the desk. "Jim!" Harvey shouted at him. "We have an issue…a big issue."

"What is it?" Jim asked, sipping on his coffee and taking the steps up to his desk.

"There's been an attack on Falcone," Harvey said and Jim almost wanted to groan out loudly. He made himself refrain, but he placed his coffee cup down on his desk. Dropping his hands to his hips, he rocked back and forth on his heels as he shrugged.

"What does that mean?"

"It means that everyone has switched their support to Maroni," Harvey said. "We need to get down to the hospital and see how Falcone is. I suspect there will be someone after his life"

"We can't have Falcone being targeted," Jim said. "We need him or else we end up with civil unrest in the city."

"Let's go."

….

Olivia had been waiting for her brother after work that night, but he never showed. He didn't turn up for her. Instead, she had learned from a simple text message that something was going on. There was something going on with Falcone and Maroni and Jim had managed to get himself in the middle of it. Jim always managed to get himself involved in bad business. Olivia didn't know the ins and outs of what was going on, but she knew that it wouldn't be good.

"Jim sent me."

Olivia was just about to walk off, but a sudden voice stopped her. Looking over to the woman's voice, Olivia looked surprised. She remained still as Lee approached her, dressed in a long dark grey coat over her smart suit. She had leather gloves on her hands and she was holding her car keys in her grip.

"I could have walked back," Olivia said. "He didn't need to send you out of your way."

"I was on my way home anyway," Lee waved off and held her car keys up. "Shall we?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Lee said. "Your brother kind of asked me if I could take you back to mine for a little while. He is worried that he has got himself involved in some dodgy business. He doesn't want us alone. He thinks we will be better off together."

"Okay," Olivia said and Lee unlocked her car.

Swinging her bag from her shoulder, Olivia tossed it into the footwell of the passenger side. She sat down and did up her seatbelt. Glancing over to Lee as she put the key in the ignition, Olivia bit down on her bottom lip.

"What is going on?" Olivia asked from Lee. "What has Jim gotten himself involved with?"

"The gang war," Lee said and began driving off. "He is trying to get Falcone out the city. Maroni has the support of all the politicians and the GCPD. Jim wouldn't side with them. He is taking Falcone to a safe house. The Commissioner has stated that Jim has gone against his commands to leave Falcone alone."

"But why is Jim getting involved?" Olivia asked, feeling her stomach beginning to churn at the idea of her brother going against the police. That could not mean anything good. "Why does he have to get involved after everything…Jim…"

"Because he always does what he thinks is the right thing and he knows that killing Falcone would be bad. Maroni would ruin this city."

"As if this city isn't already ruined," Olivia whispered back to Lee and turned to look out the window. Lee shot a look over to Olivia as she shook her head. The young woman was looking paler than when Lee had picked her up. She was clearly worried.

"He will be fine," Lee promised her. "He has Harvey."

"Do we know that?" Olivia asked and turned back to Lee. "He is all that I have and I know that since he came back to Gotham I have relied on him so much, but even when he was in the army I never worried about him like I do now…well…not as much."

"Why did he come back?" Lee asked, realising she had never found that answer out herself.

"He felt that it was the right decision," Olivia said. "He wanted to come back and make a life with Barbara, but that didn't entirely work out. He…I think he wanted to settle down. He wanted to stop moving around and just settle. I was happy when he did, but then I never realised being part of the GCPD would be as dangerous as being in the army."

"He's a brave man," Lee said. "Perhaps everything will be fine in the end? Jim will come back home and he will be safe."

"Do you love him?" Olivia asked, knowing that the question was bold. But she was feeling bold. She wanted to know exactly what was going on with Lee and her brother. It intrigued her. She needed to know how Jim had moved on so quickly from Barbara. Did he ever truly love Barbara?

"I…yes," Lee said and turned left down a side street. "I do love him."

Olivia nodded once and Lee let out a gentle chuckle and shook her head. "Sorry," she said and glanced over to Olivia as she stopped at a red light. "I know that I have only met you a couple of times and that must be weird to hear, but I have gotten to know your brother…and when you were kidnapped…I…I promised I would never leave him. I would never abandon him. I told him I loved him before he went to find the Ogre. It wasn't the best of timing, but I realised it then."

"I don't think there is ever a good time to tell someone you love them," Olivia said. "It is never like the movies, is it? The grand, romantic gestures never happen."

"Not in my experience," Lee said. "But I know that your brother is a good man and I have no intention of letting him go…or letting him down…I love him."

"He needs someone," Olivia nodded her head. "It is good that you have him."

"We all need someone," Lee said. "Speaking off, your brother told me about Ed and you."

Olivia frowned, folding her hands into her lap. She shook her head slowly. "There is no me and Ed," she said and Lee arched her brow.

"I get it if you don't want to talk about it," Lee said to her. "I mean, after everything you've been through I doubt a relationship is the first thing on your mind."

"No," Olivia said, "it's kind of the last thing on my mind, which is funny really. Before all of this happened I…the reason I had been to see…him…" Olivia couldn't speak his name. "It was to tell him that we weren't working out. I'd realised that I had feelings for Ed and he had admitted that he felt something for me, but Kristen Kringle was at the forefront of his mind. She always is. She doesn't deserve him. The way she treats him is horrible, but he has been so hung up over her."

"I don't know if that's true," Lee said to Olivia. "When you had gone missing he was beside himself. He didn't even bother with Kristen at all. He had no time for her at all."

"That's only because he was being a good friend."

"I don't think so," Lee said. "From the way I have heard him talk about you-"

"-What does he say?" Olivia asked, unable to refrain herself as Lee let a smirk form on her face at hearing that. She pulled into the parking lot underneath her apartment building and turned the ignition off. Looking to Olivia, she kept her hands on the steering wheel as the young woman shifted in her seat.

"He talks about how he is happy when he gets to see you," Lee said. "He is always wondering if you would like to do something. He is always asking Jim how you are doing and when you are free. He…when I admitted I was nervous about meeting you because Jim adores you, he told me not to worry. He told me how kind and clever you are. He told me how you would probably be nervous because you love your brother so much and how you would chew down on your bottom lip. You do that when you get nervous."

Olivia resisted a smile forming on her face as she heard that. Instead she undid her seatbelt and scolded herself for being so mushy when her brother's life was at risk. Grabbing her bag she nodded and opened the door.

"We should head inside," was all that she said.

….

Jim had called Lee and said that they had made it to Falcone's safe house. Lee had put him on speaker and said that her and Olivia were safe together. Lee had to go and see Barbara that evening after making an appointment as she was giving her counselling. Olivia had said that she would be fine in Lee's apartment while she went and did that. Olivia liked Barbara, but at that moment in time seeing her reminded her of what they had been through. And Olivia didn't want to be reminded.

Olivia had been sat on the sofa, watching some bad TV show when her cell began to ring. She looked at the ID and saw that it was Ed calling her. She picked up, turning down the volume of the TV.

"Hi, Ed," Olivia greeted him.

"I heard about Jim," was all that Ed said. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Olivia said. "I am staying at Lee's for the night. Jim did his overly protective thing."

"Good," Ed responded. "Look, I was thinking…I know that your mind is probably elsewhere right now, but can we talk? I just need to talk to you, Olivia."

"Yeah," she said. "We can talk."

"Okay…yeah…good," Ed said and she swore that she heard him gulp. "Should I drop by Lee's?"

"She's out at Barbara's penthouse tonight," Olivia said. "She has some counselling going on there. Do you want me to text you her address?"

"Yes, please," Ed said. "I'll be there soon."

Olivia hung up and text him the address. Standing up, she went into the kitchen and placed the kettle on the stove, warming up the water. It was then when her cell rung again and she picked up to hear Jim's voice.

"What is going on?" she asked her brother. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Jim promised his sister. "Listen, I have Falcone and Harvey with me. I need to get somewhere safe. Penguin and Fish turned up and things went to shit. We got out while they were fighting, but we need to go somewhere else."

"Where?" Olivia asked.

"I don't know yet," he said, "but I need you to stay put, Olivia. Okay?"

"Yeah," Olivia said. "Jim, just promise me you will be careful."

"Promise," Jim said. "Love you, Liv."

"Love you too, Jim."

Hanging up, Olivia placed two herbal teabags into two mugs. She wondered if it was weird that she was making herself at home in Lee's apartment, but Lee had insisted that she do it. And Olivia did want a cup of tea. She would have to take Lee out for a drink to thank her for being so kind and to get to know her better. She suspected that would be nice. She wanted to do that for her brother. And Lee was nice. Lee was kind. She spoke to Olivia liked Barbara never did.

Olivia was lost in her thoughts as she heard the intercom ring. Moving over to it, she saw Ed's face through the small screen and picked the phone up. "It's open," she said and buzzed him in.

Olivia went to the front door and opened it, seeing Ed walking down the corridor towards her. She managed a soft smile at him as he made his way towards her. Olivia startled as he came so close and she saw an intent look in his eye. What was going on?

"If I don't say this now then I'll never say it at all," he informed her and she stepped back, letting him into the apartment and he kicked the door shut behind him. "That night before you were kidnapped, I meant what I said and it has been all I can think about since."

"Ed-"

"-No," Ed interrupted, moving a finger up and pressing it against her lips to stop her from speaking. "I have to say this, Olivia."

"No, you don't," she pleaded with him.

"You are…kind…loving…gentle…so sweet," Ed began and Olivia gulped at hearing him, closing her eyes for a second as he moved a hand to her cheek, drawing her gaze back to his as he wondered what he was doing. This was wrong. He shouldn't be doing this. But he had to. "And for some reason you are convinced that no one should love you and you get scared whenever anyone seems to declare any affection towards you…which is just so weird because you are…you are perfect, Olivia."

"Ed-"

"-No," Ed said again, silencing her. He had to do this. He needed her. He needed Olivia. She was safe. She was good for him. Kristen Kringle was not good for him. He had stood in that cabinet room and he had spoken to himself. He had felt himself losing his mind as his glasses fell from his face and he laughed manically. The voice had told him to move away from Kristen and think of the fun they could have with Olivia. Weak, little Olivia. But Ed didn't want to have fun with Olivia. He wanted to cherish her. He wanted to date her and treat her right.

"If I don't say this now then I worry I will never say it," Ed said. "I feel something when I am with you. I feel happy. I feel like you care about me. You never mock me. You never make me feel worthless. You make me feel better about everything."

"Ed, please, we can't do this right now."

"I know," Ed said to her. "And I don't want you to say anything to me, Olivia. I don't want you to tell me that you feel the same. I just want you to know."

"You…you're a good man, Ed," Olivia said, moving to take his hand from her cheek and holding it tightly. "You deserve someone who will give you that happiness…date you…make you laugh…but I…I don't know if I can give that to you right now and I don't want you to wait for me."

"What about if I wanted to wait for you?" Ed asked her and she heard the kettle begin to whistle in the kitchen.

She ignored his question and dropped his hand, rushing into the kitchen and removing the kettle from the stove. Edward followed her into the room and stood in the doorway, hands awkwardly by his side.

"Olivia," he tried to call her attention back to him. "What if I want to wait?"

"Don't put that on me," Olivia urged Ed and she folded her arms over her stomach. "Besides, there is Kristen, Ed."

"I…well…"

"You still want her," Olivia said. "And I don't want to be involved in that. I just want us to be friends. I want us to be happy and be friends."

"She isn't you," Ed finally said and looked to Olivia, his eyes wide and his glasses falling slowly down his nose. "She isn't you, Olivia."

Olivia went silent, uncertain of what she should say to him. Wasn't this what she wanted? Didn't she want Ed? She knew that she had feelings for him. She had done for a long time, but she knew that Kristen Kringle still held a place in his affections. Was that no longer true? What had changed?

"I don't know what to say," Olivia admitted to Ed with a shrug of her shoulders. "Ed, I have no answer to any of this."

"I know," Ed said, "and I don't expect an answer, but I just had to tell you. I had to tell you and make you see that…I was serious…that night when I told you how I felt…I was serious and I would wait for you. I would wait for you for as long as it takes."

"And I cannot ask you to do that," Olivia said to him. "Ed, I need to work on myself and I don't know how long that will take. Besides, don't tell me that you don't still have feelings for Kristen Kringle. You don't lose feelings that quickly, Ed."

"But she isn't the one I need, Olivia. She isn't good for me like you."

"Ed, I don't want to be the one you need," Olivia said to him. "I want to be the one you want."

"What is the difference?" he asked her and she gave him a sad smile.

"That's one thing you will have to work out on your own," she said. "Listen, Ed. I am glad you came here and told me, honestly, I am, but I just…I just can't do this right now and not so long as I know you still have feelings for Kristen Kringle. I just feel second best to her and I don't want that. I don't want that."

"I don't want to give up on you," Ed said to her and he moved closer to her. "Do you not see that?"

"But you don't want to give up on Kristen either, do you?" Olivia asked and Ed remained silent. "And that is why I am not going to do this. I am not going to get involved in some ridiculous love triangle."

"What does this mean? What do we do?"

"We admit that we are better as friends," Olivia said and she took hold of his shoulders, squeezing them tightly. "Because I like you as a friend, Ed. I value you so much. I don't want to ruin that."

"We won't," Ed promised her. "If that is what you want."

Olivia nodded and wrapped her arms around Ed, holding him tightly as he wrapped his own arms around her. He didn't know what he had expected. Had he expected her to admit her feelings and them be okay? Did he think that was going to happen? She couldn't rush into anything. And she was right. His mind was still on Kristen. He couldn't help that. But he knew it was Olivia he needed. He needed her more than Kristen. He knew that, but he couldn't help but think what if. What if Kristen finally saw him as something else? Was Olivia really second place? He didn't know. All he knew was that his mind was in a mess.

….

A/N: Do let me know what you think!