Chapter 9

"Wait till you meet Olivia, you'll love her!" Peter said to Katelyn as he, her, and Kevin sat at the nets game, Courtside.

Katelyn grinned. She was honestly happy for Peter. "I hope so. You've talked so much about her, I feel like I know her,"

"Come on man!" Kevin yelled at one of the players as he stood up to show his disdain. "This is why you need glasses, yo ass can't see!"

"...he's gonna get us jumped." Katelyn laughed, signaling towards Kevin and causing Peter to laugh as well. Kevin was satisfied that he'd berated the guy enough, for now, and sat in his seat picking up his beer.

"Loser!" He yelled to the player, getting in one last insult before he took a gulp then turned to Peter and Katelyn. "He still talking 'bout Olivia?"

"He is, and I'm proud of him." She said, leaning on Peter. "After the way that Caroline broke your heart, I didn't think you'd ever wanna get back out there and love again." But Peter knew it was more than just that; he found a woman that he could love. He really felt that Olivia completed him. She was what had been missing in his life for so long and though he never dreamed he'd fall in love with her son, he did. In Olivia and Noah, he'd found a family and he knew that he wanted to keep this thing they had. They fit.

...actually, I think- I think this is it. I want to marry her when she's ready."

"Wait," Kevin said, suddenly ignoring the game and turning to face Peter. "...Marriage?"

"Now he listens!"

"Damn right I'm listening. When did this happen and where was I?"

Now, as Peter absent-mindedly gathered the pieces to the board game that he and Olivia were cleaning up, he wondered if it would be sooner than he expected.

A whole month had passed and had seen a lot of positive change in his and Olivia's relationship since they'd said the l word to one another, and even in his and Noah's. They'd grown so much closer, spending more time together, hell, he and Olivia practically lived at each other's apartments. Especially since admitting their feelings to one another. When Noah found out, they practically had to peel him off of the ceiling, he was so happy for both of them and even happier that he'd get to keep Peter in his life! Peter still couldn't believe that this was his still seemed unreal that she felt this way about him. He had to be the luckiest guy in the world to have a woman like Olivia love him.

"...fishing?" She asked. Her disinterest was written all over her face as they collected the contents of the monopoly game.

"Wow!" Peter laughed. "Could you try to sound less interested?"

"I'm sorry." She smiled as he put the game board in the box and closed it. "It's just, me and the outdoors..."

Getting up, he gently took her in his arms. "Apology accepted. I think it'd be great for Noah and I to have some bonding time. I thought I'd surprise him."

He had a beautiful little cabin in Rhode island. It was one of the things he'd inherited from his father, who'd gotten it from his own father. And though Peter hadn't been there in years, he knew he could call to have the place cleaned and ready in no time. So, he thought it would be a great idea to share some of his happier memories that he'd had with his dad, with Noah. Plus, since Noah had expressed such an interest in fishing, it would be a great idea to have some time away from the city.

Olivia put her arms around his neck as they stared into one another's eyes. "Surprise huh?"

"Mmhm, that is if you're free next weekend," he said and leaned in to kiss her when her phone vibrated.

"...hold that thought,"

"I'd rather hold you!" He said, nuzzling her neck.

She smiled as she answered the phone. "Yeah Fin? ...uh…" she was in heaven with the way his lips were on that spot just beneath her left ear, teasing just right. She fought the urge to moan in Fin's ear and instead, got away from Peter, though it was harder than she'd imagined. Peter laughed silently before he finished putting the board games away.

"...no, it's okay," she said to Fin, smiling at Peter. "Gimme twenty...yes, I will." And she hung up.

"Don't tell me…" He sulked. He understood that her job was and is a priority especially now, but he couldn't help but feel selfish sometimes.

"I'm sorry. But you know we're short with Amanda still out on maternity leave." she said as she put on her coat.

"I know." He said then put his hand on her waist and kissed her sweetly. "Be careful, please."

"I will."

"I love you."

She had to fight her face to not burst from the huge smile that threatened to overtake it. "I love you too," she said and kissed him and left thinking how good it felt to say that to someone and mean it again.

He locked up and couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if it were her out on maternity leave with their baby. He smiled at the thought. He could really see them with a couple more kids running around someday. God he couldn't wait to see his future with her, and it hit him that he was definitely going to have to start shopping for rings soon.

...

When Olivia got back, it was just after 3 AM. She yawned as she entered the dark apartment and took her keys from the door. Luckily, she was used to coming home at these hours so she had no problem finding her way in the dark. After locking the door and hanging her coat, she threw her keys in the little bowl on the side table and migrated her way towards the back of the apartment. She looked in on Noah, seeing him sleeping peacefully before she went in and kissed him, smoothing back his curls before she adjusted his covers and left the room, walking into her own bedroom, and began undressing. The room was lit by the moonlight, and she stopped and stared for a moment at Peter lying shirtless in her bed, fast asleep. She looked, letting her eyes scan over him. God, she loves this man, and sometimes, it scares the hell out of her to think just how much, she thought as she removed her bra and slipped into a tank top before she went into the adjoining bathroom to brush her teeth. She didn't bother turning on the light and didn't brush her usual time, but it was late, she was tired, and so she did a quick once-over and rinsed. Now back in the room, she climbed into bed beside Peter. He immediately shifted and wrapped her in his arms, exciting a nipple as he did.

"You're home." He whispered and kissed her shoulder.

"Did I wake you? " She asked, relaxing now that she was in his arms.

"It's okay, I'm just glad you're back safe." And he kissed her cheek sweetly.

She turned her head to him and it was she who began kissing him, catching his bottom lip in between her teeth and sucking it before he snaked his tongue between them gaining entrance to her mouth.

"You want to?" He whispered between kisses, hoping she said yes. He was already getting hard and he needed her now.

"I do, but I need to talk to you about something since you're awake.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Nothings wrong."

"Are you breaking up with me?"

"Peter, no," she smiled. "It's not that."

"Then…"

"I had some time to think about what we were talking about before I left..." she'd actually mentioned it to Fin, who told her what a great idea he thought it was, which was huge for Fin. He didn't trust anyone. And the fact that he trusted Peter with his godson, that meant the world to Olivia.

"Listen, in spite of my general apprehension, I think he's a good guy. And my godson is crazy about the man. It pains me to say this, but, I think it's good that Noah's building a strong relationship with Peter. You said yourself that you love the man…"

"You had him checked out, didn't you?"

"...maybe."

"...and I think you're right. Noah would love to go fishing at your cabin."

"You trust me."

"I do," she said, as she traced the outline of his lips with her thumb. He smiled as he looked into her eyes and kissed her palm.

"You've changed my life, Olivia Benson. I never thought that coming back to New York after all these years that I'd find my home in you and Noah."

And honestly, she didn't want to deny Noah that. The more she got to know Peter, the more she understood that she was in the presence of somebody who was very important to her. She smiled.

"So, this cabin…"

He kissed the tip of her nose. "It's in Rhode Island near Worden pond, and it's absolutely beautiful…"

…

The next weekend rolled around and Noah literally screamed his excitement when he found out that him and Peter would be going fishing all weekend. And though Peter was happy as well, he was apprehensive as they drove. Olivia didn't come with them and it suddenly hit him that he'd never been alone with Noah for more than a few hours. He'd never had to handle anything big. What if Noah had an accident or got sick? Yes, he was well versed in first-aid, but a plethora of other things could go wrong, and he thought of every worst-case scenario, all the way to the cabin. Noah had been told by his mom that he was not to go near the water without Peter, and Peter heavily reinforced what she'd said. The lake was beautiful, but like any body of water, it could be dangerous without supervision and they were both happy to see that Noah got the message.

The night they got back to the city, Noah ran into the apartment as soon as Peter unlocked the door, surprising Olivia who was in the kitchen having a mug of tea.

"We're back!" Peter announced as Noah ran past him.

"Mommy!" He cried as Olivia picked him up and kissed him. "I missed you!" He said and hugged her. Although he was with Peter and she knew he was safe, she was so happy to see him and have him close.

"We had so much fun, mommy! We fished and rode horses, and built fires to cook on, it was awesome!"

"I bet it was, did you thank Peter?"

"Uh-huh. Peter, when can we go again?"

"How about you go and get your bath and then we'll have dinner?" Olivia said before Peter could answer. If she knew her son, he'd convinced Peter to let him go the whole weekend, hygiene-free. And the look on his face told her that she was right as he threw his head back and grinned.

"Okayyyyy!" Olivia put him down. "Can I take a shower instead?"

"Yes you can, just get clean."

"I will." He said, and she swatted his butt as he went off to his room. "...and wash your hair." She called.

"You should have seen it, Liv" Peter said as the three of them sat at the dinner table eating spaghetti. "That fish was nearly bigger than he was, it was incredible!" He continued as he rubbed Noah's head, making an even bigger mess of Noah's curly mop of hair but Noah didn't mind as he ate a fork full of pasta.

Noah told Olivia all about the giant trout he caught with Peter's help and Olivia was amazed when he showed her the pictures and a video they'd taken before they released the beautiful fish back into the wild. But honestly, Noah was just so glad that he had the opportunity to spend time with Peter out on the lake fishing and talking like they had been doing it their whole lives.

Later that night, with Noah finally fast asleep, Peter and Olivia were lounging on the sofa in her apartment, she was wrapped in his arms as she lay with her head on his chest.

"I gotta admit, it was so lonely without you guys!"

"You missed us?"

"I did. I was glad I had work to keep me busy" she said and ran her hand across his chest as she snuggled into it. "I missed you."

"Not as much as I missed you. Noah and I had a great time, but at night when he was asleep, it would be so quiet. I'd begin thinking about all the times I had there with my dad and grand dad."

"You must've gone there a lot with them," She said, and Peter grew somber.

"I did. It was one of the things I really looked forward to...better days I guess. When I saw how happy Noah was with that fish he caught, how happy he was all weekend, it brought it all back, me and my dad… Thank you for allowing me to be able to share that with him.

"I think that was just part of it, he loves spending time with you."

"I love spending time with him too, he's such a great kid."

She smiled at the sentiment. That was very much the truth. Noah was a great kid, she felt like she hit the jackpot with him. "My everything..." She said, staring at him and smiling; tracing his features with a single finger.

"I see that." and he took her hand in his and kissed it. "I just hope one day that he can be mine too."

"Peter, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying...what if...one day, we were to get married?"

"Married?" She said, somewhat taken aback as she turned in his arms to face him. "I didn't...I didn't know you'd been thinking about that…I mean; have you been thinking about it?"

Peter looked at her and moved a wisp of hair that had come down over her eye out of her face. He knew that she was unsure about anything pertaining to their relationship, but he also knew that he loved her more than anything and that he would eventually make her his wife.

"I have. And though I try not to, I can't help but think that someday- when you're ready, I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"Peter..." she said, and she sat up on her knees trying to fix her eyes anywhere but on him. Did she love him? Yes, but there was no denying that their age gap was still something that weighed heavily on her mind. "...do you think that would be fair?"

"Fair to who?"

"To you."

"This again?"

"Yes, this again." This time she looked directly at him. "You're thirty seven years old, are you telling me that you can live your life never having children? You're talking about spending your life with me-"

He sat up, placing his hand upon the sides of her face to make her look at him. "...and unless you feel a different way about it, I plan to. Liv, you and Noah, you are my family and I couldn't imagine loving either of you more!"

"And when you want more children? Peter, I can't give them to you,"

"Baby, there are other ways…" he said. "if you're okay with it, we could adopt again or use a surrogate, and if you don't want more children then that's okay with me too. Liv, I wanna be with you. I choose you, and everything that comes with you."

"You're crazy, you know that? And maybe I'm crazy too for even entertaining this; we've only been seeing each other a few months, this could fall apart tomo-"

He pulled her mouth to his and paused a beat, and with his hand around the nape of her neck, he searched her eyes causing her breath to hitch before he leaned in and slowly drew her lips into his. His tongue quickly sought entrance and she gave it promptly, slowly allowing him to part her lips and slip inside. And with his hand still at her nape, he kissed her even deeper; their tongues trying to consume one another as he lay her down and climbed on top of her.

...

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