Amanda Rollins sat nervously tapping her heel on the floor of the ER waiting room. The doctor sent her out here to wait. They were just about to release Dominick Carisi when the doc came back in and said he wanted a CatScan, just to be sure...She was still in shock over what happened in court.

Not more than 2 hours ago, Henry Messner had grabbed a pencil and headed straight for the judge who'd made the mistake of shushing Henry's attorney. Carisi stepped right in front of Henry, yelling for him to return to his seat when the kid went ballistic and went after Carisi. Before the bailiff got to him he'd stabbed Carisi once in the ear, and was still struggling to stab him again when they finally subdued him.

Amanda had immediately rushed to Carisi's side, yelling for a bus. He kept saying he was okay, but the blood down his shirt, the side of his head and all over his hand said otherwise. It wasn't even a question, she was riding with him to the hospital. She held on so tightly to his hand from the second she got to his side. Then with both of her hands once they were inside the ambulance. The paramedic wasn't able to do much for him other than replace the gauze and tell Carisi to hold it with his free hand. Carisi thanked the medic and kept insisting he was okay. His brow furrowed when he saw Amanda's pale face, realized her knuckles were white from holding on to his hand so tight, he'd asked her "Are you okay Amanda"?

She had waived him off, saying not to worry about her, she was fine. But she wasn't fine. For a split second she thought she might lose him. Before she ever got to...before they ever had a chance to...she was making silent promises to herself the whole ride to the hospital.

She was startled out of rerunning the scene in her head by a couple of doctors coming into the waiting room. They weren't there for her. They took the only other group of people into the back, bad news being spoken in soft hushed words. She noted it was a pretty quiet day for a New York emergency room.

She dug through the jacket on her lap to find her phone and realized she missed a lot of texts. Most of them from Olivia and Fin. Amanda took a deep breath to calm down, and started to scroll through them. Olivia texted her so many times, starting over an hour ago. Must have been right after they heard about what happened at the courthouse. The most recent one, just 20 minutes ago, she said she was on her way with Kat and Fin.

Amanda responded to Sienna first, asking her if she could keep the girls longer. At least until she could take Carisi home, or bring him home with her. Then she responded to Fin and Olivia 'He's okay getting some tests, see u when u get here'.

She put her phone back in the pocket and dropped her head in her hands. Maybe she should grab some coffee or something from the cafeteria for the two of them. He should be done soon. Before she has a chance, Olivia rushes into the room and sits down right next to her. Liv touches her shirt, eyes drawn to the bloodstains.

"Amanda? What happened? How is he"? Olivia looks up from the blood to her face holding onto Amanda's forearm.

"Henry...he just went crazy". Amanda looked down at her shirt when she sees Olivia staring. She hadn't realized how much of Carisi's blood had gotten on her because her black jacket had hidden it. The shirt underneath however, clearly had bloodstains.

"He just...he started yellin at the judge...then he grabbed a pencil and went straight for her, when Carisi got in his way, he stabbed him". Amanda's voice was as shaky as her hands. She pulls her arm away to put her jacket back on and cover up the blood.

Olivia grabbed Amanda's hand shaking her head. "They need to lock him up and throw away the key...But you said he's okay"?

"Yea. Yea, I mean, they want to make sure he doesn't have any permanent damage, but then I think they're gonna release him soon" she responds.

"Fin and Kat are right behind me, I asked Fin to bring your car so you could leave straight from here...Amanda whatever you need...whatever either of you need. We wanted to be here for Carisi...and you too".

Amanda gives her a quick grateful smile that doesn't reach her eyes. She restrains herself from arguing that there's no need to include her... after all, technically she isn't anything to Carisi... because they both knew that just wasn't true.

The nurse who'd been taking care of Carisi walked in and Amanda dropped Olivia's hand and stood up.

"They're backed up for CTs Mrs. Carisi, it's probably going to be about an hour or so".

Amanda closed her eyes and exhaled, she'd been holding her breath. "Thanks Sam".

"Hang in there". The nurse gave her arm a squeeze before heading back out.

Amanda had forgotten everyone assumed she was Carisi's wife, when she showed up holding his hand in the ambulance. Neither she nor Carisi corrected the mistake. Truth be told, this wasn't the first time, even back when she was pregnant with both girls, he was with her so often that they started to assume. It had to mean something that neither one of them ever bothered correcting anyone. She didn't notice Olivia raise an eyebrow at "Mrs. Carisi".

Fin and Kat walked in as the nurse was walking out. Fin gave Amanda her car keys and she caught everyone up. They settled in to wait, chatting about Henry, and filling Kat in on his previous antics. Amanda was grateful for the distraction but it soon wore off. She still fidgeted with nervous energy and finally got up to pace the room.

"Why don't we all go get some coffee from the cafeteria". Olivia suggested. "Come on, it'll give us something to do until they're done".

"I'm down with that" Fin stood, he wasn't good with sitting still either.

"I don't wanna...he might"...Amanda gestured to the door, "if he gets done... and I'm not"... she didn't want Carisi to come back to an empty waiting room.

Kat stood up and put her hand on Amanda's shoulder. "I'm good, I'll stay here. I promise I'll text if he comes back before you, or if they give any updates".

Amanda hesitated, but the distraction might help, and she thought she'd get him something for the ride home. He was always the one bringing her favorite coffee to her. "Okay, please do". She said when she got up and followed Olivia and Fin out of the waiting area.

About 5 minutes after they left, the nurse came back in. Kat stood up, and the nurse looked to her since no one else was in the room. "Did Mrs. Carisi step out"? She asked.

Kat looked behind her, for a split second thinking maybe Carisi's mom was there, then snickered. "Uh, Mrs. Carisi went to grab some coffee, she'll be right back".

"Oh okay, I was wrong. They'd actually just finished the CT for Mr. Carisi so he'll be out in just a few minutes".

"Thanks, I'll let her know". Kat took her phone out to text Rollins.

A minute or two later Carisi walked out. He was surprised to see Kat instead of Rollins waiting for him. "Kat. What're you doin here"? He asked, his eyes scanning the otherwise empty room.

"Counselor". Kat stood up, and held up her phone, "Rollins is on her way back, she was grabbing some coffee for you". Kat grimaced at the gauze taped to his ear, the blood on his shirt.

"Wow, Henry did a number on you, huh".

Carisi looked down at the blood on his shirt and sat down next to her, exhaling deeply. He gently touched the gauze on his ear.

"Doc says there's no permanent damage, so all things considered, it coulda been so much worse".

Kat sat back down too.

"All things considered everything he did to you and Rollins could have been worse. I heard you got in between Henry and the judge...what were you thinking"? Kat asked him, shaking her head.

Carisi sighed and rubbed the back of his neck while he thought a minute. "Zoey Carrera". He looked over at Kat, the guilt evident on his face.

Kat recalled the way Carisi had looked completely defeated that day after Zoey had broken down on the stand. She shook her head again. "That was not your fault Carisi". She knew how hard he'd taken it when Zoey's rapist, through a legal loophole, got around the restraining order by representing himself in the trial. That stalker got to go to her apartment to 'view the crime scene', grilled her himself when she was on the stand. He'd been relentless, eventually having to be dragged off by the court officers.

He waived her off. "I couldn't protect her. That creep went after her over and over, and I promised myself if I had the chance, I wouldn't let something like that happen again".

Kat scoffed.

"What"? Carisi asked, waiting to hear whatever insult Kat had ready for him.

"It's just...this is the first time...I can really see Carisi the cop". She smiled at him.

Carisi let out a chuckle and leaned back in the chair. "So all this time, I just needed to let someone stab me, and you woulda given me a break"?

They both laughed.

"Hey", she put her hand on his arm, "for real, you're not a cop anymore... and look, DAs can't be throwing themselves in front of psychos. You have a different job now. You gotta make sure they pay for their crimes, and you can't do that if one of them kills you".

A smirk grows on Carisi's face, "Does this mean you're gonna start cutting me a break"? He jokes.

Kat laughs but before she can answer him Amanda, Olivia and Fin came back and Kat got up from the chair, stepping away to give Amanda some room to rush to his side. Amanda handed her the coffees before sitting down.

Kat took the coffee that had been somewhat shoved at her and shared a knowing glance with Fin.

Not wanting to cause him any more pain, instead of touching his ear, Amanda's hand went to the side of his face, her fingertips ghosting his ear, and her thumb traced his jawline. "What did the CT show? Is everything okay"? He turned to face her.

"I'm good, it's all good". They looked at each other for a few seconds while Amanda shifted her hand from his face to let her fingers comb through his hair.

Fin uncomfortably cleared his throat, breaking the spell between them and Amanda pulled her hand away.

Amanda stood to let Olivia fuss over him for a few minutes. Fin told him he guessed there was still a little cop left in him, which was high praise coming from Fin. She could tell Carisi wasn't comfortable with all this attention and after a few minutes Amanda spoke up.

"You should really let me drive you home". She stood, taking the coffee from Kat with an apologetic look for forcing them on her, and handed Carisi the one she'd gotten for him.

Carisi stood too. "I should get back to the office, I'm sure there's paperwork to"...before he could finish both Amanda and Olivia spoke at the same time.

"No, absolutely not"...Amanda was shaking her head.

"That can wait"... Olivia started, then continued when Amanda stopped, "I texted Hadid, she isn't expecting you back today or tomorrow Carisi, you need to rest and take care of yourself. At least for 24 hours. Amanda can drive you home. You text me if you need anything". She stood as well, motioning to the door for Kat and Fin.

Fin got up and clapped Caris's shoulder. "Next time you have a psycho in the courtroom, lemme know. I got your back". Again, high praise coming from him.

Carisi smirked "Thanks Fin".

Olivia then squeezed his arm. "I mean it counselor, take care of yourself".

"Copy that Captain". Carisi smirked at her too. He hadn't used that kind of language with Olivia since he'd left for the DAs office, and they both smiled. Olivia nodding as she gave him a hug.

Fin and Olivia headed for the exit. Kat was still standing a little bit away. When she didn't immediately follow, both Carisi and Amanda looked in her direction.

Kat quickly glanced over towards the exit. When she saw Liv & Fin were still facing the other way she quickly threw her arms around Carisi, surprising him. "Ooof"! He exclaimed, she nearly knocked him back. Carisi looked questioningly over her shoulder at Amanda who was giving the same look she did when Jessie gave him a hug.
In a hushed voice Kat said "I'm glad you're okay counselor", and before he had a chance to say anything, she abruptly let go and was rushing off to catch up with her ride.

Both Rollins and Carisi watched her rush off. "What was that about"? He asked.

"It's been a rough year". Amanda recalled that along with everything else Kat had lost her mentor earlier in the year.

"Until today I kinda thought she hated me". Kat seemed like she was always at odds with him, to the point it almost seemed personal.

"Nah" Amanda smiled. "No one who knows you hates you...maybe finds you a little annoying...Ok maybe a lot annoying".

He chuckled shaking his head.

"Come on Dominick, I'm driving you by your place to get some things, then you're comin home with me where I can keep my eye on you". Just as he started to speak she interrupted him.
"No arguments", as she turned him towards the exit.

--

As promised Amanda drove him to his apartment, parked and came with him upstairs. She was sure if she didn't he'd text her once he was inside to say he was really fine ans she should leave.

She waited, sitting in his living room while he got a few things. He said he needed to make a few calls too. She could hear him open drawers in his bedroom and speaking in hushed tones on his cell phone.

Amanda could make out some words and phrases. "I'm fine"..."No, I'm good"... She told herself he was just calling his mother to let her know he was okay. She didn't want to think about how he had tried to tell her something before she went to Atlanta. The way he wasn't able to look her in the eyes, she'd been terrified for a moment that he was going to tell her that in fact he did have a hot date, but then her world fell apart (again) and she'd put that out of her mind.

He raised his voice a little, it sounded like he was arguing with someone on the call. She didn't want him to think she was trying to listen, so she took out her phone and called Sienna to let her know they'd be home in less than an hour. She spoke loud enough that it drowned out his voice, and then it got muffled, like he had gone into another room and closed the door.

She'd only been in his apartment a few times. She took a deep breath after she hung up. She could smell a faint trace of his cologne, a smell that recently had started to trigger butterflies in her stomach and an ache in her heart that she couldn't quite figure out how to make go away. At the same time that scent brought back feelings of comfort and familiarity. How she'd notice it on stakeouts. Or the times she'd let herself be vulnerable and he'd wrap her in his arms when no one else was around. She closed her eyes and just breathed. When she opened them, he was standing in the doorway of his bedroom. He'd changed already into some sweats and a t-shirt. He was watching her, half smiling with a questioning look on his face.

"You okay Amanda"? He asked. "You know I'm really fine, I'll be fine to stay home alone".

"Absolutely not, the girls already know you're coming so it's too late to back out now, Jessie's already making you a get well soon card, and we planned what to make you for dinner since I told her you are not cooking dinner for us". Amanda stood up and walked to the door.

He smiles sheepishly at her, and follows her out. They stopped for groceries on the way, she made him wait in the car.

"No, you just stay here and relax".

--

Even though Amanda told the girls Uncle Sonny has a booboo, and they have to be careful with him, they still ambush him the second they walk through the door. Jessie squealing "Uncle Sonnnyyy"!! Before throwing herself at him. Little Billie just squealing as she hangs on to his pants.

Amanda can't help but smile at the scene before her. She takes his bag and walks it to her room. She fully planned on sleeping in Jessie's bed with her, Sonny can't stay on the sofa in his condition. When she comes back out, he's holding both girls. Jessie is looking at the bandage on his ear and telling him all about how they are gonna make dinner for him, and she is still working on her card, then he asks her how school is going. Jessie plays with the collar of his t-shirt as she animatedly tells him all about school. Billie has her head laying on his shoulder, holding a fist full his shirt as well. That t-shirt was going to be all stretched out. The girls have missed him and it shows. When Amanda tries to take Billie from him, she quickly turns her head the other way and grips him tighter.

"We're good". Sonny walks over to the sofa, sitting down with both girls, Jessie hops off the sofa to stand by the coffee table and finish her card. She quickly turns it and moves to the other end so he can't see as she continues telling him all about school. Billie had already been fed, according to Sienna, which would explain why she's being so clingy. She's at that stage both Sonny and Amanda had talked about loving with Jessie, just wants to be cuddled as she's falling asleep.

"Okay, I'm makin you the one thing I know how to make". She tells Sonny.

"You been holdin out on me Rollins"? He asks, the smirk she's missed making another appearance.

"You neva cooked for me before".

"Yea, that's because there's usually no point, anything you make's gonna be better than the one thing I can make". She calls out from the kitchen. As she putters around, she can hear the two of them talking about school, and how he wasn't hurt bad and mommy took him to the doctor. Amanda had literally one recipe she knew how to make. The Shrimp & Grits recipe from when she worked at a diner back home in Georgia. It was their most requested dish, and the cook there had shown her several times how to make it. He told her if she wanted to keep a man, she needed to learn how to cook. She had never made it for anyone else. It wasn't even that hard but Amanda had never wanted to share this with anyone. She also knew Jessie wasn't going to like it so she also made her chicken nuggets and Mac & Cheese, which was her favorite.

She opened a bottle of white wine and poured a glass for Carisi when she was close to being done. When she walked it out to the living room, he wasn't there. Jessie was finishing her card and put her finger to her lips then pointed to her room. Amanda walked over holding both wine glasses and told Jessie to put the silverware on the table before walking into the girls room. He'd put Billie in her crib and was rubbing her back to settle her just like Amanda did when she'd inevitably wake for a moment as she was placed in the crib. She stood next to him, handing him his glass. Carisi took the glass from her and they both looked down at Billie for a moment.

In the dim light of the bedroom they met each other's eyes. Amanda stepped closer to him, she shook her head, wordlessly telling him today had scared her. She didn't need to say anything, Carisi opened his arms, and she let him wrap her up in them. She took a deep breath, and he felt her relax against him. They stood that way a few minutes before Jessie gleefully called that she set the table.

--

"Either you're humoring me or you really liked it". Amanda watches Carisi finish his second bowl of shrimp & grits.

"Rollins, I can't believe you've been hiding this talent all this time"! He jokes with her, "It's amazing, if it's the only thing you can cook, then you just haven't tried".

She laughs and pours the last of the wine in both their glasses both of them feeling happy with a slight buzz.

"Blegh". Jessie says. "When can we have dessert"?

"Well, Ms. Sienna was nice enough to let you pick out the dessert so why don't you go get it from the fridge". Amanda tells her.

"Oh this should be good". Carisi laughs.

"I'm scared to see what it is". Amanda laughs with him.

Jessie brings out the box from the fridge and sets it next to Amanda while she holds on to her arm and whispers into her ear. Amanda opens the box, when she sees what's inside she looks over at Carisi, her eyes glisten with emotion.

"I think he'll like it just fine baby girl". Amanda tells her oldest.

Jessie takes the first cupcake out of the box, they were decorated with the Berenstain Bears, her favorite books for a long time. She made her Uncle Sonny read them to her all the time.

She hands him the Papa Bear cupcake.

"Mama said you're my Godfather, so you get the Papa Bear one, cuz when you're here it's like we have a whole family".

Carisi takes the cupcake, and Amanda hears the way his voice breaks when he tells her thank you, she knows how much that means to him.

"It's the best dessert ever". He holds it and looks at Amanda, the same glistening in his eyes. She looked down at the other 3 cupcakes. Jessie had also gotten a Mama Bear and then 2 sister bears.

"I had to get 2 sister bears, cuz we don't have a brother bear yet".

The word 'yet' caught the two adults off guard. Both of them freezing, not making eye contact.

She hands Amanda her cupcake and takes her own out before putting the last one back in the fridge for Billie to destroy tomorrow.

The three of them eat their cupcakes, Jessie babbling on about how Sienna wanted to get something else but she was allowed to pick, oblivious to the effect it had on the adults.

Amanda refused to let Sonny clean anything up, so he helped Jessie pick out a game for them to play after dinner while Amanda cleaned up most of the mess, letting the dishes sit in the sink till morning.

After dinner they played Candyland until it was time for Jessie to go to bed, of course she insisted on Uncle Sonny reading to her and tucking her in.

Amanda waited out in the living room. When Carisi came out she hadn't made up the sofa like in the past when he stayed over. She was sitting on the sofa, leaned forward with her elbows on her knees but she leaned back when she joined her. He sat on the opposite end, not right next to her. She stared at his ear. This was the first time they were really alone but not rushing off somewhere.

Self consciously he put his hand to his ear, wincing just from touching it.

"Ooh, that looks like it hurts".

"It's not too bad, I'll probably have to sleep sitting up".

They were both silent for a moment. Tension filled the space between them now that they were alone.

"I feel like I almost lost you today". Amanda blurted out.

When Carisi opened his mouth to object she held her hand up, shushing him. She was going to finish.

"No. The second I saw what Henry almost did I promised myself as long as you were okay I'd make sure I told you the truth Dominick". Amanda took a deep breath.

He leaned back and let her continue.

"For almost a year, I think I've known what I want. It wasn't even Dr. Hanover who made me realize it, it was Frank Bucci. I realized the only thing in the way of me being happy...was me. ".

Before Carisi could start in on Bucci, Amanda held her hand up to shush him again.

"But even then I didn't know how to say it, how to tell you...and I kept thinking you'd just somehow know... you always seem to know what I'm thinking, and I was...I kept waiting for you...but then you just didn't. The one time I got up the nerve to tell you, you didn't want to"...

"Okay Hold on. Wait a second, Amanda" Carisi sat up straighter, and scooted closer to her, "No, see you never "... but Amanda cut him off before he could finish.

"Please, Dominick, let me get this out". Amanda could always see the effect it had on him when she used his name. He seemed frustrated but he leaned back.

"I got a babysitter, I went by your office, I had somewhat planned it all out, but you...you turned me down". Amanda shrugged as one tear managed to break free. She angrily swiped it away. She needed to get all of this out of her before it drove her mad, and if she knew if she let emotion take over she'd be lost.

She saw it dawn on him the night she was talking about. He'd thrown off her plan when he turned down her invite to drinks so she'd just told him 'rain check' and walked out of his office.

"And I just...I never really got the nerve up again after that". She swallowed hard, the painful memory of that night was still raw.

"You've been the one person in my life I can always count on". Here goes, Amanda thinks to herself, as she stares at the floor, it's now or never.

"That one night in West Virginia, I was a different person. I wasn't ready. It wouldn't have been fair to either of us really if we let that happen. But don't think I don't lie awake sometimes regretting it". She looks up and meets his eyes.

"But I've come to realize what I want and I realized I need to stop making decisions for you, which is what I was doing by not telling you the truth, because I didn't think I was worthy or because I thought you could do better".

Amanda couldn't tell what he was thinking and he hadn't interrupted again. So this was it...

"I'm willing to risk losing you by telling you I don't just love you as the most important person in my life besides my girls. I'm in love with you Dominick. I think about you all the time, I dream about us, about how good I think it would be if we gave it a chance".

Her voice catches, and she swallows the tears again "If I'm too late, I understand, if you don't want this, or...you've found someone else..."

Amanda can feel her heart threaten to break at just the thought of someone else with him... "I'd find a way to get over it, it won't be easy but I will, I don't want to trap you into anything but I needed to tell you...this is how I feel. This is what I want, and now the rest is up to you".

Amanda finally let a few tears fall, her breath coming quickly, she felt like she just ran a marathon.

Dominick Carisi looked dumbstruck. He watched her and she couldn't quite get a read on him, usually she knew what he was thinking.

He leaned forward, shaking his head incredulously.

"Amanda, you have no idea...how long I've wanted...hoped...to have that with you". He looked sad telling her this, and Amanda's heart fell into her stomach.

"But"? She asked, barely able to get that one word out.

This time he held his hand up to shush her.

"First of all, I can't read your mind" he let out a little laugh, "I had no idea you were feeling any of that, and I definitely didn't have a clue about that night in my office...I mean...if I had?...". He trailed off and shook his head.

"After West Virginia, I wasn't going to make that mistake again, so even though my feelings for you just... intensified since then, there's no way I could've handled...It again if"...

He couldn't even finish the sentence, wearing that pain like a red badge.

"And let me be clear that you have always been worthy of love, anyone who made you feel like you weren't was just..." he made a fist, "wrong".

"I'd been living with this hope for so long...and nothing ever changed...I decided I needed to be open to something else...then after New Years...I met someone. And ya know, she's great...I mean she's a wonderful woman, we can have fun and there's no...pain. It's easy"...he breaks eye contact and pauses, looking anywhere but at her.

Amanda knows can't control the sob thats forming deep in her soul, threatening to push her over the edge. She covers her mouth with her hand so she can let him finish without breaking down.

He looks back up at her. Shaking his head like there's nothing he can do. He sighs.

"But...she's just...she's not you Amanda".

Amanda dropped her face in her hands, his confession hitting her so hard, the sobs came anyway.

Dominick stood up so he could close the space between them.

"Come here". He pulls her to her feet and she throws her arms around his neck, forgetting about his ear for a second and he flinches but wraps his arms around her waist, lifting her off the floor. Amanda sobbed uncontrollably into his neck and t shirt she holds onto him tightly.

"I don't know why I'm crying". She should be ecstatic.

As soon as her sobbing finally subsided, he untangled them so he could hold her face in both hands, and tell her "I've been in love with you for a long time Amanda Rollins". Amanda smiled, leaned up on her tiptoes and gently brought her lips to meet his. His lips were just as warm and welcoming and she'd known they would be.They hold each other there for a moment just enjoying the closeness shared in that kiss, until they both feel the heat and desire begin to grow between them.

Amanda gently drew his lower lip between hers, teasing him with a feather light touch of her tongue. The second her tongue reached him, he grabbed tight to her waist, and deepened the kiss. Dominick hungrily captured her tongue with his, the sensation causing her knees to go weak. An ache started building at her core and Amanda was keenly aware of every part of him that was touching her body. Her legs felt like they might give out any minute and when she moaned into the kiss, she felt his arousal grow, digging into her hip.

His hands dipped from her waist around to her hips rolling them against him. Amanda shifted her body, until she felt him, hard at the junction between her thighs. When she shifted again, found just the right spot and rocked her center against him, he gripped her hips hard. She was so sensitive that was all it took. In seconds the first flutter of an orgasm hit her and she cried out his name "Dominick"! breaking the kiss.

He let out an exasperated groan hearing her say his name like that.

Still holding her tightly against him, feeling her shaking as she came undone, he brought his forehead down to rest against hers. "Wait...wait...Amanda...we gotta stop now".

Amanda panted breathlessly, when she could finally speak she asked "What? Why? What's wrong"? She brought her hands up to run through his hair, this time careful not to touch his hurt ear, resting them on his shoulders. The last thing she wanted to do was stop and she could still feel how much he clearly wanted to keep going.

"I definitely don't want to stop, but Amanda, I can't do this...not until I can break things off with Nicole. It isn't right".

Amanda groaned. "Ugh is this what it's like to be with the nice guy"? She opened her eyes, and leaned back to look at him. Making sure he knew she was joking she smiled, and reached up to fix the hair she'd just messed up.

He smiled back. "I'm sure she's not going to see it the same way, but I owe her...I owe her that much".

Amanda looks at her watch. "Is 10 PM too late for a break up text"?

He just rolls his eyes.

"Well we waited this long...right? It won't kill us".

"I'm not sure", he smirked, her thighs still straddling him, "right now I kinda feel like it's killing me".

Amanda laughed and tried to pull away, but he wasn't ready to let her go yet. "You should probably get some rest anyway, this day has been...a lot".

"I can make up the sofa". He looked down at it.

"No, you're gonna sleep in my room, I'm gonna sleep with the girls".

"Amanda...Jessie's bed is way too small".

"Well...there's one more option. If you think you can control yourself sleeping next to this". Amanda jokingly motioned to herself.

Carisi didn't laugh, instead appeared to be deep in thought as he looked her up and down.

"Honestly? After what just happened? I'm not sure if i can". Dominick ran his hand up her thigh.

She grinned, then became serious too. "Well if I'm being honest, I'm not sure I can either, but I don't really want to be a whole room away from you right now either". As much as it pained both of them, it was the right thing to do. Amanda took a step back, and this time he let her, though he immediately regretted it.

Dominick nodded in agreement, took a deep breath, and reached out to hold her hand.

Amanda leaned over and kissed him, using all her self control to keep it as chaste as possible. She stepped back, but he held onto her hand.

"I can handle it". Dominick pulls her back to him by her hand, holding it against his chest. She can feel his heart beating.

Amanda whispers softly "If you stay with me, I promise I can too. I just wanna be close to you". He wraps her up in his arms again, and they walk together to Amanda's room. Knowing nothing more can happen somehow allows them to fall asleep in each other's arms. Tomorrow will be the start of the rest of their lives.