Okay so… Here it is.

Thank you for all your support. Keep reviewing and look out for more of my work. This has been fun and I honestly love this book. I feel like I should say this. I Do NOT CONDONE WHAT OLIVIA DID. Cheating is never okay.

CHAPTER 22

Olivia's palms are sweating. Her heart is beating a little quicker in her chest. Her thoughts are racing around her head, like a car going too quick down a road. She just can't seem to get the thoughts of if what she is doing is right out of her mind. Her thoughts float back to the day she met David again. The way, when she tripped on the stairs, his strong arms caught her. When she told him, after he invited her to his place that friday night, that she wasn't over him. The way she feels calmer with him. The stresses of her life float like bubbles in the sky. The morning after that friday night, how she didn't want to move. The dinner at Carlo's restaurant. How he kissed her outside. What he whispered in her ear when the women were watching her. How he stuttered when she asked him if he was seeing anyone. How he flirted with her, making her feel like a teenager again. How nervous she felt when she saw him.

But was it right? She shouldn't have slepted with him. Hell she shouldn't have had the affair. She should have told Rafael.

Now he knows. She knows that from David's recording and now that Juan Diaz has been convicted and the situation with Lukas Beck and the men who threatened Rafael has been dealt with Rafael Barba will be handing in his resignation or accepting a transfer to another city or state.

She can't go back to him. If she tells herself that she loves him. Simply put… she's lying. She has to face Rafael.

Olivia Benson doesn't get any time to prepare because ADA Rafael Barba walks to the room. She stays silent however just slipping her coffee wondering what to do. She knows Rafael has seen David already that day. Her phone buzzes on her desk. "Hi." Rafael says standing at the door to her office. Olivia invites him in and looks at the message on her phone. 4:28PM: Call me if you need me.

4:29PM: I will x

"Hi. So…"

"Olivia I'm leaving SVU. I was going to leave months ago. The world was an old movie. It was black and white. Then you started to measle your way into my world. Then the black and white became different shades of grey. Before I knew it… There were blues. Greens. Yellows and reds."

"Rafael…"

"Liv… Don't. If I don't have you I don't have anything to stay for. You opened my heart. I thank you for that. Olivia the truth is… I loved you from day one."

"I could have killed you day one. Harris' daughter."

"Yeah well don't think I didn't notice the eye roll you gave me before I came over there."

She laughs however she can feel the tears rolling down her face. At least Rafael is telling her that he's leaving. She walks around to him. "I made one hell of a fuck up with this."

"Liv I was always going to leave SVU."

"I ment us"

"You love him. As much as I hate that… I want you to be happy."

"What if I still want you?"

"You don't Olivia. You know that."

"I'm so fucking stupid. I should have just told him to go. Or just leave him there. Instead I walked out of the seminar… met him. Went to dinner with him. Gave him my fucking number. Texted him…" she pauses.

"Olivia you haven't took a holiday all the time I've been here. Book yourself something. Take him. Or don't. But give yourself a break."

"Can we at least hug?"

"Yeah." He says taking a step towards her. He whispers something in her ear and she leans back, still in his embrace, giving him a confused look.

"I punched him."

"I know. He videoed your little encounter. I heard it all. His phone was flat on the desk so I didn't see anything. When he picked it up I could tell you had hit him, apart from the noise of your fist against his face." She says. She leans back into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"Olivia… I want you to be happy."

"I was happy with you. I am happy with you. I love our relationship. I shouldn't have cheated… but with David…"

"It's okay. I understand."

"No Rafael I need to say this."

"Okay."

"With David… it was different. The last time we were together I found someone I could trust. I held it against him that we couldn't be together. He wanted us to work. But… we were doomed from the beginning. 6 and a bit years later he comes waltzing back into my life and it's not just work now. I had a relationship. At this moment in time I still do. It was like there was nothing else that mattered. The rest of the world disappeared. Then you came into my office pissed off because of me seeing David and you were hurt and I knew I fucked up. I knew it. From the look in your face I knew it. I was going to tell David that i wanted you… but then he showed up about an hour or so after you left."

"And you couldn't?"

"No. The thoughts left my head. I fully understand you walking away from me. I know why. I know what I did. This is my fault."

"Do you regret it?"

"I regret hurting you."

"I mean do you regret sleeping with him."

Olivia sighs. She moves away from Rafael. "I can't answer that."

"Why not?"

"I regret hurting you. I'm not going to do it again."

"I never crossed your mind when he was taking your clothes off." Rafael snaps.

"Rafael…"

"It's true though." Rafael says.

"No I don't." She sighs.

"Don't what?" He asks.

"Regret it."

"I think we are done here. Goodbye Olivia."

"So…that's it?"

"You made up your decision then." He says walking out.