This is my favorite song of all time. And my favorite version is Sting off the Symphonicities album. My husband played this last night and this immediately jumped in my head.

But my silent fears have gripped me
Long before I reach the phone
Long before my tongue has tripped me
Must I always be alone?

-The Police (Every Little Thing She Does is Magic)

He was a chicken. He knew it. For all his swagger and bravado, when it came right down to it, he was a giant chicken. And that was a problem right now.

He had been back for a month. And it took two weeks to work up the nerve to finally call her. He even tried to time it so he thought he would get her voice mail. To take the scared man's way out and leave her a message. But she answered. He almost hung up, but he finally choked out her name. He thought maybe she would hang up on him but she didn't. She just started talking. Then, so did he. They talked every day. Every conversation had the question – when could she see him? Every time he deferred, deflected, made up an excuse.

Until last night. She called him late. They had already spoken so when her number came up, he was surprised. He answered quickly and he could hear the exhaustion and brokenness in her voice. The trial had taken it out of her. It had ended on this day, but even the resolution did nothing to help Olivia's thoughts and feelings. So, when she sadly and quietly begged to see him the next morning, he agreed before he could think twice. Noah had practice and she wanted his company.

He got there early and perched himself slightly above the field so he could see her first. As her and Noah walked down to the field, even at this distance she took his breath away. She moved with grace, but some tiredness that he knew as in her bones. She moved her son around like a well-oiled machine, making sure he had this and that and then sent him off to his friends and his team. He could only watch as she took a few steps back, looking around. He could see it for a split second – her fear that he was going to flake out. She wanted to see him. Till this moment, he hadn't been sure, regardless of how much she asked. His resolve built in him in that moment. He had spent the last few months alone, hiding, trying to fix himself. But one look at her and he knew she was the only one that could help put the last few pieces in place.

He pushed himself off the bench, making his way toward her. He was glad she had her back to him, setting up a place to sit. He smiled as he watched her set a thermos and two cups down on the blanket. This advantage gave him a chance to work up some charm, some confidence, some…

"RAFA!" Noah screamed from the field, running right at him at top speed. Rafael barely had time to brace for impact when Noah launched himself right at him. Noah threw his arms around his waist, gripping him as tightly as he could. Rafael smiled, running his hands through the boy's curls.

Noah looked up at him with excited eyes. "Mom said you were coming! I can't believe you are here!"

Rafael shook his head. "Me neither, Noah. Sorry it took me so long."

Noah shrugged. "Mom says all that matters it today. And today you are here. Are you staying for my whole practice? Will you go eat lunch with us after?" The boy was vibrating in his arms and Rafael laughed. "Sure. But I think your coach needs you now." Noah glanced over his shoulder and was gone as quickly as he had arrived. Rafael took a deep breath and looked over at Olivia.

She stood there frozen, smiling widely at him. Looking like beauty and home and like that little bit of magic he had been missing over the last few months. He finished walking toward her. She stood there by her little morning picnic, waiting for him.

He got within arms-length, getting ready to open his mouth when she grabbed him, pulling him flush to her, pressing her lips to his. He quickly placed on hand on her hip and the other in her hair, returning the chaste but promising kiss. She pulled back, resting her hands on his shoulders.

"You don't get to leave like that ever again. Got it?"

He nodded.

"You are also late. I was starting to get worried."

He shook his head, nodding back toward the bench on the small hill. "Nope. I was actually early."

"Stalker" she said, smiling widely. He shrugged, laughing. He looked down at the food and thermos. "Is that for me?"

"Directly from your favorite coffee cart in the city."

He shook his head. "Liv, that's like 6 blocks in the opposite direction."

"I wanted to make a good impression this morning."

"Olivia, you did that just by showing up. I like this sports mom look on you." She slapped his shoulder, stepping out of his grip and sitting down, reaching her hand out toward him. He sat down, watching her pour the coffee and unpack food for them to eat while Noah practiced. The ease at which they sat there, her leaning against him as they watched Noah run back and forth with his friends, laughing and working hard, made all those feelings of fear and loneliness disappear.

She turned toward him, leaning into him, arms crossing as they sat on the ground.

"Just for the record, Rafa, I know you've been back for a month. Rita let it slip." He closed his eyes, bracing for the other shoe to drop. But what he got instead was a light kiss on his cheek. "I'm glad you are home." He opened his eyes to see her there, eyes shining bright and truth written all over her face.

She scooted a little closer to him, pressing herself into his side. "And just so you know, I love you too."

"I never said that" he whispered.

"Yes, you did. That day… you may have not said the actual words, but you said it."

"I'm sorry I wasn't brave enough that day."

"You feel brave enough now?"

He smiled, pressing a kiss to her lips. "I love you, Olivia Benson" he whispered against her lips.