Chapter One

Elliot headed out of the house he shared with Olivia one Saturday morning before Olivia had woken up. He was meeting a good friend of his for breakfast and hadn't had the heart to wake up his girl friend. She had looked so peaceful sleeping in bed with her dark hair fanned across her pillow. She was at peace for the first time in so long. It had been so long since the last time he had seen Olivia happy. He had always wondered if it was him that made her unhappy. But he always doubted that the many times that he could get her to smile brightly. The one thing Elliot loved the most was her smile. Olivia's smile was a rare sight to see these days but when she smiled it lit up a room. Although Elliot had small doubts about their relationship he forgot them all the second she looked over at him or the second she smiled. Elliot found himself getting lost in her chocolate brown eyes on a daily basis to the point he never thought he'd find his way out. Olivia's way out of the job was, and not him as he had hoped it would be, but running. She had seemed to be getting distant that last couple of days. Elliot figured it had something to do with the case they were working on that didn't look like they were going to catch the guy any time soon. Elliot strolled into the café that Elliot was meeting his friend and chose a table in the back. After placing his order for a cup of coffee and a toasted bagel Elliot was left alone. But not for long since a couple minutes later one of Elliot's best friends Odafin Tutuola strolled in.

"Fin," Elliot called to him waving him over to his table.

Fin took a seat across from Elliot in the booth. The waitress returned with Elliot's order and took Fin's order of a coffee. They sat in silence for a few moments as Elliot sipped his coffee. Elliot wondered when Fin would start asking why Elliot wanted to meet him there so early in the morning. Elliot knew that if it had been anyone else that Fin would have rolled over in bed and said no. The only people he would get out of bed for were his friends at work and his son. That was it. Fin's coffee came and it only took until the waitress left for him to begin talking.

"What's up Elliot?" Fin asked, "You wouldn't have dragged my a out of bed if it weren't for a good reason."

Elliot sighed knowing that he shouldn't have even called Fin. He thought he should know that his fears were stupid and that Olivia did love him.

"I don't know," Elliot replied, "Maybe I'm being paranoid."

Fin raised an eyebrow.

"Is it your kids?" Fin asked.

Elliot shook his head. He was more hurt that the only child of his that would have anything to do with him was Maureen.

"It's Liv," Elliot told Fin.

Elliot watched as a concerned expression spread across Fin's face. Everyone knew how much in love Elliot was with Olivia. He had fallen for her and had fallen hard.

"Is everything okay between you two?" Fin asked him.

"Maybe I'm just being stupid, But I feel as if she's slipping away from me," Elliot told Fin, "It's seems like she's been so distant with me."

Fin didn't know how to help his friend. He went over all the times that he had seen the couple together and couldn't think of a reason that would make Elliot believe this. But than again maybe she just put on a fake front in front of her friends and didn't bother putting one up with Elliot. Fin didn't want his friend to be hurt but since he hadn't seen anything distant he wasn't about to encourage his friend to something that might not have been there.

"She moved in with you this week," Fin reminded Elliot, "Would she move in with you if she didn't love you?"