So I finally got around to finishing this...it only took a few months, but here you go!

They weren't supposed to even go out for dinner tonight, but Hank had insisted that they did because they "never had time to go out" and he "wanted to treat her right" - as if he didn't already do that everyday. Although he never was good with words, he never failed at showing her just how important she was to him. After Brian she never thought she would find someone as caring and compassionate as he was, but she stood corrected. So after much persuading, and some bribery upon which Olivia would cash in on when they got home, they decided to go out to eat.

"Where to Olivia?" Hank asked, "pick anywhere in the city and I'll take you there."

"I'm feeling Italian, maybe can we just go to the little Italian place down the street?"

"Of course, let me just grab my jacket, you wait outside ok?"

And so they hailed a cab and arrived at the restaurant quickly. Olivia was happy about this, as she had watched Noah all day and had only managed to grab a banana and a few crackers to eat. She was desperately craving wine and the restaurant's famous fettuccini alfredo. They quickly were seated at a table, and were greeted promptly by their waiter.

"And just what can I get for you both to start off with?"

"I would love a glass of red wine, and a plate of fettuccini alfredo" Olivia responded, "and bring the wine right away!"

"And I would love a beer and the same dish, thanks!" responded Hank.

They handed the waiter their drink menus, and he left to go inform the bar of their requests.

"So how was Noah today," Hank pondered, despite knowing that the day had gone lovely. Olivia was dedicated to her work, and therefore didn't have much leisure to take days off, as she did today. Everyone at work, especially Fin, had nudged her to take a day off to spend with her son.

"It was actually really nice," Olivia smiled softly. "He's growing up too fast!"

"That he is," smiled Hank. "I wish I could be around to see the kid more, but with working long distance and having to travel so much-"

"Hank, we've been through this" Olivia responded gently. "We both knew when we got into this relationship it was going to be difficult for us to be a family, but I know you try your hardest and all that matters to me."

"I really do Liv," he grinned back at her. "I don't know where I would be without the two of you."

"Hank, you're getting all sappy and we haven't even been served dinner yet!" Olivia teased, batting his shoulder lightly. "Keep it up and you'll be crying before we get served dessert!"

"Funny Benson, real funny," Hank chuckled back at her. "You'd hate to see a grown man cry, now wouldn't you?"

"Can't say I haven't before!" Olivia sneered, thinking of all the times she had intimidated someone in the questioning room to the point of tears. "I guess it's just how people react when they're around me!"

It was then she heard her phone ringing in her purse, and she reached down to grab it.

Her mouth dropped in shock upon reading the caller's name.

She couldn't believe that he would be calling her, she hadn't heard from him in years.

"Well I'll be damned," she muttered to herself. "Hello?" she answered questioningly, as if she was unsure about who was calling her. "Yes this is still my number, obviously." "And just why should I turn around right now?"

"You son of a bitch."

Hank was confused as to what exactly happening, as a man emerged from the front of the restaurant. Olivia stood up out of her chair, smiling as she saw him walk towards her. They embraced in a hug, one Hank found too long for comfort.

"Brian, I can't believe it's you!" Olivia exclaimed. "How long has it been?"

"Too long Liv, too long," he responded.

"Too long my ass," Hank muttered under his breath. He knew he had no reason to be jealous of this guy, but jeez could he put his hand any lower on her back?

"How have you been?" she asked with sincerity. Hank could tell at one point he had meant a lot to her, and wondered when exactly that was.

"I've been good, you know just jumping around from job to job. I just follow wherever the work takes me!"

"That's really good to hear Brian, I'm really, really happy for you!" proclaimed Olivia.

"Really, really, really," Hank sneered under his breath.

"Well Brian I have someone who I'd like you to meet" Olivia grinned. She led him back to the table, and Hank stood to meet them.

"Brian, this is my boyfriend Hank Voight – and Hank, this is my old friend Brian."

"It's nice to meet you Hank," Brian stated as he reached out his hand.

"Pleasure is mine" Hank grunted, shaking Brian's outstretched hand. "And old friend – just how far back do you and Benson go?" he asked, as the three of them sat back down at their table.

"She's never mentioned me? Nice one Benson," Brian smirked, glancing over at Olivia. Olivia met him with a quick smile and a prolonged eye roll.

"Olivia and I do actually go pretty far back, I've known her since her first days at SVU."

Damn, that's a long time, Hank thought to himself. He probably knows things about her I never will.

"Hey now, you're making me seem really old here! Knock that off," she laughed, nudging at Brian gently. "We should really change the topic before Hank puts two and two together."

"Actually Liv I would love to stay but I have a friend waiting for me up front," Brian responded. "It was really nice to see you though, we should get together and have lunch sometime."

"Yeah we really should. I've missed you a lot," she said, standing up out of her chair. He followed her motion, and brought her in for another quick hug.

"I'll see you around Benson," Brian whispered before letting her go.

"See you around," she smiled genuinely back at him.

"Oh and Hank, you take good care of this one! She's worth it" Brian asserted, staring Hank squarely in the eyes.

"Oh I know she is" Hank responded. "You take care, buddy."

"I will, buddy. See you guys around" Brian responded as he walked back towards the restaurant.

"You wanna explain who that was, Olivia?" Hank asked, unamused at the whole situation. He understood that he didn't know everything about Olivia, but he had expected "Brian" to come up in conversation at least once if he was important to Olivia.

"Just an old friend Hank, nothing more – you already know this. Brian is just special to me; he was there during times when I had no one else there for me. I really don't know where I would be without him."

"I see that Liv, I'm glad he was a shoulder you could lean on. But don't forget, you have me here now."

"I know that Hank," she smiled back softly. "And believe me I'm grateful for that everyday. I can't imagine my life without you and Noah."

"I can't either," he responded. It was then that their food finally arrived, and they dug in.

"Oh, Hank," Olivia lead before biting into her pasta, "you should really work on trying to not act jealous when you meet people from my past; you were rather obvious."

"Liv, I was not jealous, he just had his hand too low for comfort on your back!"

"And why don't I believe you?" she grinned, taking a bite of her pasta. "You know if it's any consolation, you're much better in bed than he ever was."

"Well thanks Liv, that does make me feel that much better," he sarcastically replied.

"Hey don't be like that! Besides, you get to prove it to me once we get home."

"Olivia don't do this now, I'm trying to eat in public!"

"Hank, when have I every played fair?" she laughed. "You know I don't!"

"That I know all too well," he responded.

It amazed him how she managed to turn this situation around. But hey, at the end of the day, he knew that he was the one who was winning; just like he intended on winning tonight.

Per usual all mistakes are mine and I unfortunately don't own any of these lovely characters.