Olivia and Jim Bryant walked into the squad room later that day, returning from a crime scene. As Olivia and Bryant made their way to their desks two other detective walked over from the windows on the side of the room.

"Olivia. Meet Luke Andrews and Chris Wilkins," Jim said as the two detectives walked toward them. Olivia smiled lightly at the two men.

"Nice to meet you guys," she said.

"Are you the one from New York?" Wilkins asked.

"Yep, and apparently my clothes give it away," she said with a smile as she glance over to Jim who was smiling. The two men laughed lightly as they discussed the case that Jim and Olivia had recently picked up.

Olivia sat in the balcony two months later. She sat on the cement ground next to the door, and leaned her back against the wall behind her. She dialed Elliot's phone number and brought the phone to her ear. After a few rings she heard Elliot's voice on the other line.

"Hello," he said.

"Hey," she said with a light smile. "Are you busy?"

"No, I'm on my way home. What are you up to?" he asked.

"Sitting on my balcony," she said with a light laugh. "Mark's in the shower."

"You don't sound too happy. I mean if I had a balcony I would be ecstatic," he said sarcastically. Olivia laughed lightly. "What's wrong?"

"Why do you think that something is wrong?"

"Liv, I was your partner for ten years. What's wrong?" he asked again. Olivia laughed lightly. "How's the job?"

"It's okay. The people are just really different. Like the ADA for the unit decides what cases that she wants to try so that she has a better chance of raising her win loss ratio. So if we want to indict a guy for a rape and we don't have enough evidence for her liking, we're basically S.O.L," she told him.

"What does your C.O. say?" Elliot asked. Mark walked through the apartment, shirtless with sweatpants. He walked toward the kitchen before hearing Olivia's voice on the balcony. He slowly walked through the living room and leaned against the wall near the open doorway.

"Nothing. She's been trying cases for the unit for years. The ADA before her did the same thing. He's only been in command of the unit for seven years so it's all he knows," she explained.

"How's Bryant?"

"He's good, it is still just really different. He's not very aggressive. If we are interrogating someone, he doesn't get very irritated and sometimes I think that gives the perp and advantage. Especially if he rapes or kills out of rage or anger," she said bringing her knees up toward her chest. "It's sometimes hard to get in a rhythm with him." She sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"How does Mark like the Los Angeles life?" Elliot asked as he pulled the car into the driveway of his house.

"He loves it, or at least from what I can tell," she said with a smile. "We went out to dinner the other night with someone that he works with and his wife."

"Do you regret leaving New York?" Silence filled the air as Olivia glanced down at her lap. "Liv?" Elliot said breaking the calm.

"I don't know," she said plainly as silence surrounded her. "I love Mark and I would have gone to Australia for him. He has been working for this promotion for the past ten years and I couldn't be the reason for him not to get it, so I don't regret leaving for that reason."

"But," Elliot said, encouraging her to continue. Olivia paused for a second as she played with a small leaf between her fingers.

"It's not New York. I guess I keep thinking that it's like an undercover gig. I'm in Oregon again with environmentalists and should be back in New York shortly. It's just taking a little longer than I expected for me to realize that I'm here to stay," she said softly, a sense of sadness in her voice.

"Well you're strong, and I'm sure that eventually you'll get into the swing of things. Just remember to call me if you need anything okay?"

"I will, thanks El," she said with a soft smile. Mark felt his stomach drop to his feet as he listened to Olivia. He quietly turned and walked back into the bedroom before laying down in the bed and staring up at the ceiling. "Look, Mark's probably out of the shower so I'm going go and see what's going on with dinner tonight."

"Alright. You'll be fine Liv. If anyone can handle this it's you." Olivia smiled as she stood up. "Talk to you later."

"Bye El," she said before sliding the phone back and walking into the apartment, closing the balcony door behind her. She walked down the hall into the bedroom to find Mark laying motionless on the bed.

"Mark?" she said softly as she turned the corner. "What are you doing?" she asked with a light laugh as she walked towards the master bathroom.

"Just laying here," he said plainly still staring at the ceiling.

"I can see that," she said as she stood in front of the mirror and pulled her hair back into a small bun. She turned off the light before walking out o the bathroom and climbing up onto the bed. She laid down on her stomach near where Mark was laying as she propped herself up on her elbows. "Can I stare at the ceiling aimlessly with you?" she asked sarcastically. He smiled lightly before turning to her. "What's wrong?"

"I want to apologize to you?" he said plainly.

"Apologize for what?" she asked confused. He glanced down before sitting up and sliding off of the bed.

"Olivia, I brought you to Los Angeles because of a job offer, and what I left back in New York wasn't nearly what you left," he said standing at the foot of the bed.

"How many times do I have to tell you this," she said shifting position. "This move has nothing to do with me leaving anything behind. It's about me loving my husband enough to go to the end of the earth for him to follow his dream."

"Olivia this job isn't my dream," he said motioning with his hands. Olivia raised her brow startled by his change in tone. "It's just a promotion that happened to be in L.A. Regardless of the fact that it's here and not in New York, the fact that I got the promotion is enough for me."

"Mark what are you saying?"

"A promotion is just a thing. An event, that may or may not affect an amount of time in someone's life. A dream is something that I will always have, and has thus far come true. I have a beautiful wife who I love, so I can check that one off of my dream list." Olivia smiled lightly.

"So what do you want to do?" Olivia asked. Mark smiled lightly as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Olivia stepped off of the elevator and walked down the hall, her brown heels clicking on the floor. She turned the corner and knocked lightly on the door lightly before turning the knob slowly. She opened the door to find Cragen seated behind his desk. "Olivia," he said looking to his right as she stood in the doorway off of the hallway. She smiled lightly knowing that he was probably stunned to see her. "What are you doing here?" he asked, not really knowing what to say.

"Mark decided to turn down the job in Los Angeles," she said plainly. "I guess he thought he was taking advantage of me by taking me from the job." Cragen smiled as he stood up. "We got back this morning. Mark's back at the house getting some things together."

"The house?" he asked raising his brow. Olivia nodded smiling. "Have you told Elliot that you are back yet?"

"No. I thought that I would go for the element of surprise," she said. "How's everything with Andrews?"

"He's a little inexperienced but he's learning. He could use another mentor though," he said raising his brow. Olivia smiled lightly as she walked through the office and opened the opposite door facing the squad room. Elliot and Andrews were seated at their desks while John and Fin stood against the railing above on the balcony, looking at a folder in Fin's hand. Olivia walked slowly past the filing cabinets. She noticed Andrews look up from his paperwork, and figured that he knew who she was.

"Hey, uh Elliot," he said, pulling Elliot's attention away from his computer screen.

"What?" Elliot asked. Andrews nodded toward Olivia causing Elliot to turn in his chair.

"I don't believe it," Fin said loudly from the balcony as Elliot turned in his chair. Olivia laughed lightly as Elliot's jaw fell and his eyes widened.

"What in the hell?" he said as he stood up slowly.

"Surprise!" Olivia said laughing as she walked toward him.

"What in the world are you doing here?" he asked.

"I'm back," she said stopping in front of him. Fin and John walked down the stairs beside the lockers as Andrews watched the exchange of the former partners.

"For a visit?" he asked. Olivia shook her head with a light smile.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Fin exclaimed. Olivia laughed as Elliot pulled her into a hug. Cragen joined the group as Olivia was welcomed by her colleagues.

"You must be Nick Andrews," Olivia said as she walked around her former desk. He nodded as he stood. "Olivia James." She shook his hand as he smiled lightly.

"Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you," he said.

Two weeks later Olivia walked out of the kitchen and out onto the large deck. The warm June sun shined on the dark wood of the deck which was filled with all of Mark's family and everyone from the unit, including Kathy and the kids, Casey and her boyfriend Chris, and Nick with his fiancé Andrea. Mark and Olivia were hosting a cook out in celebration of their new house and return to New York. Olivia walked across the deck over to Eric, who was standing along the railing watching the younger kids kicking the soccer ball around in the yard. Mark and his brothers were fooling around with the kids in the yard as well.

"It's amazing that they are grown men, but act more like kids now than they did when they were young," he said. Olivia laughed as she sipped her diet Pepsi. "I'm happy that you guys decided to come back."

"Me too," Olivia said smiling. Twenty minutes later Mark jogged up the few stairs of the desk and walked over to Olivia and Eric. He wrapped his arm around Olivia's waist before kissing her temple lightly as Elliot and Kathy walked over.

"Hey, great party guys," Elliot said shaking Mark's hand. "You couldn't have asked for better weather."

"I know," Olivia said smiling.

"So Mark do you have your old job or did you start something new?" Kathy asked.

"My boss actually offered me the position that I had prior however I also work with the VP on various accounts and things like that so I guess I kind of have both jobs now," he answered.

"Could it have worked out any better?" Eric asked with a smile.

"I don't think so," Olivia said smiling as she looked up at Mark. An hour later Mark and Olivia stood at the end of the two long tables that were set on the deck. Everyone was seated with food on their plates in front of them. Mark and Olivia watched the various conversations taking place as their family and friends ate and gossiped.

"If I could have everyone's attention!" Mark said loudly raising his glass in the air. The voices quieted as heads turned to Mark and Olivia. "Olivia and I just want to thank all of you for coming out today and celebrating our new home and the start of our new lives. Since this is the first time that we have all been together since the wedding we also want to thank you for being there for us, and dad and Don for your incredibly kind words," he said looking down to Olivia who was smiling.

"Yeah, uh I just feel so incredible lucky to have all of you and Mark had said that today is a celebration of the start of our new lives but we also wanted to have all of you here for another reason. And that reason is to let everyone know that Eric is adding another grandchild to his clan," she said with a light laugh. "Because I am pregnant." Shouts and screams filled the air as everyone's mouths dropped. Eric who was seated closest to Mark and Olivia stood up and hugged them both, his eyes clearly watering slightly. Olivia smiled as Eric released her and hugged Mark. She walked around the table over to Elliot and Cragen who were standing next to each other.

"Congratulations," Cragen said smiling as he kissed Olivia's cheek lightly before hugging her.

"Thank you," she said smiling as they parted. She turned to Elliot who quickly pulled her into a hug.

"I'm so happy for you," he said softly as he wrapped her arms around her back. Olivia walked back across the deck where Mark was standing. She walked to him quickly before wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. She hugged him tightly as her eyes began to water.

Olivia and Mark walked around the deck after everyone had left. Olivia threw various empty cups and plates into the large garbage bag. Eric walked out of the kitchen and onto the deck. He was staying the night and spending the next day with Eric being that he was able to take off of work.

"Can I help you two with anything?" he asked looking over to Mark who was cleaning off the grill.

"Uh, I think that we are good. I'm just throwing all of this stuff in the garbage,h" Olivia said looking up. "The joys of plastic forks and paper plates," she added with a smile. "Oh and by the way, the rest of that cake in the kitchen is going home with you."

"Like hell it is," he said with a smile as he picked up a couple of cups and plates and tossed them into the bag.

"We'll eat it in like a day if it's left here," Olivia said with a slight laugh.

"Yes, that's the point of cake-for it to be eaten," he said sarcastically. Mark and Olivia laughed as Olivia tied the garbage bag. Eric rolled the plastic table cloths into a ball and followed Olivia through the house.

"I can't believe you kept the pregnancy a secret," he said as they walked out onto the front porch. Olivia tossed the bag over the ledge and into the garbage can beside the house before taking the table cloth from Eric and doing the same.

"Well Mark and I had been planning this cook out for weeks so we thought that it would be a great way for everyone to find out at once," she said leaning against the ledge.

"When did you find out?"

"Uh, a little under two months after we moved to L.A. I took the home pregnancy test after about a month and a half and I went to the doctor like a month ago they confirmed that I was eleven weeks," she said smiling.

"I can't believe it," he said with a soft smile. "I'm just so…oh I can't wait!" he exclaimed. Olivia laughed as he hugged her lightly.