Olivia had only managed to get five hours of sleep before she woke up for the day. She opened her eyes and had to blink a few times, looking around the room, before she remembered what had happened. Her momentary confusion over, she rolled out of bed and padded out to the hallway. She glanced into the room across the hall, where she saw Alex sleeping soundly in her bed. She gently closed her door and headed downstairs, where she saw the same two Agents from last night sitting on the couch.

"Hey."

"Detective. You're up early."

"Yeah. There's no way that I'm gonna be able to fall back asleep now that I'm up. There's too many questions that need to be answered."

Agent Thomas nodded at her.

"I understand. You would like to see your file," he stated.

"Yes."

Thomas led the way to the kitchen table and picked up a file, handing it to Olivia.

"Here. Your cards will take longer to arrive due to the circumstances. There wasn't enough time to produce them. Your story is there, along with all of your history and background, but the cards and I.D. will take a few days."

"Thanks."

Olivia took the file and sat at the opposite end of the table, taking a deep breath before opening it. She saw the name CAMERON COOPER written in bold letters across the top of the page.

"My name is Cameron Cooper?"

Thomas nodded, handing her a cup of coffee and the box of muffins he had picked up earlier. Olivia thanked him and reflected for a moment. Well, it's not a horrible name. She continued reading on, trying to focus on the fact that she was reading about her new life and not someone else's.

CAMERON COOPER

BORN: July 22nd, 1968. That made her two years younger than her actual age. That was good news, at least she wasn't older. And, she had always wanted a birthday in the summer…She scanned the document. It was broken up into different sections: family, background, education. She decided to just read the most important parts. There was no way she'd retain everything right now anyways.

Born and raised in Kentucky, one younger sister named Clara. Parents are both deceased. Father was Caucasian American, mother was Mexican. No children. No nieces or nephews. Studied IT and justice in college. Moved to Maine after college to work as a correctional officer at a women's prison, then moved on to become an IT agent in a newspaper facility. Newspaper facility closed. Now a staff member of the youth facility in the neighbouring county, working in the horticultural therapy program.

Wait a minute. Olivia looked up.

"I don't know anything about gardening or being a therapist for troubled youth."

"Don't worry about that. You'll be given training over the next few weeks, and you won't be running the program alone. Mr. Jones, the man who is running it now, will finish off the year with you and then next year you will run it alone."

Olivia paused. Next year. She hadn't really thought about it. Was she really going to still be here next year?

She put the file down and glanced around the kitchen. So this was her new life. She could really still be here next year. Or the year after. Or maybe even for the next ten years. She could feel herself starting to panic. She pushed the chair back with the intention of getting up and going…she didn't know where. But she had to get out.

"Hi."

Olivia looked over at the source of the familiar voice, her body instantly relaxing when she saw her.

"Alex," she whispered.

She immediately made her way over, engulfing the woman in a tight embrace. As soon as their bodies connected, Olivia felt a wave of relief and calm wash over her. This is why she was here. This is why she was starting over. Suddenly, it didn't seem so scary.

Alex hugged her back hard, only letting go when the other woman started pulling away. She pulled back enough to get a good look at Olivia. The brunette tucked a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear and smiled at her. God, Alex could definitely get used to seeing this face every morning.

"Hey," Olivia finally responded. "How did you sleep?"

"I slept well, but I was pretty confused when I woke up."

"Me too."

"Have you been up a while?"

Olivia looked at the clock.

"About half an hour or so," she said, finally letting go of the other woman.

She watched as Alex sat down at the table near the files. Olivia made her way to the cupboard and grabbed a mug, then poured Alex a cup of coffee.

"Valerie Porter," Alex announced, holding up a file. "My name is Valerie. What's yours?"

"Cameron Cooper," she responded, placing Alex's coffee next to her on the table. She grabbed the nearest chair and pulled it over to where Alex was sitting so that she could look over her file as well.

"Cam," Alex repeated. "It's not as nice as your name, but I like it."

"Do I look like a Cam?"

Alex looked her over.

"Maybe after a haircut. You need one."

Olivia laughed.

"Do I now?"

"Yes. It's too long."

Alex really missed Olivia's old haircut. She liked the way the woman's bangs would fall across her forehead when Olivia ran her fingers through her hair. She also liked the way the brunette spiked it into a messy 'do. Now, it was long enough to be tucked behind her ears and a shade or two lighter than normal.

"Alright. I'll get it cut."

"And don't dye it. I like it dark."

"Any other requests?" Olivia asked, a hint of humour in her voice.

Alex grinned mischievously but kept her thoughts to herself. Instead, she glanced back down at her file and began reading.

"Valerie Porter, born on December 13th, 1971," Alex looked up at Olivia. "Hey I'm a year younger."

"Me too. Two years younger actually."

"You're still two years older than I am," Alex teased, nudging her with her shoulder.

Olivia chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Only child of Meredith and Ryan Porter. Meredith died three years ago and I'm estranged from my father. No family to speak of. I have a background in literature and I'm a librarian assistant at the Little Current library," Alex stopped reading and looked over and Olivia. "I guess that's not so bad. Better than working at the insurance agency. That was mind numbingly boring. Where are you working?"

"At the youth centre," Olivia looked over at the file in Alex's hands. "We'll be working in the same county actually."

Alex smiled at her, staring for a second longer than normal.

"I've missed you."

Olivia felt the blush creeping up her cheeks again.

"I've missed you too, Alex. A lot."

The blonde reached out and cupped her cheek, smoothing her thumb over Olivia's skin.

"I've missed seeing you every day. I can't believe you're here with me. I was thinking I'd have to restart all of this over by myself. I never thought…" she trailed off.

Olivia reached up and grabbed her hand, giving it an affectionate squeeze.

"I'm not going anywhere," she said softly.

They looked at each other, not daring to say anything lest it break the moment. Olivia looked into Alex eyes, searching them. She saw that same sadness she had seen in the hotel room, but with it, she saw something else. Something she hadn't seen in a very long time. Something that made her heart beat just a little bit faster. Something that made her hope that maybe things hadn't at all changed in the year they spent apart.

Alex knew that Olivia was reading her, so she gently slipped her hand away and turned. She wasn't ready to confess everything that she was feeling because it was just too soon. She was still riding an inner roller coaster. She was incredibly happy that Olivia was with her, but she couldn't help thinking of the heavy conversations ahead of them regarding their relationship, their time apart, their fears... She wasn't ready to deal with all of that, so she turned back to her file and continued reading.

"I was born and raised in Maine and my parents are both Caucasian American. They met while working at the same newspaper factory. I moved to Wyoming because the newspaper I worked for went out of business. I live with my friend Cameron Cooper who worked at the same newspaper as I did until it went out of business. Then I went back to school to study to be a librarian in the hopes of finding work."

Alex looked over her various pieces of I.D. before looking back at Olivia.

"Seems a bit suspicious that we would both move here together, doesn't it?"

"No. It seems pretty gay actually."

Olivia said the comment with such a straight face that Alex could not hold in her laugh.

"No, seriously. I think Val and Cam might be into each other. Big ole lesbians if you ask me."

When Alex laughed louder, Olivia could not fight it anymore and joined her. The women sat at the table, laughing, when Agent Thomas entered the room.

"I'm glad to see the mood has lightened at least a little bit."

Olivia chuckled, smiling at Alex.

"Yeah."

"Did you want some more time to yourselves or are you ready to go over some of the details?"

Alex shrugged at Olivia.

"Might as well get it over with."

Olivia nodded in agreement.

"Okay," Thomas started. "You're in a town called Burgus, Wyoming. There are just over 500 people living in this town and like I said yesterday, they're all mostly retired senior citizens. It is highly unlikely you will be recognised here, but even still, you should at least try to alter your appearance a little: haircut, change of colour, glasses…

The town you're working in is called Little Current and has a population of about 10 000 people. Valerie, you will work right in the centre of downtown at The Little Current Public Library; you'll be starting Friday. You'll do a day of training on the computer before you start training within the library. A man named Reg will be there to guide you.

Cameron, you'll work just on the outskirts of town, at the Youth Centre, and will be starting Thursday. You will be starting one-on-one sessions with the old Horticultural Therapist at the end of this week," he paused when he saw Olivia raise her eyebrows. "I know that seems a bit fast, but trust me, you will be needing a distraction after a few days of getting adjusted. Miss Porter is already familiar with the process, but it's important that you start getting used to your new life as soon as possible. It will make the transition easier. You should start referring to one another as Valerie and Cameron immediately so that you become more comfortable with the names. If you do happen to make a mistake and refer to each other by your old names, just correct yourself and move on. Don't draw attention to it.

So, Cameron. You will be starting with the current therapist, Mr. Jones, who thinks that you are transferring from the newspaper facility in Maine. He is aware of your background at the women's correctional facility and believes that this will help you in your new role as a fulltime staff member at the Youth Centre. You will be working with troubled youth, but it is a low security facility so most of the students there are in need of some discipline, guidance, and someone who cares. You'll be using gardening as a tool to help build confidence, as an alternative way to express themselves, and to give them something to care for. Mr. Jones will inform you further about the subject. We were really lucky to find this job for you, considering how last minute everything was. They have been looking for someone for a while and are looking forward to meeting you.

If these jobs don't suit you or you find that you are unhappy, you're more than welcome to seek out other work. Are you following me okay so far?"

Alex nodded, but Olivia took a deep breath.

"It's just a lot of information at once. I feel like I'm getting a headache."

"It's overwhelming, I know, but it's because you're getting this all at once. Once you've had some time to digest, it won't seem so overwhelming. Do you want to take a break and continue later?"

Olivia shook her head.

"No. Let's continue now."

"Okay. This house is yours; you are free to redecorate, renovate, or change it as you see fit. The bills will be coming in under Valerie's name as we had this all set up before we knew you were coming, Cameron. There will be a heat, electric, and water bill coming in as one bill. There is also a television and internet bill that will come in in three weeks' time. You can choose whether or not to keep that service, but as of right now, you have both. The code and password are written on the router. You two can decide how to split the bills and whether or not to add your name to the mortgage, Cameron. Between the two of you, you'll have no problem paying the mortgage at the end of the month. We had originally picked this one out with the impression that Valerie would be paying it alone with only her wages, so it be will easy to pay it between the two of you.

There's only one vehicle, but we can arrange to have a second one if you decide you need it. I'll be checking in this week and then again next week to see how things are going. You'll be able to tell me what your needs are during these visits. After that, I'll be checking in in two weeks time, and then every month or two for the first six months. After the first six months have passed, I won't check in again for six months. After that, it'll be once a year, just to make sure everything is alright.

These are your new lives. It's up to you to fill in the gaps and create new memories. We strongly suggest you develop new hobbies, separate from the ones you had in New York. It's important that you separate yourself from that life. You are not permitted to contact anyone, at all, from your old life. Do not make any online profiles, such as a Facebook account, even with your new identities. Do not go on online dating sites. Don't post your picture online, anywhere, because you could be seen. Do not let yourself be interviewed on television. Keep yourself out of the media at all times. You can go out to the mall, to sporting events, just as long as you are keeping a low profile.

I left my number on the fridge, but I want you to memorise it and then get rid of the paper. Don't write anything down or buy anything that could link you to your old life. You are now Cameron and you are now Valerie. You are no longer Olivia or Alex. It is extremely important that you follow these rules.

You may take vacations, but you will have to inform me of when you are leaving, where you are going, and when you will be back. It's not advised that you travel anywhere outside this town or the neighbouring county for at least another few months, until the heat dies down at least a little bit. Even then, we will advise you not to go to any popular tourist destinations. You won't be allowed to leave the country for at least a year, if not longer. Our goal is to keep you safe, and you will be safe if you lay low in this town."

Thomas continued talking for another little while, but Olivia had stopped listening. Her brain was on overload. She wasn't concerned about missing anything because Alex was here, so she tuned him out when she started getting overwhelmed. She watched the man patiently, and when he finished, she felt relieved. She definitely had a pounding headache and she needed some fresh air.

"I need a walk."

She pushed away from the table and made her way out the back door onto the porch. She paused on the edge of the steps, looking out at the water. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the wind blowing against her face. It was calming, peaceful, and it was exactly what she needed after being faced with that onslaught of information.

She opened her eyes when she heard the door creak open, not bothering to look. She already knew who it was.

"Hey," the blonde whispered.

"Hi," Olivia responded.

"I, um, I told the Agents that they could leave. There's no sense in staying anymore. They'll be back to check up on us, but until then, it's just us."

Olivia said nothing, listening to Alex's voice and to the sound of the Agents' car pulling out of the driveway. When both quieted, there was nothing else to listen to but the sounds of the birds on the water.

Alex stood next to Olivia, nervous. She didn't like how quiet the other woman was being. It was unnerving. Olivia noticed Alex playing with her necklace and reached out, pulling her close. She knew Alex did that when she was worried.

"It's okay, honey. I'm okay. I'm just…it's a lot to take in. It's kind of scary to be honest."

Alex nodded against her chest.

"I know."

Of course you would know. "Shit, Alex. I'm sorry. You went through this and you were all alone." Olivia felt like an ass. Here she was focusing on herself and how difficult this was going to be, but she had someone familiar with her, someone safe. She wasn't having to do this after experiencing a terrifying trauma, alone. She was suddenly ridden with guilt.

"Don't apologise. I get it. I was terrified the first time I did this. I understand you're overwhelmed. I am too. I'm just…less scared because I know what's coming, but also because you're here. It's not as bad when you have someone here with you to act as an anchor. I know it's scary and overwhelming right now, but I promise you that it does get easier. And if it becomes too much for you at times, I'll always be here to come to."

Olivia kissed her temple and held her close. Alex sighed contently, wrapping her arms around Olivia's waist. When she felt the woman's lips press against her head, she felt her body fill with warmth. It had been so long since they had been like this, since she had gotten to experience Olivia's affection. She had missed it, craved it, and she was incredibly happy to finally have it back.

"Thanks," Olivia whispered against her hair. She rubbed her back gently, looking out at the view. "It is beautiful here."

Alex turned in her arms and looked out onto the water. It really was beautiful, but it was nothing compared to the way Olivia's arms felt wrapped around her. She had missed this woman so much and now she was here. Finally.

Olivia slid her hands away from Alex's stomach and up to her arms, rubbing them gently.

"Do you want to take a walk?" she asked.

"I'd love to."

Since there was a stone path leading down the backyard, they didn't bother with grabbing any shoes. They walked down to their dock and then hopped down onto the sandy part of the beach.

"There are seashells," Alex said, a smile in her voice. "I love seashells."

Olivia looked down. An abundance of seashells were scattered in the sand and water.

"You'll be able to start quite a collection."

"Would you let me decorate the living room with these?" Alex asked, holding up various different shells.

Olivia raised her eyebrows, clearly not very enthusiastic at the idea. "Depends how tacky you went. You don't exactly have the best taste in decorating…" she teased.

Alex laughed and threw one at her. They both knew that wasn't true. Olivia was the one who had a terrible time decorating.

"Rude…" she muttered, smiling. She walked alongside Olivia, looking down at the sand to spot any nice shells.

"This is such a change from New York," Olivia observed. "Was Wisconsin anything like this?"

"No, at least not where I was at. It was really cold and it was nothing but trees or flatland. I hated every minute of Wisconsin, but probably because of the circumstances. This is much better."

"I'll say. We have a lake in our backyard. Maybe I can get a boating license and we can go fishing. Do you like to fish?"

"I don't know. I've never been."

"Never?"

Alex shook her head.

"Then I'll definitely get a boat so that we can go fishing."

"Okay."

They walked next to one another in silence. Olivia looked around, noting that their nearest neighbour was at least another half a mile away. At least they had plenty of privacy. She glanced over at Alex.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to calling you Valerie."

The blonde smiled.

"I know. It's going to take me a long time to switch to Cam as well. I like the name though. I think it could suit you, once you get your hair cut."

Olivia chuckled.

"Maybe we can do that tomorrow. I get the feeling you're itching to have it done."

Alex grinned at her.

"I am. The last time I saw you…it's just that when I picture you in my mind, you have short hair. It's dark, not light, and there were no blond highlights."

"Yeah? What else do you picture?"

Alex paused, smiling.

"Big muscles, especially in your arms. You used to work out. I remember."

Olivia grinned.

"You noticed that, did you?"

"Yes. Of course I did. I noticed the way you flexed your arms when we were sitting on your couch talking. You'd lean your arm against the back of the couch, rest your head on your hand, and you'd flex your muscles while we were chatting. Don't tell me you didn't do that on purpose."

Olivia's face turned beet red. She bit her lower lip and looked out at the water, a smile on her lips. Alex laughed in response.

"Busted," she said.

Olivia chuckled.

"Yeah, okay. Maybe I did that a little."

Alex laughed. "A little?"

Olivia smiled, embarrassed. She might have done it, but Alex looked each and every time…

"Do you want to head back?" the blonde asked.

"Might as well. We should get familiarised with the house. I don't even know how many bathrooms there are."

"There are two," Alex stated. "One upstairs and one on the main floor."

"How do you know?"

"I noticed yesterday."

Olivia raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Wow."

"I think I'm a little less overwhelmed than you are so I've been able to pay a bit more attention."

"What else have you noticed?"

"The house is pretty outdated and in need of some remodeling. The kitchen countertop has got to go. Who the hell chooses pink tiles?"

Olivia laughed. Now that she had noticed.

"Describe the house to me," Olivia requested. She could see it herself, but it was nice to hear Alex's voice. She had gone too long without hearing it.

"There are three bedrooms upstairs and one bathroom. There's a closet at the end of the hall with a bunch of shelves, so I'm thinking that will probably hold our linen and bath towels. The bathroom itself it pretty small, but it has a stackable washer and dryer which will be great. I won't have to lug our laundry up and down the stairs. There's a bathroom downstairs off the hallway between the kitchen and the sitting room. And there's a pantry just off of the kitchen which I think will be useful since there isn't that much cupboard space. I'm not sure how big it is though since I haven't opened it. Then there's the living room which is a bit small, but it's pretty nice."

"You really did pay attention to the layout."

Alex nodded.

"What were you thinking you wanted redone in the house?"

Alex shrugged.

"I don't know."

Olivia led the way up the footpath to the house. She opened the back door for the woman and followed her inside.

"You do know. Look around. What have you been thinking needs changing?"

Alex bit her lip, smiling. She had been thinking… from the minute she walked into this place.

"Alright. Well, the countertop has to go. And I'd like to refinish the cupboards because they are a terrible colour. And those handles have got to go. I'd like to repaint the living room and that green bedroom upstairs needs to be repainted. I'd like to rip out the carpet on the staircase too. I hate it. And I'd love to repaint the deck at some point too."

Olivia raised her eyebrows.

"That is a ton of work. That deck wraps around most of the house."

Alex flashed her a big smile.

"Good thing we need projects to keep us busy."

"You're not fooling anyone, Cabot. I know those little projects you have lined up are for me."

"I can't help it if you're the handy one. You're so good at it."

Olivia chuckled and shook her head, smiling.

"Stop trying to flatter me into getting your way. You know you're gonna get it regardless."

Alex grinned at her.

"That's why I like this arrangement," she said, leading the way to the staircase. "Now come on. Let's see what we've got for clothing and towels. We're going to have to start a list of things we need when we go shopping tomorrow."

Olivia let her head fall back and groaned.

"I can't wait," she said flatly, dragging her feet behind Alex.

I hope you enjoyed :) It was nice to have you as a reader !