A/N: As always thank you for the favs, follows and reviews. I finished this chapter a few days ago but felt it was missing something. I heard the song I took the title from on my way home from work today, which inspired me to add to it a bit. Some of you have asked what caused the breakdown in communication between them, I elaborate a bit on that in this chapter. There will be one more chapter after this one. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Sunday morning began with Olivia lying awake in bed as the sun came up, just like she had every morning since Alex left. This morning however felt different, she could actually have a chance at repairing her relationship. She rolled onto her side and looked at the picture of her and Alex that sat on her bedside table. She pulled Alex's t-shirt close and inhaled the blonde's scent and struggled to hold back the tears. When she finally climbed into bed the night Alex had left she discovered the blonde had left the shirt she had slept in the night before. Olivia had slept with that shirt every night since.

Olivia got up and took a shower then fixed a cup of tea and sat down to call Alex. She took a deep breath and dialed her number, a little disappointed when she didn't answer. Not about to give up she called Robert's home number. When the elder Cabot answered he still sounded like the protective father but at the same time Olivia was pretty sure he was smiling. She nervously played with her necklace as she waited for Alex to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Hey." Olivia sighed, she had been terrified Alex would change her mind and not talk to her.

"Hi." Alex wiped her eyes to stop the tears that were threatening, God she missed that voice.

They talked for a bit both able to tell that the other had spent another sleepless night. The conversation flowed easily but was left to basic, everyday topics. Neither brought up their breakup, and whether or not it would remain temporary or become permanent.

"Could I take you to lunch today?" Olivia held her breath as she waited for an answer.

Alex bit her bottom lip as she debated her answer. She had spent the night before trying to sort out her feelings and what she would do if Olivia wanted to meet again. "Um, sure."

Olivia wondered if that was hope she had heard in the blonde's voice. "Okay. I'll pick you up at noon."

"I'll see you then."

"I love you."

Alex closed her eyes "I love you too." She replied before hanging up.

After hearing those words Olivia did a small victory dance.

After hanging up Alex turned to see Robert standing in the kitchen doorway. "Eavesdropping?"

Robert chuckled "No, I was just coming in to feed Max." he said as the dog wandered over to Alex wanting to be pet. "How'd it go?"

Alex hopped up on the counter and sipped her coffee. "She asked me to lunch, and I said yes."

"That sounds nice." He knew his daughter was dancing around the question she really wanted to ask, what she should do. While they'd had several conversations over the past five days she'd been with him she had never asked that specific question. He knew she'd asked Lori and her sister told her flat out to move on. It wasn't that Lori didn't like Olivia, she loved the brunette same as he did, but she was very protective of her big sister. He leaned back against the counter opposite the woman and eyed her carefully, the wheels in her mind were turning so fast he could almost smell smoke.

"What should I do Dad?" Alex kicked herself for suddenly sounding like a child.

Suddenly he wasn't a father talking to his adult daughter, he was a dad talking to his little girl. "Well sugar bear," Alex grinned at his nickname for her. "I can't tell you what to do I can only give you my opinion. I told Olivia that if you asked I would be honest with you. I hate seeing you hurt like this, and I told her that. I also never want to see you hurting like this again. Now when it comes to the two of you, I think you're good together. I have never seen you as happy as you are with her, at least until the last several months. I think she's a good person and I also think you're meant for one another." He sighed and noticed the tears forming in her eyes. "Every couple has their ups and downs but you have to decide if it's worth trying to repair the damage. What it comes down to is you need to follow your conscience and more importantly your heart. If your heart tells you that it can't do this and that moving on is what's best then that's what you need to do." he walked over and smiled when she wrapped her arms around him "No matter what you decide I will support you completely."

"Thank you Daddy."

Olivia took her time carefully selecting her outfit. She knew she wouldn't win Alex back based solely on her outfit but she viewed this as a date, a first date, and she wanted to look her best. She chose her best fitting jeans and a deep purple shirt, knowing Alex loved the color on her. She finished off her outfit with the diamond pendant Alex had given her on her first birthday they spent together and the leather jacket she'd given her the Christmas before.

Olivia didn't drive her car that often but decided she would today, considering how much Alex loved it. She parked at the end of the street, grateful for the short walk allowing her time to calm her nerves. She walked up the steps and took a deep breath before ringing the bell.

Robert answered the door and has to hold back a laugh at how nervous Olivia looks. "Come on in Olivia."

Olivia was pretty sure she was more nervous now than she was on her first date. She looked to Robert for any sign of how things were going. While his expression was kind he had his best poker face on, but as they heard Alex's footsteps on the stairs he gave her a knowing smile.

Olivia was sure she stopped breathing when Alex stopped in front of her. "Hi." She breathed out. Alex was wearing jeans with a cream colored sweater, the same sweater she had given her for Christmas, and a scarf. Alex had her hair pulled into a ponytail and was wearing her glasses. Olivia began tearing up at how beautiful her partner truly was. She stopped for a moment and wondered if she was still able to call Alex her partner. "You look beautiful." She said as she handed over a bouquet of lilies, knowing they were Alex's favorites.

"Thank you." she looked the brunette up and down, she loved how in the last couple year or so she had allowed her hair to grow out. "You look beautiful too." Alex turned and handed the flowers to her dad and asked him to put them in water for her.

As they walked down the steps Robert stepped outside "You two have a nice afternoon."

Alex turned and smiled "We will."

"You brought the mustang." Alex said as she caught sight of the classic car at the end of the street.

"I figured it would be better than taking a cab." Olivia's breath hitched when she felt Alex loop her arm through hers as they made their way down the street. Olivia knew she had a lot of work ahead of her but her heart soars at the feeling of Alex's arm around her own. She glances sideways and notices the small smile on Alex's lips, causing a smile of her own to break out.

Alex knows they still have a long road ahead of them but she feels lighter than she has in months. Her heart is still damaged but the walls she built around it in the past week have finally crumbled and it feels as if her heart is beginning to mend itself.

As they walk down the street they unconsciously move closer together, both wearing matching smiles. As Olivia stopped to open the passenger door they simply stared at one another for a moment. Olivia had the overwhelming urge to kiss the woman in front of her but she resisted. She didn't want to push.

They drove in silence to one of Alex's favorite restaurants.

"This place has the best stuffed French toast in the world!" Alex exclaimed as they placed their order.

"I know you love it, that's why I figured we would come here."

They made small talk through most of their lunch, both avoiding the elephant in the room that was their relationship. They were almost done when Alex's phone rang. Olivia could tell by the look on her face she was not happy with what the caller was saying.

"Yes Lori, I know." Alex rolled her eyes, she loved her younger sister but sometimes she was the epitome of a younger sister, always annoying her. "Last time I checked I was an adult and free to make my own decisions." Alex wished she had never answered. She was also ready to strangle her dad for telling Lori that she was out with Olivia. "I have to go but I will be calling you later." Alex growled as she hung up.

"I take it she's not happy that you're with me?"

"She'll get over it." Alex sighed "She's just worried about me."

"Tell me about it." Olivia said.

After lunch they parked the car and decided to take a walk through the park. They finally stopped and took a seat on a bench in a quiet corner of the park. "I'm so glad you came out with me today."

"So am I." Alex said as she turned to face the brunette better. "Earlier when I was on the phone with Lori I could see a look in your eyes, what was it?"

"It was nothing."

Alex reached out and squeezed her arm "Olivia this is what got us in this mess in the first place."

Olivia sighed "I know she is just looking out for you because she called me a couple nights after you left."

Anger flashed across Alex's face "What did she say?"

Olivia gave her a sad smile "Nothing that wasn't true. She basically told me that I had hurt you, a lot, and that she felt that you needed to move on from me."

"I'm going to kill her." Alex said as she grabbed her phone.

"Alex don't." Olivia said as she placed a hand on her arm "She was just looking out for you."

"It still doesn't give her the right to blast you."

Silence settled between them again as they listened to the birds and the sounds of children laughing in the distance.

"I know I've said it a lot but I really am sorry. If I had just paid attention to you none of this would've happened." Olivia's breath caught when Alex reached out and wiped her tears.

"Olivia as much as I want to blame you I can't blame you for everything. I could see you were withdrawing into yourself. I should've done something." she shrugged her shoulders "I guess we're both to blame."

"Me more so than you, but I think you're right." Could this really be happening, Olivia wondered. Were they beginning to make progress?

"Olivia what happened? What is going on with you?" it wasn't accusatory it was concern.

"I don't know Alex. I mean first Elliot retired with no warning, and he still won't talk to me. Then not only did we have to break in two new detectives, I had to break in a new partner. The cases just seem to get more heinous. I…I guess I was just wallowing in my own self-pity so much that I couldn't see that I was ignoring you and the damage it was doing to you." she sighed as she looked off into the distance before turning back to the blonde. "I sat thinking the night you left about how I knew so much about you, all your favorite things, your life story, and then I realized that I was no longer paying attention to what mattered most. It's not how many times you've seen The Breakfast Club, or the fact that you know every song from Grease by heart." Both smiled at that. "What matters is you, your hopes, and your dreams. I want to be there and share your happiness and when you're sad I want to be the one to take your pain away." Once again they were both crying. "Alex I screwed up big time and I am sorry."

Alex squeezed her hand "I'm sorry too."

They sat in silence for a bit longer, both lost in their own thoughts.

As the air grew cooler they decided to head back to Robert's. Olivia still wasn't sure where they stood relationship wise and little did she know Alex was having the same thoughts. Alex wanted to try, God she really wanted to try, but she had never known her heart could hurt like it did. Her mind wandered back to the night before when she was lying in bed thinking about their situation. She knew what they had was real because no one had ever, or would ever, have the power to break her heart like Olivia. It was true love.

Olivia parked in front of the brownstone but neither made a motion to move or say anything. She could tell Alex was thinking but was afraid to know what she was thinking. After a few more agonizing moments she decided to speak. "I had a very nice time today."

A small smile spread across Alex's lips "So did I." she turned to face Olivia "I really am sorry for whatever it was my sister said to you. I'm going to talk to her."

"Don't worry about it Alex, she didn't say anything that I didn't deserve. I don't want you two fighting because of me."

Alex nodded, but they both knew that Lori would be receiving a very heated phone call from her older sister later that evening.

Olivia turned better in her seat "Alex I know you have a lot of thinking to do but I want you to know I am serious about us being together."

"I know you are. I couldn't believe you went as far as to write a resignation letter." She said with a bit of a smile. It meant the world to her that Olivia was that committed to them being together again.

Olivia turned serious "I turned it in." if it wasn't such a serious moment she would've laughed at the expression on Alex's face, her eyes were wide as saucers. "After I left last night I went by the precinct and left it on Cragen's desk. I told you I was serious."

"No Olivia, I won't have you giving up a career that you love and that you are damn good at, especially for me. Now if you want to leave for you then fine but if you are leaving solely for me then I want you to take it back."

"All I want is you."

"Then take the letter back. If the only reason you did it was to get me back then don't resign." She noticed the hesitancy in Olivia's eyes. "Olivia promise me!"

"I promise. I'll take it back first thing tomorrow morning."

After a few minutes of tense silence Olivia got out and walked around and opened Alex's door. They walked quietly up the steps and stood facing one another, both were trying to figure out what to say.

"Today was nice."

Alex nodded "It was."

Olivia hated the situation they found themselves in, dancing around one another, trying to figure out what to say. She hated feeling awkward around the one person she loved more than anything. "I know our schedules can change at the drop of a hat but could I take you lunch again tomorrow."

"No."

Olivia had to hold back the tears, she thought for sure they had made progress today. She shoved her hands into her coat pockets and was turning to leave when she felt Alex gently grab her arm.

"I have a couple meetings tomorrow afternoon so I'll just grab something quick in my office." She smiled slightly "I'm free for dinner though."

Olivia looked up in surprise but began smiling as she saw the look in Alex's eyes, it looked like hope. "I'd love to take you to dinner."

"Are you sure the perps will allow that?" she said with a hint of laughter.

Olivia's smile grew wider "I promise you, we will be going to dinner tomorrow evening." she wanted to kiss Alex so bad she couldn't stand it. It had been over a week since she had kissed the blonde, and even longer since they had shared a real, loving kiss. As bad as she wanted it though she didn't want to push.

Alex's mind was racing it was either build the walls around her heart and never allow it to be broken again or open her heart. She knew what she wanted. Alex took a small step forward and took Olivia's hands into her own. "Olivia Benson, I love you more than anything in the world."

Olivia saw Alex's tears and could feel her own "I love you too Alex, God you have no idea how much I love you." this time there was no holding back as she leaned forward and lightly pressed their lips together. It was wonderful and amazing all at the same time. The flood gates opened though when she felt Alex kissing her back.

In one fluid motion they slid close until their bodies were pressed together, Alex sliding her arms around Olivia's waist and Olivia's arms sliding up behind Alex's neck. The kiss grew deeper with each passing moment, it was slow, passionate, soul searching and most important loving. They could taste one another's tears as they cried harder. This was right, this was the way it was supposed to be. This was love.

When they finally broke apart for air they rested their foreheads against one another's. Olivia lightly running her fingers through Alex's hair while Alex ran her hands up and down Olivia's back. The only sound was their breathing and both repeating 'I love you' and 'I'm sorry' over and over again.

They wiped one another's tears before sharing one last chaste kiss.

"I really should get inside. I have arraignment in the morning." Alex whispered.

Olivia nodded "Me too, I need to beat the captain to the precinct in the morning." She stepped back but pulled Alex's hand to her lips and kissed it "I love you."

Alex leaned in and kissed her cheek "I love you too."

Olivia turned and walked back to her car, turning and waving before climbing inside. She couldn't wipe the smile off her face, yes they still had a lot of work to do but this was really happening.

Alex stood on the steps and watched Olivia until she made the right at the end of the street. She was still hurt but things were changing.

That night as they both lay in bed, alone, both were nervous but happy. While there was distance between them geographically, the distance between them emotionally was growing smaller. Just like she had since the night Alex left Olivia fell asleep holding the blonde's shirt and staring at her picture on her bedside table.

Several miles away Alex lay in bed in her dad's spare bedroom, clutching a worn NYPD t-shirt that smelled like Olivia while looking at a photo of the two of them. As angry and hurt as she was the day she left, she was surprised when she opened her suitcase to find one of her partner's shirts. She had slept with it every night.

Little did they know they both fell asleep feeling lighter than they had in months. Finally there was light at the end of the tunnel.