Velasco woke suddenly at the clap of thunder that roared outside. Rolling over in his bed, he picked up his phone to check the time. 5:30am. He felt the bed next to him move as the warm body next to him snuggled into his side.

"Mmm. Tell me we don't have to get up just yet?" Muncy whispered softly, still half asleep.

"Not yet. Go back to sleep" He said, kissing the top of her head. He still couldn't believe it. She'd left SVU months ago and it took them a while to realise how much they meant to each other but as soon as they did, they'd become inseparable. He either stayed the night at her place or she at his. Benson was disappointed to lose her at SVU as she'd come such a long way over the time she spent working there but had told her that if she ever wanted to come back there would always be a spot open for her.

She had thought about going back. The task force was good, but she really thrived at SVU.

They'd drifted back to sleep only to be woken up by the sound of his phone alarm at 6:30am. They were both due at work at 7.

"You sleep okay?" He asked her, smiling down at her. Her hair was a mess but he thought she was the most adorable human he'd ever seen.

"Always"

"Come on cowgirl, let's get up and get ready" He leaned over and pecked her lips before rolling out of his side and heading for the kitchen to make them a coffee. He heard the shower turn on and after a few minutes she joined him.

"You coming back here tonight or?" He asked, sipping at his coffee.

"Yeah, I should be done around 5:30. What time are you finishing?" She asked.

"Should be around 5. I'll call you when I'm heading home" He finished his coffee then went to his bedroom to get changed. They brushed their teeth before heading off to work.

She'd managed to pick up extra overtime hours today. She quickly sent a text to Velasco to let him know she'd be home later tonight. He replied a few minutes later, 'No worries, see you soon'.

She pulled up in front of his building and headed upstairs. She knocked twice and he opened the door for her.

"Thought you'd never make it!" He said as she sighed and walked into his arms.

"Sorry, I got held up talking to McGrath at the end." She had her arms wrapped around his waist. Pulling back slightly, she looked up at him as he bent down to kiss her.

"What did he want?"

"Ah, just a catch up. See how I was doing there…I'm starving, is that Chinese food over there?" She quickly changed the subject. She saw the food sitting on the coffee table and her stomach grumbled.

He noticed the quick change of subject but chose to ignore it for now.

"Yeah, it's still hot. Let's go eat" He had his hand on her lower back as he guided her to the couch. He'd already grabbed them cutlery and plates.

They'd finished dinner and after cleaning up, they decided to watch some tv and relax on the couch.

"You good?" He noticed she'd been sitting there quietly staring into space for a while now so knew something had to be up.

"Yeah…umm…actually I have something to tell you…" She was both excited and nervous to see his reaction to her news.

"Okay…" He turned so he was facing her.

"I quit the task force today…I just didn't feel like it was where I was really meant to be. Don't get me wrong, it's a good place to work, they pay well…the free car.' She smirked seeing his confused but interested facial expression. 'That's what I was talking to McGrath about…I'm back at SVU from tomorrow morning."

Relief flooded inside him. He had supported her move to the other unit and been happy for her but inside he'd wished she had never left SVU. He wanted to be able to protect her, watch her back and since she left he had been on edge thinking about if anything happened he wouldn't be there to help her. He placed his hand on her cheek and leant down to kiss her lips softly. She melted into him, pulling him closer. When they broke apart for air he spoke.

"So you did miss me then" She laughed.

"Yeah. Yeah. Whatever Velasco" She said, rolling her eyes.

"What about Benson? She knows we kept in touch and all but, she doesn't know we're a couple now" He was genuinely worried about how they would work together again now that things had changed between them.

"I'd say we just keep this to ourselves. There's no reason for her to know right away, as long as stay focused at work. It'll be like old times, except now I've slept with you"

Now it was his turn to laugh. "I knew you only wanted me for my body"

She got up from where she was sitting and straddled his lap. He groaned as she grinded into him, recapturing his lips in an intense kiss. Their tongues met as his hands held onto her back firmly holding her in place. He lifted her up into his arms as he stood up off the couch and carried her into his bedroom. Setting her down on the bed, he moved on top of her, supporting himself with his elbows so he didn't squash her. He kissed her deeply, lightly sucking on her bottom lip, causing her to moan with pleasure. She put her hand on his chest to push him back slightly so she could look into his eyes.

"I love you Joe" He froze, this was the first time she'd said those words to him and his heart melted. She was looking up at him, waiting for him to say something.

"I love you too" He said softly. He'd never said those words to a woman before but she was different. She made him feel alive and so loved.

"Show me how much" That was all he needed to hear before he made love to her twice.