They walked into the apartment with Evan leading the group and eating his chocolate. Casey kept giving William mean looks. "I'm going to kill you." She whispered.

"Olivia didn't tell me he had sleeping troubles before I bought him the chocolate." He whispered back.

"You're a pain in my ass Grant."

"I'm sorry."

Olivia took the chocolate from Evan. "Can I have some?"

"But it's mine."

"Sharing is caring." Olivia answered and tossed the chocolate to Casey. Casey quickly threw it in the trash so Evan didn't see. Olivia took Evan to the bathroom to clean up his messy face.

Casey opened the fridge. "Did you guys want anything to drink?"

"Oh…No…I'm fine, thank you." William answered. Cragen also shook his head. "I just sort of wanted to talk to Olivia alone and then we're going to go."

"Where are you going?" Casey asked.

"I'm going to stay with Don for a few weeks until I get an apartment."

Olivia came out of the bathroom with Evan. "Did you guys want anything to drink?"

"No, we're fine. Thank you. We're going to get going soon anyway."

Casey quickly spoke up. "Hey Evan, do you have that one car toy? The big one?"

Evan looked confused "No."

"I'm sure you do. Let's go check your room." She took his hand and led him to his room. She closed the door behind them.

William spoke up. "Liv…can I talk to you?"

She nodded and went to her bedroom. William followed and closed the door behind them. "What's up?"

"Um…I just wanted to talk about our situation…I mean…do I get any rights here?"

"We're not in court William."

"I know…I just…I want to spend time with him. Can we work out a deal or something?"

"I don't know."

"Olivia…I just want to see my son. I haven't seen him in four years."

"That wasn't my fault."

"I didn't come here to fight with you. We fought enough, which I believe ended our relationship."

"William…I can't let you be in his life knowing you won't stick around long."

"I will."

She felt her voice starting to raise. "No you won't. I know you. Your job requires you to be out of the state or out of the country more than anyone else because you're always chasing those fucking promotions. You're a workaholic William."

"Are you done?"

"What?"

"Is it off your chest? Because I'm not going anywhere, I'm out of the corps. Just like I promised you I would be when I came back."

"What are you talking about?" She crossed her arms on her chest.

He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to her. "Honorary Discharge"

She read over it and took a deep breath. "You're going to stick around?"

"Yes."

She nodded. "In that case, I think you should know I have a boyfriend. And that me and you is not possible…if that's what you were hoping for from this." She handed him the paper back.

He took a deep breath and nodded. "How long?"

"About six months."

"He a good guy?"

"Yeah. His name is Ben. He works for a newspaper."

William nodded. "Ok."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to find out like this."

"Look…who you date is your business. I don't care. I just want to spend time with my son."

"You will…we'll figure something out ok? You can come over whenever you want during the day to see him. I'm not going to keep him from you now that I know you're out of the military. I know you're going to be there for him."

William nodded. "Thank you."

"And I'm guessing I can count on you for babysitting?"

"Of course. Anything. Just call me, I'll be right over."

Olivia nodded. "Good to know. Thanks."

"You don't need to thank me." He answered and left the bedroom. He went into Evan's room to say goodbye to him.

Olivia came out of the bedroom and spotted Cragen just staring at her. "What?" She asked. Cragen shook his head. "I can tell."

"Give him a chance."

"I am." She answered.

"I know you're a protective mama but he's Evan's dad. He has just as much of a right to see him as you do."

"I know…I'll attempt not to be a protective lioness…attempt is the keyword." She smiled a little. "I'm just sort of afraid of how Evan is going to react to all this. William comes back and just waltzes back into his life, it's a lot isn't it?"

"He's tough, he'll be fine."

William came out of the bedroom and walked past Olivia. "Hey, when I get my own apartment, is it ok for him to spend some nights with me? Like weekends or something?"

"We'll talk about it." Olivia answered. She felt the glare she was getting from her captain. "Yeah, that's fine."

William nodded. "Thanks. If you need anything…just call me ok?"

"I will."

William said nothing and left the apartment. Cragen followed.

The next morning, Olivia woke up with an extremely bad flu. She was up most of the night throwing up. She'd already texted Ben having to cancel their plans for that night because she was sick.

There was a knock on her door and Casey came in. "Hey, feeling any better?"

"No." Olivia mumbled into her pillow.

"Not pregnant are you?" Casey questioned. Suddenly, she was faced with a pillow being thrown her way. "You're so violent when you're sick."

"Shut up. Do you go to work today?"

"Yeah."

"Can you see if Ms. Jones can take care of Evan for today? I don't want him to get sick." Ms. Jones was their neighbor that watched Evan when everyone else was working. Her grandson was Evan's age so the boys always hung out.

"Why don't you call William? I'm sure he won't mind."

"Evan hardly knows him."

"If you keep trying to avoid them spending time, he never will."

Olivia took a deep breath and turned to other side. "Fine. Call him."

Casey rolled her eyes at her stubborn best friend and left the room. She called William's cell phone and waited.

"Hello?" A very groggy William answered.

"Are you drunk?" She asked.

"Casey?"

"Yeah."

"Oh." William opened his eyes. "No, I was sleeping. I couldn't get drunk cause you went on a date with my best friend last night."

Casey contained her giggles thinking of Adam. "Don't be jealous cause he likes me better."

"What do you want? It's eight in the morning."

"Liv has the flu; can you come over and take Evan for the day? She doesn't want him to catch her bug."

"Yeah, of course, I'll be right over." He answered and hung up.

Casey closed her phone and went to get some food. There was a knock on the door. "Well that was strangely quick." She opened the front door and found Ben standing there. "Oh. It's just you."

"Well that's sweet of you." He smirked. He was taller than Casey and had hazel eyes. He had somewhat shaggy hair and his dress shirt wasn't tucked into his jeans.

"Sorry, I was expecting someone else." She moved out of his way.

"At 8 in the morning? That's sexy."

"Shut up." She rolled her eyes and got cereal for herself. "What are you doing here so early?"

"I was up late working when Liv told me she was sick. So I thought I'd come over."

"Is that why you look like a hobo?" She asked, pointing at his five o'clock shadow.

"Yeah. I forgot to shave." He answered and closed the door behind him. "Is she in her bedroom?" As soon as he asked that, Olivia's bedroom door opened and she ran to the bathroom.

"Not anymore." Casey answered.

Ben quickly followed her to the bathroom. "Babe?" He went in slowly and found her practically hugging the toilet. "Cheating on me with the toilet?"

"Screw you." She gagged again. "I hate this. Go away, I don't want to puke in front of you."

He closed the door behind him and kneeled down by her. "It's ok." He moved her hair out of her face. "I think puking is sexy." He teased.

She gagged again and started throwing up. Ben held her hair back and gently rubbed her back. When she was done, she took a deep breath and rested her forehead in her hand. "I hate this." She flushed the toilet.

"I know." He nodded and got up. He helped her get up from the floor and turned on the faucet for her. "Wash your face and go lay down." Olivia did so and went out of the bathroom. Ben followed her and closed the bedroom door behind them.

Olivia just fell on the bed and didn't move. "Blanket."

He put the blanket over and fixed her pillow for her. "Why are you so spoiled?"

"Your fault" She mumbled.

"I see. Do you want anything?"

"You"

He laid down by her and stroked her hair. "You're such a baby." She nodded and cuddled up to his chest. "Where's Evan?"

"Sleeping"

"Isn't Casey working today?"

"Yeah, William is going to pick him up."

"William? As in your ex? Evan's father?"

"Yeah" She looked up at him. "I forgot to mention he came back from Iraq didn't I?"

"Yeah" Ben nodded. "When did he come back?"

"Yesterday"

"Oh. Should I be worried?"

"No." She pulled him closer to her. "You have nothing to be worried about. He's harmless."

"He's a marine Olivia, marines aren't harmless." He smiled. "Does he want to get back with you?"

"I don't know and I don't care." She answered. "I'm with you."

"I know but-"

"Stop it." She ordered. "Or I'll puke on you."

He let out a laugh. "Ok, ok. Sorry."

There was a knock on the door. Without either one being able to say anything, Evan came in. He said nothing and attempted to get on the bed. "Help" He finally ordered.

Ben put out his arm. "Grab." Evan wrapped his little arms around Ben's arm and let him hoist him up on the bed.

"Why are you up?" Olivia asked.

"It's morning." He answered.

"It's not even nine."

"I can't tell time." Evan answered and looked over at Ben. "Why are you here?"

"Your mom isn't feeling good so I came to check on her."

Evan looked over at Olivia. "Oh no. Are you ok mommy?"

Olivia smiled. "I'm fine honey, just a little sick."

Evan nodded and looked over at Ben. "Let's go to the zoo."

"I'm sleepy." Ben mumbled and pretended to fall asleep.

Evan shook him. "Wake up Ben. Mommy, make him wake up."

"It's early, you should be sleeping." Olivia told him. "And your dad is going to pick you up today."

"I get chocolate?" Evan's eyes became wider.

"Well that's up to him."

They heard a knock on the front door. After a couple of seconds, the knocking continued.

"Casey probably left, can you get it?" Olivia asked Ben.

"I will." Evan answered and jumped off the bed.

"I got him." Ben got up and quickly ran after Evan. "Hey, no answering doors until you're six feet tall."

"But why?"

"Because it could be a stranger."

"What's that?"

"Never mind" Ben mumbled. Evan shrugged. He opened the front door only to be faced with a man a tad bit taller than him but much more muscular. "Um…Hi."

William raised an eyebrow. "Who are you?"

"I was just going to ask you that."

"I'm Evan's father."

"Oh." Ben nodded. "William, right?"

"Yeah" William nodded and put his hand out. "Are you Olivia's boyfriend?"

"Yeah, Ben" Ben shook his hand. "Nice to meet you"

"You too" William went into the apartment. "Liv's in her bedroom?"

"Yeah, she's sick."

"Casey told me."

"Right." Ben nodded.

William said nothing else and went into Olivia's bedroom. "Hey, how you feeling?"

"Not good." Olivia sat up. "Thanks for coming."

"No problem."

Olivia got out of bed. "Let me get him dressed." She left the bedroom and took Evan. "C'mon munchkin."

Ben and William stood there quietly.

"So." Ben spoke up. He was much more outgoing and talkative then William. "How's the war?"

"Violent." William answered.

"I did a piece on refugees in Afghanistan. That was interesting. I learned a whole lot."

"I bet you did."

"What's Baghdad like?"

William looked over at him. "You talk a lot don't you?"

"Yeah." Ben nodded. "I don't like standing awkwardly here."

"Well I do."

"Oh. Ok." Ben looked around for a second. He kept quiet for like two minutes. "Hey, anyway you willing to sit down with me for an interview?"

"No."

"I don't have to publish your name."

"No."

"Ok." Ben answered and crossed his arms on his chest. "Did you ever get shot?"

William looked over at him. "What is wrong with you?"

"I don't know. Was that a wrong thing to ask?" William just stared at him. "It was. You're right. Have you ever seen someone get shot?"

"Shut up."

"You're not planning to get back with Olivia are you?"

"Are you going to shut up or do I have to make you shut up?"

"I'm not a very good fighter, but I'm a great lover."

William started walking over to him. Ben started taking steps back. "Stop talking to me." William ordered.

"Is it a requirement in the marines to take steroids?"

Without being able to control himself, William grabbed him by the shirt and sucker punched him in the face.

"Son of a bitch!" Ben grabbed his eye. "Fuck that hurts."

Olivia came out of the room hearing the yelling. She looked at Ben holding his face and William's hand made into a fist. She inhaled angrily and pointed at Ben, "You take Evan downstairs and wait. I want to talk to William alone. Now."

Ben groaned and opened the front door for the little boy.

Evan went to the front door and looked up at Ben. "Hey how'd you getta owie?"

"I fell." Ben answered and closed the door behind them.

Olivia glared at William. William said nothing. "What the hell was that?" Olivia asked.

"He started it."

"What are you a teenager? You can't just hit people William."

"He kept talking!"

"I don't care! You have no right to punch him in the face because he was annoying you."

"He deserved it."

"I don't care." She whispered viciously.

William let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I just lost my nerve."

"Is that what you're going to do when Evan annoys you?"

"No, of course not" He answered.

"How do I know that?"

"C'mon…give me a break. I come back and you're in a relationship with that asshole. I just lost control. He was being a jerk."

"I'll deal with him. Go downstairs."

William said nothing and left the apartment. He went downstairs and spotted Ben sitting on the stairs and Evan looking at his cut above his eye.

"That's so cool." Evan commented. "It's getting big."

"It's swelling?" Ben asked.

William went around Ben and took Evan by the hand. "Let's go."

"Bye Ben." Evan waved. Ben waved back.

William stopped and turned around. He put out his hand, in the same time Ben moved back startled. "I'm sorry."

Ben looked at him and then his hand. He slowly took it. "No hard feelings." Ben nodded and headed upstairs.

As soon as he came into the apartment, his girlfriend was standing there glaring at him with her arms crossed on her chest.

"Hi pumpkin." He smiled widely knowing he was in trouble.

"You're in trouble."

"I'm hurt." He pouted. "Comfort me."

"I'm mad at you." She went to her bedroom and slammed the door shut.

He groaned and got ice for his swelling eye. He held the ice pack on his cut and went to the bedroom. "I'm sorry." He stated and laid down next to her in bed. She didn't answer. "Baby c'mon, I'm sorry. I was just messing with him; I didn't think he was going to sucker punch me." He heard her sniffle. "Hey, are you crying?" He moved closer and took her face to make her look at him. "Why are you crying?"

"Because"

"Because why?" He wiped her tears with his thumb. "Talk to me."

"This is hard for me as it is. I don't need you two fighting every time you're in the same room. He's Evan's father, he's going to be in my life without choice, and you're my boyfriend, and I love you." She bit her lip realizing what she said. She'd never said that to him before. She slowly looked up at him.

He was just staring at her. "You what?"

"Nothing." She got up and went to the bathroom. "I'm… going to shower." She closed the bathroom door.

Ben just laid there amazed at what she said. He didn't know what to feel or say.