What! A new chapter! :D Thanks guys so much for the reviews and follows. Totally interested in hearing your reviews and thoughts now that we're going back to New York! -M

Ch. 23

"So that's it? It's Over?" Alex questioned, her arms folded protectively.

Olivia only stood quietly, still behind Alex as if she were accessing her feelings.

"Liam did just as we had hoped, led us right to Lucas."

"So you have them both?" Alex asked.

"They are both in custody. I got word Liam has been transported back to Dublin, before I came to you this morning. I wanted to be sure they were behind bars before I told you."

"So now what happens?" Alex said pulling at the neck of her bathrobe.

"You can go home, you can go back to New York."

"It's over."

Both Martin and Alex looked to Olivia as the words fell from her mouth.

"It's over…" Martin said assuring Olivia, "you can go home when you're ready."

Neither Alex nor Martin could tell what Olivia was thinking.

"What will happen to Lucas?" She asked blankly.

"He'll go on trial for Gareth's murder, and your kidnapping and attempted murder. And of course we have plenty more to hold him on. He's in a heavily secured place. He's wanted in Ireland, France and the United States. He's not getting out."

Olivia was biting her bottom lip. She had still yet to move from the spot where she was certain she had bore a hole in the hardwoods below her.

"You ok?" Alex asked, but not reaching for Olivia.

Almost as if she was scared to touch her.

Not for some violent reaction, but rather Olivia may shatter into a million pieces and Alex wouldn't know how to get her back together.

Olivia looked up at Alex.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine."

"I'll leave you two alone. Let you talk. There's no hurry to leave London, we can leave when you're ready," Martin reminded. "And of course Samantha we need to make sure you are well enough to fly."

Martin bowed his head and made his way to the door.

"Martin."

He turned back to Olivia.

"Thank you…" She said her voice cracking. "Thank you."

Martin shook his head, giving her a pleased smile before he made his way out.

The door click shut.

Alex turned to look at Olivia.

Tears were streaming down her face.

Crying.

She was crying.

Olivia looked to Alex and cried harder.

Her hand to her mouth, her shoulders shaking, her breath hitched as she tried to breathe.

She cried.

The flood gates.

One year worth of tears.

The damn broke.

Alex went to Olivia wrapping her in her arms, holding her head against her shoulder as Olivia buried her face in to Alex's neck.

"Just cry, just let go baby, just let go."

Alex could feel the weight of Olivia's body meld in to hers.

Alex stood stoic and strong, she wouldn't falter, she wouldn't let Olivia go.

Olivia for once didn't apologize for crying, for breaking down.

Neither Olivia nor Alex was sure how long they stood there, how long it took for Olivia to raise her head.

"It's over."

"Yes baby it's over."

"I don't have to be her anymore."

"No… no you don't. Just Olivia, my Olivia."

Alex said with a heartfelt smile.

"We can go back to New York."

Alex nodded, confirming.

Olivia stood up straighter and wiped her tear stained face.

"You and I can go back to New York." Olivia said looking at Alex.

Repeating and confirming.

"Yeah we can go back to New York, we'll be together."

Olivia took a deep breath.

"But you heard Martin we don't have to go back until you're ready." Alex said brushing Olivia's hair from her face.

"I have to figure out where to go."

"What? What do you mean where to go?"

Olivia sat down on the couch, pulling her bare knees in to her.

"I gave up my life. I gave up my job, my apartment. I gave up everything I had. I mean I always planned on going back I just didn't know it would be like this, that I would be like this..."

"Liv, you can get your life back… You know there is always work for you and you can live with me."

"Alex."

Alex sat down next to Olivia.

"I know we're fast forwarding a bit, but you were my best friend before and I would have offered to have you stay with me anyway. And now that we're together… Liv,

I want you to stay with me, be with me. We didn't just meet. And we've made it pretty clear we've wanted each other for a long time. At least stay with me until you get settled."

"I just don't want to be a burden on you. I know you're anxious to get your life back too."

Alex moved in closer to Olivia.

"Sure I want to be back in New York, but I'm want to be back there with you, to have a life with you."

Olivia took Alex's hand in to hers, intertwining their fingers.

"I want to be with you, I want to wake up to you, but I can't make promises about who I'll be when I get back…. Last night I was fine and then all of the sudden I was back there, I froze, I couldn't let you…"

"Liv, Liv…" Alex said holding Olivia's attention. "I can handle this. Just trust that I can handle it. Let me be the one you lean on, let me hold you, let me help you get through this."

"I just don't want you to regret this decision, I don't want you to end up hating me for what I've put you through, and God, I feel so fucked up right now and I don't want you to go through that with me!"

"I want to go through it with you! Get it in your head Olivia, I love you! You're not alone, you don't have to do this, you don't have to recover alone. You don't have to get your life back alone."

"I don't know how not to do it alone Alex!"

Alex pulled Olivia in to her.

"Then I'll show you. I'll show you how it feels, what it's like to not be alone."

Olivia found Alex's lips, kissing her deeply.

"Please come back to New York and be with me." Alex said breathless.

Olivia shook her head agreeing. "I love you, and I want us to go home."