"Should I go? Seems like someone wants to talk to you." Amanda nodded towards Liv's phone.

Liv felt herself blush. When did she become so self-conscious? "It's nothing." She locked her phone and threw it into her purse.

Amanda raised her eyebrows, "Sexting?"

"Oh God no Amanda." Liv knew she was baiting her for a reaction, and it worked.

Amanda took a swig of her coffee. "Hey no judgment here." Liv could tell she was holding back laughter.

"We are nowhere near that level," Olivia lightly laughed.

Amanda's eyebrows raised again and teased, "What level are you at?"

Liv glared at her in response. What are we? Fifteen?"

"Oh come on. I'm an old married woman now. I need a vicarious thrill." She took another sip from her coffee.

Liv stirred her coffee before taking a sip. "Do you remember how I used to be a private person?"

Amanda laughed. "That was before we became friends, and now you aren't my boss so I can ask without getting fired."

"I mean he is in the hospital so things have been a little on pause. We haven't really talked about what all this means."

Amanda looked intrigued, "Apparently you want to beat around the bush. Have you kissed him yet? God knows he's waited long enough."

Liv spit her coffee back into her cup in surprise. "Just come right out and ask why don't you?"

"Well?" Amanda waited.

"Yes." She felt that blush returning, "A lot actually."

Amanda's grin widened, "Finally!" She exclaimed. Liv could tell she wanted to ask for details, but thankfully she let it go. "When does he get out of the hospital?"

"A couple more days, he's going crazy." Olivia finished the last of her coffee. "I think I'll bring Noah to see him tomorrow. He's been asking."

"Are you okay with all that? I know you've worried about Noah getting too attached." Amanda took Liv's cup and threw it into the garbage with her own.

"Its okay, I think. Honestly I think Noah's been wanting some sort of male figure in his life, and Elliot," she smiled, "Elliot would die before he did anything to hurt him."

"How about you?" Amanda kept digging at the hard questions.

"What about me?" Liv couldn't meet her eyes.

"Do you think he would hurt you again?"

"I know what I want to answer, but I was so sure of him before he left years ago. I don't think he would hurt me again, but," she sighed, "I can't seem to let that go."

"I get it." Amanda agreed. "But Liv," Amanda looked serious, "you need to take chances sometimes." She sighed, "And if you ask me Elliot isn't much of a risk. That man clearly loves you."

Liv nodded in agreement, knowing it was true, but why couldn't she just let go and embrace the life he was offering?

O~O~O~O~

Liv woke in a cold sweat, but not from her normal nightmares. This one didn't include the sadistic smile of WIlliam Lewis, but it still left her chilled.

Trying to shake the images away, she went to her bathroom to splash water on her face. Flashes of the nightmare kept running through her mind. Elliot bleeding out from a gunshot wound. The doctor brought out a very different outcome. A funeral. Noah devastated. Her whole world crumbled around her. Her stomach turned. She suddenly felt the irrational urge to call him.

She didn't even look at the time before calling. His voice sounded panicked when he answered, "Liv! Are you okay? Noah?"

She didn't know whether to sob in relief or in his clear loving concern for her and her son. Either way she was crying into the phone, scaring the crap out of Elliot. "I'm okay, we're okay," she spit out between sobs.

Elliot didn't seem appeased, "Do you need me to send someone over? Bell? Finn"

"No no. I'm really fine El." She pulled in a shaky breath. "I just needed to hear your voice. I needed to know you were," her voice strained, "okay."

"I'm fine babe ,I'm fine." She didn't like pet names but coming from him it felt sweet and comforting.

Her breathing came easier now, matching the rhythm of his on the other end of the line. They sat there, just breathing for a long time. Finally he asked, "Are you okay?"

"I am now," she admitted sleepily, "but don't hang up."

"I won't." He stayed on the line long after he knew she was asleep.