"I've been thinking a lot about the old days."

Her dear old captain snickers a reply as he sips his coffee. They are sitting in her office, their office, catching up on each other's lives. This almost always leads to some sort of reminiscent story, although most involving Elliot have been tiptoed around, a delicate do-si-do of avoiding difficult memories. Now that he's back, however, Liv's been more open and reflective about the past.

She shakes her head, continuing her thought. "I look at my squad and think, if any of them pulled a fraction of what we did back in the day, I split them up. Demote them. Shit, more like grounds for termination."

Don chuckles softly. "Yep."

"You didn't do any of that.."

"No."

"Why?"

"I was witnessing lightning in a bottle. Magic. The two of you were like a constellation- you were always going to be connected to one another. This celestial bond. Separating the two of you would have been like ripping apart your souls."

She sighs, unimpressed, lifting a brow for emphasis. "Do you really believe in astrology, Cap?"

"No, but I believe in astronomy— it's more scientific and powerful. No matter how many years have gone by, you can still look out and trace the stars, find their patterns, their light."

Liv rolls her eyes. "Well, I guess in the end it didn't matter. Patterns be damned."

"Olivia, I know how hard this has been for you. How hard the last ten years have been." He pauses, reaching across to pat her hand. "They've been hard on him, too."

She eyes him carefully. "You've talked."

"We've talked. More importantly, I take it you two haven't talked."

"Not really. I called him out on not asking about my life, and now he's asking and I'm not sure how much I want to say."

"Have you asked him about his life?"

"No. He left me, Cap. I really don't care to know why."

"But you know why. You are just petrified to hear him say it."

Her head jumps at Cragen's honesty, but she doesn't reply. Her silence confirms her agreement.

"Olivia, you know I'm happy for you. All you've worked for, Noah… you've built this wonderful life out of the wreckage. Running this squad, it's everything I've ever imagined for you."

"Why do I feel like there's a but?"

"But," he insists, "are you truly happy?"

She ponders the question, letting it settle, letting her truths rise to the surface. "I really, really want to be."

"Are you happy he's back?"

"That's a complicated question… I'm not happy about the circumstances. If it means Kathy would have lived, then I wish I never saw him again. Let bygones be bygones. But, now that he's here…" She pauses, swatting away an irritating tear that she dared let slip down her cheek. "God, I missed him so much."

"He missed you, too. I hope you realize that."

She shakes her head, trying to stop herself from thinking about Elliot's feelings. She can't right now or she'll combust. "I also miss Kathy. I miss who Elliot was with Kathy. Tethered. A security blanket."

"Safe." Don offers.

She nods. "Safe."

"Well, it's up to you to decide how this will play out. The ball's in your court, Benson. What are you going to do?"

She sips her coffee and contemplates. "Great question. For now, taking it one day at a time."

"I want you to be happy, Olivia. It's all I've ever wanted for you. Selfishly, it's why I kept you both together. I know he was married, but you needed each other. You still need each other. Best friends are hard to come by."

"Thanks, Don," she whispers.

"Besides, you think I'd split up a Libra and an Aquarius? You two were meant to be!"

She laughs, grateful for the levity. "Aha- so you do believe in astrology."

"Only when it comes to you." He gives her a fatherly glance. "You deserve the stars, and Elliot thinks you hung 'em."

She wants to protest, but can't, not when Cragen's steady eyes bear witness to her soul. She feels like somebody's daughter when she's with him, and if he feels that Elliot is worthy enough to bless with this chance, this rekindling of their friendship, at least, then she's going to take a breath and try with the man that Cragen always valued as a son. His absence hurt him, too, but he was a forgiving man, a loving man.

Many things changed, but her love for Elliot never wavered. Maybe it was time to take a leap of faith.

She swallows, plastering on a bright face. "Speaking of space, how's Munch? Any new conspiracy theories?"

Their laughter carries into the squad room, two old friends and a lifetime of memories.