A/N: I don't own any of the characters.
The next morning, Olivia woke up and checked to see what time it was. She started kissing Hank to wake him up.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, yourself. We might want to think about putting some clothes on. Noah gets up at 6."
"What time is it?"
"5:30."
"Do you want me to go?"
"He's going to have to meet you sometime. Are you going in today?"
"I was thinking that maybe I can show you around the City."
"Are you still going to arrest me?"
"No. I probably wouldn't have. I was just upset."
"You had every right to be. I would love to have you show us around. I left my rental at Erin's."
"We can go get it."
"Good. I think I want a repeat performance of last night."
"You do, huh?"
"Absolutely."
They started kissing and then they made love. Afterwards he had his arms around her and she had her head on his chest."
"That was amazing."
"Yes, it was."
"I feel so safe in your arms. I haven't felt this way in such a long time."
"Not even with Tucker?"
"Honestly, no. I feel like you and I were meant to be. I trust you completely."
"I guess that's good to know."
"Uh oh! What's wrong?"
"Are we doing the right thing?"
"Meaning what?"
"I mean all this."
"Are you having second thoughts?"
"No but a part of me feels like I'm being unfaithful to my wife. I just don't want to end up regretting anything."
"I've been living with regret for the last several months after what happened the last time I was here. I'm still trying to figure out why I dated Ed in the first place when he made my life miserable for so many years. He did switch jobs for me though. He gave up IAB for Hostage Negotiation. He did support me with all the drama with Noah's adoption and with what happened to Dodds. I just never really felt a connection between us. It wasn't like the connection you and I have. I don't want you to regret us. I really want us to work."
"I do too. I just have a lot I need to deal with and it's going to take me a while."
"I know and I will help you through it. I promise you that."
"Do you have a habit of going to bed with a guy right after you tell him you have feelings for him?"
"No. I've been waiting for this to happen for over a year. I was with Ed about a month before we did anything and it just felt awkward. He's kind of awkward in relationships though and he admits it. He said I'm probably the first person he's really trusted in a long time."
"Am I going to have to worry about what goes on when we're not together?"
"Not at all. I'm in this with you. I don't want anyone else. I just need to work on my relationship with Barba. He was not pleased when he found out that Ed and I were together. My Squad wasn't necessarily thrilled about it either. Fin finally told me how he felt after Ed and I ended our relationship."
"What's this Ed guy like?"
"He's a bit of a hot head sometimes. Kind of like someone else I know."
"I've been going back to not doing things by the book."
"Erin did tell me about that. Did you kill the guy?"
"I wanted to."
"I can't say that I blame you. If someone killed Noah the way Justin was killed, I'd probably want to go after him myself as well."
"I just keep seeing Justin in the back of his vehicle barely alive. No parent ever wants to hear their child will never be the same again. Olive wanted to take him off life support."
"You didn't?"
"He wouldn't have wanted to live like that. As hard as it was, I had to let him go."
"Dodds had a massive stroke and was only being kept alive for his organs. His heart was still strong. I was in with his dad, who's my boss, and Mike's fiancée when he slipped away. Fin, Rollins, Carisi and Ed were all waiting for me as I came down the hallway. I didn't have to say anything. They all knew by the look on my face. I do wish it had been me instead."
"What would Noah have done?"
"That's what my Therapist said too. He also said it wasn't my time."
"I wish it was me instead of Justin. If I could have switched places with him, I would have. No one would miss me anyway."
"Don't say that. I would. If it had been you, I wouldn't have been able to make things right between us."
"Is everything always about you?"
"Yes."
"Benson, are you trying to make me regret this?"
"I hope not."
"You're such a pain. You know that?"
"I try."
Olivia started laughing and they started kissing. Just as they were about to make love again, there was a knock at the door.
"Mommy."
"Just a minute, Sweetie."
Olivia got up and put Hank's shirt on, while Hank got up and put his pants and T-shirt on. Hank sat down on the bed, while Olivia went to open the door. Noah ran in and crawled up on the bed.
"Hi."
"Hello."
"Who's he?"
"Noah, this is Hank. Hank, this is Noah."
"It's nice to meet you, Noah."
"You too."
"Hank is going to show us around Chicago today. Would you like that?"
"Yes."
Then Lucy came in.
"Noah, didn't I tell you not to bother your mom yet? You must be Hank. I'm Lucy, Noah's nanny."
"Nice to meet you."
"You too."
"Hank is going to show us around Chicago. You can join us if you'd like."
"I'd like that. I've never been here before."
"How long are you staying?"
"I took the rest of the week off from work. Can you put up with us for that long?"
"Absolutely. Maybe I'll just take the rest of the week off too."
"Is there enough to keep a 2½ year old busy for that long?"
"Definitely."
There was another knock at the door, so Olivia went to answer it. It was Erin and Jay.
"You left your keys at my apartment, so we brought your rental there."
"Oh, good. Thanks."
"Gee, where have I seen that shirt before?"
"It was the first thing I saw when Noah knocked at the door."
"Uh huh! Good morning, Hank."
"Hey."
"So, someone got lucky last night, huh?"
Erin smacked Jay.
"I'm going to let that one slide, Halstead. Erin, sorry I've been such a pain lately."
"I understand. I miss him too, you know."
"I know. I'm going to take the rest of the week off while they're here."
"Ok. I'm sure we'll be fine without you. Liv, I know what you did to him. Thanks."
"It was my pleasure."
Hank gave Olivia a look.
"I didn't mean it that way."
"Yes, you did."
"Ok, I did."
"I need to go home to take a shower and change. Are we going out for breakfast?"
"Sure. Do you want your shirt back?"
"Eventually but not right now, since I know what you have on underneath it. I'll be back about 7:30 or 8 o'clock."
"Ok. That sounds perfect."
"You two coming with us?"
"Sure."
Hank kissed Olivia and left to head home.
"I am so in love with him. Last night confirmed that. I will do anything to make this work."
"What does Noah think about all this?"
"He hasn't said anything yet. I want him to like Hank."
"Did he like Tucker?"
"He did but he hasn't been asking about him, so I honestly don't think he's too upset by us not being together anymore."
"Did he ever stay over?"
"He did. It's hard to say what goes through Noah's mind sometimes. Noah, this is Erin and this is Jay. This is Lucy Huston, his nanny. Lucy, this is Erin Lindsay and Jay Halstead"
"Nice to meet you."
"You too. Say hi, Noah."
"Hi."
"Hey."
"How old are you?"
Noah held up two fingers.
"Potty."
"Ok. Come on. You need to get dressed anyway."
"Bye, Mommy."
"Bye, Sweetie."
Lucy took Noah into the other room.
"He's adorable."
"Thank you. I'll see if we can bring him by the District before we leave. I wanted to take him over to the Fire Station as well. Chief Boden said to stop by if I was ever in town with him."
"They'll love that. Most of them are like kids sometimes."
"You've met my other 'children'. They act like it sometimes too. Especially Fin."
"You've met our lively group. They can all be a bunch of children sometimes too. Hank, Antonio and Olinsky aren't bad though but the other three and Mouse are major trouble."
"Hey!"
"Your brother even says your trouble."
"He should talk."
"I appreciate what you did for Hank. I figured you'd get him to open up."
"I did tell him that it doesn't even make him any less of a man if he cries. He really did break down."
"He's careful about who he does that with. He's done that with me and Olinsky because of Camille and now Justin and he broke down in front of Olive too. I think the key is to not let him push any of us away."
"I agree. I'll do what I can but it'll be hard with him here and me in New York. I want you to give me updates on how things are going."
"I'm good with that. I also told him that if he needs to, he can talk to Dr. Charles. I talked to him while I was trying to deal with Nadia's death. I am finally at peace with that now because Yates is gone."
"I told you there was nothing wrong with you being happy he's gone and that you did it."
"I still blame myself for her death though."
"I blame myself for Dodds' death. Hank said if he could have trade places with Justin, he would have. He figured no one would miss him anyway."
"I would."
"I would too. I told him that I wouldn't have been able to make things right between us if it had been him."
"Even though both deaths had occurred around the same time, if it had been Hank, would you have come here to either say goodbye or for the funeral?"
"I'd like to say yes but I can't even think about that. Not a day has gone by in over the last month that I haven't thought about what happened to Dodds. I'm going to go take a shower."
"Ok."
Olivia went to take a shower and then Lucy brought Noah in.
"Can you watch him, so I can get ready?"
"Sure."
"Thanks."
Lucy left Noah with Erin and Jay and went to take a shower.
"What do you have there, Noah?"
"Book."
"Would you like me to read to you?"
"Yes."
Noah got on Erin's lap and then she read his book to him. By the time she was done, Olivia was out of the shower.
"Did Erin read you your book?"
"Yeah."
"What do you say?"
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Mommy."
"What, Baby?"
"Daddy?"
"You don't have a daddy."
"Why?"
"Because Mommy isn't married, so you can get a daddy."
"Ed not daddy. Hank daddy?"
"He was a daddy. His son died."
"Oh. Hank nice."
"I was hoping you'd think so. I want you two to like each other. You know what?"
"What?"
"He makes Mommy happy."
"Me too."
"You only met him for a few minutes."
"You happy, Noah happy."
"I love you."
"Love you, Mommy. Why he died?"
"Someone shot him just like what happened to Uncle Mike."
Erin broke down and started crying. Noah turned around and gave her a big hug, while Jay rubbed her back.
"There are so many things that remind me of Justin."
Hank texted Olivia and told her that Olive and Daniel were there and asked if it was ok for them to join them. She agreed.
"That was Hank. Olive and Daniel are here and they're coming with us."
"Good."
"It's so great not having to dress for work for a change. These next several days are all about my son and my relationship with Hank."
"I really hope it works out for the two of you."
"So do I."
Olivia finished getting ready and then when Lucy was done getting ready, she joined everyone in Olivia's room. Hank arrived with Olive and Daniel and knocked on the door. Olivia went to get it.
"Olivia Benson, this is my daughter-in-law, Olive and my grandson, Daniel. Olive, this is Olivia Benson."
"It's nice to meet you."
"You too. I am so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you."
They walked into the room and Erin gave Olive a hug.
"You doing ok?"
"I've been better. I still can't believe he's not here anymore."
Hank started to become visibly upset, so he stepped into the bathroom. Olivia followed him and shut the door. Then she wrapped her arms around him.
"I'm ok."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
Olivia started kissing Hank and then Erin opened the door.
"You ok, Hank?"
"Yeah. Come here, kid."
Hank pulled Erin into his arms and hugged her. He also kissed her on top of her head.
"Love you, kid."
"I love you too."
Erin headed out and Hank started to follow her until Olivia cleared her throat.
"I love you. You know that."
"I know but I like hearing you say it."
"I love you more than life itself."
"And I love you more than life itself."
They kissed again and then they joined everyone else.
"Hank and Erin, can I talk to the two of you alone for a minute?"
"Sure."
"We'll be out in the hall."
"Thanks."
Everyone but Hank, Erin and Olive stepped out into the hall.
"What's going on?"
"I think I might be pregnant. I don't know how I'm going to raise two young kids by myself. We weren't trying. I did one of those home pregnancy tests and it turned out to be positive. I did another one just to be sure and got the same result."
"You can come live with me."
"Hank, I couldn't do that."
"I insist. When I was saying goodbye to Justin, I told him I'd look out for you and Daniel."
"I do want to come back here to be closer to you."
"Then stay with me until you find a place of your own. There's no rush."
"I'll think about it."
"Ok."
Hank hugged Olive and then they met everyone else in the hall. They picked a place for breakfast and then Hank and Jay drove to the restaurant. After breakfast, Erin and Jay headed to the District, while Hank took everyone else around the City. They decided to spend some time at Navy Pier. Everyone but Olive and Daniel went on the Seadog Lake and River Architectural tour, which Noah loved. Olive and Daniel went to look in some of the shops. They all went to have lunch and then Lucy and Olive took the boys to the Children's Museum, while Hank and Olivia went on the Ferris wheel.
"Chicago is a beautiful City."
"It can be a difficult place sometimes."
"So can New York."
"Do you ever get tired of it?"
"What? New York?"
"Yeah and your job."
"Yes on both. If our cases get solved and the perps end up serving time in prison, I feel good that I'm doing something right. Some cases come back and haunt me like the Yates' case did."
"I know the feeling. It's tough when the victim is a child."
"Welcome to my world. I get that all the time. One of these days, I'm just afraid I might end up being one of our victims. How close can I come before it actually happens? I told you about William Lewis."
"Yeah."
"I didn't tell you that I was held hostage again."
"Can you talk about it?"
"Yeah."
Olivia told Hank about what happened in the townhouse.
"I had a lot going through my mind after that. That's when Tucker and I started spending more time together. I knew the Squad wouldn't have liked it. People can change and he has but like I told you, I wasn't being honest with myself, so then I wasn't being honest with him. Fin kept quiet about it as long as he could. He said it wasn't his place to get involved with my personal life but he cares about me and had a few things he needed to get off his chest. He sensed there was something wrong when we left Chicago the last time. He figured I'd talk about it eventually but I never did. He showed up at my apartment and I had just gotten Noah to bed. We sat down and talked about everything. He made me explain that of all the people I chose to have in my life, why did it have to be Tucker? He said he knew as well as Carisi and Rollins that I have had feelings for you since that first time we worked together. Apparently it was obvious to them. I told him what happened the last time we were here and he said he didn't blame you for telling me to go to hell. I'm not going to lie to you. I really wanted you that night after Yates' trial. That's my problem sometimes. I start to get too close to a man and I end up screwing it up. I didn't want to mess our friendship up. I handled things poorly the last time I was here. I really wouldn't have blamed you if you never forgave me."
"I wanted you too that night. I thought about that kiss we shared for a long time after it happened. I didn't want to ruin our friendship either but I guess I just kind of assumed that you would have waited around for me to get my act together. There were many times that I had thought about either calling you or flying out there to tell you how I felt but I kept chickening out, which I don't do very often. Justin was the one who told me to tell you how I felt. He said he didn't want me to be alone for the rest of my life and Camille wouldn't have wanted that either. I talked to him after I told you and told him it went south in a hurry. He tried blaming me but I said I wasn't the one seeing someone from Internal Affairs. He told me not too long before he died that he didn't want me to give up and I needed to fight for you. He's probably come back to haunt me if I didn't."
Olivia leaned over and kissed Hank.
"My son thinks you're nice. His mama thinks you're pretty amazing. It actually took him a while to warm up to Ed. Not as long as it took me though."
"How much time off do you have left?"
"I have so much time that it isn't even funny. Why?"
"You and I need to go away together. Just the two of us."
"I love that idea. You might actually consider Noah too."
"I know because I do need to get to know him better but we do need to spend some time alone. You and I can go away together and then I will come to New York for a long weekend to bond with Noah."
"That could work. Do you like baseball?"
"I love baseball."
"Do you have a preference with the Chicago teams?"
"Cubs."
"I have tickets to the July 1st Mets game. Would you be interested?"
"Uh, yeah."
"It's actually an NYPD thing but I wanted to take Noah. You can bring some people if you want. Probably not the whole Squad but if you wanted bring Jay and Erin and maybe your daughter-in-law and grandson, that would be ok. Ed will probably be there though but Fin and Carisi will be there too. I'm not sure about Rollins. She's not a Mets fan. She's a Braves fan. If Olive wants to go but doesn't want to take Daniel, I'm sure I can get Lucy to watch him."
"I'll talk to everyone. I'm still interested even if none of them are. I tried getting tickets for the Cubs and Mets here but they sold out pretty fast."
"I'll even let you stay with me."
"Now, that's an offer I can't refuse."
"If you come on Thursday, maybe you and Noah can spend the day together on Friday."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
They kissed again and then once the ride was over, they got off, Hank took her hank and they went to find everyone else. Daniel was sound asleep.
"Potty."
"I'll take him."
"Thanks."
"Come on, Buddy."
Hank took Noah to the bathroom.
"I was just talking to Hank about going to the Cubs/Mets game on July 1st. It's an NYPD thing but I told him if he wanted to bring his family, he could. If you and Daniel would like to come, we would love to have you join us."
"I'd love that. I'm not so sure I'd want to take Daniel though."
"I can watch him. Olivia, are you taking Noah?"
"Yep. This will be his first game but Ed got him into sports. He was over and I got a call. They were watching baseball when I left and when I got back. I think he's ready to go to a game."
"Noah actually seemed ok when you two ended things. Personally, I like Hank better. I'm not so sure Ed liked having me around and I really wasn't that comfortable when he was around."
"He never indicated that he didn't like you. I'm happier when I'm with Hank. Maybe it's because he's always glad I'm here. I'm more comfortable with him for some reason. Honestly, sometimes with Ed I thought I was going to get in trouble for something. I was probably just being paranoid. I have more of a connection with Hank. Uh oh!"
"What?"
"Sunday is Father's Day."
"Oh, yeah. It is."
"I was planning to leave on Saturday but I don't want him to spend the day by himself."
"Daniel and I will be there. I think we're going to stay with him until I can get us a place of our own. I want Daniel to grow up having his grandpa around."
"I told Hank that since he's now the primary male role model in Daniel's life, he needs to help raise him to be the person Justin would have wanted him to be."
"Exactly. I told him earlier that I think I might be pregnant again. We weren't trying. I don't know that I can raise two little ones on my own. I'm not even 30 and I'm a widow. I knew that the Army thing could have cost him his life but all he did was try to help the widow of an Army buddy of his. Now both of them are dead. Their daughter lost both parents and my children will grow up without their daddy."
Olive broke down and then Olivia put her arms around her. Then Hank came back with Noah. Hank sat down and put his arm around Olive.
"Hank, I miss him so much."
"I know you do. So do I."
"Mommy, why she sad?"
"Her husband died around the same time Uncle Mike did. Her husband was Hank's son."
"Oh. Sorry."
"Thank you."
Noah went over, got on Hank's lap and then held Olive's hand. The group from Intelligence walked up to them.
"Hey, Boss."
"Hey."
"Lieutenant, we heard a rumor that you were in town."
"Yep."
"We heard about Dodds. We're so sorry."
"Thanks. It's been difficult, especially when I blame myself for what happened. This is my son, Noah and this is Lucy Huston, his nanny. Lucy, this is Alvin Olinsky, Antonio Dawson, Kevin Atwater, Adam Ruzek and Mouse."
"It's actually Craig Gurwitch but my friends call me Mouse."
"Ok. It's nice to meet all of you."
"You too."
"The washroom is where?"
"I'll show you."
Hank moved Noah and then he showed Olivia where the washroom was. He waited for her while she went in. After she came out of the washroom, Hank wrapped his arms around her, she put hers around him and they started kissing.
"Are we hiding from my Squad?"
"I don't know. Are we?"
"I asked you first."
"I know what I'd rather be doing right now though."
"Me too."
Hank took her hand and then they walked back to where everyone was. They both decided they didn't care who saw them.
"When did this happen?"
"When did what happen?"
"You two."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You're holding hands."
"Yeah and?"
Olivia smacked Hank.
"Hank, stop it!"
Hank smiled at Olivia and kissed her.
"Last night."
"You're smiling. That's a good thing."
"That doesn't mean the pain is gone. I just means I have someone to help get me through it. We are really trying to make this work."
"What happened to the Internal Affairs guy?"
"Geez, Olinsky! Leave it alone."
"I don't mind, Erin. I realized that wasn't being honest with myself about my feelings for Hank, so then I wasn't being honest with Ed. He told me to figure it out and we agreed to stop seeing each other but we would still be friends. I'm in this relationship with Hank 100% and I really want it to work."
"Mommy."
"What, Sweetie?"
"Hungry."
"Again? You just had lunch."
"Ice cream."
"Lindsay and Halstead, do you two want to go to a Cubs game in New York?"
"Yes please."
"Me too."
"Why do they get to go?"
"Because they were invited."
"Is that the stadium right by the airport?"
"Yep. Olive said she was interested but she didn't think she'd take Daniel. Lucy said she'd watch him."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
"Before we leave, I want to take Noah to the Fire Station."
"Ok."
"If I had known you were here, I would have had Gabby and her foster son, Louie meet you here. She's off today."
"That would have been fun."
Erin got a call about a case. After she hung up, she shook her head.
"What?"
"Do we or do we not have a Special Victims Unit here?"
"We're supposed to. I thought we did anyway. Why? Is it a sexual assault?"
"Yep. Children are involved."
Erin gave Mouse the info so he could look it up. Then the Squad left. Hank picked up Noah and they went to find some ice cream before they left. Hank drove to his house. By the time they got there, Noah was asleep and Daniel was awake. Hank put Noah in Daniel's room, which had a toddler bed, along with the crib. Olivia had come up with him but she went into Hank's bedroom and got on the bed. Hank went into his bedroom and locked the door. He got on the bed with Olivia and started kissing her as they undressed each other and made love. During the rest of the week, Hank had taken Olivia and Noah to the other sites in Chicago.
It made Olivia happy that Hank and Noah were getting along so well. She wanted to do something special for him for Father's Day. With the help of Erin and Olive, they made a special breakfast and the family, along with Jay, had a picnic at the beach. Hank seemed to be enjoying himself as he had for most of the week with Olivia and Noah around but neither he nor Olive could stop thinking about Justin. After Olivia, Noah and Lucy left for the airport, Hank, Erin, Olive and Daniel ended up at the cemetery. It was the first time any of them had been there since the funeral and they all knew it wouldn't be easy. Hank held Daniel as Erin placed flowers on Camille's grave and Olive placed them on Justin's. Both Erin and Olive went and stood next to Hank, put their arms around him and they cried as a family, which was something they all needed. Hank realized that even though his only son was gone, his Father's Day was still special because he had Erin, who he loved like a daughter and his grandson but he also had Noah, who he hoped would be his son someday soon. Noah had filled a void in his life after losing Justin and Olivia had been more than he could have hoped for. A part of him didn't think he deserved her. She brought out the best in him like Camille had. It seemed like his heart had broken into a million pieces when he lost Camille 6 years ago and now Justin. He never expected that the trip he had taken to New York for a case over a year and a half ago would lead him to be thinking about marriage again, especially when they didn't start out on the right foot. He was just glad she decided to give him a chance after all. He hoped the last week was just the beginning for them and they would be able to overcome any obstacles that tried to get in the way of the happiness they both deserved. He hoped Olivia felt the same way he did.
Olivia missed Hank already but for the first time in her life, she felt like she was part of a family. She had gotten Hank to open up to her about a lot. Some of it good and some of it not. She had also opened up to him about a lot as well, even though she had told him about her ordeal with William Lewis over a year ago. She also saw this last week as a new beginning for them. For the first time in her life, she was truly happy and she felt she was ready for a commitment. She knew she eventually wanted Hank to be the father her son wanted but she knew Noah would never completely be able to replace Justin in his heart nor did she expect him to. She knew Hank would never get over losing his only biological child but she and Noah would be there for Hank no matter how long it took him to finally accept Justin's death.
Reviews are appreciated.