A/N: This is the next part to the previous chapter titled 'Taking Things Slowly'. I don't own any of the characters.

The Next Step

After Olivia and Noah had returned to New York, things got crazy for both her and Hank, so it had been a few months, since they really had time to see each other. They would talk as much as they could or they would text as often as they could. They missed each other terribly but just couldn't find the time to spend time together. Intelligence had a case that required help from SVU and Hank was relieved. He was looking through the files in his office when Al came in.

"Hey."

"What's up, Al?"

"You ok, Man?"

"Come in and shut the door."

Al came into Hank's office and shut the door before sitting down.

"I need to tell someone this. Olivia and I have been in a relationship since she was here with Noah a few months ago but we haven't seen each other since then because things have been so crazy. We talk and we text but this time apart has been making me crazy. She makes me crazy."

"Have the two of you gone to the next step yet?"

"No. We decided take things slowly. I haven't been with a woman since before Camille got sick. I know I want to be with Olivia."

"Have you told her that you loved her?"

"She knows that and feels the same way, so we're on the same page. I just don't know if she's ready for the next step."

Hank and Al kept talking. Meanwhile in New York, Olivia and Amanda were waiting for their flight.

"Liv, you ok?"

"I'm a bit relieved to be going to Chicago. Hank and I have been in a relationship since the last time I was there a few months ago. We've been so busy that we haven't have time for each other. I have never been this in love with someone that it makes me crazy when we don't have time for each other, which is basically what it has been since Noah and I went back to New York."

"Has anything happened between the two of you?"

"Not yet. We decided to wait but I don't know that I can anymore. I just don't want to scare him off. This distance thing sucks."

"I'm sure it does but at least you don't have to worry about disclosing anything because he's not with the NYPD or the DA's office."

"Yeah, I know. I'm really trying not to screw this relationship up. I just can't wait to see him."

"How does Noah feel about him?"

"He really likes him."

"That's good."

Amanda and Olivia kept talking and then boarded their flight. A little while later, the flight took off for Chicago. A couple hours later, they arrived in Chicago and went to get their bags. Hank was waiting for them.

"Sergeant."

"Ladies."

"How did you know when our flight was coming in?"

"Fin called."

"That'll do it."

Hank took both of their bags and they went to his SUV. He put the bags in the back and after the 3 of them got in, they headed to the District. The trip from the airport to the District was difficult for both Hank and Olivia because of the feelings they both had not realizing the other felt the same way. By the time they arrived at the District, there was a lead in the case. They both thought that maybe working on the case would keep their minds off each other but it wasn't so easy. Hank didn't know that Amanda knew about them and Olivia didn't know that Al knew about them. They worked as long as they needed to until the case was over and by then, everyone was exhausted. They went to Molly's as they always did following a case and everyone had drinks. Hank had finished up some paperwork before he left. Someone had already taken Amanda to the airport as she didn't want to leave Jesse any longer than she needed to. She had actually decided to go back to New York, so Olivia could have some time alone with Hank without her being there. Olivia knew she was going back and Amanda told her that she would tell Fin and Carisi that she decided to stay for a few more days. Olivia was grateful that Amanda was so understanding of her situation. When Hank arrived at Molly's, he went in and Olivia was sitting at the table where they sat the first time they had beers together. He couldn't get over how beautiful she looked even as exhausted as he knew she was. They all were. He walked over to the table and notice that Olivia had already ordered a Manhattan for him.

"Mind if I join you?"

"I never thought you'd get here."

"Thanks for your help."

"No problem. I think we need to talk but not here."

"I know we do. How's Noah?"

"He's great. He's growing like a weed. Finish your drink and meet me outside."

"Ok."

Olivia got her stuff and said goodbye to everyone before she went outside. Hank finished his drink and then he went to find Olivia, who was leaning against his SUV. Hank walked up to it and stood in front of Olivia. She grabbed his jacket and pulled him toward her before kissing him.

"Hank."

"Yeah."

"I want you. I know we said we were going to wait but I don't think I can."

"I don't think I can either. These last few months have been torture for me."

"Me too."

"Let's go."

Hank unlocked his SUV and they both got in. He drove to his house and then they went inside. They were barely inside the house before they started kissing. They removed their jackets and headed up the stairs. Olivia started unbuttoning Hank's shirt. They got to the bedroom and Hank shut the door. Olivia sat down on the bed as Hank removed his shirt and T-shirt. He got on the bed with Olivia and started unbuttoning her blouse as they kissed again. He moved to her neck and kissed it before kissing the scars on her chest and abdomen.

"Make love to me, Hank."

They removed the rest of their clothes and made love. Afterwards they held each other and kissed.

"That was amazing!"

"You're an amazing woman, Olivia Benson."

"You're an amazing man, Hank Voight. I love you."

"I love you too."

"This distance thing is starting to get to me."

"Yeah, me too. What are we going to do about it?"

"I don't know. That really bothers me. I really hate being apart from you but traveling gets expensive."

"I know. There's only one solution but I don't think either of us is really ready for that yet."

"You got that right."

"Maybe we shouldn't worry about that right now and just spend time together before you have to go back to New York."

"Maybe we could travel to the other's city every other month. You can come see us next month and then the following month, we'll come here."

"Maybe some month you and I can go away for the weekend without Noah."

"That sounds amazing. I'm actually glad that this happened without him around. Have you told anyone about us?"

"I told Olinsky. Have you?"

"Yeah, I told Rollins."

"Do you see Erin much?"

"Not really. Do you hear from her?"

"Not really. If I do, she'll send me a text and I'll reply. We'll go back and forth for a while and then I won't hear from her for a while."

"I've tried to contact her but she doesn't return my calls or texts. Can't say I didn't try, right?"

"Right."

"I am so happy right now. I could stay like this forever."

"Yeah, me too. Except we're back to the distance thing."

"Yeah, I know. Once a month is going to be hard."

"Yeah, it is. If we didn't have to worry about our jobs being a problem, I would say we should just get married but that still doesn't solve anything because we would still have to decide who's transferring where. Obviously that's what neither of us is ready for."

"I just hope we can get this right, so we can be together all the time and eventually get married."

"I hope so too. When do we want to tell the squads about us?"

"We could tell yours tomorrow and I can tell mine when I get back."

"That works."

Hank and Olivia started kissing and made love again before falling asleep in each other's arms. The next morning, Hank got up, put some clothes on and went into the bathroom before going downstairs to start breakfast and coffee. Olivia woke up, got out of bed, put one of Hank's shirts on and went into the bathroom before heading downstairs. She walked into the kitchen and wrapped her arms around Hank's waist.

"Morning, Beautiful."

"Morning. Is that coffee I smell?"

"Yes, it is. It's just about done."

"Good."

Hank kissed Olivia and then she sat down, while she waited for the coffee to be done. Once it was done, Hank poured her a cup.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Hank finished fixing breakfast and then the doorbell rang. He gave Olivia a plate before he went to answer the door. It was Al and Trudy.

"Morning, Man."

"Hey."

"You're not ready yet?"

"No. I just got up."

"You left Molly's in a hurry last night."

"I know."

"I'd ask who she is but that's not your style."

Hank and Al gave each other a look.

"Hank, are you telling me that you and Olivia Benson are together?"

"Yep and we have been since the last time she was here."

Olivia came out of the kitchen.

"Olivia, you will definitely have your hands full with this one."

"He's not so bad. We just need to be able to spend time together without our jobs getting in the way."

"I can understand that. He's a good guy."

"He's pretty amazing. This is probably the one relationship that I want to make sure works. Noah really likes him."

"So, I take it you won't be in today."

"Right. We need to spend some time together, so as long as she's staying, I'll be off. We will probably stop in, so we can tell the rest of the squad about us."

"They suspect something. They started wondering about it after you left last night. Does anyone from Olivia's squad know?"

"Rollins does. I'm figuring the boys will catch on once she tells them that I'm staying for a few more days. Honestly, I don't care who knows anymore."

"I'm happy for you two."

"Thanks."

"Maybe the 6 of us could go out for dinner tonight."

"Works for me."

"Me too."

"I'll call Meredith."

"Ok. Olinsky, we better go."

"Yep. See you two later."

"Ok."

Al and Trudy left and headed to the District, while Hank and Olivia went to finish breakfast. After breakfast, Hank cleaned up and then they went up to make love again before they took a shower. Once they were ready, they headed to the District. They walked in and headed upstairs. Hank opened the door to Intelligence and then they headed up. He took Olivia's hand as they walked up the stairs.

"Morning, Boss. Morning, Lieutenant."

"Hey."

Olivia walked into Hank's office and Hank followed her in.

"You ok?"

"Yeah."

Hank kissed Olivia and then they went to tell the squad about them.

"That's great. We're happy for you."

"Thanks. We are going to try to do an every other month thing, so I am going to go there next month. We'll see how well that works for us."

"We should try to stick to a schedule even if we get busy, especially for Noah."

"I agree. I'm probably a little more flexible with my schedule than you are with yours because of him."

"That's pretty much it. We'll work it out."

"Yeah, we will."

"I think we're going to go."

"Ok."

Hank and Olivia left and then Intelligence got a call, so they all left as well. Hank and Olivia spent the entire day together and had dinner with Trudy and Mouch and Al and Meredith. Olivia had changed her flight for late afternoon the following day, so after spending the morning together, Hank drove Olivia to the airport. When they arrived, he got her bag out of the back of the SUV and then he kissed her.

"I am going to miss you so much."

"I'll miss you too."

"I don't want to go back."

"I don't want you to either but we'll make time to talk or Skype everyday or every other day, so then maybe it won't be so hard between visits."

"I hope you're right. These last few days have been wonderful."

"They have for me too."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

They kissed again and then Olivia went in and checked in, while Hank drove home. Once Olivia got checked in, she went through Security and went to the gate. A few hours later, the flight took off. Before she left, she texted Amanda to tell her she was getting ready to take off and she was ready to tell all of them about her and Hank.

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