A/N: I don't own any of the characters.

Just Because

The last couple years have been difficult for Hank and Olivia being in two different cities. They were engaged but neither of them was quite ready to leave their city for the other yet. They see each other as often as they can but they hadn't seen each other in over a month, since they went away for Spring Break.

Olivia had been having a particularly hard day because of a case and were all sitting at the table in the squad room when someone came in.

"Can we help you?"

"I have a delivery for Olivia Benson."

"That's me."

Olivia signed for the delivery.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

The delivery guy left.

"Liv, those are pretty."

"Yes, they are."

"Voight?"

"No doubt."

"Did he do somethin'?"

"I don't think so."

Olivia opened the card.

"Thinking of you…just because."

Olivia smiled and went to take the flowers into her office. She sent him a text thanking him for them. Fin, Amanda and Carisi all looked each other. They all knew that Hank was in town for the weekend to surprise her. Hank had arranged for Lucy to bring Noah over to Amanda's for the night, so he and Olivia could have some much needed time alone. Lucy was now watching Jesse and Billie as well as Noah, so sleepovers between Noah and Jesse were regular occurrences. Lucy, Noah and Jesse were helping Hank make dinner for Olivia and Lucy was supposed to let Amanda know when they left Olivia's. The three of them were in charge of keeping Olivia at the Precinct until then. Olivia had just come out of her office with her stuff.

"Where are you goin', Liv?"

"Home. Where do you think I'm going? This place is making me crazy."

"Us too."

"Then why don't we all go home?"

"Liv, you wanna go out for a drink with me?"

"Why?"

"I'm just askin'."

"I'll pass. I just want to get home and spend some time with Noah."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, Fin. I'm sure. The rest of you should head home as well."

Olivia headed out and as soon as she left, Amanda texted Lucy to tell her Olivia had just left. She, Fin and Carisi left and then once Lucy told Hank that Olivia had just left, she took the kids and headed over to Amanda's after Noah hugged Hank. Hank had gotten dinner in the oven, which took about an hour and got the salad made. He put that in the refrigerator and went to get the rest of it ready. He bought some rose petals and left a path from the door to the bedroom, on the bed and leading into the bathroom. He took a bottle of champagne and the flutes into the bathroom with some candles and soft music. Hank had never been one for bubble baths but he knew Olivia needed to relax and he knew how relaxed she was in his arms. He drew the bath, poured the champagne, got undressed and got into the tub just as he heard the door open. Olivia saw the rose petals and smelled something cooking. She smiled and followed the petals to the bedroom after she put her keys down on the counter. She saw the petals on the bed as she put her gun in the safe and her badge on the dresser. She took her boots off and went into the bathroom.

"I love coming home and finding a sexy, naked man in my bathtub."

"Do you?"

"Uh huh."

"Are you gonna join me?"

"Of course."

Olivia got undressed, pulled her hair up and joined Hank in the tub. She leaned back onto his chest and relaxed.

"Champagne?"

"Sure."

Hank offered Olivia a glass. The clinked glasses and drank as they relaxed. He wrapped his arms around her.

"I have missed you so much."

"I've missed you too."

"What did you do with my son?"

"Lucy took him over to Amanda's for the night."

"My squad knew about this, didn't they?"

"Yep."

"Have I told you lately how much I love you?"

"I don't think you have."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Olivia turned her head and she and Hank started kissing.

"I've made a decision."

"You have? About what?"

"About us."

"Are you breaking up with me, Sergeant?"

"Nope. I'm retiring at the end of June. I decided that I want to be here with you and Noah all the time."

Olivia had tears running down her cheeks.

"Are you crying?"

"No."

"You're not a very good liar, Benson."

"Ok, maybe I am crying."

"Once I'm living here full-time, then we can concentrate on the wedding, since the distance is basically why we haven't done much about it yet."

"I just want to do it and get it over with."

"We will talk about it."

"Ok."

Hank wrapped his arms tighter around Olivia and she laced her fingers through his. They stayed like that a little while longer.

"I need to go check on dinner."

"But I'm so comfortable and relaxed right now!"

"You can stay here until dinner is ready. How does that sound?"

"I would rather have you stay here with me."

"I know."

Hank kissed Olivia's neck and then she moved, so he could get up and then she got situated again. He dried off, put his robe on and then he bent down to kiss her. He left and went to check on dinner. Olivia tried to relax with her champagne. She decided to get out of the tub. She pulled the plug to let the water out, dried off and put her robe on. She blew out the candles, took the bottle and the flutes and went to the kitchen.

"Just about ready."

"Ok."

Olivia set the table, while Hank got the salad out. Hank then took dinner out of the oven to let it cool, while they sat down and ate their salads. After they ate their salads, Hank took the salad and brought the next course out.

"Smells delicious."

"Thanks."

"Are you going to spoil me like this once we get married?"

"I plan on spoiling you every day for the rest of our lives."

Olivia was on the verge of tears again.

"You don't need to cry."

"I have never been with anyone who was this attentive of me or my needs. All the other relationships I have been in, they were not like that."

"Not even Tucker?"

"Nope. He wasn't the one I wanted to be with. You were. If he had proposed to me, I would have said no. He said we'd always be friends but I haven't seen or heard from him since we broke up. Noah connected with you from the moment he met you but he never had that connection with Tucker. My squad sees how much happier I have been with you and even Barba before he left."

"I'm not sure if he told you this or not but after Barba found out about you and Tucker, he called me and asked me how I felt about you."

"No, he did not."

"The rest of them did too but Barba was the most vocal about it."

"I can imagine Fin, Rollins and Carisi doing it but not Barba."

"He said he didn't like me when he first met me during the Yates trial but it was quite obvious that we had feelings for each other at that point. He said he would have rather seen us get together than you and Tucker."

Olivia couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah, I guess I could see that happening. Apparently Fin called Amaro in California. I had gotten a call from him asking what was up with me and Tucker and if I was ok. He said that just didn't sound like something I would do. Honestly, I don't think I was thinking. You have kept me sane more than Ed ever did. Sure he was there for me after Dodds was killed but you were there when Sheila came into the picture and kidnapped Noah. I never even heard from him. Although I'm pretty sure he knows we're together."

They talked for a while longer and then Olivia helped Hank clean up. They shared a dessert and after they cleaned that up, they both went to brush their teeth. They removed their robes, got into bed, started kissing and made love. Afterwards Hank had his arms wrapped around her and she had her head on his chest.

"Tonight has been absolutely perfect. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I thought we needed this."

"Yeah, we did."

They kissed again and then the both fell asleep. The next day, they picked up Noah at Amanda's and the three of them spent the entire day together before Hank headed back to Chicago on Sunday afternoon. It wouldn't be long until they would be in the same city all the time.

As always, reviews and suggestions are appreciated.