They were sitting on the couch. Well, more like lying on it. Ed was situated in the corner one leg outstretched, and the other foot was on the floor. Olivia stretched out on top of him, his arms gently wrapped around her as he traced soft circles on her shoulders. She held his face in her hands and ran her thumbs across his five o'clock shadow. It felt like a gentle scratch pad. He once told her that since he was a teenager one of his favorite things was making out while his girl massaged his face. The kisses alternated between almost languid pecks to passionate dueling tongues. It felt so nice to be in this moment with him.

Their Sunday had been perfect in every way. Noah had a blast cooking with Ed and then talked nonstop while they ate. Olivia was constantly reminding him to chew with his mouth closed. But he was just too excited. Seeing her exasperation, Ed assured the little boy that he wanted to hear everything he had to say, and that he'd be here all day.

"Do you think you can slow down enough to chew? Because it's not polite and a little gross to chew with your mouth open." Witnessing Ed's parenting moments always did something for her libido. But when Noah seemed to consider his friend's advice and then closed his mouth after he took a bite, it made her yearn for something she wouldn't admit to herself. At least not now, and maybe not ever.

That didn't mean the thought didn't cross her mind. Not only did she want to watch Noah grow up with this amazing man as a father, who'd teach him how to be a gentleman, but the more intrusive thought forced her to imagine what raising a baby would be like with Ed. She'd thought about giving Noah a sibling when he was little more than an infant, he was barely a toddler. She knew she had enough love in her heart for another baby; and, she knew she didn't have enough time and space for another baby to thrive. So she'd tucked that desire away in a far corner of her mind. It stayed there for the most part. Except when Ed so effortlessly parented her son.

After breakfast, Ed decided to take them to the Bronx Zoo. As soon as the words left his mouth Noah took off to get dressed. Two years ago she would have been annoyed he didn't ask before winding her son up, but now she just smiled at him letting her own excitement shine through. The smile he returned was so big that it pushed his cheeks back to his ears.

The two of them went to get dressed and before Ed could get his pants on, Noah charged into the bedroom. "Noah!" She chastised him. He knew better than to come into her room without permission especially if the door was closed. Nevertheless, he didn't seem to notice that neither adult was fully clothed. He ran up to Ed, who flushed slightly at the boy's sudden presence, to show him that he still had Eddy. After quickly pulling on his jeans, Ed turned his full attention to the little boy before guiding Noah out of the room so she could have a little privacy to put on her clothes.

The zoo had been fun. But not totally in the way she expected. She assumed Noas would be captivated by all animals. So much so that he'd become so engrossed in the story's he was dreaming up that they had to keep encouraging him to move along. Ed or Olivia would read the information plaques and then the little boy would spin up some story about the animals they were looking at. The most entertaining story had been about the giraffes. There were 3 full-grown females and a baby male. Apparently, the three adults were on vacation from Africa. But they liked New York that they decided to stay. Then one of them fell in love with a boy giraffe, but he didn't want to stay in New York. So now it was just the mom and her friends and the baby, which he concluded was just like him, but with a longer neck.

But it was also so nice to hold Ed's hand all day and when they stopped to listen to another one of Noah's stories he'd pull her close, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and back. He'd even. Place kisses on her temple and cheeks sometimes bring her hand up so he could kiss her knuckles. It was all pretty inconspicuous, and she loved getting all the attention. Ed bought them hotdogs and fries for lunch. And before they left they got ice cream. Noah's was in the shape of a lion, and he ate it so fast that he gave himself a brain freeze. Olivia got some rainbow sherbet dippin dots and Ed got a lemon push pop. Yes, it was captivating watching Noah respond to each exhibit they came across. It made her smile to see that Noah appreciated the family she'd managed to build for the two of them. She looked over to see Ed staring at her for her reaction.

She pulled him close and kissed his cheek, "You're one of those friends."

"Just a friend?" He asked with a smirk.

"Ok, more than just a friend." She replied as the two adults shared a quiet laugh before turning their attention back to the little boy.

The adventure managed to wipe her son out, and Ed ended up carrying him home for her. By the time they got there it was almost 5 and he gently woke Noah up and then played with him while Olivia prepared dinner. She made a meatloaf with some carrots and broccoli. When the boys came to the table after washing their hands Noah turned his nose up at the vegetables. The day had been so good that she didn't want to get into it with him, but Ed didn't seem to mind taking on the inevitable battle. Except like at breakfast Ed turned took the opportunity to encourage Noah without getting into a negotiation with the 5 year old.

"You know buddy, vegetables help you grow big and strong." The kid looked at him dubiously, clearly skeptical. "They really do, I promise. That's how all the baseball players get really strong so they can throw the ball far and swing the bat fast." Noah started to give him a contemptuous look. "How about you just eat one carrot and one broccoli?"

"Then I don't have to eat the rest?"

He looked to Olivia to answer that question. "If you eat one and truly don't like it then you don't have to eat the rest. Ok?"

Noah nodded before using his fork to stab a carrot. He made a face of disgust and even went so far as to hold his nose when he put it in his mouth. What he didn't know was that she made a sweet maple glaze and smothered the carrots in it. She knew it didn't enhance the vitamins and minerals, but it also didn't destroy them. Noah looked shocked when he realized the carrots were sweet.

"Do you like it?" Olivia asked with a smile.

"I love it!" He responded while stabbing another carrot to eat.

Olivia chuckled as she said "Ok, good."

She could tell that Noah was pretty tired because he wasn't quite as talkative at dinner. She and Ed even managed to have a conversation about who had the best fan base: the Giants or the Yankees. He was adament it was the Giants, but she insisted it award went to the Yankees.

After dinner, Ed washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen while she got Noah in the bath. She offered him a shower, but he was a little over tired and just wanted mom to do it for him. He didn't even ask for more playtime before he got out. After he was dried and clothed, he brushed his teeth before going to find Ed who was putting on his shoes, which sent the exhausted child into a bit of a tantrum."

Why are you leaving?" Noah asked through a whine.

"I have to go home so I can get ready for work tomorrow."

The answer upset her son enough to make him cry and it was clear that his reaction to that bit of news shocked Ed. He bent down to pick up the crying boy pulling him into a hug and Noah wrapped his legs around Ed's waist clinging onto him like a monkey.

"Shhhh. It's ok Noah."

"You s… sa… said that y… you… wouldn't le… leave!" Noah sputtered in between wails.

"Buddy, I'm not leaving forever. I'm just going home for the night. You're going to see me again really soon."

"Bu….but yo… you p.. pr… promised!"

"You're right I did, and I'm not leaving for good. But I don't have any clothes here."

Ed wasn't getting through as Noah's sobs just got harder. Olivia reached out to rub her son's back before offering, "what if Ed read a book for story time?" She said it before she looked at Ed a little desperate for him to agree. And it wasn't only because Noah wanted him here, she wanted him here too.

"Will that work buddy?" Ed asked him as he tried to pull back to look at Noah's tear streaked face, but the little boy buried his face into Ed's neck. Noah mumbled something they couldn't make out. "Ok No, I'll stay for story time. Let's get you into bed." Ed turned to walk down the hallway, her son still clutching him like he was a life raft. She hoped that after Noah was asleep, she'd get to cuddle him herself.

It took three and a half stories before Noah was actually asleep. His eyes would drift close, but as soon as Ed or Olivia left the bed he'd be awake again and would whimper for Ed to keep reading.

As they left the room, Olivia took his hand and said, "I don't want you to leave either.," before pulling him into a hug and kissing him feverishly. And that's how they ended up on the couch. She knew he'd need to get clothes, because even though he'd have a spare suit in his office, he would never be caught dead wearing jeans to work. And she knew that she was being selfish. But she almost never allowed herself to want, or need, anything. Up until this point in her life, the only thing she could remember wanting this bad was Noah. And now Ed.

"I really do need to leave." He whispered in between kisses.

"I know." She replied, moving to kiss up his jaw line, "but I don't have to like it."

He gave a bemused chuckle, "yes I guess that's true."

"Will you come back tomorrow? Maybe bring some toiletries and clothes."

"Hmm…" he paused, contemplating his answer. Then he decided to rip the band-aid off. "Listen, I was sorta seeing someone."

That tidbit caused the kissing to stop, and she pulled away to look into his eyes. She only found honesty and that caused her heart to plummet. God she knew this was stupid and she did it anyway. But she couldn't believe he'd do this. It seemed so cold and maybe she would have expected it 5 or 6 years ago. But now she knew he wasn't this intractable rat. Except maybe he was.

"Wait, it's not like that. It just…" he didn't want to upset her anymore than he already had, but he also wanted, needed, to be honest about it. "I haven't seen her since we had lunch a couple weeks ago. I didn't even call her. We have texted a little, but just to check in."

Olivia was sitting up now, and so was he. He wanted to pull her into his arms to take away some of the sting, but she wasn't allowing it. So he settled for holding her hand. She wasn't too thrilled about it, but she did squeeze tight afraid to let him go.

"She deserves for me to break up with her in person."

"So, it's more than just a booty call?" She interrupted with disdain, and regretting her tone immediately.

"Olivia," he started exasperatingly. She didn't like the way her name sounded when he said it like that, because she knew what was coming next.

"Did you expect me to be single for the rest of my life? Or maybe you wanted me to be celibate? But you know I don't do flings. One night stands don't work for me. You know that.

She shook her head as tears flooded her eyes, "no, you're right. It's my own fault."

"Ok listen, I shouldn't have said that, or at least should have said it differently. I'm not trying to make you feel bad or responsible. I don't want that for you."

Now she was openly crying. She wanted to collapse into his embrace but couldn't tell if that'd be welcome. He put a finger under her chin encouraging her to look at him.

"It's just going to be dinner, and it might not even be that. I'm going to tell her right away. Before we even order drinks. I don't know how she'll react, but it doesn't really matter. I just don't want to string her along. And I don't want to hide anything from you. I don't want you to worry about where I am or who I'm with. … I'll tell her and then we can move on together, ok?"

She made him wait for an answer. There were so many emotions she was feeling. Annoyed that he was seeing someone, regret that she'd let him go in the first place, jealous of this woman who got to fuck him for however long, relief that he was being completely honest, but surprisingly love for this amazing man in front of her.

He wrapped his arms around her and laid back down pulling her with him and then tucking her against the back of the couch. He didn't want to trap her; he just wanted her to know that he wasn't letting her go. "It was never serious. She started out as someone to scratch and itch. But I did like hanging out with her. It was always so simple. She didn't have to get over the negative image of me in her head."

Olivia sighed deeply. "Do you love her?"

"No," he answered immediately. "I never have. And I know I never will." He paused, "it's easy to be with her because everything is so simple. She's so simple. And you, Olivia Margarate Benson are anything but simple. And getting to discover new parts of you; you revealing the layers that make up you, that's what makes loving you so completely wonderful. And I do love you."

"Ok, I understand." She replied snuggling into him.

"Do you?"

"No, but I trust you. And I know you're a good man. And I'm pretty sure you'll come over after it's done."

"Oh will I?" He asked through a smirk.

"Yes, and when you arrive you'll get to cum too." She smirked back at him before tilting her head up to press a kiss on his lips.

"How could I say no to that?"

"You can't." She said while he let out an amused laugh.

"Ok, I'll come back over tomorrow night and I'll bring some things with me. Will that work, your highness?"

"Yeah," she responded, trying to sound sarcastically indifferent and failing miserably, "that will work."

He leaned down to capture her lips, but kept the kiss PG. "Walk me to the door?"

"Hmm… yes"

Before she allowed him to open the door, she kissed him, shoving her tongue in his mouth without asking. He returned the kiss in full.

"I love you, Olivia." He whispered against her lips.

"I love you too, Ed"

"Alright I need to go, but I promise I'll see you tomorrow."

She nodded at him as he walked out the door. Once she closed and locked it she walked through the living room turning off all the lights. She checked on Noah one more time, before getting through her nightly routine. Before she plugged her phone in, it dinged alerting her to a new text message.

Ed:

I'm home.*

Spending time with you and Noah this weekend made me really happy.*

Maybe on Tuesday Noah and I can make you spaghetti*

Olivia:

It's not really spaghetti night, but Noah loves it so much he'll be ecstatic*

I love you*

Ed:

I love you too. Good night."

Olivia:

sweet dreams*

Ed:

With you in them, they will be ;)*

Olivia:

:)*

As her eyes start to flutter shut she ponders everything that's happened over the past couple of weeks. She's grateful to Ed for giving her another chance. There's also that worry in the back of her head that she's not enough. She did trust Ed. Of course she trusted him. It didn't change the fact that this "date" made her a little nervous, and by that she meant was giving her a lot of anxiety. Was she good enough for him? Would he truly be happy with someone who was so complicated and guarded and conflicted? Once she was under the covers she switched pillows so she could sleep on the one Ed's head had been on this morning. Then to her surprise, even with the thoughts racing through her head, she was able to fall asleep with a smile on her face knowing she'd see him again in less than 24 hours.