Out In The Open - An SVU fic

Invitation

Sixteenth...

"Been meaning to ask; you and Noah, how's that coming along?" Nick asked as he and Olivia made their way to the elevators after leaving the squad room.

"It's..." at a loss for words, she released a contented sigh and smiled as she pressed the call button

"He's a lucky kid"

"Thanks but, I think I'm the lucky one"

"It's good to see you so happy" Nick couldn't help but smile at seeing this new Olivia in front of him.

"It's easy these days." They stood there in the hall with an awkward silence between them as they waited for the elevator that for some reason had decided that extremely slow would be its speed today.

"I gotta say, in spite of this case, it's been good bein back, hangin around this past week"

"For us too, we've all missed you."

Nick nodded as he nervously pushed the elevator button again and chewed his lip.

Now or never Amaro! He said to himself. He stole what he thought was a quick glance at her and felt his heart flutter; after three long years, it still amazed him that she was so completely unaware of her beauty and he again found himself lost in it.

"Nick?" she called softly, jarring him from his reverie.

"Yeah?"

"You okay?" she asked with a smile "You looked a little far away there"

"Yeah, I um...yeah." Just go for it "It was good seeing you again Liv"

"You too; don't be a stranger."

"I won't" he promised as the elevator finally arrived and opened. He stepped in but then suddenly paused in the doorway and took a breath and turned back around.

"You working late tonight?" he asked

"No, why?"

"I was wondering if maybe... we could get together later; catch up?"

His proposition caught her completely off guard and she couldn't hide the look of surprise that registered on her face

"Like...dinner?" she asked, unsure of where this was leading but feeling an odd sense of excitement all the same.

"Well yeah I mean, not like a date or anything" he simplified and she wondered why she felt disappointment at the clarification. "I could bring takeout, get to know the kid"

"Yeah...I'd like that; I'm sure Noah would too. Let's say seven?"

"Seven's good." He smiled. "I'll see you then" he stepped into the elevator and she gave him a little wave before heading back to the squad room. That wave, something so seemingly insignificant and small projected Nick into a state of euphoria that he hadn't felt since the day they met; the day he became aware that there would be something greater in store for him and this amazing woman than just being colleagues and he prayed that tonight would be the catalyst to get them there.