*Hi all- sorry for the ridiculously long delay on this! My life has been a bit crazy of late. I had to move to Mumbai for a couple months and now have finally settled in NY. On a train to DC- supposed to be working on a script so, of course, i'm procrastinating by finishing this story. One more chapter after this.

Sort of doubt anyone's still interested especially after last week but figured I'd jump in here and then move to some other ideas I have brewing."

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Tucker finds himself holding his breath as he watches the ADA step closer to Olivia. Barba meets her eyes and sets his jaw.

"Do you love him?"

"He's a good man, Barba. Good with Noah-"

Tucker feels his stomach drop. He'd suspected that she wasn't head over heels for him but that type of Love was for young kids. They were well past that time in their lives. Right?

He watches as Barba softens. "That's not what I asked."

Olivia's frustration bubbles to the surface. "I'm not 30 years old anymore. What if this is it? What if this is my last chance at this? What-"

"It's not though" Barba interjects forcefully. "It's not."

The look on Olivia's face is enough to tell Tucker just how wrong he was to not be threatened by Barba. But he can't look away. She's clearly in love with him- but her frustration quickly returns. She crosses her arms and holds up a hand-a temporary barrier. But she doesn't retreat.

"I'm really not sure relationships are where you should be offering advice."

It's obvious that stings but Barba presses on. "At least I know you shouldn't marry someone you're not in love with"

The ADA sets her with a pointed look- jaw tightening. This time she does retreat. Exasperated, she turns away from him momentarily and then spins back. Frustration giving way to anger.

"Life isn't a fairytale Barba. It isn't all passionate, undieing love!"

Barba looks almost perplexed. "But that's what you deserve" he states, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Don't you get that? You deserve someone who can't imagine life without you. Someone who loves you so much it burns them up."

Barba trails off, afraid he's said too much. The room goes quiet. Finally Olivia breaks the silence with a whisper, "What if- what if love like that can't survive more than a little while? What if it burns up everything in its path?"

Barba's confidence returns with a vengeance, he meets her stare and leans forward, "Then I've heard you should marry your best friend."

And there it is. It's all out on the table.

"And if it doesn't work? If you just end up losing your best friend?"

Barba closes the distance between them, tentative. "Not gonna happen."

Olivia motions between them, "This is just so complicated."

Slowly, Barba takes her hand. She looks down as he sweeps his thumb over her knuckles.

"Liv, Liv, look at me." She meets his eyes, overwhelmed but the emotion there. "I have no delusions that it'll be easy. But there's nothing complicated about it. I love you." He shrugs as she sucks in a breath. "And if you feel the same way- we can work the rest out. Not to be cheesy but I'm honestly not sure I can live without you anymore- so that's a pretty good guarantee that I won't walk away from this."

He offers her a lopsided grin which she returns, squeezing his hand. "I love you too" she whispers. His smile grows brighter and he gives her hand a tug- closing the distance and brushing his lips tentatively across hers. The action immediately lights a fire. Just as she is about to deepen the kiss- there's a wrap on the window.

They all but jump apart. Cheeks burning. They both chuckle at being cause, presumably by one of her detectives, and head for the door.