"I need to say something" he started, her eyes were focused on him and their beauty distracted him for a second, but he had to focus.

"I know" he continued "Liv told me why you really left" she looked down for a moment "I don't know what to say, thank you? That's not enough… that's too little, what you've done for me…I…you jeopardized yourself for me, saved my career, saved my life"

She turned away now, not sure how to react, she never told Nick because she didn't want him to feel guilty, but now he knew.

"Amanda" he was about to reach her but wasn't sure if it was something she'd want right now "I can't express how grateful I am, I hate to have put you in this position" he paused for a moment.

"What I've said in that alley, I shouldn't have said it, I was wrong, I've been so…lost…for a long time, I feel like everything keeps on crushing down around me all of the time and I don't know what to do. Every decision I make just leads to trouble, causes pain, even this case, if I had been more careful…"

"This wasn't your fault Nick" she said "what he did…it's on him, the investigation is not an excuse"

He shrugged "I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have said it to you"

"It's ok that you did" she said "I get it, I know how it feels to have bad things happen to you over and over, I felt exactly the same for such a long time Nick, something good would happen and right away something bad followed. I know how much it hurts. But it will consume you, Nick, speaking from experience, it will take over every good part of your soul. You need to change, I don't know how, but it will eat you up alive, and it will kill you"

"Amanda I…" he started.

"You know, I miss New York, I really do, but somehow, even though I'm back in Atlanta, I'm better. All my life I put others first, I never got that in my home so it didn't feel so bad. But it was, you already know everything, with my sister, my colleagues, I felt so empty and the only thing that helped me was gambling. But I tried so hard, I've been trying every day to change that, to put myself first. Not to let down the most important person in my life – me. I miss this place, I miss you guys" she had a faint smile "don't apologize to me Nick, change for the better, for you"

Amanda opened the door and stepped out of the car. She walked out of the car and walked to the station without waiting for Nick.

The rest of the day had passed quickly. Amanda filled the paperwork, and after a while Fin and Carisi came back to the station, leaving Noah with Liv and Lucy at the hospital.

"Good work everyone" Murphy congratulated them "I guess you will be going back to Atlanta now?" he turned to Amanda.

"I've booked a flight for tomorrow morning" she smiled.

"I think we should go and celebrate" Fin stood up "how about drinks? Beer, juice, I'm buying"

"Thanks Fin, but I'm exhausted, why don't we make other plans, I'll come to visit, you can come by too"

"Amaro?" Fin looked at him, a bit disappointed.

Nick shook his head "I have to get to D.C early, to pick up Zara"

"Looks like it's you and me Fin" Carisi laughed.

Fin said goodbye to Amanda and she promised to visit more often.

"I'll believe it when I see it" he pulled away from their hug.

"Have faith" she smiled at him.

"Rollins" Murphy said "can I have a word with you in the office?"

"Of course" she got up and walked after him.

"Let's go then" Fin looked at Carisi "have fun with your girl Amaro"

"Thanks, I will walk out with you" he grabbed his jacket and they all walked to the elevator.

"I wanted to thank you again Rollins" Murphy said "I'm glad you could come and help"

"Me to, I'm happy I could help"

"You know, when Benson gets back I will be back in vice, officially. I'm taking over a squad there"

"That's great"

"I wish you luck, you deserve it" he smiled.

"Are you about to say 'may the road rise to meet you'?"

Murphy let out a laugh "the way I see it, you're on the right path"

"Thank you" she shook his hand "for everything"

Amanda walked out of the office to an almost empty room. It looked like the other detectives had already left.

She grabbed her things and was about to head back to the hotel when she glanced at Nick's desk. His phone was still there, but all the other things were gone. He must have forgotten it.

Was it a good idea to take it over there? Maybe he wanted to leave without saying goodbye? Maybe this was the better way, her visit wasn't very friendly and she didn't want it to end like that.

Amanda took the phone and decided to pay a visit to Nick, just to part with him.

Nick's house was quiet. He's been living alone for a long time now but it felt like it has never been this quiet before. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and drank it while sitting on the couch.

Amanda was right, he had to change. Unlike her, he always thought about himself, how things would affect him. Every fight, every argument, his first though had been about him, about his discomfort, his pain.

Amanda was right, apologies weren't enough.

He had to start somewhere, so he called Maria, to congratulate her, for real this time. He told her he trusted her, knew she wouldn't do anything that might hurt their daughter. He was glad she could find happiness. Nick told her he will come by the next day to pick up Zara.

Nick felt surprisingly better after that call, it was the right thing to do, for him, for Maria and for Zara.

He had to use the land line for that call, since he realized his cell phone was at the station, he was in such a hurry to leave he must have forgotten it there.

He threw away the empty beer bottle and took a quick shower, happy to change his clothes into a comfortable t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. The floor felt nice under his bare feet.

Nick was about to grab himself something to eat when there was a knock on the door. No one was supposed to come by and he wasn't sure he was in the mood for visitors.

But it was Amanda.

"You forgot this" she handed him the phone when he let her walk inside.

"Thanks, you didn't have to come all this way" he took it from her and put it on a nearby table.

"It's ok" she smiled "I also wanted to say goodbye"

"Oh, sorry I left without saying anything"

"Look" she continued "I didn't mean to give you a lecture back in the car…"

"Everything you'd said was true, I have to change, for me, for my family"

"I just want you to be happy" she smiled.

"I want that for you too" he told her "you deserve that"

They looked into each others eyes, wondering what the other was thinking. There were many things they could say, but the words wouldn't come to either one.

"I miss you" Nick whispered.

He leaned forward to kiss her. His lips touching hers. It was a soft kiss, a short one, but her lips felt soft and so good. He kissed her again,

Amanda liked the way his mouth felt against hers, it didn't feel wrong. The distance, the problems they had, none of that mattered at that moment. It felt as if they were the only people in the whole world, nothing keeping them apart.

They both deepened the kiss at the same time, letting their tongues intertwine, tasting each other. Nick pulled her closer to him. One of his hands caressing her hair. Parting for only short intervals they made their way to the couch.

Sitting down required for their lips to separate and they looked into each other's eyes. Amanda leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around her. the exhausting day took it's toll and they fell asleep.

Morning came and Amanda woke up wrapped in Nick's arms.

"Mmm" Nick mumbled, her movements caused him to open his eyes.

"Morning" she smiled shyly and pulled away.

"Good morning" he sat up straight.

"I better go, I have to go to the hotel and get my stuff and call Benson" she turned away. She was a little upset, but this feeling came from having to go, Nick's embrace felt so good and walking away wasn't easy.

"Amanda" Nick walked after her "don't leave"

"What?" she looked at him "you have to go see your daughter, and I have a flight to catch"

"No" he shook his head and moved even closer to he so he could caress her hand "I mean, don't leave New York"

One Year later…

Nick turned on the light in the dark house and walked to the kitchen and poured a glass of water. He quietly walked into the bedroom and placed the glass on the bedside table. Nick walked into the bathroom to take a quick shower after another long day at work. The warm water felt good, washing the remains of the day.

He has made changes in his life. Trying to make room for things other than the job, focusing on doing good things. Some of them with Gil, some with Zara when he could.

But there was another big change.

Nick got dressed and walked out of the bathroom.

"Hey" she whispered.

"Did I wake you?" he asked.

"No, get in here" her eyes still shut.

Nick smiled and got into the bed with her, gently wrapping his arms around her and kissing the back of her head.

"How are you feeling?" kissing her again.

"Alright" she caressed his hand.

"I brought you some water, you had anything to eat?"

She shook her head in response "I don't know if I can"

"I can make you something quickly, you should eat"

"Maybe later" the laid quietly for a while until she let out a giggle.

"What?" he asked.

"It's stupid, really stupid"

"Now you have to tell me" he pulled her a bit closer.

"Promise not to laugh"

"Promise"

"Do you think my boobs are bigger?" she expected him to break his promise but instead he gave her another kiss.

"I can check" he offered and let his hands move under her shirt, gently caressing her breasts.

"Well?" she smiled.

"Your breasts are perfect"

She let out a laugh but didn't add anything, enjoying the way his warm hand felt on her skin. Nick let his hands move around her chest but suddenly he felt her turning to him and stopped.

"Nick" she looked into his eyes now "is this what you want? I mean you have two kids and I never really expected to be a mother so…"

He cut her off with a kiss "I want everything with you Amanda" he said.

A year ago, when he'd asked her to stay he was afraid she would say no, what reason did he give her to respond differently? But she didn't say no.

She couldn't stay though, so for a while she came back to Atlanta and stayed there for another month. Nick visited and they'd spent a weekend together. There he told her that he'd found out that the Wilkes had left New York.

Murphy was the solution to the last obstacle. The two of them knew that working together won't be possible and she had to find another squad. Murphy wasn't surprised about this relationship, even though he wasn't Amaro's number one fan, he knew Amanda was a good detective and he trusted her.

"I mean it" he continued "I love you, and we will be good parents to our child, we already know Frannie likes kids" Amanda smiled.

Nick kissed her again "We're gonna be happy, there's no other option, this is how we end up"

-The end-