The elevator climbed to this destination slower than intended. The numbers on the screen above the buttons changed every few seconds. Staring at them didn't make them move any faster. The woman in the elevator rolled her multicolored eyes as she heaved out a sigh. She checked her phone for new messages and replied to open emails. Two minutes past before the loud single chimed and the sliding doors opened to a brightly lit hallway. The woman stepped out as the elevator closed behind her. She started in a stride down the hall, tucking her Prada purse under her arm.

Her heels clicked against the tile floors. She caught some unwanted attention from a few men that she past. Not that she was surprised. Her black pencil skirt hugged her curves and her blush blouse was low cut. Her matching black blazer slung over her shoulders. Under her skirt, she wore fishnet stockings that showed off her long, lightly tanned legs. A long main of auburn waves cascaded down her back. At the end of the hall, was a sign for the department she needed to be in; "Manhattan: Special Victims Unit".

Her rainbow eyes sparkled as she turned the corner. Four desks sat organized in a clump in the middle of the squad room. Computers hummed, and phones rang continuously. Officers were scattered throughout the station, hustling people in and out of cells and interrogation rooms. Two detectives stood next to their desks, talking about a case they just solved. The male detective was dark skinned, with a shaved head and a slight goatee. His face was intense, but his eyes were kind. His partner was a shorter blonde woman. She was wearing a nice dress suit with a flowing white blouse.

The blonde turned to look at the woman that just walked into their workplace. Her smiling face turned to concern, suddenly. She walked over to her.

"Can I help you, miss?" she said, her voice laced with a slight southern accent.

"I'm here to see Lieutenant Benson."

The blonde detective nodded. "Okay. Right these way, miss." She led the woman into an office. A tall, middle age woman was watching an interrogation from behind a two-way mirror. Another detective was in the box with a man that looked like he had been in there for a while because his eyes were sunken and tired. The detective was facing away from the window, so no one on the other side could see his face.

The woman at the window turned to look at the women that entered the office.

"Lieutenant," the blonde stated. "There's someone here that asked for you?"

The redhead extended her hand to the lieutenant for a greeting. "Former Brooklyn ADA, Valorie Xavier." They shook hands.

"Lieutenant Olivia Benson. Might I ask why a Brooklyn ADA is here?"

Valorie smiled. "Jack McCoy called me a few days ago. With everything that happened with Barba, he wanted a 'fresh, young type' to handle your cases from now on. And I like to know who I'll be working with."

"You said your name was Valorie Xavier? Why is that name so familiar?"

"I guess it's hard to keep a low profile after becoming the youngest female ADA in the tri-state. But I will do my best tackling Manhattan."

"You seem very confident Miss. Xavier. But in our experience, ADA's don't stick around long enough to make a lasting impression."

The young woman smiled, "Please, call me Val. Everyone does. And I do intend to stay for the long run." Valorie's attention turned to the window of the interrogation room. She gave Olivia an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"Oh. No. Don't worry about that. My people are good at their jobs. I trust them to do this without me babysitting."

The two men in the room concluded their conversation. The detective finally turned to the window. A stern look on his face but his icy blue eyes where proud with success. Valorie caught her breath and a shock traveled down her spine as the familiarity of his face. A strong jaw and pouting lips she remembered all too well. His dirty blond hair gelled back to keep curls out of his face. Valorie bit her lip to hide her smirk.

"This schmuck talks a big game, but he folds like a cheep suit," he announced with a thick Staten Island accent in his voice. "Confessed to everything."

Olivia hastily interrupted the young detective. "Carisi, I'd like you to meet ADA Xavier. She'll be taking over our cases for now on."

Carisi turned and quickly froze at the sight of the young woman. His pale green eyes went wide with surprise. Valorie's rainbow orbs glistened at the sight of the detective. The disbelief on the man's face warmed her heart and sent a smile to her lips.

"Sonny," she chimed. "Long time, huh?"

Sonny stuttered, caught off guard by the confidence in her voice. "H-hey, Val." He paused, flashing a small smile. Hastily, he thought of an excuse to leave the awkward situation. "I'm sorry, Lieu," he looked to Lieutenant Benson. "But I should really see about the D.N.A."

"Of course, Carisi," Benson said.

"It was nice seeing you again, Sonny."

As he passed Valorie, she saw the green of his eyes flicker up and down her body, lingering on her legs as he closed the door behind him. Benson chuckled lightly. "I've never seen Carisi flustered like that." The officer cocked an eyebrow at the counselor. "It seemed like you knew each other?"

Valorie smiled shyly. "We went to Fordham law school together. I didn't really expect him to talk about it or anything." Her gazed lingered on the doorway. She had remembered Sonny mentioning his job during casual conversation at a late-night study section. She would've thought he would move on after passing the bar. But seeing her effect on an old flame, caused butterflies of excitement to form in her stomach.

"I shouldn't keep you from your work. I just came by to inform you that I am a very hands-on attorney. And I am forth and willing to help out with cases as much as I can."

Olivia blinked with shock but gave an amused and thankful smile. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. We're short staffed here. So, the extra help is appreciated, but I don't want it to get in the way of your work with the DA, Ms. Xavier."

"That's what paralegals are for, Lieutenant. And please, call me Valorie."

"Of course, Valorie."

The ring of a small bell chimed through the quiet air. Valorie quickly checked her phone to see a text message flash on the screen.

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant," Valorie gestured with her phone. "I guess the boys at the D.A.'s office like to keep tabs on the 'rookie' from Brooklyn, they want me back to go over some case files."

"I understand, Valorie. I'll walk you out."

Olivia walked out from behind her desk. Opening the door to the bullpen of desks outside, Valorie thanked her and they walked out of the office together. As they made their way to the hallway, Olivia was stopped by one of the patrol officers. The officer was holding a cuffed man by the arm and explained that the man was accused of fondling woman on the subway and would only talk to the person in charge.

Olivia sighed, "Okay. Take him to Interrogation one. I'll be there shortly. I'm sorry, Valorie, but I have to take care of this."

The young woman smiled and nodded, "Oh, no worries. Duty calls."

The Lieutenant rushed a farewell and turned to the interrogation rooms. Valorie left soon after, heading to the elevator down the hall. She glanced down at the text messages on her phone, answering a few of them, ignoring the others. She huffed and tapped her foot, waiting for the tediously slow lift to reach its destination.

"All those tax dollars, you think they could spring for some better elevators." A familiar voice greeted her as she waited. Her lips curled into a smile and she glanced over at the detective. His dark blue waistcoat was slender on her body. His tailored suits always looked extremely good on him.

The metal doors slide open and Sonny offered for Valorie to enter first.

"Bold of you to think bureaucracy to work in the favor of the little guy, detective."

He chuckled and stood next to her in the small chamber.

"You haven't changed, Val."

"Is that an attempt of a pick-up line? I remember you being more charming than that, Sonny."

He turned to face her. "Oh, you think I'm charming?"

Valorie blushed slightly but kept a flirtatious smile. "I think you're Italian. It's in your nature to be a flirt. All the girls at Fordham were always falling over themselves for your attention. Not that you ever gave them any."

"Yeah. I had my eye on a fiery redhead."

Her smile spread to her eyes, filling them with joy.

"Should I be flattered? You are the one that kept suggesting the study groups."

Sonny ran a hand through his dirty blond hair. It was his turn to blush. She continued. "Law school wasn't that long ago, Sonny. Did you think I would forget about you?"

He shook his head. "Never. But we lost touch after the Bar. I meant to call you, but…"

"I know. I don't blame you."

The elevator doors opened to a busy precinct lobby. "We're both busy people, Sonny. I don't expect either of us to have time for a relationship." Valorie marched to the front door, with Sonny close on her heels.

"T-that's not what I meant, Val. I just don't want you to get the wrong idea about me."

She stopped in her tracks, smugly. "And what idea would that be, Sonny?"

He was caught off guard. "That I was just looking for a one-time fling. And I wasn't."

"I don't think that little of you, Sonny." Her face was bright as she walked out into the lively spring day. "You know where to find me, Dominick."

Sonny blinked, smiling as he watched her walk down the street. Valorie was an interesting woman. What little time they spent together; he couldn't get much information about her life. At least, about her early life before law school. Not that he didn't want to know. He would try to make small talk during the breaks they had at their study groups. The most she would say is that she grew up in the East Village and she used to study ballet at a prestigious school in Manhattan, before studying law. Nothing about her family or anything personal. Just a little harmless flirting that lead to something more for one night after their last study group.

Sonny, Valorie, and a few of their classmates went out to celebrate the last night of classes. Little by little the group disbanded until it was just the two of them. sonny was nursing a beer, not wanting to get drunk that night, while Valorie just ordered a club soda. One of the other guys in their group teased her about coming to a bar and not ordering any alcohol; leading to a heated debate about the connection between the social normativity of getting drunk in bars with the peer pressure of going home with a person just because you pay for their drinks.

So, around ten or so that night, he and Valorie were alone at the bar. Both flirting and laughing until she suggested to go back to her place. Sonny knew she wasn't drunk, she wanted to spend the night with him, but he was still cautious and a gentleman until they got to her apartment. And he was positive of what she wanted when her lips were on his as soon as they got through her front door. Valorie pushed him against the wooden panel, her hands quickly unbuttoning his work shirt and his own tangling in the waves of bright auburn hair. It was a short journey to her bedroom, followed by hours of touching, kissing, and moaning between the two of them. Then laying breathless and staring at the ceiling.

Her exhausted giggle still rang like church bells in his ears. How could something so innocent like her laugh stick with him for so many years?

And then their hearts sank at the sound of a ringing cellphone. Groaning, they both reached for their respective devices. Sonny sighed and answered a call from Olivia.

"Alright, Lieu. Be right over."

Valorie cocked her eyebrow in curiosity, her dark grey sheets pulled up to cover her chest. Sonny gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Val. I hate to leave so soon, but it's work. I gotta go."

She took his hand to silence him. "It's alright, Sonny. This was fun. Talk to you later?"

He smiled. "Yeah. I'll call you." And he kissed her on the forehead. Quickly, getting dressed he said one final goodbye before walking out the door.

Sonny saw her one more time during the exam. They shared an acknowledging smile. But no words or conversation. And then they fell out of touch after that. He never saw her again until she walked into the squad room. She looked confident and radiant. Intimidating and kind-hearted. Absolutely perfect. He scolded himself for not keeping in touch. What would his life be like if he did? He'd have to make up for lost time

Sonny was halfway to the Medical examiners office when he got a call.

"Carisi… When?... yeah, on my way"

And the day goes on like normal.