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Mariska was scrolling through her newsfeed and noticed that Chris was awfully active on Twitter today. There were countless tweets about her comment that Olivia had been in love. She noticed he responded and said that he had no idea. It caused an uproar.
She quickly sent him a text and waited for a response. Over the last few years, she knew to always text first and then call once she got a response.
She smiled when he responded and gave her the okay.
“Hi there, handsome.”
Chris laughed, “so Benson’s been in love with Stabler huh?!”
Mariska laid back in her chair and smiled, “probably as long as you have been with me.”
Their relationship started early on. The emotional aspect started around the end of the first season. He admitted to her that he had feelings and that if she didn’t feel the same it was okay, he just needed her to know.
Much to his surprise, she did. They sat down and talked about what they wanted out of it and luckily they came to an agreement that worked for all parties involved. Including his wife.
The physical aspect came later, they weren’t in any hurry to jump into things sexually. They wanted to really get into the habit of working together before making it complicated.
The first night it happened it was like fireworks on the Fourth of July. It was their last day on set of Season 2 and the rest is history.
Chris walked out onto his porch and lit a cigar. They haven’t seen each other in weeks and their work schedule doesn’t have them together in the near future. “Mack…”
“I know. I just can’t get away. Believe me, I would be there in 10 minutes if I could but Maya's not feeling well and Peter is in a bad mood because he didn’t get a part he auditioned for so there is no way I can leave.”
Chris sighed and closed his eyes, “I haven’t seen you in almost a month and we work stages apart. Can we plan dinner or something? I just need you near me… She isn’t you.” His last statement was almost a whisper.
Mariska loved how he was so open about his feelings with her. This is something that she didn’t have with anyone else in her life. He was her go-to. Yes her husband was her number one, and yes they were each other’s rock but her relationship with Chris was different.
He was her human. Her best friend. Her twin flame. From the time that they had met, they had been inseparable. The thought of the both of them struggling without the presence of one another just made them more eager to meet again.
“Saturday I’m free? I have lunch with the girls and then I can meet up with you for dinner?” She suggested.
“That should work. Dante I think wanted to go to this sports thing they are having downtown but we should be home by 3. Can I meet you there?”
She smiled, ”yeah, our normal spot?”
“yeah. I’ll see you then, I love you” Chris whispered as he walked into the house.
“I love you too. See you soon.” Mariska smiled, ending the call right before she was startled by August walking out next to her.
“That Uncle Chris?” He asked.
“Yeah.” She smiled.
He nodded and sat down next to her looking out over the city.
“Mom, can I ask you something?” The 17-year-old asked.
“Of course, baby.”
“Are you sleeping with him?”
Mariska’s heart stopped. Or at least skipped a beat. She was sure of it. This day was long coming and now that it was finally here she didn’t know what to say.
She sat up and turned in his direction. “With your uncle Chris?”
She watched him nod and she ran through how her answer would change so many things. So many scenarios depend on one little answer. If she answers honestly that would include a much bigger conversation while Peter is around but if she lied she risked him finding out some other way.
She settled with a general response, “why do you ask?”
He shrugged, “I mean I have seen how you guys are with one another. You’re a lot like you and dad but different. He’s even different with you than he is with aunt Sher. I just thought I would ask. I won’t be mad either way as long as dad knows and is okay with it.”
Mariska decided that the truth was the best. “What your uncle Chris and I have is something very different than your father and I have. I love both of them so much and would do anything for either. But to answer your question, yes. We have, we are. Your dad is aware and so is your aunt. I love your dad no less but it’s just something that works with us as adults.”
August smiled, “I get it, Mom. I know you love Dad. I can also tell that you and uncle Chris have a different bond. I don’t hate you or him. I am just glad you were honest with me.”
Mariska stood up and walked in his direction. He stood and pulled him in for a hug. “You promise you are okay.”
August nodded, “I’ve had an idea for a long time. I just wanted to ask to make sure.”
“Well if you have any other questions please ask me or your dad.”
He nodded and then pulled her in for a hug. “Love you, mom.”
“Love you too, bud.”
She watched as he turned around and walked off the balcony and back into the house. She pulled out her phone and called Peter telling him to come upstairs.
She sat down and nursed her unknown number of glasses of wine. A few minutes later Peter met her outside and leaned down giving her a kiss. “Hi, Beautiful.”
She smiled and reached up letting her fingers graze the stubble that pricked across his face. “Hi.”
Expecting him to pull away and sit down next to her, she was shocked when he deepened the kiss and landed on her lap. She set her glass down on the table and wrapped her arms and legs around him pulling him close. She leaned back in the chair and felt his body press into her. “I’m sorry I’ve been a dick.” He whispered as he kissed her neck.
“Mmm. I know. You were upset.” She moaned.
He tried to slip his hand under her shirt. As much as she wanted this to escalate she needed to talk about it.
She slightly pulled away and grabbed his hand “Baby, wait. I need to talk to you.”
Peter smiled against her neck and whispered, “okay so talk.”
She closed her eyes and sighed, “August knows about me and Chris.”
He stopped and slowly pulled away as he looked at her processing what she said. “Are you sure?”
Mariska couldn’t help but chuckle, “yeah I’m pretty sure. He just came up here and blatantly asked me if I was sleeping with him. We talked about telling him and he’s almost an adult. He told me he knew and that he was fine with it but just wanted to confirm it.”
Peter ran his hand down his face and Mariska could tell he was worried. “What’s wrong?”
“Are you sure he’s okay?”
She shrugged and nodded her head, “he told me that he’s known for a while and could tell by the way we act. He knew I didn’t love you any less nor Chris with Sherman.”
Peter nodded and then stood up. He walked towards the door and Mariska asked where he was going. He opened the door and yelled down the hall for his oldest son. He turned back in her direction and started walking her way, “I just want to make sure he’s okay.” He got to her side and told her to stand up. He sat down in her seat and pulled her into his lap.
Mariska leaned down and gave him a quick kiss, “I love you.”
He brushed her hair out of her face, “I love you too”
August came walking in the door and noticed his parents sitting in the chair laughing with one another, “hey dad, what’s up?”
He smiled and turned his head then told the boy to take a seat, “your mom told me you asked about her and your uncle.”
August nodded, “yeah.”
“Are you okay with that?” He asked as he ran his left hand up and down Mariska’s back. She could tell by his movements he was getting nervous. This was the conversation that he has dreaded since day one. To try and calm his nerves, she placed her left hand on his chest and could feel his heart racing.
“I guess, it doesn’t really have anything to do with me. As long as you know and you're cool with it. Mom can sleep with whoever she wants.”
Mariska spoke up, “Hey, it’s not like that, it’s not that we are just sleeping together because we want to. There’s more to it than that.”
August smiled at her defensiveness, “Mom I promise, I’m fine. Uncle Chris has been around my whole life. I’m not dumb and notice things like the rest of the world.”
At that, Peter laughed and they all chuckled. “Okay. but please don’t tell your brother and sister or anyone for that matter.”
August nodded and stood up. “I won’t, I’m gonna head to bed though. Night. Love you guys.”
“Night love you.” They both said in unison watching him walk out of the room. When the coast was clear she snuggled down into his chest and buried her face in his neck. “I know that was hard for you.”
He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. He placed his lips against her forehead, “you know I grew up with my father cheating on my mother and I know how it made me feel as a kid. I just don’t want that with them. I know this is different, and I know that we all agreed on this, It's just hard sometimes.”
“You know, you just say the word and we will stop. That’s the deal.”
“I know. But it’s been happening for almost 20 years so why stop now.” Mariska smiled and couldn’t believe how lucky she had been with all the men in her life. Her boys were amazing, her husband was the most genuine person she had ever met and Chris, well Chris was everything everyone was missing. He was her backbone, her sidekick, and her spirit animal. She cuddled into her husband and let out a yawn. When she checked her watch she could tell that it was time for everyone to get to bed.
“I’m going to go check on Maya, can you get the boys situated, and then you and I can come out here and I have a joint we can share.” She whispered.
Peter looked at her as if he was silently trying to gauge her seriousness. She watched as he silently questioned where she got it from. “Chris. He got it and I didn’t ask.”
He nodded in understanding. They both walked out of the room and made their rounds checking in on their kids. Mariska walked into her closet and opened the drawer in her island. She opened the pack of cigarettes and pulled out the tightly rolled joint hiding inside. She walked out and met Peter on the patio grabbing a blanket on the way.
She smiled when she saw he had poured them a new glass of wine. It wasn't often that they were lucky enough to have a night off together to spend time with just the two of them but when it did she didn't want it to end. Handing the joint off to Peter, she situated herself between his legs in the lounge chair and covered them with the blanket.
Peter took a hit and then slowly breathed it out. Mariska looked up and couldn’t believe they were doing this. It had been years since they smoked together but she loved the way it made Peter relax and let loose. It was her turn and she sat back and took a couple of hits.
It wasn’t something that she did often but she and Chris would do it together once in a while so it didn’t hit her as hard as it used to.
She leaned into him and closed her eyes waiting for it to take effect. The sound of the silence was interrupted by Peter asking her a question.
“I know we haven’t really talked about you and Chris in a while. Do you want to?”
This was something they did every so often to make sure the other was left in the dark and was aware of everything going on.
“We can. What do you wanna know?”
Taking the joint back he took a deep hit which caused him to cough. Mariska laughed and sat up, giving him a little bit of room. “You okay?”
He reassured her between coughs and then sipped his wine. “What have you guys been up to?”
Mariska laughed, “Babe, just ask what you want to know. No point In beating around the bush.”
Peter ran his hand under the collar of her shirt. She knew what he was wondering. He wanted to know if her feelings towards him changed. What if she loved Chris more than she loved him? It was the same question he asked every time.
“Are we okay?”
“Of Course we are okay. Do you have any concerns with us?” She asked.
“No, not at all.”
“We are going to meet up this Saturday and get dinner if that’s okay with you.”
“That’s fine. I think I’m going to take the kids to the science museum. Andrew has been asking to go for weeks.”
Mariska looked up into his green eyes. How did she get so lucky? Married a man that was not only a great husband but an incredible father. One that would do anything for his children. She tried to savor the moment but she couldn't help but laugh at how stoned Peter looked. “How are you feeling?”
He slipped his hand lower into her shirt and massaged her breast, “Like I want you right here on the balcony.”
Mariska took another hit and set it in the ashtray. She turned back towards him and straddled his hips. She leaned down and pressed her lips against his and fulfilled his want.
—-
Saturday Morning came and went. The girls met at a new brunch spot that overlooked the river. They laughed, drank mimosas, and gossiped about anything someone may have missed but all she could really think about was her dinner plans.
She sent him a quick text asking if they were still on for this evening.
I’d crawl through broken glass to get there if I had to.
She couldn’t help but grin. He had said those words many times so she sent back a smart comment.
Don’t worry I’d lick your cuts clean.
Mariska couldn’t wait for the day to die down. She made sure Peter and the kids were set for dinner when they got home and she walked out the door. When her driver pulled up to the restaurant she sent him a quick text letting him know she was there.
The hostess walked her to their usual table, tucked away in the back of the restaurant. The minute he looked up from his phone, he took off his glasses and walked towards her. He smiled at the hostess and held out his hand. “You look beautiful, Mack.” He whispered, pulling her into a hug. The minute their bodies connected it was a sense of relief.
“Thank you. You look pretty great yourself.” She smiled as she glanced down at his Fuschia dress shirt that had the first 2 buttons unbuttoned.
She sipped the wine he had already ordered for her and then ordered their meals. “So do you wanna hear something funny?”
“Tell me.”
“Well, I guess it’s funny now. When you called me the other night, I was sitting on the balcony drinking and August came out when we hung up, he blatantly asked if we were sleeping together. I swear my heart hit the floor.”
“I know the feeling, I remember when Dante asked, I wanted to throw up. Not because I was afraid to tell him but it was more so because I didn’t want them to think I didn’t love Sher.”
Mariska nodded and tangled her fingers with his, “that was my biggest worry. Still is with the other two but we talked to him and his exact words to Peter were ‘I don’t care who mom sleeps with as long as you’re okay with it”
Chris laughed, “he’s a good kid. All of them are. I love seeing you be a mom.”
She smiled and looked deep into his eyes. Looking at each other, speaking so many things without saying a word. Their drinks were almost gone and the buzz they both had was good but she knew he wanted to get out of there. “I’m not ready to go home, wanna get a nightcap?”
Chris paid the bill and walked her out of the restaurant. They waited for her car to pick them up and she felt his hand on the small of her back. She glanced across the street and saw a pap taking photos. She turned her body towards Chris and whispered, “paps are across the street.”
He dropped his hand and nodded, “I’ll get a cab, wanna go somewhere and get drinks or downtown to the apartment?”
“Let me tell Peter I’m staying and meet me at the apartment.”
“Okay.” He walked her to her car and opened the back door helping her inside. “I love you, see you in a little bit.”
“I love you too.”
As the car pulled away, she sent Peter a quick text letting him know she wasn’t going to come home tonight and that she would be home for breakfast in the morning. She smiled at his response ‘I figured you weren’t. Enjoy your night baby. See you in the morning.”
Was the whole situation conventional? No, but damn was she the happiest woman in the world. Some people were lucky enough to find one person to spend the rest of their life with but she was lucky enough to find two and for that, she wouldn’t change a damn thing.