Day two without Tommy couldn't come fast enough, this time Vera had company to keep her occupied.

She watched as her girlfriend drove out of the Melana property, she saw Tony pull the SVU into the property.

Tony stopped the car in front of the porch, he wound down the driver's window "Day out?"

Vera nodded "breakfast?"

"Same place?"

Vera nodded again "Just give me a second and we'll go."

Tony watched as Vera disappeared back into the house. 

Tony and Vera sat across from each other in ; an Italian inspired restaurant . They weren't afraid to dine with members of the public especially early in the morning.

"Thank you" Tony spoke as the male waiter placed down two plates of food.

Vera barely moved the newspaper away from her face when her plate was placed in front of her.

Tony reached for the jug of orange juice and poured himself a glass "V?"

Vera shifted her newspaper slightly to see what Tony had asked, she shook her head before turning her attention to the waiter "Can I please get a white wine?"

"Any particular white wine?" The male waiter asked.

Vera folded her newspaper "Surprise me." She looked up at the waiter.

The male waiter nodded at her answer before stepping away from the table.

"You know Z makes a better breakfast." Tony mentioned after his first mouthful of food.

Vera couldn't help but laugh at his choice of words "What doesn't Z do better?"

The male waiter came back to their table with a bottle of Nature's Step Organic Pinot Grigio. "Is this fine, Ma'am?"

Vera turned her attention to the label of the bottle; she couldn't tell a chardonnay from a sauvignon Blanc. To her wine was just wine "It's fine, thank you."

The waiter popped open the bottle and poured Vera a glass.

"Thank you" Vera spoke as the waiter finished filling her glass.

"Is that all for this morning?" The male waiter asked.

"That's all, thank you." Vera couldn't see a name badge on him, she couldn't use his name.

The male waiter turned his attention away from their table.

Vera began to eat her meal "Tony, do you have a family?" The conversation with Tommy the other night made Vera realise how much her own family missed out on.

"My wife and kids are..."

Vera cut off his sentence "I know that, Tony but besides us three. Do you have someone to go home to every day?"

Tony reached for the glass of orange juice, took a sip before placing it down on the table. "No, V."

"Is it because of this?" Vera carefully chose her words.

Tony shrugged a little "After my wife and kids died, I couldn't bring myself to move on. You, Zasha and Tommy are my family and I think that's as far as I can bring myself."

Vera lowered her gaze a little before looking back up at Tony. She wanted to encourage him to find his own family, but she didn't know how to do that without feeling like she was making things worse.

"Sorry to interrupt."

Vera and Tony turned their attention to the male maître d standing at their table.

"I have a message to pass along. I've been instructed to say, tomorrow at 9am. Here with no audience."

Vera could see the worry on the maître d's face "Oscar, I apologise for any inconvenience that the messenger has caused for you. I would like to make it up to you and anyone that we've inconvenienced."

"Thank you, ma'am." The maître d wasn't sure whether he should show relief or not.

"May I also suggest that only you, the chef and one waiter of your choosing be in during that time."

The maître d nodded.

"Did they say how long?" Vera asked.

The maître d shook his head.

"Please just bill me for the inconvenience that happens tomorrow." Vera let her words fill the lack of response from the maître d.

"Yes ma'am. Please enjoy the rest of your meal." The maître d took that as his cue to leave the table.