A/N: Ahhh of course I will write another AC Story for you guys! I love you all that much. Now, I've gotta say this is a little more…saddening, than the other stories, simply because it's the sequel to Dangerous Collisions. Casey is going to be very…well you'll see, but like I said, it's the sequel to DC so of course all the characters are gonna be a little shook up.

I really hope you guys don't mind if I explore more of the character's POV in this story. Of course it's an AC, but I have an idea for a little side story too, so I hope everyone is okay with that.

Unfortunately, it won't exactly be another crossover like the last one was. I couldn't come up with a way to work the Criminal Minds ladies in the story with out making it too overly dramatic. However, they will make an appearance :)

I've started this because I quickly and easily lose my muse on OTOS and I'm not the kind of person who has to sit around and just wait for it to come to me. I have to be working on SOMETHING.

Anyway, enough of my babbling. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Law and Order characters in this, or the Criminal Minds characters who may appear in later chapters.

Alexandra Cabot absolutely hates changes. Well scratch that, she hates bad changes that don't fix anything, and changes that only end up making things worse in the long run. And over the past three and a half years, that is exactly what has happened. Change; and not change in a good way.

Granted, she can't say that everything in the past three and a half years had been bad. She's been engaged, and is due to marry the love of her life pretty soon, and that is all the reason for her to be happy. Don't get her wrong, she is happy; sometimes.

Other times, she finds herself wondering how she got to where she is, even after the horrid events that happened almost four years ago. Sometimes, it's selfish to think but Alex wonders if it was her that has made this mistake. If it was her that messed up, and caused things to be the way that they are now. It's an answer to a question that she has never been able to come up with and she often sits and thinks about it daily.

With a sigh, she continues to move around the living room of her shared apartment with a plastic bag, picking up the seemingly endless amount of beer bottles that litter the coffee table and even the floor around the coffee table. Honestly, she is positive that she would at least need two hands to count how many packs of beer that are littering her floor, and she knows that it's at least six, if not more. So if one sits down and actual does the math, six, six-packs of beer rounds out to exactly thirty six beers, and for Alex, those thirty six beers are thirty six too many.

Alex finishes cleaning the living room, and places the bag of empty beer bottles in the recycling bin in the corner of the kitchen. She glances at her watch and sighs when she sees that it's a quarter to ten o clock at night. Placing both hands on the counter top, she hangs her head and sighs again, this time, catching the gleam of the beautiful engagement ring on her finger. A small smile crosses she her lips as she examines the diamond that still gives her a reason to smile everyday.

"Why did everything have to change like this." she speaks to the air sadly, still eyeing the ring on her finger. Sometimes, she feels like the ring mocks her. Like it is sitting there on her finger as if to give her a false sliver of hope that things will eventually get better. Alex has never really considered her self to be a very pessimistic person, but lately, she just doesn't know anymore.

Moving away from the counter, she runs her fingers through her hair as she moves over to the untouched plate of dinner still sitting on the table. She knew that after the first hour and a half, that it was foolish of her to leave it out, but there was that ring again, giving her hope, only for her to be let down again.

She picks up the plate off the dinning table and places it on the counter by the sink before she covers it in Saran wrap. She then places the plate in the fridge, frowning when she has to shuffle around the beers to find a place to put it. Alex knows that she could say something, but for some strange reason, she finds herself staying quiet and going with the typical motions of every day. Thankfully, not all of the days after the same.

As she makes her way back into the living room, she can hear the faintest jingling of keys outside of the apartment door. She hears the sudden impact of keys and a muffled swearing before the jingling returns, this time accompanied with the turning of locks.

Seconds later, Casey stumbles through the front door, murmuring to herself about something or other; Alex can't really hear exactly what it is, and frankly, she's not sure if she's going to ask. She watches as Casey makes her way through the foyer, and soon collapses onto the living room couch with out saying a word.

"I put your dinner in the refrigerator." The blonde speaks quietly after a moment of silence. "I wasn't sure when you'd be home. You didn't call."

"I never call." Casey grumbles, not opening her eyes from where she has screwed them shut. "I'm not hungry."

"Did you eat already?" Alex responds with raises eyebrows as she folds her arms.

Casey sighs heavily before she swings her legs off of the couch and stands up to her full height. "Does it matter Alex?" she mumbles as she makes her way into the kitchen. Moments later, she reappears in the living room, clutching two unopened bottles of beer before returning to her prior position; sprawled out on the couch.

Alex sighs and takes a deep breath as she realizes that it's going to be one of those nights. "It matters, because I just want to make sure you're fed. I don't want you getting sick because you refuse to eat anything."

"I'm fine Alex. You always worry too damn much."

"Well you should be glad that someone worries about you. Do you want me to heat up your food for you?"

"I already said I wasn't hungry!"

Alex holds up her hands in surrender as mentally shakes her head. "I'm sorry! I just wanted to make sure. Like I said before, it's in the refrigerator if you want it for later. Please don't stay up all night."

"I'm a grown woman; I can do what I want." Casey grumbles almost inaudibly before she takes a sip of her beer, her eyes not looking away from whatever is playing on the television.

The blonde attorney frowns as she analyzes the annunciation of her fiancée's words. "Casey, are you drunk?"

Casey squeezes her eyes shut and pinches the bridge of her nose. "Did you imply that you were going to bed or something? Leave me alone Alex, I'm not in the mood for your talking tonight. Just go upstairs and do whatever the hell it is you want to do and leave me the hell alone."

"Right, I'm sorry." Alex mutters before she makes her way upstairs to their bedroom. She closes the door behind her and sits on the bed, her form tense and straight as she loses herself in her thoughts. She had hoped that this would be one of the good nights, but once again when Casey wasn't home for dinner, Alex knew that it probably wasn't.

There were times when Casey was incredibly sweet, just like she had been when they first started dating, and even a little while before their engagement. She would buy Alex flowers randomly, they would snuggle on the couch like old times and watch a movie, and she would just be an all around sweetheart.

Then there were times like this when she would be completely cold and distant. She would be cold, distant, and half of the time, drunk as a skunk. Everything was going fine, until that first year after Abbie died, and then it seems like everything in Casey split into those two personalities. Alex just feared that the latter would appear more than the former.

With a sigh, Alex moves from her perch on the bed, and shuffles through one of the drawers for some pajamas. She quickly changes her clothes, and climbs into bed, but not before glancing at the clock, just to see how long it would be before Casey joined her, if she even joined her at all.

By midnight, Alex finds her self being tousled from her slumber when she feels the bed dip next to her. She cracks her eyes open and realizes that two hours isn't exactly that bad, compared to what I could have been. At the same time, she's not foolish, and she knows that she's probably going to have another mess that she's going to have to clean up in the morning.

Sighing, she turns over and tucks her hands under her head as she wills her body to fall back asleep. In her mind, and her heart, she silently wishes that tonight would be a night that Casey would hold her, but she also knows that that thought is only that of wishful thinking. Just like hoping for a change is probably wishful thinking.

Serena Southerlyn's Apartment

"What do you mean 'she's still asleep'? It's almost one in the afternoon Alex." Serena says concernedly as a frown creases her forehead.

Alex groans and rests her elbows on her needs before viciously rubbing her eyes underneath her glasses. "I know that Serena, if anyone knows that it's me. But when she sleeps like that, there is literally nothing that I can do to get her out of bed. Hell, I can parade around the house where nothing but a tiara, and she still wouldn't even think about budging."

"When you say like that, you mean hung over." The other woman confirms with a nod of her head.

Alex sighs and sits back against the couch. "It's like she doesn't even get hung over anymore. She's become immune to it."

"That's not good Alex. You need to get her some help."

"I know it's not good! And I can't get her help, if she doesn't even admit to having a problem. I just…she's not always like this, you know she's not. She's a completely different person, at work, and sometimes at home, she is really super sweet, but then there is this and I just don't know what to do. I mean, she goes through beers like they're tissues! Yesterday I swear that I picked up almost forty beer bottles from my living room floor, after I had just done so, almost two nights before that."

Serena opens her mouth to respond but pauses when she feels a tugging on her hand. She looks away from Alex and glances down at her daughter who is looking up at her with expectant blue eyes. "Yes, what is it sweetie?"

"Can I have a cookie Mommy? You said that I could…" Sierra asks innocently as she gives her mother's hand another gentle squeeze.

Serena gives her best friend an apologetic smile before she stands up from the sofa. "Of course honey, I did say that you could have a cookie. Keep Auntie Alex company while I go get your cookie…Alex would you like a cookie?"

"No I'm fine, thanks." Alex responds with a chuckle as she watches the other woman disappear into the kitchen. She turns her attention back to her goddaughter who is slightly struggling to take her mother's spot on the sofa. "Would you like some help sweetie?"

"No, I got it." Sierra responds as she screws up her face in determination to get onto the sofa. She finally hikes her leg up and gains the leverage that she needs to shimmy onto the cushions. She repositions herself before giving Alex a wide grin. "See?"

Alex smiles at the sheer adorability of the little girl in her presence. There is nothing more in the world that she would want than to have a little girl of her own, but still even after four years, that topic still remains in the wind.

Sierra's brow furrows and she tilts her head to the side. "How come you looks so sad?"

"I'm no sad sweetie, I'm just…sleepy." Alex responds, pretty amazed at how the child is able to see right through her.

Sierra looks very unconvinced but her almost four year old mind allows her to move on quickly. "Where's Aunt Casey?"

"Oh, she's at home. She was very sleepy today, so she decided to stay in bed. I wanted to come visit you and your mommy so I let her sleep."

"Oh. I don't ever let Mommy sleep this late."

"That's right you don't." Serena speaks up reentering the room with a cookie in hand. She gives the cookie to her daughter and watches in amusement as she squeals in excitement. "God Olivia has spoiled that child rotten. You know it's because of her that Cece is hooked on cookies, ice cream, and every other sweet you can imagine that is designed to run me insane. I'm not sure who is worse, you or Liv. I would want to say Liv simply because she comes with ice cream and toys. You come with one or the other."

Alex snickers upon hearing her best friend's mini rant about motherhood. "Because I want you to like me still, duh." She jokes lightly before her tone turns curious. "You and Liv seem to be getting pretty close. What's going on there?"

Serena frowns as she digs deep to find a little more to Alex's words than the blonde is letting on. "She's just being a good friend like the rest of you Alex, that's all. Her doing stuff for my child does not insinuate any romantic feeling because I know that's what you're referring to Alex; I saw that smug glint in your eye. And also, she is still very much in love with Amanda. She's just being nice, Al."

"Okay, okay, I just had to ask. It just seemed like there was a little more there, that's all."

"Well, there isn't. Oh, Sierra just adores her though. It's like there is just something about Olivia that just has her specially made for children. Sometimes, I feel like Sierra likes her more than she likes me."

Alex gives her best friend's hand a squeeze and smiles. "You're a wonderful mother, and that little girl loves you more than anything. There's no doubt you're the most important thing in the world to her."

Serena can see the sadness swirling around in Alex's steely blue eyes and to be honest, it makes her a little sad her self. "You're going to have children someday, I know you will." She whispers, knowing just how badly Alex still wants kids. "So, we're almost to the big day, are you excited? Are you nervous?"

"A little of both. I think I'm more nervous than anything. I keep having this recurring dream that I rip my dress and fall when I'm walking to the altar. We have my dress, Casey has her dress, we have the flowers, everything for the reception, the cakes been ordered, invites have been responded too, it's just waiting now I guess…I'm just so nervous Serena I'm getting married!"

"To Doctor Henry Jekyll it seems like." Serena deadpans, still at concerns for Casey's behaviors.

Alex's smile falls and she visibly deflates at her best friend's serious tone. "Now don't you start Rena, don't you start. I already told you, Casey still loves me no matter what, I know that much. She loves me, and I love her."

Serena nods quickly and takes Alex's hands in her own. "I know, and I know its love that's keeping you two together. I'm just saying, as your best friend. I love you, you know that right? And I am super excited about attending your wedding as your maid of honor. Although, I promise Cece is more excited about being the flower girl."

"I bet she is. She is going to look so cute in her little dress." Alex coos before she stands up from the couch. "Anyway, I really should head home to check on things. Hopefully Casey is feeling better today."

Serena stands up as well and wraps the other blonde into a firm hug. "Be safe. I love you." she murmurs before placing a kiss to her best friend's cheek. "Cece, come say bye to Alex!"

Seconds later, Alex hears a little patter of feet before there is a small weight clutching her tightly around her knees. She chuckles before she leans down and picks up the little girl in her arms. "You're getting so big you know that? And you look more and more like your mother everyday."

"That means I'm really pretty then." Sierra states with a grin before she wraps her arms around Alex's neck in a hug. "Love you Aunt Ali."

"Love you too sweetie." Alex replies, fighting tears as she hands the little girl back to her mother. "Bye Serena, I'll see you later.

"By Al, be safe." Serena waves one handedly while the other hand balances her daughter.

Alex loses herself in her thoughts as she makes her way back to her home. She really does enjoy spending time with Sierra and Serena. They're just the cutest little family and she just loves fawning over the both of them.

She pushes open the door and is a little surprised to hear the TV going in the living room. Upon entering the living room, she sighs when she sees the familiar beer bottles littering the coffee table, thankfully some of which are unopened.

"Where the hell were you?" Casey snaps as she quickly turns her head away from the television.

Alex frowns and rolls her eyes at the question. "I told you, I was going to see Serena. You know, for those all of two seconds that you were awake this morning." she retorts quickly.

Just then, everything happens in a flash and she soon finds herself being pushes roughly against the wall. She opens her mouth to respond, but is quickly silenced when she feels a sloppy kiss planted on her lips. Frowning, she winces mentally when she can literally taste the alcohol in Casey's mouth before the need for oxygen becomes far to great. "Casey, stop."

Casey smirks and places another sloppy kiss to Alex's lips. Her usually vibrant green eyes have gone dark with lust and something else that Alex hasn't seen before. "Come on baby, you know you like it rough." She husks, sliding her hand under Alex's shirt and squeezing her breasts a little harder than intended which causes the blonde to yelp.

Alex summons nearly all of her strength to push Casey away from her and she pulls down her shirt with a firm look in her eyes. "I am NOT going to have sex with you while you are drunk like this. I'm not." she snips before she quickly dashes up the stairs and slams the bedroom door, locking it behind her.

Even in her drunken state, Casey's glare softens and she realizes that when Alex looked at her just a minute ago, she saw something in the blonde's eyes that she's never seen before when Alex looked at her; fear. Alex was afraid of her then, and it's all her fault. When did she change so much? And why?

Guys…I'm not gonna lie. It is going to be killer hard to write a story that Abbie Carmichael is NOT in. I mean...I just…I don't know how I'm gonna make it! Anyhow, there was the first chapter. It was a little long but I know how much you guys love long chapters. Leave your feedback!