So…what a perfect way to capture what news I've just heard! Alex Cabot is returning to SVU, according to on 3/6/2018.

This is a perfect arc for me! It is the year 2018 and Olivia and Alex are married. Theo would be 8 years old and the twins would be 7. This will be from the moment they found out Alex was asked back and the drama begins!

I hope you enjoy!

Olivia entered the townhouse at 6:38 p.m. that evening and her eyes went to the kitchen table.

No Alex. No kids. She moved to place her purse and blazer on the kitchen island, listening carefully.

Voices and the sound of water coming from the front of the house—the sunroom most likely. Olivia began removing her belt through the loops as she headed toward the noise, down the hallway and into the dimly-lit front room. Through the open doors, she could see her wife, standing, jean legs rolled up, red tank top on, spraying one of the raised garden beds in their front patio. The kids were sitting at the wrought-iron table and the blonde was talking with Theo as she watered—something about fractions or something math-related—and the brunette moved carefully, heading toward the open doors, the crisp March breeze wafting in through the space.

Alex looked up, catching eyes with her own.

"So, is it true?" Olivia questioned.

Alex looked up as she released the nozzle on the hand sprayer and Olivia noticed that slow smile as it crept along that porcelain face—enough to let the brunette know. Her wife nodded slowly before returning her focus to the matter at hand and pressing the trigger once more, continuing to spray the next bed. "Yeah, Liv. I was asked today."

Olivia moved closer, even closer still, folding her arms, watching as the twins worked on their own homework, before she let her gaze fall upon her wife once more. "And you didn't think to, maybe…let me in?" Olivia smiled at Isabel and Grace and then Theo. "No text, no call?" She moved to the kids and kissed their foreheads. "Hi, babies."

"Hi, Mama!" they beamed, almost in unison.

"How did you find out?" Alex questioned.

"Fin…who do you think?" Olivia finally smiled. "The guy with the deets."

Alex laughed lightly. "The deets. Count on Fin." Alex looked up then, her expression concerned. "I was gonna tell you, Liv. Tonight."

Olivia nodded slowly as she moved toward the blonde. "Tonight."

"Yeah…" Alex looked her wife's face over, her gaze dipping to her blouse briefly before returning to her eyes, "…tonight."

"How long?" Olivia asked.

"Just this one case."

Olivia nodded again. "And then?"

Alex smiled again, moving closer, her face within mere centimeters, "And then…no conflict of interest or personal intermingling in the work place." The blonde crossed her heart with her free, left hand, her other continuing to feed the marigolds. "I promise."

Olivia moved in closer and placed a gentle kiss on Alex's lips, lingering there and smelling the faint scent of her wife's perfume and a hint of espresso." Olivia moaned and pulled away, smiling. She opened her eyes and focused on blue pools in front of her. "Good."

"Good? Why?" Alex turned the water off and moved to the hose caddy, beginning to roll it back up.

"Because you at work is gonna just…"

"Gonna just what, Babe?"

Olivia could see her wife smirking, even at ten feet away. The brunette stepped to the kids and stood behind them. "Just…be hard to work with you so close, especially given our…"

Alex stepped close to the table then, where Olivia remained standing. "Given our what, Liv?"

"Our history, Alex. It's been a while since we've worked in such close proximity to each other. Almost five years, to be exact."

Alex smirked and shook her head. "You won't be able to handle it?"

Olivia cocked her head to the side and shook her head, as well.

"Mama! I finished my sentences!" Grace beamed.

"Good, Baby! Good for you!" Olivia countered, her focus now on their brown-eyed daughter.

"I'm done, too!" Isabel shouted.

"I'm hungry," Theo whined.

"You done, Theo?" Alex questioned.

Theo nodded firmly two times and began gathering his materials.

"You guys go in and wash up. We're going out to dinner tonight. Pizza!" Alex enthused.

Olivia smiled at her wife then as the kids all moved around, gathering their belongings and making their way inside—but not before Grace hugged Olivia's hips. "Hey there, Gracie."

"I missed you, Mama."

"I missed you, too, Gracie." Olivia leaned forward and kissed the top of her head. "Go on in, Baby."

"OK. Mama," Grace agreed and then trotted behind her siblings inside the house.

"So…" Alex began, moving closer still. She placed her hands on the brunette's hips. "You OK with this?"

Olivia swallowed. "Yeah. It's just that…only Fin knows all about our personal lives…not Carisi or Rollins…"

"And you're afraid of what?"

Olivia shook her head. "Nothing. I'm not afraid of anything, Alex."

Alex narrowed her eyes. "That look tells me that you are…"

Olivia studied the piercing blue eyes in front of her and placed her own hands on the blonde's waist. "Our personal lives are sacred…treasured…you know that."

Alex nodded slowly, her focus on Olivia's mouth. "I know that, Babe…and don't you worry…"

Olivia threw her wife a perplexed expression, narrowing her eyes.

"I will handle it. I will handle anything that comes our way…" Alex's smirk grew into a full-blown grin.

Olivia couldn't help but lean in once more and press her lips to her wife's softness, letting her tongue linger along her lower lip for just a moment before she pulled away. She opened her eyes and smiled. "Oh, I know you will, Al. I have no doubt of that…" She winked.

A/N: So, short but sweet. When the episode airs in April, I will continue. Any feedback is welcome and I look forward to your follows and favorites. Thank you for reading!