DISCLAIMER: I only wish I owned them. Dick Wolf, NBC own them, as so Mariska Hargitay and Stephanie March. If I owned them, Cabenson would have happened!
Author's Note: I will admit from the outset, I have NOT seen the episode "Her Negotiation" as yet as I write this. (The fun of living in another country that supposedly 'fast-tracks' shows… still about 5-6 episodes behind). I have only read reviews and recaps of the episode, so I ask in advance - please take this into consideration if I am not as accurate in the details of the episode. Also please be gentle, this is my first Alex/Olivia fanfic. Constructive criticism is better than outright criticism. I've had a few idea floating around in my head and I think (and hope) it will fit well with this. Alex/Olivia will happen eventually, but as we all know other stuff has to happen first before we get there ;-). Oh and being from a Commonwealth country, my spelling will be British-English
NEGOTIATING HER LIFE
Olivia mentally berated herself. Of course Brian wouldn't want to see something as cultural as the Plein Air Painters. Why would he want to go see something like that? He wanted to go to the damn park. Something anyone could do anytime. And not even anything romantic, they'd go sit and watch the rollerbladers. What were they, young teenagers on a first date being chaperoned by Mommy or Daddy?
"We'll go next week" …
"Another time, maybe?" …
"Perhaps later" …
"You're seriously suggesting that?!"…
Eye rolls.
Shoulder shrugs.
Silence.
These brush offs of Liv's suggestions by Brian were coming more and more often these days after being demoted back to uniform, even more since the Ganzel trial where he was accused of rape. Even so, looking back over other the months they had been together, they always seemed to do everything Brian wanted to do. Christmas: Olivia suggested where she'd always dreamed of going one day Paris, so the Bahamas it was. Valentine's Day: no way in the world was Brian celebrating that. Go to that new Indian restaurant, nope. See the masterpieces at the Guggenheim, you're kidding right? Do something, anything remotely interesting, nuh-uh.
Alex Cabot had mentioned that Serena Southerlyn had seen the Plein Air Painters exhibition in passing during her and Olivia's regular dinner get-togethers. It started out as a dinner here and there after Alex came back from her tenure with the International Criminal Court, not wanting to lose contact again after all the years lost during and after Wit Sec. These became more regular after Elliott Stabler retired. Even more so, since Bureau Chief Mike Cutter's reshuffling of all ADA's under his authority after the Delia Wilson scandal and fallout, as Alex had been transferred to Homicide and Casey Novak back to White Collar. Casey would join Olivia and Alex on the dinners every so often to talk, laugh, bitch and moan about everything, anything and nothing at all.
As Brian wandered away in his towelling robe, Olivia grabbed her phone and sent a message to Alex.
"Plein Air Painters then dinner on one of our nights in the future?"
The message came back moments later
"Absolutely! It's a date!"
A small smile ghosted across Olivia's lips as she read the message. She knew over the years that she and Alex had a 'thing', tiptoeing around their feelings, the intense looks, fiery arguments and sometimes outright flirting with each other, but only ever acting on it once – the night in the motel during the Liam Connors trial. Both women hoped in their hearts that they would revisit that part of their 'thing' one day, but after all the time that had passed, both seemed content on staying with the flirting stage. She was shaken from her thoughts as the phone rang in her hand. She was disappointed that the screen read it was work related – it was her day off after all.
After dropping Brian off at a sports bar so she could continue on to the precinct, Olivia's thoughts wandered back to what she and Brian were… well she didn't even really know what she and Brian were now. To Olivia, it seemed like they weren't even going through the motions to even class it as a relationship. No real talking about hopes, dreams, ideas or wishes. Just catching up with each other when they could, and having sex. Their sex life, well it certainly wasn't earth shattering, but wasn't as bad as their first time all those years ago…
"So… ahh… I've kinda started seeing someone" Olivia said casually, as she uncorked the bottle of red wine for their dinner, this time at Olivia's apartment.
"Oh, anyone I know?" Alex raised her eyebrow as she placed the wine glasses on the bench.
Olivia thought a moment before answering, "I think I've mentioned him to you before, some years ago"
"I hope it's not Kurt Moss. Oh please, not him. He's just creepy looking, Liv" Alex admonished.
"Urgh, I don't know what I was thinking with him. I don't think I was actually. No, I've started seeing Brian Cassidy" replied Olivia, as she filled both wine glasses.
Alex pondered a moment, trying to remember who this Brian Cassidy was before Olivia continued, "He was with SVU before you were assigned our ADA, Alex… and I slept with him once,"
Alex cut her off before Olivia could continue, "Ah, you mean the co-worker you told me about who didn't know the word difference between fondling and soft cheese?!" Alex tried to stifle a giggle before adding "Liv, you said that he fell asleep on top of you during sex and that he woke up when the phone rang, not realising he fell asleep!"
Olivia tried not to laugh at the memory, and failing, before replying, "We were both a bit drunk! And he's improved since then"
"Well that wouldn't be too difficult, now would it? From memory, you also said you were 'frustrated' for the rest of the night because you couldn't even 'finish off yourself' due to the phone call being call out" said Alex, using air quotes.
"Don't remind me, Alex" laughed Olivia, before pinching the bridge of her nose and shaking her head slightly. "That was some very bad sex."
"Not to worry, you're not the only one here to have had bad sex. On a desk with Jim Steele… don't try it if you haven't already. It's nothing like the fantasy of desk sex. And Robert Shelton… we won't even go there," Alex shuddered. Robert Shelton, Alex's ex-fiancé had been a very low point in Alex's life and rarely spoke of him. "Now see, that's why I think I prefer sex with women. I've never been left dissatisfied… ever!" Alex sipped her wine.
A look passed between them, both women knowing exactly what Alex was referring to. The motel. That night.
"Yeah, me too" whispered Olivia, breaking eye contact. Both women considered themselves, and knew each other were equal opportunity lovers. To be honest, both preferred the company of the female form.
Alex put down her wine glass and wrapped Olivia in a warm embrace. "As long as you're happy, Liv. If Brian makes you happy, then I'm happy for you." Pressing a kiss to her cheek that may have lasted a little longer than necessary, Alex added "You are happy, aren't you?"
"It's early days, but I think I might be" Olivia said, nodding her head ever so slightly.
Pulling back from the embrace to look at Olivia, Alex winked "If he doesn't, you know where to find me."
Such a flirt, thought Olivia. Recalling that conversation with Alex, Liv wasn't so sure she was happy now. She was more happy being hugged by her former ADA. The kiss on the cheek from Alex was a lot nicer than the kiss on the forehead she got from Brian when she was on the couch. That felt like a parent kissing a child well done, good job. Not a kiss from someone who was supposed to be in love. It was that moment Olivia realised that she and Brian were really just being fuck buddies. Friends with benefits.
Olivia gently fingered her newer Fearlessness tag necklace as she exited the car. She loved it and wanted to wear it with her old Fearlessness and Lotus Mandala pedants, but Brian insisted she only wear the new one now. Everything wasn't even a negotiation with Brian now, and Olivia was realising that wasn't what she wanted anymore. She needed to talk to Alex, the sooner the better, but that would have to wait.
For now Amanda Rollins had called the entire squad in for a seemingly open and shut case, but the detectives knew it was very rare their cases were anything like that.
