Hi all - this story and how I wanted to write it has been sitting on the back of my brain for weeks! And I'm finally bringing it to life. As per my usual, this is a story of Olivia and Alex. There is no Noah in this story, but everything else on the show is present time with of course fiction thrown in.
Oh and I know I had mentioned updating She & Him, and so many of you have asked and been so encouraging about me continuing that story... I have been trying to map that one out in my brain as that one has a lot of twists and turns and people! So yes, it's still on hold until I have the brain power to write it! Ha!
Looking forward to hanging out with you all again on this one!
-Mel
Edge Of Beautiful - 1
Sonny Carisi wasn't familiar with the sound of her clicking heels against the cement floor of the 1-6.
Maybe if Fin were sitting there, or Elliot… Olivia, they would recognize the particular rhythm of her, and her expensive shoes.
Sonny looked up to see who's footsteps had pulled him from his mound of paperwork.
The blonde, easily over 6ft in her heels, stood there in a perfectly tailored suit and even more perfectly coiffed long blonde hair.
He took a second look.
Typically, most took a second look.
"Ma'am, can I help you?" Sonny asked politely.
She looked around, almost passed him as if she hadn't heard or seen the man now standing in front of her.
"Ma'am?" Sonny tried again.
"Olivia?" she questioned, finally acknowledging him, her striking blue eyes piercing and direct.
"Uh, the Lieutenant is out. Would you like to leave her a message? Or can I help you with something?"
"When are you expecting her back?" She questioned ignoring his offer to help.
"She shouldn't be too long. But…"
"I'll wait for her, is that her office now? I can wait there."
Sonny was taken aback by her forwardness.
"Um Ms., you're welcome to wait, we have a lounge where I think you might be more comfortable," Sonny encouraged politely. "I can get you a cup of…"
"Alex?"
She turned on her heels to the familiar voice calling her name.
"Fin," Alex said, her demeanor changing immediately at the site of her friend and former detective.
They exchanged a friendly hug while Carisi was bumfuzzled by who "Alex" was.
"A sight for sore eyes. You look fantastic," Fin said, giving a charming grin.
"Thanks, Fin, you're looking pretty good yourself."
"So what brings you back to SVU? Last I heard you were in D.C.?"
"Flew in this morning. I was hoping to see Olivia. Detective Carisi is it?" Alex said directing her attention back to the stranger, "I was hoping I could just wait for her in her office."
"Of course, her office is in Cragen's old office," Fin said, walking with Alex to settle her in to wait for Olivia.
AOAOAOAOAOAO
"Who is she?" Carisi asked looking over to blonde now behind the Lieutenants open blinds.
"That's Alexandra Cabot. Our former ADA."
Sonny shook his head, now remembering hearing about SVU's former ADA Cabot before. He just didn't picture her quite so blonde and model-esk.
"Said she needed to see Lieu. You think she's got a case or somthin'?
"I know she's been at the DA's office in D.C., but she and Liv are friends, or were friends…"
"You guys have mentioned her a few times. I got the sense she was really liked around here?"
"She was, she is. She's smart, passionate and she and Liv butted heads, but truthfully Alex was the closest friend I think Liv has ever had… well until she took off."
"Took off?"
"Well a long story about Witness Protection, and then Alex took off for the Congo."
"The Congo?"
"Yeah, Alex would leave rather abruptly… She would leave Liv rather abruptly."
"And that didn't go over well."
"Like I said, she and Liv didn't always see eye to eye when it came to work, but she and Alex were close."
"Guess Lieu will be surprised to see her then."
"No doubt," Fin agreed, "No doubt".
AOAOAOAOAOAOAOA
Alex paced back and forth in front of Olivia's desk.
There was a couch, a chair, but her anxiousness preferred to pace back and forth.
She would look over emails, skim the latest news headlines on her Twitter, and at one point just hold her phone in proximity while her mind wandered to what she would say to Olivia.
Alex stopped pacing to nonchalantly look at photos and plaques Olivia had collected in her office.
Photos of people she recognized, some she didn't.
There was one, on her bookshelf of she and Olivia.
Yes, she was surprised to see it there.
But Alex remembered fondly of when it was taken.
She stood close to Olivia, her arm around her shoulder, Olivia's around her waist.
The picture seemed so personal to be in her office. It was taken on a weekend after brunch…
The corner of Alex's mouth turned upward.
"Alex?"
The uncertainty in her voice relayed her disbelief that Alexandra Cabot was actually standing in her office.
"Liv."
It took a moment for them both to adjust to the world tilting on its axis.
"I didn't know you were in New York."
Olivia had managed to close the door but still kept her distance.
"I actually just flew in this morning."
Olivia was biting her bottom lip as she shook her head, "Oh…"
There was a moment of awkwardness, them both not making a move.
"How's D.C.?"
"Good. Work and you know statues, monuments."
She wanted to say lonely.
Olivia gave Alex a smirk before making her way behind her desk.
It was safer there.
She couldn't run to Alex, hug her, tell her how much she missed her.
It was safer, a barrier.
Besides she wasn't even sure if seeing one another warranted a hug.
Olivia motioned for Alex to sit as she sat down herself.
"So what brings you back to New York?"
"Work of course." Of course, work is what brought her back. "And an excuse to see you."
"You don't really need an excuse to see me, or call." Olivia shot back.
There it was, the first punch.
Now over a year since they had even spoken to one another…
The first punch.
"I know," Alex said pausing, "and I deserved that."
Olivia let out a deep breath, "no you didn't."
"Liv."
"Alex let's not… I'm glad you're here. As awkward as this feels right now, I'm glad you decided to come here. I've missed you."
Olivia watched Alex as the words fell out of her mouth.
"I've missed you too. And I was hoping we could have drinks, maybe dinner while I'm in town?"
"Alex, I'm not sure if we should…"
"Olivia… please, I just need to… I miss you. And I know..."
"How long are you here?" Olivia interrupted, not interested in rehashing their personal issues in her office, in the middle of her squad room.
"Through the end of the week."
"I'll call you."
Alex nodded understanding, thankful that Olivia agreed to have drinks or dinner, or whatever.
Alex stood from her chair and smoothed her skirt down her thighs.
Olivia watched her every move.
Alex leaned over Olivia's desk, purposefully in her space. She took Olivia's hand into hers, "It's great to see you. You look incredible."
And then, Alex walked out of her office, Olivia watching her intently until she was no longer visible.
Olivia closed her eyes, settling the butterflies in her stomach and taking the breaths she was certain she had forgotten to breathe.
"Fuck," Olivia said barely audible before picking up her phone.
Breath in, breath out, her phone settled in the palm of her hand.
Olivia clenched her jaw.
"Plans tonight?" she texted and waited for what she hoped was a quick reply.
"My place or yours?"