Chapter 1
Twenty four year old college Junior Alexandra Cabot pulled up to her childhood home in Manhattan, New York, she smiled as she killed the engine of her red Ford GTO before getting out and grabbing her suitcases out of the trunk. After taking her suitcases to the Master Bedroom Alex went to the fully stocked kitchen and began making eggs benedict for herself, along with a steaming cup of black coffee. Once the dish was complete and the coffee was ready, Alex sat down to enjoy the fruits of her labor. Cooking was always somewhat magical for the young blonde, Alex had watched Bobby Flay, Martha Stewart, and Rachel Ray on television and fell in love with the art of cooking. This new love of Alex's was lost however on her Uncle Hermann and her Mother Catherine Cabot, for them, the career of a Chef was beneath a Cabot, as they had both urged Alex to go to Harvard and get a law degree instead and become a lawyer.
'They don't understand... They'll never understand me.' Alex thought sadly as she began eating.
After her meal, Alex cleaned up the kitchen before heading out to the nearest hardware store, where she bought a lawn mower, trimmer, a leaf blower, an edger, and some pool cleaning supplies and equipment.
Alex returned from her trip to the hardware store, she then takes her newly purchased items to the shed that the blonde had built a few months back, as she came back around to the front of her house Alex hears the sound of a woman struggling with something.
Alex looks around and spots the woman, she was tall and brunette. Alex could see that the statuesque woman was struggling with a large box, not wanting to see the woman injure herself Alex quickly jogged over to offer the brunette her assistance.
"Excuse me, Miss, I'll help you with that," Alex says as she stops in front of the other woman.
Olivia Benson-Tucker looked up from the large humidifier box that she was struggling with when she heard a gentle voice offer her assistance, gazing up at the person who had just spoken, Olivia found herself looking into two beautiful cerulean eyes that shimmered brilliantly in the mid-morning sun, rendering the older woman momentarily unable to speak.
"Miss, are you alright?" Alex asked, gently touching Olivia's right arm, this subtle action brings the older woman out of her daze.
"Oh, y-yes. I'm so sorry for staring at you." Olivia said, dropping her gaze in embarrassment.
"It's alright," Alex said smiling, showing off her perfect smile. "The reason that I came over as I saw you having trouble with this box." the blonde says.
"Yeah, my Husband bought this, but he's out of town and I didn't want it to get stolen," Olivia explained.
"I'll carry this inside for you, Miss," Alex says, once again smiling at Olivia.
"I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself, huh?"
"Alexandra Cabot, but I prefer Alex." the blonde says.
"Olivia Benson-Tucker, call me Olivia." the older brunette says as she tried to hide her nervousness.
"Alright Olivia, could you please open your front door?"
"Sure thing, Alex," Olivia says, giving Alex a warm smile of her own.
Using her well-defined arms and her toned core, Alex lifted the heavy box, which surprised Olivia, leaving the brunette transfixed on the blonde.
Olivia shakes her head as if to clear it.
"Follow me, please Alex." the brunette says gently.
Alex nods and quickly falls in step behind Olivia, after rounding a corner Olivia leads Alex to a large freight elevator. Once inside, Alex placed the humidifier box on the luggage cart that was inside, giving her slightly aching muscles a break.
"Wow, you have a freight elevator in your house, how big is this place?" Alex asked.
"5,698 square feet." Olivia answers.
"Whoa," Alex said in amazement.
The elevator jerked to a stop, Olivia fell against Alex, who readily wrapped her arms protectively around the brunette.
"You alright, Olivia?" the blonde asked the older woman.
"Yes, I still can't get used to that," Olivia replies as the doors open.
"I'm glad that you didn't get hurt," Alex said as Olivia backs away from her.
Olivia leads Alex, who is pushing the luggage cart down the corridor towards a wood panel door at the end of the corridor on the left side of the corridor.
"Here we are," Olivia said as she opened the door for the blonde.
Alex pushed the cart into the room, followed by Olivia.
"Just push it over into the corner." the older woman says.
Alex does as asked, then the two women leave the room and went back to the freight elevator.
On the ride back up, Olivia subconsciously stepped closer to Alex.