A/N - Even though this is AU, I still wanted to keep Alex's characterization as true as possible. Also, while this may be Olivia's "first time" with a woman, I don't think she would be super nervous and weird about it. She's in her 40's, after all. Let me know what you think! :)


-Chapter 2-

Olivia stared into the bathroom mirror, examining her naked body. She was still beautiful; she suspected she always would be. But she looked tired, exhausted, frustrated. Her body was battered and bruised, the work of a man who was now just a ghost. But the bruises were already starting to turn strange shades of yellow and green, a sign they were healing.

Alex had said she was beautiful, over and over again. She had gently run her fingertips along the borders of those bruises, referring to them as battle wounds. She had taken her time, gently caressing Olivia's body and helping to make her whole again. Olivia even thought it might have worked. In this parallel universe that was turning into reality, Olivia had to admit to herself that at this moment, looking into the mirror in Alex's hotel room, she really did feel alive.

As she traced the taught muscles along her stomach and grazed up to the soft skin underneath her breasts, she heard two soft knocks on the bathroom door.

"Olivia? Are you alright?"

"Uhh, yeah… I'll be out in a sec." She flushed the toilet.

When the whoosh of water came to a stop, Alex spoke gain. "You have a missed call, by the way. From Brian Cassidy?"

Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose and turned the doorknob. She came out of the bathroom to the same breathtaking sight she had left. Creamy alabaster skin against a pair of deep plum lace boyshorts, bare breasts, flushed cheeks, and a look of genuine concern marking Alex's features. She had never felt this way about a woman, but she figured now was as good a time as ever to start making some changes.

"He called just a few minutes ago. Are you sure everything is okay? I know the first time can be… a little different," Alex said with a shy smile.

"No, no, it's not that. The first time was amazing," Olivia responded as she placed a soft kiss on Alex's full lips. "I'm just gonna go out in the hall to call him back. I'll be back in a minute." She grabbed her iPhone off the dresser, threw on Alex's fluffy hotel robe, and headed out into the hallway.

"Olivia?"

"Hey, Brian."

"Where the hell are you? Are you okay?"

"Yeah sweetie, I'm fine. I was just out with the guys and had a little too much to drink. I'm just gonna stay at Fin's tonight, okay?"

"Yeah, sure Liv." He sounded resigned. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, I guess."

"Yeah, there are a few things I think we should talk about. I'll call in the morning." Before Brian had a chance to respond, Olivia had already pressed the end call button.

xx

Olivia crawled into bed next to Alex, who promptly wrapped her surprisingly strong arms around the detective's body. They snuggled into the cool sheets, enveloped by the warmth of blankets and body heat. They laid there for several minutes, content in each other's embrace.

"I know you don't want to talk about what happened," Alex almost whispered. "But there's something I want to tell you about myself." Olivia silently wondered where this was going.

"Back in 2003, I was working this case. A rape/murder of an undercover officer. It turned out the perp worked for a Colombian drug cartel. Long story short, the cartel put out a hit on me and I was pronounced dead. October 14th 2003, 11:54pm. I had to move to Wisconsin, tell people I was from Tulsa. My name was Emily Bradshaw." Alex sucked in a steadying breath. It was still difficult to tell this story.

"Anyway, I just want you to know that I understand what it's like to have your whole world turned upside down. To look in the mirror and not recognize yourself. To look around and not know where you are anymore. But it gets better. You just have to have time, and patience, and maybe some alcohol." They both laughed. "But most importantly, people who can help you through it. And eventually it gets easier and easier to look in the mirror again. It gets easier to pick up the pieces and feel whole." Alex placed a kiss to Olivia's temple. Olivia squeezed Alex's hand.

"I think I'm already on my way there, counselor."

xx

Olivia walked down 59th Street, headed to the bench she and Brian liked to share by the Simon Bolivar statue in Central Park. He was already waiting when she got there, two Starbucks cups in hand.

"Hey, Liv," he kissed her on the cheek.

"Hi," she smiled as she took the coffee cup.

"How are you this morning?"

"I'm doing alright. Yesterday was just… I don't even know. I don't really want to talk about it yet."

"That's okay, Liv. You can take all the time you need."

"But that's the thing. I don't think I'll ever want to talk about it… with you." She stared down at her hands. They were shaking.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying? This has been coming for a while."

"I just think we need some time apart. You've been there for me on my worst days, and that's amazing. But I think it's just time, for us, to be separate."

"Right." Brian stared off into the distance, consciously avoiding making eye contact. He finally stood up. "Well, enjoy the coffee, Liv. I'll talk to you later." He walked away without looking back.

Olivia sat on the bench for a while. It could have been a few minutes, it could have been a few hours. Time seemed lost right now. When she finally finished her latte, she stood up, stretched her legs, and headed for the apartment.

She grabbed all of her essentials. Clothes, toothbrush, jewelry. A couple bottles of wine. She knew where she was going, she just didn't know if it was the greatest idea. What the hell was she even doing?

She knocked twice on the door of room 415. Please be here, she thought. Otherwise she was just a crazy homeless woman in the hallway of a hotel. A second later, the door opened. Alex just smiled when she saw Olivia's duffel bag.

"Welcome to The Plaza, detective."