A/N: I am so surprised at the amount of responses I have received for this story. I wasn't sure if it would take off or would be accepted especially the way it has. For my readers on my other stories I promise I haven't forgotten them but apparently I am meant to get this story out at the moment. Thank you so much for reading, following, favoriting, and reviewing this story. You guys truly amaze me everyday.

Olivia pushed the food that she hadn't eaten around on her plate and wondered if the blonde would get mad if she asked for a to-go box. In all honesty, she could eat the rest of the food and happily order a second, but she had no clue when or where her next meal was coming from so when she did eat a good meal she always tried to save half. She was about to ask her if she minded her taking the rest with them when she was startled out of her thoughts.

"Are you full?" Alex asked as she watched the brunette push the food around on her plate, "Or would you like something different?"

"I was wondering if you would mind if I took this with us," Olivia hesitantly asked.

"Are you full?" Alex asked again. Even though the woman who sat across from her had eaten the fruit bowl and half her food on the plate, something told her that she still hungry and was accustomed to saving food when she could

"I am."

"You're lying to me," Alex stated as she leaned forward, "When you lie, you look away. Now, please eat all your food and if you want something else, get it."

"What is this going to cost me later?"

"I'm sorry, but I really don't understand what you're asking me."

"There is always a price to pay when I cost my john too much at dinner, that is, if their nice enough to buy me dinner," Olivia stated wanting to know the blonde's game, "So, what is this going to cost me?'

"Your name, and I don't want to choose what I call you," Alex stated leaning back in the seat, "I want to know your birth name."

Olivia took a deep breath and prayed that breaking her own rule wouldn't get her killed, "Olivia Benson."

"Thank you, Olivia," Alex said smiling, "Now, finishing eating and if you want something else, let Johnny know. We are not leaving here until you are full."

Olivia nodded and quickly finished her food. She was on her last bite when she saw the manager walking toward their table. She dropped her fork and quickly wiped her mouth. She was about to bolt out of the booth when Alex reached across and stopped her from leaving.

"He is not going to kick you out or call the police," Alex said in a soothing voice, "You are welcomed here and so are the other women."

"Ma'am, I don't know what kind of pull you have around here, but, I promise you, that man has set out to have me arrested. There is no way you can stop that. He told me that if he caught me on the property he would have me arrested for trespassing. I can tell you have enough money to buy yourself out of trouble, but you don't want to be tied in with me."

"The only way he can press trespassing charges on you is if you have already been told once to leave."

"I have," Olivia said as she stood quickly and tossed the money Alex had given her earlier back on the table, "I'm sorry, but I can't stay, here's your money back."

"You can stay," Alex said standing quickly and blocking Olivia's way of leaving, "Now, sit down."

"I gave you your money back," Olivia said with tears in her eyes, "I can't be arrested, please, let me leave."

"Listen," Alex said exhaling, "You can't be arrested because I own this café along with about three others throughout the city. As the owner of this place, I override any idiotic ruling my manger has made. Believe me, if I had known he had done this I would have put a stop to it the first time."

"You own this place?"Olivia asked as she looked around the café.

"I do," Alex answered as she motioned Olivia to have a seat again, "This is a safe place for you and the other women on the street. I promise you. Now, please, sit down and finish eating. If you want something else, let Johnny know. I need to talk some business with him and then when can leave."

Olivia sat down and scooted as far over as she could as she tried to stop shaking.

"I have to go in the back office for a few minutes," Alex said as she smiled at Olivia and pushed the money back toward her, "I would appreciate it if you are still here when I come out. If not, please take the money with you and order more to eat if you want it."

Olivia nodded as she watched Alex follow the man who had terrorized her in the past walk around the counter and down the hall. She took a few deep breaths as she motioned for the man behind the counter to come over to the table.

"Can I get you something else, ma'am?" Johnny asked as he carefully approached the table. Anyone could see that the young girl was terrified and he knew Alex would rip him a new one if he scared her more.

"I was wondering," Olivia said unable to look at the man, "Does this woman here really own this place or am I being set up?"

"Ms. Cabot?" Johnny said looking in the direction she had walked to, "Yes, ma'am, she does."

"Does she make it a habit of picking up prostitutes?"

"Honestly, I don't know," Johnny answered as he sat down across the woman, "But I do know that she makes it a habit to help people who need help. She helped me kick a drug habit and gave me a job here. Stewart was an alcoholic when she met him and put him through rehab and offered him a job here. She gave him the position of manager when she discovered that he had a MBA. Every one of us that work here would probably be dead now if it wasn't for Alex."

"So she likes taking on charity cases," Olivia stated not realizing that Alex had returned to the table.

"No, not charity cases," Alex stated smiling at the two people at the table, "I like to help those who are less fortunate than me. I have had a good life and want to pay it forward. So, I help people recover from whatever they need help recovering from and give them a chance when no one else will look at them twice, which is why I was highly pissed off when you told me that you had been told you were not welcomed here. There's a reason why I have named all my cafés Second Chance Café, everyone here gets a second chance."

"So I'm your newest case to help?" Olivia asked. She hated it when people decided they needed to make her their pet project to save.

"That is a decision that only you can make," Alex stated as she put her jacket on, "I do not force my help on anyone and if you chose for me not to help you, then I won't. But what I do want to do is spend the night with you, if you are still willing to come home with me. If not, there is the money and thank you for your time."

"You're willing to let me walk out of here right now and still keep the money?"

"Yes, I have pulled you from the street and caused you to lose potential customers and money. The money is yours to keep. I am not lying when I say I hope you still want to come home with me, but I will not force you."

"I'll go home with you," Olivia answered standing. She was truly curious as to what tricks the blonde had up her sleeve and what all she was expecting from her for the night.