Forgive me for the delay in getting this story going, it was a crazy week and I couldn't seem to focus on writing Thank you so much for the reviews and follows on the first chapter! So lovely to see some familiar names again!

I decided to make this story all from Alex's POV. Thought might be interesting to go at it from Alex's eyes. - M

Ch. 2

I woke up this morning staring at the text she had sent to me the night before.

As she had promised, she sent a time and place to meet for brunch.

Most people would gather the information, commit it to memory or save it to their calendar… I, stared at the words until the screen on my phone went dark shaking me from my trance.

In the few days since I had seen Olivia my emotions had ran wild.

I had gone from panic, to elation, to feeling like I wanted to throw up, to acceptance.

It was like the twelve steps of Olivia Benson.

Now here I was in the back of a cab on my way to meet her and the closer I got to the restaurant the more I began to panic.

Every emotion I had endured in the last few days rushed through me.

I had spent the past year distancing myself, tormenting myself over Olivia.

And now here I was on my way to have brunch with her as if it were no big deal. As if it were every other brunch, lunch, dinner I had ever had with her.

It wasn't every other brunch, lunch or dinner. Not today. Not anymore.

Not since I had set boundaries, rules for myself, since I had decided to stop fantasizing about Olivia and what it would be like to have her in my life, in my bed.

I had to get myself together. So what if I had feelings for her. She was my friend and at one time she was my best friend… my best friend before I screwed it up. Before I decided I needed to create this distance between us because I thought I would do something foolish like try and kiss her or blurt out that I was in love with her over too many cocktails.

I needed to get a grip.

Brunch, catch up, say goodbye, part ways… easy enough. Then I could go back to my side of the city and everything would be fine.

Olivia was sitting at a table outside, her oversized sunglasses atop her head, looking somewhat glamorous for a New York City SVU Detective. She stood the moment she saw me come towards her.

Her cotton dress hit her just above the knee and the blue was vibrant against her tanned skin.

She reached for me giving me a quick hug, Her warm smile mimicking the sun.

I had forgotten already why I tried so hard to stay away from her, it wasn't worth it.

"I went ahead and ordered mimosa's I hope that's ok."

"That sounds perfect, thank you!" I said, knowing I definitely could use any form alcohol at this point to calm my nerves.

"So how have you been?" I asked to keep the conversation flowing.

"Good. Everything's good. Still work too much though I have been trying to change my pace a little."

"You Olivia Benson, Detective extraordinaire are trying to change your pace?" I teased with a grin.

"Yeah, yeah, but I am getting older you know. I think I've decided to let the rookie's handle at least some of it… and I'm trying to focus on my person life a little more."

"Oh really?" I asked intrigued and a bit deflated.

"Yeah I've actually been seeing Cassidy again."

"Cassidy?" I blurted, shocked to say the least.

The waitress arrived at the table with our mimosas just in time to give a bit of reprieve from the Brian Cassidy shock.

"Are you ladies ready to order?" The waitress asked politely.

"May we have a few more minutes?" Olivia asked as the waitress nodded and then walked away.

"Alex I know… I never expected to be back with Brian, but it just kind of happened. We had a case together and the chemistry was still there. And it works."

"Ok… I mean Olivia as long as you're happy." I said sincerely. "That's what matters…"

I meant that, I think I meant that.

Of course I meant that. I wanted her to be happy.

"Have you been seeing anyone?" Olivia asked me, taking the first sip of her drink.

"Not really, no one special anyway." I said focusing my eyes on the commotion across the street.

"I hope you're not working yourself to death. I think about you all the time, hoping you're doing okay."

"You do?" I asked my eyes locking with hers.

"Alex… of course I do. You think just because we aren't in each other's lives everyday I don't think about you?"

"I don't know… I mean of course I know you do. We used to be really close…"

Too close.

"I think we should remedy that. I need Alex Cabot back in my life."

There was that smile again.

I smiled.

You could tell Olivia was sincere. I actually was having a moment of realization that I hadn't been fair with distancing her from my life.

I knew my reasons, and they were purely selfish reasons.

We were friends, we are friends, the best of friends, and I'm the one that gave her no choice when it came to the distance between us.

"You know what, I totally agree about having you in my life and also about focusing on my personal life a little more as well. Not just romantically, but my friendships. I've missed you, I've missed us."

I've missed us? Did that come out right? Should I clarify what I meant? There is no us…

"I've missed us too… And martini Thursdays." Olivia said with a laugh.

I laughed too.

"Oh God martini Thursdays. Friday's used to be so rough!" I said still laughing.

It felt good to laugh.

To let go.

I was right there with her again, my friend.

We talked and laughed for the next hour and a half like there had been no time between us.

After brunch Olivia followed me out on to the sidewalk.

"It was so great to have brunch with you Alex and I meant what I said, can we not be strangers anymore? Seeing you the other night at the gallery made me realize how much I've missed you."

"I've really missed you too Liv." I said genuinely.

I had, God I had.

We gave each other a firm embrace.

"So… I'll see you after work for martini Thursday?" I said confident, this time not scolding myself for the opportunity to see her again.

Olivia grinned, "Absolutely, I'm there!"

I smiled.

I couldn't not smile.

I saw her in to a cab, before catching my own to my side of the city.

And I had yet to scold myself for the opportunity to see her again.

I'm not sure what kind of game my head is playing with my heart, but all I knew is how much I missed her and how much I wanted to see her again.