Sorry for the late update! Thanks for the terrific feedback from chapter 1 :).

This next chapter is A/O and set during "Ghost" which is two years before chapter 1 - kind of a prequel I suppose, it's been floating around in my head for a good few months.

Alex stood by the window gazing at the city lights "I missed the smell you know."

Olivia joined her by the window "the smell of garbage and diesel fumes?" she joked,

"I also missed your smell Liv..." Olivia glanced at the blonde as her stomach squirmed.

"Alex. I-"I'm seeing someone."

The silence became awkward.

"Sorry." Olivia added.

"No don't be sorry!" Alex said quickly "I shouldn't have been so forward."

Olivia smiled "I've never had a problem with your being forward. Drink?"

Alex nodded and turned back to the window, hiding her disappointment from the detective. she watched the reflection of Olivia move around the Hotel suite's kitchenette looking for glasses. she forced her gaze to the street below and attempted to get her thoughts in order. Olivia handed her the cool glass of wine and they moved to the lounges. The blonde chose the sofa while the brunette folded gracefully into the armchair. Olivia drew patterns in the condensation forming on the glass while thinking of what to say. In the first few months after Alex's sudden departure, this moment has been all Olivia wanted - fantasies are never awkward, she reflected bitterly.

"So..." Alex broke the uncomfortable silence; "what's her name?" she tried cheerfully,

"Oh. Uh Casey."

"...Casey Novak?"

"Yup..."

"My replacement?"

Olivia grinned sheepishly "I guess I have a type"

"Apparently so". Alex couldn't help smiling in return and the detective felt her chest constrict.

"did you see anyone after...you left?"

"there were a few guys, nothing serious. it's hard to be intimate when someone doesn't know your real name."

Olivia laughed and topped up their glasses.

The conversation became more relaxed as the wine disappeared.

Alex lay across the couch while Olivia rifled through the mini bar.

"we have...bourbon whiskey, rum, vodka, gin, regular whiskey and a champagne chaser."

"do you mind if I have the vodka?"

"Not at all ."

Olivia placed the small bottles on the coffee table . Alex's eyes flew open in surprise as Olivia grabbed her feet and swung them off the sofa so she could sit.

The two women spun the tops off their drinks and each took a swig. "Oh my God...:" Alex wheezed while Olivia opened the champagne and handed it to her laughing.

"We used to drink like this all the time! What happened?"

"Yes well if you remember I was sick as a dog after those nights drinking with you and Elliot."

"You won't be too sick tomorrow?"

"The smile fell from Alex's face and she took a long drink from the bottle "I don't care, I wouldn't have been able to sleep tonight anyhow."

Olivis placed a comforting arm around her shoulders as Alex wiped a hand across her eyes roughly; "anyway. Tell me about Casey."

Olivia smiled uncertainly "You a sure you want to know about her?"

"Of course Liv, if nothing else I'll always be your friend."

"Casey is.."

Olivia swept a hand through her hair and opened the whiskey, "The complete opposite to you, and I guess that's why I chose to be with her. "

Alex became acutely aware of how close they were on the sofa. Olivia's arm was still around her shoulders. Every point where the brunette was touching her became warm.

"Um. So she's a lesbian?" She managed.

"Yes."

"That must make it easier I guess,"

Olivia laughed "I guess."

They sat in silence.

Alex turned and felt the brunette kiss forehead. She lifted her head and met Olivia's lips with her own. Olivia felt heat in her groin for the first time in years and groaned as their kiss deepened. Alex shifted so she was on top of Olivia and ran her hands up the detective's toned stomach. Olivia arched her back obediently to allow Alex to pull her shirt off. It was soon evident the two-seater couch was too small for the 2 women, Olivia's neck was forced against the armrest to allow Alex access to her swollen nipples.

"This isn't working" she laughed breathlessly.

"Bed?"

"Yes."

Olivia covered her breasts with her hands shyly, making Alex's heart ache.

They sat side-by-side on the bed, again awkward. Alex took a deep breath and pulled Olivia to her for a passionate kiss. Olivia gently pushed Alex onto her back and straddled her leg - reveling in the feel of the blonde's tongue against her own, equally as insistent. She fumbled with Alex's fly and slipped a hand into her pants, groaning at the feel of her silky folds. Alex's eyes were narrowed in lust as she lifted her hips from the bed, pulled down her jeans and underwear to allow the detective to stroke her clitoris with long, slow strokes.

Alex bit her lip and moaned as Olivia lightly rubbed her, and cried out when she thrust two fingers deep inside causing the blonde to become wet once again. Olivia curled her fingers inside Alex, she felt the spasms indicating her lover was climaxing and pushed as deeply as she could - rewarded with the familiar clenching around her fingers. The blonde pulled Olivia's mouth back to her own and whispered breathlessly "I love you..."

The brunette looked into Alex's face and replied "I love you too."

"You ok?"

The detective lifted her head from Alex's breast and nodded "Yeah. I'm ok actually."

"Not...feeling guilty?"

Olivia moved an arm to support her head; "do you want me to feel guilty?"

"Of course not." She squirmed under Olivia's gaze, her face unreadable.

"Do you love Casey?" Alex whispered.

Olivia rolled onto her back and frowned in thought "I do love her."

She look a deep breath and continued: "But not the way I love you."

Alex felt tears start in her eyes and glanced away. The brunette's fingers guided her back to make eye contact.

"There's never been anyone else for me Al, you know that."

They kissed gently. Olivia could taste the salty tears on Alex's lips, her tongue flicked lightly against them. The blonde responded to the signal and touched her own tongue to the detective's. She felt Olivia's wetness against her thigh and groaned softly - smiling inwardly at the pressing response spreading across her flesh.

Dawn broke.

Olivia's alarm bleeped insistently and the two women stirred. Olivia woke first, and wondered why she had such a feeling of dread around her heart. She glanced over at the blonde and remembered with a sigh: today Alex was going back into witness protection.

Alex rolled over and smiled sadly at her lover; "time to get up?"

Olivia pulled her into a fierce embrace "If you ask me, I'll come with you..." She murmured chokingly .

"I would never ask you to do that." Alex kissed her neck and they held each other for several minutes before Olivia reluctantly sat up.

"I should shower."

"For Casey?" Alex finished bitterly, Olivia shot her a reproachful look and stalked out of the bedroom.

Alex felt ashamed and dressed slowly - hoping Olivia would return before she'd finished. With only make-up left to apply she knocked tentatively on the bathroom door and pushed it open to find Olivia still naked and towelling her hair. The blonde's breath caught - she stepped to the detective and trailed a finger down her wet chest.

"I'm sorry about before."

Olivia's gaze softened "that's alright."

Alex's eyes narrowed in lust as she drank in the sight of the slim athletic body, and pulled the brunette roughly against her.

Olivia struggled laughingly "Your clothes!" she protested.

"I don't care Liv," she breathlessly replied "I want you to fuck me."

Olivia became flushed. She allowed her hand to be guided under Alex's skirt, and felt her body respond to the damp panties her fingers pressed against.

They coupled frantically on the bathroom floor, on a carpet of damp clothes. After her shuddering climax, Alex regarded the red lines she had left marring Olivia's breasts with something like satisfaction; and reveled in the throbbing ache between her thighs from the brunette's rough thrusting.

Olivia checked her watch; "Fuck! We have to go to the courthouse right now!"

She grabbed her clothes from the floor and hurriedly pulled them on. Alex, feeling chastised, did the same - cringing as the damp material chafed her skin.

The cab ride was over to quickly. The driver pulled up in front of the courthouse steps, disturbing Alex from her thoughts. Olivia glanced around and furtively kissed the blonde one last time, before stepping out of the car. Alex prepared her cool exterior and followed suit. Any dismay she failed to hide would be taken as fear anyhow.