The Warmth You Give
By: Liv-x-Lex4Ever & livsgirl
Chapter 2: Playing Favorites
"Aww, baby." Olivia caressed her cheek. "I think our few more minutes turned into much longer, so as much as I hate to leave you here all alone, I really need to get redressed and finish those papers. You wouldn't mind grabbing me a coffee and something for breakfast would you?" she said, sitting up and pulling on her clothes.
"Anything in particular you want?' Alex asked watching how each one of Olivia's muscles contracted and released with her movements.
"Hmm, waffles sound good," she said, redoing her belt, fastening her badge to it as well as her gun, before walking back over to kiss her. "Don't forget to take the equipment with you. The last thing we need is for Munch to find it. You know what he's like."
"Oh God," Alex said as she could just imagine the conspiracy theories that he could come up with using that as evidence. "What would the rest of the guys like?"
"Sandwiches, coffee," she said, handing her clothes to her.
"I'll be back shortly with breakfast for the family," Alex said as she took her clothes and began to re-dress.
Olivia stood behind her, her back against the wall. "Lookout," she claimed.
"I can handle them," Alex said as she leaned back against Olivia enjoying the feel of her body against hers. Amazed as always at how well they fit together.
Olivia wrapped her arms around her, fitting her head on her shoulder. "I know, but after everything, I-I just want to protect you."
"Which is one of many reasons why I love you."
Olivia sighed, releasing her and walking downstairs, sitting at her desk and continuing to write up her paperwork.
Alex quickly made her way out of the precinct and to the diner where the team usually got their breakfast and lunch from. If they were honest, often where they got every meal from if they were on a major case where they never got to go home.
She found the waitress who she knew usually waited on them when they arrived. She informed her she wanted the detectives' normal to go. They quickly got her what they needed and she was back in route to the precinct.
"As requested my lady," Alex said as she set Olivia's on her desk. "And here is everyone else's."
"Thank you. I suppose you have to go now?"
"Actually, I thought we could have some breakfast together," she said pulling her bag from the others "Unless you'd rather I go home?"
Olivia shook her head, pulling a chair over beside her as she finished up her paperwork. "So tomorrow?"
"Honey, I was just telling you that. I can't wait to marry you," Alex said as she reached out and held Olivia's hands with hers, "it doesn't have to be tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year. Just let me know that it will be someday."
"But I want it to be," she said, kissing her hand. "You never know, especially in this line of work. Please?"
"Are you sure?" Alex asked and for a second there was scared that Liv had changed her mind.
Olivia pulled Alex close. "Yes, I'm sure I want it to be tomorrow. I'd have to be crazy not to want to do it right away."
"You said it, I didn't," Alex said, laughing. "What about the guys? Do you want to tell them?"
Olivia took a sip of coffee. "Do you want to? Do you think we should?"
"I believe so, if not some of the newer guys, then definitely Fin, Munch, and Cragen."
"Or we could wait for everyone to get here and tell them together." Olivia dug in the back of the top drawer, sticking something in her pocket. "I love you," she kissed Alex's cheek.
"I love you too," Alex said smiling. "Mind telling me what you just snuck in your pocket."
Olivia bit her lip. "You'll find out. Just wait."
"You know, if I didn't love you so much I would interrogate you like a suspect on the stand right?"
Olivia nodded. "Yes, but just wait. I promise you won't be disappointed."
Alex tucked her hair behind her ear just right then gave Olivia the perfect pouty look that has managed to let her get her way for years now. "But you know I hate surprises."
Olivia pulled a half pout, squeezing her jaw. "I know," she whined, "but trust me, if I thought you would hate it…Hey wait a second," she took her hand and pulled her up and to the front of her desk. "Close your eyes."
"Olivia," Alex said with a warning tone.
"Come on, please?" she whined.
"I swear woman, if I didn't love you so much," Alex mumbled as she complied with Olivia's request.
Olivia smiled, taking Alex's left hand, getting on one knee and taking the ring from her pocket. "Okay, open them."
"Liv," Alex whispered as tears sprung to her eyes.
"Alex, a lot of time between us has been spent here. From coffee and donuts to asking for warrants and, of course, our legendary arguments. It's been over 10 years, but I look at you and I see the bright, young, sophisticated, crusader of justice that I saw on the first day you arrived. And we've disagreed on many subjects, now I've realized that no matter what happens in my life I want you right there with me. Your smile, your laughter, tears if we must," she cleared her throat, "Alex Cabot, will you marry me?"
"Yes. Yes," Alex whispered pulling Olivia up to her and kissing her.
Olivia wrapped her arms around her, kissing her as she slid the ring on Alex's finger. "I love you."
"I love you too," Alex whispered as she held her close "I love you too."
Olivia smiled, holding her tightly as she rested her head on Alex's shoulder. "Now what should we do?"
"Call a judge and get married before you decide to change your mind," Alex said with laughter in her voice. She knew no matter what that Olivia was there to stay.
Olivia kissed her again. "No, because I'm never changing my mind."
"Honey, I'm putting the ball in your court. Tell who you want to tell when you want to tell them. Ok?"
Olivia nodded. "Okay, but I still think it might be easiest to tell Cragen, then Fin and Munch, then Rollins and Amaro. Are you going to help? At least be there?"
"Every step of the way that you want me there."
The detective smiled again. "What time is it anyway? Actually, my phone says about 6:15, but, more importantly, how do you think it will be taken?"
"Honestly, I think everyone will be happy Liv," Alex said, leaning against Olivia's desk as she had done so many times before "Cragen, Fin, and Munch, who have known you the longest, will be happy that you have finally settled down. Amaro and Rollins who knows and honestly who cares? The only ones that matter in this equation are me and you."
Olivia nodded. "Yeah, it just seems weird, but I'm probably picking at the wound that hasn't even had a chance to heal. I mean, sure, the team is stronger, wiser, but..." she sighed.
"But what?"
"Like I said," Olivia replied, sitting in her chair again, "I'm picking at wounds that haven't even healed. He's the one that should be here, to nag, to make jokes and just when I've finally gotten things in order... I'm over thinking this, aren't I?"
"I believe so," Alex said turning to face Olivia and taking her hands in hers. "Why not call him? Honey, he was a big part of your life, my life, for that matter. Take the initiation and call him. Give him the chance to rag you about finally getting with me."
"Yeah, but it's way too early now. I doubt he'd want me to wake the entire house."
"Probably not, but there is this afternoon and see if him and Kathy would like to come over for dinner or maybe a night out?"
"A night out might be just what I need," Olivia said.
"I agree. To be honest with you, it needs to be you and him so you two can hash everything out. You know how you guys are. You two will let everything fester then have an all out fight and after that you guys are fine. That needs to happen here."
"Here?" Olivia asked. "In the precinct? Or alone?"
"That's up to the two of you to decide."
She sighed. "I don't know how anything is going to go. I'd rather have you with for support," Olivia said.
"Then I'll be there every step of the way with you. Just let me know. Honey, you know I have never once tried to crowd you or anything to that effect."
Olivia nodded. "I know. It's just...we didn't leave on the best terms. He just...left. Left me. With no explanation."
"I know, but deep down you know and understand why he left. He lasted ten years past a typical tour of duty for SVU. You've lasted twelve years past a typical tour. At some point, enough is enough and you have to leave. Especially taking the life of a young girl. That was the final straw for him."
Olivia nodded again. "Yes, but I still don't agree with the way he went about it. At least you had the decency to say goodbye, no matter how much it hurt."
Alex just nodded as she pulled Olivia to her. She knew that Elliot had hurt her more than she let on. Hell she was willing to bet that his stunt hurt just as much if not more than her time in Witness Protection and then impromptu trip to the Congo.
Olivia rested her head in the crook of Alex's neck, taking in her scent. "Even though I didn't know if I would ever see you again after you were shot, you said goodbye. I knew you had to leave for your safety, but...it still killed me. I'd lie awake wondering if you were alive, but I never told anyone else that, not even Elliot."
"He knew," Alex whispered. "He mentioned to me how worn out and exhausted you always looked after I left. He figured out it was because you were up over me."
"He knew? He never said anything to me," the brunette whispered. "It might've helped if he had."
"He kept your secrets just as well as you kept his. If you never spoke of it, he figured you had no desire to talk about it. You're not the easiest person to get to open up."
Olivia chuckled. "And you would know, though you're more stubborn than me."
"No, my love, you are in a class all your own there," Alex said laughing.
"Maybe, but you're still pretty stubborn," Olivia said, nestling into her embrace more. "Though I love that about you."
"Great fights make wonderful make up sex," Alex whispered in her ear. "Why do you think I'm so stubborn with you?"
Olivia smiled. "Yeah, that's true. Remind me of that tonight," she said with a smirk.
"I'll think about it," Alex said looking up and seeing Fin step off the elevator. "Looks like the guys are starting to arrive."
Olivia nodded, sighing. "And it's too late to pretend it's nothing, but still, let's wait for everybody. Can you stay?"
"I can," Alex answered, giving Olivia's hand a squeeze.
Olivia moved to sit behind her desk, gesturing for Alex to pull up a chair as the others entered. She finished up the last bit of paperwork. "Hey," she whispered to Alex, "you took the items out of here, didn't you?"
"When I went to get breakfast, although, I would love to hear Munch's conspiracy theories on those."
"The sad thing is, he would probably be right on some of them," she said with a laugh, resting a shaky hand on Alex's thigh.
"Whatever you do, don't tell him he's right," Alex whispered back as she smiled at everyone who was entering the bull pen. "It's not too late to change your mind?"
"On what?" the detective asked. "I'm not taking the ring back, never. Hey uh, can you wait out here for a minute?" Olivia asked, swallowing hard, she reached for Alex's hand for support as she stood up, her eyes begging for her help.
Alex's eyes connected with Fin's and it seemed as if she was having a silent conversation with him while entwining her fingers with Olivia's.
Realizing it wasn't right to put this kind of pressure on Alex, Olivia spoke, though barely slow enough for anyone to understand. "Alex-and-I have-been-dating-for-three-years-and-I-just-asked-her-to-marry-me," Olivia said all in one breath, exhausted and leaning on Alex.
"Liv, the dating we knew about," Fin said smiling. "Hell, we are detectives and congratulations. It's about time you made an honest woman out of her."
"Honest?" Olivia asked. "Come on, she couldn't be more honest if she tried!" Olivia said, laughing.
"True, but you know what I mean. About time you put a ring on it because if you didn't step up soon, I may have had to step up and show you how."
Olivia scoffed. "Trust me, you don't know her. He doesn't, right?" she asked Alex. "Just for clarification."
"No, he doesn't," Alex said trying her best not to double over from laughter. "You're cute when you're jealous."
Olivia pulled a partial pout and then laughed, holding Alex upright. "It's fair to ask. Guess you need to go now?"
"I do," Alex said as she quickly kissed Olivia on the cheek. "Call me if we can do lunch."
Olivia nodded, quickly kissing the blonde's opposite cheek. "Hey Alex? Check with Liz for oh...about five tonight, please?" She knew, in reality, most people would wait – traditionally – six months, but she didn't want to wait that long to call her ADA officially hers. Besides, they had known each other for over years, what more was there to learn?
Author's Note: What do you think? This has been changed into a three-shot story.
Yes, Just Out of Reach & Taking Care will be updated soon, sometime this week.
Reviews Thanks to: Ockham's razor, tummer22, batpiggy, Himenokowaishumi, mika, janeye, peterpeter, Bkwrmchar, rookie802 & Guest
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Liv-x-Lex4Ever & livsgirl