"No what I'm saying" Olivia said as they walked to the café "There is always more to the story. Victims tend to leave out some crucial information because they are afraid of being judged."
"What if that person doesn't want to share?" Rollins asked "How do you find the information out?"
"Then" Olivia started to say but stopped when she heard the laughter that she would know anywhere. It was the laughter that had haunted her dreams night after night since that fateful day seven years before. She looked around and felt her heart leap into her throat.
No more than three feet in front of her was Alexandra Cabot, the very woman she had avoided since the divorce, carrying a young girl on her shoulders that was nothing more but a younger version of herself. The happiness seemed to radiate off her and the smile she had lit up her whole face. To Olivia she was as beautiful now as she was the day she met her.
"Liv Liv are you ok?" Rollins asked noticing how the color seemed to drain from face.
"Yeah I'm sorry guess I zoned out for a second." Olivia said shaking herself internally "You know I don't care that much about the food here. There's another place just a block back that is so much better, would you rather eat there?"
Rollins looked around and tried to spot what it was that seemed to spook the seasoned detective. In the almost two years they had worked together she had never once seen Olivia scared or gun shy. Even on the heartbreaking case where she discovered the missing boy that she had been looking for for thirteen years she didn't have this look. Not finding anything but knowing that Olivia had good judgment she quickly agreed.
"Olivia?" Alex called out spotting the detective as she turned to walk away.
"Shit" Olivia muttered to herself as she closed her eyes and steeled herself for the moment she had dreaded since she signed the divorce paperwork.
"Alex" Olivia said pasting a smile on her face as she turned around "I didn't see you there. How have you been?"
"I've been good." She said as she helped the little girl off her shoulders and handed her to a brown haired woman "And you?"
"Been doing good, uh, I'm still with SVU." Olivia felt the urge to add.
"Please Olivia you will be there till you retire you and I both know that." Alex said with laughter. "Where's Elliot."
"Well Elliot retired about two years ago and seems to love every second of it."
"Wow I'm sorry I know how close you guys were." Alex said as she pulled Olivia into a tight hug. How many nights had she dreamed of running into Olivia just to hold her again, to feel the safety and love that she seemed to only feel with Olivia, a feeling that was a moot point now "Let me introduce you to my family."
"Sure" Olivia said as she turned to Rollins and spoke volumes with her eyes "Honey come here there's someone I want you to meet."
Rollins smiled as she walked up to Olivia and slid her hand into her open waiting hand. They had portrayed a couple before but that was for a case. Rollins could tell that this was personal and something that Olivia needed her to do. She gave a slight squeeze of Olivia's hand to let her know she was game.
"Alex I want you to meet Amanda Rollins." Olivia said as she returned the squeeze silently thanking her for what she was doing "She transferred to NYPD from Atlanta and we have been dating for close to two years. Amanda this is Alex Cabot."
"You always did have a thing for blondes." Alex said as she extended her hand to Amanda "Amanda it's a pleasure to meet you.'
"Likewise." Amanda said taking her hand and shaking it.
"Olivia Amanda I would like you to meet my wife, Christine and our daughter Madison." Alex said pulling the dark haired woman to her and picking up the little girl "Guys I would like you to meet Detective Olivia Benson and Amanda."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Christine said as she shook each woman's hand
"What else has been going on with you?" Olivia asked even though she knew every accomplishment that Alex had achieved since the divorce.
"It's been really good I was Bureau Chief for a while and was transferred back to SVU for a few months when Graylik was called back to the justice department. You weren't there where were you?"
"The FBI and Marshalls asked me to go undercover and assist them with a human trafficking case. I was with them for probably close to six months." Olivia informed her. Olivia didn't lie to her it was only a half truth. She had worked with the FBI and Marshalls but she had gone to them. She had gotten word that Alex was being reassigned to them. Even though at that moment it had been five years since the divorce she still couldn't face the blonde.
"When I asked Elliot he said he didn't know I figured he was keeping us separated."
"For once he wasn't" Again half lie "I literally had less than twenty four hours notice to decide and get moved into my identity. You know when it comes to that I don't think twice."
"You never did." Alex said remembering the many times that she would answer their door and Elliot stood there with a look on his face. How he would inform her that she had went undercover the second they asked when it pertained to children. She never really complained but had always wished that she had at least called and informed her not sent Elliot.
"Yeah when I made it back they said you went to Africa?"
"Yeah I had worked a case that shook me probably worse than the Cavanaugh case did. I joined what's called the International Criminal Court or ICC. They prosecute sex crimes in countries that use rape as a means of control."
"The international version of us "Olivia said laughing.
"Yeah guess you could say that." Alex said laughing as well. "What about you? Other than going undercover for the Marshalls or FBI what else have you been up too?"
"Since I am now senior detective in the squad, Munch transferred to cold case after a case really hit us hard back before thanksgiving, I have been privileged to not only work with and training a bunch of rookies.."
"Hey now." Amanda said as she playfully punched at Olivia.
"Honey you know you're excluded from that." Olivia whispered as she pulled Amanda close to her and kissed her on the temple
"Anyways as I was saying not only am I working with and training bunch of SVU rookies but I have been sent to Quantico numerous times for extensive training and sent to different Sex crimes conferences that is held nationwide."
"Guess you now do what Elliot used to do then."
"I do."
"Ladies I hate to interrupt" Christine said stepping forward 'But our table is ready. Would you ladies like to join us?"
"We would love too" Amanda said but knew that it was the last thing that Olivia wanted to do so she pulled her phone from her pocket and acted as if she was answering a text "But we just received a page for a case. We need to head back."
"Guess something's never change" Alex said wishing she could count on one hand how many dates were interrupted by her being called out.
"No they don't" Olivia said as she leaned forward and quickly hugged Alex "It was great to see you again. Congratulations on your family and we need to get together and catch up sometime."
"So dear want to fill me in on everything?" Amanda asked as they headed back in the direction they had came from.
"That is Alexandra Cabot my ex-wife." Olivia said fighting the tears that threatened to fall. "We meet when she was our ADA years ago. We fell in love almost instantly and seemed to have the picture perfect marriage and relationship until I came home one night and she asked me for a divorce."
"It's apparent that you still love her." Amanda said softly placing a hand on Olivia's arm to stop her once they were out of sight "What happened?"
"You know the same old story" Olivia said pulling her coat tighter against her "The job takes so much from you personally and professionally. When I got home I couldn't be the woman she needed and she finally had enough. We did what was best and divorced."
"Best for who you or her?" Amanda asked
"Her" Olivia said knowing that honesty was the best approach and the very least that Amanda deserved after all she had just played her girlfriend "She's happy that makes everything worth it."
"Meanwhile you suffer."
"The price we pay." Olivia said as she turned and started walking again "Listen thank you for just following along with everything. I can't repay you enough. If we ever run into her again we'll just tell her we broke up."
"What is the reason?" Amanda asked
"Job took too much again." Olivia said knowing that the was the oldest reason in the books for officers.
"No I think I will be the bitch on this one." Amanda said placing her hand on Olivia's shoulder "You don't always have to be the bad guy."
A/N: I want to thank everyone who read and reviewed this. You guys are awesome I truly thought this story wouldn't take. After all I did separate our two favorite women. I know everyone wanted this chapter to be about them rediscovering themselves and their love for one another but let's face it real life doesn't happen that way. The only thing that is real is that in a divorce one person still loves the other while that one has moved on.