Olivia and Elliot had found out that Cory had been the one supplying the cocaine at the party and he hadn't come forward to say he had witnessed a part of the rape because the perp had threatened to drop him in it for the cocaine and as he had two priors for drugs he would have been sent down. Cory got his immunity and would be at the precinct the next morning to give his full statement which meant Olivia and Elliot got to leave early.
"Wanna ride home?" Elliot asked as Olivia pulled on her jacket, Bayard was waiting for her downstairs.
"I'm good." Olivia smiled. "Thanks."
"You sure?" Elliot asked, he hated the thought of her walking Manhattan's streets alone after what they saw day in day out.
"I'm sure El, really I have plans so I'll see you tomorrow." She smiled before he nodded content with her answer and left her to stall, making sure he had time to leave before she met Bayard out in the front, she wasn't ready to tell her partner about her relationship just yet.
"Did I hear you tell Stabler you had plans baby girl?" Fin asked as Olivia dug through her purse.
"Yeah why?" She frowned, she knew he would question her now.
"Oooo Benson's got a hot date!" Fin smirked.
"What?" She asked laughing, typical Fin, she thought.
"Oh come on, you refuse a lift which you rarely do and then say you have 'plans'." He used his hands for the effect of inverted commas. "That means hot date."
"No way Fin I'd love to know how you come up with these things." Olivia smiled as she shook her head.
"Come on Liv I ain't the conspiracy nut around this place, he is…" He pointed towards Munch. "But you're stalling which means the person you're going on a date with is hanging around and you don't want Stabler to see you with him…"
"That's insane, I'm going to say goodnight fella's because you're insinuations are way off Tutuola." She smirked before walking off just catching the men's echoing cries of good night.
Bayard was waiting outside just below the steps, she smiled at him as he smiled up at her.
"So where are we headed?" She asked as she arrived by his side and he hailed a cab.
"Well seeing as you didn't say anything when I called it a date I booked us a table at one of my favourite dinners …" Olivia was about to interrupt to say she wasn't dressed for anywhere like that but he shook his head and smiled stopping her with his hand. "It's not somewhere you get dressed up for but it is busy and you do need to book a table so I thought I would." He explained and Olivia nodded, satisfied with his answer.
"So what's this place called?" She asked as they climbed into a cab.
"Romeo's." He smirked as Olivia laughed, typical, she thought.
"So are you my Romeo tonight councillor?" She asked teasingly.
"If you'll let me be Detective." He joked back making her laugh again.
His breath hitched in his throat every time she laughed, it was such a beautiful sight and sound and it captivated him, he didn't know why, he knew Detective Benson was a very attractive woman, many male and some female defence attorneys had mentioned it in the past but he didn't just find her beauty attractive he saw inside her, and his heart was captured by the inner beauty he saw shining through every time she worked a case. He knew she was passionate and dedicated as he'd seen it himself and they were just two of her qualities that he found as captivating as the next.
At the restaurant they both ordered burgers and chips, Olivia could see what he meant by not being a formal restaurant, in fact it was just a diner so he was surprised that reservations had to be made for such a place, Bayard said it was because the food was that good.
While they waited for their food and sipped at their soda's Bayard began talking about his own past hoping that maybe it would help Olivia open up to him.
"Both my parents died in a car crash when I was twenty four." He told her and just from that he could see the empathy coming from her beautiful brown eyes. "I'd not long finished law school when it happened, I have no siblings and no family at all left if I'm honest but I've never been bothered by it."
Olivia didn't know what to say, she could have said she knew how he felt but it didn't seem appropriate because in all honesty she didn't know how he felt, she'd had a drunk for her mother and had just found out a little more about her rapist father, he obviously had loving parents, that was obvious as their ghost danced in his eyes when he talked about them.
"So have you thought much more about your father?" He asked as their food was placed in front of them.
"Uh Simon was at the precinct when I got back from coffee." She told him.
He tried to hide his surprise but failed making Olivia smile.
"He said he's been to see his Mom but she has an illness so her memory's gone but apparently when he told her about me she told him that our Dad watched me, he knew about me, he … he told her he'd find me and someday I'd know the truth." Olivia explained shakily.
"What's been going through your mind since Olivia?" He asked softly, it was obvious she hadn't stopped thinking about it since she'd seen Simon.
"I've been thinking that maybe my Mom wasn't raped or maybe she lied to me in some way about him." She sighed, she felt guilty saying it out loud.
"I don't think there's anything wrong in feeling like that Olivia, I mean, I'm no psychiatrist but I think they're normal things to be thinking." He explained.
She smiled at him, he was so caring and gentle, she'd never met anyone like him in her life.
"I guess." She smiled.
"Did he say anything else?" He asked wanting to keep the conversation going while she was feeling like being open, he knew Olivia could close off quickly.
"Yeah he wants me to meet his Mom, gave me her address and told me he'd informed the carer that I might be by to visit." She replied trying to hide her uncertainty.
"Are you going to?" He continued.
"Maybe." She shrugged. "I need to really think about it because I don't want to start something or find things out that I'm not ready to find out."
"You're a wise woman Olivia and I'm sure you'll do what you think is right for you." He smiled reassuringly at her, his brown eyes latching onto hers.
She smiled, he was influencing her without even trying it frightened her how he affected her but at the same time it excited her.
The next morning Olivia was still smiling about her date with Bayard, he'd walked her to the front of her apartment block arm in arm with her and then kissed her cheek before saying goodnight and parting.
She'd never met anyone like him, he'd behaved like a perfect gentleman, he'd not tried to go to her apartment, he'd shared parts of his life with her, he'd supported her when she opened up to him, he'd treated her in a way she thought women were only treated in books and movies.
When she walked into the bullpen she saw a bouquet of blood red roses on her desk.
"Good night?" Fin asked as she picked up the card.
"Yeah thanks." She smiled as she took the card from the small envelope.
Olivia,
Thank you for a wonderful evening, can we do it again tonight? I'll pick you up at eight, dress up!
Bayard x
She grinned, she felt like a love struck teenager.
"Ok anyone who can make Benson grin like that needs to be introduced to the three protective big brothers!" Fin grinned cheekily.
"Shut up." She laughed as she picked up her phone.
To: Bayard
Message: I'll see you at eight, Olivia x
Once she had clicked the send button she put the card in her purse and placed her phone back in her pocket, she wouldn't have admitted it out loud but she was very much looking forward to the evening.
Elliot walked into the bullpen half an hour later, he saw the flowers adjourning Olivia's desk and smiled at her, she was visibly happy and he wondered if it was anything to do with her brother, but then her brother wouldn't send her red roses… whatever it was he was pleased to see her happy.
"Elliot come on we have to go and pick up Morgan Freeman." Olivia said grabbing her coat. "I'll buy you coffee on the way…" She teased as she knew he hated having to leave the precinct without a coffee in his system.
"I'll buy if you tell me who sent you the roses." He teased.
"Why?" She frowned as they walked towards the exit, she wasn't ready to tell Elliot anything about Bayard in case they just stayed friends, but a second date meant it was promising.
"Because I need to make sure he's clean." Elliot replied.
"Elliot…" She said in a warning tone.
"Oh come on Liv I run all your boyfriends through the system." He shrugged.
"I know but I promise you that you won't find anything on this one ok?" She smiled, she loved it when the men she worked with got all overprotective over her, it made her laugh a little on the inside.
"Why is he a cop? Because I'll get Cragen to pull up his jacket." Elliot smirked.
"No he isn't a cop El, please just drop it ok?" She wanted to tell him so much but at the same time she didn't and she wasn't sure how long she'd be able to keep it in if he kept badgering her.
"Ok, for now I'll drop it." He smiled, he just wanted to look out for her but he also understood she deserved her privacy.
The rest of the day went without a hitch, Morgan Freeman confessed to which Olivia had text Bayard to let him know his client was in the clear for the drugs and then she'd been able to leave the precinct at six pm to get washed and dressed for her date.
She now sat in front of her mirror slipping a pair of dangly diamante earrings to finish off her look. She was wearing a simple little navy blue dress, it had a decent neckline showing just about enough cleavage but was definitely modest, it had short sleeves and a lighter blue thin belt just on the waist. Her hair had been brushed and hung loosely on her shoulders in its natural waves, and she'd put a straightening iron through her bangs. She felt feminine with a little more make up on than she wore to work but not enough to be considered too much. As the buzzer went she was grabbing her perfume bottle and she sprayed it as she walked to the intercom.
"Yeah?"
It's Bayard.
"Come up." She smiled to herself as she opened her door so he could walk inside.
She ran into her bedroom to finish getting ready as Bayard came up and into her flat.
As soon as he walked inside he was hit with the smell of her perfume, he'd spent all day yesterday thinking about that smell so he instantly recognised it, it was almost as if it hypnotised him.
She rushed out of her bedroom pulling on a light blue pair of Jimmy Choos, they were four inches with a strap back and peep toe that she'd paid nearly seven hundred dollars for, a bargain in her eyes.
His eyes raked over her, for the first time he felt like it was ok to look as she leant over the table to grab her matching clutch purse.
"Ok I'm ready." She smiled as she pulled her keys from her purse.
"You look amazing." He smiled as he hooked his eyes onto hers.
"Thank you, you sure scrub up well too." She smiled feeling her cheeks turning a bright red as she blushed under his compliment.
He just smiled, he'd never seen Olivia blush before but the rosy tint to her cheeks looked adorable and as they left he hoped he could continue to make her eyes sparkle the way they had when he'd complimented her.
The meal had gone well, they'd laughed, they'd eaten, they'd drunk and they'd kept the conversation light and not serious and they both felt great when they left the restaurant. Bayard once again walked Olivia home, he would never have let her walk alone and as her apartment wasn't far from the restaurant he didn't see the point in calling a taxi.
"Will you or would you like to come up for coffee?" Olivia asked when they arrived outside her block.
"Yeah I'd like that." Bayard smiled, it was only half ten at night there was no point calling it a night yet.
Once they were upstairs Olivia kicked off her shoes and switched the kettle on before slipping out her earrings and pulling her hair back into a scruffy ponytail. She quickly made the coffee and they both sat down comfortably either side of the couch.
"You have a nice place here." He commented still keeping the conversation light.
"Thank you, it's not much but its home." She replied glancing around the room.
The quiet that surrounded them was not uncomfortable and lasted several minutes before Bayard spoke up.
"Have you thought much more about meeting Simon's mother?" He asked.
"Yeah." She replied as she stared into her mug, her finger tracing the outline.
"And?" He pressed.
"I want to meet her, see if she can remember anything else but …" She sighed heavily. "I'm scared to hear what she has to say."
"Olivia…" Bayard reached over and took her hand. "This decision is yours too make but if you want to meet her, I'll be there by your side if you want me too." He told her as he looked deep into her eyes.
She looked back at him, she had no doubts that he was being honest with her.
"Thank you." She whispered without looking away from his eyes.
He smiled softly and placed his now empty mug on the coffee table before sitting a little more upright, Olivia did the same then he took her hand again.
"I think you're a very strong woman Olivia, whatever you chose to do I'm here for you." He said and she smiled softly, she'd never heard anyone speak like this with her before and it surprised her, excited her and most importantly terrified her.
She barely saw it coming to react, he leant forwards and softly latched his lips onto hers. They were soft, the kiss was tender and as it broke apart she realised she didn't want it to so she cupped one hand to his cheek and returned the kiss, deepening it just enough so she could taste him before pulling away, she didn't want to push this too fast too soon.
He smiled at her and she smiled back, she hadn't expected that and she hadn't expected her own reaction.
"I should head home." He said softly but it was obvious to Olivia he didn't want to leave yet.
"Yeah. Thank you for tonight, I really enjoyed myself." She smiled.
"Tomorrow night?" He asked gently.
"As long as work doesn't get in the way I'd like that." She smiled trying to hide her excitement.
"I'll text you the details." He smiled as she walked him to the door.
He turned to her and placed a gentle kiss on her lips cupping her cheek in his hand. She rubbed her face into the tough worked hands, enjoying the tingle her skin felt under his touch.
"Good night." He whispered.
"Good night." She replied as he pulled away.
She watched him walk to the stairs and look at her with a smile on his face before she closed the door relishing in how well the night had gone with Ellis.