A/N: Thank you for your response to this story. I planned for it to be a two shot but I'm thinking of adding one more chapter, maybe an epilouge. Let me know if you'd be interested. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Olivia smiled and let out a sigh "Hey I was starting to worry; you weren't answering your phone."

"Um yeah, I fell asleep. I guess I didn't hear it." Amanda lied, well partly lied. They stood there looking at one another for a moment "Would you like to come in?" As much as she knew it was going to hurt to have Olivia come in she just wanted a few more minutes alone with her. After this they would only be around each other at work and if she was lucky they may have a few minutes alone there too.

"I'd like that." Olivia said as she stepped into the apartment and Amanda closed the door behind her.

They stood there awkwardly for a moment "Would you like something to drink?" Olivia shook her head no. Amanda took a seat on the couch and looked down when Olivia took a seat on the opposite end. Amanda couldn't take the silence any longer and finally spoke "I appreciate your concern but you didn't have to come all the way over here just to check on me."

Olivia slid a little closer "Yes I did. I was worried and I wanted to be sure you were okay." She ran her fingers through her hair and Amanda scolded herself when she caught herself wishing she could run her fingers through the long locks. "I was also hoping we could talk tonight. That is if you're not too tired."

"No, no I'm fine." Amanda was already telling herself she wasn't going to cry. Her body froze when she felt Olivia take her hand. When she looked up she saw the same look in the brunette's eyes that she had seen the morning she thanked her for the flowers.

Olivia sighed before beginning "Amanda I wanted to talk to you about what has been going on between us."

Here it was, the let's be friends speech. Amanda couldn't bring herself to look at Olivia for fear of crying. She looked down before speaking "It's okay Olivia, really, I understand. I just want you to be happy. I can't offer you everything Eric can, and you deserve the world handed to you. All I can offer you is my heart." She was so caught up in trying to control her emotions she hadn't realized that Olivia had slid closer to her. She felt her breath catch when she felt Olivia place a gentle kiss to her cheek. It was the first time she'd ever felt Olivia's lips on her skin and she knew it was a feeling she would like have repeated. She slowly opened her eyes and gasped when she saw how close they were. "Olivia?"

Olivia had tears in her eyes "Amanda I've never wanted someone who could hand me the world. You giving me your heart would be the greatest thing I've ever received."

Amanda was afraid to jump to conclusions but it sounded as if Olivia was saying she was choosing her. "Olivia, what are you saying?"

Olivia smiled as a few tears slid down her face "I'm saying that I told Eric I couldn't be with him because I want to be with you."

Amanda was certain her heart had stopped "Me?" she whispered as Olivia nodded. She found her voice "You want to be with me?"

"I want to try." Olivia replied. She sighed and looked down "I'm not going to lie Amanda, it's going to be different for me but I want this. I'm going to have to take things slow."

Amanda couldn't help the grin that was spreading across her face "I don't mind at all Olivia. We can take things as slow as you like. You get to set the pace." She gently wrapped her arms around the older woman's shoulders and pulled her in for a loving hug. When they pulled back Amanda reached out to wipe Olivia's tears. She couldn't help but laugh.

"What?" Olivia asked as she wiped Amanda's tears.

"I just can't believe you chose me. I thought for sure you'd choose Eric."

"What makes you think that?" Olivia asked as they settled back against the couch but still holding hands.

Amanda blushed slightly "I was going crazy this evening wondering what you were going to do so I decided to take a little drive, which happened to go by your building." Olivia raised her eyebrows. "I know it sounds childish but I couldn't stand waiting. As I drove by I saw you get out of his sleek Mercedes while I was sitting there in my old truck. Then you two hugged and I nearly lost it. I thought for sure you had chosen him. I came home and crawled in bed and planned on staying there until Monday. I had cried myself to sleep and that's why I didn't get your messages."

"Checking up on me were you?" Olivia said with a playful grin.

Amanda playfully swat her on the leg. "What if I was?"

"Well," Olivia said as she laced her fingers with Amanda's, causing the blonde to smile even wider. "Since you were checking up on me you might as well know what was really happening. I spent the last several days thinking about what I wanted. Eric is a kind and caring person, and so are you but I just couldn't see myself with him. I still wasn't sure I could be with a woman, and I still worry I won't be what you need but I knew enough to know I want to try. If you must know the deciding factor was what you said the other day." Amanda looked confused. "When I thanked you for the flowers and said they were beautiful you smiled and said just like me. Amanda I've been told before by men, and a few women," Both ladies laughed. "That I was beautiful, but there was something in your eyes that shot straight to my heart. For the first time in my life I actually believed that the person telling me I was beautiful believed it and wasn't just saying it."

"Olivia you are beautiful, inside and out." Amanda raised their joined hands and kissed the back of Olivia's.

After sitting in silence for a bit Olivia spoke again "So how does this work?"

Amanda raised an eyebrow "How does what work? Are you referring to…" she trailed off giving Olivia a mischievous grin.

Olivia blushed "Um no, um I uh think I know how that works. Well actually I don't but I don't think I'm close to being ready for that."

Amanda laughed "I'm kiddin' Liv. We don't have to worry about that yet. Like I said earlier, you set the pace. We don't do anything you're not ready for."

"Are you sure you won't get tired of waiting?"

Amanda went out on a limb and raised a slightly trembling hand and pushed a few stray strands of hair from Olivia's face "As you well know usually I'm not a patient person," Olivia chuckled while nodding "However I am willing to wait however long you want me too. To me you're worth the wait."

"Thank you." Olivia whispered as she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Now to your question as to how this works." Amanda grinned as she gestured between them. "I think we need to start with me asking you out properly." She couldn't help but smile when Olivia smiled at her. She knew that she would do anything just to see that smile again. She turned sideways so they were facing one another a little better. "Olivia would you like to go to dinner with me?"

"I'd love to." She whispered.

They settled back on the couch as they talked about everything and nothing at the same time. Amanda had never felt so at home with someone as she did with Olivia. She began to feel sad however when Olivia looked at her watch. "Wow! I didn't realize it was this late, or early I guess I should say."

Amanda looked at her clock it was almost one am. "Yeah me neither." They stood and stared at one another for a moment. Amanda was dreading the end of their evening "You know you could always stay since it's so late."

Olivia's jaw dropped "Uh, Amanda. Um…"

Amanda laughed "I didn't mean like that. I told you no pressure. I just meant it's late and I would worry about you out there alone. If you want to stay you're more than welcome too. You could have my bed and I'd sleep out here on the couch."

Olivia closed her eyes for a second and looked at the floor. "I really want to but I think it would be best if I went home." Amanda had a sad yet understanding look. "It's not you Amanda, I promise. I trust you and I know that nothing would happen it's just I like how things have slowly progressed between us and if it's okay with you I'd like to continue that way. No one has ever taken their time with me and showed me how much they care. Most of the guys I've dated were mainly just trying to get me in bed, but you make me feel special and I like that."

"It's because you are special Olivia and I intend to show you that every day." She grinned "And though I'd love to get you in bed I want us to build a bond that would only be made stronger by being intimate with one another." She grinned as Olivia blushed but noticed there were tears in the detective's eyes as well. "Liv I'm sorry I didn't mean to go that far." Amanda suddenly found herself unable to breathe when Olivia pulled her into a tight yet loving embrace. Once she realized what was happening she wrapped her arms around the older woman and relaxed into her arms.

"Don't be sorry." Olivia said as she pulled back. Olivia shuddered slightly when she felt Amanda lightly running her hands up and down her back.

Amanda wasn't sure what had come over her but she continued to rub Olivia's back and prayed that it didn't scare her off. She closed her eyes and sighed when she felt Olivia's thumbs rubbing little circles on the small of her back. Amanda found herself getting lost in the beautiful brown eyes but was quickly pulled to the present when Olivia spoke. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I said I really need to be going."

"Okay." The blonde waited a moment before speaking again. "You're not on call this weekend are you?" Olivia shook her head no "I'm not either, so would you like to go to dinner this evening?"

Olivia smiled "I would like that very much."

"Good." Amanda said with a smile "So I'll call you later today." Olivia nodded again. Amanda wasn't sure if what she was about to do would be the wrong thing but she couldn't help herself. She leaned in and pressed a light kiss to the brunette's cheek. She pulled back and looked at Olivia; she hadn't run so Amanda took that as a good sign. Amanda felt as if there was suddenly an energy in the room that she couldn't explain. She knew what she wanted to do and apparently Olivia did as well. Amanda didn't see any resistance in the older woman's eyes so she leaned in and lightly brushed their lips together. It lasted only a second but Amanda knew in that second she didn't want to kiss anyone else ever again.

She looked Olivia in the eye and breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't see any regret. "I'm sorry, was that okay?" she whispered.

"Um, yeah, it was okay." Olivia grinned a little "Actually it was more than okay. It was nice."

"It was very nice."

"Nice enough to try again?" Olivia was blushing slightly but smiling at the same time.

"Definitely." Amanda replied as she pressed her lips fully against Olivia's. Her eyes slowly fluttered closed when she felt Olivia begin kissing her back. It was slow and gentle and Amanda was sure she'd never been kissed the way she was being kissed at the moment. As much as she hated to she finally pulled back when her lungs were screaming for air. She opened her eyes and stared into Olivia's, she couldn't help but smile at the dazed look. "Wow!" Amanda said as she tried to catch her breath.

"Yeah wow." Olivia replied struggling as well to catch her breath.

Amanda knew there was something about that kiss and judging by the look in the brunette's eyes she had felt it too. They were still wrapped in each other's arms and neither could bring themselves to let go.

Olivia finally took a half step back "Okay I really need to get going."

Amanda began to slowly release her hold on the older woman "I know. I'm not thrilled about it but I understand." She let her hand slide down Olivia's arm finally taking her hand in her own. "So I'll call you later and let you know our plans for dinner."

"I can't wait." Olivia replied with a genuine smile.

"Promise you'll let me know as soon as you make it home?" Amanda asked as she placed her free hand on the door knob.

"Promise."

Amanda couldn't help herself and leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on Olivia's lips. Amanda felt her heart rate increase at the feel of Olivia's lips on her own, Olivia had the softest lips she'd ever kissed. She only hoped she'd get to kiss them more often. "Goodnight Liv." Amanda said as she opened the door.

"Goodnight."

Amanda watched the brunette until she turned the corner at the end of the hall. She walked back in and after securing the door went to her room and collapsed on her bed. She pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. She lay there for a moment thinking about what had happened over the last couple hours. In the span of one evening her life had gone from thinking she was losing the woman she was sure she was falling for to kissing that same woman. Amanda squealed as she thought about their first kiss "I kissed Olivia Benson!" She continued to think about what had transpired that evening while she waited to hear from Olivia. She couldn't help the smile on her face when her phone buzzed with a text from Olivia.

Made it home safe. Still thinking about you. Can't wait for this evening! Liv

Amanda texted a quick reply before settling into bed trying to decide where to take Olivia for their first date. She ran her hand through her hair; she had a date with Olivia. It was a dream come true. She looked at the pillow on the other side of the bed and imagined what it would be like to see Olivia lying next to her. She shook the thought from her mind. If she continued to think about things like that it would become even harder for her to wait until Olivia was ready. She knew she may have to wait a while for Olivia, but she knew it would be well worth the wait. She began drifting off to sleep with the feeling that her life was about to change forever, and in the best way possible.