A/N:Glad you're still enjoying this. Thanks for feedback. Still moving slow, but progressing.


STORM COMING

Alex woke up early the next morning. It had taken her longer than usual to fall asleep because she was thinking about her evening with Olivia and Noah.

Of course, she'd had a good time getting reacquainted with an old friend, but there was something more than that. She thought about how easy it was for them to fall back into their casual banter or even to talk about serious things. Alex didn't have many friends like that, but had always appreciated that about Olivia.

Seeing Olivia with Noah, though, brought out this entirely new side of her. Alex always knew Liv wanted to be a mother, and knew she would be great at it. She was so protective of victims. But watching her gentleness with Noah, the smile the boy put on Olivia's face, blew Alex away. Olivia was finally happy, at least mostly. Alex knew she deserved it, too. After everything she had been through – her rapist father, her mother's addiction, the things she experienced working SVU, William Lewis, losing a squad member – Olivia Benson deserved happiness more than anyone Alex knew.

As Alex sipped her coffee, still in her robe and thumbing through the newspaper, she tried not to think of what Olivia had meant to her at one point in their lives. How head-over-heels she had been for the young Detective Benson. How, even after her return to SVU after witness protection, even the more seasoned detective knew just how to push every one of her buttons and still make Alex weak in the knees.

Love? Alex wasn't sure about that. But had she not been such a coward about being openly gay when she was younger, she would have pursued it and found out. Now was different, though. Alex hadn't had a reason to publicly broadcast her sexuality, but she wasn't afraid of it anymore, of what it would do to her career. She no longer cared.

But if there had ever been anything between Olivia and her, Alex figured that window had long since closed. And even if Alex felt Olivia was the kind of person who would be open to dating a woman, recent history had established her has straight. That wasn't something Alex wanted to fight with.

Alex finished her coffee and pushed the thoughts from her head. It was all crazy thoughts anyway. She'd seen Olivia twice in the past two years. Catching up was great, but she assumed when they returned to the city, life would go back to like it was before – two women who could have had something a long time ago, going about their separate lives in a city of more than 8 million.

#

"Ok, Noah, don't wander too far away," Olivia said. "I don't want you too close to the water unless I'm there with you."

"Ok, Mommy," Noah said, scooping sand in his pail and finding a spot next to Olivia's blanket.

"We'll go splash in the water in just a little while," Olivia said.

Noah didn't look up, he just kept his head down, focused on moving sand from one pile to another pile three inches away.

Alex had texted and said she was running a few minutes later, so Olivia grabbed one of the books she had packed. She anticipated Alex would be late. It was something about the ADA only people who spent time with her outside of work knew about her – she was always late. Maybe not always, but often enough it had become a joke between them. Olivia had even been known to tell Alex to meet her 15 minutes earlier than she needed to so that when Alex got there about 10 minutes later, they would still be on time for the movies or a dinner reservation.

Alex was never late at work and definitely not to court. But outside of the office, Olivia could always expect Alex to run about 10 to 15 minutes behind, usually with a phone call and good excuse, though.

Olivia was a few pages deep in her when she heard Noah's voice.

"Lex!" he yelled to Olivia.

Olivia turned her head saw Alex walking toward her in a bright blue bikini, a sheer cover-up over top of it. The brunette didn't even notice that her jaw had dropped several inches as she took in the beauty of Alex – even at "almost 50." Of course, the smile that ran across Alex's face from ear to ear on hearing Noah yell her name was the final nail in the coffin for Olivia.

"Sweet Jesus," Olivia muttered to herself, then tried to regain her composure.

"Hey, Noah, Olivia," Alex said. "I'm sorry I'm running late."

"I'm building sand castle," Noah said, pointing to the mounds of sand below him.

"I see that," Alex said. "You look like you're doing a good job, too."

Noah returned to his building and Olivia grinned before looking at her watch, then up at Alex.

"11:10," Olivia said. "I see somethings haven't changed."

"Hey! I'll have you know I was early last night," Alex said. "I've gotten…betterish."

Olivia chuckled. "So, what was the excuse this time?"

"I uh, got distracted and time slipped away," Alex said. "No good excuse this time."

"Uh huh," Olivia said.

Alex had been distracted, but it was less that time slipped away and more that she spent it trying to figure out what to wear. She put on the blue bathing suit, then though maybe she should wear a one-piece suit, after all, she wasn't trying to impress Olivia or anyone else. Low-key was good.

She put on the one-piece black bathing suit, but had forgotten how had some padding in the breast area, making her breasts look much bigger than they were. That wasn't the message she wanted to send either.

Then she changed into a tank top and shorts. She just wouldn't get in the water. That would be completely fine, she thought. But then she remembered Olivia saying how much Noah loved the water. She knew he'd want to get in, and if he asked her to come in, she didn't want to spend the afternoon in wet clothes, or not get in and let the boy down.

Eventually, she returned to the blue suit. It would be what she would wear if she was going to the beach alone, so it's what she should wear. She didn't want to put too much effort into her attire, even though she'd spend the better part of 45 minutes doing just that.

Alex took a seat in the beach chair next to Olivia and pulled out her Kindle. Olivia gave her a strange look.

"I would have never pegged you for a Kindle girl," Olivia said. "What happened to 'I just love the feel and smell of real books?'"

Alex shook her head. "I do, but you know I'm also very indecisive about what I want to read," she said. "The older I get, the less inclined I am to carry around half a dozen books with me when I go away. Besides, I can increase the text on the Kindle screen."

"That would be helpful," Olivia said. "I'm struggling between the need to keep my reading glasses on and put on my nonprescription sunglasses."

"What book are you reading?" Alex asked, nodding to the book in Olivia's hand.

"Against All Odds," Olivia said. "It's the new Danielle Steele book."

"Wait. Stop," Alex said quickly. "Olivia Benson. Lieutenant Olivia Benson reasons Danielle Steele books? Cheese romance novels? Am I hearing this right?"

"Oh, shut up," Olivia said. "We all have our vices. But, in the case of these books, I always buy the new one and read it. My mom was a huge fan. Read them for as long as I could remember until she died. I never read them until several years ago, when I was going through some of her books, some of the few things I kept of hers besides family stuff. Anyway, I sat down and read one and I didn't hate it. It kind of made me feel connected to her. So, I just kept reading. I'll probably never get through them all, but when she has a new one out, I'll buy it and read it, because I know my mom would have."

"That's…wow," Alex said. "I can understand that. I do the same thing with things my mom did. I even took up crochet for a while in witness protection after my mom died because it was something she did to relax. I was terrible at it, but it helped."

"I still find it a little amusing that my mother, the English professor, read these books, but I guess we all need an escape sometimes," Olivia said. "What about you? What are you reading?"

"Ah, I'm reading Lilac Girls," Alex said. "It's about these three women during World War II."

"So serious, Cabot," Olivia teased. "Do you ever relax these days?"

"I'll have you know I read the entire Harry Potter series for the first time last year," Alex said. "It was my secret weekend pleasure."

"I don't know if I'm more shocked you've never read them or that you found time to read all of them last year on top of all of your work," Olivia said.

"Hey, when I put my mind to something, look out," Alex said. "J.K. Rowling's 900 page books has nothing on me."

Olivia laughed. "Don't I know it."

#

The three of them got in the water for a while before having a late lunch, then did more playing until Noah was completely worn out and cranky. His mood had been good most of the day except for when he got salt water in his eyes and cried momentarily until Alex took him to the beach shower area and let him rinse it out.

Olivia's hands were full, but Noah was pitching a fit because he said he was too tired to walk.

"Honey, Mommy and Alex both have our hands full," Olivia said. "Can you walk just for a bit? It's not far."

Noah whined more and dragged his feet alone.

"How about this," Alex offered. "If you can take this bag, I think I can strap this one around me and carry him."

"You don't have to do that," Olivia said. "He's not that light."

"It's not that far, remember?" Alex grinned. "Besides, after all that fruit and big sandwich for lunch, I could use the exercise."

"Yeah, right," Olivia said. "Ok, fine. But I'm warning you. If he's too heavy, I'll take him."

#

Olivia was right. Noah was heavier than he looked, but Alex didn't complain. Noah had his arms wrapped around her neck, holding on as they made their way back to the house. When they got inside, Olivia insisted, despite Noah's protest, he have a bath before he takes a nap. At least enough to shower off all the sand. She knew he probably had it in every nook and crazy and she was right – he did.

"If you want to hang around for a bit, I shouldn't be too long," Olivia said.

"Only if you want," Alex said. "I know you're probably tired, too."

"I'd like it if you stayed," Olivia said.

Those words made Alex a little weak as she nodded in agreement. It took her right back to the place she had been last night and this morning, the place she didn't want to go.

A few minutes later, Noah and Olivia returned. "He wanted to tell you goodnight before he took a nap," Olivia said. "Even though I told him I hoped you'd still be here when he woke up. I mean, unless you have plans, we'd love for you to join us for dinner, too."

"No plans," Alex said. She gave Noah a hug and for him to have a good nap. She promised she'd see him when he woke up later.

Olivia put Noah to bed and returned to the living room where Alex had poured them both a glass of wine. She had changed into some shorts and a t-shirt she packed in her back exactly for this scenario.

"He'll probably sleep for a while," Olivia said. "He was pretty worn out from the playing, the water and the sun."

"You look pretty tired yourself," Alex said. "I was thinking, if I'm staying for dinner, why don't you let me cook tonight since you cooked last night?"

"You sure about that?" Olivia said. "I mean, you're the guest here."

"And you're on vacation," Alex said. "Besides, when my place is three houses down, I don't think it constitutes as a guest. Please, let me cook for you, Liv. I haven't caught a kitchen on fire in years."

Olivia laughed. "Ok, dinner is all yours."

#

After a short time of talking while watching the news and flipping through channels, Alex started dinner and Noah woke up shortly before it was done. Once again, the three of them ate outside as the watched storm clouds roll in and listened to thunder off in the distance.

When the rain and wind started, and it began blowing in through the screen on the patio, they moved their conversation inside to finish dessert. Noah watched outside carefully. He didn't like storms – never had. Olivia wasn't sure why. The kid could sleep through a nuclear explosion, she was sure of it. He certainly had grown used to the sounds of the city. But the first clap of thunder and lightning and he always tensed up. It was something that was foreign to Olivia as she loved storms, as long as people were safe and nothing was damaged.

Olivia looked over and saw Alex scrolling through weather alerts on her phone. She remembered Alex hated storms, too. She didn't like them before witness protection, but after she returned, Olivia remembered Alex telling her how much she hated them.

After Wisconsin, when she was relocated to another new identity, she was sent to Georgia. Just a month after Alex had been in New York, testifying against Connors, she was witness to a deadly tornado outbreak that spanned the southeast part of the country. The two-day period saw 26 tornados and one death. Alex happened to be living in the part of Georgia that got the worst of it, near Donalsonville, on the Alabama, Florida border. She was in a brand-new place with no friends, no support system, and dealing with something she'd rarely had to deal with living in New York, at least not to that intensity.

"You gonna be ok?" Olivia asked as the thunder and wind intensified.

"Yeah, I keep telling myself I'm not in Georgia or Wisconsin," Alex said.

"Mommy, why is it storming'?" Noah asked.

"Sometimes the sky has to get some bad stuff out," Olivia said. "You know how sometimes you get sick and we have to blow your nose and all that gross stuff out of your nose?"

"Uh huh," Noah said.

"Well, let's just say it's kind of like that," Olivia said.

Alex was cracking up listening to Olivia try to explain it to him, even if it was ridiculous. High pressures and low pressures wouldn't make sense to a kid anyway. Heck, Alex didn't even understand it all. She just knew, like Noah, she didn't like storms.

"I'm scared of storms, too," Alex said gently.

"You are?" he asked, wide eyed.

"Yep," Alex said. "But I'm not worried because, just like you, I know your mommy is here to keep us safe. As long as we stay inside, I think we'll be fine."

"Mommy lets me sleep with her when I'm scared of storms," Noah said.

"Speaking of sleep, it's your bedtime, young man," Olivia said. "You had a full day and I'm sure we'll have a big day tomorrow, too."

"Aww," Noah said. "Do I have to?"

"Yes, but I'll tell you what," Olivia said. "Since it's storming, you can sleep in my room tonight. But, you have to go to bed now and I'll come in later when it's my bedtime."

Noah was agreeable and after a bedtime story from Alex, he drifted right off to sleep with no whining or complaining.

"When do you have to get back to the city?" Olivia asked after Noah was all tucked in and asleep.

"Unfortunately, I have to leave around lunch time tomorrow for an afternoon meeting," Alex said.

"Oh." Olivia was disappointed and it was apparent, even if it wasn't Alex's fault. "Um, maybe we could have breakfast before you go?"

"That sounds good," Alex said. "I…um…I've enjoyed our time this week, Liv. I was actually thinking, I don't technically have to be in the office the rest of the week after my meeting. Most of what I have to do can be done anywhere and the DA's office owes me some time off. Maybe, I could come back for a few days until you leave. I mean, I don't want to hijack your vacation—."

"You're not," Olivia said quickly before Alex could finish. "I would love that. And well, Noah would love that, too." Olivia wasn't sure what was happening or what it meant, she just knew she enjoyed Alex's company and didn't want them to drift apart like they had before.

"Then it's settled," Alex said. "I'll go to my meeting and either drive back tomorrow night or the next morning. And…thank you, Liv. I've really enjoyed our time together this week."

"Me, too," Olivia said.

No sooner were the words out of Olivia's mouth than a clap of lightning and thunder came. The lights flickered for a moment before going out completely. Alex jumped slightly and Olivia reached out for her hand in the dark to calm her.

"I'm ok," Alex said. "I'm sorry. I was just startled."

"It's ok," Olivia said. "I should check on Noah."

"While you do that, I'll look for some candles," Alex said. "We don't lose power out here often, but when we do, it usually takes a while to come back on unless it comes right away."

When Olivia returned from checking on Noah, Alex had some candles lit and on the coffee table. She also was able to find a flashlight.

"He must be completely worn out," Olivia said. "He looks like he hasn't moved since he fell asleep. That's a good thing. I figured as loud as the rain is, it would keep him awake."

The two women sat in the candlelit room and talked. The time passed by quickly. What seemed like minutes was a couple of hours before they realized it. The power was still out and it was still raining.

"I hope the rain calms down soon," Alex said. "Otherwise I'm going to get drenched going home."

"Oh! I forgot you walked to the beach and then came back here," Olivia said.

"I had forgotten, too," Alex laughed.

"Well, you can't go in the rain and it's getting late," Olivia said. "I can drive you."

"Um, Noah?"

"Oh, of course," Olivia said. "I mean, I could probably pack him to the car. He may not even wake up."

"Nonsense," Alex said. "I'll either walk or call an Uber."

"You're going to call an Uber to take you three doors down?" Olivia said, amused at the thought.

"Well, you told me I couldn't walk in the rain," Alex said, smirking. "Apparently, I'm so sweet I might melt."

Olivia nearly melted at Alex's words and flirty tone.

"Do you have a better idea?" Alex continued.

"Well, you could…stay here," Olivia said, cautiously.

She had made the same offer the previous night when she thought Alex was driving home after several glasses of wine, not realizing Alex had walked because it was close enough. But tonight, the offer seemed to be riskier, almost. The air between them was different somehow.

"I mean, we are having breakfast, and there's no sense in you getting wet," Olivia said.

Alex pursed her lips at the word wet. She'd probably had too much wine again, and couldn't stop her thoughts from the brunette, but she managed to contain any emotion hiding the thoughts the word had conjured up. It had been a long time since she thought of Olivia like that, and Alex wasn't sure it was a road she was prepared to wander down – at least in thought – again.

"Ok," Alex whispered. "I'll stay."


A/N: I know someone will ask - NO - they're not hopping in bed right away. Remember, mature Liv and Alex :-) I'll have another chapter or so on vacation, then we'll see what becomes when they're back in the city and life gets busier.

As always, your reviews are appreciated. Love it, hate it, have ideas? Let me know with a comment or on twitter -rileyclocks!