I own no one but my own people.

A/N I got a twitter! Got the idea from someone else on here that has a twitter and uses it for like her fanfiction account and updates and things like that. So check it out if you're interested. Its twitter (dot) com/bellatrix_w_89

And guess who else got her own twitter? My favorite OC and yours… Ms. Lila Verona Cabot! Check out her own blog at twitter (dot) com/lilacabot.

Thanks to SVUrookie for betaing.

"So then I say, 'petty soon fried chicken and malt liquor will be mandatory school lunches'!"

Michael let out an outrageous laugh while Lila let out a clearly forced laugh and Max and Alex sat in stunned silence.

"And you wonder why you were never elected into anything?" Max muttered as he took another sip of wine.

Michaels laugh was cut short as he cleared his throat and straightened out his tie. "Well forgive me, but this country is being run into the ground by that man. I told everyone not to vote for him, but did they listen to me? Not a chance in the world. After all, straight white men are the ones who founded it and made it what it is today, so why listen to us?"

"It was actually the Native Americans who crossed over during the ice age and founded it," Max replied coldly. "Then came the Aztecs, Mayans, and other natives, then the Spanish conquistadors, then Spain explorers, after them was the Vikings, and then finally the British, so actually, Caucasians were the last to settle here."

Michael glowered at him temporarily before he sat up straighter. "I'll have you know, if it wasn't for the British, this country would have nothing but raging savages roaming the lands in loin cloths with spears and bow and arrows."

"Good lord, Warren, how ignorant can you be?" Max snapped.

"I'll have you know, Cabot, that-"

Lila cleared her throat loudly interrupting him. "Gentlemen, please let's be a little more civil."

They both glared at one another before turning away, thinking rather uncivil thoughts about the other.

A smile came over Lila's face before turning to Alex who had her cell phone out once more.

"For heaven's sake, Alexandra, put your phone away!" she snapped quietly. "You've had that blasted thing out for a half hour now!"

Alex shook her head as she once again checked her inbox and recent calls. "Why wouldn't she call and say she was going to be late, much less a half hour late? Do you think something happened?" Alex asked a hint of panic in her voice.

"I'm sure she's fine," Lila assured her as she took another sip of wine, suddenly very interested in the decorations on the ceiling. "She probably just had car trouble. Although, if she's this late to just dinner, imagine how late she'll be at your wedding."

"Mom, knock it off," Alex grumbled as she put the phone away in her purse, making it the highest volume it would go. "I love h-"

"Let's watch our phrasing, shall we?" Michael interrupted with a fake chuckle. "Once again, don't want any over accidental overhearence."

Alex glowered at him but said nothing.

She knew his reputation when she got in league with him; she knew his thoughts and beliefs on various topics, she knew the history he had with her father, and she knew that if she hadn't been a high profile lawyer for the state, he would have ate her and everything she loved and felt.

But she also knew he was one of the best campaign managers out there, that he had helped many a now famous politician get their start, that his ruthlessness and power would be just what she needed to get by in the political world of mainly straight men.

Alex was about to reach into her bag when she heard her mother gasp.

Alex looked up and smiled as Olivia came in the door.

She was about to get up and greet her but she soon saw the look of determination in her face, and she sat back down.

Olivia all but stormed up to them, walking around the table to Alex.

"Liv," she began a hint of fear and confusion in her voice. "Are you-"

Olivia didn't let her finish as she leaned next to her. "I need to talk to you in private, now," Olivia whispered to her.

Alex looked at her in confusion for a moment before she got up, pushing her chair away.

"I'll be right back," she told the table as Olivia practically dragged her away from the table.

"Who in the name of Richard Nixon was that?" Michael asked as he watched the two leave.

Lila shrugged as she downed the rest of her glass of wine. "I have absolutely no idea."

"You wanna tell me what's going on?" Alex asked as Olivia opened the bathroom door and dragged her inside.

Olivia quickly glanced around the small porcelain room before she turned on Alex, and it was all that Alex had to not flinch away from Olivia's scowl.

"I want that lying bitch out of my house tonight. She's not coming not the wedding, and she's not gonna help plan any more of it!"

Alex looked at her in utter confusion. "Liv, what the hell are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about that woman you call your mother! No offense, Alex, but she's nothing but a liar."

Alex withheld a glare, reminding herself that Lila had probably said a lot worse behind Olivia's back.

"What did she do this time?"

Olivia crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at Alex, as if she were the one who had lied to her. "She called me up about twenty minutes ago and told me that some guy had pulled up and that you two-"

Alex's eyes widened to almost frightening proportions. "She told you about me and Michael?"

Olivia stopped mid sentence. "Who's Michael?"

Alex groaned into her hands, wanting nothing more than to take back what she had just said.

"Alex," Olivia repeated a lot more fierce now. "Who's Michael?"

Alex forced a nervous chuckle and began to wring her shaking hands together. "He's… a friend."

Olivia glowered at her and took a step forward, making Alex back up several steps. "What kind of a friend?"

"Um… a very close friend?"

Olivia looked at her in complete disbelief, and Alex was surprised to hear the tears in her voice. "After all the shit we've been through, after everything that happened to us last Christmas, how… how could you do this to me, Alex?"

"I'm sorry, Olivia, I didn't know you would take it this bad."

Olivia let out a mock laugh, not even bothering to wipe the tears away. "Oh you're right. I should over the moon to hear this! Why would you think that I would be okay with this?"

Alex looked at her in slight confusion. She knew Olivia would be upset, but not to this extent.

"Olivia, will you calm down? I know you're upset, but it's just, I didn't want to tell you when you had all this wedding stuff going on. I was gonna tell you after the wedding, I swear it."

This time, it was Olivia who looked utterly flustered. "You were gonna tell me?"

Alex nodded. "Of course I was, Liv. I mean it's not like I could keep it a secret for long, especially when the news gets a hold of it."

Olivia took several steps back, blinking her eyes in confusion. "Alex, what are you talking about?"

"What are you talking about?" Alex asked, evidently confused as well.

"I'm talking about the fact that Lila just called me up and said that you met with some man and told them you were cheating on me."

It took several moments to wrap her mind around what Olivia had just said. "You… you think I'm cheating on you?"

"Well not at the moment, but five seconds ago that was looking like a good option. Now I'm just trying to figure out what secret I made you unknowingly confess."

Alex couldn't help but laugh, both at her own stupidity and Lila's. "Olivia, I'm not cheating on you, much less with a guy."

"So you're not cheating?"

Alex shook her head. "No, Olivia, I swear to god I'm not cheating on you."

Olivia let out a relieved laugh, her grin taking up her face before throwing her arms around Alex. "I knew she was lying! I'm sorry for even a second I doubted you!"

Alex let out a relieved breath as she hugged Olivia back. "It's fine, at least now I can tell you the other thing without you flipping out."

Alex felt Olivia's hold on her slacken. "What other thing?"

"Oh it's nothing, just something small and insignificant."

Olivia pulled away from her, looking completley confused once more. "Alex, it can't be that small and insignificant if you reacted like that. And you never did tell me who Michael was by the way."

Alex looked down at the white tile floor, clearing her throat loudly.

"Like I said, he's just a friend."

"Well why were you so concerned about the fact that Lila told me about him?"

Alex shrugged, forcing a smile she knew Olivia could see right past. "It's nothing, Liv. Just… it's nothing."

"You're doing it again!" Olivia growled.

"Doing what?"

"Lying to me!"

"I told you he was just a friend."

"Okay, tell me how you know him," Olivia countered, crossing her arms.

Alex shrugged, looking down at the tile floor once again. "From… work."

Alex dared to look back up at Olivia but then quickly turned her gaze downward seeing the look on Olivia's face.

"So you're not going to tell me how you know him?"

"Olivia, please understand-"

Olivia raised one hand and stopped her from continuing. "Just… leave me alone right now, okay?"

Alex watched as Olivia exited the bathroom, in momentary shock before she followed, quickly catching up to her.

"I'm sorry," Alex told her. "Liv, I didn't mean to lie to you."

"Yet you have absolutely no problem doing it every time your moths is around," she grumbled.

Alex got in front of her, vaguely aware they had caught some of the eyes of the other diners. "Olivia, please don't leave," Alex pleaded, a ping of desperation in her soft voice. "Just come sit down and have a nice meal with us, and I'll-." Alex took a deep breath before finishing her sentence. "I'll tell you everything over dinner, okay? And I promise to talk to Lila after dinner, okay?"

"No lies?"

"No lies," Alex promised taking Olivia's hand in hers and smiling at the detective.

Olivia sighed and shook her head. "You're a real pain sometimes, you know that?"

"Yeah, but you think I'm a cute pain, so it all works out wonderfully."

Olivia chuckled before reaching in and giving Alex a quick innocent kiss on the lips. "I guess you are sort of cute."

Alex chuckled before Olivia reached down and grabbed her hand before walking back to the table where Lila was looking scandalized, ignoring Olivia's suddenly harsh glare towards her.

"Alexandra Rosalie Cabot," Lila hissed her voice so low Alex almost had to strain to listen as the two sat down at the table, "I cannot believe what I just witnessed! Oh god, when Fox news gets a hold of that!" Lila groaned into her hands, shaking her head. "We'll never hear the end of it!"

"Trust me, Lila, I'll be sure to take care of it," Michael promised, glaring furiously at Olivia, both missing the suddenly worried look on Alex's face.

"No one is getting a hold of anything. Now why don't we all just take a few deep breaths and calm down, okay?" Max pleaded, looking between Lila and Michael.

Olivia looked between Lila and Michael, evidently confused at the conversation. "Fox news?"

"You know the big important news channel that actually has the correct frame of mind while reporting the news. But let me guess, you only watch MSNBC, right?" Michael shook his head in disgust. "I swear to God, you bleeding heart liberals are ruining this country."

"Okay first off, who the hell are you?"

Michael straightened out in his chair, looking at Olivia like she was an insect who should be squashed quickly. "I'm The Michael G. Warren."

Olivia looked at him in confusion. "I'm sorry, am I supposed to know that name?"

Michael scoffed, trying to look like he was clearly hurt at Olivia's ignorance. "I am not only the man who is going to make this woman's dreams come true," he said nodding over at Alex. "But I am one of the most influential and powerful campaign managers in New York. And any true, red blooded American should know that, but when you kiss random women in public-"

"She's my fiancée, and what do you mean make her dreams come true?"

Michael's eyes widened as he turned to Alex. "This is the woman you've told me so much about? This is Olivia Benson?"

Alex nodded. "Yeah, she's-"

"You promised me that she wouldn't act like that in public! Do you know how much time and money I'm going to have to spend to get this covered up? Alexandra, her and her behavior is the same kind of thing that is going to ruin you!"

"Act like what?" Olivia said, her voice becoming more flustered every second. "Alex, what is he talking about?"

She turned to Alex who was also now very interested in the table cloth as much as Lila had been.

"Alex, what is your mother and this idiot talking about? And why the hell is this idiot even sitting with us?"

"Alexandra's running for state senate!" Lila declared before Alex could talk.

Olivia's eyes widened as she turned back to Alex, her mouth open several inches. "Alex, what is she talking about?" she demanded once more.

Alex looked down, slowly stirring her drink. "I sort of, kind of… decided to run for the senate. "

"Yeah I figured that part out when your mother said you were running for senate," Olivia snapped. "But what I can't figure out is why I've had to hear it from her instead of you."

"Because I didn't want to tell you just yet."

Olivia's eyes widened in shock before they narrowed in anger. "So this is what you were talking about. When were you planning on telling me, Alex? When we're packing up all of our stuff up and move to Albany or Washington or where ever else you have to live?"

"No," Alex told her, taking her hands in hers, but Olivia quickly wrenched them away. "It's just with all this wedding stuff going on, I didn't want you to get worried about all this."

"How thoughtful," Olivia spat, not believing a word of it. "Why wouldn't a huge major decision like this be any of my business?"

"It is," Alex pleaded. "But I was just trying to-"

"Keep me in the dark so that I couldn't 'ruin' you."

Alex shook her head. "Olivia, that's not true, I swear it. I just… there's never been an openly gay person in the senate and I know that you really don't care about, you know, showing public displays of affection."

Olivia looked at her for a moment; forcing the tears she knew was coming to be held at bay. "So you basically want me to lie about who I am for you, again?"

"We were thinking more like just staying away from her at any and all costs," Michael said seriously, gaining a glare from Alex.

"Right now that sounds like a hell of an idea," Olivia growled as he got up from the table and stormed away.

"Olivia!" Alex called, running after her, much to the dislike of Lila and Michael.

Michael cleared his throat, taking a sip of his wine. "I think that went well."

Meanwhile outside, Olivia waited impatiently for her car as Alex came up next to her.

"I'm sorry," Alex pleaded, Olivia ignoring her. "Olivia, I swear to god I was going to tell you!"

"Just leave me alone," Olivia muttered.

"No, and you want to know why? Because I love you, and I hate seeing you hurt."

"Then why didn't you tell me, Alex?" Olivia cried, unable to hide the tears in her voice. "I would have supported it a hundred percent if you had just talked to me about it!"

"Really?" Alex said, her voice somewhat surprised. "I thought you would have been, you know, against leaving Manhattan."

"I would have, but that's what a marriage is, Alex! We both compromise for one another! Maybe you could have commuted the three hours to Albany every day, or maybe I commute every day to Manhattan, or I get a new job up there, or whatever we would have worked out, but yes I would have supported it! I know you want to get higher up on the food chain, I've known that since we first met."

"If you would have supported it, then why are you making such a big deal out of it," Alex asked crossing her arms, sure that she had gotten Olivia caught in a lie.

"Because you didn't tell me, and I had to hear it from your mother, one of the few people in this world who I cannot stand, and some dick who thinks he's the second coming of Nixon! Okay, we are going to be married in two weeks, and I have to hear about something this huge from some political bureaucratic ass and Lila! Not only that, but I get to find out that the same bureaucratic ass wants us to hide what we are because of the voters!"

Despite the intense situation, Alex felt a small smile tug on her lips. "We're not breaking up?"

Olivia turned to her and sighed. "No. I love you, Alex. I'm pissed off as hell right now, but that doesn't mean I don't want to get married. But what the hell are you doing with that jerk anyway? There's a lot more managers who would like to take you on.

"He really is one of the best, Liv. And he said that I had potential to be a great politician, and if I just, you know, kind of hid our relationship from the public, then he would help me."

"So he's pretty much telling you not to get married to me, right?" Olivia snapped.

"No! Well... kind of, but I'm not listening to him, obviously!" Alex said with a weak chuckle. "He's just been telling me to, you know, hide our marriage and not to speak of it," she muttered, every word proving her disfavor as much as the last."

Olivia simply looked at her for a moment before the valet pulled up with her car.

"I didn't say I was gonna follow his advice!" Alex protested as Olivia handed the valet a ten dollar bill and got in her car, slamming the door shut. "I said I was sorry!"

But her words went unheard as Olivia drove off into the night.

Alex groaned loudly and ran a hand through her blond locks, looking after Olivia's car.

"I still don't understand why she's mad at you," Lila said with a scoff as she and Max came out of the restaurant. "If you want to make something of yourself, then I don't see why she would be so upset."

"Because Alex kept it from her," Max interrupted, "If Alex had just told her the truth, then it would be a different story completely."

Alex turned from Lila to look at Max. "You're taking her side?"

Max nodded a stern look on his usually kind face. "Yes, because first off, there was no way I would have ever done something that big before talking to your mother about it. Every time I ran for something or something that had to do with my career, I talked to her before I contacted anyone else, including a campaign manager. Much less a campaign manager who would hate everything about me. What are you even doing talking to him, Alex? Michael Wallace hates anything that's not rich, white, Christian, republican, and straight; and in my experience, four out of five doesn't cut it with him."

"He's the best," Alex repeated, that reason sounding a lot less good then before. "I know he's a jerk, and I know yours and his history, but he will be able to get me in touch with a lot of higher up people."

Alex looked down at the ground and chuckled sadly. "I guess that doesn't matter much when he would normally hate you."

"Now really, Alexandra, don't be so disheartened!" Lila told her, trying to seem sympathetic. "Think of it this way, even if he doesn't like Olivia, or your lifestyle, he's still gonna be able to help you so much in the long run."

"Mom, do me a favor," Alex said, rubbing her temples, trying to get rid of the headache that had come on fast. "Go back inside and tell Michael that I'm gonna call him tomorrow and that I'm sorry."

"Of course, Alexandra."

Lila went back inside, leaving Max alone with Alex.

"You know-"Max began, but Alex put a hand up to stop him.

"Don't say it!" Alex interrupted, but Max had no intentions of listening to her daughter.

"You're going to lose her again. This is just like last time we came up. You keep up the lies, and eventually she will leave you, Alex, and I honestly wouldn't blame her."

"It's not like what I said was a surprise or anything!" Alex cried, desperate for someone to understand. "She knows how much harder it'll be for me to get elected if I'm openly gay, and she knows how long I've wanted this!"

"Then why did you say yes to her? You could have just said no and continue to date, and you two being together never would be on public record."

Alex sighed and looked down at the ground. "Because I love her, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

"But you love your job more," Max said softly, taking Alex's hand in his. "Darling, I don't want to see you hurt, and trust me, you losing her will hurt you. More so then losing some election will."

Alex sniffed and hastily wiped the tears away as Max gently moved the hair away from her face.

"Alex, listen to me," he pleaded gently. "Olivia doesn't deserve this. She doesn't deserve the lies, or saying that she has to hide her marriage with you because of your political aspirations."

"Why does this have to be so complicated?" Alex whispered, more tears falling down her face.

"It doesn't have to be. She wants to be with you, you want to be with her. It seems pretty clean cut to me."

Alex let out a sad chuckle before she saw Lila coming out, Michael in tow carrying something in a brown paper bag.

"Alexandra, why are you crying?" Lila asked as they approached them, her eyes narrowed in confusion.

"It's nothing," Alex lied wiping away her tears as their car was pulled up. "Just a little stressed."

"Well after this night, who wouldn't be?" Michael chuckled as he held up the thing in the paper bag. "Security footage from tonight as well as the backup copies," he informed her. "Cost a pretty penny to get them, but I figured it was worth it in the long haul. At least when word of tonight's events gets out, we'll be able to claim they have no proof."

"That's illegal," Alex told him, eyeing the video tapes.

"Well is anybody going to tell?" he asked, his voice slightly harsh, and Alex took several steps away from him.

"Don't talk to my daughter like that," Max said as he took a step towards him, but Lila quickly got in front of Max and began pushing him back.

"And on that note, I say we say good evening. Thank you for a… interesting night, Michael, and we will see you soon. Come on, darling, let's go."

With a final glare from both men, Max handed the valet some cash and got into the driver's side, Lila following suit on the passenger's side.

"Alexandra," Michael called before Alex got into the car.

Alex turned back to him as he walked over to her. "I think we both know where this thing with… Oliver is heading. So please when that happens, do not hesitate to give me a call, and I will be more than happy to find you a more suitable and worthier suitor."

Alex glared at him for a moment before she got into the car, slamming the door behind her.

Once home, Alex walked in, throwing her coat on the couch and kicked her heels off, looking around for signs of Olivia and found her coat hanging up, her keys thrown on the kitchen table.

Lila and Max walked in; Lila letting out a few tsks tsks as she picked up Alex's coat from the couch and hung it up on the hook. "I swear, Alexandra, It's like you're still a teenager."

Alex ignored her as her focus laid with the pot of hot and fresh Maxwell House hazelnut coffee on the counter, knowing it was Olivia's favorite brand and only made it when she was really distressed about something because Olivia knew Alex couldn't stand the smell.

Alex took a few shuddering deep breaths as she went over to the fridge and got out a diet soda.

She cleared her throat, trying to get rid of the painful lump in it before she spoke. "I'm gonna go up to bed, okay? I'm sorry, I know you just got here and it's early, but I just had a long day, okay?"

"Are you sure, Alexandra?" Lila said as she came into the kitchen, a look of calm as she breathed deeply. "Ahh, Hazelnut coffee. How did you know it was my favorite, Alexandra?"

Alex couldn't help but chuckle as she shook her head in disbelief. "The one thing you two have in common is loving the type of coffee I absolutely hate. Do me a favor and tell Olivia you like it too. She'll never make it again."

Alex gave her a sad smile before beginning to walk upstairs. "Oh and by the way, mom?"

"Yes, what is it?" Lila asked as she went over to her cupboard and got out a coffee mug.

Alex cleared her throat loudly as she put down the cup.

"I… I know the truth, about what you did tonight."

Lila began fidgeting with her hands, twisting the bracelets around on her wrists.

"Oh? A, and how did you find out, exactly?" she asked as she poured the shaking pot into the mug.

"When Olivia told me in the bathroom at the restaurant."

Lila sat down at the table, looking down at the wood, poking the edges with her nails, taking a tentative sip of the drink. "I'm sorry, Alexandra. I... I was going to tell you, honestly. I mean, it is for the best if you really think about it."

Alex shook her head in disbelief. "No, mom, it isn't. How could you do that to me? Why would you try to destroy my life like that?"

"It would have looked wrong at the wedding!" Lila cried, a pleading look in her face, tears welling up in her eyes. "You know yourself we're not natural blonds! My stylist was out with swine flu for the week, and I used the at home color! I know it looks fake, but it was just the roots, Alexandra! I swear to you it was just the roots!"

Alex blinked several times as she looked at her mother in complete and utter confusion. "You think I'm upset about you using boxed hair color?"

Lila nodded, wiping her eyes with a napkin on the table. "I know I preached to never use those finger paints in a box, but I was desperate! I'm so sorry, Alexandra! I hope you can forgive me."

"What? No! Mom, that's not what I was talking about. I didn't even notice until you told me just now."

Lila dabbed her eyes once more. "You... you weren't? Then what were you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the fact that you told Olivia I was cheating on her."

Lila straightened out at once, the tears ceasing to a grinding halt, taking another drink of her coffee. "Oh that. Well, that was just a business necessity, Alexandra, no harm done."

"You're more upset over the fact you used at home hair color then you are about trying to break me and Olivia up?" Alex said dryly.

"Darling, relax. Do you or do you not want to win the election?"

"Not at the cost of losing the woman I love! I can't believe you would do that to us!"

"First off, what on earth could you find to love about her?"

"She's romantic," Alex snapped, glaring fiercely at Lila. "She makes me laugh until my ribs hurt, she's intelligent, she's charming, she's beautiful, she's strong, she stands up for what she believes in, she's the most amazing woman I ever met , she-."

Lila held up a hand to stop her before she sighed, leaning over the table and patting her hand gently. "Alexandra, it's okay. You can tell me the truth. You're fathers upstairs feeding Martha, and Olivia is nowhere in sight."

Alex looked at her for a moment, completely befuddled. "I am telling the truth, mom. I love Olivia more than anything, more so then some stupid election."

"Stupid election?" Lila scoffed in disbelief. "Alexandra, ever since you were five years old, you've wanted to be in politics. When every other child your age was watching cartoons, you were watching C-Span. When every other little girl was playing with dolls, you were playing House of Representative. You spent over eighty thousand dollars to get a degree in law and political science at NYU where you were the top of your class, and until you met Olivia, you never would have called any election 'stupid'!"

The two women looked at one another before Alex looked down at the floor. "I can't have both, and as much as I did want to become the first female governor of New York-"

"Alexandra, you still can!" Lila prompted her eyes boring into Alex's. "You can still be the governor; you can still be in the senate, and maybe even president, who knows? The point is…" Lila took a deep breath before continuing. "I told Olivia that you were cheating on her so that she would leave you alone during this crucial phrase. Maybe once you get elected, it'll be different. But right now you can't be labeled, and believe me, if you show up married to a woman as out of the closet as Olivia trying to run for Republican office, you will be labeled."

Lila sighed as she held Alex's hand; once again twisted the engagement ring on Alex's hand as if she were itching to rip it off. "I know it isn't fair, and I know it isn't right. Okay, I know that a lot of powerful people in our party have ignorant, hateful, untrue, stereotypical view points on people like you and Olivia. But they're not going to change for you, Alexandra. And if you want to win, like I know you want to. Then you're going to have to be the one who changes."

Alex was silent for a moment before Lila went over and gently kissed her on top of the head. "Good night, Alexandra. I'll see you in the morning."

Lila walked away from her, and soon Alex heard the echoing of footsteps on the stairs.

Alex simply remained frozen for a moment before she forced herself out of her daze, her mind going over what Lila had just told her.

Alex took a deep breath before she forced her legs to move, carrying her away from the table and up the steps, her mind racing.

Alex went to her bedroom and took several deep breaths before she opened the closed door.

"Hey," Olivia greeted softly, giving her a small smile as she sat on the bed wearing a wife beater and a pair of hipsters, her own cup of the hazelnut coffee beside her. "Figured talking up here in private would be better than having third party input."

"Good idea," Alex said, forcing a smile on her face as she walked over to her and put her soda on her bed side stand, unable to hide the laugh as Olivia's took a drink, a look of relaxation washing over her. "God I love this coffee. What's so funny?" Olivia asked as Alex went over to her dresser and unzipped her dress.

"Nothing," Alex said with a chuckle as she stepped out of the dress. "Absolutely nothing."

Alex grabbed the first baggy T-shirt she found and put it over her head as well as a light blue pair of pajama pants.

"I remember when you got that shirt," Olivia said with a tiny laugh as Alex turned back around and walked back to the bed, looking down at the red shirt with the rat in a powdered wig and black robe. "It was the first time I ever took you thrift store shopping, and you saw it and you just had to have it."

Alex let out a chuckle and nodded. "I remember you trying to get Fin to take for the longest time before you finally realized I was gay. Then when you told me you were as well, it was like I couldn't even talk to you without sounding like an idiot."

"You never sounded like an idiot to me," Olivia assured her as Alex climbed into the bed next to her, taking the soda once more, running a finger over the rim of the can

Alex was silent for a moment before she began to swish the soda around in the can. "Did I sound like an idiot tonight?"

"Yes."

Alex stayed silent as she took a sip of soda before she continued. "I didn't mean to. It just sort of, came out. You know, all the idiotic things about us hiding our relationship."

Olivia took a deep breath before putting the cup down. "I know it 'just came out'. Like all the other lies you've told me over and over."

"Olivia, I said I was-"

"Sorry," Olivia finished, an edge of coldness on the tip of her voice. "And you'll never lie again; you swear to me that you love me, and that you can't help yourself because you don't want to disappoint Lila or that idiot who was at dinner tonight."

"Well on the plus side you just cut down a five minute pleading to about three seconds," Alex said with a forced laugh praying it covered the tears.

Olivia sighed as she looked down at the comforter and began t play with one of the loose threads. "Alex, I've been thinking about it, and-"

"Olivia, don't," Alex said, knowing that whatever words she was about to say couldn't be good looking back up at her.

Olivia continued as if Alex hadn't of spoken. "I think we should postpone the wedding."

Alex bit her lip and shook her head, her voice breaking. "But I love you."

"That's the thing, Alex," Olivia said, her voice also filled with tears. "You say you want to get married, that you love me, that you want to spend the rest of your life with me, but you don't act like it. I mean look at tonight."

"Tonight meant nothing!" Alex told her, taking her hands in her own.

"But it did though. Alex, you know I support you, that if you had just talked to me, it would be a hundred percent different. But you went ahead and did all this planning, you got a campaign manager who would rather spit on us then look at us without even talking to me about it. And now you're telling me that you want us to keep it all a secret because of the election."

"I don't!" Alex cried, hating herself for being unable to meet Olivia's eyes. "Olivia, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you!"

"But do you want to marry me? Look me dead in the eyes when you answer this, and please be honest. I won't be mad, I won't be upset, I won't even blame you, but I have to know this."

Alex took Olivia's hands in hers, allowing herself to breathe when Olivia didn't pull away. "Olivia, I love you, okay? I want to be with you forever."

"You didn't answer my question," Olivia whispered, as looked down at the intertwined hands. "Do you want to get married? Not do you love me, not do you want to spend the rest of your life with me, but do you want to have our relationship on the record, legalized, and publically announced?""

Alex put her finger under Olivia's chin and raised it as she looked dead straight into Olivia's eyes. "Yes."

"Even with all the voters and politicians who are going to judge you because of it?"

"Olivia, I don't care about that stuff!"

"It seemed to me like you did tonight."

"Well I don't!" Alex cried once more. "I am so sorry about what Michael, and Lila, and I said tonight, but I swear to god I want to marry you!"

"You're not going to hide it when the election starts? Because, Alex, I swear to god, I'm not gonna take any more lies. Okay, when you make plans with that guy, I want you to talk to me about it. If we have to end up moving to Albany or Washington, or someplace upstate, we need to discuss it. And I'm not going to hide who I am when the election and news cameras come around, alright? Do you understand? I'm not going to lie about myself for you again. I did it once for your parents, but I'm not doing it for strangers.""

Alex shook her head frantically. "Olivia, I swear to you that I'm not going to hide you, or tuck you away, or keep you in the dark, or however else you want to classify it. I want to be with you, and I want everyone to know that I am with you, alright? Do you believe me?"

Olivia let out a sob before she nodded. "

Alex smiled before she wrapped her arms around her, nuzzling her neck. "I love you," Alex whispered in her ear.

Olivia closed her eyes as Alex began kissing her neck, after each kiss repeating that same phrase.

"Stop," Olivia groaned as Alex kissed the hollow of her throat, gently lapping at it. "Alex, don't."

"What's wrong?" Alex asked softly as her hands began to move up Olivia's shirt, tracing her well defined muscles before cupping one of her breasts.

"The wedding," Olivia reminded her as she reluctantly pushed Alex's hands back down. "No sex for two weeks, remember?"

Alex at once pulled away from her throat, her eyes wide. "You were serious about that?"

Olivia chuckled and kissed the top of her head. "Yes, unfortunately I was."

Alex remained shock as Olivia laid down on the bed, gently pulling Alex down with her.

"I love you," Olivia muttered in her ear as she reached over and turned off the bed side lamp, wrapping her arms around her and holding her close.

"Uh huh," was all that Alex managed to say as she reached over and turned off her own lamp, still in a slight daze.

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