A/N at the end!

4

Alex stood, eyes closed, letting the lukewarm water flow from the crown of the head and glide down her face and back. It felt wonderful as she finished up her lengthy shower, washing away the soap suds from her body. She opened her mouth, letting some water fill it before letting it roll out and turning to finish rinsing her hair.

She had awoken with an excruciating headache which was, thankfully decreasing, if not only minimally, with the warm water she had been luxuriating beneath. As the water began to chill, she turned off the faucet and reached for a large white towel on the rack and held it to her face, inhaling the scent of a clean soap, the towel tasting somewhat salty from the residue in the air—a perk of being so close to the ocean. She patted her face gently and then wiped her body down before she leaned forward, wrapping her head turban style with the towel and then entering the bedroom.

Olivia had not been in bed when Alex awoke only minutes prior, but the blonde sighted her through the bedroom window, sitting at the small table on the porch, sipping coffee and staring out across the water, only her olive-green short shorts and a black camisole on, hair damp from a recent shower, as well, yet wavy and wildly sexy.

The blonde dressed in a pair of mid-thigh white linen shorts and a navy spaghetti strapped tank before unwrapping her hair and towel drying it vigorously. She then brushed it, tousling it lightly, leaving it to dry naturally. She hung her towel in the bathroom on her way to the kitchen, where Olivia left a note on the small, white marble counter:

Outside.

Coffee is out here!

She drew a smiley face, then,

XXXOOO

Liv

Alex smiled and turned the knob on the door, slipping outside, leaving it open, warm, fresh ocean air hitting her senses. She walked up to the table and pulled the other chair out, sitting next to her wife. Olivia looked at Alex and the blonde placed her hand on the brunette's shoulder, letting her finger trace a trail down to her elbow. Olivia intercepted her hand and brought it to her mouth, kissing it softly and then smiling.

"How do you feel?"

Alex closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "The typical headache…but…I keep having these images I don't remember…like little flashes of things that are vague and fuzzy…a thorn piercing my tongue…flashing lights…someone yelling…me crying…" Alex concentrated as she looked out across the ocean, trying to piece it together.

"Might be better you don't remember, Al," Olivia tried.

Alex panicked. "Liv…what do you mean? What did I do?"

"Well, let's just say, you were completely uninhibited last night. Total nature girl."

Alex groaned, closing her eyes. Then, as if a light bulb went off, she widened them, her jaw dropping. "I didn't poop outside, did I?" she asked incredulously.

"See…it's good that you're guessing really bad things…it makes it seem trivial…"

"What is trivial?"

"You really don't remember anything, Al?"

Alex took a sip of the dark, Greek coffee Olivia had set in front of her. "I remember sitting at the restaurant. I remember that incredible, herbed lemony octopus…really good. I remember Vasili filling my glass after I repeatedly told him not to. I remember not being able to get enough of the taste of black licorice. I remember my body hitting the bed and then dreaming about being in the woods...other than that…nothing." Alex's eyes began to water. She was so embarrassed about what she might have done in front of the woman she loved, respected, honored, valued and looked up to.

"Hey…Alex…not that bad…" Olivia stroked her shoulder with finger light touches. "Babe…"

Alex looked into the brunette's eyes as a tear fell. She wiped it quickly, laughing lightly. "God, I'm crying…what's wrong with me?"

"You're hung over, Baby…it's natural." Olivia smiled.

"What did I do, Liv? I didn't kiss or make a pass at someone else, did I?"

"Not unless it was Vasili or Maria or the fat German couples at our table…" she tried.

Alex smiled, waiting.

Olivia finally answered, almost matter-of-factly, "You peed in the street…so what? Big deal…" she tried to shrug it off but Alex felt her face burn hot with shame.

"Oh, God, Olivia…" She put her face in her hands and leaned forward, "…I peed in the street? Like a dog?"

OOO

Olivia smiled and began rubbing the blonde's back. "We've all done it, Babe…necessity…it would be so much easier with a penis…just aim and shoot…"

"Oh, my God," Alex repeated, her face still in her hands.

"Alex…look at me…" Olivia tried.

Alex slowly took her hands away from her face and looked at Olivia; her cheeks were a crimson red. She kept her hands in front of her, ready to cover her face again.

Olivia gently pushed her hands into her lap and shook her head. "No, Babe…don't do this. As a woman, we've all peed somewhere 'inappropriate' out of necessity."

"Yeah? Where did you pee 'out of necessity'?"

"It was actually with Elliot about three years ago. We had just attended a tactical defense demonstration seminar in Hartford, Connecticut and he had really pissed me off for some reason, asking me about my dating life and why I never kept a boyfriend, maybe I should internet date, etc. etc.…I don't remember. I had about six cups of coffee that morning during the seminar and an entire large bottle of Evian. On the drive back, I was so mad at him. I didn't speak to him, completely ignored any questions remarks, or comments he made…My stubbornness would not let me tell him that I was going to pee in my pants. We passed hundreds of gas stations on the way back…finally; I could feel the pee level rising and filling up my eyes…"

Olivia turned and saw Alex smiling now. Olivia took her right hand and kissed it again.

"We were just approaching an area of the highway that led into some thick trees. So, I said to Elliot, 'You need to stop the car right now, unless you want to pay for damages to the rental'…He looked confused and said, "I asked you if you—and I cut him off and yelled, 'Stop the f-ing car, Elliot!' He stopped and I got out, jogged to the trees, got in far enough to be hidden, and relieved myself."

Alex shook her head. "God, Olivia, and with Elliot…I'll bet he was a real jerk about it afterwards…"

"Still teases me to this day…" the brunette deepened her voice, trying to mimic her male partner, "…do we need to lay some newspaper down, purchase extra insurance, I hope you wore your adult undergarments…" She picked up her demitasse cup and just before bringing it to her lips she muttered, "Ass…"

She watched as Alex sipped her own coffee and then looked ahead. "It's embarrassing but I'm glad I was with you and not Elliot…that's for sure…" her cerulean eyes met the brunette's.

"I'll never tell, Babe…"

"Anything else I should know about?"

"You got sick…but you made it to the bathroom…"

Now, Alex looked more than mortified. "I threw up in front of you? My mother has never even seen me throw up. I always closed the door when I was younger…in fact, no one has ever seen me throw up, Liv…"

"I'm proud and honored to be the first." Olivia smiled. "Oh, Alex…we might as well get used to gross things, Babe. When we have kids, we're gonna see water breaking and afterbirth and placentas, and chapped, scabby nipples, stitches in our girl areas and so many other things that will pale in comparison. Then with the kids we're gonna see poop everywhere, urine, snot, throw up, blood, mud…We're gonna remember the good old days when it was just peeing in the street and getting a little sick in the toilet."

Alex nodded, her eyes filling with tears again. "You're right…I don't know how you do it, Babe, but you have the power to calm me down, Liv…you make me see that things aren't as bad as I make them…thank you…" Alex stood now and leaned over Olivia, cupping her jaw in her hands and tenderly pressing her lips to hers. She stood back up, "Oh, and don't worry about scabby nipples, I will gladly rub almond oil into your nipples for you, Babe." She kissed the detective again and then smiled. "Thank you…"

"And I'll do the same for you…always, Al…"

… … … … … …

The next several days were spent enjoying time on the other side of the island, visiting and dining at the various tavernas and restaurants along the main street, where the docks were, tiny fishing dinghy's bobbing in the turquoise blue waters, walking throughout the town, climbing steps, visiting churches, making a few trips to the small grocery store in town to pick up coffee, cereal, eggs, and cheese and bread, swimming for hours in front of the tiny house they had inhabited for the past six days, and making slow lazy love in the afternoons.

They even went on a few adventurous hikes, bandanas on heads, walking sticks in hands, exploring the island themselves. They loved the freedom and excitement that came with uncharted territory, taking in the sites and sounds of the beautiful Greek island.

They actually just loved being together.

Having just finished the dishes, Olivia smiled to herself as she stepped outside, coffee in hand, and took in a deep breath thinking of the hikes and how cute Alex was on them, insisting on certain routes, marking their path with stones or pistachio shells or trying to draw a map, insisting Olivia stay hydrated, taking photos of everything—plants, flowers, insects, rocks. But, truth be told, most of the photos were of Olivia, Alex constantly insisting on an impromptu photo shoot, where the brunette happily posed— some tame, some Hustler worthy. Those would not be printed, Alex promised, but would be on her screensaver at home, for sure.

Olivia stepped out to the pebbled rocks in front of the water, the stones squishing against the sand beneath, the waves of water causing the imprints to disappear just as quickly. The brunette had just made a couple of cheese, egg, and toast breakfast sandwiches and had already changed into her white bikini, almost as skimpy as the black one, but not nearly as risqué. She wore a purple and white, knee-length sarong tied around her waist, and took her American drip coffee outside to walk the perimeter of the land while Alex got ready for their swim.

Today, they were going to venture out further into the water, taking the paddleboat Stavros provided a couple of days ago when he checked in on them, and paddle out to an area known for its beautiful underwater scenes. They had found some snorkels and flippers and masks in a closet in the house and Stavros told them of the area just off to the right in the next cove, and that they would be safe. Alex was slightly afraid—not because she wasn't a good swimmer— but claimed that when things touched her legs that she was unfamiliar with, she didn't handle it well.

Olivia promised her she would be with her every step of the way and if she wanted to head back they would.

Olivia brought her cup to her mouth—thank God for the two jumbo mugs that she discovered in the cabinet—and sipped the drip brew, Olivia thankful that they, at least, had a little Maxwell House in the Greek grocery stores. Alex turned her nose up at the sub par blend, but both women were feenin' for some American brew. Olivia informed her that this "crap", as the attorney so eloquently referred to it, was all she ever drank at work because it was all that the NYPD budget allowed for. Alex thought it reprehensible.

The brunette smiled, taking another sip and began walking up to a fence that was located just behind the property. It was a chain linked fence and just beyond was a field of knee-high, yellow grasses, gently sloping upward, a couple of olive trees near the top. Olivia saw what looked like a wooden cross with some sort of white painted writing on it and a large pink ribbon tied to it, and what appeared to be a bouquet of fresh flowers lying beneath. The metal gate was slightly open, just enough to pass through. Curiosity took over, the detective in her coming out, and she slipped easily through the parted gate, beginning her trek up the small hill.

The grasses were sharp against her bare calves, scratching at them as she walked. Dragonflies buzzed around her and the hum of the locusts filled the air. The air was already warm for eleven o'clock in the morning and Olivia knew it would be another great day to take a swim.

She reached the monument, a memorial, really, and kneeled down, inspecting the flowers, touching their soft, rubbery petals and then looked at the cross, trying to decipher the writing. The flowers were definitely fresh—no more than a couple of days old—and the writing was in Greek. It read, in white, painted block letters:

ΜΗΤΕΡΑ

Σας αγαπάμε

Olivia stood now, mug still in hand and folding her arms, staring at the memoriam. She committed the writing to memory, even though foreign to her. She would be sure to look it up later on Alex's iPad—yes, she brought her iPad—or come back and take a photo.

Hot breath on her neck and a loud, snorting grunt.

Olivia froze. It definitely wasn't Alex, or anything human, for that matter. The brunette caught the strong smell of hay and a horrible sulfur-like odor. It puffed again, the gust blowing her hair forward, and then she felt a firm nudge to her backside, pushing her slightly forward. Olivia decided to propel herself forward and leaped two feet before turning abruptly, the source of the sounds and shoving coming into view.

"What the—?" Olivia tried to calm her racing heart but it was beating out of her chest.

It was a huge donkey, no, make that colossal—a bristly-haired, whisker-nosed, big eared, large-nostrilled donkey with eyes like glassy, black golf balls.

Olivia bent lower, squinting her eyes to look at its mouth.

Yep, huge teeth, like she thought.

"Hey, there…donkey…" she tried sweetly, stepping gingerly to the right. Perspiration began dotting her upper lip, her anxiety hitting her full force. She felt moisture begin in her pits and begin to run down her back in between her shoulder blades. Her heart was pounding from her chest. She smiled, her mouth quavering, but she felt like crying.

When Olivia was ten years old, a neighbor of hers, that she used to play with, died at the age of seven from a kick to the head by a horse. This haunted Olivia to this day. She was deathly afraid of their legs, their feet in particular, but also had an extreme fear of their teeth. This one had at least two-inch, long, brownish-yellowish teeth that were visible from outside of his mouth. And it was a male. That was clear.

"Go…go away…" she tried waving her hand, shooing him away. The donkey got closer. "Oh, shit…no…" Olivia whined, feeling tears in her eyes. "Please go away…" she said softly.

The donkey approached her once again, this time sniffing her cleavage, neck, and chin, the brunette lifting her chin so he would avoid her face, arms stiff at her sides. "Oh, Jesus…" Olivia whimpered.

The donkey let out another grunt and a neigh before nudging the brunette in her upper chest. By this time her tears were falling, her legs were shaking.

I'm gonna die, if not from the donkey, then a heart or anxiety attack, Olivia thought.

"Babe?" She heard Alex's voice in the distance. "Olivia?" The blonde was getting closer.

Olivia squealed just loud enough for the donkey to hear, a high-pitched, desperate cry. Olivia began moving to the left, the donkey following. She shifted to the right, the donkey staying with her. She didn't want to call back to Alex and startle the humongous beast. She was trying to hold it together, she really was. At this point, trepidation had taken over and her entire body was glistening with sweat.

The brunette closed her eyes, speaking softly, "Our father, who art in Heaven…"

"Liv…there you—"

Olivia's eyes popped open. "Alex, don't come over here…but I need help…" she whimpered.

The donkey nudged her breasts again, pushing her slightly backwards.

"Jesus, Alex, I'm gonna die…I love you, Babe…say good-bye to Hillary…bury me in my yoga pants…"

Alex began making a noise with her mouth, a middle of the tongue clicking sound that seemed to draw the donkey's attention. He turned his head and looked at the blonde curiously, and then began slowly ambling toward her, releasing a huge cloud of gas in the detective's face as he went, but Olivia was still frozen in place. The blonde took an apple from her fabric hobo bag and moved to a farther side of the fence, reaching her arm over the wiry metal barrier, displaying the fruit. She continued to make the clicking noise with her mouth, drawing the donkey closer still, away from the gate.

Once the equine was out of range and happily smelling and nipping at the proffered fruit, Olivia slipped through the gate and closed it, latching it behind her, and then let out a deep sigh before holding her face in her hands, recovering from her near death experience, her heart gradually slowing. Alex let go of the apple, the donkey taking it in his huge choppers and dropping it to the ground before continuing to eat it.

Olivia bent over, hands just above her knees, taking deep breaths.

"Babe?" Alex said softly, hand on the brunette's back. "You OK?"

Olivia looked up at Alex.

AAA

"Oh, Liv, Baby…" Alex placed her hands underneath the brunette's elbows, encouraging her to stand, and then wrapped her arms around her shaking wife, Olivia doing the same.

Alex could feel the strong detective trembling beneath her arms. "Liv…it's OK…"

They heard movement and pulled away from the embrace, looking toward the sound. The donkey had now turned around and was making its way back up the small hill. The women watched as he disappeared all together. Olivia took Alex's hand and placed it over her heart, the blonde feeling it fluttering beneath her palm.

Wordlessly, Olivia cupped the blonde's face and pressed her lips to hers. "You know you just saved my life, right?" Olivia tried. Alex reached up and wiped the tears underneath each of the brunette's eyes.

The blonde smiled, "Olivia…I've had a lot of experience with horses…remember? My family and I used to own one-fifth of a stable. I had my own horse, so did my brother. Comes with the Cabot territory…" Alex wiped Olivia's brow, "…that donkey was sure into you, though…"

Olivia whispered, laughing, "Shut up, Al…I always attract asses…" She looked up hopefully, "…you think I have a chance with him?"

Alex shoved her playfully and the women wrapped their arms around each other's waist and walked toward the water, headed off to another island first—snorkeling in the Mediterranean.

… … … … … …

The ladies chose to stay in that evening, having purchased some fresh small fish called barbounia, a type of red mullet, and filets of cod—called bacaliaros in Greek—at the local seafood market. They had discovered a small outdoor market, just in town, the day before, hidden behind a community of houses staggered on a hill, the market having a plethora of carts of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh seafood caught that day—perhaps only minutes prior—and fresh-baked loaves of breads and cheeses.

Alex and Olivia had been in a gourmet's paradise.

Alex removed the foil from a bottle of white wine, watching her wife at the stove, and eyeing her as she cooked. They were both exhausted and sun-kissed from their day of paddling and snorkeling and swimming, having spent almost four hours in the blazing sun. Even Alex was now developing a nice color on her own delicate skin, minimal but noticeable, cheeks and nose a slightly pinkish tan.

Olivia's skin had already taken on that bronzed, cocoa color and Alex couldn't stop looking at it, touching it, constantly wanting to taste and kiss it. She turned the corkscrew into the cork, smirking at the woman oblivious to her ogling, as Suzanne Vega sang about being left of center on the small speakers in the window sill of the kitchen. Olivia had on a pale yellow, corset-style top, hugging her breasts nicely and displaying her flat belly, both straps sexily falling off her shoulders, and a pair of short, white cut-off shorts, feet bare, hair up in a clip—beautifully casual. Alex wore an over-sized white linen shirt that fell at the upper thigh and a pair of white lace panties, feet bare, as well.

Alex pulled the cork out with a pop, Olivia now turning from tending to the fish on the stove. The brunette did a double take when she saw Alex's expression. Alex knew her expression was dazed, and probably had a rather smitten look on her face.

Olivia smiled broadly, "Hey, Babe…"

Criminal by Fiona Apple came on next.

Alex set the bottle and cork on the counter and reached around the brunette, turning the stove off and removing the pan from the element. Alex pressed her body against the brunette's backside, holding her hips firmly, swaying to the music. Olivia reached both arms back and cradled the attorney's head in her hands, the blonde's hands drifting slowly up to her breasts, palming them before squeezing firmly. Alex breathed into her ear, "God, what you do to me, Liv…" She took the brunette's lobe into her mouth, biting and sucking gently, tasting her.

Olivia let out a shaky breath, eyes closed, her head leaning back. Alex's right hand slipped beneath the brunette's waistband, finding the detective without underwear.

"Oh, Liv…God, Baby…such a turn on…" Her fingers found her silky folds, running her finger along the soft warmth.

"Alex…"

"Here…I want you here, Liv…"

Olivia turned and clasped the attorney's neck, kissing her firmly, their tongues probing. Alex backed her into the counter. Olivia reached behind her and slid the bottle over, placing the cucumber and tomato salad in the sink for now. She lifted herself onto the counter, the women continuing to kiss as Alex unbuttoned and unzipped the brunette's shorts, removing them with ease and dropping them to the floor.

Alex mouth found her neck and began kissing, tonguing, sucking, teeth biting silky caramel skin as her fingers continued to stroke the detective's warmth. Olivia hissed and then groaned as Alex's teeth dug into her muscle between her chin and shoulder.

Alex pulled Olivia's hips forward and then knelt in front of the brunette and smiled as Olivia looked down at her with lustful eyes, biting her lower lip, her breathing already heavy.

A Couple of Forevers by Chrisette Michelle began to play.

Alex smiled and then got to work on her wife, kissing, licking, her tongue driving further into the gorgeous brunette, Olivia clutching the counter's edge as she writhed above the blonde. Alex now stood, placing Olivia's ankles on her shoulders and moved in again, kissing her belly lightly, tonguing her belly button. Olivia's hands found the back of Alex's head and she tried to pull her closer.

"Your mouth, Al…please…" she begged.

Alex smiled and then continued her motions, feeling the detective's walls tense around her tongue, her breath now coming in pants—ragged breaths she couldn't control.

Alex's eyes shifted upward, watching Olivia as she began coming completely undone, the blonde's mouth now sucking and tonguing the protruding bundle of nerves that had now emerged nicely—one flick, another, another…and then…

"I—uhhhhh!" Olivia squealed, holding her breath as her climax rolled through her body, bucking on top of the small counter. Coming down, her body still jolting, she rested her head against the blonde's forehead and Alex coaxed more contractions from her wife with her fingers, the brunette gradually ceasing her movements and coming down.

Alex pulled away, Olivia smiling, eyes closed.

"That was…a good one…but…." she opened her eyes, "…they all are when you're making love to me, Al…" Olivia stroked the blonde's hair and leaned in for a tender kiss.

"Let's eat," Alex smiled, hands on the brunette's hips. Alex reached down and retrieved the brunette's shorts as Olivia hopped off the counter.

"I'll get to you later, Babe…don't you worry…"

"Good because now, it won't take much…" Alex smiled, taking the salad from the sink and then washing her hands as Olivia plated the fish. Alex retrieved two glasses for wine and took the bottle and glasses out to their table.

They enjoyed freshly-caught lightly battered and fried fish, a crunchy salad with soft, salty feta, and shared a bottle of sweet, tart wine as the ocean sounds lulled their conversations about home, their future, and plans for when they got back, as a background mix of India Arie and Erykah Badu's soulful crooning played softly.

With only two more days left on the island, they planned their next couple of days carefully, they were more content and in sync than ever, happy to be with each other, celebrating their love in Paradise.

… … … … … …

A/N:

Only a couple more days on the island. Have you been enjoying it? Please read and review! What did you like? Not like? How about Olivia's fear? Notice how Alex doesn't laugh at her? Alex always threatens to "get people back" but never does…not when it comes to the people she loves…

I wish everyone a happy holiday season full of love, kindness, and happiness…

Sincerely,

Patricia