"I'll see you soon, Auntie Livvie," Gracie hugged Olivia hard. "And when you're all better, you can come play on my new trampoline. You can too," she said to Alex. "Do you like trampolines?" she asked the blonde ADA.
"I love trampolines, Gracie," Alex said, and was touched when the girl hugged her too.
"Good," the child said. "I like you."
"I like you too, Gracie," Alex told her. "Very much."
After they had waved goodbye to the doctor and her daughter, Alex eyed Olivia. "You're exhausted," she stated.
"No, I'm..." Olivia started to demur.
"You're exhausted," Alex repeated firmly. "Come on; you need to lie down."
She pushed Olivia towards the bedroom, and smiled as the detective obediently climbed under the covers.
"I'll see you this evening," Alex told her. "Sleep well."
"Alex?" Olivia's voice was sleepy.
"Yes?" Alex asked.
Olivia looked at her, courage failing her at the last minute. "Nothing," she said. "Doesn't matter." She turned her head and buried it in the pillow.
"I'll be back this evening, if you want to talk," Alex said.
a&a&a&a&a&
"So how old is Gracie?" Alex asked, chewing on a mouthful of Chinese noodles.
"She was six last month," Olivia told her. "Isn't she wonderful? I just love her."
"She loves you too, that's very clear. So how long have you known Melinda? I thought you only met her through the job."
Olivia shook her head. "I've known her for about eleven years," she told her. "It's a total coincidence that the one-six uses her ME's office. I was pleased when I realized I'd be working with her though, she's always been a real professional."
"How did you meet?" Alex pressed.
"I first met her in a bar," Olivia swallowed, wondering how much to tell Alex. She took a deep breath. "A gay bar. We dated for nearly a year, on and off," she looked down at her food, frightened of seeing Alex's reaction in her eyes.
"Oh," Alex said. "Oh," she repeated. "So you're..."
"A lesbian," Olivia screwed up her courage, and looked her straight in the eye. She smiled to try and lessen the tension. "A single lesbian, who hasn't had sex in three years, but nevertheless... a lesbian." She found she couldn't decipher the look in Alex's eyes. "Are you shocked?" she asked in a quiet voice.
Alex sat, open-mouthed, for what seemed like minutes, but was probably only ten seconds. She then smiled tenderly, and reached out and put her hand over Olivia's. "No," she said, her voice shaking. "I'm not shocked. Far from it. I'm relieved. Delighted. In truth, I'm thrilled."
Olivia looked askance at her.
"It makes what I've been trying to say all night so much easier. Olivia Benson," Alex grinned, at the mock-formality of her delivery. "Would you consider going on a date with me? Once you've recovered, that is?"
It was Olivia's turn for silence. "Are you telling me...?" she asked eventually.
"That you aren't the only lesbian in the room?" Alex grinned. "That's exactly what I'm telling you. And I think that you are... well, you're just beautiful. I can't remember when I have felt so attracted to someone."
Olivia snorted. "Now I know you're kidding me," she said. "You've seen me at my very worst."
Alex squeezed Olivia's fingers. Her voice trembled with emotion. "And you never stopped being beautiful," she told her. "Not for one second."
"I can't believe this is happening," Olivia started to cough again. "Damn it," she cursed. "How to ruin a romantic moment," she caught her breath.
"You haven't given me an answer yet," Alex said.
Olivia looked deep into her eyes. "Of course I'll go on a date with you. I'd go anywhere with you, Alexandra Cabot. I think I fell for you the moment I saw you." She leant over the table, and kissed Alex very softly on the lips. The kiss was tender and sweet and undemanding.
Alex felt her heart fill with joy.
a&a&a&a&a&
Olivia had never imagined that she could attract somebody as beautiful, confident, sophisticated, accomplished – and downright sexy – as Alexandra Cabot. She had always felt socially awkward, which she knew was due in great part to her unconventional upbringing and to her mother's constant quiet fury. If she thought about it, she may have realized that it was this very isolation that made her connect so well with the victims that she dealt with. They were damaged, and so was she. So Olivia just sat and stared at Alex for a full minute, taking in the momentous turn that her life was taking.
"What?" Alex asked, a wide smile gracing her lips. "What? Do I have soy sauce on my chin or something?"
Olivia smiled back. She reached out and took Alex's hand, bringing it to her lips. She kissed the soft fingers. "No," her voice was almost a whisper. "I just never imagined being this happy. I know this is putting a hell of a lot of pressure on our first date, but I have never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. Ever. I hardly know you, but I feel as though I have known you my whole life."
Alex's eyes filled with tears. "I feel the exact same way," she said, her voice rough with emotion. "There's just something about you. I think I may have been waiting my whole life to meet you."
Olivia's face darkened. "There's some stuff about me," she was hesitant. "I have some baggage."
Alex got up from her seat and stood in front of Olivia. She cupped Olivia's face with both hands, "We all have baggage, Liv," she said quietly. "There's nothing you can tell me that will make you any less attractive to me. I've seen how you are. You're sweet and caring. And unbelievably compassionate." She reached out and wiped away the tears that were rolling down Olivia's face. She kissed her, so softly and tenderly that Olivia couldn't help the whimper that escaped her lips.
Alex pulled back, and looked deep into Olivia's chocolate eyes. "I know all about your conception," she said quietly. "And I know that your mother has never forgiven you, and for that I can never forgive her."
"You know?" Olivia's emotions threatened to overwhelm her.
"I'm sorry," Alex said. "I hate gossip; I felt as though I was intruding on your life when I heard. You have to know I wasn't snooping."
Olivia reached out and grasped both of Alex's hands. "I know that," she said. She smiled wanly at the beautiful blonde. "So," she cleared her throat. "We're really going to try this?"
Alex smiled back. "There's nothing I have ever wanted more."
a&a&a&a&a&
Alex nudged the sleeping Olivia. After their declarations of love for each other, they had moved to the couch, where they talked until nearly midnight. Every now and then, they broke off from their conversation to just stare at each other, or to touch, or to kiss. They knew that they were at a very early stage of their relationship, and that there were so many discoveries to make, so much to learn about each other.
Eventually, Olivia had fallen to sleep in Alex's arms. Alex just lay there, and looked down at her friend – girlfriend now, she guessed – in wonder. Olivia was still pale, and her chest still rasped a little, but she was thankfully on the mend. Alex tried to shake the memories of when Olivia had been so sick. She never wanted to see her in such pain or distress again.
"C'mon, honey," Alex's voice was soothing. "Not that I'm not loving holding you here, but you need your sleep Olivia."
Olivia stirred, and opened her eyes, blinking against the light. She saw Alex's face, and smiled. She reached out and touched her soft cheek. "So it wasn't a dream," she said.
Alex smiled in response. "No, Liv, not a dream."
"It's better than any dream I've ever had," Olivia told her.
"Me too," Alex agreed. "Now up," she climbed off the couch, and put both hands out. "You need to sleep."
Olivia reluctantly let the blonde pull her to her feet, stumbling slightly as she tried to shake the drowsiness.
Alex pushed her towards the bathroom. "You wash up, I'll get your pills, and a glass of water in case you get thirsty during the night."
Five minutes later, Olivia settled into the bed. Alex pulled the covers over her. "Stay?" Olivia asked.
"We don't want to rush things," Alex said quietly. "Soon," she promised, suddenly a little nervous.
Olivia nodded her understanding. "You'll be here on the weekend?"
"I'm not going anywhere," Alex told her. "I'll be on the couch. And yes, I want to spend the weekend with you. Every minute, if that's okay.
Olivia smiled, as she burrowed into the pillow. "Love you," she said as she drifted off.
"I love you too," Alex whispered. "So much."