Author's Notes for 71-80:

Will be taking a break from posting for a couple of days after this one as I'll be away from my computer for the most part. So, these will have to tide you over. Hope you enjoy them. As always, feedback is lurve and I own nuthin.

Moments in Time 71-80:

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Cooking

"Nothing's wrong, Elliot," Olivia said stubbornly, "Just... Alex has decided to cook for us while she's suspended."

Elliot tried to keep the surprise from his face, "Oh, well that sounds ...nice. What's she making tonight?"

Olivia maintained her upbeat attitude, "Spaghetti."

"So what's wrong with that?"

"Nothing, Elliot, like I said." But Olivia was starting to crack, "Only, we've sort of had it recently."

Elliot, suspecting where this was going, tried to keep from laughing, "How many times recently?"

Olivia's shoulders finally slumped and she buried her face in her hands, "This will be the seventh night out of ten."

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Two Thoughts

Alex could hear their laughter from up the hall; laughter that died as soon as she entered.

Yes, of course, she felt hurt that even after two months they still didn't feel comfortable enough to joke around her. And later that afternoon, back in her office, she thought that's what she'd be dwelling on. Instead, she was dwelling on the two thoughts that had torn unexpectedly, unbidden, through her mind the moment she had entered the squad room: 'My God, but Olivia's smile is beautiful' and, even more startling to the attorney, 'I hope someday I can make her smile'.

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Stakeout Conversation

"Elliot, you dog," Olivia laughed, "I'm happy to talk about Alex, but only as an attorney."

"Spoilsport," Elliot groaned. But boredom drove him to relent, "Fine."

"Actually, you first. What do *you* think of her as an attorney."

Elliot thought for a moment then half-shrugged, "She's extremely knowledgeable. Very dedicated, thorough, and detail oriented. Likes to take control. And she's not afraid to bend the rules a little if it'll get her what she wants."

"Yeah," Olivia nodded, "That sounds about right." She said it with a straight face but also... with a twinkle in her eye.

Elliot groaned again.

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Home for the Holidays

Alex had brought Olivia home for Thanksgiving under the sole pretext that Olivia had no family nearby. However, when Alex was hugging her mother goodbye on Sunday before the drive back to the city, her mother whispered in her ear, "Make sure to bring her back for Christmas, Alexandra, but drop the pretenses."

Alex pulled back just enough to look questioningly at her mother. The older Cabot smiled conspiratorially, "I'm sure you two would rather share a bedroom than keep separate quarters when you visit, would you not?"

Alex blushed furiously then pulled her mother back into a tight embrace.

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Double Take

"What's next?" Elliot asked as he pulled away from the curb.

Olivia looked down to consult her notes. Then her head shot back up and she twisted to look backwards out her window. But only for a moment before slowly turning forward again and giving Elliot the next address.

Looking in the rearview mirror as they drove away, Elliot wasn't surprised to see the retreating form of a slender female, long tailored coat, bag slung over her shoulder and blond hair blowing in the breeze.

It's only been three months, he reasoned as he purposefully ignored his partner's double take.

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Tickets to a Show

They had just finished going over Olivia's testimony when their new ADA stated, really quite out of the blue, "I've got tickets to a show tonight."

"Oh? Which one?"

Alex ignored her question, "And dinner reservations for two beforehand."

Olivia wasn't sure why Cabot was telling her this, but she politely played along, "Who's the lucky guy?"

Alex again ignored her question and on a scrap of paper wrote down the name of a restaurant and a time. She then handed the paper to Olivia. "Don't be late," Alex advised, then turned and left, leaving behind a rather stunned detective.

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Discovered

"How long has it been going on?"

Olivia knew there was no point in lying. He'd seen them, he knew now. Still, she couldn't quite meet his eyes, "Three months."

Cragen mulled over this information, searching his memory for any discernable change in job performance from either his detective or their ADA. Finding none he asked quietly, "You sure you can continue keeping it out of work?"

Olivia's eyes snapped to meet her Captain's then, recognizing and being surprised by the tacit permission in his question. She nodded mutely.

He studied her momentarily then answered simply, "See that you do."

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Job Offer

"I got offered the opening in Major Case today."

Olivia looked at Alex, startled. But recovering quickly she put a smile on her face, "That's fantastic, Alex. Congratul..."

"I'm going to turn it down."

Olivia again needed a moment to recover. Then, "Alex, it's a tremendous opportunity. You should take..."

"I'm going to turn it down," Alex interrupted again, more forcefully. Then lowering her voice, "I thought you'd be happy with that decision."

Olivia let out a breath and, taking Alex's hands in hers, responded carefully, "Sweetie, of course, I am. But I also don't want you to regret it."

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What You Want

Alex gazed at Olivia in the flickering light of the candle on their table.

"What?" Olivia asked.

An expression Olivia read as regret passed over Alex's face. "It's just... if someone had asked me what I wanted, this," Alex made a motion that encompassed the two of them, "would *not* have been on my list."

Olivia, surprised and stung, replied bitterly, "Yeah, well, you can't always get what you want."

Alex placed a hand atop one of Olivia's and smiled, "No, Olivia, that's not what I meant. I guess what I meant was, you don't always know what you want."

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Rainy Day

"What's it like out?"

Letting the curtain she'd pushed aside fall back into place, Olivia slid back into bed. "Looks pretty overcast and rainy," she tried to sound disappointed: they had planned to picnic in Central Park today. But truth be told, she'd really rather spend the day indoors with Alex.

"You mean we can't go out today?"

Olivia shook her head faux-sadly, "'fraid not."

Alex batted her eyes, "So we'll have to stay in? Alllllll day?" Alex slowly, seductively, rolled Olivia under her, "Whatever shall we do?"

Olivia smiled, realizing Alex was on the same page as she was.

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