Well, kittens, work has struck again. I'd like to strike my work...with a lightning bolt. Or a fireball. Anyway, here's chapter eight. This is a turning point for the ladies, but around that bend lies some bumpy road... It's never easy for these two, that's for sure.

Olivia shivered so hard she woke herself up. She had been toasty warm when she fell asleep, but that definitely wasn't the case now. Throwing back the covers, she stood up and blinked a few times to let her eyes adjust to the dim light of dawn breaking through the picture window. As she reached up to get the down comforter off the top bunk, she glanced behind her to look at Alex and saw that the blonde woman was still asleep. Before she turned back to the bed, she looked out the window, where something outside caught her attention. She walked over to get a closer look and gasped when she saw it. "Oh. My. God." As she ran to Alex she practically tripped over her own feet. "Alexalexalexalexalex!" she said as she shook Alex's shoulder. "Alex, wake up!"

Alex was in the middle of a particularly good dream where she and Olivia were a crime fighting duo (neither of them were wearing tights or a cape). She heard her name and felt a gentle shaking, but couldn't figure out if it was part of the dream or not. Opening one eye, she saw Olivia's wide eyed expression just inches above her. "Hmmmmm. What?" she said before yawning. "What time is it?"

"I have no idea! Just look outside!" Olivia waved her hands in the direction of the window.

"What exactly am I looking for?" Alex asked as she got out of bed and walked to the window. "Oh. I see," she nodded slowly as she took in the sight of the four feet of snow that had buried everything in sight.

Olivia came over and stood beside Alex. "What're we gonna do now?"

Turning around and heading back to bed, Alex replied, "Nothing that involves going outside. I personally am going back to sleep. You're welcome to do whatever you'd like." She flopped into bed and pulled the covers over her head.

Looking out the window a moment longer, Olivia turned toward Alex's bed. "I guess since I'm up I'll start a fire and get breakfast going." A muffled grunt came from beneath the covers, which Olivia took to be a sign of agreement from Alex. After getting a roaring fire lit in the fireplace to ward off the chill, she went to the kitchen to make breakfast. She opened the refrigerator to see what she could throw together, but something wasn't right. The light didn't come on. She turned a knob on the stove to see if it would turn on. It didn't. She went to the lamp next to the sofa and switched it on. Nothing happened. Tiptoeing back to Alex, she pulled the blanket down from Alex's head. "Alex," she whispered loudly.

"Mmmmmmmwhatnow?" Alex growled.

"The power's out."

"We're on a remote part of the island. It happens. It'll come back on eventually," Alex said before flipping over so she was laying on her stomach with her face pressed into her pillow.

"So I guess I won't be making you an omelet for breakfast," Olivia stated as she returned to the refrigerator to see what she could use up without having to use any power. She decided on eating the cheese and bread from their first night in the cabin. She dismantled the blanket fort and returned its components to their proper places. On her way back from the closet, she grabbed her book out of her bag, got the platter from the kitchen, and stretched out on the sofa to enjoy reading by the fire. The only thing missing from making this the way she'd like to spend every morning was coffee...and a certain blonde woman curled in her lap. OK, so that's two things, but who's counting, she thought. She looked over the back of the couch to the woman who was splayed out so adorably in bed. Olivia opened her book to the place she had left off and became so engrossed in the story she didn't hear Alex get up and come around to the sofa.

Alex lifted Olivia's outstretched legs, sat down, then repositioned the detective's legs across her lap. "I guess I'm awake now," she sighed.

Olivia swallowed hard at the fairly intimate position they were in. They'd never sat like that before, but the more Olivia thought about it, it wouldn't be an appropriate way to sit in the precinct or the courthouse. The only exception to that may be in the privacy of Alex's office, but the chances of someone knocking on her door for one reason or another would be high. Stop analyzing it to death, Benson. This is pretty much what you wanted, she thought. "Sorry I got overexcited about getting snowed in. I don't think I've ever seen so much snow. And no power? How's that gonna work?"

"It's gotta be record snowfall. I've been coming here most of my life and I don't recall there ever being more than about two feet at a time. I hope there wasn't anything you wanted to do in town because I don't think we'll be getting there for a while. There's an emergency power outage kit in the closet. It's got candles, flashlights, a battery powered radio, camp stove, and some other stuff. It's not so bad. It's actually kind of fun without power. Like camping, but indoors." Alex reached and grabbed a couple of cheese cubes and popped them in her mouth.

Putting the bookmark back in its place, Olivia shook her head. "I'm not much of a camper, Alex."

"I said it's like camping. It'll be fun. Where's your sense of adventure?" Alex asked with a smirk.

"I live adventure every day at work. I want boring, predictable, and planned."

Stealing two more cubes of cheese and eating them, Alex rested a hand on Olivia's thigh, and winked at the detective. "Then I guess it's a good thing I've got today planned out for us."

Olivia squinted at Alex. "What's the plan?"

"I figured we could read while the daylight lasts, then we could play cards and make s'mores by the firelight. I'll even fire up the camp stove on the porch and we can boil water for hot chocolate, with Frangelico, of course. Oh, and we should get some snow and stick it in the fridge to keep everything cold until the power kicks back on. We'll eat the rest of the cheese and bread and pastries for the time being, and we can break out last night's alfredo for dinner. Is that planned enough for you?" Alex smiled at Olivia.

Shrugging, Olivia gave Alex her signature lopsided grin. "That'll do."

Alex moved Olivia's legs and got up to go get her book from the nightstand. She picked up the comforters off the bunk beds and threw one at Olivia. "Move over."

"Why do you have to sit on the sofa? There's a perfectly good unoccupied love seat right there," Olivia said as she tucked the blanket around her legs.

Sticking out her bottom lip and pouting, Alex whined, "But I wanna sit with you."

Olivia smiled and tucked her legs underneath her. "Come on." She readjusted the blanket and watched as Alex situated herself at the opposite end of the sofa and opened her book. Olivia put the plate of food on the table and opened her book back up.

They read for several hours before they spoke again. The fire had been stoked and more cheese and French bread had been eaten, but it was all done in companionable silence. Since the snow on the roof was blocking the skylights, it got dark in the cabin sooner than it did outside. Alex got the emergency box from the closet and sat in front of the fire taking everything out. Olivia pretended to read her book but she was really watching Alex. Her pale skin and blonde hair glowed in the firelight. She looked ethereal and more than just a little sexy they way she bit her bottom lip as she sorted the contents in front of her.

Alex got up and placed the candles around the room and lit them as she went. Olivia put her book down and went to the kitchen to get the alfredo out of the fridge and split it between two plates. Going back and grabbing two beers from the fridge, she carried everything back to the sofa, where she handed a plate and beer to Alex.

Finally breaking the silence, Olivia said, "Sorry the food's cold."

Swallowing the bite she had just taken, Alex shook her head. "It's fine, Liv. It's not like I've never eaten cold food before and there's not a lot we can do about it given the circumstances."

"It just seems like you're more sophisticated than this. Eating cold fettuccine alfredo with a cop doesn't seem like-"

"STOP," Alex cut her off. "Olivia, don't even finish that thought. I don't live in a glittering ivory tower, and I'm not a princess who feels like they have to make nice with the lowly subjects. Where is this coming from? Why do you think I'm not perfectly happy eating cold pasta with you?"

Olivia sighed and looked at the antlers above the hearth. "I don't know, Alex. I guess I still can't figure out why you asked me to come with you. Why go through all the hassle of having to entertain someone else on your winter vacation?"

Alex put her plate on the floor. She scooted over to Olivia and did the same to the detective's plate. Taking Olivia's hands in her own, she brought them to her lips and kissed them. "It's no hassle entertaining you, Olivia. If I'm going to be perfectly honest, I've wanted to ask you to come here with me so many times. I like spending time with you. I know your job is your life, but I see the toll it takes on you. I know you think you don't need anyone, but I want you to know that if you ever do decide you need someone, I'm here for you, but only if you want to let me in. I care about you, Liv." Alex saw the surprise in Olivia's eyes. "Probably more than I have a right to, but please don't think that you're some charity case or that you're not special to me." She hadn't intended for all those feelings to come out, but luckily she stopped herself before she got to the inevitable confession of loving the fiery brunette as more than a friend.

Olivia's gaze never wavered from the spot on the wall. The words Alex had spoken so eloquently were sinking in. Her emotions were running wild and she was trying desperately to sort them out quickly and respond to the things Alex had said. "I don't deserve a friend like you, Alex."

Lifting Olivia's hands and holding them over her heart, Alex spoke softly, "Yes, you do. You deserve to be happy just like anyone else. You deserve friends who love you and would do anything for you. You give so much of yourself, Liv, and you get so little in return. I know you protect yourself by hiding behind that wall, but I know that behind it is the real you. I want to know you, Liv. I want to learn everything about you. But only if you want to let me in."

Tears fell from Olivia's eyes as she finally turned to look Alex in the eye. "You have all the right keys. You just need to keep trying different doors."

Alex reached up and wiped the tears from Olivia's cheeks. "Thank you," she whispered. Their eye contact went on for countless moments. Both women were holding their breath. Olivia was pretty sure her heart would beat out of her chest. Alex was positive that between the fact that she couldn't breathe and that her heart was skipping beats all over the place that she would pass out. But what happened next made her want to stay awake and alert.

They met in the middle. The kiss was tentative, but steadfast. It wasn't driven by lust, but instead conveyed comfort. Olivia's hands reached up and wound their way around the back of Alex's head and neck. When they broke apart, they gazed deeply into each other's eyes.

Alex smiled and sighed contentedly. "I've been wanting to do that for a VERY long time."

Olivia's face fell. "That can't happen again, Alex. You're straight."

Leaning back and cocking her head to the side, Alex shrugged. "Says who?"

Confusion coloured Olivia's features. "What are you saying?"

"I'm gay. A lesbian. A homosexual."

"No! That's...that's not possible," Olivia stammered.

Alex nodded slowly. "I'm pretty sure it is."

Olivia launched herself off the couch and started pacing. "How could I not know?"

Repositioning herself on the sofa, Alex shrugged again and smirked. "It's not like I go around saying, 'Hi, I'm Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot and I kiss chicks.' There's so much more to me than who I choose to date."

"But...but...you kissed me!" Olivia stopped pacing and turned a steely look to the woman on the sofa.

Alex stood up and moved toward Olivia. "It was to show you I care about you. Is that a problem?"

Olivia turned her back to Alex. "I can't fall in love with you, Alex. I don't want to ruin the one friendship I cherish above all else. I don't trust easily, and you know that, but I think of you as a close friend and I don't want to lose you."

Tears streaked down Alex's face. "You won't lose me."

"I know me, Alex. I know that I'm not good at relationships. I'm moody. I have to be alone sometimes to sort out what goes through my mind. I have nightmares. I don't always know how to express my feelings, good or bad."

Alex reached out and turned Olivia to face her, keeping her hands on her shoulders. "Do you think any of that matters to me? I understand, Olivia."

Pulling back from Alex's grip, Olivia put some distance between herself and the ADA. "No, you don't. I'll wind up pushing you away like I do with everyone who matters to me!" Her shoulders slumped and she began to sob.

Alex didn't know what to do. "I won't let that happen, Olivia."

"You won't have a choice. I'm not worth sticking around for."

"I'll be the judge of that," Alex said as she went to Olivia and put her arm around her shoulders.

Olivia shook her head. "I'm damaged."

"I don't believe that."

"It's true," Olivia whispered as she wiped the tracks of her tears from her cheeks.

Leading Olivia back to the couch, Alex sat down and gently pulled Olivia to sit down next to her. "Why are you damaged, Olivia? State your case, and I'll be the judge of whether you are or not. But know that whatever you say, I won't judge you, I won't leave you, and anything you say gets listened to with my ears and my heart. That's always been true." Alex took Olivia's hand and intertwined their fingers.

Olivia took several deep breaths and launched into her entire life story. Alex listened intently and squeezed Olivia's hand to give her strength. The younger woman's heart broke when she heard the details of Olivia's conception and rough childhood. It was no wonder why she felt the way she did because she was told at an early age that she was worthless and a mistake. When Olivia started on her teenage years and how she tried so hard to get away from her abusive life, Alex was glad that Olivia hadn't gone through with marrying that much older man, and instead decided to work on becoming a police officer so she could make a difference in the world. It made her so proud that the detective chose to help victims in a way that no one did for her mother.

When Olivia finished talking, she looked down at the floor. "Sorry to dump all that on you. It's hard to explain why I am the way I am without starting from the very beginning." She let out a sad laugh. "Now see if you can shut me up."

"I just got you to open up to me so I don't want you to shut up. I want to learn everything about you, and don't you forget it. I'm not scared by your past, Olivia, and I'm still here. I don't pity you or look down at you. As terrible as your past is, it made you who you are right this second. It made you the person people trust and admire."

Olivia smiled at Alex. "You realise you're in, right? Behind the wall, I mean."

"That's the best gift I could ever get."