When he wakes up early the next morning he is happy to find her still in his arms, sleeping soundly. He's never liked sleeping with women before-sleeping being the operative word-but it's different with her. Not only does she not cling to him at night, but she sleeps softly, quietly. Besides, he likes having her in his arms. Her weight and warmth is oddly comforting to him, reassuring, and after all the horrible things he sees all day, every day, this makes it better.

He turns his head to look at the small clock on her bedside table, which reads 5:45 in the morning. He slips out of bed reluctantly to use the bathroom, turning to look at her when he reaches the door. God, she's beautiful, he thinks, captivated by the way her chest rises and falls as she breathes. He shakes his head-you're being ridiculous-and steps into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

As he finishes up in the bathroom, he debates taking a shower, but he wants to join her in her large, soft bed and take her back in his arms, wants to kiss her, hold her… his train of thought is abruptly curtailed when he hears her alarm clock ring from the next room. He opens the door of the bathroom and steps back into her bedroom, greeted by the sight of Liz burrowing back into the covers and groping for the snooze button. He grins and walks over to her, sitting down next to her on the bed, and turns off the alarm for her.

'Thank you,' she says, her voice muffled against the pillows. He rests his hand at the nape of her neck, running his thumb absently along her jaw, once again astonished at the softness of her skin, how finely made she is. She sighs happily, reaching up to grasp his wrist and caress it even as she wriggles further beneath the covers.

'What time do you have to be at your office?' he asks her, feeling her pulse speed up.

'Not for ages,' she tells him. 'Nine-thirty.'

'Well, in that case,' he says, grinning, as he flips the covers off her, 'we have some time.'

She shrieks as the cold air hits her bare skin, but rolls over willingly as he runs his hand along her side. She is sleepy still but reaches up for him, resting her hands on his shoulders.

'I'm not much of a morning person,' she admits, her voice husky with sleep, her grey eyes blinking up at him.

It is some time later before he realizes she is laughing because her alarm clock is ringing again.

'Oh, shut up!' he growls at it, tossing a pillow at the nightstand to silence the damn thing, then turns back to her.

'I could start to like wake-up calls as long as they're like this,' she says, still giggling. She looks gorgeous when she laughs; she rarely laughed in public, but here, with him... 'But it's probably far past time for us to get to work, and since my alarm clock is broken we have no idea what time it is.'

He chuckles and sits up. 'I guess you're right. I'll get the shower going?'

'Please,' she says. 'And I'll start the coffee.'

He can't resist kissing her once more before he leaves her in the bed, her body still shaking with laughter.

After their shower, he sprawls on her bed watching her as she blow dries her hair in the bathroom. She is absorbed in her task, moving gracefully as her short auburn hair fluffs up into the curls he knows so well. When she finishes, she sets the hair dryer aside and opens the bathroom cabinet, applying her makeup quickly, then she spritzes perfume on her wrists, rubbing them together then touching them briefly just below her ears-to distribute the scent, he guesses. Finally, she steps out of the bathroom and smiles at him.

'Everything all right?' she asks as she walks to her dresser, picking out panties and a bra-lacy still, does she only wear lace? his mind trails off down pleasant roads as he watches her dress. She walks to her closet, stepping into a narrow grey skirt and a navy silk blouse. She walks back to her dresser and picks out a pair of earrings from her jewelry box, putting them in absently.

'When can I see you again?' he asks, swinging his legs around so he can sit at the edge of the bed. She walks over to him and he pulls her down into his lap. He runs a hand down her back, feeling the softness of silk once again, and bends down to kiss her exposed collarbone. She sucks in a breath quietly, but he can feel it, and he grins. She wraps an arm around his shoulders and begins to caress the back of his neck.

'Soon,' she says, and he kisses the hollow at the base of her throat, feeling the quickness of her pulse. How amazing it was that he could do this to her, he thinks. He tightens his grip on her waist. 'Um, I have dinner with my godfather tonight, but tomorrow, after work?' she suggests.

'Good,' he agrees, immediately revising plans for Thursday night. His buddies would understand, especially if he told them it was about a girl. 'And the weekend?' he asks.

She pulls back and he looks up into her face, flushed prettily. 'Actually, I have tickets to the opera on Saturday night,' she admits. 'My godfather was meant to come with me but he'll be out of town-that's why we're having dinner tonight. So If you'd like…' she trails off.

He raises an eyebrow as he actually gives it consideration, to his surprise. It would be nice to see her all dolled up for him again, maybe he could help her with those stockings this time…

'If you don't want to, that's fine-I'll ask a friend.' She gets up off his lap and runs her hand through his hair one last time. 'I should get going, and at a guess you probably need to change before you get to the precinct.'

'What opera is it?' he asks.

'Cosi fan tutte,' she says. 'It's actually quite good and very short-well, for the opera.'

'Well, I'll think about it. And you're right-I do need to get changed.'

She kisses him and then goes back to her closet to get her matching jacket. He follows her out of the hallway, pausing as she collects her coat and handbag. They take the elevator down to the lobby together and part at the door.

'Have a good day,' she says, touching his tie lightly as she smiles at him. He grins and bends down to kiss her, then strolls uptown towards his apartment.

Over a sandwich at his desk in a brief five minutes snatched between interrogations, he leans back and looks at Phil.

'Hey, Big Daddy, what would you wear to the opera?'

Phil raises an eyebrow. 'You goin' to the opera?'

'Thinkin' about it,' he says, leaning back in his chair casually.

'With your lady?' he presses.

'Maybe.'

'Wow, she's that good, hmm?' he asks, grinning at him across their desks. 'Worth four hours of boredom at the opera?'

He shrugs. 'So what if she is?'

'Never thought you'd be one to suffer through the opera,' he laughs. 'Let alone wear a tux.'

His face falls. 'I'd have to wear a tux? It's not like we're meeting the Queen or whatever.'

'Well, black tie at least. You're steppin' into a whole new world here, Mikey,' he says. 'Be careful. You should probably read Emily Post or whoever before you venture any further. They're not gonna let you in without the password… and definitely not with that leather coat you wear.'

He brings his chair back down with a crash. 'So you don't think I can do it?' he snaps, feeling annoyed that Phil so easily highlighted his unacknowledged concerns.

Phil bites into his sandwich calmly. 'I'm not sayin' that, Mikey. I'm just sayin'-these people are different, y'know?'

'Yeah,' he replies, then shoves his sandwich away, suddenly no longer hungry. 'You ready? Let's get this interview over with.'

When Phil takes a turn at interviewing the suspect, he tells Cragen he's ducking out for a moment to use the bathroom. Instead he heads for his desk and quickly dials Liz's office number.

'Dr. Olivet's office,' her receptionist answers. 'How can I help you?'

'Yeah, hi, it's Mike Logan. Can I talk to Dr. Olivet, please?'

'She's in with a patient now, Detective. Can I take a message?'

He bites his lip as he thinks what to tell her. 'Um, yeah. Can you just tell her that I can make that appointment on Saturday?'

'Of course, Detective.'

'Great. Thanks,' he says, hanging up before he can change his mind. He shrugs involuntarily when he thinks of the commitment he's made to her, but hey-this is what dating her means. Yeah, they are dating, he realizes, and that means they do things together, that means he's gonna have to do things that she likes and he doesn't, necessarily. Now he's just gotta figure out what the hell he's gonna wear…

'So am I gonna have to wear a tux or what on Saturday?' he asks when she opens her apartment door to him the next night.

She beams at him. 'No, of course not-it's not an Opening Night. Just, you know, a nice suit, cufflinks, that sort of thing.'

'Well, alright,' he agrees, stepping into her apartment. 'Hello there.' She steps into his arms, resting her head for a moment against his chest.

'Mm, hello.'

'You hungry?'

'Yes, I am. I could cook, or we could order takeout, or go out… what would you like to do?'

'Let's stay here,' he says, unzipping her skirt. She pushes him away and laughs. 'What?' he grins. 'If we're stayin' in you might as well… slip into something more comfortable.'

'Like what?' she asks, raising an eyebrow. His pulse speeds up as it always does when she looks at him like that.

'Well, your bed would be a start,' he tells her as she kicks her skirt away. 'Y'know, clean sheets, soft pillows…'

'And you,' she says, walking down the hallway. He gets a great view of her from behind, her slim legs, slender waist, narrow hips. He follows her, his long strides making it easy to catch up, and he seizes her around her waist, lifting her up as she laughs.

'Yeah, your bed's a good start. After all, it's still early, might as well work up an appetite for dinner.'

'Oh, is that what you call it?' she asks, running her hand down his chest, loosening his tie.

'Of course,' he grins. 'I'm really only thinking of you. I just have your best interests at heart.'

He wakes up to an empty bed. The clock on her nightstand reads 9:38 and he stretches with satisfaction, feeling rested and happy. Some delicious smells are emanating from the kitchen and he rolls out of bed, steps into his boxers, and walks out of the bedroom.

She is standing at the stove, moving around the kitchen with purpose. She's slipped into a silky dark green negligee and has a glass of wine in her hand. She's set the kitchen table and there is another glass set out for him.

'Smells delicious,' he says, stepping into the kitchen.

'Just something simple-salad, chicken, pasta,' she says. 'There's wine if you'd like, or beer.'

'Thanks,' he says, pouring a glass of wine.

She puts down their dinner on the table and joins him.

'You know, you could… leave a few things here, if you'd like. Clothes-wise,' she offers offhandedly, spearing a crouton.

'Yeah?' he asks, uncomfortable for a minute. This is moving fast, but he said he wanted this. It's not a big deal, not like she's leaving stuff at his place. It shouldn't freak him out. It's not a marriage proposal, just a sign that spending time with her was more pleasant than evenings alone in his apartment. 'That would be good.'

'Good,' she says. 'Great. Not that I don't love seeing you walk around in just your boxers… but wouldn't it be nice if, when you spent the night, you didn't have to get up so early to change, you know?'

'Yeah, it'll give us a lot more time in the morning for some… wake-up calls,' he says, grinning at the possibility.

'And I look forward to them. What are you doing tomorrow night?'

'Pick-up game with some guys from the precinct, then dinner. You?'

'I need to speak to Jim, tell him what's going on,' she says. 'I owe him an explanation. He is a friend, a good one, and I want him to stay a good friend. That's important to me, Mike-I hope you can understand that.'

'Yeah, okay,' he says after a pause. 'Maybe we can get together later? I can bring some things over and you can help me pick out a suit or something to wear to the opera?'

Her smile is radiant. 'Yes, of course. That sounds perfect.'

'Good,' he says, finishing up his chicken. 'Now, I'll clean up and meet you in bed.'

She gets up from the table and smooths back his hair, then kisses his cheek. 'See you in bed. And then maybe-well, maybe we can talk about one of your fantasies.' She gives him a cheeky grin and he returns it, giving her a little smack on her behind as she walks out of the room.