Olivia found Alex in the kitchen cutting another slice of pie. She took the time to admire her without her knowing. She was showing her age slightly around her eyes and there were a few strands of gray mixed into her golden blonde hair. Even though she would never tell Alex she could tell she had put on a few pounds throughout the years. Even with those changes Alex was just as beautiful if not more so than the day she strutted into the precinct claiming they were a stepping stool to a political career. One thing that still amazed Olivia was that she desired Alex more now than the day they met.

"How long do you plan to stare at me detective?" Alex asked without turning around.

"For the rest of my life if you'll have me."

"Till death do we part." Alex answered finally turning around to look into Olivia's eyes.

"You wanted to talk." Olivia stated.

"Never one to beat around the bush." Alex said laughing.

"Comes with the job." Olivia said with a smile "Like you don't question me like a suspect from time to time."

"Ok hazards from the job let's call a truce." Alex said agreeing.

"Sounds like a deal I can't refuse" Olivia whispered as she pulled Alex to her loving how she instantly melted into her arms and sighed upon body contact "Are you mad?"

"Mad?" Alex asked looking into Olivia's eyes "No I'm not mad and you know I could care less. That was the second time you let loose this year. The last time being New Year 's Eve/ day. Personally I believe you should let loose a little more often but that's just me."

"I do counselor" Olivia said wagging her eyebrows "With you."

"Incorrigible" Alex said pushing Olivia away from her "have a seat and get serious."

"Ok baby" Olivia said taking a seat her eyes never leaving Alex's. Most people would probably worry if their wife or husband pushed them out of their arms and to have them to sit telling them it was going to be a serious discussion. For them it was another conversation. Nothing either of them every needed to worry about.

"I know you want to have a child."

"And I know you don't." Olivia said reaching out for Alex's hand "Honey I am fine with that. I knew that the Christmas morning I dropped to one knee and asked you to marry me."

"Olivia Benson-Cabot, I made that decision almost ten years ago when I was still climbing the ladder and our relationship was in the honeymoon phase."

"What are you saying Alex?"

"I'm saying that people change and I have been thinking about this for a while now. I want a family. I want a family with you. I want to have little Eli's and Zara's running all over this house. I want to come home and see you stretched out on the couch with our child asleep on your chest. I want to be woken up in the middle of the night with the cries of a baby because they are hungry. I want you to reach out and stop me saying you have it this time. Then slide back in bed with our son or daughter in your arms."

"Alex."

"I should have told you years ago when I started feeling like this and I'm sorry I didn't. It started not long after we started rebuilding our relationship. When you asked me to marry you I thought everything was complete. That was until I was back from Africa for about a month. Then I started realizing that the emptiness I felt was the void of a child. The only time I felt a hundred percent whole is when Eli spends the night or we are doing things with him. I love the way you look at him. How good you are with him. How you almost seem to glow when you hold him. It hit me that I want that all the time but I want it with our own child. I want to be spoiled by you when I'm carrying our child. I want to have you come home from work and kiss me then my stomach as it grows. I want to feel the baby kick and then you gently rub the stomach to calm our child. Olivia I want everything and I want it with you. The question is do you want it all with me?"

Olivia pulled Alex into her lap and brushed a lock of hair back from her face. The love and uncertainty she saw in her eyes made her heart swell and break at the same time.

"Honey I want to hand you the world on a silver platter and I work hard to give you everything you want. If this is something you truly want then I back you one hundred fifty percent. Honestly I would love to watch your body change and grow with our child. I want to be woken in the middle of the night and roll over to discover our child in bed with us. I want to look up and see you holding our child and fall in love with you all over again repeatedly."

"Good I'm glad we're on the same page." Alex said standing and holding her hands out for Olivia "I don't know about you but I have had a long day and I am exhausted. Let's go to bed."

"As soon as you answer a question for me."

"Ok"

"If you've felt like this for a while why haven't you told me sooner?" Olivia asked opening her arms for Alex.

"For selfish reasons" Alex said stepping into Olivia's embrace "I was enjoying it being just us. Yes we have been together off and on for the last twelve years. But we have only been married for three. I was enjoying being Mrs. Olivia Benson-Cabot and wasn't ready to share you just yet."

"Are you ready now?"

"More than you know." Alex whispered against her lips before she kissed her.

As Olivia allowed Alex to lead her into the bedroom she realized, not for the first time that day, exactly how much she had to be thankful for. She had a career that spanned more than two decades, Co-workers who were more than family to her, and most importantly a wife that loved her for her.

A/N: I had every intention to not only update this story but complete the next chapter of Revelations and try to give you a little one shot Christmas story. But it appeared as if a criminal had different plans. One that leaves me out of work till Friday. Which is good for you guys because that means there will be plenty of writing.