Chapter 10

In all the time they've spent together- all the time they spend kissing and cuddling and and just coexisting, they've never been on a date. Amanda thinks of back to the time when they finally decided to give a the thing growing between them a real shot, and that time was demolished by a storm by the name of William Lewis.

Now, they basically live together. Olivia deserves to date like a regular person just as much as Amanda deserves it.

So a few days after the afternoon in the bathroom, the blonde wakes up early (earlier than usual for them) and plans just that. The date Olivia deserves.

She'd left a note on Olivia's teapot, something she knew the brunette would make a beeline for minutes after waking up. The note had been vague, something she knew would drive the older woman crazy with curiosity and probably a little irritation.

But what she has in store will surely leave Olivia more than content. Happy even.

She wraps her sweater a little tighter around her body as a soft chill blows over her, and she looks out on the running water from her spot on the thick blanket lain on the ground. She pulls her phone out and types up a quick message, making sure to leave it just as vague as her note.

Put something warm on and come to the water.

It's enough.

She tosses her phone to the side and quickly takes care of a few last-minute touches, then sits back and waits patiently for the other woman to join her. It won't be long, it's barely a five minute walk, one they've made a handful of times since that first time. It's become their favorite place. The tree that hangs over the creek, almost protectively, has become their sitting spot. The mountains that paint the background have become their view.

"So is this why I woke up to an empty bed?"

She's torn from her thoughts by a sassy voice, and she tips her chin up, a relaxed smile on her lips as she gazes adoringly at her lover. "Surely I can make it up to you." She tempts, waving her hand over the blanket, covered with various breakfast foods and two thermoses. Most like coffee and tea.

"Amanda.. This is.."

"Our first date."

Olivia is silent, eyes scanning over the scene in front of her. She looks like she's on the verge of tears, but Amanda knows that it won't happen. "Do you like it?" She asks softly, biting a pink bottom lip.

"I love it."

"Well, sit down. I made your favorite tea, so let's get you warmed up." She pats the spot beside her. When Olivia sits, she takes an extra blanket and wraps it around both of their shoulders. They sit close, and before they even touch the food, the older woman turns Amanda's chin and brings her in for a deep kiss. The first of many on this day.

"I was going crazy.. Not knowing where you were." She murmured against the younger woman's lips before delving back in for a moment.

When they pull away, Amanda swipes at Olivia's bottom lip, the edges of her own curving up in a sly smile. "I left a note."

Olivia rolls her eyes and pulls the post-it note out of her back pocket, lime green paper wrinkled from being shoved in between the denim material.

Running errands. Don't eat yet.

"If this constitutes as a note…" The older woman grouses, tossing the small paper at her companion.

"I didn't wanna give anything away, Liv.." She shrugs defenselessly, blue eyes dancing with amusement. "C'mon, doesn't this," She waves her hands over the food again, "Make it worth it? And look at that view.. All ours."

"You're right."

"So let's eat." She hands the older woman a silver thermos, and she bites her lip at the sound of Olivia humming as she inhales the scent of the warm liquid. "I didn't want to make too much hot foods, since it's not exactly warm out, and the cold air will just cool it all off. But I did manage to successfully make a few sopapillas.. And I brough fruit and honey and-"

Olivia cuts her off with another kiss, warm fingertips pressing into a cool, pink cheek. "It's perfect."

….

By the time most of the food is gone, they're both laying on the blanket, fingers entwined and gazing up at the clouds, which have taken the shapes of various things. At least in Olivia's opinion.

"I think you're seeing things. Was there something sketchy in that tea of yours?" Amanda teases, turning her head to look at the brunette.

"You tell me, you made it, Rollins." The older woman huffs, eyes still cast up at the blue sky. Amanda is in awe of just how stunning Olivia is. She always has been. But now, in the natural lighting of mid-morning, hair windblown and face void of makeup, she's at her best. The most beautiful her. "I'm glad we did this." She murmurs, finally turning her head and bringing their conjoined hands up to kiss the blonde's knuckles. "We should do this more often."

"We can make it happen. Whenever you want."

Olivia looks at her intently for a moment, eyes darting from feature to feature. She nearly catches Amanda off guard when she turns her body until she's half on top of the blonde. Seconds separate that moment from the moment their lips meet.

The kiss starts out soft, slow, then gradually deepens, until they're exploring territory that's been trekked many times before. Warm breaths mingle in between, lips only parting to adjust their angles. Blue eyes widen as fingertips come into contact with her belly. They remain there for only a moment before trailing to the side, following the dip in her waist and upward, over every subtle divot of her ribcage. She knows where this is going. Before she can stop it, Olivia's hand closes around her breast, and she loses her mind; her nerves short circuit.

Skin on skin, lips devouring lips, it's the most wonderful feeling. Their mouths make love to each other slowly, and Amanda doesn't want to stop. She can't stop. And if Olivia doesn't stop, their first time will most definitely be on a blanket by a creek in the open outdoors.

The older woman pulls away and she looks down at Amanda, lips swollen and parted. "Is this okay?" She whispers, her thumb brushing across a pert nipple. She can only nod quickly before leaning up to capture Olivia's lips once more, her teeth gnashing at the brunette's plump bottom lip.

They're connected in so many ways now, endlessly entangled within feeling and emotion and an unbreakable bond. It grows deeper each day they wake up next to each other, each time they fall asleep together. Amanda never knew it could be like this, even without sex, it's the most intimate she's ever been with another person, and the thought of doing this- being like this- with anyone else, terrifies her. Olivia Benson is it for her.

Olivia pulls away again, retracts her hand and brings it up to cup the younger woman's blushing cheek. "You wanna pack up and go back inside?" She asks softly, thumb stroking Amanda's cheekbone. "We can find a movie and curl up on the couch." It's an enticing offer, and she'll most likely agree, but she wants to stay here for a few moments longer, take in the reality of now.

"In a minute. Let's just lay here for a few more minutes, okay?" She replies, a small smile on her kiss-swollen lips. Olivia settles back down next to her, repeating their position before their little makeout session, and they both gaze back up at the cloud covered sky.

The moment she sees it, she feels it coming. Olivia's words. A white cloud in the shape of an elephant, distorted from the shifting, yet still clearly shaped. She looks over at the older woman and smiles, seeing brown eyes light up.

"I see an elephant."

And even though she expected it, she bursts out laughing, ignoring the eyeroll she's awarded from the brunette. "I see it too!" She defends, dodging the light smack aimed at her arm, "I see it.."

"Then why are you laughing? Just to be an ass?" Comes Olivia's sassy retort.

"No, because I knew you'd see it too. I was waiting for you to say something." She smirks, turning back to look at the sky. As childish as this feels, it's also nice. She can see herself out here every week with Olivia, laying just like this, pointing out shapes in the sky like children.

But after everything they've both been through, a little childlike fun doesn't hurt.

It's healing for them both.

She points to the left. "There's a duck." Her finger traces the outline of the cloud, and Olivia follows her line of sight. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees the other woman shake her head, humming a disagreeing 'no.'

"That's obviously a boat."

"I don't know what the hell you're looking at, but that's a duck." She replies defiantly.

….

"I think that next week, when I go to my appointment, I should go alone."

The words shock Amanda. "Why?" She looks up from her pile of clothes on the guest bed, dropping the t-shirt she'd folded just seconds before.

Olivia shrugs, "It's something I should do once in a while.. I can't depend on you coming with me every time.. You know?" She smiles softly, leaning against the doorframe, brown eyes moving around the room. Amanda can tell that the other woman is waiting for a reply, but she doesn't know exactly what to say. She wonders if she'd done something wrong from the time they had their picnic to now, but so far, it's been a good day for both of them.

"Please don't think it's you.." Olivia jumps, seeing the look on the blonde's face. "It's not, I promise. I just.. I want everything to be as normal as possible. Please understand.."

Amanda nods slowly, a hesitant smile crossing her face. "That's okay. Whatever you think is best, Liv, I'm on board." She walks over to where Olivia is standing and brushes brown hair behind the other woman's ear, then leans in to place a sweet kiss on her lips. When she pulls away, Olivia tilts her head slightly, eyeing the pile of clean clothes on the untouched bed.

"I have one more request."

Amanda laughs softly, hoping it's not something like the previous one, and she steps back to occupy herself as Olivia talks.

"I um, I have some room… In my closet. If you wanna maybe.. Move your things in there?" Another unexpected question, and this time with an even quicker answer.

"You mean you want me to move into your room?" She arches a blonde brow.

"Well, it's not like you don't already sleep in there with me.. It's basically ours already." She shrugs, a tint of blush on her cheeks. It's rare that Amanda sees Olivia blush, and even more rare that she asks for something in general, let alone something so intimate and personal. So she saves the older woman the embarrassment of having to further explain herself, and she nods enthusiastically.

"Of course I'll move in with you Liv.." She jokes good naturedly, "Are you sure we're ready for such a big step?" A hand covers her heart, feigning concern, and the air lightens. A grin crosses her face as Olivia rolls her eyes softly.

"We're ready."