A/N – I finished this chapter whilst watching the news of the shooting today in the states. So incredibly sad, I'm not going to cheapen what happened by trying to say anything meaningful about it, except that life is short and whoever you are if you're reading this – hold your loved ones tight and your children even tighter.

Same disclaimers apply …


After breakfast in bed, and a little light kissing which Amanda tried desperately to turn heavier and the brunette worked hard to keep innocent, the blonde reluctantly retired to Olivia's guest room to shower and change, taking Olivia's bed sheet with her. Liv chuckled to herself as the younger women flounced out of the room, a not so subtle pout worn upon her face.

God she could be almost insufferably cute.

By the time Amanda reappeared, wearing fresh clothes and smelling like the expensive shower gel Alex had bought Olivia for Christmas the year before – which she hardly ever used, the brunette had arranged the couch into a perfect respite spot for someone recovering from a head injury.

"Really Liv …" Rollins took in the scene: extra cushions, a blanket, the remote and a glass of water with painkillers right beside it. "I'm telling you, I'm fine."

Liv met her and ushered her to the couch. "Sssh … just sit."

"So, what?" Amanda lowered herself down and allowed the brunette to place her feet up on the footstool. "I'm expected to just sit here and do nothing all day?"

Liv smiled and sat down beside her, picking up the remote and hitting play. In the DVD player was one of her all time favourite movies, 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. "Yes …" She replied. "If you want to go out later you do."

Rollins huffed slightly, but settled back against the arrangement of cushions. After about ten minutes she reached across and took two of the painkillers Liv had left out for her, as she sat back she leant closer to Liv – resting her head upon the brunette's shoulder. Halfway through the movie Liv glanced down, seeing that the blonde had fallen fast asleep, her breaths deepening and evening out.

It was a picture of contentment the older detective hadn't seen herself having in a long time, someone to curl beside on the couch when nights are cold, a person to take care of you when you're sick, hold your hand when you're scared and tell you they believe in you when it feels like the rest of the world is on your back.

When the movie credits rolled, Olivia slid herself free from Amanda and lay the blonde down gently on the couch, covering her with the blanket so she wouldn't get cold as she slept. She slipped quietly into her bedroom, pausing a moment just inside the door to allow a memory of the previous night to wash over her, the blonde naked and writhing beneath her, begging for release. If there was ever a moment she expected to have doubts that was it, alone with her thoughts and the worry of the unspoken line they'd both crossed circling the recesses of her mind. Instead there was nothing, except for the gentle tingling of her skin, hot prickling waves of heat as she remembered what it felt like to be so alive.


At five, Fin called by to drop off a bag of Amanda's stuff from her apartment, just a few things she'd text and asked him to get for her, assuming that wherever Olivia took her for dinner the dress code would be a step up from sweats and a Falcons jersey.

He was met at Olivia's front door by the brunette wearing figure hugging jeans and a nice black top which worked well at showing off her best assets. Fin bit back the urge to wolf-whistle, opting instead for a huge grin as Liv stepped aside and allowed him to come in.

"Amanda's in the bath." She said, taking the bag and setting it down on the countertop.

"How's she doing?" Fin asked, concerned for the blonde as he would be for Liv, had she been the one who'd gotten hurt, he looked out for them both like sisters. "She took a pretty good whack." He paused, adding quietly. "I was worried."

Liv smiled and touched his arm softly. "She's really fine …" She assured. "Hence why I'm taking her out this evening, if I keep her cooped up in here any longer I think she might turn feral on me …"

Fin's eyes twinkled at her choice of words, but he knew better than to push her too hard. Liv in a burgeoning relationship was like a baby foal, liable to bolt at any moment if cornered or challenged. He made a mental note to tell Rollins the very same next time he got her on her own.

"Well, give her my best." He said, briefly hugging the brunette before he left. He thought she hugged him harder than usual, as if thanking him for his unsaid acceptance.

"Thanks Fin, I'll see you tomorrow."

She took the bag through to the guest room, placing it on the spare bed, before walking into her own bedroom and speaking through the open door to the bathroom.

"Fin brought your stuff by, he said hi."

"Oh, I thought I heard something …" Amanda said, stirring out of the warm water, she'd been about ready to nod off. "Shame I missed him, is he okay?"

Liv hovered in the bedroom, not sure what the protocol was for intruding on the blonde's bathtime. "He's fine, yeah, asked after you … I told him you were driving me nuts so I'm taking you out …"

Her glibness and reluctance to join her in the bathroom unnerved Amanda. "Liv … everything okay?"

Liv paused a beat. "Yep … fine." Suddenly speaking through the wall either side of a wide open door seemed ridiculous and she got off her bed, stepping warily into the bathroom.

Amanda was staring at the doorway, just waiting for her to appear. "You can come in Liv, you've seen me naked before …"

Olivia smiled shyly, walking over to sit on the edge of the tub. "How're you feeling?"

"Like I'm looking forward to going out with you tonight." If the brunette was going to do this, behave like they'd not shared such an intimate encounter, she was damn sure going to make it tricky for her.

"Good." Liv brushed wet strands of hair from Amanda's face, then, catching her by surprise, she leant in and captured wet lips in a heated kiss – wrapping her hand around the back of the blonde's head as she drew her towards her, deepening the kiss in a fierce refusal to let go. When she did pull back, Amanda's eyes stayed closed for a couple of seconds, her breathing shallow and her lips parted, missing the warmth and contact of Olivia's lips just moments before.

"Wow …"

Liv chuckled, "Yeah, wow …" She kissed her again, softer this time, less demanding, and meant to show promise of what their evening together held. As they parted, she let her fingers trail the length of the blonde's arm, briefly linking their fingers as she brushed her thumb into Amanda's wet palm – their eyes locked into a world that existed only in that moment, only in that place.


They dressed separately, each needing the time to gather thoughts, prepare and postpone the growing heat between them which would likely ensure they never made it out to dinner reservations at all. As Amanda dressed in tight black pants, a silvery grey shirt and a blazer, she wondered briefly if her attire was too 'butch' and would scare the brunette off. Liv changed her outfit a number of times, finally coming to rest on her favourite pair of skinny jeans she knew looked excellent on her ass, and a sexy blouse – with fuck-me underwear encased beneath. She paired it off with brown leather knee-high boots and her favourite camel coat, briefly pausing to catch a glimpse of herself in the mirror, "Not bad."

Not bad was hardly the description Rollins would have used, she felt her pulse rate shoot sky high the second Liv strode into the lounge, free flowing chestnut curls tamed in a loose up-do and just the barest hint of make-up and perfume, she looked truly beautiful.

"You look amazing …" Rollins stammered, not too sure where her usually suave and sophisticated demeanour had disappeared to.

Liv grinned and met her half way, slipping her hands onto the blonde's hips she felt the tightness of her pants, her trim waist, dainty belt and the firmness of her abs beneath. Half of her wondered why they were even bothering with dinner. Then she leant her head back and looked at Rollins shyly waiting to be appraised, nervous about the way she looked, the way she was dressed.

"You. look. good. enough. to. eat." Liv accentuated, each word mouthed slowly, her eyes never leaving the blonde's as she stood close enough for her breath to ghost the other woman's face.

Amanda blushed furiously, immediately averting her gaze – then she remembered Olivia's comments about eye contact and looked back, seeing nothing but unadulterated want and admiration staring back at her.

"Shall we go?" Olivia asked, offering her hand.

Rollins nodded, not sure why suddenly she felt like she was stepping out into the abyss.


They ate Italian at a quiet little restaurant a few blocks from Olivia's apartment, sitting across from each other over a small table with a red checked tablecloth and a small vase of pale blue flowers. They made small talk, laughing about Munch's conspiracy theories, Fin's over protectiveness and the fact that they both felt for Amaro like a little brother, his marriage yet another casualty of life as a cop. It brought them around to the unspoken ill ease of embarking upon a co-worker relationship and Rollins bravely said what Olivia was far too afraid to.

"Are we crazy?" She asked softly, setting down her spoon upon the plate of Sicilian lemon cheesecake they were jointly sharing. "Doing this?"

Liv pulled her spoon slowly from her mouth, savouring the sharp tang of the lemon and the creamy goodness of the cheesecake. She turned it over and let her tongue thoroughly clean the inside, all the while watching as Amanda's eyes widened, her lips subtly parting as if mirroring the action of Liv's mouth around the lucky spoon.

"Jesus Christ Liv …"

The brunette chuckled, devilish eyes dancing with pure delight, maybe it 'was' wrong, and maybe there'd be repercussions to deal with later – but right now, right here, she couldn't call to mind any that were enough to stop her from doing what she was about to do.

She dropped her hand to the table and slid it across, gently caressing the blonde's forearm, all thoughts of dessert – food anyway – suddenly forgotten.

"Shall we go?"

Amanda nodded, silently.


They paid hastily, and walked hand in hand the short walk back to Olivia's apartment. Once inside, Amanda shed her jacket and rolled up the sleeves of her shirt, turning around to face the brunette as she stood leaning against the kitchen wall. She approached, tucking her hands beneath the older woman's coat before slipping it gracefully from her shoulders. She hung Olivia's coat on a hook beside the door then turned back, holding her hand out, waiting for Liv to accept. When she did, the blonde walked her over to the couch, urging her to sit. It was a little odd, being as it was Olivia's apartment and all.

Liv sat in the middle of the couch, watching, Amanda leant down – bracing her weight against the back of the couch as she kissed the brunette softly. "Wait here …" She instructed.

Then she disappeared, moving into the kitchen, rooting around in the fridge as Olivia simply watched, intrigued. She heard the ping of the microwave, the chink of glasses knocking together and Amanda reappeared, carrying Prosecco and a quart of strawberries – she set them down and then went back to get the glasses and a small bowl of melted chocolate.

Liv grinned as everything was set down in front of her on the coffee table. "I had chocolate? … damn, wish I'd known that last week!"

"Good stuff too …" Rollins noted, moving to sit across the brunette's lap. She poured two glasses of Prosecco and pulled the coffee table a little closer, before turning around and straddling Olivia, bringing their bodies flush together. She took a strawberry and dipped it into her glass, holding it by the stalk and bringing it up to the brunette's lips for her to taste. "I'm glad you bought strawberries this morning …" She added. "Good thinking detective …"

Liv's lips wrapped around the red berry, seductively taking it into her mouth and chewing painfully slowly. "Delicious …" She whispered, her hands settling upon Rollins firm ass.

Rollins dipped another one, and another, occasionally eating one herself. After a few minutes she gave Liv the wine, both of them watching the other as they sipped quietly.

After a couple of minutes of intense silence, Liv's eyes darted noticeably to the small pot of cooling molten chocolate.

Amanda leant into her, bringing her lips up against the brunette's ear. "I have plans for the chocolate …" She whispered, words interspersed with kisses against the brunette's cheek. "They involve you naked, so since your couch is cream maybe we should take this to the bedroom …?"

Liv's eyes widened, despite her arousal she couldn't resist a little light teasing. "Um … my sheets are cream too …?"

Rollins rolled her eyes and a loud grumble escaped from the back of her throat. "I'll buy you new sheets Liv …!"


Thanks