I hope you all enjoy this one! I was unsure about where I took this...but I think it works :) Read on and see what you think!

Day two of our weekend starts out a little rocky.

Casey gets up before myself or my parents are even awake and makes everyone breakfast. She goes all out - bacon, eggs and omelets - because she isn't sure what everyone likes. By the time me and my parents are up, Casey has every set out and her breakfast mess cleaned up.

Mom and dad think Casey making breakfast for us all is the sweetest thing in the world - but I'm not happy about it. I barely say anything at all as my mom gushes on about how Casey got the eggs "just perfect" and my dad has a second helping of bacon. I'm surprised he hasn't proposed to Casey by now; my father loves his meat (including bacon) and any woman who does right by him in the meat department he thinks is a keeper.

Casey picks up on my annoyance that she cooked for us, and while she and I are clearing the table and loading the dishwasher, she confronts me about it.

"Okay, what did I do?" She rinses the last plate, hands it to me, and looks at me expectantly for an answer.

I finish loading the dishwasher and slam its door closed. The sound makes Casey jump. When I finally look at her, I'm not smiling.

"I wish you hadn't made breakfast, Casey."

She frowns at me. "Why? I thought it would be nice…your parents have been so hospitable, I just wanted to do my part too."

"You're the guest here Casey, it's not your role to make everyone breakfast! My mom was planning on doing so. She told me last night."

"Well, she seemed to enjoy herself. It's not a big deal, Alex. Really."

"It is to my mother! You don't know her like I do, Case. Right now she's telling my dad that she felt slighted by not being able to make her daughter and her daughter's girlfriend breakfast." I turn away from Casey long enough to put the soap in the dishwasher and start it. "And don't you think you went a bit overboard? There's four of us; we didn't need all that food."

I realize I'm being harsh and unreasonable, but I can't seem to stop myself. It was almost as if Casey were trying too hard to impress my mom and dad.

Casey looks a bit hurt by my words and feels the need to explain herself. "I told you, I wasn't sure what everyone liked. And your mom and dad seemed to like everything. You're the only one who seems to have a problem with what I did."

I wish I could make Casey understand that even though my parents are nice and accepting, they still like everything just so. They can read people just as well as I can, and I'm sure they saw right through Casey's "impress the parents" display this morning.

"Why is this such a big deal to you, Alex? I thought I was doing something nice for everyone…" She looks confused, and I can tell she honestly has no idea why I'm so upset.

"It was pretty obvious that you were trying to impress everyone, and as much as my parents like you, they will hate that." There. It's out there now. Floating in the air, traveling to Casey's ears.

Her ears have received my words and her brain is processing them now. And she does not look happy. "Is that what you think I was doing, Alex?" Her voice is sad, and I realize I've hurt her feelings.

Great. Nice job, Alex. Your second day here and you've already made Casey feel like a loser. Just when she was starting to warm up and get used to everything around here.

My mom chooses this moment to poke her head into the kitchen. "What's keeping you, girls? I got the photo albums out. I figure Casey might want to see what you were like as kid."

Great. As if this day didn't start out bad enough, now I have to sit through the humiliation of Casey seeing photos of me as a child. All while she's mad at me for jumping down her throat for something nice she did for us all.

"We'll be along in a moment, mom," I tell her, and she winks at Casey before withdrawing back through the door.

"Yes, your mother does seem absolutely devastated that I made breakfast. Poor woman is beside herself with grief about it," she says sarcastically, rolling her eyes. I'm about to respond when Casey goes on, "And I would very much like to see what you were like as a child." Casey starts for the living room and stops and looks at me again as I follow her. "Because right now, you're being a straight up bitch."

Casey's words stay with me and sting during that long trek to where my mom is waiting in the living room.

Maybe this trip was a bad idea.

Mom's show and tell of everything that summed up my childhood dragged on for nearly two hours. She must have showed Casey every photo she had of me, with a story to go along with every one of them, most of them embarrassing. She showed her awards and certificates that I received at school.

And Casey sat there like a good girlfriend and listened to all my mother's ramblings, never once showing any signs of boredom or disinterest. She'd even laugh at my mom's stories.

Every minute that went by found me feeling even more guilty about my harsh words to Casey in the kitchen. She really is sweet and caring, and all her intentions are pure; how could I accuse her of cooking breakfast only with the intention of impressing my parents?

I was wrong…and I don't admit that easily.

After my mom decides that Casey has had enough of my childhood, Casey and I go up to my room to change. I plan on taking her for a walk and showing her around some of my old haunts.

That is, if she isn't too angry with me. I won't be able to take it if I ruined my relationship with Casey. She means so much to me.

As soon as we enter my bedroom, I start graveling to Casey. "Case…I'm really sorry for what I said earlier. I had no right to say what I did about you making breakfast. It was so sweet…and I spoiled it."

Casey turns around and looks at me, and to my relief I see a smile on her face. "It's okay, Alex. Don't worry about it."

God, she's amazing! So forgiving…I don't know if that's a virtue or a liability.

"No, I am worried about it." I take a step closer to her and take her hand in mine, giving it a squeeze. "You're so good to me. You endured an uncomfortable dinner with my parents, you sat there for two excruciating hours listening to my mother rail on about my childhood, and you never once complained or even acted bored. You took it; all of it. I know you're not exactly comfortable here, but you're doing it for me, and what I did to you was purely selfish. You're a great person, and I'm glad you're my girlfriend."

I almost say it again - that L-word - but I refrain myself. It's still too early. Using it prematurely will surely scare Casey away.

Casey is smiling so big I'm surprised her face can contain it. She squeezes my hand back and stares into my eyes. "Wow. I just got another Alex Cabot apology. No one is going to believe me; everyone thinks they're a myth. The Alex Cabot apology is even more elusive than Bigfoot."

I smile at Casey's ability to always be able to instantly cheer me up. Olivia always could too…but there's something about Casey that makes her better at it.

Casey gives me another grin and then lets go of my hand, going to the dresser to pick out her clothes for the day. I sit on the bed and decide to change the subject; there's no sense on dwelling on what happened. I apologized and Casey forgave me; so we can move on now.

"Those pictures were humiliating," I tell Casey, my face still feeling like it's crimson red. "I can't believe my mom showed them to you!"

"They were adorable!" Casey says, sitting on the bed next to me. She puts her arm around me and kisses my cheek. "My favorite was the Halloween picture where you were dressed as a fairy. Too cute!" She grins at me. "And the one of your first pair of glasses. When your mom told me the other kids called you Hootie because the glasses were big and made you look like an owl, I almost lost it."

I roll my eyes at her. "Yeah, well I hope when I meet your parents that I get to see embarrassing pictures of you so I can make fun of you too."

"Oh no you won't. I'll burn all our photo albums before you set foot in my parent's house."

"That's not fair!"

"You don't want to see me as a kid, Alex! I was ugly and awkward."

I find myself giggling. "Then you haven't changed."

She slaps me in the shoulder. "Not funny! But seriously, Alex; my pictures aren't cutesy like yours. I had horrible hairstyles as a kid, and braces. And I was too skinny. Any admiration you have for me at all will be gone when you see what I used to look like." She shudders. "Ugh. Even thinking about it is bad!"

I'm sure she's just being hard on herself; they can't be that bad. Besides, no one likes to look at pictures from their youth.

"I'll call your mom before we visit and have her put all photos in a fire-proof safe so I can see them. You can't escape, Casey. You saw mine, and I get to see yours. That's how it works."

"Really?" Casey asks with a smirk. "A fire-proof safe won't stop me; you forget I'm a baseball player. I'll beat that thing open with my aluminum bat and then burn the photos."

That reminds me of the baseball shirt hanging in her closet. The one she promised to wear for me…but hasn't yet.

"Speaking of baseball…you haven't let me see you in your baseball jersey yet. I believe you promised me?" I fake a pout and reach out to touch her injured shoulder. "And when this heals, you also promised I could see you play."

Casey nods. "I haven't forgotten. I keep my promises." She picks up a strand of my hair and twists it around her finger. "But I didn't bring it with me, so I'll have to let you see something else while we're here."

She climbs off the bed and goes back to the dresser and I'm left sitting on the bed wondering what she could be talking about. I saw what she had packed - nothing sexy or revealing. Just what does she have on her mind?

"What are you thinking, Casey? What's going on in that head of yours?" I can't hide my smile, even though Casey has her back to me and can't see it.

She turns around and gives me an evil grin. "You'll see." Then she tosses a pair of my jeans at me. "Now get dressed - I want you to take me on that walk."

I don't have any trouble falling asleep that night. I'm exhausted from the day's events. Casey and I went for our walk, then dad took us out on the boat and we all went out to eat for dinner at my parent's favorite Italian restaurant. Casey hadn't brought any practical dress clothes, so my mother loaned her a dress from her closet and, surprisingly, it fit her well.

And may I say she looked gorgeous in that dress. I feel a bit odd admitting that since it was my mother's dress. But I couldn't stop admiring her. The dress was short and red, with a slit in just the right spot. I should have told her she looked gorgeous. I'm sure my staring and blushing cheeks gave me away, but I should have actually said it.

I don't know why I'm shy when it comes to these things. I never was with Olivia. But with Casey I'm more hesitant. I feel wrong even touching her sometimes, like I don't deserve her. Like she's some prize I haven't yet won. Something at the back of my mind always reminds me that it's Casey and not Olivia, and somehow that makes it different.

I think it matters more.

I don't know how long I've been sleeping when I feel hands shaking me awake, and a soft voice. "Alex. Alex, wake up."

My first response is a groan. I had been in such a wonderful, peaceful sleep; who is disturbing me, and why?

It takes me a moment to get my bearings and remember where I am and who is laying beside me, and most likely the person who woke me. "Casey? What's going on?"

"Sorry to have to wake you, but I want to show you something."

I feel around in the darkness for the bedside lamp and switch it on, squinting from the sudden light. Casey is lying on her side looking at me, wearing a bathrobe that I'm certain she wasn't wearing when she went to bed. It looks like my mother's. And she has her shoulder sling off.

I sit up straight in bed and give her a confused look. "What's going on?"

Instead of answering, Casey smiles and sits up. She takes my hand and says, "I want you to come with me. Don't say anything; just come with me."

I steal a glance at the alarm clock sitting beside me. It's after 2 AM. What in the world could Casey want to show me that couldn't wait for a more reasonable hour?

But I do as she asks; I get out of a bed without any protests or questions. She seems excited about whatever it is she's going to show me, so I may as well humor her.

She doesn't let go as she leads me out of the bedroom and down the stairs. I'm careful to maneuver them; it's nearly pitch dark in the house and I don't want our noise on the stairs to wake my parents.

It's not until we reach the living room that I finally break the chasm of silence. In a whisper, of course. "Casey, what are we doing? I can't see a thing. And why do you have your sling off? Your shoulder is going to be killing you…"

"Shh!" Casey scolds me - also in a whisper - squeezing my hand to make her point. "I told you not to say anything. Just trust me."

I do trust her, so I continue to follow her through the kitchen and out the sliding glass doors to the pool without another word.

At least I can see out here. My parents always leave on one of the floodlights in the pool area. It gives off more than enough light for Casey to actually see my confused questionable expression.

"Okay, I followed you out here, so what gives?"

Casey is grinning again, and she reaches out to touch my cheek. "I've been getting you try new things, and you've been enjoying it. Am I safe in that assumption?" I can only nod, taking a lot of pleasure from her touch. "Well I have another new thing for you."

She takes a step back and with her one good arm she undoes the bathrobe. It falls to the marble floor and I'm so shocked at what I see that I nearly step back myself.

She's naked. As in, not wearing anything. No bra, no panties…nothing. And even though I like what I see, I feel dirty looking at her. I quickly revert my eyes to hers, hoping the light isn't enough for her to see me blushing again.

She doesn't seem shy or ashamed to have me look at her at all. "Why, counselor, are we a bit shy?"

For the first time in my life, I actually stumble on my words. I'm so shocked by this whole thing that I can't think of a single thing to say. Here is Casey standing in my parent's backyard at two AM under the pool floodlights - completely naked.

Is she crazy? If one of the neighbor's saw her right now and called the police, McCoy would fire her before the clock even struck three AM.

"No, not shy…I'm just surprised…" I'm finally able to say. I let my eyes wander her body again and I feel guilty as I once again enjoy what I see.

Casey steps closer to me, closing the gap between us, and wraps her good arm around me, resting her forehead against mine. Her bare breast presses right up against my chest and I feel my face flush again.

"Alex," Casey says in a sing-song voice. "It's okay. You can function. Give me some sort of response."

I'm finally able to form coherent words. "What the heck are you doing? Put that robe back on! If anyone sees you…"

"Everyone is sleeping; no one will see me. I promised I'd show you something since I left my baseball jersey at home. So do you like it?"

I have no idea where she's going with this or what she wants me to do. All I know is that if either of my parents find us right now, they will be horrified and most likely will ask Casey to leave. I have to get her clothed and back in the house before that happens.

"Yes, I do like it, but not out here." I bend down and pick up the robe, offering it to Casey. "Here. Put this on and let's go back to bed."

I hope my suggestion to go back to bed doesn't elude to anything sexual, but I don't care right now. All I want is Casey back in the house - fully clothed - and back in the house right now.

But instead of taking the robe, Casey steps away from me until she's reached the edge of the pool. Then she turns around and jumps in.

I'm so shocked by her action - and the noise it made - that I shout out much too loudly. "Casey! Have you completely lost it?"

I look around in horror, waiting for the rest of the lights to come on and the inevitable sound of discovery by my parents. Wait for it…wait for it…

But it never happens. No other lights come on, and the only sound I hear is Casey giggling in the pool.

"Live a little, Alex! Everyone has to go skinny dipping at least once in their lives!"

I'm so desperate to get Casey out of the pool that I'm fully prepared to go in there and drag her out. I walk to the edge of the pool and try to reason with her. "Casey…this is crazy. Skinny dipping my parent's backyard pool is the most insane thing you've ever done! Get out now! And you're going to drown with that broken shoulder….you can't tread water properly."

"Then come in and make sure I don't drown."

Oh my God, she's impossible! Beyond stubborn. Worse than me even. I turn around and look at the house again. Still no discovery. When I turn my attention back to Casey, I try and make my eyes reflect the urgency of the situation.

"I'm not swimming in the middle of the night. Get out of there now. If you don't get out in the next thirty seconds, I am going back to bed without you." I use my best strict, no-nonsense voice.

Casey's smile never fades. "I know you think I'm crazy right now…but this is living, Alex. This is spontaneous. I'll bet you never did anything like this before, did you? What is the craziest thing you ever did with Olivia?"

Crazy things and Olivia never went together. Olivia and I never did crazy things. Our relationship was pretty normal. The craziest thing we ever did was have sex in the crib with the guys in the squad room. I remember giggling the whole time. Part of the excitement was the possibility that we could get caught at any time.

Just like right now. The same nauseous feeling in my stomach that's both awful and exciting. The knowledge that Alex Cabot is doing something naughty.

Alex Cabot, who never swears or uses vulgar words. Alex Cabot, who - under normal circumstances - would never even be considering what I am right now. No way; Alex Cabot is too professional and too prissy for antics like this.

But I wanted a new life, right? Starting over with Casey was starting over completely. Maybe it is time I live a little.

So with a grin, I strip right there by the edge of the pool. In full view of anyone who may be watching me right now. Strip completely - dropping my clothes into a messy pile nearby.

Unlike Casey, I opt for a quieter and more classy entrance to the pool. I gracefully climb down the ladder and into the water.

I nearly gasp at how cool the water is - I was expecting it to be warmer. Casey comes up behind me and guides me into the water, her warm wet body pressing up against me, making me gasp again.

"It's not so bad, is it?" Casey whispers, right into my ear. We're in the shallow end so we can both easily reach the bottom of the pool without having to struggle.

I turn around to face Casey so she can see me. I find I'm no longer shy. She's not getting a clear view because of the water, but she seems to be enjoying it anyway. She runs her hand up my arm slowly, causing goosebumps to spring to life. "You're beautiful," she rasps in my ear again.

I smile. "So are you."

Casey's eyes wander to my shoulder and she fingers my scar there, a concerned look on her face. "Is this where you were shot?"

I nod. "It still aches sometimes in the winter. The coldness irritates it."

Casey sucks in a deep breath and runs her thumb over the raised scar tissue. She smiles and says, "It's beautiful, too."

"How do you figure?"

"You survived it. It made you stronger. It's a badge of honor, Alex. That bullet didn't take you out. You should be proud of that scar. I am. I'm so proud that my girlfriend was strong enough to survive that when others wouldn't."

Casey and I don't have wild sex right there in the pool; instead we explore each other's bodies and giggle in extreme nervousness every time we hear a noise.

When we both finally start to shiver, we get out of the pool, hand-in-hand. There's a pile of towels sitting on one of the tables nearby, so I grab one for each Casey and I. I take the liberty of wrapping Casey's around her.

She's still shivering but smiles at me as she tosses her wet long hair over the towel. "Did you have fun?"

I honestly did. This was an amazing night. I never would have thought that I would swim naked anywhere; especially in the backyard of my parent's house.

I bend over and pick up my clothes before we sneak back through the door sliding doors. Casey is holding her shoulder a little; I know it's sore from being out of its sling. I can't wait to get her back to bed so I can baby her.

It's becoming impossible to hold back on that L-word. Because every second I spend with her, I love her even more.

So...what do you think? Alex is stepping out of her comfort zone! But is it going to be for the best, or the worst? The next chapter there will be some firsts :) Please review and tell me what you think of this one!