Sunday, 8:30am.

Breakfast had been finished long ago. Olivia was quite impressed by Alex's culinary skills. While eating, they talked of Alex's summer in Paris and Olivia shared details of a few weeks she'd spent in Europe on a study abroad program she had been in during college. Olivia had insisted on cleaning up citing the fact that Alex had prepared the feast. She playfully ordered Alex to march off to the bathroom just as she had the previous night. Olivia couldn't get over just how cute Alex looked as she pretended to pout. She'd always had the slightest hint of a crush on the blonde, but she never let herself consider the possibility. She never wanted to risk the incredible friendship she had found by letting herself fall for her very gorgeous, very straight, best friend. But now that their mutual attraction was out in the open, Olivia allowed her thoughts to dwell on the young ADA as she tended to the dishes.

I feel so foolish…

I never noticed…

You'd act so nervous…

Could you be falling for me…

It took a rumor…

To make me wonder…

Now I'm convinced…

I'm going under…

Thinking 'bout you every day…

Dreaming 'bout you every night…

I'm hoping that you feel the same way…

Now that we know it, let's really show it, darlin'…

Lost in her thought, Olivia didn't hear Alex enter the kitchen or call out her name.

"And after Big Bird and I get married under the sea, he wants us to live on the Moon," Alex said with all the seriousness she could muster.

"Huh?" Olivia said as she was drawn out of her daydream. "Oh hey, Lex. I didn't notice you there."

"Clearly," Alex said, still amused. "I was talking to you for a minute before I realized your head was in outer space somewhere. What were you thinking about anyway?" Alex chuckled.

"You," Olivia stated simply.

"Good things I hope," Alex smiled shyly.

Olivia returned the smile and asked, "how long?"

"How long what, Liv?" Alex asked.

"How long have you known you were attracted to me?" Olivia clarified.

Groaning and covering her face, Alex asked, "does it really matter, Liv?"

Finding amusement in making Alex blush, Olivia answered in the affirmative and nodded, although she only wanted to know out of curiosity and not necessity.

"How long have I been at SVU?" Alex asked sheepishly.

"That long?!"

Alex blush deepened. "It was about two weeks after I started. I realized I was making up excuses to call you to my office or go over to the squad room."

"Wow, Alex. I never knew. I just thought you were being thorough," Olivia confessed.

"Well, I am thorough, but that…that was overkill," Alex said with a laugh.

Suddenly, Olivia's eyebrow arched in question. "So how much of Munch's theory was right?"

"I cannot state for certain, Detective, for I do not know the details of John's theory," Alex stated in the tone she reserved for court.

"Ah I see. Allow me to rephrase then, Counselor," Olivia replied with a smirk.

Alex's blush was now a constant presence on her fair complexion. She felt her face get hotter and hotter under Olivia's scrutiny. Damn. I should've known I couldn't evade her line of questioning. I've seen her interrogate suspects a hundred times. She's relentless.

"While I was reviewing the evidence in Detective Stabler's notepad, I came across a supposition pertaining to the reasons as to why you seem to have staked a claim on my desk as your seat. Can you either confirm or deny these allegations, Counselor?" Olivia questioned, doing the best impression of an attorney she could manage.

Playing along with Olivia, Alex answered, "I admit I'm guilty on that charge."

"And as to the charges pertaining to flirtation by way of coffee?" Olivia pressed on.

"Guilty," Alex smiled. She was relaxing more and more. Forgotten was her earlier embarrassment. She really enjoyed the playfulness that was part of her relationship with the usually stoic detective.

"And as to the charge of blatantly staring at my backside when I walk away?" Olivia said, trying not to give herself away by grinning too widely.

"WHAT!? They saw that??" Alex cried out mortified. Hey embarrassment had returned tenfold, along with her telltale blush.

"Oh my God! Alex, I made that last one up! You stare at my ass?" Olivia asked as she tried to control her laughter. There was no need to make Alex feel any more embarrassed than she already was, she rationalized. She was quite flattered really.

Alex smacked Olivia on the shoulder with the back of her hand. Her face was beet red from embarrassment. "I can't believe you, Olivia!"

"My my, Alex. You sure are a violent one aren't you?" Olivia teased. "It's okay though, you hit like a girl anyway."

Alex's jaw dropped in astonishment but she recovered quickly. "If you think I'm violent now, then you ain't seen nothin' yet. I'll show you 'hit like a girl'," Alex threatened mildly, trying to sound tough.

"Oh really?" Olivia replied greatly amused.

"Yes really," Alex replied as she crossed her arms in a show of defiance.

"Come here you!" Olivia laughed as she grabbed Alex and began to tickle her.

Alex managed to wriggle free of Olivia's grasp and fled from the kitchen. Olivia chased Alex into the living room where she cornered her in the crook of the 'L' that was formed by the couch and the easy chair.

"Gotcha now, Cabot. No where to run. Whatcha gonna do?" Olivia taunted as she stalked her prey.

Alex's eyes darted back and forth looking for a means of escape. Olivia could almost see the wheels turning in Alex's head so she decided to act before Alex could formulate a plan. She darted forward quickly and reached out with her right arm to grab hold of her. Alex nimbly moved off to her right evading Olivia's grasp. Years of ballet had given her fantastic balance and allowed her a great deal of flexibility. She used this to her full advantage as she leapt up onto the couch and poised to jump over it. One thing Alex hadn't counted on though was the fact that Olivia's physical training had not only allotted her with great strength, but speed as well. Underestimating Olivia's proximity, Alex leapt over the back of the couch quickly. Unfortunately, her elbow made contact with Olivia's face and Olivia fell back onto the couch. Running over to the front of the couch, she could see Olivia had covered her left eye with her left hand. Alex knelt down beside the couch and began apologizing profusely.

"I'm so sorry, Liv. I swear I didn't mean to do that. I'm so so sorry," Alex said as she helped Olivia sit upright.

Alex noticed Olivia's shoulders start to shake slightly. Thinking she was really hurt, Alex began to get up to retrieve some ice and call a doctor. But she was stopped abruptly by Olivia's right hand on her elbow. Turning to look at Olivia, Alex noticed she was chuckling. She wasn't any less worried about her friend, but she was slightly relieved that she was shaking from laughter and not pain.

"Liv, are you okay?" Alex asked tentatively.

"You sure know how to prove a point, Lex," Olivia stated lightheartedly.

Confused, Alex asked, "What are you talking about?"

Smiling and removing her hand to reveal the beginnings of a black eye, Olivia replied with a huge grin, "I take it back. You really don't hit like a girl."