20
OOO
Olivia walked down the hallway, simultaneously fluffing her hair out and applying lipstick, as she walked casually into the kitchen on the following morning. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Alex looking at her watch as she entered. The brunette walked by her, pecking her lightly on the lips before taking a cup from the counter and rinsing it in the sink quickly before putting it in the dishwasher. She smoothed out her black blazer and pulled down the vintage v-neck Bruce Springsteen t-shirt underneath.
Alex sighed heavily, looking at her watch again, obviously exasperated.
"Don't even try to make this my fault," Olivia began, smiling.
"But it is your fault, Baby." Alex smiled now. "You were the one who kept us up all night, remember? Someone's sex drive is out of control."
"Uh, first of all, I didn't make love to you while you were asleep, you know. As soon as I would close my eyes to rest, someone was on top of me again…and I don't recall you complaining about lack of beauty rest last night."
"Well, I'm not gonna lie, Liv…you look rough today."
Olivia stopped, mouth open in mock shock as Alex held her hands up defending herself. "Tell me how I look rough, counselor?" She held the blonde's wrists as Alex pressed her elbows against her sides, knowing that Olivia was threatening to tickle her.
"Babe, we don't have time for this. Our appointment is at 9:00. That's in…" she looked at her watch again, "…twenty minutes."
"I guarantee you don't have to make an appointment at Target." Olivia said, digging through her purse for her sunglasses.
"They don't have wedding dresses, either, Liv." Alex came up behind Olivia, biting her lobe firmly. "Let's go!" She slapped her bottom forcefully, earning a yelp from the brunette.
Olivia rubbed the backside of her tight pleather pants, "Jeez, Alex! I'm ready."
… … … … … …
Driving down West 25th Street, Olivia was feeling facetious. "Ooh, there's a food truck, Babe. I'm just gonna grab a cup of coffee and a breakfast burrito. You want one?"
Alex glared at Olivia.
"Oh, Babe…you know I'm kidding." She squeezed Alex's chin in her hand.
Alex looked at her watch for the thirty-millionth time in the past twenty minutes. "Olivia Benson if you don't get us there in thirty seconds…"
"Hmmm…that sounds like the beginning of a threat," Olivia tried as she put her arm on the back of Alex's seat and backed into a parallel parking space. "We're here," she chirped, pressing a quick kiss to her fiancé before turning the ignition off and removing her seatbelt.
Olivia put her hand on the door handle.
"Wait…" Alex tried, putting her hand on the brunette's arm.
Olivia stopped and looked into those crystal blue eyes. "What is it?"
"We're really here, aren't we? About to do what I've only dreamed of doing with you." Alex began taking deep breaths. "I don't know how I'm gonna react when I see you in wedding dress on our wedding day, Liv. I hope I don't embarrass you."
"Alexandra Cabot…you could never embarrass me…" She pecked the attorney softly before whispering closely, "…let's do this…"
AAA
A doorman opened the door for them as they approached the boutique. "Good morning, ladies. Welcome to Birnbaum and Bullock."
"Thank you," they said almost in unison.
Olivia hooked her arm through Alex's and pulled her close.
"Good morning, ladies!" an overly cheerful voice sang to them.
"Good morning…" Alex leaned forward and peered at his name tag but couldn't read the name.
"You can call me A.J. It's short for my given name Abhijvala, which means blazing forth in Indian."
"It's nice to meet you, A.J. My name is Alexandra Cabot, this is Olivia Benson, and we have an appointment for the Cabot-Benson party at 9:00?"
Alex looked at Olivia who was smirking, flaring her nostrils.
"Oh, I'm sorry…it's 9:03 and that appointment has been reappointed."
Alex's smile fell.
"I am kidding with you, Ms. Cabot."
She felt Olivia shaking beside her and the attorney threw her another glare.
"Let's head to the viewing room. There are plush sofas to relax upon…what can I get you to drink? Espresso, latte, mimosa?"
"I'll just have a bottled water, if you have it," Alex said as they walked to the back of the store.
They entered the large room, as described, plush sofas sat in the middle of the room, a podium on either side with large mirrors in front of them. There were racks and racks of dresses all around.
"And for you, Miss?" A.J. clasped his hands in front of him awaiting Olivia's answer.
She appeared too mesmerized by the entire experience. "I…I'll just have a water, too…for now."
"Very good…Louisa will be in shortly to help with your selections and fittings."
"You won't be helping us, A.J.?"
"Oh, no, Ms. Cabot…I might be gay but I'm not that gay. I can still appreciate the female form. Besides…sexual harassment cases are on the rise lately…and I like my job. Tape measures and male hands on female clients don't mix. I'll be out with those waters…" his voice faded as he walked from the room.
"Well, then…" Alex commented. She eased up behind Olivia who was in awe of the room, the plethora of white dresses. She brought her mouth next to Olivia's ear, "What are you thinking?"
Olivia shook her head. "You said you would be the emotional one?" She held out a hand in front of her, demonstrating her nerves.
Alex took it and pulled Olivia to face her, looking into her brown eyes. "I'm with you…always…" Alex leaned in and softly kissed the brunette, a tiny moan escaping the detective's mouth.
"Ladies?"
The women turned to find a woman of petite stature, not more than five feet tall, hips for days, dark reading glasses on a pearl chain perched on a pointy nose, auburn-dyed hair in a high bun, tape measure around her neck. "My name is Louisa," she held her hand out.
Alex stepped forward, extending her hand, "My name is Alex and this is Olivia."
Alex placed a gentle hand on her fiancé's back, smoothing it comfortingly.
A.J. came in with the waters on a silver tray, set them down on the table in between the sofas and left.
"Now, let's have a seat and talk about what style of dress you are interested in."
The women sat on one side, Louisa on the opposite sofa, clipboard and pen in hand.
Alex spoke first, seeing the brunette still trying to process everything. "I, personally, like the simplicity of an empire bodice, the train not too long. Nothing too revealing…classic."
"I can see that about you, Alexandra," she nodded, pen on her chin, thinking. She quickly wrote something down before turning to Olivia. "Olivia, correct?"
Olivia blinked hard, smiling. "Yes…" she took a deep breath. "I'd like something…"
"Just say it, Babe…sexier…" Alex teased, bumping shoulders with the brunette.
Olivia looked at her, smiling, beginning to ease into the moment. "OK, something that…my fiancé will look at me in and not be able to look away." Her eyes pierced Alex's and then dipped to her lips before looking back at Louisa. "Something with a v-neck and perhaps an open back, and like Alex, I don't want a long train—just something simple and elegant."
Louisa began, "May I see your rings?"
The women held their hands out for inspection. "
"Mmmm, hmmm," she scribbled more on the paper in front of her.
Alex and Olivia looked at each other, Alex witnessing the brunette relax even more.
"OK, she began standing. "I'll get some choices ready for you to try on and bring in my helpers in about fifteen minutes. You're sure we can't get anything else other than water?" She waited, looking over her glasses expectantly.
"We'll take a couple mimosas…" Alex smiled, rubbing Olivia's back once again.
"I'll tell A.J. You ladies make yourselves comfortable." She turned with her clipboard and left the room through a tiny door in the back.
"Married…" Olivia turned to Alex, her eyes glistening, "…we're getting married, Al…" She smiled and wrapped her arms around the blonde, holding on tightly.
"I can't wait, Baby." Alex held her with equal fervor, breathing in her redolence.
OOO
Moments later, the mimosas had been dropped off, and six women entered with Louisa, almost choreographed, as three on each side lined up facing three on the other side, Olivia half expecting a waltz to begin. A fourth woman on each side wheeled in a clothing rack that held eight to ten dresses, covered in clear plastic wrap.
"Our girls will help you try on the garments. There are changing screens on either side," she pointed to them, "…next to the podiums. Our girls are efficient and will have you in and out of dresses in no time. All you have to do is raise your arms and stand there." She paused, looking at the women on the sofa. "You ready?"
The women nodded.
"Olivia, this side, Alexandra, this side."
The women stood and looked at each other, smiling.
"Now, the question is…do you want to see each other or not?"
Alex looked at Olivia. "I don't know…what do you think, Babe?"
"I think it should be a surprise…" Olivia whispered.
Alex nodded and kissed her cheek. "I can't wait to see you on the wedding day."
Olivia let go of Alex's hands and stepped to her side, Alex stepping back to her side. "See you on the flip side," Alex smiled.
A huge accordion wall was slid from the back of the room to the other side, partitioning their separate sections.
… … … … … …
For the next two hours, mimosas were had, measurements taken, dresses brought up, zipped, brought down, brought up, zipped, brought down. One was too satiny, one was too embellished, one was too low cut, one was not low cut enough.
Finally, Olivia stood on the podium, in the second to last dress, tears coming to her eyes. "This is it…" she whispered. "Alex is going to die when she sees me in this dress."
Louisa peeked around the corner, "Everything OK?"
Olivia nodded, wiping her tears, not wishing any imperfections on the beautiful garment she wore. "I think I found the one," she whispered.
"Well, it seems you both have," Louisa smiled. "Your fiancé is having her measurements taken precisely so the dress will fit like a glove. Ingrid, Debra, Maria…take Miss Benson's measurements for accuracy and I think we have two winners here," she smiled. She turned to leave but peeked her head back around the partition, "Oh, and Ms. Cabot looks drop dead gorgeous in hers." Louisa winked and then disappeared.
A giddiness rose up in Olivia wanting so badly to see her fiancé, but knowing she had to wait. She decided to call Alex. "Can you hand me my phone?" she asked one of the fitting girls named Maria. Maria retrieved the phone and handed it to Olivia as the girls continued to remove the dress and take the detective's measurements, hands and tape measures all over her. Olivia called her fiancé, instantly hearing the ring tone right next to her.
"Cabot…"
"You don't have "Ass Like That" programmed as my ring tone anymore?"
One of the girls measuring her snickered.
"Not after it went off in Donnelly's office one day."
Olivia paused, "I've found mine. Have you found yours?"
"I have…I wish I could see you but I guess I'll have to wait…we both will…"
"It'll give both of us something to fantasize about," Olivia rasped, clearing her throat, remembering where she was.
"You can put your arms down, Ms. Benson." One of the girls said, smiling.
"Well, I guess I'll see you soon…"
"Two shakes of a lamb's tail…I love you…"
"I love you, Alex…" Olivia's eyes filled with tears again as she disconnected the call. One of the girls brought her a tissue and she held it under her nose.
"We're done," Debra chirped. "You can get dressed now. Oh, and…" she cupped her hand on the side of her mouth, "…you looked absolutely gorgeous," she winked and then the girls left through the same door in the back, future wedding dress in tow."
Olivia dressed and sat, putting her black, peep-toed heels back on. Hearing the sound of the wall sliding back open, she looked up to find Alex on her own chair, putting her own nude-colored heels on. The women caught eyes and smiled.
Louisa came back in. "We'll have those dresses tailored and you can come in next week to check on the alterations. We've made the appointment for you already. A.J. will give you the reminder card. One week prior to the wedding, we do a final fitting and then you're on your own. Pizza and ice cream is usually a no-no a week before the wedding, ladies…just a word of caution," she smiled. "Any other questions?" She finally removed her glasses, letting them hang around her neck.
"I don't think so…" Alex looked at Olivia, pure unadulterated happiness in her eyes.
"Not from me…" Olivia smiled, a wave of happiness also washing over her.
Louisa said, "I wish you ladies all the luck in love in the world. You're absolutely beautiful. It was a pleasure working with you." She turned and left.
Now alone, Alex walked up to Olivia and slid her arm around her, whispering in her ear, "Let's go home and celebrate."
And they did just that.