Wednesday. 2:00am. Olivia's Apartment.
Olivia Benson lay on her couch exhausted yet wide awake. Her mind kept replaying the events of the night over and over in her mind. After experiencing the most intimate kiss of her life, Olivia knew she could never get enough of Alex Cabot. She had bared a part of herself to Alex. It terrified her, but Alex's reaction was what dreams were made of. That kiss told her more than any words could say.
After dinner, they two women had taken a short stroll around the block before heading back to Olivia's apartment. Olivia was walking on air and Alex was as giddy as a school girl. They both reveled in the feeling of falling head over heels for your best friend.
Upon entering Olivia's apartment, Alex turned and teased Olivia. "You planned this so I would come home with you afterwards, didn't you? What kind of girl do you think I am?" Alex feigned offense.
Olivia laughed and teased right back. "The kind of girl whose mother has to remind her not to put out," Olivia said mischievously.
Alex couldn't help but laugh at Olivia's teasing and Olivia found Alex's laughter infectious. When the laughter died down, both women sat on Olivia's couch sharing a bottle of wine as they contemplated the implications of the situation they found themselves in. Olivia was the first to break the silence.
"Honestly, I didn't even think about the fact that this might make you uncomfortable. I'm sorry. I promise you - I'm not trying to rush things in any way. You're too important to me…this is too important to me. I don't want to screw it up," Olivia said earnestly, looking into Alex's eyes as she clasped their hands together.
Alex was once again rendered speechless. Is there anything less than perfect about her? Alex thought. Nope she smiled as she answered her own question. She thought back to the perfect kiss they had shared. It was the ideal balance of give and take, of push and pull, of love and lust. Alex felt drawn to Olivia's lips once again. The memory of their first kiss made her want a repeat performance. Alex was pleased to find that Olivia had no objections.
"What was that for?" Olivia asked with a goofy smile after they broke the kiss.
"What you said…it was so sweet. I just…felt like it," Alex confessed happily.
"Well, feel free to do that every time you just feel like it," Olivia smiled. Olivia's open invitation was met by a small chaste kiss and a shy smile.
Silence fell over them again, but Alex was the one to break it this time. "This is important to me too, Liv. I think that as long as we keep an open line of communication, we won't screw it up."
"How are things going to be now, though?" Olivia asked slightly worried.
"You mean with the whole 'dating a friend' thing?"
"Yeah. And the whole 'working with someone you're seeing' thing," Olivia added. "I mean, it's like we have three separate relationships now. We're co-workers, friends, and now this," Olivia gestured between them, not quite knowing how to define what they were yet. She wanted to say 'girlfriends', but they'd only been on one date, and doing that would definitely be rushing things.
"Well, when we were just friends, we didn't let our working relationship influence our friendship, so I think we can apply a similar principle here," Alex responded.
"So we put the three versions of us in bubbles and isolate them?" Olivia asked in an amused tone.
"Sort of," Alex smiled. "We just some basic ground rules like 'no talking about work on a date' and 'no letting our romantic relationship affect our ability to do our jobs'."
"Makes sense," Olivia said, "but what about the friendship part?"
Alex smiled warmly at Olivia. "Liv, I think our friendship only serves to enhance both of our other relationships."
Olivia smiled at Alex words. "Good to know your expensive Ivy League education goes beyond legal ethics and into the ethics of inter-office romance."
"Speaking of inter-office…what are you going to tell the rest of the squad?"
"I'm just going to let Munch have his fun. If I tell him too much, he won't be able to form a conspiracy theory far removed enough from reality. And Fin won't bug me for details. He knows I'm not the type to kiss and tell," Olivia replied.
"And Elliot?"
"I already told him the truth. You should've seen the look on his face," Olivia laughed at the memory.
"Why was he surprised? I thought he had a list of evidence."
"Apparently, it was Munch's attempt at convincing Elliot," Olivia explained.
"I see. Well I'm glad they all seem to be taking it so well,' Alex smirked.
"Better than just well," Olivia laughed. "You should've heard the voicemail that the captain left me.
"You didn't tell me Don knew," Alex said amused.
"Does it matter?" Olivia asked
"No, things just make more sense now. This morning in his office, when I introduced him to Casey, he couldn't stop smiling at me. Afterwards, he hugged me. I've been here for years. That was the first hug I've ever gotten from him."
"Cragen hugged you?" Olivia said through her laughter.
"Like a proud papa," Alex replied laughing along with her.
"Speaking of proud papas," Olivia said. "Elliot mentioned that the kids were asking for their Aunt Olivia, so he and Kathy invited the two of us over for dinner. Would you be interested?"
"Sure. When?" Alex replied almost immediately.
"Is Saturday ok for you?"
"Sorry. I've got a family function to attend that night," Alex apologized.
"Okay," Olivia said trying to hide her disappointment.
"How about sometime next week?" Alex asked quickly. She hated seeing that sad expression on Olivia's face.
Olivia smiled as she looked up from under her heavy eyelids. "I'll check with Elliot, but yeah, next week sounds good."
"Okay. I should get going. It's getting pretty late and I can see your about to nod off," Alex replied as she stood up.
Olivia quickly placed a gentle hand on Alex's forearm. "Stay," she implored.
Alex looked shocked. True, she had previously spent the night with Olivia, but that was before they had crossed the line between friendship and something more.
Seeing the look of apprehension on Alex's face, Olivia realized an explanation was needed. "Take the bed, Lex. I'll take the couch. I meant what I said earlier. I don't want to rush into something and ruin it before we get a chance to figure out what 'it' is," Olivia stated with determination. "I just think it's too late for you to go across town. You've had a bit to drink and it's not safe out there. I worry, you know?" Olivia continued in a slightly pleading tone.
Alex was about to protest when she recognized the look on Olivia's face. Alex knew there was no way she was going to win this argument. "Are you ever off duty, Detective?" Alex joked.
"Nope. 'Protect and Serve' isn't just a professional oath you know; it's a personal mantra," Olivia smiled, knowing she had successfully argued her case. "Do ADAs have to take any kind of oath? Is there a mantra for you lawyer types?" Olivia asked curiously as she tried to suppress a yawn.
"Yes. 'I do so solemnly swear not to mix my legal briefs with my boxer briefs'," Alex chuckled.
"Very funny Cabot. So then what do you call this? We are, after all, mixing business with pleasure, in a sense."
"Loophole, Detective. Since I neither wear nor own boxer briefs, this is not a violation," Alex stated.
Olivia laughed as she playfully griped, "fancy talking lawyers."
"Yet another thing my Ivy League education allows for," Alex joked.
"But seriously though, is there an oath?" Olivia asked, genuinely curious now.
"Well, officers of the court do vow to uphold the law faithfully, de fideli, but I also have my own personal mantra," Alex said cryptically. "Ad astra per alia porci."
"To the stars on the wings of a pig," Olivia translated with an enigmatic smile. I'll have to remember to ask for an explanation when I'm not so tired Olivia thought.
"You speak Latin?" Alex asked pleasantly surprised.
"I dabble in languages," Olivia smirked.
"How extensive if your repertoire, Detective?"
"Let's just say…I didn't need a translator when I lived in Europe."
"Anything you care to share at this time?"
"Yes," Olivia said through a yawn.
Alex waited patiently for Olivia to continue.
"Elalszik," Olivia grinned
"Meaning…" Alex prompted.
"It's Hungarian. Meaning: go to sleep!" Olivia chuckled.
Alex laughed. "Not very subtle with your hints, are you, Detective."
"Not when speaking with natural blondes," Olivia teased.
"Hey!" Alex objected as she struck at Olivia with a pillow she grabbed off the couch.
Olivia managed to wrestle the pillow away from Alex only to find herself being tickled by nimble fingers.
"I give. I give! You win," Olivia gasped.
Smirking, Alex placed a quick kiss on Olivia's lips before releasing her. "Lesson number one: I always win." And with that, Alex trotted off to get ready for bed, leaving an amused detective in her wake.