Thanks to everyone who answered my question. The answers were very helpful.
"We didn't check the mail on the way up did we?" Alex asked Olivia as they were moving the furniture back into place, or rather as Alex watched Olivia move the furniture back.
"Nope," Olivia said pushing the last and heaviest piece back into place.
Alex bent down and helped Olivia move it back.
When it was set, Alex stood, "I'll be right back."
As Alex walked past, Olivia grabbed her hand and pulled her back. "I love you."
Alex smiled, "I love you too." She quickly kissed Olivia, then went down to check the mail.
Olivia fell back on the couch. Who knew ballroom dancing was so exhausting? But it wasn't really the dancing that got her heart racing. It definitely had something to do with her dance partner though.
The shrill ring of a phone made Olivia jump. After taking a second to calm herself, she reached over and answered it, "Benson."
"I don't see why you girls answer the phone like that," Celine said brightly on the other end.
Olivia laughed, "It's a work thing. It identifies us right off the bat so that we're not stuck on the phone any longer than we have to be."
Olivia could hear the smile in Celine's voice, "I guess it's a good thing seeing as how you two are off saving the world one criminal at a time."
"That would be us," Olivia replied.
"I was actually calling to invite you two to the Cancer Center for Kids' Black and White Ball," Celine added, "I have two extra tickets. It's tonight. Sorry about the short notice, but Justin and Derrick just canceled. Something about hot dates."
"Um, I'll have to ask Alex," Olivia looked up as the door opened, "Who just walked in the door. Hold on a sec."
Alex was sorting through the mail and finally looked at Olivia.
"Do you want to go to a black and white ball tonight?" Olivia asked, sweetly.
Alex tapped an envelope to her palm, "Do you?"
Olivia shrugged, "I've never been to one."
"How can I resist those big brown eyes?" Alex smiled, "I'll go pick out our dresses."
"We'll go," Olivia told Celine.
"How about I pick you two up at eight?" Celine asked.
"Sounds good," Olivia replied.
"I'll see you then," Celine added, "Goodbye Olivia."
"Bye mom," Olivia smiled and hung up. She tossed the phone down and picked up the forgotten mail Alex brought in.
Bill. Bill. Bank Statement. One of them puzzled Olivia. It didn't have a return address, but it was for Alex. The postmark said it had come from Texas.
Olivia trotted off down the hallway with the mysterious envelope. When she entered their bedroom, there were already at least half a dozen dresses laid out on their bed and Alex was in the closet digging for more.
"Hey baby," Olivia said at the closet door, "Do you know who this is from?"
Alex briefly turned around, "Nope. You can open it if you want to."
"It's not that. I was just…" Olivia started, but Alex turned back around.
"Liv. I know you. If you don't open it now, you'll be wondering what it is all night," Alex stated with a knowing smile.
Olivia smiled and sat back on the small section of the bed that wasn't covered in dresses. Alex was right. As usual.
Olivia opened up the envelope and took out a letter. She read it out loud, "Canyon High School Reunion."
Alex whirled around, walking out of the closet with two more dresses in hand, "Really?"
Olivia nodded, "It's next month." She handed the flyer to Alex.
"Do you want to go?" Alex asked, looking the flyer over, "It could be fun. Plus I'd get to show you around where I grew up."
"Sure," Olivia smiled, "I've never been to Texas before. When we land at the airport do we have a ride horses to our hotel? Then after barbeque drinks at the local saloon? I guess I'll need some cowboy boots huh?"
Alex rolled her eyes, "No. We'll drive to our hotel in a car, but as far as after dinner drinks, we'll go through a Party Barn."
"What's a Party Barn?" Olivia asked.
"Drive Thru liquor store," Alex smiled, "Texas has the most in the county."
Olivia raised an eyebrow, "You're serious?"
Alex nodded.
"Hmm," Olivia surveyed the dresses around her, "There's so much to learn about the south and so little time."
Alex scanned the flyer again, "Well the reunion goes on for a whole weekend so we'll cover the basics on this trip and go back later for the advanced courses."
"That much huh?" Olivia asked.
Alex nodded, "You'll do just fine."
Olivia stood up next to Alex, looking over the dresses, "Okay, so what do you want me to wear?"
"Right now or to the ball?" Alex snickered, "Cause I have a few ideas for right now."
Olivia raised an eyebrow, "Is your mind always in the gutter?"
Alex smiled as innocently as she could, "Only with you."
The detective looped her arm around Alex's shoulders and kissed Alex's cheek, "You're sweet."
It took them a while to pick out dresses and then pick matching shoes. It took a while longer to do their hair and makeup.
A few minutes before eight, they looked each other over. Alex was wearing a white evening gown with black flowers lining one side and the bottom while Olivia was wearing a black dress that tapered off to one side.
They smiled at each other and Olivia was the first to speak, "You look hot."
"You're not too bad on the eyes either detective," Alex chuckled.
When Celine saw them, she smiled. Alex and Olivia walked out hand in hand radiating elegance and class.
"You girls look lovely," Celine told them warmly.
"Thanks," Alex smiled.
Olivia opened the passenger door for Alex and offered her fiancée a hand. Alex took her hand and got into the seat. Olivia closed the door and got in the back seat.
Celine drove off as an idle chat rested among the three women. Olivia looked out the window and watched the tall buildings go by as she thought. This was going to be her first high society public event as Alex's fiancée. It was a little nerve-wracking. Mostly because she didn't know what to expect.
When they got there, valet took the car and Celine was pulled aside by a friend the second they stepped in the doorway.
Inside the massive ballroom, there were a couple hundred people mingling, eating, or dancing. The tables on the sides of the room had white table clothes and black napkins.
"Alex!" a man smiled and walked over. He was in a black and white suit much like all the other men in the room.
"Brad," Alex smiled politely.
"I heard you got engaged," Brad picked up Alex's left hand.
Alex stepped back to include Olivia in the conversation, "This is my fiancée, Olivia."
Brad extended his hand, "So nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Olivia shook his hand.
Soon Alex was pulled into a conversation with a large ground and Olivia wandered off toward the bar. A handwritten sign on the chalkboard read Black and White drinks only.
The bartender looked at Olivia and she answered, "Black Russian."
While she was waiting a man's voice stated, "I didn't think I'd see you here detective."
She turned to find herself face to face with Trevor Langan. "Langan, they let you out of your cage."
Langan laughed, "Cute."
Olivia grabbed her drink and walked off, definitely not in the mood to talk to Langan. Olivia scanned the room and her eyes caught the crystal blue eyes she looked into everyday. Alex was across the room with a small group gathered around her. She politely excused herself and made her way over to Olivia.
"Hey," Alex smiled.
"Hey back," Olivia scanned behind Alex sensing more eyes on Alex than her own. Sure enough, there were more than a few guys checking her out.
"You wanna dance?" Alex took Olivia's free hand.
Olivia set her drink down on a nearby table and let Alex pull her to the dance floor. Alex swung her around and pulled her close.
"I love you," Alex whispered in Olivia's ear as they swayed together on the dance floor.
Olivia beamed. In a room full of New York's elite, Olivia was the only one that mattered to Alex. Olivia could feel it.
There's no need to apologize
This happens time and time again
As soon as somebody lays their eyes on her
They dial right in
I watched you sneak a look
From the other side of the floor
And as I danced her by I watched you steal one more
Olivia knew there were a lot of people watching. Some entranced by Alex, some curious as to who was dancing with the young Cabot. But right now, she lost herself on the dance floor with Alex. She threaded her fingers behind Alex's neck and smiled at the beautiful blonde that had her heart.
You don't have to tell me she's beautiful
You don't have to say things like one-of-a-kind
You don't have to wonder if she loves me man
I know that's crossed your mind
Seems like everywhere we go
There's always somebody staring at her
Yeah I know she hung the moon
I'm the one that held the ladder
Alex was wondering if she'd ever get enough of Olivia. She felt a need in her soul to be around Olivia and to love with everything she had. It was something that was supposed to be. Somehow it all worked out brilliantly. And it made Alex feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
Now if you had half a chance
You'd probably make a play
Ah but if you were to ask her to dance
She'd only turn you away
So you'll never ever know
But buddy if you were in my shoes
You'd see that she's just as pretty on the inside too
They danced for a while, not noticing the time flying by. When Alex finally noticed what song was playing, she spoke, "What do you say we get out of here?"
Olivia smiled, "Sounds like a good idea."
They walked toward the door hand in hand, a few rapt eyes following.
Yeah I know she hung the moon
Cause I'm the one that held the ladder
The song is I Know She Hung The Moon by Toby Keith