Dec. 23
To say she was nervous would have been an understatement. To say she was terrified would have been an overstatement. Either way, Olivia Benson was wishing she could time travel and be done with this entire interview. She wanted nothing more than to take Alex home and crawl into bed with her and just hold her.
They'd grown closer and more intimate in a way that had previously eluded them after Olivia's revelation about Sealwood. Both women made more of an effort to talk about what was going on with them and what they were feeling.
And the more they talked and grew closer, the less important sex became to them. Granted, each woman still wanted the other, but now it was much more controlled.
Olivia had been unsure of what to wear for an interview on CNN and she had spent far too much time with Mason trying to find something that suited her yet didn't scream "I'm a dyke!"
They'd settled on a grey pant suit with a soft pink turtleneck underneath and Alex had opted for a baby blue sweater and off white dress pants. They made quite a striking couple.
After Alex had introduced Olivia to Candy Crowley, they all sat down and went through some warm-up questions. Alex had been very specific in her ground rules for the interview; the only things she wanted communicated were that Olivia was not, as some outlets were reporting, living at the mansion, and that Olivia would escort her to all of her inaugural activities as they were very committed to each other. Her final request was that there be no mention of children.
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"I'm Candy Crowley coming to you live from the Governor's Mansion in Albany, New York. Joining me tonight is the recently re-elected Gov. Alexandra Cabot and her girlfriend Capt. Olivia Benson. Many of you may recall that Gov. Cabot came out during our interview last month as a lesbian."
After the on-air introductions were made, they went through some general questions and were finally steered in the direction Alex had wanted addressed.
"Capt. Benson, it has been reported that you are living here at the mansion. Is that true?"
Olivia shook her head. "No, that is not true. While Alex and I are committed to each other, we are not sharing a household." She smiled at Alex.
Alex returned the smile and added, "And contrary to the opinions of others, there is no hedonistic behavior or activity occurring here in the mansion or anywhere else."
Crowley smiled. "So you are going on the record as saying you are in a monogamous relationship?"
Alex was lost in Olivia and absently answered, "No, we aren't." Realizing what she had said, she tried to back peddle to no avail. "I mean…."
Olivia came to her rescue. "What she means is that we are moving very slowly in our relationship." Olivia's look left no doubt what she was talking about.
Alex, some what recovered, added, "Excruciatingly slowly."
Olivia took her hand and turned so that she was facing the blonde. "I just want you to be sure." She turned back toward the camera. "I want her to be sure."
Good-naturedly Alex rolled her eyes and responded, "And this is why I love her, and how I know that I'm sure."
Olivia leaned over and placed a kiss on Alex's forehead.
As they went to commercial, Alex hurried off camera to use the restroom. Crowley leaned in so that only Olivia could hear her.
"I want to break the story when you ask her."
Olivia's face showed her shock. "How'd…."
Crowley smiled. "My intern's brother works at Harry Winston. He called to let her know you were in browsing two days ago. And it wasn't for a charm bracelet."
They were interrupted by Alex who came rushing back in just as they returned from commercial break.
"That seems a perfect segue into the inaugural festivities coming up. Will Capt. Benson be escorting you to the various events?"
Alex smiled. "Yes she will. She will also be spending Christmas here at the mansion with me and my family."
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After the interview, they bid Crowley goodbye and then retired to Alex's room, which had it's own Christmas tree. They'd spread blankets out on the floor and planned on sleeping there, beneath the twinkling, white lights of the tree.
After calling down to let Mason know they did not want to be disturbed the rest of the night, they snuggled under the tree.
"Thank you, for doing that."
"No problem Alex. I love you."
She began to rub Alex's stomach, arousing the blonde.
"Liv, unless you intend on going through with making love, then you need to stop." Even as she said this, she began to squirm beneath Olivia's hand.
Olivia nipped at her ear. "We could always work on some more trust building exercises baby. Like Elizabeth suggested."
Alex blushed. "Liv! I am not going to do that in front of you."
"It's ok to say the word Alex; masturbate."
Alex blushed. "Liv! I don't feel comfortable doing that. I've never done that in front of anybody before!"
In a very soothing voice, Olivia purred, "Baby, you had no problems riding certain people's tongue, naked, with me watching."
Alex blushed to the tip of her ears and buried her face in Olivia's neck.
"Don't you dare taunt me about that Olivia! I told you how ashamed I am about that."
More seriously than before Olivia stroked her face. "Why baby? Why are you ashamed?"
"Because I was so angry with you Olivia when I did that and I feel as though I used Morgan and I don't feel very good about any of it." She kissed her. "And I'm not angry with you anymore. I'm not angry about anything any more Olivia."
The brunette smiled at her and then rolled onto her back. Alex tried to snuggle back into her side, but Olivia urged her to lie on her back.
"Let's look at the tree Alex."
"I love Christmas and I love all the decorations. The sparkles and tinsel and everything!"
They lay quietly on the floor, looking at the tree from below. Alex noticed something unusual hanging from one of the lower limbs and raised her head a bit to look at it. Not quite believing what she'd seen, she sat all the way up and pulled the ornament hook off the branch.
Dangling from the hook was a 2 carat diamond engagement ring set in a platinum band. She held it up to her face and barely noticed when Olivia sat up next to her.
"Marry me Alex."
Alex began to nod. "Yes. Yes Olivia Benson, I'll marry you."
They sealed the proposal with a deep kiss. When they broke apart, Alex handed the ring to Olivia.
"Please put it on me."
As she slid the ring onto Alex's finger she chuckled.
"I need for you to call your sister. I promised her you'd call after I asked."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"My sister knew before I did?"
Olivia nodded. "I channeled my inner butch and asked her for your hand. So to speak. And I asked her for advice on your ring."
Alex threw her arms around Olivia and kissed her again and then scurried for the phone, quickly dialing her sister's number.
They'd spent the night snuggled together under the tree talking and planning their wedding. Olivia was perfectly happy to let Alex prattle on about how she wanted things done only to discard those ideas minutes later in favor of other ideas.
After getting very little sleep, Alex was up early the next morning scurrying around, trying to finish the last of her holiday preparations. Olivia had groaned as she got up from the floor and tried to stretch her stiff muscles out. She watched with amusement as Alex fussed with putting a bow on her nephew's last gift.
"He's just going to rip it off Alex, so don't worry about it!"
"I just want it to look good." She walked over and kissed Olivia. "What time are you leaving to go see Simon?"
"Within the hour. I want to get there by noon and be back before 4. Dinner's at 6, right?"
Alex nodded. "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"
"Yes, I'm sure. It's overwhelming for his mom to have too many people around and his step-son gets on her nerves easily." She kissed Alex again. "Besides, we have all of New year's for him to grill you!"
"Did he know about you? Being gay?"
"He knew about me and Julia, which didn't go over too well, and he knew about me and Kurt and in a drunken stupor one night I blabbed all about you, so yeah, he knew. And your sister wasn't the only one I consulted on a ring choice."
"Ah, more details emerge." Patting the brunette on the behind she whispered, "You better get a move on. Besides, I have some things I need to finish up."
The truth was that both women had last minute gifts they need to pick up for the other. Olivia had told Alex about her conversation with Crowley and told her she would handle making the call, but wanted to know how they were going to handle telling everyone.
Alex had reluctantly taken off her ring after agreeing that they should wait until dinner that night to tell their remaining family and friends and that Alex would tell her innermost staff just before they left for the holiday.
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Alex was in her office looking something up on the internet when Mason took a seat beside her.
"You needed something Governor?"
She turned to him and handed him a print out. He looked at it and raised his eyebrows.
"Would you please go and find this item for me? The address to the store that carries it is at the bottom."
He nodded and started to rise.
"Mason?" When she had his attention, Alex held the chain with her engagement ring on it up.
"Alex?"
"She asked me last night and I said yes."
He bent and kissed her on the cheek. "Congratulations."
"Mason? I expect to see you at dinner tonight."
"Governor, that's for your family."
Alex gave him a full watt Cabot smile. "And you are part of my family mason." She made a show of looking busy, allowing him a moment to compose himself, since he looked overcome with emotion. "And please bring whoever it was that had your attention the night of my Toni Beal debacle."
Mason looked shocked, embarrassed and…fearful. "Alex, I don't think that's a good idea."
She stood and hugged him. "Mason, it's obviously ok if it's a man. I know you've always kept your personal life private, but I want the next 4 years to be different. I expect them to be different."
Mason looked conflicted and tense. "Alex, please, just let this be."
Alex's brow creased. "Mason? Were you…" she moved in closer to him, "were you with someone you paid?"
Now he looked indignant. "Certainly not! At what time shall we arrive?"
Alex bid him farewell, knowing he would deposit her purchase where she'd asked him to and went to make a call to Elizabeth Olivet.
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New Jersey
Olivia hugged both her brother and his new wife.
"Thank you so much Simon. Today meant a lot." She turned to his wife Tina and pulled her into another hug. "And thank you for making my brother so happy."
She felt a tug on her sleeve and looked down at her 'nephew.'
"What Chris?"
He held his arms out and she picked him up.
"Merry Christmas Aunt 'Livia." Tina prompted him with a look and he added, "And thank you and soon-to-be Aunt 'Lex for my Xbox 360!"
She hugged him tighter. "No problem. Be good so Santa Clause stops by to see you tonight."
The 8 year old looked between his mom and new dad and rolled his eyes. "I'm not sure he exists."
Olivia suppressed a smile. "Better to be safe than sorry Chris!"
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Governor's Mansion
5:45 PM
Everyone with the exception of Mason and his guest had arrived and they were standing around have cocktails and chatting. Xander was thoroughly bored and sitting by the fireplace playing with his truck.
Feeling sorry for the little boy, Olivia sat down next to him and started playing "cars" with him. He perked right up and eventually crawled into her lap where she tickled him. Across the room Alex and her sister watched them. More precisely, Alex watched Olivia and Caroline watched Alex.
"You ok Al?"
Alex turned to her and smiled. "I'm good." She motioned to her sister's midsection. "How are you two doing?"
"Good."
"She seems good with children."
"She is."
"Any thoughts on you two starting a family?"
Alex swallowed hard. "We've talked about it. I've been working things out in therapy." Alex gave her a tight smile. "Let's move on, ok?"
Feeling two sets of eyes on her, Olivia turned in their direction and saw the tight smile Alex was giving her sister. She moved Xander off of her lap and went to join both women. She gave Alex a kiss on the lips and raised an eyebrow. Alex smiled back and gave a slight shake of her head.
They were interrupted by the appearance of Mason, who was trying to get their attention. Olivia made her way over to him and was immediately pulled into the hall.
"Mason…?"
"Olivia, I need to ask you a question before I bring my guest in. Am I safe in assuming that since you have proposed to the Governor, you have no plans of running out on her again?"
"Mason, I'm not going anywhere. Not until the day I die."
He held her gaze until he was certain she was telling the truth and then he nodded.
"Very well. Would you please bring Gov. Cabot into her office and we'll meet you in there shortly."
"Mason?"
"Please Olivia. Just trust me."
Doing as he asked, she collected her fiancé and proceeded to the governor's office. She and Alex were sharing a kiss when the clearing of Mason's throat interrupted them. They both turned to find Mason and his date standing there. His much younger date.
Surprise registered on both their faces. Alex was the first to recover and offered her hand.
"Alex Cabot and this is Olivia Benson." Olivia shook her hand.
"Pierre Angeli. It is so good to finally meet you both."
Mason looked extremely uncomfortable and had forgotten to take his date's coat.
"Mason, why don't you take her coat?"
Snapped out of his fog, Mason helped the raven haired woman out of her coat, which caused the second surprise of the evening.
Olivia's eyes bugged and Alex almost gasped.
"You're pregnant." They said in unison.
Alex looked between Pierre and Mason and then pulled Mason in for a hug.
"Why didn't you tell me your girlfriend was pregnant? Or that you even had a girlfriend?"
He cupped her face and gave her a sad smile. "You know why." He looked down at his feet. "As for the other, she is not my girlfriend; she's my wife."
"Mason! When did you get married because I know you weren't married when I became governor? And why didn't you tell me?"
"Do you recall that day I took off 7 months ago?" She nodded. "We were married that day." He kissed her head. "She'd just turned 35 and wanted a family." He shrugged.
"Well I would have given you time off!"
They all laughed and then Pierre hugged Alex.
"I'm a professor of British Literature at the College of St. Rose. It was just before the end of spring semester; taking time off was not an option. Besides, I don't need flowers and candy; I have everything I need in Mason." She looked at him lovingly. "I was in the city for a conference right before Thanksgiving and we decided to spend the holiday there."
Mason glanced at his watch.
"It's time for dinner."
After dinner they sat on the floor in Alex's room and pushed the last of their gifts toward each other. Dinner had gone off smoothly and Alex's brother and been ecstatic for his sister and Olivia, and his wife had ohh'd and ahh'd over her ring. Xander once again crawled into Olivia's lap and patted her face. He'd even managed to call her Aunt Ovia.
They all opened their gifts to each other just after desert and finally bid the last of the Cabot clan and Mason and his wife farewell just before 9. Alex had suggested they retire to the upstairs so they could open their personal gifts to each other in private, which is how they came to be in their pj' on the floor.
Olivia picked up the medium sized box and shook it, drawing a playful slap from Alex. When she finally tore open the paper and box, she found a beige colored leather coat that came down to her mid thigh. The leather was as soft as warm butter and Alex only half jokingly suggested she wear it and nothing else to bed.
Alex carefully opened a slim looking box that was roughly the same size as the one she'd given Alex. Her face softened at its contents. Inside was a framed photo of Olivia kissing Alex at the Macy's Day parade and the front page of the Ledger with the same photo and the headline, "It's Love!"
"I'm going to hang this in my office."
"You don't have to. It's meant for us, for our private world."
Alex shook her head. "No Olivia. I want everybody to know how I feel about you and I don't care what they think!"
Olivia nodded. "Ok." She bit her lip. "I have one more for you."
"Me too."
Both women looked up at each other at the same time and then laughed.
"You go first Liv."
The brunette got up and went to her bag, pulling out a manila envelope. Sitting back down she handed it to Alex and stopped her from opening it.
"Baby, I want you to know that this gift has no expiration date nor does it have any expectations with it, ok?"
Confused, Alex opened the envelope and pulled out the documents inside. She took several minutes to read over them and then looked up at Olivia, her face unreadable. She got up and went into the room where the nursery used to be. Afraid she'd done something wrong; Olivia gave her a few minutes before following her.
"Alex?" The blonde was standing in the middle of the room, using her teeth to worry with her thumb.
"I think I'd like to paint the walls light green." She looked over her shoulder at Olivia. "If we do this, and that's a very big if and there are some very specific conditions that must be met, ok?"
Olivia wrapped her arms around Alex from behind and held her, happy that the answer hadn't been a flat out no.
"Ok. Can you tell me what kind of conditions?"
Alex turned in her arms and wrapped her own arms around Olivia's neck.
"I talked to Elizabeth today. I've had a couple of sessions without you for which I'm sorry, but I really needed to do them alone, ok?" Olivia nodded. "Anyway, I have those eggs and now that it seems I finally have some sperm thanks to Simon, we can create embryos and they can be tested for genetic abnormalities before implantation. Not every illness or disease can be tested for, but some major ones can be. I won't do this again Olivia if there is any chance that I might conceive a child with special needs. I can't."
Olivia nodded. "Ok baby. We can do that." She kissed Alex. "So you don't have any issue with us using Simon's sperm?"
Alex shook her head. "Nope. It's a way I can have a little bit of you in me. And you'll have a genetic link to the child. If there is one. As long as his wife is ok with it?"
"She's fine with it. So...any idea when you might want to try this?"
"Whenever. It's not like I have to be there when egg and sperm are joined. Neither does Simon since he's already made a deposit; so to speak." She kissed Olivia. "I'm not getting emotionally attached until I know there is nothing wrong with the embryo and it has been successfully implanted in me."
Olivia held her. "Ok baby. Now, didn't you say you had another gift for me?"
Alex took a deep breath. "Yes. I uh, I need for you to go get in bed. Please."
Olivia did as she was asked and didn't have to wait too long for Alex to join her. The blonde handed her a narrow package and watched as she tore it open, revealing a home made coupon book. She raised an eyebrow at Alex who was faintly blushing.
"Alex?"
"Just uh, open it and it should be self explanatory."
Olivia did just that and smiled as she realized what Alex had given her. She flipped through the coupon book and raised her eyebrow as she got to the end of the book.
"I don't suppose I can redeem one of these tonight, can I?"
Alex straddled her lap and put her arms around Olivia's neck. She leaned in and kissed the brunette.
"I was hoping you would."
She raised her arms and pulled her shirt off, exposing perfectly round breasts to Olivia. Once again she kissed the brunette.
"Pull down my shorts."
The brunette did as she was told and bit back a gasp as she realized Alex wasn't wearing any panties.
Alex's smile was purely evil. "Help me get my shorts off." She braced herself against Olivia's shoulders and with the brunette's help she finally got the boxers off.
Olivia swallowed hard and whispered, "Alex..."
Alex eased off of Olivia and rolled onto her back. She opened the drawer of the night stand and pulled out the velvet bag she'd gotten from Mason. She dumped the contents into her hand and held it up for Olivia to see.
"W-What are you going to do with that?" Olivia's voice cracked.
"You wanted me to get off in front of you, and I'm going to using this."
"But what is that?"
"It's a mini-egg vibe."
"But it's..wide. Does it go inside?" Olivia was looking with a sort of unease.
"Just watch."
Alex rolled onto her left side and planted her right foot with her knee bent just behind her left calf, opening her sex for Olivia to see. The brunette turned onto her side and licked her lips.
Alex held Olivia's gaze as she held the egg vibe up for the brunette to see. Smiling she pressed in on the sides, causing it to whir to life. She moved her hand between her legs and let out a little gasp as she rolled it around her lips, circling everywhere but her clit.
"Do you want to know what I'm thinking Olivia?" All the brunette could do was nod. "I'm thinking about you and your tongue and how you like to tease me by nipping all around where I want you most. How you play with my tits and suck on my nipples."
She slipped two fingers inside her pussy and slowly pulled them out. She held them up between her and Olivia and traced the brunette's lips with her essence. Olivia licked her lips, tasting Alex, and letting out a little moan. She started to reach for Alex, but the blonde shook her head.
"You wanted to wait, remember?"
She rolled onto her back and turned her head so she was still facing Olivia.
"Watch me."
She returned her hand between her legs and began rubbing the vibrating egg all over her lips. Spreading her legs wider, she parted her wet folds and finally placed the toy on her clit. She gasped. But never broke eye contact with her lover.
"Right now Olivia, right now your head is between my legs, your hands are on my hips, holding me while your tongue is moving inside me. And I taste good to you."
Her jaw clenched and her body went rigid and then she was moaning and calling out Olivia's name. And she never broke eye contact with the brunette.
Spent, Alex lay back and smiled at her fiancé. Her body began to lose it's flush and she gave a lazy smile to Olivia.
"Beautiful."
Alex began to feel self conscious and felt Olivia's eyes on her. She started to role away from the brunette, but Olivia reached out and stopped her.
"Don't. You look beautiful." She swallowed hard. "I'm throbbing."
"Touch yourself." She reached over and touched Olivia's face. "You'll feel better, I promise."
Olivia slowly nodded and began to lower her boxers and panties. The crotch was soaked. She quickly shed her t-shirt, exposing hardened nipples. Mimicking Alex's movements, Olivia maintained eye contact as she ran her palms over her nipples and down her torso.
"What am I doing to you right now Olivia?"
"You're straddling my thighs and your pussy hair is tickling me. Your breasts are firm and your nipples are erect and you are looking at me with that look."
"What look Liv?"
"That look that says you're mine and more importantly that I'm yours. That you love me and want me and are getting ready to fuck me." Olivia's eye broke contact with Alex. "And that nobody will ever look at me this way but you."
She dipped her middle finger into her folds and offered it up to Alex. The blonde eagerly licked it and let out a contented sigh.
"Do it baby."
Olivia's fingers began to move in and out of her and before long her body went rigid and Alex's name was a harsh whisper on her lips. She struggled to catch her breath and Alex, unable to keep her hands to herself any longer, pulled the brunette's face to hers and kissed her.
"Merry Christmas Liv."
"Merry Christmas baby."
They both said 'I love you' at the same time and then giggled.
They crawled under the covers, after redressing, and snuggled together, whispering their love for each other.
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Christmas Day
Both women were far more relaxed than they were the night before. Something Caroline grilled her sister about as they sat waiting for desert to be served, watching Xander, Jonah, Woody and Olivia playing with Xander's set of remote control cars.
"So...how was last night?"
Alex flashed back on her actions from the night before and cleared her throat.
"It was good. Not as good as you are probably imagining, but good." She stood and motioned for her to follow her into the governor's office. She pointed to the wall next to the door where she'd made Olivia hang the framed photo that morning.
Caroline smiled. "That's great Alex!"
Alex smiled proudly. "That's Olivia." She turned to her sister and grew somber. "That's not the only gift she gave me last night. I've agreed to consider having or trying to have a baby. Olivia asked Simon to donate his...genetic material to us, which he's done, so..." She shrugged.
Caroline wanted to encourage her sister, but didn't want to over do it, so she put her arm around Alex and gave her a squeeze.
"I think it's great that you're willing to entertain the idea. I'll support you whatever you decide, ok?"
Alex nodded and motioned for them to go back out.
They watched four children playing for a few moments before Caroline whispered, "She really is great with kids Alex."
Alex only nodded and quietly went to check on desert.
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That Night
Alex crawled into bed and kissed Olivia.
"This is the best Christmas I think I've ever had Alex."
Alex sighed. "It's been good, but it could be better."
"How?"
"Sex." She laughed and kissed Olivia. "Seriously, it's been great Liv. And I think they'll only get better!"
Olivia pulled her closer. "I know baby. I just...I just want us to go slow and avoid our past mistakes. "I just wish I could stay longer."
Olivia was scheduled to return to the city the next afternoon.
"Me too. It's going to be even harder now that we are engaged." She kissed Olivia. "I want to spend every minute with you. I just...we've spent too much time apart."
"Me too Alex. By the way, I left a message for Candy letting her know I'd proposed and you said yes."
Alex snuggled into Olivia. "I know. My press office set the announcement to go out first thing in the morning, after she appears on CNN American Morning. Are you ready for this?"
"Oh yeah." She kissed the top of Alex's head. "I'm ready for whatever comes."