A/N: Thank you for the reviews of the last chapter. I know the last chapter was unexpected and sad but unfortunately life has a way of being like that. There is still a part of me that wishes I hadn't written it that way as I have grown attached to the characters. This chapter is happy, along with a little sad. We are however at a point I'm sure you've been waiting for, Alex is graduating from Harvard. I also have a two shot (possibly three shot) outlined and will hopefully be posted in the next day or two, so keep your eyes open. As always thank you for taking time to read and review. Let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 25

Graduation is a time of looking ahead to the future as well as reflection. The morning of her graduation from Harvard Alex was sitting on her sofa with a cup of coffee thinking about her life up to that moment, as well as where her life was headed. She found herself getting teary eyed, like she had many times over the last few days, at the thought of her dad not being there. The past year had been hard on all of them, John Cabot had been a guiding force in her life and she couldn't help but feel a little lost without him.

Olivia leaned in the doorway and watched her partner; Alex was wearing one of the many t-shirts she had stolen from her, her hair was still messy from sleep, in Olivia's eyes she couldn't look more beautiful. She also couldn't be more proud. Her lifelong best friend, the person she'd loved for almost half her life, was about to graduate with honors from Harvard Law. She walked over and sat down on the sofa, wrapping her arms around the blonde as Alex settled back against her chest. "I was wondering where my Ramone's shirt disappeared to."

Alex grinned as she looked back "Kinda like I was wondering about my Joan Jett and The Blackhearts shirt?"

Olivia looked down at the now faded, stretched out shirt she was wearing "Hey, you steal mine and I steal yours." She leaned forward and pressed her lips to Alex's in a slow kiss, neither breaking it until their lungs begged for air. "You have no idea how proud I am of you."

"I've got a pretty good idea." Alex grinned. She looked in Olivia's eyes and noticed the same look from the evening before was still there. When the brunette had arrived the evening before with Laura Alex could tell she was keeping something from her. She didn't think it was anything bad, but she knew Olivia was hiding something. She decided now was as good a time as any to ask. "So are you going to tell me what you're hiding?"

Olivia mentally kicked herself as she sat her mug on the coffee table "What do you mean?"

"Olivia Benson you are an amazing cop, and have a great poker face but you suck when it comes to hiding things from me."

Olivia laughed "It's nothing bad, I promise. It's good actually, really good, but today is your day."

Now Alex was intrigued. She sat her coffee down as well and turned and pulled her legs up so they were facing one another. "Okay now I really want to know what you're hiding."

Olivia sighed "All right. Do you remember when I went undercover a couple months ago?"

Alex nodded "It was the most nerve wracking three days of my life." she also found out that she could go three days without eating or sleeping.

"Remember how I accidentally broke that cold case and they were able to arrest that serial rapist?" Alex nodded "Well it turns out that the brass were very impressed with me." she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face "You are looking at the newest detective in the NYPD."

Alex let out a squeal as she threw her arms around her partner. "I'm so proud of you!" she pulled back and kissed Olivia "When did you find out?"

"Just yesterday. As I was leaving the precinct the lieutenant called me into his office and told me." she couldn't help but tear up slightly "I'm getting my gold shield. Can you believe it?"

"I always knew you would." She leaned in again for a kiss and giggled when she felt Olivia pull her onto her lap. It wasn't long before hands were sliding under shirts and hips grinding against one another. Alex was just about to pull Olivia's shirt over her head when there was a knock at the door. She dropped her head against Olivia's shoulder "Be quiet and maybe they'll leave."

"I know you're both awake!" came Laura's voice through the door. "Alex I've got the key you gave your grandma for emergencies. I'm going to unlock the door in thirty seconds so if you two are doing anything you don't want me to see, you need to stop or hurry up and finish."

Alex groaned "I love her to death but God she can be annoying."

"I'm sorry." Laura said as she entered the room and sat down the pastries she'd picked up the couple.

"For what?" Olivia asked while grabbing a muffin.

"For interrupting." They both gave her a confused look. "Well judging by the look of frustration on both your faces you were just getting started." Both blushed, confirming what she thought. "Don't worry you'll have plenty of time to celebrate tonight after graduation."

The word celebration broke Alex from her embarrassment "We have another reason to celebrate."

Laura nodded her head, encouraging her daughter on.

"Olivia got promoted to detective!"

Laura walked over and pulled the young woman in to a tight hug "Oh sweetheart that's wonderful, I'm so proud of you!"

The rest of the morning was spent getting ready and then heading to the school for the ceremony. Olivia was so happy and excited that she felt as if she could burst. Alex had supported her as she achieved her dreams and she was more than happy to support the blonde through hers.

By the end of the ceremony Olivia, along with Laura and Alex's grandparents were in tears. The crowd of families and friends made their way out to wait for their graduates. When Olivia saw Alex walking their way she couldn't hold back. She ran over and threw her arms around the blonde, picking her up and twirling her all while kissing her deeply. "I am so proud of you!" she pulled back and noticed tears in her eyes. Olivia was crying as well but she could tell Alex's tears were for a different reason. "Baby what's wrong?"

Alex took a deep breath as she allowed Olivia to hold her "I wish Daddy was here."

Olivia felt a small pang in her heart at the mention of her father in law. It may have been a year since his death but it hadn't made it any easier. "I know sweetie, I miss him too."

After graduation they went to The Harimann's for dinner. The family laughed and talked, and reminisced about the times Olivia had come to visit the family. There were of course tears and quiet moments as they talked about John but it quickly turned to laughter again. Olivia recalled how much she loved when they would visit and John and Robert Harrimann would get into heated arguments over their favorite teams. John bled Yankee blue while Robert was a diehard Red Sox fan. She and Alex attended a game with the two once while visiting and the Yankees were in town to play the Red Sox. Neither woman would ever tell Alex's grandmother or her mother, but they heard more curse words out of the two men that afternoon than they'd ever heard in their lives.

After a wonderful evening the couple were getting ready to leave and go back to Alex's apartment. Alex had packed up most of her apartment already and Olivia was going to help her finish packing up the next morning to go back to the city. Alex couldn't wait to be back in the city, and more importantly with Olivia.

Just as they were about to leave Laura stopped the pair. "I know you took some time off this week Olivia. If you two don't have plans I was hoping we could go away for a few days." she smiled but it was a sad smile "Maybe go back to that lake upstate that your Dad loved so much."

Alex looked to Olivia who just nodded and smiled. She turned back to face her mother "We'd love to."

Laura walked over and took two envelopes from her purse and handed them to Alex. "You're father and I each wrote you a letter when you were born." she took a deep breath to keep from crying. "We had always planned to give them to you the day you graduated from college but we decided to wait until you graduated from law school. He was so proud of you Alex and I know he would've loved to have been here today."

Alex was trying, unsuccessfully, to not cry. She was grateful when she felt Olivia wrap her arm around her waist and pull her close. "I wish he had been here too, but I could feel him." She smiled as she wiped her tears "I know he's watching."

After arriving back at Alex's they quickly changed and began packing up the few things Alex hadn't gotten to. All that was left was the few things they would use that night and the next morning. The furniture Alex had decided to sell to the young couple who would be renting the apartment once she moved out.

As Olivia walked from the bathroom she saw Alex sitting up in bed holding the two envelopes Laura had given her. She could tell by the blonde's body language that she was battling with opening them. She pulled the sheet back and crawled in beside Alex, leaning in and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Are you okay?"

"I want to read these so badly, but at the same time I can't bring myself to open his." She turned and handed them to Olivia "Here, you open them."

"They're yours Alex."

"I can't do it Liv. Will you open them and read them to me? Please?"

Olivia could see the tears welling in her eyes "Okay." She looked down "Which one first?" When Alex pointed to the one from her mom Olivia tore it open and began to read.

Dear Alexandra,

You are only a few hours old and already I am unable to remember what my life was like before you. I know I'm a bit biased but you are the most beautiful baby I have ever laid my eyes on. Your father and I can't wait to see what life holds for us as a family.

Let me tell you a little about how you entered the world. We had just returned home from enjoying a wonderful summer evening, and a picnic in the park. I wasn't feeling well but just figured it was because I was so close to my due date. The longer the evening went the worse I felt but I was sure I was fine. Just as we were settling into bed my water broke. Your dad may have been in the army and was trained to remain calm under pressure but in that moment I had never seen such a look of panic on his face, well, except for maybe the day I told him I was pregnant. Once he snapped back to reality he carried me downstairs to our car and headed to the hospital. One thing I will say sweetheart, you definitely make an entrance. Less than three hours after my water broke here you were. All red and squalling, as if you were mad that I had the nerve to push you from your nice little home. I knew right then and there that you were a force to be reckoned with.

I want you to know that your father and I love you so very much. You are our beautiful little princess and we can't wait to spend our life with you.

I love you so much,

Mommy.

By the time Olivia finished reading both were crying. Olivia silently wished she had been able to have the same relationship with her own mother that Alex had with hers. She smiled when she looked down and saw that Alex's hand had worked its way into hers. She pulled it to her lips and pressed a kiss to it just above her ring. "Are you ready for the one from your dad?"

Alex took a deep breath "I'm ready."

Olivia opened it and cleared her throat before she began reading.

My beautiful Alexandra,

It is safe to say that in the short twenty four hours that you have been on this earth, you have successfully wrapped me around your little finger. I never in my life imagined I could feel this way about someone I just met. One look at you and I was a goner, but when you opened those amazing blue eyes of yours I knew in that moment that there isn't anything I won't do for you. I also know that my gun and my army medals will be in plain view once you begin dating. No boy will ever be good enough for my baby girl.

I can't wait to see what life has in store for you Alexandra. I already know that you will go far in life and won't let anything or anyone stand in your way. So far all you have done is come into the world and I am so proud of you, and I know that feeling will continue to grow.

I'll love you forever,

Daddy

Both were taking deep breaths as they cried. The letter was moving enough on its own but knowing that John was no longer with them made it even more moving. Olivia was about to put the letter back when she realized there was another page. She looked at it then looked to Alex "There's a second letter."

Alex wiped her eyes with her hands "Read it, please."

Olivia pulled her sleep shirt up and wiped her own tears "It's dated a week after we graduated from college."

Dear Alex,

You are now officially a college graduate. I never once in my mind doubted you would be, you are two stubborn and hard headed to let anything stand in your way. I know you have probably read the letters we wrote the day you were born but I wanted to write one more to let you know how I feel at this point in life. I have never been more proud of anyone than I am of you. Ever since you were a child you have had a determination and drive about you. I used to love watching you when you were little and trying to learn a new skill; you would scrunch your face up in frustration till you got it right, it was beyond adorable. As you got older it didn't take long to realize you would be an attorney, and a prosecutor at that. You have always had a sense of what is right and what is wrong. And when you set your mind to something you made sure it happened.

Even though we have made our peace it is still with a heavy heart that I think about those couple years that our relationship was strained. Even though I went about it the wrong way, in my heart I truly thought I was trying to do what was best for you, as well as for Olivia. I have always loved her, I couldn't love her more if she was my own child. I knew the profession she wanted to go in to and I couldn't help but worry about how some would treat her because of your relationship. Deep down I wanted to be happy for you but I allowed my worry and fear for you both to overshadow it. You and Olivia will never know how grateful I am that you accepted my apology for my actions.

When it comes to your relationship, I couldn't have picked a better partner for you if I had tried. From the first time you two met you have been inseparable, and now it's more like you're two halves of the same whole. You complement one another perfectly. Olivia grounds you and centers you, something as simple as a touch or look from her can calm you faster than anything I've ever seen. You sooth and relax her, her face lights up and her eyes sparkle when you're around. You bring out the absolute best in one another and that is a sign of a great relationship. While things won't always be perfect it is important to hold onto one another. After nearly thirty years of marriage I want to pass a few things along to you. Keep talking; no matter how mad, angry or hurt you might be never stop talking. Don't go to bed angry. I can recall many nights where your mom and I went to the basement, to avoid waking you, and argued till the early morning hours. Any difficulty we faced we were always the stronger for it because we faced it together. No matter what life throws at you, and it will throw a lot at you, face it head on as a couple with your hands safely in one another's. You two have something that is rare and precious, don't ever let go of each other.

I have always and will always be proud of you. I can't wait to see what new, exciting, and great things you go on to do. And like always I will be right there cheering you on.

You will always be my Alley Cat.

Love,

Dad

If they were crying at the end of the first letter the only way they could describe what they were doing now would be full on sobbing. While Alex allowed her father's words to sink in she would forever be grateful they had made their peace with one another. While she may have been angry when he treated her the way he did there was a small part of her that understood that he was worried about her and wanted to protect her. She turned and buried her face further into the brunette, feeling Olivia's sobs as she did so.

Olivia had always loved her father in law, even through the rough years, but to hear in his own words how concerned he was for her and loved her, it made her heart swell even more. She laid the letters over on the bedside table and settled down into the bed, pulling Alex close as she did so. She wrapped her arms tightly around Alex and began running her fingers through her hair.

Alex wrapped her arm protectively around Olivia's torso and laid her head on her shoulder. She inhaled the brunette's scent and sighed as it immediately began to calm her. "I miss him so much." She whispered.

"I know baby, I miss him too."

They lay there silently holding one another, neither were sure for how long. "So it's your last night in your apartment." Olivia said.

"Thank God!" Alex replied causing them both to chuckle. "Can you believe that this time tomorrow night we'll be back in our city, in our apartment, together?"

"Mmm, I can't believe it. This has been the longest four years ever and it's finally over. We now have the rest of our lives ahead of us," she tilted her head and placed a kiss to Alex's forehead "And I can't wait to spend it with you."

Alex rose up and kissed her partner passionately "I love you."

"I love you more."

Alex laughed "I highly doubt it." she slid herself onto Olivia's body, a mischievous twinkle in her eye "Like you said, it's my last night here. What do you say we go out with a bang?" she asked as she began to run her hands under Olivia's shirt and up across her chest.

Olivia's breath hitched as Alex lightly squeezed her breasts "Mmm, I love the way you think."