Olivia sat on the sofa, legs crossed at the knee, foot tapping impatiently. She ran a cautious hand through her short hair, hoping that no odd tufts were sticking out of place, and tugged at the hem of her blouse to keep it from wrinkling too much. She took a deep breath and twisted her ring anxiously around her finger, an action that was already becoming an unconscious habit. Finally, unable to remain still any longer, Olivia rose and went to check on Alex's progress.
As she leaned on the door jamb and looked into the tiny bathroom, Olivia grinned with genuine pleasure and a hint of apprehension. Alex looked as beautiful as always, her long hair softly curling on her shoulders, her crimson blouse setting off the blonde strands. Shaking hands nervously inspecting perceived imperfections in her make-up, however, gave away the normally confidant lawyer's nerves. Olivia leaned in to brush Alex's fingertips with her own, stilling the blonde's anxiously flitting hands.
"You look beautiful, Alex," Olivia murmured as Alex huffed in a strained voice and leaned back toward the mirror. Olivia laughed lightly. "Darling, I think I'm the one that is supposed to be nervous here. Besides, Aaron will be there and grandkids always make great distractions."
Alex let her hands drop to smooth over her black skirt as she gathered herself. Inhaling deeply and slowly, she turned to face Olivia, her face calm but the corners of her mouth tense. "Alright, let's get this over with," she sighed. Olivia smiled widely and squeezed her partner's hand reassuringly.
Alex had barely tapped on the front door with one gloved hand before it was yanked enthusiastically open. Before she even had a chance to take a step or form a word of greeting, two small figures dressed in green collided with the tall blonde. Alex bent to tousle their hair and straightened, hefting Henry in her arms, as Aaron beckoned for the two women to enter. "Hi Andrea," Alex grinned as the young girl dragged her into the foyer. "Just let me take my shoes off and then I'll be ready!" Alex laughed and turned to wink at Olivia who chuckled and waved at Henry, staring shyly over his aunt's shoulder.
As Alex was led off by her young niece, Aaron greeted Olivia with a firm handshake that unexpectedly transformed into a warm hug. The sudden and intimate contact initially made Olivia's mind freeze in terror and she desperately fought her powerful urge to flinch away. Through sheer force of will, she remained calm and even managed to return Aaron's greeting. If he noticed the brunette's hesitation and lukewarm response, Aaron did not show it as he grinningly waited for her to pull off her winter gear. Once her coat was neatly stowed in the hall closet, Aaron leaned in conspiratorially.
"My parents are talking to Nicole in the living room. Let's go to the kitchen for a drink and wait for Alex to talk her way out of Andrea's room before we get this party started, shall we?" he murmured, a mischievous glint in his blue eyes. Olivia nodded in heartfelt agreement and followed his lead, proceeding down a smartly decorated hall deeper into the cottage.
As they entered the kitchen, however, the soft rap of Olivia's cane on the hall rug grew sharper on the tiled floor of the kitchen. A sudden voice calling enthusiastically from another room startled them both and Aaron laughed out loud, his voice pleasant and filled with good humor. "I guess we're busted, Olivia," he chuckled before calling back. "We're in here, Dad."
A handsomely dressed man with elegantly combed silver hair appeared in the doorway. As he laid eyes on Olivia, who was smiling a little sheepishly, his face brightened with a welcoming grin. "You must be Olivia," he said, his voice deep and fatherly. "You can call me Paul. I'm so glad to finally meet you. I've been trying to convince Alex to bring you for a visit ever since she accidentally mentioned you. It's nice to finally put a face with the name."
As he spoke, he strode towards the brunette and clasped her free hand in both of his own large ones. Finally pausing for breath, Alex's father took a moment to look his daughter's girlfriend up and down. Noticing her cane, he quickly turned and motioned toward the living room. "Please, Olivia, come and have a seat and meet my wife. I don't mean to keep you standing here all night."
Olivia smiled a little shyly but followed his gesture and entered the living room. It was subtly decorated in cream and maroon, perfectly capturing a cozy, cabin-like feel. In the corner was a tall pine, its limbs weighted down by an eclectic collection of ornaments and brightly colored lights. Olivia hardly had a chance to take in the décor, however, before her eyes fell on a handsome woman seated in an armchair close to a softly crackling fire.
Paul placed a warm hand on her shoulder and urged her forward toward the sofa. Aware of the woman's steady gaze upon her, Olivia sank onto the couch and was rapidly joined by Alex's father. Aaron leaned over the back of the sofa bearing a tray of wine glasses. Olivia accepted one gratefully as Paul grinned at his wife.
"Nancy," he boomed. "Look who I found in the kitchen. This is Alex's Olivia." He turned to Olivia and smiled widely. "Olivia, meet my wife, Nancy. I'm sure she's as glad to meet you as I am."
"Yes, of course," Nancy replied, politely but with a touch of coolness in her voice.
"Nice to meet you," Olivia responded before taking a long, slow sip of her wine. She genuinely liked Paul but she secretly wished Alex would return soon.
As if Olivia's wish came true, Alex's form soon appeared silhouetted against the dancing firelight. With a nearly imperceptibly uncertain glance at her mother, Alex smiled at her girlfriend. "I see you've all met Olivia," she said, crossing to join Olivia and her father on the wide sofa. Leaning to kiss her father on his cheek, Alex sat between them. "I hope you haven't already put her through the wringer, Dad."
Her father guffawed. "Alex, you know I would never do such a thing. Your mother, on the other hand, tends to be a little less trustworthy in this regard."
Nancy sighed with irritation and, in lieu of giving her husband any more satisfaction, rose to go to the kitchen to join Aaron and Nicole.
Ignoring his wife's huffy exit, Paul turned his attention back to his daughter and her girlfriend and began to ply them with rapid questions. Relaxing in the warm beam of her father's attention, Alex reached to grasp Olivia's hand encouragingly as the two women settled into conversation.
Dinner was an alternately pleasant and tense affair. Aaron and Paul kept the conversation flowing, despite occasional sharp questions or comments from Alex's mother. Olivia held her own until, during a quiet moment, Nancy's clear voice broke the silence.
"So Olivia, when Alex called to tell us that you two were coming for Christmas, she never mentioned your cane," she said, her blue eyes piercingly direct and so much like her daughter's. Olivia nearly choked on the bite of apple pie she had just eaten and dabbed at her lips with her napkin in an effort to regain her composure before answering.
Before she could do so, Alex set her coffee down on the table with a hint of violence and exasperation. "Mother," she scolded, her calm façade finally beginning to crack. "You have not said a kind thing to Olivia the entire meal. You insisted that I come here for Christmas and …" A gentle touch on her shoulder made Alex choke off her statement, though her icy eyes still flashed dangerously.
"Alex, it's alright," Olivia murmured, turning to glance at her girlfriend with a small smile. "Nancy," Olivia began. "I'm a cop and I was attacked by a man I was chasing. He got me in the knee with a baseball bat and I'm waiting for it to heal before I can have an operation." She spoke serenely, fixing Alex's combative mother with a steadily calm gaze as she explained her injury.
Alex's tense posture relaxed as Olivia handled her mother's rudeness with poise and directness. The blonde couldn't help an inward giggle as she thought of Olivia's vast experience in the precinct interrogation room. The image of Detective Benson playing good cop with her mother was amusing enough to sooth Alex's irritated pride. And the brunette's quick thinking was relieving. Alex had been dreading her parent's questions about Olivia's injuries. After all, they were not easily hidden or truthfully explained. It was better to sate her mother's curiosity with a white lie than to leave the topic open for more discussion. Alex rested her hand on Olivia's thigh, tenderly caressing her knee under the tablecloth.
After dinner, Andrea and Henry finally managed to wheedle Olivia away from the table and soon the brunette had been spirited away down the hall to their room. Alex stood to begin clearing the table, stacking plates and utensils neatly before carrying them to the kitchen. Paul crooked one arm over the shoulders of both his son and his daughter-in-law and walked them back to the living room. They had already prepared a wonderful meal, he insisted, and they needed to let someone else take care of the clean-up.
As Alex stood at the sink, rinsing the plates one by one, her mother wrapped leftovers and fit them neatly into the refrigerator. The women worked in silence for a few minutes, lost in their own thoughts, before Nancy finally broke the silence.
"Alex," she said. "I saw the ring. Are you sure about this?"
Dropping a plate into the dish drain, Alex whirled to face her mother. "Mom, please don't. I just want to enjoy the holidays for a change. I don't want to get into a fight." Her voice was tired and exasperated and she turned back to the sink, hoping that her mother would drop the subject.
"Alex, I don't think she's right for you. I mean, she has a very dangerous job and…"
Unable to restrain herself any longer, Alex threw the sponge back into the soapy water. "Mom, just say what you really mean. You've never been happy about me dating women and you're just looking for a reason to criticize Olivia. I saw the way you looked at her when you asked about the cane. If you want to know something, just come out and say it. I'm a grown woman. Let's stop playing games."
Nancy paused only to blink before responding, her anger beginning to show clearly on her face. "Alex, I think you gave her that ring out of pity. You have a bright future and you're choosing to drive it into the dirt by tying yourself to an invalid. And a woman, no less. Have you considered how this will affect your future?"
Alex's mother snapped her mouth shut violently. The two women stared at each other, matching fury and fire in their expressions, as the kitchen clock's second hand echoed loudly in the deathly quiet kitchen. Finally, grinding her teeth in order to keep her voice under control, Alex hissed at her mother. "I've had that ring for months, Mom. Olivia got attacked and my priorities changed but my intentions never did. I know what I'm doing and I love her. I gave her the ring and she said yes. I wish you would accept it but, if you can't, it is your loss." Turning back to the sink, Alex yanked the plug from the drain and dried her hands furiously on a dishtowel, taking deep breaths in an effort to calm down before she left the room.
Cementing a calm façade firmly in place, Alex strode past her mother without a second glance and walked down the hall to find Olivia. More than anything, Alex simply wanted to return to her own cabin, lock the door, and relax in Olivia's arms in peace.
Reaching the children's room, Alex's mood instantly improved a fraction. Olivia was perched awkwardly on a chair that was far too small for an adult woman as Andrea and Henry regaled her with a droll play featuring their favorite stuffed animals. Fixing a bright, calm smile on her face, Alex entered the small room and greeted her niece and nephew. "Hi, kids. Olivia and I have to go home now so we can go to bed and wait for Santa. It's getting late and I think you two might want to hurry to bed too before Santa tries to come!"
The two children, pouting as they realized Aunt Alex was about to take their playmate away, brightened at the mention of Santa. With quick hugs for Olivia and Alex, Andrea rushed excitedly down the hall to find their mother with Henry in close pursuit. Smile fading, Alex's expression took on a note of sad tenderness. She crossed the room and extended her hands to help Olivia stand from her awkward, crouched position.
As she stood, Olivia groaned softly in relief. "Thank you, Alex," she murmured. "If you didn't come soon, I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to get out of that chair." Alex grinned with more feeling and wrapped one arm around Olivia's waist. She leaned in to nuzzle her nose against Olivia's cheek briefly before speaking.
"I'm not sure how much more of my mother's accusations I can take. Let's get out of here and go home for some more relaxing activities," Alex whispered, suggestively emphasizing her words to convey exactly the type of relaxation she had in mind. Firming her grip on the brunette, Alex guided her back down the hall.
The women stopped in the living room to say their good nights and thank you's to their hosts and to Alex's father, all of whom protested their early departure but escorted them warmly towards the foyer. A quick glance and Olivia noted that Alex's mother was not among the crowd of well wishers and her heart fell a fraction. She had hoped that this evening would go smoothly but Alex's stiff smiles and Nancy's conspicuous absence told a different story. She would have to make it up to Alex, Olivia thought to herself. It had been too long since she had made love to her girlfriend and she felt that Alex deserved a little attention after such a stressful night. Olivia grinned to herself as she bundled her coat tightly. Perhaps coming to Alex's cabin for the holidays wouldn't be a trip the blonde regretted after all.
Alex felt nothing but relief and exhaustion as she shut the cabin door behind Olivia and flipped the lock. She leaned against the closed door and simply watched, tiredness lining her pale face, as Olivia stamped the snow off her boots and shrugged out of her coat. Alex closed her eyes for a moment. Now she remembered why she didn't come up here for the holidays. She could never quite understand how she managed to spend day after day in court, facing down rapists and murderers but a few hours with her mother could exhaust her.
Warm hands cupping her cheeks startled Alex from her brief reverie. Olivia looked up at Alex tenderly, running her thumbs gently over her girlfriend's chilly cheekbones. Alex leaned down to kiss the brunette, burying her still gloved hands in her hair. Even as she held Olivia close, however, Alex couldn't push her mother's cruel comments from her thoughts. A knot grew in her chest and she pulled away abruptly, dashing the first tears brusquely from her eyes.
Olivia leaned up to press her lips gently to Alex's even as the blonde's shoulders trembled. Stepping back, Olivia ran her hands over Alex's collarbone and began to unbutton the blonde's coat. She tugged it from Alex's thin shoulders and tossed it towards the closet. Alex's gloves followed suit and Olivia held out her hands as the blonde stepped out of her boots.
With a small smile curling her lips, Olivia guided Alex silently into the living room. Ignoring the light switch, Olivia left her girlfriend in the center of the room and bent to turn on the festive Christmas tree's lights. She then stopped to flip on the CD player, smiling wider as the familiar sounds of her favorite Perry Como holiday album began to fill the small room. Straightening, Olivia turned back to Alex, who remained standing stiffly in stocking feet.
Olivia wrapped her arms around Alex's slender body, running her palms up from Alex's waist to rest on the blonde's shoulder blades. Pressing her cheek to her girlfriend's shoulder, Olivia nuzzled against Alex's long, pale throat and began to sway gently. As Perry Como's suave voice crooned soothing lyrics, Alex relaxed in Olivia's embrace and curled her arms over the brunette's shoulders. Her cheek nestled against Olivia's hair, still damp from melted snow flakes, and let a few tears fall.
Alex pressed her lover tightly to her body. Even after the years they had been together, Alex felt a little intimidated by her love for the woman in her arms. No one in her past had ever inspired the kind of patience and tenderness that Olivia brought out in Alex. Through her whole life, Alex could describe herself as a woman who knew what she wanted, who was sure of her path in life. With this confidence, she had fought her way through crowds of equally driven and bright men and women to carve out her place. Before she met Olivia, Alex had believed that she led a charmed and successful life. Once she joined SVU, however, her opinion had slowly changed.
Prosecuting white collar crimes had been a black and white endeavor. Hating slimy business men and women grubbing for more wealth and breaking the law was easy and putting yet another inside trader behind bars had provided Alex with a mild sense of accomplishment. Her transfer to sex crimes had been merely a career move, a maneuver to get her hands on more high profile cases and jump start her political career.
The reality had been quite different. Sometimes, Alex returned to her office after court and buried her head in her hands, unable even to gain release through tears. Olivia Benson had been a ray of hope in Alex's darkest moments. Her steady gaze from the courtroom gallery had given Alex the strength to stare down smirking drug dealers and remain composed when a victim broke down on the stand. Though the cases she prosecuted for SVU tugged at her heart, Olivia had been the reason Alex remained strong and declined to be transferred to another division.
And now, years later, Alex's heart swelled as she swayed to Olivia's rhythm. At this moment, Alex thought, her mother could go to hell. Alex knew what she wanted and now she had her.
Once Olivia sensed Alex's relaxation, she began to run her fingers slowly along the length of Alex's back. She snaked one hand around the blonde's waist in order to run her palm over Alex's stomach and caress a path up to cup her jaw. Slowly, Olivia pulled back, leaning into her girlfriend's strong and protesting arms. She smiled up at Alex and was rewarded with a loving gaze. Moving agonizingly slowly, Olivia unfolded Alex's arms from around her neck and hooked a finger under the waistband of the blonde's skirt.
Olivia grinned wickedly and tugged at her girlfriend's skirt, pulling her insistently in the direction of their bedroom. Alex bit her lip and allowed herself to be gently led. If there was anything that could make her forget about this night, she thought, but her revelry was interrupted by Olivia's lips on hers.
Alex leaned into the kiss, parting her lips as Olivia nibbled gently. Fingers fumbled with the clasp of her skirt and Alex reached back to help, making quick work of the zipper and letting the material slide to the floor. Lips still locked with the brunette's, Alex began to undo the buttons of her blouse as Olivia's hands slipped under the satin to caress the blonde's smooth skin. Finally free of the blouse, Alex grasped Olivia's hips and guided her lover to lie back on the bed.
With Alex's assistance, Olivia's turtleneck and slacks landed on the wooden floor. Still standing, Alex removed her bra and panties and fell into her lover's reaching arms. With uncharacteristic aggression, Olivia pushed Alex to lie on her back and propped herself up on her elbow. She kissed Alex with bruising force, letting her free hand play across Alex's abdomen, scratching and caressing.
Nipping playfully, Olivia kissed a trail down Alex's exposed throat, laving the tender bites with her lips and tongue. When Olivia's lips closed over one pink nipple, Alex gasped and arched into the touch. It had been so long since Olivia had touched her like this. After her ordeal, Alex hadn't expected Olivia to touch her for a long time. In fact, Alex was willing to support Olivia for the rest of her life. But, the sensation of her lover's hands at last was overwhelming. Alex hadn't realized how much she craved this.
Olivia suckled on Alex's breast, rolling the nipple between her teeth until it tightened into a hard nub. Satisfied, her lover breathing heavily under her touch, Olivia continued to kiss a path downward. She paused over Alex's soft belly, nuzzling her nose and lips against the satiny skin there and reaching to caress one of Alex's breasts with her fingers. She cupped the blonde's perfectly round breast, enjoying its perfect fit in her hand, and beginning to caress the nipple between her fingers.
Finally, Olivia resumed her movement, pressing light kisses at the apex of Alex's thighs and inhaling the first breath of the blonde's familiar, warm scent. One of Alex's hands dropped to tangle in Olivia's short hair as the brunette began to explore her lover's folds with the tip of her tongue. Again, Alex arched up and hissed. "Liv, you don't…"
In response, Olivia ran the flat of her tongue over Alex's clit and gave her nipple a particularly sharp pinch. Soon, as Alex fell silent, Olivia found her familiar rhythm, remembering just the actions that would push her lover over the edge. She kissed gently at first, caressing Alex with feather-light touches of her lips and tongue. But as Alex's breathing grew erratic and her moans low and insistent, Olivia intensified her ministrations, rolling Alex's clitoris between her lips and using the flat of her tongue. At last, Alex's hand tightened almost painfully in Olivia's hair and she groaned wordlessly.
As Alex's climax passed, Olivia tenderly kissed her way up the length of her lover's torso until they lay side-by-side, breathing heavily. Finally, Alex sighed in pleasure and comfort and turned to press a chaste kiss to Olivia's lips. The brunette smiled tiredly at her lover and scooted closer, wordlessly encouraged the blonde to turn onto her side. Alex acquiesced, pressing her body back against Olivia's solid presence and sighing again when the brunette wrapped an arm across her waist. Alex tugged the blanket from the foot of the bed to cover them both before relaxing in Olivia's secure embrace. She smiled as lips caressed her neck and closed her eyes, too exhausted to move another inch.