A/N: Here it is! The last chapter guys, I hope you enjoy!
"We'll only be just a moment, Detective."
"Thank you." Alex responds with a professional nod. She casually puts her hands behind her back and begins calmly pacing the length of the small room, not opting for taking a seat at the small table in front of her. As the door opens, once again, she looks up as she finds herself having to take an deep breath to calm her spontaneously approaching nerves.
"If you need anything, just knock on the door."
"Thank you." Alex repeats with another nod towards the guard before her eyes settle on the man clad in orange sitting at the table. For a long moment, she simply holds his gaze and says not a word, despite the fact that she can practically read the pain in his eyes.
"Ally Cat…" George whispers softly, tears stinging behind his eyes.
Alex takes another deep breath before she brings her arms in front of her, crossing them a little defensively over her chest. "George…" she responds, her voice a little tight and firm as she continues to keep her emotions in check.
A tiny smile tugs at the corner of George's lips as he laces his cuffed hands together. "I…I'm a little surprised that you're here," he begins, pausing the clear his throat. "I didn't think that you would want to see me."
"I don't." Alex responds quickly as she clenches her jaw.
"Then…why are you here?" the man asks cautiously, nearly cowering under the blonde's gaze of steal.
Alex taps her fingers against her bicep for a brief moment before she places her hands on the table and leans forward, much like she does during an interrogation. "Because I had to know." she whispers in a deadly tone. "I had to know for myself. I wanted to hear it from you. I want to know why you did what you did. I want everything. I want to know why you lied to me, why you covered for him, I want to know why you let us struggle like we did. I want to know why you even had sex with her in the first place if you didn't even care about her."
George bites down on his bottom lip and looks away shaking his head. "Alex…"
"NO!" the blonde shouts, slamming her hand on the table, causing the man to jump. "I want to know. I need to know why you did it. I need to hear you say it. I want the truth."
"I didn't feel like I was ready." George begins in a sad whisper as he shakes his head once again. "What happened between your mother and I…it was a mistake. I didn't have feelings for her, but I was a teenage boy and she was a teenage girl who was there and willing. She must've…she must've thought I felt something for her, I don't know…because when she told me she was pregnant, it was almost like she was expecting something from me. I wasn't ready for a kid and I knew that I couldn't be a father…hell, I didn't want to be a father, so when she told me she was pregnant, I freaked and ignored her. I—I told her I didn't want anything to do with her and I just let her go."
"She dropped out because of you." Alex spits venomously.
George sadly nods his head as he looks down at his hands. "I know…but I had a life to move on with. I couldn't…I felt like I couldn't be tied down like that at my age. When I found out she was killed…when Tommy killed her, it tore me apart. I blamed myself for what happened to her and I felt horrible for not being there to support her like I should've been. I hated myself. When I found out she'd had the baby…that she'd had you, I had to know that you were alright. I'd kept tabs on you to make sure you were safe, and it was the day I caught you in that convenience store that I knew I had to step up…"
Alex snorts bitterly at this as she folds her arms once again and shakes her head. "By then you were fifteen years too late." She grinds out, taking another breath to calm her rapidly beating heart. "Why didn't you ever tell me? Why did you feel the need to keep lying to me after you knew I trusted you?"
"That's why I did it." George responds truthfully. "I did it because I felt like if I told you then you would hate me and never want anything to do with me again. It was selfish and stupid, but I just couldn't handle losing you a second time. You're my little girl Alex; I couldn't hurt you like that."
"I am my mother's little girl and no one else's." Alex responds firmly before her voice softens only a touch. "We struggled so much. She had no family she could turn to, she didn't have you; she had no one. As I child I had to sleep in places that you can't even begin to imagine, because we had nowhere to go and you were too busy living your perfect little life. I watched her sell her body to men because she needed the money and she only ever made enough for me. She only ever made enough to support me while she would often go without. You have no idea of the lengths she went through to make sure I was well taken care of and you were going to let him get away with what he did to her. She deserved better than that, George, you know she did. And it all happened because you couldn't step up and be a man…or a father."
"I am so sorry." George whispers as tears leak from his eyes. "I know that I can never make it up to you, and I know that I can't bring her back, but I am so sorry."
"I want you to know that I can never accept you as my father." Alex begins, taking a deep breath before she continues in a much softer voice. "But I do want you to know that I…I forgive you."
Snapping his head up, George looks thoroughly shocked and confused by the words just spoken to him. "What? Alex, how—how could you?"
Biting down on her bottom lip, Alex ducks her head a little before continuing on. "Mom always told me, even when I was a baby, that I must never hold grudges because it would end up crippling me in the long run. So…I forgive you."
"I…really don't know what to say other than…thank you."
"You don't have to thank me..."
Nodding his head, George takes in his daughter's appearance for the first time that they've been in the room together. His eyebrows raise at the gold colored badge clipped onto her belt. "You got a promotion?"
The detective blinks rapidly before she follows his gaze and nods her head. "Oh…yeah, I um, got promoted to detective the day after the trial…" she responds quietly.
"What unit are you in?"
"Special Victims…"
"Wow." George responds in complete surprise. "That…that must be difficult."
"It is." Alex nods her head in confirmation before a soft smile graces her lips. "But Casey helps me through it."
At this, George looks up and slightly tilts his head in question. "And how is Casey doing?"
A wide smile breaks out on Alex's face at the mention of her beautiful fiancée. "Excellent actually. I've asked her to marry me and she accepted."
"Alex, that's great! Congratulations!"
"Yeah…thank you."
Seeing the look on the blonde's face, George sighs quietly. "Alex, I know it may seem like nothing coming from me, but I just want you to know that I'm proud of you and I always will be. Just like I know your mother is proud of you from where she is looking down on you."
"Thanks, George." Alex repeats another time before glancing at her watch. "I really should go. My lunch break is about up and I promised Casey I would swing by her office before I went back to the station."
"You take care of yourself, you hear?"
Alex pauses at the door and smiles genuinely back at the man sitting at the table. "You too."
At the district attorney's office, Alex finds herself engulfed into a tight hug as soon as she steps into her lover's office. "Well it's good to see you too." she states before her words are muffled by lips being pressed against her own.
"I was worried when you didn't call." Casey responds, stealing another kiss from the blonde before a serious look passes over her face. "How did it go."
"It went well…" Alex supplies as she crosses the room and leans against the desk. "I told him how I felt and he accepted it. He told me he was proud of me."
"Oh?" Casey inquires as she tilts her head as she places a hand on Alex's shoulder. "And how did you take that?"
Taking a deep breath, Alex shrugs her shoulders before she continues on. "I'm not sure if I've processed everything yet. I told him that I forgave him, but I also told him that I can't accept him as my father."
Casey raises her eyebrows as she begins to look concerned. "And are you okay with that?"
"I think I am. And if I'm not, in time I will be." Alex responds before wrapping her arms around her fiancée's waist and pulling her into a deep kiss.
"Wow. Is this what's gonna happen every time you go to the prison?" Casey pants once they pull away from air.
"I just really needed to do that." Alex responds before stealing another kiss. "I have to go to work baby."
Casey pouts before she sighs and steps from the embrace. "Okay." She mock whines before turning serious. "But don't forget that we have cake tasting this evening after your shift ends."
Alex tilts her head and begins to whine for real. "But Caaasseeey." She begins, stamping her foot like a small child. "Why can't you take Serena? Isn't that more her thing?"
"Because, I'm not marrying Serena and I think Kim would have a problem with it if I was." Casey replies before poking Alex's shoulder. "You're going and that's final."
"But…"
"No buts. You're going."
"Fine." Alex submits with a sigh before she heads for the door, only to poke her head in last minute. "Hey. I love you."
Casey grins at her lover before putting a hand to her lips and blowing her a kiss. "I love you too."
Several Months Later
"Would you stop moving?" Kim hisses into the rather antsy blonde's ear. "You're making me nervous."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I just…I'm wondering what's taking so long." Alex murmurs as she continues to shuffle on her feet once again wincing when Kim kicks her in response. "You know, that reminds me of that time I kissed you."
Kim simply glares in response before she discretely checks her phone. "Serena says it's a simple wardrobe malfunction. It's nothing that you need to worry about."
Alex takes a nervous deep breath before glancing over her shoulder. "Is that code for the bride ran away and she doesn't want to get married?"
"Alex…"
"Sorry, sorry. I'm just a nervous wreck and all of this waiting is going to kill me."
"Cabot, calm your tits, I can hear you freaking out from over here." Abbie whisper shouts from the opposite side of the altar, causing the clergy that is marrying them to frown.
"This is why you can't take her into a public place." Olivia adds in her two cents from where she is standing behind side Kim.
Alex manages a grin, though it's a little shaky as she turns to the brunette behind her. "Thank you for being my best man-er, best woman."
Kim chuckles quietly before she shrugs. "Well since Casey asked Serena to be her maid of honor, it's only fair that I get an equally important role." She responds, giving her friend's shoulder a warm squeeze.
Just then, the orchestra begins playing the bridal march and Alex feels her entire body go completely rigid as she sees her bride walking gracefully down the aisle. "God, she's beautiful."
Casey smiles as she can read Alex's lips from where she is walking down the aisle with Serena in tow, making sure the train to her dress does exactly what it's supposed to and not attempt to rip anymore. Once they reach the altar, Serena places a kiss to her best friend's cheek and gives her away to her soon to be wife.
"Well hi there." Alex whispers quietly as the clergy begins to traditional wedding monolog. "I was beginning to wonder if you were going to make it."
"Oh you know, traffic." Casey responds with a humorous wink.
As the ceremony continues, the couple says their vows and 'I dos' before they share their first official kiss as a married couple, drawing streams of applause and cheers from their guests.
"They really are a beautiful couple." Serena sighs happily, pulling her lover's arms around her waist as she rests her head against her shoulder. "It just puts that kind of mood in the air. Makes me want to get married."
Kim pales a few shades as she blinks rapidly. Her mouth falls open, though words don't escape her lips as she finds herself complete unable to respond. She simply settles on staring at the floor like a deprived fish, much to the amusement of her friends.
"I agree with Serena. It's simply divine." Abbie exclaims with exaggeration, earning a pinch from her girlfriend Erin with whom she is pursuing a steady relationship with. Much to her dismay, her friend's often joke about how the crimson haired officer is able to keep her in check, though Abbie will continue to deny such a thing to her dying day.
"Simply extravagant." Olivia replies in the same tone of voice, groaning when she finds Amanda tugging her out onto the dance floor after the married couple complete their first official dance.
"Why did we invite those people to our wedding?" Casey asks with a small chuckle as she nods her head towards their unorthodox group.
"Because we didn't want to go through the trouble of hiring a fake wedding party." Alex chuckles in response placing a gentle kiss to Casey's lips as a new song begins. "I think they're hilarious. Although, Kim looks a little like she's going to be sick."
"She does seem a little pale, doesn't she?" Casey giggles, jumping when someone calming clears their throat. She spins around, her eyebrows shooting into her hairline when she comes face to face with the guest. "Father…"
Morgan nods his head, a tad bit awkwardly, before locking gazes with Alex. "Detective Cabot…would you mind if I had this dance with my daughter?"
Alex glances at Casey who gives her a subtle nod. "Yes Sir, of course." She says, offering him Casey's hand before she half bows out of the way.
"Father, what are you doing here?" Casey asks in complete surprise at seeing the man.
"I wouldn't miss my daughter's wedding for anything." Morgan replies with a rare hint of softness in his voice. "You look beautiful. Your mother and sister would be very proud of you."
"Thank you…" Casey responds quietly, offering him a small smile.
"And I am proud of you." Morgan continues on, looking up towards his daughter-in-law. "You made the right choice with Alex. She loves you and it seems to me that she will take care of you."
Casey follows his gaze and grins at her wife who is now dancing with Kim. "She will. I have no doubt about that."
"What's Casey's dad doing here?" Kim asks, nodding to the tall man over her shoulder.
"I don't know, but he's smiling and I don't think I've ever seen that man smile." Alex supplies in confusion before turning her attention back to her friend. "Are you alright? You look sick."
"Serena keeps talking about marriage, it's driving me crazy." The brunette admits with a shake of her head. "This is your fault. You had to go and propose to Casey and ever since then I haven't heard the end of it. This is entirely your fault."
Alex smirks at this and shakes her head. "Well Kimmy, maybe this is her trying to subtly tell you that she wants to settle down." she teases before chuckling. "Maybe you consider popping the question?"
For a moment, Kim looks oddly green before she pales once again. "I think I need a drink….a strong one." She murmurs, nearly dashing off of the dance floor, leaving a laughing Alex behind.
"And what are you three doing over here?" Alex questions, approaching Abbie, Kim and Liv who have made themselves comfortable by the drink table.
"Standing in the safe zone while our significant others risk their lives in a moshpit of women who are trying to catch a bunch of flowers." Olivia states, taking a sip from her glass.
"I've been to weddings. It's gonna be a murder zone over there pretty soon." Abbie states with a shake of her head.
"Why do you think I came to stand over here?" Alex offers with a chuckle as she pours herself a drink, chuckling when she realizes that Kim is still as pale as before and has yet to say a word.
"Besides, you know that old wedding rumor. The one to catch the bride's bouquet at a wedding is the next one to get married."
"I'm more afraid of the murder zone thing."
"I think it's superficial and not true." Kim states, finally regaining an aura of her usual demeanor as she takes a sip from her tonic.
"Well I hope you feel that way because your woman just caught it." Alex states, barely suppressing her snort of humor and she is soon joined by the other two.
"Heads up Greylek." Olivia teases, nudging the attorney's shoulder.
"WHAT!?"
Just then, an extremely excited Serena prances up to the group with holding up the bouquet triumphantly. "Look Baby! I caught the bouquet!"
Kim says nothing as she blinks and turns around to pick up an entire bottle of whiskey. "If you will excuse me I will be outside. If I don't return in an hour it means that I have passed out in the yard." She says robotically before walking away.
Serena rolls her eyes and folds her arms. "She's such a drama queen."
"But she's your drama queen." Abbie states, beginning to follow, only to pause when Erin calls her name.
"Where're you going?" The red haired officer asks with a curious tilt of her head.
"Oh I was, you know, I was just gonna go and make sure she's alright. She can't drink that whole thing by herself you know." Abbie responds with a cheeky grin before she moves to make her exit.
Olivia shifts rather uncomfortably in the presence of the other three women and she nearly bolts after Abbie when Amanda waves her hand and mumbles a quick 'go ahead'.
"Did you ever thing we'd come this far?" Alex asks with her arm around her wife's waist as they stand off to the side observing their friends. "Did you ever think that you'd become Mrs. Officer Reckless?"
"I do believe its Mrs. Detective Reckless." Casey giggles in response, pressing her lips lightly against the blonde's. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."
Again, we hope you guys all enjoyed this story. Historygeek and I really would like to thank all of your for putting up with us for this long we had an amazing time writing this story together and we're really thankful for all of your support.
