Chapter 36

Alex followed Sophia into the room and sat down on a high backed couch. It was a dark hardwood with green and maroon crushed velvet coverings. The ornateness of the hand carved wood was accentuated by the hammer antique brass furniture tacks that adorned the edges.

Liv was trying not to freak out. She had seen such opulence before during cases, but she had never been invited to sit upon it, much less stay. She was glad that she'd learned to school her features for the most part as a detective, because she was sure that the only one who knew she was completely uncomfortable with the situation was Alex. The only problem with Alex knowing that she wasn't comfortable there was the fact that Alex wasn't either.

"Alex, dear, you came back to New York and you didn't call. I am a little disappointed in you. You should have let us know that you were coming back. We would have had you over for dinner. Instead, Sapphire tells us at a council meeting two weeks ago, and there was still no word from you, child. I am sure your mother would not have been pleased with such behavior," Sophia started and Liv began to feel her heckles raise at the blusterous woman.

"I would have called her had she still be alive, Aunt Sophia. As for not calling you, I didn't tell anyone I was back except my servants. They were the only ones that needed to know at the time," Alex told her quickly.

"And, your family didn't."

"Don't start with family, Sophia. We both know that the title of Aunt is honorary. You are no kin of mine. So as far as telling anyone, I only notified those that needed to know. You didn't need to know."

"You weren't planning on staying, were you, darling?"

"I wasn't sure," Alex told her meekly.

Liv began to fidget. Alex reached across the couch and put a single hand on Liv's thigh. She could feel the warmth radiating from Alex's hand to her entire body. She took the hint though and settled, even if she wasn't happy about it. She knew that Alex could take her lumps and give them with the best of them. She also knew that this woman was in Alex's social circle beyond the confines of the Club. She needed to respect Alex's wishes and let her deal with this.

"You didn't know if you were going to stay?"

"No, Sophia, I didn't. I had some business to take care of and I wasn't sure what was going to happen with it. As it turned out, it is requiring me stay on in New York."

"I know."

"You know?" Alex inquired.

"Jack called a few weeks ago, shortly before Sapphire ended up on my door. I must say that I was surprised on both accounts, but then again you always did have your father's disposition. I am just wondering as to why, tonight, you decided to show yourself to the rest of the world again. I'm just not sure I understand your reasoning, Alexandra. You did just disappear two years ago without thought or reservation to anyone who cared about you. You were just gone. And, just as easily, you've returned. There must be some underlying reason that I just don't see. So, I am wondering if you will enlighten me about it," Sophia explained.

"No."

"No?"

"No."

"I see."

Alex shifted in her seat. To anyone else it would just have been that simple, but Liv was sitting next to her. She could hear the slight change in Alex's breathing. She felt the slight tremor in her hand upon her thigh. She knew that heart rate had changed. But, Liv could see the subtlety in Alex's movements, the micro-movements in her body that gave her away every time. Liv had seen them all in court, in the bullpen at the precinct, and in their own play. She knew them well.

This wasn't what Alex wanted. She didn't want a confrontation with anyone from the Club. She just wanted a night out. Liv tensed her thigh, but gave Alex no other sign of comfort. She wasn't going to break in front of this woman. She knew it was a test as much as Alex did.

"Your friend, here?"

"What about her?"

"Have we met before?"

"I doubt, Sophia. She doesn't deal with money like you and Uncle Preston do. She is a detective with the NYPD. She's with the Manhattan SVU," Alex told her.

"You work together?" Sophia inquired with a slight mix of disgust and intrigue.

"No, we don't work together. We did, but that was years ago. Let's cut through the crap, Aunt Sophia. What do you want to know?"

Sophia sat back in the high backed wing chair that matched the couch. Her eyes hardened and Liv felt herself tensing, readying for a fight that wouldn't come. She knew that Alex and Sophia would fight with words. They weren't brutish in their mannerisms. They would have a "civil disagreement" behind closed doors.

"She's the reason you came back?"

"Yes, she is."

"And, the reason you are staying?"

"Yes, Aunt Sophia," Alex answered.

"Does she play?"

"She is mine."

"Ah ha, so that is what the problem is. You won't share. And, why is that, Little Alexandra. Has the detective finally caught you?"

"She did. She has. And, she will continue to do so," Alex said with a little bit of dramatic flair.

"She is good for you, Alexandra. She brings out the fire in you. She makes you a Cabot again. Don't let her go. Forget Sapphire and her pretentious shit. I have no use for her. If I could, I would strike her from the Council, but she has provided too many good pets to the members."

"I know."

"She wants her though, doesn't she?" Sophia questioned.

"She does."

"And, for once you aren't going to share?"

"No, Aunt Sophia, I am not."

"Good. Good. But, I sense there is more to this story. Is it juicy?"

"Isn't it always?" Alex countered.

"Ah, yes, but never with you, dear. You were always too worried about your image and your name. Just like your mother, you were. But, your softer now, easier to deal with. Maybe that was Sapphire's flaw. She thought that she get what she wanted because you were once friends and she could see the change in you," Sophia stated.

"She helped me in the beginning and then she overstepped her bounds. I will admit that I may have reacted poorly in the situation, but I would not take anything I did or said back. She completely disrespected me and my pet. She overstepped the boundaries that I laid out for anyone in our Club that comes to house. She took advantage of our friendship to get at something that she has coveted for years it seems. She wanted something that she couldn't have, and I let her know that I could bring her down for it, if I so desired," Alex replied.

"Do you?"

"If she pushes me further, then I will," Alex stated.

"Have you told Preston about her indiscretion with you?" Sophia inquired.

"Not fully, because I haven't had the need."

"I'll deal with her. It seems that she has let her Club mentality cloud her judgement. It is one thing to have the personality. It is another to use it when not at the Club, a function or a scene."

"What will you do?" Liv asked aloud, not realizing it.

Sophia turned to look Liv more fully in the eye. There was a slight communication between their eyes. And, Liv nodded in salute, acknowledging her higher "authority" at the moment.

"That is nothing for you to worry about my dear. You just worry about our dear Alexandra. She sees a lot in you and I'll have to admit that I see it, too."

"Thank you?" Liv replied.

"You're welcome, Detective Benson. Yes, I know who you are and what you are. Don't worry. Your secrets are safe with me. Jack and anyone else that I have contact with will never know of any 'relationship' that we might have. They would have no need."

Liv just nodded. Her body was still looking for a fight even though her mind told her there was no need. Alex squeezed her thigh harder and she tried to relax.

"You need to keep this one, Alex. She is highly loyal and protective. She might submit to you willingly, but she will submit to no one else. You are meant for each other. I can see it in your eyes. Don't gawk, Alex. It's true. I noticed it as soon as I saw you together."

"And, yet, you questioned me?"

"I needed to see it for myself. She is very complimentary for you, Alex. She's perfect."

"She is."

"And, I know what brought you back. I am sorry that such misadventure befell one of New York's finest. And, now, I am especially sorry that I have fully met you, Olivia. I know that times must have been difficult for you over the last few months. If you need anything, Preston or I will help you. If anyone in the precinct or the NYPD says something out of line or out of character, you will let me know. I will deal with it. I may not be trying cases or hearing them anymore, Sergeant, but I still know how to ruffle feathers when needed."

"Yes, ma'am," Liv replied.

Sophia smiled at her. She knew that Liv wouldn't call. She'd tell Alex first.

"Alex, you took care of the bastard, didn't you?" Sophia asked her.

"Yes."

Sophia met her eyes. The harden hazel met a fiery icy blue. That was all see needed to see. Alex didn't need to tell her how she'd taken care of the man that nearly destroyed the woman beside her. It was enough to know that Alex had done something. Sophia knew that she had contacts…contacts that the law didn't need to know about, contacts that would have no problem dealing with the scum that had attacked Olivia, and she was proud of the fact that Alex felt so strongly about Olivia that she'd used them to protect her.

"Good," was her simple response.

When Liv began to fidget more, Alex moved her hand from her thigh and laced their fingers instead. Sophia caught the subtle gesture and watched as Alex began to rub her thumb over the back of Liv's hand in hopes to keep her calm. She watched in awe as Liv visibly calmed.

"Alex, take her home."

Alex turned to look at the woman. Sophia wasn't known for her subtlety, so Alex wondered what brought upon this command. Sophia looked at Liv and then Alex and repeated herself.

"Take her home."

"Why?" Alex questioned.

"It obvious that she isn't ready for this."

"I am," Liv said defiantly.

"You're looking for a fight, detective, and I am afraid that you might actually find one here."

"I don't wish to fight," Liv stated.

"But, you would if it came down to it?

"Yes, ma'am, I would."

"I know. And, tonight you would do it to defend Alex's honor. Oh, stop, dear. If you can't see the way she bristles when she thinks that someone has spoken out of turn with you, then you are fool and worthy of such a fine pet," Sophia told them both.

"I am not worthy of her, Aunt Sophia. I am trying to be worthy of her. I have so much to make up for. I have so much to apologize for. I hurt her so much…" Alex started.

Liv pulled her into her arms and buried Alex's head into her chest. She refused to let this woman see her cry. She held Alex while staring down Sophia, intently.

"I understand why you left, Alex. Those of us who have been on the council for years could see how much you loved her, but you never brought her to the Club. She just appeared after you left, broken and defeated. It wasn't long before we put it together. You were afraid and it is understandable considering the care and affection that you were given as a child. You didn't know how to deal with it, and even after all we tried to teach you, you didn't think that you would be able to love someone within the scene, but you did. You didn't know how to process that because it didn't fit nicely into one of your boxes," Sophia explained.

She watched as Liv puffed up, but still held Alex close. She could see the turmoil in Liv's eyes. She wanted to speak out but she knew her place amongst these women.

"Take her home, Olivia. She wasn't ready. You aren't either. It was a nice try. Go home."

Liv nodded. She understood what Sophia was trying to tell them. They didn't need the Club to define their relationship. They had each other and that was all that mattered.

"Take her home, detective and love her the only way you can. Let her love you completely. And, together you will repair the damages made and weather the storms of your hearts. Your love will heal each other. Go home. Maybe next month we can actually play," she told them and then left them in her sitting room, hoping they would heed her advice.