A/N: It's weird because in writing their move, I feel like I've moved, as well. Part of me actually wanted to have them change their mind about moving because writing them in a new place after so long felt so strange. Then I got to thinking…they do need a bigger space and why not do it up right for the girls?

I researched prices and levels of townhouses in Manhattan, Brooklyn, etc. and couldn't find anything that made sense to me or that had what I wanted their townhouse to have. So what I have written as their new place is completely from my mind, my imagination. I hope I give you a good visual of their new townhouse. I hope you enjoy!

53

Olivia bounced Theo on her hip, just having returned from a small stroll around flag stoned front yard enclosure to the left of the front door. Olivia couldn't believe it; they actually had a little patio/yard area, already filled with numerous potted plants, climbing ivy reaching up the brick of the townhome, and even a fountain protruding from the far left wall in the shape of a Chinese lion's head. The raised beds that surrounded the perimeter of the patio only had a dark soil in them, waiting to be planted with colorful hydrangeas, mums, marigolds, pansies or whatever the ladies decided. Olivia smiled as the last of the moving men exited the front door, tipping his black cap at Olivia as he passed, winking at her, as well.

Olivia brought her nose to Theo's head, closing her eyes and kissing his soft hair gently as she stepped up the four steps to the front door. Three-foot high black, wrought iron railings separated the left side from the right side of the steps leading to the front door, the right only being a divider in between the next townhome, the left had a gate, that Olivia had just come through, closed and latched, and the length of the railing led to the sidewalk.

She turned around on the top step and faced the street, looking at the other majestic townhouses across from them, just as statuesque as their own. They had chosen a townhouse on 80th Street and Lexington Avenue on the Upper East Side, just north of the 79th Street Traverse that ran through Central Park. It was about three blocks east of Central Park and nine blocks north of their old penthouse.

"Hey, Babe…all boxes are in the correct rooms…what do you say we take a stroll through the house and see what we need to unpack first?" Alex held up a thick, blue, permanent marker, "We can mark the ones we'll open first," she smiled.

Olivia grinned back and leaned into her wife who looked so cute in her black skinny jeans and grey zip up hoodie, hair in a high ponytail braid. She even had a little smudge of dirt on her forehead. Olivia smiled, "Sounds like another organized plan, Al…"

Alex turned and took Olivia's left hand before pulling her closer and slipping her arm around her waist as they walked inside together and closed the door after them, just as the rumble of the diesel-fueled moving van pulled away, leaving the Benson-Cabots to their new home.

Straight ahead hugging the right side was the staircase, leading up to the second and third floors, the high wall separating them from the next townhouse. Directly to the left was a small sitting area, dim now in the evening light, empty and waiting to be furnished at the moment. Inside that same room, further towards the front of the house, was a glass walled and glass-ceiling-enclosed atrium that overlooked the patio that had been on the left as they walked in. The glassed-in porch had a door to exit through from the sitting room, and another leading out to the patio. So, they could sit at the black wrought-iron café table and chairs outside on the patio, or relax on one of the two dark brown wicker chairs in the shelter of the atrium/sunroom, complete with a small table in between, if they so wished.

They continued walking forward towards the large space of the kitchen and living room, the hardwoods below their feet polished and squeaky clean, having just been taken care of by the realtor. The hallway opened up to a loft-style space with the dining area on the left, the space able to easily seat up to twenty people, a huge window on the left wall, with a view of the side rose garden, a tasteful brushed silver and large-bulbed chandelier hanging above their measly old pine-wooded table from the old penthouse, newly appointed to the new space, but only held, at the most, six people. Alex and Olivia both agreed that they would be sure to look into another table for that room.

Ahead to the left, connected to the dining area, was the monstrous kitchen with a huge, ten-foot by four-foot island in the center, covered in a gray-wooded, aged butcher block, six high, white-wooded stools with light gray cushions pushed against the counter. Beyond that, at the end of the island was a top of the line, stainless steel refrigerator, seven feet tall by five feet wide—they wouldn't have a problem filling it with their Costco items from now on, Olivia mused.

"Hey, Babe…we'll be able to fit the spinach now…" Olivia leaned in and kissed her wife on the lips gently, laughing the whole time.

"And your fifty-pound packages of garden burgers…" Alex smiled and kissed her again.

To the left of the island, along the kitchen wall, was a long counter, a deep, two basin porcelain farmhouse sink, a row of cabinets hanging above in a light gray wash, leaving a three-foot space in between the upper cabinets and the counter for the expansive window below that overlooked the side garden, once again, that displayed numerous rose bushes and jasmine and honeysuckle vines—sure to bloom full-force in the spring—and even a white trellis which the now-dormant branches and vines were happily climbing—in a winter's sleep now but promising to give them beautiful blooms and scents.

Olivia couldn't wait to open the window in the spring and inhale all of that aroma therapeutic beauty. "I can't wait to smell all of those sweet-smelling flowers, Babe…"

Olivia turned the faucet on and then off again, Theo leaning forward and trying to reach for it, Olivia bringing his hand to her mouth and kissing it, "Water…" she said sweetly. She was checking to see if the water had been turned back on after a slight issue with it being turned off for maintenance to the guest bathroom on the very top floor on the previous day. She looked down at Theo's drooping eyes in her arms, and realized she had been holding him for quite a while. He leaned his head against her upper chest, eyes beginning to close, as his breathing began evening out for sleep, his right hand squeezing and releasing her dark gray cashmere sweater soothingly.

"Babe? The carrier?" Olivia motioned with her head to the carrier that was on the sofa.

Alex retrieved it quickly, stepping around numerous boxes lined up along the edge of the wooded pathway from the front door to the garage door, and set it on the island in the kitchen, before taking him from the brunette and placing him gently inside. She kissed him softly, his eyes now closed, and Olivia faced Alex and slithered her arms around her wife, clasping her hands behind her.

"Our new home, Baby…" Olivia smiled, "I can't believe it…this is like a palace, Alex…I've never lived anywhere like this before…I feel like Cinderella…" Olivia leaned in and parted her lips, enveloping her wife's mouth softly before letting her tongue stroke the blonde's gently, fully, easing into the sensations before the two opened further, deepening the kiss.

Alex moaned, her hands going to Olivia's backside and squeezing firmly. Slowly, they pulled away, both smiling.

"Can we break all the clocks and watches so midnight never comes?" Olivia smiled, smoothing a few stray blonde wisps above her wife's ears.

"The clocks never strike twelve here, Baby…perpetual fairytale, Liv…" Alex smirked, bringing her squeezing hands to Olivia's waist, "We have to christen it, you know…" Alex grinned.

"The best part…" Olivia kissed Alex again, "…and, don't you worry…I've already thought about it…every room, Babe…it's tradition that must be fulfilled…"

Alex laughed, throwing her head back, "I don't know about tradition…but it sure will be fun…"

Olivia took her neck as soon as she exposed it, taking her mouth to it, tonguing and sucking softly.

The counters along the left wall where the sink was were a beautiful grayish slate with, once again, the floor that held ashen gray hardwood flooring throughout the entire space. Alex had fallen in love with the color of the floor the moment she saw it—a light slate gray with just a hint of blue in it. She called it a light smoky blue. Olivia agreed.

The light gray-washed cabinets and counter continued in an l-shape and stopped in between the stainless steel Viking stove and ovens and the refrigerator, giving them plenty of room for pots, pans, and dishes.

Olivia moved away now, still smiling, and rested her hands on the sink, gazing out at the garden on the west side of the house.

"It's beautiful, Alex…absolutely perfect…" Olivia couldn't help but think about Alex and her struggles to get pregnant. She wanted her wife to be happy so badly. She knew that Alex was happy but having a baby would only enhance their pleasure. As much as they had come to terms with the blonde perhaps not conceiving, Olivia knew it was on her mind quite frequently.

"I think it's perfect, too, Liv…you fell in love with the atrium and guest bedroom on the attic floor…I fell in love with that kitchen, the floors, the master bedroom, the bathroom…all of it…" Alex came up behind her wife and slithered her arms around her, kissing her neck softly, "Shall we continue? We want to get some essentials unpacked before we sleep tonight. Casey and Fin and Melinda will be by in an hour with dinner…"

"Let's continue, my love…" Olivia said softly.

Alex drew a blue smiley face on the box marked Kitchen Plates before they continued on, bringing the carrier with them.

Just beyond the kitchen, at the end of the hallway that led from the front door to the back of the townhouse was the garage—a three-car garage that already had the old beamer and the new Rover parked inside. Next to the garage, across from the kitchen, was a small guest room and full bath. Windows along the north wall inside the room would sit above the bed, when they got around to purchasing one. A queen or king would be able to fit in here—perfect for guests that needed privacy or needed to leave early in the morning for a flight, or other arrangements. It would also be the perfect room for an insomniac, as they would have all-night access to the TV right next door.

Directly across from the kitchen was the living area, complete with their sectional, angled to face the wall at the back of the townhouse, their credenza, holding their flat screen and would soon hold their Bose and other stereo equipment, and to the left of that was the fireplace that was twice as big as the one in the penthouse, the mantle a foot higher, as well.

"The guys' painting will look nice up there, Baby…" Alex said softly, smiling at Olivia and tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"It will, Al…"

Their coffee table sat in front of the sectional, their bar cart behind the sofa, along the wall with no windows, adjoining the next home. Being on the end townhouse, the kitchen side, facing west, had all the windows and would be bringing in sun throughout the midday and evening hours, bathing their townhome in a golden glow.

Truth be told, the size of the rooms, and the townhouse itself, dwarfed the space greatly. The furniture from their penthouse looked too small compared to the size of the rooms. Eight large boxes were to their left as they walked back down the hallway, all labeled "living room" by the highly accomplished team that moved them in. Alex drew a star on the box labeled Bose and CDs before they continued.

They stopped at the bottom of the stairs, "After you, Babe…" Olivia smiled, taking the carrier from her wife. "I wanna watch you head up these stairs…I think I'm gonna really like stairs, Al…especially if you go first…"

"It might be a battle, then, Liv…both of us always wanting the other to go first…you know how I feel about your ass…"

"I do, Baby…" Olivia leaned in and kissed her softly, "…now go, Babe…" Olivia slapped her backside firmly as Alex began up the stairs.

They ascended the steps and reached the top. Straight ahead was the double-door, five-shelf linen closet, two large boxes on the floor next to it, and just around that, straight ahead about eight feet down, was the master bedroom. Inside the bedroom, on the far wall, looking forward as one entered, was a wall of windows—four feet high by eight feet long, plantation shutters adorning them, with a view of the far off East River.

The long dresser that they shared was pushed beneath the windows and currently had six large taped boxes on top of them, waiting to be put in closets, drawers, and bureaus. Their bed sat on the right side of the room, facing the fireplace that was on the left side of the room. To the left of the fireplace was the master bath. To right of the fireplace was a decent-sized walk-in closet, complete with a light, shelves and racks on the left and the same on the right—one side for Alex, one side for Olivia.

They walked to the bed and set the carrier on top, both stepping to the master bathroom. Olivia turned the switch on, illuminating the darkness. It was six o'clock in the evening now and the streets were darkened already. One window sat above a jumbo garden tub, plantation blinds drawn. On the far right was the toilet and next to it, a pedestal sink and oval mirror above it. On the left side of the room, a walk-in shower with transparent glass walls and a tiled bench inside. The shower head was like an elephant shower head—something one might find at the zoo.

Olivia started laughing, "I think we might get really good pressure with that head…we'll both go to work with flat hair and g-forced faces…"

"Or very satisfied…" Alex offered.

Olivia came up behind Alex and placed the palms of her hands on the blonde's belly, "The day you need a shower head to get you off, is the day I'm not needed any longer…which will be never…" Olivia kissed her neck gently.

"That'll never happen, Olivia…magic fingers, remember?"

Olivia extended her arms and hands in front of her wife and wiggled her fingers , "Working order, Babe…"

Alex laughed, "God, I love you, Olivia…"

"And I, you…" Olivia kissed her wife softly before turning the bathroom light off and continuing out of the master bedroom, taking the carrier with her again.

On the rest of the floor were three more rooms—two along the length of the hallway and one at the opposite end from the master bedroom, overlooking the street in the front. A full bath was in between in the middle of the hallway.

They had decided that Theo's room would be the room closest to the master for now, always having the option of changing it one day.

"When he's a teenager, he might want the room downstairs or upstairs, as far away from us as possible, Al…"

They continued up the second flight of stairs to the third floor that was not an entire floor, like the rest, but more of a fraction of a floor, with a small study nook on the left at the top of the stairs. They entered the attic room that Olivia had already fallen in love with for its charm and character, the brunette setting the carrier in the middle of the bare floor of the room. It had a beautiful vaulted ceiling with exposed white-painted wooden beams and a large window behind where the bed would go. Just off of the bedroom was a quaint little bathroom with the toilet on the left, a window above it, then a sink with a custom-made avocado green wooden base, a claw-foot tub straight ahead, all sitting atop the most gorgeous blue, yellow, and white Moroccan tile flooring, white subway tiles on the walls. They had already decided that the painting that Olivia made of Alex would go in this particular room.

Olivia turned from looking into the bathroom, "I think this is my favorite room, Babe…I love the feel of this room and bathroom…" Olivia spoke softly, close to her wife's mouth, the blonde now behind her once again. "You might find me up here a lot…"

"Mmmmm…afternoon sex in the attic…I'd love to come up here and find you sprawled out naked on the bed…" Alex took a breath, "…oooh, Olivia…what you do…I can see you so clearly, Babe…"

AAA

Alex's eyes glazed over as she envisioned her wife on the bed that had yet to be placed there, yet to be purchased, a thin white sheet strategically placed, the sunlight shining down on her—.

"Alex?"

Alex refocused on her wife's gleaming smile in front of her, "I'm here…"

"Where do you go, lately, Babe? I want a ticket to go, too…"

"Oh, you're already there, too, Babe…" Alex leaned closer and kissed her, relishing the plushness of her wife's mouth.

"Besides…I was thinking more of buying an easel and putting it up here…"

"Nude painting will work, too…" Alex smiled.

The doorbell was heard below them.

Olivia smiled again, "Our first guests…"

Alex laughed, "You mean the guests that have been here for the past few hours helping us?"

"Yes, Babe…our friends…but it's the first official doorbell ringing…doesn't that count?"

"Yes, Liv…it counts…" Alex held her wife's chin in her right hand, "I'll get the door, you get Theo…" She kissed her quickly once again and turned to leave.

… … … … … …

"Thanks for helping again, guys…we couldn't have done it without you…" Alex looked at Fin and Melinda and Casey sitting around the six-seated dining table that now seemed far too small for the room, Theo on her lap asleep.

They had just eaten a dinner with a variety of to-go containers from Delmonico's—garlic hummus and pita, linguine and meatballs, spinach salad, three bean salad—with plenty of containers for the ladies for leftovers—and were now enjoying a dessert of tiramisu and a pot of coffee that Olivia had put on, finding the box labeled Small Appliances easily. The three had also picked up more coffee and filters for the girls so that they wouldn't have to dig through the boxes for their caffeine fix on the following morning.

"You are very welcome," Fin said, his arm around Melinda, his fingers lightly raking her opposite shoulder.

Melinda looked up and around, "This is amazing…I don't know how you two found this place so quickly…"

"Well…this was the third place we went to and we both fell in love with it immediately. The family that lived here before was moving upstate to Albany into a house…we just happened to be here at the right time. No other offers…"

"That's because we really wanted it and Alex gave them an offer they couldn't refuse…we signed the next day, right Babe?" Olivia took a bite of dessert.

"That's right…we wanted it badly…" Alex thought of Olivia's reaction to the price of the townhouse—seven million, three-hundred thousand—and smiled. The brunette's face went pale and she had to sit down when she found out. But Alex assured her it wasn't a problem. Luckily, Alex had a lot in savings from being so frugal the last twenty or so years, saving for a monumental event such as this one, and her parents agreed to help out to pay off the mortgage quickly so that they wouldn't have to pay for years to come.

Once Olivia had gotten the color back to her face, she was so excited about the prospect of moving there, the blonde couldn't refuse her giddiness.

Alex heard her wife gasp and then began coughing, reaching for her glass of water from the table, the brunette's eyes focused on something.

"Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?" Olivia's eyes were wide.

The blonde followed her wife's eyes to Melinda's hand on the table, encircling her own glass of water. The M.E. just casually smiled at Olivia, then at Alex, and then at Fin.

"You are indeed seeing what you think you're seeing, Liv…Fin asked the big question yesterday…"

Alex witnessed her wife's eyes fill with tears, lower lip trembling, hand over her mouth. Alex placed her hand on her back, rubbing softly.

"I'm so happy for you two!" Olivia sputtered, standing quickly and standing in between Fin and Melinda and hugging them tightly. "Two of my favorite people getting married!" Olivia kissed both of their cheeks and then made her way back to her chair.

"We have you to thank, Liv…" Fin smiled.

Olivia sniffed, "What? Me?" Olivia spread her napkin back over her lap.

"You and Alex…showin' us it's never too long to wait to be with the one you were meant to be with…" Fin looked into Melinda's eyes and brushed her hair away before kissing her softly.

Olivia sat and looked at Alex, smiling at her. Olivia took Alex's right hand, her left cradling the baby. The brunette brought her hand up to her mouth and kissed gently before leaning in and kissing her lips tenderly. "You hear that, Babe? True love never ends…"

Alex felt the stirrings in her heart, the tugging at the corners.

"I feel like such a fifth wheel…" Casey moaned, lifting her water glass. "Congratulations, guys…"

They made a toast to the news, the group discussing upcoming events and holidays, trips and plans, enjoying each other's company with a group of true friends, in their first night of their new home.

… … … … … …

It was a new place. It was a new feeling. Alex felt a certain excitement yet a simultaneous nostalgic pang that pierced through her heart. She didn't know why, but she felt a strong desire—no need—to be reassured, to be comforted.

With Theo's nursery already having been set up by their capable friends—it was the first room unpacked and settled into—their baby boy was sleeping peacefully, his slow, deep breathing resounding from the monitor on Olivia's side of the bed, closest to the windows.

Alex hiked her left leg over her wife, the blonde's head already on her wife's chest as Olivia stroked her hair.

"How you feeling, Baby?" Olivia asked, her voice raspy with exhaustion.

Alex moaned, moving her leg up further, gripping her wife's waist, "Truthfully…a little strange…I lived there in that penthouse on 72nd Street for five years…three not so happy and two the happiest years of my life so far…we've had so many happy memories in that penthouse, Liv…" Alex heard her voice raw with emotion and felt her tears coming now. She lifted her head to look at Olivia's face in the moonlight.

They had the blinds pulled up and the moon and streetlights cast a faint glow directly onto the bed, soft light splayed on Olivia's caramel skin in her white chemise.

"Hey, Al…" Olivia sat up a little before moving onto her side to face Alex, her wife allowing her to do so, still keeping her leg on the brunette. "This is a good move, Babe…it feels right, you know? It's in a perfect location, in a great neighborhood, and it's such a beautiful space—"

"You love that top floor, don't you, Babe?" Alex interjected, smiling.

Olivia's teeth flashed bright in the dim light, "I do…" Olivia wrapped her arm around the blonde's waist, "…but this is where our son will grow up…we'll hear his first real words…" she smirked, "like fish and cup and dog…celebrate his first birthday…watch him take his first steps…where we'll celebrate two years of finding each other again…"

"February 19, 2009…I remember that day at the diner very clearly, Liv…" Alex hugged her wife closer, her leg traveling even further up to the brunette's waist.

"…and so much more…" Olivia finished. "I can't wait to do so many more things in this house with you and now our son, Al…" Olivia leaned in now, her lips like satin against the blonde's. Alex opened her mouth as Olivia's tongue slowly, gently, entered her mouth, the kiss, slow, searching and intense.

Alex felt such happiness at that moment. All seemed right with the world. Their boy's gentle breathing, the moonlight, the scent of her gorgeous wife pressed against her. The brunette stroked her bare thigh before Alex took her hand to Olivia's left breast, squeezing firmly, her thumb brushing across the thin fabric, her nipple instantly peaking.
"God, I love these, Liv…"

Olivia leaned onto her back now as Alex moved to hover over her, moving the sheets away before straddling her fully, her core rocking against Olivia's. Alex reached down again and lifted her wife's tank up, encouraging her to lift her arms, which she did quickly and easily before returning to the pillow. Alex leaned forward, her mouth going to her already aroused right nipple, gently licking in a circular motion, kissing all around her wife's soft skin. She took her mouth to the other breast as she began a rocking motion, moving her hips to make better contact with her wife's clit. Once Olivia gasped, she knew the brunette felt the same stimulation as she did.

"I love you, Baby…" Alex whispered, throwing her head back as she felt the contact more fully now, the exact right spot of stimulation achieved by both.

Olivia took Alex's hips into her hands, encouraging her movements, "I love you, Alex…right there, Babe…"

Alex continued pumping, Olivia's hands all over her backside, her waist, her arms, shoulders and breasts they continued.

Alex leaned over and kissed her wife again, Olivia's breathing coming in quick pants now, head tilted back and pressing further into the pillow beneath her head.

She had that look on her face—tortured pleasure, impending climax—as she moaned loudly, her breath quickening even further. She opened her eyes now, rapids breaths coming in bursts, squeezing her wife's hips as she gave three high-pitched moans and then froze before her body responded with a jerking climax, the brunette moaning once again and leaning her head back, body twitching.

Alex felt the euphoric burning in her own core, rising up and radiating throughout her lower lips, that warm, numbing sensation beginning before she peaked and then crashed, as well, continuing to move her hips until both orgasms had been satisfied completely.

Alex opened her eyes, smiling, Olivia smiling back up at her and stroking her upper thighs.

Olivia took a deep breath, "Well…one room down…" Olivia giggled.

Alex laughed as well and then leaned forward, her arms straight, one hand on either side of her wife's head, "…and eleven more to go…are we including hallways, bathrooms, and the garage?"

Olivia giggled, "Like, fer sure, Babe…totally…"

"That's what I thought…" Alex rasped, kissing her wife once again, ready to succumb to slumber in their brand new home.

… … … … … …

Alex walked in through the garage door slowly, shutting it behind her, and began unbuttoning her camelhair coat with her right hand, her attaché slung over her left arm, eyes still wide from disbelief, mouth slightly ajar.

Vanessa Carlton sang about a thousand miles, a garlicky smell coming from the kitchen to her right. She set her briefcase on the kitchen counter, eyes following as it fell to the floor almost in slow motion, her eyes watching, but not bothering to do anything about it. She stared at the leather attaché on the floor for a moment before moving her eyes to their son. Theo was in his carrier in the middle of the island, sleeping peacefully. Alex walked up to the carrier, her mouth turning up in a smile, her eyes now tearing. Olivia's back was to her, the music just loud enough that her wife couldn't hear the blonde's footsteps, the brunette too intent on whatever she was stirring.

Alex stroked her son's cheek with her forefinger before leaning in and kissing his forehead gently, feeling as her lower lip trembled uncontrollably.

"Alex?"

She looked up to see Olivia's concerned face in front of her, the brunette's hand beneath her elbow.

"Babe…what is it? Is everything OK?"

Alex took Olivia's face in her hands and kissed her forcefully, crying at the same time.

"Alex?" Olivia pulled away, her face having taken on an even more cautious expression.

Alex said it so softly, the music almost drowned her out, "I'm pregnant…"

But Olivia obviously read her lips, heard the faint revealing from her wife above the song, her bronze face lighting up immediately, "You're pregnant, Baby?" Her face contorted with joy.

Alex nodded quickly, her eyes looking into those chocolate pools, "Yeah, I am, Babe…"

Olivia kissed her again, a long initial kiss, and then many kisses in succession before they just held each other tightly.

Alex said against her wife's ear, "Dr. Bensaro called about twenty minutes ago when I was in the grocery store…I actually dropped the gallon of milk when she told me…"

Alex had left the store immediately, hands shaking, not even bothering to call for a clean-up on aisle three, not even buying anything her wife had asked for. All she wanted to do at that moment was to rush home and tell Olivia and hold her in her arms.

Olivia laughed against her, "I'm so happy, Baby…" Olivia pulled away now, hands on her wife's hips as her eyes scanned the blonde's torso, "Now I can sexy mama you for nine months, Babe…"

Alex smiled, "And I'll cherish every minute of it, Liv…every…" she kissed the brunette, "…single…" another kiss, "…minute…"

… … … … … …