A/N: As always thank you to everyone for sticking with this. I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter, and just like you I too am glad they're finally back to Olivia and Alex. On to more time in LA and reconnecting with old friends. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Chapter 53
Alex slowly began to wake, her eyes still closed she began to shift closer to Olivia. Her eyes opened though when she realized she was alone in the bed. Reaching out and feeling the cooled sheets she knew she'd been alone for a while. Rolling over she saw one of the balcony doors open, and Olivia's silhouette through the curtains. She climbed from bed and walked to the door, stopping to admire the sight in front of her. Olivia was lounging in a chair, her feet propped against the railing as she stared out to sea. Charlie was lying next to the chair while Olivia's hand hung down, lazily scratching his head.
Alex stepped onto the balcony and draped her arms over Olivia's shoulders, leaning in and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head "Morning."
Olivia tilted her head, encouraging the blonde to lean in for a kiss "Morning." She whispered as their lips parted. As Alex took a seat in the opposite chair Olivia held out a cup of coffee "I took Charlie out for a walk and brought back some breakfast." She nodded to a box "Biscuits and gravy."
Alex's eyes lit up "My favorite!"
"I know. And in this box are doughnuts and a few other pastries. I remembered a bakery nearby that I liked to visit when I came here to the beach."
"Doughnuts huh?" Alex asked as she took a bite of her food.
"Yeah. What's wrong with that? I like doughnuts."
"Not a thing wrong sweetheart. Just a little cliché isn't it?" Alex grinned "A cop liking doughnuts."
"Oh ha, ha. You think you're so funny, Alex."
Alex laughed "Oh I don't think, I know."
"So any plans for today?" Alex asked as she sipped her coffee.
"Actually," Olivia turned to face the blonde "I was hoping to visit a couple people, alone." she held her breath and awaited a response.
"Can I ask who?"
"Our ADA, Casey Novak." She took a deep breath "She and I were seeing one another when all this happened."
"So, the ex?" Alex nodded for a moment before smiling "I have no problem at all with you going to see her."
"Really?"
"Of course not! You were fine with me visiting with Abby. What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't extend the same courtesy?" she stood, walked over, and straddled Olivia's lap "Besides, I trust you one hundred percent." They kissed gently then Alex pulled back, her expression serious "But if she tries something, I'll kick her ass."
"Noted." Olivia chuckled. "I also want to get together with Elliott for a bit." She trailed off for a minute "I need to talk to him alone, one to catch up a bit but also to work some things out."
Alex stayed on Olivia's lap, her arms around her neck "What do you need to work out?"
Olivia sighed "I think he's under the assumption that since we're out, and we're here, that I'm coming back. I need to get him used to the idea that I might not be."
"Are you saying you're not coming back to LA?"
"I don't know. Alex, we haven't even had time to seriously discuss it yet. It's just, if we decide to settle somewhere else, I know how he'll react. I'd rather go ahead and get him used to the idea that it's a possibility."
Alex nodded "You do what you need to do. Just remember, I'm here if you need me."
Olivia kissed her once again "Are you sure you'll be okay on your own today?"
"I'm a big girl, I'll be fine." She knew Olivia was worried about leaving her on her own, in a strange place. However, Alex knew she had to adjust to real life again. "Charlie and I will go for a walk, maybe do some shopping, and spend some time at the beach."
"Have fun." Olivia said as she began to stand "Just remember, I'm a phone call away if you need me."
"That goes for you as well."
By the time Olivia made it to Casey's office her nerves had overtaken her. Even though they'd ended amicably she suddenly worried about seeing the younger woman again. There was always the worry, stress, or even anxiety that came with seeing an ex again for the first time. Coming to a stop outside Casey's office she took a deep breath, then knocked on the glass of the open door.
Casey turned from the file cabinet and dropped the file that was in her hand. "Olivia?"
"Hey." Just as she had the day before, Olivia began to tear up at the sight of her friend.
"Oh my God!" Casey raced across the office and pulled the brunette in for a hug. "I can't believe you're here."
"I can't believe you didn't hear it from the guys." Olivia laughed as she pulled back. Suddenly all the nerves she'd felt before knocking had disappeared.
"I was in meetings all day yesterday, didn't get to talk to them but I did hear a rumor this morning you were spotted. I figured since you didn't come see me first as per our agreement it had to be a mistake." She then smirked to let Olivia know she was joking.
"You know the hell I would've caught if I didn't go see them first!"
Casey closed the door then took a seat at her desk nodding for Olivia to sit as well. "So…it's been two years, care to fill me in?"
"That could take a while."
"My schedule is clear."
Olivia took a deep breath then launched into the twists and turns her life had taken since they last saw one another.
By the time Olivia finished her story both were wiping away tears, while Casey leaned back in her chair, appearing almost exhausted from the story. "Wow." she shook her head "You enter the program and somehow manage to fall for someone else in the program?"
"Really?" Olivia shook her head. "Out of everything I told you, that's your first question? You sound like Elliott, it was his first question too."
Casey began to laugh "Well, it's a lot to take in but that is pretty stand out."
"Enough about me, how have you been the last few years?"
"You know." Casey nodded her head side to side "One case after another, each seems to be worse than the last."
"And, outside the job?" Olivia didn't miss the slight grin before Casey quickly schooled her expression. "I saw that grin."
"It's nothing." But she couldn't help a wider grin this time.
"Uh huh."
"Okay, I've been seeing someone."
At that Olivia smiled. They both knew the relationship wasn't going anywhere when she left, and she'd told Casey to move on and live her life, she was so happy that seemed to be the case. "Are you gonna elaborate?" when she saw the blush creep over Casey's face she pushed "Do I know this person?"
"No. Well, I don't know, but probably not." Seeing Olivia wasn't gonna let it go she continued "Her name is Cora, she's from Scotland, and she's a pediatrician at Los Angeles Children's Hospital."
"Wow! A doctor and a lawyer, talk about a power couple." This caused Casey to chuckle "So, how'd you meet?"
"I was visiting a friend at Cedars-Sinai who had just had a baby, and she was the pediatrician on call. She was working there at the time, she only recently moved to Children's. There was just a little something there, and my friend said she hinted at Cora that I was single. So, I decided to hunt her up one day while there checking on a vic, and somehow managed to ask her out for coffee. That turned into a dinner date, and here we are almost eight months later."
"Congratulations, Casey!" Olivia was genuinely happy to know her friend had found happiness. Now that she had Alex, and knew what true love was, she wanted everyone to have the happiness she'd found.
Casey picked up a picture frame from her desk and handed it over. "This was a couple months ago, I went to Scotland with her."
Olivia looked at the picture; staring back at her was a smiling Casey and a fair complexioned, raven haired woman, who seemed about the same height and age as the attorney. One thing that was clear was how happy they looked. "I'm so happy for you."
"Thanks."
"One question though, and I've been dying to ask since I walked in here. Since when did you become a blonde?"
Casey laughed and ran her fingers through her lighter hair "I decided to try it a couple months ago. I've been a ginger my whole life and wanted to try something different. It's taken some getting used to, and I'll go back to red once it grows out but its okay for now." She blushed a bit "Not to mention, Cora went nuts over it once she got past the shock." She looked thoughtfully at the brunette "So, since we're on the topic of hair, I like the longer look you're going for."
"Thanks." Olivia started laughing as she flashed back to her 'Rachel' days "You should've seen it when I entered the program. I had to cut it really short…and it was blonde."
"You, blonde?"
"Yep, and that is one fashion statement I'll never make again!"
"So," Casey asked after a lull in the conversation "Tell me a little more about this Alex who has stolen your heart."
"She's…" Olivia trailed off as she thought of the blonde. She shook her head a bit as she tried to find her words, tears forming as she smiled "She's everything." More tears now as she struggled to wipe them "I always hoped to have someone like her, but never thought it would happen. I still don't know how I'm lucky enough to have her in my life."
"Olivia," Casey leaned forward on her desk "You are a wonderful person, and you absolutely deserve every bit of this. You deserve all the happiness in the world, and I am beyond thrilled that you finally have it."
Olivia laughed as a few more tears escaped. She reached forward and took her friend's hand "Thank you. I hope Cora can be for you what Alex is for me."
Now it was Casey shedding tears "You know, I think she just might be."
The rest of the afternoon was spent chatting away, and reminiscing on old times. Casey tried to steer the conversation toward whether or not Olivia would be returning to the city but Olivia had managed to dodge it at every turn.
"I know what you're doing." Olivia grinned slyly.
"What?"
"I was a detective for how long? I know an attempted interrogation when I see it."
Casey dropped her head and laughed, Olivia hadn't lost her touch. "So I guess that means you're not gonna tell me what your future plans are?"
Olivia sighed "I can't tell you considering I don't know myself."
"It's gotta be a tough situation." Casey replied sympathetically.
"It is, but it's something Alex and I will figure out together. It was her idea for us to come here, we've got our room for a week. So this week is in a way a little vacation, chance for me to see everyone again, but it's also to allow us to think about the future and prepare for the decisions we're gonna have to make."
"And if she wants to move back to New York?"
The ringing desk phone interrupted before Olivia could respond. Casey spoke a few words to the person on the other end then sighed. "I'm sorry, we're gonna have to cut this short. That was the defense in my current case, she wants to discuss a plea."
"Cut it short?" Olivia laughed as she stood "I've been here over three hours."
"I know, but we've got a lot of time to catch up on. But, duty calls."
Olivia reached out and pulled the younger woman in for a hug. It wasn't the kind of hug she'd share with Alex, she'd never hug someone and feel what she feels with Alex. Olivia felt friendship, comfort, and even love, but love on a platonic level. Getting to spend the afternoon with Casey brought her a level of comfort and peace that she knew would help in going forward.
"It's okay, I should really get back and check on Alex."
"I'd love to meet Alex, would you two be interested in dinner while you're here?" Casey said while closing her door and the pair headed toward the elevator.
"I'd love too, and I can't wait to meet Cora." Olivia wrote her number on a piece of paper from her purse and handed it over. "We're free anytime."
"I'm good the rest of the week, but I need to check with Cora. She's not on nights right now, but I can't remember her on-call schedule. I'll call you later."
They shared one last hug outside the building before heading in separate directions. "Hey Case!" Olivia called out suddenly, causing the red head to turn around. "Umm…can you do something for me?" Casey nodded as they closed the distance between them. Olivia sighed "Can you keep what we talked about today between us? I mean, I don't care if you tell Cora but could you keep it from the guys…especially Elliott?"
Casey gave her a knowing look and nodded "You haven't discussed this with him yet."
"No, and well..."
"I get it Liv. It's your place to tell him, not mine."
"Thanks."
Thirty minutes later Olivia walked back into the hotel room, a little surprised to see it was empty. She looked out at the beach and smiled when she saw Charlie playfully digging in the sand while Alex watched from her lounge chair. She quickly changed and headed to join them.
"Hey, you're back!" Alex said as Olivia walked toward them. Charlie took off in the direction of his other human and playfully jumped around her legs. "So, how'd it go?" she leaned in for kiss.
"It was good." Olivia smiled "We had a very nice afternoon."
Alex narrowed her eyes and feigned jealousy "Do I need to kick her ass?"
Olivia laughed loudly "No, it was just so good to be able to see one another again." she reached out and took Alex's hand "Besides, if that were the case, I'm pretty sure her girlfriend would be ready to help you kick her ass."
Alex nodded, knowing how important it was to Olivia that Casey had moved on and lived her life. "So she's in a relationship?"
"Yeah, and it sounds pretty serious too. She's obviously happy. She wants the four of us to get together."
They'd been sitting and enjoying the beach for a while, discussing dinner ideas when Olivia's phone rang. "That's probably Casey." she said before answering.
"Hey, Olivia."
"Elliott, hey." Olivia sat up a bit in her chair "What's up?"
"Uh, I was just wondering if we could get together this evening? Maybe catch up a bit."
Olivia looked to Alex and covered the phone "Would you care if I met up with Elliott this evening?"
"Of course not." She said sincerely.
As much as Olivia didn't want to leave Alex alone again after leaving her all afternoon, she did want to get her talk with Elliott over with. The longer she waited the more she worried about it. "Okay, what time and where?"
"Let's say seven? I'll text you the address."
"Okay, sounds good."
"So, you ready for this?" Alex asked as Olivia ended the call.
"As ready as I'm gonna be." She sighed "He was my partner for almost six years, I trust him with my life, but I also know how he can get when something doesn't go his way."
"You haven't decided you're not coming back."
"I know, but I know how he'll react if he thinks I'm even considering it."
Alex squeezed the hand that was holding hers "If he sends you back here in tears tonight I will beat his ass."
Olivia shook her head while laughing. She leaned over for a kiss "I wouldn't expect any less from you. But really, I'll be fine. I can handle Elliott." She leaned back and stared out at the ocean, releasing a breath as she tried to prepare herself for seeing Elliott.
