Character death does not occur in this chapter. Will be a few chapters after. I will give a disclaimer on the chapter so you can avoid it if you chose to. I hope you enjoy this one! Lots of action starts in the next chapter, so buckle up.

Alex stands back and looks at the living room, admiring her handiwork. She is determined to make their makeshift wedding celebration into something special.

The living room is nicely decorated for having only a couple hours of electricity to work with.

Noah had gotten out his markers and spread out on his bedroom floor, scrolling out handmade signs that read "Congrats Mom & Alex" along with his own version of cut colored paper to resemble streamers.

Olivia had left with Noah to pick up Finn and Amanda and bring them over to the house for their marriage ceremony. She had stopped at Elliot's house several times in the past few days but it appeared his family had left town. Olivia couldn't help but feel slighted. Elliot had always been her best friend; she was a little surprised that he would leave without making sure she and Alex were all right.

This has to be the most unorthodox wedding in history. Alex and Olivia had little options offered to them when they had visited the courthouse during their limited open hours, which depended on electricity. They were able to get their license and then had to be married by an officiant right at the courthouse in order to be issued their certificate. It hadn't been the way either of them wanted, but the circumstances didn't allow for any other way. Time was of the essence, with government buildings not expected to remain open in full capacities through even the end of the month.

They were lucky they received their certificate from the county in three days. Mail was still traveling, however sporadically.

Alex and Olivia were technically married already. This little ceremony with their friends is just for them, because they need it.

There is one thing missing from the decorations – flowers. Alex desperately wants to find some. What is a wedding celebration without flowers? Even though they can't have a big celebration, she at least wants flowers.

But she knows she can't go out alone so she knocks on the door to the guestroom. When Casey opens it, she appears groggy, as if she had been sleeping.

"Hey. Are you up for going out?" Alex asks, getting right to the point.

Casey appears confused. "What? I thought we were doing the ceremony…" She steps into the hall and looks around. "Are they back yet?"

Alex shakes her head. "No. I wanted to go see if I could find some flowers. Olivia would kill me if I didn't bring you with me. Will you come?"

It's probably not a good idea. They shouldn't waste the gas, and Casey doubts any place is open where they could get flowers. Plus, from what Olivia has said, it's getting more dangerous by the day to go out.

But looking at Alex and how excited and hopeful she is, Casey can't shoot her down. This is the only type of wedding she and Olivia are going to get; they have to do everything to make it special. So instead of voicing her concerns, Casey agrees to go and pulls on some jeans and a hoodie while Alex quickly scribbles out a note to leave on the table in case Olivia is back before they are.

"I never thought the day of having to leave notes instead of texting would be here again," Casey says, frowning. "I'm still not used to this."

"I don't think anyone will ever be."

Alex watches Casey check her gun and feels the familiar chill go through her. She absolutely hates guns. After all this time they still scare her and still make her uncomfortable. But she knows she doesn't have a choice but to allow Casey to bring it, for their own protection.

It's much too cold for late May, and Casey wishes she would have put some kind of coat on as she stands in the driveway and waits for Alex to get the Volvo out of the garage. She looks around at the neighboring houses and wonders how they are all getting along.

"How much gas do you have?" Casey asks when she gets into the car. Alex immediately hits the door locks.

"Half a tank. We found a station that still had gas a couple days ago when we went to the bank to get our money. The bank closed the next day. We timed that about right."

They drive into town and neither can believe what a ghost town it is. Normally bustling with business and activity, now there are only a handful of people walking the streets and almost no cars. The street lights are not working in this part of town, and most of the stores and other businesses have boarded up windows or are just abandoned.

This is the first time Alex has driven down the main street and not had to stop once. It's eerily quiet, and very unsettling.

"It's like…an apocalyptic movie."

Casey is right, and Alex can't bear to respond. She only looks at her, her eyes wide in shock.

Casey points across the street. "There's a little party store open. They might have some flowers."

Without a word Alex parks on the curb across from the little store. It looks seedy with broken windows and a handwritten sign taped to the front door which reads: Hours depend on electricity. Cash only. No stealing.

They go inside and Alex is immediately shocked by the state of the store. Shelves are almost empty save for some bags of candy tossed messily onto a rack, a gift card rack knocked over, and food and other items that are no longer needed in this crazy new world.

There is an older man standing behind the counter that starts to yell at them as soon as he sees them. "You better have money. All people are doing is stealing and I can't call the police. They don't care to come by here anyway."

"We have money," Alex says, still in shock. "Are you getting deliveries?"

"Lady, no one is getting deliveries. My staff is not showing up any more and even if they did, I couldn't pay them. I am open until I run out of merchandise or someone kills me. Whichever comes first."

Casey has been walking around the store and comes up to Alex empty handed. "I don't see any flowers. Let's get out of here."

Alex turns her attention back to the clerk. "Any idea where we can get flowers?"

He shakes his head. "Sorry, lady." He looks her and Casey up and down. "You'd best listen to your friend and go home. It's not safe to be out by yourselves. People are…not people anymore. People are dying everyday on the streets. Being robbed, killing themselves. It's not a good world and it's going to get worse. Did you hear what they said about the volcanoes? The ash is going to make the air unbreathable all over the world within the next six months."

Casey doesn't want to hear any more. She pulls on Alex's arm to get her moving. "Let's go."

Alex is about to follow when the clerk starts talking again. "You know anyone on the list?"

"The list?" Alex frowns. "What are you talking about?"

"The list in Center Town square. Someone updates it everyday, don't know who. Names of those who have been identified that have died. If you're ever looking for someone, check there first."

Another chill goes through Alex. A death list? Why hadn't Olivia told her? She had to have known about it. Are things breaking down so much that deaths have to be announced on a list in the center of town?

"Thank you for the information," Casey tells him. "Alex. Let's go."

Alex grabs a handful of candy and hastily tosses money onto the counter; too much, but she doesn't care. She stuffs the candy into her pockets and follows Casey out the door.

"Where else should we go?" Alex asks as she unlocks the car with the fob.

"We shouldn't. Get in the car and let's go."

Casey's voice is so serious that Alex doesn't dare argue with her. Once they are both inside the car she locks the doors again.

What the clerk had said had shook Casey. She has a very, very bad feeling about being out and just wants to get back to the house.

Alex had just started the car when a pound on Casey's window makes them both jump.

A man in a black beanie and a black leather coat is holding a rifle to the window. "Get out of the car!" he screams.

"Go!" Casey screams, looking at Alex. "Alex, go! Come on!"

But Alex is sitting frozen in the driver's seat. She's staring at the man, her hands gripping the steering wheel so hard that her knuckles are turning white. She's scared to the core and can't make herself do anything but stare in complete shock.

"I'm going to give you thirty seconds to get out of the car or I start shooting!"

Alex opens her door and gets out of the car, immediately putting her hands behind her head to show she has no weapon.

"Fuck!" Casey mutters to herself, knowing she has no choice but to get out too. Her hands are trembling as she fingers the gun she knows she is going to have to use.

Why couldn't Alex just drive out of there?

The man is pointing the gun at Alex, and when Casey steps out he points it at her. "Show me your hands, bitch!"

Casey hesitates, and then in one motion she grabs the gun from her belt loop and points it at him, cocking the safety off.

He appears momentarily frightened and Casey wonders if he is bluffing and has an empty chamber. But she can't bank on it. She has to proceed as if this threat is real.

"I just want the car. Give me the fucking car. Hand me over the keys. Now!"

Casey doesn't waver. If one of them has to shoot first it's going to be her. "You aren't taking our car. Get the fuck away from us. I will shoot you."

It's a showdown, with the man staring down Casey and Casey staring him down just as hard. Her hand is shaking; his is not. She guesses this is not his first time.

"Casey," Alex says, her voice panicked. "I'm giving him the keys. The car is not worth our lives!"

"Don't you give him the keys, Alex. He's not taking the car. Come stand over here," Casey demands. "This piece of garbage is not getting the car."

As soon as those words leave Casey's mouth, he shoots. Casey can actually feel the bullet graze by her, missing her head by mere inches. It shocks her so much that she falls against the car in surprise.

He just sneers at them. "Next time I won't miss. You have one minute to give me the keys."

Casey decides she is going to shoot him. She raises her gun again but Alex screams at her to stop, and practically throws the keys at the criminal. She grabs Casey by the shoulders and pulls her onto the sidewalk. "Enough! Let him go!"

She watches helplessly as he gets into the Volvo and peels out, pulling away from the curb so quickly they can smell a burning rubber smell.

Casey is breathing hard, and when she gathers herself, she looks at Alex angrily. "Why did you do that?"

"Because I didn't want to die!" Alex yells at her. "Are you insane? He was going to kill us! I can't believe you would play with our lives like that!"

Casey tucks the gun away and looks at Alex in disbelief. Had she not just seen what had happened? And she's blaming her?

"I was going to shoot him," Casey says softly. "I was going to."

She keeps telling herself that she could have done it. She could have shot him and saved the car. She could have prevented him from taking their transportation away.

But she didn't. She hesitated, and that cost them dearly.

It's her fault and she knows it.

Alex doesn't respond. Instead she zips her light jacket up. "Come on. I guess we are walking home."

Alex is shaken up. Casey can see her visibly shaking and hugging herself. She almost asks her if she's okay but thinks better of it. She can tell the blonde isn't in the mood to talk.

Casey follows her, remaining completely silent. She's so angry with herself. What is she going to tell Olivia? Olivia has trusted her. Some protection she is.

To her surprise, Alex starts talking. "I really hate this. This whole thing. It has to be a bad movie or something. Things like this just don't happen in real life. I'm supposed to be celebrating my marriage right now." She lets out a pained laugh. "Happy day to me."

Casey knows she ruined this whole day for Alex and Olivia. They were supposed to be having a little celebration to celebrate their marriage, and instead Alex had to walk home from the city because she was just car jacked. Some celebration this was going to be.

Neither one of them speaks until they are out of the downtown area. It feels safer to Casey here and she lets her guard down a little bit.

"I'm sorry I ruined your celebration day," she says, staring at the ground as they walk.

"You didn't," Alex says quickly. "The moon did."

2.

It takes them nearly an hour to get back to the house. They had a couple nervous calls close to home, walking by a couple groups who looked like they were up to no good. Luckily no one bothered them.

As they approach the front door, Alex turns to Casey, her expression serious. "Listen…don't tell Olivia what happened. I'm going to tell her someone took the car but that's all."

Casey blinks, surprised that Alex wants her to lie. "I don't think we should lie to her, Alex…"

"I'll tell her the truth, but not today. I don't want to upset her. Today is supposed to be our day."

Just as Alex says those words, the front door opens and a relieved looking Olivia launches into Alex's arms.

"Alex, I was worried. I got your note." By the tone of her voice Alex can tell she wants to lecture her. But she doesn't. Instead she's grateful to have her in her arms. She looks her over and when she's satisfied that she is okay, she looks past her to Casey. "Why are you guys walking? Didn't you take the Volvo?"

"Someone stole it," Alex says.

It was the wrong thing to say. Olivia ushers them both into the house and closes the door, latching the deadbolt and the door lock.

"Are you guys okay?" she demands, taking Alex's hand and looking them both over again.

Alex nods. "We are both okay. I insisted we go out and look for flowers. I wanted them for the wedding. We stopped at the only place we found open, and when we got done, someone was driving away in the car."

Alex is disgusted with herself for how easily she is able to lie to Olivia. How can she look into the warm, concerned brown eyes of the woman she loves and not be honest with her?

Casey stands silently, not betraying her secret even though she doesn't agree with it. Olivia looks to her, and her resolve almost falters, but she manages to nod and back up Alex's story.

Olivia sighs. She isn't happy about the situation but Alex can tell she believes them. And that just makes her feel worse.

She puts her hand on Alex's back and walks her to the living room. "It's okay, sweetheart. We still have my car. I understand why you went out, and I can't ever stop you, but you have to be extremely careful out there. I'm just happy you are okay; both of you."

Alex's expression is pained but she forces a smile. "I just want to have a good day." She looks around. "Where are Finn and Amanda?"

Olivia's expression falls. "They weren't at the station. I waited, but no one has seen them today. I figured we can drop in and check on them in a few days. I know Amanda and the girls were staying with Finn."

Alex feels even worse. They were supposed to have their friends there to help them celebrate. What kind of celebration can they have now?

Noah comes into the kitchen and immediately hugs Alex, sending a warm feeling surging through her. She's so glad this sweet boy is in her life. She ruffles his hair and asks him how he liked getting out of the house for a bit.

"We can still celebrate," Casey says, trying to lighten the mood. "What did you guys see for your wedding? Tell me and I'll help make it happen."

Olivia's eyes light up as she thinks hard. She had thought a lot about marriage over the past year. She would have proposed to Alex sooner rather than later if circumstances would have been different. She will always feel robbed of a good proposal.

"We have to have food," Noah pipes up. "Snacks at least. I can help with the snacks."

Casey nods. "That sounds perfect. Noah and I will take snack duty. We will come up with something." She smiles. "What else did you guys want?"

Alex and Olivia look at each other and Olivia almost blushes. "Well, I always wanted to see Alex in a wedding dress…"

"We don't have a real wedding dress, but Alex, I bet you have some hot dresses, right?" Casey asks. When she nods, she goes on. "So we can find something. And Olivia, you have some killer dresses too. I have seen them."

This time Olivia laughs. "Gee thanks, Casey."

"I'm just saying. You are both gorgeous. I might have some fun dressing you guys up, if you let me. I'm even semi decent with hair." She's actually getting excited by the suggestion. She'd love to help them have a good day, even if it isn't exactly what they wanted.

Alex looks at Olivia and shrugs. "I mean, it would be nice…I would love to get dressed up, and I would love to see you dressed up too. It would make it memorable."

Olivia's eyes sparkle. "Yes. Let's do it."

Casey is happy to hear their decision. She smiles at them. "What else do you guys want?"

Alex doesn't hesitate this time. "We never got to say vows. I want to."

"Well, we can do that too. Now, why don't you guys go start picking out dresses? I'm going to work on snacks with Noah and then I'll come up and help you both get ready. But remember – you two can't see each other in your dresses until you come downstairs."

Alex and Olivia get into the spirit and they disappear upstairs, talking excitedly. This is going to be a memorable day after all.

Noah starts to get snacks out of the cupboards. Casey knows they should be careful; she's spoken to Olivia about possibly having to ration food soon. But right now she doesn't care. Alex and Olivia need this celebration and food is the least she can do.

"Cheese and crackers," Casey says aloud, looking at the canned cheese and crackers that Noah has placed on the countertop. "Everyone loves that."

She finds some partial bags of buns in the pantry that are on the verge of molding and she whips up some makeshift subs out of the open lunchmeat and deli cheese in the fridge. Those things won't stay good for long so they may as well indulge now.

They come up with a decent haul for snacks and Noah pulls down the serving trays. "Thank you for making my moms happy," he suddenly says.

Casey smiles. She notices that he said 'moms' and can't help but feel this day is special to him too. He loves Alex just as much as he loves his mom.

3.

"Liv," Casey says, walking Olivia down the stairs by her hand. "You look smoking, if I do say so myself."

Olivia is wearing her black dress, the one she wore on her first date with Alex. It seemed a fitting tribute. Casey had helped her put her hair up and after a few failed attempts, she now has the smoky eye look going on.

"Wow, mom," Noah says, clapping his hand as Olivia gets to the bottom. "You do look really pretty."

She smiles and kisses her son, and wraps her arm around his back. She is actually nervous waiting for Alex to come down, just like a real bride would be.

Casey is really enjoying this. She releases Olivia's hand and winks at her. "Now I'll go collect your bride. Close your eyes."

Casey finds Alex sitting on the bed in her and Olivia's room. She sees Casey enter and gives her a nervous smile. "I'm really nervous. I feel like I'm going to throw up. Why? We're already married." She laughs. "It's so ridiculous."

Casey shakes her head. "No, it isn't. This is a big deal. Olivia looks smoking hot down there and if you don't go claim her, then I will."

Alex laughs at that. She stands up and runs her hand down her blue sparkly dress. "I don't think Olivia has ever seen this dress. Not on me, anyway." She looks at herself in the vanity mirror. The sparkles in her hair and cheeks catch the light and sparkle perfectly. She is glad Casey talked her into them. "I, uh, look okay?"

"Okay?" Casey echoes. "No one should be as gorgeous as you are." She holds her hand out. "Come on. Let's not keep your lady waiting. And please, don't throw up on me."

When they get to the top of the stairs they see that Olivia is still standing with her eyes closed. Noah smiles at them and gives a thumbs up as Alex takes a deep breath and they start walking.

When they near the bottom, Casey tells Olivia to open her eyes.

Olivia has never seen a more beautiful sight. Alex makes her heart skip a beat and her breath stop. She's going to go into cardiac arrest and it will be Alex's fault for looking so beautiful.

She can tell Alex is nervous and when she gets in front of her, Olivia tucks a stray strand of curled hair behind Alex's ear.

"You are beautiful," Olivia says, her voice low.

Alex's eyes are shining with tears. "So are you. I – I'm so happy right now."

Casey lets them enjoy each other for a few minutes until she forces them apart, letting them stay connected by hands.

"Okay, ladies. It's time for your vows. Who wants to go first?"

Olivia speaks up. "I do. I wish I had a ring…"

"It's okay, Liv. You are more than enough."

Olivia is becoming choked up and has to clear her throat a few times before she can speak. She can't get over how beautiful Alex looks. She hadn't thought it was possible for the blonde to be prettier than she already was.

"Alex Cabot, I have loved you for years." She stops and does the calculations in her head. "Almost twenty years. My god, Alex, that's a lifetime. I've sorry it's taken me so long to get my shit together and actually make you my wife." Alex smiles. "I pledge my life to you. I promise my loyalty and unyielding love forever. I promise to love you no matter what; through good times and bad. I'll be your pillar of support and I know you'll be mine. I promise to always protect you, to do everything with you in mind. I'll never make a decision without considering you. You've made me a whole person, and I've never been happier than with you in my life. My life is complete with you in it and I know I will never walk alone. Alex, thank you for doing me the honor of becoming my wife and spending the rest of your life with me. I am the luckiest woman in the world."

Alex closes her eyes, and when she opens them again, tears are cascading down her cheeks. She hates to show emotions in front of anyone, but right now she doesn't care. This situation calls for it. She nods and squeezes Olivia's hand and when she's composed herself she starts speaking.

"I – this is overwhelming," she says, wiping her eyes with a tissue that Casey hands her. She's always considered herself an expert orator but right now words are failing her. How can she adequately put into words what she feels for Olivia?

Just speak from the heart, she tells herself.

So she does. "Olivia Benson, my love, my soulmate – I am honored to become your wife. I have loved you all those twenty years as well, and what can I say about it other than we are both dysfunctional and that's why it's taken so long to get to this point." That warrants a laugh from everyone. "You have always been my light in the dark. My person I could come home to no matter how hard the day has been. I used to live for my work; now I live for only you and your – I mean, our – son. The words I need don't exist. I promise I will love you until my last breath, and even after then. I promise I will be only for you for as long as I live. I promise we will be a family forever. And it is me who is the luckiest woman in the world."

Casey tells them to kiss, and as soon as they do, the electricity goes out. It's almost as if it stayed on just for them.

They continue their kiss in the dark, both insanely happy. They were both able to forget the world around them and just focus on each other.

They had no way of knowing it would be one of the last happy days they would ever have.