A/N: Yay! Kissing!

Olivia didn't believe in cliches. She didn't believe in Hollywood romances. After the things she'd seen, her overall outlook on love and relationships had slipped into a state which could really only be described as sceptical. Fifteen years of working at SVU would do that to anyone. But even she couldn't deny that in that moment, standing in Amanda's kitchen, pressed against the counter with the younger woman's mouth working against her own, perhaps sometimes movies and books got it right.

The world dissolved. Everything faded from existence, except for the woman before her. The noise of the New York street, filling up with rush hour traffic and harried footsteps which had been drifting in through the open apartment window, was silenced. The fresh, cool morning air which announced the departure of the night's storm transformed into something which wrapped its warmth around every fibre of her being. The to-do list which had been forming in Olivia's mind as she had waited for the coffee was suddenly forgotten.

All that mattered was Amanda.

She kissed her back, taking control as she slid her hands up the petite blonde's waist, over her ribcage, skating the sides of her breasts and then up to her neck. She cupped the back of the shorter woman's head, angling her neck backwards slightly to allow Olivia to deepen the kiss. A guttural moan sent a shiver down Olivia's spine. It was a sound she'd never heard the blonde make before. And one she very much wanted to hear again. Her tongue teased the edge of the younger detective's lips, requesting entrance. It was granted at once, the faint taste of black coffee combined with something which was uniquely and unmistakably Amanda Rollins.

"Liv," came a mumbled whisper.

"Amanda," Olivia replied, as if confirming to one another that they both knew what was happening and with whom.

The kiss resumed but a little softer, as if each participant was taking stock of what had transpired between them. Olivia's fingers teased the soft wisps of hair at the base of Amanda's neck. The blonde's own hands were resting on Olivia's hips, anchoring them both in the corner of the kitchen.

Even in the movies, all good things come to an end and eventually Amanda pulled away, taking a small step back to give Olivia space as she opened her eyes and looked up at the woman before her. It took a moment for Olivia to do the same but eventually chocolate orbs met that shimmering blue gaze.

"Wow," Amanda said, cocking her head coyly to one side. "Well, that was unexpected."

"It was," Olivia agreed. "At least, I had no idea you even felt …." She trailed off, not wanting to assume that there were any feelings from the blonde's side involved in what had just happened.

But Amanda rolled her eyes, recognising the self-doubt and wanting to shut it down immediately. "Liv, have you seen you? Have you met you? How could I not have feelings for you? If anyone should be surprised about what just happened, it's me."

"How so?"

A shrug and Amanda stepped back again, out of Olivia's personal space. "I dunno. I guess I'm just used to crushing on women who are unattainable, outta my league and just generally too good for me. My type is flighty, hot mess, kinda like me. I've never had feelings for someone who actually has their shit together and who likes me back."

"Don't put yourself down like that," Olivia said, following Amanda to the other side of the small kitchen and gripping the woman's elbows lightly. "Don't ever think that anyone is out of your league or too good for you. You're an incredible individual, Amanda Rollins, and anyone would be lucky to have you. I would be lucky to have you," she added, realising that there were a lot more conversations the two of them needed to have to work out what was going on between them and what they both wanted. Conversations, and time, that was what they needed now.

Amanda allowed herself a smile. "You're very sweet, thank you."

"You're welcome," Olivia replied. "Um, may I kiss you again?"

Amanda nodded shyly and closed her eyes as Olivia dipped her head to claim those pale lips once more. They melted into one another, this time with Amanda leaning against the counter and Olivia pressed against her. They only broke apart when Amanda's fridge made a strange gurgling noise, causing Olivia to look at it with alarm.

"It's fine. It always does that," Amanda said, waving it off as an annoying occurrence but one which she'd grown to live with.

"You need a new fridge."

"It is new, it was just dirt cheap. That'll teach me."

Olivia chuckled. "Well, it's a mood killer. I vote for you to replace it."

"If it means I get to kiss you more, I'd say that is a price I am willing to pay," Amanda said, looping her finger in Olivia's belt hook and giving the strip of fabric a quick tug. The brunette went willingly, melding her lips back to the blonde's in what was rapidly becoming a familiar action. But again the kiss didn't last long. This time it was ended by Olivia who had some more questions she needed to ask.

After suggesting they move to the couch so they could have a proper conversation, Olivia found herself looking at Amanda and imagining how much had changed since they had last sat there together. True, it had become apparent to Olivia over the past few weeks that she felt something for her blonde co-worker but she had never thought to act on it, let alone entertained the idea that her feelings were reciprocated. Come to think of it, she still wasn't sure whether they were. That had to be the first question, she decided.

"I think we need to clarify where we are with each other," she began.

"On the couch?" Amanda drawled, that cheeky southern glint in her eye.

Olivia couldn't help but grin back at her before clarifying. "I like you, Amanda. And I know this is all very new information and I think we've got a lot to talk about but I suppose the first thing to say is that from my perspective, I'd like to see where this goes."

"You mean you want to date?" Amanda asked.

"I guess ... yeah, I guess that's what I mean."

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Amanda pressed, that teasing tone back in her voice.

Olivia found herself smiling again. She did that a lot around the blonde. "I suppose I am. But only if that's something you'd be interested in."

"Would I be interested in dating the most smokin' hot detective in the whole of the NYPD? Hmm, lemme think about that for a second. Geez, Liv, do you really have no idea how many people would kill to be in my position?"

"I highly doubt anyone would kill to date me and if they did, I don't think they're the sort of person I'd want to date, to be fair."

Amanda sighed at Olivia's pragmatic approach. "You know what I mean. You're a catch. You're more than a catch. You're the catch, Liv. Of course I'd be interested in dating you if you're genuinely wanting to date me. God knows why after last night but -"

"Hey, last night has nothing to do with this, with us. What you told me may have brought us closer together but it has not changed how I see you nor how I feel about you," Olivia said, reaching over to grasp Amanda's hand. "You're more than your past, Amanda. Don't let it define you. And don't ever for a moment think I'd ever judge you for what happened down in Georgia. I want to know about your life down there, of course. But I'm more interested in who you are, not what you've done. I want to know who you'll become and what you're going to do. I … fuck, this is too soon. Forget I said anything."

"No, go on. Tell me, I can take it," Amanda urged, enraptured by the woman's words.

Something in the woman's earnest expression gave her the courage to find the right words, even if it did feel way too soon. "I see a future with you, Amanda. And I know that's crazy after a handful of kisses in your kitchen. Hell, I've only known you a few months. And I'm not trying to put too much pressure on whatever happens between us. We'll let things unfold naturally but something tells me you're going to be in my life for a long time. Even if things don't work out with us and we just work together, for some reason, I think you're a big part of my future."

Amanda let the confession sink in before pressing herself onto her knees and leaning across the couch to kiss Olivia soundly, a silent sign that she accepted and agreed with the words spoken. Olivia's fingers caught the tumble of blonde hair which fell across their cheeks and tucked it back up, threading her hands into the rest of the woman's locks.

"I hope we have a future together," Amanda whispered against Olivia's lips as she pulled back slightly. "I'm not great with relationships and dating though, so be patient with me?"

"And you'll need to be patient with me too," Olivia replied, stroking those high cheekbones with her thumbs. "It's been a while since I've dated anyone I've actually known or liked or been interested in dating anyone more than once. Let's just agree to take it one step at a time."

"Would step one be that date you offered?" Amanda asked. Olivia grinned and nodded as Amanda settled herself back on the couch but much closer than she was. "In that case, I'll accept."

Another kiss sealed the deal, shorter this time. Olivia still had more things she wanted to discuss.

"We have to keep things quiet at work," she said.

Amanda pouted. "You mean we can't make out in the breakroom? But I had so many dirty fantasies involving you and your desk."

Has my brain short circuited? Olivia thought to herself as she struggled to remember how to speak. By the time words had formed, Amanda was laughing to herself at the frankly effective way in which she had rendered the brunette speechless.

"You're incorrigible," Olivia sighed, poking Amanda in the side.

"Hey!" she yelped, shifting away before sliding back into Olivia's outstretched arms. "You like my incorrigibility."

"I'll never admit to that," Olivia said, pressing a kiss to Amanda's forehead as the woman nestled into her side. "But we can't go broadcasting this to people, Amanda. You understand that, right?"

"What is the NYPD policy on co-workers dating?" Amanda asked. "It happens, right?"

"It does and it's not explicitly prohibited but cops in relationships shouldn't be partners. It can compromise our ability to do our jobs. And then superiority comes into play too. If I were to be too many ranks above you, that could be an issue."

"You'd better stop getting promoted then," Amanda teased. "Or at least wait for me to catch up."

"You'll be catching me up in no time. You're a great cop. Beyond protocol, though, I was actually thinking we should keep it quiet from the squad to begin with. I don't know if you'd noticed but I'm a private person. I don't like people at work knowing about my dating life, especially not when someone from work is involved. Plus until we figure out what's going on between us, I'd rather keep whatever this is to ourselves. Is that ok?"

"Of course," Amanda nodded. "I don't like shouting about my dating life either. Not that there's been much to shout about recently."

"Me neither."

"But, for the record, I would be so proud to tell anyone I was dating Detective Olivia Benson. So the moment we get to a place where we know what we are and that we're ready to go public, I'm marching into the bullpen and announcing it to the world, ok?"

Olivia laughed. "Ok, but how about we get that first date out of the way first. You never know, you might discover you don't like me."

"Impossible," Amanda said, turning her head and kissing Olivia softly. "I'm free on Saturday after our shift."

"Perfect," Olivia replied. "I can't wait."

"Me neither," Amanda said, eyes fluttering closed as those plump lips covered her own once more.

A/N: People seemed pretty happy to see our ladies making some progress last week. I hope this furthered that progress!