A/N: Clearly my date idea wasn't very original. Two people guessed it! Also, I'm proof reading this after a glass or two of wine so, yeah ...
"Geez, I'm not sure about these New York winters," Amanda grumbled as they trudged down the snowy sidewalk.
"Not what you're used to?" Olivia asked, glancing sideways at the woman whose face was barely visible in the gap between her beanie and chunky knitted scarf. The skin that was exposed was pink.
"I mean, it gets cold but not like this. That wind is bitter! And Fin said this'll last for weeks now, right?"
"It depends but I think we're due a cold spell, yeah. You've got to admit the snow is pretty though."
Amanda looked around. Well, it was true that there was a pristine layer of white snow across many of the obstacles on the street. But the snow which landed in the road had dissolved into a grey sludge and the sidewalk was much the same, only with patches of icy compressed snow making walking hazardous to boot. And then Amanda looked up at her date. Against the darkness of the New York night and the woman's chocolate hair, Amanda had to admit that the snowflakes which had landed on the woman's head, shoulders and even eyelashes were rather beautiful. Or maybe it was just the canvas they were decorating.
"Yeah, ok, it's pretty," Amanda grinned goofily, nudging Olivia lightly with her arm before linking her hand through the crux of the woman's elbow. "So, where are we going?"
Olivia decided that question didn't warrant an answer. After all, both women knew she wasn't going to give one. And anyway, they were less than a block away. To that end, Amanda wrinkled her nose at the obstruction on the sidewalk ahead; a large group of excitable tourists. The two women were forced to step off the street into the road to pass them.
"God, I hate how busy this city gets at times. You know, I've barely come this far north except for work. I just can't deal with the crowds."
"I know, they're annoying at times but you can't blame them. New York is the greatest city in the world; of course people want to come and experience the magic. And in New York, there are certain things you've got to see."
"Yeah but we're not tourists," Amanda grumbled. "Can't we go somewhere where they aren't. You're a Manhattan gal; aren't there some secret hideaways you could introduce me to?"
Olivia tried not to take the slight about her date planning personally. She understood Amanda's animosity towards the large, loud crowds which were indeed swarming the streets as they drew closer to their destination. And yes, it was annoying. Olivia herself had found herself exasperated at the slow walking and inconsiderate subway usage which accompanied those from out of town. But she also believed that it would all be worth it.
"Shit, sorry Liv," Amanda sighed when Olivia didn't say anything. "I didn't mean to offend you. I'm sure you're about to take me on the best date of my life."
"No pressure, huh?" Olivia grinned as they rounded the corner.
If Amanda had been a Manhattan local, like Olivia, she would probably have guessed where they were going as they walked up Fifth Avenue, considering the woman's instruction for how to dress. The venue wasn't exactly original for this time of year and it wasn't the first time Olivia had gone on a date to this exact spot. But that didn't mean it wasn't still magical. And judging by the way Amanda's face, reddened by the winter weather, seemed to perk up at the sight before her, she felt like she'd made the right choice.
"So, will this do or shall we go and find some quiet restaurant away from the crowds?" Olivia asked, wanting to give Amanda a way out if she really didn't want to be around people.
But the blonde vigorously shook her head and grabbed Olivia's hand, tugging her forwards and into the throng. Olivia laughed and followed willingly, digging around in her pocket to pull out her phone where she could pull up the booking confirmation. As they got closer to the entrance, Olivia took the lead, steering Amanda around to the side and waving once she spotted who she was looking for.
"Hey Bella, how are you?" Olivia asked as they reached the barrier.
"I'm great thanks, Detective Benson," the young woman replied. "How are you? How's Detective Stabler?"
Olivia stiffened. Amanda felt it, the way the woman's fingers twitched at the mention of her partner's name. She tried to ignore the flutters of anxiety, of jealousy, of curiosity which flared within her.
"He's moved on actually. In fact, Detective Amanda Rollins is one of our new cops down at the precinct. And how many times do I have to tell you to call me Olivia?" the detective admonished gently, prompting the young woman standing before them to nod in acquiescence. "Anyway, Amanda this is Bella. Bella and her mom were witnesses to a case a few years ago which ended up being dragged through the court system for months. We couldn't have caught the guy without them and they were so patient and understanding of all the hoops we had to jump through. And even after all that, Bella still does me favours."
"Well, I let you jump the line. I'm afraid I'm not senior enough to get you free entry."
"I'm not that cheap," Olivia remarked. "I'm more than happy to pay to enjoy this space."
"It is pretty magic, isn't it?" Bella mused, turning to face her place of work and gazing up at the glittering tree in front of her. Even weeks into the holiday season, it still held a special sort of magic for the young woman. "Right, come with me. We'll get you booted up."
The duo followed Bella into the little hut where rows and rows of ice skates waited to be loaned out. Bella whisked them to the front of the line, passed them over to a colleague and then wished the women goodnight. Minutes later, Olivia and Amanda were lacing their feet into the unwieldy skates. Once done, Olivia stood up, testing her balance on the spongy floor.
"Right, are you ready?" she asked as Amanda did the same.
"Yep," Amanda nodded. "But I should probably tell you something."
"What?"
"I've never been ice skating before."
"What? Never?" Olivia exclaimed. "How is that possible?"
Amanda shrugged, biting her lip. "I dunno. It's not a big thing down in Georgia and it wasn't like we had much money to go out doing fancy things. And then when I got older, it kinda seemed like something only kids do. Even though I know that's not true and this is a super romantic date idea, Liv. I love that you brought me here. But, well, let's face it, I'm gonna fall flat on my ass in about five seconds and that ain't gonna be sexy."
Olivia stepped over to the woman and looped her arms around her waist. "Hey, you let me worry about what's sexy, ok? I'll help you find your feet. I've been skating since I was a little kid and while I'm no Tonya Harding -"
"Thank god, she was a bitch," Amanda interjected.
"- I promise I'll do my best to keep you upright."
"Ok," Amanda replied. "I'll give it a go. I'll try anything once. But I'm just warning ya, this might not be a pretty sight."
"It's you, Amanda. Of course this is going to be a pretty sight."
The statement was sealed as true with a short kiss before Olivia stepped away and held out her hand to Amanda. The two of them wobbled their way across the rubber floor, Olivia reassuring her date that it was in many ways easier on the ice than on the matting they were currently stepping across. When they reached the edge of the rink, Olivia stepped on first before turning and skating back to the edge, holding out both hands to Amanda.
"This is a mad thing to do, if you think about it," Amanda said, taking Olivia's hands in her own. "Someone strapped knives to the bottom of shoes and stepped onto slick frozen water. Who invented this crap?"
Olivia laughed and slid backwards slightly, allowing Amanda to take her first tentative step onto the ice. She only got one foot onto the surface before she felt her balance go.
"Try holding onto the side rather than me while you get on. It's sturdier," Olivia suggested, skating around to a little way down the wall and guiding Amanda's hands to the top of the structure.
Amanda dutifully placed her hands on the top and eased her second foot onto the ice. She looked sideways at Olivia and offered her a shy smile. The brunette smiled back reassuringly before skating around to stand beside Amanda's left hip, looping her right arm around the woman's waist.
"Hold on for as long as you need to but when you choose to let go, I've got you," Olivia murmured in Amanda's ear as the younger woman set off with that classic newbie shuffle around the edge of the rink.
After two laps and several csonversations, Amanda decided to brave lifting her hands off the wall. Olivia's arm around her waist tightened slightly as she wobbled upright, slowing to a stop since she didn't have the movement necessary to propel herself forwards.
"You're doing great," Olivia encouraged as the blonde tried to take a little step forward. "But instead of picking your foot up and putting it down like you're walking, try pushing off with your back foot and placing the boot down with the blade directly on the ice, not toe or heel first, then lean forwards and your weight will propel you."
With Olivia's patient guidance, Amanda slowly made her way around the rink once more, without the aid of the wall for the most part although the occasional wobble sent gloved hands flying for the security of the structure. But as they moved, the wobbles reduced and as they started their fourth lap, Amanda seemed to have got the action of the glide down.
"Am I doing good?" Amanda asked, tongue stuck out between her teeth as soon as she finished the question as another skater came a bit too close for comfort.
"You're doing amazing," Olivia reassured. "Far better than I did on my first time."
"I doubt that. You were a kid. That means you would have been fearless. I'm acutely aware that if I fall and get my fingers sliced off by an ice skate, I can't shoot a gun any more. And I love my gun."
Olivia rolled her eyes. While she had become comfortable holding a firearm as a police officer, she had never felt any particular warmth towards it. As far as she was concerned, it was a tool, nothing more. She certainly didn't agree with the second amendment being taken so literally and was keen for tighter gun control. But their date wasn't the time to get into a political debate on the topic and instead she just skated slowly alongside Amanda and shielded her from those cocky skaters zipping past.
It was on the sixth circuit, when Amanda was finally getting up some semblance of speed, that the inevitable happened. It was quick. Olivia was barely aware of what happened but one moment Amanda was beside her, grinning cautiously as she moved past a child holding their father's hand, and the next thing a flurry of blonde hair cascaded in front of the taller detective and landed at her feet.
Olivia managed to stop herself before she skated into the blonde who had found herself sat on her butt on the cold surface and crouched at once to make sure the woman wasn't hurt.
"Are you ok?" she asked, brushing the tangle of hair away from Amanda's face which was beet red. A combination of the cold air and the embarrassment, she assumed.
"Stupid skate got caught on something," Amanda grumbled, looking behind her and predictably seeing nothing which could account for her slip on the glassy ice.
Olivia was kind enough to not suggest that perhaps Amanda tripped over herself and instead helped the woman to her feet, brushing off the little white patches of powdered ice which clung to her jeans.
"Are you hurt?" she asked, holding onto Amanda's hands to steady her.
"Just my pride," Amanda replied with a shrug.
With Olivia's help, the duo set off again, Amanda dismissing Olivia's offer to call it a day even though they had fifteen minutes left on their session. Never one to waste an experience, Amanda skated until their time was up, with only a couple of little wobbles and no more wipeouts. She was breathless and pink-faced as they stepped off the ice and back into the little hut where they had to return their boots.
The smile which Amanda gave her when they took their seats was almost too much. Despite the fall, she was positively radiating. Olivia couldn't help but lean over and kiss the woman soundly, trapping the woman's lower lip between her own briefly before pulling away.
"Did you enjoy that?"
"It was awesome. Even though I'm sure my ass is gonna hurt like hell tomorrow," Amanda enthused. "Thanks, Liv. This was a great first date."
Unable to resist stealing a kiss for herself, Amanda craned her head up to kiss Olivia back, her hand reaching up and wrapping around the name of the woman's neck. Olivia's hand landed on her knee, the restraint evident. Amanda felt it. She knew that had they not been surrounded by people, their kiss could easily have escalated beyond what could be considered public decency. Amanda pulled away as she felt the heat pool low in her belly and looked up at Olivia with heavy eyes. The brunette blinked back, tongue tracing her lips for the lingering taste of her date.
"Well, that was quite something. But our date is not over yet."
"It's not?"
"You didn't think I wasn't going to feed you, did you? I know you, Amanda Rollins, and not getting some food into you in the next thirty minutes would be a mistake."
The blonde laughed at the truth of that statement and nodded her agreement. Within five minutes the duo were pushing their way politely through the swarms of crowds which surrounded the Rockefeller ice rink and making their way back towards Fifth Avenue.
"So, where are we going for dinner?" Amanda asked.
"You'll see," Olivia replied, reaching for Amanda's hand and steering her down the street.