A/N: Sorry for the lack of a chapter last week! I try to be predictable and consistent with my publishing but I had a friend staying and I couldn't get away to write.

Sometimes a case which leads to dead end after dead end suddenly reaches a breakthrough and shines a spotlight on a suspect not only obviously guilty but also with handfuls of evidence to guarantee their conviction in court.

Olivia smiled with immense satisfaction as she handed over the finished file to Alex Cabot who'd arrived an hour before to watch the final interrogation of their suspect. He'd crumbled within minutes of Olivia entering the box. Sometimes she enjoyed the thrill of teasing out their confession but after a hard week, she was rather pleased when he implicated himself in almost record time.

"It's a slam dunk," Alex reassured her. "He won't see the light of day for a long time."

It was reassuring to know, even though Olivia knew the expression was outdated. Of course prisoners weren't kept in dark rooms for years on end. That would be barbaric on behalf of the state. Nevertheless, the knowledge that this man wasn't going to be walking the streets for many years did mean Olivia would sleep better that night."

"Nice work, Olivia," Cragen said as he stepped out of his office. "You can go home. Recharge."

"But I've only been back a few hours. I'm fine, Captain. Happy to stay on."

But Cragen shook his head. "No, you've worked too much overtime already this month. Brass will be on my ass if he sees how many hours you've clocked up. You too, Rollins," he added as the blonde reappeared after having transported the arrested man down to the transport van which was, as they spoke, transferring him to jail.

"What's happening? We got a case?" Amanda asked, reaching for her coat instinctively.

"You two are as bad as each other," Cragen sighed. "Take the night off, Rollins. You've earned it."

"You sure? I don't mind stayin'," Amanda said.

"Go. Both of you. Cabot, can you escort them out? Maybe they'll listen to you."

Alex chuckled. "Come on, Liv. You deserve a night off. And unless you had a party and I wasn't invited, you didn't even get to celebrate your birthday. What about a drink? Amanda, would you like to join us?"

Amanda's eyes flicked between the attorney and Olivia who nodded minutely at the questioning look. It was a two-fold hesitation. Firstly, Amanda hadn't spent any time outside of work with the tall blonde. Truth be told, she was rather intimidated by the sharp dressing, sharp talking and sharp thinking woman. And secondly, Amanda knew that Olivia and Alex were close friends, after having worked together for so long. She didn't want to become a third wheel, even if it was just a platonic drink with a friend. At least, she hoped it was a platonic friendship. But she didn't have time to dwell on that niggling thought; Alex was waiting for an answer.

"Sure, sounds great," Amanda nodded. "Lemme just pack up my desk and I'll be ready."

"I've got to drop this back at the office so how about I meet you there. The usual place?" Alex asked, directing this question to Olivia.

"Sure. I'll get the first bottle."

Alex nodded and bid the rest of the bullpen goodnight before clacking out of the room in heels which would have seen Amanda falling flat on her face. She watched the lawyer disappear before beginning to try and return her desk to some semblance of order. The speed at which the case had developed had swathed her desk in sheets of loose paper. Now she set about stacking up the copies of evidence they needed and reordering the file they'd need to keep at the precinct.

By the time she'd finished, Olivia had been sitting waiting for her for ten minutes, and had spent the time sorting through the photos and deleting ones she didn't want any more, in order to free up some storage.

"Ok, I'm ready," Amanda said, appearing at her side. "Where are we going?"

"Oh there's a little wine bar halfway between here and the DA's office," Olivia said as she stood up, pushed her chair under the desk and started to button herself into her coat. "We found it over ten years ago and it became the easy place to meet after work for both of us. Plus the wine's good, so, there's that."

Amanda grinned. "And I know how much you like your wine."

"Can't deny that," Olivia nodded as they made their way across the quiet bullpen towards the elevator.

Fifteen minutes later, the two women slid into a large, curved booth, upholstered in a dark, classy red. On the table, Olivia placed an equally classy, equally red bottle of wine, and three glases, in anticipation for the third member of their party.

Amanda watched as Olivia poured out a modest amount for each of them. That was how you could tell someone liked wine, Amanda mused; they didn't fill the glass practically to the rim!

"Cheers," Amanda said, picking up the glass which Olivia pushed towards her.

"Cheers," Olivia replied, fingers wrapping around the slender stem of her own glass and chinking its edge against Amanda's.

"And belated happy birthday," the Georgian added, smiling over the rim of her glass. "I'm sorry we didn't get to properly celebrate on the actual day."

"I don't mind," Olivia shrugged. "Like I said, I'm not really a birthday person."

"Yeah but I am, and I like celebrating the people who mean a lot to me," Amanda said, sliding herself a little closer to the senior detective. "And you mean a lot to me, Olivia."

The words were simple but sweet and Olivia found herself leaning in for a chaste kiss before she could stop herself. She wasn't one for big public displays of affection but the woman was too irresistible. Their lips met, the rich taste of the wine they were drinking faint on Amanda's tongue.

"Happy birthday," Amanda whispered again when they broke apart.

"Thank you," Olivia replied, resting her forehead on Amanda's for a moment. "You're very sweet."

"I know," Amanda grinned, placing a playful kiss on Olivia's nose. "And you're adorable."

"I don't think anyone's ever called me adorable before," Olivia remarked, pulling back slightly and taking a sip of her wine.

"Really? Not even Cabot?"

The words slipped out before she could stop them. The moment they were spoken, she wished she could take them back. Her mouth had spoken before her brain had processed what she was saying. She knew they were a mistake. And the silence which they led to confirmed that.

"Shit. Sorry, forget I said that," Amanda said quickly. "Nice wine. Good choice, as always."

The pathetic attempt to change the subject did not, of course, work. Olivia tapped her fingers a few times on the tabletop before turning to look at Amanda whose cheeks were bright red. And it wasn't just the maroon leather beside her which was tinting that alabaster skin.

"Something you want to say?" Olivia asked, a cool tone to her words.

"Nope. Nothing. I'm fine."

"Yeah, I'm not buying that. And I'm not someone who likes jealousy, Amanda, so if you have a problem with Alex, who'll be here in five minutes, by the way, then please say what you have to say. Then we can move on."

"Shit, I'm sorry, Liv. I didn't mean to say anything. It's nothing. Can you forget about it?"

"Can you? Or is whatever you're thinking going to fester beneath the surface for weeks until it comes up again and lead to some blowout argument? I'm too old for that, Amanda. Just tell it to me straight. Do you have a problem with Alex?"

"No, Alex is great," Amanda said quickly. "Really, she's awesome. Super bright. Super good at her job. Really, I like Alex."

"But?"

Amanda sighed. She wasn't going to get away with bullshitting Olivia Benson. More to the point, Olivia didn't deserve to be bullshitted.

"I'm sorry. I know green isn't exactly an attractive colour on me. Ma always said green washed me out."

"You're jealous."

It wasn't a question.

"Ugly trait, huh? I blame it on my genetics. My dad was always wicked jealous of my ma, even if the mailman so much as looked at her. I guess I inherited that."

"Amanda, you have no reason to be jealous of Alex," Olivia said softly, recognising that getting angry wasn't going to help the situation.

"Oh yeah? You're honestly telling me there's nothing between you two?"

Olivia shook her head. "Alex is straight, Amanda. Straight as an arrow. And I don't think I have to explain to you that just because a woman finds other women sexually attractive, they don't find every single woman on the planet attractive. Are you attracted to every woman you see?"

"Well, no, but Alex isn't just any woman, is she? I mean, she's possibly the most beautiful woman in the world."

"Not true." Olivia didn't need to expand to imply that she believed Amanda to hold that crown. That said, Olivia wasn't too fond of comparing women's aesthetics to one another. But either way, Amanda barrelled forwards.

"And she's smart and funny and great at her job. I mean, what's not to like?"

"I do like Alex for all those reasons but we're friends, Amanda," Olivia said firmly. "We've only ever been friends. I've never been interested in her as more than a friend. And I never will be. Our relationship is strictly platonic. And if you want to ask Alex herself, by all means do."

"Yeah, cos that's an easy thing to slip into conversation without letting on that there's a pretty darm massive secret we're keeping from her."

Olivia chuckled. "Sweetheart, Alex knows about us."

Blue eyes blew wide. "What?"

"Alex is my closest friend. Of course she knows we're dating. She was the one who suggested we go ice skating for our first date."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously," Olivia nodded.

"Oh, I didn't know we were telling people."

"I mean we're not telling people at work yet."

"Alex works with us," Amanda pointed out.

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Fine, ok. But Alex is different. We're friends outside of work. It's not the same."

"So, I can tell people about us?" Amanda asked, suddenly distracted from the green-eyed monster which was scuttling back under a rock deep inside her.

"Of course," Olivia nodded. "I mean, maybe not Cragen. But if you want to tell your friends, I'm not going to stop you."

"Oh, cool. Then maybe I'll give my bestie down in Georgia a call this weekend and tell her about this super hot cop I'm wooing up in the big apple."

"Wooing, huh?"

"You're totally wooed," Amanda replied, voice sultry and teasing.

Olivia leaned in, kissing those smirking lips. Despite the public space, the curve of their booth lulled both women into believing that they were somewhat hidden from the rest of the wine bar which was already busy with an early Saturday evening crowd. They melted into each other, Amanda scooting across the slick leather and all but climbing into Olivia's lap.

"Well, you weren't exaggerating when you said you two were passionate."

Amanda sprang back at the sound of their guest arriving while Olivia just grinned smugly at her friend who was sliding herself into the far side of the booth.

"I never exaggerate when it comes to dating gorgeous women," Olivia replied, reaching for Amanda's hand under the table and interlacing their fingers.

"Well, if this is you after three official dates, and by the way I'm not sure brunch actually counts but I also don't understand why you're waiting either, I think you'll be arrested for public indecency by the time you actually get into bed."

"Alex," Olivia admonished as the woman beside her turned beet red. "Here, have some wine. And shut up, ok?"

"Fine. But I'm not letting this five date thing go. You two are mad for each other. Why wait?"

Olivia's fingers twitched in Amanda's hand. "Well, maybe the best things in life are worth waiting for."

This time it was Amanda's turn to flinch in delight at the words, her fingers tightening against Olivia's hand. Alex indulged them for a moment before deciding the sicken display of affection was making her a little nauseous.

"Ok, enough. You two disgust me. Let's drink. It's a birthday celebration, right?" Alex's words were teasing rather than mean, leading to Olivia narrowing her eyes at her closest friend and pouring her a glass of wine at the same time. "Thanks. Happy birthday, Liv. And congratulations on your new relationship," she said, raising the drink and tipping it towards the two women.

Amanda's mind immediately jumped to analysing the term relationship. She and Olivia were dating, of that she was sure. But was it a relationship? Did Olivia think they were in a relationship? At what point did dating become a relationship without that high school question of 'will you be my girlfriend?' Lost for a moment, Amanda managed to shake herself back to the present and rejoined the conversation just in time to hear about Alex's latest feud with a defence attorney.

"I mean they're all scum but this one is the slime at the bottom of a stagnant lake, which has been filled with slurry and poisonous chemicals," she added for good measure.

Olivia chuckled. "Are you sure there's not anything you like about this guy? I mean, he is insanely attractive in his five thousand dollar suit."

Looking daggers at her friend, Alex drained her glass and refilled it. "Shut up. I hate him. He's a terrible person … don't look at me like that," she finished with an uncharacteristic whine.

Amanda and Olivia fell about laughing, setting the tone for the rest of the night. The first night, Amanda realised, when she and Olivia were publicly together with someone who knew and cared for them. It was a big step, particularly for someone like Olivia. Did that mean they were inching their way towards a relationship?

A/N: Anyone catch the throwback to when your iPhone memory used to fill up with photos in a few months and then you spent the rest of your contract deleting them so you could take more pics!