A/N: Hi! Thank you all for reading and reviewing. I think the last chapter was one of my most favorite to write—it's something that I think is interesting to highlight in their relationship. I always imagined them being very intimate, and even more so, a little adventurous in the bedroom. I'm glad you all seemed to enjoy it. Now we get to Alex's birthday weekend! Enjoy!

Chapter 84

Gift

"Oh, Ms. Cabot, wait! There's a card with it." The young deliveryman turned back toward Alex's desk and dropped a card on her desk by the box he had just delivered. Alex didn't stand up: she was too excited to open the items in front of her. It was Friday, the day before her birthday, so she wasn't expecting anything today. But, of course, Olivia Benson was always one for surprises.

"Thank you," she mumbled out as she pulled a pair of scissors from her desk drawer.

"No problem. Happy Birthday!" He smiled and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Alex picked up the card and began to read, eager to find out exactly what was awaiting her in the box on her desk. The front of the card was plain white, with an embossed cursive A. She opened the card and was immediately greeted by the familiar handwriting she loved so much.

Alex,

I know you said you didn't necessarily want anything for your birthday, but I couldn't help it—but it's just a small gift. I love you Alex, more than I can put into words. I can't wait to celebrate you tomorrow. Happy birthday, love.

Yours,

Olivia

She smiled and closed the card, placing it back in its white envelope. She carefully pulled the cardboard box down onto her lap and sliced through the tape with one blade of the scissors. A second after she opened the box, she pulled out another, smaller box. She carefully opened the top and saw a small, silver bangle resting inside. Alex took the piece of jewelry into her hands and examined it, a smile adorning her face. On the front of the bangle was a small heart, almost unnoticeable, accented in black. As she turned it over in her hand, though, she noticed engraving on the inside, where no one else could see. She couldn't help but recognize, again, the same symmetrical handwriting.

Love is unto itself a higher law

Alex smiled, even thought she wasn't exactly sure what Olivia meant by it, she knew that the detective would explain it later—Olivia was thoughtful like that, and it always made Alex smile. She placed the bangle back in the box and set it on her desk as she looked down into the cardboard box. Inside was a folded letter: Alex opened it and began to read.

Alexandra,

I should probably start by saying that I always knew we were meant to be together. There was just something that told me that you were the only one for me, and I've known that since the first time I saw you smile—I had never seen anything more beautiful.

Time after time you've impressed me with your dedication, love, patience and honesty with me, and I'll never be able to thank you enough for that. We've had our ups and downs, but I've never been more convinced that we belong together, and that you are the one that I love—even more than myself.

I will spend every day trying to love you more, and give you exactly what you need. You know, it's not true what they say—that relationships are 50/50. Some days you may only feel like going 25%, and then, on those days, I'll make sure to make up for it by going 75%. Lately it's been you that's been doing more, and going the extra mile to make me feel loved and taken care of, and I'll always remember how loving and supportive you've been over the past few months.

I fell in love with you once, many years ago. I remember exactly where I was, what you were wearing, and the circumstances surrounding it. But, everyday I fall in love with you a little more, and you make everything from that day seem more insignificant with each day that passes. That may sound bad, but what I think I'm trying to say is that you make my life so wonderful with every day that goes by that what I've started to realize is that it doesn't matter when I fell in love with you or where, but that I continue to do so everyday.

I love you with everything in me, with my very soul. There are times when you touch me, or I'm holding you, and I can't tell where you end and I begin. There are so many qualities that I love about you that sometimes I wonder what it is that you see in me, or what it is that I did to deserve you. You are a fiercely loyal, beautiful, and loving woman, and every day that I wake up next to you I know I couldn't be any happier.

I love you Alex, more than anything I have ever loved in my life. I never need a reason to celebrate you, but I think your birthday is a pretty good excuse.

Happy Birthday, beautiful.

Olivia

Alex felt the tears fall as she was reading, and couldn't stop them after she had finished. She read the letter 3 times over and felt her love for Olivia swell in her heart each time.

Without thinking she shot up from her chair, the letter still clutched in her hands. She threw her door open and jogged towards the stairs, climbing the flights until she reached the door to the precinct hallway. She slowed her pace to a brisk walk as she turned the corner into the precinct. Olivia heard the familiar clacking of Alex's heels walking at a determined pace and looked up as the blonde walked through the door. Immediately Olivia noticed her bleary blue eyes and stood up from her desk, worried about what had hurt Alex.

"What's wrong? Is everything o—." Her words were crushed by Alex's lips, the attorney wrapping her arms around Olivia's neck. The detective was shocked, but slowly welcomed the embrace, wrapping her arms around Alex's waist, pulling her close as she closed her eyes. Elliot looked up from his desk and smiled, quietly wondering what the piece of paper was that Alex held in her hand.

Alex desperately moved her hands up to Olivia's face, resting her thumbs atop her girlfriend's chiseled cheekbones. One more thrust of her tongue into Olivia's mouth was met with a tightened grip around her waist. A moment later Alex pulled away, lightly kissing Olivia's lips one last time before she severed all contact. Quite abruptly, she moved away, at once realizing what she had done. Alex looked around and noticed, thankfully, that only a few people were in the precinct. Elliot, Fin, and Melinda all looked away quickly when Alex turned her head toward them, but quickly Alex's attention shifted when she heard Olivia's voice.

"Well, that was nice." Olivia sat down at her desk, Alex taking her normal position leaning against her desk. "But, what was that for?"

Alex looked down on Olivia and displayed the folded paper in her hand. A content smile adorned the detective's face as she blushed, knowing what Alex had just read. She stood up and pulled Alex into a hug, kissing her on the cheek as they separated. "I love you, Alex." It was a whisper, but Elliot's ears perked up.

Alex couldn't help but smile as she watched Olivia sit back down, winking at her. "Thank you, Liv…This," she displayed the letter in her hand, "was better than any gift you could have ever given me." Olivia smiled as their eyes connected, Alex looking down on Olivia. She lowered her voice and leaned down, whispering in Olivia's ear. "And maybe, I can properly thank you for it tonight." Elliot saw that familiar eyebrow raise, and knew Alex must have said something sexual to his partner. Before he could think any more about it, Alex turned to leave, the paper still in her hand.

"That was—."

"Shut up." Both women, in unison, shut Elliot down before he could even finish his sentence. He flashed a shit-eating grin at his partner as Alex left the precinct. He waited a few minutes and began asking the question that had been in his mind since Alex walked in.

"What was that paper?"

Olivia looked toward him and answered quietly. "It's just a letter I wrote to Alex for her birthday."

"Love letters…nice."

A few moments later Olivia began working through a pile of paperwork when she heard her phone vibrate. She picked it up and realized she had missed a barrage of text messages from Alex's family. She quickly responded.

Hi everyone! If you could all be at the restaurant by 7 tomorrow, we should be getting there around 7:30 or 8. Drink and eat whatever you want. She will love that you all are coming in for this. Thank you!

She attached the address to Serena's and closed that message, opening another one.

I hope you know I meant every word of what I wrote. I love you.

Downstairs Alex's heart melted. She knew that she wasn't going to get much more work done today—the only thing she could think about was Olivia. She sat back in her chair and thought about what Olivia probably had in store for dinner tomorrow. She knew she could handle turning 37 as long as she was around.

Thank you baby. You've made me so happy, Olivia…

She held her phone in her hand, knowing Olivia was bored with paperwork and would probably text her back immediately.

…?

Alex smiled. She had Olivia exactly where she wanted her.

Oh, I was just going to say that hopefully I can show you exactly how much I love you tonight.

Olivia felt her eyebrows rise in anticipation and quickly responded.

Oh no. Your birthday. It's my night to give you a present.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"Hey, Elliot hold on." Olivia beckoned Elliot over toward her as she stopped in front of a small shop, examining the mannequin in the window. They had just finished interviewing a witness and had a little time to kill before they had to get back to the precinct. "Come on, I'm going in here." Elliot rolled his eyes and followed his partner, who held the door open for him.

"Liv, it's almost October. Why…?" His voice trailed off. In their 15 years together, Elliot had learned that when Olivia decided she wanted something, there was no stopping her. He watched as she shuffled through the hangers, picking up a few items and holding them in her arms.

Olivia cleared her throat and started speaking to her partner, quietly, as she continued to peruse through the garments. "Well, if you must know, I need a bathing suit." She waited, knowing the question Elliot would ask. As soon as she heard him start to speak, she interrupted him. "I don't have one at home. It's in my bag at the precinct. And…I don't really have one that isn't for working out."

Elliot smiled and looked at the collection she had gathered in her arms. "So, are all of those for you…or for Alex?"

Olivia walked toward the dressing room and smirked as she turned around to answer his question. "Well, they're for me…but I guess you could say they're for her too." Elliot rolled his eyes and smiled as he walked back out toward the front of the store. He couldn't be happier that Olivia had finally found happiness with Alex, and he smiled thinking about how happy they made each other.

Before he could think about anything any longer, he heard Olivia calling his name. He walked toward the back of the store, chuckling. "Seriously, Liv. I'm not helping you with this. And we gotta get back." He heard her laugh as she began to plead with him.

"El, come on! We've seen each other naked for god sakes." She took his silence for an agreement and she opened the door. There was no awkwardness between them, and the saleslady seemed surprised that Elliot didn't have any immediate reaction. "So…?" Elliot stood and looked at Olivia for a minute.

"I mean, Liv, it looks good, but…what is it? I mean, what…what's going on?" He continued to examine the bathing suit as the saleslady stepped in.

"It's a monokini! They're super popular. And, if you don't mind me saying, that looks great on you!" She paused and looked at Elliot. "I'm surprised you haven't told her how good she looks!"

Immediately, they both started speaking.

"Oh, no. No, we're not….we're not together." Elliot responded and they both began to laugh. "And, I said it looked good! I just don't understand this new style. But…I'm sure my daughters do."

Olivia turned back around and examined the black suit in the mirror. It was much like a one piece, except there was only one shoulder strap and a large area of the abdomen was cut out, allowing her abs to show through. Faintly, Olivia heard Elliot and the saleslady speaking to each other.

"I mean…it looks like someone took a regular swim suit and just cut pieces off of it." Elliot's eyes focused on Olivia, but he was not lustful—more interested than anything else.

"Oh, Elliot…Quit trying to understand it." Olivia closed the door and began to take the suit off as she was speaking to the saleslady. "One time, we were working on something together and we went to a store looking for a specific hat."

"Really Liv?" Elliot piped up and both women started to laugh as Olivia continued.

"We found the hat and one of the sales associates came up to us and we started asking questions about the hat. She told us it was $7.95 and Elliot said, 'Well, she seemed to have found the only affordable thing in this store.'" Olivia opened the door to the dressing room, suit folded over her arm.

"Then, the sales person looked at me and I had realized what he heard. I turned to him and I said 'that's seven hundred and ninety five.'" The saleslady's eyes widened as she started laughing. "He couldn't comprehend that…Ever since then, I've just let him be in his own world regarding fashion."

"That's probably a good idea." She rang Olivia out and minutes after they arrived in the store, they were gone.

Olivia settled into the passenger seat as Elliot pulled the cruiser out onto the street, headed back to the precinct. He cleared his throat and spoke through a smile. "That really did look good, Liv. Good choice."

"Thanks."

"Happy birthday to Alex, indeed." He smiled and looked at Olivia, prompting a response.

"Not that I need to respond to that but…" she rolled her eyes. "I don't like showing off my body, but I know that Alex is into…" she paused, and circled her hand up around her body, from her head down to her legs, "all this, for some reason." Elliot laughed.

"Well, you are in good shape, Liv."

"Yeah, whatever you say." A few minutes passed in silence before they approached the precinct. Elliot parked the car and they began to walk into the building when he asked the question he had been wondering about since they walked into the store.

"So, I'm still confused—where are you going swimming? Or is this a fantasy thing?"

"Oh my god. Elliot." Olivia couldn't help but laugh as she rolled her eyes and looked toward him. "No. There's a hot tub on the roof of my apartment." They both laughed at each other as they climbed the stairs to the precinct.

"Don't act like you two don't do that shit. I saw how she looked at you when I told her to take it easy on you." Olivia smiled and walked into the precinct, placing the bag securely inside her locker. It was 4pm and she and her partner both had a little bit of paperwork to do before they left.

Almost ten minutes later Olivia couldn't get what Elliot had asked out of her head. She picked up her phone and texted Alex.

How's your afternoon going?

She put her phone down on her desk, not expecting an immediate response. She was pleasantly surprised when she heard it buzz only seconds later.

I can't decide if it's good or bad. Good because I can't stop thinking about you…bad because I haven't really gotten anything done since your gift came to me this morning.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Please, Liv. No reason to apologize. How's your day been?

Good. Just got back. Can't wait to spend some time with you tonight.

Same.

Alex placed a heart emoji at the end of her text message, and that always made Olivia smile.

Hey speaking of that…

Olivia wasn't sure why she was nervous, but she didn't know if she should continue with her thought.

…? Yes?

I was thinking earlier…did you ever have any fantasies? I mean, that you were curious about…?

Alex felt herself blush. She wondered where this line of questioning was coming from, but continued nonetheless.

Detective Benson! I'm not sure this is a conversation we should be having over text message…maybe I'll tell you tonight, if you're lucky.

Olivia smiled and locked her phone, determined to finish this paperwork as quickly as she could, wanting to get home to Alex ASAP.