Author:Kristattoo
Title : Remembering Alex
Disclaimer: The characters in this story don't belong to me, yada, yada, yada. You know the drill.
Fandom: Law & Order: SVU
Pairing: Olivia Benson/Alexandra Cabot
Rating: PG to Adult depending on the chapter
Special Thanks for my fabulous betas imaginus75, freakyenoughcom, and of course, the wonderful cuchiville70. I couldn't have done it without you three.
Summary: Begins one year after Alex leaves in "Loss." It's possible there may be spoilers in future chapters. I really don't know.
Authors Note: As my first woman told me the morning after………. well you know, "If you talk about this in the future, and you will, be kind." Feedback is always appreciated.
End of Previous Chapter:
The clothes Olivia had laid out were still on the foot of the bed
apparently untouched. Leaning the side of her head against the doorjamb,
Olivia watched Alex sleeping like a baby and felt her desire ramp up into
overdrive. She could not help herself as her eyes moved to Alex's face and
than slowly down her body, stopping at her breasts for a while, before
continuing down lower. Moving quietly into the room, she softly pulled the
covers up over Alex. She knew there was little chance that Alex would remember any of this. Olivia shook her head slowly at the scene in front of her. If Alex did indeed have a secret about Olivia, she would not find it out on this
night. Not able to stop herself, she leaned in close to Alex's ear.
"I love you," she whispered, laying a soft kiss on the blonde's cheek. She
turned after one last glance at the sound asleep love of her life,
who at that moment looked for the entire world as innocent as a child without
a care in the world. It was a scene Detective Olivia Benson would treasure
for a very, very long time.
Chapter Five
The following morning:
Alex rolled over onto her back, and slowly opened her eyes. Surprisingly, she wasn't confused as to where she was. While her memory for the first part of the evening was less than intact, she remembered arriving at Olivia's apartment and taking a shower. Memories after that had a dream like quality to them, including lying down on Olivia's bed for just a second to rest after her shower. Evidently "resting for just a second" had turned into seven solid hours of sleep. Alex rolled back onto her stomach and inhaled Olivia's scent in the bed sheets and pillows and smiled, letting the gossamer images float through her mine. There was Olivia, running the shower for her all the while comforting her in the bathroom; Olivia reassuring her that Cragen would be fine; and Olivia, letting out a barely audible sharp intake of breath when she came back to the bathroom to deliver tea and clean towels. Finally, she could feel the whisper of Olivia's breath on her cheek as the brunette delivered a kiss so soft that had Alex had one more drink earlier that night, her brain wouldn't have been able to register the contact. She knew Olivia had whispered something important in her ear just before the kiss, but for the life of her, the other woman's words would not materialize in her memory.
The room she awoke in was warm, with features that suited the woman who lived there. Like Olivia, the furniture was solid and substantial, able to bear almost every circumstance, while on the bookshelf, sat Winnie The Pooh. Next to Pooh was a stand that held an obviously antique Holy Bible. On the nightstand, there were two photographs; one of a woman Alex knew to be Olivia's mother, and the other was of the entire SVU squad including Cragen and Alex that had been taken at a 4th of July BBQ at Elliot's house. All the team was relaxed, happy, and smiling, obviously enjoying their each other's company.
The bedroom walls were cream colored, and there was framed artwork on the walls. A large picture of Manhattan's skyline was above the head of the bed. Over the dresser, was a large painting of a farm, with the homestead including a front porch with a porch swing on it, a white picket fence, and in the distance, a red barn with white doors.
Unable to ignore certain bodily needs, Alex went into the bathroom. She smiled at the cup of cold tea that sat on the vanity. Sometime during the previous night and this morning, Olivia had turned from the enigmatic, intense detective that had so fascinated Alex for the last year, to a woman who was even more fascinating now that Alex had seen a side of Olivia that very few knew. The morning's light brought a new clarity and appreciation that there was much more below the surface of the woman who had so completely cared for a vulnerable Alex the previous night. Finishing her tasks, Alex left the bathroom, determined to look for Olivia and coffee.
Quietly, she stood in the living room doorway, and let her eyes rest on the sleeping woman on the couch. Olivia was dressed in a tank top and boxers, and one arm lay on the strip of skin visible between the shirt and the boxer shorts. Alex felt herself wetting her lips at the sexy sight. Before she could imagine the wondrous things she'd like to do with the brunette on the couch, she forced herself to abandon all thoughts and continue on with her search for coffee coffee. As it turned out, there wasn't much exploration necessary, as the coffee, cups and coffee machine were all next to one another in one another in one of the cupboards. Looking in the fridge, she found ample breakfast supplies and soon, the friendly nutty aroma of America's morning obsession appeared, along with the smell of frying bacon. Hash browns browning in a skillet, and eggs scrambled in a bowl ready to be cooked would complete the early meal Alex was preparing.
The first thing Olivia was aware of was the smell of brewing coffee. It took a minute to realize that it wasn't a dream or a wish but somehow, fresh coffee was actually within smelling distance of her. Following that realization, she also recognized the scent of bacon. As her eyes snapped open, she was momentarily confused by her surroundings, and the reason these delicious smells were coming from her kitchen.
"Good, you're awake," she heard as Alex materialized in the living room, dressed in the clothes that Olivia had laid out for her the night before.
"Well, my eyes are open," Olivia, replied, "but I'm not certain that qualifies me as being awake. Do I smell coffee?"
"Quite possibly," Alex smiled at her. "If you're really good and patient a breakfast fit for a queen will be ready in a few minutes."
"You can cook?" Olivia asked in a surprised voice, her eyes opening more.
"Yes, I can cook. Quite well as a matter of fact."
Olivia heard the reply, and felt herself blush slightly.
"Is that such a surprise?" Alex was grinning at her, fully aware of Olivia's embarrassment in the assumptions she had made of the blonde.
"Can I just say that something smells delicious and issue a blanket apology for any preconceived notions I might have had about you?" Olivia smiled, hoping she appeared charming rather than just stupid.
"Well, I suppose we could do that," Alex said, smiling back, "if you allow me to apologize for my behavior last night."
"I can do that," Olivia replied. "Perhaps we both learned surprising things about one another. Not to be mundane, but breakfast smells amazing."
"Come over and sit down and see if it tastes as good as it smells," Alex called her over as she started to plate the food.
Olivia made her way over to the table and Alex placed two plates on the table. She left momentarily and returned with two cups of coffee and sat down across from the brunette. Olivia eyed the feast in front of her.
"Is something wrong?" Alex asked, a hint of panic in her voice.
"No, not at all," Olivia replied and smiled. "It's just that no one's ever cooked for me before."
Olivia saw Alex relax visibly at her honesty.
"Well, if you like it, maybe it won't be the last time," the blonde said shyly.
Olivia's smile grew into a grin and both women began to eat the aromatic meal in a comfortable silence.
"Wow, this is really good," Olivia, said after swallowing a mouthful of eggs. "I really am sorry for being doubtful earlier."
"Truth be told, I did burn a hole in my parents counter one time when I was twelve," Alex confessed. Then she added sheepishly, "I was boiling water."
The admission and look on Alex's face only endeared her more to Olivia.
As they finished breakfast, Olivia looked up at the wall clock in the kitchen.
"I have a spare suit in my office so I can just shower here and we can go straight there," Alex said when she saw Olivia check the time.
"Okay, I have some spare clothes you can wear to your office," Olivia said and proceeded to insist that the blonde shower first while she cleaned up the breakfast dishes. While she heard the shower running, Olivia relished in the euphoria she felt from the short lived domestic life she just shared with Alex.
"Alex, this is ridiculous" Olivia said, frustration evident in her voice, "I'll deal with Cragen."
With Olivia waiting in her office, Alex had changed her clothes in the ladies room, and the duo was now arguing in Alex's office. The blonde was dressed in her usual perfect manner and was insisting on accompanying Olivia to the station house to deal with the results of last night's debacle at the crime scene.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," came Alex's response. "You can talk yourself blue in the face, but there is no way you are going to take the blame for last night alone when Cragen starts yelling. Besides, it was a legitimate win. Rock crushes scissors, remember."
"I was the one who said it was ok for you to come with us." Olivia answered. What she didn't say was that it would have been nearly impossible to deny Alex's request after Alex had whispered in Olivia's ear about a "secret" that involved Liv. In her mind, her relationship with Alex had changed, although she wasn't at all sure what the new relationship might mean to her or to the other woman. Regardless, she was certainly looking forward to finding out.
Grabbing her coat, Alex looked over at Liv with an undeniably flirtatious look. "You coming…, Detective?"
"Don't I wish," Olivia whispered under her breath, and then continued in her normal tone. "At your command."
Without thinking her actions through, Olivia gave Alex the full head to toe treatment before continuing on. "Ready when you are." She left the answer and the possible implications open to interpretation.
"I'll let you know, Detective," Came the blonde's enigmatic answer, as she gave Olivia the same head to toe look. "I'll let you know."
With those words, both women knew they were moving their relationship into uncharted waters. Both knew implicitly that they would take their time crossing to the other side, but no matter how long the journey, they knew the voyage would be an enjoyable one, and one that would take them to the Promised Land.