On the way to Alex and Olivia's apartment, Serena's cell phone rang. She checked the number and answered, "Southerlyn." She raised an eyebrow and looked into the backseat were Alex was sitting. "As a matter of fact I do….yeah she's right here. Hold on." Serena covered up the bottom of her phone and handed it back to Alex, "It's Donnelly."
Alex's eyes widened and she whispered to Serena, "Why is she calling? I'm not supposed to have to listen to her yell at me for another two and a half weeks."
Serena shrugged.
Alex took the phone and answered, "Cabot…yes…um, five o'clock…okay…bye."
Serena took her phone back and Olivia listened from the driver's seat, "What'd she want?"
"She asked me what time I could meet her in her office today," Alex replied.
Serena thought for a second, then asked Olivia, "How's the ADA doing that's filling in for Alex?"
Olivia shrugged, "I haven't had to deal with him yet, but Munch and Elliot say he's a moron."
Serena looked back at Alex, who was looking out the window.
When they got to their building, Alex ran inside to get the key for the service elevator from Sam and David. She met the other movers in the lobby.
"So how are we gonna do this?" Derrick asked.
"Uh…" Elliot shrugged, "How bout we split into two teams? One brings stuff down and the other team takes stuff up."
"Good idea," Serena nodded.
They split into teams and went to work. Alex was in the apartment telling the other's what was going and what was staying.
"What about this table?" Fin asked, pointing to the dining room table.
"It goes," Alex stated.
Alex smiled at Munch and handed him a lap, "Liv told me you like to move lamps."
Munch smiled back, "I skimp out on helping her move once and I'm forever labeled the lamp guy."
Fin and Serena grabbed the chairs around the table and started out the door. The stood next to the doors for the service elevator with Munch and the lamp he was carrying.
The doors opened and Olivia and Derrick walked out with the couch. Olivia smiled at Munch as she passed, "Hey! Lamp guy!"
Munch rolled his eyes, but couldn't stop a smile.
It only took a few hours to unload Olivia's things and load up Alex's things.
After they were done, they all stood out by Derrick's truck.
"I ordered pizza," Alex smiled at her brother, "Are you gonna stay?"
Derrick smiled, "As much as I like free food, I have a date that I need to get ready for." He glanced at his truck that was full of Alex's old things, "I'll drop this stuff off on my way and I'm keeping your couch."
"Well, thank you," Alex hugged her brother.
"No problem," Derrick smiled, then hugged Olivia and Serena, "You three say out of trouble." He shook Elliot, Fin, and Munch's hands saying a polite goodbye before getting in his truck and leaving.
Serena looked at Alex, "And as much as I like free food, I have to run."
"Do you have a date too?" Alex asked with a smile.
"I have a date with some paperwork," Serena replied, hugging everyone in the group and leaving.
"You guys ready?" Olivia asked her fellow detectives.
They all nodded and went up stairs.
"I have to admit," Fin smirked, "I never saw this coming. For either one of you."
"I guess it's lucky that you're not clairvoyant," Olivia replied, jokingly.
After they all ate and the guys said goodbye, Olivia sank back into the couch, exhausted. Alex walked around the couch and stood over the detective. Olivia reached up and pulled Alex into her lap. Alex leaned back in Olivia's arm, "I have a meeting with Donnelly at five."
"What time is it?" Olivia asked.
"Two thirty," Alex replied, closing her eyes.
Olivia kissed Alex's cheek, "I love you."
Alex moved so that she was sitting sideways in Olivia's lap with her head on her lover's shoulder, "I love you too."
"You better not go to sleep," Olivia smiled as her eyes shut, "Cause if you do, I do and you'll miss your meeting."
Alex groaned, "I can't help it. Someone kept me up late last night."
Olivia chuckled, "You started it."
"What do I wear to this meeting?" Alex asked, "Technically I'm still suspended."
"Wear that black suit with the red shirt," Olivia suggested.
"For you or for Donnelly?" Alex smirked.
"Well…" Olivia smiled and paused, "Mostly for me when you get home."
Alex chuckled and kissed Olivia, "Okay, I'll wear it. For you." She paused, "I better go get in the shower."
"I think I'm gonna take a little nap," Olivia replied.
Alex got up and pulled Olivia up with her. "Let's get you to bed before you drool all over my new couch."
Olivia smiled and followed Alex to their bedroom, "I believe it was my old couch before it was your new couch."
"Yeah, yeah," Alex smirked and pushed Olivia back on the bed, "Take your nap."
Alex went into the bathroom to take her shower and when she got out, Olivia was asleep. She did her hair and her minimal makeup before getting dress. With a light kiss to Olivia's forehead, Alex left for her meeting.
Alex knocked on Donnelly's door right on time. The door swung opened and Donnelly smiled, which confused Alex. "C'mon," Donnelly walked out into the hallway and led Alex into a conference room. She motioned to a chair and added, "Have a seat."
Alex sat down and watched Donnelly, who took a seat across from Alex. Alex opened her mouth to say something, but there was a knock on the door. A woman stuck her head in the door. She walked in fully after seeing Donnelly flipping her red hair over her shoulder. She started to close the door, but a large hand stopped her. Arthur Branch stepped in after her.
"Hello ladies," he said, walking in.
"Hi Arthur," Donnelly smiled.
"Have a seat Casey," Branch gestured to the seat next to Alex.
Casey obeyed and Branch stood next to Donnelly. He's the first to speak, "Alexandra," he paused, "Although, you're actions were less than exemplary and you're still on suspension, there have been recent developments that change the circumstances."
"What circumstances?" Alex raised an eyebrow.
"I've been appointed as a judge," Donnelly smiled.
Alex beamed, "Congratulations."
"Which means," Branch went on, "That I need a new SVU Bureau Chief."
Alex eyed the woman next to her. She didn't really look like Bureau Chief material. Maybe she was tougher than she looked otherwise Branch wouldn't be appointing her right.
Donnelly took a set of keys out of her pocket, "Here's the keys to your office Bureau Chief Cabot."
Alex blinked, "Me?"
Branch nodded, "I've been looking at you for the job for a while. So, you made one big mistake. You took responsibility for it and accepted your punishment gracefully."
Alex took the keys from Donnelly.
"But this means you'll have to come in to work tomorrow," Donnelly added, "And clear out your old office for Casey. She'll be the new Manhattan SVU ADA."
"This also means that you will answer to me directly," Branch replied, "If you keep up the good work you'll stay on the fast track to Executive ADA."
Alex nodded politely, trying to stop from grinning like a fool. "Thank you."
"We'll leave you two to get acquainted," Donnelly stood up and left with Branch.
Alex looked over at Casey, "Alex Cabot," she extended her hand.
"Casey Novak," Casey replied, shaking Alex's hand.
"I'll go with you to meet the squad tomorrow," Alex added, standing up. Casey followed in her wake. "And I'm warning you now, before you drink the coffee ask who made it. If Munch made it, don't drink it."
Casey smiled as Alex unlocked the door to her new office. It was empty except for a desk and some bookshelves. It was definitely a lot bigger than her old office.
Alex fished her keys out of her attaché and took a key off. She handed it to Casey, "Here's the key to your new office."
Casey wrapped her hand around it, "Thanks."
When Alex got home, Olivia was sitting on the couch watching a movie. She looked up at Alex who was beaming, "How'd it go?"
"It went fantastically," Alex beamed, "I got a promotion."
Olivia smiled and stood, wrapping Alex in her arms, "That's great baby. What does that make you now? Super ADA? Sergeant ADA?"
Alex snickered, "Bureau Chief."
"Wow," Olivia smiled, "So you're too good for us lonely detectives huh?"
"That's not true," Alex replied, settling her hand on Olivia's hips, "I'm still trying to figure out how I got good enough for you."
"You got good enough for me?" Olivia raised an eyebrow.
Alex nodded sweetly.
"Don't you mean how I got good enough for you?" Olivia asked, studying Alex.
"Is it so hard to understand that you are a wonderful person?" Alex asked back, "You're beautiful and smart and loving and so many other amazing things it would take me days to name them all. I feel lucky to have you in my life at all, but I feel extremely lucky to love you and have you love me back."
Olivia blinked back tears. She wasn't used to having people of Alex's upbringing and clout telling her that they felt lucky to be with her. She wasn't used to anybody saying it.
Olivia was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed the change of scenery. They were now in the bathroom. Alex had started the claw foot bathtub to filling up and was lighting candles, when Olivia came out of her head.
Alex smirked up at her, "Hey you're back."
"Sorry about that," Olivia slightly blushed.
Alex flipped off the lights, "Don't worry about it." The whole room glowed from the few candles that Alex lit. "So are you going to take this bath with me or am I going to have to take it alone?"
Olivia smiled, "I'd be happy to join you." She pushed Alex's jacket off of her shoulders and set it on the counter, "Have I told you lately how hot you look in that suit?"
"Not since a few hours ago," Alex smirked while Olivia undid the buttons on her shirt.
"Well, you know what's hotter than you in that suit?" Olivia asked mischievously.
"What?" Alex asked.
Olivia pushed the shirt off of Alex's shoulders and letting it drop to the ground, "You without the suit on."