Okay, so it didn't take a week. Luckily my professor was late getting to class and I used the time as wisely as I could. I wrote this. I've been planning it for a while and I know exactly where it's going. Thanks to all the faithful readers/reviewers.

"You've been smiling all morning," Elliot told his partner over a mountain of paper, "What gives?"

Olivia just shrugged with a delighted grin permanently affixed to her face.

"Seriously," Elliot stated, "You haven't smiled this much since you just got together with our lovely ADA turned Bureau Chief."
"You only added the lovely part because you could hear me walking down the hall didn't you?" Alex asked, striding in with a small smile.

Elliot swiveled around in his chair to watch Alex walk to her perch. "Of course not." His smirk gave him away.

"I came to see how Novak is working out," Alex told them as the other two detectives walked in.

Fin just shrugged, "She's not you. That's for sure."

Munch smiled at Alex, "We're still breaking her in."

"So other than her being new, any complaints?" Alex asked.

The detectives shook their heads.

"Alright," Alex stood and started to head out.

"You should come by more often Cabot," Elliot smiled, "I might compliment you when I know you're in earshot more often."

Alex laughed, "Then I'll definitely come by more often." She offered a small wave to the other two male detectives and a sweet smile to Olivia, before walking out the doors.

"Oh damn," Olivia jumped out of her seat, trotting after Alex. "Alex!"

Alex turned around in the hallway, raising an expectant eyebrow.

"You mom called again this morning," Olivia replied, "They're rescheduling lunch for one."

"They?" Alex asked.

Olivia nodded, "Your mom, Johnny, Carolyn, Serena, and whatever kids decided to show up. Are you coming?"

Alex shook her head, "I have a meeting with Branch, the other two Bureau Chiefs, and the Execs that starts in an hour. I don't know what time I'll get out, but I'll try."

Olivia smiled and quickly kissed Alex, "Don't work too hard. Oh, and when you get out, call me."

Alex nodded, "Will do. I love you."

"I love you too," Olivia smiled, kissed Alex again then walked to her desk.

Alex watched Olivia disappear through the squad room doors. She loved that Olivia had gotten so close to her family. Close enough that she felt safe going to a family dinner with Alex being there. Also the fact that her mother felt like a woman she was dating was worthy enough to get a phone call that bypassed Alex, was definitely a good thing. Her mother never directly called any of her former lovers before.

When Olivia walked in Elliot asked again, "What's with the smile?"

Olivia sat at her desk, "It's none of your business."

"That's not your I-got-some-last-night smile," Elliot replied, "That's a completely different smile. C'mon Liv. Spill."

Olivia sighed and tapped her pen on top of some files, "Alex took me to dinner last night."

"It must have been some restaurant to keep you smiling like that," Fin added from his desk.

"Just dinner?" Elliot asked.

"Just dinner in Paris," Olivia couldn't stop a huge smile from crossing her face.

Munch got up and walked to the coffee maker, refreshing his cup, "Chez Paris? That swanky restaurant uptown?"

"No," Olivia added, "A restaurant in Paris."

"France?" Elliot asked, his eyes getting wide.

Olivia nodded.

"No way," Fin leaned back in his chair and smiled.

After the guys extracted every detail of the evening Olivia would share, she checked her watch.

"I gotta go," Olivia stood up, "Call me if you need me, but only if you really need me."

Elliot nodded to her and watched her walk out the door.

Olivia walked into the small deli and looked around. It was hard to miss the large table of Cabots and Southerlyns.

Suddenly her heart jumped into her throat. This was a big moment for her. Not only was it the first time she was with Alex's family without Alex, but there was something else looming in the back of her head. It was completely nerve-wracking.

Celine was the first to see her and smiled. Olivia forced her feet to move to the table.

"Hello dear," Celine gestured to the seat between her and Serena.

"Hi," Olivia smiled charmingly, "How are you?"

"I'm great," she smiled back.

Serena caught Olivia's eye and raised an eyebrow asking a silent question.

"Give me a second," Olivia said quietly to Serena, "I just got here."

Serena shrugged and smiled, "I have to leave by one thirty."

"Me too," Olivia replied.

"Hey Liv!" Derrick called from the other end of the table, "Are you coming to the lake with us this weekend?"

Olivia shrugged, "I'll have to ask Alex."

Justin made a whipping motion with his hand and added the sound effect.

Olivia laughed.

She felt so accepted when she was with this huge family. She felt like they were her family. Growing up, all she had was her mother. She desperately wished for siblings, but conceded to being alone after her mother died. Then came Alex and with Alex came her family. The Cabot/Southerlyn clan was an odd mix, but it worked well and they fully accepted Olivia the first time she stepped foot into their lives. It was a weird feeling for Olivia, but one she was quickly getting used to.

"I ordered for you," Serena told Olivia when the waiter brought out the food, "Just in case you needed to get back to work quickly."

"Thanks," Olivia smiled to Serena, eyeing the delicious looking sandwich sitting in front of her.

After a lunch of laughter and deli food, Johnny and Carolyn left for an afternoon golf game. Serena nudged Olivia with her elbow and pointed at her watch.

"Oh yeah," Olivia replied and she looked at Justin and Derrick.

Serena looked over at them, "Don't you two have somewhere to be?"

Justin gave his sister a questioning look. Serena countered it with a leave-before-I-hurt-you look.

The two men got up and left. Serena stood, placed a comforting pat on Olivia's shoulder and walked out the door, leaving Olivia alone with Celine Cabot.

Celine noticed the change in Olivia's demeanor from happy and laid back to nervous and tense. "Are you alright Olivia?"

Olivia took a deep breath and nodded. "I-um-wanted to ask…" she trailed off. She reached into her pocket and wrapped her hands around the small box for courage. Celine waited patiently for Olivia to get out whatever she wanted to ask. The box did it's job and Olivia continued, "I wouldn't ask this if I didn't have the best intentions. I love Alex with all my heart and she's…my everything. I want to ask your permission…" Olivia paused one last time, finding it excruciatingly hard to look the eldest Cabot in the eye. "To ask Alex to marry me."