Elizabeth Donnelly's eyelids fluttered open as the alarm clock flashed and beeped. A pale arm reached over her slender body to press the snooze button and pink lips planted a kiss on the back of her neck.

"Mmm," The judge rolled over, smiling, "Good morning, beautiful."

She took in the sight of her lover, awake but with eyes still half shut, her long red hair spilled over the white pillow, her blue eyes sparkling but still sleepy.

Their lips met in a kiss that should have been quick but lingered somewhat, with more than a hint of want.

"I have to get showered," Casey pulled herself away smiling, "but you, stay right there. I promise I won't be long." She pushed herself away from the bed, not taking her eyes off the older woman.

"I'm getting up," Liz groaned slightly as she lifted the covers off her body, "I need to finish reading that Review Board proposal before court."

"All work and no play...," Casey teased, pulling on one of Liz's robes.

"...is hardly how I'd describe my life these days, Casey. I should have finished reading this yesterday." She sounded cross but she was smiling. She had been reading it yesterday, but Casey had had other plans. Casey could be very convincing.

Never before would she have left reading something this important this late. Elizabeth Donnelly was always prepared, always on time but now, she was often distracted, sometimes smiling and frankly happier than she had ever been.

That wasn't to say that the formidable Judge Elizabeth Donnelly had gone soft. In her work life, she was more or less the same. She figured there would be perceptible changes in her demeanor but they would be subtle at worst. She still ruled her courtroom with her sarcasm and unrelenting dedication to the law. She still kept errant lawyers in line and passionately enforced the rules. Although there was new passion in her life this year, it didn't decrease the passion she felt for seeing the legal system at work. The law was, and would always be, Elizabeth Donnelly's first love.

She sat down as she heard Casey get into the shower. She felt herself tempted, however briefly, to join the young redhead, but quickly refocused her attention on her work. She still lost herself in her work easily and it seemed no time had passed when she felt Casey's wet hair on the back of her neck and her arms around her chest.

"You're distracting me again, Casey." She kept her eyes forward as Casey planted kisses all the way down Liz's neck. She tried to sound firm, but her resolve was weak. She craned her neck up, allowing Casey more access to her neck and collarbone. The judge's eyes fell closed and she felt Casey tugging her robe off her shoulder. Just as she was about to genuinely protest, she heard a knock at the door.

Her eyes sprang open.

"That must be the mail man. Are you expecting something?" Casey asked, standing up and fixing her robe.

Elizabeth frowned and shook her head, "It could be anything." She pushed her chair back to stand.

Casey put her hand on Liz's shoulder. "You read. I'll get the door."

Elizabeth went back to her reading as she heard Casey's footsteps on the stairs. She sat up quickly when she overheard Casey say, "Elliot."

Pushing her chair back, she walked quietly to the top of the stairs where she could hear them well. It was Detective Elliot Stabler, from the Manhattan Special Victims Unit. Elizabeth knew him and his partner, Olivia Benson well. They however, did not know her well. It wouldn't tax Elliot Stabler's detective skills to figure out what Casey Novak was doing here.

Elizabeth did not often share her personal life at work. In fact, she hadn't mentioned Casey to a soul. She'd been down the road before, a decade earlier, and a lifetime more innocent. People were so nosey, and so cruel, judging relationships they knew nothing about. Elizabeth had her own way of being in love, but it didn't fit well into the wine and cheese reception set. Her mind flashed back to the beautiful relationship that had fallen victim to the critical gaze of the world.

She closed her eyes, straightened her robe and slid her feet into Casey's slippers. She smirked imagining Casey barefoot and sodden, talking to Elliot Stabler.

Casey came up the stairs with a mischievous grin on her pretty face.

"Oh my God, Liz, I'm sorry. I never thought... " not able to help herself, Casey laughed.

"It's ok, Casey, I will take care of this," Liz ruffled Casey's hair affectionately and set a more serious expression on her face. She winked at Casey as she started down the stairs.

She descended the stairs slowly, and came to face Elliot at the door.

Elizabeth found it difficult to suppress a chuckle as the detective was clearly uncomfortable, like a schoolboy with something to confess.

But if there was one thing Elizabeth Donnelly was good at, it was keeping a straight face.

She greeted him, "Detective."

Her composure was threatened again when the detective stammered out his apology.

The exchange itself was unremarkable and she couldn't imagine how he hadn't thought of the consequences of all this himself. After all these years, all these cases, how could he not know? Still she was happy to help. While Liz was a judge, she was never far from her thirty years in the District Attorney's office.

Just as he looked ready to leave, she stopped him.

It wasn't that she was ashamed of the relationship. Nothing Elizabeth Donnelly had ever done had caused her to feel shame. It was just that she didn't yet feel ready to announce her new found domestic bliss to the New York City legal community. Monogamy had never been her strong suit, and while Casey didn't require it of her, everyone else would.

But as the detective left, confirming he would be discreet, Elizabeth Donnelly knew that he wouldn't. As she closed the door, her shoulders slumped with the weight and judgement of the world. Again.