From now on, these updates are probably going to be intermittent. Life gets tough . . . busy . . . unfortunately. Anyway, enjoy them when they come.

The next morning as I get out of the shower, I hear a knock at my door. I freeze and slip on my bathrobe, wondering who on Earth would be at my apartment this early in the morning.

I open the door to find Olivia standing in the doorway. When she sees me, her face breaks into a smile. "'Morning, Alex. I brought breakfast." She holds up a bag from Le Pain.

I cock my head, trying to figure out how she got here. "I didn't buzz you in."

"No, that would be the good Samaritan in 7B. The badge works wonders, you know?"

I can't help but laugh. "You're exploiting the privilege."

She shrugs. "For a worthy cause."

"How'd you get here, anyway?"

"Drove."

"Liv! It's half an hour out of your way – technically an hour, because you have to get from your place to mine and then from here to the DA's office and then to the precinct."

She chuckles. "Can we stop it with the interrogation, Alex? I'm supposed to be the detective, remember?"

"Right." I smile sheepishly. "Come on in."

She's never been to my apartment before, and she glances around as I lead her into the kitchen, appraising every inch. It makes me smile again.

"You can put the food on the table," I tell her. "I'm going to get dressed. I'll just be a few minutes."

"Uh huh. I didn't know exactly what to get, so I got . . . well . . . everything." She blushes.

I giggle – another thing I haven't done in years. Olivia just brings those sorts of things out in me.

I pull on a blouse and dress pants and go back out to the kitchen, where Olivia is setting the table with plates and cutlery. She looks up and smiles when I come into the room. "I got croissants, and danishes, and fresh fruit –"

"What's the occasion?"

She shrugs and raises her glass of orange juice, a twinkle in her eye. "To spontaneous declarations of love."

I grin and raise the other glass of orange juice sitting on the table. "Amen."

She slides a plate onto the mat in front of me. "Breakfast is served, Madame."

I take a croissant and put it in my mouth. "Thanks, Liv."

She waves a dismissive hand. "No thanks needed. And I know I brought way too much food, so don't feel like you have to eat all of it or anything."

We eat breakfast in silence, basking in the warmth of each other's presence. When I don't think I'll be able to take another bite, Olivia helps me clean up.

"Come on. I'll give you a ride to work."

I smile. "So the point of coming all the way out here was just to bring me breakfast and give me a ride to work?"

"Yeah. Isn't that a good enough reason?"

"Of course." I grab my coat and loop my arm through hers. "I'm ready if you are."

Arm in arm, we walk down to her car. I climb into the passenger seat, and we drive in comfortable silence.

We pass Central Park, and I'm suddenly flooded with memories I would rather forget. The first time I came here, with her. We had a perfect time, actually. We walked hand in hand through the park, and she bought me a hot dog from a vendor – she didn't believe me when I told her I'd never had one before. "You deprived child!" she exclaimed, and it actually tasted pretty good.

That day was the day of my first kiss, in front of the fountain at Central Park. It was one of the best moments of my life – but it was also the moment my fate was sealed, the moment I was truly caught in her web.

"Alex?"

I jump, and then realize it's just Olivia. "Yes?"

She regards me sadly. "Where did you go?"

I shrug, a bit uncomfortable. "Into my head."

She reaches out and takes my hand, gives it a squeeze. "Well, stay here with me, okay?"

I manage a smile. "Okay." But I don't let go of her hand.

She drops me off at my office and says she'll see me later. I thank her for the ride and start to go inside.

"Hey, Alex!" Her voice stops me, and I turn back.

"Yes?"

"Want to get lunch today?"

I think about it for a moment. "Are you sure you'll have the time?"

She shrugs. "I'll make the time."

I smile. "Sure."

"Great. I'll pick you up at 1:00."

"Okay. Thanks, Liv."

"No problem." She gives me a wave and leaves.

For a moment, I think that maybe this is going too fast. It's only been a couple of days, and all of a sudden I can't go five hours without seeing her. More peculiarly, she can't seem to go five hours without seeing me. Why is that?

I've never known anyone like her before. I've never even dreamed that someone like her could be mine, that she could want me, that she could love me. Suddenly, I know without a doubt that she does. But I still don't understand why. What could someone as amazing as Olivia ever see in someone like me?

She says I'm a princess. Her princess. If only I could be.

Review for chapter thirteen! I'll try to get it up as soon as I can.