Author's Note: The songs Fast Car and Baby Can I Hold Youby Tracy Chapman are the property of Tracy Chapman and the Elektra label. No harm, foul or infringement intended. As always, feedback of any kind is much appreciated. Enjoy!
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Alex was up early the next morning after a solid night's sleep. She went in to the bathroom and found Liv's shirt soaking in the sink. "So, it wasn't all a dream." She smiled, wrung out the shirt and hung it to dry.
She went in to the kitchen and made herself a cup of coffee. She wanted to call Olivia and tell her how much she was looking forward to having her join her in the Berkshires. She wanted to tell her how much she enjoyed their evening. But what if Liv had reconsidered? All evidence to the contrary, she had felt the passion and desire in the kisses they shared. But there was niggling doubt. They were both women. They worked together. If either of them spent too much time thinking it over...
She picked up the phone and punched in the detective's cell phone number before she lost her nerve.
"Benson." The voice sounded a little thick with sleep.
"Liv? Hi. It's me, Alex." Alex felt her stomach flip. "I didn't wake you?"
"Morning sweetheart. No, you didn't. How did you sleep?" She padded to the kitchen and opened the fridge.
"Like a rock. How about you?" Alex felt herself smile and warmth spread through her as Liv used that term of endearment.
"Mmmm, slept pretty good. Had some of those sweet dreams you mentioned." Olivia smirked. The fridge was empty except for ketchup, beer and milk past its date.
"I'd still like you to come to the Berkshires with me." Alex added quickly. "That is if you still want to join me." She bit her bottom lip.
"Oh yeah. If the invite still stands, I'd be a fool not to." Liv closed the fridge and rain her fingers through her bed-head.
"How long do you need to get ready and pack?" Alex sipped her coffee.
"I dunno. 20 minutes, tops. I'm low maintenance." Olivia yawned.
"20 minutes?" Alex laughed. "I'll pick you up in 45, ok?"
Now it was Liv's turn to chuckle. "Sounds great. Did you eat yet?"
"No, just had some coffee. I'll pick us up something to have on the way." Alex rinsed her coffee cup and put it in the sink.
"Sounds great. See you soon." Olivia smirked, sighed and headed to the bathroom.
Forty-five minutes later her cell rang. She checked the number first then answered. "Hey sweetheart."
Alex blushed at her words even over the phone. "Hi." She giggled. "Come down when you're ready. I'm here."
A couple minutes later Alex was treated to the site of Olivia bounding over to her car wearing black walking shorts, a white ribbed t-shirt and sandals. It was all topped off by a big grin. She had her police issue duffle slung over her shoulder. She waved.
Alex let out a whistle. "Hey cutie. Need a ride?" Alex lowered her Ray Bans and winked at the brunette.
"You have been hanging around Munch too frequently." Liv opened the door and tossed her bag in the back seat. She took a moment to appreciate the outfit Alex wore: Khaki Capri's and a powder blue Oxford shirt unbuttoned just enough. Her hair was up in a ponytail revealing the expanse of porcelain flesh that was the ADA's neck. Liv took a deep breath. "You're looking pretty hot yourself, counselor. How long a ride do we have?" Olivia climbed in to the passenger seat of the prosecutor's red BMW.
"We've got about a two and a half hour ride to the cottage." She reached over and put her hand on the detective's knee. "You really need to show off those legs more often." She softly squeezed the flesh.
"Mmmm..." Olivia placed her hand on top of Alex's and held it there. She leaned across to capture Alex's lip in a brief but fiery kiss. "Good morning. Drive fast."
Alex's stomach fluttered at the greeting and the sensation of soft, warm flesh under her hand. "Driving. Right." She leaned in for another quick kiss and then put both hands on the wheel. "There's coffee." She gestured to the cup holder and a wax bag. "And some breakfast in that bag."
"A girl could get used to this." She opened the bag and found a warm croissant, butter and strawberry jam. "Thank you, sweetheart."
"My pleasure. Buckle up." She put the car in to gear and they were on their way.
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The drive was pretty scenic once they got out of the city and hit the Taconic Expressway.
"So, how exactly are you going to present me to Uncle Mort?" Olivia finally asked.
"Huh?" Alex furrowed her brow.
"How will you introduce me to everyone?" Olivia wasn't sure why the blonde wasn't getting her question.
"As Esmerelda Duncan, of course." Alex's eyes gleamed with teasing.
"You are awful." Olivia shook her head. "You know what I mean."
Alex acquiesced. "I'll introduce you as my girlfriend. I'd go with white hot lesbian lover...but that seems inappropriate." She grabbed Liv's hand. "We don't have to hide who or what we are at the cottage. Uncle Mort is gay. His partner Doug will be there."
"Skeletons in the Cabot closet? Wow." Olivia squeezed her hand.
"Actually, nothing or no one in the Cabot closet is more like it. He's been out my whole life. Sure some don't approve, but he doesn't care." Alex smiled at Olivia. "Doug's got three kids from a previous marriage and they practically raised them together. My cousins are a little younger than me."
"That's great. Thanks again for inviting me." Liv could spend the rest of her life looking in to those eyes. When she smiled, they sparkled. When she was grilling some perp on the stand, they shot fire. And last night, she'd seen them darken with desire. She wanted to see some more of those eyes.
"You want to find some music?" Alex pointed at the glove box. "Your choice."
Olivia was certain she wouldn't find anything in the glove box but concertos and opuses and chamber music. She was surprised to find Indigo Girls, Tracey Chapman and Guns N Roses. "Huh." She said as an editorial comment. She slid the Tracy Chapman CD in to the player.
"Excellent choice." Alex commented The first strains of Fast Car began.
Olivia took the opportunity to silently survey Alex's form as they listened to the music. Alex's button down was unbuttoned not scandalously but enough that from her vantage point beside her she could see the swell of her breast. Olivia closed her eyes behind her aviator sunglasses and tried to keep her pulse from racing. She moved her eyes further down and saw the milky white skin of her calves and the delicate feet and perfect pedicure. 'Adorable.' She sighed.
Alex was squirming a little under the detective's hard scrutiny. She could feel herself reacting to the fleeting glances and hard stares. Those sunglasses couldn't contain the sigh she just heard. Tracy Chapman was singing the next song in the background.
"Maybe if I told you the right words...oooo at the right time, you'd be mine. You can say baby, baby can I hold you tonight...you'd be mine."
Olivia reached over. Her full body scan of her girlfriend ended with the flesh on the back of Alex's neck. She placed her hand flat on the back of her neck and sung along softly.
Alex leaned back in to the soft, warm hand. "That's nice."
"Yeah, this is very nice." Liv rubbed her neck gently as they crossed in to Massachusetts. "Beats sitting on my sofa reading for sure."
"Good to know." Alex rolled her neck giving Olivia access to her neck at different angles. "It's not far now."
"I don't mind the driving. Company's great and talk about breath-taking views." Liv grinned. "And the scenery is pretty outside, too."
Alex shook her head. "You are hopeless, detective. But do you really think I didn't notice your careful observation of the, uh, views? Not that I mind it one bit. Let your eyes wander away."
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A few minutes later, they exited the expressway and were on a winding country road. Olivia noticed a fieldstone retaining wall and Alex turned in to a driveway. After a while a huge mansion came in to view from behind the trees. "Cottage my ass, Cabot!"
"What?" Now it was Alex's turn to smirk.
"What the hell? I was expecting a quaint cottage in the woods near a pond...not the Kennedy compound." She removed her sunglasses and blinked until her eyes adjusted. It was a gorgeous multi-story bungalow style...castle? Mansion? There were several outbuildings and a barn.
"Uncle Mort is Mortimer Jameson the third of Jameson-Walsh the first man on Wall Street to develop a hedge fund. He's done pretty well." She pulled in front of one of the outbuildings, which was just a large garage. Inside were several cars including a Rolls Royce and an Astin Martin.
"Pretty well? Pretty well, she says." Olivia arched her eyebrows and shook her head.
"You're not upset are you?" Alex silently held her breath. What if it was too much for Liv?
"Of course not. Just surprised is all." Liv stroked her forearm. "Let's go meet Uncle Mort. C'mon."
The women got out of the car, grabbed their bags and approached the front door. As they did a distinguished looking older man opened the door with a boisterous laugh and held open his arms. "Lexi! Princess!! Let me look at you."
Alex walked in to his embrace. "Hi Uncle Morty." She hugged her uncle. "This is my girlfriend, Olivia Benson."
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Jameson." Olivia extended her hand.
"Ok, honey, if you're going to call me Mr. Jameson, I'm going to spend the whole weekend looking for my mean old father. Mort, please, Olivia." He took the woman's hand in both of his and shook it warmly.
"Thank you, Mort. This place is..." Olivia searched for words.
"Immense, huge, ostentatious...elaborate...a bit much?" A short bald man appeared next to Mort and snaked an arm around his waist. "Hiya, baby girl."
"Hi Uncle Doug." Alex giggled. "Uncle Doug, Olivia Benson."
"A pleasure, Olivia. Well, come on in girls. We'll get you settled. Did you eat yet?" He took Olivia's bag and Mort grabbed Alex's bag from the huge wrap around porch. "No reason to stand on the porch all day. Did you have a good drive?"
"Thanks. Yes, we ate breakfast. Yes, great drive." Alex smiled.
"Great scenery." Olivia's comment made Alex cough.
"Uh hmmm." Doug grabbed Alex for a side arm hug and whispered. "I like her. She's feisty and legs for days, girl!"
Olivia noticed Alex smack Uncle Doug on the shoulder after he whispered something. "Are you girls ok being in the carriage house?"
Olivia shrugged and looked at Alex. "I don't know. If it's ok with Alex, it's fine with me."
"Sure, that's perfect." Alex grinned at Liv. If she could have picked a perfect spot for them to spend the weekend, she'd have picked the carriage house. It was secluded and cozy yet with all the creature comforts. She grabbed Liv's hand.
"We'll get you situated and let you freshen up before lunch then." Uncle Mort was leading the way through a large great room and out a set of sliding glass doors.
"The theme for tonight's party is Fiesta!" Doug snapped his fingers like a flamenco dancer and shook his butt. "TexMex cuisine and mojitos."
"I know it will be fun, as always. Who else is here already?" Alex still had Liv's hand and was pulling her gently through the yard to a freestanding two-story structure across an elaborate courtyard.
"Ben, Wanda and their girls are here. Scottie and his fiancée Lisa got in from Jersey last night. Junior is here with his flavor of the month and we're expecting some couples from the firm later this afternoon."
"Sounds like a good crowd. Another successful bash in the Berkshires." Alex made small talk.
"Like there was ever a doubt!" Doug chuckled as they climbed the stoop to the carriage house. "Be it ever so NOT humble, girls. Home sweet home." He flung the door open and ushered them inside.
Mort sat the bag down and explained a couple things. "The bar and fridge are stocked. If you need anything, ring for Marta. The fire place is fully functional and if you use the hot tub on the back deck, let it run for about 10 minutes before you get in."
Doug was watching Olivia's expressions change with great amusement as Mort was describing things to them. He placed a hand on the small of her back and reached up to whisper in her ear. "Easy, honey. You'll have time to take it all in. Lunch isn't for a couple hours yet."
Olivia smiled at the kind words and gesture. "Thanks, Doug. Really."
"Ok, girls. Holler if you need anything." Doug closed the door behind them.
Alex walked up behind Olivia and snaked an arm around her middle. She whispered in her ear. "Hey you." She rested her chin on Liv's shoulder, using her height advantage.
"Hey." Liv leaned back in to the blonde and closed her eyes. "This is really something. A fireplace and a hot tub. This whole place to run around in. It's bigger than my apartment."
"You ok with this?" She placed a kiss on Liv's jaw.
"You bet. Just one question, counselor. You don't have any special rules about second dates, do you?" She spun around in Alex's arms.
"Nope. Second date, sky's the limit." She pulled Liv closer to her.
Olivia put her arms around Alex's neck. "So, what do we do now?"
"I think Uncle Doug has a loose definition of 'settle in'." And with that Alex captured the brunette's full lips in a searing kiss.
Liv returned her kiss and pulled back slightly. "Yeah. I'm feeling anything but settled." She rested her forehead against Alex's.
"You want the nickel tour of the place before lunch?" Alex took her hand and led her down the hall to the bedroom.
"I'm feeling particularly rich today. I want the twenty-five cent tour, please, Miss Cabot." Olivia took in the view from the bedroom window.
Alex widened her eyes and nodded. "I certainly want you to get your hard earned money's worth, Detective Benson."
"Seriously, Alex. This place is fantastic and everything, but I think we need to talk about some things before we, uh, progress. It's all happening very fast." She walked back down the hall and grabs their bags.
"It's true. Twenty-four hours ago we were just having a normal day." Alex sighed. "Give me ten minutes. I know a great place we can go and talk."
"Sounds great." Olivia sat down on the bed and waited.
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