A/N: apologies for the delay in getting this up, I had a computer crisis and had to do a re-write. As always, thanks for the reviews and I hope you continue to enjoy.

Disclaimer: *sigh* still not mine...

Chapter Three

Before she left for the evening, Olivia grabbed the envelope Alex had left and stuffed it in her coat pocket. Elliot offered to give her a ride home but she declined, telling him she wasn't ready to be cooped up in her apartment just yet, and he declined her invitation for a drink, saying he had to get home if he didn't want to spend another night sleeping on the sofa, as usual he and his wife Kathy were having problems.

Olivia sat alone at a cafe not far from her apartment and looked at the paper parcel she held in her hands. Olivia it said in Alex's perfect cursive handwriting. Not Detective Benson but Olivia. The detective sighed as she used her thumb to tear the envelope open. Inside was a single sheet of paper, covered in the same impossibly neat lettering.

Olivia,

I'm sorry I hurt you. Truly I didn't mean it to sound as though I don't care about you, because I do. Not one single day went by that I did not think of you and wonder what you were doing. Why didn't I call you? Because I am a coward. Olivia, I didn't know if you had moved on. On one hand, I wanted you to be with someone who would treat you the way you deserve to be treated but on the other, for incredibly selfish reasons, I didn't want to know. I truly regret not putting my own fears aside and not calling you and I understand why you would feel betrayed but I hope that you can begin to forgive me.

I will be at Barb's coffee shop until 11 this evening.

Love,

Alex

Olivia checked her watch, it was almost nine. Paying for the coffee she had barely touched she carefully placed the note back into it's slip and headed outside to hail a cab to take her across town.

Olivia stopped to peer in the window of Barb's cafe and immediately spotted the ADA, sitting alone in a booth with a cup in her hands and a half eaten muffin before her. Taking a breath she pushed the door open. As the bell above her head dinged, Olivia saw Alex's head turn toward her and smile. Olivia smiled faintly in return and headed to join her.

"Hey," She said, removing her leather coat and sitting down.

"Hey," Alex smiled again, "I'm glad you came."

Olivia nodded, "Me too. I'm sorry I was such a bitch," She offered with a hint of sheepishness in her voice.

Alex shook her head, "No, you have every right to be pissed. I should have called you."

Before Olivia could reply, a young waitress handed her a worn out menu and smiled, pen poised and ready to jot down an order. Olivia perused the menu for a moment before ordering a latte with two sugars and a slice of blueberry cheesecake.

Olivia looked directly at Alex, "Alex?"

"Yeah?"

Olivia shook her head, "I don't know what I'm doing here."

Alex frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I don't know what's going to happen." Olivia said honestly.

"What do you want to happen?" Alex questioned.

"I want to be with you but..."

"But?"

"... I need to be able to trust you," Olivia sighed as she saw the confusion on Alex's face grow, "That night, you said you loved me," Alex nodded but stayed silent, "I believed you then and I want to believe you now."

"You read my note?" Alex asked. Olivia nodded, "Perhaps what I wrote wasn't clear? Olivia, I..."

Olivia cut her off, "I understand perfectly, but I don't know if I can believe it." The conversation was interrupted by the waitress placing the coffee and cheesecake on the small table. Olivia nodded her thanks and before she could contunue she felt Alex's hand on her own.

"Listen to me, Olivia," Alex said firmly, her blue eyes searching for Olivia's, "I don't know what else I can say to make it upto you, except tell you that I stood outside your apartment block on more than one occasion, trying to work up the courage to see you. And one night, I was ready to press that button and speak to you but you know what happened?"Olivia shook her head, "I saw you. I saw you with that reporter," Olivia's eyes widened, "And you looked happy."

"I thought I was..." Olivia admitted.

"So what happened?" Alex asked, hand still on Olivia's.

"... Something wasn't right," She shook her head, "He wasn't you," She whispered, allowing her eyes to meet Alex's for the first time that evening, "I tried to move on but..."

Alex gave a faint smile, "You couldn't live without me?" She joked.

Olivia shrugged, "Apparently not," she smiled back and squeezed the lawyer's hand.

"So, where do we go from here?" Alex asked with a genuine curiosity.

"Firstly," Olivia answered, "I'm going to finish my coffee and cheescake," She gestured to the table between them, "And then, I'm going to walk you home, counselor," Her voice lowered, "If I'm lucky, you're going to insist I stay for a drink, and if you're lucky I'll say yes."

Alex raised an eyebrow, "Is that what's going to happen, detective?"

Olivia brought a forkful of cheesecake to her mouth and nodded, "Uh huh."

Alex grinned slyly and stuck her own fork into the cheesecake, breaking a piece off and popping it into her mouth, "Just helping you finish it faster," She said in response to Olivia's slightly surprised expression.

Despite protest from Olivia, Alex paid the bill and the pair headed out into the night. A sudden chill hand come down over the city so they decided to take a cab, which Olivia paid for. Standing outside Alex's apartment block they faced eachother.

"So..." Olivia said.

"So..." Alex parroted, "This is the part where I insist you come up for a drink, right?" Alex smiled.

Olivia nodded, "Looks like it."

Alex laughed, "Okay then. Olivia, would you like to come up for a drink?"

Olivia pretended to contemplate the offer, "I don't know, it's late and..."

"Late? It's only eleven o'clock," Alex reached out for the collar of Olivia's leather coat, "Please?" She said quietly, caressing the soft hide with her fingers.

Olivia nodded, her verbal response caught in her throat, "Good," Alex responded, unlocking the lobby door and leading the way to her apartment, the place she wanted to call home but couldn't as it was missing one key element, the one thing that would make it a home. But tonight that would change, Olivia would be there.

Olivia gave a low whistle as Alex flicked the lights on. She had been in Alex's old apartment but this one was amazing, the living area was split-level with a carpeted lounge and floorboards on the upper level, which appeared to be the dining area. The kitchen was to the right and had marble benches and stainless steel appliances.

"You okay?" Alex asked, reaching to remove Olivia's jacket and noticing the brunette's somewhat stunned expression.

"Uh, yeah," Olivia managed, "It's just wow. Alex, this place is amazing."

Alex hung Olivia's coat on the stand next to the door, "It is now." She replied with a smile, "Take a seat, and I'll get the drinks. Wine?"

Olivia headed to the lounge, "Wine's fine, thank you," She set herself down on the modular lounge, feeling a little out of place.

A few moments later Alex joined her, placing two glasses and a bottle on the glass coffee table. Once the glasses were full, Alex raised hers, Olivia did the same.

"What're we toasting?" Olivia queried.

"Another chance," Alex replied, touching her glass to Olivia's.