A/N: I'm going to put this out here now, so there is no worries - the worst of everything is over. That means, no Congo. Breathe easy. The rest of this (not sure how many chapters yet), are going to be them working their way back together. I'm going to move quickly, some time jumps for a bit, but we'll get there. It won't be all smooth, they still have some things to work through. But they'll get here. (Yes, Turmoil will happen, but don't fret it). The (happy) end is in sight.

Timeline: Season 11, Oct 2009 - about 6-7 months later

Word Count: ~2,200 Rating: PG

GRILLED CHEESE

"Wonder who they'll send to replace Paxton?"

Their new ADA was just sent off to rehab after a disastrous trial where she showed up drunk. Alex had been sent to appeals and during the six-month period, Olivia had slowly allowed her back into part of her life – but cautiously.

"Cabot," Olivia said, casually. Alex and Elliot still hadn't made it. It was somewhat a bone of contention with Oliva and Elliot, so she made sure to only speak of Alex in a professional sense around Elliot.

Elliot rolled his eyes. "Hmph. You talking to her more?"

"No, Elliot," Olivia said. "No more or less than I have. We talk occasionally. But she texted me so we had a heads up this time before she showed up on a crime scene."

"How does she like appeals?" Elliot said. The question surprised Olivia.

"Do you actually care?" Olivia said.

Elliot shrugged. "Not really, but I'm trying."

"I don't think she enjoys it," Olivia said. "I haven't talked to her a lot. She seems … different."

Elliot raised his eyebrows. "How so?"

"I don't know," Olivia said. "Just more focused on work."

"She's always been focused on work," Elliot said. "You know that."

"No, it's just different," Olivia said. "A bit colder. I mean, not with me, but with some of her work."

"Well, I guess when you aren't doing what we do everyday, it's easy to forget the actual victims," Elliot said.

Olivia shrugged. "Can you please just try to get along with her?"

"Can you please not let her hurt you again?" Elliot said.

Olivia shook her head, annoyed he still held a grudge. "Bye, Elliot. I'll see you tomorrow." Of course, Olivia still held a grudge. She wasn't over it, by far, but she was trying to heal.

#

"Alex? What are you doing here?" Olivia opened the door to find what looked like a very intoxicated Alex Cabot standing there.

Alex's first case back, again, couldn't have gone worse. After a wife stabbed her pedophile husband during an undercover operation – that Alex wasn't onboard with to start – the crime scene turned into a battle when the ADA showed up and started yelling and calling it a "clown show" and insisted Olivia arrest the woman.

Olivia did her best to not have an all-out fight with Alex, but she was struggling with Alex's lack of compassion for the victim's mother. Eventually, she talked sense into Alex.

"We need to talk," Alex demanded and pushed through past Olivia into the apartment.

"Alex, I don't think you're in the state of mind to talk about anything right now," Olivia said.

"Why are you and Elliot being so mean to me?" Alex said, voice slightly slurring.

Olivia laughed.

"Why are you laughing? I'm serious," Alex whined.

"Did you seriously asked why we were being mean to you?" Olivia said, grinning at the blonde. "Badass ADA Alexandra Cabot wants to know why her detectives are being mean?"

"Stop it, Liv," Alex said. "You and Elliot have always pushed me around. And now, I'm trying to do my job the way I'm supposed to and all I get is you all yelling at me in the middle of a crime scene."

"To be fair, you're the one who showed up yelling," Olivia said, not laughing anymore.

"Because you promised you wouldn't fuck up that undercover operation and someone still got stabbed," Alex said. "Then, rather than trying to talk to me, you yell at me. And it's not just this case, Liv. You and Elliot have both been cold to me. Even before I left a few months ago."

"Well, I think you know why," Olivia said flatly.

"We're never going to get past this, are we?" Alex said. "God, Liv, I will do anything." She was whining and clearly even more drunk that Olivia originally thought.

"I told you, Alex, I don't know," Olivia said. "But I still need time. You were gone for years and have only been back a few months. What do you want from me?"

"I want you to love me, Liv," Alex said. She took a step closer to Olivia, but the detective saw exactly what she was trying to do.

"No, Alex," Olivia said. "You don't get to show up here drunk, make me feel bad, and then try to kiss me."

"But you like my kisses," Alex said, smirking at Olivia.

"How much have you had to drink?" Olivia asked.

"I don't know, but I don't have to work tomorrow," Alex said. "Don't worry, I'm not Sonya Paxton."

"I didn't think you were," Olivia said. "How did you get here? And where were you to get so drunk?"

"At a bar…where most people go to get drunk," Alex said. "And I took a cab here."

"How much did you have to drink and how long ago?" Olivia asked. She was trying to figure out what she needed to do with Alex. She'd seen her drunk a few times. Usually Alex was a happy drunk unless …

"I don't know … a few shots of tequila," Alex said. "And I came straight here."

… unless she was drinking tequila.

"Fuck," Olivia said. This was only going to get worse. "One shot? Three shots? Ten shots?"

"Not ten shots," Alex said. "I don't know. Here's my receipt." She handed the credit card receipt to Olivia.

"Jesus, Alex," Olivia said. "Six shots? Did you eat anything?"

Alex shook her head. "Not since breakfast."

Olivia tilted her head back. "Go sit down," she said. "You need some coffee."

"The last time I had coffee here you let me kiss you," Alex said, smirking.

"Good memory," Olivia muttered. "And that won't be happening tonight."

"We'll see," Alex whispered to herself.

Olivia returned a couple minutes later with a bottle of water. "Drink this while I make coffee. Will you eat something? A grilled cheese maybe?"

"What kind of cheese?" Alex asked.

"Um, regular cheese," Olivia said. "American cheese I guess."

"Oh. Ok," Alex said grimmacing. Olivia went back to the kitchen and Alex followed her, sitting at the table. "Wisconsin had all kinds of cheese."

"Oh, right," Olivia said. "Yeah, they are the cheese state."

"I used to have this smoked jack, no smoked pepper jack sandwich on sourdough bread," Alex said. "It was the only thing I liked there. I haven't found one here yet."

"Even better than your boyfriend?" Olivia said, and grinned at Alex so she knew she was teasing her. She was having a hard time being terrible mad at drunk Alex at the moment.

Alex rolled her eyes. "Oh my god, Liv, really?" she said. "He was sooooo boring, especially in the bedroom. Nothing like you."

"Ok, that's enough," Olivia warned, not wanting the conversation to go there.

"Fine," Alex said. Oliva handed her a cup of coffee once it was done and went back to making Alex a plan grilled cheese – not some fancy Wisconsin grilled cheese. "What about you?"

"What about what?" Oliva asked, not following Alex.

"When I was gone, in WitSec, did you date?" Alex said. "I mean, you had to have … needs."

"Alex," Olivia warned again.

"Come on, Livvvv," Alex said. "I'm just trying to be a friend and get caught up on your life. Besides, I won't remember much of this tomorrow."

"Fine. Yes," Olivia said. Alex just looked at her waiting on details.

"And?"

"I dated a little, both before Connors and after," Olivia said. "Nothing serious, though."

"Men or women?"

"Both," Olivia said.

"Better than me?" Alex asked. Olivia gave her a look that said she was crossing a line. "Okay, fine. Do you remember that night I came back – before Connor's trial?"

Do I remember? God, I can't help but remember it every time I look at you. Olivia took a deep breath. "Yeah," she said quietly. "Of course."

"That was my best memory," Alex said. "I never wanted that night to end."

Olivia smiled. "It was a good night," she said quietly. She slid Alex's plate to her. "Eat up then I'll get you ready for bed."

Alex raised her eyebrows at the word bed. Olivia shook her head. "You're incorrigible."

#

Olivia kept tossing and turning on the couch. It was a few hours later and Olivia had successfully put Alex to bed – not trusting the blonde to find her way home. Alex wanted Olivia to share the bed with her, but the detective thought that wasn't a good idea. Of course, she had also forgotten how uncomfortable her couch was for sleeping more than a nap.

She fluffed her pillow again, then heard a noise in the bathroom. Shit. Olivia recognized that sound. Alex was throwing up. Olivia had expected it earlier. She knew Alex always got sick off tequila, but thought she had dodged a bullet since it had been a few hours.

She'd left some water and pills on the nightstand, but decided she better check on her in case she missed the toilet. When she went in the bathroom, she saw Alex struggling and still feeling the need to throw up.

She gave Alex a soft smile and kneeled down beside her, grabbing a wet wash cloth.

"Here," Olivia said, putting the rag on Alex's head. She also took Alex's hair in her hand and pulled it back out of her face. Within seconds, Alex started throwing up again…and again.

When she was done, Alex handed her some water to wash her mouth out, then dug out a new toothbrush she had gotten from the dentist so Alex could brush her teeth.

"Thank you, Liv," Alex said when she came back to the bedroom after cleaning herself up. "I'm sorry for … well, just showing up and everything."

"It's okay, Alex," Olivia said. "I'm glad you weren't alone like this, so I'm happy I could be here."

"Come on, let's get you back into bed," Olivia said.

"You should take the bed," Alex said. "I can sleep on the couch."

Olivia grimaced. "No, it's not … comfortable."

"Then why are you sleeping there?" Alex said.

"Because … Alex," Olivia said. "You know why."

"Look, you can sleep in the bed with me," Alex said. "I promise to behave, even if I wasn't earlier. Besides, I'm still drunk and I know you well enough to know you'd never let anything happen if there was a remote chance you'd feel you were taking advantage of me."

Olivia thought about it for a moment and sighed. Alex's reasoning made sense, and Olivia actually believed Alex when she promised to behave. She nodded, agreeing, and climbed into bed next to Alex.

#

"Oh, my head." Alex groaned when she woke up the next morning, trying to figure out where she was. Then when she looked down and saw an arm wrapped across her stomach and long brunette hair, she furrowed her brow. Olivia. Shit. What did I do last night?

Hearing Alex's groans, Olivia woke up, realizing she had her arm around Alex and nuzzled against her. She quickly pulled her arm away. "Sorry," she mumbled and moved back to her side of the bed.

"What happened last night?" Alex said. "Everything is a blur."

"You showed up here pretty drunk," Olivia said. "You said me and Elliot were being mean to you." She laughed again remembering Alex's words.

"Ugh, really?" Alex said. Olivia nodded, smiling. "Did we … I mean … um, we're in bed together."

Olivia shook her head. She may have subconsciously put her arm around Alex during the night, but she knew nothing had happened between them. "No, you promised to behave and you did."

"Yet, your arm was around me this morning," Alex said, grinning.

"Old habits, I guess," Olivia said quietly, slightly embarrassed. "Do you remember anything?"

"I remember the bar … and I remember throwing up," Alex said. "You took care of me."

"I didn't want you to make a mess in my bathroom," Olivia said.

"Uh huh," Alex said. "Well, thank you. For everything, Liv."

"Hey … what are you doing today?" Olivia asked suddenly.

"Um, I have no idea," Alex said. "If it's Saturday, then I don't think I have plans, other than some work. Why?"

"I was thinking, maybe we could spend some time together today," Olivia said. "I mean, it's getting pretty late in the morning. How about lunch?"

"Really?" Alex said.

"If nothing else, if you're going to be around SVU for a while, we all need to figure out how to work together better," Olivia said. "If you and I can do that, then Elliot will come around."

"Okay, what did you have in mind?" Alex said.

"I thought we could go on a search for some fancy grilled cheese sandwich with pepper jack cheese and sourdough bread," Olivia said, laughing.

"Wait, did I tell you about –-,"

"Yes," Olivia said. "I just had regular ol' cheese for you last night."

Alex laughed. "That sounds perfect," she said. "And by the way, it's smoked pepper jack cheese."

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