A/N: Few months later. Still in S11. Someone asked if I was just gonna write up until Alex "left" in the series. No, at this point, other than bringing in some elements from an episode or two, we're off script. This fic is beginning to wind down.

Word Count: ~2,700 Rating: PG

TAKING CHANCES

"You're getting out of here early."

Olivia nodded to Elliot as she packed up her bag and put her files away.

"Plans?" he asked.

"Actually, I have a date," she said. She smiled slightly when she said it.

"Oh? Anyone I know?" Elliot asked.

Olivia smiled again and shook her head. "This is date number 3. If it goes well, I'll give you some details next week."

"Should I call you tonight?" Elliot smirked. "You know, to make sure you make it home safely?"

"Call me and I'll shoot you," she said, flipping her hair as she smirked and picked up her bag. "Seriously."

Elliot chuckled and shook his head. He knew Olivia had been on a couple dates in the past couple of weeks. He had also noticed things seemed better between Olivia and Alex, but he wasn't sure yet if the ADA was the "date" in question – and he wasn't sure how he felt if it was.

#

"Oh my God, this salmon is to die for," Alex said, taking a bite off her plate and then a sip of wine. "I can't believe we managed to get reservations here."

"It's helps to know people," her dinner partner chimed in. "Besides, we look good tonight. I'm pretty sure if we'd just showed up, they'd have let us in."

Alex let out a hearty laugh. "It just feels good to not be at work. I've been buried lately."

"I understand that feeling. To not working this weekend."

Alex raised her glass to meet the other one. "To no work this weekend," she said. "So, what kind of trouble are we going to get into after we leave here?" She gave a mischievous grin across the glass of wine.

"Hopefully some hot sex."

Alex laughed. "Casey!"

"What? You think I get dressed up like this for nothing?" Casey said. "I expect we'll hit up a bar after this and I'll find some handsome gentleman, maybe an investment banker or something – I don't care as long as he's good in bed."

Alex shook her head.

"Oh come on? How long as it been for you?" Casey said. "Your schedule is probably worse than mine right now."

"Touché," Alex said. "But, I doubt I'll be having any hot sex tonight, all the same."

"You could if you weren't still hung up on Olivia Benson," Casey said.

Alex glared at her over her glasses. "I'll ignore that jab and just say thank you for convincing me to come out tonight. I needed a girls' night out more than I knew."

"So, not to dampen the mood, but … any progress there?" Casey asked, quieter now.

Casey learned about Olivia and Alex when Alex was "dead." She wasn't surprised based on everything she had seen/knew. She just happened to get it out of Olivia after seeing a picture of the two of them looking very friendly in Olivia's apartment. Even if Olivia hadn't told her, she would have figured it out by the look on Olivia's face when Alex showed up in her office … or when Alex didn't show up to say goodbye.

When Alex returned to the DA's office, she and Casey had become friends and Casey eventually let on she knew about the clandestine former relationship.

"We're … in a good place, at least as friends," Alex said. "I will take what I can get."

"I never expected to see Alex Cabot so passive about something she wanted," Casey said.

Alex shrugged. "I've made my wishes clear," she said. "I have to earn her trust and accept that we may never … be us again."

"Hmm," Casey said.

"Besides, I think she's seeing someone," Alex said slowly.

"Liv? Dating?" Casey said. "Now that's funny. Did she tell you?"

"She hasn't say anything directly, but I walked in on her on the phone the other day in the squad room," Alex said. "It was clear it was … personal. Then, she had some plans last weekend. I don't know, just a feeling."

"Any idea who it is?" Casey asked.

Alex shook her head and took another drink of her wine.

"Anyway, you ready?" Casey said.

"Yeah, just let me go to the restroom," Alex said. She took some cash out of her purse and put it down for her portion of the bill. "I'll meet you at the coat check?"

Casey nodded as Alex got up and went to the ladies' room. She paid the bill and went to retrieve her and Alex's coats.

"Casey?"

Casey's eyes widened as she recognized the voice. She turned around and saw Olivia standing there – form fitting short black dress, no less.

"Olivia, wow, you look great," Casey said. "Good to see you."

"You, too. And you look nice yourself, counselor," Olivia said. She turned to the woman who walked in the door that was standing just behind her. "Oh, this is Sophia."

"Casey Novak," she said, sticking out her hand to shake his.

"Pleasure," he said. "Sophia Patterson."

Wow. She was tall. And young. And beautiful. And definitely not a cop or lawyer, Casey thought.

"Sophia is a pediatrician. And Casey is an attorney for the DA's office. We used to work together," Olivia explained.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Sophia," Casey said. "I won't keep you two."

"Who are you here with?" Olivia said. "I mean, it's hard enough to get reservations here. You on a date?"

"No. More of a girls' night out," Casey said, looking around nervously, hoping they found their seats before Alex came back. "But if I play my cards right, maybe I'll have one tomorrow."

Olivia laughed.

"Again, I don't want to keep you two," Casey said. "Liv, it's good to see you. Give me a call sometime."

Olivia nodded and gave Casey a hug. Casey thought she was home free, until she caught a glance of Alex's blue dress walking toward her. Fuck.

"Did you get our coats, Casey?" Alex said as she walked up, stopping suddenly in her tracks when she saw Olivia – in a sexy black dress Alex had certainly never seen. Her mouth dropped open. "Liv."

Olivia gave an awkward smile to Alex. Now she knew why Casey was hurrying them. It wasn't because she was on a secret date – it's because she didn't want this awkward encounter. "Alex, nice to see you."

Alex had a hard time hiding her surprise and quickly looked over to the woman with Olivia. She stuck out her hand. "Alexandra Cabot."

"Sophia Patterson," she said. "Do you also work with Olivia?"

"Yes, I'm the ADA for SVU currently," Alex said.

"You all have as many acronyms that I do. SVU. ADA. DD5. 1-6. 1PP," Sophia said, laughing.

"Sophia is a doctor at the children's hospital," Olivia explained.

"Oh, how nice," Alex said, trying her best to hide her sarcasm. She wasn't sure if she was more annoyed by how beautiful the woman was. The fact that she was a doctor. Or that she and Olivia talked enough to know internal lingo like DD5, the 1-6, and 1PP. Could this actually be serious?

Olivia shot Alex a glance. She knew that tone, even if no one else could pick up on it.

"We don't want to keep you," Olivia said. "I'm sure Casey is ready to get on the prowl."

"Not you, Alexandra?" Sophia asked, innocently enough.

"Oh, who knows?" Alex said. "Maybe I will be." Her eyes never left Olivia.

#

Olivia tried her best to enjoy her dinner and her date without thinking about the look on Alex's face. It's not like Olivia was doing anything wrong. Sure, he hadn't told Alex about Sophia, but she didn't feel like she needed to – at least until she knew it this was something that would last beyond a handful of dates.

No, she wasn't going to let Alex get in the way of enjoying her night with Sophia. Her feelings for Alex may still be a little cloudy, but she deserved to see for herself what it looked like to move on – once and for all.

"Your co-workers seem nice," Sophia said. "Are you friends?"

"Yeah, you could say that," Olivia said. "It's always challenging being friends or whatever with someone you work so closely with, though."

"Don't I know it," Sophia said. "But then again, it seems like everyone in my profession only is friends with or dates people we work with. Is it the same with you?"

"Oh, you have no idea," Olivia said, laughing while she sipped her wine.

"The blonde was very stunning. I mean, they both were, but … Alexandra was it?" Sophia said. "She looks like she would be just your type."

Olivia almost choked on her wine. "Alex," Olivia said. "And how do you know my type? I mean, you could be my type and you look nothing alike."

"Oh, come on, Liv," Sophia said. "How long have we known each other professionally? I have seen you checking out the cute blonde nurses on more than one occasion. It's why I never thought I'd have a chance with you."

They had known each other for a few years. Sophia worked at the hospital and often examined child victims … up until a few months ago, when she moved to the children's hospital. It was that move that gave her the courage even to ask Olivia out – now that they didn't have a professional relationship.

Olivia shook her head and smirked. "Well, I'm glad you did," she said. She tilted her glass out between them for a toast. "To taking chances."

"To taking chances."

#

"Well, that was just awkward," Casey said to Alex as they entered a nearby bar. They hadn't spoken the entire walk there.

"Oh, I'm sure you were enjoying yourself," Alex groaned.

"Actually, Alex, I wasn't," Casey said. "I was trying to get away from them before you came out. Come on, you need a drink. But no, tequila. I know about you and tequila."

Alex found a laugh somewhere and gave Casey a smile. She did need a drink and after her last experience with tequila, she definitely didn't want any more of that.

"She's beautiful," Alex said. She decided to stick with wine since they had some earlier.

"Sophia or Olivia?" Casey asked.

Alex tilted her and rolled her eyes at Casey. "Sophia. I mean, obviously Olivia, too, but you know what I mean. God, does she have to be so perfect?"

"And also very busy, maybe even more busy than us," Casey said. "Listen, don't fret it – at least tonight. It's just a date and you know terrible Olivia is at dating."

Alex sighed and rolled her eyes.

"So, tonight, just think about what you need," Casey said. "Even if it's just for tonight, like maybe that red-head across the bar who has been staring at you. Come on, take a chance."

Alex glanced down the bar at the woman who smiled and lifted her glass to Alex. While she wasn't paying attention, Casey asked the bartender to send another drink down to the woman from Alex.

"Your friend will be joining you soon," Casey whispered in Alex's ear. "So, while you get acquainted, I'm going across the bar to get acquainted with that cowboy-looking guy."

"What?" Alex looked up, suddenly realizing what was going on. It was too late. The woman had already brought her drink and was sitting next to Alex and Casey was half way across the bar.

Alex took a deep breath and a drink of her wine. To taking chances.

#

"Just black coffee," Alex said, ordering her coffee the following morning. She didn't normally have black coffee, but this also wasn't her normal coffee shop in her normal neighborhood. She didn't quite trust them to make it how she wanted it. Also, she had a terrible hangover. Not a tequila hangover, but hangover all the same.

When she turned around, she nearly spilled her cup on the woman behind her when she saw Olivia and Sophia walking in – looking very friendly. In fact, they were even holding hands – a public display of affection Olivia typically avoided. But it was early, and it was unlikely there was anyone in this neighborhood Olivia would know. Sophia must live near here – which means, Olivia must have spent the night.

"Alexandra! Nice to run into you again," Sophia said when she saw Alex. Olivia on the other hand had to contain her mouth being open. Alex lifted her dark sunglasses that was hiding her bags and greeted the two of them.

"Likewise," she said quietly.

"Do you live in the area?" Sophia said. "I love this shop. They have the best muffins. Cheddar bacon is my favorite, even though, as a doctor, I try to limit myself."

Alex opened her mouth to answer – something along the lines of trying a new place. She did not live in the neighborhood.

"Alex," a woman called out behind them right after the bell on the door rang. "You forgot … um something." The red-headed woman handed Alex a bag, glancing at Olivia and Sophia and not wanting to embarrass her.

It was then that Olivia realized the clothes Alex was wearing didn't look like anything she would own. A tie-dye t-shirt to go with baggy sweatpants? No, those were not Alex Cabot's clothes.

"Thank you," Alex said. "Um, this is my friend Olivia and her friend Sophia. And this is –"

"Kimberly," the woman said, saving Alex the embarrassment of potentially getting her name wrong. "A new friend of Alex's." She winked at Alex and Olivia thought for a moment she may vomit.

"Ah, so I see you did end up going out last night," Sophia said, smiling at Alex.

"Yeah, I did," Alex said. "Anyway, I'd love to catch up, but I have some work I need to get done. Olivia, Sophia, nice to see you again. Kimberly, I'll call you." Alex spoke and looked extremely awkward.

"I look forward to it," Kimberly smirked.

Alex glanced at Olivia, who still hadn't managed to say a word, then said goodbye again and left.

#

Despite the awkwardness of the weekend, Olivia was cheerful Monday morning. She spent the night with Sophia Friday night and much of the day Saturday – something that was rare for Sophia to have, so they took advantage of it.

Olivia liked Sophia. When they were intimate Friday night – their first time – it felt comfortable and familiar. She felt safe with her, the way Alex always made her feel. It was very unlike some of the other experiences she had had over the past several years.

She had a big smile on her face that got even bigger when she saw what was on her desk – a dozen red roses.

She smirked and sat down, not looking at the card.

"I take it from your grin and these roses your date went well," Elliot said, staring at her across their desks.

She pressed her lips together to hide her smile and just nodded yes.

"That good, huh?" Elliot said.

"Yeah, I had a good weekend," she said.

"Good for you," he said. He then sat quietly for a moment, expecting her to look at the card. "You gonna read the card?"

"Well, I mean, I know who they are from," she said. "You just want to be nosey and know what it says."

"Maybe," he said.

She rolled her eyes and smiled. Even Elliot being annoying and nosey couldn't get her down today. "Fine," she said. She reached up and grabbed the card that went with the roses.

Elliot watched her as she read it, a strange looking appearing on her face.

"What is it, Liv?" Elliot asked.

Olivia shook her head, card still firmly in her hand. "Oh, nothing," she said. "Just … you know, generic flower shop card."

"Hmm," Elliot said, not sure he believed her.

Olivia looked down and read the card again:

Liv, I love you. I'll never stop loving you. And no matter how long I have to wait – and how many dates I have to see you on – I will earn your love again. – A

A/N 2: To be clear here - Casey is not gay in this fic, so no competition there; Also, I'm not setting up a love triangle or anything like that. Just need a little jealousy to get Alex going.

As always, your reviews are appreciated. Love it, hate it, have ideas? Let me know with a comment or on twitter -rileyclocks!