A/N: For disclaimers see chapter 1!

So my dear readers. I hope you don't kill me for postponing the dinner. I took the chance to write a little more about my two own characters. Wanted to introduce them, maybe they show up a little more often. Well, read it! Hope you enjoy it. I make sure, that the dinner appears within the next few chapters. I changed the rating into M for the later chapters, just to be on the save side. So don't get your hopes up, they're not jumping into bed together, yet.

And because I really enjoy writing this story and my muse is sitting right beside me today, I update this today too.

Part 7

Danielle Marsden stood before the mirror in her bedroom. She wasn't satisfied with her outfit yet, but couldn't really figure out, what was amiss.

"Darling, how long will it take you? Your looking good as you are. Alex won't like it, if we're late, when she finally has the guts to introduce us to Detective Benson." Lena Hausmann, a tall, well toned brunette with deep brown eyes and a smile to die for, leaned at the door frame and studied her partner. The two of them met three years ago. It took Danielle almost a year to make her move. And almost another year to declare her love for the senior partner of Hausmann, Maddison and Harlow, a corporate law firm. Lena hired Danielle as an substitute for a pregnant associate and now was glad she did it. She was a hard working attorney and put as much effort into the cases for her clients as Lena herself.

"Hey there beautiful! You still here?" Danielle made a few steps towards her love and cupped her face softly with her left hand. They were only inches away, but Danielle knew, if she gave in to the urge to kiss Lena now, they wouldn't go anywhere soon.

Lena blinked and focused on the beautiful vision in front of her.

"Hey Darling. You ready? I need to get outta here. Unless we skip dinner and take the dessert now?" Lena made a step back. "Come on, sweetie, let's go."

"Wait! What did you have in mind for dessert?"

Lena leaned in and whispered in Danielle's ear. "You, naked on the dinner table."

She felt the shiver ran down Danny's spine and laughed softly. Danny closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled deeply, the image, Lena had created in her mind, made her heart flutter and her legs shaky.

"Good to know, I still have it." Lena kissed her girlfriend lightly on the corner of her mouth. "Now, we have to leave and you need to get a grip on yourself, my love."

Lena turned and grabbed her purse and Danny's car keys from the side table in the hallway.

"I'm driving."

That shook Danielle out of her thoughts, she followed Lena quickly and took the keys away.

"There is now way you are driving my car. I do love you. Very much so. But I love my Mercedes too and I know you give a damn about cars. So I am driving." Danny opened the apartment door and let her partner step outside. They took the elevator to the underground garage.

"So, you're not drinking tonight?" Lena let her gaze linger on the tailored white button down shirt Danny was wearing. It was a good contrast to the black Armani suit.

"No. Should be possible to have fun with Cabot without alcohol." She grinned.

"That for sure. I rather meant that's good for Alex. If you don't drink, it's not likely you embarrass her. Do me the favor and don't tease her too much. They just start, whatever this is and I won't see Alex fidgeting, because you give her a hard time."

Danny turned to face Lena and gave her a gentle kiss. "I promise, I'll behave."

With that the elevator doors opened and the couple made the short way to the parking lot in silence. In her good mood Danny rounded the car and opened the passenger door for Lena. Smiling Lena raised a brow and shook her head lightly. "You're something else, Marsden. You know, you don't have to woo me anymore. But I really appreciate it, so continue."

"What's in for me?" Danny countered.

"You're not satisfied?" Lena expression changed and she slid into the seat. Ignoring her partner.

Danielle closed the door and took her seat behind the wheel. Now she had to think of something to ease the growing tension. "Darling?"

"Don't, Danny. Think before you say something that only makes it worse."

Lena mocked her. She knew Danny too good, maybe better than she herself. And she really loved it to tease her. It wouldn't take Danny too long to figure out, that she wasn't really mad with her.

She looked over and saw the hard grip Danny had on the steering wheel. Her right hand lay on her thigh tapping impatiently. Lena couldn't bear it.

"Danny." She said softly and stroked her hand lightly with her fingertips. "I am sorry. Can you forgive me?"

"What?" She stopped the car at a red traffic light.

"I just love to tease so much. I couldn't resist." Lena batted her lashes.

"You're incorrigible." Danielle shot her a lopsided smile.

"So you forgive me?" Lena bit her lower lip.

"Sure. I love you." Danny shrugged.

"I love you, too." Lena leaned back in her seat and smiled pleased.

After a fifteen minute ride, Alex stopped in front of the restaurant and decided for valet parking near by. They walked the short distance side by side and Lena intertwined their fingers.

As they entered the maitre'd put on a genuine smile.

"Good evening Ladies. What can I do for you?"

"Hausmann and Marsden, we are to meet Alexandra Cabot.", Danny put her arm lightly around Lena's waist.

"Of course, they are already awaiting you. This way." He led them to a cozy booth, where Alex and Olivia sat in comfortable silence. As soon as Alex saw them, she stood and opened her arms. Lena embraced her first and then Danny leaned in and breathed a kiss on Alex's cheek.

The jealous look on Olivia's face didn't escape Lena's watchful eyes.

"Good evening. You must be Miss Benson." she hold out her hand and put on a calming smile. She could feel the nervousness radiate of Olivia and Alex.

"Oh please, call me Olivia."

"Only if you call me Lena." Lena went on as Olivia nodded. "This young woman without any manners, is Danielle. But she prefers Danny."

"Whoa, stop it, boss. I just had a word with Lex." Danny shot her partner a stern look. Then she shifted her attention to Alex's companion. "Hello, as you already I'm Danny. And sorry, if I forgot my manners for a moment. I didn't intend to offend you."

"No offense taken." Olivia shot her a reassuring smile.

"Well, shall we sit?" Alex took her place beside Olivia. And the other two sat down opposite them.

The waitress appeared almost immediately and after each of them had the menu, Lena ordered a red wine for Olivia, Alex and herself, whilst Danny ordered a water. Olivia couldn't take her eyes of the couple opposite her. They seemed to be so at ease with each other it was almost overwhelming. She smiled dreamily as her thoughts drifted away.