A/N: For disclaimers see chapter 1!
Now, finally, we're there. Alex and Olivia having dinner together.
Hope I did it right and you're pleased with the following chapter.
It is longer than any other chapter. I just needed more space to create the right setting. Thanks to all of you for keeping me company.
Enjoy the dinner, who knows, what happens next.
Part 9
Olivia arrived ten minutes early. She was sure, Alex had made a reservation, but didn't want to be the first. So she stood a little aside and waited for the younger woman.
It didn't take long though. Only a couple minutes later, Alexandra Cabot exited a cab in front of the restaurant. Olivia studied her intently and nearly forgot to breath. Alex was a vision, a dream coming true in that light blue dress.
"Olivia!" Alex made a step in her direction and shot her her most sparkling smile. "You dressed like that for me?" She took Olivia's hands and pulled her into a loving embrace.
"Hey Alex!" Olivia let her hands slide carefully over Alex's back. "You look magnificent. No, wait that's not the right word. You're breathtaking."
"You're quite a sight yourself, detective." Alex planted a small kiss on Olivia's cheek. And tried to suppress a wicked smile, as her companion gasped lightly.
"You'll be my death, counselor." Olivia kissed her hand and hold out her arm to guide Alex inside the restaurant and to their table. The maitre'd, a pale man in his late fifties, led the way to a cozy booth in an almost shielded part of the restaurant. Alex had done well with her reservation and Olivia nearly regretted that they wouldn't be alone tonight.
At the table Olivia helped Alex get seated and took the chair to her right at the window.
"It is truly marvelous here. How did you know, it would be so romantic?" Olivia's loving gaze locked onto Alex's.
"I didn't. But I am quite pleased with myself for choosing it." She winked. "Ah, there they are." Alex pointed to the entrance with her chin. "This are my friends Danny and Lena. You'll love them." Alex whispered as the maitre'd led her friends in their direction. Olivia nodded and lightly squeezed Alex's right hand and put a confident smile on her lips. At least she hoped it was confident, because she really didn't feel it at the moment. She was nervous as hell, but there was no chance to change anything, so she inhaled deeply and braced herself for the impact, that was Alex's friends.
Alex stood and opened her arms. Lena embraced her first and then Danny leaned in and breathed a kiss on Alex's cheek.
"Hey Alex. I'm glad you invited us. She really is a beauty. And if her mind challenges her appearance, you won the jackpot." Danny smiled knowingly as Alex blushed hard.
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 know 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.
"And you are a detective with the SVU?" Danny leaned back and studied her friend's escort.
That brought Olivia back from her thoughts of an amazing young ADA dressing for dinner. She read the inquisitive look on Danny's face easily, there was more to this question, as it openly showed.
"Yes. And no, it isn't that hard to work with Alex. Even if she always wants to be right and is in the habit to have the last word." Olivia almost choked, as she felt Alex's foot stroking along her calve. She looked perplexed to the blonde next to her.
"You don't have to defend me, Liv. Danny wouldn't dare to embarrass me. She is just looking for stuff to tease me, the next time we come together."
Lena grinned. "So it is. But I really would like to hear more about your working relationship. It is something so different from our jobs."
"Darling, there is no need to flatter Olivia. She isn't in the least interested in you. Although you two would look good together. You're stuck with me." Danny leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Sorry, Olivia. I just can't miss these opportunities. It is hard enough to work with her and don't be able to tease her." Danielle put on her best puppy dog look and Olivia laughed out loud. She was more relaxed with every minute that passed. Alex's friends were so nice and open. Olivia would have never dreamed that it would be so easy to get along with them.
"Do whatever you need, Danny. I only hope you can cope with the outcome."
Alex was surprised that Olivia joined the friendly banter without any hesitation, but she was very grateful for that. She'd had the feeling that Lena and Danny would welcome Olivia into their small circle, but seeing it, brought up a few tears of joy, which she tried to hold back. As she lifted her left hand to inconspicuously dab at her eyes, Olivia caught the slight movement in the corner of her eye.
"Alex, are you okay?" She gently cupped Alex's face.
"Yeah, I am just so glad that you all get along with each other, that it almost made me cry." She dropped her gaze. Feeling silly for the emotional outburst.
"Hey, honey, it's okay. We all know, how important that is to you." Olivia rested her arm on the back of Alex's chair.
Much to Alex's relieve their waitress brought the beverages. She placed the glasses on the table and looked at each woman expectantly.
"Did you chose?"
"Yes." Danny grinned and started with her choice for the evening. Lena followed and Olivia let Alex's choose their meals, with the words: "I trust your taste. You wouldn't want to scare me off."
Lena and Danny laughed quietly and exchanged a knowing look as they observed the other two. They were deeply in love that could be seen by everybody who cared to take a minute to watch them interact.
"If you say so." Alex winked and made their order.
Olivia looked over to Danny. "And what is it, you two are doing?"
"We are corporate attorneys. Lena is a senior partner at Hausmann, Maddison and Harlow. She hired me three years ago. Well, since then I am head over heels for her." Danny smiled happily.
"But that's not the whole story." Alex intervened and Lena nodded encouragingly. "Danny was so nervous around Lena over the first year, that she called me at least every second day. It was so cute. I never saw the always controlled Danielle Marsden so insecure, so freaked out. After almost a year, she finally had the guts to ask Lena out. Since then they are an item and always seen together. Where Lena is, you can bet, Danny isn't far away." Alex finished proudly. Olivia noticed at this moment how much they all belonged together. And she acknowledged the importance of that dinner. It wasn't just a chance for her and Alex to spend time, but it also showed more Alex's private life, gave her a glimpse of what she was getting into. And she loved it.
Pleased with the ongoing easiness, Alex let her gaze rake over Olivia's body.
Olivia caught her eyes as Alex ended her inspection at her face. She slid closer to her and whispered into her ear. Causing her warm breath to caress Alex's sensitive skin.
"You like what you see, baby?" With a naughty smile she locked her gaze with Alex's, who looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Her blue eyes slightly dilated, Olivia could imagine what Alex's was thinking about.
Alex swallowed hard, fighting against a suddenly dry throat. She felt the blush rising and quickly sipped her wine. Olivia, who never shifted her gaze, tried to contain the laughter that threatened to escape. It was so cute to see Alex struggle with her emotions, that she even forgot about their audience.
"I love what I see, detective." Alex rasped. "You probably can't imagine how much."
Now it was Olivia, who swallowed hard. She didn't expect such an blunt and honest answer. Olivia suddenly realized how much the desire in Alex's eyes aroused her.
Lena leaned over to Danny. "Aren't they cute? They are so oblivious to their surroundings. I'm almost jealous."
Danny smirked and pressed a soft kiss to the inviting lips of her girlfriend. "Meaning, you're not in love anymore?" She asked quietly, to not interrupt their friends.
"No, that's not what I wanted to say. It's just...forget I said it..." Lena trailed off.
"Darling, listen. I know exactly what you meant, but you know as well as I, that it is the routine that caught up with us. I promise, as soon as we're done with our current case load, we take a vacation and leave town. Just the two of us for at least a week." Danny waited for a response and as Lena nodded, she squeezed her thigh gingerly.
Shifting her attention back to Olivia and Alex, Lena couldn't hold back a quiet cough to bring them back. They both turned towards them and flushed as realization hit them.
"Sorry." Olivia said shyly. "Um.. I think we just forgot for a moment were we were."
"It's okay. It's good to finally see Alex happy. So, don't be sorry for your mutual feelings. I only wanted to make you aware that they are ready to serve dinner." Lena laid a reassuring hand on Olivia's on the table. "Enjoy it as long as you can."
"Thanks. We will." She straightened up, but held Alex's hand under the table, resting on her thigh. "Now were we?"
"I still want to know more about your work." Lena winked. Making it easy for Liv and Alex to regain their composure. Alex grinned and started to tell about their work as the plates were served and all of them savored their dinner.
The conversation was light and Alex and Olivia skipped the details of their daily work, making sure the good mood wouldn't shift into something heavy or even intolerable. They knew how much the descriptions could affect people, who didn't have to deal with it constantly. Even they struggled often enough with the repercussions the crimes, they investigated and prosecuted brought with them.
"Wow, I didn't know how hard it must be." Danny leaned back and studied Olivia. "You have to be very understandable, strong and unwavering to cope with this kind of work every day. You never talked much about it, Alex. How do you handle that all?" A concerned look manifested itself on Danny's face, the crease between her brows deepened.
Alex knew that look. Her friend was worried.
"I have colleagues to speak to and friends to take care. Don't worry. I know you're there, when I need you."
Olivia watched them attentively. She was glad that Alex had friends like them.
"Olivia?"
"Yes?" She turned to look directly at Lena.
"Care for a dessert?"
"Sure. I really like to try the chocolate mousse."
"That sounds delicious. You two joining in?" Lena addressed the rest of the group.
Alex and Danny both nodded absently. So Lena waved their waitress over and ordered the dessert for them all.
It was about half an hour later as Lena paid the bill.
"I invited you." Alex pouted.
"You did. But that doesn't mean you have to pay. Come on, Alex, we all had a nice evening and I don't want to ruin that because of the bill." Lena put her arm around Alex's shoulder as they left the restaurant. Danny engaged Olivia in a conversation about sport cars as soon as she heard that Olivia drove a Mustang. That was the right moment for Lena to have a few words with the young blonde.
"You chose well, dear. Olivia is a perfect match for you and she truly loves you."
"You think?" Alex suddenly seemed insecure. "I don't want to get hurt and I don't want to hurt her either. She means so much to me."
"I know and Danny knows it too. We got a good look at you tonight. And I assure you, Olivia fell hard for you. You both are in love. You deserve each other. Take the chance, let your dream come true, Alex. She's certainly worth a try. And I am sure, Danny just told her, what awaits her, if she breaks your heart." Lena pointed in their direction and Alex saw, how Danny talked to Olivia sincerely. Olivia put a hand on Danny's cheek and patted her softly. Then she said something smiling, that Lena and Alex couldn't hear. Danny seemed pleased with that and hugged the detective tightly.
They walked over to them and Lena put her arms around Danny's waist.
"Must I be worried?"
"No, I like her, but she's not my type." Danny put on a wry smile.
Lena and Olivia exchanged glances and laughed out loud.
Even Alex couldn't contain a quiet chuckle, Lena and Olivia were the same type and almost at the same age, but to Danny that was oblivious, because she only had eyes for Lena.
"Well, ladies, time head home. I need to get my girlfriend into bed." Danny smirked. "Okay, that didn't came out quite the way it should."
"We all know what you meant, darling." Lena winked and kissed the frown that suddenly appeared on Danny's forehead. "Let's get the car."
She turned around and embraced first Alex, then Olivia a little longer.
"Just for the record. Danny will fall asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow. So don't even think of all the ways I could get laid."
"Um..okay." She raised her left brow. "Then maybe you should take care of it yourself."
Lena made a step back and studied Olivia intently. "You're something else, Olivia. Good night and take care of Alex."
"Will do. You make sure that Danny gets to bed soon."
Danny hugged them both too. Then she tugged Lena's arm safely around her elbow and led her away.
Alex and Olivia waited until the couple disappeared around a corner.
"Now I accompany you to your apartment and make sure your safe." Olivia flagged down a cab and held the door for Alex. Inside Alex slid closer and laid her head on Olivia's shoulder. The way back to Alex's apartment didn't take longer than five minutes and soon they stood in front of the apartment door.
"You like to come in for a nightcap?" Alex unlocked the door and turned on the light in the hallway.
"No, I think it's time to get back home." Olivia saw the disappointment in Alex's eyes, but it vanished as soon as it appeared.
"Okay, then... I see you tomorrow?"
"Oh no kiss good night?" Olivia carefully took Alex's hands in hers and tugged lightly. "Come here, darling." She put Alex's arms around her own neck and slowly drew her closer. Her hands brushed softly over Alex's arms, along her shoulders and came to rest on the small of her back. The contact intensifying their awareness of each other. As they were only inches apart Olivia brushed their lips together.