Author's Note: Again, I truly appreciate the encouraging comments and follows. You're definitely keeping me motivated!
The only L&O series that I've watched are SVU and the original. I won't be referencing plotlines/characters from the other spinoffs because I don't know anything about them. Those shows don't exist in my universe. I figure that there are very good reasons why those shows didn't last long.
Friday night couldn't come fast enough for Olivia. She arrived at Salvatore's Cucina a few minutes early and waited for Alex outside the door. It was a beautiful May evening, and Olivia took some time to appreciate the colors of the sunset interfacing with the buildings along the street.
Alex showed up promptly at 8:00. "Shall we?" she asked Olivia.
Olivia grinned. "Absolutely!"
The two women entered the restaurant and were seated at a small corner table in the back.
Alex looked over the restaurant's extensive wine list while they waited for their server. "Some vino, Liv?" she asked.
Olivia had completely abstained from drinking for the remainder of the week, and she figured that she had given herself a long enough break. "That would be great. I'll let you do the ordering, Ms. Wine Snob," Olivia teased.
Alex laughed. "There's no greater pleasure in life than relaxing with a nice glass of wine, imported cheese, and a good book. You should try it."
Olivia suddenly felt self-conscious. Although she had avoided alcohol since her slip-up, drinking was definitely consuming her thoughts. "Maybe..." she trailed off.
Their server appeared and Olivia was spared from thinking of a further response. "Buonasera, ladies! My name is Luca, and I will be your server tonight. I see you're looking at the wine list."
Alex nodded, "Do you have any recommendations?"
"My personal favorite is the Carloni Merlot 2008 vintage. It's from a tiny Tuscan winery that's starting to generate a lot of buzz in the industry."
"Excellent. We'll have one bottle, please," Alex said.
"Certainly. I'll have that out right away," Luca responded. After he left the table, Olivia and Alex silently looked over their menus, trying to decide what to eat.
Luca swiftly returned with the wine and two glasses. He poured a small portion of the Merlot into Alex's glass.
She sampled it and nodded with her approval. "This is heavenly. Thank you".
"I knew you would love it," Luca said, as he filled both of their glasses. "Have you decided on your entrees?"
"I'll have the penne alla vodka and a side salad with balsamic vinaigrette," Olivia said.
Alex then gave her order. "I'll have the chicken marsala with a side of mushroom risotto."
"Both excellent choices, ladies. I'll have your meals out shortly. Please let me know if there's anything else I can do for you in the meantime," Luca offered.
"Will do," Alex promised.
After Luca walked away, Olivia quickly drank her wine. She reached for the bottle to take a second helping, but then thought better of it. "I can't have Alex think that I might be drinking too much," she thought. Olivia slowly put her hand down.
Alex noticed her hesitation. "Wow, you must really like this wine! Go on, Liv, we can always order another bottle if necessary."
"You sure know how to pick them, Al. This wine is amazing!" Olivia disregarded any worries about how Alex would perceive her and happily helped herself another glass. She silently admonished herself to slow the pace of her drinking.
"The blackberry undertones really give it a rich flavor," Alex remarked.
Olivia smiled and nodded as she sipped her drink. Her pallette wasn't quite as refined as Alex's. The wine could have had lima bean undertones for all she knew. "You're not going to discuss tannins now, are you?"
"Oh, don't tempt me," Alex playfully warned. "Actually, I was going to ask how you've been. Is there anything new and exciting going on?"
Olivia shook her head. "Right, Alex. You know me - the only 'new and exciting' events in my life are new cases."
"Yeah, same here, Liv. I eat, sleep, and breathe work."
"We're so boring," Olivia commented.
Alex suddenly became very interested in her napkin. She fidgeted with it before speaking again. "You know, Liv...it doesn't have to be this way."
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Alex began. "I mean...what about this? Us? You know, spending time together. What if...well, what if we did this more often. Like...on a regular basis?" The usually confident attorney was struggling with her words.
Olivia's eyes widened. "You mean, like, dating?"
"Look, we had a spark going before I was shot. I know you felt it too."
"I did, Alex. But, I'm kind of shocked. I wasn't expecting this at all and I-"
Alex cut her off. "I know this is completely out of the blue. But I'm tired of playing the 'what-if' game."
Olivia let out a deep breath. "I'd like to try, Alex. But -"
Alex interrupted her again. "Oh, no. Don't tell me you're seeing someone."
Olivia smirked. "Really, Alex, with the way gossip spreads in our department, you'd know if I was dating someone before I did. Let me finish. I want this. More than anything. But I'm scared. I'm not exactly the poster child for healthy relationships."
"Yeah, and I'm a shining example? I'm afraid too, Liv. I really am. But I'd like to give it a shot."
"Well...then yes. Let's try it, Alex." Olivia said as she took Alex's hand. "I need you to promise me one thing though."
"What is it?" Alex asked.
"If this doesn't work out, and believe me, I want this to work more than anything, but...seriously, if this doesn't work out, promise me that we'll still be friends. I don't ever want to lose your friendship."
"You have my word, Liv. I'll never abandon you," Alex promised.
"Great!" Olivia replied. "So, does this count as our first date?"
"Sure, let's make it official. I propose a toast," Alex said, raising her glass. "To us."
"To us." Olivia swallowed the remains of her drink. She then emptied the remaining wine from the bottle into her glass. After she finished pouring she realized what she'd done. "I'm so sorry! That remaining wine should have been yours."
"Nonsense! It's a celebration." Alex caught Luca's eye and he came over to the table. "Another bottle, please," she requested.
Luca smiled. "Coming right up!"
Olivia polished off the remains of her glass and waited for the next bottle. She was starting to get that familiar giddy feeling, where she knew that the world was working with her, rather than against her. Another couple of glasses would make her absolutely invincible.
Luca corked the bottle and served them each a fresh glass. "Now let's really get this party started!" Olivia declared. She sipped her wine and and let all her cares wash away.