Please enjoy the final chapter of this story!
"So you got it for them?" Alex spoke into the phone she held between her ear and neck. She didn't dare take even one hand off the wheel when trying to navigate Manhattan traffic and the stupid Bluetooth was malfunctioning again. Alex only hoped she wasn't compromising her vision by tilting her neck forty five degrees to make sure she could actually hear Casey on the other end.
"Yeah," Casey said from the other side of the line. "But can't they ever ask for a warrant that a judge will grant without five minutes of straight arguing on our part?"
"Nope, that would make our job too easy," Alex laughed. "Thanks for covering me today, Case."
"Not a problem. Where did you say you were going again?"
"Oh, just to see someone…" Alex pulled off onto 68th street, peeking her head out the window to figure out which building she was looking for.
"Alright, well I'll see you tonight then." The line clicked and Alex hung up as she pulled to the side of the road and parked. She was at New York Presbyterian Hospital—not because she was sick or injured, of course, but because she'd looked up their Women's Mental Health program. Olivia had respected her wish not to go for therapy, but to tell the truth, Alex actually did know when to ask for help.
That night, Olivia was back at Alex's apartment, six o' clock sharp. "Okay, where's my hooky-playing girlfriend?" she teased into the empty air.
Alex popped out from her bathroom door. "I've got to stop leaving that door unlocked."
"My cop instincts agree with you. It's not safe. Nevertheless, I'm kind of glad I can just walk in like this," Olivia grinned.
"Yeah, you and every lowlife who manages to get past the doorman."
"Which would most likely be nobody, considering the size of that guy."
"You know as well as I do that size doesn't matter." They both burst out laughing.
"So seriously, where were you today? She took it like a trooper, but we kind of had to bombard Casey with everything," Olivia said.
"You should be proud of me. I went to NYP to check out that women's program you recommend to your vics, and I actually agreed to start treatment," Alex admitted.
"Really? I thought you didn't want to go therapy."
"I didn't," Alex shrugged. "But things are changing so much, and I just want to do everything I can to make sure they stay good."
Olivia smiled and took Alex into her arms gently. "I want that too."
Alex softly kissed Olivia's neck and pulled back. "You know, after the intake, while I was in the car, I did a lot of thinking."
"Hmm, about what?" Olivia took Alex's hand and led her to the couch. Normally, they would just sit side by side, but today Olivia had the urge to have Alex closer, so she sat with her legs parted and pulled the blonde down between them. She wrapped her arms around Alex's waist and leaned back into the amazingly comfortable sofa.
"You know it kills me that I'm no longer in the Congo helping those women," Alex started. "Because of course, I can't prosecute from here. But today I realized that after what happened to me, I wasn't going crazy because nobody put the bastards in jail. That was the last thing on my mind."
"Mhm," Olivia murmured.
"My real problem was that I had no support system. I had no friends there, I thought you'd cut me off, and there was no professional help for that sort of thing. What if that's what these women really need? Rape is so taboo there, you know. Nobody talks about it; it's just an accepted practice. But I'm off track. I had the idea that maybe I could help the women in another way. I want to use the money in my father's will to start a foundation for counseling for these victims." Alex turned to face Olivia.
"That's…a really good, and honorable idea, Alex," Olivia said.
"Do you think so? It might be a complete bust. I'd hate to spend my father's money for no good reason."
"Well nobody knows what might happen, Alex, but this is something you're passionate about. And if you think this is a worthy cause, you're the one with the firsthand experience to back that up," Olivia replied. "But just between you and me, very little you do ever fails," she winked.
Alex chuckled. "I really think, if we can get it off the ground, this could really do some good. And clear my conscience a little bit."
"You know, everyone who told me at the very beginning that you had a black hole for a heart was very, very wrong," Olivia said, pulling Alex down to kiss her.
"Hmm, I'll ignore that comment for now, but later on you will be making a list of everyone who ever said that," Alex smirked. "But if we don't get up and get ready, we're going to be half dressed when Casey and Mark get here, and I don't particularly feel like sharing that image with anyone else."
"Oh fine," Olivia pouted, missing the warmth of Alex's body as the attorney sprang off of her lap. "And why again did we agree to go on a double date?"
"You didn't, I did," Alex shouted from down the hall. "And it's because we should get to have a life."
"We never had a life before, why start now?" As far as Olivia was concerned, as much as she loved Casey and approved of her choice in Mark, she'd really rather just sit here and down some Chinese with Alex instead of fussing over an outfit to wear. Not that Olivia would need more than five minutes to be ready.
Alex, on the other hand, was having trouble grasping the concept that they were only going to the T.G.I. Friday's on Broadway. She had three different pairs of jeans and six blouses out, and was desperately trying to pick out the best match. Olivia looked on in amusement.
"Pass the nachos!" Casey requested enthusiastically. The others laughed as the basket went over to the redhead for the millionth time, it seemed.
"That's my little piggy," Mark said teasingly, pinching Casey's cheek while she frowned.
"I happen to like nachos, and I've had no more than my fair share," she argued.
"If your fair share is two-thirds of the plate, absolutely," Olivia laughed.
"I consider myself a fairly intelligent person, but I'm not sure I follow that logic," Alex continued.
Olivia jabbed her. "You don't get to talk, you can eat your weight in lo mein."
"And you finish four slices of pizza like rice cakes!" Alex cried.
"Women who like to eat. I could get used to this," Mark mused, much to the ladies' chagrin. "What? Most girls I know consume half a salad and complain about how full they are."
"Oh, that only means they go home and eat a box of Oreos when you're not looking," Olivia laughed.
The meal passed with relatively light conversation. Everyone made fun of Alex when she finished half of her chicken caesar salad and made a comment about being full, prompting an "It's not the same!" from the irritated blonde. Olivia easily polished off her steak, and Casey and Mark were rubbing barbecue sauce from their ribs on each others' noses. Casey had just reached her hand up to Mark's face when Alex noticed something on Casey's finger.
"Woah, woah. Novak? Is that what I think it is on your left ring finger?"
Casey blushed. "Probably, Alex. We asked you guys on this double date because we wanted you to be the first ones to know. Olivia, Alex, it's true! Mark and I are getting married!" And with that, Casey wiped the sauce off her fingers and held her hand out to the two gasping women.
"Oh my God! Seriously, Casey, that's so fantastic! I never imagined it!" Olivia cried.
Casey raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what's that supposed to mean?"
"She's not always great with words, Case," Alex smirked. "What she means to say is we're so incredibly happy," she looked at Mark, "for the both of you."
"Thank you, sweetie," Olivia said rolling her eyes at her girlfriend. "When's the wedding?"
"We haven't picked a date yet," Mark answered. "I had originally planned to put more thought into the whole wedding thing before proposing, but the damned ring was burning a hole in my pocket."
"I'm glad you didn't wait," Casey said smiling dreamily at him. "You've made me so excited."
"Well now we're definitely going to have to do more of these double dates so we can get to know you better," Alex said calmly, perfectly aware of the daggers Olivia was sending her with her eyes. "But maybe something a little more Liv friendly, like a baseball game or something," she turned to wink at Olivia. The brunette slumped back into her seat, muttering something that sounded somewhat like "Fine". Alex laughed and shook her head.
"I also wanted to ask you guys something else," Casey continued. "My sister Holly has agreed to be my maid of honor, but most of my old friends are on the West Coast at this point. So…I need a couple more bridesmaids and I was hoping you could help me out," she smiled.
"Oh yes!" Alex shouted excitedly.
"Um…okay, sure," Olivia nodded.
"Told you she'd say yes," Mark nudged Casey. "You, Olivia, not Alex. She was obviously going to do it."
"Huh?" Alex said puzzled.
"A chance to put on a pretty dress," Olivia teased, earning a shove from Alex.
"Great!" Casey interjected. "Thank you guys so much. I promise not to be a bitch bride."
"Yeah, we'll see about that in a few months," Olivia said under her breath.
"I heard that," Casey frowned.
The waiter came by to take the split check, and the two couples prepared to go their separate ways, hugging and repeating congratulations. As Casey leaned into Alex, the blonde felt Casey's lips near her ear.
"I get to be a bridesmaid at yours, right?" she whispered.
Alex flushed. "Good night, Novak," she grinned.
"Phew, thank God that's over with," Olivia huffed, plopping down on Alex's couch.
"You CANNOT tell me that was bad. My partner, our friend is getting married to a guy we can tolerate and might even like. We're going to be bridesmaids. We got to watch Casey scarf down nachos like a Hoover, and you got a steak," Alex stuck her tongue out at Olivia as she sat down next to the detective.
"Fine, it wasn't so bad." Olivia shifted and lay back on the armrest of the couch. Alex followed and snuggled in next to Olivia. "You know, I feel like I spend more time here nowadays than at my own house."
"Yeah, you do," Alex mused. "Maybe…"she trailed off, thinking. Do I do this? "Maybe you could spend even more time here and no time there."
Olivia laughed. "Then it would sort of be pointless to have the apartment."
"Exactly," Alex replied, looking at the ceiling.
Olivia turned to look at the blonde, who appeared to be counting the spots on the ceiling. "You mean you want me to move in?"
"If you wanted…"
"Alex, we've only been dating a month."
"And two days."
"Well the two days makes all the difference," Olivia joked. "But is that what you really want?"
"How many times have you slept here? Or eaten here? Showered here? Done…other activities here? Tell me it doesn't just feel right."
Olivia looked the blonde up and down, willing the universe to pause so she could stay like this forever. But to live here, with Alex? That was commitment. That was a promise. It was domesticity, it was someone waiting up for you and worrying if you didn't come home, it was dishes and vacuuming and watering the plants. It was more than Olivia could process at the moment.
But it was also a sign that Alex was in this for the long haul, and Olivia needed Alex to know that she was too. It was a warm body next to you at night, it was cuddling on the couch every night, it was two toothbrushes in the holder. Yes, Olivia wanted it. Yes, it felt right.
"So when can I get my stuff?" Olivia smiled at Alex.
Alex grinned back. "You'll do it?"
"Yeah. Now, if you want."
The blonde shook her head. "Uh uh, not now. I have other plans for you now." Alex drew Olivia's lips to hers, gently caressing the brunette's tummy.
Alex arched her back up and straddled her knees on either side of Olivia's body, not letting her mouth leave her lover's. She ran her hands up and down Olivia's torso, palming the beautiful heaving breasts and slipping her hand under the fabric shirt…
Suddenly Olivia's ringtone pervaded the air, and Alex groaned in frustration. "Ugh. Baby, you'd better get that, it might be a case."
Olivia growled. "Don't wanna." But she reached a hand out to the coffee table and picked up the cellphone.
"Benson." Olivia put on her professional demeanor. "Yeah, of course I'm available," she said rolling her eyes. "Queens Homicide? What do they want with us?" She looked at Alex apologetically, and the blonde nodded understandingly. "Why, who is it?" Olivia began rubbing her eyes, but abruptly pulled her hand away as the caller on the other end of the line answered.
"Oh my God."
Yep, I am THAT evil. Please join me in the sequel to find out what's got Benson so surprised, experience the joy of an ADA's wedding, and to continue on the journey of Olivia and Alex.
After a two week hiatus for finals, that is :)
A thank you to all of my loyal readers, who have offered me both their opinions and support!