Olivia hobbled in to work the next morning to find not one, but two bouquets of roses on her desk. Actually, there were a dozen red roses and 15 yellow roses. Elliot smirked at her as she settled into her desk chair and took each card out and read it.

The red roses were from Kurt, asking her to call him and let him know she was ok. She was more intrigued by the yellow roses. Ripping open that card, she found a hand written note from Alex.

Olivia,

Please let me explain.

Alex

Looking at Elliot, she asked, "Any idea what 15 yellow roses means?" He shrugged and she scanned the room until she saw Munch. He was looking at her over his glasses. "Well?"

"The number 15 signifies being truly sorry and in Victorian times, yellow roses meant jealousy. But today, they signify friendship, joy, gladness and freedom, the promise of a new beginning." He adjusted his glasses. "I'd say Ms. Cabot has done something to offend you and is trying to make it up to you." He looked at her expectantly.

"What makes you think these are from Alex? And not the red ones?"

"First, I've seen the way she looks at you; second, I've seen the way you look at her; third, red is more the style of a man, a la Kurt. Women get more into the meaning of these things than men do." He shurgged.

"There is nothing going on between Alex and I." Though I wish there were. She caught Elliot's doubtful look and turned to her desk phone. She debated calling both Kurt and Alex before deciding to go in and talk to Cragen before she did anything else.

By the time she'd finished with him, she was relieved of field duty until her ankle healed and had agreed to re-evaluate her assignment to SVU after she was back to 100 percent. She was glad to find the squad room deserted and made her way over to her desk. Picking up the phone, she called Kurt and agreed to meet him that night for dinner.

She worked in peace until mid-afternoon when the guys came back in from a call. They were catching her up on the investigation when the click-clack of heels could be heard coming down the hall. All heads with the exception of Olivia's turned to see Alex Cabot coming toward them.

"Detectives." Alex waited for Olivia to acknowledge her and when she didn't, she proceeded on into Cragen's office. Several minutes later she came out and made her way to Olivia's desk.

"Olivia, may I speak with you?" Olivia looked at her for several long seconds before finally nodding and trying to get up. She did allow Alex to help her to the interrogation room.

"What do you want Alex?

"I want to explain to you about Jim. Will you let me do that?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes it does Olivia and you know it." She took her hand. "Will you please go to dinner with me tonight?"

Olivia bowed her head. "I have plans tonight." She glanced up at Alex and admitted, "I'm seeing Kurt." She noticed that Alex bit her upper lip, but managed to paste a smile on her face.

"I see. How about tomorrow night?" Olivia nodded and watched Alex turn to leave.

"Hey Alex?" Having her full attention she said, "Thank you for the flowers." The blonde nodded.

XXXXXXXXXXX

That Night
Mesa Grill

"Olivia, thank you for having dinner with me. How's your ankle?"

"Sore."

They sat staring at each other for a couple of minutes before Kurt spoke again.

"Olivia…what are you going to do about this baby?"

Her eyes narrowed. "I'm having 'this baby,' your baby I might add. The bigger question Kurt is what are you going to do? If you'll just sign the papers, we can both move on."

He played with his fork. "What if I don't want to move on?" Looking at her he continued, "What if I want you and this baby, my baby?"

Angered by his words, Olivia said, "Well, we don't want you Kurt. I tried to give you the chance to be part of my baby's life, but you refused and offered up a check instead. Now I'm offering you exactly what you want, and you're backpedaling."

"I was a fool Olivia, please…."

"No. Kurt, I'm not in love with you and I refuse to raise this child in a loveless marriage, relationship or whatever." She folded her napkin and placed on her plate. "As for my baby Kurt, you need to get an attorney and we'll just let the court system handle this." She started to rise when his words stopped her.

"You're in love with her."

"What?"

"Alex Cabot; you're in love with her. It all makes sense now."

"Kurt…." Her voice had a warning tone to it.

He smiled at her. "No, no Olivia. I'm not trying to be a dick. I just…it makes sense now."

Olivia sighed, not bothering to deny his assertion about Alex. "I should go."

He nodded and then insisted on taking her home.

Meanwhile…

"So, she has plans tonight and I'm having dinner with you." Alex shrugged.

Serena twirled her pasta around her fork debating sharing what she knew.

"What?"

"What 'what'?"

"Serena, what are you not saying?" Alex leaned in to her personal space. "If you know something, you need to tell me, now."

"She's having dinner with Kurt."

"You know this how?"

Serena shrugged. "Casey told me. Olivia called her for legal advice."

Alex stabbed a new potato and tore into it. "How are things with you and Strawberry Shortcake?"

Serena glared at her. "Up and down. Though the sex is incredible. She does this one thing with her…"

"Serena! Stop, please! I'm trying to eat." Sure her dinner companion wasn't going to continue, she resumed eating. "So, I assume you are currently up?" Serena nodded. "Do me a favor and keep it that way?"

Serena laughed. "I'll certainly try." She watched as Alex's demeanor became more and more subdued. "What's going on Alex?"

"She's with him. What if…." She caught herself and immediately shut-up.

Serena watched her friend and then smiled. "I never thought I'd see Alex Cabot so unsure of herself." Alex glared at her. "Oh my God, you're scared. Alex Cabot is scared!"

Alex was furious with Serena. "You don't have to act like you just won the lottery! I'm merely concerned for her being out with creepy guy."

"No, you're afraid that she'll go back to him and you'll get hurt. The question is, what are you going to do about it?"

Alex looked away and said, "She's going to be tied to him for the rest of her life because of the baby." Looking at Serena she finished, "And it's all my fault."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Alex was surprised and relieved to find light coming from under Olivia's door when she got home. A part of her had been afraid that Olivia would fall back into Kurt Moss' bed. Gathering her courage, she knocked on Olivia's door.

The answer was quiet. "Yes?" Olivia had tears in her voice.

"Are you ok?"

"Yes."

"Can I come in?" When there was no immediate answer she prompted, "Please?"

"Ok."

She found Olivia sitting up in bed, a box of tissues next to her.

"What's wrong?" Olivia shook her head. Alex sat on the edge of Olivia's bed. "Liv?" She gently lifted the brunette's chin and felt her chest tighten at the tears in her eyes. Smoothing her hair from the brunette's face she tried again. "Sweetie, talk to me." Olivia just shook her head. "Did he hurt you?"

"How'd you know we were having dinner and not something…else?"

"I had dinner with Serena who is apparently 'up' with Casey right now."

Olivia swallowed. "Oh. No, he didn't hurt me." She allowed Alex to gather her to her and hold her for a few moments. "I'm just really tired Alex. Can we just talk about this tomorrow night at dinner?"

The blonde nodded. She left Olivia and shut the door behind her. She slumped against the wall and once again cursed herself for putting Olivia in this situation.