Disclaimer: As you all know, these characters aren't mine. They belong to Dick Wolf and NBC.

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Day 17: Anonymous: Alex's POV while Liv's asleep after their first time together.

Universe: Season 3

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Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

The clock over the bed is loud in the silent room. Alex lies on her back in Olivia's bed, one arm tucked under her head, the other resting on her stomach. Even though it's after two in the morning and she's absolutely exhausted, her legs are itching to run, itching to be anywhere but tucked up against Olivia in this moment.

She swallows hard, attempting to push down her anxiety, and closes her eyes. In her sleep, Olivia turns over and throws her arm over Alex's abdomen. Alex's eyes flash open and she stares up at the ceiling, barely daring to breathe.

Relax, she thinks, she did it subconsciously. It doesn't mean anything. Go to sleep.

But she let me stay. Does she ever let anyone stay?

What if she lets everyone stay?

Alex almost laughs out loud. This is Olivia, she thinks. She doesn't let anyone stay.

Except me.

It takes every ounce of willpower in Alex's body to not jump out of Olivia's bed right at that second, get dressed, and go home. Instead, she just rolls over onto her side facing away from Olivia and closes her eyes.

She has only been asleep for about an hour when Olivia's phone starts to ring. Olivia answers it quickly and takes it into the other room to talk. Alex is asleep before she even hangs up.

Hours later, Alex wakes to her own phone ringing. She answers it, responds to the questions she is asked, then hangs up. Setting her phone back on the bedside table, her hand lands on a key and a small piece of paper. Alex picks up the paper and grins as she reads the note from Olivia.

A – I know you didn't sleep well, so I hope you got a few more hours in after I left. I'm leaving a key to my apartment on the table with this note so you can lock up if you decide to leave. You don't have to if you feel like staying. Hoping to see you tonight, O.

Alex grins, looking up at the ceiling. I guess it meant something after all, she thinks.

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