March 2008

Salem, MA

"On a scale of 1-10, how nervous are you?" Serena was doing Alex's hair. Very soon, it would be the moment of truth.

Alex took a deep breath. She was trying not to hyperventilate. It had already taken her forever to get into this dress. She had no idea how her mother wore it without a corset. "Um 7.5," she squeaked.

"Sounds more like a 10.5 to me," Serena told her. "It's okay. I'm pretty sure all brides are nervous on their big day."

It was a bittersweet feeling. Alex had dreamed of this day for years, but "I always thought my mother would be here." She had known for a long time that her father wouldn't be able to give her away, but she never thought she'd lose her mother this early as well.

"Your mother would be so happy for you. She loved Olivia, and she loved you two together."

It was Kim's job to get Olivia ready.

"Ow," the brunette fussed as Kim tried to fix her hair.

"It's not my fault they're so many knots in your hair. What were you doing last night?"

Olivia groaned. The night before, Trevor, John, Elliot, and Fin dragged her out to some seedy strip club.

The detective swore she ended up with more beer in her hair than in her belly; everyone was so sloppy.

Speaking of the devil, Trevor Langan banged on the door.

Kim grumbled before she opened it. "What do you want?"

"I'm supposed to give you this!" He had in his hand a DVD.

"What's this?" Kim questioned.

"Olivia's supposed to watch it before the wedding."

"And you just remembered?" Kim said dryly.

"No, I lost it, but now I found it."

"This better not be a sex tape," Olivia warned him.

To her relief, it was no such thing. Instead, it was the late Mrs. Cabot.

"If you are watching this video, then you are about to marry my daughter. I hope you are Olivia. If not, whoever you are, then you better treat my baby right or I will smite you like you would never believe."

Olivia tried not to laugh. Even days from death, Caroline Cabot was a spitfire.

"I'm sure you know this, but my baby girl, Alexandra, is stubborn like you wouldn't believe. She always has to be right. She won't take no for an answer, and she will eat all the ice cream out the freezer just to act like she doesn't know what happened to it."

Olivia knew that for sure.

"But she's unbelievably kind and thoughtful, and if anyone ever wrongs you, she will sink her teeth into them like a pit-bull and tear their heart out. She's never been very good at letting others take care of her, so it's your job to take care of her any way and keep her safe."

They rented out a floor of the museum for the wedding. There were paintings and sculptures all around; it felt like they were in an old castle.

White roses and red tulips filled the room as dozens of guests awaited the ceremony.

Elliot and Serena were the first to walk down the aisle, as the best man and maid of honor respectively.

When the music started, everyone turned to see Olivia in a midnight blue dress. She had grown out her hair for the wedding, and she was stunning. Captain Cragen was there to give her away.

Cassie was the flower girl. She had on a pink dress that made her look like Princess Peach.

Audible gasps could be heard when Jack walked Alex down the aisle. She had on a one-of-a-kind Tom Ford dress. It was white, lacy, and backless. Alex had her hair up, revealing her perfect shoulders.

Olivia could feel her mouth drying as she saw Alex approach her. I hope she gives her vows first, and why can't there be water up here.

When Alex got to the end of the aisle, she handed her bouquet to Serena and Olivia pinned back her veil for her. "You're absolutely gorgeous."

"I love you, Livvy"

Donnelly coughed. "Can I marry you two now or are you just going to make googly eyes all day?"

The crowd started to laugh. They stopped after Liz stared them down.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to join Olivia Benson and Alex Cabot in holy matrimony. If anyone has a reason why these two should not be wed … speak now or forever hold your peace."

"When's the last time anyone actually objected at a wedding?" Abbie asked Casey.

"Shh!" Someone hissed at them.

"Oh calm down you old bag!"

Casey pinched Abbie. "Do not get me kicked out of this wedding."

"It would be pretty funny if you got kicked out of your ex's wedding."

Casey rolled her eyes.

"And now, the vows."

Alex went first. "When my father was alive, he made me promise that I'd never marry a Yankees fan."

The crowd started to chuckle.

"I'm sorry to have to tell him that I broke my promise, but despite this major flaw,"

Olivia raised a brow.

"There is no better match. You and I are the perfect pair, like peanut butter and bananas or maple syrup and bacon. I'd follow you to the end of the world and back again. I love you Olivia Benson can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

She slipped a gold band on Olivia's finger.

It was now Olivia's turn and she wanted payback. "Every time you decide to tease me about the Yankees, I want you to remember one thing … 16 and 1."

"Ooh!" Tyler called out.

"I'm generous, so I won't remind you of this often. I just want you to remember why New York is the best."

Alex stuck her tongue at her.

"I love the way you crinkle your nose when you don't get your way. From the day we met, I believe I have learned 200 Alexisms, unique movements or expressions that only you have. You have a special smile for when I bring your favorite from the supermarket, and you have this growl that tells me that you dislike what Judge Petrovsky said in court today."

Everyone started laughing at that.

"And there's this one smile that you only make when we're alone. I want to see that smile every day for the rest of my life. I love you Alexandra, and I can't wait for our honeymoon."

Olivia put a ring on their finger.

"Do you, Olivia Benson, take Alex to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness or in health, regardless of what happens in baseball or football season until death do you part?"

Olivia laughed. "I do."

"Do you, Alex Cabot, take Olivia to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness or in health …"

"Yes."

"So impatient," Liz chided. "I now pronounce you married. You may now …"

Alex pulled Olivia to her and kissed her passionately.

"Not YET!" I should have known … these two!

The two women walked down the aisle hand in hand. They were married.

They had a cocktail hour to bide people's appetite until dinner. They had a spicy Manhattan, garnished with a candied jalapeno as their signature drink. For appetizers, they had little pork belly sliders, fried macaroni and cheese balls, mozzarella and tomato skewers, and strawberry shooters.

Trevor and John filled up their plates.

"These things are so tasty," Trevor popped two sliders into his mouth.

"I thought wedding food was supposed to be dried and gross," John commented, having had four weddings, "but these are amazing!" he downed a fried macaroni and cheese ball.

They had a babysitter to tend to the small children during the wedding ceremony. Kathy came to feed Eli. The baby had been sleeping in a little crib.

"Here he is."

While the guests were enjoying their food and drink, the wedding party was taking pictures.

"You look absolutely ravishing in this dress," Olivia hissed into her wife's ear.

"You should talk. I want to tear this dress clean off you."

The blonde didn't realize how loud she was.

"Try to make it to your hotel suite first," Elliot chided.

Alex only smiled before pinching Olivia's butt.

Olivia's jaw dropped just as the cameraman snapped a photo.

Alex couldn't stop laughing.

Olivia picked up their daughter and the trio took a picture.

"We're going to Disney World tomorrow," Alex told the little girl.

"YAY!"

In the banquet room, there were three photos of people who could only be with them in spirit. One photo was of Alexander, another photo was of his wife and the third was of Serena Benson.

Jack and Liz stood in front of the display.

"It's been so long." Alexander had died in 1996, only months after his daughter graduated from college. He had the kind of laugh that could just light up a room and he was always laughing. No one saw it coming; apparently, he had a congenital heart defect. One day, it just gave out on him.

Liz could just kick herself for wasting so much time. She and Jack always acted like they had forever to get over their issues, but forever could end tomorrow. "Jack, let's get married."

He couldn't believe it. "Did you just say what I think you just said?"

"I did. Let's do it."

"But I asked you three times. You always said no."

"I remember that."

"What's changed?"

"Nothing."

He frowned in confusion. "Nothing's changed but you've changed your mind."

She didn't know how to explain it. "I keep holding out thinking that there would be some perfect moment were all of the stars would align but that's bullshit. There's no such think as perfection, but there's good and there's shitty, and when I'm without you, things are always shitty. Let's face it. We're old. How much time do we have to try and figure out what the hell we are."

Jack better say yes before she changed her mind. "When?"

"You busy tomorrow?"

What? "No."

"Okay then."

When it was time for dinner, Serena came up to the microphone and asked everyone to take his or her seat.

The dining hall was beautiful, flowers and candles on the table not to mention the glorious artwork around the room.

"It's a very intimate setting," Kathy remarked as she and Elliot took their seats.

Once everyone was seated, Alex and Olivia entered the ballroom.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present Olivia and Alex Cabot-Benson."

A round of applause welcomed the couple as they made it to their seats.

"They're definitely the prettiest married couple I've ever seen."

"Everything's wonderful," Olivia couldn't believe how delicate everything seemed. Serena's sister (and their party planner) really did a great job.

Alex kissed her. "I couldn't have asked for anything more."

The meal started with an amuse bouche and a champagne toast. They had a raw oyster served on the half shell with lemon foam, brown butter and rosemary.

For those who were less adventurous, like most of the children, a meatball slider was given to them instead.

When Alex took Olivia's oyster right off her plate, Liz raised her brow. She should have known that Alex would feed the oyster to her wife, carefully placing it on her lips.

"Seriously, we don't need your foreplay at the table."

"Aunt Liz!" Alex complained.

"Don't you Aunt Liz me Honey!"

"Where's the rest of the food?" Abbie complained.

"That's just a starter," Casey told her.

"It's a tease … that's what it is."

Fin agreed. "Tell me about it!"

Next, it was time for the couple's first dance. Olivia led Alex to the dance floor, her strong hands finding Alex's perfect hips.

Come Away with Me started to play on the loudspeaker.

Alex wrapped her arms around her wife's neck. "I just want to tear this dress clean off you."

Olivia laughed. "We'd end up giving our guests quite a show."

Alex bit her lip. "That wouldn't do, but if I could get you into the coat check room, oh the things I would do."

"Save it for tonight baby."

"My blood boils when you look at me Liv. It has ever since we first met."

Olivia remembered when they first met. Alex came in all high and mighty. Olivia wanted to bend her over the desk and show her who was boss. "You have no idea how hot you get me."

They didn't even realized the song changed until Jack and Don came to get them for the father daughter dance.

"Tonight Baby," Alex whispered into her wife's ear.

"Thank you for doing this," Olivia said to Don as he turned her on the floor.

"Of course. I'm so happy for you Olivia." He saw her more than he saw his own daughter over the past 8 years, and she had become a second daughter to him. He wasted too much of his time working when he was young. He always thought he'd be able to retire with his wife, but now she was gone. He didn't want Liv to make the same mistake.

"Make sure you use all of your vacation time this year. She had loads of it stacked up."

"Oh I will." She and Alex planned on taking a trip to Paris in October, not to mention they wanted to make good use of their summer home in Cape Cod.

"You look more like your father every day."

"I hope I'm not growing a mustache," Alex told Jack.

He laughed. Even has his dry sense of humor, "I meant your eyes." They had a way of lighting up when she was overjoyed, just like her father.

After the dances, they brought out the appetizers: roasted half quail served over an arugula salad with charred corn and roasted tomatoes.

"Everything is so pretty!" Tyler took pictures of every course before he ate.

Lucenzo just dug in. "This all tastes really good." Wedding food was notoriously overcooked and dried, but this food had been perfectly timed.

This plate was fairly larger than the amuse bouche, but Abbie was still irked. "Where's the food?"

"No one comes to a wedding for the food," Casey chided.

"Speak for yourself. I expect to be fed!"

A waitress came to take everyone's dinner orders. "We have herb crusted chicken with English and creamy polenta, a grilled rib eye with red pepper sauce and roasted potatoes, and pan roasted blue fish with an arugula pesto and a wild rice pilaf."

"What has the most food?"

Casey raised a brow at her girlfriend.

"The rib eye."

"Done!"

Fin and Elliot got the ribeye as well.

Casey got the chicken, and Kathy opted for the blue fish.

Before the main course came tortellini with a creamy basil sauce. Alex wanted the courses to all be delicious and small enough to leave the guests wanting more.

"This is like a decadent mac and cheese," Olivia mumbled happily as she ate.

"You need to have your energy," Alex whispered into her ear.

"Oh you're so naughty."

"You like it."

"I'm going to vomit," Liz threatened.

"Weren't you ever young and in love?" Cragen teased.

"She was never young," Alex whispered to Olivia. "She was born middle aged and cranky."

Olivia couldn't help but laugh.

When the main course came, no one was talking. Everyone was chowing down.

Olivia moaned happily as she ate her steak.

Alex couldn't help but watch her wife. She had the happiest look on her face.

Once everyone had a main course Alex and Olivia toured the room, thanking their guests for coming.

"How is everything?"

Lisa hugged them both. "Everything is just amazing."

Little Alex hugged her aunt's leg.

"Hey Ace. Did you like your food?"

"Yeah!" She got the child-sized chicken and it was all gone.

After the entrees came a fruit and cheese plate, brie, goat cheese, and Old Amsterdam gouda along with strawberries, grapes, and poached pears.

"I keep thinking that I'm full," Trevor told his date as he went to get more cheese, "but then I just keep eating!"

This was a popular sentiment. The food and the drinks just kept coming. They had a decent gap between the cheese course and dessert, so people could dance and mingle, and so parents could get their children to bed on time.

Olivia said goodnight to her godson before Kathy went up to bed with him.

"This was a beautiful wedding Olivia, congratulations!"

"Thanks Kathy."

"Make sure Elliot brings me some cake." She was heading to the hotel now. Elliot would be meeting her within the hour.

"I will."

"May I have this dance," John asked Alex.

"Yes, but we better not show off. Liv might kill you."

He couldn't help but laugh. "So how does it feel being married?"

"Absolutely wonderful."

"You know if you need a babysitter, you could always bring me to Disneyworld with you."

It was Alex's turn to laugh. "How generous of you?"

"I am nothing if not generous."

Eventually Olivia came and said "may I cut in."

"I'd rather dance with her," Munch teased.

She raised a brow.

"I know when it's my time. Have a fun night. Make sure you use protection."

Alex wrapped Olivia in a kiss before the detective could bop him on the head.

Soft lips distracted the brunette. Olivia pulled Alex impossibly close, her hands roaming all over the luscious fabric of the blonde's wedding dress.

Alex gasped into her wife's ear. "Oh God! Liv!"

Abruptly, the brunette pulled away. "We can't forget about the cake."

"Oh you're so evil."

Olivia only smirked before wrapping her arm around her wife's waist. The two women made their way to the dessert table where a glorious 3 tier cake awaited them. They had Cassie pick out the bottom layer, which was a s'more cake semi sweet chocolate with a toasted marshmallow frosting and a graham cracker crust.

Alex picked the middle tier, which was cherry blossom and thyme.

Olivia picked the top tier, which was sweet potato and hazelnut.

Alex sat on her wife's lap, offering her a piece of cake from the top tier.

They kissed tenderly. Alex started nipping at her wife's ear. "I need you, Baby."

Olivia could feel her insides heating up. "Get the limo driver. It's time to say our farewell."

15 minutes later, they were thanking their guests for making their special day so wonderful.

"We have this place until 11:30," Alex told them. "Feel free to eat and drink your hearts content."

When the limousine pulled up, Olivia opened the door and Alex fell backwards into the car.

She pulled her wife on top of her. "Love me!"

"Always!" Olivia pinned her wife to the seat, mauling her with a passionate kiss. Neither of them paid any mind to the driver on the other side of the partition, hands roaming, hearts pulsing and moans and gasps filling their ears.

The Bureau Chief arched her back under her wife's touch. Olivia slid her hand between Alex's legs, pushing past her underwear.

"How long do we have?"

"Ten minutes?"

"Better move quickly." Olivia plunged into warm, spongy heat. Alex growled as Olivia teased around her hardened nub.

"Best be quiet. You don't want the driver to hear you."

Alex bit Olivia's shoulder to cover up her cries.

About eight minutes later, the car came to a stop. The driver opened the door and Olivia got out confidently. Alex stumbled out behind her, the blonde's once perfect hair totally ragged and her dress askew.

They took the elevator to the fifth floor. Olivia carried her wife over the marital threshold and whisked her into the room.

"Put me down."

Olivia set her on the couch. "Something wrong."

"No," Alex told her in a softer tone. "I want to change into my lingerie."

Alex went into the bathroom, taking her sweet time to get ready. She wanted to make Olivia wait.

The brunette had been about to doze off by the time Alex opened the door. The blonde whistled and Olivia's eyes snapped open.

There she was, the Alex Cabot wearing a blue see through baby doll with something white and lacy underneath.

A loud groan escaped Olivia's mouth before she started blinking rapidly.

"Like what you see?" Alex had such a coy grin and her voice just oozed of sex.

What Olivia saw would be permanently burned into her memory. She hopped off the couch, scooping up the blonde woman into her arms before carrying her to bed.

Alex was laughing all the way. This would be a night they'd always remember, the beginning of the rest of their lives.