Two Years Later

Unexpected

Olivia threw herself into her couch, turning the TV on and flipping through the channels. Two hundred channels of nothing flew by, and as she went through again with lower standards, she settled on a movie she had seen too many times. She embarrassed herself as she realized she actually knew the words before the characters spoke them. Her fingers were laced behind her head, as she absently played with her hair.

She heard a knock that sounded like it came from her door, but she dismissed it. She wasn't expecting anyone and she hadn't buzzed anyone in. Deciding it was actually someone next door; she ignored it and let herself drift back into the movie. But then she heard it again, more insistent this time. Frustrated at the knocking, she sat up, sure it was Elliot. He was the only one with a key who'd show up at her apartment door unannounced checking in on her like she was a child.

She stood up and walked to the door, rubbing the back of her neck as she tried to stretch the muscles out. She looked through the peep hole and couldn't believe what was on the other side of the door. Pulling back the chain and flipping locks she pulled the door open to expose Alex Cabot standing on her door step.

She stood, staring. "Alex," she whispered.

"I'm back." She said simply, shyly.

"How?" Olivia asked, afraid to move because if she did, she knew that Alex would disappear. She was sure this was a dream she had experienced too many times—Alex in front of her only to vanish as she rushed forward to wrap the blonde in her arms. But there she was. She was almost the same. Her hair a little longer, she was a little thinner, but her eyes were the same deep blue that Olivia found herself floating in so many times in her dreams.

"They got him." She said, her hands nervously intertwined, her eyes lowered to the floor. "I, wanted to, I wanted to let you know. I just got back and I didn't really have anywhere to go."

Olivia blinked, and then, slowly, reached her arm out to touch the woman standing in front of her. Her fingers gently made contact with Alex's arm, causing Alex's eyes to meet hers, and for Olivia to realize in a quick moment that the woman in front of her was not a dream, but a reality.

"Come in," Olivia said, realizing they were still staring at each other across her threshold. She moved back as Alex took an unsteady step inside.

"It looks the same." She said.

"I, I don't spend much time," she gestured, feeling her face redden for reasons she didn't fully understand realizing the words weren't necessary. "I missed you."

"I missed you."

"Are you really here?" Olivia asked, still afraid.

"I think so," Alex said with a shy smile. She took Olivia's hand and brought it to her face, kissing the tips of her fingers while Olivia stared with wonder.

"How long?" Olivia whispered, ready for the answer that would take this all away.

"Forever." Alex answered.

Olivia could feel the tears in her eyes. Behind her, she could hear a phone ringing. She looked behind her for a moment, taking Alex's hand and pulling her along as she reached for the phone. Flipping it open, she heard Elliot's excited voice. "She's back, Olivia, she's back."

Olivia looked up at the blonde woman whose hand she still held. "Yeah, I know." She whispered, letting the tears finally start to fall down her face, finally able to breathe again for the first time in two years.