Disclaimer: I own nothing

Alex took several shots that night, the camera was passed around to different people to make sure everyone was in a photo. Alex was pleased that several good photos were taken of her and Olivia. She would get them printed and put them up around their apartment.

The 'men' were left to watch the game while Casey, Kathy, Serena and herself crowded around her laptop and exclaimed over the photos. Several requests were made to email some of the photos on so others could make copies for themselves.

Elliott and Kathy were the first to make a move, leaving at 10.30pm as Eli needed to get to bed, already it was way past his bedtime. It started a mass exodus as they hugged their friend's goodbye and promised each other they had to get together again soon.

Abbie and Serena were the last to leave, with Serena dragging her drunk Texan out while she sang. Olivia looked at Alex with a smirk and declaring an early phone call was in order to their friend the next morning.

Olivia cleaned up the lounge of beer bottles and took them down to the trash while Alex loaded her dishwasher with glasses. The caterers had left earlier after cleaning up and with a big bonus cheque and a promise of future calls.

Olivia returned to the apartment and found it dark except for the hall light leading to their bedroom. Locking the door she hung up her jacket, kicked off her boots and headed down to find her lover.

Walking into their bedroom she found Alex already in bed, covers pulled up to her chin and waiting. She indicated she would be a few minutes and disappeared into the bathroom for her nightly routine.

In the bedroom Alex let out a shaky breath as nerves played in her stomach. She raised the covers and looked down at her naked body, taking it in with a critical eye. What would Olivia's reaction be on seeing her naked? Would she get the hint? She sure hoped so. She had decided that the day of Olivia moving in should be the day they officially made love for the first time, and it was love. She hadn't said it before but she had known a while now. She loved Olivia Benson and had for years.

God she was so stupid and they had wasted so much time. She was brought out of her thoughts by the bathroom door opening and looked up to see Olivia stepping out only wrapped in a towel. Wow. She stared as Olivia gave her a cocky grin

"So Counsellor, to I detect correctly in thinking you are naked beneath those covers?" she asked and Alex's blush was enough to let her know she had detected correctly. Grinning she reached for the knot in her towel and let it slide to the floor, revealing her body to her lover for the very first time.

Alex could only stare awestruck, the woman was gorgeous and just the sight of that body naked had her shivering in anticipation and she felt her own excitement coating her thighs. She watched as Olivia prowled towards her like she was prey and realised she liked this more confidant side of Olivia. It appeared Liv had made up her mind too.

Inhaling a shaky breath she pulled back the covers and allowed her lover to slide in. Olivia had no hesitation in crawling across the sheets and covering Alex's body with her own. Both inhaled sharply at the contact of skin on skin.

Olivia held herself on shaky arms above Alex as she looked down on pure perfection, from the rosy tipped perky breasts to the flat stomach and the neatly trimmed blonde curls below. She felt her arms shake beyond the point where she could control them and gently lowered herself onto her elbows. She groaned when Alex splayed her legs in invitation and slid her arms around her neck to pull her down further.

"Liv" Alex breathed, overwhelmed. Olivia swallowed back the emotions which threatened to pour out of her and pressed her forehead to Alex's.

"I know"

"I love you Liv" she gasped as Olivia lowered herself on top of her. She hadn't meant to say it, it just slipped out and as Olivia froze above her she wondered at the reaction she was about to get. She knew Olivia well enough that she had built a wall around her heart many years ago that few got to penetrate. She just hoped she had.

Olivia's heart jumped into her throat when she heard Alex's confession and she froze in place as a multitude of emotions poured through her including tenderness, warmth, disbelief, fear and the love she held for Alex in return. She closed her eyes as tears threatened to spill over as she wondered what she had done to deserve the beautiful woman in her arms.

Finally, after 43 years, she had found someone to love, who knew all her demons and loved her back. Realising she had been silent too long and that Alex had gone stiff underneath her in fear of her reaction she raised her head until her gaze met Alex's startling blue.

As she did so she held nothing back, not the love she felt pouring from her heart, her soul for this woman, not the overwhelming tears of joy knowing she was loved, nor the fear of the power of said feelings and the hold Alex had over her now.

She watched Alex's eyes soften, felt her body relax and cradle hers more gently as one pale hand came up to cup her cheek and a thumb gently wiped a few stray tears from her eyes.

Alex was overwhelmed by the emotions she saw in Olivia's eyes, her heart soared in the realisation that Olivia loved her too. She didn't need to hear the words, seeing them was enough. Cupping the back of Olivia's head, loving the feel of her soft hair in her fingers, she pulled Olivia's head to hers until she could claim those beautiful soft lips with her own.

"Make love to me Liv, show me" she whispered between soft kisses and Olivia had to swallow down the emotions that clogged her throat so that she could speak

"I...I don't" she sighed and shook her head "I'm not sure...how" Olivia admitted and Alex smiled

"Yes you do love, everything you've done before has been perfect. Just love me Liv, just love me"

"I do" Olivia croaked "I will, always"

"Yes, always" Alex's heart pounded at the thought as she returned Olivia's kiss, softly gently and with all the love she had.