Disclaimer: I own nothing
Thanks for all the reviews, I knew you could do it. I don't care if it's one word or an essay, I read them all and I reply when I can. Love hearing from new people. So many phantom readers out there. No one came up with ideas for what Tate looks like so for now it's use your imagination.
Midday saw Olivia and Tyler back out at the trout lake. Olivia's skin practically crawled with the need to touch Tyler as so far she had to be satisfied with a quick hug when Tyler eventually woke. Tyler had taken one look at her in her new getup and hauled her in growling she wanted to sneak off to her room. Olivia had laughed and told her to behave while shooting Judy an embarrassed look.
Tyler had sighed and sat sipping her coffee watching Olivia make up a small picnic basket to take out with them. Callum and his wife Sarah had shown up whilst doing so, their own picnic basket in hand and Callum declared they were coming too.
Sarah had smiled apologetically when she was introduced to Olivia and whispered 'Sorry I tried everything but he was adamant' while Callum was occupied with his head in his parents freezer. Olivia had nodded in understanding and shared a frustrated look with Tyler.
Tyler politely declined her brother's offer to travel with him and they took the F350 instead, the back loaded with fishing gear. Upon arriving at the lake Olivia had been a very good sport and tried the art of fly fishing. When she had gotten snagged in the tree behind her for the 10th time she told Tyler thanks but no thanks and went to sit on the picnic rug. Sarah joined her soon after leaving the siblings to fish.
Olivia liked Sarah, she was smart and witty and worked at the local bank as a teller. She listened to her tale of how she grew up on a ranch nearby and as soon as she was old enough she set her sights on Callum. Callum was 5 years older and had commitment phobia for many years, breaking her heart on several occasions. It had taken Sarah threatening to leave town and go work in Helena for him to finally come round. They'd only been married a little over a year.
She was the perfect attentive partner, clapping and cheering when Callum pulled in a trout. When Tyler pulled in her own trout she looked at Olivia expectantly and Liv played innocent
"What?" she asked "It's a fish". She had to bite her cheeks to prevent herself from laughing as Tyler's jaw dropped open. She hastily backtracked though when Tyler's eyes narrowed and she came towards her.
"Ok it's a really big fish, I really love fish and you are a fantastic fisherman" she appeased holding her hands up placating as Tyler still stalked her. She was saved by Callum calling for her to get the net as he had another one. Next time she was very rewarding in her praise.
They took a break for lunch at one, sitting in the shade on the blanket as they ate the sandwiches Olivia and Sarah had made up. Tyler leant in close and whispered in her ear that she was such a good little woman she would have to keep her around. Olivia grabbed her thumb and threatened to break it if she ever said anything like that again. Tyler begged for mercy much to the amusement of Callum and Sarah and when Olivia let her go Tyler whistled and muttered something about her being a wild one.
They continued to banter as they ate, finishing off their meal with left over apple crumble from the night before and a steaming coffee.
Soon after Sarah managed to convince Callum to leave when he had caught a third fish and they took their catch home so Tate could cook it when she got back. Tyler said she wanted to stay and catch a couple of more to make sure they had plenty but Olivia was pretty sure the couple knew exactly why they were staying.
With knowing grins they got into their pick up and drove off. Tyler attempted to give a casual wave as she pretended to fish but her mind was on Olivia and the kiss she was going to initiate the second her brother was out of sight.
She watched, ignoring the tugging on her line until the dust cloud behind the pickup got smaller then threw her rod aside and practically ran up the bank towards where Olivia lay on the rug, a come hither smile on her face as she waited.
Tyler fell to her knees at the bottom of the rug and crawled up it and Olivia's body slowly until she was braced above the woman that had come to mean so much to her in such a little amount of time.
"There's only two things that are going to stop me from kissing you right here right now."
"Hmmmmm?" Olivia asked then gasped as Tyler used her knee to prise her legs apart and settled her body into the cradle of her hips. All conscious thought evaporated from her mind as electricity raced through her body and she became decidedly wet at the contact. That had never happened before.
"Say no now Liv cause unless the world suddenly blows up I can't and won't be stopping" Tyler groaned, feeling Olivia's heat through her shirt just above her belt buckle. With a knowing grin she shifted just a fraction higher so the belt buckle pressed firm against Olivia's core.
"Fuck" Olivia cried and Tyler grinned
"Ok" and tossing her hat aside dove into a deep kiss.
Alex felt her nerves start to kick in as Tate drove through the archway of the Triple B ranch. She should have told Olivia she was coming. Where did she get off thinking she could decide whether Olivia could be with a woman or not? It wasn't like she wanted to be with Olivia herself was it? She paused and thought about it. Although not an unpleasant idea Olivia, although a best friend, was more like a sister than a prospective lover.
She looked at the tall woman beside her and felt an unexpected warmth spread through her that had her blinking in surprise and glad for her dark glasses. She must be suffering from sleep deprivation, she liked men. Young men, old men, fat, skinny, black, white or polka dotted as long as they were good in bed. Which, when she thought about it, weren't many in her experience. Not that she had a lot. Admittedly probably more than her share but most of those came in her crazy Witsec time.
Turning to look back over the view and determined to lose her current line of thought she had to admit it was a beautiful ranch made even more spectacular by the Mountains in the distance. The fences looked well maintained as did the barn and sheds that Tate pointed out.
The house they pulled up in front of was massive and could rival the Cabot estate in size at least. Where the Cabot's had gone for opulence to outdo every other Tom, Dick and Harry the Gates family had gone for practicality.
Tate switched off the engine and slid out of the cab to hurry around the hood and get Alex's door for her. The blonde was taking in the scenery and Tate had to grin
"It's beautiful isn't it" she asked as she offered a hand which was met with a single raised eyebrow before Alex put a hand in hers and she guided the blonde down to the ground, not surprised when she teetered a bit on her heels "I hope you brought some boots with you Alex"
"I don't own any, well none without a heel" Alex admitted and Tate had to swallow her tongue as she thought of Alex in a pair of knee high FMB's.
"Sneakers?" she asked and Alex shrugged. Tate shook her head, what had Alex been thinking, that there were footpaths running through the ranch? "We'll need to take you shopping tomorrow then" she chuckled just as the front door to the main house opened and Judy and Hank stepped out onto the Porch.
"Tate, you're back" Judy hurried down the steps and towards her arms wide. Tate grinned and moving away from Alex swept the woman she saw as her mother up into her arms. Judy laughed and scolded her, telling her to put her down. Tate did so with a grin before hugging Hank who had come down to greet her also.
Anyone watching would presume Tate had been away at least 6 months and not the 6 days she had been. Tate stepped back over to Alex and with a gentle hand on Alex's back guided her forward.
"Judy, Hank this is Alex. Alex this is Judy and Hank Gates"
"Hello" Alex offered her hand and her friendliest smile. She doubted there was any other way to impress these people other than to be friendly. She was grateful for that, only money talked with a lot of her friends back home.
"Pleasure to meet you Alex, how do you know our Tate?" Judy asked, unsure of this obviously rich woman in front of her. She had better not be taking Tate for a ride.
"Oh Alex is here for Olivia" Tate stepped in "She's Olivia's best friend"
Alex could feel the older Gates couple looking her up and down as they took in that bit of information. She didn't begrudge them their surprise, they probably were wondering how she met Olivia.
"Let me introduce myself properly. Alex Cabot, former ADA of the SVU unit where Liv works" she told them and watched the understanding dawn and the smiles reach their eyes
"I'm sorry forgive our rudeness, Olivia never mentioned you were coming"
This time it was Alex who flushed as she hastily looked down like a scolded child
"She doesn't know I'm coming" she looked at Tate whose jaw had dropped open in shock "It was supposed to be a surprise. I haven't seen her in a while, I've been overseas"
Judy was the first to recover
"Then you need to come inside. Tate can grab your bags. Olivia is in the Lilly room Tate, put Alex in the co joining Rose room"
"Yes ma'am" Tate nodded heading back to the SUV to get the bags, Hank going to assist
"Really I can manage my own bags" Alex insisted as Judy guided her towards the porch tsk tsking at her impractical shoes. Alex did wonder herself what she had been thinking when wearing them.
"We wouldn't think of it. Now come inside, I'll make you a cup of coffee or tea and I'll see if I can get Olivia and Tyler on the radio. They're out at the lake fishing. Otherwise I will have to send Callum and Sarah back"
That's when Alex realised she must have stepped into the rabbit hole and be in Wonderland. Olivia fishing? Would wonders never cease?