A/N: Ok, you win. I'll continue...BUT this is only going to be 3 Chapters (4 at most). I have a quick, clear ending in mind. (And don't have the time for a long series).

CHAPTER 2

Past, Season early 4-ish

Olivia sat in the booth of the bar, twisting the bottle and picking at the label. She questioned the location, whether they should have gone someplace more private. But then, of course, inside their apartments, things could always go awry. There were too many moments and memories shared there over the past several months.

"Sorry it took me so long," Alex said, rejoining Olivia at the booth. "One stall in the bathroom was broken and the people in front of me took forever."

Alex picked up the menu and looked it over, seemingly unaware of the state of nerves Olivia was in.

"Have you decided yet? I can never decide what I want," she said. "Though, I always get the chicken cobb salad."

"Um, no, I haven't ... I haven't looked yet," Olivia said.

Olivia's voice, her shaky tone caught Alex's attention who finally put the menu down and looked at her 'not quite a girlfriend, but more than a friend.'

"Are you not hungry?" Alex asked, more to give her time to assess what was going through Olivia's head.

"No. I mean, yeah, I am. I'll probably just get a burger," Olivia said.

Alex stared at her intently, watching her every move and considering how to respond.

"Are you ladies ready to order?" the server asked as he approached their table.

"I'm ready, are you?" Olivia asked.

"I ... Actually, can you give us a few minutes?" Alex said. The server nodded and left the table.

"Getting something different this time?" Olivia asked.

Alex laid the menu down, looked again at Olivia's nervous hands playing with her beer bottle.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked.

"What?"

"You're nervous," Alex stated.

"I'm ... nothing is ..." Olivia struggled for the words.

"This isn't working, is it?" Alex said.

Olivia sighed and hung her head. "Al, it's not that it's not working ..."

"No, you're right. I think that's the saddest part. We actually work well, don't we," Alex said.

"We do," Olivia said, nodding her head. "But ... our situation isn't working."

Now it was Alex's time to sigh. She knew this was coming. Hell, she even considered being the one to bring it up first, but wasn't sure how. The past month had been difficult for them professionally, which made it difficult for them personally.

"Was it you and Elliot getting put in federal lock-up or work dinner with Langan?" Alex said, smiling. The fights they'd had about those two things recently, both at work and outside of work.

Olivia chuckled. "I think just ... it's hard, you know. Keeping it secret. Trying to do our jobs without letting ... us ... get in the way."

"And your jealousy?" Alex smirked. It was a running joke between them. Even though they weren't officially together, they both had a jealous streak when others appeared to be closing in.

"And yours," Olivia said. Alex nodded, accepting the statement.

"So, this is it, huh?" Alex said. "You're breaking up with me."

"Alex, don't do that," Olivia said. "Besides, can we really break up?"

"I'm teasing," Alex said. "And you're right. I've been thinking about the same things. It's just so hard."

"We just have shitty timing," Olivia said.

"Yeah, I guess so," Alex said.

The server came back to their table, approaching slowly to see if they were ready.

"Did we decide?" he asked.

"Actually, I think we're going to skip dinner and just have the drinks we have tonight," Alex said.

"Ok, I'll be back with your tab, but please, take your time," he said.

"We could have still had dinner," Olivia said. "I mean, I hope we can still be friends."

"We can," Alex said. "But right now, tonight, I'm having a hard time looking at you and not questioning if we're making the right decision."

"Do you think it's the wrong one?" Olivia said.

"Truthfully ... no," Alex said. "We're both at a place in our careers where ... well, they come first. Right?"

Olivia nodded in agreement.

"So, while it's the logical decision, it still sucks," Alex said. "And if we sit here longer, have more drinks, you and I both know we'll just end up back at one of our apartments tonight."

"You mean break up sex?" Olivia said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, and as appealing as that is right now, I'm afraid I'll have to take a raincheck," Alex said.

Olivia smiled and nodded. She watched as Alex started to pull out money for the drinks.

"I'll take care of it," Olivia said.

Alex nodded and solemnly looked at Olivia. She turned to go but before she was completely away, Olivia reached for her hand.

"Maybe ... someday ... when we're in a different place, we can try this again," Olivia said.

Alex smiled. "Maybe someday."

#

Present Day

"Mommy, are you ok?"

Olivia looked up from her plate to see Noah looking at her. She was playing with her orange juice glass and picking at her food while she was lost in thought.

It was a Saturday morning, and it had just been a couple of days since she saw Alex in the bar. Of all the times they had spent together over the years since then, she couldn't help but wonder why all of a sudden she was still thinking about the attorney.

"Yes, baby," Olivia said. "Mommy was just thinking."

"About work?" Noah asked.

Olivia smiled. Her son knew her all too well sometimes, even if he was a little off this time. "Yeah, something like that. We should hurry up and finish before Amanda and Jessie get here."

They were having breakfast at a sidewalk cafe, and Amanda was running a few minutes late. Olivia didn't mind though because Amanda offered to take Noah for the day to give Olivia some time to herself. The younger detective had seen the stress Liv had been under with Sheila in town and was trying to show some support. Besides, Jessie loved playing with Noah.

"Twice in one week."

Olivia turned around at a familiar voice, surprised to see Alex standing behind her.

"Alex, hi, wow, what are the chances?" Olivia said. Noah watched carefully as this stranger talked to his mom.

"Noah, do you remember Alex?" Olivia said.

Noah shook his head no.

Alex smiled. "That's ok, you were pretty young the last time I saw you," she said, squatting down to shake his hand. "I'm Alex."

"I'm Noah," he said.

"Noah, Alex is the one who brought you the Curious George animal and book you used to love so much," Olivia said. It had been one of this favorites for a while.

Noah's eyes widened. "I like George," he said.

"Me, too," Alex said. "He was always one of my favorites when I was a kid."

"Why don't you join us?" Olivia said. "We're just about done, waiting on Amanda and Jessie."

"I don't want to intrude," Alex said.

"No, it's fine," Olivia said. "You want Alex to join us, don't you Noah?"

Noah shook his head yes quickly. Alex smiled and took a seat. The three chatted for a couple of minutes until Amanda showed up.

"I'm sorry I'm running late," Amanda said as she strolled up with Jessie and Sonny. "Someone insisted on coming over and cooking a big breakfast."

"Hey, I told you I'd watch Jessie if you wanted to go get Noah," he said. "You weren't complaining when you tried my eggs benedict."

Amanda rolled her eyes.

"Alex, I didn't even see you there," Alex said. "Good to see you."

"You, too," Alex said.

"And this is Sonny Carisi," Olivia said, introducing Sonny. "He's also an SVU detective. And this is Executive ADA Alex Cabot."

"Nice to meet you Detective Carisi," Alex said.

"Please, call me Sonny," he said. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard all about your work, especially in SVU and when you were shot and had to go into witness protection."

Amanda nudged him to tell him to shut up, and Olivia gave me a look that said he was talking too much, especially about things Alex probably didn't want to remember.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"No, it's ok," Alex said. "It was a long time ago. And thank you. It's a pleasure to meet you, too."

"If I'd had known you had plans with someone, I'd have been here earlier," Amanda said. "I'm sorry if I delayed anything you all had planned."

"Oh, no, we actually just ran into Alex just now," Olivia said. "We did, um, have plans or anything."

"Well, now you can," Sonny said. "We'll take Noah off your hands for a while today. And I promise, when we bring him home, he'll be all tuckered out."

"As he always is with Uncle Sonny," Olivia chuckled. "Anyway, I appreciate it and Noah and I will return the favor soon and schedule a day for Jessie to come over."

"Well, we'll get out of your hair," Amanda said. "Alex, good to see you. Liv, enjoy your day, whatever you end up doing."

"Thank you," Olivia said.

Within a few moments, everyone was gone, leaving just Olivia and Alex.

"So, I don't know if ..."

"If you're not busy ..."

They both spoke at the same time. Alex paused and insisted Olivia go first.

"I don't know if you were going anywhere, but I was just planning on some window shopping and a walk in the park today, if you'd like to join me," Olivia said. "I mean, you were out, so I assume you have someplace you have to be."

Alex shook her head. "No, in fact, I just came out for some coffee and a bagel. I had no agenda today, for once."

Olivia smiled. "Well, then, if you'd like, it would be nice to spend the day with you, catch up on ... life."

"I'd like that," Alex said.

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