A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews. They are wonderful and encourage me to keep the story going. I know some don't like Olivia calling Alex blondie. It is a nickname for her and but not used that often. As always reviews or suggestions are welcomed.

Alex quickly ran down the stairs to the café to place their orders. She wanted to have dinner sitting on the table for Olivia when she was done soaking.

"Hey dad" Alex said when she saw her father behind the counter "I want to place an order."

"Want your usual princess."

"I do dad and I also want a steak and one of your famous twice baked potato."

"Would this be for that Olivia Benson who came in here earlier looking for you?"

Alex looked away and blush "It is dad."

"So she what comes by to see you and sends you down here to get a free meal. Is that it princess?"

Alex saw red when she heard the tone in her fathers voice.

"No she didn't father. For your information she didn't ask me to get her dinner I volunteered. To top off your accusations against her she gave me her wallet to pay for her meal. What else would like to say?"

Robert looked at Alex and smiled. Olivia had to be someone special for Alex to be standing up to him for her. The last woman she dated and he said something about her Alex never said anything.

"Alright princess how does she like her steak?"

"umm" Alex said realizing she had no clue how Olivia liked her steak.

"Tell you what I will cook it medium well and if she wants it well I'll through it back on the grill."

"Thanks dad" Alex said as she leaned over the counter and hugged him.

"Anything for my princess."

"How much do I owe you?" Alex asked as she pulled Olivia's wallet from her pocket.

"Consider it on the house. Now go back upstairs and I'll call you when its ready ok."

"I love you dad." Alex said as she kissed him on the cheek and took off out the door.

"You took that pretty good Rob." Crystal, Alex's mother, said as she came from behind the swinging doors again.

"Do you just sit back there spying on me?" Robert asked with laughter in his voice.

"No but I stay out when its you and Alex because your approval means more to her than mine. I want you to give it without my forcing you to fake happiness like you did with Vicci."

"Any suggestions then?"

"Yeah give this Olivia a chance. I've met her and talked to her here a few times. I like her. She dedicated to her job and her training. If she will show half that dedication to Alex then we will never have to worry about her again as long as she's with Olivia."

"I'll let you know after I take Alex's and Olivia's dinner up to them."

"Robert" Crystal said in warning tone.

"Don't Robert me. Alex is my only daughter and my world. I will make sure she's not being taken advantage of."

"I know but let them have this right now. Give it another week or so then interriogate her ok."

Robert mummbled something under his breath and headed for the kithchen. He hated having to wait to get a shot at Olivia. He wanted, no had to, make sure she was nothing like Vicci.

"Alex is that you?" Olivia called out when she heard the front door shut.

Alex felt her heart speed up hearing Olivia call out to her. It seemed so right to walk into her apartment and hear Olivia call for her.

"Yeah its me babe."

Olivia leaned back and rested her head on the back of the tub and closed her eyes. The Jacuzzi jets was doing wonders for her sore muscles. Not to mention the fact that she knew when she stepped out of the tub Alex would be waiting for her. She'd be lying to herself is she said that wasn't something she hadn't been imaging since she started dating her.

"That soak felt amazing" Olivia said as she walked out of the bedroom drying her hair.

"I'm glad dinner is on the table and ready for you." Alex said unable to peel her eyes from the sight before her. Olivia's hair was sticking up everywhere from her drying it. The sweatpants Alex had given her was a little snug in the waist but formed around her butt quiet nicely. The t shirt stopped just below the waist of the pants so that as she was drying her hair it rose and gave Alex a peak at olive colored toned abs.

"Great I'm starving" Olivia said as she looked up and caught Alex eyeing her like a tiger eyeing a gazelle. "Looks like you are too."

Alex turned blood red when she realized she was caught ogling Olivia like she was a piece of meat.

Olivia pulled Alex to her. "If you see something you like, feel free to stare or touch. I'm yours so help yourself."

Alex swallowed hard as she let her hand run over toned skin. Amazed at how the muscles rippled when she ran her hand over them. What amazed her even more was the sharp intake of air and look of pure unadulterated lust that entered Olivia's eyes when she looked into them.

Alex slowly removed Olivia's shirt and ran her hands over her body. She leaned down and kissed the bruise that had formed on Olivia's side.

"Does it still hurt?"

"Some."

Alex pulled her hand back not wanting to cause Olivia anymore pain than what she was already in.

"hey" Olivia whispered placing Alex's hand on her side "I like your hands there."

"I don't want to cause you any more pain."

"If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have these."

Alex looked up at Olivia with a confused look on her face.

"Let me put my shirt back on and I'll explain over dinner."

Alex nodded and pulled her self from Olivia. She was finding it harder and harder to keep her hands off Olivia.

Olivia pulled Alex's chair out and waited till she was seated before scooting her up to the table. Olivia quickly walked around the table and took her seat.

"Oh I forgot dad cooked your steak medium well I hope that's ok."

"Its fine beautiful." Olivia said as she cut into her steak.

They began their meal in silence. They were half way through when Alex finally looked up and asked the question that had been burning in her mind since before dinner.

"How am I to blame for your bruises."

Olivia put her fork and knife down. This was going to be tricky to explain without scaring Alex off.

"Before we started training we were told to close our eyes and find that one reason to stay alive. The reason why we would fight hard to come out alive in a fight. When I closed my eyes I saw you. When Nelson had me on the mat choking me out you popped in my head begging me to come home to you."

"You fought to stay alive because of me?" Alex said as she stood and made her way to Olivia.

"I did" Olivia said scooting back so Alex could sit on her lap.

"I'm not hurting you am I?" Alex asked as she positioned herself on Olivia's lap.

"No beautiful."

"good" Alex whispered before roughly claiming Olivia's lips.

Olivia grabbed Alex and pulled her tighter against her ignoring the searing pain it caused.

Only breaking the kiss because the need for air became to great.

Alex rested her forehead on Olivia's allowing both of them to try and catch their breaths.

"So I didn't scare you off with that statement I take it."

Alex laughed lightly "No you didn't, stud."

"Stud. I'm a stud"

"Yeah. My stud" Alex answered as she climbed off Olivia and took her seat to finish eating.

The rest of the dinner was spent in silence only giving each other knowing glances. Both realizing that they had taken their relationship to the next level but not ready to voice it.

Olivia quietly cleaned up while Alex straightened the living room. When Olivia finished she turned around and watched Alex. Everything seemed so natural with her. Nothing was ever forced. If she dared to say it was almost like they were soul mates.

"Hey blondie I need to head out."

Alex turned and walked over to Olivia. It was now or never.

"Stay the night."

Olivia's jaw almost hit the floor.

"Close your mouth officer."

"Listen Alex thank you but after the beating I took today a couch isn't going to cut it."

Alex took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"I'm not talking about the couch. I want you in the bed next to me. Holding me. I need you to hold me tonight."

The crack in Alex's voice tore at Olivia. She knew that the events had an effect on Alex she just didn't realize it was this bad. She opened her arms and motioned for Alex to come to her.

She slowly walked over to Alex and raised her head so she was looking her in the eye.

"I'll stay."