Thank you guys so much for reading my little story. I appreciate the feedback. If you're a fan of The Cosby Show, you might recognize a line I stole from an old episode. I thought it fit Alex and Olivia perfectly. Here is the next installment. I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 21: Making a Case

The morning after Cragen's dinner party, Alex was extremely thankful that it was Sunday and she didn't have to work. She wasn't completely hung-over, but she wasn't operating anywhere near one hundred percent. It had been a long time since she had consumed that much alcohol; she now remembered why. Olivia had helped her nurse the lingering effects of the tequila without even teasing her, even though Alex knew that she had wanted to. Around lunch time, Olivia declared that they needed some fresh air. She prepared a quick picnic lunch and they headed to the park to enjoy the pleasant spring weather.

Alex had spread a thick blanket out in a soft grassy area under a huge tree while Olivia unpacked their sandwiches and fruit. Once the food was all gone, Olivia pulled out the book she had recently started reading and patted her lap. Alex took the hint and lay on her back with her head in Olivia's lap. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment as she felt Olivia's hands sifting through her hair.

"If you keep doing that, I'm going to fall asleep on you."

Olivia looked away from her book and smiled down into blue eyes. "Why would that be such a bad thing? You've been working really hard lately, not to mention the late night we had last night. I know you're tired."

Alex groaned. "Ugh… Remind me to never drink with those guys ever again."

Olivia chuckled. "How's the headache, Daddy?"

Alex rolled her eyes at the nickname she'd been given the previous night. "It's finally down to a dull roar. I'm just feeling a little sluggish still. It should wear off in a little while."

"I hate that you were feeling bad this morning, but I have to say that I was glad to see you relax a bit last night. You needed to have some fun."

"I think we both did. It's been... a bit intense lately hasn't it?" Alex said playing with Olivia's fingers.

"Ain't that the truth."

A long comfortable silence fell between them and Alex closed her eyes for a while. When she opened them, she was granted with a lovely sight. Olivia had placed her book aside and tilted her head up. She was staring up at the sky as she her long brown hair blew in the gentle breeze. Alex just watched her for a while. "God, you are so beautiful."

Olivia blinked and looked down at the blonde, shyly shaking her head. "Why do you always do that?"

"Do what?"

"Say things like that to me. I swear… you are the only person that has ever been able to make me blush this much."

Alex sat up and faced Olivia. "Do I make you uncomfortable?" She asked earnestly.

"No." Olivia shook her head. "It's just… no one has ever said things like that to me… not without wanting something from me."

Alex knew what she meant. She nodded. "Well… the only thing I want is for you to know how I feel about you. I want to make you happy."

"You do. You make me… extremely happy." Olivia frowned a little.

"Hey, what's with that look?"

Olivia shrugged her shoulders. "I know it might sound kind of cliché, but I don't think I really understood what it meant to be happy before you came back into my life. I don't even feel like I'm the same person anymore. I just hope I can make you happy too, Alex. You deserve so much more than I could ever give you."

Alex took both of Olivia's hands into her own and kissed them. "The greatest thing you could ever give me is your heart, Olivia. That's all I've ever wanted."

"You have that… always have and always will."

"Then that's enough. Because you do make me happy, more than you could ever know."

Once they returned from the park, the day passed with little fanfare. Several of their friends and family had called to offer their congratulations. Apparently, the news had traveled fast and they were now the talk of the town. Alex made a mental note to call her godmother soon. She didn't want her to hear about it as gossip by the water cooler. There would be hell to pay for that.

Olivia had called her half-brother, Simon, and shared the news with him. The smile Olivia was wearing when she finished the call made Alex want to meet this mystery man. She was sure she would like him; Alex liked anyone that made Olivia genuinely smile.

After dinner, they cuddled on the sofa as they watched a marathon of an old crime drama.

"Wouldn't it be nice if we could actually catch the perp and solve the case in under an hour?" Olivia said.

Alex chuckled. "Just think of all the time we'd have to do other things. I think I'd like to learn to knit so I could knit Sprout a pair of booties."

Olivia laughed. "You? Knitting? Don't quit your day job, Cabot."

"Hey, I could be good at knitting if I wanted." Alex pouted.

Olivia laughed and leaned over and quickly kissed her on the cheek. "Of course you could, sweetheart. You can learn to be good at anything you put your mind to."

"Okay, now you're just patronizing me."

"Maybe just a little."

Olivia's favorite part of the show came on and she quickly became quiet again. Alex smirked. She knew Olivia liked the actress that portrayed the prosecutor. Alex didn't really mind because the actress bore a striking resemblance to herself; she even had the same glasses.

"Do you see how the detectives on this show are able to talk their ADA into doing whatever they want? That would never happen in reality." Olivia said suddenly.

Alex looked at her in shock. "Uh… Hello! That's all you guys ever did to me."

"Not true, Alex."

"Seriously, Detective? Let the record show…"

Olivia rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh lord, the record is showing again."

Alex used a throw pillow to smack Olivia's head. They both laughed.

"We did manage to talk you into a few tough spots didn't we?" Olivia said sheepishly.

"We?" Alex said raising a brow.

Olivia laughed. "Okay... I… might have pressured you into a few tough situations. I know I probably caused you quite a few headaches over the years."

"Maybe a few." Alex admitted with a laugh. "But I had a crush the size of Texas on you. I would have thrown myself at the mercy of Judge Petrovsky's court to get whatever you wanted."

Olivia shook her head and smiled shyly. "I still have a hard time believing that."

"What?"

"That Alex andra Cabot had a crush on me."

Alex's eyes softened; the love she felt shining through. "What's not to like? You're awfully cute."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She glanced at the clock and sighed. "It's getting late. I'd better be going."

Alex pouted. "Do you have to? Why don't you just stay?"

"Because my laundry is going to stand up and do itself if I put it off any longer, not to mention my poor plants." Olivia said standing.

Alex reached out and grabbed her hand. "I'm great at laundry and watering plants."

Olivia laughed. "No, you're not. You dry clean all of your ridiculously expensive clothes."

"Okay. You have a point, but that's not because I can't do laundry. I can; I just don't have the time. I also have plants and I'm excellent at watering."

Olivia looked at her strangely. She didn't know why Alex was making a case out of this.

"Alex, you are not going to drive all the way over to my place to help me with laundry then drive all the way back here. Because that is exactly what you would have to do since you have an ungodly early appearance before Judge Petrovsky first thing in the morning. Lord knows you don't need to do anything to piss her off again."

Alex gave her a shy smile. "That's not exactly what I meant, Liv."

Olivia was confused. Alex pulled her back down to sit on the sofa. She caressed her hand for a moment before nervously meeting Olivia's gaze.

"I want you to move in with me." She said quietly.

Olivia just looked at her for a moment. She opened and closed her mouth several times, unable to find the right words.

"Oh. Umm… Uhh…"

Alex closed her eyes and sighed heavily. "Okay. That was not the response I was hoping for." She went to rise from the sofa when Olivia stopped her. "We can just forget I said anything."

"No. Wait! Come back here." She turned Alex to face her. "Have you thought about this, Alex?"

"Olivia, when have you ever known me to do anything that I haven't thought through?"

Olivia nodded. "I'm just asking because that's a pretty big step for us."

"Are you saying you haven't even thought about us living together?"

"Of course I have but we've only been together as a couple for a few of months. I've never been a fan of becoming the lesbian stereotype U-hauling as soon as the words I love you are mentioned. Do you think we're ready for that?"

"I do." Alex said evenly.

Olivia still looked a little unsure. "I just don't want you to do anything you will regret. I know you're committed to this, Alex. You don't have to prove anything to me."

Alex stood abruptly and began to pace. She looked like she was presenting her closing arguments to the jury. "This is not about me proving to you that I'm committed, Olivia. I'm not some lovesick teenager. I'm a big girl and I know what I'm doing. This is about me wanting you with me as much as possible." She paused and faced Olivia. "Will you just hear me out? I think you'll agree if you hear my argument."

Olivia chuckled. Of course Alex had an argument prepared. Alex was ever the attorney. "Alright, I'm listening."

"First: Yes, we've only been a couple for a few months, but we've known one another for twelve years; in love for the majority of that time. We're best friends and I don't think we could know one another more than we already do. Second: We're practically living together already. If I'm not with you at your apartment, you're here with me. The only time we spend apart is when one or both of us are completely swamped with work."

"Alex…"

"Third: You're pregnant and growing more pregnant every day. And I know that technically I'm not the other parent, but I want to be here for you. I don't want to have to worry about you when you're away from me. And I do; I worry all the time."

"Alex…"

"Fourth: It will become…"

"Alexandra Cabot!"

Alex finally stopped and faced a laughing Olivia. "Has anyone ever told you that you talk way too much?"

She frowned. "Why are you laughing? This is serious, Olivia."

"I know and I happen to think you've made a very strong case, Counselor. You can stop now."

Alex folded her arms and pouted. "But I wasn't finished yet. I had one more point."

Olivia shook her head. If Alexandra Cabot had grown up to be anything other than a lawyer, it would have been a tragedy for the legal world. "Okay. If you must, make your last point."

"Fourth: It will become increasingly difficult for me to cater to all of your weird cravings that are sure to come in the near future if I'm living on the other side of the city."

Olivia stood and approached Alex never breaking eye contact. She pulled Alex into her arms and kissed her lips softly. "Are you done now?"

Alex nodded. "Yes."

"Okay." Olivia said simply.

"Okay?" Alex blinked.

"Okay."

A slow smile made its way across the blonde's face. "Okay as in yes… you'll move in with me?"

"Yes. I was about to say yes back when you said that you weren't a lovesick teenager and wanted me with you but you were set on making your case."

Alex smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. It's an occupational hazard."

"No worries. I love seeing you go into counselor mode. It's hot."

"I'm glad you said yes. You know that if you don't like it here, we could always find another place together. I'm sure we can find something near work if you want."

Olivia pulled Alex close and wrapped her arms around her. "Thanks for offering, but I happen to love this apartment. Besides, if we have to look for something else together that could take forever." She rested her forehead against Alex's and closed her eyes. "I can't wait that long.

"Me either." Alex said softly.

"Alright then." She pulled back and nodded. "I'll talk to building management tomorrow about cancelling my lease at the end of the month."

Alex couldn't help grinning like a fool. "Great. It's all set."

"Not quite. You'll have to handle the moving. My girlfriend gets really overprotective and kind of bossy when I try to lift anything over twelve ounces." Olivia's eyes twinkled as her trademark smirk made an appearance.

Alex grinned and pulled out her cell phone. "You know, I just happen to have a moving company on speed dial."

Olivia frowned. "Why on earth would you have a moving company on speed dial?"

"Do you know how many times I've had to pack up my office the last few years?"

"Point taken, but that will have to wait." She said taking the cell phone and tossing it on the sofa.

"Why?"

Olivia slid her arms around Alex's waist and pulled her close again. She nibbled the sensitive spot just below the blonde's ear. "We have to christen all the rooms of 'our' place. It's a moving tradition. I'm surprised you've never heard of it."

Blue eyes twinkled. "Uh huh… right. There are quite a few rooms in this apartment, you know?"

Olivia nodded as she pushed Alex down to the sofa. "I know. This could take a while."

"Oh goody!"

TBC...