A/N: Here is the next chapter. I hope you like it. Like always, I'd love to hear what you think. Thanks for reading.
Chapter 27: Thanksgiving
"Olivia, are you sure you feel up to making the drive to Boston next week? We could always just stay here; maybe invite a few of our friends over."
The couple had received an invitation to come to Boston for Thanksgiving at the Cabot family home. Several of Alex's cousins had decided to get together for Thanksgiving instead of Christmas this year since everyone seemed to have conflicting plans. At least that was the excuse they were using. Alex knew the truth. She knew that her cousins had heard all about Olivia from Julia and Bill and were desperate to meet the woman she was having a child with. When Julia had let it slip that Alex would be remaining in the city for Christmas because of Olivia's approaching due date, suddenly Thanksgiving became extremely important to them.
"I think dinner here could be fun. What do you think?" Alex asked hopefully while thinking of her girlfriend's swollen ankles.
At eight months pregnant, Olivia was feeling all the usual pregnancy complaints. She was tired and her feet and hands were always swollen. She felt like she always had to pee and had developed constant backache and occasional leg cramps. With all of that going on, Olivia was an exhausted mess when she came home from work. After witnessing this several weeks in a row, Alex finally put her foot down and told Olivia that it was time to go on maternity leave. Surprisingly Olivia didn't even put up a fight. Obviously everyone at the precinct thought it was a good idea as well. Alex received a huge bouquet of flowers from the Captain and detectives of the 1-6 the very next day. The note simply said 'Thank you!'
"We can do whatever you want. Dinner here sounds good, but don't you want to see your other family? Didn't you say that your cousins wanted you to come home this year?"
"First of all, I'm already home. Secondly, I can see my annoying cousins anytime. Besides, I don't want you to have to suffer through an uncomfortable car ride. You'd be exhausted."
"Please. I'm fine. Now that I'm at home all day, I have the luxury of putting my feet up and resting as you have commanded me to, Oh great one." Olivia said sarcastically.
"I won't apologize for looking out for you."
Olivia waddled into the kitchen where Alex was preparing dinner and placed a kiss on her cheek. "I wouldn't dare ask you to, babe. Don't mind me. I'm just cranky."
"Anything I can do to help?"
Olivia shook her head and sat down at the table. "No, it's just regular old pregnancy crankiness. I'm sure you'll be glad when this is all over."
Alex stopped and turned off the burner. She tilted her head, giving Olivia her full attention. "What do you mean by that?"
"You don't have to pretend, Alex. I know I've been driving you crazy lately. You go to work and deal with nut cases all day then have to come home to one."
Alex wiped her hands on the dish towel. She went over to Olivia and kneeled in front of her. "Let's get one thing straight right now. You are not a nut case. You are eight months pregnant with our very active son."
She placed her hands on Olivia's belly and smiled when she felt several rapid kicks.
"Do I hate that you have those horrible back aches, leg cramps, and god knows what else? Absolutely. I hate it because it makes you uncomfortable and unhappy. If I could do this for you, I would. And even with all that, I am still in no rush for this to be over. This is the happiest I've ever been in my entire life." She finished placing a kiss on the protruding belly.
Olivia melted and held Alex's head in place. She smiled when she heard the blonde start talking. Running her fingers through the long blonde locks, she listened intently.
"Listen little man, I really need you to cut Mommy a little slack. She's having a rough time as it is with the other body parts so… if you could take it easy on her ribs and back, I'll consider buying you a new sports car on your sixteenth birthday. How does that sound? We have a deal?"
Alex kissed Olivia's stomach before looking up with a smile. "Sprout is going to take the deal."
Olivia didn't speak. She just gave Alex a look. Alex swallowed hard as she shrank back a little. She knew that look. She'd learned all of Olivia's looks over the past few months.
There was the 'what the fuck' look. That look was usually reserved for the guys when they asked her something ridiculous. Alex had gotten it herself once or twice too. The worst was the 'my feelings are hurt and it's all your fault'look. Alex hated that look because that usually meant that crying was sure to follow. The crying would lead to Alex running out for flowers, candy, or some crazy craving to make up for whatever crime she had unknowingly committed. The look she was getting now was the 'put your briefcase down because I want you right now' look. Alex usually got that one as soon as she walked through the door every evening. Alex had to admit that she was rather fond of that particular look.
"Olivia." Alex said with a hint of warning.
Olivia was already standing up and pulling Alex out of the kitchen. "Yes?"
"Olivia, I just made dinner. We can't…"
Olivia stopped and looked at Alex with an enticing grin. "Do you want me to eat dinner or do you want me to eat you? By the look on your face, I'd say the latter."
Alex swallowed hard.
Olivia smirked. "Just say yes dear."
"Yes dear."
One Week Later: Thanksgiving Day
Alex was checking the turkey and putting the finishing touches on the other dishes when there was a knock at the door. "Hey Liv, can you get that?"
Olivia was slowly making a way down the stairs. "Sure. You need any help in there?"
"No. I'm just waiting on the turkey. You can greet our guest."
"Not that you'd let me anyway." Olivia mumbled.
"I heard that, Detective!"
Olivia laughed as she pulled the door open. Her smile got bigger when she saw the people standing there.
"Well I'll be damned! Serena hasn't been bull-shitting me all this time. Cabot really went and knocked you up!"
"Well if it isn't the ever charming Abigail Carmichael." Olivia grabbed her arm and pulled her inside. "Get in here and give me a hug."
Serena stood to the side and watched Abbie and Olivia embrace. Abbie had been in and out of the country the last few months working on an international case and hadn't had the chance to see her old friends. She was excited that they would all be able to spend Thanksgiving together.
"Alright Abbie, move out of the way. It's my turn." Serena said pushing Abbie away and giving Olivia a hug. She pulled back and touched Olivia's belly. "And how is Sprout doing?"
"Sprout?" Abbie frowned.
"That's what we're calling him until we decide on a name." Alex said walking out to greet them. "Welcome home, Abigail." She smiled and gave Abbie a warm hug.
Olivia sent them towards the living room while she took care of everyone's coats.
"It's good to see you, Abbie. It hasn't been the same around here without you." Alex said.
Abbie smirked. "Never thought I'd see the day when you'd actually admit to missing me, Cabot."
Alex rolled her eyes. "I never said anything about missing you. I said it wasn't the same without you. You could take that statement many ways."
Abbie laughed. "Well I missed you too, Alex even if you won't admit to missing me."
"I hear missing you might not be an issue anymore. You thinking of moving back to the city for good?" Alex asked handing the couple a glass of wine each. She didn't miss the weird look that passed between Serena and Abbie.
Abbie nodded. "Well… I'm still looking at my options. I'm still having fun being a legal cowboy down in DC, but I've been thinking that it might be time to come home."
"You have a job lined up? I'm sure McCoy would love to have you back at the DA's office."
"I'm sure he would." Abbie smirked. "Jack always did like surrounding himself with women."
Alex laughed. "I think that we were the only women in that place that managed to not fall into bed with that man… not that he didn't try."
They all groaned and shivered.
When Olivia returned to the living room, she had several other people with her.
"Look who I found hanging out in our hallway."
Fin, Melinda Warner, Fin's son Ken and Ken's fiancé Alejandro all followed her into the room. Hugs and introductions were given all around. Alex played hostess and made sure everyone had wine or the beverage of their choice.
"Hey there hot stuff. I didn't know you'd be here." Fin said walking up to Abbie. He gave her a friendly hug and kiss.
"So I take it you finally took my advice and went after this beautiful one?" Abbie said pointing to Melinda.
Fin shrugged. "I had to do something. I couldn't have her giving up on men and all. There are enough batting for 'your team' as it is."
Abbie laughed heartily. "God, I've miss you, Fin."
Alex waited until everyone was deep in conversation before discreetly pulling Serena into the kitchen.
"Alright, spill it. What's going on with you two?"
"What are you talking about?" Serena asked trying to play dumb.
"Don't give me that. As soon as I mentioned moving back to the city, Abbie tensed up and you looked all weird. What is going on?"
Serena sighed. "I already told you that we were having issues. Nothing has really changed. I still want to settle down and start a family and Abbie is still… well Abbie is still being Abbie."
"What exactly does that mean?"
"I don't think Abbie wants to have children with me, Alex." Serena finally admitted. "Abbie always said that if we were to have kids, I would be the one to carry it. I took that to mean that she would be willing when the time was right. The problem is… I don't think Abbie ever thought of us having kids as a real possibility… ever."
Alex was floored. "So… where does that leave you?"
Serena shrugged her shoulders and sighed sadly. "I love Abbie more than I've ever loved anyone. You know that, but… I'm not sure if I love her enough to give up my dream of having a family. I just… need something more. I don't know. I think maybe we've outgrown each other."
Alex looked at her friend sadly. She could see the hurt behind Serena's facade. "I'm so sorry, Serena. I really was hoping you two could work things out."
Serena nodded. "We're still talking. We agreed not to make any major decisions until after the New Year."
"What will you do if she decides not to…"
Serena shook her head and waved Alex off. She wasn't ready to deal with that option yet.
"I have to believe that we will find some common ground. I have to. The alternative is just not something I can contemplate right now."
Alex nodded and squeezed Serena's hand. "Just know that I'm here if you need me, okay?"
Serena smiled softly and pulled Alex into a warm embrace. "Of course I know that. You're my best friend. We've always had each other's backs. That will never change."
The sound of the doorbell rang out through the apartment. Serena smiled and squeezed Alex's hand. "You need to go play hostess."
"You sure you're okay?" Alex asked.
"I'm fine. Now, let's go before Olivia comes looking for us. I really don't want to deal with this today. I just want to have a great Thanksgiving with my best friends and family."
"Okay."
When Alex and Serena rejoined the guest, John and Captain Cragen had arrived. After about an hour of catching up, the guest sat down in the dining room for dinner. Alex took a seat at the head of the table while Olivia took the seat at the other end. Alex winked at her from the far end. Soon grace was said and everyone dug into their meals.
"Okay, where did you cater this food from, Cabot? Really?" Abbie asked Alex for the third time. Everyone laughed.
"For the last time, Carmichael, I did not cater the damn food. Why is it so hard to believe that I can cook?" Alex said.
"Because I was in the apartment with you when you set your stove on fire!" Abbie said causing everyone to laugh.
"That was years ago, Abby. Let it go already!"
"Alright you two. Cool it or I'm putting you in time out." Olivia said from the other end of the table.
"I bet Cabot likes her' timeout." Abbie mumbled to Fin earning them both a smack on the back of the head from Serena and Melinda respectively.
Again, the table erupted in a roar of laughter.
"Just for that… Abby you are now on nursery duty next Saturday. I think Olivia and Alex will appreciate the extra manual labor. What do you think Olivia?" Serena asked in a stern voice.
Abby sputtered. "What? Wait…"
Olivia smiled sweetly. "Oh, I think that is a wonderful idea, Serena. We'll be expecting you around seven."
"But Serena…"
"Keep talking and I'll have you here before six am and that will be after you've spent the night on the sofa… alone."
Whatever Abby was about to say died on her lips. She closed her mouth and glared at a smirking Alex.
"My timeout is sooo much better than yours." Alex mumbled.
"Alex." Olivia warned.
"Busted." Abbie said with a grin.
"But she started it." Alex said pointing at Abbie and another argument ensued among the lawyers.
Ken leaned over to John. "Are they always like this? It's like watching a group of kids."
John nodded. "Oh yeah. This is pretty tame actually. Whenever two type A females like Cabot and Carmichael are in the same room there's bound to be fireworks. They love to antagonize one another, but they love each other. It's their thing."
Melinda shook her head at their antics and turned to Olivia. "So how are you feeling Olivia? It's getting pretty close now."
Olivia sighed and rubbed her stomach instinctively. "I'm doing okay. I'm having the typical aches and pains."
"Any Braxton-Hicks yet?"
Olivia chuckled. "Those started this past week and Alex nearly had us packed and in the car before I could explain what was going on."
Melinda smiled and glanced down the table at the blonde who was in another intense legal argument with Abby. "I never thought I'd see you two actually get together."
Olivia nodded. "We took the long way didn't we?"
"It doesn't matter. You got there."
"I see you and Fin are getting closer."
"He's a really good guy once you get beyond the tough guy image. He's really a big softy." She whispered.
"That he is. Alex adores him. He's always trying to teach her rap songs. It's hilarious to watch."
Olivia and Melinda both laughed at the thought of prim and proper Alexandra Cabot grooving to a hip hop song. As they were laughing, Olivia looked up and caught Alex's loving gaze. The blonde smiled then glanced around the table at their eclectic rag-tag group of friends. As if reading her mind, Olivia did the same. These people may not have been their blood relatives, but they were definitely family… their family.
After all the guest had left and the food had been put away, Alex and Olivia cuddled on the sofa and watched a movie. Olivia was lying back against Alex's chest as the blonde ran her fingers through her hair. Alex thought she had fallen asleep until Olivia suddenly spoke.
"You know, I think this was the first traditional Thanksgiving that I've ever had. I think I'm going to like Thanksgiving from now on."
Alex paused and frowned. "What do you mean? You never celebrated Thanksgiving?"
"Not in the traditional sense. It was always just my mom and me. When I was younger, she was finishing up her Ph.D. so she was working a second job to pay for it. I usually spent the day with the old lady down the hall that would babysit me. Then when I got older…" Olivia swallowed hard thinking about those years. "…she was drinking a lot by then. Holidays were not all that popular in our home."
Alex instinctively held her tighter. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. Was it always so bad?"
Olivia thought for a moment and smiled. "No, it wasn't actually. There were times when Serena Benson was the most wonderful mother I could have ever asked for. That's the person I try to remember. I've been thinking of her a lot lately, especially when I found out I was pregnant. When I first realized I was going to be a mother, I was terrified. I can't even imagine what it must have felt like for her knowing that not only was she about to become a mother, but the mother of a child fathered by her rapist. I often wondered why she made the decision to keep me."
"She loved you, Olivia. You were just as much her child as you were his."
"Yeah. I know she loved me the best way she knew how. She did the best she could under those circumstances and I've made my peace with that. I just want to make sure that this child knows that I love him unconditionally."
"He will know that because you're going to be the best mother in the world. Our son doesn't know it yet, but he won the mommy lottery with you."
Olivia tilted her head back and kissed Alex on the lips. "I never understood the whole being thankful thing on Thanksgiving. I always thought it was just another commercial holiday about eating a big meal and watching football. I think I really got it today though. It really is a day about being thankful for what you have." She sat up and faced Alex. "And I am so thankful that you came back into my life. I'm thankful for you."
Alex smiled warmly. She leaned in and kissed Olivia lovingly and caressed her face. "Are you tired?"
Olivia shook her head. "Not really."
"Good because I could tell you how thankful I am for you and our life together…" Alex said pulling Olivia up and towards the stairs. "…but I'd really rather show you."
The next morning, Olivia was awakened by the rays of sun creeping through the windows. She stretched and moaned with contentment when she felt how loose and relaxed her usually aching back felt. Remembering how Alex had gently and lovingly caressed every inch of her body before finally making love to her until she fell asleep made her smile. She turned over in bed expecting to see Alex still asleep only to find her side of the bed empty and cold. She frowned. She was about to get out of bed to search for her missing lover when she heard the sound of the door closing downstairs.
A few moments later, Olivia was greeted with a spectacular sight. Alex walked through the door gulping down a bottle of water. The best part was that Alex was wearing a pair of tiny black running shorts with a Harvard zip up hoodie over a matching black sports bra that showed off her rather impressive six-pack. Her hair was pulled back in a pony-tail and she was a sweaty mess. Olivia just stared at her with her mouth open.
"Oh, you're awake. I was hoping to get back from my run before you woke up." Alex said walking towards the bed. She leaned down and placed a quick kiss on Olivia's lips before pulling a lovely single red camellia from behind her back.
"A beautiful flower for my beautiful lady."
Olivia melted as she took the flower. It was the same flower Alex had presented her with when the blonde had picked her up for their first official date.
"It's lovely. Thank you." Olivia said pulling Alex down for another kiss. She tugged a little harder trying to get the blonde into bed, but Alex was resisting.
"You're welcome, baby but I am a sweaty mess and I am in desperate need of a shower."
Olivia allowed her eyes to roam over the beautiful body before her. "I happen to like you all sweaty."
"I'll make you a deal. How about you let me get cleaned up then I can take you out for breakfast."
"You've got yourself a deal, but we might need to make it lunch instead. It may take us a while."
"We?"
"Oh yes. I'm planning to get a little sweaty too." Olivia said strolling into the bathroom.
Alex was left standing by the bed blinking.
"Are you coming, Counselor?"
Alex looked up to see Olivia standing by the shower in all of her naked glory. She grinned. "Not yet…but soon." She mumbled before racing towards the shower.
TBC...
Coming Soon... Pearson-Hardman & Associates