A/N: Wow 16 reviews in a day? I'll update again for that!
Stussy+Blitz1030: Whoops, I completely forgot that gay marriage was legal in New York. My B. That will come into play later in this story, but there will be more...pressing matters at hand. No spoilers from me!
iTrick: Nope, she's not an EADA. I prefer not to do the whole co-worker dating conflict deal, Hell or High Water and a few other stories do that very well. Also, seeing as she was censured, Casey honestly could never advance beyond ADA if she continued as a prosecutor, not that she would give a fuck seeing as she's not a very career-minded person like Alex is. We'll explore what Casey did with her career in this chapter, and I think you'll like it.
steple: Holy shit, if I got you to review, then I really am talented! Thanks!
I would like to take this opportunity to shout out to Death Makes An Artist and DustyMonkey for the inspiration their work has provided for this story! They are both fabulously talented and you should go read their work!
Slapping the snooze button on the alarm, Alex cuddled closer to her pregnant girlfriend, as if to protect against the November chill outside. Casey's head lay atop her bare chest, her long waves sweeping behind her. Alex ran her fingers through them as she slept, her other hand tracing patterns absentmindedly across the soft skin of her back. This was her guilty pleasure, waking up to her very own angel each morning. It served to remind her who she was fighting for when she went out to face the world every day.
Casey squirmed against Alex, her groans muffled by her human pillow. She then bolted upright, before making an clumsy leap from the bed, and a mad dash for the bathroom, the sheets rumpled in her wake. Alex's heart broke every time her love suffered morning sickness, or "all-day pregnancy hell" as it was affectionately termed by her witty girlfriend. She made her way to the closet, putting on her robe and grabbing Casey's, before following her into the bathroom. The redhead seemed so small slumped over the toilet, painfully retching. Alex gently gathered her hair into a loose ponytail and tied it off with one of a few elastics she had taken to wearing on her wrist for occasions like this. She rubbed slow, soothing circles into her back, feeling how cold the skin was under her hand.
"It's alright, Case. Just let it all out. It'll be over soon." she whispered.
"Make it stop. Help. Oh God-" Casey couldn't finish before her stomach spasmed and she coughed violently.
"That's it, baby. You're okay. Take a deep breath. Good girl. It's all over now, love."
Casey leaned back into Alex, taking in her warmth. Alex guided her arms into the robe, tied it around her, and rested her chin on her shoulder, kissing her temple.
"God, I'm sorry, Lex. You shouldn't have to be sitting in a bathroom watching me throw up constantly." Casey's voice was unusually scratchy, even for her.
Alex helped her stand up, wetting a washcloth with warm water from the sink. "But what kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't?" The corners of her mouth turned up slightly as she tenderly wiped Casey's face.
"Damn, what did I do to deserve you?" Casey shyly looked away.
"Be you, of course." Alex replied, passing her a glass of mouthwash, and kissing her nose.
They continued with their morning routine with ease, with Casey preparing bacon and sausage for breakfast, claiming that she couldn't stand the smell of eggs, no thanks to her precious cargo.
"Anything I can help you with, darling?" the blonde inquired, wrapping her arms around Casey's waist.
Casey turned around, pecking her girlfriend on the nose. "Absolutely not, counselor. We both know how notorious your culinary skills- or lack thereof- are." She reached behind her to playfully smack Alex on the ass. "Now scram- there's plenty more where that came from." Neither could keep the smirk off their lips.
They made their way to their car together, as Alex had insisted Casey stop biking to work. Casey protested at first, stating that she hadn't even started to show, but she melted with a few well-placed kisses from Alex's talented lips. She dropped Casey off at her office, and departed with her customary kiss goodbye to both her girlfriend, and to the child nestled under her skin.
Casey enjoyed her new job, having had quit as ADA. Alex, then the Bureau Chief, had been saddened, but was very happy to know that Casey had found her calling fighting for the victims without all the red tape being a prosecutor had attached to it. After a chance encounter with former-prosecutor-turned-defense-attorney Sherri West in court, they decided over drinks that they would make a kick-ass legal team, and decided to open a civil practice dedicated to helping victims of abuse. Casey found it worthwhile and fulfilling, and better suited to channeling her feelings about her past. The Law Offices of West and Novak were very successful, providing plenty of income, even with all the pro bono work they did.
"Morning, Sherri!" Casey called out as she made her way to her desk, draping her coat over the chair.
"Good morning, partner!" Sherri replied with a smile. "I hit up the coffee shop on my way here, and I got you some. I remembered you've been ordering decaf as of late." She placed the steaming cup on her desk.
Casey took a sip. "Oh my God, Sherri, this is heavenly, thank you!" She held on to the cup, allowing it to warm her freezing fingers.
Sherri narrowed her eyes from across the room. "So what's with the decaf? You on some kind of health kick?" she inquired.
Casey grinned. "Funny you should ask. I'm cutting out caffeine for the next few months, it's not good for the baby."
Sherri screeched, before wrapping her friend in a hug. "Congratulations! This is absolutely wonderful! When are you due? I want details!" she spoke with rapid fire.
"I'm due in June! We don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet, but we're quite excited to find out!" Casey beamed.
"Well I'm very excited too! Now, what do you say we comb over these case files before we get buried in paperwork, shall we?" Sherri sat back down at her desk.
Casey cracked open the folder at the top of the growing pile on her desk. "Do we have all the financial records for the Dodson case?"
"In my briefcase, all ready for the hearing tomorrow. Did you send out the subpeonas for next week's court dates?"
"Check, check, and check." Casey closed the file, moving it to her "done" pile. Opening the next folder in the stack, she read the contents, and her eyes widened. An abuse victim had sought her services as legal representation.
The victim was Elizabeth Stabler.
