A/N: We interrupt this plot line for some Calex floof, requested by the fabulous Lexie.

butterfly2202: #bffsforlyfe. Although Casey was just an emotional hot mess in general, there were a couple cases where she just started crying over something stupid. 3 times in 5 episodes during season 9.

Nobot4Life: Savant was one of my favorite episodes. The girl reminded me so much of myself it was crazy. Like if I saw Diane Neal on the street I would totally run up and hug her and tell her she was pretty sorry not sorry.

Tripperz: Haha I was referring to me having moved on to season 10 that was my b. I'm actually on 11 now and I saw the new starring image for SMarch and I was like YES. LIKE.

AlOlLove: I STILL FUCKING LOVE PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

Shout out to White Pontiac Heaven/Beyond the Sea x because my sister crashed babboo yesterday and now I'm sadface.

Also, did anyone here see This Magic Moment? I would have never thought anything on the Hallmark Channel would be good, but a movie where the plot was people freaking out because they're looking at Diane Neal is actually a good premise. She's just such a nice person I want to squee;dlkfj'dknf'sdnf;zsjnf


Blearily stepping out of the elevator, Casey sighed, and pulled her Android out of her purse to text Alex that she was home. Trudging down the hall, the redhead wanted nothing more than to sprawl out on the couch with her girlfriend, stuff her face with food, and have a hot bath before crawling in to bed for the next eternity. It was safe to say she now knew true exhaustion was not merely physical, but a true emotional drain of the psyche. But Casey knew that for Lizzie's sake, she would endure it again in a heartbeat. And for her little girl, she would bear the weight of the world on her shoulders as long as she breathed. As painful as it was to be reminded of the marks Charlie left and his broken corpse on a cold morgue slab with every motion she filed, and with every glimpse of Lizzie's bruises, she was able to channel it into fighting for Lizzie's justice. When she recounted the events of the settlement to Sherri, her partner had remarked that her maternal instincts must be kicking in, for she'd turned into an absolute bear when it came to Lizzie. Casey laughed, finding it a fitting nickname. Mama bear was absolutely going all out for her cub. Both of them, considering that after identifying with Lizzie, and sharing so many late-night crying sessions in her office, the teenager was definitely in the family category for her.

No sooner than Casey could fumble with her keys for the correct one to enter her apartment, had Alex opened the door, ushering her inside with a passionate kiss on her very plump lips.

"Hi darling, I missed you today!" She beamed, unbuttoning her girlfriend's pea coat and shrugging it off her shoulders. "And I missed you too!" She added, pushing Casey's sweater up to plant a kiss below her navel and nuzzle her belly with her nose and cheek.

Casey's face flushed pink, a smile creeping on her face as she ran her fingers through Alex's blonde locks. "We missed you too, honey. And we also think that you're tickling us!" She chuckled.

Alex looked up Casey's body with a Cheshire Cat grin. "You mean, like this?" She trailed fingers along Casey's pale skin, kissing the spots she knew made the tall redhead squirm with her perfectly shaped lips.

Casey gasped for breath. "A-Alex! Stop it! Stop it or I don't love you anymore!"

Alex got to her feet, kissing Casey's rosy cheek. "Oh you'll have plenty of reasons to love me tonight." She murmured into her ear, letting her lips and tongue trace the shell. She guided Casey to their candlelit kitchen table, pulling out a chair and helping her sit, before crouching before her to gently remove Casey's low heeled pumps from her swelling feet, Casey sighing in relief as she did so. "Jeez, at this rate, they're going to be big as mine in no time flat!" She exclaimed, taking an aching foot into her hands and gently massaging the inflamed muscles she found there. Casey involuntarily purred, slouching into the soft leather chair. Alex brushed her lips on the sensitive arch of Casey's foot, causing Casey to squeak, and repeated her ministrations to the other foot. When she finished, she moved to kiss Casey's nose. "I have a surprise for you." She disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a large tray of lasagna and a side of bacon.

"Alex! How on Earth did you know I was craving bacon?" She asked, in awe.

"A little birdie named Sherri West told me that you were muttering to yourself all day about how there wasn't any bacon in your office fridge this morning." Alex replied with a wink, setting the tray down and serving Casey a generous portion.

Casey dug in, eyes widening at the flavor. "Lex, this is heavenly! Where did you order this from, I want them on speed-dial!" She gushed.

Alex averted her eyes. "I didn't order from anywhere. I made dinner tonight. That was the surprise." A faint blush crept up her sculpted cheeks.

Casey's jaw fell to the floor. "You what? Since when were you able to come within ten feet of a stove without it combusting?"

"Well, since you're getting bigger, I realized how unfair it was for me to allow you to allow the responsibility of cooking to fall on your shoulders alone. So I Liv teach me while you stayed late at work. Now we both can feed Star Hitter. Nice surprise, huh?"

Casey reached for Alex's hand, kissing it. "Very. I had no idea your hands were capable of such exquisite talents." She husked.

Alex snickered. "Very funny, love. How'd it go today with Lizzie?" She pressed.

Casey inhaled deeply. "She was a nervous wreck, but we did end up getting the full settlement after I tore Kressler a new one. The prick had the nerve to call me hormonal. And I thought women were the masters of being passive-aggressive."

Alex rolled her eyes. "You would think he would remember the last ten times we curbstomped him in court."

"I might have used you as a threat." Casey said shyly.

Alex laughed. "Feel free to do that any time, it makes me feel important or something." She kissed Casey's hand. They finished the rest of the meal, Casey particularly enjoying this one, and Alex banished her to the couch when she had her fill. When she returned, she offered her hands to Casey to help her up, and then led her to the bathroom. The lights had been reduced to only the candles placed around the room. The scent of lavender and jasmine permeated the air, soothing Casey's aching mind.

Casey was touched by Alex's kind gesture, and turned to thank her, only to stop as she saw that the blonde had already stripped naked. She reached to touch her, but Alex gently grabbed her wrist and kissed her fingers. "Ah ah, it's all about you tonight, love." She slowly removed Casey's clothes, placing the ghosts of kisses on skin as she went. When they were both in nothing but skin, Alex helped her girlfriend into their large tub, before slipping in behind her. Casey immediately melted against Alex's chest, closing her eyes and allowing the day to wash off of her.

"Mmmm, Alex." She murmured. "What did I do to earn this?"

Alex allowed her hands to wander over Casey's taut neck and shoulders, deft fingers gently working at the tendons, and placed a lingering kiss to Casey's temple. "Oh, I don't know, just putting yourself out there for Lizzie, being the mother of my child, being hot as hell, nothing really."

Casey smiled, turning to give Alex a kiss that turned her to putty in her hands. "I would totally be all over you right now, but I have the feeling that this is supposed to be relaxing. That and, um, my boobs hurt like a bitch." Casey looked away.

Alex frowned. "That can't be good, honey. Here, slide forward a bit." She eased Casey lower into the water, then snaked her arms around her ribcage, supporting Casey's ample breasts.

Casey exhaled, all of her pain seemingly leaving with the breath. "God, Lex, that feels incredible. I feel like a cow waiting to be milked."

"You, my dear, most certainly are not a cow. You look gorgeous." Alex declared, resting her chin on Casey's shoulder and nibbling gently on it. When Casey did not respond after a few minutes, Alex decided to press further. "So what's on your mind?" She asked, beginning to work shampoo into Casey's scarlet locks.

"Lizzie's just a ball of nerves." Casey whispered, arching into Alex's touch. "She's frightened to testify, especially after seeing Ethan today. He did a great job of making the poor kid lose her mind."

Alex covered Casey's eyes, sitting her forward as she rinsed Casey's hair. "She trusts you. You do a wonderful job of making her calm again. I'm sure as long as she sees you there, she'll be able to face him."

"But I can't hold her hand while she's up there." Casey shot back, as Alex's hands gently washed her body. "What if he manages to intimidate her?"

Alex pulled the drain plug, stepping out to help Casey. "Barba has ways of negating that." She assured. "I've also assigned Mikka Von to this case myself. They're both more than capable of doing the legwork, all you need to worry about is making sure that Lizzie feels completely safe. Liv and I will both be there, so she'll feel supported."

Casey raised her arms for the towel Alex held out, then allowed her to wrap it around her, mindful of her sore breasts. "It's just whenever I see her bruises, I see the ones on my own body reappear. Having been through it myself, I just wish I could shield her from the horror I had to endure."

"That means you're ready to be a mother." Alex spoke softly, sitting Casey on the bed, moving behind her to towel her hair off and begin brushing it out. "Your shared experiences brought you closer, and by helping Lizzie through hers, you help yourself. You feel empowered by playing a role in stopping her abuser, so in a way, you stop your own. All the while, your instincts have kicked in, and its only natural to feel protective of her at this point. I certainly would." She finished her explanation, removing Casey's towel and planting a kiss on her small bump.

Casey flopped against the pillows. "Have I told you that I loved you?" She asked, a silly grin on her face.

Alex returned the grin, crawling in bed next to Casey. "Hmmm, I think I've heard that one before."

The redhead melded her mouth to Alex's in a slow, languid kiss neither of them wanted to end. "I'm sorry that I've been so...distracted. Lizzie caught me, I'm sure she had no idea, but now I realize that I can't just grieve forever. And today, you made me feel so relaxed, so loved, so...happy."

The Attorney General pulled the covers over them, wrapping herself around Casey's form like two jigsaw pieces fitting together. "I'm glad I could make you feel that way." She kissed the hollow of her throat. "I will always cherish you. Both of you." Her hand moved to her stomach.

Casey's grin split her face as she floated into sleep, safe in her love's arms.