"Thank you for last night," Alex whispered as she gently kissed Olivia on the cheek and quietly left the bedroom.

Olivia remained in bed, keeping her breathing as even as she could as Alex exited room. She opened her eyes and stared at the door that the woman she loved more than anything had just walked out. She had hoped that last night would be more than a one-time thing, but all evidence pointed to the contrary. Taking a deep breath, she rolled out of bed and decided to take a hot shower in hopes of gaining control of her emotions before facing Alex outside the bedroom.

"Feeling better?" Alex asked as Olivia walked out of the bathroom drying her hair.

Olivia looked up and stared at Alex, "You're here."

"It is my house; where else would you expect me to be?" Alex asked, holding a cup of coffee out to Olivia.

"I thought you had snuck out," Olivia answered, smiling as she took the cup of coffee, "I thought you were trying to gracefully exit and, maybe, wanted to pretend last night never happened or that it was a one-time event."

"Not a chance, detective," Alex said laughing, "I don't know about you, but I am starving and was quite thirsty. So, I ordered some lunch…"

"Lunch?"

"Yeah, lunch, it is after eleven."

"Oh."

"So, I ordered lunch and fixed some coffee. I was going to be sweet and surprise you in bed with the coffee, but someone was already up and in the shower."

"Lesson number one," Olivia said as she sat her coffee cup on the nightstand and quickly pinned Alex to the bed without thinking, "I am a light sleeper. So, the second you moved and left the room, I was awake, but when you said thank you for last night I thought it would be best to pretend to still be asleep. "

"I'm sorry," Alex choked out.

"You never have to apologize to me, for anything."

"Please, I'm so sorry," Alex pleaded, "I won't do it again. Please, don't."

"Alex, relax, you're with me," Olivia whispered as she quickly rolled off Alex and cussed herself for not thinking and scaring Alex, "Baby, its' ok."

"I'm sorry. Please don't, please."

"Alex," Olivia said in as calm of a voice as she could, "I need you to take a deep breath, you're safe and here with me. Jess is nowhere around. She's in jail and can never hurt you again."

"I didn't mean to leave the bed," Alex cried, not hearing Olivia, "I'm sorry. I forgot to ask permission."

"Deep breaths," Olivia repeated as she moved to the end of the bed to look at Alex. She could tell by the look in her eyes that she was far from being out of the flashback, "You're safe."

Alex cried as she stood and removed her shirt, knowing what type of punishment she would have to endure for not asking permission first.

Olivia saw red when she saw Alex's back, the scars that covered her back from repeated beatings at the hands of Jess. If some jack ass on the jury voted not guilty and let her walk, Olivia was going to make damn sure to drop her where she stood at the defense table, consequences damned.

Alex gripped the headboard of the bed and hung her head. She tried to prepare herself for the pain she knew was to come even though no matter what she was never prepared for it. After a few minutes she broke the rules and chanced a look over her shoulder to see why she hadn't received her punishment.

"Alex," Olivia whispered, trying her hardest not to cry, "You're safe and here with me. I will never hurt you. I swear to you, I will never hurt you. Try to relax and take deep breaths."

"Please," Alex pleaded, just wanting to get the punishment over with, "Please, just do it."

"Alex, listen to my voice, honey. I will never hurt you. You are here with me, Olivia, not Jess."

Alex felt the tears fall from her eyes and gripped the headboard tighter. Why wasn't she beating her yet? Why was she trying to drag the punishment out? Was this another form of torture that she loved?

"Alex, I need you to look at me," Olivia whispered, no longer trying to stop the tears that flowed from her eyes, "Please, baby, please look at me."

Alex felt her whole body shake with terror.

"Alex, look at me. Please look at me, Alex."

Alex trembled and dropped her head. If Jess wasn't beating her yet, she knew that meant she was going to torture her sexually. She slowly turned over and laid down, clenching her eyes shut preparing for the pain that was to come.

"Alex," Olivia said as she slowly walked up the side of the bed so she could look at her. "Please open your eyes and look at me."

Alex slowly opened her eyes and stared at Jess. She hated it when she forced her to watch her, to see the happiness that would cross her face when she tortured her.

"I'm not Jess," Olivia said as she fought the urge to reach out and caress Alex's face in hopes to calm her, "Take a deep breath, Alex, and look at me. It's Olivia."

Alex blinked as she continued to stare at Olivia, slowly everything started to come into focus.

Olivia smiled when she started to see Alex recognize her surroundings.

"Hey beautiful, just listen to my voice and focus on me," Olivia continued to coach, "You're safe now and she will ever hurt you again."

"Oh god," Alex grabbed the blanket and covered herself quickly.

"Take a deep breath," Olivia whispered as she continued to smile at Alex, "It's ok."

"I'm sorry," Alex cried.

"Alex?"

"Yes?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm in your bedroom, making a complete fool of myself."

"Yes and no," Olivia said cautiously coming closer, "Can I sit down?"

"It's your room," Alex said as she scooted over.

"Ok, how about will you be ok if I sat down?"

Alex shook her head and looked away. She jerked when Olivia placed a blanket around her back and draped it over her shoulders.

"I'm not trying to scare you," Olivia whispered as she moved away, "You're shivering and I'm not sure if it's because your cold or that your still terrified."

"Both," Alex sobbed out as she grabbed the blanket and pulled it tight against her.

"I wasn't thinking, Alex, and I'm sorry," Olivia finally said after a few minutes of silence.

"Why are you apologizing? You're not the one who had the flashback and ruined the moment."

"No, but I'm the one that caused it by pinning you to the bed," Olivia sighed as she ran her hand through her still damp hair, "I wasn't thinking, Alex, and I am so sorry about that."

"This is why I have…" Alex started to say, but was cut off by Olivia.

"Do not finish that statement," Olivia ordered, turning so she could look at Alex, "Do not even began to say it. I am tired of hearing it. I don't care how many damn flashbacks or nightmares we have to face. I don't care if it's a battle we fight till the day we die, but do not tell me to go and find someone else. Especially after all that we shared last night, unless it meant less to you then it did to me."

"Never."

"Then stop saying that because if I wanted other women, I would have them. I would have continued to date after you started with our division, but instead I stopped dating all together. Why? It's simple because I knew from the first time I shook your hand that you were special and, as cliché as it sounds, I started falling for you at that moment and I haven't stopped yet. So, do not sit there and tell me I need to find someone else because you have a few flashbacks. Instead, let me help you fight them, each and every one. Let me be the one you wake up in the middle of the night, screaming. Please, Alex, let me be there for you every step of the way."

"Liv," Alex choked out as she struggled to swallow past the lump in her throat.

"Yeah?"

"Will you hold me?"

"You never have to ask, baby," Olivia answered with a smile on her face as she opened up her arms for her to crawl into.

Alex nodded as she quickly crawled into Olivia's waiting arms. She sighed when she felt Olivia take the blanket and wrap it loosely around her so she wouldn't feel trapped. At that moment, being held in the arms of the woman who loved her she knew she was as safe as could be.

A/N: Remember with me always expect the unexpected.