Olivia stopped and looked around Le Bernardin and sighed internally. She felt so out of place and as if everyone in the room was staring at her. It wasn't that 'wow look at how hot she is' or 'her girlfriend is beautiful' kind of stares either. It was the 'oh, look at that nice woman' taking pity on her type of stares. She could fake it with the best of them at most restaurants, but there was no way she could play along here. She began to quietly take small steps back so Alex wouldn't notice when she felt Alex reach out and grab her hand

"Is this too much for you?" Alex asked turning to face Olivia.

"What?" Olivia asked looking at everyone and back at the exit.

"Is this too much for you?" Alex asked grabbing Olivia by the jaw line and forcing her to look her in the eyes.

"This is your world, Alex, not mine," Olivia answered with a defeated look in her eyes, "I'm sorry."

"Then I need you to go outside and get a cab," Alex answered smiling at Olivia, "Give me a few minutes to go talk to them and then we are heading home."

"Alex, you can't change your lifestyle because of me. I'll go home and you enjoy the rest of your night with your friends."

"I don't intend to have dinner with them without you by my side, Olivia," Alex pointed out as she ran her hand up and down Olivia's arm feeling the tension in her body, "Take a few deep breaths," Alex began to coach Olivia, "Close your eyes and breath in and out, slowly, think of a place that relaxes you."

Olivia did as Alex coached not wanting to embarrass Alex any more than she already has by simply being there.

"Better?"

Olivia nodded as she exhaled a breath feeling that gained better control over herself.

"Now, go and get us a cab and we will go back home, okay?" Alex stated when Olivia opened her eyes and looked at her, "You're already too stressed by being here."

"Alex, I want you to have a good time here."

"I want you by my side during the dinner," Alex said as she stepped closer to Olivia and pulled her to her "Tell me how we can meet in the middle that will make you comfortable and not stress you out too much. You going home while I stay here alone is not an option."

"Alex, this isn't my world," Olivia stated looking around, "I can only imagine what a plate here will cost. I should have known I wouldn't fit in when you bought me this outfit for dinner."

"I did not buy you that outfit for dinner tonight," Alex whispered as she caressed the side of Olivia's face, "I bought you that outfit because you were eyeing it when I got this dress and, Olivia, I want to give you everything you've ever wanted and then some. Of course, the final motivating factor may have been I knew how beautiful you would look in."

"You didn't get this for dinner?"

"No, and if you wanted to wear a pair of jeans and a polo shirt to dinner I would have been fine with it."

"They wouldn't have let me in the door like that."

"Yes, they would have and would have smiled doing it as well."

"Take a look, Alex," Olivia said as she made a sweeping motion with her hand, "Show me one person here who is in jeans."

"If that's what you wanted to wear to this dinner, it would have been you in jeans here."

"Why so I can embarrass you even more than what I already have? No, thank you," Olivia said as she shook her head and turned to leave.

"How have you embarrassed me, Olivia?" Alex asked reaching out and stopping Olivia.

"It's obvious that I don't belong here and what about when we go to pay for dinner? You're going to pull out your credit card and pay the bill while everyone up there just smirks and laughs at the poor cop who couldn't pay the bill. Then when they get home they will talk about what a gold digger I am."

"Then here," Alex said as she opened her clutch purse and pulled out a card handing it to Olivia, "If you're worried about what they will say or think when it's time to pay for dinner, take the card. That way, when the bill comes, it will look as if you are covering it and not me. As for what they go home and think or say, honestly, I don't care because what matters in the end is the fact that I love you and you love me."

"I can't take your credit card," Olivia said as she handed it back to Alex.

"Yes, you can," Alex said as she took the card from her and slid it into her back pocket, "If that's going to be one less stressor for you, take the card and handle everything. No one will know the truth but me and you."

"Alex…"

"Honey, I want to make this as stress free as I can on my end, but I do not want to, nor will I, sit through this dinner without you. Now, what else is bothering you? If it's the people, Sarah said she reserved the private seating area so there will be no one up there but us six, our waiter or waitress, and a bartender."

"You're determined to have me stay aren't you?" Olivia asked with a slight laugh in her voice.

"No, I am determined to have you by my side, there's a difference. If you're still not comfortable, let me know, we will go home. If you want to go up stairs and have dinner, we will. You tell me what you want and what will be best for you."

Olivia stood there and looked around the restaurant and then back to Alex. In all honesty, she wanted to go home and hide out but she knew she couldn't do that. At some point, she would have to reenter the world and learn how to handle situations like this without retreating or losing her temper. She figured it would be best to do begin it with Alex by her side since it seemed as if she was the only one who could reach her and control her if her temper reached its breaking point.

"Let's go have dinner," Olivia answered with a tense smile on her face as she silently prayed that she could make it through the night without losing her temper.