A/N: I am so sorry about the delay in updating this story. As you read this chapter you will find Alex out of character but I promise you will enjoy the ending. As always reviews are welcomed.

Alex sat her luggage down by the door and rotated her neck allowing the aching vertebra to pop back in place. She had decided that since Olivia was transitioning well into work that it would be okay if she took the two week training class in Brunswick, Georgia at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, more commonly called FLETC. What she didn't count on was, as soon as she was out of town, Olivia scheduling an appointment with her accountant and apparently discussing not only a payment plan to reimburse her for all the money spent, but a way to budget her money so she could move out within the next three months.

She had expected the former sometime soon now that she had been upgraded to twenty four hour work week and was now combing over two cases despite her arguments, but what she wasn't prepared for was the latter. She had truly believed that Olivia knew that this was her home now. Granted, it probably wasn't helping any that Alex was still having her accountant cut checks for her monthly rent, but every time she mentioned buying out her lease or subletting the apartment, Olivia was very adamant about keeping it. Trying her best to keep from stressing Olivia more than what she was already, Alex would always drop the subject, but receiving the call from Charles was the end of the line for her.

"Olivia, are you home?" Alex called out kicking her heels off and flexing her aching feet and ankles. Had she not been in such a hurry to get home, she would have changed clothes before enduring the flight in three inch heels and a pencil skirt, "Olivia!"

"Alex?" Olivia said coming out her bedroom and down the hall, "I thought your flight wasn't landing till tomorrow? Did I forget?"

"No, honey, I caught an early flight out of Atlanta," Alex answered smiling in relief seeing Olivia walking toward her. There was a part of her that was terrified she had moved out even though Charles had told her that she had at least another month and a half before she could even consider moving out on her own, "I needed to get home right away."

"I, for one, am glad that you decided to come home early," Olivia whispered as she pulled her to her, "I happened to have missed you."

"If you missed me so much, then why did you feel the urge to ask Charles if it would be possible for you to move out and on your own within the next three months?" Alex asked not bothering to sugar coat or beat around the bush. If this was going to cause Olivia to have an episode, then so be it, they would work through it, but she was getting answers, "Better yet, why did you bother to wait till I was out of town to go and visit him? If you wanted to see him or move out, why not be upfront and honest with me?"

"Did you really expect me to live here forever?"Olivia asked taking a step back from Alex, "To have you support me."

"Support you, no, but live here forever, yes. Did you think that I was kidding when I asked you to move in here a while back?"

"You were serious?" Olivia asked.

"No, Olivia, I wasn't serious I just figured I would toy with your emotions," Alex sighed as she took a deep breath to calm herself down, "Honey, if I didn't want you here then I would have never offered it. "

"But Charles told me that you were still paying my rent," Olivia stated as she started to pace back and forth, "If you still want me here then why pay for it? It would save you money to stop paying for my rent."

"Because every time I mentioned something about buying out your lease or subletting it, you would become upset and I didn't want to stress you any more than what you were already. You want to know something?" Alex said as she stepped in front of Olivia to stop her pacing,"Right now, I'm not worried about upsetting you or stressing you. If that is your reasoning for moving out, then I will have Charles cut the check in the morning and buy your lease out or would you like to sublet it? Better yet, since you seem so damn determined to walk out," Alex said as she spun on her heels and headed toward the door and opened it, "Here's the damn door, go! I will have Charles cover your rent till you're capable. Tell me, what do you want?"

Olivia's mouth dropped open and her eyes opened wide at what Alex just told her. This was a side of Alex she had never seen before and was truly shocked to see.

"Which one is it going to be?" Alex asked again as she put her hand on her hip still holding the door open. She would have to admit she was very thankful that she had the only apartment on the floor so she wasn't entertaining the neighbors at that moment.

"You want me to stay?"

"No, Olivia," Alex said slamming the door shut,"I want you to pack your bags and leave. That is why I told Donnelly about us, that is why you have a new ADA, and I have a new job in Human Trafficking. I did all that so you could pack everything you have here and leave."

"There's no need to be such a smart ass about it."

"I'm wondering," Alex said coming to stand in front of a now fuming Olivia, "Let me ask you something, if I wanted you out then why did I do all that? Why have I asked you to move in with me not once, not twice, but three times so far?"

"Obligations, saving you money, I don't know."

"My only obligation is to love you and make sure you are happy for as long as we are together and I hope that will be till the day I die. As for money, I have told you over and over again I was left quite a bit and, honestly, covering your medical bills and your regular bills hasn't put that big of a dent in my trust fund. If that is what's worrying you, we can go see Charles tomorrow and I will give him permission to show you all my finances," Alex took a deep breath as she closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, "Olivia Benson, I love you. After Jess, I had no intention of ever trusting another woman, much less have a relationship, but then you walked in and took my breath away. Then, you almost gave your life for me and as I applied pressure to your wound and was terrified that you would die I realized that my biggest regret was I never told you how I felt. That, before any of that happened, I felt so safe just being near you. That at times I would rehearse and rehearse what I would say to ask you out only to lose my nerve when the elevator doors opened so instead I would make up some bull shit lie about seeing if there was any new information on whatever cases you had at the moment. Then I moved you in here to help you recover and I had the privilege of hearing your laughter, seeing your smile, and your face when you first wake up, and, I swear to you, I fell in love with you even more," Alex wrapped her arms around Olivia and pulled her to her, "I still remember the first night I fell asleep in your arms. I couldn't even remember the last time I had slept through the night without a nightmare. Believe me, falling asleep in your arms was nothing compared to waking up in them. It was at that moment that I knew that was how I wanted to spend the rest of my days. Falling asleep in your arms and waking up in them, providing the job allows it."

Olivia couldn't help but laugh.

"So, I guess I have said all that to say this. Olivia Benson, this is not out of any form of obligation, saving money, or whatever else idea you can come up with, will you please move in with me?"

Olivia cupped Alex's face and gently wiped the tears that had fallen down her cheek before slowly pulling her to her and kissing her. Once they broke the kiss, Olivia's forehead against Alex's, she said, "Yes, Alexandra, I will move in with you."