AN: Jbcjazz - re: "Lena and Liz make a cute couple"... Thankyou! I hoped readers would like them that way :-). "I am going to assume the '6'th will be Alex"... ;-). This chapter. luvtocook - re: "I'm completely in love with your story and I appreciate the thorough histories you are providing for the characters"... Thankyou too! :-). How my muse comes up with these thing I'll never know or understand, but I'll take what my muse gives me ;-) Niki fanfic Reader - re: "I love how Olivia kept avoiding what she really wanted to know, I like the comic effect its great"... I think a lot of people probably have been in similar type situations before. I know I have ;-) Guest - re: "i just had a flashback to my own early teenage years when my mom decided she'd tell my granny and aunts etc"... Are you sure your Mom and my mother aren't related? LOL! I completely understand your and Olivia's embarrassment ;-)
AN2: Thankyou for the feedback, faves, follows etc. Always appreciated :-).
Lena pounced on Elizabeth's revelation, "Are you sure about that?"
"Fairly certain," Elizabeth reached for another cookie.
"Who else?!"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, "The boys, of course and-"
"Boys?!" Olivia butted in. Her mind went in to overdrive. Which boys could they be? Elliott definitely liked Katherine; Nicholas seemed to like Amanda; Brian kept vying for her attention but all he successfully did was annoy the brunette to no end. Dean kept trying to catch Alexandra's attention as much as Brian did with herself, and Olivia knew how much that irritated Alexandra. They were both constantly having lengthy discussions on how annoying those boys were; and Kenneth... well, he always smelt like brussel sprouts (or as Elliott called those horrid little vegetables, 'fart balls').
That only left 2 other boys around Olivia's age: Trevor and Rafael.
But they were best friends... just like she was with Alexandra.
Just like Lena and Elizabeth.
Inseparable best friends.
"Olivia, what have I said about interrupting?" Lena gently chastised.
"Sorry Maemm. Sorry Elizabeth."
As Olivia dunked the last half of her cookie in her cup of tea that she'd set aside earlier, she wondered: Was that who Elizabeth was referring to? Rafael Barba and Trevor Langan? Given, they were both quite handsome... for boys. However Olivia never paid that much attention to their looks seeing they were boys, but they were her closest male friends along with Elliott. Alexandra on the other hand, well... Olivia knew her best friend was beautiful and was becoming more and more attractive by the day. Olivia got on quite well with Rafael, and Trevor got on best with Alexandra. But that wasn't to say that Olivia didn't get on well with Trevor, or that Alexandra wasn't friends with Rafael either.
The blonde continued, "As I was saying, the boys... and Maedel."
Olivia was immediately pulled from her thoughts. She was Maedel, noone else she knew was called that. Then again, noone else she knew had a Maemm either. Maedel, add 2 boys, Lena and Elizabeth... that was still only 5 people.
Lena quirked an eyebrow, "Really?"
"I see a lot of myself in her. Your Maedel is a lot like you when you were younger, Lena... and my Maedel is a lot like me. The similarities are sometimes uncanny if you think about."
Olivia pondered over Elizabeth's words. Maedel meant 'girl'. It couldn't be Katherine seeing as though she liked Elliott, Amanda seemed somewhat friendly towards Nicholas, Cassandra liked playing softball more than anything. Kimberley and Danielle... well, they were still young and Olivia didn't have that much to do with them. The only girl Elizabeth had regular contact with was her niece, Alexandra. Elizabeth had basically raised her from birth as if Alexandra was her own daughter... just like Maemm had with herself. But Olivia had never heard Elizabeth called Alexandra 'Maedel' in her entire life, she always called her Alexandra. But Elizabeth had just referred to a girl as 'my Maedel'. Did she see Alexandra as 'her Maedel'?
"Alexandra?" whispered Olivia as she made eye contact with Elizabeth.
A small smile curled the corner of Elizabeth's mouth, but is was gone just as fast as it had appeared. "These cookies are quite scrumptious, Lena!" she said, deliberately changing the subject after taking a bite.
"They should be, it's an old Petrovsky recipe." Lena followed Elizabeth's lead, "But I can't take the accolades seeing Olivia's the one who baked this batch."
"See, your Maedel really does take after you!" replied Elizabeth.
"Yes she does, because she's terrible at sewing."
"I'm getting better! Alexandra's been helping me!" Olivia defended her poor needlework skills. She wanted to add that Alexandra was the only reason she even cared about trying to improve her sewing because she got to sit close to the blonde and sometimes Alexandra would hold Olivia's hand with with her own to demonstrate what needed to be done. "All the different stitches are so confusing, but she's really good at it."
"That's because Alexandra's had a wonderful teacher!" Lena reaffirmed to the young brunette before she addressed Elizabeth, "Proof your Maedel takes after you!"
"She must, she's a terrible cook!"
A gasp escaped from Olivia as sudden realisation dawned on her. It was Alexandra! Olivia felt as though she was privy to secret information from a private conversation, but what she didn't realise was that Elizabeth and Lena were talking like this for her own benefit. Elizabeth had already had her own suspicions regarding Alexandra for a while, and Lena the same with Olivia. Now with confirmation from Olivia herself that she did have feelings for Alexandra, Elizabeth was happy to give the brunette a little 'helping hand'. Elizabeth remembered how scared she had been wanting to tell Lena how she felt when she was younger, but it was Lena that took the initiative at the beginning of their forbidden relationship all those years ago. Maybe giving Olivia these little hints might help give the young brunette the confidence to reveal to Alexandra her own feelings. Elizabeth and Lena had already discussed their 'Maedels' at length over the years, usually in the privacy of Lena's home.
"Something wrong, Olivia?" asked Elizabeth, holding back a smirk. She wanted Olivia to think she made the connection herself without any assistance.
The girl was quick with her reply, "No!"
Elizabeth pretended to eye the brunette suspiciously, watching Olivia struggling not to show her emotions at knowing what she was now aware of. Elizabeth knew she shouldn't be trying to act like she was mistrustful, nor did she really want to. However, she and Lena both knew how forbidden their relationship was within the Village, and how forbidden Olivia and Alexandra's could be... if something were to happen between the young best friends, which both Elizabeth and Lena were certain would happen eventually. She needed to instill in to the brunette that they had to keep these things quiet for the sake of everyone involved. If either of the older women were to be shunned or ostracised by the Village, they would have to leave and never return. It was possible that Elizabeth would never see Alexandra again, and Lena would never see Olivia again. Both women would have to wait until either of their Maedels chose to leave the Village, and leaving wasn't an option for anyone until after a person's Rumspringa. It was also rare that Villagers opted to leave the only place they had known after experiencing English life, but certainly not unheard of.
Lena took pity on her Maedel, "Do you have any questions, Olivia?"
"I'm sure I'll have more, but I have just one question for now."
"And that is?"
"Are the... boys... you mentioned... Trevor and Rafael?"
"I think it's time for you to go to bed," Lena replied with a small smile. Olivia was about to protest, but Lena held up her hand. "Maedel, you must remember what you saw and what we've talked about is forbidden until your Rumspringa. However, I will offer some advice for you to remember: discretion is paramount. Elizabeth and I will keep your secrets and I know you will keep ours. Also know that you can talk to myself or Elizabeth without any fear of judgment seeing we are all the same."
"Yes Maemm," Olivia stood up and was warmly hugged by Lena before the young brunette received a small kiss on her forehead.
Elizabeth opened her arms to give the young brunette a hug as well. "Olivia, if you do figure out who the other 3 are, and I know you are a very intelligent girl... they might like to know that what we've promised you will also be extended to them, with regard to not being judged and keeping secrets. But again, discretion is of utmost importance. Tread slowly and carefully when broaching the subject, and don't push if they deny. You know how scared you were, they could be just as scared... if not more. They'll come to you if and when they're ready." She also pressed a small kiss on the brunette's forehead before whispering in her ear, "There's nothing in the Village Lores to say that discreet kisses between Maedels are forbidden until their Rumspringa."
Olivia nodded and tried not to break out in to a huge smile.
Lena pointed towards Olivia's bedroom, "Off to bed after you've bathed properly... you smell like a horse stable."
"I will Maemm," Olivia began to leave.
"And Olivia, no sneaking over to Alexandra's tonight."
Oivia turned back around, "No Maemm, I promise. Goodnight Maemm. Goodnight Elizabeth."
Lena and Elizabeth washed, dried and put away the cups, saucers, plates and cookie tin in silence with a practiced familiarity. Each woman gathered their respective kerosene lamp as Elizabeth took Lena's honeycomb patchwork quilt. As Lena locked the front door, they extinguished their lamps. With just the light of the full moon, Elizabeth handed Lena her quilt before making their way to Lena's house.
"Let me finish what we started?" Lena asked softly as she opened the front door to her own home.
"Not tonight. I'd better get back home myself," Elizabeth lamented.
Lena began to protest as she placed the kerosene lamp and patchwork quilt on the side table just inside the front door, "But-"
Elizabeth pressed her lips to Lena's to silence her lover as the dark haired woman turned back around. The blonde pulled away when Lena made a small throaty moan, "Tomorrow night, my darling. As I've told you before, you're worth waiting for."
"Alright then, tomorrow night... here at my home. When?"
"Like always... after Olivia has returned home from reading with Alexandra."
"We stick with our usual plan."
"I was sure she'd be in reading with Alexandra when I left for the stable. I heard Alexandra open her window like normal, so I assumed Olivia had arrived. We've always timed it perfectly each year. Maybe we were just too eager this year?"
"Probably!" Lena laughed lightly before she looked over to the Cragen house seeing it shrouded in darkness, "Do you think we convinced my Maedel well enough so she thinks I never knew she snuck over to visit with your Maedel after all these years?"
Elizabeth followed Lena's eye line, "I think so... I certainly hope so. Donald's still none the wiser though."
"I'm sorry about how the night ended, my love." Lena reached out and caressed Elizabeth's cheek.
"It's fine. I'm just glad it was Olivia and not someone else from the Village. I shudder to think if it had been my sister finding us out."
"Lucky for us, we only make love in the stable once a year then. One of our Rumspringa traditions after all. Pity we never got to... roll in the hay," Lena waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
Elizabeth stifled a laugh, "You're attempt at innuendo is terrible, darling. You're lucky I love you."
"I know you do. I'll see you tomorrow morning after breakfast... and... tomorrow night."
After bidding each other good night, Lena claimed Elizabeth's lips for the last time then watched from the door as Elizabeth returned home safely.
"You didn't come over last night, Olivia Benson! We were going to pick a new book!"
Olivia shielded her eyes from the mid morning sun with a hand, as she looked up from picking cherry tomatoes in her vegetable garden. She felt her heart beat that little bit faster when she saw a pouting Alexandra Cabot, dressed in a long sleeve blue dress similar to her own with her white apron and untied bonnet, on the other side of the chicken wire fence, hands on hips. Her gold fine wire framed bifocal glasses with cable temples were a recent addition. Alexandra had wanted either the tortoiseshell or black framed glasses that she had initially tried on, but Miriam said those were too ostentatious and not in keeping with the Village lore of plainness.
"I was on my way over, but I saw someone in your kitchen. I didn't want to get you in trouble if I got caught!"
Alexandra held her hand out as Olivia passed her the small vegetable basket, half filled with freshly picked produce. "It would've only been Aunt Elizabeth locking up before she went to bed that you saw. Mother goes to bed before I do, you know that."
"As I said, I didn't want to get you in trouble," Olivia closed the gate to her vegetable garden and attempted to take the basket back, but Alexandra already looped the handle over her arm. The blonde then looped her free arm through Olivia's and began walking the short distance towards the house Olivia called home.
"We've never been caught so far!"
Olivia had to bite the inside of her mouth, memories of what transpired last night still vivid. "No, not yet. But we always have to be careful."
"So, what book are we going to start reading this time seeing we finished Anne of Green Gables?" Alexandra asked as Olivia opened the front door.
"Well... because I didn't come over, I'll make it your turn to choose," Olivia reminded her best friend as she closed the door.
Alexandra placed the basket on the table, "To Kill a Mock-"
Olivia groaned, "We just read that the last time you chose!"
"I like it!"
"I like it too, but we'll read it the next time. Pick something else. Something we haven't read in a while."
"Alright then... Moby Dick... no, wait... Little Women."
"That's one of mine," Olivia confirmed as she knelt down and scanned the small book shelf in the lounge room. Finding the Louisa May Alcott novel, she passed it to Alexandra who slipped in to her apron pocket.
"You're definitely coming over tonight then?"
"Of course!" Olivia nodded as she stood back up. Maemm had only said about not going over last night. She had said nothing about tonight though, or never going over again.
"I hope so," Alexandra said, a hint of sadness evident. "That's 2 nights in a row you didn't come over, you've never done that before... except when it's winter!"
"I'm really sorry for not coming over, Alexandra." Olivia apologised, never wanting to see her best friend sad. Before she knew what she was doing, she quickly kissed Alexandra on the cheek.
Alexandra lightly placed her hand over the spot Olivia had kissed in surprise, "What did you do that for?!"
Olivia desperately tried not to panic, "I...ahh... I wanted to... show my best friend... that... I was sorry... for not coming over?"
"Oh!" Alexandra smiled as her hand lowered. She leant over and pressed her lips to Olivia's cheek.
"What was that for?!" Olivia copied Alexandra's initial reaction, placing her hand over the spot where Alexandra's lips had made contact.
"Umm... apology accepted?" replied Alexandra with a half shrug. The young blonde watched as Olivia's surprise changed to a lop sided smile, making Alexandra's heart beat that little bit faster.
Alexandra opened the window and stepped back as Olivia, still in her blue dress, apron and bonnet climbed through. A kerosene lamp on the bedside table lit the blonde's bedroom.
"You came!" Alexandra whispered while not trying to mask her elation.
"I said I would, didn't I?" Olivia kept her voice low as she removed her bonnet and slipped it inside her apron pocket. She took in Alexandra's appearance as her best friend began running her fingers through Olivia's dark brown locks to tidy them. As always, Alexandra was dressed in her night gown with half length sleeves, with her long blonde hair reaching half way down her back, and her glasses in place. This was when Olivia liked Alexandra the most, when her hair was down, not being pinned up and hidden by a white organdy bonnet as was mandatory during the day and in the presence of other Villagers. Olivia relished when Alexandra tidied her hair like she was doing, which was every time she took her bonnet off when she visited in secret.
Alexandra hooked a stubborn lock of Olivia's hair behind her ear, "It's just after last night... I didn't want it to be 3 nights in a row."
"I know, I said I was sorry. I wanted to make sure Daett was asleep and snoring before I came over."
"That's alright then," Alexandra smiled as she picked up Olivia's copy of Little Women from the bedside table and handed it to the brunette. "Let's read about the March sisters!"
"We could do that, or..."
Alexandra gave Olivia a puzzled look, "What do you mean?"
"Daett got me a new book from the book exchange after taking the older children to Rumspringa House then getting supplies in Main Town!"
"Really?! What is it?! Did you bring it?!"
Olivia removed the secondhand copy from her apron pocket, "Pride and Prejudice!"
"I've heard Aunt Elizabeth mention that book!"
"Maemm's talked about it too! Maemm's also said it was one of Mother's favourite books. But remember it's your choice, Alexandra. We can read-"
"I think Little Women can wait until next time!" said the blonde as she hopped in to bed and scooted over to the left side as she always did, allowing the space to her right for Olivia.
Olivia settled down in the space then opened the book to the first chapter, "'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.'."
Alexandra stifled a snort.
"What?" Olivia whispered.
Alexandra shook her head, trying not to smirk.
Olivia hissed, "Tell me!"
"Jane Austen's never met Trevor Langan!"
"Huh?" Olivia lowered the book.
"Don't tell anyone, but Trevor doesn't want a wife."
"How do you know?"
"He told me!" Alexandra continued to explain, "A few days ago... he overheard his mother and father talking to Mother. They all think he and I should be betrothed when the pairings happen before our Rumspringa."
Olivia struggled with not becoming jealous at the thought of Alexandra and Trevor being betrothed, but then she remembered Alexandra had just said Trevor didn't want a wife. And she was fairly certain Trevor might like Rafael the way she liked Alexandra. She decided to brush aside the comment, "That's years away for us yet!"
"I know that. He told me in confidence what he heard... and you can't say anything either! But he said our parents thought it would be good for the Village. Trevor then said didn't want to be betrothed to me, and I told him I didn't want to be betrothed to him."
"Really?!" Olivia perked up.
"Uh-huh. I think I want to be like my Aunt Elizabeth... be an Elder and have you as my best friend, just like she is with Lena."
The brunette threw caution in to the wind, "You do know that the only reason they weren't betrothed was because of the accident, right?"
"Yeah. I just don't want to be betrothed to anyone..." Even though the next few words Alexandra spoke were barely audible, Olivia heard them. "... Unless it was you."
Olivia's pulse raced at the quiet admission. A flurry of questions bombarded her. Should she acknowledge that she heard Alexandra that? Was she even supposed to have heard Alexandra say that? Or had she misheard Alexandra altogether? Her thoughts were broken when Alexandra nudged her elbow to Olivia's side and prompted her with, "Keep reading!"
Olivia continued to softly read aloud, learning about Mister Bingley, Mister Bennet and his wife.
"... 'though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.'.''
A giggle escaped from Alexandra, "Could you imagine someone calling my Aunt Elizabeth... that. I know I said the same about..." she lowered her voice even further, "... Beth... " her voice raised again, "... when we read Little Women..." once again she lowered her voice again, "... but Lizzy!"
"They could you know."
"Not they couldn't, it's forbidden! The shortening of-"
Olivia shook her head, "Not during Rumspringa!"
"Really?!" Alexandra's eyes widened.
"Yes. Forbidden things can be done then. Someone could even call her... " Olivia leant closer to Alexandra's ear, "... Liz."
Alexandra gasped in shock but also in awe. It was an even shorter version of her Aunt Elizabeth's name.
Olivia continued, "I could call you... Alex... and you could call me-"
"Livvy?" Alex suggested.
"How about... Liv."
With the fear of being caught doing something forbidden, even though they were the only ones in the room, Alexandra hesitantly said the name in the same quieter whisper. "Liv."
Even though it was so soft, it sounded wonderful to Olivia, especially being spoken by her best friend. "Alexandra, when we have our Rumspringa, I want you to call me... that."
"And you can call me... that name... you said. Are you sure we'll have our Rumspringa together, Olivia? I'd be so disappointed if we missed out having it together... I'd have to wait until the next year until I could have mine!"
"Positive. Rumspringa is almost always around a month after my birthday... and seeing your birthday is a week after mine, you and I will be definitely going together. So will Rafael and Trevor. It'll be just the 4 of us!"
"I can't wait until we're old enough!" Alexandra grinned before patting Olivia on the thigh, "More story now."
Olivia and Alexandra continued to read for another chapter, but when Olivia was about to ask if she should continue, she saw that Alexandra had drifted off to sleep. She placed a floral cross-stitched bookmark that Elizabeth had made between the pages, then placed the book on the bedside table. Olivia took a few moments to observe her best friend. Alexandra's head had fallen away to the left. The blonde looked so peaceful as Olivia adjusted the bed linen. Like always, Olivia went to press a tiny kiss to Alexandra's forehead, but with Alexandra's head falling to the left, her right cheek was more exposed. Hesitantly, Olivia closed her eyes as leant closer to kiss Alexandra's cheek, imagining the kiss she had observed Elizabeth and Lena share in the stable. Just as Olivia leant closer, a drowsy Alexandra rolled her head back over to the right.
At that very moment, their lips made contact.
Both girls eyes widened, yet neither of them moved, both realising that this was their first real kiss.
"What was that for?" Alexandra asked as she sat up and adjusted her glasses after each finally pulled back.
The brunette offered the only explanation she could think of, "Err... good... night?"
Alexandra looked down, playing with the edge of her bed linen. "Olivia, I like the forehead kisses you give me when you leave..." slowly she looked up at her best friend, "... but I think I like those kisses more."
"You do?"
"Uh-huh... especially from you," Alexandra nodded as leant forward and pressed her lips against Olivia's for a few moments.
"What was that for then?"
"Just like you said... good... night!" beamed Alexandra as she removed her glasses and placed them on top of Olivia's copy of Pride and Prejudice. A hint of sadness was audible when she spoke again, "You'd better go now, we don't want to get in trouble."
As Olivia began to climb out the window Alexandra added, "Sweet dreams, Olivia."
"Sweet dreams to you too, Alexandra."
Olivia was on such a high from kissing Alexandra that she threw open her sash window to her bedroom quite a lot louder than normal. Halfway through climbing in the window, there was a knock in her bedroom door. Olivia stopped and held her breath, hoping that Donald wouldn't open the door.
"Is everything alright, Olivia?" Donald called out. "I heard the window."
"Everything's fine Daett! I was just opening my window to let some breeze in," Olivia covered.
"Ok then. Pleasant dreams."
Olivia grinned as she quietly made her way through the window. She would most definitely be having sweet and pleasant dreams after what had taken place not 5 minutes earlier.