August 2006 A/O or C/O

After an NCIS team killed Velez (the drug lord had ordered a hit on a naval officer who testified against one of his lieutenants), Alex was ecstatic to finally be able to come home.

She missed her family, her friends, Olivia. Olivia Benson. What was Alex going to do?

She still loved the detective, but the brunette had moved on with another. Olivia had sent a letter to Alex, through the appropriate channels of course, letting her know that she had started to date someone. She did not want Alex to be shocked if she came back to New York.

"I still love you Alex, but I am starting to love her too. I hope you find someone who makes you as happy as I wish I could make you."

Alex did not want to ruin things for Olivia. She had let the detective go, but if there was any chance that Olivia still wanted her, then she had to see for herself.

The blonde made her way to New York. Her family had never sold her apartment, so she was able to move back into it.

Once she got there, she decided to Alex Cabot it back up, Prada suit, fresh haircut, nails, new shoes, the works. She needed to look like Alex, so she could feel like Alex once more.

Once she had her look and her swagger back, she headed to the 1-6, so she could say hello to her old squad.

Munch almost had a heart attack when he heard Jimmy Choos clicking. "HOLY FUCKING SHIT!"

Everyone snapped to look at him. Before Fin could ask, what the hell, they all heard "Hello everyone!"

They turned to see a vision if they had ever seen one.

Olivia's body went on autopilot. She stood up and walked right towards the blonde, pulling her into a hug. They still fit perfectly against one another. "Welcome home."

"Thank you."

Elliot stared uncomfortably. What about Casey?

Munch was next. "Please tell me you're here to stay."

"Well, I'm with Homicide now, but I am staying in New York again. Velez is dead!"

"Ding Dong the Witch is Dead," Fin sang.

Alex laughed before she hugged him. "It's good to see you Fin."

"We missed our blonde bombshell."

Cragen had been in a meeting. He came out to see, "Alex?" How did she come back?

"Hello Captain, I'm home for good this time."

"Isn't that great?" What about Casey?

Alex didn't want to keep too much of their time. "I just wanted you all to be the first to know. I will be going to Boston for the rest of the week to see my family." It had been three years.

She graciously made her exit and headed home to get her stuff together.

During their lunch break, Elliot asked Olivia what she was going to do.

Honestly, she had no idea.

"I love Casey," she told him, which was true. "And when we got together, I decided to let Alex go."

"But …"

"But, I didn't think all of those old feelings would come back with just one hug. It was like three years of déjà vu smacked me in the face."

"You can't have them both, Liv."

"I know. I just need to talk to Casey."

The redheaded ADA had heard through the grapevine that Alex was coming back to the DA's office. Before she could confirm it with McCoy, she got a call from Olivia.

"Hey Baby, what's up?"

"Are you staying late today?"

"No, why?"

"I want you to come over, so we can talk."

"Is something wrong?"

Yes, kind of. "No one's hurt or anything, but I kind of got thrown for a loop today."

Casey didn't realize Olivia was twisted up over Alex, but she should have. When Olivia said that Velez was dead, and Alex had come home, Casey's heart sank into her stomach.

"She came to see us at the squad today."

"She did?"

"She didn't try anything. We only hugged, but …"

"You still love her." Casey feared this day would come.

"It's not that easy. I loved her once, but I love you now. I felt so sure of everything yesterday, but now I'm all jumbled up. I don't even know if she's still interested."

"What are you going to do?"

"I need to talk to her Case, but I couldn't hide this from you. It wouldn't be fair."

Casey nodded. "Take all the time you need."

Olivia pulled her into a hug before kissing her gently. "I love you Casey. I don't want you to doubt that."

It's hard not to doubt everything right now. Casey fell into her arms and cried.

Boston, MA

When Alexander learned that his baby girl was coming home, he almost fainted. Three years ago, he thought she had been murdered. Over two years ago, he learned she was secretly still alive. Now, she was back to her life.

When she rang the bell, he thought he'd be the first to the door, but his son Warren beat him to it.

Alex found herself hoisted into the arms of her taller, older brother. Warren spent months thinking that both Alex and mother were dead. When he found out she was till alive, he broke down and cried.

"Don't you ever leave us again, Ladybug."

"I'm here to stay, but I can't breathe."

He finally let her go. "We missed you so much."

Her father was silent but he gave her a big hug. "This one is from your mom." Hammond had told her that Alex survived. When he found out she only had a month to live, he couldn't keep the secret any longer. "And this one is from me." He hoisted her in the air and spun her around.

"Warren, Dad, I'm so sorry."

"Don't you dare apologize. Baby, you survived."

They had a big family hug, and then it was time to fill each other in over the last three years.

Alex explained her life as Emily and her second live as Penelope. She had lived in Wisconsin and in Albuquerque.

Warren had a fiancée. "I proposed to her on Valentine's Day." Her name is Vivian and she is a schoolteacher.

"Show me pictures!" When Alex saw her she said, "she's beautiful."

"And she's really sweet."

While Alex spent the week getting reacquainted with her family, Olivia and Casey were both trying to keep it together.

For the first time, Casey regretted dating a coworker. They were awkward around each other all day, unsure if they should hold hands, or kiss, or avoid each other. Everything took twice as long because they'd stare at each other first.

The guys were struggling to watch.

"It's like a train wreck in slow motion," Fin commented.

Munch should be glad that they weren't fighting but "I wish they'd fight it out and get it over with. Right now, they're just building up tension for what will be a catastrophic explosion."

Elliot didn't speak, but his eyes said it all. This is a fucking mess!