AN: I usually don't respond to reviews in my stories, but I got two guest reviews launching virtually the same complaint, that this story's been done before and it's just another A/O, C/O shipping war. One, this story hasn't been down before. Granted a lot of A/O or C/O stories exist, but this one is exploring an avenue that virtually all of the other ones didn't. I didn't give too much away in the description because what would be the fun in that. Two, It's not an A/O C/O shipping war. Three, if you don't like it, don't read it. I won't miss you. Constructive reviews are helpful. Ones that presume the plot when the story just started are not.

A/O

Two Days Later

Olivia and Alex both knew they needed to talk, but it was easier to work instead of dealing with their unresolved emotions.

Finally, Elliot told Olivia, "You need to talk to Alex."

"I know, but I've been …"

"Don't fucking tell me you've been busy. You and Casey have been on eggshells since Alex came home, and it's clearly affecting the way you two work together. Everyone can see it, and it will keep happening until you resolve the situation. You have two great girls who love you, and you need to stop procrastinating and pick one."

Olivia knew Elliot's don't try me glare and she relented. "I'll call her, today."

"Good."

The detective managed to call Alex around lunch. "Cabot!"

"Alex, it's Olivia. We need to talk."

"I know. When's a good time for you?"

"Are you free at 6PM?"

"Yes, where do you want to meet?"

"Grumpy's." It was their coffee spot back in the day.

"I'll see you there."

Alex's heart was pounding out of her chest. She only had one shot at this. She had to get it right.

Olivia stared at the clock all afternoon.

"Liv, what are you doing?"

"You told me to call her and I did okay. Now, I'm dreading the time when we have to talk this evening."

Elliot figured one afternoon of her doing nothing was worth ending this mess.

Eventually, it was 5:40 and Olivia left work to get to Grumpy's. When she got there, she saw Alex in a woman's arms. A pang of jealousy coursed through the detective.

The woman turned, and it was Abbie Carmichael.

"I best get out your way," Abbie told her friend.

"Are we still on for dinner Friday?"

"Of course we are, Cabot!"

"Hey Olivia."

"Hey Abbie. I didn't know you were in town."

"Serena and I came up when we learned Alex was back."

"Oh right." Serena and Alex were besties.

Olivia looked at Alex. She had changed out of her Prada suit into a more comfortable blue sundress. She looked beautiful.

"Hey Alex."

"Hey, Liv."

The detective sat down. "How have you been?"

"Good, exhausted, but good." Alex had so many family members and friends to reach out to, not to mention starting a new job, and all of the emotions that she was trying to handle.

Alex had gotten a big carafe of café o lait. She didn't want too much caffeine late in the day.

"How have you been?"

Nervous, excited, stressed, "Normal I guess?"

"My father sends his regards; so does Warren."

"How are they?"

"They're good. Warren's engaged and my father's making good progress with the new foundation."

Alexander started a charity foundation in honor of his late wife. It provided direct services to cancer patients and their families and had a partnership with St Jude's and some other children's hospitals.

"That's great."

They talked a bit about their current work, both avoiding the question that was awaiting them at the end of the road.

Finally, Alex said something about how she felt. "I missed you Liv. There wasn't a day that I didn't think about you."

Olivia missed her too. Even when she told herself she didn't, even when she concentrated on not thinking about Alex, she was just secretly thinking about her. All she could do was nod.

"You told me about Casey. I need to tell you about Mary."

Alex had, well dated might be too strong of a word, relations with a U.S. Marshall. "She wasn't the one assigned to protect me. Marshall was the one assigned to me."

"You had a Marshall named Marshall."

"I did and poor man. He's in love with Mary."

"Wait, what?"

"It's as ridiculous as it sounds." Mary was what Alex would call mostly straight. She'd fuck anything that moved, but she for some reason could never open up emotionally to another woman. Alex knew they would never be more than fuck buddies, so she made sure not to fall for her. Unfortunately, Marshall couldn't help himself.

"Tell me about them."

Alex described Marshall first. "He is sweet, understanding. He knew how to talk to people whose lives had been flipped upside down. He reminded me of you a little bit." He was a family guy without a family. He had his parents, but they didn't know what he did. There was a wall created by his work.

"Mary, is a cop's cop. She loves chasing down suspects and wouldn't hesitate to knock them straight to the ground." She liked to roll around in the dirt and she doesn't take any bullshit. "Marshall wants to take care of her, but Mary had been taking care of herself for so long, she doesn't know how to let anyone in."

Olivia used to be the exact same way. "What was her story?"

Alex explained how Mary's father was a crook who ran out on them. Her mother turned to booze, and her sister was a continual fuck up. Mary often had to clean up both of their messes. "Her father only wrote to her after he left. She was 11 years old when she got the first letter, and somehow, she ended up being the guardian of all of the secrets."

Olivia could see how Alex was drawn to her. The woman was naturally nurturing. She was able to take care of Mary even if only for a little while.

"Did you ever think about staying?"

Alex shook her head. "I needed my life back, and I knew our time would only be temporary. Someone out there can take down her walls. I'm not the one."

Alex had taken down Olivia's walls, and so had Casey. This is what made this choice so hard.

"Olivia," Alex's voice was low and breathy when she spoke. The detective hung on every word. "I love you… I never stopped loving you."

Olivia loved Alex. Damn, did she love her. The detective kissed her hand. "I love you too Lex, but this isn't easy. You left a hole in my heart when you had to go away, one that Casey filled."

Alex squeezed Olivia's hand. "I know, and I can't ask you for an answer right away. I just need to know if there's a chance for us."

"There is …"

"That's all I ask." Alex kissed her cheek before she left.

Olivia touched the spot with her hand. It was still tingling.