Dedicated to Alexandra Cabot and Olivia Benson/I ship Cabenson, Alex & glasses, and Olivia & winter hats

Note from staff: This ficlet is a continuation of Ficlet #7

“So, we’re really doing this, huh?”  Olivia asked as the pair took the walk to Alex’s building.  The walk was short from the restaurant they had been to earlier, but Olivia would never allow Alex to walk home on her own.  She was a cop, of course.

“Yeah, we are.”  Alex smiled, reaching for Olivia’s hand.  Their fingers intertwined, creating a basket out of their hands, “I mean, if you still want to.  I can give you a few days to think…”

“Alex, stop.  Yes, I want to do this.  I’ve wanted to for a long time, I just didn’t think you were interested.  Or even looked at me at all, really.”

“Oh, I’ve been looking.”  Alex joked, “I’ve been looking at you for over a decade.”  Alex looked up.  Her building was right in front of them, “Here’s my stop.  Can I call you tomorrow?”

Olivia nodded, “Of course.  Goodnight, counselor.”

As Olivia turned away, Alex knew she couldn’t just let her walk away.  Things still felt…unfinished.

“Liv, wait.”  Alex reached for Olivia’s hand again, pulling her in Alex’s direction, “I love you and I know that you love me.  But, I’m approaching this as if—as if it were 2000 and I’ve just met you.  I want to romance you and you show you that, maybe the reason why your relationships haven’t worked out is because you were with the wrong person all along.”

“I don’t deserve any of this…”

“You deserve more than this and I hope to give that to you.”  Alex softly kissed Olivia’s knuckles, “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

Olivia walked the rest of the way to her apartment, with a smile on her face and a hope in her heart that she hadn’t felt in a very long time.