"Okay, so I will pick you up at nine, and we can have a nice romantic dinner for your birthday." Olivia spoke softly into her phone.
"Sounds great. Love you."
"Love you too." Olivia snapped shut the phone and strolled into work.
"You're in a happy mood." Came the familiar voice of her partner. "Did you have a good night last night...on your ‘date'?" He inquired nosily.
"Not that its any of your business, but yes." Olivia observed a wrapped box sitting on Elliott's desk. "What is that for?"
Elliott looked up from his case file. "Oh, its Cabot's birthday today, and I thought I would make a nice gesture and get her something nice." Olivia rolled her eyes.
"I think not, I know you too well, your nice gesture involves me going out with your credit card to get Kathy a birthday present. What I really think you are trying to do is a little brown nosing so she will go a little easier on the next case we might just happen to have."
"What can I say, I need to get a new partner, you know me too well." Elliott lounged back in his chair.
"Both of you, in my office now." Cragen bellowed.
It was 5.30pm, and Alex walked out of the courtroom building towards the DA offices. Her pace was leisurely as she had no real reason to be back in her office so soon after the adjournment of her trial for the day. She felt a soft vibration from her coat pocket, removing the cell, she flipped it open.
"Cabot" She spoke softly.
"Alex, it's Elliott, we need you down here now."
"Okay, be there in five." She replied, snapping the phone shut and walking in the opposite direction towards precinct.
Alex walked in the door heading straight for Cragen's office. She entered closing the door behind her. She looked up to see five faces staring back at her, grinning.
"Alex, I thought since it is a special day for you we would have a little celebration of our own since I have no doubt that you have some sort of special plan with your boyfriend tonight." Cragen's smile seeming out of place. He walked towards her handing her a heavy box. "This is from Munch, Finn and myself, just to thankyou for your hard work around here...not only is it your two year anniversary with us, but it is also your thirtieth birthday." He finished. Alex was unable to speak, for the first time in her life, sentences were unable to form in her brain.
Elliott handed her a smaller and lighter packaged box. "This is to try and make up for the hard times I have given you over the years. I am sure you will enjoy them...most women do." Alex was still shocked, placing the two boxes on Cragen's desk. "Hey, Liv, where is your present." Elliott teased.
"Well, no one told me it was Alex's birthday and I am no good with this sort of anniversary dates. But I tell you what, let me buy you dinner one night to make up for it, and that way we can bitch about the faults of the male sex." Olivia replied, her embarrassment colouring her face.
"Seriously, none of you had to do this...but thankyou, it really does mean a lot to me." Alex smiled widely, at the squad she had become so close to over the last two years. The phone on Cragen's desk rang.
"You'll have to excuse me Alex, I have to take this." Taking the hint, all four detectives and Alex left the room.
"Really, thankyou all, so much. I have to get going now, but I really am unable to express my gratitude." Elliott, Munch and Finn waved goodbye.
"Alex, I'm finished for the day, I will walk you out." Olivia suggested. The pair walked side by side until they were out in the brisk air. "You know I really did get you something, but you will have to wait and see what it is." Olivia said softly, so only Alex could hear.
"Did you tell them it was my birthday Olivia?" Alex asked, the delight still in her voice.
"No actually, they seemed to know on their own! Which for them, is amazing." Olivia replied, resisting the urge to twine her hands with Alex's.
"God, I just want to kiss you." Alex whispered.
"Why, you don't have my present yet, so you don't have a reason to." Olivia returned, earing a warm smile from the tall blonde. "But I thought, maybe I might change tonight's plans a bit, go home and get all dressed up and I will take you out for a fancy dinner and then home for dessert."
"That sounds even better than your former plan." Alex started, but was cut off by the blaring of Olivia's cell phone. Olivia answered, clearly unimpressed.
"Oh shit. Alex, I have to go. Rape-murder, need to be at the scene." Alex sighed. "But I tell you what. Get all dressed up anyway, and at about 9pm you can go to my apartment and wait for me. I will try be done as soon as possible, but you have my permission to open the card and present which will be sitting on my living room table. Okay?" Alex nodded, a tear running down her cheek. Olivia pulled her around a corner out of public view, cupping Alex's face and wiping the tear away with her thumb. "Baby, don't worry. I will be there, I promise. Please don't be upset." She kissed her lightly on the lips.
"I'm sorry, I just...I knew tonight was going to be too good to be true." Alex whispered
"When I get home, the night will only just be beginning, I promise. Just use your keys and go to my house at nine. I will be home as soon as I can okay?"
"Okay." Alex replied, trying to smile. "I love you."
"I love you too, so much." Olivia said, turning to walk away.
Alex spent the rest of the night getting herself ready, finding her short black dress and fixing her hair to be perfect. She was determined the night was going to be memorable, no matter how late Olivia arrived. And as she pulled into Olivia's driveway, she checked herself in the mirror, just on the odd chance Olivia was actually inside waiting. She jiggled the key in the door, and turned the nob. Pushing it open, the first thing she noticed was a light hum of pleasant classical music flowing through the apartment, followed by the vision of dull candles leading a path into the living room. Ignoring the lack of light, Alex blindly followed the candles and gasped at the site of the candle lit table setting, along with a small burgundy box with a gold ribbon, sat next to a card and a white slip of paper coving both.
"Alex, I had about half an hour before I had to be back at the precinct, so I set this up. I should be back soon. Love Liv." She read quietly to herself. Her mind reeled at the amount of thought Olivia had given her, to make her feel special. Alex sighed aloud before moving on to opening the card. The design was simple and eloquent, the words inside sending tingles up her spine. Placing the card gently down on the table, she lightly tugged on the gold ribbon of the box, flipping it open. She gasped loudly at the site of the small diamond encrusted heart, on a gold chain, running her hands over it lovingly.
"So I take it you like it then?" A voice from behind asked, making Alex jump. As she turned to face Olivia, who was dressed in a black dress with a high neck, and a pair of black heels. Alex almost jumped into her arms hugging her tightly and kissing her all over her face.
"I love it, it is so beautiful." She whispered into Olivia's neck.
"Here, let me put it on for you." Olivia said, taking the necklace from the box and fastening it behind her neck.
"You...why aren't you at the scene, I thought..." Alex started. Olivia silenced her by kissing her lips softly.
"I wanted you to think that...it gave me time to prepare...but when you were about to cry, I almost backed out and told you the whole thing." Alex kissed Olivia tenderly, pulling away to kiss her forehead.
"God, I don't know how I survived for 29 years without you, because this year, has been the best of my life. I love you Olivia." Olivia's hand slid up to cup her face.
"I love you too Alex. More than you will ever know." Olivia pulled her close, wrapping one arm around her tiny waist. "Dance with me." She spoke softly into her ear.
They swayed softly to the beats of the notes in the music, eyes never wavering from each others, hands never leaving each others body. As they leaned in close, their eyes fluttered shut, and their lips pressed together for what seemed like an eternity. Alex pulled away, looking into the deep brown eyes before her. Their bodies still swayed to the music, but they were both lost in the moment. A shrill noise broke the moment, and Olivia cursed loudly as she broke away from Alex, keeping their hands linked as she walked into the kitchen and pciked up the phone.
"Benson" She spoke softly into the receiver.
"Olivia, its Cragen, can you come in?"
"Im really sorry...its kinda a special night for me...can you get Elliot?" She replied.
"Oh, okay...sorry to bother you." Cragen bellowed, remembering just how hard he had been working Olivia lately.
"Thanks Cap." Olivia said hanging up and taking Alex in her arms again, kissing her lightly on the lips.
"Special night hmmm?" Alex teased, squeezing her sides lightly. "How about some wine?"
Olivia smiled knowingly as she pulled a bottle out of a brown paper bag on the counter. Alex grinned in delight, it was her favourite red wine. "Only the best for you my love."
"God I love you Olivia, I have never known anyone so sweet, charming, sensitive...or sexy." Alex's voice lowered on the last word and she drew close to Olivia's face, kissing her gently at first then with more need. "You know...I think we can save the wine for later...there is something else id rather do right now." She whispered, her hands running up and down her sides suggestively.
"Well, its your birthday who am I to complain?" Olivia replyed with a silly grin, following Alex closely as they headed towards the bedroom.
Alex let a large sigh escape, as she slipped into a pair of shorts and Olivia's gym baggy shirt she left over a few months ago. Olivia's light hearted giggles made her turn around pounce on her, pinning her to the bed. "don't you like my shirt?" She growled.
"Oh, I love it...it looks somewhat familiar..." Olivia chuckled.
"Well...its not." Alex stuck out her tongue like a child. "Lets go crack open the wine shall we?"
"Lead the way." Olivia replied, slipping a shirt over her head.
Alex pulled two wine glasses from the rack, filling them halfway, and sat beside Olivia on the sofa. "Thankyou so much for everything today...It was amazing." Alex said softly.
"Its nothing you don't deserve, believe me! But I am glad you had a good time." She replied, linking Alex's free hand with hers. "So...what are you getting me for my birthday?" She teased.
"Oh, don't you worry...i have a plan for you." Alex grinned, leaning over for a quick kiss. "And you only have to wait eight months."
"But i want to know now." Olivia moaned loudly.
"Patience is a virtue Liv." Alex replied, clearly amused.
The End
