"Olivia fucking Benson," Alex whispered to herself as she eyed up the side profile of a woman she hadn't seen in years, her voice low enough that the man she was with didn't hear her.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" She glanced up at her potential hook-up for the night, a CFO of some fortune 500 that she didn't care about. He was just her type, tall, subtly toned, thousand dollar suit, and a five o'clock shadow that was getting a little too long.

"Nothing," she muttered in response as she turned her attention back to him, smiling flirtatiously.

"Oh, for a second there I thought you said you wanted to get out of here with me." He smirked back at her. Horrible pick up line, Alex thought to herself as she faked a laugh.

"You're quite the charmer, aren't you?" As she said it, she turned back around, staring at the profile of the woman once more. The bartender slid another glass in front of her, a double, and she accepted it with a nod of her head.

"I like to think so. What do you say? Want to see what two million a year salary gets you for an apartment?" Alex resisted the urge to roll her eyes and tell him that she had far more money than he could ever dream of.

"You know, I would love to but I think I see an old friend of mine over there. I think I'll say hello."

"I'll wait."

Alex lifted an eyebrow. "I don't think I'll be coming back. Besides, I'm sure you could easily find another woman to explore your bed with. If not you could always buy a prostitute." With that, she slipped out of cozy booth and headed over to the far corner of the bar.

"Detective Olivia Benson," Alex husked as she slid onto the open stool next to the brunette.

Olivia turned to her in surprise before a smile formed on her lips. "Alexandra Cabot. And that's Lieutenant Benson to you," she teased.

"Ooh, I like it. Sounds powerful," Alex whispered, her eyes sparkling as she admired the woman next to her.

"It's so great to see you, Alex. What has it been, five years?"

"Somewhere around there," Alex replied as she lifted a single finger. The gesture was enough for the bartender to fill her usual for the night and slide it over to her. "How have you been Lieutenant?" She raised an eyebrow flirtatiously and Olivia grinned. She had almost forgotten how well they flirted with one another.

"I've been better," she replied with a shrug. She brought her glass up and tapped it against the blonde's before taking a long sip.

"I can tell. What's the reason for the double tonight?"

Olivia sighed as she dropped her head back and let out a long sigh. "A year long relationship, down the drain."

Alex frowned. She had heard through the grapevine that a certain Lieutenant at SVU was dating a Captain at IAB. She balked at the thought initially, knowing that Olivia would never date a man that had caused her so much trouble in the past, but the rumor had been confirmed when she saw a picture in the newspaper of the two of them. Tucker's transfer shortly after came as no surprise to her. Olivia was certainly a woman who deserved a man that would bend to her will, if only to be with her for a bit longer.

"Ed Tucker," Alex stated, continuing when she saw the surprise on Olivia's face. "His transfer made it obvious and your face just confirmed it." She paused to take a sip of her drink. "Of all people, Liv, why him?"

The sound of her former nickname made Olivia's heart swell. Liv. And the way Alex said it made it so much sweeter than anyone else. It reminded her of a day when things were so much simpler. In the past she had no desire for a relationship and avoided the complications of one. She flirted with whoever she wanted to and certainly never limited herself to flirting with only men. But now was different. Now she had a son to worry about, one that she'd always put first, no matter what.

"Hello? Anyone home?" Alex's voice brought her back to reality.

The brunette shook her head, as if she could shake her thoughts out of her mind. "Uh, I don't know. It just sort of happened. We started working together and had a few drinks one night. He flirted relentlessly and I was sort of into the slightly older, grey hair, and mature attitude. He's a no-bullshit kind of guy and that's what I thought I wanted."

"Is that why you broke up?" Alex pushed on, wanting to know exactly what happened. She was certainly surprised to hear of their breakup after a year of dating. She had even heard from someone that Olivia had taken a vacation to somewhere romantic for the first time in decades. Conveniently enough, Tucker had taken the same week off.

"I don't really know. I think it just came to a point where both of us were trying too hard. I mean we're both old and I seem to be perpetually single." Alex wanted to interject but she bit her tongue. "I think we both just tried too hard and when he told me he wanted to retire with me, it just became too much. Noah and SVU are my life and I just didn't have room for someone else." She shook her head. "Enough about me, what about you? Anyone special in your life?"

Alex shook her head in response, shrugging. "We're both perpetually single, I guess." She turned to see the man that she had been flirted with for the past half hour. "See the tall brunette in the fitted suit?" Olivia hummed in response. "I was going to go home with him until I saw you. I figured I'd say hi. It looks like he found someone else."

Olivia watched as he wrapped his arm around the waist of another woman and led her to a booth. You idiot, don't you realize that you just let go of someone amazing? "Then he didn't deserve you."

Alex laughed. "It was going to be a one night stand. Nothing long term so I couldn't care less what he thought of me."

The lieutenant pursed her lips. "Do you do that often?"

"One night stands? I try not to just because there's so much to worry about but sometimes I get lonely." The admission rang true with Olivia.

"Well, what do you say we keep each other company for tonight? A movie and a late dinner at my place? Although I must warn you, the movie may be a cartoon." Alex quirked an eyebrow. "Noah might be up. He's been fighting me more recently on his bedtime. I was so worried about his speech development initially but now I realize he was developing much faster in other areas."

Alex didn't bother denying that she knew about the Lieutenant's son. She had read about the shooting at a children's park and the child with a gun in Central Park. Both had pictures of Olivia with a little boy clinging to her, the same little boy. One phone call to Langan had confirmed it. "Are you okay with me meeting him?"

"One time can't hurt," Olivia replied with a smile. "Let's get out of here."

Alex stood awkwardly in Olivia's living room as the brunette waved off her babysitter, Noah clinging to her leg. "Noah, I want you to meet someone. This is my friend Alex." She pointed to the blonde and Noah tilted his head to the side just enough to see the woman from his position behind Olivia's leg. "Can you say 'hi Alex'?"

Noah merely shook his head before running toward the kitchen. "Cookie!" Olivia chuckled as she followed him into the kitchen.

"How about we eat a little dinner first? Mommy's hungry," Olivia replied as she rubbed her stomach.

Noah looked up at her for a second with a pensive look. "Mac n cheese?"

"Hm, how about we ask Alex what she wants?"

Noah looked over at the blonde who slowly walked into the kitchen. He repeated his question to her.

She kneeled down until she was level with Noah. "I love mac n cheese. Let's have that for dinner."

Noah grinned brightly as he looked up at Olivia. "Mac n cheese!"

"Alright, alright, mac n cheese it is," Olivia replied as she smiled at the former ADA. "Are you sure you're willing to eat that? Doesn't seem like a typical Alex Cabot meal."

Alex shrugged as she walked over to brunette. "A little comfort food never hurt anyone."

An hour later all three of them were snuggled up on the couch, cartoons playing on the TV. Noah was in Olivia's lap, staring at the screen with wide eyes and Alex was next to both of them, her eyes on the brunette instead of the TV. Within minutes, the little boy's eyes began to droop and his weight shifted back until he was slumped against Olivia's chest.

"Someone's out cold," Alex whispered as she smiled down at the little boy. Olivia confirmed that he was asleep before lifting him up into her arms and rising from the couch.

"Guess that means it is bedtime." The blonde nodded in response and stood from her spot on the couch. "I meant him, not you," Olivia replied with a chuckle. "I've still got at least another hour in me unless you would like to go."

"I'll stay," Alex replied as she sat back down on the couch and waited for Olivia to return.

A few minutes later and Olivia was back with a large blanket in her arms. She tossed it partially over Alex before sitting next to her, pulling the other half around her. They sat shoulder to shoulder as Olivia surfed the TV for something for both of them to watch.

A few hour later, Alex startled herself awake. She was leaning heavily against Olivia who was in turn pressed up against the arm rest of the couch, fast asleep. She carefully shifted off of Olivia and tucked the blanket tight around her before heading toward the front door. After a moment of searching, she found a pencil and a pad of paper, quickly jotting down a note for Olivia.

Liv, thanks for a great night. It was really nice catching up with you. I stole your key so that I could lock your door. I'll slide it back under your door so you won't be keyless. I'd love to do this again. Call me? –Alex

With that she exited Olivia's apartment, doing as she promised before catching a taxi back to her place.