Note: No mentions of Lewis in this chapter. Just happy stuff!

Timeline: September 2013

Chapter 43: Phone Calls

The bass in the Long Island club pounded, flashing strobe lights flickering alongside a mélange of multicolored beams. On the dance floor, packs of sweaty bodies moved and grinded to the steady electronic beat, a remix "Get Lucky." Swinging her hips to the beat alongside her cousins and friends, Alex wiped a bead of sweat off her brow. Between work and life's overall hecticness, she couldn't remember the last time that she frequented a place like this, but her bachelorette party was as good a time as any. That said, she certainly was going to need a little more alcohol to keep up for the rest of the night.

"Shots?" she mouthed, gesturing to Tiffany and Serena Southerlyn, who were dancing next to her. Serena, one of Alex's friends since law school, had come up from D.C. for the wedding and would be serving as Alex's maid of honor. Both women nodded, following the blonde towards the bar.

"3 shots of de Plata Blanco," Serena ordered, pushing Alex's hand away as the other woman went to pay. "Eh eh, bride-to-be, you know the drill."

"Thanks Rena," Alex grinned, taking one of the shot glasses.

"Oooo, is that tequila?" Alex turned her head at the sound of a Texan drawl, exacerbated slightly by insobriety. Abbie Carmichael snaked her arms around her blonde girlfriend's waist, reaching for the small glass. "You sure that's a good idea? After all she can't go home to Olivia tonight. And you know how tequila makes her," the brunette attorney added with a wicked grin.

Serena playfully held the shot glass away from Abbie's reach. "It'll just have Lexy more ready for the stripper later," the shorter woman teased, flagging the bartender for another shot. Once Abbie had secured her own drink, Serena raised her glass. "To Alex and Olivia," she toasted with a smile, attempting to raise her voice over the booming sounds of the dancefloor. "And a lifetime of happiness for you both."

"And a lifetime of good sex," Abbie interjected, causing Tiffany to laugh and Alex's flushed skin to redden even more. The four women all swallowed their shots, wincing and sucking on limes.

They chatted a bit, grabbing another round of drinks before heading back towards the dancefloor. "Are Pete and Brandon still here?" Tiffany asked, glancing around.

Abbie shook her head. "They took Emily home. She has a Con Law exam on Monday."

"Ugh," Alex droned. "To never having to take con law again," the blonde toasted, lifting an empty shot glass.

Tiffany chuckled. "Someone's a little tipsy…"

"I think you mean drunk," Serena corrected. "How many have you had there, Al?"

The blonde, however, didn't answer. Instead, her blue eyes widened at the music as it changed tune. "I loveeeee this song," she drawled, beginning to dance. "Olivia and I like to listen to it when we're…"

Abbie quirked an eyebrow. "When you and Olivia are doing what now, Lexy?"

Alex returned a devilish look. "You know what."

"I think I'm gonna need more of a descript – "

Serena covered her girlfriend's mouth, laughing. "Let's go dance," she suggested, tugging Abbie towards the dancefloor. Only seconds later, the couple was grinding up against one another, all thoughts of their friends' sex life far from their minds.

"I've gotta use the bathroom," Tiffany added, placing a hand on Alex's bicep. "You okay here?"

Alex nodded. "Yeah, I'm actually gonna make a phone call."

~*~*~*Page Break*~*~*~ Page Break*~*~*~ Page Break*~*~*~ Page Break*~*~*~

"To Olivia and Alex! And youse guys finally sealin' the deal!" Fin toasted, holding up his beer. The squad was at one of their regular bars in Manhattan, celebrating Olivia's bachelorette party. The brunette had been hesitant, not one to readily make a fuss about herself, but her co-workers had insisted on taking her out for the night. She rebuffed any suggestions of going to a strip club, but ultimately agreed to a casual evening out with some of her closest friends.

Everyone raised their glasses in agreement, pint glasses clinking in cheers. Everyone except Munch.

"I don't know if we should be giving cheers," the detective said sardonically. "After all, some of us had money bet on this happening a long while ago…"

"Shut up, old man," Fin responded. "Just for that you can buy the next round!" The group snickered as Munch reluctantly rose from his seat and headed for the bar.

Cragen patted Olivia's shoulder affectionately. "You and Alex certainly kept us all on edge over the past decade, but I don't think I stand alone her when I say that I couldn't be happier for you two, Liv."

"Here, here!" everyone added, by now jovially drunk and more emotional than usual.

"Thanks, Cap," Olivia said, blinking away a few tears. She cleared her throat. "And thank you all for everything over the past few months. I – well, I."

Noticing his partner beginning to struggle with emotions, Nick wrapped an arm around her. "You know we're always here for you, Liv. And tonight we're here to make sure you have a good last night out as a single woman," he deflected, causing the group to chuckle. "So are you sure we can't convince you to go to a strip club."

Olivia rolled her eyes playfully. "What, going there to interview witnesses isn't enough for you guys?"

"Aww come on, Liv. I don't like mixing business with pleasure," Fin whined.

"Olivia certainly did and it worked out well for her," Melinda deadpanned, quirking an eyebrow. Everyone froze at the comment, not quite expecting it from the comparatively reserved M.E. Then they broke out into laughter.

"You and Alex ever hook up on the job?" Fin asked, grabbing a fresh pitcher of Sam Adams from Munch as he returned to the table. "God knows there was enough tension between the two of you."

The tips of Olivia's ears reddened. "I am so not answering that question," she replied, reaching down and taking a swing of her beer.

"Oh come on, Liv," Munch whined. "At least give me a little consolation prize for losing that bet. Ever have a little rendezvous in Cabot's office? The crib?"

Olivia practically spit out her drink at the comment, cheeks flushing guiltily. She avoided looking at Casey, whose own fair skin was pink. She and the attorney had had a small fling after Alex went back into witness protection – the brunette heartbroken by the sudden loss of her lover. While the pair was nothing more than friends now (with Alex fully aware of their past history), Casey did know first-hand that Olivia could get a little handsy at work.

"And on that note, I think it's time I take my leave before I hear anything incriminating," Cragen quipped dryly. "Have a good rest of the night everyone. Get this one home safe, lest Alex have your heads."

Bidding adieu to the captain, the squad turned back to Olivia questioningly, the brunette shifting her attention to her partner for back up. Nick tossed his hands up innocently. "Sorry Liv, even Amanda and I used to wonder if some of those arguments about cases were foreplay."

At that, Olivia face reached tomato-red, but before any of the detectives could goad her anymore, her cell phone rang out. The brunette looked down to see her fiancée's name flashing across the screen. "Sorry guys, I've gotta take this," she grinned, stepping away from the table with relief.

"Saved by the bell, Benson!" Munch called out. Olivia shot him the middle finger as she walked towards the bathroom.

"Hey baby, what's up?" she asked, picking up the phone as she entered the empty women's room.

"Nothing," she heard Alex's voice slur. "I just miss you."

Olivia smiled to herself, both touched by the sentiment and amused by Alex drunk-dialing her. It had been a long time since the couple had let loose, and it seemed like the blonde was having a good time. "I miss you too, Lex. Are you having fun?"

"Mhmmm. I wish you were here though. I miss dancing with you."

"We'll get to do plenty of dancing together soon enough. At the wedding."

The brunette could almost hear the blonde smiling on the other end of the line. "I can't wait to marry you."

"The feeling is mutual."

"But right now I wanna fuck you."

Olivia practically choked on her saliva, warmth settling in her belly at the sultriness of Alex's tone. In addition to being silly and affectionate, drunk Alex could also be very, very horny. And drunk Olivia could be very, very weak.

"I – I wish you could too," the detective admitted, lowering her voice as she looked around to double-check that no one else was in the restroom. The last thing she wanted was anyone to overhear.

"Do you know what I would do?"

The brunette cleared her throat, the moisture leaving her mouth as she tried to maintain her resolve. The alcohol in her own system didn't help her inhibitions, however. "Ummm…"

"Where are you, baby?"

"The bathroom at the bar."

"Are you alone?"

"Ummm, yeah."

"Perfect."

~*~*~*Page Break*~*~*~ Page Break*~*~*~ Page Break*~*~*~ Page Break*~*~*~

"Hey guys, sorry about that," Olivia started, returning to the table several minutes later. She brushed her fingers through her hair, trying to appear as normal as possible. "Alex called," she explained. "Uh just wanted to let me know that she got back to her aunt and uncles' house okay."

A few members of the squad snickered, clearly skeptical, but still the detective tried to play it cool. That is until Nick called out. "Um, Liv, your fly…"

The woman's face immediately turned red as she looked down. She found her pants were fastened tightly, but her bluff had been called and everyone burst out into laughter, a few of them letting out wolf whistles.

Munch, on his part, groaned heavily, slapping a twenty into Fin's palm as he shook his head. "Dammit, Benson," he lamented, hiding a smirk. "0 for 2."