A/N: Welp, you all wanted some Noah time, so that's what you got. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 18

Olivia leaned against the door frame of the bedroom, cup of coffee in hand and smiled as she watched her beautiful fiancee slowly begin the awakening process. First she'd roll over, put the cover over her head. Then she'd reach out to see if Olivia was still in bed. If she was, Alex would snuggled up to her; if she wasn't, she'd sigh and continue her efforts of sleeping longer. This usually went on for 10 minutes, enough time for Olivia to start the coffee and pour a cup, before Alex would open her eyes.

Olivia just watched, not making a sound during the process. She loved learning Alex's every move and routine. This one was new, since Alex quit the DA's office. Usually she was up and running out the door or grabbing her phone to see what needed to be done for the day, even on her days off. Olivia loved that they were both still changing and that meant they were constantly learning little new things about each other.

"I know you're watching me," Alex finally mumbled before forcing her eyes open. "I can feel your presence."

Olivia smiled and made her way over to the side of the bed.

"I didn't want to wake you before you were through your morning ritual of trying to go back to sleep," Olivia said. "But now that you're awake, I have something for you."

"Please say it's coffee," Alex said.

"It's coffee," Olivia said, her pillows around to help Alex sit up in bed before handing her the mug.

"You are a Godsend," Alex said.

"I don't know about that, but you deserve a little TLC as hard as you've been working at the shelter, on the campaign and our wedding," Olivia said. "Which reminds me, I promised you a full day of help with planning so whatever you want to tackle today, I'm all yours. I can call Lucy to watch Noah if you want."

"Really?" Alex eyes grew wide as she replied.

Olivia laughed. "You seem shocked. I want to help and I know I've been busy with work lately, so I want to make sure I'm putting in my fair share."

"I'm not shocked, I'm just happy," Alex said. "I know you've been so busy lately, I figured you'd want to relax and rest."

"What could be more relaxing than spending a day planning our future with my future wife and best friend," Olivia said. "I mean, if you want to. You've had a lot going on too."

"Ok, this attitude...whatever it is you have going on right now...I like it," Alex said. "And OMG, yes, I want. Except we should bring Noah along too."

"Really?" Olivia said, surprised.

"Yeah, I mean, I know it's you and me getting married, but our day is about creating a family that Noah is just as much a part of," Alex said. "He's been asking a lot of questions about the wedding, even though it's a ways off, and I thought it would be nice to let him help with the planning."

"Let me get this straight...," Olivia said, unsure she was comprehending. "You...Alexandra Cabot...wants a 6-year-old boy to help plan her wedding?"

"Not just any 6-year-old boy...our 6-year-old boy...our son," Alex said. "And while I understand why you are in a state of shock, just remember I've loosed up a bit with age. You and I both know he'll love cake tasting."

"Don't we need an appointment for that?" Olivia said.

"Please, I can make one phone call and have every kind of wedding dessert possible arranged in two hours," Alex said, smirking.

"Ok, there's the Alex Cabot I know," Olivia said, laughing.

"Really though, we've already talked about using Gustavo and he said just to call, give him a couple of hours or so, and he'll put out a tasting sample that will blow our minds," she said.

"OK, so cake tasting it is," Olivia said. "Is it too soon? I mean, we don't plan to get married until after the election."

"It's never too soon for cake tasting and besides, it gives us more time to change our mind and have even more cake tasting," Alex laughed. "I'll send Gustavo a text right now and tell him we'll be ready by the afternoon, whatever time he wants."

"So what are we doing until then?" Olivia asked.

"I thought we could look for an outfit for Noah," Alex said. "Get an idea what he likes."

"You know he'll change his mind before then, and grow like a weed," Olivia said.

"I know, but we've settled on colors and we don't have to decide today," Alex said. "He can have fun trying on different things...like a little fashion model."

"Ha, ok, well, we'll see how that works out, but I love the idea," Olivia said. "It will be good to start visualizing everything."

#

"Ok, Noah, come on out and let's see," Olivia said, waiting for her boy to emerge from the dressing area. He insisted on dressing himself, but once out of the dressing room, he asked one of the staff people for help with his tie before coming out.

"I think this is the one I like," he said as he strolled out, looking far too old and confident in his suit.

"Wowww," Olivia and Alex both said.

"I mean, if that's what you like..." Alex said, reaching over to straighten his hair and then his collar and vest. "I thought you may one that one that was a bit more...casual."

"I like it because it's like what Uncle Raf would wear," Noah said.

"The man did like this three-piece suits," Olivia said. "Are you afraid you'll get hot, or be uncomfortable? It'll be a long day, son."

"But you said I could change after the part where you get married, right? For the party?" Noah asked.

The woman laughed. "Yes, of course," Alex said.

"I like this one," he said, tugging at his blue bow tie to make it slightly straighter.

"Well, if you change your mind..." Olivia started.

"I won't," he said. "But can I wear those shoes?" He pointed to his Chuck Taylors he'd taken off before trying on the dress shoes. "I don't really like these shoes."

"Uh, well, why don't we look for..." Olivia started again, but was again cut off.

"Of course you can, Noah," Alex said. "I mean, as long as your mom is okay with it. We do want you to look nice, but there's not reason you can't look stylish and be comfortable, right Liv?"

"I guess so, but maybe we can buy you a new pair that matches," Olivia said, unsure who had kidnapped her child and who this boy was.

"Yay!" Noah said. "It's like the one in the magazine you showed me, Alex."

Olivia looked at her curiously.

"We may have already gotten a head start to give him some ideas," Alex confessed. "Besides, Chucks with the suit or tux is kind of a in thing right now."

"Are we getting married in Brooklyn?" Olivia joked.

"Wearing Chucks with a suit is not a hipster thing, Olivia, and you know what, so what if it is...if it's comfortable and looks nice, who cares what anyone else things?" Alex said.

"Alright then," Olivia said. "But give me fair warning before you two come out of this Twilight Zone we're in. Also, we're not serving avocado toast at the wedding or drinking out of Mason jars under any circumstance at the wedding."

Alex laughed and leaned over and kissed Olivia on the cheek.

"Deal, but you know, I've been eating avocado toast since before it was cool," Alex said. "And I won't stop, even for you."

Noah left and returned a few minutes later back in his regular clothes, then sat down to put on his shoes.

"Who's ready for cake tasting?" Alex asked.

"Me!" Noah said.

#

Several hours later, Olivia, Alex, and Noah returned home...stuffed and exhausted.

"I have to say, Alex, Gustavo really outdid himself. Every bite of those cakes were amazing," Olivia said.

"You're still good with the double chocolate mousse cake? I mean, we can keep looking," Alex said.

"Oh my God, it was amazing," Olivia said. "I've had chocolate cake before, and you know it's not always my favorite if it's too rich, but that cake...mmmm."

"Careful," Alex whispered so Noah didn't hear. "You're starting to make the same sounds about that cake as you do for me."

"Well, I mean..." Olivia smirked and Alex swatted her. "I'm actually surprised you didn't go with the cupcake version. I thought that's what you wanted."

"I thought I did, but, I don't know, I like the idea of the full cake," Alex said. "We can bring it home and freeze the top and attempt to eat it after one year."

"Yeah, we're not doing that," Olivia said.

"And then of course there is the cutting of the cake and feeding each other and..." Alex said.

"Oh noooo, I know that smirk," Olivia said. "There will be no cake smashing at our wedding."

"I wanna smash cake!" Noah said, joining them in the living room.

"Absolutely not," Olivia said. "Now I know someone has stolen my fiancee and replaced her. There is no way Alex Cabot would go for getting cake smashed in her face."

"Who said the cake was going to get smashed in my face?" Alex laughed.

"Let's just put it this way, if you even attempt to smash cake on my face, you'll be covered in cake," Olivia teased.

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Alex said, giving Olivia a smirk and catching her eye to let her know exactly what she was thinking. "You know, you'd be responsible to...clean...me...up."

Olivia blushed since Noah was in the room, even though he was oblivious to the hidden meaning of Alex's words.

"You should cover Mommy is cake!" Noah laughed. "That would be funny."

"That's not a bad idea, Noah," Alex said, not losing eye contact with Olivia who was as red as Alex had ever seen her. "Cake all over your mom would be...'fun.'"

Olivia jumped up from the couch and grabbed her glass of water, heading toward the kitchen.

"Ok, enough talk of cake smashing," Olivia said. "Noah, it's almost your bedtime."

"But you said I could help pick out invitations!" he said.

"I don't know if we're going to pick them out tonight, buddy," Alex said. "But here, you can look at a few your mom and I like."

Alex put some samples down in front of Noah who carefully picked up the brightest colored one and began to read.

"Who is Mr. and Mrs. Jones?" Noah said, reading the words carefully. "And Mrs. Smith."

"Oh, that's just sample one, like that someone else used, so we can see what they look like when we write on them," Alex said.

"But why are they inviting people to Brad and Amanda's wedding?" he asked, seeing the couple's name below.

"Well, that's Brad and Amanda's parents," Olivia said. "Sometimes, couples, especially younger ones, will have their parents invite people."

"But why?" Noah said.

"Well, I think in the past because the bride's family traditionally paid for the wedding," Alex said.

"But you're both brides," Noah observed. "So who will pay for the wedding?"

"We both will," Olivia said. "Alex and I have a savings account just for the wedding we put money in."

"But how does Alex get money now, she doesn't work at the lawyer place anymore?" Noah asked.

Olivia opened her mouth, unsure what to tell him, but Alex put her hand out indicating she had this question.

"Well, just like your mom, I've worked for a long time and been able to save money for the future," Alex said. "I also have some things that my family gave to me, money and property, that helps earn money for when I'm not working."

"Oh," Noah said, not quite understanding. "So who will invite people to your wedding? Grandpa John since Mommy doesn't have a mom and dad?"

"We, uh," Alex looked to Olivia, "I guess we haven't talked about what we want our invitation to say. I mean, I suppose your mom and I will just invite people ourselves. We don't have to do what other people did. And we're much older than most people who get married."

"Oh," Noah said, still looking at the invitations. "I could do it."

"What?" Olivia and Alex said, not understanding.

"I could invite people. Me and Grandpa John," Noah said.

Alex and Olivia were both speechless and surprised at Noah's suggestion. They looked at each other and both saw a glimmer of tears in the others' eyes.

"Well, Noah, I think me and Alex can talk about..." Olivia said.

"I love it, Liv," Alex said. "It's perfect."

"You're right," Olivia said. "It is perfect. Come here, Noah."

She reached over and gave him a bear hug, then pulled Alex into it.

"I'm so grateful everyday that I have the two of you as my family," Olivia said. "Noah, I would be honored to have you invite our guests on my behalf to our wedding."

Noah smiled.

"Me too," Alex said.

"Yay!" he said, breaking free from the hug. "Wait, that doesn't mean I have to pay for it, right?"

Alex and Olivia laughed, shaking their heads no and joyed at how everything was coming together for their future.

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