A/N: Here I am with another fic ... that for now, is a standalone one-shot, but I'm leaving it open ended. I need to finish up some others before I start a new series/universe :-) But hope you enjoy anyway.

Figure late Season 2, young and sprite.

Word count: About 3,000; Rating: G-rated

HOW IT BEGAN

"What's wrong?"

Olivia Benson didn't even hear Elliot Stabler's question even though he was sitting just across from her, their desks facing each other; her head was buried in a case file that she also wasn't focusing very much on.

"Liv, did you hear me?" he asked again

"Huh? No, sorry, I didn't," she said, barely looking up from what she was doing.

"What's wrong?" he asked again.

Olivia gave him a confused look. "Why do you think something is wrong?" she asked.

Elliot grinned. "You've been reading the same page of that lab report for about 20 minutes," he said.

"I'm not a doctor, El," Olivia said. She hadn't realized how long she had let her mind wander. "I just want to make sure I understand the results."

"Uh huh," Elliot said, but he knew his partner was full of shit. There was nothing confusing in the report and their medical examiner Melinda had already explained everything to them.

Olivia went back to her file, quickly moving on from the page she had been on for 25 minutes now.

"Any plans this weekend? Date?" he asked.

"Now I'm going to wonder what is wrong with you asking if I have a date," Olivia said, finally tossing the file aside and giving Elliot her attention. "I don't even remember the last time I had a date."

"What about that guy from the 2-8? Davis, right?" Elliot asked. "You talked to him lately?"

Olivia shook her head. "No."

"Why not? He seemed nice enough. Good cop, at least," Elliot said. He knew his partner wasn't interested in Davis, but he also knew something was up, so he was trying to dig.

"He was alright," Olivia said. "But, I don't know, just not my type. Besides, he lives out in Queens."

"What's wrong with Queens?" Elliot said, acting offended. "I live in Queens."

"I'm not dating you," Olivia said. "Though I do probably see you more than Kathy and the kids."

"That's true," Elliot said, then paused to think for a minute. "So, you only date in your neighborhood now?"

"El, why the sudden interest in my dating life?" Olivia said. "Don't you have better things to do?"

"Ok, ok," Elliot said. "I just wanted to know if you had plans this weekend. You should make some friends."

"I don't have plans this weekend and I have enough friends," Olivia said. She got up from her desk and began to gather her things, done with the conversation.

"You leaving?" Elliot called out as Olivia walked toward the door.

"Yeah, cause according to you, I need to get out more often," Olivia said, rolling her eyes and sarcasm dripping in her tone. She stepped on the elevator and left.

#

Part of Olivia knew Elliot was right. She probably did need more friends – at least friends she bothered to spend time with. Most of her social circle revolved around Elliot, Fin and Munch. SVU had taken over her life since she joined the squad a few years ago. She didn't mind though. She loved her work and she knew how unbelievable important it was. It was a small sacrifice to her to give up social hour to help a rape survivor get even an extra hour of sleeping knowing their attacker was behind bars.

She turned to head toward the train to head home, then thought better.

It was Friday night.

Olivia knew she could head into the pub across the street – a popular cop bar – and find a dozen or so people she knew. Surely, she could bear to be social for one night. Maybe it would get Elliot of her case for a while. Besides, drinking a beer with other people was less sad than having a beer alone in her apartment.

When she walked in the door, Olivia quickly scanned the room for familiar faces. There was a couple of guys she worked patrol with; a woman she was in academy with – though Olivia didn't particularly like her very much; a few officers from the 1-5 she'd worked a few cases with in the past year.

"Benson, I didn't think you ever left SVU."

Olivia looked up and saw Abbie Carmichael. She'd worked with SVU as the ADA on a handful of cases. At least she was a friendly face.

"Carmichael, good to see you," Olivia said. "How are you?"

"Good. And I'd love to catch up, but I'm on my way out," Abbie said. "A date with some defense attorney that I'm sure will leave me unsatisfied, but at least I'll get an overpriced dinner and some good wine out of it. Though, I'd prefer beer."

Olivia smiled. She felt the same way. "Well, it was good to see you."

"Same," Abbie said. "In fact, I was just talking about you with Cabot. Looks like SVU finally found someone brave enough to stick around and deal with you all."

"Yeah, she's pretty good at what she does," Olivia said, though she was just as soon change the subject.

"Anyway, she's back there if you're looking for her. But be warned, she's with a bunch of lawyers," Abbie said.

Olivia laughed. "Thanks for the warning."

Olivia glanced to the back, but didn't see her ADA just yet. Alex had been with them almost a year and Olivia still didn't have a good read on her. She was so stiff – Olivia couldn't honest imagine Alex in a pub. But Olivia knew several of the ADAs liked to come to the popular cop bars; Munch always hypothesized it was their way of trying to look normal and approachable to the cops they had to work with. Of course, with Munch, he also assumed they were also spying on them, too, to some degree.

Olivia decided to avoid the lawyers and headed over to the bar and get a beer. No sooner had she put her hand up to get the bartender's attention, did a couple of guys from the 1-5 get her attention.

"Benson, what are ya drinking?" Sexton said.

"I got it," Olivia said.

"Well, it's up to you, but I probably owe you at least a few for all your help a couple months ago on that eastside case," he said.

"It's true," Lopez said. "We were in way over our heads until you and your partner showed up."

Olivia relaxed a little bit. "Alright. I'll take whatever you all are drinking."

Sexton got her beer and she followed them back to a table with a few other officers – including one other woman. Olivia took a seat next to the woman and introduced herself to everyone.

They all chatted for a bit – sometimes as a group, sometimes in smaller groups at the table. Olivia stuck mostly to talking to Sexton and Lopez. Of course, at cop bars, most of the conversations revolved around their jobs and perps they busted. Olivia didn't like to talk a lot about her work since it could be heartbreaking to hear, so she mostly listened.

While she was starting her second beer, she looked across the room and saw Alex Cabot laughing. It wasn't something Olivia had ever really seen Alex do, aside from a time or two when Alex went out with the group. It was a side to Alex that Olivia wasn't accustomed to seeing.

She caught herself watching the blonde – that is until Alex saw her. Olivia looked down and grew even more nervous when she saw Alex get up and start to walk toward her. She wasn't sure why. She talked to Alex nearly every day.

"Benson, you trying to avoid your ADA?" Alex asked, smiling and trying to break the ice.

Olivia shook her head. "Of course not," she said. "You're the only one we can get to stick around." Olivia looked up and Lopez and Sexton were deep in conversation, and about 4 beers deep. She turned back to Alex.

"You all make it easier," Alex said. "I'm sorry, you don't want to talk about work. I was actually just heading out and surprised to see you. I was pretty sure you slept at SVU."

Olivia tilted her head back with a little chuckle. "Yeah, people keep telling me that tonight," Olivia said. "Maybe it's a sign I need to get out a bit more."

"Well, it's a pretty big world out there. And despite what we see everyday, I have to believe most of it's good and beautiful," Alex said, still smiling. Olivia caught herself staring around.

"Ah, we haven't completely turned you into a cynic yet," Olivia said. "I'd offer you something to drink if you weren't leaving."

"Unfortunately, I have to go," Alex said. "But, um, I don't know how you feel about the farmer's market, but a friend of mine has a new booth she'll be at tomorrow. Would you be interested in joining me? Like you, I also need to get out a bit more."

Alex's invite caught Olivia off guard for a moment.

"Oh, I…

"It's okay, you can say no," Alex said, laughing nervously at Olivia stumbling. "You probably don't want to hang out with your ADA."

"Oh, no, not that," Olivia said. "I think it sounds fun, actually."

"Ok, then," Alex said. "Do you want to go early then have brunch after?"

"Sure, what time?"

"That's a good question," Alex said. "Let me see when Amber is going to be set up and I'll call you later tonight if that is okay."

Olivia nodded and watched as Alex left, unsure what she felt about spending time outside of work with Alex Cabot.

"That your ADA?" Sexton asked once Alex was gone.

"Yeah, Cabot," Olivia said.

"She's hot," Sexton said.

"You're such a chauvinist," Lopez said. "Though, I will admit, she's a beautiful woman. It must be a requirement to work in SVU." Lopez grinned at Olivia, but she also knew he was just being polite – at least she didn't think he was hitting on her.

"Well, I don't know about that," Olivia said. "But Cabot is a good ADA."

"If she's single, tell her to him me up," Sexton said, laughing and slightly slurring at this point.

Olivia smiled, shook her head and went back to finishing her beer, then went home.

#

Olivia woke up earlier the next morning than she needed to. She hadn't slept well and she was fairly nervous about her day with Alex. She even almost cancelled on her.

She wanted to blame it on the newness of spending time outside of work with the squad's ADA, but she also knew it wasn't that weird. She'd hung out with Abbie a time or two. It wasn't that odd.

No, Olivia knew it was something more, but wasn't quite ready to admit it. Earlier Friday, when she was spacing while looking at the file, she had been thinking about Alex.

Olivia and Alex had had a disagreement about a case several days prior, and that wasn't usual. But what was different, or what was becoming a trend, was the emotion that Alex revoked out of Olivia, the passion. It was frustrating that Alex knew just what buttons to push, but Olivia also knew how to push Alex's and started doing it more often. She hated to admit it, but she kind of enjoyed it. There was just – something.

The best part for Olivia was it didn't matter how much they disagreed. Once they were done, they moved passed it for the good of the case. Olivia appreciated that about Alex – she didn't seem to hold grudges if challenged.

To be honest, Olivia hadn't been able to get Alex out of her head for days. She wanted to get to know her better, so the Saturday invite seemed like it should be a good thing. She now had that opportunity and a chance to see if Alex Cabot ever relaxed or if she really was like the "ice princess" nickname she had earned.

But she was still scared. The things she was feeling, wasn't what she should be feeling and Olivia wasn't sure what to do with it.

#

Olivia arrived right on time to their meeting place. Alex wasn't there yet, so she bought a coffee from the coffee cart and grabbed a seat on a bench. It was a beautiful morning – albeit earlier than she would normally get up on a Saturday unless she was going jogging.

She had somehow managed to calm her nerves as she made her way over and was finally completely relaxed. Of course, she had walked there instead of taking the bus or train. The fresh air helped clear her head and focus on just enjoying a day out. She sat and just took in the beauty of the city.

"Olivia, I'm so sorry I'm late." Olivia heard Alex's voice and turned around, but didn't expect what she saw.

There was Alex in blue jeans, tiny v-neck shirt, hair in a ponytail and no makeup. The exactly opposite of how Olivia had ever seen her.

Olivia paused and just looked at Alex – she was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.

"Oh, it's fine," Olivia finally said, after realizing she hadn't said anything. "I just got here and was just enjoying my cup of coffee."

"Funnily enough, coffee is why I'm late," Alex said. "I spilled some this morning all over me and had to change. Which is why I'm such a mess this morning."

"A mess? You look beautiful," Olivia said, before realizing she said it out loud. She looked down when she saw Alex blush slightly.

"Thank you, but you must be blind," Alex said shyly. "Anyway, are you ready?"

Olivia nodded and followed Alex as they made their way through the farmer's market.

#

An hour or so at the farmer's marking, brunch, and a couple of mimosas each later, Olivia and Alex found themselves laughing as they left the restaurant to head back home for the day. Olivia couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so much and never in a million years would she imagine it was Alex Cabot that could make her stomach hurt from laughing that much.

"I guess I should let you get back to whatever you were going to do today," Alex said. "I appreciate you joining me today though. I swear I work so much sometimes that I forget we're supposed to have human interaction outside of work."

"Well, my day was only going to consist of cleaning and grocery shopping," Olivia said. "And now I have half of my grocery shopping done." She lifted a bag of produce she had picked up at the farmer's market.

"Well, all the same, I had a really good time," Alex said. "I know most cops don't want to spend their off days with their ADA."

"I'm not most cops," Oliva said casually.

"I'm beginning to figure that out," Alex said. "And hopefully, I'm not most ADAs."

"Oh, that you are not," Olivia said. "I mean, I'm not sure I've ever seen an ADA crack a smile before."

The two shared a laugh, the Olivia put her finger up. "Well, besides Abbie."

"Oh, yeah, Abbie is in a class of her own," Alex concurred.

#

Olivia took a short nap when she got home, did some cleaning and headed out to pick up a few more things from the grocery so she'd have some food for the week besides vegetables. When she was carrying the groceries in her phone started ringing. She glanced down at the belt clip, but didn't recognize the number so she let it go to voicemail. If it was important, they would leave a message or call back.

She put groceries away and started thinking about what to have for dinner. She'd sat her phone down on the table by the door and didn't hear it ding with a message. It wasn't for about an hour when the neighbor kid knocked on her door asking her to buy a candy bar for a school fundraiser – which she did – that she remembered she'd had a call.

When she saw she had a message, she put the phone up to her ear to listen.

Olivia, it's me, um, Alex. I just wanted to say again I had a good time today, and if it's not too much in one weekend for you, I have tickets to a matinee show tomorrow, if you're interested. You mentioned you liked Shakespeare, and while it's not Shakespeare, it is supposed to be similar in style and genre. Anyway, just give me a call if you want to go. Oh, I'm calling from my home number, but you can call this or my cell phone. Either is fine.

Olivia closed her phone and sat down on the couch. Did she want to go? Of course. Alex had been surprisingly fun to hang out with. But should she go?

That question was less clear to her. There was no obvious reason not to go, but Olivia knew – she was starting to develop a crush on her ADA. Obviously, that wasn't ideal for either of them.

Never mind that they were both women, and that Alex was probably not even interested in women; it would be problematic for the nature of their relationship.

It wasn't like Alex was the first crush Olivia had had on a woman – she wasn't. Olivia had even experimented and been out with one particular woman several times in the past. She wasn't opposed to dating a woman, but Olivia also knew dating Alex Cabot was not in her future.

And, Alex was her ADA.

Olivia reasoned though that the more time she spent with Alex outside of work, the more likely she'd be to get over her crush. That was her M.O. anyway – Olivia got bored easily.

And, she really did need a friend and was glad to have another woman around SVU.

She picked up the phone and called Alex back.

"It's Olivia," she said, and paused. "Yeah, I'd love to go."

As always, your reviews are appreciated. Love it, hate it, have ideas? Let me know with a comment or on twitter -rileyclocks!