A/N: Thanks to everyone for reading, and for your kind reviews and messages. I've really enjoyed hearing from you and I hope you enjoyed the story!

-37-

They packed, and drove up to Branford. Olivia had arranged the visit already with Jean, who was thrilled to have them—both of them—back under her roof.

Thursday and Friday were quiet days—Bill had some classes, Jean a few things to do. On Friday morning, Kate called with news that Dev Patel had been arrested for filing a false report. Tucker had come under fire from IAB's Investigative Review Unit, and to save his pension he agreed to resign, and gave up Patel as his so-called informant.

The statement had never been anonymous; the Mayor had put Patel directly in touch with Tucker, avoiding several layers of checks and balances to go straight to Olivia, and thus drop the payback right on Alex's doorstep. Turns out, Patel had arranged the arson-and-intimidation blitz at Alex's, using the mayor's money. When he was arrested for his role, he made a deal to save himself some jail time by providing information that led straight to the mayor's arrest.

"Patel felt you weren't sufficiently scared, apparently." Olivia had relayed all the details Kate had given her, plus a few she'd gleaned from a call to the 1-6. Scandal like that was juicy gossip, and cops love gossip. "He wanted to do something to intimidate you. The mayor was the one who had the connections to get the info about your time in WitSec. He fronted the money, and Patel hired someone to do the job."

"So it had nothing to do with the investigation into Grant and Harper?"

"Not really, at least, not for Patel," Olivia said. "The mayor, on the other hand, thought it would kill two birds with one stone. Patel just wanted you out of the DA's office. The mayor wanted you out of the way, scared witless and in hiding."

"So the son of a bitch knew what his son was up to?" Alex asked.

"Doesn't surprise me," Liv said.

"No, I guess not," Alex agreed. "But this was quite a web they wove, wasn't it?"

"Probably didn't expect to catch themselves," Olivia said. "And then to have the foresight to involve my favorite IAB tormentor...what will I ever do without Tucker looking over my shoulder?" Olivia asked.

"Somehow, I think you'll manage," Alex laughed. "We'll have to let Elliot know when we get home. This definitely calls for drinks."

Even with the excitement of that news, there was still plenty of time to relax, and they talked through whatever was left from the nightmare they'd just come through. Liv told Alex about her disastrous trip to the bar the night after the car arson—and the near-miss with Julie—and Alex took it in her stride.

"I hadn't left you with any impression that things were going to work out, Liv," she said. "And I know you were angry. It killed me to tell you those things, but I didn't feel like I had much choice."

"I'm still not proud of it, Alex, and I wanted to be honest with you."

"Just kissing, right?"

"Yeah," Olivia confirmed.

"And then you almost threw up?"

"Yeah," Olivia said again, laughing this time.

"Well, that's not horrible," Alex said. "But if it ever happens again, you will be so sorry you'll be apologizing in languages you've never even heard of."

"Not just in French?" Olivia joked.

Alex leaned over and whispered something in her ear, then sat back on her knees on the couch, waiting.

"Okay, I give," Olivia said. "What did you just say?"

"I said, we have the house to ourselves, and French isn't for apologizing."

Friday night, they all had dinner at home, and no-one was quite ready for dessert. Jean made coffee, and Alex turned to Olivia. "Think I'll take my coffee outside for a bit, babe. Want to join me? It's a full moon, and a million stars."

"Sure," Olivia said.

Bill said, "You know what, that's not a bad..." One look from Jean, and he stopped cold. "Nah, maybe not."

Alex and Liv put on their jackets and went outside, smelling the sea in the cold air. Alex walked to the edge of the deck, put her mug on the railing and leaned on the railing, looking above her at the cloudless sky.

They pointed out constellations, marveling at how many stars they could see.

"I always forget, when I'm in the city, what it's like up here," Alex said.

"I know, it's a special place," Olivia agreed. "I know why you love it here."

"Do you?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, I do. It feels like home now."

"Good," Alex said, and turned to her. "It is home for you." She kissed Olivia, just the slightest touch of cold lips, before she lifted her eyes back to the sky.

"Alex, would you like to live with me?" Olivia asked.

Alex was completely surprised, not sure if this was a serious question, not wanting to assume it was, if it wasn't. "Well, my apartment is bigger, Liv."

"I thought it might be rude to invite myself over forever," Olivia joked. "I know how you appreciate manners. But whichever, I think it might make more sense to be living together."

"Make more sense?" Alex asked, still not trusting herself to look at Olivia. "You mean to cut down on expenses?" she laughed. Then she sensed that Olivia wasn't beside her anymore. And when she turned around, she found the detective down on one knee. Alex was so shocked, and overwhelmed, that she didn't even notice her aunt and uncle watching through the kitchen window.

"No, it's not expenses I'm worried about," Olivia said.

"Liv..."

"Hush, Alex, or I won't get through this," she whispered. She reached in her own pocket, pulling out a black velvet box.

Alex wasn't sure she'd get through it; she was blinking back tears already. Olivia opened the box, pulled out a beautiful Ascher-cut diamond ring. It sparkled in the moonlight as Olivia let the box fall to the wooden decking beside her knee. She held Alex's left hand with her own, and looked up into Alex's face. It calmed her immediately, and the butterflies stopped. She found her voice again.

"Sweetie, I love you," she said. "I've loved you since the moment I met you, I think, and I know that I'll love you until the moment I leave this earth. Everything we've been through was either going to tear us apart, or bind us together. And here we are."

Alex was crying now, tears flowing freely down her cheeks, making her blue eyes sparkle. Liv was fighting her own tears, needing to finish this. Who in hell knew this would be so hard?

Knowing she had a lifetime to say whatever she wanted to say, but only a few seconds to seal this deal before she had a complete breakdown, she jumped with both feet.

"Will you marry me, Alex?" Alex just nodded at first, and Olivia slid the ring onto her finger, and kissed her hand. Alex moved her hand, now sparkling like her eyes, and brushed her thumb across Olivia's lips, and ran her fingers lightly through Olivia's hair.

"Yes," Alex said. "And yes and yes and yes."

Olivia stood up and kissed her, a sweet, gentle kiss that made Alex feel like she was floating. They stood there for a moment, whispering and laughing and crying, when Olivia said, "I think we'd better get inside. It's cold, and your aunt and uncle will kill me if I keep you out here too long."

"I can't wait to tell them," Alex said. She looked at the ring on her finger. "Liv, it's beautiful, just like you."

They walked in to the sound of clapping and the pop of a champagne cork. Alex just looked at Olivia. "They knew?"

Olivia shrugged before they were both enveloped in hugs.

"Of course we knew, Ace," Uncle Bill told her. "She had us come down Tuesday for lunch."

"Sneaky, Benson," Alex laughed. "Thought you were having a last-minute strategy session with Kate."

"It was a good lie," Olivia argued.

"Some of those situational ethics you love," Bill teased.

"How very old-fashioned of you, Olivia," Alex smiled. "Did you ask for my hand?"

"Heavens, no, Alex," Aunt Jean answered. "Don't think we'd ever presume to give away your hand or any other part of you. But she did tell us that she wanted to come up here this weekend, and ask you. We were thrilled."

"You're not the only ones," Alex said.

They drank champagne, and toasted the good news. Aunt Jean wanted them to set a date, of course, but Alex demurred. "We've waited 13 years to get this far, so I think we may take a few months to plan a party."

The next morning, when they woke up, Alex told Olivia she wanted to head home after lunch.

"Are you sure, sweetie?"

"Very sure," Alex answered. "This calls for a proper celebration."

They said their goodbyes after a huge lunch of lobster bisque and homemade bread. They'd been driving for about an hour when Alex veered off the highway at Norwalk, driving toward the waterfront.

"Where are we going, babe?"

"You'll see."

Soon after, they pulled up to a roadside motel that had definitely seen better days. Alex parked and ran in, was back to the car in less than five minutes.

Olivia was standing outside the car when she came back. "What are you up to, Alex?"

"I know how you love hotels," she said.

"Motel, in this case," Olivia corrected her.

"Semantics, babe," Alex cracked. "Hotel, motel, it's all the same to me."

"This one looks a bit deserted."

"It does," Alex agreed. "I like to think of it as privacy." She walked to room 14, beckoning Olivia with a wag of her finger. "Besides, I love old motels," she said, producing a small gold key on an enormous green keytag from her coat pocket. "No keycard." She opened the door, one try.

"Win/win," Olivia said, following her into the little room, only to be immediately pushed back against the door as it closed. Alex kissed her.

"Ma'am, I can't do this," Olivia said when the kiss ended. "I'm engaged."

"You're damn right you are," Alex said, as she began to remove their clothing, one piece at a time. "And I don't intend to let you forget it."

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