Alex Cabot fumbled for the phone as she struggled to sit up in bed. “…Hello?”
“Mommy! Mommy! They won! ‘Da Colts won the game!”
Alex couldn’t help but smile as she heard the excitement in her son’s voice. Her smile quickly faded as she glanced at the clock and saw that it was past midnight.
“That’s good baby. Is Mom-O there?”
She heard Kennedy giggle as he handed the air phone to Olivia.
“Alex? Alex they won! The Colts are going to the Super Bowl!”
“So I heard. Olivia, shouldn’t you be back in New York by now? It’s after mid-night.”
“Uh…well, see, the game was really close and we couldn’t leave early like we thought and this was the greatest comeback in AFC championship history and we just had to stay!”
“We agreed you could go as long as you guys left at halftime and caught the earlier flight home. Kennedy has school in a few hours.”
“I know, but Alex, we just had to stay for the rest of the game! We had to! Besides, Kennedy can sleep on the flight back and he can go into school late. He has P.E. first thing on Mondays and then library time.” Olivia smiled at her brilliant idea.
“Then you can be the one to tell the school why he’s coming in late. In fact, you can take him. I have an early meeting, but I’ll take Sydney to day care. And Liv, don’t forget, his principal is a Giants fan and his teacher is originally from Chicago. Don’t wake me when you come in.”
XXXXXXXXXXX
Alex smiled as she found Kennedy wearing his Adam Vinateri jersey the next morning. Olivia had put him to bed fully clothed and the little boy was dead to the world. Smiling, she ruffled his hair and bent down to kiss his forehead.
“Mommy…mommy they won.” Kennedy was still mostly asleep as he rolled over and Alex realized he was lying on his Colts pennant. She eased the pennant out from in under him. She pulled the covers back up around him and made her way back to the bedroom.
Olivia was sprawled across the bed, hair sticking every which way. She was also nude and Alex took a minute admire her wife’s body. Taking a deep breath, she picked Sydney up out of her baby bed and left the loft.
Alex talked to Sydney all the way to day care. The one year old had few words in her vocabulary, but she jabbered in what Alex like to think of as agreement with her thoughts on football.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
By the early afternoon, everybody in the squad room was tired of hearing Olivia go on and on about the game.
“Liv, you never did tell us how you managed to get tickets to the game. I mean, you told us everything else, even about the bathrooms in the RCA Dome, but not how you got the tickets.”
“Fin’s right Olivia. How’d you get’em?”
She smiled at Elliot, but before she could say anything, Alex answered for her.
“In exchange of me calling in a favor, she’s agreed to be my sex slave for the next three months. And to do the dishes for three months.”
Olivia turned red and began to sputter. “Keep quiet Liv. Nobody wants to hear about the game again. Besides, you have sex duty later this afternoon.”
Amid cat calls, Olivia protested, “What about Kennedy? And Sydney?”
“Later this afternoon means before you head home. I got the lock on my office door fixed.”
She left a very red Olivia Benson starring after her and three very amused male detectives adjusting themselves. Olivia was quiet for the rest of the afternoon, stealing glances at the clock every few minutes until 3:15. Without a glance back, she hurried from the station and made her way to Alex’s office.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
“Come in.”
Olivia stepped into Alex’s office and stopped dead in her tracks. Lying stretched out on her leather couch, with only a blanket covering her nude form, was none other than Alex Cabot.
“Alex!” Olivia was standing with the door open, starring at her wife.
Alex waved her in. “For God’s sake Olivia, shut the door before someone comes by and sees me lying here!”
Shutting the door, Olivia squawked, “You should have thought about that before you got naked in your office!”
Alex waved her over and smiled as the detective sank to her knees by the couch.
“I wouldn’t have to resort to such tactics if you’d kept Kennedy out of our bed the last week and gotten home at a decent hour last night!” She tugged on Olivia’s shirt and captured her lips.
Olivia pulled back and tried to defend herself. “Alex, he insisted! And he did have a fever that one night!”
“Uh-huh. Shut-up and do me. Now.”
XXXXXXXXXXXX
A rather disheveled looking Alex Cabot hummed as she made her way into the loft. She smiled as she heard Olivia and Kennedy practicing his kicks. She’d never admit it to Olivia, but she thought Kennedy would make a great football player.
She could hear Sydney babbling and laughing with her brother and mother. And then she heard a crash and Olivia swear, followed by Kennedy’s giggle and Clarence barking.
“Olivia!”
“It’s ok Alex! It…it’s…nothing.”
Alex tossed her coat and briefcase down as she yelled back, “It didn’t sound like nothing!” Entering the living room she was actually relieved when she saw the football had knocked a photo of Alex without make-up, her hair all stringy and about 8 months pregnant with Sydney.
“Oh darn Liv. I’m so sorry that frame was the one that got broken.”
Olivia scowled at her. “I happen to love this photo, Alex.”
“Then maybe you should follow the rules and not play indoors.”
Kennedy was tugging on his mother’s skirt. “Mommy! It’s all snowy outside. We can’t play in th’ snow!”
Alex bent and gave him a kiss and ruffled his hair. “Did you have a good time last night baby?” Kennedy nodded and ran off to get his pennant.
Alex leaned in and kissed Olivia before giving her a pinch on the butt. Pulling away from Olivia, she picked up Sydney and spent the next few minutes playing with their daughter.
XXXXXXXXXX
Alex awoke the next morning to find a stuffed colt on her face. She groaned as she tried to turn over, only to find she couldn’t. Olivia was at her back, Sydney, Kennedy and his stuffed animal were in front of her and Clarence was draped across her legs.
Realizing she was trapped, she took a few minutes to watch her loved ones. She’d hoped to return the favor for Olivia last night, but gave up when Olivia piled all the kids into their bed after the lights had gone off.
“Wake-up Liv.” She elbowed her wife as best she could and nudged her daughter and son, while shoving Clarence off the bed. She groaned when she realized Kennedy was still wearing his Adam Vinateri jersey.
She knew it was going to be a long two weeks.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Alex Cabot sighed as she maneuvered her way through the living room. She’d given up trying to keep all of the football and Super Bowl paraphernalia picked up four days ago. For three days she’d repeatedly picked up Kennedy’s pennant, the stuffed colt, his jersey, Olivia’s jersey, the Sports Illustrated and every sports page for the last week from the Times. She cursed as she bumped her head on the make shift goal post Olivia and Kennedy had rigged up next to the sofa.
Rubbing her head, she made her way into the kitchen. Deciding dinner was a lost caused as she saw the scrap book kit her wife and son had been working on strewn across the table , she picked up the phone and ordered pizza.
She heard the front door open and went to see her family. Kennedy, who’d finally relented and allowed his Colts jersey to be washed, was wearing a white turtleneck with a distinctive blue horseshoe on the neck. She kissed him on the cheek and ruffled his hair. Olivia was carrying Sydney and Alex leaned in and kissed her as well. Taking the little girl from Olivia, she held the child out and studied her dress. Her blue and white dress that was covered with an outline of the Colts horseshoe.
“What is this?”
“What?”
Holding Sydney further out she repeated, “This? This…dress thing.”
“It’s a dress. I thought you’d be happy I put her in a dress?”
Taking the child and heading up the stairs, she called over her shoulder, “A dress, yes. A cheerleader’s bad outfit, no.”
Olivia followed her and after stopping in to check on Kennedy, she found Alex in their bedroom, changing Sydney.
“Olivia, please, I beg you, do not put that thing on her again!” She handed the offending dress to her partner as she made her way back downstairs just in time to pay for the pizza.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After dinner, Alex cleaned up the kitchen while Olivia and Kennedy took a few practice kicks in the living room. She could hear ESPN in the background and wondered if she’d ever get to watch CourtTV again. She scooped Sydney up out of her highchair and moved into the living room.
“Liv, I’m going to give Sydney her bath and put her down for the night.”
Without looking up, Olivia grunted at Alex and held the ball for Kennedy. Shaking her head, Alex headed up the stairs.
She talked to Sydney as she gave the little girl her bath. “Mommy’s sorry Sydney. Mom-O was so very wrong to put that hideous dress on you! Silly woman. As if any daughter of mine would be a cheerleader! Captain of the debate team perhaps, but a cheerleader? We’ll just have to make a special trip to Bergdorf’s.”
Drying the one year old off, she carried the little girl into the master bedroom and dressed her in her pj’s.
She settled into the rocking chair and read to Sydney as the littlest Cabot-Benson snuggled into her mother.
Sometime later, Olivia came into the bedroom and found Sydney asleep in her mother’s arms and Alex gently rocking back and forth.
“Hey.”
“Hey. How was practice?”
“It was good. He just finished his bath and went to bed. I’m going to take Clarence out for the last time.” She bent and kissed Alex and then Sydney’s head. “Why don’t you put her down, and get ready for bed. I won’t be long.” She raised her eye brow at Alex.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
When she returned to the apartment and locked up, she found Alex waiting for her in bed. Stripping down, she slid beneath the covers and reached for Alex. She was surprised to find Alex in her pajamas.
“Alex?” The blond mumbled in response. “Uh, sweetie, I kinda thought we could…you know.”
“I know.”
“And?”
“And I’m tired.”
“Ok. Is everything alright? You’re not sick or anything are you?”
“No. I just don’t have the energy for that tonight. Would you settle for a little spoonin’?”
It was less than what Olivia wanted, but it was better than nothing.
She snuggled into her wife and drifted off to sleep.
Alex still wasn’t up by the time Olivia was ready to leave for work and Alex asked her if she’d mind taking the kids to school. Olivia felt Alex’s forehead and finding no fever and getting a scowl at the gesture, she agreed and hurried the children out the door.
Alex waited until she heard the door shut and then got online.
XXXXXXXXXXX
“Alex!” Olivia brightened at the site of her partner.
“Hey Liv.” She plopped a paper bag down on the detectives desk and pulled a chair up beside her. Digging through the bag, she pulled out sandwiches for her and Liv.
“Is that a meatball sandwich?” Olivia unwrapped the sandwich and took a big bite. “Ohhh. That’s good.”
Alex swiped at some sauce on Olivia’s upper lip and licked her finger. Olivia’s eyes grew wide at the gesture.
“Hey now, none of that!” Fin came over and slapped Olivia on the back.
Munch and Elliot came through the doors just in time to see the entire thing.
“Leave them alone Fin. It’s always nice to see an old married couple still hot for each other.”
Munch cocked his head and muttered, “Like you’d know Elliot.”
Before Elliot could reply, Alex piped up with, “Oh, Olivia doesn’t know about it either. She’s been temporarily cut off.”
“What? Is that why you wouldn’t last night? Or this morning?” Olivia blushed when she realized what she’d said.
“I don’t appreciate being made a football widow, Olivia.”
The guys moved in closer as Olivia tried to defend herself. “I have not made you a ‘football widow!’ What about last week in your office? And I tried last night!”
Very calmly, Alex wiped her mouth and placed her napkin in her lap. “How long have those playoff things been going on? For over a month, right? Every Saturday and Sunday night for the last month it’s the same thing; you and Kennedy get up, go to the park, swing by that football group thing, come home and watch all that pre-show stuff, then you practice kicking, and then you watch the game. And after the game, you watch that post show thingee before putting Kennedy, who is already asleep by half time I might add, to bed. Sometime after midnight, you collapse into bed.”
“Well you know, there is always Monday through Friday nights!”
“You and Kennedy have been glued to that ESPN Sports Central show just about every night, and if it’s not that, you guys are surfing the internet looking for any tidbit you might have missed. So just when have you had time to perform your wifely duties?”
“Hey now, Kennedy was sick for three days with a fever! He needed to sleep with us!”
Alex crossed her arms. “And why did he have a cold? Did it have anything to do with that late night spent in Central Park playing football with those other kids?”
Annoyed, Olivia realized they had an audience. “Go away!” Turning back to Alex she said, “I can certainly perform my wifely duties tonight.”
“No.” Alex made a show of looking at her fingernails.
“No?”
“No. I don’t want some half hearted sex romp. It’s only another four days until the game. You can wait. I’ve had to.” And with that, Alex got up and sauntered out of the bullpen.
Looking hurt, Olivia leaned back and muttered, “Do you think I should send her flowers?”
Munch patted her on the shoulder and replied, “Won’t make a difference. Cabot’s dug in Liv. You’re just gonna have to wait.”
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
That night, instead of watching that ESPN Central show as Alex had called it, Olivia handed the remote control over to Alex.
Clicking onto C-SPAN and then HGTV, Alex replied, “This doesn’t change anything.”
“I never thought it would. I’m just trying to make an effort.”
Olivia took the roll of getting both children ready for bed that night and was surprised and pleased to find Alex soaking in the tub. Sitting on the edge of the tub, she washed Alex’s back.
“You could join me Detective Benson.”
Olivia Benson didn’t need to be asked twice. Stripping, she climbed in behind Alex, and pulled her partner against her. Things heated up a bit as hands began to wonder and kisses were exchanged. Just as Olivia thought she was making some progress, Alex abruptly stood and began drying off.
“Alex?”
Sighing, Alex turned and shot Olivia a purely evil grin. “72 hours Olivia. 72 hours.”
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Friday before the Super Bowl
The squad met up for lunch. After finishing, they were walking down the street when they passed by Crazy Ed’s Electronics Super Store. A large “Sale” sign caught Olivia’s eye.
“Hey guys, let’s stop in here for a minute.”
Munch and Fin went to the audio section while Olivia and Elliot checked out TV’s.
“Elliot, come here!”
“What?”
“Look!” Olivia was pointing to a 62” Sony flat panel LCD TV with HD. And it had a sale sticker on it.
“Wow. That’s some TV. Dickie would love to play his Xbox on something like that.”
Olivia started looking around for a sales person. “And Olivia would love to watch the Super Bowl on that!” Waving over the sales guy, she didn’t blink an eye when he told her the “sale” price.
Elliot watched, amazed, as the tightest cop he knew gladly handed over her debit card. He also noted it was not her police credit union card. He followed her to fill out the paper work and almost laughed as she was complaining about the delivery fee.
“You just shelled out 2k for a TV, but you won’t pay $50 for a delivery fee?”
“It’s the principle Elliot. Do you think we can get it on top of the car?”
“You’re serious?” He watched as she called Munch and Fin over. “You are serious!”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Elliot still couldn’t believe they were crawling through traffic with a 62” TV strapped to the top of a police issued sedan. It took all four of them to get the TV into the loft. Half an hour later, Elliot had the mounting brackets anchored to the wall.
“Liv, we really need to get back to work.”
“Go ahead guys. I’m taking the rest of the day.” She was already calling Cragen as they left the loft.
By the end of the afternoon she had upgraded their cable to digital and had just finished programming the new channels when she heard her family come home.
Kennedy came running into the living room and looked at the biggest TV he’d ever seen. Alex came into the room and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the massive TV. She shifted Sydney to her other hip.
“Olivia, what is that?”
“A wonder of the world Alex. It’s a 62” Sony flat panel HD TV. I bought it at lunch and the guys helped me get it home and set up. Oh, and I called the cable company and upgraded to digital cable! Now we can watch the Super Bowl in HD!”
“An’ my DVD’s?”
Kissing Kennedy on the head, she replied, “You bet. Why don’t you go get one and we’ll see what it looks like.”
Alex put Sydney in her bouncy chair and with hands on hips she asked, “How much did that cost?”
“I got it on sale.”
“How much?”
“2 grand. Give or take some change.”
“You took two thousand dollars out of our checking account without telling me first?”
“Of course not! I finally used some of that money you gave me when we got married.”
Alex began pacing and Olivia realized this was not going to be good.
“Let me get this straight; you haven’t touched that money in the almost six years we’ve been married, not even to buy yourself a new car, and the first thing you buy is a TV?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you see where I might be a bit irritated Liv?”
“No, not really. You’re always after me to use that money every once in a while for myself. So I finally did.”
Alex considered what Olivia had just said and when she thought about it, the woman was right. She was constantly trying to get Olivia to use that money. She just never thought the first purchase would be a TV.
“Ok.”
“Ok?”
“Yes, ok. By the way, I invited Jenny, Serena, Sophie and the baby over for dinner tonight. You can show off your new toy then.”
Olivia had a horrible thought. “Hey, this doesn’t mean an extension of my being cut off, does it?”
XXXXXXXXXXX
“He’s adorable Serena!” Alex was holding three month old Sutton, Serena and Jenny’s son. “He’s grown a lot since the last we saw him.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “That’s what babies do Alex. They grow.”
“Don’t make me re-set the clock Olivia.”
“Sophie, Kennedy, let’s go play a DVD on our new TV.” Olivia took her charges and headed for the living room.
At Jenny’s curious look, Alex shook her head. “You don’t want to know.”
They found Olivia, the kids and Serena ‘ohhhing and ahhhing” over the picture quality and audio of the TV.
“Olivia, the game will look awesome on this TV! Jenny, we really need to consider getting one of these!”
Jenny rolled her eyes and looked at Alex. “Serena’s nearly as bad as Olivia with her toys. And football.”
Olivia eyed the new mother. “Who are you pulling for Serena?”
“The Colts. Who else?”
“So, how would you and the family like to come over and watch the big game on my brand new big TV?”
XXXXXXXXXXX
Super Bowl Sunday
Olivia and Kennedy were up at the crack of dawn, or so it seemed to Alex who opted to sleep in with Sydney. A couple of hours later she and Sydney got up and found a note from Olivia saying she had taken Kennedy to the park.
Alex dressed her little girl in a white turtleneck and blue jumper. It was her concession to Olivia’s obsession with the Colts. She dressed in a pair of snug fitting blue jeans and low cut v-neck sweater. She pulled her hair back into a pony tail and just to be mean, she chose the tortoise shell glasses over the black ones.
She started preparing the snack food for later that day and pre-placed the order for pizza. She smiled when she heard the front door open. Kennedy was wound up and came running into the kitchen with his football and wearing his Vinateri jersey.
“Mommy! It’s Supe’ Bowl Sunday!”
She kissed him on the cheek. “I know baby, I know.”
Olivia stopped in the door way and took in what she considered to be a very sexy Alex.
“Counselor, you certainly look fetching today.” She kissed Alex hard on the lips and didn’t stop until Kennedy giggled.
“Why don’t you go turn the TV on and get settled for the pre-game show?”
When he was gone, she pulled Alex to her and kissed her again. “You wore those damn glasses just to torture me!” Alex smiled against her lips and nodded.
She pinched Olivia on the butt and added, “Just wait until tonight, Detective Benson.”
XXXXXXXXXXX
Jenny, Serena and family arrived by early afternoon. They sat around talking and watching the pre-game show, and Olivia noticed Alex couldn’t keep her hands off of Sutton. She made a mental note to ask Alex about her sudden clinginess where that child was concerned.
Kennedy and Sophie were perched in front of the TV talking about football as only a five and six year old could.
Alex and Jenny had gone upstairs to put Sydney and Sutton down for a nap.
“He’s beautiful Jenny.”
“You seem to be rather taken by him. You’re not wanting another one are you? Sydney’s only a year old.”
Alex smiled and shook her head. “No. It’s just that Kennedy’s not a baby anymore and sometimes I miss that. Baby boys, just like baby girls, have their own smell. I mean, here he is in school already.”
Jenny sighed. “Yeah, I know what you mean. Sophie seems so grown up. Serena’s a natural Alex. She was so afraid of not being a good mother and here she is! I am so proud of her. Have I thanked you lately for introducing us?”
XXXXXXXXX
“Carly’s going to give-up visitation to Sophie and I’m going to adopt her.”
Olivia turned and looked at Serena. “Wow. When did this happen?”
“It’s been in the works for a while and Carly finally agreed to exit Sophie’s life. It hasn’t been fair to Sophie. Carly just drops in when she feels like playing mommy and doesn’t call when she says she will. And I’m the one who sits up with her when she’s sick, not Carly. I’m her mother, genetics and partnerships be damned.”
Olivia chuckled. “I know exactly how you feel. I couldn’t love Kennedy more if I’d carried him. I’m happy for you guys.”
XXXXXXXXXXXX
By half time it was obvious who was going to win the game, but the two families continued to watch anyway. Well, the adults did, the children had fallen asleep mid-way through the second quarter.
Alex had dozed off as the game wound down and was jolted awake by a shouting Olivia and Serena.
That woke Kennedy and Sophie, if only barely. Jenny came down the steps carrying Sutton and Serena took him. Jenny woke picked Sophie up and the family left.
After shutting the door, Alex turned and smiled at Olivia.
“Why don’t you put Kennedy in bed and then come find me?”
Olivia scooped Kennedy up and hurried up the stairs with him. As she was undressing him, he came alive long enough to ask, “Didja win Mom-O?”
“Yeah Kennedy, we won.”
Yawning, he mumbled, “Good.”
She started stripping as she made her way down the hall to their bedroom. Naked, she quickly checked on Sydney and then got under the covers. She was already getting wet just thinking about Alex.
Alex opened the bathroom door and instead of finding her wife naked, she laughed at the site of Alex. The blond was wearing a long Peyton Manning football jersey and a smile.
“Where did you get that?”
Climbing on the bed, she responded, “Online. All the stores around here were sold out or never had them to begin with. Had it sent overnight to the office.”
Olivia reached for Alex. “Well, as much as I like you in it, I think I’ll like you better out of it.”
Alex shook her head. “I have a surprise for you under here.”
“I bet you do.” She tried to reach for Alex again who placed a finger on her lips.
“Olivia Benson, I love you and I love making love to you and with you. What we do here or in my office or wherever, it completes me. And I miss it when I don’t get to give you pleasure or receive pleasure from you.” She leaned in and began kissing Olivia.
She found her wife impossibly wet, and moved over her.
“Alex, aren’t you going to take the jersey off?”
“No. At least not this time. I like the way it feels against my nipples. I don’t plan on tonight being a one shot deal.”
And with that, she pushed into Olivia.
“Oh God! Oh…we haven’t done this in a long time.”
“Not since Kennedy started kindergarten. I wanted to help you celebrate the victory in style.” She began moving in and out of her wife. It wasn’t long before Olivia fell over the edge and returned the favor to Alex.
Sometime later they lay spooned together.
“Hey Alex?”
“Hmmm?”
“You seemed awfully taken with Sutton. You’re not…you don’t…”
Alex gave Olivia a quick, hard kiss. “Don’t even say it Liv. I’m very content with my family.”
Relieved, Olivia snuggled in closer and together they drifted off to sleep.
::