AN: Hey there! I wrote this a while back for New Years, but I totally forgot about it. I found it while cleaning out my computer, so why not post it? By the way, the "story" Lt. Barson is just the name of the collection of Barson oneshots. I like to write short stories for the pairing, but most of them don't go together so they're just oneshots. I hope you enjoy and I'd love feedback!
Disclaimer: I do not own Law and Order SVU or the characters involved.
New Year's Eve had never been a big deal for Olivia Benson. Sure, she attended a few parties in her college days, but that was all. After graduating the academy, New Year's Eve was spent patrolling Times Square. It wasn't her favorite duty as a rookie, but it could have been worse. Fast forward twenty years and she's sitting on the couch, holding her sleeping son. He managed to stay up until the late hour of eight pm, quite impressive for a tuckered out toddler. She had been holding him for twenty minutes, watching the steady movement of his chest. They had been through so much in the last year, but it was worth it in the end. Noah was finally her legal son, mostly because of ADA Rafael Barba. He had spent many evenings filling out the adoption papers with her. And then there was the whole Johnny D mess…
She brushed off the thought. It was done and over with. Johnny D was dead and Noah was hers. That's all that matters. Olivia carefully got off the couch and put her son in his crib, taking another moment to watch him. She wanted to stop time, to keep him this little forever.
"Momma loves you" She whispered before returning to the living room. Her phone started to ring and she hoped and prayed that she wouldn't have a case on her hands.
"Benson" She sighed.
"Hey, Liv. Does Chinese sound good?" Barba asked with a smug smile. He knew that it was unnecessary to ask about Chinese food when it came to Olivia.
"Amazing. How long?"
"I'm in the elevator now". He hung up and pressed the button for her floor.
Olivia looked down at her outfit, yoga pants and Elliot's old NYPD t-shirt that she had borrowed and never returned.
"Good enough" She decided. Rafael had seen her look much worse.
Olivia unlocked the door just as Rafael went to open the door. He walked past her and made his way to the kitchen, moving about as if he lived there. That's one of the things that freaked her out a bit. When did they become so comfortable together? Maybe there was more than their work friendship…
"Here" Barba said, handing Olivia her favorite, shrimp lo mein. She plopped down on the couch and turned on the tv so they could watch pre-new year garbage. Barba settled in next to her, a little closer than she expected, but not uncomfortably. Olivia felt strangely safe when he was there.
"What's up with you today? I can tell you didn't hear a word I said".
Olivia found herself blushing. "I'm just tired" She lied.
"Liar".
She rolled her eyes. "So what's your New Year's Resolution?" She asked, taking a bite of her food.
"Hmm...Well I'm basically flawless so it will be pretty hard to think of one".
Olivia shot him a look. "Yeah, okay. Well mine is to enjoy myself more. You know, take some more days off, spend more time with Noah, travel somewhere new, and maybe-"
"Go on a date?" Barba interrupted.
"What?"
"You should go on a date" Barba explained. "You haven't been on one since Cassidy".
"Says the man that hasn't been on a date since I've known him" She teased.
"It looks like we both have our resolutions then, to go on a date together".
"Together?" She repeated.
"Yeah, Liv. Think about it. We're spending New Year's Eve together, eating dinner, and we spend at least three evenings a week together".
A smile slowly formed on her face. He had a good point.
"We have an hour and a half until the new year, so why not get an early start and turn this into a date?" He suggested.
She had to give him credit, the man knew what he wanted and went for it.
"I have one question before I decide. You know that my son currently, and always will come first, right? If you manage to hurt him in any way, I know how to make you disappear".
He chuckled a bit until he realized that she was being serious. He draped his arm around her shoulders, coaxing her to look at him.
"Noah will always come first. I promise to never do anything that will hurt either of you. You're both special to me Olivia. I know that he has your heart and I wouldn't want it any other way" He confessed.
"You're both special to me" and he was special to her. He had intrigued her from the start. He was smart and sarcastic, but he had a certain way with victims that had caught her attention. He didn't handle them with kid gloves, but he always managed to show his compassion. Maybe that was exactly what she needed, a man that knew that she was strong, but could express that he cared. Suddenly, it all made sense. Rafael Barba would push her when she needed it, but he would hold her hand every step of the way. They would take care of each other and build each other up. She smiled when he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"This is the first time I've been on a first date on New Year's Eve" She said casually.
The implications weren't lost on him. "Me too, but I'd say it's going pretty well".
They simply watched the trashy specials and performances, making fun of it during the commercial breaks. Was it a typical first date? No way, but how many of those had worked out for her before? Then the countdown began. She bit her lip and stole a glance at Rafael, seeing the uncertainty on his face. Ten seconds.
"Three...two...one!" The people on the tv cheered. Olivia cupped his face, kissing him deeply. There were fireworks, and she wasn't talking about the ones on the screen.
"Happy new year, Liv" He sighed as he caught his breath.
"Happy new year, Rafael".