Detective Olivia Benson was taking her three year old twins to get new shoes on her day off. How often these boys outgrow their clothes and shoes, she thought. Oh, God, I hope they don't become clothes horses like their father. I can just imagine the bills.
The boys were arguing over a toy and she was glad their car seats were on opposite sides of the SUV's back seat so they couldn't reach each other.
Her cellphone rang and Olivia activated the car's Bluetooth. It was her husband, Rafael, calling from work.
"Hey, what's up- hold on, Rafael," she said. She turned her head slightly and demanded in a stern voice, "Dan and Jamie, be quiet back there. I can't hear daddy on the phone."
She returned her attention to Rafael. "Sorry," she apologized, "You know what they're like when they miss their nap."
"Boys will be boys," he said knowingly. "You know what I'm like when I don't get enough sleep." After a moment, he added, "Liv, I've made dinner reservations, just the two of us. Mom agreed to babysit and yes, she will be staying over. I know you don't like either of us driving to the Bronx late at night."
"Fine. What's the occasion?" she asked.
"A surprise," he answered.
"Sounds great and I have a surprise, too," Olivia countered.
"Anyway," Barba continued, dismissing her statement, his mind on other matters. "Oh, gotta go – they're summoning us back into the courtroom. See you about 6:30, Liv."
Barba found a rare parking spot for his Prius down the street from the elegant, if overpriced, restaurant located in a nearby up-and-coming Brooklyn neighborhood. He'd dressed in his favorite suit and wore a tie he knew Olivia admired. Glancing in his visor mirror, he quickly brushed his fingers through his short hair. He hurried around to the passenger side and opened the car door for Olivia. He gave admiring glances to the short low-cut black dress he had urged her to buy to wear to the DA's last Christmas party.
Olivia took his hand as they walked the half block to the restaurant. They were quickly seated and perused the menu.
"What's the big surprise?" Olivia inquired, wondering what his news could be.
"Wait until we order and then I'll tell you," Barba said.
The waiter appeared, introduced himself and asked what they would like to drink.
"Johnnie Walker neat," Barba named his favorite Scotch, "and for my wife a glass of pinot..." He glanced at Olivia for approval but he was cut off.
"Just water with lemon, please." She smiled at the waiter.
Rafael gave her a puzzled look. He bit his lip the way he always did when he was considering what to say next. He reached across the table, covered her hand with his long fingers, and squeezed.
"Are you pregnant?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.
"What makes you think that?"
"Well, I've only known you to ever refuse a glass of wine when you were pregnant with the boys," he said, eyes now sparkling with amusement.
Olivia sighed. "There goes my surprise," she muttered. "What do you think about it?"
"A chance for me to get a daughter?" he teased, but when he saw the sudden dark look flash across her face, he quickly added, "another boy would be fine, too."
"It's another mouth to feed and with the big mortgage bill on the new brownstone, and daycare… we'll need my income so I'll have to return to work soon after the birth..."
"I'm thrilled. Three kids just like my parents had. Unless it's twins again?" He looked at her questioningly. They both knew how much work the twins had been and continued to be.
"Oh, God, I hope not, but it'll be a few months before we can find out. Chances are no," she said with a laugh.
"Now my news, mi querida, " Rafael said.
"Did you win Powerball?" she joked.
Barba smiled and shook his head. "I wish," he rued.
"People chose you for their sexiest man issue?"
He choked on his Scotch. "Not yet," he said, laughing.
"You're leaving the DA's office to become a defense attorney?" she asked doubtfully, knowing that he preferred prosecuting the bad guys to defending them.
"You're getting closer. Cutter is leaving to join a big firm and Jack McCoy asked me to be his Executive ADA."
Olivia smiled. "I'm so proud of you," she said.
Rafael beamed appreciatively.
"Is there a big salary increase?" Olivia asked.
"Considerable," he replied, "and more responsibility."
"Then let's celebrate. Shall we live dangerously and order an appetizer?" she asked.
He grinned broadly and picked up his menu to check out the choices.
Olivia leaned forward, pulled the menu out of his hands and kissed him, whispering, "By the way, you'll get your special dessert when we get home."
