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When he thinks about it, really considers the chain of events, it probably all really started with Amaro convincing Liv that she just had to take a holiday. Noah's health was finally improving enough for her to justify leaving him with Nick and his mother for the weekend so she could take a long deserved break.

"Hey, Liv, it's me again. Um, Noah's fine, he is honestly fine, I just overreacted, but I thought you should know that we're in the hospital and he's had an x-ray. Kid's a warrior, you know that… No, really, don't come home; I just thought I should tell you myself before he told you about our adventures or you saw it in his records…
"No, Olivia, really, don't come back. We'll see you tomorrow evening. He's really fine…
"What do you mean you're sending someone 'just to check'? Olivia, I have not messed up that much that you don't trust me anymore, have I? Man… Fine. Who you sending? So I know who to talk to, duh…
"Yes I can talk to you like that, Sarge. You were my partner five minutes ago, and I'm looking after your kid, admittedly not to your high standards… Is it a guy? Is there a new man in Olivia Benson's life? Wait, hold on, damn Tucker is here… WHAT?"

Amaro had resolutely promised himself that no matter how much he wanted to tell someone, he would not gossip, so he was kind of disheartened walking into the precinct Monday morning to find he'd just missed Tucker visiting Liv with flowers, apparently, and so everyone was talking already until they were shut up by their (acting) captain. And so plans for drinks that night were made.

"Liv and Tucker… Wow, I really didn't see that coming. I can't imagine it." Rollins was saying, shaking her head slightly like the news was water in her ears. They were in some dive bar she had chosen, cramped round a small circular table.
"Talk about an odd pair. How on earth did that even happen? He was chewing her out for something minor and she decided his eyes were pretty?"
"Ooh, sounds like someone thinks Tucker's eyes are pretty! Olivia better watch out, Carisi's after her man!" Rollins teased, Sonny blushing a deep red straight away, murmuring protests under his breath.
"He does have nice eyes though." Barba added, coming to Carisi's defense, clapping a hand to the back of his shoulder.
"I can't decide who'd be the weirdest couple; Liv and Tucker or one of you two with him!" Rollins laughed, gesturing between Sonny and Barba.
"Better than you and Amaro!" A hush fell over the group immediately.
"Ooh, go Barba! Any response, 'Manda?" Fin piped up, miming offering Rollins a microphone, immediately soothing the tension by making her laugh.
"You know, they are a weird match, Liv and Tucker, but now they're together it seems kind of like it was always gonna happen? Like how she needed someone more mature than Cassidy?" Nick said, folding a beer mat in half and then ripping it.
"I miss that guy though, they were good together, despite everything." Fin said "I think Olivia just has chemistry with everyone?"
"Nah, I'm sure there's someone she wouldn't work with. You! Ha, can you imagine Liv and Fin?" Rollins said, laughing at how ridiculous the idea seemed.
"We did, once." Fin confessed.
"No way." Carisi dismissed him outright.
"Alright, don't believe me, I don't care." Fin shrugged it off. Everyone hesitated, trying to picture it.

"Olivia and Munch, now there's no way that could ever happen." Rollins said.
"Okay yeah, that's just freaky." Fin agreed.
"I can go freakier! A vic asked me once if Liv was with Barba!" Carisi added, raising his beer high like he was putting his hand up in class.
"…Shit, I can see that!" Amaro said, nodding agreement.
"What? No! We're just good friends! I'm the one who has chemistry with everyone!" Barba protested.
"That's true. When are you gonna let me set you up? You did promise, councillor." Rollins said, nudging Barba's shoulder.
"I don't know…" He replied, hesitant.
"Carisi! Barba has nice eyes too, you wanna go out with him some time?"
"No thank you!" Carisi and Barba both said in unison.
"He's not really my type." Barba added.
"What is your type? We've never seen you with anyone. Someone more like Fin maybe?" Amaro suggested. Barba laughed.
"You know it. Come here, babe!" Fin laughed, reaching behind Amanda's back with his hand outstretched to meet Barba's before resting on the back of her chair.
"You two actually make a cute couple." Carisi said, a little shocked. Rollins and Nick murmured agreement. Barba waved his free hand dismissively. The conversation hit a lull a little later.

"Well, honestly, I think I might be a little bit drunk so I'd better go…" Rollins said, standing up to leave shakily "Bye bye boys!"
"I'll walk you home." Amaro said, whipping his jacket off the back of his chair.
"Shocking." Barba said.
"Well I suppose if everyone's going…" Sonny said, shrugging, before downing what was left of the one beer he'd been nursing "Some of us were foolish in coming out tonight and have to be at work at 8am tomorrow. Today, ugh…" He said goodbye to Fin and Barba and ventured out into the night.

"Another drink, councillor?" Fin asked, already moving towards the bar.

"Why not?" Barba replied, following him to sit on a stool there, their table no longer necessary with just the two of them. "I can't believe they think we make a cute couple."

"I know. 'Cute'? Please. I would have said 'Smokin' or 'sexy' or 'fine as hell'."
"See? You have such a way with words."
"And you have such a way with your tongue."
"I doubt they'd think we were cute if they could hear how vulgar you get."
"You know you love it, babe." Fin replied, signalling the bartender.
"I do." Barba sighed in mock defeat, before smirking and pulling the detective in for a kiss.

Sonny didn't realise until he walked through the door to his own apartment that Fin and Barba had been holding hands for a good half hour.