Olivia grinned as she leaned against the wall watching Rafael Barba tickle Noah, who laid on his back on Barba's desk. When Liv first met Barba the last thing she expected to see was the softer side of Rafael, smiling and laughing. She definitely didn't see him playing with a young toddler, but standing there now she was glad she was able to see it for herself. She would be lying if she had said that she was beginning to grow feelings towards Rafael.

More than a friendship.

Olivia then frowned and shook her head. She was definitely not going to have any more romantic relationships with the people she worked with. With David Haden she had opened herself up to someone, it was the first time she had done so since her partner left. Then he chose the job over her- Olivia wasn't surprised by it, it happened all the time. For instance Dean Porter. So she was just fine they had fun for a while. She just felt stupid for feeling he was the one.

Then there was Brian.

She hadn't expected that at ALL. At first it was just sex, like it had been almost ten years ago then grew into something more. Olivia looks back on it and realize they were never meant for each other, they were just there to comfort the other. Brian was good to her- he was. But she knew he never really expected a long relationship with each other. She didn't want them to be trapped in a loveless relationship, like they were obligated to one another. When she hadn't been pregnant she was crushed by Brian's relief. She realized they wanted different things and she respected that.

"Alright there Sergeant?" Rafael asked. She snapped her head towards him, giving him a small smile.

"Trust me I'm fine counselor," Olivia smirked. They both looked at each other knowingly. It almost made Olivia shiver when he looked at her like that.

The eye contact they shared often almost reminded her of her old partner Elliot. They could read each other like an open book, sense the other ones mood. Olivia shook her head.

No, now's not the time to be thinking about El

Is he even thinking about you?

That may be another reason she couldn't do relationships. Elliot Stabler knew her in and out. Despite their arguments they had trusted each other. They had each other's backs. She told him every horrible detail about the monsters inside her closet and he did the same. She knew she had actually started to grow romantic feelings about him, even dreaming about him from time to time. Well she definitely didn't now. Because he had left her without a single fucking word.

Olivia frowned, feeling the pain of losing her partner. She thought the feeling might never go away.

Well good riddance bastard, she bitterly thought.

"Your mother seems to be in lala land," Rafael chuckled. He looked at the toddler, still impressed he managed to look like the Sergeant without actually being hers. The dark hair, the deep chocolate eyes. He thought Noah's eyes were as beautiful as Olivia's.

Rafael's eyes grew wide.

He had actually just thought of Olivia Benson in a romantic way.

Rafael had started to grow feelings for the Sergeant a while back, even before the Lewis incident. The detective (she was at the time), didn't even realize his obvious flirting, Then he had found out that she was seeing Haden- he was upset but fine. Then with Cassidy? Now that really bothered him. He looked at them and questioned why in the hell Olivia Benson would even consider a low life like Brian Cassidy. When Cassidy had been accused of rape, Rafael didn't even bother to hide his disgust for the man. Olivia Benson definitely deserved more, so he was happy when Amaro had told him they broke up. He was going to ask her out then, but then the fiasco with Noah and Johnny D happened. Plus his grandmother had passed away. There was too much going to start anything more than a strong friendship.

But now looking at her, leaning against his office door smiling at him hold her son, he couldn't think of a better time.

But how was he supposed to ask.

Before even taking the time to think about it, his mouth just blurted it out.

"CometodinnerwithmeLiv," he said quickliy and loudly.

Olivia Benson had never heard Rafael Barba sound so nervous in her life. But as he blurted that sentence (?) so was she. Olivia's eyes went wide and her tan skin began to blush. She cocked her head to the side, looking down at the carpet. She absentmindedly began to lick her bottom lip, one of the few things she did when she was nervous.

Rafael felt his own face begin to warm. He was frowning at the tall brunette beauty. He knew he shouldn't have asked, she had just hurt his pride by ignoring him. But he definitely didn't want to lose their friendship, yet of course he had just made it awkward.

"It's red polyester," Rafael blurted.

Olivia rose an eyebrow and looked at him, confused. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Well you were finding the carpet interesting for some reason," he shrugged.

She sighed. He was using sass.

Again

They were silent for a while, Noah's giggles the only thing heard in the office. Rafael turned his eyes away from Olivia, disappointed. But his eyes looked back up as he watched the handsome baby in front of him play with his suspenders.

"So…..what kind of dinner?" Olivia asked. Rafael looked back towards her. She looked so cute, looking down at her expensive boots, kicking the carpet as she bit her lower lip.

"Well the one where you eat food," Rafael smirked.

Damn that sass.

Olivia looked up at him, giving him her best 'Don't fuck with me', look. He had seen that look many times. Towards him for his comments. At perps. At Amanda for trying to take the last donut in the morning. At John Munch who had slapped her on the ass one day.

"A date Liv," he smiled softly "I want to go on a date with you,"

"I, uh, I…uh," Oliva stammered "Sure okay….we'll go on a date,"

Rafael smile brightly, looking at Olivia one last time before looking down at Noah.