I'm headed straight for the castle
They wanna make me their queen
And there's an old man sitting on the throne that's
Saying that I probably shouldn't be so mean
I'm headed straight for the castle
They've got the kingdom locked up
And there's an old man sitting on the throne that's
Saying I should probably keep my pretty mouth shut

River Donaldson smiled and nodded in acknowledgement as Lieutenant Benson introduced her to all of the SVU detectives, "Donaldson just moved here from Boston. Carisi, she'll be partnering with you until Rollins returns from maternity leave."

"No problem." Carisi stood from where he was leaning on his desk, "I'll make sure to show the newbie the ropes."

River cleared her throat, "This newbie has been an SVU detective for quite some time and, while I've called Boston home for the past four years, I'm a Brooklyn girl-born and raised. I got my start in Brooklyn's SVU and worked there until I moved to Boston. So, I pretty much know how you guys operate. New parts. Same machine," she grinned at the other detective, "But, if I have any questions, I'll let you know."

Fin chuckled, "Liv, I like her already. Can we keep her?"

"Maybe." Olivia answered, "There's still a spot open after Rollins returns so Donaldson, show us what you got."

"Gladly," she took a seat at the desk Benson had told her that she would be calling home, "By the way, please call me River. Donaldson is such a mouthful."

"Will do," Olivia answered as she nodded.

"Hey!" Carisi exclaimed, "How come everyone quickly agrees to calling her River but no one took me up on calling me Sonny?"

River laughed, "There are about five different ways that I want to answer that, but, instead, I'll make you a deal. Call me River and I'll call you Sonny. What do you say, partner," she asked as she stuck out her hand.

Carisi shook it, "Deal."

River turned back to Olivia, "My sister is an ADA over in Brooklyn. We're having dinner tonight to talk about my first day here. I know I probably won't meet him or her today, but I know sis is gonna ask so who exactly is our ADA?"

"Our ADA is-," Carisi began to answer when a voice interrupted his sentence.

"I'm going to stop you right now lest you say something about me that you shouldn't," Barba interjected.

Liv didn't give her Carisi a chance to respond, "Barba, this is our new detective, Ri-"

"River Donaldson," Barba finished as he turned directly towards where River was seated.

Liv cocked an eyebrow, "You two know each?"

River leaned back in her chair, "My sister went to law school with him and they both worked as ADAs in Brooklyn. Although, you were doing narcotics cases last time I saw you. Finally figure out that SVU detectives are more fun than the junkie patrol?"

"Something like that," he answered dryly, "Five years can change a lot."

"Four and a half, but who's counting," she winked, "It's good to finally be back home. I've missed Andrea and Mom."

"Well, I'm sure you'll be a good addition here while Rollins is away," he said before he addressed Benson, "Liv, I need to talk to you and Dodds in your office."

"Okay," she answered as she and Dodds headed to her office with Barba in tow. After the door shut, Carisi spoke.

"Something tells me there's more to that story other than he went to school and worked with your sister."

River rolled her eyes, "Are you basing this on his less than friendly response to my presence?" She shook her head causing the curls in her afro to bounce around and batted her eyelashes, "Don't you know, Sonny, most men are left virtually speechless when they come into contact with a Queen." Her new partner laughed and she said, "I'm going to grab something out of the vending machine. I didn't get up early enough to eat breakfast."

Sonny noticed she was heading towards the elevators instead of the vending machine and muttered to himself, "Definitely more to that story."

River stood by the elevators. She started to speak when Barba appeared, but stopped short when he shook his head as he pressed the button. Both of them stood in silence until the doors opened and they stepped inside.

When the doors shut, he rounded on her, "You should have told me you were moving back."

"I haven't talked to you in almost five years, Rafi. You're hardly at the top of my list of people I need to inform of my movements." She crossed her arms, "Look, I had plans of getting into contact with you so you wouldn't be surprised if we crossed paths at the courthouse. I've only been back a week. I figured it'd be awhile before that would even be a possibility of happening. I wanted to get my first few days here out of the way before I called. How was I supposed to know you would be the ADA?"

"You expect me to believe you didn't know that?" he asked.

She snorted, "Good to see that ego of yours is still as over inflated as ever. I knew you had transferred out of Brooklyn when we broke up so you wouldn't have to deal with Andrea, but you and sis tried narcotics cases. How was I to know you'd switched over to sex crimes? Look, Lt. Benson has told me that there might be a spot for me even after Detective Rollins comes back from maternity leave if I prove myself valuable."

"And you're telling me that because?" he countered.

"My point, pendejo, is that you better not screw this up for me as some sort of pathetic revenge plot. I can work with you without letting our past get in the way. I need you to do the same."

Barba couldn't help the smirk that found its way to his face at her use of the Spanish she had picked up from their years together, but he tried his best to conceal it as he said, "I won't screw this up for you, bruja, as long as you don't go spreading our history around SVU, especially to Carisi."

The doors opened and Barba strolled out of the elevators, not waiting for her response.