A/N: This is just going to be a short, fluffy fic. I felt like writing something involving these two being put in a situation that forces them to confront their feelings. Hope you guys like it. Enjoy!

"We're getting married!"

Barba wasn't shocked, but he feigned it for his mother's sake. The glow that encompassed her being as she wrapped him up in a hug was warm and loving and so damn happy, it brought tears to his eyes. He locked eyes with the groom-to-be, Marco, and sly smiles passed between them.

Marco had come to him only three days prior to ask his permission for his mother's hand in marriage, and even though he was touched and it reinforced the idea that this man, who'd been dating his mother for two years, was nothing short of the best thing, he couldn't help but crack a joke about age.

In truth, he'd been taken aback when the older male showed up at his office on a rainy Tuesday, grey hair hidden underneath a baseball cap and that comforting smile that drew people to him naturally. He immediately went on alert, asking if his mother was ok but Marco had been quick to dissolve Barba's irrational jump to conclusion when he pulled out a diamond ring.

"Wow…not what I was expecting at 10 in the morning, but ok."

Marco shifted and chuckled, his thick accent sounding even thicker amidst his nervousness, "Sorry. I figured now would be best before you get too busy."

Barba nodded understandingly and moved around his desk, eyes tracing the pattern of the diamonds on the gold band, wrapped around velvet. It was a stunning ring. He wondered how many hours the man had to pull at the garage in order just to afford it. Or, maybe it was a family ring?

"So…I guess I know what you're going to ask me."

Marco nodded, "I thought I should. You're her son, after all."

Barba smiled softly, clapping the man on the shoulder before pulling him into a hug, "You're one of a kind, Marc."

"Ugh, look at me. I'm a mess in a middle of a restaurant."

Lucia pulled back, patting her son on the cheek before grabbing her purse and strutting off to the restroom, wiping the few tears that fell during their hug. Barba watched her walk away, a feeling of overwhelming calm and happiness filling his chest. He always loved seeing his mom like this…big smile, stress-free. She'd been so down and out the past few years, taking anti-depressants to deal with all the shit that muddied her life since she was a kid.

Seeing her truly happy and in a healthy relationship…it was a new experience for him.

"She's going to be in there for at least 15 minutes, so how about a drink?"

"You know my order, Dad."

Marco scoffed and rolled his eyes, "God, please don't. I love you like my own, but I'll be glad if you don't ever call me that again."

They ordered a round of scotches and stared out into the dark, city streets, the dim lighting above their table lighting up the sidewalk and the passersby just beyond the window. They sat in companionable silence, giving Barba the opportunity to delve further into the painful past he so desperately tried to forget.

Calling Marco dad was a joke he picked up in the past three days, just to mess with him, but in reality, he'd been more of a father to him than his biological one had. It was weird, but he wished his mother had met this man before she met his father, because life for her would have been different. He wouldn't exist, but she would be happy and that was all he'd ever wanted for her.

But, alas, life had gone differently than expected. He was just happy that she met him at all and he could refer to the man as his mother's fiancé and soon-to-be husband.

"You know this means she's going to want a wedding, right? She didn't have one with my father and she always talked about wanting one with a white gown and flowers and all her family around."

"She told me," Marco sipped on his drink, "And she'll get whatever she wants. I'd give her the moon if could."

Rafael sighed happily, his heart lifting at the words while simultaneously bringing him down at the same time. He loved that his mother found this man, but it saddened him that he hadn't found anyone yet. He'd always blown off the thought, but lately, at the ripe age of 47, he was left to wonder if he was one of the unlucky, lonely for life types that was married to his work and slept with his briefcase and cell phone at night.

It was a life he loved leading all throughout his late 20's and 30's, but as soon as he transferred to SVU almost six years ago, he felt the pang of loneliness sting him late at night when he arrived back home to his quiet apartment. The only thing that accompanied him to bed anymore was a glass of scotch and an old book he'd read at least 15 times already.

When he stepped back and looked at it, it was truly sad just how pathetic he was. He had no children, no partner in life and nothing but a cold, sad apartment he barely spent any time in anyway. This wasn't what he had envisioned his life; the life he'd been putting off for years in favor of long hours and heftier caseloads hadn't happened yet and that was incredibly concerning to him.

Because, if he hadn't settled down by now, would he ever?

He knew his mother felt that way. As soon as things started to become serious with Marco, she sat him down and tried to persuade him into joining one of those god-awful dating sites, like the thought hadn't ever crossed his mind before. But he wasn't that desperate (or didn't want to appear that desperate) and she reassured him that his one and only was right around the corner.

That was last year and still, he was alone.

"So, you do realize you can't come alone to this wedding, right? Your mother will have a heart attack if you show up without any arm candy."

Rafael chuckled humorously, not even wanting to begin thinking about that problem. He wasn't a hot commodity. He was handsome, could turn on the charm at a moment's notice and he was always immaculate in his speech, dress and his entire being in general, but no one was interested in a grumpy, smart-mouth, coffee addicted ADA.

The only person that really could stand him all the time was Liv and she…

Hmm.

"I have someone."

He wanted to kick himself for nearly shouting out his response, because it was said on impulse and without anything to back it up. While he had no doubt Liv would help him out at a moment's notice, he wasn't sure she would jump at the chance to go to a wedding with a bunch of loud Cubans who drank and ate way too much. Besides, her time was limited and she spent most of her free time with Noah, something he couldn't blame her for at all.

"Yeah? Good. Pay them extra to give you a kiss and you mother will be off your back for the next year, guarantee."

"Very funny," Rafael smiled, turning back to stare out into the city once more. He sighed as his mother came back, his mind racing with the idea of an impending talk with Liv while she rattled on about plans for the wedding.

No matter what, he was dead set and determined to not go to his own mother's wedding dateless and pathetic.

"How did it go?"

Barba looked up from his legal pad and smiled as Liv walked in to his office, a latte in each hand. She reached over his desk and handed him the larger cup, which he gulped almost half way down immediately.

"How did what go?"

"Dinner with your mom and Marco?"

She sat down and sighed, leaning back and taking a sip of her own coffee. She looked relaxed today, which was new for her as of late. Running and working and going and going all the time was taking its toll on all of them, so he was happy to see that she was at least a little laid back for once. He wished he was.

"Good. Actually…they're engaged."

Liv perked up, one eyebrow raised and a slow smile spreading her lips, "Really? Wow, I didn't know they were that serious."

"Oh yeah. I knew it was going to happen, way before Marc even asked my permission."

"He asked your permission? That was incredibly sweet of him."

"He's a great guy," he smirked, dropping his pen on the paper and rubbing at his eyes. He was tired. Exhausted with a headache and empty stomach. He hadn't gotten home till late last night and he fell asleep almost instantly with the pleasant feeling of liquor in his stomach, for which he was grateful.

"When is the wedding and where's my invite?"

Rafael sipped on his drink, staring over the top of it as she winked playfully, obviously not being serious, but he took it as a good way to interject his plan into the conversation. He'd been mulling over how to bring it up all morning and she all but opened the door for him.

"Well…here's the thing. It's a month from now. Small ceremony with a small reception afterwards, but if I go alone, my mother will murder me. Seriously, Rafael Barba will no longer exist in this realm or the next. So…I was thinking…if you're not busy August 26th, maybe you could help a friend out and be his pretend wedding date?"

Throughout his entire spiel, he never broke eye contact, but he did as Liv chuckled and leaned forward in the chair, elbows on her knees. He looked back up at her, trying to still his fidgeting hands. If she noticed how anxious he was, this whole thing was going to go to hell. He shouldn't have even been this nervous to begin with. It was Liv. His best friend.

Best friends did things like this for each other all the time. Probably. Maybe. In the movies?

"You want me to pretend to be your date so you don't have to face your mom's wrath?"

He nodded.

"Sounds reasonable," she leaned back again and crossed her legs, drawing his eyes to them and he quickly averted them away, "And I would love to. But, we have one issue."

"That is?"

"Lucy can't work weekends in August because of a writing class she's taking, so Noah might have to tag along."

"That's no problem," he shook his head, finding he quite liked the idea of Noah coming. He liked the little boy and Noah seemed to like him well enough. Every time he went over to Liv's, the boy begged him to play and he felt bad when he had to turn him down in favor of working the night away with Liv.

"You sure? A three-year-old at a wedding? He might be a handful."

"Well, then he's his mother's son."

That joked earned him a half-hearted glare, but he shrugged it off, fearing her answer to his ultimate question. She only seemed to mull it over for a few seconds before she stood and nodded her head.

"You've got yourself a date," she said and walked back towards his office door. His heart picked up at her words and his brow beaded with some sweat. Why he was so affected by her words when they were merely meant in a non-serious way? Shit, he shouldn't have gotten so deep into his feelings the night before.

"You're the best, Liv," he called out, leaning back in his chair and sipping on his drink again. She turned and nodded over her shoulder, half-way out of the door.

"Tell me something I don't already know."

"You're starting to sound like me."

"That's not a bad thing. Call me later. Maybe we can get lunch."

He nodded as she left, watching her until she disappeared from his sight completely. He was left alone in the silence of his office, only the sounds of the busy streets below muffled as the floated through the window. Wordlessly, he went back to work, mind still focused on Liv and the way she smiled at him just a few moments ago.

He thought about it the rest of the day.