Behind The Scenes
Chapter 2 Photograph
We keep this love in a photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Hearts are never broken
And time's forever frozen still
Ed Sheeran
This Chapter is based on the pictures of Mariska and Raul at the Joyful Heart Foundation Gala both this year and last year. If you haven't seen them they are amazing! You can see them on my Tumblr page The Magical Shipper.
"Liv you ready?" Barba called down the hallway to their bedroom. He had just returned from dropping Noah off with his mother for the night.
"I think so, do I look all right?" She said turning to find her husband standing in the doorway staring at here.
"What's wrong?" She asked nervously running her hands over the body of her dress.
Barba looked her over again her dress hugged her body perfectly showing off her figure that he loved so much. The red that was swirled through out it was his favorite color on her and her hair was down and straight, she was stunning.
He crossed the room and pulled her to himself, "Nothing, I'm just wondering how on earth I ever got the most gorgeous woman on the planet to marry me."
"Saying things like that probably helped." She said with a smile before kissing him. Barba wasted no time deepening the kiss running his hands across her bare shoulders.
"Raf, we've got to go." She said trying to ignore the feel of his lips now pressing against her neck.
"They can't start without you." He said as his lips traveled down to her shoulders.
Olivia laughed a pushed him softly, "Yes, but I didn't spend half the afternoon getting ready just to have you undo it all in five minutes either."
"Fine, let's go, besides I get to hear everyone to talk about how amazing you are all night. It's a win win for me." He said with a grin as he took her hand.
"I think last year's gala turned out to be a win for both of us." She said pulling him in for one more kiss that promised much more to come.
One year earlier
Barba looked across her desk where she sat exhausted, angry, and defeated. It sounded redundant to say that it had been a hard case, they were all hard cases but this one had been especially bad, it involved kids, and in the end despite how hard they had tried the case had been thrown out because of a screw up in the lab. There had been plenty of angry words exchanged between them.
"I'm sorry Liv." He said quietly.
"Barba it's not your fault, you did everything you could." She said leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes.
"Well, I'm sorry I said that you couldn't expect me to be a damn miracle worker every time one of your people screwed up." He said somewhat sheepishly.
Oliva smiled for the first time that afternoon. "Well then I'm sorry I said I was tired of DAs always blaming the NYPD when they didn't know how to try a case."
"We're good then?" He asked.
"We're good Barba, go home enjoy your weekend." She said trying to sound pleasant but he could hear the tired in her voice.
"What are you doing this weekend?" He asked. "You and Noah have plans?"
"Not really," She said shaking her head, "I was supposed to go to this thing, but Lucy is out of town and I don't have a sitter…or a date…or a dress."
"What's the thing?" Hs asked curious what she might be up to outside of work that she needed a date and dress for.
"It's this organization I volunteer with called the Joyful Heart Foundation, they work with victims of assault and domestic violence, tomorrow night is their annual gala." She explained.
He stared at her for a second in complete amazement, after all she gave at work, and then at home to Noah how was she still able to give more of herself?
"Do you want to go?" He asked
"I don't know, maybe, sometimes as a mom going out seems like more trouble than it's worth." She admitted and then looked uncomfortable for saying it to him.
"If it wasn't work would you want to go?" He asked again.
"Sure, a night out would be fun."
He stood up and walked around her desk and sat on the corner closer to her, "Well then Lieutenant Benson, I will see you at seven tomorrow night with a babysitter and you and I are going for a night out."
Olivia looked at him trying to decide if he was serious, "Barba, you don't have to…" she started to say.
"Stop, we've fought enough this week," He said as he got up off her desk and turned to leave, "I will see you at seven tomorrow, go get yourself a dress." He said before closing her office door.
Olivia sat at her desk staring at the door trying to figure out what had just happened. She wasn't completely sure, but she thought she had a date with Barba tomorrow night. She had seen him almost him every day for the last two weeks, but suddenly she felt a huge mix of nerves and excitement in her stomach. She shook her head trying to keep herself from reading too much into it. She spent a few unsuccessful minutes trying to finish up her paperwork but decided it could wait until Monday, she had a dress to buy.
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Olivia thought of a hundred reasons they shouldn't go that night. She had even texted Barba a few times throughout the day.
You don't have to do this you know.
I know.
Sometimes Noah is hard to get to bed.
Trust me the babysitter can handle it.
Barba, I don't know…
I will see you at seven
Damn, that man was stubborn she thought. Why did he want to do this anyways? Who was he bringing to watch Noah? Why was she agreeing to let someone watch her son that she didn't even know? What kind of mother was she? She sighed, she knew the answer, she was a mother in desperate need of a night out and yes a little attention from a man. Especially a man she found herself thinking about more often than she cared to admit.
At ten minutes to seven her buzzer rang. Olivia took one last look in the mirror and straightened her black dress hoping it looked all right.
"Noah, where are you?" She called.
"Here, Mommy." He said coming from his room, "Mommy pretty!" He exclaimed when he saw her.
"Thank you my love." She said picking him up and going to open the door, in complete shock to see Barba standing at the front door with Munch.
"Munch and Rafi! " Noah exclaimed happy to see both men. "Look at pretty Mommy!" he told both men.
"Mama hermosa." Barba said unable to take his eyes off of Olivia, causing her to blush.
"You are the babysitter?" Olivia asked Munch with a laugh.
"Yes, and I have to say I'm rather hurt that you didn't ask me yourself. It took Barba here calling me to know you needed someone."
"Well don't worry you survive tonight and I will be calling again. " She told him noticing that Barba was still standing in the doorway staring at her.
"You want to come in for a minute Barba?" She teased.
"Yes, of course." He said suddenly embarrassed that he had been caught staring but he couldn't help it she looked so damn sexy he was mesmerized.
He watched her as she showed Munch around the apartment and all of Noah's things. All the little details of her life at home that Barba loved to see. How to do Noah's inhaler before bed, what kind of snack he could have, where his pajamas were, the best way to get him to sleep. She went through all these things while wearing this long black dress that had a lacey top that showed off more of her than he had ever seen before. Watching her he could barely breathe, everything about her was stunning. Suddenly he worried that tonight was a mistake. He had been able to keep his growing feelings for her under control but tonight standing here watching here in that dress care for her son he could no longer deny that he was falling in love with her.
"OK, I guess that's everything. Call me if you need anything." Olivia told Munch.
She picked Noah up and hugged him tight, "Have fun with Much, My Love." She said before setting him down.
She turned to Barba who was still unusually quiet, "Do you think I need a coat?"
All Barba could think was he didn't want anything covering up any other part of that dress she was wearing. "No, it's pretty warm out." He answered honestly.
"OK, should I call us a cab?" She asked.
Suddenly Barba snapped out of it remembering that it was his job to show her a good time tonight. He smiled at her, "No, I have that taken care of. You ready?"
Olivia paused for a minute taking a look at him for the first time tonight. Barba always looked nice but tonight in his charcoal gray suit with blue pocket square and tie with just a slight bit of stubble there was something different and sexy about him.
She smiled at slightly flirty smile at him, "Yes, I think I am." She said and felt butterflies in her stomach when she felt him put his hand on her back.
As they walked down the steps of her building she looked at him in surprise when she saw the limousine sitting out front.
"Barba, what did you do?"
"Come on do you have any idea how hard it is to get a cab on a Saturday night?" He asked with a grin. "Come on, you deserve a night that's more fun than work and that's what I'm giving you."
She paused for a minute and placed her hand on his chest, "Thank you." She said before kissing him quickly on the cheek and sliding into the car door that the driver was holding open, leaving Barba standing there staring again.
Barba didn't know what to expect at the Gala but he was determined to make sure that Olivia had a good time. They arrived at Lincoln Center and made their way through the gathering crowd. Many people stopped Olivia and she introduced Rafael to them all but Rafael knew that one thing he and Olivia had in common was their disdain for small talk. He leaned in at one point and whispered, "Be right back." She nodded and continued to talk to the others.
She smiled a grateful smile when he returned with a glass of cabernet, "Liv, they have a silent auction, should we go look it over?" He asked rescuing her from her conversation.
"Oh, yes, definitely." She said stepping closer to him when she felt his arm around her waist. They looked through the items.
"There are tickets to Hamilton." Barba said excitedly
"I never knew you liked musicals." She said in surprise.
"Confession, I did some musical theater in high school and college." He told her.
"You sing?" She asked.
He grinned at her, "Maybe if you are lucky later you can hear some."
Olivia rolled her eyes at his obvious flirting, then the next item they came to caught her eye. Barba looked over her shoulder trying to see what is was.
"What is it?" He asked.
"A trip to Disney World, at one of their deluxe resorts, I would love to take Noah." She said wishfully.
"You should bid." He said placing his hand on her hip as he stood behind her.
Olivia leaned back slightly into him, "No the bids are already out of my budget."
The lights flickered in the lobby, "Come on she said the ceremony starting soon." She said taking his had without thinking about it as they walked to their seats.
"Do you want another glass of wine before it starts?" He asked her.
"Yes, that would be great."
"Ok, go ahead I'll catch up." He told her.
A few minutes later Barba showed up with their drinks and settled into the seat next to her slipping his arm around her smiling as he noticed that she scooted closer to him. He didn't know exactly what was going on between them but he knew it was something different.
They program was inspiring and he could see why Olivia liked this organization after everything she saw it was a way for her to help victims begin to recover. He decided he would find out what he could do to be involved with it too.
Olivia tried to pay attention to the program but honestly she was too distracted by the thoughts in her head and the butterflies in her stomach. Barba's arm was around her shoulder and she was scooted in close next to him. Periodically he would trace his fingers along her shoulders and arm and it was driving her crazy in the best possible way. She had been attracted to him for as long as she had known him but in the last year her feelings had begun to change to more than just attraction. She had managed to keep in under control but tonight though with him touching her, looking at her the way he was, she didn't know how much longer she could trust herself.
"Hey, you ok?" Barba whispered in her ear sensing she had zoned out a little.
She smiled at him and place a hand on his knee, "Yes, just thinking about what a nice evening this is."
Barba smiled back at her and ran his fingers through her hair, "I would like to do this more often"
"Well the gala is only once a year." She teased, earning her a look and an eye roll from him. Then he leaned over and whispered in a low voice, "I don't plan to wait a year to have you this close to me again." Olivia's eyes flew open wide as she looked at him then rolled her eyes at the smug smile on his face. The man next to them cleared his throat indicating they needed to be quiet. They both stifled laughs and settled back his arm around her and her hand still on his knee.
The program ended and Olivia noticed Barba checking his phone. "Everything all right?"
He responded to the text and stuck his phone back in his pocket, "Yes, just had to confirm something." He said as he stood up and offered her his hand. She gave him a dubious look but linked her fingers with his. They made their way out of the auditorium and back into the gathering area.
"Hey, look there is a photographer, let's get pictures." Olivia said with excitement.
Barba smiled at her excitement it had been a long time since he had seen her this relaxed. They waited in line for pictures the small touches from earlier continuing as they seemed to not be able to keep their hands off of each other.
"Ok, sir stand behind your wife." The photographer said clearly over his duties for the evening.
Liv was rattled by his statement, "Oh, um…" She started to say but Barba cut her off.
"Come on Mrs. Barba, the man is busy." Barba said with a grin pulling her over to him and wrapping his arms around her. Olivia let out a loud laugh and smiled as she felt his arms tighten around her. As the photographer was snapping pictures he took a breath before saying something.
"So, Mrs. Barba," He started causing Olivia to smile again and glance back at him, "How much vacation do you have?"
"A couple of weeks? Why?' She asked glancing at him again.
"I got you and Noah that trip to Disney World." He said wrapping his arms tighter around her half afraid she might runaway.
She turned her head to him her eyes sparkling, "Rafael, did you really?" she asked.
"All right, you two are done." The photographer said.
Barba took Olivia's hand, a walked her toward the door of the balcony pulling her into his arms as soon as they were outside.
"I did Liv, I bought you and Noah the trip to Disney World because I knew you wanted it and it would make both of you happy, so please don't tell me no, or that you won't accept it, let me do this for you." He said speaking quickly and nervously.
Her answer to him was to throw her arms around his neck and press her lips against his. Barba didn't hesitate to kiss her back pulling her closer. They stood on the balcony lost in their first taste of each other. When they both needed to breathe they stood there with their foreheads pressed together.
"So, I take it you are ok with it?" He asked her with a laugh.
"Rafael that is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me." She told him trying not to cry at all of the emotions she was feeling.
"Liv, I think there is a very real chance that I am falling in love with you." He told her deciding to get it all out in the open.
"Well, I'm glad to know you don't buy trips to Disney World on all of your first dates." She said with a grin.
"Liv, I'm serious, I need you to know how I feel, how much I care about you. " He said running his fingers through her hair.
"Rafael, you drive me crazy every single day and most days I don't know if I want to yell at you or kiss you, but mostly I just know that I want to be with you. I think there is a very real chance that I am falling in love with you too."
"Well, I've always thought it was pretty hot when you yelled at me but I have to say now I definitely prefer the kissing." He said as he lowered his lips to hers again.
When they arrived back at her place that night Munch just smiled at the sight of Barba's jacket thrown over her shoulders and how they kept touching her as they talked.
"Well you two enjoy the rest of your evening." He said with a smile, when Live went to check on Noah he shook Barba's hand, "Be good to her." He told him as he left.
Three months later standing in front of Cinderella's Castle he pulled a ring from his pocket and told her that he wanted the three of them to be a family forever, six months after that they were married.
Present Day
This year at the gala they moved through the crowd with ease and were seated in the front row of the auditorium. Barba listened with pride as the president of the organization spoke about his wife and all that she had done to help victims both in her professional and personal life. He was positively beaming when Liv accepted her award and spoke with passion about how she would continue the important work.
As they walked out Liv took his hand and led him to the photographer. "This guy again?" He asked rolling his eyes.
"Hey I remember you two, Disney World, what are you buying her this year Buddy?" the photographer asked.
Barba laughed out loud, "Whatever she wants." He said as he wrapped his arms around his wife.
The End