Family Matters – three years earlier

It was almost eight o'clock when ADA Rafael Barba entered his condo and walked through the living room, depositing his briefcase on a chair. He removed his jacket and loosened his pastel tie as he headed down the hall to the bedroom.

Olivia Benson groaned as she tried in vain to find a comfortable position in the queen-sized bed. The fact that she was eight months pregnant with twins made this virtually impossible.

"How are you feeling, mi querida?" Barba asked as he gently touched her shoulder.

Olivia turned her head and grabbed his hand. "How do you think I feel? I have a huge belly. I'm always uncomfortable. I pee all the time." She took a breath as she ended her rant.

"I'm sorry," said Barba as he untangled his fingers from her firm grasp.

"It's not your fault, Rafael," she replied, then hesitated. "Yes, I guess it is your fault. Twins run in your family."

"I suppose it is," he said calmly, his eyes crinkling with amusement. He hung up his jacket and tie in the closet, then sat down on the bed next to her.

Olivia started to cry. "It's the ra-ra-raging hormones," she admitted.

Barba reached over and gave her a hug. "Are you hungry?" he asked as he released her. "I could order…"

"No, I had a big lunch," she said. "Your mother stopped by to check on me. She brought you some Cuban food. I had some of it."

Barba smiled broadly. "Okay, let me check it out. I have to work on a case, but I'll come see you in a while, all right?"

"Okay," Olivia agreed.

Barba fixed a plate of his mother's offerings and poured himself a small glass of Scotch. He carried these into the dining room, opened his briefcase and withdrew witness statements from his current case. He spent some time reading and re-reading them and taking copious notes, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

He finally put his empty plate and silverware into the dishwasher and turned off the kitchen light. As he returned to the bedroom he removed his suspenders and his shirt and went over in his mind what he wanted to say to Olivia. He found her sitting up in bed reading a book about twins. She looked up at him and smiled as she closed the book and placed it on the bedside table.

"I have a proposition for you," Barba said, "or rather two propositions."

"Propositions?" she said. "You make me sound like a prostitute."

"No, no, let me begin again. Proposals, that's what I mean."

"Okay, I'm listening," she said, thinking she knew what he was about to say.

Barba bit his lip. Olivia recognized this behavior. He did it when he was having trouble deciding what he should do or say next.

"I think we should buy a house," he finally said.

"A house?" Olivia questioned, surprised. "You mean like in the suburbs with a yard and trees?" Olivia was a city girl, born and brought up in Manhattan. Living in the suburbs would feel like the wilderness to her.

"No, I mean a townhouse, a brownstone. I've seen one in Brooklyn. Not a large one, but larger than this condo and suitable for a growing family." He grinned pointing at Olivia's huge belly. "The sellers are being transferred out west and need to move almost immediately. They've already done a lot of rehab work so it's in pretty good condition and the price is fair."

"Describe it," said Olivia warming to the idea.

"Well, starting at the bottom there is a garden level with an in-law apartment: a living room, bedroom, and kitchen. There is an entrance under the main stairs and a door out to the small backyard. We could rent it out to help with the mortgage or my mom could eventually live there if she didn't want to go to one of my sisters'. The next floor has the main entrance from the street. It has a living room, dining room, kitchen and half bath. The floor above has two bedrooms and a bath. The top floor has a master suite: bedroom and bath. And the best part, there is a huge walk-in closet with built in drawers."

He seemed especially animated describing this last feature, Olivia thought. She gave a knowing look to this fashionable man who had more clothes than she did.

"There is also a separate den I could use as an office," he continued.

"So you've been there and had a tour?" she asked.

"My mom found out about it from one of her realtor friends and made me go with her. I didn't want to mention it to you until I saw it. With the sale of this condo and both our salaries, I think we could swing it."

"That sounds promising. And you're right about this place. It's fine for two people, but with two babies, it will be tough. Are there photos of it online? Not that I don't trust you and your mom's judgment.

Barba nodded, relieved that Olivia seemed to approve his choice.

What's the other proposal?" she asked.

"Do you think we should get married?" he blurted out.

"Wow, isn't that a romantic proposal!" she said with a laugh. They had never really discussed marriage, but recently she had begun thinking about it. And Rafael must be leaning in the same direction.

"That's not what I meant to say," he nervously apologized. He took her hand and knelt down on one knee next to the bed. "Sergeant Olivia Benson, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

She tried not to laugh and embarrass him. This usually stylish and professional prosecutor was looking so serious kneeling in his undershirt.

"What makes you bring up marriage now?" she asked gazing into his deep green eyes.

"There's legal reasons, of course," he said, "but I love you and I do want to spend my life with you and our future kids." He patted her stomach.

"Are you opposed to marriage?" he asked, knowing she had no experience with marriage in her family. She was brought up by a single mother and never knew her father. He got up from his kneeling position and sat on the edge of the bed. He put his arm around Olivia.

"You know I love you, too. I'm not against marriage and yes, I will marry you, Rafael, but on one condition. I don't want a big wedding. Maybe just 8 or 9 close friends. Do you think we can find a judge willing to do the honors? And it needs to be soon- before the twins are born."

The next morning Rafael walked into bedroom fully dressed and ready for work. He finished eating a leftover fried plaintain, then touched Olivia's shoulder.

"Liv," he said softly. She turned over and opened her eyes. It was almost ten o'clock and Rafael had not yet left for his office. She sat up in bed and accepted the mug of tea Barba offered her.

"I've been busy this morning- I've set up an appointment for us to see the brownstone together at one. Then we can go to city hall to get a marriage license, that is if you have your birth certificate handy. Mom is bringing mine. If we have time we can go shopping to get you a maternity dress for the wedding. When I get to my office I'll check the list of judges and see if I can find one we both like who'll be willing to perform the ceremony. Meanwhile do you want to start making a list of friends you'd like to invite and also decide on a witness? How does that sound? Oh, we should probably make a reservation at a restaurant to host a small reception after the ceremony. Any suggestions?" He finally took a deep breath and looked expectantly at Olivia.

"Boy, you have been busy," Olivia said. "I always knew you were organized, but…" she trailed off.

"All right, I'll be back to pick you up at noon, okay?" Rafael leaned over and kissed her. As he started to move away she put down her mug, reached up, her hands on either side of his face. She touched his damp hair and pulled him close to her face.

"Thank you," she whispered.