Three days of awkwardly avoiding each other pass before Barba can't take it anymore. He didn't realize it until now but he doesn't think they've gone a single day without at least talking on the phone since Lewis. Most conversations started about cases but lately that had just been an excuse so they could vent to each other or ask each other for advice or sometimes they'd just talk. Recently, they'd gotten into the bad habit of watching X-Files reruns together over the phone- never in person- only over the phone, he wasn't sure when that had started. But not talking, isn't working.
So the morning after the jury announces a guilty verdict- Barba wakes up early to stop by the Cuban bakery just past the precinct and pick up her favorite pastelitos and a café con leche.
Olivia barely looks up from the paperwork on her desk when he strides in and drops it on her desk before slumping into one of the chairs across from her. She looks at him over her glasses- eyeing him warily, "Peace offering?"
"More of an apology?" She lifts her head and meets his eyes. He takes it as a sign to continue. "Look, I was stressed about the case and I've got another one from the 2-3 that's going to be the death of me and I guess I was just looking to take it out on someone. Unfortunately, it's usually you."
She gives him a small smile, her eyes dropping away from his for a moment. Part of her wants to call him out on it. To drag it all out right here in her office and just see where it goes. But she's just as afraid as he is. Three days without talking to him had been torture- she can't imagine if they pursued their feelings and it didn't work out.
It was almost funny- she'd never had a more honest relationship with anyone than she had with this man. They were honest with each other about everything- except when it came to this.
So she decides to let it go. She lets Barba stuff their relationship back into the little box tagged 'friend'. She'd had a good time with Tucker. She should at least give it a chance. He clearly liked her, he made her feel wanted.
A more genuine smile comes over her face as she slides a hand across her desk to dive in to the pastries he's brought, "Apology accepted."
He grins back at her, happy to have his friend back, before stealing a pastry for himself. Barba immediately jumps in to tell her everything he's been holding in for the past three days in a much needed vent session.
He'd never really had that one person he felt he could talk to about everything. He preferred to be more private. But Liv had become that person and her short but sudden absence from his life made him terrifyingly aware that he needed it.
Looking across at her, as she laughs at one of his terrible jokes, Barba decides he just wants her to be happy. If Tucker makes her happy, so be it. It's not his business. He tells himself he doesn't need any thing more from her than this to be happy.
By the time they get through their pastries and updates to each other- they've returned to their comfortable friendship. She agrees to wait until his noon arraignment is over to go to lunch and he makes his way back to the courthouse.