Sorry for the long time to update. I knew it would take a little while but I didn't expect it to take so long. Next update will hopefully be shorter. Also, some more Rafael/Rhya interaction will be coming up in the following chapters! :)

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(FRIDAY) MARCH 27TH 6:30 PM

FOURSQUARE BAR

A/N: By the way, this story is purely fictional. Anything about the Little Rock PD is made up and not necessarily true.

"I like SVU a lot better than Little Rock already," Rhya said.

Rafael looked at her inquiringly. "Why?"

Oh shoot. She realized she'd given him a way into her past. "I-I'd rather not talk about it." He stared into her eyes which bothered her because then he'd know what she was thinking. She looked down at her Shirley Temple and tried to change the topic. "So…how did you get into these types of cases?"

He chuckled. "We're so bad at this."

"At what?"

"We're supposed to be talking about anything other than 'the job', remember?"

"Oh…right…so what's your favorite color?"

He seemed a little amused by her question. "I don't know. What about you?"

"Blue."

He grinned at her, getting it. "That's nice."

….

For the rest of the time spent at the bar, they talked about arbitrary things like dogs and flowers. She didn't mind though, it was wonderful to be with him.

When it got late, Barba drove her to her apartment. "Bye Rafael!"

"Bye," He waved.

Before she entered the building, she paused. Then she turned around and hugged him. Caught off guard, he stumbled and nearly lost his balance.

"Thank you for distracting me." She whispered before letting go of him and leaving as quickly as she had come. He didn't even have enough time to hug her back.

"Y-you're welcome." He stuttered as she ran into her apartment complex. He smiled just a little bit as walked back to his car.

(SATURDAY) MARCH 28TH 10:40 AM

MACE RESIDENCE

Rhya opened her eyes groggily. She got out of bed at a speed even a snail could beat, and walked to the kitchen to get breakfast.

As she sat on her couch, eating a bowl of cereal she couldn't help but think about Barba and last night. Was it a date? Surely it wasn't. She hugged him but that didn't make it a date…right?

She yelped when her phone began to ring. Was it Barba? Oh wait, he never got my number! I wish I had given it to him…

As soon as she picked it up, Olivia began to talk. "Rhya, I need you to get down here, now."

"Why? What happened?"

"You have work, don't you?"

Rhya frowned in confusion. "What…it's Saturday…?"

"Crime doesn't break for the weekend, Mace." Then Olivia hung up.

"Oh shoot!" Rhya raced around the house, trying to get ready in five minutes. She brushed her teeth while throwing on her office clothes. After another glance at the clock, she realized she would just have to skip a shower today.

Work on a Saturday? Never had she worked on a Saturday in Little Rock. She wondered if Olivia would make her work Sundays too.

(SATURDAY) MARCH 28TH 11:36 AM

SVU STATION

When she arrived at the station, everyone she knew was staring at her weird.

"Mind explaining why you're five hours late?" Rollins snickered as she approached her.

Rhya huffed. "I thought Saturdays were break days."

"No one told you your schedule?"

"I guess I just jumped right into the action…"

"And they didn't make you work on Saturdays in Little Rock?"

"No…"

"Why? Do all the criminals just sleep in on weekends? I'd love to work for the Little Rock PD."

"Shut up." Rhya grumbled while Rollins just laughed at her.

When she went to Olivia's office, the Lieutenant looked irritated. "You're late."

"I'm sorry, they didn't make me work weekends in Little Rock. I didn't know I was supposed to be here."

"That doesn't even make sense. If all the officers took a break on the weekends then criminals would just commit crimes on the weekends."

"Well, not all the officers took breaks. Just some of us." Rhya added quickly.

"Why did you get a break and not the others?"

Rhya blinked and thought about it. It wasn't like she had superiority or experience. Why did she get the breaks?

She growled. "They just wanted to keep me from work. They tricked me."

Olivia sighed and looked at her in sympathy. "We missed you this morning. Please come to work at 6:30 AM every day unless you're cashing in your vacation days, alright? I'll give you a pass on this one."

"Thanks Olivia."

The Lieutenant nodded.

-SCENE BREAK-

(SATURDAY) MARCH 28TH 11:58 AM

SVU STATION

Cara Marquina ran across her grandparents' backyard. Abuela watched from the swing chair, knitting a new scarf for her grandchild.

Abuelo picked Cara up and twirled her in the air, laughing. Cara giggled. "You are the best Abuelo ever!" He spun her in circles, ignoring his old, creaky back.

After using up his energy, he set her down, blowing out an exhausted breath. "Would you like to do something for Abuelo?" He panted.

"Sure!" She didn't seem to realize how tired he was.

"Okay mijita, go inside to the kitchen, open the cupboard and you'll find a treat. Abuela can help you."

Cara's eyes widened in delight. "Cookies!"

Abuela set down the scarf and held out her hand. Cara ran and intertwined her small fingers with her grandmother's.

Abuelo labored after the two. "Hey, wait for me!" He called. "I'm not as young as I used to be."

Abuela grinned at Cara wickedly before picking up the pace so Abuelo couldn't catch up.

"Ay!" He stopped trying, choosing instead to sit on the grass and lay down dramatically.

"We'll bring him some cookies," Abuela said to Cara who was beside herself with laughter.

….SCENE BREAK…

(SATURDAY) MARCH 28TH 6:02 PM

HAMILTON AVENUE

Cara sat in the front seat of her mother's A32 Nissan Maxima. She was too small to see out the front window so she kicked her seat instead.

This irritated her mother who put a hand on her daughter's leg to still her. "How was Abuelo's?"

"It was so much fun!" Cara exclaimed.

"Oh really?" Her mother asked disdainfully though her daughter didn't notice.

"Yeah! He got me cookies and we watched TV and talked and Abuelo fell asleep and then Abuela played go fish with me,"

"What did you two talk about?"

Cara frowned, realizing her mistake. "Uh…about school." She bit her lip.

"¿¡Me estás mintiendo?!"

Cara winced. "I'm sorry mama, actually we talked about…me."

"What did Abuelo say?"

"He said that one day I would get to live with him and Abuela…" Cara hoped her mother wouldn't get angrier.

The woman clenched the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white.

Then right in the middle of the road, the car came to screeching halt.

"No…no…no! Argh! Dammit!" She pounded the steering wheel.

"Are you okay mamá?"

"Shut up!" Cara's mother stormed out the car, clutching herself as a slow chill breezed by. She took out her phone and called the only person she knew would help her.

"Hello?"

"Enrique, get down here, now."

Cara slumped in her seat, wishing she hadn't angered mama so much. She also wished Enrique didn't have to come. He was big and scary and smelled like molted leaves and cigarettes.

Ten minutes later, Cara watched as Enrique's loud car bounced down the street. After stopping, he got out and inspected the situation. "Hi Dulce. I see your has broken down again."

"Can you fix it?" She asked as she crossed her arms.

"I can hotwire it." He suggested.

"Oh baby, you're my hero!" Dulce gushed.

He shrugged. "But the kid needs to get out the car," He said. "Not safe for her to be in there."

"You heard him," Dulce ordered.

Cara scrambled out the car. The wind snapped at her legs and hair. As Enrique lifted the hood and Dulce showered him with adulation, Cara stood there in the cold.

She wished she had a jacket.

...

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