Prompt from raul-e-esparza: I got you a present
Set after Parents Nightmare (16x22) when Rafael gets back from St Barth's
Olivia looked up from her pile of paperwork at the sound of a knock at her office door. A smile spread across her face and she got up to welcome her visitor.
"Hey, I didn't think I'd see you until Monday. You're technically still on vacation," she says as she crosses the room to pull Barba into a casual but warm embrace. She's not usually one to hug at the office, but he's been gone and she missed him.
Barba returns the hug with one arm- the other holding a large shopping bag. When they pull back after a few seconds he lifts it and says, "I dropped my bags off at home and then came over, I wanted to see you tonight. I got you a present."
Her face lights up even more and she says, "You didn't have to bring me anything."
Barba shrugs, slightly embarrassed. He doesn't want to admit it but he'd spent most of the week on a tropical island thinking of a certain Sergeant in New York. Everything he did and saw reminded him of her, he couldn't help but buy a few things.
"It's not much. Just a couple things that I think you'll enjoy. Besides- you were here working while I was sunning myself by the ocean; I'd feel guilty if I didn't bring you something."
She nods, touched at his thoughtfulness. "Well I'm not going to say no to presents!"
They move over to the couch where he hands her the shopping bag. The first item she pulls out is a small straw hat with a blue band.
"That's for Noah," he explains, "I know you said you wanted to take him to the beach this summer, they're the best sun hats; all the moms at the resort were talking about them and they are made locally..."
Olivia reaches out and puts her hand on his arm to stop his rambling. "Thank you," she says softly. "It's perfect. He's got such fair skin he'll definitely have to wear a hat. And this is adorable! I can't wait to try it on him."
"There's one for you too," Barba says, pointing at the bag.
Olivia reaches in and pulls out a similar hat, this one with a black band. She takes her glasses off her head and puts the hat on. "Perfect."
Barba swallows, nodding his agreement. He barely holds in a comment about how she's always perfect. "There's more," he says hoarsely, hoping she doesn't notice.
Leaving the hat on, she pulls out a small drawstring bag. Glancing at him curiously she opens the bag and tips the contents into her palm. A delicate chain with three charms: a tiny gold sand dollar, a delicate gold star fish, and a dangling stone that Olivia immediately recognizes as Noah's birthstone.
She couldn't stop the tears that come to her eyes if she tried. Speechless, she just stares at the gift, wondering what it means.
Barba can't handle the silence so he starts talking. "Uh...I know you always wear your Fearlessness one, but I thought this might be nice for casual days at home. The stone is-"
"Citrine," she interrupts.
Barba nods. "Yeah, Noah's birthstone."
"I love it," she says softly. "Thank you, Rafael. It's so beautiful."
She inspects the charms for a few seconds before holding it out to him. "Will you put it on me?" she asks, taking her hat off and shifting so her back is toward him.
He nods and swallows hard. Why did it feel hot in here all of a sudden?
He carefully opens the clasp and slips the necklace over her head. Liv pulls her hair to the side, clearing his view. It takes a few tries but he gets it securely fastened.
"There," he says.
She turns back toward him, one hand automatically going to the dangling charms.
When he looks up at her, his stomach drops. "Liv- I didn't mean to make you cry."
She chuckles at herself, wiping her cheeks self consciously. "I know, it's nothing bad. I- I really missed you this week. Noah's been extra clingy with starting at daycare- it's like he thinks I'm going to leave him there. Kidnapping cases are always so stressful... it's just been a long week. I was home for the evening with Noah then came back after he went to sleep to catch up on some of this paperwork that never seems to end. I'm exhausted and then you show up being so sweet and you brought me and my son presents and you wouldn't believe how much that means to me-"
He cuts her off this time, by pressing his lips to hers. By the time she can process what is happening his forehead is resting on hers and he says, "I missed you too."
She smiles and pulls back so she can see him clearly. "I hope you got one of those hats too, Raf."
He quirks an eyebrow. "Yes I did...why?"
"Because you're going to need it when we take Noah to the beach this summer."
