Everyone stayed the night at his house Christmas Eve, although the rest of the week they'd gone back to their previous arrangements.
Christmas morning they woke up, Noah running around excited, and dug into their stalkings. He helped his mother make a rather large breakfast for everyone and then once everyone had eaten, Noah had excitedly pointed out that it was time to open gifts.
They'd deliberately wanted to celebrate some on Christmas day as well, for Noah. So, the day, although, a somewhat smaller affaire was still spent together and he'd finally gotten to open his gifts.
His family had been excited to have a kid to spoil, and he was aware that his mother had gone into full-on Grandmother mode. Noah had definitely gotten spoiled this Christmas, and nobody particularly felt guilty about it.
He figured she hadn't had the means to give Rafael many extras growing up, so now that she was a little more financially stable...
As for Rafael, he may have gone slightly overboard for Noah and Olivia both.
Liv had accused him of spoiling her before but he didn't see it that way. She deserved it. Her face when she saw the necklace was worth it.
He'd bought her a matching necklace to the one that was sitting in Evidence due to the Lewis debacle. It had been her favourite.
She'd hugged him, thanking him profusely.
He'd had to nudge her into opening the rest of her gift. Some chocolates as well as bath bombs to help her relax.
He'd kept his gifts for his relatives somewhat smaller and travel-friendly due to them insisting the plane tickets and hosting were more than enough, and just the logistics of them all flying home after. They did the same, more of a mutual agreement than anything. He really didn't need or want much.
His mother, however, and Olivia, had different ideas, and so bought quite a few things that he liked immensely but would never have bought for himself. Liv. however, did know he liked practical gifts and stayed in that vein. The only things he ever really bought for himself were suits, tickets to shows, food, books, and the odd thing now and again.
When he did have time, he'd read everything under the sun. He also happened to have a particularly long-time favourite: the Count of Monte Cristo. His copy had been destroyed, however, some years back and he'd never bothered to buy another one.
His mother had bought him the new edition of the book and a couple of smaller gifts.
He'd gotten her a new slow cooker and an assorted tea gift collection from a rather expensive store his mother loved.
Liv had gotten him some quite nice clothes for everyday wear and an extremely nice watch with his name engraved on it that would go great with his favourite pair of cufflinks. It was stunning.
The next several days after that had passed too quickly for Rafael's liking. He and Olivia were both back to work, but tried their hardest to be home for lunch when possible and tried not to be at work too late.
The Saturday and Sunday, however, they both turned off their phones and decided that work could take a hike.
They did a few of the more touristy activities that they hadn't been able to do yet and then showed them some of the local favourites as well.
Unfortunately, that Sunday afternoon they saw his relatives off at the airport, although his family made him promise to visit sooner rather than later.
He was hoping he'd be able to go the following summer, but it really depended on work. If not that summer then in the fall, perhaps.
Back at work, they'd both announced their engagement to the squad and Carmen before talking to Dodds and McCoy. The team had been quite pleased.
Fin was pleased, however, the man had pulled him aside and in no uncertain terms made his stance clear. "Don't fuck this up, Counsellor."
"I don't intend to."
Fin nodded, offering his hand. "Congratulations. It's good to see you both so happy."
Now, McCoy seemed quite pleased when he congratulated Rafael actually, although, Dodds was different. The man only really had a profession tolerance for Rafael more than anything.
The Weinstein case was finally going to trial. Motions hearings had been exhausted and the press was now going insane.
He'd sat down with McCoy and the trial judge three days previous. Rafael went into the meeting with one goal, and one goal only. To get a closed trial.
He sat down and got some heat for the unusual request, which he expected, and calmly explained his reasoning. He cited the Martha Cobb's case and several others, although the Martha Cobb's case was just bad all around; politics entered the courtroom when it never should have.
Thankfully, he managed to convince McCoy that this was the only way that a fair trial could happen. Yes, the sicko frankly deserved the nightmare with the press, but on the other hand, he had the right to a fair trial.
The over-enthusiastic press and public wouldn't allow for that.
Afterwards, the Manhattan District Attorney got support from the judge, who closed a pivotal hearing Friday to the public and the press.
After that, the New York Supreme Court Justice had to reject several appeals from press organizations — a roster of major New York and national outlets — who insisted that the public's right to follow the case superseded privacy or fair-trial concerns.
And so, Rafael was made to make a public statement. He'd been on his way to do the press conference when he'd received a call.
The Defence Attorney actually wanted to talk deal.
With some negotiating, he'd been able to work out a satisfactory deal. Their client had been on a massive ego trip when Rafael had tried to cut a deal earlier. Apparently, he'd been appropriately scared back into reality. Small mercies.
He wanted the guy behind bars but really didn't want to have to dismiss another indictment. That had been embarrassing enough the first time. He had felt he had had no choice, though, at the time.
After meeting with the Defence Attorney, he'd gone back to his office, trying to make his way through his - now a lot smaller - stack of paperwork.
He had honestly been cutting deals left right and center lately, purely to avoid having too many cases in court and to close as many as possible.
He had taken on a way heavier caseload than he maybe should have. Regardless, he wasn't accepting or offering bad deals. He just initiated the conversation a lot more. If he couldn't get a satisfactory deal the case went to trial; end of story.
He had several other meetings that day and had just come out of his last one when Olivia called.
"Barba," he answered, taking a Tylenol for his headache. He and Fin may have gone a little overboard the night before when everyone had gotten together for New Years.
"Hey, Rafael. Can you come down to the station this afternoon?"
"Of course, Lieutenant. I'll be there within the hour."
"Bring coffee."
"That bad?"
"Well, it's hardly good."
He sighed. "I'll be by soon, Liv. See you shortly."
"See you soon."
He quickly called an Uber and tried to get some more reports done while he was waiting for it to arrive. Today was going to be a long day.