First off I want to say I am so sorry it took so long to update this story but I've had a crazy week with all my classes and exams and stress to the max so yeah…it's been nuts. But I am over all of that for now and it looks like relatively smooth sailing for the next few weeks before exams, so I should be updating regularly!
So this is chapter 37 and it will be a complete 180 from the episode I'm in the middle of watching, where Lewis comes back to torture Olivia again. No worries, I won't spoil anything, we've got a long way to go before we get to that episode anyways!
All fluff in this chapter, and then we'll get to Amaro's One-Eighty in the next chapter.
Enjoy!
The next morning dawned bright and early, and Olivia rolled onto her side, a sleepy smile on her face as she saw her engagement ring sparkling in the sunshine.
"Good morning beautiful." Rafael purred as he rolled onto his side to face her.
"Good morning handsome," she replied with a smile, turning her head to look at him.
"I told my mother I was going to propose and after she made sure I was planning on doing everything the 'correct way' she was very happy." Rafael said with a chuckle, and Olivia smiled.
"You know, we've been dating for over a year now and I still haven't met your mother," she said thoughtfully with a grin on her face, and Rafael rolled his eyes.
"That's because she moved to Florida; said she wouldn't deal with the New York winters if she could help it. And this past summer when she was in town we were both…a little busy…" his voice trailed off, and Olivia immediately turned the conversation around.
"Yes, well I would assume that the wedding would be a perfect way to get her up here." Olivia said lightly, tracing her fingers over Rafael's arm.
"Yes it would. First we'd have to pick a date."
"All right…so summer?" Olivia queried, and Rafael nodded slowly.
"Sounds good to me. June or July?"
"Hmmm…" Olivia pondered, looking up at the ceiling. "Too hot. Late August? Or maybe we could convince your mom to stay until September."
"Perfect," Rafael sighed, pulling Olivia into his arms. "I'll talk to her and see what she says."
"I'm gonna ask Don to walk me down the aisle," she said quietly, and Rafael smiled.
"Wouldn't have it any other way, sweetheart."
"When I was thinking about bridesmaids and stuff, I was thinking we should just do a small ceremony, maybe at Don's house? We could even do it at the city clerk's office, just small and simple." Olivia offered, and Rafael raised both his eyebrows.
"Are you saying that because it's what you want or because it's what you think I want?"
"I know you like all your fabulous outfits but I know when it comes to that stuff you're really private."
"Olivia, this is our wedding we're talking about. I want to shout it to the world that I am the lucky bastard who gets to marry the fearless superhero Olivia Benson. I want every single man in the world to know that you are officially off of their radars." Rafael said firmly, laying on his back with his hands gesturing in the air.
Olivia chuckled as she rested her head on his chest. "All right then. So we're going go all out? Bridesmaids and groomsmen and guests and reception and all that?"
"Absolutely we are." Rafael declared, wrapping his arms around her.
"We'll probably have more people in the wedding party than guests." Olivia said quietly, and Rafael grinned as he started cooking up another idea.
"Oh we'll see about that. Now, about those bridesmaids…"
"You want me to pick now?" Olivia questioned, moving her head to look at him.
"Duh." Rafael replied with a snort.
Olivia smiled and snuggled closer to his chest. "Obviously Amanda and Melinda are going to be my bridesmaids, but I think I'm going to call my friends Alex and Casey, and ask Alex to be my maid of honor," she said thoughtfully, and Rafael pressed his lips to the top of her head.
"Sounds like a plan to me," he said with a soft smile, and got to thinking himself. "You know, maybe I'll ask Eddie to be my best man, what do you think about that?"
"I think that's wonderful." Olivia said warmly, turning around in his arms and kissing him softly.
"And then I'll ask Nick and Fin to be my ushers." Rafael finished his thought, and Olivia furrowed her brows at him.
"I know you went to law school and all that, but I suppose math wasn't one of your strong subjects?"
"It wasn't, not really, but…" Rafael was about to ask why when it suddenly dawned on him. "Ah. I need one more."
"Yep." Olivia said with a grin, and Rafael thought for a long moment and then chuckled.
"I'll ask Munch. He'll get a kick out of that,"
"No other friends of yours?" Olivia queried, and Rafael looked sad for a short moment.
"Eddie and Alex were my only friends growing up, the only person that was really my friend at Harvard was my roommate and he was killed a few years after we graduated, and most of the people I work with I'm not all that close to. Sure I'll have to send them an invitation and they'll probably respectfully decline, but I'm not about to have one of them in my own wedding party."
"Rafael…" Olivia started softly, sitting up, and Rafael shook his head.
"No, please, it's okay. I don't regret a single second of any of that, because look where I am now," he said sincerely, propping himself up on his elbow and bumping her nose with his.
"I love you," she sighed, closing her eyes. He gently kissed her, and then Olivia smiled, adding, "I was thinking about calling Simon and asking Olivia and Ty to be the flower girl and ring bearer,"
Rafael remembered the conversation they had on the plane to their long vacation before Olivia went back to work after the trial. She told him all about her father and finding out about her half-brother Simon (illegally) and then discovered that he is engaged to a woman named Tracy with a son named Ty, and they had a daughter together and they named her Olivia.
"I think that's perfect," Rafael agreed, and Olivia beamed at him.
"We should meet them all for lunch to ask them today. Not Simon and his family, but the others. Fin, Munch, Amanda, Melinda and Nick."
"Impatient are we?" Rafael teased, tapping the tip of her nose. "We have until the end of summer you know."
"Is this Mister Perfect Rafael Barba telling me that I need to procrastinate? Can this be?" Olivia was mock-shocked, putting her hand to her mouth.
"Oh quiet." Rafael muttered, pulling out her cell phone and handing it to her.
"I'll tell them to meet us at that bistro a few blocks from the precinct okay?" Olivia said as she dialed Nick first.
"Sounds good. I'm going to shower." Rafael replied, dropping a kiss on the top of Olivia's head and walking towards the bathroom. Olivia smiled softly and crossed her legs as she persuaded all the squad and a few extras to come to lunch.
With time to spare, Olivia shed her clothing and with a wicked grin slipped into the bathroom with Rafael.
An hour later, Olivia and Rafael walked into the bistro and found Nick already sitting at the table with Amanda. "You're lucky you're my partner, Liv, I'm taking time away from Zara to be here." Nick teased with a smile, and Olivia put her hand on his shoulder.
"Nick you should've said something, I wouldn't have…"
"Liv, relax. I'm just kidding." Nick said with a chuckle, pointing to the chair next to him.
Soon Fin, Melinda and Munch walked through the door as well and settled down at the table. After they'd ordered, Olivia stood up and everyone turned to look at her.
"This morning Rafael and I were talking about our upcoming wedding, and we made some decisions."
"Already?" Munch mocked before adding, "My ex-wives dragged the engagement out as long as they could."
"Who wouldn't? Look who would be waiting for them at the altar." Fin joked, and Munch rolled his eyes.
"Very funny guys. Anyways, I have a question for Amanda and Melinda. Would you two be my bridesmaids?"
Melinda beamed at Olivia and said, "Of course!"
Amanda looked a little surprised but she smiled and replied, "I would love to."
Rafael smiled as he stood up too and looked at Nick, Fin and Munch. "And I'd like you three to be my groomsmen." Olivia elbowed him and he pretended to look hurt before clearing his throat and revising, "Will you be my groomsmen?"
"Hell yeah pretty boy!" Fin said with a wide grin, raising his glass up towards him.
Nick smiled and nodded, saying, "Claro esta, it would be an honor."
"I'd love to myself, you know how I just love being the center of attention even if it's brief, but we're outnumbered here in the count." Munch pointed out, and Olivia nodded.
"I know, don't worry about it. I've got it figured out."
The lunch continued with a light and happy tone to it, and soon they all left to go their separate ways for the rest of the weekend. When Rafael and Olivia headed for home, she had a smile and a contented look on her face that Rafael intended to keep on her face for the rest of their lives together.
That night Olivia set up a Skype date with Alex, and when she popped up on her laptop screen she was shocked to see both Casey and Alex sitting there grinning at her. "Oh my gosh! What are you two doing together?" Olivia demanded with a wide smile, and Alex chuckled.
"I had to come to Pennsylvania for work for a few weeks, and I asked Casey if I could stay with her. She gave me a hard time about it but agreed after a few arguments." Alex said teasingly, and Olivia chuckled.
"You guys are crazy."
"And that's why you love us, don't lie." Casey retorted, and Olivia had to laugh again.
"Whatever you say, Case. So I have some news for you two," she started to say, and then dissolved into giggles when the same questioning look came over both Casey's and Alex's face. "I'm getting married!" Olivia exclaimed with glee, holding her left hand up so the sparkling ring could be seen on the screen.
"Oh my God!" Casey yelled, and Alex immediately demanded,
"Who!?"
"Me." Rafael said with a chuckle, sliding his arms around Olivia's waist and poking his head onto the screen.
"Barba?" Alex said in shock, and Olivia was confused.
"Alex…Alex Cabot?" Rafael said in surprise, and then said to Olivia, "Cabot and I worked together on one case a long time ago, I was just starting in Brooklyn, she in Manhattan."
"Oh yeah, me and Barba worked together a few times." Casey said in recognition, and Rafael nodded, replying,
"Yes, Novak, now I remember. Olivia only told me your first names, I didn't put two and two together."
"Well good, I don't have to worry about introductions then," Olivia said with a smile, and then cut to the chase. "All right, ladies, the reason I wanted to Skype was because I want to know if you, Casey will be one of my bridesmaids."
"Of course!" Casey exclaimed with a grin, and then Olivia looked at Alex, saying,
"And will you be my maid of honor?"
Alex blinked a few times and then nodded, saying seriously, "It would be an honor."
The three women dissolved into giggles at the word play, and Rafael kissed the top of Olivia's head before walking out of the room so she could continue her Skype call with them in private.
I definitely tried to make this chapter a little longer than usual to try and make up for my severely long absence. And holy crap that episode! The Beast's Obsession I think it's called…I seriously have no words, and yet I totally can't wait to add that into this story! Is that weird?
Anyways, we'll slow down with the wedding details in the next chapter and continue on with Amaro's One Eighty with less dialogue I promise! Thank you so much for reading and sticking with this story for 37 chapters! I love you all and I promise I will update within the next few days!