Was it my imagination?

I could've swore I saw someone like you

A thousand people at the station

And it's like I used to doubt of you

-Polaroid (Jonas Blue, Lennon Stella and Liam Payne)


Only her son could talk her into this. Only Noah and that new camera. She was wondering if she could demote Carisi for giving it to him for Christmas. Noah had taken such an interest in Carisa's camera and editing pictures, she knows it came from a good place, but at this moment, she was wondering about putting him back on a walking beat.

"Here mom!" Noah yelled, handing her yet another picture. That Polaroid camera, spitting out pictures left and right.

"Remember, you only have so much film."

"Sonny put some extras in the box with the camera. I made sure I grabbed a roll." She sighed, putting the picture down in her bag. Sure. This child can't find his shoes in the morning, but an extra roll of film is a priority.

"Honey, can we please come back another day?"

"Mom! They are taking the tree down tonight. I want a picture of it before they do!" She sighed, following Noah. He was right. The Rockefeller tree was coming down tonight. One last chance to get a picture of it for the season. It had been the only thing he had talked about since he had opened the camera on Christmas. Getting a picture of the tree. She kept hoping he would forget but no. When he saw the story about it coming down tonight, she knew she was sunk. Damn Savannah and Hoda for making THAT piece of information a top story of the day!

At least the tree coming down wasn't quite the spectacle it is when it goes up. There were still people around, but not near as many before Thanksgiving. At least it wasn't wall to wall people tonight. She watched him bounce on his toes, waiting patiently for the crowd to part a bit so he could take a picture or two.

He finally got his chance and she just smiled, watching him reel off pictures, looking around, trying to find a good angle. Maybe Carisi didn't deserve a walking beat, but he was totally taking Noah out the next time he wants to take pictures of something.

"Mom! Let me take your picture!"

She shook her head. "Noah, honey, that's ok. I don't need…"

"Please! PLEASE! Just one?"

This kid and the puppy dog eyes. It was the worst. She sighed and agreed, laughing as he tried his best to get her in the perfect spot. A street artist even came over and let him stand on his stool so the picture was at least at her level. He took three and they both thanked the artist.

"Ok, kid. How about some hot chocolate and then home" she said, taking the last three pictures and dropping them in her bag. They walked a couple of blocks and stopped in to a local coffee house. Olivia ordered a hot chocolate for him and a latte for her and a brownie to split.

"I have to pee" he said as she sat down. She groaned. "I can go alone, mom. It's just right there and it's one bathroom" he said, pointing to the small door by the counter. She nodded and sent him on his way, not taking her eyes off of him until he shut the door. Still with some fear from Sheila, she watched the door intently until he came back out, sitting across from her.

"Did you look at the pictures?" He asked. She shook her head, pulling them out of her bag. He had amassed quite a stack. She looked at them, kind of impressed.

"You have a good eye kiddo!" She said, looking at them and then handing them over. She got to the bottom of the stack, to the pictures of her. Even after a long day, with little makeup left on and hair that hadn't seen a brush in well over 13 hours, she was happy they turned out, for him. She looked tired, but that was par for the course these days.

She got to the third one and had to blink a few times. She thought she was seeing things. But she wasn't. There, in the background, in what could only be described as an epic photobomb, was Rafael Barba, making a face behind her.

"Did it turn out?"

"UNCLE RAFA!" Noah screamed, shooting out of his seat and around Olivia. She turned slowly to see him standing there, like a ghost of Christmas past or something. A little more facial hair, a little more grey peeking through, but still him.

With Noah attached to him, their gazes locked. "Sorry for the photobomb. I saw you two and him with the camera trying to take your picture and I just couldn't resist. Then I saw you two heading here, so I just decided…. You look good, Liv. May I?" He asked, motioning to the empty seat between her and Noah. She just nodded, unable to find her words. He smiled sheepishly at her as he sat down. Thank God for Noah and his endless chatter. It gave her a moment to find her footing. Almost a year. A few texts, one phone call on her birthday. But that's been it. Almost a year without seeing his face and it was like he had been gone for a life time and hardly at all.

"Mom?" She shook her head and looked across the table at her son. They were both looking at her, waiting for a response to a question she didn't hear.

"What?" She croaked out. He laughed, covering his mouth with hand. "This one is my fault, buddy. I surprised your mom. I'm not sure she knows how to respond."

"MOM! Tell him it's awesome that he's back." Olivia looked at him and in that moment, realized she had been lying to herself about how much she had missed him and how much she desperately needed him to stay.

"Noah's right. It would be rude otherwise. Welcome back, Rafa. We sure missed you a lot."

"You did?" He asked, resting his hand over hers on the table.

"Immensely" she replied.