The next couple of weeks seemed to pass in a slight blur of political drama, caffeine-induced energy, and little sleep. He'd filed the adoption paperwork for Noah and the home study had begun. He'd made sure to finish work early the night before, to focus on Noah, and the following day he'd gone home right after court, walking Noah home from school.
The visit had gone quite well, thankfully. It was the other series of meetings he was concerned about, given his current schedule. If things went as smoothly as he hoped, Judge Linden would be signing off on the adoption papers for Noah Barba-Benson before long and he'd officially get to call himself the six-year-old's father.
The chaos of the Kings Country D.A elections had the Manhattan office in a storm, as well, now that the election date was getting so close. Two Manhattan Executive ADAs were running and one had transferred out of Manhattan for political reasons.
It looked like EADA Chauncey Parker, who he and Olivia met at their conference, was going to win, but it was a close run between him, EADA Hilary Hassler, and Kings County EADA Michael Sachs. He was sort of rooting for Hassler if he was honest. She had done very well for herself in the Appeals Bureau and it was about time a woman was elected, in his opinion, to the very male-dominated role. Still, Parker did seem like he'd be a good choice as well.
EADA Parker was instrumental in creating the Office's Crime Strategies Unit and Community Partnerships Unit.
He wasn't heartbroken that Mark Feldman, who he knew from his time in Kings County's Hate Crimes during his early career, was out of the running. They'd started off on the wrong foot and then it took on a life of its own. Neither were fans of the other.
As for Rafael, his own caseload had shot way up. Most of them were run-of-the-mill and he'd been able to cut one or two more-than-satisfactory deals. One case, he didn't see actually going anywhere, but it was what it was. He was considering dropping the charges, however. As it was, he was wary to take such a weak case to trial. He was also now covering a mess of a case for a colleague who had felt the need to formally recuse themselves. That meant a lot of overtime and playing catchup on a case that was already well into the judiciary process.
He didn't get to see Noah or well, anyone outside of work, that much, and felt bad. There wasn't a whole lot he could do, though, he felt. He was asked to take the case, and the way it was asked had made it clear it wasn't really a question.
In a week it would be in court and, finally, done. The verdict in the jury's hands.
He and Liv had had a rather impassioned fight about the overtime he was putting in, which made him feel horrid. He was trying, though. He really was.
Thankfully, they'd managed to work it out, and he tried to taper back on the overtime, which had been made easier by him having already completed much of the research he'd needed to do. He'd also managed to use a motion hearing to get the trial date pushed two days later than previously scheduled. It wasn't much, but it was something. Rita was on this case, so he figured she'd suspected the real reason and had taken pity on him.
The I Am Evidence conference at Lenox Hill had gone well, and they'd already received enough new funding to get two more sitting rape kits tested. Hopefully, things would continue in that vein. The rape kit backlog really was a problem.
"What is the point of having a national DNA database if the rapist's DNA is never entered into it." That had been Olivia's opening statement after Rafael had spoken some and introduced her.
Finally, on May 15, District Attorney Davis officially stepped down and Parker was named as the new Kings County District Attorney.
Then, at long last, that Saturday arrived. Keeping the wedding a small, much more intimate, affaire had been perfect for them.
He'd been a bit nervous, but Eddie had squeezed his shoulder in a quick comforting motion. Once he saw her walking towards him, all his doubts faded away instantly. She took his breath away. She'd looked absolutely stunning, and looked every inch the epitome of happy.
When he said his vows, he could see his mother crying, and his voice caught as well.
No, it wouldn't always be easy. But damn if she and Noah weren't completely worth it.
He had no doubt that he would always look back on this as the best day of his life. Olivia was his wife now. It felt like a crazy dream.
They'd both taken the Monday off so Noah stayed with his mother for two days. They'd really needed that, the time just focusing on them.
They stayed in the James Hotel on SoHo for a slight change. They wanted out of the house so decided to plan a 'staycation' as Liv called it.
Breakfast was a lovely buffet which included fruit and individual pans of oatmeal and seared sugared pink grapefruit.
They'd relaxed most of the first morning and then had a picnic in the park, which had been lovely. They'd then done a two-hour tour the Met and went to relax by the pool as it was a surprisingly warm day. They'd gone out for dinner and then out salsa dancing - Liv still needed some practice but had done quite well. Back at the hotel they'd then had a couple of glasses of wine, and just relaxed and chatted, eventually falling asleep in each other's arms to a show they'd put on.
The following day they sat around the pool for a bit, went to see the International fair in Queens, and the went out to a nice sushi restaurant they'd wanted to try.
When they got home Noah was already fast asleep, so they gave him a quick kiss on the forehead, careful not to wake him.
They chatted with his mother some before she had to go home.
That night they fell asleep in each other's arms again.
Little over a week later he got a call that he'd secretly been hoping would come.
They had everyone for dinner because they finally all caught enough time to breathe. He's just finished helping Liv clean up from dinner and was dishing up some Natilla for dessert when the call came in.
"Why's McCoy calling you so late?" Carisi inquired. "Today wasn't a court day."
"Not sure," he said, moving to answer the call.
He hadn't wanted to get his hopes up, but McCoy had wasted no time in getting to the crux of the matter.
"Yes, sir. Of course. Yes. Yes. It's appreciated. Understood." Liv gave him a questioning look at his rambling. "Yes. Good night to you as well."
He hung up, fighting, and succeeding, to keep the stupid grin off his face that was threatening to appear. He wanted to mess with everyone a bit.
"What is it?" Fin asked.
"You're not in trouble are you?" Liv asked.
Rita gave him a look that clearly said, "Is it what I think it is?"
He quickly wracked his brain for how to word it to get the best effect. "Effective immediately I am no longer a Sex Crimes ADA."
Instantly the chatter started. "Are you being transferred? What happened? Are you in trouble? Who will replace you...?"
He locked eyes with Rita, gave her a look, confirming her suspicions, and she started snickering and he couldn't hold back the stupid grin any longer.
"Okay, Rafael Antonio Barba," Liv said, pointing a finger at him. "Somebody better explain right this minute."
"I'm no longer an ADA at all, actually," he said, causing everyone to give him funny looks. "You're looking at THE new Executive Assistant District Attorney of Manhattan Sex Crimes."
That would change certain things. He was now considered the second-in-command and would report directly to the D.A. He would also have a larger role in managing the daily activities and supervision of the Sex Crimes Unit within the office. He would be expected to supervise the larger crimes his ADAs were prosecuting within his jurisdiction. In the Manhattan D.A's Office, the Executive ADA also had the responsibility of hiring lawyers and support staff, as well as supervising press-releases.
That's why he'd had that press-release set up a while back and EADA Lee had backed off some, McCoy coming to ask the questions more than anything.
Liv's arms wrapped around him. "That's great, Rafa! I'm so proud of you."
There were cheers of congratulations and shaking hands.
"I told you you'd get it," Rita said.
He smirked. "I said I didn't want to get my hopes up, not that it wouldn't happen."
"Same difference," Rita said, waving his comment off. He shook his head amused. Of course, that would be her response.
"What happened?" Noah asked. "Your boss is happy?"
He laughed. "Yes, Noah. Very happy. I got a promotion."
"That's like an award, right?" the young boy asked.
"Essentially," he said, still grinning stupidly.
"Felicidades, Papi!" While saying that, Noah gave him a big hug.
Rather surprised, Rafael's heart fluttered at hearing Noah call him that for the very first time. "Gracias, Mijo," he said, fighting back tears. He gave the young boy another firm hug and pulled Liv into another one. "I'll watch my personal caseload, I promise." He kissed her. "You both are my priority; I hope you know that."
"I do," she said, pulling him in for a hug again. "Don't worry about a thing. What's a little more crazy in our lives?"
"You think I'm crazy?" he asked with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"I sure do," she said, giving him a look of fond amusement. "It's why I'm here."
"I'm so glad."
"That I'm here?"
He looked at her tenderly. "That you think I'm crazy."
His wife gave a soft chuckle. "That's why there's nobody else I'd rather be squabbling with at eighty-five."
