A wish by barsonaddict!

I hope you like it :)


A Thousand Years

Rafael's heart was racing in his chest as he stood under the white wood arch decorated with ivy and saw Noah walking down the aisle, looking incredibly proud in his blue shirt, grey suit pants and suspenders while he threw flower petals onto the grass. Shifting slightly, Rafael's fingers moved to fiddle nervously with his own suspenders – Noah and he wore matching outfits – but then his gaze fixed on the person standing at the other end of the aisle, and the little garden and the guests were fading away.

Olivia smiled softly as she slowly walked towards him, and Rafael took a shaky breath as he thought about how beautiful she looked – for a moment, he feared that he was dreaming. Her lace dress was cream-coloured and hugged her curves gently; her hair was falling around her face in soft curls and she seemed to be both nervous and happy as she approached him. She was bare-footed, just like Noah and him, and Rafael wasn't ashamed of the tears gleaming in his eyes as she came to stop next to him, handing her bouquet of white roses and lilac hyacinths to Fin.

"Hey," she whispered as Rafael took her hand into his, and they both noticed that the other one was shaking slightly. Rafael gently lifted her right hand and kissed her knuckles, as if to convince him that she was truly standing in front of him.

"Hey. You look wonderful, mi amor."

"Mummy is always beautiful," Noah piped up, and Olivia and Rafael laughed softly, feeling a little bit of the tension disappear for some time.

They looked each other into the eyes for a long moment, a silent question passing between them, and then they turned towards the official that would conduct the ceremony. It had been their wish to not have any long speeches, and thus it didn't take long until they were to exchange their vows.

Rafael could hear his mother and various other people sniff in the background as he looked Olivia in the eye and said: "Liv, you're my best friend, and since we met, you made me a better person and gave me my hope in love back. You remind me of the important things in life, and when I am with you and Noah, I don't need anything else, because I have everything I could ever wish for. You two make me the happiest I've ever been. I love you, Liv, and I vow to stand by your side, whatever may come."

Tears were gleaming in Olivia's eyes and she choked, her gaze wandering for a moment as she tried to compose herself, and Rafael squeezed her hands that were lying in his. But when she started to speak, her voice was steadier than he would have thought.

"Rafi... I love you for always being patient with me, even though it would have been justified to be make me laugh when I feel like crying, and you bring light even into my darkest days. From you I learned how love is supposed to be – on even ground, giving and taking the same as the other one. I love you, Rafi, and I want to squabble with you when we're grey and old. I vow to stand with you through darkness and light on the path that lies ahead."

They both nearly dropped the rings as they exchanged them, causing everyone including them to chuckle, and the official had barely spoken the words that declared them husband and wife as they kissed each other. Everyone rose to their feet and clapped, but Olivia and Rafael didn't even really notice; they were in their little bubble as they kissed again before Rafael picked Noah up and the three of them shared a tight embrace.

OoO

It was dawn when the long lines of lights hanging above the dancefloor and the tables in the garden were switched on and the musician announced the first dance of the newly-weds. Rafael led Olivia onto the dancefloor, a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes as he pulled her towards him, placing a soft kiss on her lips before the music started to play. It was a slow song and they danced closely together, their cheeks touching, and Olivia couldn't remember a day in her life on which she'd ever felt like this – unconditionally happy and content.

She didn't know why, but somehow she started whispering along to the song, her breath ghosting over Rafael's ear as she seemed to renew her promise from earlier.

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid
I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me

I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

They both could feel the tears rising again and Rafael's grip around her waist tightened for a short moment before he leaned back to kiss her, causing them to stop dancing. It was true, they'd waited for this for so long, had endured a lot of pain and failed relationships, but right now, they both knew that it had been worth it.

Rafael gently wiped the tear away that had sprung free from Olivia's eye and she smiled as he pecked another kiss on her lips before Noah joined them. Slowly, their friends and family joined them on the dancefloor, and the three of them danced in the middle, as a family.

OoO

NEW YORK TIMES

Worth The Wait – Crime Fighting Duo Seals The Bond

The 5th of June marked the end of a long wait for NYPD's Lieutenant Olivia Margaret Benson (48) and Manhattan's Assistant District Attorney Rafael Felipe Barba (46). Friends and family of the pair gathered to witness the emotional ceremony that included their four year old son, Noah, and celebrate the pair's love in a beautiful, intimate garden wedding. Though not the youngest bride and groom of the season or celebrating the most pompous wedding, the author finds that Olivia's and Rafael's love is one of the purest and truest and deserves more than a short mention.

Their story began in 2012 when Mr Barba transferred to the borough of Manhattan and began working with then-detective Benson and the Special Victims Unit. "They had a connection right away that only grew stronger with time," says one former co-worker who wishes to remain anonymous.

A strong friendship developed between them and never broke, even though there were some tough obstacles to overcome. Deeper feelings had been simmering beneath the surface for a very long time, but still it took them a long time to act on them – they'd both been fearing that things could fall apart.

"It wasn't easy to separate our personal and professional lives when we were friends, and we were afraid that things between us could go horribly wrong. But even though we still have disagreements at work, we found our way of keeping that away from our private life. When we shut the door at home, we leave the Lieutenant and the ADA outside," Barba explains when asked about how they handle working and living together.

"I never regretted this choice, not once," Benson adds, and they share a loving smile. "We never gave up on each other and fought for us, that's the most important thing, I guess."

And on June 5th, it was once again evident how much they feel for each other when the groom had eyes for nothing but his bride. The pair's vows were beautifully honest, and even someone who didn't know them could tell that there was a lot more being exchanged between them, proving how deep their connection truly is. It's not exaggerated that not a single eye remained dry and the author would like to thank the couple's son, four year old Noah, for the moments of levity - it truly is remarkable how far a child's voice will carry when the subject is wholly inappropriate. Upon their return from a honeymoon/family vacation to Disney World, the Benson-Barba family will settle on the Upper West Side.

OoO

Olivia smiled softly as she looked at the picture above the article – it was one of their official wedding photos, where they were standing in the hedge maze of their wedding location, Noah holding his parent's hands and they had carefree laughs on their faces. Maybe it was supposed to feel awkward to see her wedding written about in a newspaper, especially since she knew that quite a few people from her past would see it, too, but then, she also felt like she wanted to scream her happiness out to the whole world.

"I'm back," Rafael said as he climbed onto the bed and Olivia put the newspaper aside, smirking as his fingers started to toy with the belt of her silk robe. "So, Noah will be in the children's program for nearly the whole day... what are we going to do with all the free time, Mrs Benson?"

"Hm... I'm sure we can think of something," Olivia mumbled before his lips met hers in a passionate kiss, his arms slinging around her as he pulled her closer.