"Christmas felt like moments ago, but four months had passed, spring was upon them all the flowers coming into to bloom. Easter was fast approaching. Olivia looked around the empty apartment that was no longer hers, a new person moving in the next day. She hadn't lived there in 2 months, but it felt odd leaving it to another person to inhabit. There were so many memories in the place that she would miss. Raphael had helped her pack the very last of her things, mainly decor she had gone without and some dinnerware. She was excited to live with him. She was a little nervous, too; if she was honest with herself, she felt the apartment was a safety net just in case. The "just in case." never happened, and even though she knew this could all blow up in her face tomorrow, she wasn't worried.

"Liv, you ready?" Raphael asked.

Olivia looked over at him with a box in hand.

"Yeah, of course." She stated.

She closed the door to her apartment one last time.

They made it back to Raphael's apartment, Lucy, waiting at home with Noah.

"That's everything," Olivia declared as she and Raphael set down two boxes on his table.

Somehow the place hadn't become cluttered a lot of things for both parties donated.

Lucy smiled.

The apartment looked cozier than the first time Lucy remembered walking in the place. Raphael and Olivia had gotten a new couch that suited Noah more and allowed her to spend the night on a rare occasion. Usually, Raphael was home, but there were a few times he had an overnight thing to do with the college.

Raphael enjoyed his second semester of teaching. Knowing what he knew now made him become more relaxed. The subject matter seemed more comfortable. The teaching came more naturally, and he was more inclined to do outside activities. When they asked if he would be returning in the fall, he had agreed. Olivia was pleased to know his new job was exciting to him.

Olivia continued working case after case, she was exhausted but felt fulfilled. With Raphael in her life, she reminded herself more and more that she needed to be home to spend time with him and Noah. Noah was involved with so many things now. He was in dance three times a week, the school had a weekend camp for arts, and he was there every Saturday learning new dances, short plays, and songs. He was involved in creative writing. He had Dalton over about every other weekend.

Olivia and Raphael had been discussing the idea of marriage and what it would detail for the two of them. They both agreed it would be nice. Olivia insisted she kept her name. Raphael had no qualms about it. Someday she dreamt of the traditional big wedding at St Patrick's cathedral, which she knew was ridiculous. Other times she thought about a secret quick courthouse wedding with just Lucia as a witness. Other times she thought about running off to Vegas but laughed at the idea.

Raphael hadn't even asked her, but they had been talking about it. She knew it was the next logical step, and she was looking forward to it. She felt too old to be engaged, but with her, everything seemed to take its time. She was happy she would have the chance, a chance she had written off a while ago.

Raphael walked through the door. It was the last day before Spring break for NYU, and Olivia had taken a few days off to spend some much needed time with Raphael. They never seem to have enough time together, and Olivia's sure, even if they spent every single moment together, they would still want more.

"I'm so lucky to have you for four glorious days. You realize it's only two months and three days until we go back to Malibu?" Raphael asked.

Olivia laughed.

"yeah, but I thought I told you we needed an East Coast beach trip before we go again." Olivia laughed.

"That's why I booked a long weekend in Miami," Raphael stated.

"You what?" Olivia asked.

"Well, our flight leaves tomorrow, and we will be back Monday night, then we have all day Tuesday," Rapahel claimed.

"Your serious," Olivia claimed.

"Of course, unless you just want to stay here," Raphael stated as he kissed her lips.

"And Noah?" Olivia asked.

"Up to you," Raphael said carefully.

"mmm, when was the last time we had a weekend to ourselves?" Olivia asked.

"When Lucy took him at the end of January" Raphael mentioned.

"Have you already discussed this with Lucy?" Olivia asked.

"Yeah, sort of," Raphael admitted, not sure if he was in trouble or not.

"Well, maybe it should just be you and me." Olivia kissed his lips.

"Sounds like a plan," Raphael said and kissed her again.

"I have to pack," Olivia claimed and walked to the bedroom, Raphael following behind.

Olivia and Raphael were hugging Noah goodbye, and claiming they would be back Monday. Noah didn't seem to care his parents were going to the beach without him besides he and Dalton had better things to do, Lucy promised to take them to the trampoline park and bake double chocolate chunk cookies.

Olivia was surprised by the first-class tickets on their way to Miami.

"You didn't need to do this," Olivia claimed.

"I did, and I will, I love you, Liv," Raphael stated.

The plane touched down, and with only a short trip, they opted to take only their carry-on. They quickly got a taxi to the hotel overlooking the beach. The weather was way warmer than in New York this time of year, and Olivia was excited to lay on the sunny beach, put her body in the warm ocean, and, most importantly, stare at Raphael in his swim trunks all day long.

Olivia only waited to hear the door click shut when she began unlayering and pulling up a bikini. The high waisted bottoms covered the scars on her stomach, and the full cup top hid the scars on her chest. The only thing anyone could see was the inner thigh scars, but they had lightened up a lot even from when Olivia and Raphael started seeing each other, slowly healing after all these years.

She put on a cover-up and was ready to walk out the door before Raphael had unbuttoned his shirt.

"Well, someone is excited," Raphael claimed.

Olivia laughed.

"Let me help," Olivia stated.

She undressed the man, slowly feeling his body like it was the first time she ever touched him, and Raphael wasn't sure how she made him feel this way. Her touch wasn't new, but the way he felt never changed. The honeymoon period was over, he didn't jump in delight at every tease, but it still sent jolts through his body, he always wanted her touch. When she wrapped her hands around his hardness and decided playing with him took priority of the sun and sand, he couldn't help think he didn't deserve her.

She finished him, quickly finding his shorts and pulling them on to his legs.

"You sure you don't want me to reciprocate?" Raphael asked.

"Later." She started slipping on sandals and walking out of the room with no other words.

They got down to the beach, and Olivia couldn't help but eye all the beautiful women and men on the beach. She wasn't as self-conscience as she used to be, but she couldn't help thinking that Raphael was eyeing a few of the woman as well as the men, but she couldn't say anything because she had been smiling at a younger man that keeps glancing over at her and she can't help but feel flattered at the stares.

"He likes you," Raphael said, suddenly making Olivia jump.

He laughed.

"It's okay to look, you know," Raphael claimed.

"Sorry," Olivia stated.

"Don't be; he's cute, and totally into you who wouldn't be?" Raphael asked.

"I could be his mother." Olivia sighed.

"But your not and trust me that look says I want to fuck, not hi mom." Raphael laughed.

"Thanks for that, picture," Olivia claimed.

Raphael laughed again as they lay in the borrowed beach chairs.

'You ready to get in the water?" Raphael asked. Olivia smiled and shook her head.

The water was warm, and she got in chest-deep, allowing the waves to slowly pull her in and out but making sure she could always touch bottom, not wanting to drift out to sea. Raphael did the same and felt nice to be with her in the warm ocean, they were swimming and touching and hugging playing in the water it felt nice to be able to spend this time together.

"You know, sometimes you make me feel like I'm 15 again," Olivia claimed.

"I don't think I ever felt 15 even when I was 15," Raphael commented.

She knew the feeling well but didn't dwell.

"I love you, Raphael Barba," Olivia claimed, putting her hand on his shoulder and kissing him.

"I love you, Olivia Benson," Raphael replied, holding her in his arms for a long time.

When they finally got out of the water and into the hot sun, they were getting hungry. They waited until they dried off Olivia pulling a thin dress over her swimsuit and Raphael pulling on a shirt, and they went to burger joint along the beach.

"So you said I made you feel 15 again, tell me what was 15 like for you?" Raphael asked.

"Well, I guess that was my first serious boyfriend, Tom. I was a Sophomore and High School. It was the first year my mom let me have anytime away from home. It was the first time I felt free." Olivia claimed.

"I make you feel free, even though we're attached at the hip?" Raphael asked.

"Yeah, with you, Rafa, I feel like I can do anything," Olivia admitted.

Raphael smiled at her and grabbed her hand.

"I feel the same way, Liv."

Olivia and Raphael made it up to there hotel room a little after nine, and they were exhausted. Olivia quickly showered and changed into pajamas, and although it was only the beginning of April, the humidity was high, and she changed into a thin nightgown. Raphael had quickly showered as well as Olivia already halfway asleep before he crawled into bed.

Olivia turned over and wrapped her body around him, breathing in his scent.

"Liv?" Raphael questioned.

"Hmmm?" Olivia asked.

"Marry me?" Raphael stated.

"I already told you I would," Olivia stated sleepily.

"No," He said, turning over, a ring in his hand. Will you marry me, Olivia?"

She looked at the silver-colored ring with three diamonds on the smaller side so it would protrude too far from her finger.

"Oh, Rafa, yes, of course," Olivia stated.

She kissed his lips, and he slipped the ring on her finger.

The ring was a perfect fit, and now she knew why newly engaged women stared at it. It felt heavy on her hand but not in a bad way. It was a constant reminder that she was indeed taken. She loved the ring, the thought he had put into it. She loved the fact he waited until they were alone and she was half out of it to give it to her, it felt like such a Barba move.

"I love you, Raphael." Olivia sighed and turned to move around, sleeping peacefully.

The next morning Olivia kept staring down at her hand. She was in love all over again, and it felt different. She told him they never had to marry if he didn't want to, she was perfectly okay with just living together, and she would have been, but now, she couldn't imagine anything else, and although they had only been together for ten months she felt like he could have asked her nine months ago, and she would have said yes. In a way, she knew all it would be was a piece of paper. They had already proved to each other, and everyone else they loved each other, but it was nice it would be on the public record.

Olivia was looking between the beach outside, and her engagement ring Raphael was still asleep. She ordered room service and tied a robe around her before slowly trying to wake Raphael up.

Breakfast was served, and the two ate out on the balcony listening to roar of the waves and the mix of people's conversations from the beach. Olivia missed Noah but was glad to have these days as a newly engaged woman with Raphael Barba.

"Such a shame, we're not going down to the beach today," Olivia commented.

Raphael frowned.

"What are you talking about, Liv?" Raphael asked.

"Well, we haven't celebrated our engagement, and it might take me all day, Olivia stated, getting up tracing her fingertips down his arm. His eyes turned wide, understanding her meaning, and quickly followed her back to the bedroom.

Olivia wasn't entirely faithful to her word. After mid-afternoon, they both were to tired to proceed and took a nap, waking up in the early evening and heading down to catch the last few hours of sun. Raphael walked her along the coast to a restaurant he knew well and pointing out all the authentic Cuban dishes ordering enough food for 5-6 people so that Olivia could try everything he loved. Olivia laughed when there was no room left on the table after all the plates came out. Raphael was feeding her, and Olivia laughed as he told her the stories of visiting family in Miami on the holidays.

Sunday came much sooner than they were expecting, but the two went down the beach Olivia already having a golden tan with the short amount of time they had been out there, made her glow even more, and Raphael couldn't help but steal glances at her body as it sat in the sun. They would have a conversation from time to time but, for the most part, stayed silent listening to the waves overhearing other people's conversations and thinking about the future and what lies ahead.

When the two touched down in New York, Lucy and Noah were there to greet them. Lucy took notice of the ring right away and jumped up and down in excitement, pulling Olivia's hand to her face so she could stare at the glittering stones.

"It's beautiful, Liv!" Lucy claimed.

"I know!" Was all Olivia could say.

"You gave mommy the ring," Noah stated.

"I did mijo, your mommy loves it," Raphael stated.

"I helped pick it out!" Noah said proudly.

Olivia looked back at Raphael for confirmation, and Raphael nodded his head.

"Well, it's wonderful, Noah," Olivia stated.

Olivia pulled her little boy close and walked out of the parking lot with Lucy, who took them home.

"Congratulations!" Lucy stated before leaving the family at their apartment building.

They looked up at the building and smiled.

"it's good to be home," Olivia stated.

"That it is," Raphael commented.

Olivia went int to the precinct on Wednesday Amanda caught a glint of light in her eye and saw the ring in all its glory. Amanda wasn't one to be overly girly, but she squealed in delight!

"He finally asked you!" Amanda screamed.

All the men looked confused until Olivia held up her hand, said, "Yes!"

Sonny and Fin quickly congratulated her and insisted they go out, Raphael included for drinks sometime later in the week.

Olivia sat down to her desk as her office telephone rang. She picked up to hear they had a new victim and sighed. She jotted down the information and took it out for Amanda and Fin to go out on. Another call came in and then another, and soon she was out in the field as well—the weight on her finger reminding her what was waiting at home.

The End.

A/N: Once again, thanks so much for sticking this out. I hope you enjoy it. If anyone wants to submit any plot ideas for the sequel, I have a few in mind, but I'm not sure where it will go. I hope to have it up in the next month or two, Follow me or be on the lookout for – Moving Around it will likely not be updated as often as this I got the first chapter sketched out.