After spending at least an hour together playing with Noah's new bricks, Olivia put her son to bed while Barba finished off their dinner. Then they ate and chatted cheerfully - Olivia couldn't remember the last time she had felt this comfortable in a fledgeling relationship. In the past, she was always waiting for the other shoe to drop, but this felt like a beginning. A beginning that for once didn't seem to be a prelude to an inevitable ending.

At a little after 8 pm, Olivia walked through from checking-in on her son to find Barba already in the process of renting their movie.

He looked up at her with a grin that made Olivia think about what he must have looked like as a child. She wondered if he was carefree. Did the burden of his relationship with his father weigh him down? Or was that an occasional grey cloud over an otherwise happy childhood? She knew he'd had close friends, family…and his mother.

"What?" He asked with intrigue.

"Did you have a happy childhood?" Olivia asked as she came to sit beside him on the couch.

He smiled a little and shrugged, "I guess…mostly. There were bad times and good, but with the luxury of hindsight the good seems to outweigh the bad."

Olivia smiled and nodded. She ran her hand over his burgeoning beard and gazed into his eyes, "That's really good. You deserve to be happy."

He tilted his head at the slightly melancholy tone in her voice and nodded. "As do you," he replied.

"I'm extremely happy…" she smiled genuinely, although she was purposely avoiding the subject of her own childhood, "…my gorgeous man is about to introduce me to the wonderful world of Star Wars."

Barba felt like this might be his idea of heaven - an evening curled up on the couch with Olivia Benson, being called 'her man' and watching Star Wars. He'd questioned his karma in the past but right now he had no doubt that if past lives existed he must have done something amazing.

Olivia rested against him, kissed his neck and then lay her head on his shoulder, smoothing her hand over his broad chest. "So, do I need to know anything?" She asked as he started the movie.

"Just that I'm about to change your life!" He replied with intentional hyperbole.

She laughed, curled closer and smiled as the movie began. "You already have," she replied and heard his breath catch.

When the movie drew to a close Barba looked down at Olivia and smiled. "So? What's the verdict?" He asked, even though he knew she'd enjoyed it.

"Can we watch the next one now?" She grinned.

He laughed, "We both have work in the morning, Liv."

"So, you'll come tomorrow?" She suggested.

"Seriously?" He chuckled.

"Mmmmm, definitely..." Olivia replied and leaned over Barba a little so that he naturally lay back. She really had enjoyed the movie, but now it was time to enjoy her favorite ADA. She continued the journey of her lips down his throat and inquired casually, "So were you a Han or Leia boy?"

Barba smirked, "Luke is not even an option?"

She smiled, "I know you."

He took a moment to enjoy that fact and then nodded. "Definitely Han, although Carrie Fisher is amazing…" He pulled back and raised an eyebrow, "You really don't mind that I'm bi, do you?"

Olivia laughed softly and moved up to lay between his legs. She slipped open a few buttons on his shirt and kissed slowly down his chest. "Do you care about my history with other men? We're not exactly kids, Rafa…" She lightly grazed his skin with her teeth.

"Well, obviously I despise every man who has ever laid a finger on you," he (mostly) joked and then gasped when her tongue flicked over one of his nipples.

Olivia smiled up at him.

"As long as you're mine now," he added more seriously and stroked over her hair.

"As long as you're mine," she countered with a gentle laugh.

"Completely," he assured with certainty in his tone.

"Then it doesn't matter who we were with before, it only matters that now we are choosing each other. I don't want anyone else, I assume you feel the same? I don't share…" She smirked at him pointedly and arched an eyebrow.

"You," he assured again, "…only you."

"I wouldn't change one single thing about you, Rafa," Olivia affirmed and then moved back up his body to join their lips once more.

They fell into a long and languorous kiss, exploring each other's mouths while luxuriating in their freedom to touch.

After about half-an-hour, Olivia pulled back as little as she could and rested her forehead against his. "If you really want to take this slowly I need a moment," she teased and breathed in his intoxicating scent, "…I'm seconds from ripping all of your clothes off."

Barba hummed and nuzzled closer, "I guess I should go."

"Nooooo…" Olivia whined a little against his skin.

He smiled and started to sit them both up, "We have work in the morning."

"Stay? We can-" Olivia started.

"Liv, I should go home…" he smiled at the slightly imploring look in her eyes, "…how about we tell Noah that I'm coming for a sleepover after our date on Saturday?"

She smiled and leaned in to kiss him. "Mmmmm, that sounds really nice."

"It does," he agreed, "...the things I want to do with you, Liv. This is exquisite torture."

Olivia stroked her hand slowly up the inside of his thigh.

"Mmmmm…" Barba groaned and rolled back his head. "Livia, God!"

Olivia laughed at him, "You need to go, right?"

He raised his eyebrows at her and then smirked, "You're not making this easy, Olivia Benson. Saturday?"

She laughed, "So when you said slow?"

"I just want to lead up to this a little, spend time together...wanting you..." he leaned in and kissed down her throat, "...but I'm not a saint. Especially when the woman of my dreams is laying in my arms."

"Come back tomorrow?" Olivia asked as he peeled himself away from her and began to stand.

"I'm in court until late and then back in on Thursday morning. I honestly can't..." Barba replied regretfully.

Olivia sighed with resignation as they walked toward the door. "Rafa, I already miss you when you aren't here."

Barba turned Olivia against the wall next to the door and then pressed his lips gently against hers. "Dios, me too. I could manage coffee tomorrow?" He was unable to contemplate going one day without seeing her right now. "About 11? I'm not in court until 1."

"I'll come to you?"

"Perfect," he agreed.

"Maybe you could text me when you get home?" She suggested tentatively, suddenly knowing that she would sleep better with confirmation that he was also safely warm in bed. What was happening here? This already felt unlike any other relationship she had ever had.

He smiled happily, "I can do that."

They kissed again.

"I love you," they both said in unison and then laughed a little.

"Tomorrow?" Barba replied with a smile.

"Tomorrow," Olivia agreed and then stroked her hand down his chest before he slipped away.

TBC...