The following morning they woke early and after Barba had dressed Olivia tip-toed with him through to her front door wrapped only in her bedsheet.

"See you later tonight," she said, then grabbed hold of his shirt, pulling him toward her for a brief kiss.

"You will..." he smiled against her mouth.

"Last night was amazing, but I can't wait for tonight," Olivia said as they parted and she stroked her hand down his chest.

"I'll pick you up at 7, I'm going over to my mother's this afternoon so I'll bring her with me," Barba explained, "...then I'll pay for her cab when we get home."

"You're such a good son," Olivia said with a twinkle in her eyes, "...that's incredibly sexy."

He laughed, "Sexy?"

Olivia hummed and leaned against her doorframe as she admired him. "My sexy man - champion for justice, good to his mom, world-class lover."

Barba leaned in and kissed her again, then ran his hand down her bare arm before reluctantly turning to walk away.

"You also have an amazing ass, ADA Barba!" She called after him softly as he walked down her hall.

He looked back at her, rolled his eyes and then laughed silently.

Olivia answered the door to Barba and his mother at just before 7 pm that evening, she was wearing a perfectly fitted knee-length green dress that was complimented beautifully by her emerald bracelet.

"Liv, you look..." Barba trailed off speechlessly.

"You looked beautiful, my dear," Lucia completed for her son. Then her eyes lit up when she saw the jewellery on her wrist. She reached out and took Olivia's hand, holding it gently and touching the oh-so-familiar bracelet.

The fact that this lady was wearing her mother's jewellery meant more to Lucia than if she had seen an engagement ring. She knew what this gift meant to her son, he had given her his heart.

Olivia felt a little nervous when his mother noticed the bracelet, worried she would assume her son had been reckless with his grandmother's legacy. However, Lucia brought her hand up to her cheek and held it there for a second with an expression of genuine affection that made Olivia's breath catch.

As Lucia released her hand Olivia stepped back and encouraged them through. "Thank you so much for doing this, Lucia, we're so grateful," Olivia said as they walked into the living area.

Noah smiled up at their guest, "Uncle Rafa's mommy!"

"Noah, Uncle Rafa's mommy's name is Lucia, can you remember that?" Olivia reminded him gently.

"Lu-see-cah," Noah smiled.

"I think you can call me Lita, if that is easier for you, Noah?. If your mommy and Uncle Rafa do not mind?" She looked at them both hopefully.

They both recognised the significance of the name - but before Barba could voice concern that his mother might be overstepping Olivia slipped her hand into his, smiled at Lucia and then looked at Noah. "Are you looking forward to spending the evening with your Lita?" She asked him with a smile.

"Leeeee-tah!" Noah said happily, then reached his arms up for Lucia to pick him up.

Once in Lucia's arms Noah smiled at his mommy and Uncle Rafa, "You go dancing now?"

"We're going for food first," Olivia reminded him.

Noah nodded, "B-bye!"

"I think we're dismissed," Olivia grinned at Barba, still holding his hand as she turned to tug him toward the door.

Barba was still processing that Olivia had been so casual about her son calling Lucia his grandmother...even if he wasn't entirely aware of that. They would need to talk about that tomorrow, but for now, they had their date to enjoy.

Barba smiled at Olivia across the restaurant table.

"What is that smile about?" Olivia asked with a matching grin.

"We're on a date," he replied and then felt a little foolish, "…I mean, obviously we are, I just…"

Olivia reached across and slipped her hand into his. "I know exactly what you mean, Rafa, I keep having to resist the urge to pinch myself. I also can't believe that you remembered me mentioning this restaurant, that must have been months ago, thank you."

His smile spread and he squeezed her hand for a second before briefly tracing his finger over her bracelet, then releasing it so they could continue eating.

"You wanted to talk?" Olivia asked after a few moments.

Barba glanced away for a second, then looked back at her and shrugged. "That can wait…" he replied a little stiffly.

Olivia frowned, "It obviously can't, not if something is bothering you?"

"I just don't want to spoil our date with discussions about work and-"

"Discussions about you, Rafa." Olivia pointed out firmly, "...about you and your future. Our future. Also, you know you happen to be one of my two favourite subjects?"

Barba looked at her with a self-conscious and lopsided smile that made her belly flip.

"I met with an old friend recently…" Barba started slowly, "...well, I suppose mentor would be a more suitable word. He was a visiting lecturer at Harvard and took a genuine interest in my career. I was a scholarship student, so I guess I always felt that I had to work twice as hard as everyone else to prove that I deserved my place. You know?"

Olivia smiled sadly. "While you actually deserved your place even more," she countered.

Barba smiled as her with a look of complete respect.

"Professor McAllister never made me feel like that. He's Scottish, smart, witty, didn't take any bullshit," He smiled at her.

Olivia nodded, she liked the sound of this man already.

"He took me under his wing, Liv. Gave me extra tutoring, even organised for me to get a vacation placement at his son's law firm. I was only an office drudge, but the money was better than bussing tables or working behind a bar, and it gave me invaluable experience and contacts…" Barba trailed off.

"So you met him recently?" Olivia prompted.

"A couple of weeks ago, not long before you broke up with…" His words trailed off and he smiled at her, he didn't want to even mention Tucker's name on their date.

Olivia nodded, "And?"

"He moved back to the UK a little over fifteen years ago, but he's over here visiting family. He's currently vice-chancellor of Oxford University."

Olivia's eyebrows raised, "Impressive."

"Our meeting made me think. He had all these elaborate ideas, he wanted me to take a teaching fellowship...to eventually become a professor. He's followed my career and has been impressed by my work. I was flattered, more than flattered…" he looked up at Olivia, who looked about as shocked as he'd been expecting her to be. "As you know, I'm not without ego where my work is concerned," he smirked at her and she laughed softly, "...but McAllister had a huge role in my education, so that meant a lot." Barba paused for a moment and then continued, "He used to teach me to look between the letter of the law and understand how it's implementation can impact individuals, groups...even society as a whole. I've realised that I changed the way I looked at the law in the years after college, everything had started to become so black and white. Then after I met you, after we began to work together, you reminded me about those shades of grey McAllister showed me...and brought to life a whole rainbow of colors besides. Our legal system reflects who we want to be as much as who we are, and the fact that we often fall so short of our own expectations is, at least in part, because we fail to understand our own potential."

"Rafa…" Olivia said softly. She had so rarely heard him talk so passionately about the law, especially outside of the courtroom.

"I've started to think about the work we do - I know that we make a difference to people, Liv, every single day. You more than anyone else. But think what I could do in a classroom, helping to educate the next generation of lawyers...who could actually be shaping the legal system long after we've retired."

Olivia could see the fire in his eyes and felt herself become ignited by his passion.

"You were actually offered a position?" Olivia asked.

Barba shook his head, but then clarified, "I mean - yes, I was. Of course, I turned that down. Just the idea though, Liv...it made me think about what I could do next. Teaching is a path that I honestly never even considered."

"Wait, this position is a huge deal, right? Oxford? It's one of the most respected institutions in the world?" Oliva pushed.

"I didn't even consider it, Liv…" he assured, "…I couldn't. Not then…and obviously not now."

She'd rarely heard him sound so incoherent, it was clear that underneath his rationalisations this opportunity meant a lot to him. "Rafa, did you turn down this job for me?"

He finally met her eyes and shrugged. "Livia, it's fine, this is not about the specific job offer. I didn't know how to leave New York before, how to leave you…and now that is not even an option."

"This is an opportunity to become part of the teaching faculty at one of the best colleges in the world. To become a professor..." Olivia pushed further, this was like pulling teeth.

Barba sighed, "An honorary fellow of Merton College and Visiting Lecturer in Law and Ethics, it's…"

"A huge deal!" Olivia repeated with frustration, shocked that he hadn't even mentioned it until now.

"You and I…" he started.

"What exactly did Professor McAllister say to you?" Olivia asked.

Barba rolled his eyes a little, "Patrick wanted me to go back to Oxford with him for a few days, this week actually...to get a feel for the place. I'm sure with the intention of talking me into agreeing. He claims that I'm a natural educator and…"

Olivia suddenly had a powerful feeling that this man understood Rafael Barba's heart and could really see his potential. Anyone who met him could recognise his skills as a lawyer, but his innate humanity gave him the potential to be so much more than that.

"You should go to Oxford, Rafa. Can you take the personal time on such short notice?" Olivia asked.

Barba looked shocked and more than a little horrified. "Olivia, no!" He responded quickly.

"You'd be back by the weekend," she insisted.

"To what end? I'm sure as hell not taking the position!" Barba assured her firmly.

"Without even finding out more?" Olivia asked.

"I'm not leaving you and Noah," Barba was looking at her like she was crazy now. Did she actually not understand how much he loved them? "Even the suggestion is ridiculous."

"You wouldn't be going anywhere without us..." she replied calmly.

Barba's jaw dropped, he looked at her as though she had just grown two heads.

"Go to England. Find out what this job entails..." she repeated, "...then if it turns out that this opportunity is as good as it sounds come home and we'll talk."

"Talk?" Barba looked bewildered.

"This is a partnership, Rafa. We need to make choices together for the benefit of all of us...you, me and Noah," Olivia pointed out. "The only reason I'm not mad at you right now is because this offer came before we admitted our feelings for each other."

Barba's mind rushed to catch up. "You're not saying that you would consider moving to England?"

Olivia shrugged and put down her knife and fork. "I don't know - but I am saying that before we make that choice we need more information."

"What about New York, the unit, your friends, your job?" Barba asked, still struggling to process the direction this conversation had taken.

"They are all important to me, especially our friends, " Olivia agreed, "…but nothing is forever. Except this, us."

Tears welled in Barba's eyes now. "Tucker wanted you to retire and you..." he started.

Olivia shook her head, "I'm not ready to retire, Rafa...but maybe with you, I'm feeling ready to be a little brave. I'm not saying let's jump on a plane, I'm just saying let's find out more and weigh up our options."

"I don't know what to think…" He hadn't even considered that this job would be a possibility.

"Let's table this for now?" Olivia suggested. "Just promise me one thing?"

He nodded easily.

"Go to England? Find out more? If it turns out not to be what you want at the very least it could give you some ideas about what you do want." She sipped her wine and then added, "I need you to understand that your happiness is as vital to me as mine is to you, Rafa."

He paid the bill and then they stood and walked toward the exit.

"So...dancing?" Olivia asked and linked their arms.

Barba smiled, "Fundamental Cuban foreplay..."

Olivia grinned, "Oh really? Can you dance?"

Barba looked offended, "Mi amor, I'm Cuban! Of course, I can dance!"

Olivia laughed, she leaned into his side as they walked, then kissed his neck and breathed in his enticing scent. "I like being your love…" She teased softly and ran her hand over his back.

Barba turned his head to catch his lips in a brief yet passionate kiss as they walked. "My love…" he repeated happily and as his hand was cover by her jacket he stroked over her ass.

She laughed and pushed up against him, then glanced ahead and noticed Ed Tucker walking toward them hand in hand with who she assumed must be his date. She froze, he had obviously seen them and there was no way to escape gracefully.

The coincidence seemed ridiculous for a moment...although they had just been eating in one of Olivia's favorite restaurants, a place she had regularly mentioned to Ed, but that they had never had the chance to visit.

"Olivia," Tucker said dryly as they became close enough to speak.

"Ed," Olivia replied and almost automatically moved to step away from Barba, until she felt him hold her close.

"You two look…cosy," Tucker observed.

Olivia smiled a little sadly, "I'm sorry, Ed. Well, I'm not sorry…but this was…"

"Inevitable?" Ed asked. He had barely even looked at Barba.

"At least…" Olivia paused and glanced at Barba, "…well, at least we didn't end over something superficial. Rafael is the love of my life, Ed. I'm just sorry about how things between us ended. That was never my intention."

Tucker bristled a little but then forced a thin smile, "I'm happy that things have worked out for you…" he glanced at Barba, "…don't fuck this up."

"I would rather die," Barba replied emphatically, "Olivia and Noah are my life."

Tucker was taken aback by what he thought seemed like an uncharacteristically emotional and forthright response from the lawyer. He looked between the two…Olivia was still slightly curled into his side and he suspected that Barba's hand was resting over her ass - he'd never allowed himself to think about it before, but they actually looked really good together.

Olivia couldn't resist turning and kissing Barba's cheek when she heard his heartfelt reply to Tucker's taunt.

"I truly am sorry, Ed. I genuinely cared about our relationship, but I'm not sure I even realised that what I have with Rafael was possible," Olivia said genuinely.

"In spite of everything, I hope you're both happy," Tucker conceded.

Olivia nodded gratefully, she'd never doubted that he was a good man, she smiled at his date then looked back at Tucker. "Me too, Ed. Take care of yourself."

As they started to walk away Barba slipped his hand into hers. "That could have been a lot worse, I guess he's not a bad guy..." he acknowledged.

"Just not bad?" She smiled.

"The thought of that man touching you still makes my skin crawl," Barba pointed out, "...'not a bad guy' is as good as you're getting."

She laughed softly and stepped closer to him as they walked.

TBC...