Thanks again to ITryToFly for reading this and making sure everything was ok. :)

Disclaimer - there's mention in here of the most serious illness known to mankind - and it's at the end of the chapter. It's a serious illness that has caused many to succumb to its most terrible of symptoms. (Just like these two characters, sarcasm is one of my talents). Enjoy.

"Lillian, por favor mírame."

I smile and do as he asks. I look directly at him and I see his eyes smiling at me, his hands still gently holding the sides of my face, his lips now pressing against my forehead. For me, this is one of the most tender gestures one could ever do or receive, having someone rest their lips in a kiss on your head. He speaks to me without moving where his mouth is.

"Tienes mas coraje que yo."

I scoff at his words.

"I seriously doubt that."

I can feel him smile against me as he continues.

"Being loved is the greatest feeling on earth, the greatest blessing, and so with it comes the greatest of fears and responsibilities. It's a package deal Lillian so with that in mind, knowing what I am and do for a living, here's my defense."

He pulls his head away from me, his hands still holding my face as he looks directly at me, a smirk growing on his face.

"I have none. You have left me completely defenseless and as a Defender, that's an utterly terrifying place to be."

I can't help but laugh and roll my eyes at him, and it served its purpose. It feels like there's been a weight lifted that was hanging over us.

"When I worked in the DA's office all those years then worked so closely with SVU prosecuting cases of such unimaginable repugnance that I wouldn't want to begin to describe to you, I suppose I unknowingly told myself that despite wanting to I couldn't pursue anyone, in spite any inherent want and desire to. There was always that unease of 'what if?'. What if I read signals wrong, what if she changed her mind after the fact, what if?"

I nod my head, understanding his frame of mind and now knowing how extremely cautious he felt he needed to be.

"That night at the auction was a polite society brawl. You're absolutely right though. I was cocky and arrogant and I know it, but you should have heard the thoughts in my head. I didn't know if you had seen me, but I wanted you to… very much. I heard you say that it was your favorite piece in the collection and that you hated to see it go. I had no idea who the other person was who I was up against, but there was no way he was going to win. It was at that moment I knew how I would get your attention – good or bad. That was your piece, and it belonged with you, no matter what."

Wait, what? I put my hand up to stop him from continuing his train of thought.

"Hold on. You bought that piece for me?"

"Initially I just wanted to win, I hate losing, anything. I didn't fully realize it at the time, but I got so invested and to make sure you noticed me I needed to win. I do love it and it is a window into a cell for sure, but I was going to donate it back to the gallery after a few months had passed so I suppose I can bring it by now."

I'm speechless, but watch the honestly in his eyes, watching his forehead crinkle as he forms his next thought.

"Regardless of all that, I love seeing you in the middle of the day, and I can't begin to tell you how anxious I was to read the 'read' receipt on each message I would send you every morning. I knew you were awake and would hopefully have a beautiful smile on your face. Much like the one that's on it now."

Here comes my blush, damn winter paleness.

"Lillian don't look away, please look at me."

Every time he says please, it breaks all my resistance.

"I didn't contact you for the last couple of weeks and I'm so very sorry for that, more so now knowing that I almost lost you. I hope I'm not too late and that I haven't missed my chance. I'm not a very publicly open person as I know you know, but you're slowly changing that and I thank you for it. The consistency of you being in my day has helped me become better at my job whether you know it or not. Your ability to truly listen when I have a difficult case and I need to vent, or your gift for maintaining an intriguing thrust and parry session of ideas have helped me to see the other side of things more clearly gives me an edge and a desire to want to do more to help people. Never in a million years would I have ever imagined that the only thing impeding my true happiness was myself and my inability to let people in behind my invisible wall. You are completely in and you have broken down my proverbial wall with a jackhammer. Or a pair of Louboutin shoes, I haven't quite decided which."

I can't help but laugh at that and he does as well. We both take a deep breath and as he presses his lips gently against my forehead I have officially lost all resistance. Whatever he needs, whatever he asks, it's his before he even asks me.

"Mi precioso amor, dices que te estás enamorando. Me caí, la primera vez que te vi. Si puedes pasar por alto todos mis defectos e incomodidades, me encantaría tener permiso no solo para besarte, sino para finalmente hacerlo bien."

There is only one word I can think of to say at this moment. I look at him with as much emotion as I can muster and whisper my response.

"Si."

"There's no going back now, you know."

I nod my head as our faces draw closer.

"I know."

There is something so heavenly about a kiss in the rain, a tender moment that just won't wait. It is that burst of love that is expressed, not caring if the water soaks through to chill the skin. It is a connection that shows the strength of the feeling, the mutual need. It is a rebellion against the elements. Nature can bring the rain but our inner sunshine comes through just the same. In that moment when he leans toward me and his lips delicately and tenderly touch mine for the first time, we simply can't look away from each other. I see brightness and life in his eyes that screams excitement for this monumental event in our journey together and as he presses towards me just a little, almost to secure the unwritten bond, the moment ignites and becomes an ever-bright flame. I can only hope that he sees the same expression of emotion and anticipation in mine. In his gentle kiss is the promise of years and the sweetness of having waited for real and genuine love. It's not at all the same fervor as those you see at the movies, but one steeped in a passion that ignites after a slow, steady burn. It is the promise of realness, of the primal desire that lives in us all to love and be loved. With each movement he unknowingly tells me that he is finally awake, connected and whole within, that he embraces who he is himself rather than having to hide as a copy of those romantic idols that men fear that women dream of. Having to breathe is one of the most unfortunate parts of life right now, and as our lips leave the comfort of each other to create the most minute amount of space between them, all I can say his name.

"Rafael…"

It was very quiet, but considering how close his mouth is to my ear I caught wind of it. It was a low, deep, almost guttural sigh of satisfaction.

"Si."

I can'thelp but smile and giggle as his lip traced my ear. I can only respond in a whisper..

"Eso no podría haber sido más perfecto, mucho mejor que mi sueño."

"Acordado."

I smile and laugh as he kisses the top of my head and directs our eyes towards each other.

"Hi."

"Hola señor."

"Cómo estás hermosa?"

"Muy, muy bien."

He smiles, kisses my forehead then looks again into my eyes. His are shining as they do when he's exceptionally happy and I can only be glad that I'm a small part of that.

"We're both drenched, but I don't want to be away from you right now."

I had forgotten it was still raining, despite how soaked we both had become.

"Nor do I, Rafi."

He takes a deep cleansing breath, then takes my hands as he makes his offer.

"Why don't you come to my place? We'll order some dinner later and just relax, watch movies, eat popcorn, talk. Only if you feel comfortable with that."

I smile at his sweetness. He still is concerned, and I truly understand why now, with the thought of me changing my tune as it were.

"Only if we can stop by my place to pick up a couple of things first. Something tells me that once I'm there I might get so comfortable I might not want to leave for the night."

He nods his head.

"I'm ok with that."

He looks into my eyes with seriousness, holding me closely as he speaks softly.

"Lillian, you know that - in legalese - beyond any reasonable doubt that I'm in love you, right?"

I smile, and in this moment everything is exactly as it should be.

"I know now, Rafael. The feeling is very, very mutual."

He wraps his arm around me, placing his lips on the top of my head.

"Let's go home."

Home. I love the sound of that. It's a place to feel safe, a place in which you feel so very loved and appreciated. Home is where the heart is comfortable being vulnerable and real. In all my years, in all my searching for it, I am only now starting to feel a sense of what home is and what it can be. It took a long while for me to realise the difference between a house and a home. In this home that I fully know I have now I feel calm. I can love and be myself. I can have balance within myself. I can be a strong pillar for others because I was able to heal in this space. To share a home with him ... that's the dream... that's the next step and I'm more than willing to wait… he's worth the wait. To share a home with a lover who loves me the right way and it's reciprocated... I'm excited.

"Ok. I don't need you catching pneumonia. Something tells me that the dreaded and potentially fatal man cold could hit you hard."

He smiles and one of the most honest laughs I've heard in months as we walk back towards the subway.

"Hey, the man cold is lethal."

"It is. I should get a lawyer to draw up a will for you, just in case."

He rolls his eyes and smiles at me. Sarcasm is one of our flirting mechanisms, and I wouldn't trade that for the world.

"If I get sick are you gonna take care of me? Cater to my every whim? Bring me chicken soup with lots of little noodles in it?"

"You're how old you Rafael?"

"Ummmm…."

"48 going on 5 sounds about right."

He smirks and I sneak my arm through the crook of his as we reach the subway station.

"Yes, Rafi. If you get the man cold, I will take care of you and bring you chicken soup with lots of little noodles in it. Orange juice too."

"Thanks."

I look over at him and he gets a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

"Hey. Do I get the nurse outfit too?"

This is where he learns that I have side eye that kills.

"No presione su suerte, amigo. The only nurse that your man cold will ever get from me is Nurse Ratched."

He smiles at me and in that moment we are both safe with each other, sitting on the subway heading home.

Home. What a lovely thought.

TBC

Feedback is lovely - like chicken soup with lots of little noodles.