"So what's an upstanding Captain as yourself doing in a dive like this at this hour?" Olivia smirked,

"It's any wonder you're single in your late forties with lines like that Barba." Rafael chuckled as he took at seat beside her.

"I'm always up for catching up with my best friend, but what's with the mid week 9-1-1?"

"When did we become those people who needed to schedule drinks on a non work night? Have we really gotten that old?" She asked,

"Well some of us are older than others," He teased earning a hard elbow to his side.

"What I meant to say is that some of us have children they try to go home to at a decent hour," he corrected with a grin.

"Better," Olivia replied rolling her eyes.

"What's going on Liv?"

"Can't a girl just want to hang out with the most uncomplicated relationship she has?"

"Huh, who would have thunk that's what would have me taking the lead…" Rafael wondered out loud earning another elbow to his side.

"Got it. Anthony, Mortlach, double, neat." He signalled to the bartender who gave him a nod,

"And another of whatever the lady is having." He added noting the she was down to her last couple of sips.

"How's Noh?" He said changing the subject as she clearly was not ready to talk yet. Olivia chuckled,

"Like you didn't read him his bedtime story tonight?"

"It was over the FaceTime and I was running late so we had limited chit chat." He answered with a shrug.

"So Stabler showed up at my doorstep last night. He'd been drugged with something that made him tell the truth, and boy did he had truths to tell." Rafael gratefully took the drink that was handed to him and took a generous gulp.

"What truths were they?" He asked,

"It turns out Kathy dictated the whole letter. SHE thought that it would break the ice after 10 years of separation. So all of those words were HERS and not his."

"The part about getting in the way of who you're meant to be?"

"HER,"

"So I'm guessing the two of you not being real was also,"

"Yep, Kathy." Olivia answered as she also took a generous gulp of her own drink,

"Well, son of a…" Rafael breathed out as Liv placed a hand over his. Rafael covered her hand with his other,

"In a parallel life, it will always be the two of us was apparently all him though. He managed to squeeze in without her knowing before sealing the envelope." Rafael abandoned their joined hands and wrapped an arm around her waist despite knowing she would initially protest. Surprisingly Olivia lay her head on his shoulder.

"Now what?" He asked,

"He's gone back to undercover." Olivia felt Rafael take a deep breath and remained silent. She knew that his mind was racing and it was taking all of his self control to not explode with the explicits resting at the tip of his tongue. She appreciated his efforts and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"You're the best friend a girl could ask for Rafa. I am so grateful I have you." Rafael pressed his lips on her temple.

"What do you say we head home to yours, order us a pizza to soak up the alcohol and watch something trashy on Netflix?"

"That's the best offer I've had in a really long time. I'm in. Stay the night? I'm sure your mini would love to see you first thing on a Thursday morning."

"Of course. Aren't you glad I'm in my late forties and single now?" he teased making her laugh. He signalled for the check and ignored her protests as he paid.