It was 3:30 am when her phone rang, and she reached for it, Raphael's arm still on her causing her not to be able to reach entirely, she moved his hand and answered the phone, waking Raphael up at the same time.

"Okay...understood… I'll have Rollins and Carisi on it." Olivia stated.

She quickly dialed the number to Amanda who said she would call Carisi and see Olivia in the morning.

"Everything okay?" Raphael asked.

"Yeah Rollins has it handled, but if we get another call tonight, it's my turn to go out," Olivia stated.

"Okay, try to get some more sleep," Raphael stated.

"Yeah okay." Olivia turned around facing Raphael, he turned as well, and she put her arm around him, falling back asleep.

Morning came without any interruption until Olivia's alarm went off at 7:30 am

Raphael woke to the noise glad they did go to bed early because he was already getting used to sleeping in.

Olivia got up told Raphael she was going to shower and get ready, he took it as his queue to get out the room and give her space. He walked into the kitchen to provide Olivia with something warm to eat before she left. He found some eggs and a skillet and went to work. When she walked out, she found Noah awake and eggs, toast, and orange juice waiting for her.

"Well if I knew the weekends included a hot meal I would have had you start staying years ago," Olivia stated.

Noah didn't understand and barely held his fork up to eat ready to fall into his eggs. Raphael was glad it would be a subdued day for Noah.

Olivia kissed Noah goodbye, and hugged Raphael kissing him on the lips before stating

"If everything goes okay I should be back by 5 pm. Hopefully the case they caught last night was open and shut."

Raphael looked over at Noah, who was slowly eating his eggs, and hoped that they would survive the day.

"What do you want to do today, Noah?" Raphael asked

"Can we go to the park?" Noah asked

"Of course." Raphael stated.

Noah went into his room and changed into clothes for the day.

Noah was getting his shoes on when he complained they were too tight. Raphael felt down, and indeed his toes were at the very end of the material.

"Well it looks like we're going shopping for new shoes, whatever you want." Raphael stated.

Noah was excited as Raphael googled the closest kid shoe store. It was only a block away, and he asked Noah if it was too painful to walk when he said, "no." They took a trek to the shoe store. Raphael took the boy in where he immediately went to shoes with cartoon characters all over. An employee measured his foot and was two sizes bigger. Raphael let the boy wander around, and saw he was looking at a pair of dress shoes.

"I want shoes like you wear!" Noah stated.

Raphael laughed.

"They may look nice but their not very comfortable, you can try a pair on and if you like them you can get them, but you need a pair of tennis shoes.

Noah looked odd in dress shoes and shorts, but he happily walked in the all around the store and claimed they didn't hurt so Raphael picked up the box and took him back to the tennis shoes. He finally decided on a pair of blue and black ones, and Raphael checked out.

They quickly went back to the apartment, and he let Noah where the new tennis shoes and they went to the park.

Lucy was right even though Noah was excited about his shoes he was subdued, he didn't run to the park-like Raphael had expected they took a leisurely stroll, and Noah pointed out some places along the way that either Olivia or Lucy has taken him. He stopped to watch a squirrel scurry up a tree and then when they got to the playground, all he wanted to do is swing.

Raphael pushed him at first, but Noah kept the momentum going swing his legs back and forth, he eventually got so high the chains would bend, and he would fall back quickly. Raphael wasn't sure if he should say something or not, but Noah slowed down and going at a more calming height for Raphael's heart.

Raphael was leaning against the swing structure watching as Noah and another little boy Noah seemed to know talked on the swings. Suddenly without warning, Noah jumped from the moving swing and stuck the landing before Raphael could even think to yell at him not to do it.

The other little boy jumped as well.

"This is Dalton!" Noah said.

"Hi, Dalton." Raphael stated.

"So are you his step-dad or something?" Dalton asked.

Raphael felt numb; he had no clue what to tell the little boy who asked who he was. He hadn't talked to Noah about his and Olivia's relationship.

"He's my mom's best friend," Noah replied for Raphael.

"Oh, so you're his mom's boyfriend!" Dalton stated.

Raphael had never wanted to tape a kids mouth shut prior to today, but he was getting the feeling that this Dalton kid may need it. Raphael still didn't respond, but neither kid seemed to notice, and Noah asked if he could play with Dalton on the slides.

"Yeah, buddy of course," Raphael stated as he walked to a bench that surrounded the jungle gym.

Soon enough, he saw the group of ladies that Lucy had warned him about; they sat not really paying attention to their kids; he was convinced one of the ladies was Dalton's mom. They were gossiping, and he had heard one lady ask the other group of ladies who he was. He was about to grab Noah and run out, but it was too late one of the ladies had come to confront him.

"We haven't seen you around." A lady with blonde hair and shirt blue dress came and sat right beside him. He quickly sat at the end of the bench, but her leg was against his. He didn't want her to know how uncomfortable he felt and stayed there.

"Yeah I uh, have Noah today." Raphael stated, pointing to Noah.

"Oh, Lucy is his nanny, right?" The lady questioned.

"Yeah, that's right," Raphael stated.

"His mom has brown hair older lady. She's a cop," She boldly claimed.

"A lieutenant but yes that's his mom," Raphael stated.

"Such a shame she needs a nanny and a man to care for him." the lady touched his shoulder.

"She doesn't need anyone, she happens to be working this weekend." Raphael pulled away and quickly stood up, not believing how fast the woman got to him.

"Well when you finally, realize she's just using you, give me a call, the lady had a piece of paper in her hand he hadn't seen before and attempted to put it in his front pocket before he took it out of her hand and marched over to the slides and told Noah it was time to go.

Noah looked upset but didn't argue and took Raphael's hand.

"I'm sorry, I know you were playing, we can go anywhere else you want to go." Raphael stated.

"The Zoo?" Noah asked.

"Okay, to the zoo," Raphael stated.

He thought about going to the central park as he was sure that was the zoo Noah had been thinking off, but he decided against it. He grabbed his metro card and walked to the nearest stop to get him where he wanted to go. Noah was excited to use the subway; he didn't do it very often. The train wasn't too full, but Raphael insisted he sit still, and stay directly beside Raphael the whole ride. When they got out, Noah looked around, and it wasn't familiar.

"This isn't the zoo," Noah stated.

"We're going to the Bronx Zoo." Raphael stated.

"I've never been to the Bronx Zoo," Noah said happily.

They walked towards the park, Raphael got the tickets and Noah happily roamed around the exhibits. He looked at the bears, and the giraffes, he watched the toucans play for a long time and pointed out animals excitingly. Raphael hadn't been hassled by anyone at the zoo and enjoyed the time. He hadn't realized how late it was, it was nearing 4:30 pm, and he knew they wouldn't quite make it home before Olivia. So he texted him.

Barba: Hey time got away from us we might not be back before you get home.

Olivia: Well, a good thing, I'm stuck here late. I should be done by 6 I had some more paperwork I needed to get done.

Barba: Okay, dinner will be waiting.

Raphael let Noah look at the giraffes one more time, and they walked back to the subway and got to the stop closest to Olivia's apartment.

"What do you want for dinner?" Raphael asked.

"Spaghetti!" Noah stated.

"Okay, Spaghetti it is." They walked to the small grocery on the way to the apartment, Raphael picked out things needed to make his own sauce. He knew how to make pasta but not very well, so he got the boxed kind, and allowed Noah to pick out a few things, including a loaf of garlic bread and vegetables to put in the salad. They got to the apartment at 5:30

"I'm going to make dinner you can go play," Raphael stated.

"Can I watch TV." Noah asked.

"That's fine." Raphael stated.

Noah sprawled out on the couch taking the whole thing up and began watching cartoons at Raphael went to work making spaghetti sauce and grabbing a large pot to boil water. Olivia walked through the door at 6:35 pm as Raphael was cutting up green peppers into the salad.

"Wow, two meals in a day, I think I like you staying here!" Olivia laughed.

"Who knew I could have hired you as a nanny instead," Olivia stated.

"Mommy!" Noah screamed and ran towards her.

"Hi, baby, I missed you so much!" Olivia stated.

"I went to the park and the zoo today!" Noah exclaimed.

Raphael served dinner, and Noah walked without a word to the stools eating and telling Olivia all about his day.

"Mom I even got cool new shoes!" Noah claimed.

Olivia gave Raphael a look.

"He was complaining his shoes were too tight, we got a couple of pairs of shoes no big deal" Raphael explained.

Noah brought his new shoes over to show his mom and Olivia oohed and awwed until she saw the dress shoes said "imported Italian leather."

Olivia bit her tongue putting in a mental note to bring it up tonight after Noah went to bed. Olivia could tell the boy was getting sleepy. She finished eating in peaceful silence and told Noah that he needed a bath soon. The boy protested only for a minute until Olivia threatened no tv tomorrow.

Noah took his bath, and made his way to bed, falling asleep before Olivia or Raphael could tuck him in.

"Hey, I appreciate that Noah had a good time with you, but you didn't need to do all that," Olivia stated.

"I had a good time to Liv, and I wanted it too." Raphael state.

"You're spoiling us both Mr. Barba," Olivia stated.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Raphael stated and kissed her lips.

"Please don't." Olivia said as pulled away.

"What's wrong, Liv." Raphael asked.

"Nothing it's just this is perfect and..." Liv trailed off

"One day, it won't be? One day I won't be here to get Noah whatever shoes he wants, or make you dinner when you're home from work?" Raphael asked.

"Yeah," Olivia stated breathlessly.

"Liv, you can't think this relationship is over when it has just begun," Raphael stated while rubbing her arms.

"Listen Liv, I get it, but it's not me you've been with, and I have to make up for every failed relationship but I will," Raphael stated

"Raphael..." Olivia stated but had nothing to say

"Liv look I've had my share of heartbreak, nothing as fresh as Tucker though. I'm not going anywhere Liv, but you can't act like I'm guilty of something I haven't even done Liv. I'm innocent."

"I know Raphael I'm so sorry it's just it's hard for me right now to believe this all happening so quickly." Olivia stated.

"Hey, I told you we could take our time, whatever you need," Raphael stated.

"That's not fair to you," Olivia stated.

"Liv, I'm not arguing, just come sit on the couch and relax," Raphael stated.

"So Noah told me his version, tell me about your day," Olivia stated.

"Lucy wasn't kidding about the mom club is there another park nearby," Raphael asked.

Olivia laughed. "Sorry but not with a playground like that. Who hit on you?" Olivia asked.

"How did you know?" Raphael blushed

"Single guy in the park, with a whole bunch of stay at home Manhattan mom's I know," Olivia stated.

"I don't know her name blonde came up to me and tried to put her phone number in my pocket!" She practically tried to sit on top of me, Liv!" Raphael stated.

"Can't blame a girl for trying," Olivia stated and moved, so she was slightly sitting on him.

"Then this kid Dalton came and asked me if I was Noah's step-dad..." Raphael proceeded.

"and..." Olivia ask

"your kid saved me and said we're best friends. Then Dalton said, "oh you're his mom boyfriend. Then they ran off to the slides," Raphael concluded.

"We need to talk to him soon. You know you didn't have to buy him Italian leather shoes Raphael!" Olivia stated.

"He liked them and they were cute I thought we got off that topic a while ago." Raphael stated and leaned in to kiss her.

"Oh no, you don't get to seduce your way out of this," Olivia stated.

"He's going to grow out of those so fast his shoes that were too small. I bought just a few months ago." Olivia stated.

"Well, then I guess in a few more months we'll see if he's interested in a new pair," Raphael stated and continued to try to kiss Olivia.

"You're too much Raphael" Olivia squealed

"You wouldn't want it any other way, Olivia," Raphael stated.

She finally let his lips find hers. She moved so she was comfortably in his lap and his tongue to enter his mouth.

Olivia Benson couldn't describe the feelings she had with Raphael Barba touching her holding her kissing, her. It was instant searing burn where ever he touched. With Ed, it has been nice comfortable but never a fire. Brian may have lit a fire after a while, but it was a slow kindle that would ignite in the bedroom and yeah the sex was good, but she could not get off while only kissing him as she did with Raphael and she wasn't sure just why that was.

Raphael was slowly planting open mouth kisses to her neck, and she moaned involuntarily when he reached her pulse point. She didn't want him to stop. She had her hands rubbing his chest, encouraging the behavior, but before she knew it, he was back to her lips. She couldn't breathe and needed a second for her heart to gain a proper rhythm. So She pulled away and put her head on his shoulder.

"This is something I could get used too." Raphael stated.

Olivia started thinking about how this could end up how she wanted it to end up. They weren't moving fast, but this certainly wasn't slow either. She was already so used to this and wanted; no needed this to work out because she was convinced that she wasn't going to find another man like Raphael Barba.
She trusted him more than she had ever trusted anyone, maybe except Elliot, but that was a long time ago. She wasn't sure when she became so trusting of the man, but he had broken down her walls before she even knew she needed to fortify them. She knew he was right for her and Noah, but still in the very corner of her heart, she hadn't let her guard down and now was the time.

"Raphael?"

"Yeah." He asked

"You know how I said we needed to have a conversation or two? Can we have one of those now?" Olivia asked.

"Of course Liv," Raphael stated, looking in her eyes and waiting for what about to come next.

"I need you to see all my scars. From Lewis from other issues, I need you to be okay with it." Olivia stated.

"Liv I've seen the pictures, I know," Raphael stated.

"But you've seen close up photos when they were raw when we weren't together and it's different now. I want you to know what you're getting into." Olivia stated.

Raphael sighed.

"You realize you're not scaring me away, Liv," Raphael stated.

"I'm not trying too, but I need to know if you can look at them every day," Olivia whispered.

"Okay," Raphael stated.

She walked off and Raphael followed her.

She took off her shirt quickly and Raphael had never seen so much of her skin at once. She had worn a thicker bra with a thick band, and the cups rode high, not showing too much of her cleavage a sports bra he guessed.

He saw a few faded marks on the top of her breasts, and she began to talk.

"This is wear Lewis put cigarettes out on me and pointed to each dot. Raphael had to get close to see them but realized they did have a bit of indention to them a slightly pink hue.

She then pointed to what was an apparent stab wound.

"Not Lewis something that happened a long time ago."

"This," she said, pointing to a white scar on her side was from Sealview, another story for another time."

She unzipped her pants, and if this would be any other moment Raphael Barba would be on top of her by now but he knew what the implications would be if he did so, so he stood back and allowed her to continue, she she had lines running all over her lower belly, and few marks that past below the line of her underwear.

"Lewis again with a coat hanger."

Raphael remembered when he saw the pictures they were close enough he couldn't tell on her body where they were but now they on her body, and it was real, and he couldn't imagine the pain she had been through during that time. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, hoping she wouldn't take it the wrong way. She then turned her leg and let her see the scars Lewis left on her inner thighs; there were so many marks her legs were discolored. She continued down to her knees, and her legs and Raphael tried to listen about how she got them, but it didn't matter. He didn't care. He knew it was important to Olivia, so he waited until she stopped explaining.

"Hey I don't need all the explanations, I only need you." Raphael stated.

Olivia looked down over the scars he knew she was thinking about each one.

"Liv, don't get lost inside that head of yours, we got this if you trust me we got this," Raphael stated.

Raphael closed the gap and hugged her.

"Liv, you don't need to convince me that somehow your not good enough. You are more than enough. I love you." Raphael stated.

"Raphael, please." Olivia stated.

"What, Liv?" Raphael asked he swept his hand over her cheek.

"Promise you'll stay?" Olivia asked

"Yeah, Liv. I'll stay." Raphael had forgotten the state of her undress, and none of that mattered right now. All he wanted to do is hold her until she realized he wasn't going anywhere.