Sunday morning came early for Raphael; he was sure the chilliness woke him up he was bare. He felt dirty and sticky from the night before but smiled when he saw Olivia. He saw the bright red numbers saying it was 5:30 am, it was still too early to be awake, but he also couldn't go back to sleep and didn't want to wake Liv. He slowly got up, attempted to miss the squeak in the floor but didn't, and held his breath looking back at Olivia who didn't move. He grabbed his pants, and pulled them up, and slowly and quietly went back to the living room where is overnight bag was. Everything sounded loud, but he got back to her room without waking her or Noah. He went to her bathroom and turned on the shower, hoping not to disturb her.

Raphael didn't know, but he had, in fact, woke up Olivia and she groaned when she looked at the time. She knew she should just turn over but Raphael Barba was in her bathroom using her shower, and she couldn't resist the urge to join him. She thought about it for a minute and decided she would at least ask him first.

So she pulled over his shirt to cover herself just in case he wanted his privacy, she knocked on the door but proceeded to open it.

"I didn't mean to wake you Liv." He said.

"I know, care if I join you?" Olivia asked.

Raphael stuck his head from behind the curtain, checking to see if he heard her correctly.

"Join me?" Raphael asked.

She laughed yeah, "You know share the shower," Olivia stated.

A groan came out of his mouth that she accepted as a yes.

She pulled off his shirt and stepped in behind him. He instantly turned around to take in her body.

They kissed, and she let him touch all over, and she was doing the same. His penis poking into her belly, and she grabbed it.

"Liv," he moaned out.

She began to rub and touch, watching his face as he closed his eyes, and she started tugging a little harder.

"Liv, I'm gonna..."

Liv continued to work until he had finished and let out a breath he had been holding for a long time.

She giggled at the wide grin she had received.

"If I knew I would wake up to that I would have gotten up a lot earlier," Raphael stated.

Olivia hugged him and laughed as she just being near him made her stomach burn with ache.

Raphael kissed her And made long strokes down her breasts and around to her butt. She moaned in pleasure and his fingers dipped closer and to closer to her folds but she was already trembling with excitement that she didn't trust her footing, so she pulled his hands back up.

"It's too much I'm not explaining to the ER how I fell out of my shower." Olivia stated. Raphael laughed, and continued the kissing and finally took turns washing each other until the water started to run cold. Raphael didn't get fully dressed; they had been in the shower for almost an hour, and Olivia yawned.

"Come back to bed before Noah wakes," Olivia stated.

Raphael agreed only in a t-shirt in boxers, Olivia had a robe on. She laid on her side, and Raphael spooned her.

"Do you want to sleep or you have other things on your mind?" He asked.

"To be honest, both," Olivia stated.

"Sleep then we have time later," Raphael stated.

Olivia and Raphael fell back asleep until 8:30 am when Noah knocked on the door.

Raphael sat up first Noah was awake, and here was with his naked mother in bed. He shook her awake.

Olivia stretched, Readjusted her robe and opened the door.

"good morning sweet boy," Olivia stated.

"Mommy you and Raphael had a sleepover." Noah noticed.

"We did sweetheart," Olivia stated.

"I like when we have sleepovers," Noah stated

"Me too. Let mommy get dressed, and we can have breakfast." Olivia laughed.

Olivia closed back her door and Raphael made his move to gather the rest of his clothing.

Raphael dressed, ignoring Olivia because if he didn't, Noah would be waiting a long time for breakfast. Olivia was quick to dress in a t-shirt and leggings. Her hair was still damp from the early morning shower, and she put it in a ponytail. Olivia wasn't interested in cooking that morning and pulled boxes of cereal out for everyone to pick their favorite.

Noah was hurrying already asking to go to the park.

"Will they be there?" Raphael asked.

"Who?" Olivia asked.

Raphael rubbed his neck and blushed. He didn't say anything.

"Oh the moms, not as many it's Sunday afternoon they have to go to church to keep up appearances," Olivia stated.

"Well in that case, maybe stay close by." Raphael stated.

Olivia laughed

"Afraid of a few women out on the prowl," Olivia asked.

"Very much so, they are something else." Raphael laughed.

Olivia, Raphael and Noah headed to the park, its already warm and Olivia regretted not grabbing bottled water out of the fridge. Noah ran the whole way there, and Olivia was keeping a brisk pace to keep up with him. Raphael could feel his heart race not used to the fast pace in the heat and reminded himself he needed to get out more as he was jogging to keep up.

When they got to the playground Noah got a swing and instantly kicked off and swung high not caring that the chains were bouncing and going back and forth. Olivia didn't seem too concerned so it let Raphael relax just a little. He swung for a bit then ran over to the playground area, climbing up the net ladder and going down the slide. Olivia stood at the corner of the playground, and Raphael eyed the ladies sitting on the bench the blonde woman he met last time hadn't made an appearance but a few of the other women he recognized.

"Should have brought a book with you," Olivia stated.

"You think we will really be here that long," Raphael asked.

"Maybe."

"I needed a break anyway. I don't even know if I could read Dr. Suess at this point. I am done reading for the weekend." Raphael stated.

Olivia and Raphael watched Noah play until Raphael got a call from his mother. He walked away to a quieter area of the park, to hear his mother yell at him about skipping mass, after telling her he would go this week. It had totally slipped his mind he tried to explain to his mother that he forgot and she continued to berate him. Olivia looked over and could see the expression on his face but didn't intrude.

Raphael's mother insisted that he have dinner with her and go to Sunday night Mass. Raphael agreed to meet his mother and finally felt it was time to tell his mother about Olivia. He was facing away from the playground, and as he turned a woman, he had seen last Saturday was walking towards him.

"You were here last weekend, right?" The woman asked.

"Yes, with Noah, and I am currently here with him and his mother, Olivia," Raphael claimed.

"Oh, with her," and pointed over to Olivia, who was watching Noah slide down the pole.

"Yes, with her." Raphael confirmed. He was about to walk away, but the woman stood directly in front of him. She put her hand on his shoulder and asked:

"Is she really your type?"

Raphael brushed the ladies hand away and responded

"Very much so, now if you will excuse me."

The lady stepped in front of him again. Olivia turned and looked and saw the scowl that Raphael was giving the lady.

"You don't have a ring, how about just one date." The woman asked.

"No, thanks you're not my type," Raphael stated. He stepped aside, but the lady grabbed at him.

Before he could say another word, Olivia was directly beside him. She had walked at an angle that she could still see Noah, and get to Raphael without him or the woman noticing.

"He said no, and if you don't take your hands off him, I'll arrest you for assault," Olivia said in a very possessive voice one, he hadn't quite heard before.

The lady sighed then said, "your loss." and walked off.

"Jesus, Rafi, I didn't know they were that bad," Olivia stated.

Raphael shrugged his shoulders and walked back towards the playground.

"Everything okay with your phone call," Olivia asked.

"Yeah about that, I forgot I was supposed to go to Mass with my mother this morning. She insists I come to dinner and evening Mass tonight." Raphael stated.

Olivia looked at him for a minute.

"You still haven't told her," Olivia stated.

"It's not that I wasn't going too, I already decided tonight I would, it's just I was working on the syllabus, and I knew my mom would have 1000 questions." Raphael stated.

"It's okay, it's not like I've told anyone really," Olivia stated.

"So who all knows," Raphael asked.

"Amanda obviously and Fin knows a little more, but that's it," Olivia stated.

"Fin knows more than Amanda?" Raphael asked.

"Well not necessarily more. He knows your not a fling." Olivia stated.

"So Amanda thinks we're a fling," Raphael asked.

"No, it's just she hasn't asked we've all been busy, and I don't kiss and tell, as you very well know," Olivia stated.

Noah was still running around playing with other kids and didn't notice the conversation Olivia and Raphael were having. It wasn't an argument, but neither one of them were very happy either.

"I need to go to my apartment before meeting my mother, I'm having dinner at her place at 5:30, and she would have a heart attack if I were in anything less than a three-piece suit," Raphael explained.

The two didn't notice how close Noah was to them until he suddenly asked: "We're going to Raphael's apartment?"

Olivia looked back at Raphael, not knowing what to say to the boy.

"Do you want to see my apartment?" Raphael asked.

"Yeah, mommy says you have giant windows, and you can see the water," Noah said excitingly.

"That's right. Well, come on, let's go." Raphael stated.

It was close to noon when they got to Olivia's apartment. They were all sweaty from the sun, and Olivia insisted on a quick shower before leaving and made Noah wipes down all the dirt off his face arms and legs. They took Olivia's car it had the booster seat and drove to his apartment. When Noah walked through the door, he ran to the windows.

"Wow you can see the whole river from here, and there is park too!" Noah exclaimed looking down at the green space.

"Mommy why don't we live here, it has a park and the water and its so pretty."

"Well mommy can't afford a two-bedroom here Noah, and you would have to go to another school and you wouldn't see any of your friends at the park you go to now," Olivia explained.

"Can't Lucy just drive me to school?" Noah asked.

Raphael didn't want to say anything, but he made less than she did as an ADA, and about the same as she did now. He did indeed have two bedrooms, but that was a discussion for another time.

"I can stay here with Raphael," Noah exclaimed.

Raphael heard the words that he knew definitely cut into Olivia, but she didn't show it. They both knew he didn't realize what he was saying, but it didn't mean that it didn't hurt Olivia. Raphael couldn't help but feel the joy that Noah trusted Raphael enough to want to stay here forever.

"No baby, you can't where would you sleep?" Olivia asked.

"On the couch." He went to spread out on it.

"It's not like ours mommy," Noah commented.

"It certainly isn't," Olivia exclaimed.

"You might have fun for a few days, but you would miss your toys and your room and Mommy doesn't live here, so you would miss me too." Olivia commented.

"I'd miss you the most mommy," Noah stated and hugged her.

The heart he had broken just a few moments before he mended once again. Olivia hugged him tightly and with that Raphael explained his plan, of showering and getting dressed and told Olivia that Noah was free to explore.

Raphael went to his bedroom, and picked out a navy suit, with a red gingham shirt and matching tie. He had Navy suspenders as well. He walked over to his bathroom as he heard Noah loudly walking around, looking at everything in the apartment. Raphael got out of the shower and put on his pants, and button shirt but left the rest laying on the bed until it was closer to leaving.

"You have a library in your apartment!" Noah stated.

"It's just an office Noah, not that I will need it any longer," Raphael stated.

Olivia gave him a quizzical look.

"The ADA office, I never took a lot of my own stuff to it, but my office at NYU is double the size I've already got stuff from my old Office there, and to be honest, I never worked in here, so..." He wanted to finish saying it could be another bedroom indicating Noah would get his wish, but he wasn't saying anything in front of Noah like that and he didn't want to get himself too far into the future they had barely started this relationship but he could already imagine being with her forever.

Raphael made lunch for the 3 of them, and they watched some TV but they mainly people watched and looked at the river in front of them. All 3 of them sitting in the window seal taking in the sights.

If Olivia was being honest, she could spend the rest of her life in the window looking out over the water, Sitting with Noah and Raphael and let the world pass by them. She was content and happy to do simple things. As she watched out the window, she forgot about work, and the stress she had been having with all the adjustments that she had made. Not that she didn't want Raphael in her life, it still changed the family dynamic. She watched as a boat floated along out of sight and leaned back in Raphael's arms as Noah kept asking questions about the park and the Hudson River and the people he could see down below.

Raphael was trying to avoid the inevitable of Olivia and Noah leaving and him not quite knowing the next good time to see them again. He was following the other professor for the next 6 weeks and although he had the schedule, he couldn't quite remember it and although he was almost done with the final book for Criminal Law he still had the Into to law school class he hadn't even delved into. He only had 8 more weeks before the start of the fall term. He knew that he wouldn't be as stressed when he got the hang of everything, but he knew it could take a while.

"Liv I got to get moving," Raphael stated.

"Where are you going?" Noah asked.

"I have to see my mommy tonight," Raphael explained.

"Wait you're going to see your mommy!" Noah asked.

"Yes, Noah she misses me very much, so I need to see her," Raphael explained.

"I want to meet Raphael's mommy!" Noah shouted.

"One day you can meet her, but Raphael is going to dinner with her, and then he is going to Mass. We will see him sometime later in the week." Olivia stated.

Raphael thought about it for a second, if he took Noah with him, his mother wouldn't ask half as many questions, and he was well behaved evening mass wasn't quite as formal, so he risked asking.

"Actually if he wants to come..." Raphael stated.

Olivia looked back at him for a minute and looked at Noah, who was very excited.

"Raphael, are you using him to get out of the 3rd degree from your mother?" Olivia asked.

Raphael bit his lip.

"When was the last time you had a relaxing evening alone?" Raphael asked.

Olivia sighed, it would be nice to be alone in her apartment. A hot bubble bath and a glass or 2 of wine. She knew Raphael would take care of him. Lucia will not be happy that Raphael is using a 6-year-old to get out of an argument but also knew that Lucia would be pleased about having Noah over no matter the reason. Against her better judgment, she agreed.

"I am not allowing him to be your excuse all the time, but it will be nice to be alone for a few hours," Olivia stated.

Raphael grinned

I should have him back by 9.

"Well, we need to go back by my place and get his booster seat in your car," Olivia stated.

Raphael hurried and got ready

On the way back to Olivia's apartment Noah stated he wanted to dress nicely to meet "Raphael's mommy."

They didn't have a lot of time, so Olivia had Raphael run upstairs with him while she got his booster seat correctly positioned his Raphael's car. Noah insisted on wearing the shoes Raphael got for him. He wore navy pants and a red polo, and sort of matched Raphael. He smiled at the boy and walked back down just as Olivia did one final check that the booster seat was in the car right.

"I think it might be easier if I just get one," Raphael stated.

"You don't have too they're not cheap, and Lucy has one, I can have her leave it on the weekends," Olivia commented.

"I want to Liv, I'll see you tonight," Raphael stated after Noah was strapped in, he turned to Olivia and kissed her and found he didn't want to stop.

"You're going to be late," Olivia stated.

"Right! okay, I'll be back, enjoy your time." Raphael stated.

Olivia kissed Noah goodbye. She was ready to take a hot bath, have a glass of wine, and watch mind-numbing tv until Noah came home. She would read to him, tuck him in and then fall asleep before she would have to wake up early and start her week.

Raphael drove in silence to his mothers wondering if it was a good idea to tote Noah around, he was sure his mother would be questioned by all her friend about Noah's sudden appearance. He knew he was using the little boy as a buffer but it was what it was, and he certainly wasn't going to ruin Olivia's evening home alone not knowing the last time she allowed such luxury and felt terrible for the fact that he hadn't thought of it before today.

Raphael groaned as he looked at the time, he was 8 minutes late already, and it was another 10 minutes to his mother's house. His phone was ringing, but he didn't dare answer it while driving. He pulled up near the apartment, got Noah out of his booster seat, and knocked on the door.

Lucia opened the door already yelling at Raphael before the door fully opened.

"Can you not even make it on time to see your mother! Seriously Raphael what has gotten into you!" Lucia asked.

Noah looked at the older lady and back at Raphael.

"Your mommy is very mad at you!" Noah stated.

"You're right, and she should be, I'm late," Raphael stated.

Lucia looked at the little boy standing next to her son. He had a mop of curly hair, and she noticed he was color coordinating with her son.

"Mijo, who is this?" Lucia asked.

"This is Noah Benson." Raphael stated.

"Olivia's son?" Lucia asked

"You know my mom?" Noah asked excitingly.

"So that's who has been keeping you away," Lucia stated?

"I was here almost every day last week," Raphael mentioned.

"For help, before that, I hadn't seen you in weeks." Lucia stated.

"I know I was out of town for a while after the trial, and then I realized I just needed to come home. Then I've been here. I know I have been dodgy I'll try harder to be here for more than just when I need help at work."

"Fair enough." Lucia stated.

The 3 of them sat at her dinner table, and Lucia hadn't asked many questions but did ask about Olivia, and asked Noah 100 questions about himself. Noah was happy with the attention he was receiving and was delighted to meet "Raphael's mommy" as he kept calling her. As they were getting Noah in Raphael's car, Raphael shut the door.

"So this is serious?" Lucia asked.

"Yeah, I think so," Raphael stated.

"Your happy, and I am happy you're happy why didn't you invite her over?" Lucia asked.

"She deserves time to herself, and I didn't want to just show up with 2 extra bodies as a surprise," Raphael commented.

"You just didn't want me asking 1000 questions." Lucia stated.

"Well, there was that…" Raphael admitted.

Lucia smiled and got into the passenger seat. Raphael took the driver's seat, and they drove to the church he has gone to since before he could remember. Noah walked up the large steps with him and smiled in delight as he saw the large sanctuary taking in all the sights and sounds.

"If this gets too boring, you will let me know right," Raphael asked.

Lucia smacked Raphael in the arm.

"I remember being dragged here often enough. I don't want him to hate it." Raphael stated.

Lucia didn't say anything else as service started. Noah sat through it, looking around climbing into Raphael's lap at one point and holding on when they stood.

"I know it's close to bedtime Mijo, just a little longer." He stated.

Lucia heard his whispers and couldn't believe what had come out of his mouth. She was happy for Raphael but concerned that he was already this close to Noah. She couldn't say much because it seems her prayers have been answered and her son was finally settling down.

The ending prayer was preformed, and Noah was asleep in Raphael's lap. He wasn't sure if he could pick him up from the sitting position, but when he went to stand he found that it was easier than he thought to carry Noah's weight. He walked out with Noah relaxed against him, and he couldn't remember the last time he felt so at peace. He was overjoyed by the fact that Noah trusted him enough just then his phone rang it was Olivia.

"Hey, we got a major case, and I need to go in, for a little bit, I can call Lucy I just wanted to let you know that I won't be home when you get here." Olivia stated.

"No, don't call her, I'll take him to my apartment. I don't have to be at the school until noon tomorrow."

Raphael stated.

"Okay, well then I will come over when I'm done. I just have to witness the interrogation." Olivia stated.

"Okay, I will see you then," Raphael stated.

Noah had woken up during the conversation and heard every word, and he started to cry.

"I want mommy." Noah started his tears streaming down his face, and he wiggled to get down.

Raphael still wasn't out of the church and Noah was in the floor, he attempted to pick him up to get him out of the way but struggled for a second and sat him back in a pew he knew multiple people already had eyes on him and the strange boy, he had brought into the building.

"Noah mommy is just going to be a little bit, and you can come home with me, we can watch out the windows some more," Raphael explained.

"I want mommy to tuck me in," Noah stated once again, he wasn't crying, but he was upset and had his arms crossed.

People were standing around like it was a drama on TV playing out, and Raphael hated that his personal life was suddenly on display. He stayed calm.

"Come home with me and mommy will be over to get you."

"Can the 3 of us have a sleepover at your apartment," Noah asked.

Raphael blushed knowing that they were in the back and everyone in the vicinity had heard him.

"That's up to your mommy mijo, until then will you come with me, and we will look out the windows and you can stay up as late as you want." Raphael stated.

The words seemed to help Noah, and he agreed to take Raphael's hand and go home with him.

Lucia didn't say anything about the mini-meltdown Noah had. She was completely surprised by the way Raphael handled it. She knew he hated attention focused on him outside of work and was surprised he didn't get mad at the little boy making a scene. She knew then he loved the little boy and his mother.

Father Mathew looked on at Lucia, Raphael, and Noah and smiled, he didn't question anything and thanked them for attendance. He knew a little bit about Raphael's life thanks to his mother but was surprised to see a little boy with them. He knew he would hear soon enough and let them go into the night.

Raphael dropped his mom off and went back to his apartment with Noah in tow. His eyes lit up as he saw the lights from boats, and people below still out in the park. He curled up in the window seal and watched out the window. Raphael sat beside him, and Noah once again climbed in his lap.

"I'm sorry I got mad about mommy, I know she is catching bad guys," Noah stated.

"I know its important for you to have her tuck you in, and it's okay to be upset when it doesn't happen." Raphael stated.

Noah was yawning.

"Why don't you lay down in my bed, and I will wake you up the moment your mommy comes home," Raphael stated.

"No, I want to wait for her," Noah stated.

"Okay." Raphael stated.

He sat there and stared out the window wondering what could be so bad Olivia had to go in on her day off and what was something Fin couldn't handle. He knew he would find out soon enough, but he was worried that she was somehow in danger.

Olivia Benson sat at her desk, going over the information her detectives had received and to say she was sick was an understatement. No one said anything as she puked when she saw the pictures because Fin was the only one who didn't when he saw the images himself. It was the worst trauma she had ever seen and had to ask what certain images were even showing. The man who did it was in interrogation room 2.

"Give me a second with Fin please." She stated.

"You okay." Fin asked.

"Yeah, not the way to I wanted to start my week," Olivia stated.

"I know, I just didn't trust myself to not go kill the bastard myself." Fin stated.

"Yeah, I can understand that," Olivia stated.

Olivia watched as Amanda went in and asked for the details, they knew he was the perp it had already been established, but he had claimed "he blacked out" and denies remembering doing anything to the small body she had pictures of on her desk. She knew they would have to interview the mother, who originally called 911, Fin had talked to her for an initial statement and told Olivia he didn't believe she had anything to do with it. That was good enough for Olivia for now.

After 2 hours the man refused to give any more details, they already had enough to charge him for child abuse resulting in death, but the rape charge would have to wait as they built the case. Olivia wanted nothing more than to forget about the night and wrap Noah tightly in her arms and never let him go.

He was taken to jail for the night, and Olivia knew this case, even though they knew who the perp was known, will be long and drawn out. Proving motive for charges was going to the issue she had. Right now, she couldn't even think about the story that she had been given. She walked out, promising to be there first thing in the morning. It was 11 pm, and she was grateful she would at least get to Raphael's before midnight.

She pulled into the garage and cut the engine. Taking a deep breath, and she let herself cry. She knew she shouldn't be crying over a child she never met, but this was sickening. This was going to be a case that made her contemplate retiring early. She knew she had to get justice for this little girl and her siblings and possibly her mother, she hasn't figured out her end of the story yet, and she hoped that she didn't play a role. She let her final tears fall. She took a deep breath studied herself and realized Raphael will notice the red nose and rimmed eyes, but she couldn't be apart from Noah any longer. She walked towards the apartment and knocked on the door.

Raphael opened it surprised by the look on her face. He instantly hugged her, and she allowed the tears to flow again. Raphael didn't say a word.

"You okay?" He asked.

"No, but I will be. Where's Noah?" Olivia asked.

"Currently managing to take up my whole king size bed." Raphael laughed.

Olivia smiled at that, glad he was okay.

"Would it be a problem if I stayed here?" She asked, feeling dead on her feet.

"Not at all Noah even suggested it." Raphael stated.

"Do you need anything before going to bed?" Raphael asked.

"Something to wear to bed," Olivia stated.

"I can do that," Raphael stated.

Olivia got dressed in a t-shirt and sweat pants. She scooted Noah to the edge and wrapped him in her arms. Raphael did the same to Olivia, and they fell asleep.

A/N:Just wanted to let you know you will get the story behind why Olivia is so upset. This is a ripped from the headlines if you will. This is based on something that happened near where I lived about 1-2 years ago. I am embellishing but barely… it was the worst crime I have ever heard of my whole life, and I couldn't imagine having to investigate it. The man in real life was sentenced to life in prison just so you know.