Chapter 12: Evolution

Summary: Things continue to get serious between Liv and Rafa.

"So, it looks like this is associated with BX-9, then?" Rollins asked as Carisi wrapped up the summary of what he uncovered so far.

Olivia and Rafael awaited confirmation from the detective as they mulled over their next steps. Fin was on shift watching over Anna as she recovered from surgery in the hospital.

"Correct," Carisi confirmed. "It appears that Ashley Washington is the girlfriend of a high-level BX-9er and is the spotter for finding young women to traffic."

"What do you need from me?" Rafael asked the detectives. "Warrants, obviously – for what and whom?"

The team discussed where to search for evidence beginning with known BX-9 hangouts and leaders' homes. Ashley Washington was still in custody and her home would be searched as well. Rafael made a list as they brainstormed. He wanted to move quickly to secure warrants as broad in scope as he could, and he knew a few judges he would approach.

Course of action chosen; Rafael rose to leave for his office. "Sidebar in my office before you go?" Olivia asked as Carisi and Rollins went back to their desks.

Rafael jerked his head in a nod and followed her, closing the door behind him. "What do you need?"

"We really need to disclose soon. We've been so busy that we keep putting it off."

"I know, mi amor. We can do it whenever you're ready. I'll march my happy ass into McCoy's office right now if you'd like."

Shaking her head with mirth, Olivia stepped toward him. "Let's focus on getting those warrants first." She crashed her lips against his in a searing kiss, knowing that things were about to get hectic, and they might not see each other again for the next day or more.

"Don't start something you can't finish, Liv," Rafael growled. "I'll let you know the moment I have the warrants. Be careful." He spun on his heel and fled Olivia's office, leaving her standing there a bit dazed. The warrants, even the whole case, would be forgotten if he had stayed another minute.

…

"That was Barba," Olivia announced to the collected group of detectives and officers. "He has the warrants for Ashley Washington's home, her boyfriend's home, and two known BX-9 hideouts. We will divide and conquer so there is limited opportunity for them to alert each other."

Teams were divided with one SVU detective each. Unis were assigned to move Anna Lathe from the hospital to a safehouse upon discharge approval from Dr. Jirgal. That evening, the warrants were executed flawlessly and numerous BX-9ers were brought in along with enough evidence to confirm SVU's suspicions of a newly formed sex trafficking ring. Three additional victims were also rescued and transported to the hospital. Interrogations and processing of evidence carried on into the night with Rafael bringing much needed food and gourmet coffee to the team in the late-night hours. It took hours before a couple of reluctant low-level members turned on each other and the whole deck of cards came tumbling down.

"I think we have enough to take this to trial now," Rafael stated, watching the latest BX-9er sing like a canary about the details of the operation.

"We just needed a bit more than my gut feeling, huh?" Olivia teased.

"Just a bit," he confirmed with a smirk. "Can I take you home now?"

"Let me just make sure the team is set on what they need from me." She was beyond exhausted and wanted nothing more than to take Rafael home for a week's worth of sleep and sex. In reality, she knew they would end up getting only a handful of hours of sleep and maybe a quickie, if they had the energy.

Olivia fell asleep on the way home, cuddled into Rafael's side in the backseat of the car he ordered. He half carried her up to her apartment and into bed. They were too exhausted for much more than a goodnight kiss as they fell asleep.

…..

"The people request that the defendants be remanded based on gang affiliation, your Honor," Rafael recommended at arraignment the following afternoon.

"Your Honor, that hardly seems necessary. My clients -" the BX-9 defense attorney blurted but was interrupted by the judge.

"This is not the first, or even second time, that your clients have been in my courtroom, Counselor. I have no illusions that your clients would actually behave were they to be released on bail. Therefore, they are remanded to Rikers."

Rafael shot a grin over his shoulder to Olivia as he packed up his papers. "Piece of cake," he told her as they exited the courtroom together.

"All four victims have agreed to testify. This should be a walk in the park for you," Olivia said, stopping at the coffee cart outside the courthouse to treat Rafael to his fourth cup of coffee that day. She knew he needed it after getting so few hours of sleep the night before. "Spaghetti night at my place?"

"Sounds like heaven," Rafael agreed. "I'll meet you there – I'm going to head back to the office to get started on trial prep before the weekend." He touched her hand lightly before turning on his heel.

He took a few steps before turning back around. "Should I pack for the weekend?" he asked with a sexy smirk. Rafael knew the answer, he just wanted to hear her say it.

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Yes, you should pack for the weekend. Now get going – the sooner you finish your work, the sooner you can spend time with us at home."

Rafael walked back to his office with a pep in his step. He loved the idea of home being wherever Olivia and Noah were.

….

Noah loved spaghetti night. It was his favorite meal, and his momma always made it special. But now that Rafa was a big part of their lives, it was even better. Rafa always insisted on making garlic bread to dip in the sauce and he put extra parmesan cheese on Noah's pasta. Rafa really loved spaghetti night too.

Thinking about it, Noah wasn't sure when he stopped referring to Rafael as Uncle Rafa and started calling him Rafa. It was sometime around Christmas, probably, when it felt like Uncle Rafa was becoming more of a dad than an uncle. And oh, how Noah would love to have Rafa as a dad! He was still working on a plan to make that happen, but adult relationships were really complicated and took a loooong time from what his friend at school said.

For now, Noah was pleased that Rafa made his momma happy. She was really, really happy, he thought as he watched his momma gaze at Rafa with a big smile while he stirred the homemade sauce on the stove. His momma's smile had definitely gotten bigger since Rafa started staying for sleepovers.

Olivia grabbed a handful of Rafael's ass as he teased her for using jarred spaghetti sauce all the time. He insisted on making fresh sauce from scratch this time and she wasn't going to complain. It already smelled delicious. Glancing over her shoulder, Olivia found Noah watching them with a pleased smile on his face.

"Hi, my sweet boy," she called to her son. "What are you smiling about?"

Noah shrugged with a smirk he undoubtedly learned from Rafael. "I really like having Rafa around."

Rafael turned from the stove and beamed at the boy, causing Olivia's heart to swell. "Me too, sweet boy."

They all smiled broadly at each other for a beat before Noah blurted, "Can he stay forever?"

Olivia wasn't sure what to say – of course, she wanted Rafael to stay forever, they were both taking this relationship very seriously, but it was still early days. Too soon to talk about forever, right? Apparently, not in the mind of her child.

Unexpectedly, it was Rafael who somehow knew exactly how to handle Noah's question. "That is the ultimate plan, mijo. I want to stay with you and your mom forever and be a family. These things take some time to work out though. We don't want to rush anything, so let's enjoy the adventure for now, okay?"

Noah processed the Rafa's explanation and nodded with wide eyes. "You really want to be part of our family? Like you would be my dad?" He just wanted to confirm that Rafa wanted the same thing he did.

Rafael nodded solemnly. "I really do, mijo. I would be honored to be your dad, Noah."

Noah's eyes got impossibly wider as he felt tears spring up. "I really, really want that too," he choked out before the dam burst and he was sobbing.

"Oh! My sweet, sweet boy. Come here!" Olivia felt overcome with emotion herself, pulling her son and her boyfriend into a tight group hug. Glancing up at Rafael teary-eyed, she noted the glassy look in his bright green eyes and knew that he was deeply moved by her son as well.

"Noah, my love, we are already a little family and I promise you that Rafa and I will do everything we can to make us an official family when we are all ready. Okay baby?"

The little boy nodded into his momma's shoulder as she ran her hand through his soft curls. "Okay," he whispered, his throat already raw from the emotional outburst.

Rafael pressed a gentle kiss to Olivia's forehead as he lifted Noah up. "Come on, hijo. Help me finish making dinner for your beautiful mami. I'll teach you how to cook so you can one day impress a girl."

Olivia noted the change in Rafael's term of endearment for Noah – he was already thinking of him as his son, and she fell deeper in love with him at that moment. She watched her boys as they chatted away while making dinner, Noah's head resting on Rafael's shoulder and arms wrapped loosely around his neck as Rafael held him on his left hip. It was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen.

Tears slipped from Olivia's and Rafael's eyes as they made love later that night. It was a first for both of them and marked the point of no return in their intimate, emotional connection. It was stronger than they realized, and they clung to each other as they slipped into contented sleep.

Having realized that his dreams could, and would, come true, Noah was particularly clingy the rest of the weekend, as if he was afraid that Rafa would disappear if he let go. Rafael did not mind in the least. He wanted to keep both Noah and Olivia close while his emotions were so exposed and raw. He was elated and vulnerable at the same time and he wouldn't have it any other way.