Unfortunately for the newly formed couple life doesn't give them time to enjoy and explore what they were becoming to each other. Olivia is hit with case after case while Rafael takes on a big project.

A new regulation is pending in New York City's public health system that would put barriers in place making it harder for rape victims to not only have a kit done, but to receive emergency contraception and necessary treatment for any possible STIs they may have contracted during their attack. It means a lot of visits to Albany and the state house, phone calls, gathering data, compiling testimonials from victims who were granted this service without exception and the good it had done them. It was tireless and endless and Rafael throws himself in head first.

They don't see much of each other for about three weeks, their schedules never seemed to line up. Rafael had been able to spend time with Noah however, to and from school, helping with homework, reading, and trips to the park. They had even taken to playing catch and trying out batting, each of them preferred playing soccer together though.

It was two and a half weeks after they had agreed they were dating, which technically meant they had been dating for about three months, things began to settle down again. The legislation Rafael helped draft, and accrue signatures, for was now in committee and nothing could be done for now. Olivia's caseload lightened up as well. They are finally able to make another date night.

Wanting to spend their time together alone Liv asks Lucy if she can take Noah to her place for the night, saying she could drop him back off whenever she felt like, to which Lucy responds with an offer for him to sleepover. Naturally Noah jumps at the chance and Liv isn't going to say no to a whole night of just her and Rafael. While he had spent the night at her place a number of times it was never a private affair and Liv basked in the opportunity she had been handed.

Rafael went to Liv's place straight from work, arriving in time to say goodbye to Noah.

"Hola amigo, or should I say adios?" Rafael crouches down to get eye-to-eye with Noah as he speaks, noticing a fleeting look of sadness at his comment cross Noah's expression, "I will be at school to pick you tomorrow, okay? And then it will be the weekend and we can spend it together with Momma and maybe my Mamí can come over one night too, don't worry Noh, we will see plenty of each other," Rafael pulls Noah in and leaves several loud, silly kisses on each of the boy's cheeks.

Noah laughs and pushes Rafael away, "okay, I will see you after school tomorrow. I love you Rafa."

Noah had made a habit of telling Rafael that he loved him, and Rafael wasn't sure what prompted it he wouldn't question it either.

"I love you too Noah, be good for Lucy." With a quick hug Rafael stands back up so he can say good night to Lucy and thank her again for doing this.

Olivia hadn't arrived home from work yet so Rafael puts himself to work making enchiladas for their dinner, along with corn on the cob. When she finally comes home she walks into an apartment full of wonderful smells, loud music, and a singing, dancing Cubano boyfriend.

Rafael finishes dinner shortly after Olivia's arrival and they bring their dishes to the living room so they could enjoy a show while eating, they had just begun watch Handmaid's Tale together and decide to delve further into that. It isn't exactly a light, easy-going vibe they've created for themselves so after one episode they switch over to Brooklyn Nine-Nine to level out their emotions.

They happened to be at one of the Halloween Heist episodes, while watching Olivia turns to Rafael, "I would kick your ass if we had a heist, just so you know."

He turns into her as well, nudging his nose along hers, "I know you would nena, that's why I would never be foolish enough to challenge you, although if you imagine your squad doing something like this it is completely hilarious."

Olivia takes a moment to do just that and tumbles into Rafael's lap from laughing so hard, "can't you just picture Carisi thinking he had everyone beat? He would get so cocky and I have no doubt Amanda would take him down a couple of pegs." She keeps her spot with her head on his lap, twisting to look at him once more, "I would still totally win though."

Rafael smiles down at her, things weren't always easy between them, they both had their fair share of skeletons in their respective closets, and were stubborn as bulls, but this right here is what he had been searching for his whole life, he just didn't realize it until now.

"I love you Olivia."

She pauses for a moment, allowing herself to enjoy his sentiment, her expression melts into a soft smile, "I love you too Rafael."

Sitting up she puts herself back in his lap, this time by straddling him. Rafael brings his hands promptly to her sides and meets her lips in a passionate kiss, tongues dueling, teeth nipping, emotion pouring out of each of them. Once the need for air became apparent they part, but stay connected with foreheads pushed together.

"Tell me again," Rafael asks.

"I love you Rafael Barba," Liv whispers, lips grazing his ear.

"Again."

Rolling her hips into his Olivia moans and drops her head back, "I love you,"

His hands have made their way under her shirt and are removing it from her body. With her bra now exposed to him Rafael grazes his tongue over the lace that covers her budding nipple while his hand pays attention to the other. Taking a nipple into his mouth he presses his teeth down lightly before backing off to blow air over it. The difference in temperature between his warm wet mouth and the cool air has Olivia gasping over him and grinding down harder onto his growing arousal. He switches sides and repeats his actions.

"Keep saying it nena, I never want you to stop." He pushes her from his lap while standing himself, their gazes locked as he steps into her, lips going to her neck. Her arms wrap around his shoulders and he applies gentle pressure to the back of her thighs so she will put them around his hips.

All situated Rafael begins the journey back to her bedroom. After his first step Liv takes his earlobe between her teeth to nibble on before she leans back far enough to see his eyes, "Te amo Rafa."

He shivers hearing her telling him she loves him in Spanish, he picks up his pace and is soon dropping her onto the mattress. In seconds Rafael is over her kissing her breathless before ridding Olivia of her bra and working his way to her waist. As he kisses his way down her torso Olivia's skin is tickled by whispered words she can't quite make out at first.

It's when he is at her navel Liv realizes he is saying, "I love you," after each kiss he plants on her skin.

Her hands find their way into Raf's hair, at first Liv simply cards her fingers through his silky strands of brown and grey until she becomes impatient. Tugging gently she urges him back up to her. With practiced ease Olivia removes Rafael's shirt and undershirt, before undoing his pants and pushing them, along with his boxers, over his hips and off his body. Now that she had him naked she wiggles her way out she own pants and underwear while he continues his assault on her body with his lips, teeth and tongue.

She is so keyed up at this point she whimpers when he tries to move back down her body, "no Rafa I want you right now."

He obliges her, pushing into her heat until their hips are pressed together. Rafael holds himself there for a moment before he pulls away and finds a slow, easy pace. Their love-making has, so far, always been very fulfilling for both of them, but this time was different. Their feelings were out in the open and Rafael and Olivia felt everything the other one did deeper now. It had them sweating and panting each other's names in no time at all. Olivia grasped Rafael's back and held on tight as she rode her orgasm. When he went over the edge Rafael pushed their bodies back together and took hold of Olivia's hips.

When they had both cleaned up and settled into bed Olivia rolled into his body to lay her head on his chest, knowing the beating of his heart always helps to lull her into a peaceful sleep.

Before their eyes closed for the night and sleep took them Rafael allowed himself another moment of vulnerability, "I love you so much Olivia, and Noah - I love him too. And I honestly don't think I could have done this on my own. Everytime you allowed me into your lives, for weeks, I would wonder why, what had I done to deserve so much kindness and love from two amazing people. It didn't make sense to me.

"And then I picked Noah up from school and had that woman tear me down only for you to build me back up with your words. They were a big part of my saving grace Olivia, I need you to know that. So from that point on I vowed I would be the man you see me as, and hope that eventually I see that person too. I think I see him now Liv, and you did that to me.

"I told you once that I'm you now, and I think that has to do with how you see me. You see me as someone you love and I know that's someone I want to be, that I want you to always see me as. For as long as you love me Olivia I will do everything I can to be deserving of that love, to be who you see."

Olivia stayed in place over his heart the whole time he was talking and Rafael felt her hand tightening into a fist, taking his shirt into her grip, as well as the tears making a wet patch where she lay. He stayed quiet letting her do what it was she needs to do. A minute passes before she moves, lifting her head she looks at him and he thinks she is, without question, the most beautiful creature on the planet. Olivia tips her head down to his so she can engage him in a long languid kiss.

Once she lets him go she tells him once again, "I love you Rafa, so much. And I told you before, you're offering yourself, giving yourself, to me and there isn't anything more I could ask for. I have loved you for a long time, and it hasn't always been the same kind of love but it has always been there. You don't have to work to deserve it Raf, just be."

"Let's get some sleep Liv," he smiled, pulling her back down into him.

She hummed closing her eyes and molds her body to his. It doesn't take long for them to fall asleep.

The next day, just as he promised, Rafael is outside Noah's classroom waiting to pick him up. They make their way to the park to play some soccer, Noah told him that some of his friends would be there so they made a whole game of it. Rafael has the regrettable position as goalkeeper. He spends the afternoon dodging wildly kicked soccer balls, that he swears are being aimed at his head. Tired and sweaty they make their way to the Benson apartment. The weekend was spent being outdoors as much as possible, they caught a concert in the park, where they were joined by Lucia who, as always, came with a large supply of food. Noah and Rafael show off their soccer skills to their moms.

"Momma aren't I getting very good, Rafa said he would sign me up for the soccer team this summer when school is out." Noah bounces his way over to his mother.

Olivia quirks an eyebrow shooting a look to Rafael, "oh did he? Well does he know when sign-ups are? We don't want to miss them like I did last year, you were mad at me for a whole week after that."

It is Noah's turn to shoot a look Rafael's way, "do you know when sign-ups are Rafa?"

Grinning at the pair of them, "they are next week, I took a picture of the flyer at school, don't worry I'm better at keeping track of the date than your mom I won't miss it." He tells them winking.

The next week Noah is signed up for summer soccer and has practice every Wednesday with games on Saturdays. Rafael promises to take him to every practice he can and Lucy will be able to take him to the rest. He and Olivia are determined to make it to as many games as possible.

The first game of the season comes on June 9th, the second Saturday of that month. Olivia and Rafael are able to make it, along with Lucy, Lucia, Carisi, Fin, and Amanda. Noah has managed to have the biggest cheering section out of anyone on either team. He plays spectacularly and the whole gang celebrates with pizza at Olivia's place.

Once the crowd disperses Rafael and Olivia are cleaning up while Noah showers. It has been a long day for everyone and Olivia praises Rafael's forethought to use paper plates and utensils to make cleaning easier. They finish quickly and settle down on the couch to wait for Noah to return. The boy makes his way over to them about ten minutes after they had sat down asking what were they going to do next.

Stifling a yawn Raf says, "I think I might go back to my apartment and get an early night's sleep."

He moves to stand when he feels a small hand on his arm, following the hand up to Noah's face he waits.

"When are you going to live with us Rafa? I thought you were going to live here."

Rafael's eyes widen at the statement and he feels frozen in place. It seems as though Olivia is fairing about the same.

She recovers faster, "Noah…" there is a warning in her tone.

Noah's head swivels in his mother's direction, "what, you said it first! You said that he would come live with us."

Ratted out by her own son Olivia closes her eyes for a moment to decide her next move.

Rafael takes the initiative however, "Liv, mi amor, is that true? Did you tell him I would be coming to live with you guys?" There is no judgement in his tone, only a question.

Deciding her next move is to keep her eyes closed Olivia responds, "I may have said that once or twice." She peeks one eye open to find Rafael leaning his head to the side a stupid grin on his face.

"Once or twice? Did you plan on saying it to me?" This time the tone of his voice holds a question and some teasing.

Letting out part of the breath she is holding Olivia fixes her gaze on the coffee table, she didn't expect to have this conversation yet, and certainly not with their son between them, having prompted this all in the first place and - wait did she just think of Noah as their son? Liv smiles and imagines a future that Rafael thinks of Noah as their son too.

Finally speaking again Liv turns back to Rafael, "well now that it's out in the open, what do you say Raf? Do you want some new roommates?"

Rafael's eyes roam his partner's face before falling to Noah's who is employing his best puppy-dog look ever.

"How could I turn down such an enticing offer?"

Noah jumps up, "yes! I get to have you around all the time now!"

With a laugh Rafael yanks the boy into him, "and I get to have you around all the time now too!"

Olivia can't believe how smoothly they seem to be navigating things together. Though the number of arguments does increase with increased contact with one another, little and big. A number of them ending with either Raf or Liv on the couch to get away from the other for a short time, get some space. It is never anything that shakes their foundation too heavily.

After four months of living together Noah is a second grader now and it is a month into the school year already. Rafael arrives to pick Noah up only to be told he had left already because he had been injured and had to be taken to the hospital.

In a state of total panic Rafael exits the school and phones Olivia immediately, she doesn't answer on the first or second calls, by the third call Rafael is near hysterical when she answers, "Raf, what's up?" She sounds flustered which is very unlike her.

Her voice settles him for a second before he remembers why he is even calling right now, "I just talked to someone in Noah's school, they said he is in the hospital!" He is nearly running home by this point, not sure what to do with himself.

"Raf, Raf, listen to me, everything's okay. He fell off the playground structure and broke his wrist, it will be okay, he isn't even in any pain anymore. We are leaving the hospital shortly."

Her words stop him short, "He, you- you knew about this?"

She seems perturbed at the question, "of course I knew, I'm his mother."

And just like that Rafael realizes why he is so out of sorts, because it is his son's safety he has been thinking about, but apparently he was the only one thinking that way.

Collecting himself he gives Olivia a curt, "well, I suppose I will see you and your son when you get home then." Before she can say anything else he finishes the call with a short, "Goodbye Olivia."

An hour later Olivia is carrying a sleeping Noah through the door. She find Rafael at the table on his laptop, he barely spares her a glance. Liv sets Noah down in his room, deciding to let him sleep even though it's late afternoon and it would likely mess up the nighttime routine they did their best to keep.

Unsure of herself Olivia moves to their bedroom to change and give herself some time before confronting Rafael, it also gives her the chance to grab something she has hiding in her bedside table.

On quiet, socked feet she makes her approach, "Rafa?"

He doesn't budge, still keeping his eyes locked onto his work he gives her only a grunt in response.

"I'm sorry for this afternoon, I didn't mean it that way."

This gets his attention, "what way did you mean then Olivia?"

"I had the same reaction as you, you know? I panicked, I didn't know what to do, so I just went to the hospital and focused on Noah and didn't think of anything else. I should have called you, I know that, I didn't mean anything by it. We are both still so used to being on our own, it wasn't me trying to keep you out Rafa." Olivia has sat across from him and taken his hand in hers, glad he hasn't shaken it off.

He crumples, "It's okay Liv, it's not like I'm his father anyway." He seems so solemn when he says this, so heartbroken.

"Don't say that, look, I may not have said it yet but I think of you as Noah's father, I have been thinking that way for months now. I have been waiting for the moment you started thinking of yourself that way too that I think I missed it, and now I think I screwed it up too." Her thumb runs along the length of his pinky.

She goes on, "one night a few months ago we were all sitting on the couch together, doing nothing really, and I had this thought of how nice it felt to have our son between us and I caught myself. I realized what I had just made you in my head and from that point on I only ever thought of a future that had you and me side by side as Noah's mom and dad. Don't let some stupid comment I said ruin that please."

When she sniffles Rafael moves back and for a second Olivia thinks he is going to walk away, instead he comes around the table to kneel by her. Taking her face in his hands he kisses her soundly.

"I'm sorry Olivia, I over reacted. I guess we both kind of did the same thing, I had myself convinced in my head that I was Noah's father that I didn't feel the need to actually say it outloud. Which is kind of stupid now that I am saying it outloud but we can only move forward. And from what I'm hearing it seems like we are on the same page."

At his final word Olivia perks up and reaches into the pocket of her sweatshirt, "that reminds me, I had this filled out weeks ago, it only needs your signature." She flattens a piece of paper onto the tabletop.

Rafael leans over to read it and all his breath is gone from his lungs, "you would be okay with me adopting him?"

The look in his eyes, one of pure joy, shatters her heart, it's as if he can't believe this could be true, "Rafa, I love you with all I have and that includes Noah, so if you want to adopt him I can't imagine anything better."

He kisses her, and what she expects to be a long drawn out affair ends abruptly, "what if Noah doesn't want me to be his dad?" Rafael pulls back.

"Rafa I doubt that's possible but why don't we talk to him when he wakes up?" She smooths a finger over his eyebrow, glad they are both seeing the same future for their family.

When the little boy wakes up later both adults sit him down and lay out what they had discussed between them.

Looking at Rafael curiously Noah drops his head sideways, eyebrows pinched together, "I thought you were my dad? You do all the dad stuff?"

Rafael would have burst out laugh, or into tears, he wasn't quite sure which, if he didn't think it would upset Noah, "well not officially, not legally, and if you want me to be I would love to be your dad." He didn't want to impose his own desires on Noah, he wanted the decision to be his own. "And if you don't want me to be that's okay too, it is your decision Noh."

The last part isn't strictly true, yes the decision is Noah's but Rafael would be crushed if he doesn't want him as a dad.

"Could I start calling you Dad then?" Noah questions.

Rafael nodded slightly, "if you'd like to."

"Yes please." So the decision is made.

The legal parts of the process would be dealt with later for now it is time for all other them to acquaint themselves with their new roles in the family.

"I promise you will always be involved in any decision that has to do with Noah," Olivia tells him that night as they slide under the covers.

"I never thought I would be in a position to say this, but, that is the best thing I have heard in a long time. And the scariest."

Olivia shrugs, "you get used to it."

A/N: That's all I have already written but I do intend to write more, when I will have that for you I do not know, soon hopefully.