A/N: This took some time for me to get to, I scrapped the first draft I had written, I just didn't like it. But I feel good about how it turned out. Hopefully you all do too!

"Hey Lucy?" Noah regards his nanny who has become a member of his family.

"Hey Noah." Lucy responds, letting him know she is listening while navigating the sidewalk with him at her side, connected at the hand.

"You know how Momma and Daddy have rings?" He stops craning his neck to make sure she's still listening.

Lucy doesn't expect to have to respond to this until the pause stretches a little longer than normal, "you mean from when they got engaged?"

Nodding, "yeah, those rings."

"Yes, what about them?" Lucy's curiosity is certainly peaked as to where this might be headed.

"Do I get to have a ring, does Abuelita get one?" his wonderment is so genuine that Lucy feels a bit bad for wanting to laugh at the question.

"No buddy kids and grandmothers don't get to have rings." she informs Noah.

He looks dismayed with the news and just says, "oh."

Wanting to lift his spirits Lucy asks, "do you want to wear a ring like Momma and Daddy Noah?"

This immediately works, "yes!" Noah's big blue eyes have gone bright and excited at the prospect of matching his parents, "can we get one?"

Lucy does laugh this time, "sure thing, let's go home first and put your backpack down and then we can go to the store, how does that sound?"

Tugging her hand Noah picks up his pace, "let's go!"

So they hurry along home where Noah flings his backpack from his shoulders in his rush to get his own ring, but before they leave Noah runs to his room to get some of the money he has saved up for when they go to the store. When he returns to a waiting Lucy they make their way to the nearest accessory store, sure that they will have rings small enough for children as well.

Managing to find a store quickly they browse the ring selection. Noah wants to match his father so he looks for a simple silver band. It doesn't take long to find.

"Noah, look I think I found one that looks like Daddy's ring and looks like it would fit you," Lucy has become quite excited with this adventure they've found themselves on, and waves Noah over to where she is standing.

Making a dash to her side Noah looks at what she is holding before trying it on, "it fits!"

"Perfect," she holds her hand up for a high five which is returned with great enthusiasm, "let's go pay for it."

"Wait, will you try this one on? It looks like Momma's," Noah pushes a ring into Lucy's hand that she hadn't noticed he had been holding. "I want to get it for Abuelita."

Sometimes Lucy feels overwhelmed with how endearing children can be and this is definitely one of those times, "sure thing Noh."

Pushing it onto her finger Lucy displays her hand for Noah's inspection so that he can see it fits her. She slides it off and hands it back to him, before she can say another word he turns back and bounces back to where he had been standing when she called him over, and just as quickly he is back in front of her. Lucy decides not to question it.

Bringing their selection up to the cashier Noah lays the rings on the counter, "these rings please." Noah says in his politest tone.

The cashier quickly goes through the transaction and gives Noah his total, "that will be $20.00 please."

Pulling his money from his wallet Noah hands it over and gets his belongings in exchange.

When they get onto the sidewalk Lucy turns to Noah and asks him, "why did you buy three rings in there?"

"So I could ask you to marry me," he says like it should be obvious.

Now Lucy definitely feels overwhelmed at, not only how endearing Noah can be, but how thoughtful he is. And how cute. As she is about to tell him this Noah sinks to one knee, "Lucy will you marry me?"

She pretends to swoon and accepts his proposal, Noah stands from his kneeling position and gives Lucy her ring, which she promptly slides onto her finger.

"Thank you Noah, that was very thoughtful of you to include me on this," Lucy ruffles his hair as they walk back home.

Shrugging like it's nothing he tells her, "well you're in our family too so I thought we should all have rings." Noah looks up her, squinting one eye from the sunlight, smiling stretched across his face, and Lucy knows, without a doubt, that he is never going to have trouble charming anyone.

"You are very charming you know that?" Lucy voices.

"Momma says Daddy is very charming too."

Of course she does, Lucy thinks. Then out loud, "you must get it from him."

Once they make it back home Noah puts his ring on, happy to be matching his parents. He intends to begin his homework so he can play with his dad once he is home from work but Lucy motions him over to her first.

"Come over here real quick Noh, let's take a picture to show off our engagement." Lucy beckons.

Pushing their faces together and holding up their left hands to show off their rings Lucy snaps a few pictures of the pair of them. This includes one in which they have fingers interlocked with the rings bumping up against one another.

At about quarter to six both Olivia and Rafael came through the door together.

Lucy is surprised at the sight, "oh wow, this never happens."

Setting her keys in the bowl by the door Liv laughs, "I actually got out on time so I called Rafa and told him I'd pick him up so he didn't have to take the subway."

Bounding into the front room upon hearing conversation Noah is met by both of his parents, "hi Momma! Hi Daddy!" He jumps with each greeting.

Sweeping Noah up into his arms Rafael tickles the boy's belly as he holds him like a baby, "Hi Noah!" Rafael exclaims over the fit of giggles coming out of his son. After stopping his onslaught Rafael continues, "I missed you today hijo. Did you do anything fun?"

Noah presses his hands to both of Rafael's cheeks and looks right to his eyes, "yes. Lucy and I got engaged."

The completely serious tone of voice catches not only Rafael's attention, but Olivia's too. His mother, having just re-entered the room after putting away her gun raises her eyebrows, "oh you did, did you?"

Squirming to get down Noah walks over to Lucy as soon as his feet are on the ground, "right Lucy?" Noah looks up at the woman he is now standing next to with a smile so wide it deepens his dimples as much as they will go.

A small chuckle and nod from Lucy, "yup, we sure did." She extends her hand as evidence. Olivia walks her way over to Lucy and takes her hand and sees that a ring does actually adorn her left ring finger.

Motioning with her head for Rafael to come over Olivia looks back to Lucy, "well I guess congratulations are in order."

Rafael joins the group and Noah tugs on his pant leg, "Papí mira, yo también tengo una." (Daddy look, I have one too.)

Squatting to be on Noah's level Rafael looks and sees a ring in the same place on Noah's hand as on his, Liv's, and Lucy's. Picking up Noah's hand Raf looks over the young boy's face, and takes in the contented expression there, "en verdad. ¿Puedo saber por qué?" (you do indeed. Can I ask why?)

Bringing one shoulder up quickly before letting it drop Noah looks into Raf's eyes, "I wanted to match you and Momma so me and Lucy went out after school and I bought us rings." His eyes are bright as he explains his reasoning, "I got one for Abuelita too!"

Noah stands there swinging his torso side to side looking incredibly innocent and childlike it pulls on Rafael's heart. He loves this big heart and soul packed into this little body with everything he has and each time Rafael thinks he has loved him as much as possible Noah finds a way for Rafael to dig deep and love more. He does it happily for his son and his soon-to-be wife.

Using pressure on Noah's shoulders Rafael pushes Noah in between his bent knees to hug him, "I love that we match hijo, what a good idea. Abuelita is going to be so excited to get her ring."

Letting go Rafael allows Noah to step away once more, after doing so know ponders something for a moment, then looks to Rafael, "¿cómo se dice will you marry me en Español?" (how do you say will you marry me in Spanish?)

With a hearty laugh Rafael replies, "quieres casarte conmigo."

Noah repeats after him and then both boys realize they have an audience of Olivia and Lucy. With wide eyes Lucy slowly twists her head back in Olivia's direction, "I told Noah he must get his charm from his dad and I think they just proved my point."

With one well manicured eyebrow arched Rafael trains his gaze on Olivia, challenging her to disagree with Lucy. She doesn't, but she does shake her head at him, with a smile on her face at least.

"As if he didn't already have a big head you have to go and let him know he's charming." Liv jokingly admonishes Lucy.

With his hands on his knees Rafael hoists himself back into a standing a position he gives live a look before saying, "oh please, like I don't know I'm charming." When Liv tries to swat at him Rafael intercepts her hand and twirls her into his body before dipping her as though they were dancing. Smirking he looks down at her face, "I'm Cuban, it's in my blood."

"You're a goof, is what you are. Now unhand me and go get changed while I start dinner." Liv tells him, though she is definitely feeling charmed at the moment. As she is set back on her feet Olivia thanks Lucy and bids her goodnight.

At dinner Noah inquires as to the next time he will be seeing Abuelita and Raf tells him that he's sure they can invite her have dinner with them this week and she would be happy to join them.

While Liv is putting Noah to bed Rafael takes the opportunity to call his mother.

Lucia answers her phone, "hola mijo."

"Hi Mamí, Noah was hoping you could join us for dinner this week." Rafael responds.

"Of course I will but is that any way to begin a conversation with your mother Rafi? No how are you, how was your day, is anything new?" Lucia chides.

Breathing through his nose as evenly as he can Rafael asks, "lo siento Mamí how are you?" rather robotically.

"I'm doing very well Rafael and how are you?" Lucia is playing games with him but suspects Rafael doesn't notice.

He doesn't, "really Mamí? Do we have to do this? I'm really tired and I just want to relax before I go to bed."

Raf hears Olivia's footsteps approaching before her arms embrace him from behind and she drops a soft kiss to the side of his neck. Lips lingering on his skin, "be nice to your mother."

Then in the other ear, "listen to your wife dear."

"We aren't married yet Mamí. How did this turn into me getting chastised, isn't at least one of you supposed to be on my side? Anyway I called about dinner. What night would you like to come over?" Rafael pouts out.

Chuckling Lucia replies, "how does Friday sound?"

"Perfect. What would you like me to make?" Rafael attempts to finish their conversation efficiently.

"You're hosting, I'll cook. Would you like enchiladas?"

"Yes Mamí, Noah and I can never resist them you know that," comes Rafael's emphatic reply.

"I know," she says having been expecting an answer along those lines.

"Gracias Mamí. Bueños noches." He signs off. Lucia does the same allowing Rafael to escape the conversation he was desperate to get out of.

"Now was that so hard?" Olivia moves around his front kissing him before he can answer.

He moans into her mouth and uses her belt loops to begin to guide her back to their bed. When her knees hit the mattress Rafael guides her down onto it before crawling on top of her.

He is kissing nipping along Liv's clavicle while he whispers, "this is what I would much rather be doing."

Arching her neck, thus pushing her breasts to Rafael's chest, Olivia giggles as she asks, "you mean who you would rather be doing."

Pulling away his eyes are twinkling, "very charming mi amor." The Raf descends on her mouth, ravaging it.

"Rafa," Olivia gasps into his mouth, feeling him hard against her hip. Her blouse is practically off her body already.

"Mmmm?" He moans with a questioning inflection to it, kissing his way down her breast bone, to her belly button, and finally her pants that are quickly unfastened and pushed down.

"Please," she whimpers, "make love to me."

Standing so he can completely remove her pants Rafael then pulls his own shirt over his head, "oh, I plan to nena."

Pushing herself to one elbow and then the other Olivia finishes removing her blouse as well as her panties. Liv stays resting on her elbows in order to watch Rafael finish undressing himself. Once they are both nude she maneuvers herself so she is laying in the middle of the bed.

Rafa makes his way over her, his erection bobbing with each movement and Liv licks her lips as she watches.

Positioning his body between her legs Rafael grabs hold of his erection and rubs the head along her slit lubricating his cock with her body's wetness before pushing into her. She is soft, hot, wet, and tight around him and they both gasp at the sensation of their bodies being joined. In the past few weeks there has been little opportunity to be intimate.

Slanting his mouth over hers but not quite kissing it Raf sighs out, "Olivia."

For her part Liv wraps herself around his body in every way she can, arms around his shoulders legs over his hips, bringing him to the hilt inside her. Olivia feels her body quivering with the feeling of it.

Looking into her eyes Rafael shares his feelings he has for her as well as he can at the moment, "I love you so much Olivia."

After his declaration Rafael begins to move. The couple is aware this will not last long. After each hits their peek and climbs back down to reality they lock fingers as they spoon their bodies together and rest their joined hands against Olivia's stomach, still sticky with sweat.

Yawning Olivia's sleepy voice meets Rafael's ears, "I love you Rafa."

"Te amo Liv." He presses a kiss to her bare shoulder blade as they fall silent content to lay cocooned in each other's arms before sleep pulls them in.

As promised when Friday evening comes Lucia is at the Benson-Barba apartment with enchiladas in hand. She is greeted with a very eager grandson.

"¡Hola Abuelita!" He says face between her knees when he hugs her.

With just as much excitement, though no hug as her hands are full with food, Lucia exclaims, "¡hola mi niño!" (Hello my boy!)

Rafael comes over kissing his mother on the cheek and taking the tray out of her hands. Immediately Lucia lifts Noah into her arms.

"Muchas gracias por invitarme." Lucia brushes her nose to Noah's in an Eskimo kiss. (Thank you very much for inviting me.)

"De nada, quería verte." Noah smiles at her leaning his head against her shoulder loving that she is still holding him. His parents don't pick him up or carry him as often as they used to because he is eight now and "getting heavy." (You're welcome. I wanted to see you.)

"Y quiero verte todo." Lucia tells Noah briefly resting her head against his as she moves them further into the apartment before settling on the couch. (And I always want to see you.)

Olivia comes down the hallway from the back of the apartment, where the bedrooms are, and rounds the couch to lean over Noah and leave a kiss on Lucia's cheek, "hi Lucia, I'm so glad you could make it. Noah was so excited to be having you over again." Liv stands at the woman's feet running a hand over Noah's hair.

Taking the younger woman's hand Lucia looks up into her face, "of course mija, I always love visiting you three. Rafi never invited me to dinner enough before you two got involved."

Lucia can't see it but Rafael shoots a glare in her direction, mumbling something that's likely a curse. Olivia can only blush slightly and squeeze Lucia's hand before stepping into the kitchen to help Rafael heat the food and prepare the salad. The table is already set, and dessert is in the fridge waiting for dinner to be over.

Brushing up against each other in the more confined space of the kitchen Rafael says, quietly so the other occupants of the apartment won't hear, "we should buy a house."

Eyes going wide Olivia freezes, which causes Rafael, who has his back to Olivia, to freeze. Breathing out, "Rafa look at me please."

It takes him a few moments before he can move, long enough for Olivia to start to think he isn't going to. Eventually he turns so his body is facing hers but doesn't quite meet her eyes, "what's up?"

Forcing his hand Liv steps into Raf and lifts his chin, "do you really want to buy a house?"

There is no indication of the emotion behind the question. Rafael also can't tell how she feels by her expression and it worries him. Of course he wants to buy a house, he doesn't understand why she is even asking, why else would he say it?

His silence is making Liv uncomfortable and she shifts her weight back and forth between each foot, "nevermind, it's fine."

Before she can brush the comment off as nothing Rafael takes her wrists to stop her from moving away, "wait. What do you mean nevermind? Do you not want to buy a house?" He wishes he could take the comment back, not having wanted to create an awkward atmosphere, especially not with his mother here.

"You're the one who brought it up." She sounds annoyed now, and a little bit like she might cry.

"I know but I didn't mean to scare you. We don't have to buy a house." He isn't meeting her eyes again.

"So you do want to buy a house?"

Rafael is beyond confused, "of course I do, I'm the one who said it in the first place."

Suddenly amused at her jumpy reaction to him Olivia tries to hold in a laugh so she won't upset him, she also grasps his wrists, "I'm sorry honey, I don't know why I did this. I thought you were just saying it to say it, not because you meant it. Not having a big enough kitchen isn't exactly what I would consider as a reason to buy a house."

Using their shared grasp on each other Rafael pulls her in for a quick kiss, "I don't know, I'd say it's a pretty good reason." They laugh quietly before he goes on, "it's not just the kitchen Liv. I want Noah to have a bigger space, I want us to have a bigger space. Maybe an actually bathtub that a whole entire adult could fit into -"

"Two adults even." She interrupts.

"Two, even better. I want a yard, and a fence, a tree too if we can. You and Noah make me want everything and I don't really care if it's selfish." He finishes, able to catch and hold her gaze this time.

"A house and a wedding, it's not going to be easy," Olivia muses.

Barking out a laugh, "when have we ever done things the easy way." The look she gives him tells Rafael that she concedes his point.

"There's a lot of boring stuff involved with doing this too. Shared bank accounts, updating forms, escrow, insurance, real estate agents," Olivia pauses to make sure Rafael is looking at her, "lawyers." At this she scrunches up her face with a look of faux disgust.

With the oven mitt he will use to remove dinner from the oven Raf swipes at her, "you've gotta be careful, you might end up falling in love with one."

Liv isn't looking at him but she shakes her head, "no just this one please." She turns unexpectedly fast to face him and Rafael startles, "Noah!" Olivia blurts with a dawning realization.

Turning to look at him Rafael doesn't notice anything wrong, "what about him?"

Frustrated that Rafael isn't intuitively following her line of thinking Liv bites out, "there's no paperwork formally connecting you to Noah."

His breath is sucked from him all at once, "how did I not think about this before? I'll contact Langan first thing tomorrow and have him draw up papers."

"You're going to adopt him?" There's a stupid grin on her face.

Having smelled the delectable aroma of their dinner Lucia and Noah have begun to make their way to the table.

Baffled by the question, and ignoring his surroundings, Rafael's affronted tone comes, "of course I am he's my son!"

Olivia can't help but find his emphatic response an incredible turn on, "tomorrow's Saturday." At Raf's confused look, "Langan won't be working tomorrow."

Shrugging off the comment Raf waves his hand at her as they sit down, still acting as though they're alone, "have you actually met an attorney? They are always working. Besides he owes me."

"Okay." Olivia smiles.

Rafa smiles back, "Okay."

Finally tuning back into what's going on around them the couple realize that Noah and Lucia have been acting as if they weren't here as well. Shrugging they all start their meals. The chicken enchiladas are delicious, and just spicy enough that it doesn't overwhelm Noah but gives a nice kick to each bite. Lucia has always been a great cook, ever since Rafael can remember and this meal is no different, except that she gets to share it with her son, a woman she views as a daughter, and her grandson.

Lacing her fingers together, elbows on the table, Lucia rests her chin to her hands, "this is all I've wanted since you grew up Rafi, a nice family dinner with a woman you loved, and who loved you right back, and a grandchild. This is perfect."

So focused on her ruminating Lucia fails to notice Noah perk up, and a responding nod from Olivia excusing him from the table. Standing up Rafael begins to clear their dishes.

As he does so he speaks to his mother, "you're happy then Mamí?"

With a far off look in her eye Lucia smiles and nods, "very."

Noah comes rushing back into the kitchen and skids to a stop at Lucia's side. Rafael approaches the table in order to view the event he knows is about to take place. As Noah tugs on her shirtsleeve Lucia's attention is brought back to the present and redirected to her grandson.

"Que pasa?" She asks running a soft hand down his face.

Noah has both hands behind his back and he leans in to speak to his Abuelita softly, gently, "¿quieres casarte conmigo Abuelita?" His eyes go to Rafael's in hopes of finding reassurance of his wording, which he does, before looking back at Lucia. Bringing his hands around to his front Noah presents Lucia the ring, it's then that she notices the ring adorning his finger as well.

Tracing the ring on his small hand Lucia marvels at the little boy who calls her Abuelita, she knows she would love any grandchildren she was given, but this little boy, he is extraordinary. "Oh mi amor, claro que sí."

The ring doesn't fit the intended finger, which upsets Noah at first but she puts it on her pinky instead and it seems to alleviate his frustration.

"Do you like it?" Noah asks, unsure if he had picked out a ring that she would like.

Kissing his forehead lightly Lucia pulls away to look at him, "it's the best ring I've ever gotten."

There is a beaming pride to his face upon hearing this.

"I told you she would love it hijo," Rafael says gathering Noah into an embrace. "Why don't you and I go get dessert from the fridge and we can celebrate?"

"Yay!" Noah shouts, loud enough it causes Rafael to flinch, because he knows dessert is, "rice pudding!"

"En Español por favor," Rafael request.

"Arroz con leche!" Noah corrects himself. It is a dish Rafael introduced him to and Noah has loved from his first bite. Rafael had let Olivia and Noah that it is a comfort food for him, whenever his own Abuelita used to make it for him it always cheered him up and put him in the best moods.

Normally Olivia would brew a pot of coffee to have with dessert but on this occasion she opens some champaign they bought in anticipation of the celebration they knew they would be having, while pouring some ginger ale for Noah.

After the pudding is portioned out and they all have a bubbling glass of amber fluid Rafael raises his glass, "a toast, to us."

"To us," both Lucia and Olivia repeat, as does Noah after he hears them say it.

Lucia adds, "to family," they can all 'drink' to that.

A/N: There is still more to come. At the very least a wedding and a house. I don't really have an ending planned for this piece. We will see where it takes us, I guess.

x