A/N: Contents as promised! The squad and then the Barsons!

Amanda harrumphs for, probably, the sixth time this morning. Today is sunny. Today is beautiful and temperate. Today is a work day. Tomorrow, according to will be rainy. Tomorrow will be dreary and humid. Tomorrow is not a work day.

Fin rolls his eyes for what must be the sixth time this morning, "Manda would you stop staring out the window and get back to work, please?"

Carisi snorts at the plea from Fin, they both are well aware of the stubbornness that can be displayed by their blonde colleague. Today has been filled with paperwork and filing, and Dodds. The temporary commanding officer was fine the first few days after Liv's departure but has since turned into a nuisance to the squad. Though he has assured the detectives this is his only week filling in and they will have a new CO and detective next week.

Their first week without the constant figure of the unit that Liv had become was an arduous one but they've done it, so far. It's a warm tiring day and they all looked forward to winding down and relaxing tomorrow. It had been their hope to do so outside in the sunshine, but that doesn't seem likely anymore.

Carisi tries his best to still look on the bright side, "just think about it this way, we can just veg and hang tomorrow. Watch movies, eat nothing but junk, and not care about anything going on in the outside world. Then if we get really lucky we can meet the girls for a beach day on Sunday."

Amanda and Fin look at Sonny with guarded optimism in their eyes. Fate didn't usually look so kindly on them but maybe this time it might?

Frowning at the sand beneath her feet Brandi notices the scraps of trash littering the fine grains. Kicking a flip-flopped foot she pushes a cigarette butt from her view before turning to her companion.

With a heavy sigh Lucy drops her arms effectively ridding her body of all the things she had been carrying a moment before. From the corner of her eye she sees Brandi looking at her who then proceed to follow Lucy's lead.

"I can't help but imagining how much nicer the beaches must be in Costa Rica," the words are sticky with longing as they leave Lucy's mouth, she doesn't enjoy the jealousy she is feeling right now.

With her face turned up skyward Brandi moans her agreement, "ugh, I know! Liv and Rafael probably haven't had to remove a single discarded cigarette from their sight."

Brandi's head lolls to the side so she is looking at Lucy again. The two young women laugh at themselves before arranging their belongings. It is early still, just after 8:00 AM, but they were determined to find a nice spot on the beach. Their friends will be arriving later but Lucy and Brandi didn't mind setting up camp early.

At the moment Brandi has her hair piled into a messy bun on top of her head, the style shows darker roots of hair while her bun is fully blonde. She is wearing a very light tank top dress over a one-piece bathing suit. Her sunglasses have been pushed up, acting as a headband for the moment and she is wearing flip-flops, clutching an ice coffee in her hand.

Lucy has decided to tie her hair off in a fishtail braid off to the right side of her head, with a slouchy romper thrown over her two-piece. The sunglasses Lucy has worn still sit over her nose and she is wearing some slip-on birkenstocks on her feet, ice coffee in hand as well. Laughing as she realizes how they must look.

"Two millennials go to a beach, I think that would be the caption if a photo were taken of us right in this moment."

Brandi perks up at the comment and looks around at both herself and Lucy as well as what they have brought along with them, "oh my god! And I packed avocado too!"

Lucy posites one more thought, "millennials are killing the pool industry!"

Both women are bent in half giggling at themselves for a full minute before they are able to take another breath. The morning is still early for beach goers and Brandi and Lucy still feel a slight chill in the air from the previous night. Deciding to bide their time they settle onto towels switch on their bluetooth speaker and crack open the books they've brought along.

"Do you think we look lame reading the same book right next to each other?" Brandi asks when she takes her eyes off the page to take a sip of water.

"It's for a book club!" Brandi just blinks at her, "would it be better if I just read out loud to you?" Lucy is still reading but can devote a fraction of her concentration to poke fun at her companion.

"You are the worst!"

Instead of going back to reading Brandi stands to remove her dress revealing a black one-piece bathing suit with the word Barbie scrawled across it. Kicking off her sandals too Brandi pulls her hair out of its bun and shakes it out. Lucy, meanwhile, has been distracted by the actions and looks over to Brandi. It's then that she notices scarring on the outside of her thighs. Without conscious thought Lucy lifts a hand and ghosts her fingers over the many white lines marring the other woman's skin.

Not averting her gaze from the ocean Brandi says simply, "they're old. From undergrad. I haven't cut myself in a long time."

With her final words Brandi turns and shares a soft smile with Lucy before stepping away, "I'm going to test out the water, see if I can get over how cold the water is going to be."

Tempted to inquire further into Brandi's scar, but as Lucy opens her mouth only for her phone to ring, "hello?"

"Hey Luce, we are here where did you girls settle down?" Amanda's southern lilt is always soothing in Lucy's ears and she instantly relaxes at the sound of it.

After explaining to Amanda how to navigate to the location she and Brandi had picked Lucy keeps an eye out for the incoming group. She spots Sonny carrying a rambunctious Jessie in his arms first. Quickly the squad come to add to the set-up Lucy and Brandi have created.

Fin makes it to the spot first, "hi baby girl, how are you?" He leans and pulls Lucy into a strong, firm hug that always instills a sense of fatherly love into the woman.

Into his shoulder Lucy tells Fin, "I'm good, happy to be on the beach instead of inside wishing it wasn't raining."

As they release each other Fin shakes his head laughing, "sound like Amanda over there."

Everyone settles in for the day and Brandi marches back up the beach with dripping wet hair and smiles taking in the sight of the rag-tag group she has begun to think of as a family. They all greet her warmly as she winds through all the things strew about over to where her towel is laying beside Lucy's.

Sonny is as jovial as always, "yo Brandi! Did you freeze your ass off in that water or is it safe to go in?"

Sliding her sunglasses back onto her face Brandi shakes out her hair before pulling back into a bun, shoots a glare at him, that he can't see, "watch your mouth sir, there are small ears around." She is smiling too so Sonny doesn't take it personally, "but yeah, you're good to go in, just don't take forever to go under and torture yourself."

Pumping his fist Sonny locates Jessie with his gaze, "Jess you wanna go for a swim with me?"

The group spends the day together splashing and swimming in the ocean, building sandcastles, burying Sonny in mountains of sand, eating, tanning, relaxing, and taking pictures. At one point Fin generously offers to ask someone to take a group picture of all of them, much to everyone else's surprise.

After the group photo is taken Fin reveals his less than sentimental reasons behind getting the photo, "Imma send this to Liv, make her jealous."

Amanda may have thrown a few cold french fries at his face when he tells them this, she won't admit to it. They make plans to disperse and clean up, change clothes and get dinner at this quiet patio bar in mid-town.

"Papi come se dice sloth en español?" Noah's excited voice asks from the back seat of the rental car the family acquired for the week. (Daddy how do you say sloth in Spanish?)

Chuckling at how eager his son is Rafael feeds him the requested information, "perezoso."

"¿Son suaves?" Noah inquires generally. (are they soft?)

Liv, who is thumbing through a pamphlet handles this question, "not really baby, they have kind of coarse hair. The baby ones might be softer though, maybe there will be some babies there that we will get to see."

The moment Rafael told Noah they would be going to a sloth sanctuary today their son has been full of questions. But both Liv and Raf are happy to see Noah so eager to learn it would be impossible to get annoyed at the never-ending rambling coming from him.

Deciding she has no interest in sloths Lucia has stayed behind to stay on the beach or go into to town. She is hoping to make dinner for them tonight.

It isn't long before the three of them arrive at the sanctuary. Rafael easily navigates the transaction for entering, though everyone they have encountered on the island has been exceedingly nice and receptive to the non-natives they have found speaking Spanish has been the easiest routes to take. Taking Noah's hands on either side of him Liv and Raf lead him into the building that houses Noah's new favorite creatures.

"Mami do perezosos make noises?" Noah cranes his neck to look at Olivia while he waits for the answer.

Pushing her bottom lip out in thought Liv takes a short moment before shrugging, "I'm not sure, I guess we will find out soon."

"Hijo, do you remember what the different kinds of sloths are?" Rafa asks to keep the boy's mind occupied while they make their way to their final destination.

Jumping up and down and still managing to move forward Noah nods frantically, "yup! There are two-toed sloths and three-toed sloths!"

Just as excited as his son Rafa's face shines with pride, "that's right sweetheart, you're such a great learner. You'll make a great attorney someday."

Rafael struggled with the idea of whether he wanted Noah to follow a similar path to him or not but in the end listened to the warmth radiating in his chest at the idea of his son wanting to do so. And if Rafael nudged him gently toward that path, well, that was okay too.

Liv's eyebrow arches dangerously, "an attorney? I don't think so mi amor, maybe a police lieutenant. But not a lawyer, they're too stuffy."

She knows it will get a rise out of Rafael but is surprised when it also seems to provoke a reaction from Noah as well.

"¡Mami!" He chides, then leans into her leg, attempting to whisper, "Papi is a lawyer."

The sincerity with which he tells her melts Olivia's heart. Rafael and Noah are now both imploring her with big doe-eyed gazes she nearly feels bad for her teasing. Then they giggle and the spell is broken.

Pretending to coneed Rafa says, "fine Noah, mi corazón, mi vida, mi alma, you can be anything you want when you grow up." He sends a haughty look Liv's way just before he leans into Noah and stage whispers, "as long as you want to be a lawyer like me." (my heart, my life, my soul)

His antics have Olivia rolling her eyes and Noah cackling between them. Rafael will do anything to make his family happy and right now he is feeling quite successful, as he is sure he will continue to feel for the remainder of the day.

Noah is certainly happy the moment he sees a sloth. The excitement seems to be emitting from his small form in big way, infecting both Rafa and Liv completely.

Much to Noah's pure delight they are allowed to hold the sloths they spend the day learning about. Immediately volunteering to take the responsibility of feeding one of the two-toed sloths in sight. The animal is draped onto the boy with its arms clasping his neck and its torso aligned with Noah's, the sloth, Hugo they're told, is nearly the full size of his torso.

"Mami, Papi mirame!" His voice is soft so he doesn't frighten Hugo. (look at me)

Behind her phone while taking his picture Olivia smirks at Noah, "I see baby, you look adorable together."

Noah seems fascinated by the creature's nose, all wet and looking utterly cute. Eventually Noah and Hugo snuggle together, nuzzling noses, which tickles Noah causing an uproar of laughter among the family and staff alike.

Later in the day Olivia and Rafael get their own chances to hold sloths. Rafael takes to it like a natural, bringing the animal's body readily into his own and allowing Sylvie, his sloth, to munch happily on carrots while he learns all about her and the routines she has.

When Olivia takes her turn she is more hesitant than the boys had been. Reluctantly Liv allows the sloth to rest against her. It is only after she has relented does she learn that sloth's coats generally house bugs, moths, and algae. Upon hearing this Liv's shoulders tense and her face contorts into a regrettable expression that Rafa laughs heartily at having captured in a picture.

After parting with her sloth Liv can't seem to stop swiping at her body, eventually Rafa has to reassure her that she is fine, "mi sol, you don't have any bugs on you I promise. They bathe the animals daily here, they are probably cleaner than Noah."

Shivering Olivia glares at Rafa before softening, "I just keep thinking I feel something there."

Pulling her into his side Raf tells her, "don't worry I'll save you from any creepy crawlies there might be around."

He kisses Olivia before she can work herself up at all. Noah has no patience with them and drags them from each other begging to move on, there are babies here, he heard someone say it! Joining hands the couple follows Noah as he takes them over to the promised baby sloths.

When they finally return to their rented villa Noah has worn himself out with all the excitement of the day, Rafael has to collect him from the backseat of the car where he has fallen asleep. They decide to let him nap until dinner is ready.

Lucia gives them a brief summary of her day before she sets about getting dinner started, promising to listen to every moment of their day once Noah is awake. Raf and Liv agree with her and excuse themselves to freshen up before their meal.

In their room, finally alone for a moment Rafa pulls Liv into a tight embrace, savoring having her close. Neither releases the other for long minutes.

Leaning back Liv studies Rafa's face before she kisses him gently, taking her time to sink into the warmth of his mouth.

"Mmm, I love you Olivia."

Running a hand up and down his neck Liv says it back, "I love you too Rafa, so much."

"I know this is going to seem as if it is coming from nowhere, and it is definitely something we will need to discuss, but I want another child with you." Rafael's voice is hushed but irreverent as he speaks into Liv's ear.

Instead of tensing up or pushing away Olivia folds further into Rafa's body, "baby, are you sure?"

Her tone is neutral to Raf's ears but he knows this conversation leaves no room for anything but total honesty, "yes," he breathes, "I want a little girl we can spoil like we do with Noah. I want a girl who will look at you the way he does and won't want to wait to grow up to be just like you.

"Sometimes I dream about her and she is my Daddy's Little Girl™, and she will be, but more often when I dream about her she wants nothing more than to be your best friend.

"And I think about Noah as a big brother. Oh he will be the best, teaching her everything he knows, protecting her from being hurt, and annoying her by virtue of being a boy and her brother. Everytime he said he wanted to share something with either Jessie or a classmate I could only picture of him taking his little sister by the hand and showing her everything."

The picture Rafa paints of their little girl is so enchanting Liv feels tears pooling in her eyes, "I want that too."

Her answer is quiet and choked but Rafael hears it clearly. Tightening his hold of her Rafael rocks them back and forth while thanking everything in the universe for bring a woman like Olivia Benson - no Barba - into his life.

Hating to end the moment, but knowing she has to, Olivia steps away, but reaches out to swipe some stray locks of hair from Rafa's face, "after we find a house we can start the adoption process."

Rafael's smile is perfect.

At dinner Noah recounts their day, his parents allowing him to keep a phone at the table to supplement his retelling. Every once in awhile he interrupts himself to show the group pictures of their friends at home that had been received throughout the day. Noah has a Snapchat account on Rafa's phone (which is strictly monitored so that the only people Noah is communicating with are known friends) and had gotten a multitude of snaps from Brandi, Lucy, and Sonny during the day that are slowly trickling through now they are in Wifi.

Rafael and Olivia are pleased to see how their friends have come together so nicely, even without them there. So much so that they are spending a day all together at the beach. After dinner Rafa allows Noah to put some of the snaps they took today onto Instagram. To Rafael's complete pleasure Noah selects the shot of Olivia looking down at the sloth in her arms with a horrified look on her face.

Almost instantly after the boy posts the photos to the app they garner likes and comments, which are quickly disrupted in favor of a phone call. It is Amanda's number that flashes on the screen, as a FaceTime request.

Noah quickly swipes the screen to accept the video chat and is greeted with, not only Amanda, but Jessie, Sonny, Fin, Lucy, Brandi, and Ken sitting down for a later dinner themselves. It is a rowdy conversation that follows the acceptance of the chat but it is entirely enjoyable for all involved, Lucia included. Noah has to fight the jealousy he feels at not being able to join everyone as they eat out together. He is reminded that he is on a tropical island and having a wonderful time, while also being soothed by the promise of more group dinners to come.

A/N: Let me know what you think, if you want ;) I'm going to enjoy adding a little girl to the mix!

xx