Barba was halfway up the stairs by the time Noah finished yelling. "Que tienes mijo?" Running into the room, he swooped the boy into his arms. Noah clung onto Rafael, crying into his neck. "Noah, what's wrong?" Not being able to get him to calm down, Rafael was starting to worry. The fear of something being wrong was making him nervous. "Aver Mijo, come here." Prying the boy off him, he sat on the edge of the bed and settled Noah on his lap. "Take a few deep breaths." Breathing in and out, he coached Noah into following his lead. "That's it." Pushing the boy's hair back, he wiped his tears away. "Okay, want to tell me what happened? Why are you crying?"
"Th-T-man." The hiccups were causing his words to come out in stutters. "H-he hurt you."
"Who?" Barba felt a slight relief that all this was, was a nightmare.
Noah shook his head. "Bri-br-"
"Brian?"
"Y-yes." Noah whimpered.
Rafael sighed, lifting Noah off his lap and sitting him on the bed. Kneeling in front of the boy, he took his hands in one of his and cupped his face with the other. "Mira mijo, you had a bad dream. I am not hurt and he is never going to hurt me."
"Promise?"
"Pro-" He stopped himself before he could commit the stupidest mistake. "Noah, listen to me. I cannot promise you I will never get hurt or that someone will never hurt me. But I can promise you something."
"What?"
"I will always try and come home to you and your mother." Rafael knew he was fucking up, but at the same time, it was true. No matter where Noah and Olivia were, he would do everything he could to come back to them. Even if that meant standing aside and allowing another man to comfort her. As long as he had them in his life, he was content. "No matter where I am or what I am doing, I will always try my hardest to come back."
"You not going to leave us?" Noah raised both hands, cupping Rafael's face. "Promise."
Rafael stared into his innocent eyes. His entire being screamed at him to comply. To assure the boy he would never leave them. To assure he will be there every time he opened his eyes. But at last, he couldn't. At some point, his job will take him away. Or Olivia will allow another man into their lives, and he would have to step into the shadows. "Mira mono, I can't promise you that." He quickly moved to reassure the boy at seeing the tears form. "Not because I don't want to, but because It would make me a liar. My job might take me away from time to time. Sometimes a little time, sometimes a lot. But I repeat what I said, I will always do everything I can to come back. That is all I can promise you." Lowering his head to catch his eyes, he grinned. "Okay?"
"Okay, Tio."
"Alright." Giving him a kiss on the head, he picked him up and playfully threw him back on the bed. Noah scrambled to get under the covers. "Go back to sleep. Mami will be here shortly." Tucking him in and giving him another kiss on the head, he turned to leave.
Noah caught his hand before he left. "Sing."
"Sing?" Barba chuckled. "Mijo, I have a terrible voice."
"No, you don't." Noah pulled the best puppy eyes he could. "Please?"
Barba knew he was goner. There was no way in hell he could ever say no. "Esta bien. Alright."
"Spanish."
"Spanish? How about in English?" Noah shook his head. "Spanish okay." He stood there for a moment, trying to remember any songs in Spanish.
"Tio?"
"Espera mijo, I'm trying to think of any appropriate songs to sing. Your mami catches me rapping to you, that will be the end of tio Barba's lineage." Barba scratched the back of his neck. This was harder than it seemed. "Okay, I got." Scooting the boy to the center of the bed, he sat on the edge with his back against the headboard. "Lay down and close your eyes. Okay?"
"Okay." Doing as he was told, Noah turned to his side facing Barba. Reaching one hand out he wrapped it around Barba's arm. His piercing brown eyes stared up at him with anticipation.
Barba laid his free hand over his wild hair, running his fingers through it in a failed attempt to tame it.
"Por haberte lavado las manos y desayunar
Por haberte vestido tú solo
Por haber dado un beso a mamá
Por haber ido hoy al colegio
Por haber compartido tus juegos
Hoy te voy a contar otro cuento que te gustará
Y el pequeño sonríe y abre los ojos
Y mira en silencio y va poco a poco
Buscando sus brazos
Y el padre lo besa y empieza su historia
Y el pequeño pregunta y el padre le cuenta
Y el niño lo escucha y el padre se inventa
Y el niño se duerme escuchando ese cuento
Y el padre comenta: te quiero."
Noah was battling with himself to stay awake. Barba's voice was like that of a heavy blanket.
Olivia stood by the door, watching her son and best friend. Barba sat with his back against the headboard, head tossed back. One hand ran through Noah's wild curls, the other in her son's hold. She had no idea Rafael had such a voice. It was a deep raspy one, which caused shivers to run through her.
"Por haberte tomado el jarabe que sabe tan mal
Por haber ordenado tus cosas
Por haber aprendido a rezar
Por haber regalado a María
Ese coche que tanto querías
Hoy te voy a contar otro cuento que te gustará
Y el pequeño sonríe y abre los ojos
Y mira en silencio y va poco a poco
Buscando sus braz-"
Barba was quick to react to the floor creaking. Instantly relaxing at seeing Olivia leaning against the door frame. Opening his mouth, he paused at sensing Noah squirm. Ever so gently he slipped out of his hold, hovering over the boy he gave him a kiss on the temple.
"Y el padre lo besa y empieza su historia
Y el pequeño pregunta y el padre le cuenta
Y el niño lo escucha y el padre se inventa
Y el niño se duerme escuchando ese cuento
Y el padre comenta: te quiero."
"Te amo mi niño." Barba whispered.
Olivia walked back into the living room, waiting for him to join her.
"You should get some sleep Liv." Was the first thing Barba said.
Olivia never did like anyone telling her what to do. "So, you can cook. Sing. Speak how many Languages?"
"5."
"Good with kids. A complete gentleman and good-looking." Counting off her fingers, she held up 6. "Am I missing any?"
"I can dance."
"Right, and you are still single why?"
'Because I am waiting on you.'
Was what he wanted to scream, but he opted for the easy route. "No time. Besides, my job keeps me moving from place to place. No woman wants a life being on the constant move." Or run. "Besides I'm fine."
Olivia didn't believe that for a second, but she learned it was never good to push Rafael into talking. All that did was cause the man to shut everyone out. "I'm going to bed, I have to work tomorrow and Noah has school."
"Night liv."
"Night."
Regardless of the screams from his body to go after her, he left for his room. Although no sleep came that night. He couldn't. Not while she slept in the room next door. 'Get a grip, Rafael! You're acting like a damn horny teenager.' Turning face down into the pillow, he let out an annoying scream. 'Damnit, Benson!'
