Sorry for the late update. This one didn't come out as well as I had hoped, but action is soon to come. Barba and Olivia's plans might be spoiled with the appearance of someone.

Rome:

Olivia never dreamt that she would one day walk the streets of Rome, feel the history soak into her skin and the rough streets beneath her heels. It is a place that puts into perspective the span of one life, that draws out notions of families as generations. It is a place of such ambiance that her heartbeats in contented rhythm and every one of her body movements as a slow relaxed flow like the Tiber.

After dinner, they decided to take a walk at the Tevere River. They walked along the bank of the river. The full moon gave them enough light to see where they were walking.

"It's rude to stare." Olivia teased, catching him glance at her for the fifth time.

"Not staring." Barba chuckled. "I'm admiring your beauty."

Olivia scoffed at his comment. "It's the full moon effect."

"Liv, look at me." Taking a large step forward, he stopped in front of her. "You have any idea how beautiful you are?" Olivia rolled her eyes with a sigh. "You are the most stunning women I have ever seen. I love the way your eyes speak for you. The way your hair falls over your shoulder, or how your hips sway teasing me with every step you take."

Olivia turned to face the river, the reflection of the stars catching her attention. "Rafa I'm-"

Barba placed a bent finger under her chin gently turning her to face him once more. "Every word I have spoken is the absolute truth. If given the chance I will spend every moment ensuring you don't forget it." Moving his hand to the back of her neck, he pulled her in for a kiss. Wrapping his arms around her, he planted a kiss on top of her head. Feeling her shake against him, he pulled away to shrug his coat off. "Here, you're freezing." Placing it over her shoulder, he ran his thumb over her pulse.

Olivia placed a hand over his heart, feeling the rapid beating against her palm. "You alright there counselor?" She gasped at feeling his lips over her eat lope.

"Around you? Never." Barba pulled back enough to stare into her eyes. His hand moved to the base of her throat, smirking at hearing the hitch in her breath. He drops it down to his side not wanting to make the first move. To his surprise, she took his hand leading him up the steps of the bridge.

Tossing Barba, a grin over her shoulder, she walked to the side of the bridge looking down at the river. A pair of hands grabbed her hips, turning her around to face him. Her back resting against the cemented railing, still she made no move towards him. Olivia herself was trying to be indifferent. It doesn't do to let someone with an ego like his know how much power he has. She doesn't lean in, doesn't make it easy, or seems too keen. Then he brushes her hair back from her shoulder and moves in so close Olivia can feel his body pressed up against her. She feels his warmth and already her mind was placing their lips together. But instead, Barba leans in to caress her neck, slow and gentle. He's making her wait and she can hardly bear it. She wants his lips now, his kisses. Barba then cups her face in his hands and gives her what he knows she wants.

The kiss was gentle and sweet at first, he would just brush his lips over hers. Almost as if something inside him triggers, Barba cupped her jaw. Holding her in position as he was quick to deepen the kiss. Growling at the moan she gave to his invasion. Feeling him deepen the kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Running her ringer through his soft hair, tugging it ever so often. Barba had one hand on her back and the other trailing over her stomach, under her shirt. Her skin felt smooth and warm, giving him flashbacks to their most intimate moments. Just as he began kissing down her neck rain began falling on them. Pulling their lips apart they both looked up at the raining sky. Looking back at each other they laughed but made no move in getting out from under the water. Instead, Barba took her lips in his once more.

There is something so heavenly about a kiss in the rain, a tender moment that just won't wait. It is that burst of love that is expressed, not caring if the water soaks through to chill the skin. It is a connection that shows the strength of the feeling, the mutual need. It is a rebellion against the elements. Nature can bring the rain but our inner sunshine comes through just the same.

Time jump: 1 year

Barba rode the elevator up to the squad room, looking like a nervous mess. Although what he was planning to do was something, he had been thinking about for the past month, it wasn't something the organization would look upon with a graze of likeness. For the past year, his and Olivia's relationship had been tested from time to time. With his kept secret about some aspects of his job and random trips, Olivia had, had enough. She went as far as asking if he was seeing someone else behind her back. Of course, he denied it, but there was still the doubt in her eyes.

So he asked for some time off any assignments they required. Just enough to give Olivia some peace of mind. And it worked until he was called back in. And as much as he wanted to tell her, he couldn't. Not until the organization saw her as someone they could trust. Someone that was more than an 'itch to scratch' for Barba. Well, he was about to give them what they wanted.

Stepping into the squad room he scanned the room until finding who he needed. It seemed the team was having an unusually slow day if the bored looks were any indication. Looking over at Olivia's office, he was relieved at not seeing her there.

He needed to get this in motion. "Detectives a word?" Barba walked past the group and towards the bunk room, holding the door open he rolled his eyes. Neither of them made a move to follow him. "Now please."

Fin frowned sharing a look with the others, but ultimately joined Barba. "What's going on?"

Barba waited until everyone was inside and Amaro had closed the door. "I need your help."

"Must be something bad, seeing you have us in the bunk room." Rollins muttered.

Barba reached into his pocket, pulling out a black velvet case. "I am going to ask Olivia to marry me." When he looked up he was met with stunned looks. "What?"

"What?!" Carisi laughed. "You're going to ask the cap to marry her!"

Barba reached for a pillow off one of the beds throwing it at the young detective. "Say it louder, I don't think the lower floor heard you."

"Sorry."

"What do you need from us?" Fin asked.

"I need help in the preparation that leads to the proposal." Barba lowered himself to sit on one of the bunk beds. "I know the where and how, but I need you, people, to control the perimeter."

Amaro frowned. "You lost us."

"What time is Olivia's award dinner?" Barba asked.

Fin thought for a moment. "At 10 pm."

"Perfect." Barba clapped his hands together. "That gives us enough time, seeing it is..." He glanced at his watch. "2 pm. The first thing I need is the park by Olivia's place cleared."

"Cleared?" Amaro frowned. "What do you mean cleared?"

"Emptied."

"Emptied?"

"Jesus Christ, Do I need to get you a dictionary?" Barba rolled his eyes. "Cleared. Definition, Remove an obstruction or unwanted item or items from."

"I know what it means." Amaro growled. "But if you're going to be an ass about it, you won't count on me."

Barba lowered his head, running his hands up and down his hair. "That place has meaning to me, it was where I first realized I had fallen in love with Olivia."

Fin glanced at his team, getting subtle nods. "Just tell us where to be and what to do."

"Thank you." Pushing himself off the bed, he let out a slow breath. "Now for the hard part."

"Popping the question?" Carisi chuckled.

Barba shook his head. "Ask Noah for his mother's hand in marriage."

Time Jump: Barba's loft

"Noah!" Barba stood outside the balcony, staring down at the never-sleeping city.

"Yeah?"

Barba turned, chuckling. Noah wore a three-piece suit, having wanted to match with Barba for the ceremony. Barba wore a black suit with a wine-colored paisley tuxedo vest and a white shirt. His tie and handkerchief matching his vest. Noah wore the same color suit, but he lacked the paisley pattern, it seemed too much for a little boy. At the moment Noah was struggling to make his tie. "You need help Mijo?"

Noah sighed throwing his hands up in the air. "Yes!"

"Ven." placing his glass of scotch on the railing of his balcony, he beaconed the boy over. "I am going to show you how it's done." Removing his jacket and vest off, he untied his tie and slipped it off. "Noah, I wanted to ask you something."

"Okay." The boy stuck his tongue out, trying to mimic Barba's movements with the tie.

"You know I love your mother very much right?" He got a nod. "And you know I love you too right?" Another nod. "Today, I want to ask for your permission."

Noah looked up at him, tie forgotten. "Permission? For what?"

Barba kneeled grabbing the tie and tying it up. Fixing the vest and jacket, he gave Noah a once over. "I want to ask your permission to marry your mother. Do you?"

Noah stared at him for a moment, leaning in closer to his uncle Rafa. "Okay, but you must promise me something."

"Anything." Barba said.

"Never hurt her." Noah muster up the most serious look he could, near glaring at Barba. "You hurt my mom and I will hate you."

Barba pulled the boy into a tight hug, kissing the side of his temple. "I promise."

Time jump: Park

"What are we doing here?" Olivia asked for the tenth time. Barba had told her to get dressed early and meet him outside. She was surprised to see the car pull up to the park she always took Noah. "Rafa?"

Barba chuckled, leading her deeper into the park. "Patient amor, we aren't too far." He spotted Fin and Rollins taking cover behind some trees. They were to stop anyone from stepping into the area he had set up. Amaro and Carisi were on the opposite side of the park doing the same. Walking up to one of the small pond bridges, he gestured waited until she leaned against the rail and looked over the river.

In the water were two swans swimming side by side. Olivia kept her eyes on them, humming at feeling a pair of arms wrap around her waist. "It's beautiful at night."

"Hmm." He leaned into her neck, kissing the skin. "This was the place I knew I had fallen in love with you." He stopped her from turning around to face him. "Just listen. The night I met you I have to admit I didn't think I would ever see you again. Just another face I mixed in with the rest of the world, but when you walked into my office I was amazed. You were beautifully breathtaking. How I didn't see it the first time, is beyond me. The more I got to know you, the more I was falling for you. But I also thought…believed you were never meant for me." Barba took her hand in his, holding on for dear life. "I still believe there must have been some mixed up destiny did, and any moment she will come and swoop you away. And then came in Noah, and I swear that boy took the rest of my heart with him. You both healed what I never believed could. I see the world with a different set of eyes because of you two. And I have come to learn I can not live without the both of you in my life." Letting her go, he kneeled on one knee. Pulling the box out from inside his jacket, he held it in his hand. Looking up he was surprised to see Olivia had yet to turn around. "Liv?"

Olivia closed her eyes for a moment, willing her heart to stop pounding against her chest. Turning around slowly, she glanced down at Rafael. In his stretched-out hand was a blue velvet box. She reached for the box with a shaking hand and opened it. A small gasp escaped her lips. "Rafa."

"You once said that my love wasn't like a new song, but like opening a book and finding a language you'd never seen before. I want you to know that I feel the same way. Your love is something beautiful; meeting you is like meeting an enigma. I don't know how you exist in this world yet you do. So let me tell you now - I will always love you in mind, body, and soul. You are the trap I've been wanting to fall into my whole life; liberty from you would simply be an infinite prison. I am the softness you seek and you are the cradle for my head and heart." Catching her eyes with his, he swallowed the lump on his throat. Suddenly his mouth was drying up. "Olivia Benson, would you marry me?"

Her hand covered her gasped mouth. Her eyes flickered from the ring to his face. She attempted to move, but her body was frozen in place. Wanted to scream at the top of her lungs that she accepted, but her throat was shut. So she did what she could only do, let a tear stream down her cheek. Looking down at the ring, a smile broke through. "Y-yes."

Barba had to strain his hearing to catch what he hoped was a yes. "Yes?"

Olivia nodded. "Yes."

"Y-you said yes."

Olivia nodded, watching him pull the ring out of the box and slide it onto her finger. Feeling the heavy band on her finger created butterflies in the pit of her stomach. The same kind he created in her every waking moment.

Barba pushed himself forward, wrapping his arms around her and picking her up. "Holy shit you said yes."

Olivia laughed, cupping his face and kissing him. "I said yes."

Letting her down slowly without breaking the kiss, Barba settled his hand on the back of her neck. "I love you." Pulling her into a hug, he looked over to see her teammates walking towards them. "Brace yourself."

"Hmm?" She glanced back at the approaching group. "What are you doing here?"

"Barba called for a little help." Kissing her on the cheek, Fin wrapped his arms around her. "Congratulations Liv." Leaning into her ear he whispered. "If anyone deserves this it's you."

"Thank you, Fin."

"Congrats capt." Carisi gave her a quick hug, followed by Amanda and Amaro. "Let's see the rock?!"

Olivia held her hand out for them, playfully wiggling her fingers.

Amaro whistled. "It's nice, but I have to ask what's with the black rock?"

"It stands for-"

"Courage and strength." Carisi butted in. "It also means the power of love. It stated that the couple engaged values their Union above all else."

"Thank you Carisi." Sarcasm dripped in every word. "There's your answer Amaro."

"As much fun as this is, we all need to get ready for an award dinner." Fin reminded the group. "We only have two hours to do so, so let's get moving."

Olivia groaned, having completely forgotten about the award. "I need to go change." She glared at her fiancé. "You couldn't let me change before doing this?"

"I was running low on time." Barba took her hand in his. "I'll walk you back."

Laying her head on his shoulder, she kept running her thumb over the ring. It felt like such a foreign feeling. It was also a feeling of home. A feeling that she had finally found the person she was meant for. The person that wanted her just the way she was, flaws and all.

Time jump: A few moments later

Barba pushed her up against the wall of the elevator. His mouth bounced from her mouth to her jaw. His hands hooked into her waist, making sure she didn't move. The only sound echoing in his ears were her moans and gasps. The same ones fueling him at the moment. Barba had made sure he stopped the elevator. Now was not the moment to get interrupted. Sliding his hand down to her ass, he picked her up. Her legs wrapped around his waist, as her arms hooked around his neck. Barba pushed his body into hers, groaning at the heat coming off her and sweeping into his. Moving away from her mouth, he trailed open kisses across her cheek, her jaw, and down the length of her neck. Stopping just between her neck and shoulder. Olivia gasped as his teeth nibbled on her skin. Pushing her harder against the elevator wall, he held her up with just his hips. Giving his hands the freedom of exploring her entire body. In a matter of seconds, he had her shirt and bra on the floor.

Barba lowered his head, kissing over her collar and down to her breast. He couldn't get enough of her. Her smell. Her touch. Her taste. It was overwhelming. A drug he was officially hooked on. Hearing her moan echo in his ear, caused him to push forward. Grinding his hips into hers, Barba groaned softly. His cock strained painfully against his jeans, demanding to be let out. Reaching over his shoulder, he grabbed her hand, pulling it off him, he guided her towards the bulge in his pants. A small gasp slipped from his lips, as she grabbed it the best she could through the fabric. Thrusting his hips into her hand, he turned his attention back to her breast. Nibbling and sucking, smiling at the moans she gave out. Her hand gripped his cock harder as she took in his affection.

Olivia moaned softly as his mouth clamped over her breast. This man was too much. Between his mouth and hands, she was literally on fire. Where ever his hand touched it left a blazing trail. Looking down at him and seeing him sucking on her breast was a major turn-on, causing heat to pool in between her legs. Growling due to her hand not being able to get a good grip on his cock, Olivia worked quickly to set him free. Just as she got a grip on him, her phone went off.

Barba refused to stop. He couldn't. Unbuttoning her pants, he growled at the nonstop phone. "Fuck, I hate your phone."

"You hate it?" Olivia laughed leaning her head back against the wall. "I loathe that thing."

Letting her stand on her feet, he reached for her shirt and bra. "Sorry, I think the buttons were ripped off."

With a slight chuckle, she answered her phone. "Benson."

Barba got the elevator moving once more, pressing the top floor to his loft. As the doors opened, he handed her the clothes and stayed in the elevator. "I will see you at the dinner."

Olivia placed her hand over the phone. "You not waiting?"

Barba pulled her by the waist nibbling on her collar bone. "I stay here and we will never make it to the ceremony. And lord knows you deserve that award." Kissing her with every emotion in him, he stepped back into the elevator. "We can continue this after dinner. I'll see you there."

Time jump: moments later

Olivia sped through the streets of New York. Her sirens made every car before her move out of the way. The rain had begun to fall as a warning to the scene she was approaching. She had finished getting dressed when she received a call in regards to an officer down. They requested a captain present, and she was the closest one. Swerving around a car refusing to move, she stepped on the accelerator. Olivia had gotten a call from Fin and Barba asking where she was. She had to excuse herself for the moment, asking them to cover for her until she could get there.

Coming to a stop, she jumped out of the car and rushed to the scene. Flashing her badge to the officer on the perimeter stand, she ducked under the tape. The first thing she sees is a blown-up SUV, none she recognized. Walking deeper into the chaos, her eyes caught a glimpse of the female on the gurney.

"Kathy?" She gasped, not believing what she was seeing. "How is she?" Approaching the gurney side, Olivia laid a gentle hand on Kathy's forehead.

"We need to get her to the hospital now." The female paramedic lifted the gurney into the ambulance, jumping in after. "We're taking her to the general hospital."

"I-okay." Olivia was still in a mental fog. "W-"

"Liv!"

She snapped her head to the right. Her eyes widened at seeing the one person she never thought she'd see again. Her legs moved on their own accord. Taking her to him, regardless of her attempts to stop. By the time she looked up, Olivia looked into the eyes that haunted her for so long.

"Elliot."