It was Sunday. Noah did not get back from the park until yesterday in the late afternoon. Barba spent the rest of the afternoon playing robots with him. For dinner they ordered take-out sandwiches, Liv barely touched her tuna. At Noah's bedtime Babra fulfilled some of his promise, he read The Velveteen Rabbit until Noah fell asleep. After that he found Olivia asleep, and looking very uncomfortable. He woke her. She slowly made it to bed, falling back to sleep almost instantly, He wanted so badly to show her that he was different, that he was respectful. so again he constructed the pillow wall.

Today, he gave Noah breakfast again, and watched him color, he made sure Olivia kept ice on her injuries for most of the day. Now, it was almost dinner time. Noah was in his room playing with his police car. "I just think you should take the day off tomorrow." Barba said sitting next to Olivia on the sofa.

"No, Raffa I'm fine. What am I supposed to do, stay home until there is no trace of a bruise."

"Sounds good to me."

"No, I'm back to work tomorrow. I'm not going undercover, don't worry." Olivia said. Barba sighed loudly. They heard a knock at the door, Olivia got up and walked to the door. Barba followed behind her. "Who is it?"

"It's Lucia", Olivia was shocked and looked through the peephole before opening the door. Rafael Barba smiled from behind her.

"Mrs. Barba" Lucia held a brown paper bag in her right hand, in her left was a small plastic bag "Come in." Olivia said. Lucia entered quickly.

"Benson, the woman who drives my son crazy. Oh did you put ice on those injuries? When I called you said you were fine, I told you I would be by."

"You did on Friday night... but I didn't think..."

"That I would show up." Lucia replied.

"Mrs. Barba, what can I help you with?"

"First, drop the Mrs. Barba. Benson. Then you can take this small bag or get my son to do it." Olivia smiled, and took the smaller bag.

"Lucia, Liv "What can I do for you?"

"Liv, you can show me your kitchen."

"What?"

"I brought Pollo Asado, my mother's recipe Olivia looked at Lucia with wide eyes, Lucia took that to mean she didn't understand. "Roasted chicken."

"I know, what you said, you just didn't have to cook. The kitchen is right there." Olivia said pointing to it. Lucia nodded quickly, and was in the kitchen in a matter of seconds.

"How are you feeling Liv?" Lucia spoke as she emptied the bag.

"Fine."

"Mami, you should know fine is her standard answer." As Rafael said this Olivia felt his hand gently rest on the small of her back.

"Because I am fine", she said softly, surprise filling her voice." Lucia was heating the food. Olivia moved away and walked to the kitchen. She needed some distance. Her cheeks were hot, and she hoped no one would notice, but she doubted that. "I'll set the table." She said placing the plastic bag on the counter, and getting out the knives and forks.

"What's in the bag Mami? Rafael asked. He hadn't meant to reach for Olivia like that, he hadn't meant to startle her.

"it's toys for Noah." Lucia answered, Rafael walked quickly to the kitchen, and got some plates.

"Oh you didn't have to do that, Olivia said.

"I know, I wanted to." Olivia moved to the dinning table, Rafael followed placing a plate by each setting.

Olivia cleared her throat. Rafael was so close to her as he placed the last plate down. I'll get some cups, she said moving away.

"I'll get them." She answered.

"I'll call Noah then." He said.

"Ok she answered quickly, Rafael watched Olivia walk to the kitchen and open an upper cabinet, he watched as she reached for the cups. He rushed to her side. "Liv, let me get them."

"I got it." Olivia answered quickly.

"Benson, I like you, you have spunk, but let my son feel useful. Lucia said loudly. " Olivia's mouth opened in surprise, he heard a noise escape her lips. She backed away from the cabinet, and she allowed Rafael to reach for the cups. She stood motionless as he put a cup by each place.

"Noah." Rafael called "come here please". Noah ran to Rafael.

"What?" the five year old asked. Lucia took the food out and walked to the dinning table. "Noah I'd like to introduce you to my mother."

"Hello Noah." Lucia said.

"You're Barba's mommy!"

"Yes" Lucia smiled.

"Hello Mrs. Barba, nice to meet you." Barba is so cool!"

"I agree Noah, you are so polite. You may call me Lucia."

"Lucia!" Noah repeated happily.

"Noah I brought you a gift. Would you like to open it?"

Rafael grabbed the bag off the counter and handed it to Noah. "Thank-you", he said to Rafael, "Thank-you Lucia."

Rafael walked to the kitchen, where Olivia was still standing. "Liv, I've never seen you speechless for this long." She didn't respond "Liv, are you with me?"

Olivia blinked I'm sorry. "What?"

"Are you with me?"

"yeah, yes?"

"Where did you go?"

"I was in my own head." Rafael nodded, happy she didn't just say she was fine. She took a breath. "I'm back." He nodded again holding her gaze.

"Come on kids, let's eat." Lucia called. They walked to the dinning table and sat across from each other. Every bite of the meal was delish.

"Mommy" Noah said when he finished his food. "Lucia gave me a new robot and a train! Raffa has to help me put the train together."

"Raffa?" Lucia perked up and raised an eyebrow.

"That's what mommy calls Barba sometimes."

"Really?" I'm sure he likes that."

"Noah sweetie, get ready for bed." Olivia said feeling her cheeks burn.

"I don't want to go to bed now."

"You don't have go to bed right now, you have to get ready for bed."

"Are you going back to work tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"No!"

"Noah I have to. Get ready for bed please."

"Don't go back to work tomorrow!"

"Noah, I'll talk to you about this later."

"Don't go back to work tomorrow!"

"Noah stop." I'll talk to you about it later, we have company."

"No! I don't want you to get hurt again! Raffa didn't lock the bad guy up yet!"

"No Noah, but mommy did." Olivia's voice cracked, and she felt tears, but would not let them fall.

"But Raffa can keep the bad guys locked up! Remember, you said, you and Raffa lock up bad people, but in different ways. Raffa can keep them locked up!"

"Noah." Rafael said "Listen to your mami, and I will read to you before bed."

"Fine." Noah mumbled getting up and walking to his room.

"Mrs. Barba"" Olivia said looking at Lucia. "I'm so sorry." Olivia was grateful her voice didn't crack again. "Lo siento."

Lucia waved her hand in front of Olivia to signal her to stop. "Ah What did I say?"

Olivia took a breath. "Lucia Lo siento!"

"I understand, I raised a boy too, believe it or not this one was 5 at one time. She said smiling at her son.

"So I've heard." Olivia said smiling.

"You're doing great with him Olivia, and you can't blame the boy for worrying."

"I just didn't expect that. I try to keep my job away from him. I had a close call at a townhouse, but this was the first time Noah saw me with a scratch on me.

"I know. It's a little bit more than a stretch. Did you at least get in a good punch?"

"Lucia!"

"What? You're surprised I asked that question? "Have you met my son ADA Rafael Barba?" She said laughter in her voice. "Nothing makes him happier than putting the bad guys away in his way, Noah is right."

"So I've seen, best ADA I ever worked with ever, and I've been doing this work for a long, long time Lucia, you should be proud." Olivia made eye contact with her friend, but quickly looked away."

"Your mother did a good job with you."

"Mami" Rafael said.

Olivia nodded at her him, and answered Lucia Barba. "What I learned from her was to take care of myself. That lesson helps me so much in the job I have. Thank-you for the meal. I don't remember the last time I eat like that. I'm going to have to find time to do an extra hour at the gym."

"Oh please, another hour, you look like you already do 8 or more a week." Olivia laughed."I made sure you would have plenty of leftovers."

"Thank-you." Olivia said again. She got up and began to clear the table.

Barba quickly got up and was standing in front of her. "I got this" he said attempting to take the plates from her.

"I have it, my hand is better."

"I'll look at it later, I got this" Barba repeated, and she let him take the plates. The table was cleared quickly. Lucia continued to talk to Olivia, making her laugh more than a few times.

"You know of any nice men for me Liv? It's been awhile since I dated anyone."

"No" Olivia answered surprise filling her voice." You wouldn't want to date anyone I run into."

"No one you work with? " Lucia continued.

"Mrs. Barba... Lucia" Olivia corrected herself quickly before Lucia could do it. "You don't want to date a cop." Lucia was silent, she had plenty to say, but she would wait. "Rafi I'll call your cell phone when I get home, take care Liv, we'll talk soon". Lucia said as she left the apartment.

Author's note: In my writing universe Barba never leaves, and if he does it is never forever. This story is happening in the present, the 19th season and after.