As they walked out of Metropolitan Dining, Rafael Barba draped an arm gently, and protectively around Olivia Benson. She leaned into him.. They moved together quickly, and caught up with Noah, and Lucia, who took it upon herself to hail a cab for all 4 of them.. The cab halted, and everyone got in

"Where to?" The driver asked.

"Can we go to the store? I want dessert." Noah said, breaking the long silence.

"Is that alright with you, Rafa? Olivia asked, softly.

"Whatever you want. " He replied, sincerely.

"Please, please!" Noah begged.

"Sir, please take us to the Key Food on Avenue A." Olivia instructed. The driver drove until he reached the store. Olivia was surprised when Rafael asked the man to wait for them, and he agreed.

When they all entered the store, Noah quickly picked a shopping cart, and began running with it. Rafael told him to slow down. Noah obeyed. "Stay close." Olivia ordered her son. Noah halted, and Olivia ran to him. " What do you want, sweet boy?" Suddenly, Rafael was standing next to Olivia, and Lucia was beside him.

"Chocolate pudding!" Noah, exclaimed.

"That's a great idea. Let's go get some." Olivia glanced at Rafael, and they all made their way to the dairy aisle.

"Lucia, help me pick out the best pudding?" Noah asked excitedly, running to Lucia, and grabbing her hand.

"I'd love Noah! Lucia replied, looking at Olivia. "We'll be quick, I saw some good stuff in that freezer.'' She pointed down the aisle to a specific freezer.

Seeing that the freezer wasn't far, Olivia smiled, happy that her son felt so close to Rafael Barba's mother. "Go ahead, don't take long, the cab is waiting." Olivia said. Lucia smiled. squeezed Noah's hand,, and within seconds, Olivia watched as she and Noah walked to the freezer.

"She loves him, you know that?" Rafael, spoke softly, stepping closer to his significant other.

"I know that. He loves her." Olivia whispered.

"Are you OK?" Is it OK to hold you now?"

"Yes Rafa." You can hold me, I want you to hold me." Rafael stepped even closer, placing his right hand on the small of her back. He had questions, but he knew she needed silence now. Olivia turned her head, and smiled at him.

"Mom, we found the right pudding!" Noah yelled, happily.

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Lucia sat at the dining table at the Benson apartment, and chatted with Noah over Chocolate pudding. Her son sat across from her, and spoke very little. Olivia was silently sitting next to him. After an hour, Lucia got up. from her seat. "I should get going. Mi hija, I'm always here when you want to talk." Lucia said, looking at Olivia who rose from her seat when Lucia did.

"Thank-you", Lucia. Olivia said with a smile. Rafael took out his cell phone, dialed and spoke. He quickly hung up. Lucia watched as her son reached for Olivia's hand, and kissed it, before rising from his chair.

"I'll be right back". He said to her, before following his mother out of the apartment.

Mother and son didn't speak until they stepped out of the building. It was Lucia who broke the tension filled silence. "It's really beautiful to see you with Olivia."

"She's everything, Mami, and I love Noah." Rafael replied.

"They love you, Rafi, they both think that you hung the moon." Rafael's face lit up with a Billion dollar smile. Lucia continued, after a short pause. "And you love them, even more than I thought possible. That's saying a lot."

"I know." Rafael. replied with a laugh.

"You told Olivia how you felt, and look at you now. I'm proud of you."

Once again, Rafael. smiled. "Thanks." He said. "I called you a cab."

"I know." Lucia answered. "Is Olivia OK?"

"She will be." He answered, determination in his voice. At that moment, Lucia's cab pulled up.

"Take care of your family, Rafi." She said., hugging her son. Lucia, then entered the cab, and closed the door. Seconds later, Rafael watched the cab drive away.

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"Noah's in bed." Olivia said, when Rafael entered the apartment, again. He took her hand and kissed it, letting his lips linger. He led her to the couch, and sat down with her. "I have been thinking about you all day. " She said, sitting on his lap, and placing her arms gently around his neck. Olivia had changed from her work clothes to a deep eggplant colored dress, it was velvet, and Rafael wanted to take it off of her right now. She massaged his shoulders, gently working the knots out.

"Who was that guy at the restaurant?" He asked.

"Rafa, we never get time to be alone. Enjoy it. Please, I am."

"You're torturing me." He replied, his voice was a mixture of courtroom, and sexy.

"Sweet torture, not real torture."

"Who is he, Olivia?"

Olivia slowly moved off his lap. "Nobody." She said Rafael's eyes followed her as she moved to her bedroom.

After several seconds, Rafael walked to the closed bedroom door. "Olivia?" He called.

She came out moments later wearing a navy blue nightgown. "I'm going to bed". She said. "Are you staying tonight? She asked, stepping aside in case he wanted to enter.

"You know, I am." He answered, walking into the room.