Rafael Barba was content for the first time in a long time. His cases were all good, and he was getting justice for kids like Noah and Drew. His boyfriend wasn't overbearing, and he was making headway in SVU. They were content living in their new 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment that they had just bought, and his mother, well... He loved her so, but she was a work in progress. His mother didn't understand why he did what he did, why he dumped Sonny. She keeps on asking him why he's sleeping with the so-called 'enemy' who almost sent him to prison and took his job from him. He and Peter were getting ready to go to some charity event that Olivia wanted them both to go to. Rafael wasn't sure at first, considering that the entire squad, Chief Dodds, and District Attorney Jack McCoy would be there as well. Though he didn't really take issue with McCoy...he actually held quite a lot of respect for the man. Raf finally did get a week's worth of rest in God knows how long, since he came to Manhattan SVU. He wound up getting a boyfriend and a new outlook on life out of the whole mess, for which he was grateful for.
"What's wrong Rafa?" Peter asked.
"Nothing, just thinking about what to say to McCoy and Dodds when we see them." Raf said
"Just tell the truth, that you're content; that you're loving your new job, and that your new younger boyfriend is taking very good care of you." Peter smirked.
"Yeah, but what will McCoy and Dodds think of you dating a baby killer?" Raf asked.
"You're not a baby killer. You did what you thought was right, and besides, what they think is none of our business. Plus, what are they going to think of you when they find out you're fucking the guy who almost sent you to prison?" Peter said, putting his hand lightly on Raf's shoulder for only the slightest bit of a second, but just long enough.
"Good point, Peter." Raf nodded, with a knowing smile
"Where's the ADA Barba, Olivia's always talking about? The guy who let a crazy man strangle him with his own belt? The guy she spoke about before the Householders came barreling in, to fuck everything up?"
"He died the same night Drew did, but he is slowly coming back. I don't know if he'll ever be fully back, though, to be honest..."
"Would the old Rafael go to Noah's baseball games?"
"Probably not."
"And when you went the other day, wasn't he really happy to see you?"
"Yeah. Yeah, he really was."
"And wouldn't he go tonight and not give a damn about what anyone, no matter who they were, thought of him?"
Raf looked down at his feet.
"Yeah, you're right. Thanks, babe."
Peter smiled.
"You only care about what certain people think of you, right?"
"Like the rest of the world, Peter, of course I only care about what certain people think. Mainly Olivia, and then the rest of the squad. Well, then Noah, of course."
"Wait! You're putting Liv and Noah before me?" Peter scowled, and then frowned.
"You have to understand, I've known them longer, and Liv and I are good friends... at least I would like to think we still are."
Peter nodded.
"I understand. Can we go now? I want to show off my handsome boyfriend."
Raf smirked, and kissed him.
"And yeah, to everyone else there...well: 'To hell with them!'" Raf exclaimed after he broke the kiss.
Peter smiled sweetly, and kissed him. They got to the charity and they checked their coats, then went to find the others. They quickly spotted Olivia and Fin, and they walked up.
"Hey, Rafa." Liv smiled, giving him a hug, and a kiss on the cheek.
"Hi, Liv." Raf returned the kiss.
Soon after they found their seats and were seated, with Amanda, and Sonny joining them. They talked and joked, Sonny and Raf talked Law school as always. Peter heard a certain song and turned toward Rafael.
"Wanna dance?"
Rafael looked at him, listened to the song, when he realized it was, Far Away by Nickelback, the song they danced to on their first date, he smiled and said,
"Oh yeah, this one for sure, Peter!"
Peter got up, put his hand out for him, Raf smiled and grabbed it and the two lovers made their way to the dance floor. Olivia, Fin, Sonny, and Amanda realized how content, relaxed and happy Raf was, and Olivia looked over at Sonny, as he watched Rafael and Peter.
"You okay, Carisi?"
"I think so, he seems happy and looks like it too." Sonny said, still looking at them.
The song finished, and Peter and Rafael both looked upset as they came and sat down. Fin was getting drinks, and Liv could tell something was wrong.
"What's up, guys?"
"Jack and Dodds saw us, came over and basically said 'Barba you need to get out' but that I could stay." Peter said.
"They must have meant it because here they come." Sonny said, taking a gulp of his beer.
The others looked to see the two men walking towards their table.
"Liv, why did you have to invite those two?" Raf asked, as he looked at the two men and back at who he hoped was still his best friend.
"I didn't, Rafa! They heard about it, and actually, I told both of them, and I believe that Peter asked them as well, to leave you alone if you chose to come."
Raf nodded, and looked down; he still had trouble dealing with people head on unless he was fighting for one of the kids in his cases. He felt Peter's hand on his leg.
"Barba, I would have figured you wouldn't be coming to these things anymore because of what happened in February, and you moving back to Family Court in Brooklyn." Dodds said.
"Or that we wouldn't see SVU's new hotshot DA with a baby killer like yourself, in a public setting. What will people think?" McCoy raised an eyebrow at Peter.
"Olivia invited both of us here." Raf said.
"Personally, I don't give a damn what people think! Rafael knows what he did was wrong. He answered for it, and the jury found him not guilty. He's still trying to make amends with everyone involved, not to mention, his own family, friends, as well as himself. Enough is enough with the intimidation from the two of you!" Peter said, raising his voice only slightly, but enough so it was heard by exactly who was supposed to hear it. No one really saw, but he was holding and gave a slight squeeze to Rafa's hand.
"I suggest to you Barba, that you get out of here. Press is still talking about a certain DA baby killer." Dodds said.
"Dodds, Jack? Is there a problem?" Fin came back, sitting the drinks down.
"Might I suggest you back off Barba a tad? Especially you Chief...,, Maybe I need to remind you about that little secret you kept from Liv when Noah was missing?"
That peaked Rafael's interest.
"What secret, detective?" Raf asked.
"The Chief here was looking to fill Liv's spot on our team because he wasn't sure she would come back after what happened with Sheila and Noah."
Olivia was shocked to say the least. Raf could tell by her face and her body language. Peter was even shocked.
"Hey! In my defense, I didn't know if the Lieutenant was coming back! I had to protect the squad! She went through something traumatic, and I didn't know how she would do it. You all forget, but I have a job to do just like the rest of you!" Dodds snapped.
"She came back from Lowell Harris, and she came back from Lewis. What on earth would make you think she wouldn't come back from this?!" Raf shot back and Liv's visibility flinched.
"Sorry Liv." Raf wrapped his arm around her, rubbing her arm.
"It's okay, Rafa."
Peter smiled at the two best friends, looking at McCoy.
"You should know, that's not the way it actually went down, right..I mean we're all coming clean here, so, why not?" Everyone kind of just looked and waiting for Peter to speak again, although Jack McCoy, being Jack McCoy started to speak but it was too late, as Peter continued,
"You said there would be an opportunity in the DA's office before they even caught this case before ANY of this would have or even COULD have happened, isn't that right Jack?"
Raf looked at Peter. He was stunned, to say the least.
"Yeah Rafa, I should have told you sooner, but yeah...he offered me your job the day before you went into that hospital room. He thought you might go off the deep end, and said it would be a great opportunity for me to come in and clean up 'the mess'."
Raf looked at McCoy with more rage than he had felt in a long while,
"So you wanted me out? That's why you came in that night? The night I told you about my father? You have got to be kidding me?"
Jack chuckled, and looked over at Peter. McCoy was not at all thrilled.
"Yes, we both did and it worked didn't it?" Dodds said, chest puffed out.
Olivia looked at Raf then at Peter, who was just as pissed as she was. Raf looked down, he looked like a small child sitting there, like he had just got caught for doing something horribly wrong. He leaned on Peter, his face hiding in Peter's shoulder whispering,
"I wanna go now."
"Let's go, if you want to Raf. We could go to Fornili's if you don't want to go home."
Raf smiled.
"Liv, sidebar?" Raf asked.
"Just us or everyone?" Liv asked, smiling.
"You mean after all these years we get to sit in on a sidebar?" Sonny smirked.
Olivia chuckled.
They all headed to Forlini's together in a couple of cabs. Once there, Anthony looked genuinely happy to see them and proceeded to make all of their favorite drinks.
"Scotch neat, red Cabernet for the Lieutenant." Anthony said with a smile.
"I've missed you, Anthony." Raf smiled as they sat down.
Anthony said,
"I remember Mr. Barba. First one's on me!" He brought theirs out first, then the squads, then finally, Peter's.
"Hungry?" Anthony asked.
"Not tonight." Olivia said, waving him off with a silent, 'Thank you'.
"I'll be around. Just holler, if you need anything." Anthony left
"I will." Raf smiled as he left them.
The squad and Peter watched as Raf and Liv went to their booth, they joined them listening to them talk, and laugh. Olivia handed Raf her phone when she called Noah to tell him goodnight.
"Uncle Rafa!"
"Mi amigo! How are you?" Raf smiled as he spoke to Noah.
"Did mommy tell you I have a game Saturday?"
"Yes, I was going to try to come if you want me to?"
"Please?!" Noah begged.
Raf chuckled as he looked at Liv, shaking his head.
"I will, if you're good for mommy and get in bed, and make sure Eddie doesn't eat all the ice cream."
Okay, Rafa. Night."
"Night Noah."
Raf handed Liv back the phone. In a little while they all exchanged "Goodnight's" and everyone went home. Once home, Raf got undressed and got into bed, covers covering him from the waist down. Peter finished brushing his teeth, got in bed, and kissed him.
"Tonight was mostly fun, um...maybe not!." Peter said, trying to keep the mood somewhat light.
"Yeah." Raf tried to turn away, but Peter stopped him.
"I'm sorry for what McCoy and Dodds did. I'll talk to Jack tomorrow, and I'm sure Liv will talk to Dodds, as much as she can, I'm guessing."
"It's okay. It's not really my world anymore for the most part. I just have to not let it get to me."
"No it's not, but it's not okay either for anyone to treat you like an asshole either hon. You've put yourself through enough of that to last a lifetime, it's time for you..for us, I hope anyway... to be
happy." Peter said, snuggling up to spoon with Raf.
"I am happy, Peter. I love my job. Oh... I really do. I love it more than SVU if I'm telling the truth. I'm also happy I found someone." Raf smiled, and laughed a bit. It felt good after the night they'd had.
He turned back around, kissing Peter warmly. They both laid there, looking at each other.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"About what?" Peter asked.
"That Jack came to you, offering you my job before everything happened." Rafa said, looking at their hands.
"I was, then I fell for you. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. Please forgive me."
Raf smiled.
"I'm kinda happy, it worked out this way. I was getting burned out, anyway. I'm just happy I found love again."
"I'm just sorry for what they put you through and continue to put you through. Love you."
"Love you too, Peter." Raf kissed him.
They cuddled together, with Rafa's head on Peter's chest, and Peter's arms wrapped around him, tightly. They would have been fine to stay that way forever...