As weeks passed, and the squad started to realize Rafael wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. He was winning cases left and right, everything seemed full circle with Rafael and SVU. The only thing missing was his and Liv's bond. One evening Raf asked Liv for a sidebar, she surprisingly accepted going to Forlini's. After ordering a scotch and a Cabernet they each took a few sips before Raf looked at her,

"What's up Liv?"

Liv looked at him like she didn't know what he was talking about.

"Liv, for the last 4 months that we worked together I asked you out for drinks on numerous occasions and you always had a reason not to. When Peter arrived you never turned him down. The first time I ask since the trial and you say yes. Why? Because you thought I should spend time with Sonny? But not with Peter who I'm with now?"

"I always had a reason because my life was, is, very busy. I had a lot of things happening, things that aren't now. I was rushed off my feet dealing with the aftermath of Sheila and everything else. I didn't mean to hurt you and I'm sorry if I did…But I do have a bone to pick with you, about Sonny. I can't believe that you just dumped him like that when he loved you and all he wanted to do was help you through your trial…"

Raf's bottom lip quivered.

"I thought I was going to prison, Liv. I didn't want Sonny to wait for me, he deserved and still deserves better." Raf looked down at his glass.

"So you slept with my DA, the one who prosecuted and replaced you?" Liv asked.

"I was going through something very bad, Liv everybody needs somebody, Peter found me here. I was a little drunk, but I wasn't drunk enough to want to sleep with him that night. It was the first time in a while that I had slept a full 8 hours without any interruptions. To be honest after I left, I really realized how exhausted mentally and physically I was." Raf looked at her.

Liv just smiled, patting his arm, getting up to leave. He reached out grabbing her arm, she looked back at him.

"I want things back to the way it was, before Liv. I miss my friend, you as the Queen to my Rook."

Liv laughed, sitting back down, Anthony handed him another scotch and her a Cabernet. They talked for about an hour then both got up to leave, Raf helping Liv with her coat they walked out, walking down the street together for a while.

"So…. we are good, right?" Raf looked at her as they stopped.

"We're good Rafa." Liv said, kissing his cheek, looking at him.

"He takes care of you?"

"He does Liv."

"Okay if he ever quits tell me so I can kick his ass."

Raf chuckled, and kissed her cheek.

"Thanks for looking out for me."

"You do it for Noah and I."

Raf nodded before heading off home. Once home he had dinner then went to his study to get some paperwork done. As he felt hands on his shoulders massaging them as heard Peter ask,

"How was work and drinks with Liv?"

"Good, she got off what was on her chest, everything is better." Raf said, rolling his head.

Peter lean down, kissing his neck,

"What do you want to do now?" Peter raised an eyebrow as Raf looked at him.

Raf smirked, grabbing his hand, and pulling his hand into their bedroom, slamming the door. forty-five minutes later Raf and Peter laid there in bed, they were panting. Peter looked at Raf and smirked.

"What?"

"Love you."

"Love you, too."

Raf moved to get up, Peter putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I'll be back in a minute." he whispered, as he picked up Peter's hand and kissed it.

He got up, went to the bathroom, coming back to lay beside Peter. They laid there for a while, both falling asleep. Peter woke first, panicking when he saw it was 10, then calming when he realized it was Saturday. He looked over at Raf watching him sleep until he woke, Peter smiled at him when Raf opened his eyes,

"Morning."

"Morning, Sleepy head." Peter laughed.

"What time is it?"

"10:30ish. What do you want to do today."

"Let's get brunch, then maybe take a walk if it's nice?"

They both got up, going to their favorite pasty place. After 2 pasties and 2 cups of coffee, they walked to the park. As they walked, Raf heard a voice yelling,

"Uncle Rafa!"

Raf looked around then down when a body collided with his front.

"Hi mi amigo! What are you doing?" Raf smiled.

"Baseball!" Noah said excitedly.

Raf chuckled, looking over at Peter who was smiling.

"Where's your Mami?" He asked.

"I'm here." Liv said, walking up to them.

Raf smiled, then looked at Noah.

"You want me to help you?" Raf asked.

"Shouldn't it be the former baseball player Raf." Peter chuckled.

"Maybe but we have had this thing going for 2 years now haven't we Noah?"

"Si tenemos tio Rafa." Noah said.

"Vamos amigo mio!" Raf said.

Raf grabbed Liv's glove and they were gone.

"Can we talk while we watch?" Liv asked.

Peter nodded. They both walked to a bench sitting.

"How is he?" Liv asked.

"Rafael? Okay as far as I know. He is stressed, but he said not as bad before everything happened. Is he acting differently at work?"

"No, he's just the same ole Barba we all know and love sass and big brass…"

"Ego?" Peter said.

Liv chuckled and nodded, she then got a serious look on her face.

"If you hurt him...:"

"You, Fin, and Rollins are going to hunt me down and kick my ass."

"Along with Carisi."

"I have a feeling Carisi already wants to."

"Carisi just worries about Rafa even though everything happened, Sonny still cares for him."

The boys came running about that time,

"So Peter is Liv telling you about my bad kid skill?"

"No Rafa, I told him you were always good with Noah, even when you held him like a ticking time bomb. That you and Noah are very close."

"I hope we are, are we mi amigo?" Raf asked Noah, looking at him.

"Si uncle Rafa!"

"Noah, let's go and let uncle Rafa and Peter go on their way."

Peter saw how sad Noah looked when she said. He looked at Raf, and found him looking sad pleading with him. Peter nodded and looked at Noah,

"How about we stop for dinner, then maybe uncle Rafa can talk your mom into getting ice cream."

Noah's eyes lit up at dinner with his uncle Rafa and ice cream.

"Pleaseeeee Mami?" Noah asked.

"If Rafa and Peter are okay with it."

They all headed to the diner, which also had ice cream. After a few hours Noah and Liv went home, Peter and Raf walked back to their place.

Later that night

Peter and Raf laid in bed, Raf was reading a book, running his finger's Peter's hair, Peter had his head against his chest.

"How are you?" Peter asked.

Raf looked at him funny.

"I mean after reconnecting with everyone having your old life back?"

"Amazing."

Peter nodded. Raf could tell Peter was worried about something. Raf kissed his head,

"Peter, just because I'm getting my old life back, I still need you."

"I know, Raf."

"I mean it."

"I know, I just don't want to lose someone I love, again." Peter said, kissing him.

"You'll never lose me, mi amor. Love you." Raf kissed him.

They both fell asleep.