10. Introductions
A knock at the door woke you and as you moved to get out of bed you felt a weight behind you, quickly bringing you back to reality. As you looked at Rafael's sleeping form you remembered you were not in your apartment and you had fallen asleep reading a few hours prior.
Softly and gently you were able to move out of his embrace without waking him and moved the pillow you were using in front of him before turning to leave. It didn't take but a second for him to put an arm around the pillow and pull it closer before nuzzling his face in it. You couldn't help but smile at the thought of him trying to pull you closer in his slumber.
As you moved towards the door you double checked yourself in the hall mirror. Neither of you had stayed at each others apartment so you were unsure if you should actually answer the door. However, the knocking became more persistent and to allow Rafael more sleep you decided to go ahead and answer.
As you opened the door you were greeted by an older woman with a slight grey to her hair. Before you could say anything you saw her give you a once-over and you fought yourself to make a comment.
"Hello. May I help you?" you asked as you stood your ground at the doorway.
"This is Rafael Barba's apartment is it not? Who are you?"
"Yes. I am his girlfriend. Rafael is in bed sleeping. Is there something I can help you with?" You stated slightly annoyed at the older woman in front of you.
Before you could say anything or try to stop her she moved past you into the apartment and sat her items down on the counter.
"Excuse me, who are you? I am politely going to ask you to leave and I will let him know you stopped by to see him."
"Oh sweetheart.. I will be going nowhere. Carmen told me he was under the weather but for him to still be in bed.. Well that is something else entirely. No I am not going anywhere."
You were getting very agitated at the older woman in front of you and, while you did not allow your annoyance of others or your temper get the best of you, you felt your cheeks start to reden.
"Ma'am. I am sorry but Rafael is under the weather so I insist on you leaving. I can let him know you stopped by and I am sure he will get in touch when he is feeling better."
The older woman looked at you with a tight smile before speaking.
"I will not be going anywhere. I am his mother and if he is sick enough to still be in bed then I will make him soup. I advise you to realize who you are talking to."
Before you could say anything more she started to pull out food items from the fridge and her bags and started to chop vegetables and start a pot for fresh soup.
You stood stunned not even realizing who she was until she told you. Rafael and you had spoken for many hours over many different times about his mother and how much she meant to him and for you to do what you did you worried what he would think once he found out.
A cough and groan from the hallway brought you back to the present and as you turned towards the hall you saw a groggy and still sick Rafael making his way from his room.
"Y/N? Good. I thought you had left. I swear I am dying." He said as he moved next to you and leaned his forehead against the side of your head.
"Raf.." you said as you moved to feel his forehead.
"You still have a fever. You should be back in bed."
"I agree. Mijo you look like you have seen better days."
The voice of his mother made his head shoot up and you saw a worried look cross his face as he glanced between the two of you. He had never introduced the two of each other and wanted to do so on his terms and definitely not while he was sick.
"Mami.. what are -" *Cough.. cough*
"We had a scheduled lunch today, remember? Anyway.. When I called you to let you know I was running a bit late Carmen told me you were home sick. Which is not like you at all… so I decided to come by and make you soup and check on you myself."
She said as she met your eyes and the two of you agreed to not discuss your introductions with him at this time. However, the look was not lost on him as he knew the both of you.
"Oh god.. Y/N she didn't try to kill you did she? Mami you didn't threaten her did you?" He said worried as he moved to take a seat on the stool.
"Rafael you think too much of me." His mother started as you and her shared another look.
"Raf it's fine. Both of us were just a bit protective of you and didn't know who the other was." You said to him as you noticed Lucia smile from where she was putting the chicken in the pot.
"This is not how I imagined the two of you would meet. Y/N this is my mother, Lucia Barba. Mami this is my girlfriend, Y/N." He groaned as he let his head lay against the granite counter in front of him.
As he let the cool granite cover one side of his face you noticed he was sweating and that he had started to turn green.
"I am going to get the thermometer. I think you might actually have the flu Rafael." You said as you turned towards the bedroom.
As you left he glanced his one eye up towards his mother who stood watching him as she finished the soup on the stove.
"What is it Mami? I know that look" *cough… cough…*
"Nothing Mijo. Just try to rest, the soup will be done in a bit."
"Mami, she is not the enemy. We have actually been together for right at 6 months now."
"Six months?! And I am just now finding out? Mijo I thought you and I were better than this." Lucia stated as she looked at him a bit hurt.
"We are mami." He started as his eyes closed.
"Just after everything with the DA and SVU I needed to do this at my own time and you tend to be a bit pushy and can scare off the good ones." He said as he opened his eye to look up at her again.
Lucia stood watching her son and thought about how he had been more alive over the past few months and how he had actually started to keep their plans lately and she couldn't help but think his relationship with you had something to do with the changes in her son.
"Do you love her mijo?"
He looked up at his mother as he lifted his head. After a few moments and a few glances towards his bedroom to see if you were coming he nodded.
"Si, mami. La quiero mucho."
Before the two of them could continue their conversation you were back in the room holding a thermometer in one hand and a cool towel in the other.
"Go lay on the couch and I will bring you some ginger ale. You look like garbage Raf.." You said with a chuckle causing him to groan as he moved towards the other room.
"Mijo, we can have lunch another time. Lord knows I don't want whatever it is you have.. Y/N, the soup will be done soon and he should try some of it tonight. It should make him feel better."
As Lucia spoke you nodded while you guided a very groggy and sick Rafael to the couch. Before you could say anything to her she was gone with a wave leaving you with a very sick boy of a man trying to work the TV and grab his briefcase.