Hero of the Law

Law and Order SVU

One shot

Over the next few months Amelia slowly got over her shyness toward him, at least somewhat and at least she didn't go into hiding whenever he entered the room. That was some progress. In turn he didn't push her catching early on to her social anxieties. He would offer her a hello and a smile which she always returned along with a quick blush which he found rather enduring. One day soon he vowed to get to the root of it…one day. For now he would enjoy teasing her ever so slightly. He felt lighter whenever he was around her, something that did not go unnoticed by the people around them. He was just happier when she was in the room, very noticeably so. He would be in the middle of one of his tirades, demanding answers one minute but quickly doing a turnaround once he caught sight of her. His voice would drop to a quieter tone, all traces of frustration, anger and impatiens gone within seconds. Something that Liv caught early on. When this occurred she would sit back and watch with amusement at the tough ADA would practically melt when the quiet soft spoken redhead came around. A few times after she first noticed she made a point to make sure Amelia was present when Rafael was called. She should have been ashamed but in reality she wasn't. She was sort of invested in how this particular relationship would turn out. Something was bound to happen sooner than anyone had anticipated.

It was a quiet, early Saturday and the perfect day. The sun was shining and the air was cool with a crispness about it. Everything she loved about early fall in the city. She usually used Saturdays to catch up on paper work but choose instead to take her work outside, finding a small outdoor coffee shop a few blocks from her place. She ordered her favorite tea and found a seat outside under a small tree. From here she was slightly alone, as much as one could be in a city the size of New York. She was three cups, a bagel and muffin in when a shadow disturbed her peace. She didn't pay attention at first until a voice from the past literally turned her blood ice cold.

"Amelia. Amelia Connors." It was more of a brash statement than a question. She slowly looked up any thoughts of peace for the day had vanished.

"D..Dylan?" He smiled that swarmy smile she once thought charming.

"Well it seems that some things never change. Still the boring little book worm I always knew. You would think you would change something up little dove." She physically cringed at the old nick name that she had learned to hate. He picked up on this and grinned even more. Once Dylan Thomas found ones weakness he would narrow in on it and use it. In her case it had always been her insecurities.

"How are you Dylan?" She was trying to be polite and give the illusion that his very presents bothered her. He didn't take the hint instead he took it as an invitation to sit next to here. Way to close to comfort. She pushed herself further away only for him to lay a hand on her upper thigh causing her to jump slightly and making him smile even more.

"Great! Jenna and I are married now. Oh and we are getting ready to have our first baby. But you…you I missed." He squeezed her thigh once more and she went to remove his hand but he caught it bringing her fingers to his lips. "We had fun didn't we?" She snatched her hand back feeling her face grow red.

"Fun is not how I remember it. Now if you will kindly remove your hand and leave I will be forever grateful."

"Now dove, no reason to be a bitch about this. We…" He never got to finish because a second person planted themselves next to her pulling her away from Dylan. A familiar and very welcoming voice spoke.

"Hello my love. I am so sorry I'm late. Work was hectic." She turned toward the voice to look into the very green, very safe yet angry eyes of Rafael Barba. She instantly felt relief but was completely surprised at his next move. He snaked an arm around her waist and practically pulled her into his lap planting a rather long drawn out kiss on her very surprised speechless lips.

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Rafael didn't always have free time even on beautiful weekends such as this. So when he did he usually didn't know what to do or even how to use free time. He had found himself wondering the streets thinking about actually going to work because face it that's all he ever really did. First he had decided to stop for coffee at a small little café he had found recently. That was when he caught sight of her. He actually had to look twice. He had never really seen her outside of their work and he just stood for a moment watching her. She wore her hair down and the red strains shone brightly in the sunlight. It almost took his breath away. The next thing he noticed was the man that approached her and the sudden stiffness her body took on. This was someone she did not want near her and it became even more apparent when she tried to move away from him but he invaded her space even more. Then he placed one of his hands on her thigh causing her to jump. The anger surged in him and his over whelming need to protect her took over. Without thinking he made his way to her side slipping in the seat on the other side of her.

"Hello my love. I'm so sorry I'm late. Work was hectic." He surprised himself and her even further by pulling her close and kissing her. It was meant to be a quick kiss, a reassuring kiss, a kiss that didn't actually mean anything. Instead it was the opposite of all of that. The kiss lingered and was just as sweet as she was and so much more. When it finally ended they pulled back and looked at each other in surprise. He was at a loss for words and she turned bright red. She looked down suddenly breaking eye contact.

"Just breath, I've got you." He whispered in her ear as he kissed the side of her head and then looked at the very disturbed other man in front of them.

"And who might you be?" He asked jealousy and hostility in his eyes. Rafael knew people like him. They were usually the people he faced down in court. People who thought they had the upper hand.

"I just so happen to be this beauty's other half." The two men stared each other down. Amelia kept her head down almost hiding it in his shoulder. Dylan took the two of them in. How she was cuddled close to him and how Rafael still had a tight almost possessive arm around her.

"Well good luck with this one. She is a handful." Dylan said his voice actually dripping with distain. Amelia's head shot up and he shot a glare at Dylan which did not go unnoticed by either man. Rafael was the first to recover. He gave her side a slight squeeze still holding tight with one hand while gathering her papers and lap top with the other stashing everything into her bag. He pulled her to her feet and gave her a small wink when she looked up at him. Turning once again toward Dylan giving him a once over before responding.

"Well I for one don't need luck because I already have her." Before Dylan could respond Rafael continued. "I'm sorry I don't believe I got your name." Dylan looked shocked and slightly taken back. I was fun for Amelia to see him at a loss for words.

"Dylan Thomas." He finally answered. "And you are?" He tried to sound more domineering but was no match for the ADA.

"Well Dylan Thomas I'm Rafael Barba and how do you too know each other?" Dylan must have recognized the name because the look on Dylan's face was absolutely priceless. His jaw went slack and his face grew pale considerably. Amelia wanted to bust out laughing but instead hid her face in Rafael's shoulder waiting to hear the answer.

"Well, um we…" Amelia recovered enough to answer.

"We almost got married until Dylan here decided to go in another direction, with someone else." She gave him a cold smile and she felt the grip on her hand tighten. She could almost feel the anger come off him in waves.

"Well then, that was certainly his mistake now wasn't it. His loss is defiantly my gain." And then without missing a beat he turned his attention back to Amelia bringing her hand up so that he could place a kiss on her knuckles. "You ready love? I have kept you waiting long enough." Without another look back he led her away from the café, across the street and around the corner still gripping her hand. Once out of sight she let out a giggle which caused him to pause and look down at her. He had never heard her laugh before, it was almost musical and he discovered that he loved the sound.

"Having fun are we?" He asked amusement dancing in his voice.

"You have no idea. That was beyond perfect." They started walking toward the park with no real destination in mind.

"Who was that guy anyway?"

"Someone I would rather forget." He looked at her waiting for an answer. "Oh all right, you did save me from the bastard. I guess I owe you something." He looked at her in surprise never hearing her say anything bad about anyone before.

"Something would be nice." He teased back causing her to smile and he felt his heart melt a little bit more. He also realized that he was still holding her hand and found himself not letting it go.

"Well in my mind he is what I call the big mistake. We were young when we met and he was charming."

"So what happened?"

"At first it wasn't noticeable or I told myself it wasn't. He became distant, snappy and then came the comments. He knew how to dig into my insecurities. He would dig into that and just keep digging. By the end all I found myself doing was trying to please him."

"Did he ever physically hurt you?" He asked afraid of the answer. The thought of that nearly sent him over the edge but she shook her head.

"No but the day of our rehearsal dinner literally hours before we were to be married he disappeared. I went looking for him, made it all the way to the parking lot. That's when I found him. He was in the back seat of my car with my maid of honor who also happens to be my cousin." She looked down just then as the story just started coming out. She had never shared this with anyone. He must have noticed and he led her to a bench to sit down.

"So what did you do?" He asked gently.

"I confronted him, both of them. They laughed at me and he told me I was never going to be enough. He then said it was something I needed to get used to. That he needed to be kept entertained and I wasn't the one to do it. He then proceeded to tell me that no one else would want me, that all I was ever going to be was a boring housewife." She glanced out into the trees, not wanting to look at him and seeing the pity she was afraid lay in his eyes.

"Amelia." He spoke her name quietly. "Please look at me. " He had used that time with her once before. She slowly met his gaze. "Please tell me that you don't believe any of what he said?" She looked down just then ashamed in herself. "Amelia?! "He asked again noticing her go get with her sleeve. A habit she had when she was nervous. He gripped her hand once more. She glanced up at him, his gaze too intense and she dropped her gaze once more."

"I...I did at first... "

"And now?" He asked. She shrugged slightly.

"Sometimes. Like I said he knew how to tap into my insecurities."

"He's wrong about you, you know? Everything he said is just a line of bullshit he spouted to rationalize his actions. You would be more than enough for anyone lucky to have you." She looked up at him offering him a shy smile.

"Thank you for that. I just wish my family believed that too."

"They didn't believe you?" He sounded angry at the thought. He was angry at the while situation.

"I was the bride who ran out on her own wedding. According to my mother that in itself is a crime."

"Did you tell them what he did? What he said?" He couldn't believe that anyone would blame this all on her.

"Oh believe me I did but he had charmed them just like he did me. I was told that I must have imagined it, that it was cold feet, that it was my duty to make him happy. Then I was told I had to be a good girl, do what he asked."

"What did you do?" He asked.

"I went home, packed up what I could, called a friend of mine here and bought a one way bus ticket. I never went back, how he found me here, I really don't know."

"And your family?"

"Oh, I hear from them occasionally. My mother still hasn't forgiven me. She belittles what I do ever chance she gets but my friend helped me get in my feet and I've been here ever since. I'm not sure where I would be without her." They were silent for a moment before she spoke again.

"I want to thank you again. You didn't have to do what you did but... "

"Think nothing of it. You are too good and kind for this world Ame. It's the least I could do." She felt a blush start and looked away.

"I'm sure you didn't want to spend your free time rescuing damsels in distress." He took her chin in his fingers and tilted her head so that she had to look at him.

"I would do it again in a heartbeat. Besides I rather liked kissing you." He said softly causing her to blush at the memory. Then he said. "I will always be here for you Amelia, no matter what." He kissed her lightly on the forehead, a gesture that she seemed to find comfort in, and pulled her in for a hug. That was the day that ADA Rafael Barba became a real live hero in her eyes. That was also the day that Barba realized how far he was willing to go to protect her. A promise that would soon be tested in ways neither one was prepared for.

A/N Soooo….let me know. This is gearing up for a series of one shots. This was a fun one to write! Happy reading, thanks to all that do and all who have reviewed and have hit that favorite button. It keeps me going!