Hey Everyone! Thanks for all the awesome critiques and responses to this story so far. Only a few chapters left. Hope y'all are continuing to enjoy it!

Part V

Olivia and Barba hadn't seen each other outside court for a week by the time they find themselves back in his office with Fin, Amaro and Rollins. He'd been in court all week with the case- Liv and the team had been building the next one. She'd sent him a message asking if he wanted to get dinner after work one night. He hadn't responded.

The tension in the room is palpable.

After he'd walked out on her- she didn't expect that he wanted to start a romantic relationship but she'd hoped to preserve their friendship. He's so embarrassed by his previous lack of self-control that he can barely look at her. None of it is lost on her team of detectives.

For the first time ever, Barba directs everything to Fin and Rollins. Liv paces back and forth behind the other detectives while they brief Barba, who stands leaned against the front of his desk. It's starting to make Fin uncomfortable.

Fin's doing his best to make their case. "Look, Counselor, we gotta pick this guy up. That's 3 vics in 4 weeks. We let him stay out on the street and he'll make it 4 in no time."

"OK, so get me something I can put him away with! I can't bring a case with no evidence detectives!" Dear Lord, they're irritating. His dad died young of a heart attack. He's pretty sure the 16th precinct will single handedly cause him to go the same way.

Liv finally steps up. She leans on one of his chairs and stares him down. "Get us the warrant, Barba, and I can guarantee we'll get all the evidence you could ever want."

"You know I can't get a warrant with what we have here. The judge will laugh me out of chambers!"

"The timeline alone should get us a warrant!"

"You going to law school with Carisi now?"

Olivia's tone changes- she goes in for the kill. "Oh, I forgot, it's election year. We're supposed to only bring the easy cases."

It might as well be just the two of them in the room now. This isn't their usual for-the-good-of-the-victim sparing match. They're both visibly angry. Liv continues to stare him down.

Barba's eyes narrow. He's as hurt as he is angry. Speech has all but failed him but when he does find it, it's nearly a growl. "Don't!"

Fin steps up to draw their attention from each other. If he doesn't they might tear each other apart right here on Barba's rather expensive carpet. "What'd'ya need Barba?" Barba's eyes stay locked with Olivia's. "What'd you need to get us that warrant?"

Barba glances out of the corner of his eye at Fin, his eyes still angry, chin still lowered in combat mode. "Anything putting him in the vicinity of those houses the nights the victims were attacked. I need something definitive."

Fin nods. "We'll get it"

The four detectives start to file out. Barba collects himself- worrying his bottom lip in frustration. He stands and places his hands on his hips. "Sargent. A word?" Olivia hangs back.

In the Hallway- the three detectives let out a sigh of relief for their escape.

Rollins looks to Amaro, "Lord, I'm glad I'm not on the other side of that door right now."

Amaro smiles, "Oh come on, you mean to tell me, you're not the least bit interested?"

Fin looks at Amaro as if he's grown two heads, "Hell no. I wanna be able to say I don't know anything when Liv's arrested for shooting Barba."

In Barba's Office- Olivia turns back and closes the door. Her defenses still up.

He crosses is arms over his chest protectively and looks to the ground for inspiration. "Look, about the other night- I'm sorry. I—"

She holds up a hand, exasperated. "Barba, I get it. Who wants to date a middle aged woman with a two year old?"

Barba lets out an aggravated chuckle. "That's what you think." It's more a statement than a question. He turns to his conference table and begins organizing some papers he finds there.

Olivia really looks at him for the first time. Has she read this all wrong? When she speaks again it's softer. She's trying to understand. "What am I supposed to think, Barba?" He keeps his back to her. Doesn't answer. She steps deeper into the room- she's back to being annoyed. "What is it that you want?!"

She sees Barba's hands tighten on the edge of the table, his head drops forward for a moment. "I don't know what I want! I did. I-" He turns to her and motions between the two of them. He almost looks scared. "I want to know what this is."

"What, you want a definition?"

"Yeah, maybe- yeah-"

Liv puts her hands in her pockets and steps forward. She tilts her head and speaks to him like a victim she's trying to get the whole truth from- placating but aggravated, "Then why walk out when we're starting to define it?"

Barba finally looks her in the eye. He bites is bottom lip.

Telling her the truth will make all this real. It will set them on one path or another- either life without their friendship or life in a romantic relationship with his best friend- both of which are terrifying. On the other hand- it can't get any more awkward than it already is. And if he can't tell her the truth- who can he tell? He knows what he wants- has known for a while. It's time to go get it.

He talks slowly, carefully choosing his words, "This is too important to not work out. I don't want to- I can't lose you and Noah. And I know that's a ridiculous thing to say about a child who's not mine. A child that I wanted nothing to do with six months ago but— I need this. And I'll take what I can get- if that's dinner once a week with the two of you or it it's," He pauses and looks down not sure how to phrase this, "something else- I'll take it. But I'm not going to rush into something that you may not want if it might mean losing the only two people who make me happy."

Barba manages to sound strong at the end of his speech but his heart is pounding out of his chest waiting for her response. Olivia is awestruck at his honesty but she collects her thoughts quickly enough to respond with a chuckle. "I doubt many people would consider what we've been doing, rushing into things."

Barba gives an embarrassed, tight-lipped smile and turns back to the papers that he isn't really organizing. Olivia grabs his arm and gently turns him back to her. "After the other night, what could possibly make you think that I don't want this?"

"If we do this, and it doesn't-"

"I know. You and I aren't exactly relationship experts. But my son loves you, Rafi. I love you." The revelation surprises them both but Olivia doesn't let it slow her down. "And honestly, I don't know how that happened." Their eyes meet again and they both finally smile for real. "But I know I want to try this. You're a huge part of our lives- I want you to continue to be. If anyone can handle the two of us it's you, Barba."

He smiles at her- more with his eyes than his mouth. He can't believe they're going to do this. He's overwhelmed. For the second time in his life- words fail Raphael Barba. So he does the only thing that makes sense. He leans in and kisses her.

It's much more tender than the last time. He closes his eyes and pulls her close, taking his time. He runs his tongue along the seam of her lips requesting entrance- which she immediately grants him. She brings her hands to his face and draws him closer. The kiss is soft and thankful, passionate and apologetic. He tastes like coffee and peppermint and she's not sure she'll ever get enough.

There's a quick rap on Barba's office door before it abruptly swings open. Barba and Olivia quickly break off the kiss and step away from each other- doing their best to not look rumpled. Counselor Buchanan pushes past Barba's frustrated, apologetic secretary. "Am I interrupting something, Mr. Barba?"

Barba considers the man's amused smirk for a moment and then dives right in with his cockiest grin ever. "As a matter of fact, yes. What'd you need, Counselor?"

Olivia smirks proudly beside him as Buchanan tries to regain his composure. "I'll be representing Mr. Adams as you and your detectives continually harass him through the streets of Manhattan."

Olivia steps forward. "I should probably be getting back to that harassment right now. I'll leave you to it." She turns to Barba. "Swing by tonight?" Barba nods.

Olivia heads for the door leaving in her wake a rather shocked Counselor Buchanan with Barba grinning beside him.