I do not own Law and Order: SVU!

Despite meeting a few times to discuss the case for Avery, Olivia and Barba didn't actually work together again until October. Barba hadn't seen Olivia since mid-September. Neither of them had brought up what happened that night at the bar. Their last few visits were strictly professional with a few snarky banterings. Barba was happy that he was going to be seeing Olivia again. However the circumstance of them working together again, wasn't so great: There was a young girl missing who was in the hands of a pedophile. The thought of it made his skin crawl. Most of the cases he worked on were cringe worthy but the ones with child victims always took a hard toll.

The night they all received the new case, Barba was in his office late. He probably wasn't going to be able to sleep a full night until the girl was found. There wasn't much he could do for the case at this point, so he worked on a few other cases that he was given. A few of them he was going to pass off onto other ADAs because he could win them in his sleep. His boss should know better than to dare give him rookie work. After sorting through the files, he decided to go to a bar to unwind a bit.

He decided on going to one a few blocks away to avoid finding anyone he knew. However, he was not so lucky. At the bar sat Amaro. He had an empty glass in front of him along with a file opened. His usual nicely kept hair was going in various different directions, his tie was crooked, and shirt unbuttoned. This case was probably driving him nuts. It made Rafael want to puke but Nick had a daughter. He couldn't even imagine how he felt. Though usually Barba would have just sat out of sight, this time he approached Nick. He didn't know much about him besides that he was hot-headed but dedicated.

"Mind if join you?" Barba asked, gesturing to the open seat.

Nick was shocked at first but he offered a lop-sided smile. "Sure, counselor. Knock yourself out."

As he was sitting he asked the bartender for a scotch. "Can I buy you another drink? It looks like you need it."

"Ah, no, Barba. It's alright."

"I insist. While alcoholism isn't a good habit to pick up, I think after a day like today you deserve it."

Nick chuckled and nodded. "Fine. I'll have another whiskey."

After both got their drinks they made small talk: weather, sports, and how the news anchor had a bad comb over. During their small talk, they had both finished their drinks. Barba motioned the bartender for two more. Nick knew he probably shouldn't have another but he was actually thinking about something other than this case. Nick noted that Barba had a fresh countdown still. While he usually tried to keep his nose out of the whole soulmate business, it was a normal thing to look at other people's countdowns. He couldn't help but wonder if it was someone on the squad. Nick's countdown had stopped when his daughter was born. Every time he thought of Zara his heart hurt. He was forced to be away from his number one. He took another swig of whiskey.

"I hate cases like this. They are always so unpredictable. I probably won't sleep until we find this poor girl." Nick grimaced at the thought of the case.

"And that's why we're here isn't it? Though despite that, you guys will find her. And I will send the bastard who did this to the depths of Riker's." Barba gave Nick a reassuring smile.

With low inhibitions, Nick started talking about Zara. He went on about all her favorite things to do, what animals she likes, the foods she hates, the whole nine yards. He even told him that Zara was the reason his countdown stopped. She was the literal light of his life and he wouldn't have it any other way. Barba shifted in his chair when the topic of soulmates came up. "Every damn time I get drunk with these people this topic comes up." Barba thought with a small grimace.

Nick noted how quickly his demeanor changed when the topic of soulmates came up and smirked: It was definitely someone they worked with. "I see that yours only recently stopped. You have kids?" Nick hiccuped, carefully watching Barba's reaction.

He tensed slightly. "Uh, no. I don't have kids. They aren't really my cup of tea. I prefer to think of my job as my child."

"So it's probably someone we work with? I'm being nosey as fuck right now but it's my job. It just gets worse when I'm buzzed." A light hearted laugh came from Nick.

"I am not nearly drunk enough to tell you that. Better luck next time, detective." Barba shook his head but he was smiling.

For now, Nick dropped the subject. He and Barba bonded over their shared Hispanic heritage. They started telling their favorite Spanish jokes. Barba closed the tab and paid for Nick's other drink he got before he came. Afterward, he bid Nick farewell as the time creeped toward midnight. "Try to get some sleep tonight, Amaro."

"You too, counselor. Thanks for the drinks." Nick waved as Barba exited the bar.

/ / /

They all worked on this case diligently. They always did but when children were involved they always hustled harder than ever. This is what got them to bring children home safely. Luckily, that diligence is what not only saved the initial missing girl but also reunited another with her family within a matter of days. This case was one of the good ones that made the job worth it.

During the few days they spent on the case, Nick watched Barba's interactions with the other squad members carefully. Barba's countdown was slightly aged but definitely not anywhere near six months or more yet. He had determined that if it was three months that had gone by, which matched the aging of the countdown, then that was when he had met everyone in the squad. While it definitely wasn't him that left a few others: Amanda, Olivia, Fin, and Munch. He immediately excluded Munch and Fin. It's not that they don't deserve love too, it was just that they weren't a match for Barba, at all. So that left Amanda and Olivia. This is where he was stuck at for the time being. Not that it was any of his business, he couldn't help but be curious.

/ / /

Soon after the case they had with the girl who was kidnapped, they were pulled into a case where a teacher at a profound private school was accused of rape and ultimately hung himself. Right off the bat, Barba knew this case wasn't going to be easy. So many of the boys were well past their twenties and the statutes of limitations. Without a useable witness, Barba was about to drop the case. Before he could, Olivia talked him into going with her to talk to people within the faculty.

Barba got into Olivia's car. He buckled as she pulled away from the curb. They made small talk about the weather. Olivia was grateful for the cool down but wasn't looking forward to another New York winter. Barba agreed.

After a few moments of silence, Barba began fiddling with the radio. "Hey! I was listening to that." Olivia frowned, looking at Barba for a second.

"C'mon. It's The Stones. Not like you're missing anything important." Despite the eye roll, he was smiling. He settled on a Gene Autry song on another oldies station.

She shot him a baffled look before returning her eyes to the road. "Really? You'll listen to Gene Autry but not the Rolling Stones?"

"Ooo, I've got spurs that jingle jangle jingle." Barba sang along with Autry's version of the song.

Olivia groaned. "I'm never getting in a car with you again."

For the rest of the trip Barba continued to pick the music. A few times Olivia shot him annoyed looks. He pretended not to notice as he sang along to the songs.

/ / /

Even after the meeting with the headmaster and some of the faculty, he was reluctant to pursue the case. He expressed his concern before they got into the car. Without much fight, she yet again convinced him to continue with the case. He gave her a stern look before she got into the car.

On the way back into the city, Olivia made it clear that she was to pick the music. Barba held up his hands. He offered no fight against her.

/ / /

Despite the shaky start of the case, they eventually got the ammunition they needed to take down the school and make them publicly apologize. While that couldn't take the years of pain they inflicted onto these boys, at least they could begin their healing process.

/ / /

Several months and cases have passed since the private school debacle. Christmas quickly came and went. January passed slowly. The cold was bitter and ever-lasting. Barba kept swearing to himself that he needed to move down south. January finally lapsed into February. Even the end of February was in sight. Barba kept telling himself "only a few more weeks" every time get got out of the warmth of a cab and into the frigid air.

Barba's feelings for Olivia grew as each case passed. As January rolled around, they had established a good friendship. They spent a decent enough time together. Most of their meetings had an air of professionalism to them but they always turned friendly. They got to know each other slowly, but surely.

Now with spring around the corner, they had a big demon to wrangle: The Ganzel case. Barba and Cassidy had a few sessions of going over questions and answers. Today was their first run at the questions. Cassidy's care-free attitude began to get under his skin by the middle of his session.

"Look, Cassidy. If you want this trail to go very well, you need to start taking these questions a bit more seriously." While Barba wasn't the most serious person in the world, he still took his job seriously. Especially cases as big as this. He just wasn't a fan of people who acted like college students when they were grown ass adults.

Cassidy rolled his eyes. "C'mon, man. It's just practice. This the time for not taking it too seriously and just getting some of the questions and answers in an order. Ganzel's going down no matter what."

"Well, I need you to seem credible and you goofing around like this some kind of carnival is not helping your case. You slept with prostitutes. That says a lot more about you than it does them. I get it, you were undercover. But the jury won't necessarily see it that way. If you don't take this like it's a life and death situation they will put you in the same boat as Ganzel. Understand?" Rafael was seething at this point. "We're done for the day." Barba collected his things and left the courtroom as Cassidy stared on in shock.

/ / /

After his rough day with Cassidy he went home early. He wasn't going to do a damn thing except lounge around in his skives. Which he did just that. He spent the day channel surfing and watching random bits of various television shows. Somewhere in the middle of watching Ancient Aliens, he drifted off to sleep.

Barba slept for a good two hours. He would have slept longer if it wasn't for his phone ringing.

"Hello." His voice gruff yet quiet.

The other person was silent for a moment. "Were you sleeping Rafael? It's only 6 pm."

"I was napping, not that it's any of your business Liv. What do you want? I was having a nice dream that you so graciously woke me up from." Rafael sat up, massaging his neck.

"Wow. You must pretty old to be taking naps." She tsked. "But I was calling to say that I'm going to be over soon. I have a few notes and cases to run by you. I'll be there in about 5 minutes." She hung up before he could say anything.

"Shit." He leapt off the couch and went into the bathroom. He washed his face and ran a comb through his hair. As he was pulling on jeans and a white t-shirt, there was a knock at the door. "It's open." He yelled as he zipped up his fly.

He went out into the living room. "Now what would you have done if I wasn't home?" He glared at Olivia as she took her shoes off.

"I know you better than that Barba." She retorted, going past him and onto his couch.

He sat next to her. "What is so important that you needed me to look at it right this very second?"

"Just some last minute collaborating for the Ganzel trail. Also Avery's trail is coming up. Not to mention the case for the girl who was kidnapped by that Peter guy a few months back. Basically just making sure that you have all my notes. "

Barba grabbed his briefcase off the floor. He pulled out his notes, setting them on the coffee table. Before they got down to business he got up to grab two glasses and a bottle of wine. He brought it over and set it between them. "I wasn't planning on working again tonight. But with some liquid courage I should be able to push through it. Do you want some?" She nodded. He poured them both very full glasses. "Well, let's get to work."

Hours passed that were full of getting their notes in check, watching The History channel, and wine drinking. This was Olivia's plan all along. She wanted to get Barba drunk again. She needed to know what he meant by "I'm glad you're the one" all those months ago. She had an inkling but refused it to be true until she heard him say it. Not to mention, Nick had told her that he believed that either her or Rollins was Barba's soulmate. The timeline was right. She told Nick not to worry about it. She would figure it out.

She was buzzed herself but Barba was getting to the point of no return. Even though she came here with an agenda, she was having fun. She tried a few times to get him to talk about soulmates, but each time he shut it down. By the time she managed to get another glass of wine into him, she was far passed buzzed. It was also time to get going. She told him that she was going to leave and he nodded. He had more work to do tomorrow as well. He walked her to the door. Before she walked out, she noticed a strange look on his face.

"Why do you have that look on your face?"

A shaky breath passed his lips. "Because I –" He trailed off. "Nevermind. I'll see you tomorrow."

Before he could turn to leave, she grabbed his arm, closing the gap between them by a few inches. "No, tell me."

Suddenly, he got irritated. "It's nothing, Olivia. Just let it go, okay?"

"No, just tell me." Her eyes narrowed as her grip on his arm tightened.

"Augh! You're so damn stubborn. Just drop it." A shiver went through his body.

"Oh and you aren't stubborn? Takes one to know one, Barba. Just tell me. It's obviously bothering you. So spill it!"

"Oh, that's rich coming from you. You ask people every day to spill their souls to you but anyone asks your favorite color, you shut down." He gritted his teeth, daring her retort.

"Jesus, Raf. Why are you getting so defensive? All I asked was what was wrong." She loosened her grip on his arm but didn't move away.

"What's wrong is that I've wanted to kiss you since fucking October." He regretted it as soon as he said it. But at least it was out in the open now. Done and over with. "Happy now?"

To his surprise, she nodded. Just as she was about to move toward the door, he closed the remaining few inches between them. They simply stared at the other for a few moments. Auto-pilot commenced. Before he knew it, her beautiful stupid face was in his hands and he kissed her like he couldn't live without her. He kissed her like she was the oxygen coursing through his veins, the beat of his heart, the stitching that brought his soul back together again. Because she was all of those things and more. She was the reason why love songs became bearable, the reason why Valentine's Day wasn't another day on the calendar, the reason why he couldn't imagine a life without her. Her moan is what broke him out of his trance. He hadn't even realized her was kissing her neck and grinding against her. He pulled himself away. "Now you understand." His voice was low and dripping with lust but he wouldn't let this happen tonight. "Goodnight, detective."

After she caught her breath, she nodded. "Goodnight, counselor."

/ / /

The next day he practiced with Cassidy again. Thankfully this time around, he was taking it much more seriously. After his practice with Cassidy, he was in and out of court all day. Just as he was about to go to bed that night, he got a call that Cassidy had been accused of rape. He went to bed pissed, to say the least.

/ / /

The following day, he had a text from Oliva saying that they needed to talk. Later on in the afternoon, Olivia came by with Nick. They started discussing Cassidy's rape case. However, the conversation took a turn. It came up that Olivia is involved with Cassidy. Barba got eerily quiet. "Nick, could I have a moment to talk to Olivia?" Nick didn't question it, he left. Barba stood up, glaring at Olivia.

"You're involved with him? Why didn't that come up the other night?" He growled, pacing the room with his arms behind his back. "I would have never kissed you if I knew you were in a relationship! Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you push me away, dammit!" Anger swelled in his chest. The last few words came out as yelling.

"I should have told you. I don't know why I didn't tell you. I will tell Cassidy that I had a minor indiscretion. I'm sorry you got pulled into the middle of this. I…I didn't know you had feelings for me." Olivia pleaded, walking toward him.

"Bullshit! I remember you bringing up the subject of soulmates. You damn well knew how I felt or at least, how I was going to feel. I didn't want to have romantic feelings for you. I fought them every step of the way. You came to my condo on a fishing expedition. Congratulations! You caught me!" He threw his arms up in the air. "Now get the hell out of my office."

Olivia left without an argument. Barba sunk down into his chair. Leaning back in his chair, he gazed at the ceiling hoping that would stop the impending threat of tears.

I almost cried while writing this. I'm so sorry, omg.
My poor babies. :'(
(Sorry, I have to torture characters first. These precious babies never stood a chance...but it will get better I promise!)