I do not own Law & Order: SVU.

After Cassidy was cleared of rape, Olivia was finally able to have down time with him. They met up to have some drinks and eat at a bar a few blocks from Olivia's apartment. While they could have easily met at her place, she just needed to someone else that wasn't her apartment or work. Cassidy was in high spirits that night. She was grateful for this because she was going to come clean about kissing Rafael.

Once Cassidy had a few beers in him and had eaten Olivia cleared her throat. "So, I have something I need to talk to you about."

He smiled lazily. "And what's that, babe?"

She let out a shaky breath. "Well, before you were accused of rape I got drunk and I…kissed someone. It was just a small peck and didn't mean anything. It was completely an accident." While that wasn't the absolute truth but it wasn't exactly a lie either. Leaving out the part where she wanted to jump into bed with Barba was in her best interest at this moment.

Cassidy's smile twisted into a disgruntled frown. "Who?"

"That doesn't matter. I told you because I felt it was the right thing to do."

"It's someone you work with isn't it? Don't fucking tell me it's that Nick punk." It came out as more of a growl than actual words.

"No, it's no one I work with. I was at the bar and some guy asked me to dance. It was just a spur of the moment thing, ya know? I'm sorry."

Cassidy was quiet for a several beats. He took a few drinks of beer and looked out the window. "It's fine, Liv. We both know I'm no saint either. While I'm pissed that it happened, I'm glad you came clean about it. Plus it was just a little peck right? That's almost like kissing your grandma." He chuckled at his own lame joke.

Olivia swallowed hard. Grinding and neck kissing wasn't innocent by any means but he didn't need to know that. The basis of the truth was out. No one needed to know the details. The rest of their date was quiet and uneventful.

/ / /

Work has been a nightmare lately. The cases were going horribly and Barba avoided her like she had the plague. They ended up losing the case for Avery and her baby. Her rapist even had visitation rights. This case horrible for the start, all those months ago. But after going through so much for so long, it sickened Olivia that the bastard got away with it.

She wanted nothing more than to talk to Rafael about it. But she knew that wasn't going to happen for awhile, but most likely ever again. While they all discussed cases together, he barely talked to her. When he did actually have to talk to her, it was distant and professional. He would give the other members of the squad sass or even a smile but all she got was an aloof, disinterested Barba. It made her heart hurt that she had lost her friend. They were doing so well but then she didn't push him away like she should have. She didn't even want to know the opinion he had of her now.

However, she couldn't help but think about why she didn't push him away.

/ / /

The still frigid March weather eventually lapsed into promising warmth as April rolled around. Once the weather got past the 40s, there had been an overall change in the squad. While they all had their demons to face: Nick fighting to see his daughter more, Amanda fending off her urge to gamble, and Olivia living with the fact that her and Barba make never have another real conversation again, they became lively again. The squad room wasn't just dull chatter about cases. They talked about their weekends more and what was currently making them happy. It was a true spring awakening for everyone in the Manhattan SVU.

The shift in season also effected Barba. When he was working on cases with SVU, he wasn't as cold toward Olivia. While the coldness did thaw, he also wasn't exactly friendly. Despite that, he always remained professional. All of their conversations were about the cases in front of them. Nothing more. Olivia didn't try to push for anything more than that. If anyone was going to break the wall that was now between them it was going to have to be Barba since he was the one who built it.

/ / /

Time passed quickly. The beginning of spring of course turned into the still-spring-but-feels-like-summer weather. AKA May. Most days it was in the normal range of 60 – 70 degrees, but there was a day or two that threatened to break 90. Despite this nice spring high they were in, the gears of change started to turn.

May 13th rolled around. It started as any nice Sunday off work. Amaro was with his kids. Rollins was with her dog. Olivia was with Brian. Barba was on a yacht. The day had been going nice for all of them. The day would have continued to be nice if it wasn't for William Lewis deciding that this day was to begin a new reign of terror.

Rollins is the first one to run into Lewis. After two women came running down a hill screaming that he had exposed himself, she and her pooch went after him. While her dog seemed to be okay with him petting her, Amanda knew something was off the moment she locked eyes with him. A primal urge told her to run as fast as she could away from this man. But it was her job to stand up to monsters.

After she had arrested him and attempted to run his missing fingerprints, she knew that this wasn't a case that could simply wait until tomorrow. Reluctantly, she had called everyone in. She knew everyone will be pissed that their day off was cut short but her gut was screaming at her to gather re-enforcements.

Everyone grumbled that that she was over reacting. For a second, she did doubt herself. Maybe she was overreacting? Was the job finally getting to her head? Quickly, she quieted the thoughts of doubt. In the very confines of her soul, she knew that this guy was going to be bad news for them.

After everyone had commenced their grumbling, Amanda noted that Barba still wasn't there. She wanted him to be there too so they would have to re-interview him. Once someone got in there to talk to him and heard the kind of stuff he says, she knew they would get the same feeling she did. Finally, Barba showed up with his yellow rain jacket. Everyone stared on in shock.

"This better be damn important, Rollins." There was a half-smile on his face but he was completely serious.

/ / /

After the talk they had with Lewis, the entire squad and Barba had become greatly unsettled. Barba left to go back to his office so he could file paperwork to get this case into court the next day. He wasn't going to waste time on this. There was something very wrong with that man. Just the thought of being in the same room with him gave him the heebie-jeebies.

Barba did his best to give Lewis a deal. Which, of course he didn't take. Though he tried to fight it, Lewis was released until his trial. In the pit of his gut, he had a bad feeling about all this.

/ / /

After the whole Lewis case calmed down a bit, Barba took the opportunity to get together with his mom. It had been awhile since they last had lunch together and after dealing with Lewis he was uneasy. Talking to her and spending some time with her was something that he needed right now.

They sat at their usual seat that had the view of the river. Barba was grateful that Arturo wasn't working today. About a week after Olivia had revealed that she was involved with Cassidy, he decided to take control of his own destiny so to speak. He slept with Arturo a few times over the months since then. However, he wasn't after a relationship. He just wanted someone to blow off steam with. Though he had a feeling that Arturo was after more than just hooking up. Barba avoided the subject whenever it was brought up. Arturo was a smart guy and was thankfully getting the hint that they were nothing more than a physical relationship. He had stopped texting Rafael altogether about a week ago. Barba was okay with that.

After they ordered, they made small talk. But of course, this is Lucia Barba. Conversation never stays boring for long. "So, tell me what's been going on with your soulmate."

He had a feeling that this was going to be brought up. She had stayed silent about it for far too long. "I really don't want to talk about her." His attempt was lame and it wouldn't work on her, but he still had to try.

"You know me better than that, Rafi. You have to talk to someone about it." While her voice was stern that was a hint of concern. The way he hid himself away worried her. She knew that she could eventually get him to open up, she just hated how closed off he could be toward people.

"Madre, I know. But you also know me." The look of defeat rested on his face.

She reached her hand across the table and gently patted him on the arm. "Just tell me, dear. You'll feel better once you get it off your chest."

Rafael nodded. "Back in March I had finally told her that I had developing romantic feelings. She took it surprisingly well and I kissed her. She kissed me back. Though, happy endings are for fairytales. It had come up that she was involved with someone else when we kissed. She didn't tell me or push me away. I haven't talked to her in any other way besides professionally since then."

Lucia retracted her hand from her son's arm and crossed them. "Rafael Barba." With a furrowed brow, she scolded her son.

Rafael was taken by surprise. "What?!"

She shook her head. "Dios mio, you are such a stubborn boy! She is your soulmate. She is more than just another sexual escapade. She is supposed to be your best friend, lover, partner, support system, everything! You can't let one little squabble over relationship status undermine such a beautiful relationship. This is altruistic, selfless love, mi nino. It's not just about hopping into bed with them and whispering unsure "I love yous". No, no. This is about loving them despite the demons they face and the accidents they make. She is human. Just because she is with someone else right now doesn't mean you can't be her friend. Do not act like a friendzoned fool."

Initially Rafael was shocked. It had been such a long time since his mom had blown up on him like that. "Lo siento, madre." Was all he could muster.

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. I understand that you're hurt. But you also need to think about if she was to get hurt right now, how would you feel that you didn't forgive her?"

Rafael nodded. He was at a loss for words at the moment. Only Lucia Barba knew how to shut up her son. The rest of their meal was quiet with mumblings of how good the food was.

/ / /

Barba thought about what his mother had said quite a bit. At first he was angry at her for "not being on his side". A completely normal but immature reaction. After the initial blow to the ego, he slowly began to realize that she was right. He would be more angry at himself if he didn't forgive her and she got hurt than how angry he is with her presently. He knew he needed to talk to her.

But that was going to be harder than it should've been. The damn Lewis case took a turn for the worst. He was soon accused of raping and torturing that poor old woman. Despite their best efforts, Lewis got off scotch –free. This infuriated everyone working on the case. Barba partially blamed himself. Did he not do his job well enough? He knew it was useless to think like that. Mistakes happen. Monsters sometimes get lucky.

After Lewis's release, Barba had caught wind of Olivia being forced to stay at home for a few days – Captain's orders. He figured this was the time to apologize and make amends with her. Not that he was tooting his own horn (let's face it, he kind of was) but he was hoping that making amends with her would hopefully brighten up a shitty day.

With nothing left to lose, he quickly made his way to Olivia's apartment. Well, as quickly as he could in New York traffic. He slipped in through the entrance as someone walked out. While that was Shady, he didn't want to waste time waiting to be buzzed him. He made his way up to his floor and eventually her door. He knocked on the door.

"Hey, Liv. It's Barba. Can I come in?" He noted that there was some light coming from beneath the door so she had to be home.

After a few moments passed, he knocked again. It was unlike her to purposely ignore something. Olivia always faced everything head on. He heard heavy footsteps moving quickly through her apartment. While it was against his best interest, he barged in. His heart dropped at the scene he walked into.

Olivia was tied to a chair, bleeding, and had duct tape on her mouth. He rushed over toward her. Gently but quickly, he tore the tape away from her mouth.

He held her face in his hands, brushing away the hair from her face. "Jesus Christ, Liv. What happened to you?"

Her eyes were full of panic. "Y-you need to get out of here! Lewis will –"

Before she could finish her warning to Barba, Lewis appeared out of the shadows with a Cheshire cat grin plastered on his face. Barba suddenly turned, faster than Lewis anticipated and had just enough time to get a good look at him before Lewis knocked him out.

"Dammit, Olivia. You have too many boyfriends. Now our time together is going to have to wait until later." He cooed into her ear before pistol whipping her.

Dammit Lewis. You'll pay for ruining my babies from reconciling. :(