It had been a few days since the adoption party and not much had changed in Olivia's life. She expected something a little more grand when Noah officially became a Benson, but she could not have loved the little boy more and no paperwork was going to change how she felt. They were family from the beginning. The only benefit was that the law saw them as one too, but Olivia wasn't the law. No, the law was an annoying dark haired, green eyed man who hadn't shown his face since that night.

They texted and talked on the phone, but it was all professional and any wavering into the personal was quickly moved back to work. Olivia would be lying if she said she wasn't a tad disappointed, but she was an adult. A kiss was just a kiss. It did not matter that she felt like she finally found the missing piece in her family, or that it seemed like coming home the way he leaned in casually. It wasn't even a good kiss. It was brief, tender, chaste. There wasn't any raving passion or extreme desire and lust that people usually wrote home about. Their kiss was simple, sweet, natural, safe, and beautiful. Dammit, it was perfect. Olivia sighed as she looked at her notes. If Barba didn't bring it up soon, she would.

Even if he did not want to continue whatever it was they started that night, she just needed to know. There was nothing worse than not knowing. A rejection would be hard, but at least she would know and she would be able to move on. This strange dance in purgatory they were doing had to end so she could move on, in either direction.

Paperwork day was in full swing and Olivia was trying hard to suppress her groans of frustration. Carisi was groaning enough for the entire squad. Olivia was about to get up and close her office door when Barba knocked twice.

"Got a minute?" he asked hesitantly.

"I think I can spare a few," Olivia responded, dropping her pen down on the stack she was working on. Barba closed the door and Olivia sits back, alarmed. It's going to be one of those conversations. Barba sat down in the chair opposite, which was slowly becoming his. He usually draped himself over the wood and upholstery, but now he was sitting tentatively. He didn't speak for a bit. "I'm assuming you had a reason to walk across town, councilor."

"Yes. I just met with the victim and the witness and they both look solid for the trial next week. I usually wouldn't risk it, but this seems to be a straight forwarded case. A he said-she said with an eye witness who backs our story completely. Mont's lawyer wants to talk in the morning, so I might just settle it depending on what he offers."

"Good. It'll spare Lisa the trial, which I know she will like, but she is tough."

"Yes she is," Barba agreed, his eyes darting in any other direction that was not Olivia.

"That all could have been said over a text, though." Olivia was done playing around.

"Yes. Yes, it could have. That's not why I'm here," Barba paused and took in a deep breath before tapping his hands on the arms of the chair. "The other night, I hope I did not make you feel uncomfortable or like you had to reciprocate anything to make me feel less embarrassed. I was not thinking and I am very sorry. We talk about sex crimes and rape every day and yet there I was pushing myself unto you without any signal at all. I don't want you to associate that with me."

Olivia's heart sank a little. "Nothing that you have ever done was unwanted."

"It was completely unprofessional and.." he started but Olivia jumped in.

"Yes, it caught me by surprised, but I kissed you back. So can we agree that what we did was consensual and desired by both parties?" Olivia almost rolled her eyes at his quick nod. "Do you want to continue seeing me in a non-professional atmosphere?" This sounded so clinical to Olivia, but with Barba sitting in her office, it seemed like the easiest way to handle this.

"More than anything," he said and Olivia saw the depth of those words in his eyes.

"Me too," she smiled softly.

"Olivia Benson, would you care to go out to dinner with me tomorrow night?" he asked gently.

"Yes, Rafael Barba, I would love to." She smiled back. They held each other's gaze for a short moment, before there was a knock on the door and Carisi's form appeared behind the glass. "Well, back to work for me. Good afternoon, councilor."

"Good afternoon Sergeant."