Chapter Five

Declarations

A/N Thank you so much for all the very kind reviews and follows, they definitely pushed me to get one more update done this weekend.

"You know if you had decided to move before we put this crib together the first time two weeks ago that would have been really nice Barba." Oliva grumbled surrounded by pieces of furniture and tools.

"Sorry, my long range plan has been a bit interrupted lately." He reminded her.

"Hey Barba? Where do you want the rest of these boxes?" Carisi yelled from the doorway as he and Finn carried in the last of the boxes.

"Just drop them in the living room. I'll figure out where they go later." He told them. "I really appreciate the help guys."

"No problem Counselor, you've got your work cut out for between now and Monday when you head back to work, especially with Mari. Of course I guess having the LT down the hall will help." Carisi said.

"Yeah, she's been a big help over the last month. I'm going to do my best make sure she doesn't get sick of us though." Barba told him glancing over at Liv who was nervously distracting herself with one of the boxes. Their relationship was still undefined and definitely not ready to be discussed with anyone.

"Well, I guess we will see you back at work soon enough. Good luck man." Finn told him. "Come on Carisi you and Amanda can cook me dinner."

"You mean I can cook you dinner or Amanda can order us some pizza."Carisi laughed.

"Bye guys," Liv said with a laugh. "So where should we start?" She asked Barba looking around at everything that needed to be done.

"Right here." He said pulling her to him closely and capturing her lips in a long hot kiss. He felt her arms wrap around his neck and he pulled her closer and deepened the kiss feeling a little bold he ran his hand down to her backside smiling when he heard a low moan escape from her throat. There hadn't been much time for moments like this over the last two weeks and they were both enjoying being lost in each other for a few minutes.

"We should be working," Liv said breathlessly when they broke apart for air.

"I am." He said not even trying to hide the desire in his voice as he moved her hair and planted kisses along her jaw line and down her neck.

"Rafael" She said failing miserably at sounding stern or bothered.

"Olivia" He said in a way that just about made her lose all sense of what they were supposed to be doing.

"The kids Raf." She said trying to regain some control of the situation.

"Are with my mother." He reminded her as he kissed her one more time. "But yes, I know we have work to do and they will be home soon." He sighed as he reluctantly let her go.

"Besides call me old fashioned but I'd rather not have our first time be when I'm dressed like this and hot and sweaty from moving." She said looking down at her appearance.

Rafael looked her over too for the hundredth time that day and pulled her back to himself, "You really have no idea how sexy you are do you?"

"Right now I'm a mess." Liv said pulling away slightly but Rafael pulled her closer.

"Listen to me Olivia Benson, you are beautiful all the time, when you are working, when you are taking care of the kids, when you dancing with me. Beyond that you are sexy not just when you're dressed up, you are sexy in yoga pants and a tshirt. I realize that life has been kind of crazy the last month so you might not know just how badly I want to make love to you. But I'm also committed to getting this thing right with us so I'm willing to wait until the time is right. Your current attire is no detraction for me but not wanting to rush this is." He told her before kissing her again. "Now let's go put that crib back together."

Liv stood and watched him walk back towards Mari's room with only one clear thought in her head, she had fallen in love with Rafael Barba.

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At seven thirty Monday morning Rafael and Mari were in Olivia's apartment so that he could return to work.

"Don't worry I promise I am going to take great care of her." Lucy assured him.

"I help Lucy with Mari too!" Noah said excited to have her there.

Rafael scooped the boy up and hugged him, "I know you will Amigo, thank you."

"Liv, you ready to head out?" He called down the hall hoping she would leave with him making it a little easier.

"Coming." She said coming into the living room stopping at the sight of her boyfriend dressed to return to work, in his dark suit with pink tie and pocket square she knew the pink suspenders were under the jacket. She gave him an approving smile as she looked him over before turning her attention to the kids.

"Ok my loves be good for Lucy." She told them hugging and kissing them both. "Have fun at preschool Noah."

As they made their way into the hallway Oliva looked at Rafael and took his hand, "She's going to be all right Papi, I promise."

"I know it was just a lot harder than I thought it would be." He sighed.

"It gets easier." She said wrapping her arm around her waist and leaning into him.

"I'm going to miss you today too." He said turning her around for a hug. "I guess it would be wrong to hope for a case?"

Liv laughed, "Yes, Rafael." She said as she kissed him. 'Have a good day."

"I''ll see you tonight." He told her as they prepared to set off in opposite directions. Liv took about five steps and turned back and watched as he walked away.

"Rafael" She called after him and he turned around, "I love you." She said before hurrying off to the one six.

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Rafael found it next to impossible to work that day, between worrying about Mari and replaying Liv's words in his head he could barely complete a thought. He managed to read through case files and catch up on paper work and a little before four he texted Liv.

Not a lot to do, heading home soon. Want me to send Lucy home and wait?

Olivia smiled as she read his text, here she had told him she loved him this morning and he was worried about over stepping.

That would be great.

Olivia arrived home about two hours later and found her own apartment empty so made her way down the hall to Rafael's.

"Hello" She called out coming through the door to the sounds of music playing and voices from the back of the apartment. She went to the back to find Barba attempting to unpack with both kids helping.

"What are you guys doing? " She asked laughing at the sight before her.

"Mama!" Noah yelled and ran to her.

Oliva scooped him up and kissed him but turned quickly when she heard another voice call out, "Mama"

Mari had crawled across the floor and was pulling herself up on Olivia's pants leg wanting to be picked up too, "Mama!" She called out again holding her arms up to Olivia. She picked up the baby while looking at Rafael to see his reaction.

His eyes were shinning from across the room when he said, "Looks like my girls have a lot to say today."

TBC