Sorry I haven't updated in a while... Life has been crazy and this chapter was giving me fits. I promise I will try to do better! :)

Rafael hadn't been home long when there was a knock on the door. He wondered if Liv had more information about the latest case. He walked to the door and smiled when he looked through the peephole. It was London. He opened the door.

"Hey. I'm sorry to stop by so late." She began. "I just flew in." She still had her luggage with her.

"Please come in." He stepped aside.

"I'm on my way to Mandy's, but I wanted to see you." She blushed slightly as she walked in.

He smiled as he closed the door. "I'm glad you're back." He pulled her into a hug.

She wrapped her arms around him, leaning her head on his chest.

"How was Atlanta?" He wasn't sure if he should ask.

"Everything is blooming; pollen is everywhere. My sinuses have been giving me fits." She knew that wasn't what he was wondering. "Everything is settled. I got everything packed up that I needed to. The furniture went with the house. I shipped everything to his sister's. I didn't stop to think what else I wanted." Now she was rambling. She looked up at him and saw the concern on his face.

Rafael rubbed her shoulders. "I'm sorry you are hurting. If I could fix it I would." He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I know Rafi. I love you." She leaned her head against his chest as tears filled her eyes.

"I love you too." He wished he could take away her pain. He would give anything to take it away.

She pulled away and wiped her eyes. "I should go so I can get to Mandy's." She wondered if Nick was over there.

"I'll drive you." He stated. He wasn't sure if it was an offer or a demand.

"I'll be fine." She smiled. "I can take care of myself." She smirked.

He chuckled. "I know you can, but I wish you'd let me take care of you."

She felt her face flush. She had not expected him to say that. She opened her mouth to respond, but closed it and shook her head. She sat down on his sofa.

He sat down next to her, taking her hands in his. "London. I love you. I am going to do everything in my power to make sure I never lose you again. I promise."

"You promised before." She spoke out loud, not meaning to.

Her words cut deep. "I know I did. And I was stupid to break that promise. I have regretted it every moment of every day since then. I am so sorry." His voice cracked.

She hadn't meant to say that; she didn't mean to hurt him. She blinked and the tears she didn't know where there spilled down her cheeks. "Rafael Barba. I love you. I know how much you love me. I know you don't make promises lightly. You have beaten yourself up enough over this. Please stop. I'm not going anywhere. And I don't want you to let me go. Ever." She squeezed his hands.

Relief washed over him. Letting go of her hands, he stroked her face. "I love you so much." He kissed her hard.

She lost her balance and fell backwards on the sofa pulling him with her.

His pulse quickened. He wasn't thinking clearly. He needed to take her back to Rollins' apartment. "I should take you back to Rollins' apartment."

She kissed his mouth, his cheek, his temple; she didn't want to leave him.

"London." He didn't want her to leave, but needed to be sure she wanted to stay.

"Rafael." She matched his tone. "I don't want to leave you."

"I don't want you to leave either." He admitted.

"So now that we have that settled… Now what?" She yawned. She didn't realize she was that tired.

"You should get some sleep." He wanted everything to go right between them this time.

"I'm fine."

"Oh I know you are." He smirked.

She laughed.

"Come on." He stood up and pulled her with him. "Kitchen." He pointed. "Bathroom, bedroom." He gestured down the hall. He picked up her luggage that she had left by the door and carried it to the bedroom.

She followed him, wondering what he was up to.

"And bathroom connected to the bedroom." He set her luggage down in his bedroom and grabbed a pillow off the bed. "Goodnight." He gave her a quick kiss.

"Where are you going?"

"Sofa. Night." He started to close the door.

"Rafi. I'm not kicking you out of your bed."

"I know. I'm kicking myself out." He smirked.

She took the pillow from him and threw it back on the bed. "You don't have to kick yourself out either."

He swallowed hard. "Yeah; I do." He stroked her cheek. "Goodnight."

She nodded knowingly. She knew how desperately he wanted things to go right between them. She wanted it too. "Goodnight."

He left his hand on her cheek. It was all he could do to be a gentleman.

She brushed her lips across his. "Night Rafi." She picked the pillow up and handed it to him.

"Night mi amor." He winked at her as he walked out, closing the door behind him.

Her stomach felt fluttery. She liked that he had that affect on her.

London woke up and heard water running. It took her a moment to realize that she wasn't in Atlanta anymore. She had spent the night at Rafael's. The water stopped and the bathroom door opened.

"Good morning." Rafael smiled at her.

"Morning." She yawned.

"Did I wake you?" He buttoned his shirt.

"No." She rubbed her face.

"Sleep well?"

"I did. How did you sleep on the sofa?"

"It was fine." He had slept on the sofa in his office before.

"Really? You aren't just saying that?" She wasn't convinced.

"Really." He sat on the bed and leaned in to kiss her.

She met him halfway.

He pulled away, grumbling when his phone started ringing. "What?" He pressed the phone to his ear. It was Carisi.

London marveled at how he could flip a switch and be so gruff.

"I'm due in court in less than an hour. Can it wait?" He huffed, pacing the room. "Well I will put that at the top of my priority list detective." He ended the call and looked at her.

"When do you have to leave?"

"Soon." He muttered.

"Well if you give me a few minutes, I can be dressed and out of your hair." She threw back the covers and hopped out of the bed.

"I never said I wanted you out of my hair." He crossed the room and stood in front of her.

"I didn't want you to think that I expected you to let me stay here."

"Where else would you stay? Why wouldn't I want you here with me?" He stroked her cheek and kissed her.

"I don't know Rafi. I'm not even sure what I was trying to say." Her words weren't coming out right.

"Come here." He pulled her closer. "I love you."

"I love you too." She leaned her head against him. "Am I going to wrinkle your suit?" She teased.

"For once I wouldn't care." He chuckled. "Just because I'm leaving doesn't mean you have to. I'll leave you a key; stay as long as you want." He wished she would stay forever.

Thank you for reading. I will be posting part 2 to this chapter shortly. :) Let me know what you thought and any suggestions you might have!