Disclaimer: I do not own Law and Order: SVU or any of its characters.

S16E15: Undercover Mother

The wind that evening in NYC was as brisk as its citizens. It couldn't hamper the woman's smile though. Her cheeks had turned a pale pink with the cold. They weren't exactly freezing but her boyfriend tried to suck out whatever warmth the evening could provide.
"I hate that movie", Rafael said, "I'm never letting you talk me into something like this again"
Annie hung on to his arm as they walked along the street away from the movie theater. Grumpy or not - he was hers. She tried to lighten his mood,
"I'm glad they finally named a creepy character after me. I have been waiting for years"
"That bitch's name is Annabelle, not Annabella"
She grinned,
"She's a doll, Rafael. Take it easy"
He pretended to shrug. Annie knew it was a weakly disguised shiver. Rafael hadn't grown up with a sister around. Maybe then he wouldn't have cringed at the sight of a doll. A possessed doll.
"They already have a creepy character named after you. The crazy nurse in that movie with James Caan?"
"Oh yeah. Annie Wilkes from Misery. Look at that - I share my name with a Stephen King character. That's creepy enough, I guess"
"You're so weird", he snorted.

It was their first date in weeks. Annie wanted him to be smiling like that all through it. Annabelle might have been a bad idea in hindsight but she could work on his smile now.
"How much longer to your friend's bar?", Rafael asked.
"Four more blocks"
"Jesus", he sighed, "Why do we have to go there? Can't we go somewhere closer?"
"You promised. And I want to surprise her. Sheila had it really rough until she came to the Tylers. Now she's clean and sober again and has started her own business. I want to support my friend. Is that a bad thing?"
"Why do you even have so many friends? It's not like you're a people person"
They were holding hands. Annie swung them back and forth.
"When you grow up being made to realize everyday that you have no family, you start making one for yourself. Elementary, Watson"
The hand-swinging stopped. Rafael held her hand tighter. The furrow between his brows had disappeared.
"I'm sorry", he said.
"It's all right", Annie smiled, "You are allowed"
A sigh escaped Rafael's lips. Annie wasn't going to let his momentary guilt ruin their evening. She had so much sex planned.
"You were so smart then, in your jacket and coat"
"You're singing in the middle of the street. Why am I not surprised?"
Annie tugged at the ends of his scarf as she sang,
"My softest red scarf was warming your throat"
Onlookers were watching the crazy dancing lady with a smile. So was her boyfriend. Rafael grinned as she began to dance with his arm, still singing.
"And a friend of mine says it's good to hear..."
His phone rang. He let her play with his left arm while he reached into his pocket with the other and checked.
"It's work. Sshh", he told her.
Annie continued to sing as they walked.
"Liv. Yeah... wait, wait. A UC? Uh-huh"
His companion sang in his face before moving back to his arm,
"I wrote my name in your book! Only God knows why. And I bet you that he cracked a smile"
"It's my girlfriend, I'll tell you later", Rafael spun Annie with his left hand, focusing on the conversation, "Okay. I am on my way"
He put the phone back in his pocket. Now Annie had begun to face him and walk backwards, all while she did her song and dance. He adopted his most earnest expression.
"Olivia called"
Annie didn't change her tune. She was looking at him, smiling and performing.
"I have to go to the precinct right now. I'm sorry"
She gave a little laugh and did something that resembled the boogie, the song still on her lips. Rafael hated to do this to her (especially when he was looking forward to the after-hiatus sex), but work was work.
"Annie, please talk"
"If I do talk", she sang, "If I stop singing, then I'm gonna yell at you. So better get your ass away"
He kissed her,
"I'll make it up to you, I promise. You get home safe"
Annie punctuated her sentences with Beyonce's Single Ladies moves, the one with the fists by the knees.
"No going home. I'm calling Kyle and we getting shitfaced", she danced.
"Okay. Tell him to meet you at the bar. Let's get you a taxi"
She attempted the moonwalk,
"It's only a few blocks"
"You're not walking there by yourself. Taxi, hey!"
He hailed a cab and they got in.
"I'll drop you at Sheila's and then go. Will you please stop dancing?"
"If I do", she sang, "I'll punch you for ruining our long-awaited date"
"Good call", he smiled.