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

Home Sweet Home

For once, he had made it in time for dinner. Annie would be impressed. She would put her tender arms around his neck. Her eyes would grow dark with desire. As she kissed him, soft and sweet, she would sneak her hand into his...
'Snap out of it', Rafael gave a violent shrug.
All he wanted to do as he set foot inside his apartment was sweep his girlfriend off her feet and make love to her where he stood.
"Annie?", he called, shedding his coat and scarf.
"Don't come in here!", she answered, "I'm naked"
Rafael grinned and moved to the kitchen, calling,
"That is clearly an invitation!"
His footsteps came to an abrupt halt. Standing in the kitchen, next to a shameless and giggling Annie, was his mother.
"Mami"
"Rafi", they hugged, "Que tal tu día?"
"Estuvo bien. When did you get in?"
"A while ago"
His eyes were warning Annie of what was to happen to her once they were alone.
"Are you teaching Annie how to cook?"
"You're kidding. She is good. You should appreciate the lengths a woman goes to in making food for you, Rafi"
"Thank you, Lucia", said Annie.
Mrs. Barba spoke with confidence,
"And she is such a delight. Absolute joy"
"No one knows that better than him. Am I right?"
Mrs. Barba laughed and slapped the palm Annie held out. Rafael was jealous.
"Please don't convert my mother to your brand of humor"
Said mother was shoving him out of the kitchen soon.
"You talk too much. Take these plates and set the table"
Annie's teasing smile fuelled his revenge fire.

Dinner went well. Mrs. Barba drove home in her car. And the moment she was out of their door, Rafael grabbed Annie. She guffawed and slipped out of his grip in a wink.
"Get back here, you..."
He chased her to the bedroom. Annie made the mistake of jumping on the bed when he ran across to her side. Rafael lunged forward with abandon, pulling her down with him. He tickled her like they were toddlers.
"Objection!", Annie laughed, "Objection! Yeow! Objection!"
He stopped to let her breathe. They both needed to. Annie's face was red from all the laughing.
"You think it's funny, embarrassing me in front of my mother?"
"Yeah"
"Yeah?", he tickled her again.
Annie squirmed under him,
"Ah! Stop! Jinkies! Jinkies, Raf!"
He grinned, pulling her top over her waist and upwards. Its fate was to fall on the floor and be joined by Rafael's shirt.
"I've been thinking about you all day"
"Bad things, I know"
He unclasped her bra and pulled it down her,
"Very, very bad things"
Annie could not stop giggling. She kissed him over and over, wanting that moment to last forever.
"Raf?"
He looked up. The words were just on the tip of her tongue. How bad would it be if she were to admit it?
"I..."
He deserved to hear it. And he was giving her such a patient look.
"I..."
Rafael's face tensed. She saw him begin to hear what she was yet to say.
"Have you been drinking beer?"
Surprised, he asked,
"Have... have I been drinking beer?"
"Yeah. Your tummy's coming up. Oh wait", Annie gasped, "Am I going to be a Mom?"
"Ha-ha. Funny"
He spanked her butt and she laughed. Fearing she might have killed the mood, Annie reached for his zipper to make amends. Rafael stopped her.
"None of that. I want to make love to you"
Subconscious suggestion. Crafty. Annie feigned ignorance and kissed him back. He kissed her shoulder while she closed her eyes and leaped.
"I love you"
He stilled his movements. It was the first time she had ever said that to him. He raised his head to look her in the eyes and say,
"Okay"
Annie nodded in understanding.
"I deserved that"
"Yes, you did"
"All right. Back to work"
With an impish smile, he held her face in his hand.
"Te amaré mientras viva"
"That better mean something beautiful in Spanish"
"It does"
"Good"
After kissing her some more, Rafael remained on top of her. He traced her features with his fingertips, smiling all the while.
"I feel guilty at times that my colleagues work as hard as I do but they don't get to come home to someone like you", he said, "who can take all their stress away and bring them calm"
"What is this? You trying to get a blowjob?"
"When have I ever had to ask you for one?"
"So I enjoy your genitals. Sue me", she rolled her eyes.
He sighed, smiling still,
"What would I do without you, Annie?"
She bit her lip,
"Masturbate?"
He laughed.
"You are so immature! Why did I ever fall in love with you?"
"I saved your ass, that's why", she placed her hands on his butt, "I did that mostly because it looked great in those trousers you were wearing"
"Is that right?"
Annie nodded. Rafael kissed her again. He thought of how they would spend every night together thenceforth. Home had finally become a place where his heart was.

P.S. Te amare mientras viva – I will love you as long as I live