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

Into The Valley Of Death

Her handkerchief was crumpled, but Aunt June was wiping her tears with it still. The house was quiet. Uncle Mick's loud, bellowing voice was not there anymore. It would never be again. Sonny looked at his watch. Annie came into the living room with her aunt's purse and a pair of kerchiefs.
"Come on, June. It's almost time", her brother roused her.
"Annie?"
"I'm here", she gave the grieving widow her hand, "Let's go"
Sonny was at the end of the procession, but he was there.

At the cemetery, all the distant Tylers and Beluccis attended the funeral. Michael Tyler Sr. had lived a full life, the priest said. Some of the guests did not understand Italian, but it had been the dead man's last wish that his funeral be conducted in the language of his Tuscan forefathers.
"Sorry I'm late"
Rafael took the chair next to Annie. She placed her hand on his and told him it was okay. Rafael looked around. Sonny gave him a nod; he was sitting a chair behind Annie's.
"Nel nome del Padre..."
Everyone stood up. The coffin was going under. Aunt June had worn a traditional black veil. She sniffled with her head against Annie's shoulders.
"Michael", she whimpered, "They are burying your Pa. Do something"
Annie and Rafael exchanged a look. She took her aunt towards the grave as was the custom. Sonny came to stand next to him then.
"Reading the gravestone?"
"Yeah", Rafael said.
Here lies Michael Santino Tyler Sr., Husband to June Tyler, Father to Michael Tyler Jr. To the left was another headstone - Michael Christopher Tyler Jr. (1975-1992), Loving Son Taken From Us Too Soon.
"How's Annie holding up?", Sonny asked.
"You saw her. She didn't cry"
"Yeah. Annie doesn't cry", he asked, "How are things between you two?"
"Quite well", he said sardonically, "Thank you for asking"
"You ever wonder what Annie's gravestone will read?"
Son of a... Rafael controlled his anger with much effort.
"What did you say?"
Sonny guessed,
"It'll probably say 'Here Lies Annie Philomena Dalton'. That's all. No mention of any kids or a husband"
"If you have a point, Carisi, you better get to it"
Sonny shook his head, before leaving.
"I don't know what you are waiting for"
He walked over to Annie and Aunt June, kissed them both. After crossing himself before the grave, he left.

A week after the funeral, Annie and Rafael were sitting in their drawing room. She had asked him to look over her late uncle's documents. He had left the house to his wife as well as Annie.
"That's all", he handed her the papers.
"Does it now say I relinquish my claim over the house?"
"Yes. I'll have Jesse take it to the notary office tomorrow. He'll call you if there is a problem"
"Okay", she leaned back into the chair, "Thank you, Raf"
"My pleasure"
"When I die", she said, looking at the ceiling, "I want Scottish bagpipes playing Amazing Grace. It'll be beautiful. I want everyone crying at my funeral till they look ugly and their noses are running"
"I'll remember that", he smiled, "if I outlive you"
"You will outlive me", she insisted.
"What gives?"
"I am the cheerful type - the kind who dies young. It's a miracle I've made it this far"
To his eyes, she looked the same as the first time they had met. There were faint, discernible lines on her forehead now. Annie was past 40. By a general estimate, they still had 25-30 years together.
"Annie?"
"Yeah?"
She leaned forward.
"Do you ever think about us getting married?"
"No"
Well, that hurt.
"No?"
She reminded him,
"We don't believe in marriage, do we? It's just a civic formality"
"It is, but don't you ever wonder what it would be like?"
"I don't think getting married would make any difference to us. You can't love me anymore than you do already. We are happy together. Why risk it with the stress of a wedding?"
She smiled.
"You're just having a mid-life crisis. Stop thinking so much, okay?"
He nodded in agreement. Laying her head against the chair, Annie hummed. She looked at him.
"Sing for me? Your voice is much better than mine"
Considering her mood and the occasion, Rafael indulged her.
"Amazing Grace", he sang what she had been humming, "How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me"
Annie joined him,
"I once was lost but now am found. I was blind but now I see"
She rose and kissed him.
"Thank you", her hand passed along his shoulders,
"You coming to bed?"
"Yeah. You go ahead"
"Okay"

Another conviction. The press gathered on the courthouse steps to interview ADA Rafael Barba. He came to them, followed by the Manhattan SVU Sergeant.
"Counselor, what was..."
"Mr. Barba, do you think..."
He raised his hand a little and told them he'd answer their questions one by one. A man tried to make his way to him through the crowd. When that didn't happen, he stepped aside and pointed a gun at Rafael.
"THIS IS FOR MY BROTHER!"
The shot was followed by screams and scrambling. Olivia pushed Rafael down and covered him. Fin and Nick ran after the shooter.
"Barba", her fingers were coated with his blood, "Oh God"
She rode with him in the ambulance. Rafael tried to tell her,
"Liv... tell Annie I love her"
"She knows", Liv assured him, "She's on her way to the hospital"
He shut his eyes and winced.

Bright lights and closed blinds - a hospital room. Rafael felt... woozy. He was swimming in a river when someone started stroking his forehead. When the hand moved away, he followed it out of the water. The hand belonged to Annie as she sat facing away from him. Face haggard, eyes...
In their five years together, he had never seen her cry. Sure, she did cry at tragic scenes or anything with infants (mammals and others). This was different. Tears were streaming out of her eyes without a second's pause. He could have tolerated weeping or sobbing. But Annie cried noiselessly. There was no trembling or coloring. It was the weeping of one who had cried too often.
"Annie?"
His voice was weak. She reared her head up and smiled upon him.
"Hey", her face was still wet, "How'd you sleep?"
"Are you crying?"
"Me?", she laughed and dried her eyes, "No. No. Crying is for..."
She didn't finish the sentence but stroked his forehead again and kissed his face all over like he were a child. He took a deep breath to inhale her fragrance.
"Does it hurt?"
"Not really. Was I in surgery?"
"Yeah. Doctors say you're fine now. And Olivia told me they got the guy who shot you. Do you remember that?"
"Yeah"
He glanced at the clock on the opposite wall - 12:35 AM.
"How long have I been here?"
"A while", she pulled up his sheets a little.
"Did you tell my mother?"
"Yes. I had to send her home an hour ago. She is fine. The doctors told her you were going to be okay"
He reflected on that.
"How long have you been here?"
"Same as you. I wanted to make sure none of the nurses took any liberties with you since you were in a hospital gown"
His smile was as weak as his voice. He would have laughed but the strength had left him.
"I did something quite dramatic today"
"Other than getting shot?"
"In the ambulance, it felt like I was dying. And with what I thought was my last breath, I asked Liv to tell you that I love you"
Another on-set of tears, but while the smile stayed on her face.
"Te amaré mientras viva, huh?"
"Look at that. You are speaking Spanish. I should get shot often"
"Don't say that. Get some sleep. I'm right here"
"I'm sorry I scared you"
Her forgiving smile was always the best.
"It's not your fault. Sleep now. The doctor will check on you in an hour"
"Okay"
Gripping her hand close to his heart, Rafael closed his eyes. He swam again.