Disclaimer: I do not own Law and Order: SVU or any of its characters.
Wedding Plans
To Lucia's dismay, her son and daughter-in-law to-be were hellbent on having a small, private ceremony. She had to use all the weapons in her arsenal to get Rafael to invite her side of the family - her sister, her brother and his wife & children. Annie would have three guests on her side: her best friends Cece and Kyle, and her Aunt June. She was negotiating that day for adding Sonny to the list.
"If you invite him, I'll have to invite the rest of the squad", Rafael said.
"Sonny will never talk to me once he realizes I had my wedding without him"
He smirked,
"I don't see the downside to that"
Annie looked up from the guest list in her hands. Rafael watched in awe her angry glare (so adorable). He put his coffee mug down when she began to speak.
"Sonny means something to me, Rafael. He has been there for me the way a brother would. It's up to you if you don't want to invite the rest of the team but Sonny is invited"
"Fine", he shrugged, "Then I'll just invite Liv"
Annie shook her head smiling, as she wrote Sonny's name on the list.
"Find something amusing?", Rafael observed her.
"Nothing"
"You don't like Olivia?"
"I do. She's great"
"Then what's with the face?"
"You love Olivia. That's all"
Rafael stopped short of spitting the hot coffee back in the mug. Annie was focused on the list. He cleared his throat.
"Come again?"
"It's nothing sexual, nothing that would make you cheat on me or something", she capped her pen, "But you guys are great friends, probably went out for a while. And it's obvious that you care a lot about each other. I like that"
He was trying to get a read on his love of years. Annie had major'd in psychology but her observations had never been so... astounding.
"You're not jealous?", he wondered.
"No. She is not the kind of person who would 'wreck' someone's relationship", Annie picked up the wedding roster, "Also, you don't really seem to be her type. It'll never work out"
"Excuse me?"
"You're high maintenance"
"High maintenance? Me?"
"Do you know how many times I have to change coffee filters and bedding around here, and look pretty and be charming while doing it? Or try not to scream when you put your feet up on every table you see? Or when you return every gift I..."
"I get the picture. Move on"
"I'm saying, Olivia seems to be of the kind who prefer these jock types. Likes to transform them into their better selves. She can't possibly improve you. There's no room. You're perfect"
How could she have caught all that in one meeting? And did she just sneak a compliment in?
"Annie..."
"I know", she winked.
Having secured an arrest warrant for the perp, Barba walked out of the judge's chambers. Detective Carisi was close behind.
"Hola, prometida", Rafael answered his phone with a smile.
Annie's voice could barely be heard over the traffic she seemed to be in.
"Raf? Hello?"
"It's loud. Where are you?"
"I'm shopping for the dress. Think you can get out during lunch break and help me pick one?"
"Can't you take Cece or what's-her-name... Shirley?"
"Shirley lives in Boston, Cubano, I told you. And I don't want to bother Cece. Kyle is at work. Think you can make it?"
Meeting the SVU to discuss the case, the Vaulk trial, meeting his boss...
"I'm sorry"
"It's okay. I'll ask Sonny"
"S...", he looked over his shoulder.
Sonny had hung behind a little on realizing the ADA was talking to his fiancee. Rafael whispered sharply.
"What does he know about wedding dresses?!"
"Raf, you are getting cut off. I can't hear you"
"Annie..."
"I'll talk to you later, okay? I can't hear you. I love you! Bye"
"An...", he shut his eyes.
In seconds, Carisi's phone rang. He excused himself to answer it. Frustrated, Rafael walked on.
A week before the wedding -
"Let's review. We have our apparel. All our guests have RSVP'd yes. Judge Templar will be officiating the whole business. I still think we should have tried to get Ruth Bader Ginsburg to do it"
Rafael chuckled behind his glass of Scotch. He said,
"Keep reading"
"The venue is set. So is the menu. They promised us a pianist. I told them 'minimal decoration'. They have sent me sample pictures. Take a look and pick one"
Rafael leaned his head against her shoulder and had a look. He took her hand and put it on his face. Annie caressed his day-old shadow,
"The first one is out of the question. The second one is fine but I am not a fan of yellow. How about this one?"
"Too much color"
"Yeah", she agreed, "And this? It goes with the flowers I am going to wear. In my hair, I mean"
"It looks nice"
"Good. Let's see the others and make..."
"Just pick one"
"You always say that, Raf, and then manage to find faults in what I have picked"
"Honest to God, you choose the decorations. I won't say a word"
"Fine"
He stayed in the same position. Annie's hand was so warm on his face. He put his hand on her thigh. Heck, when was the last time they had sex? He couldn't remember.
"This one. Tell me what you think", she said.
Closing her laptop, Rafael put it on the table. He was kissing her before she could protest. Her fingers passed through his hair. He was growing it out a bit for the wedding. Annie kissed his face, moving down to his throat. He maneuvered her underneath him. Looking into each other's eyes before they fucked senseless - it was their mating ritual.
"Raf?", she asked, "Will you always love me forever?"
"Of course I will. You doubt it?"
She shook her head and smiled.
"I love you. I can't believe this time next week, I'll be Mrs. Rafael Barba"
"And I will be Mr. Annie Dalton"
Making her giggle, he went in for another kiss. And then a lot more.