* Making more moves into Barson territory. I'm hoping to really get them started in the next few chapters. Enjoy! *

The ACS home was quite loud, the screaming of babies and toddlers filling the yellow-painted hallways; all the while the noise blended into the background as Olivia was focused on other things, those things being the infant in her arms and the man at her side. It was a scene she hadn't even pictured, let alone assumed she would ever be a part of.

"So I know that you've done this before and are probably prepared, but is there anything you may need for the next few days?" The older woman, who ran the facility and who was rather sullen for being a caretaker for children, asked Olivia.

Liv looked up from the little girl, thinking for a moment about what she had been able to prepare. "I think I have everything I'll need for a little while, but thank you."

Just two days before she was supposed to pick up Raegan from the ACS facility, she had gotten the call from Judge Linden that her paperwork had been approved and she would have the same year long opportunity to foster the baby before she would be given the chance to adopt her, that was as long as no family showed up or was discovered. With such short notice of becoming the foster parent to an infant, Liv had rushed to pick up all the things she thought would be necessary. Noah had been older when he had first come home with Olivia, so the idea of formula and swaddle blankets were all new to the sergeant. She had ended up with probably more than she would ever need for one child, but she would much rather be overly prepared.

"In that case, there are just a few documents that you need to sign and then you can be on your way." The woman strode away, assuming that Olivia would follow her, which both she and Barba did.

The district attorney had no legal reason to come with Liv, but he had offered to drive her and after their last, short conversation about him feeling personally unfulfilled, she was all for him joining her. And his company had been something she found comfort in recently; she liked spending time with the man that had always seemed so mysterious.

Nearly half an hour later both Rafael and Olivia were making their way out of the ACS home, headed in the direction of the Volvo SVU that belonged to Olivia. Barba lugged the brand new car seat containing the sleeping baby, as Liv was still on pretty strict orders about what she could and could not do while her injuries were healing fully.

"Do you mind if I ride in the back with her?" Liv questioned the DA as he took his place in the driver's seat.

"Why do you need to ask me, Liv?" Barba smirked at his comment.

Liv rolled her eyes in response. "Well I was just trying to be nice, but never mind then. I'll let you act as our chauffer without any guilt."

The drive was peaceful. Olivia sat in the back seat, an arm draped over the car seat that held a sleeping Raegan. As she was watching the baby's chest rise and fall in slumber, Liv took in all the features of the little girl. She had long eyelashes that fluttered just slightly as she slept, her lips were pink and full, and her small button nose that she thought resembled her brother's, but it was her small hands that Liv paid attention to. Her hands were placed on either side of her head, her small fists resting at her temples; Noah did the same thing when he slept. He had grown out of the habit recently, but when he had first come home, her son would sleep no other way.

When Barba pulled into the apartment parking lot and into Olivia's assigned space, it was the first time the mom had taken her eyes off of the baby. She looked up at Rafael who had turned to see what was happening in the backseat.

"Is Lucy going to stay and help you?" The babysitter had been with Noah while Olivia and Rafael went to pick up his sister.

Olivia let out a deep breath, remembering the circumstances of Lucy's watching Noah for the day. "I don't think so. Her mom had surgery yesterday and I promised her she could go back to the hospital after we got back. I felt bad enough having her come in on the weekend as it was, I didn't want to keep her here any longer than necessary."

"Well if you need any help, I can stay." Rafael offered.

"Oh, you don't have to do that. I'm sure you probably have more important things you need to get done. I mean, how many Saturdays do you actually get off?"

Liv didn't mean to make it seem like she didn't want Barba's help, but when she watched his face drop after the words left her mouth, she could tell that he wasn't happy about having an empty Saturday off.

"I know you think I have a life outside of the office, but contrary to that popular belief, I have no plans." Rafael explained.

"Then you are more than welcome to stay. I'm sure it'll be a little bit of a mad house for a while. Noah has more energy than ten adults combined and I'm not sure how he's going to feel about not being the center of attention."

With permission to join the family, Rafael helped Liv out of the car and then grabbed the car seat, following Olivia to the elevator where they rode up to her fourth floor apartment. As they approached the apartment, Liv and Barba could hear the sound of laughter coming from inside the apartment; at least Noah would be in a good mood before he realized that he would no longer be an only child.

When Olivia opened the door, she was greeted immediately by her son. "Mama! Mama!"

"Hi buddy, mama missed you today." Liv loved the excitement Noah always displayed when she came home.

"Hi Liv. Hi Rafael." Lucy was standing near the door, obviously ready to get back to her weekend.

"Lucy, you can leave. Rafael is going to stay and your mom needs you more than I do." Olivia assured the young brunette.

Lucy eagerly headed for the door. "Thanks Liv. Have a good weekend."

With the younger girl gone, Rafael moved further into the apartment and set the car seat on the coffee table. Raegan stirred inside, but made no noise, she simply opened her eyes to see what had happened.

Noah, who had been attached to his mother since they had gotten home, moved towards the unfamiliar object now in his home. The coffee table was just short enough, that Noah could see directly into the car seat as it sat on top of it. The little boy puked a chubby finger at the baby's tummy, making her let out small whine. He did it again, but instead poked at her cheek; Raegan like that even less.

"You have to be careful with the baby, Noah." Liv told her son as she sat down on the couch next to the kids.

"Baby!" Noah squealed.

Olivia chuckled and Noah giggled back at her. "That's Reagan, Noah. That's your little sister. And you have to be gentle with her."

Noah looked up at his mom, his eyes wide as if he didn't really understand who the new baby was or why everyone kept warning him to be careful. Even at just a little under two, Noah knew when his mom was instructing him.

"See she's little and you're a big boy." Rafael told Noah, who instantly latched onto the district attorney.

"Raf!" It was a funny thing, Noah had such an affinity for Rafael and, at least Liv thought, Rafael had taken a liking to the little boy, as well.

The attorney and little boy giggled at each other, both of them enjoying each other's company. Meanwhile, Olivia had carefully taken Raegan back to her room and changed her diaper, before reappearing with a now content Raegan in her arms. There was something about the warmth of the baby against her own body and the sound of laughter from her son that made Olivia feel like she was finally where she wanted to be with her little family.

"Mama. Baby." Noah pointed at Olivia as she walked into the room.

Rafael stood up, Liv standing next to him while Noah got distracted by one of his many toys.

"You know it's getting late and I don't want to disrupt anything, maybe I'll just get going." Rafael said.

Olivia looked at the man and for some reason she couldn't let him go. "I was just going to let Noah watch a movie tonight and if you're okay with some animated children's movie, it would be great if you stayed."

"I would love to." It didn't take much convincing for the man to agree. He didn't want to have to leave, either.

The night ended with just that a movie, Finding Nemo as it was Noah's favorite, and the two adults and two kids together on the couch. The popcorn Olivia had made sat on the coffee table, where Olivia had her feet propped up next to Rafael's. Raegan was laid on Liv's chest, asleep, showing just how easy her transition into the family would be. Noah sat in Rafael's lap, his head on the attorney's shoulder while the little boy struggled to keep his eyes open. Liv found herself, without even a thought, with her head occupying Rafael's other shoulder as his arm wrapped around her upper body, holding her tightly.

And although it was nothing short of unexpected, Olivia found herself not wanting to move, comfortable with the man she had never expected to spend an evening with.

* Reviews, reviews, reviews please! *