* First, thank you guys so much for all the reviews! I'm glad you all love Barson and this story so much. Second, to the person who pointed out that Raegan would be Noah's half-sister, you were correct, thank you, and I fixed that little mistake in all the previous chapters. Now here's a new chapter, enjoy! *
Rafael didn't spend the night, he went home after they finished the movie, and had since been incredibly busy with all the work that had suddenly found its way into the SVU team's hands. Olivia hadn't seen him since that night, but there had been a few phone calls and numerous texts in the meantime. All of which were sending mixed signals to both the attorney and sergeant. Both of them greatly enjoyed each other's company, but they just didn't know what was going to come of them.
And with the pair so busy, Rafael at work and Liv at home with the two kids, they hadn't gotten much of a chance to see where they could lead. However, Olivia hoped that a Sunday off for Barba meant that she would be able to get a little time with him.
"Cakes, mama, cakes." Noah sat in his high chair, the little boy requesting his breakfast.
Olivia chuckled at her son. "Here you go, buddy." She dumped the cut up pancake onto the tray of the high chair, adding a small bit of syrup to the breakfast food.
A small whine from the living room grabbed Liv's attention and she walked over to the swaying swing where Raegan laid, now not so happy. "Oh I see, you have to be a part of breakfast too, don't you? Yes, you do." Liv cooed at the little girl.
A large grin covered the babies face; her smiling had just recently become her most common reaction to both Olivia and Noah. Raegan had become quickly comfortable with her new family and she fit in with ease. It was a much easier transition than Liv had expected, but she assumed that the baby being so little had something to do with it.
"Rae!" Noah squealed as Olivia returned to the table with the baby now in her arms.
Raegan smiled at her brother's excitement. Noah had instantly fallen in love with the little girl. He watched her all the time, trying to make her smile, giving her all of his toys even though she couldn't play with them; he was infatuated with her and much to Liv's surprise he didn't seem jealous of the attention she got. It seemed impossible that such a big change in her life had actually worked as she hoped it would.
"Play, mama. Wanna play." Noah had stopped shoving his pancake in his mouth and had more important things on his mind, a trip to the park.
"I know, bud, but you have to finish breakfast first and then we'll go." Liv took a moment and then added, "How about we ask Rafael to meet us at the park? Does that sound good?"
"Rafi wanna play." Noah clapped his hands together as he answered.
With what seemed like a definite answer from her son, the mom texted Rafael, who almost immediately responded with a yes to her invitation to join them at the park. Olivia was almost surprised by the accepting of the invite as she understood the attorney's lack of free weekend time.
Olivia got the kids ready as fast as she could. Raegan was fed, changed, and dressed simply in a onsie and leggings. Noah had been a little less easy to get ready, as the toddler didn't fully understand that he couldn't go to the playground in his pajamas. But Liv finally got him dressed in a pair of khaki cargo shorts, a blue polo, and his favorite navy blue sneakers. They were off to the park with enough time to make it by the time Olivia had told Rafael to meet them.
"Well if it isn't the mom of the hour." Rafael joked with Liv as she entered the playground zone of the park, pushing the double stroller containing a content Raegan and a very eager Noah. "How are the kids?"
"They're both good, one of them a little more excited to see you than the other." Olivia smirked, knowing that the attorney knew what she meant.
"Rafi, Rafi, play pease!" Noah reached out towards the man from where he sat in the stroller.
Barba happily obliged and unbuckled the little boy, running after him as he headed straight for the play structure. Noah was thrilled to run around the bright colored plastic toys and structures with Rafael, who seemed to have just as much fun as the toddler. The attorney seemed so in tune with the small child and seemed nothing like his normally serious self that would never allow anyone to know he had even a shred of a soft side.
The boys returned nearly forty five minutes later, Noah being carried by Barba, to where Olivia sat with Raegan. "Did you two have a good time?"
Rafael nodded as he set Noah down on the ground. "I would say we did."
"Thirst, mama." Noah kneeled against Olivia's legs, the little boy tapping his hands in her lap to get her attention.
"Here you go." Liv reached into the diaper bag and pulled out Noah's sippy cup.
"So is this all that you guys have planned for the day?" Rafael asked the mom as he took Raegan out of her arms and into his own.
Olivia reached down , grabbed Noah, and set him on her lap as he enjoyed the milk in his cup. "As of right now it is. Why do you ask?"
"I was thinking maybe we could make some plans for later." Rafael suggested. "I don't know if you can get a babysitter with this late notice, but I thought maybe we could grab dinner."
Liv knew she had been secretly hoping that she would get the chance to spend some time with the district attorney, but she was also unsure of leaving the kids. It wasn't that she didn't trust someone with the kids, but she hadn't left both of them alone since Raegan had come home. Although, she liked the idea too much to let her reservations stop her from taking a chance to have some adult time.
"I can certainly try to find someone. I mean, I guess I'll try and make it work if you really want." Liv toyed with Rafael.
Hours after they had finished their excursion through the park, which included a trip for ice cream, a suggestion by Rafael who didn't have to take the wound up two year old home with him, Olivia and Barba found themselves sitting across from one and other at a popular little French bistro towards the upper east side. It was obvious to Liv that Rafael had pulled some strings to get them a reservation and she was grateful for the thought he had been into their evening.
"I hope this choice of restaurant was okay with you." Rafael said as the two ate their meals.
Olivia stopped mid-bite. "It's perfect Rafael." She could see in that moment that it meant a lot to him to make the night special. It seemed weird to her that such a caring man, although he never showed that side, was not in a relationship or seemed rather alone outside of his work.
"Good." The man looked satisfied with her answer. "I had heard that it was quite the hot spot, I figured we could decide for ourselves if it was worth all the hype."
"Oh I would say that this place is worth it." Liv didn't have the chance to get out of the house very often, if at all, and even though she didn't mind it, she found that it was nice to have a change in activity.
The night seemed to fly by for pair of them and they had both had a really good time with one and other, the first date, if that's what they wanted to call it, that either of them had in a long time. Pretty soon, though, Liv and Barba found themselves making their way down the hallway of Olivia's apartment building, a trip they had made just a few weeks earlier, however, this time it didn't include any children or injured sergeants.
"So…" Rafael dragged on as they came to Liv's door. "Umm… Thank you for tonight."
"I should be thanking you, Rafael. I had a really nice time." Liv told him.
Liv and Rafael stood for a few minutes, both of them looking right into each other's eyes. They couldn't stop staring. The silence was no longer awkward. Instead they found themselves wondering what the next move was. The conversation had stopped and neither one of them found that they had anything left to say, anyway.
The single piece of hair that had fallen from Liv's bun was lying on her forehead. Rafael reached gently towards her face and swept the hair away from where it laid on Olivia's face. His hand gently made its way down her cheek, lingering against her neck. Liv felt the tingling sensation slide down her back as Rafael played with the piece of hair she had felt fall out earlier. His touch was gentle, but assured, as if he knew exactly what he was doing and she wasn't going to stop him.
Without even a thought of stopping or pulling back, the couple found themselves leaning into one another, their lips stumbling upon one and others. It was a gentle kiss, but one that left both of them wanting more.
After pulling away for a quick second, both of them looked at each other to find the assurance to renter the romantic territory. It was obvious within seconds that they were agreed on a where they were headed next. Their lips crashed against each other, the passion neither one of them knew they had could be felt between the shared contact.
When they came up for air, both of them short of breath after their unexpected crash course in each other's lips, Liv and Rafael found themselves without words yet again, but both of them shared a look that seemed uncertain about what had just happened. What had seemed so right in that moment was the last way the attorney and sergeant had expected the night to end.
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