Hi Everyone!
I hope you're all having a wonderful year so far! I can't believe how quickly January has flown by.
Thank you so much for continuing to read this fic, I hope you're enjoying it.
Many of the recent chapters feature events which happened across one or two days, and I am now trying to have each chapter cover up to a week or two (though some will be less). I'm trying to make this flow easily, and I don't want it to feel rushed or inconsistent with the rest of the story, so if it does please do let me know. I really appreciate all your comments, both your kind words and constructive criticism, please do let me know.
As always, I hope you enjoy the latest instalment!
With love,
HQ21
After fainting on Thursday evening, Liv spent the rest of the night on the couch, where Rafa seemed quite keen for her to remain. On the few occasions she rose to her feet, or expressed an intention to do so, she felt his eyes upon her, watching her with care and anticipation but remaining silent. Noah, on the other hand, was unable to hide his palpable concern. He sat very close to her on the couch, his little hand on her. When she went to go to the bathroom he got off the couch and started to follow her, and despite her reassurances she was fine his concerns were only allayed when his Uncle Rafa rose from the couch, walked towards him, quickly assured him she was fine and would be right back, and distracted him with a question about the TV.
Liv hoped that Noah would be less anxious the following morning, but he was not. When Lucy arrived and Liv and Rafa said goodbye, Noah clung to Liv and asked her to stay home, reminding her that she always made him stay home when he was sick.
"I'm not sick, sweetie. I'm fine" Liv reassured him, offering him a warm smile. "Uncle Rafa and I will be back after work and then we'll have pizza" she added. Noah's expression remained unchanged, and he frowned, gripping her tighter. Liv knelt down and met his gaze. "I'm fine, my love" she repeated. "I promise."
Despite Liv's reassurances, it took all three adults to convince and distract him that Liv was fine and would be going to work. Although he reluctantly let her go, he was still visibly unsettled, and Liv felt utterly guilt-ridden as she left her apartment. In addition to her concern about Noah, she was now running late for the meeting she had at the precinct at eight, and she walked briskly through her building and towards her car. Rafael Barba walked alongside her, suppressing his instinct to ask her if she was alright, and if there was anything he could do. As they reached the car Liv was visibly stressed and somewhat distracted.
"Liv, why don't I drive?" Rafa suggested gently.
"Because I'm fine" Liv responded, her tone harsher than she had intended. Rafa was watching her calmly, but the sound of her tone drew her immediately out of her stupor and she sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"I know" Rafa assured her, placing a comforting hand on her arm and squeezing it gently. "And it's fine" he added warmly. Liv swallowed thickly and shook her head, before walking quietly to the driver's side and opening the door.
After a busy day at the office which was a most welcome distraction, Liv returned home to Noah, who was delighted she was back. He seemed calmer and less anxious, but did want to be as close to her as possible. He was distracted by his Uncle Rafa, who came bearing pizza and garlic dough balls, which he descended upon immediately.
Liv, Rafa and Noah enjoyed another weekend together, in what was quickly becoming Liv and Noah's favourite part of the week. Liv loved the domesticity of their weekends, and was struck how natural Rafael Barba's presence for the entire duration had become. She and Noah both adored having him here for the entire weekend, and Noah was becoming increasingly reluctant for him to leave on Monday mornings, asking him to stay "just one more night" and asking why he "had to leave". Liv enjoyed Rafa's company, and how easy and enjoyable it was when he was with them. And, in truth, she also missed him when was not there, the first part of the week always felt strange without him. But Noah seemed to be finding this especially hard today.
"Your mum and I work a lot during the day, and we want to make sure you both have lots of time together in the evenings" Rafa explained gently. Noah stared at him as he considered this answer.
"But you can come, too" Noah protested. "Can't he, mum?" he added, staring up at Liv hopefully. Liv faltered for a moment, uncertain of precisely how to respond.
"Noah, Uncle Rafa has an apartment of his own, and sometimes he has to work there in the evenings-"
"He can work here. You do" Noah protested. "Why can't Uncle Rafa stay here with us?" he whined, pouting as he frowned up at his mother. Liv felt her cheeks redden and she deliberately tried to avoid Rafa's gaze.
"Uncle Rafa does stay with us, sweetie, at the weekend when we don't work, and we can both spend all of our time with you-"
"But why can't he stay here all the time?" Noah asked, perplexed. Before Liv could formulate a response there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it" Rafa said calmly, not wanting to intrude on Liv's discussion with Noah, who was getting increasingly frustrated. He opened the door to Lucy and said good morning, offering her a tight smile as she stepped into the apartment, and closing the door behind her.
"But I don't want him to leave!" Noah protested, ignoring Lucy's presence and running towards his Uncle Rafa, holding his free hand with both of his. "Please don't leave, Uncle Rafa" he said gently.
Rafa stared at Noah for a moment, his expression softening, as he bent down and placed his briefcase on the ground.
"Your mum and I have to go to work, Noah" Rafa explained gently.
"But tonight, you could come back here and stay with us, right mum?" he asked, still gripping Rafa's hand tightly as he spoke.
"I'm sorry, Noah, but I have to work late tonight, for a case I have tomorrow morning" Rafa explained gently. "I'll be working very late, well past your bedtime, I wouldn't get to see you before you fell asleep" he explained.
"I don't mind" Noah assured him. "We could have dinner together" he suggested. "It's spaghetti night" he added, hoping that information would sway his uncle.
"Noah, sweetie-" Liv began, walking towards him.
"No" Noah whined, gripping Rafa's hand tighter.
"Noah, we need to get going, otherwise we're going to be late" Lucy said brightly. "Can you get your coat, please? You'll need gloves, too, it's very cold."
"No" Noah said firmly.
"Noah" Liv breathed, watching her son with surprise. It was very rare that he would not do as he was told, and she found that on occasions when he did she could reason with him and resolve the issue within a minute or so. He had never argued like this for this long before.
"Noah, I tell you what" Rafa began, instantly attracting Noah's attentions. "Why don't I take you and your mum out for dinner this week, before Friday" he suggested. "Okay?" he asked.
"And you can stay over?" Noah asked hopefully. Rafa hesitated. He was already wary of crossing a line by suggesting the dinner, he did not want to put Liv in a difficult position, or invite himself into her home.
"I'm not sure. I have to be in Court very early most days this week" Rafa explained gently. Noah frowned and gripped his hands tightly. "But we can have dinner together, wherever you want. Okay?"
Noah considered the proposition for a moment, before nodding slowly in agreement.
"Okay" he conceded, letting go of his Uncle Rafa's hand. "Bye, Uncle Rafa" he said politely, before walking slowly towards his mother. "Bye, mum" he added, wrapping his arms around her, as she drew him into a hug and kissed his forehead.
"Goodbye, sweetie" Liv said warmly, leaning back and stroking his hair. "Go and find your coat and gloves, okay?" she encouraged. Noah nodded in agreement and walked slowly towards his room.
Liv closed her eyes and sighed, before exchanging a few words with Lucy and then leaving the apartment with Rafael Barba. As she closed the door behind them and began to walk down the corridor Liv swallowed thickly and looked up at Rafa.
"Rafa, I am so sorry" Liv said apologetically. "He doesn't usually behave like that" she assured him. "I don't know what's going on, I'll talk to him tonight" she added quickly.
"It's fine" Rafa assured her, his voice calm and gentle. "I'm sorry if suggesting dinner wasn't the right way to handle things."
"No, it was, thank you" Liv replied as they reached the elevator. "Compromise is important, it's something I always do with Noah" she said gently. "You handled it like an ADA" she stated. A small smile played on Rafa's lips.
"Thank you" he replied uncertainly. Liv relaxed and stepped into the elevator, and Rafa followed. "Liv, if me staying with you at weekends is causing confusion with Noah, I-"
"It's not" Liv said quietly, as she held onto the rail. "He isn't confused, he knows exactly what he wants" she said gently, offering him a small smile. Rafa swallowed hard.
"The last thing I want to do is make things difficult for you" Rafa assured her. "I certainly don't want to cause any issues between you and Noah-"
"You're not" Liv replied confidently. "There has been a lot of change recently, and he's handling it well. He's getting used to the idea of being a big brother, and he loves spending time with you" she explained, as she elevator reached the ground floor. "He starts talking about the weekend by Wednesday. He gets so excited that you're coming over" she continued. Rafa smiled softly, feeling relieved. "He really enjoys you being with us, Rafa" she said warmly. "And so do I" she added. Rafa looked towards her and watched her for a moment, before smiling.
"We'll figure this out" he assured her as they walked out of her building. "It's going to be alright" he added.
"I know" Liv said gently, as they headed towards her car. "It'll be fine."
The week passed quickly for Liv and Rafa, who barely saw each other for the first half of it. The Taxi Cab Rapist's lawyer bombarded Barba's office with every motion under the sun, which resulted in the start date of the trial being delayed and Barba spending the majority of his days in Court. Liv was therefore in communication with the victims and Bronx SVU, keeping them updated and reassuring them that it was simply a stalling tactic and the trial would go ahead. Between dealing with the Taxi Cab Rapist case, various administrative meetings and other active cases, Liv and Rafa did manage to arrange dinner together on Wednesday night, keeping Rafa's promise to Noah.
When Liv got home from work to collect Noah he was already dressed in dark jeans and a smart shirt, and his favourite pair of Nikes. He was excited and constantly asking when his Uncle Rafa would be there, and when he arrived shortly before six Noah bolted towards the door, calling out "I'll get it" over his shoulder as Liv finished getting ready.
Liv applied her lipstick and ran her fingers through her hair, before pulling her black leather jacket over her dark blue woollen dress. The material clung to her breasts and accentuated her rounded belly, which she swore was getting bigger by the day. She picked up her bag from the bed and walked out of her bedroom, reaching the living room just as Noah was opening the door.
"Hi, Uncle Rafa!" Noah beamed, reaching for his hand and pulling him inside, as though worried he might disappear. "Mum said we're having Chinese food" he said. "I like duck" he advised.
"Do you?" Rafa smiled, "so do I" he advised, as he allowed himself to be led into the living room. As Noah continued to talk excitedly about what he would be ordering, Rafa looked up towards Liv, his eyes widening slightly as he beheld her. She was wearing a midnight blue dress which highlighted her rounded belly, and he felt warmth pool in the base of his belly at the sight of her. He swallowed thickly and responded to Noah, who released him and ran into his room to get his coat. "You look beautiful" Rafa breathed, his voice warm and sincere. Liv was touched by tone and smiled softly.
"Thank you" Liv replied, as Noah came bounding out of his bedroom holding his coat.
"Can we go now?" Noah asked keenly.
"You know coats only work when you're wearing them, right?" Rafa teased.
"I know" Noah assured him, as he quickly put on his coat. "Now can we go, please?" he asked. "I'm hungry" he explained.
"You're always hungry" Liv responded with affection, placing her arm around him as they headed towards the front door.
"So are you" Noah replied. "Uncle Rafa, mum ate all of the cookies last night-" he advised, informing Rafa of Liv's most recent crime.
"Thank you, Noah" Liv said quietly, as Rafa suppressed a smirk and opened the door for her, waiting for her and Noah to leave the apartment before following them outside and closing the door behind her.
After spending a couple of hours at the restaurant together, which was filled with laughter, chatter and, of course, duck, Liv, Rafa and Noah returned to Liv's apartment. Liv invited Rafa to stay, much to Noah's delight, and they had some hot chocolate before Liv tucked Noah into bed. After a busy day filled with school, a heavy dinner and the excitement of his Uncle Rafa, Noah fell asleep in less than ten minutes, and Liv stroked his hair and kissed him goodnight before leaving his bedroom and closing the door behind her.
When she returned to the living room Rafa was drinking scotch and reading work emails on his phone. She sat down beside him and sighed contently, running her hand subconsciously across her belly. Rafa put his phone down and turned towards her.
"Thank you for dinner" Liv said gently. "And for tonight."
"Of course" Rafa replied easily. Liv's expression softened.
"Shall we go to bed?" she asked, prompting Rafa to meet her gaze. It was only eight-thirty.
"Are you tired?" he asked softly.
"No" she replied confidently, as she reached for his hand.
Rafa's eyes darkened and he nodded, taking a final swig of his scotch as they each rose to their feet, and Liv led him towards her bedroom.
After experiencing a thoroughly enjoyable interlude to their respectfully busy and stressful weeks, Liv and Rafa spent the remainder of the week in their respective offices, where the days passed worryingly quickly. The weekend they spent together with a welcome reprieve, filled with dance class, movies, a trip to the American Museum on Natural History and dinner with Lucia Barba. It was an enjoyable and restorative weekend, and everything Liv and Rafa needed following the stressful and busy week which had preceded it.
Rafael Barba had done all he could to keep the weekend busy but relaxing, especially for Liv. As Liv was now twenty-two weeks into her pregnancy, they had an anatomy scan scheduled with her doctor on Monday morning, which he knew she was worried about. Despite his reminders that the amniocentesis and all scans and tests she had had to date proved that their baby was healthy, she was still anxious, and her apprehension grew as the date drew closer. He noticed she had been tossing and turning during the night, and would wake up extremely early, often napping on the couch later in the day. She was clearly exhausted, though she tried to hide it, and Rafa did everything he could to minimise her stress and discomfort.
On Monday morning, as Liv was getting ready for work, Rafa sat with Noah as he ate his breakfast. As expected, Noah asked him if he could stay over that night. Rafa explained that he had a big trial this week which meant he would be working in his office very late, but he promised to take Noah and Liv out to dinner again on Wednesday, which Noah was happy with. By the time Liv emerged from her bedroom Noah was calm and happy and chatting away to Rafa, much to her relief.
Rafa watched as Liv walked towards the fridge and removed a carton of orange juice, pouring herself another glass and drinking it quickly.
"Mum! Don't drink all of it!" Noah protested. Liv finished the glass and laid it down on the counter.
"I'll buy some more after work, sweetie" Liv replied easily, as she carried the glass towards the sink. Her doctor had told her to come to the appointment with a full bladder, and this was the third glass she had drank that morning. Which her bladder was obstinately beginning to remind her.
Lucy arrived a few minutes later, and after a series of goodbyes Liv and Rafa left the apartment and headed towards the elevator. As it descended, Liv gripped the rail and bounced up and down on the heels of her feet, as she tried to ignore the discomfort in her bladder, which her baby was doing its utmost to aggravate by a series of well-placed kicks.
"You okay?" Rafa asked as the doors opened.
"I'd be better if your baby wasn't trying to kick a hole in my very full bladder" Liv said lightly, as she stepped out of the elevator and walked briskly towards the car.
"'My' baby?" Rafa repeated.
"Yeah" Liv replied.
"Well, perhaps if you hadn't drank a gallon of orange juice the baby wouldn't be on a sugar high" Rafa teased.
Liv shot Rafa a warning glare, which was offset by her smile, as she got into the driver's seat and put on her seatbelt. As she did so, she noticed that the distance between her belly and the steering wheel was rapidly deceasing. She felt as though she had got so much bigger in just these past few weeks. She smiled softly and turned the key in the ignition, before driving to her doctor's office.
The combination of Liv's discomfort and Rafa's conversation kept her suitably distracted from her appointment, at least on the way over there. But by the time she parked and they began to walk inside a sickening feeling of dread overcame her.
Liv felt Rafa's hand on her lower back, and she relaxed slightly beneath his touch. But as she stepped into her doctor's office and saw Dr Henderson speaking with the receptionist, her mouth went dry and she felt hot panic.
"Olivia" Dr Hamilton smiled warmly, walking towards her and Rafa. Despite Liv's polite smile, her doctor sensed her discomfort, and placed a comforting hand on her arm. She looked from Olivia to Rafael Barba and then back to her patient. "Come through" she encouraged, her voice warm and assured, as she led them into her office. "Take a seat" she invited, prompting Liv and Rafael to sit down beside each other, opposite the doctor's desk. Liv shifted uncomfortably and watched as Dr Hamilton took her seat. "So, how have you been feeling since our last appointment?" she asked gently.
"I'm fine" Liv responded. "A little more tired" she considered. "And I certainly have more of an appetite" she added. "The baby has started to kick which is good. Great. It's reassuring" she stated. Rafa placed a comforting hand on her lower back and she tried to relax.
"Liv fainted, a little over a week ago" Rafa began tentatively, feeling her turn towards him as he spoke. He was hoping she would volunteer the information, and was concerned when she did not. Although she had been fine since, he wanted her doctor to be aware, just to make sure she was alright.
"It was only for a minute. I'm fine" Liv assured him, her voice gentle and without blame.
"When was this?" Dr Hamilton asked curiously.
"The Thursday before last" Liv replied. "I had a really busy day at work, I didn't get a chance to eat, and when I got home that evening I fainted" she explained. "It was a one off and completely my fault" she admitted. "But it really was only for a few seconds" she assured her. "I felt better as soon as I ate" she added. Dr Hamilton nodded in understanding.
"Fainting is not uncommon during pregnancy, especially with a patient who is anaemic" Dr Hamilton assured her. "If you ever faint and don't come round within two or three minutes, you need to go to the nearest hospital" she instructed. "If you faint, even briefly, and that is accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain or bleeding, call me or go to the nearest hospital" she advised.
"I will" Liv replied quickly. Dr Hamlton nodded slowly.
"Olivia, I understand your job is high-pressure and incredibly busy" Dr Hamilton began cautiously. "But it is essential that you take regular breaks, and don't skip any meals."
"I understand" Liv assured her, nodding as she spoke. Dr Hamilton offered her a small smile.
"Let's start by taking your blood pressure and heart rate" Dr Hamilton advised, as she rose from her seat. "I'll then take a blood sample so we can check your iron levels" she added. Liv nodded in agreement and remained quiet and still as the checks were carried out and the blood was drawn.
"Everything is absolutely fine" Dr Hamilton assured Liv, who nodded in response. As Dr Hamilton labelled the blood sample Liv noticed Rafa relax beside her. She offered him a small smile and he nodded, stroking her back soothingly. "Olivia, if you can come with me, we'll carry out the anatomy scan" she advised. Liv swallowed thickly and nodded, before rising slowly from her seat and following her doctor towards the examination table.
Liv eased herself onto the edge of the table and lay down, as Rafa stood next to her. She gripped the edge of the table with her right hand, and felt Rafa's hand capture hers, prompting her to release it. He held her hand and squeezed it reassuringly, and she returned it, holding onto him and hoping her hand did not shake.
"As we discussed during your last appointment, this will take around a half hour" Dr Hamilton explained. "I'll be examining the baby's body, including it's head, body, limbs, brain and other organs" she advised. "We know from the amniocentesis results that the baby has no genetic abnormalities" she reassured Liv, who was looking visibly worried. "This is just to check on baby's growth, and to make sure everything is as it should be" she advised. Liv nodded in understanding and squeezed Rafa's hand tighter. He squeezed back, and placed his left hand comfortingly on her shoulder.
For the next twenty minutes Dr Hamilton performed the ultrasound, bringing up various images on the screen. The baby was incredibly active, which aided the process, though not Liv's ever-increasing need to go to the bathroom. Dr Hamilton showed Liv and Rafa images of their baby's face, body, limbs, hands and feet, all of which were absolutely perfect. She asked them if they still did not want to know the sex, and they confirmed they did not, so she encouraged them to turn away from the screen for a minute and they did so. Liv looked up at Rafa and he smiled at her reassuringly, stroking her hair from her face.
"You okay?" Rafa asked quietly. Liv nodded.
"I'm fine" she replied. "I'll be even better when I can go to the bathroom" she added lightly. Rafa smiled softly and nodded, as their attentions were recalled to the screen.
Dr Hamilton examined the baby's organs, which were all perfectly formed and working as they should be. She confirmed that there were no abnormalities or concerns, and the baby was perfectly healthy. However, just as Liv was beginning to feel relieved, Dr Hamilton remarked that the baby was "on the smaller side of average", prompting Liv's eyes to widen and her chest to tighten.
"What does that mean?" Liv asked quickly, interrupting her doctor as she was speaking. "I thought the baby was alright?" she added, as she pushed herself up into a seating position. Rafa held her hand and helped her to sit, and she leaned against him, prompting him to put his left arm around her as he continued to hold her hand.
"Your baby is fine, Olivia" Dr Hamilton quickly reassured her. "The baby is perfectly formed and developed, it is completely healthy" she added. "I've taken measurements of your baby's body, and it is a healthy, normal size" she assured her, "there's a scale, a range, where healthy babies should be, and your baby is within that scale, just towards the smaller end of it" she explained. "The baby is not below average, it is well within the healthy range of where I would expect it to be" she assured her.
"But you said it was small" Liv said uncertainly, confusion present in her voice.
"She said the baby is on the smaller side of average" Rafa interceded, seeing Liv's rising panic. "The baby is a healthy size, it's just on the smaller side-"
"How can the baby be a healthy size when it's on the smaller side of the scale?" Liv asked worriedly. Rafa held her gaze with a calm expression.
"Because it's a scale, Liv" he explained gently. "Some babies will be on the smaller side, some right in the middle, some towards the higher end" he continued. "But as long as the baby is on that scale it is fine" he assured her.
"That's right" Dr Hamilton stated, as she took a few steps towards Liv. "Your baby is perfectly healthy, Olivia. It's not smaller than it should be, and I am not concerned about its size, if I was I would tell you" she assured her. "I'm sorry if I worried you, that was not my intention. I should have been more clear" she added. Liv stared at Dr Hamilton for a few moments, as Rafael stroked her back soothingly.
"Am I not eating enough?" Liv asked, remembering her fainting spell from the previous week. "Is that why the baby-"
"No, that's not-" Dr Hamilton began.
"Liv, nothing is wrong with the baby" Rafa assured her, prompting her to look up at him with worried eyes. "The baby is not too small, it is fine" he explained. "Our baby is healthy, and that is because of you."
"He's right" Dr Hamilton assured Liv. "Your baby is perfectly healthy" she stated clearly. "I've delivered babies who have measured on the smaller side of average, who have weight eight-and-a-half, nine, ten pounds" she explained. "We measure your baby during every appointment, and your baby has been growing well. It's a healthy size, it is fine" she smiled. Liv watched her for a moment as she considered her words.
"Is there anything I can do?" Liv asked. Dr Hamilton's eyes softened and she shook her head.
"You're already doing it" Rafa assured her. "Liv, look at me" he encouraged, prompting her to look up at him. "There is nothing wrong with the baby" he said gently, his voice warm and reassuring. "You have not done anything wrong, and nothing you have or have not done has had any negative affect on the baby" he stated.
Dr Hamilton turned and walked towards the ultrasound machine, as Rafa continued to comfort Liv, who was slowly beginning to accept that the baby was fine.
"Olivia, look at this" Dr Hamilton said gently, as she lay out a conjoined series of black and white images upon her lap. "Look at your baby" she encouraged, as she she drew her fingers down the material, showing her each individual image. "This is your baby's face, it's body, it's heart, it's arms and legs, it's hands, it's feet" she explained, tracing the images, and then presenting her with the final image, which was the ultrasound photo of their baby. "Every test we have run and every examination I have performed confirms that your baby is healthy" she assured her.
Liv stared at the images, her eyes dancing across them, before she held the final image in her hands. The baby was so perfectly and fully formed she could make out its nose, its hands, its little fingers and toes. Dr Hamilton and Rafa remained silent for several moments as Liv studied the images. Eventually she looked up and met her doctor's gaze.
"You're sure the baby is alright?" Liv asked.
"Yes" Dr Hamilton stated with conviction. "Your baby is perfectly healthy" she assured her. "If I had any concerns I would tell you, and we would run further tests and have additional appointments. But that is not necessary" she advised. "Because your baby is fine."
Liv considered her doctor's words for a few moments, and nodded in agreement, reassured by her words and confidence. As relief and acceptance flooded her, she suddenly found herself feeling embarrassed, and she swallowed thickly as she neatly gathered the images.
"I really need to go to the bathroom. Excuse me" Liv advised, her voice tinged with emotion. Rafa stepped aside and watched as Liv quickly eased herself off the examination table and walked out of the office.
Rafa took a step forward but then stopped himself, instead watching her until she left the room and closed the door behind her.
Dr Hamilton walked back towards the ultrasound machine and printed off another set of images, which she carried towards him.
"Mr Barba?" Dr Hamilton said gently, drawing him from his thoughts. "Here" she added, offering him the images. Rafael Barba looked down and his expression softened.
"Thank you" he said sincerely, as he carefully folded the images and placed them in his inside breast pocket.
"Your baby is fine" Dr Hamilton said gently. Rafael nodded in agreement.
"And Liv?" he asked keenly.
"She is fine, she's healthy" Dr Hamilton assured him. "Her anaemia is under control, her vitals are normal, she's gained a healthy amount of weight" she continued. Rafael nodded in response.
"Do you perform 3D ultrasounds here?" Rafael asked curiously.
"Only if it is medically necessary, if we have concerns that need to be looked into, which we don't in this instance" Dr Hamilton said regretfully. "It is possible to arrange a 3D or 4D scan privately, though I'd recommend waiting a couple more weeks, until around the six month mark" she explained. "I can give you details of providers, if that would help?"
"Yes, thank you" Rafael replied. "I think it would reassure Liv that the baby really is alright" he said simply. Dr Hamilton smiled and nodded, before returning to her desk and heading towards her computer.
Dr Hamilton printed off details of providers of the 3D and 4D scans and handed it to Rafael, who thanked her, folded the page and placed it in his pocket. The office door then opened and Liv stepped inside, looking calmer and more relaxed, though a little pale. Her eyes were glassy and Rafa suspected she had been crying. He walked instinctively towards her.
"Thank you, Dr Hamilton" Liv said sincerely. Her doctor nodded in acknowledgement.
"I'll see you both in two weeks' time, but if you have any concerns in the meantime call me" she encouraged.
"We will. Thank you" Rafa responded, as he and Liv gathered their things and left the office.
Liv was quiet as they walked out of the building, and once they approached her car she hesitated, before turning towards Rafa.
"I'm sorry" she said quietly. "I misunderstood what she said, and I thought something was wrong-"
"Stop apologising" Rafa said kindly, placing his hand on her forearm and holding her gaze with a calm expression. "You don't need to be sorry for worrying about our baby" he assured her. "But there is nothing to worry about. Okay?" he said softly. Liv swallowed thickly and nodded. "Except how much orange juice you can handle" he teased.
"It wasn't the orange juice, it was your baby's relentless assault against my bladder" Liv said lightly as she walked towards her door. Rafa smirked as he made his way towards his.
"So now it's 'my' baby again" Rafa remarked. "Do you want me to pursue assault charges?" he teased, his tone faux-serious. Liv scoffed. "I'll convene a Grand Jury" he stated. Liv's eyes lit up and she smiled, chuckling in response as she got into the car.