"Today sucked." Olivia fell into Rafael's embrace, unleashing her tears into his shoulder.

"Tell me about it." He guided her to his couch.

"I had to take custody of a heart before it was flown away to save a kid's life because the doctor didn't actually have parental consent."

Rafael let out a long breath. "Goodness." He held her even closer, kissing the top of her head. "I've got you, Liv. Feel whatever you need to feel."

So Olivia allowed him to hold her together while she fell apart. She clung to him, sobbing heavily, barely noticing his soft, Spanish murmurs to her and the way he stroked her hair. When she could finally speak, her voice cracked, "I don't think I agree with the law on this one."

Rafael kissed her very wet face. "You're Olivia Benson," he murmured. "We've met."

Olivia made a noise that was a cross between a sob and a laugh.

"That's better." He dabbed at her face with his handkerchief. "I, at least, have good news."

Olivia did her best to pull herself back together for him. "Well, tell me!"

"I've officially got a client today."

Olivia gasped. "Rafa! That's wonderful!" She hugged him tightly. "I'm so happy for you. Adoption?" At his nod, she hugged him again. "We need to celebrate this. Let's go out!"

Rafael blinked in surprise. "You want to go out?"

"I do now."

Rafael wondered. He kept his wonder to himself, however. "Where to?"

"Wherever you want, Rafa. It's your win."

He smiled at her. He knew just the place.

About an hour later, they were walking into the bar-restaurant the police and lawyers tended to frequent during cases. They took a table rather than the bar.

"You ready for someone that knows us to walk in, Liv?" Rafael asked.

Olivia smirked. "I hope they do." She offered her hand across the table and he took it, fingers intertwining. "Bring answers to a few betting pools."

They considered the menu. "Split a basket of onion rings?" Rafael ventured.

"Mmm! And I think you deserve that rootbeer float," Olivia suggested. "It's got the word, if not the content."

Rafael chuckled. He had decided to sacrifice alcohol along with her until they knew her status. "Noah will be jealous."

Olivia smiled. "He doesn't need to know. And I'll have ginger ale."

Rafael noted that with interest as well. "Sounds like a plan." He gently squeezed her hand before releasing it as he got up to open their tab and place their orders. He returned to the table with the little number placard and reclaimed his place.

"Gotta say, I still come here regularly, but it's better with you," Olivia told him. "Stone stole your seat."

"That bastard." But he smiled good-naturedly.

They had just gotten their drinks and basket of onion rings when they were noticed.

"As I live and breathe, do my eyes deceive me?" A hand clapped on Rafael's shoulder. "How the hell are ya, Barba?" Without waiting for the answer, continued, "And Lieutenant."

Olivia smiled. "Hello, Carisi."

It was finally noted there was only one appetizer basket. Carisi gave Rafael's shoulder a shake of congratulations. "Alright!" He clapped his hands together. "When did this finally happen?"

"'Finally'?" Olivia was nearly insulted at that point. She looked at Rafael. "Am I really the last to know?"

He nodded. "If it helps, I was probably second to last."

"Oh, 'probably'!" Playfully, she tossed her wadded up straw wrapper in his direction.

"Okay, okay, don't tell me, let me guess," Carisi chattered excitedly. "Six months."

Olivia's eyebrows flew up. "Wow."

"Did I get it?"

"Try about three," Rafael told him. "But who's counting?"

"Oh! I thought by the trial for sure."

"Red hot now," Olivia told him.

"Ohhhh, right after, then. Happy for ya! And happy for me, 'cause Amanda owes me $50. She was so sure she could get a confession out of you first."

"Happy to please, Carisi."

Realization set in. "And I'm interrupting your date. Good to see ya, man. Don't be a stranger."

Olivia laughed when he walked away. "I knew there were betting pools."

"We should have made our own about who would see us first."

"Damn, we should have," Olivia agreed, laughter still in her voice. "It feels good, though."

"It really does."

Surprisingly, that was their only interruption. They were able to drink their drinks and graze their onion rings at their leisure.

"Do you know what would make this celebration particularly memorable?" Rafael asked, their drinks and food finished.

"What's that?"

Rafael got to his feet and held out his hand.

Olivia took it curiously. "What are we doing?"

"Just go with it." Rafael led her over to the bar and then sat in his usual seat.

Olivia blinked, past, present, and future colliding in that one, very familiar spot. She watched him pat the seat to his right and she knew. "'Sit, drink, smile'?"

"Sit, smile, kiss me."

Olivia could swoon. He was such a romantic. She sat and smiled brightly at him. Conveniently, he wore a tie for her to grasp, reeling him in and taking her claim for all to see.

They were pretty sure they could hear some of the occupants cheering.