Liv stared at Elliot for several moments, his bright blue eyes holding hers, as his scent flooded her. She swallowed hard and tried to ignore the rising feelings of discomfort and uncertainty which were pooling in base of her belly. As though sensing her anxiety, her baby issued a couple of sharp kicks to her side, prompting her to inhale sharply and place her left hand instinctively on her belly. The material of her oversized white jumper was pulled against her rounded belly, highlighting it. She watched as Elliot's gaze drifted down once again, before meeting hers.
"Can I come in?" he asked calmly, a slight hint of amusement present in his tone, as a small smile graced his lips. Liv nodded mechanically in response.
"Yeah" she breathed, before taking a step back and standing to the side, as Elliot Stabler walked into her apartment. Confusion and unease rose within Liv as she closed the door behind him, but she was promptly drawn from her thoughts by her son's excited voice.
"Hi, Elliot!" Noah beamed, quickly abandoning his drawing and rushing towards his mother's former partner.
"Hey, Noah" Elliot smiled, greeting Liv's son warmly. "Wow, you've grown at least three inches since I last saw you" he remarked, earning a broad grin from Noah.
Liv watched as Elliot and Noah chatted for a few moments, as she tried to figure out the reason for his visit. He had not visited her socially in over a decade, the last time he showed up at her apartment late at night being far from a social call. She had not heard from him since she and Noah ran into him on Mother's Day more than six months ago, and she was struggling to understand why he would suddenly turn up on her doorstep now. The most obvious answer appeared at the forefront of her mind, and she tried to ignore it, trying to think of another possible reason. Finding herself feeling increasingly irritated at the prospect of being right, she shifted uncomfortably on the spot and took a step towards Elliot and Noah, who were discussing Noah's artwork.
"Hey Noah, Elliot and I need to talk about something real quick" Liv said gently, prompting her son to look up at her immediately. "Could you take your picture and your pencils into your room and work on it for a little while?" she asked.
Although visibly disappointed, Noah nodded in agreement, and quickly gathered his things. He was used to going to his room for a little while when his aunts and uncles coming over to talk to his mum about work stuff, which she said wasn't something kids should hear.
"Bye, Elliot" he said politely.
"Bye, Noah" Elliot responded, watching as Noah headed to his room and closed the door behind him. "He's a good kid" he remarked.
"He is" Liv responded, as she walked across the room and reached the window, before turning around to face her. "What are you doing here, Elliot?" she asked cautiously. Elliot's expression did not falter and he took a few steps forwards.
"I can't check in on my former partner?" he asked curiously. "I was in the area-"
"No, you weren't" Liv countered, her eyes holding his gaze with an unwavering expression which he recognised. "Is everything alright?" she asked. "Your kids?"
"Fine. They're fine" Stabler advised, offering her a tight smile. Liv nodded in acknowledgement and stared at him in silence, waiting for a true answer to her initial question. "I saw you on the news and I wanted to check that you were alright" he said gently.
Liv stared at Elliot for a few moments and swallowed hard. She wanted to believe him. But her words seemed to confirm the theory she had begun to form about his presence the moment she opened the door to him.
"I've been on the news several times a year since you left" Liv said patiently, unable to conceal the disbelief from her voice. "Including when I was kidnapped. Twice" she added, keeping her voice low to ensure her son didn't hear. "You didn't check on me then. Not even a phone call" she remarked, as she took a few steps towards him. "So what's different this time?" she asked bluntly, holding his gaze as she spoke. They both knew the answer.
Elliot exhaled deeply and nodded rapidly in response.
"Okay" Elliot conceded, his shoulders falling as he sighed in defeat. "When I saw you on the news last night, I couldn't help but notice this" he said, nodding towards her belly, before meeting her gaze with a soft smile. Liv placed her hand on her belly instinctively as she felt her baby begin to move inside her. "Then One PP issued the press release about your injuries and said you were on leave, so I wanted to check that you were alright" he added.
Liv stared at Elliot for a few moments, before exhaling sharply and shaking her head.
"You wanted to check that I was alright" Liv repeated. Elliot stared at her for a moment, before nodding.
"Of course" he responded, as though it were obvious. "Liv, we were partners for over ten years-"
"Yeah, Elliot, we were" Liv responded, somewhat impatiently. "Then you left without telling me and didn't speak to me for more than a decade" she added, her voice rising slightly as she spoke. "Since you left I was kidnapped by William Lewis – twice, held prisoner in a townhouse, and my son was abducted" she stated, her irritation rising. "You didn't check on me after any of those incidents, so what makes this time different?" she asked, glaring at him with annoyance. The only thing she found more infuriating than the reason he had not checked on her previously was the reason he was here now.
Elliot seemed surprised by her anger, his eyes widening slightly, as he held up a hand.
"Liv, you need to calm down" he said gently, in pacifying tone which irritated Liv immensely. Liv scoffed.
"Don't you dare tell me to calm down" she said quietly, shaking her head as she spoke. "Why are you here, Elliot?" she asked impatiently. Elliot hesitated. "Because I hurt my arm?" she added. "Or because you found out I was pregnant?" she asked.
Elliot quickly realised Liv was profoundly annoyed, and wanted to get straight to the point. Whilst he had expected some irritation on her part, he had not anticipated this.
"Okay, yes" Elliot conceded, his own voice rising slightly. "I saw you were pregnant and I wanted to make sure that you were okay" he explained gently. He held Liv's gaze and watched as her jaw clenched. Her eyes were glassy, her skin pale and the rapid rise and fall of her chest indicated she was breathing quickly. "Liv, why don't you sit down-"
"Don't patronise me" Liv said quietly, her voice dangerously low. "You didn't check on me after any of the times I was kidnapped or hurt since you left" she stated. "You didn't meet my son until he was eight" she added. "You didn't check in on me once in the past decade, Elliot. So I clearly wasn't as important to you as you were to me. We were never equal partners and that's why it could never have worked" she added, watching as he was about to protest. "The only time you have come to me in the past decade is when you have wanted something" she stated simply. "You didn't come here for me, you came here for yourself" she stated quietly. "And it was out of curiosity, not concern" she added harshly.
Elliot stared at Liv in shock for several moments, before taking a cautious step forward and shaking his head.
"That's not true, Liv" he said gently, hurt present in his eyes. "I care about you. I have always cared about you-" he broke off slightly as Liv began to shake her head sadly.
"Then where were you, Elliot?" she asked quietly, feeling tears sting her eyes. She blinked and turned away from him, facing the window.
Elliot stared at Liv for a few moments, and remained completely silent. It was clear she was angry, and he wanted to give her a few moments to compose herself, before steering the conversation back towards what he hoped would be a safer subject.
"You look beautiful" Elliot remarked. Liv closed her eyes and sighed. "Pregnancy suits you" he remarked. Liv ran her hand across her eyes and leaned back, before turning on the spot and meeting his gaze with a wary expression. "How far along are you?" he asked softly. There was a sincerity about his tone and expression with soothed Liv, but only slightly.
"Six months" she replied quietly. Elliot's eyes widened slightly and he nodded.
"So you're due in..." Elliot asked, trailing off as he spoke.
"Mid-February" Liv responded. His expression softened and he nodded.
"I didn't know you were seeing anyone" he returned, holding Liv's gaze as he spoke. Liv closed her eyes for a moment and released a slow breath, before opening them once more and staring at Elliot. She scoffed and shook her head.
"Like I said, curiosity, not concern" she stated, disappointment and weariness present in her voice. Elliot seemed surprised and became defensive.
"Liv, I'm just-"
"Oh I know what you were 'just', Elliot" she assured him, irritation present in her voice. "You wanted to know who got me pregnant" she stated simply.
"No" Elliot replied slowly. "No, Liv. I wanted to make sure that you were alright-"
"Because that matters now that I'm pregnant, right?" Liv countered. "Unlike all those other times that I wasn't okay, and you didn't so much us as pick up the phone and call me" she added. Elliot faltered, nodding in acknowledgement.
"Liv, I'm sorry" he said sincerely. Liv stared at him for a moment, underwhelmed by both his apology and his explanation. Or lack thereof.
"So am I" she returned, her voice and stand defensive. "You're either here out of curiosity or the notion that I need to be checked up on, and neither of those things are of any interest to me" she stated, punctuating her statement with a shake of her head. "I needed you before, Elliot" she said quietly. "I don't need you now" she added, sadness present in her tone. "There has always been in imbalance in our relationship. It was always all about you, and what you needed, and wanted. There was never any room for me" she said simply, her voice calmer, but her disappointment palpable. "After you left I got promoted three times, I became a mother, I have a family" she stated, warmth entering her voice. Elliot nodded in response.
"And you're about to become a mother again" Elliot said gently. "Look at you" he said warmly, smiling as he spoke. Liv watched as he took a step towards her, his right hand reaching towards her belly. She stepped back instinctively.
"Don't" she said, her voice quiet and husky, as she shook her head. "No" she added. Elliot's smile faded and his eyebrows knitted in confusion, but he withdrew his hand and took a step back.
"I'm sorry" he said quietly, his voice kind and sincere. "I didn't mean to-"
"I know" Liv assured him, nodding as she spoke. A comfortable silence fell between them, and Liv tried to calm herself, her excitable baby's frequent kicks reminding her she needed to relax.
"So is the baby's father-" Elliot said gently, his reintroduction of the subject causing her to close her eyes firmly and sigh with irritation.
"Is none of your business" Liv responded, her voice louder than she had intended.
"I was just going to ask if he's involved, if he's supporting you" Elliot said quickly.
"Yes, he is" Liv replied somewhat impatiently. "Which, again, is none of your business" she stated with conviction. Elliot placed one hand on his hip and nodded, as he ran his free hand casually across the back of his neck.
"So is it someone I know, or-?"
Liv sighed and placed her hand over her eyes, sighing and shaking her head.
"Elliot, stop" she said quietly, her voice imbued with frustration and sadness.
"Stop what? I'm only-" he began, before Liv stepped forward and promptly cut him off.
"Oh I know what you're 'only'" Liv spat. "It is none of your business, not now" she stated.
Before Elliot could respond, he and Liv were distracted by the sound of a key in the lock. Liv's eyes drifted instinctively towards the door, and she felt her stomach tighten with discomfort, the door opened and Rafael Barba stepped into the apartment.
Rafael Barba stepped calmly into the apartment, his gaze immediately finding Liv, before drifting towards Elliot Stabler, who was standing a few feet away from her. He glanced at Stabler for a couple of moments, watching as his expression tightened and his eyes widened in surprise as realisation dawn upon him. Barba promptly returned his attentions to Liv, whose eyes were glassy, her face pale and her expression a combination of anger and concern. The tension in the room was palpable and, when combined with the raised voices he heard as he was unlocking the door, made it clear that he had interrupted a very heated discussion.
Aware of the complex nature of Stabler and Liv's relationship, and the affect it had on their own relationship, Rafael Barba proceeded with care. When Liv did not ask him to leave he took a small step forward.
"Is everything alright?" Rafael Barba asked calmly, directing his question at Liv.
Rafael's presence and his calm demeanour soothed Liv, and she nodded.
"Everything's fine" she responded quietly.
"Counsellor" Elliot responded, his voice loud and almost jovial. A smile played upon his lips as he walked confidently towards Rafael Barba. Barba remained still and unwavering as Stabler approached. He was used to dealing with men like him. He did not flinch.
As Elliot got close to Rafa, Liv walked quickly towards them, her eyes brimming with wariness and concern, her body on high alert. After staring at Rafael Barba for several moments, Elliot looked over his shoulder towards Liv.
"I thought you didn't date lawyers?" he said quietly, returning his attentions to Rafael Barba before Liv could respond. Rafael Barba's gaze did not falter.
When Liv did not respond to Stabler's statement Rafa turned towards her and met her gaze.
"Liv, would you like me to leave?" he asked gently, his voice calm and kind.
"Yeah" Elliot replied confidently, holding Rafael Barba's gaze as he spoke.
"No" Liv responded at the same time, her words overlapping with Elliot's. "Elliot was just leaving" she added. Elliot scoffed and shook his head.
"Rafael Barba?" he said loudly, shaking his head in disbelief. "I thought something had happened between the two of you" he informed Barba. "I saw the way you looked at her, and I..." he added, apparently stopping himself from continuing the sentence. He sighed gently and turned towards Liv. "You slept with the lawyer who defended the man who killed my wife?" he asked in disbelief, his tone of shock rather than anger.
"Liv has asked you to leave" Barba reminded him calmly, prompting Elliot to turn towards him, standing just inches apart. Liv inhaled sharply and walked slowly towards them.
"Elliot-" Liv cautioned.
"Or what?" Stabler asked Barba, holding his gaze with a firm glare which Rafael Barba recognised.
"There shouldn't have to be an 'or' anything" Rafael Barba replied calmly, not wishing to aggravate Stabler or make Liv feel any more uncomfortable or concerned than she already did. "Liv has asked you to leave, and that should be enough" he added simply.
Liv looked from Elliot to Rafa, watching as both men stood still and silent in a torturous stand-off which felt as though it lasted an eternity. After what was in reality just mere moments, Elliot scoffed and shook his head, before turning to face Liv. She watched as Rafael Barba visibly tensed.
"Him. Really?" Elliot asked. "Out of all the guys you-"
"I understand that this must be hard for you, but who I am involved with is none of your business" Liv said calmly. "My life does not revolve around you, Elliot" Liv stated, exasperation present in her voice. "I don't need your permission, and I certainly don't need your approval" she stated with conviction. "Please leave" she added quietly.
Elliot seemed poised to respond to Liv, before quickly changing his mind. He clenched his jaw and nodded.
"Fine" Elliot conceded, his eyes lingering on Liv for a few moments longer. "You take care of yourself, Liv" he said, surprising Liv with the warmth and sincerity in his voice, as he turned on the spot and walked across the room. "Counsellor" he added, in a tone which made the word sound like an insult, as he walked confidently across Liv's apartment, opened the front door and stepped outside.
As Liv saw the door close behind Elliot she felt tears burning in her eyes. She turned on the spot and blinked furiously, walking towards the window as she tried to calm herself. She was angry, embarrassed and very confused. She felt shaken and off-kilter, and she had no idea why she was crying. She wiped her eyes with a trembling hand and let out a calming breath, as she desperately tried to compose herself.
Rafael Barba remained still for a few moments, before walking slowly towards Liv, placing his hand on her lower back as he reached her. He felt tension beneath his palm, and noticed how pale and shaken she looked.
"Hey" he said gently, his voice low and quiet. It soothed something inside Liv. "Are you okay?" he asked. Liv nodded in response and looked up at him with tired eyes and a weary expression.
"I'm fine" Liv assured him.
Rafa stepped closer to Liv and she leaned against him, closing her eyes and sighing gently.
"I'm sorry I interrupted you" Rafa said politely. "I heard raised voices and-"
"No, it's fine, I'm sorry" Liv replied, turning towards Rafa as she spoke. "He just showed up unannounced" she added quietly. "He saw me on the news and..." she allowed her voice to drift off.
Rafael waited patiently for her to continue, and when she did not he simply nodded in understanding. Given the recent press coverage surrounding the incident yesterday morning, he could imagine why Stabler decided to visit Liv. And he understood exactly why she was so angry.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked cautiously, knowing that he was approaching the edge of a rather dangerous subject. Liv sighed gently and shook her head.
"No, thank you" Liv said sincerely, her voice quiet and her tone weary. "I'm fine" she assured him, holding his gaze as she spoke.
Rafa watched Liv for a few moments, noting how pale she was, and the emotion and sadness in her eyes.
"Okay" Rafa conceded, his voice warm and soothing. "Why don't you have a bath, and I'll make dinner?" he suggested, knowing Liv would need some time to herself to process whatever it was that had just happened. He also knew that the last thing she needed after yesterday was more stress, which could potentially be dangerous for both her and their baby. Liv's expression softened and she looked up at him.
"Lately you seem to think a bath will solve everything" Liv said lightly.
"I don't" Rafa responded slowly. "But I think it's usually an excellent start" he said with a small smile. Liv smiled gently and was about to respond, when the sound of a door opening drew her attentions towards Noah's bedroom, as he stepped out and appeared in the hallway, and looked towards his mother.
"Where's Elliot?" Noah asked as he reached his mother, looking over his shoulder as though expecting to see him.
"Elliot has gone home, sweetie. He had to go" Liv said gently, stroking her son's hair as she spoke. Noah frowned.
"But he didn't say goodbye" Noah remarked. "Is that because you had an argument?" he asked, his words prompting Liv to feel suddenly panicked. "Why were you both yelling?" he asked curiously. Liv felt her stomach tighten. They had both raised they voices, but she had not realised they had been loud enough for Noah to hear.
"Elliot and I had a little argument-"
"It didn't sound little" Noah countered, as he frowned in confusion. "You never yell, mum" he continued. "You always told me yelling is bad."
"It is, sweetie" Liv responded, guilt and embarrassment flooding her. "We had a disagreement which turned into an argument" she conceded. "Elliot and I were wrong to yell at each other and I am sorry that we did" she said gently. "And I am very sorry that you heard us yelling" she added, worry pooling in the pit of her stomach as she wondered just how much of their conversation he overheard.
Noah stared at Liv for a moment before, and she watched him weigh up what she was saying, to consider whether his questions had been satisfied.
"Mummy, you look sad" he said with concern, as he took a few more steps towards her, before wrapping his arms around her waist and hugging her. "It's okay. You and Elliot can say sorry and be friends again" he added, looking up at his mother with a reassuring smile. Liv smiled softly and stroked her son's hair. Rafa noticed she looked as though she was about to cry.
"Noah, your mum is going to have a bath whilst I make dinner" Rafa explained, prompting Noah to look up at him, whilst still hugging his mother. "I could do with a hand-"
"Okay" Noah said keenly. Rafa smiled and nodded.
"Why don't you go and wash your hands, and you can help me?" he suggested. Noah looked up at his mother, who nodded, prompting him to give her one final squeeze and then walk calmly towards the bathroom. As soon as he disappeared from sight Liv put her hand over her mouth.
"I didn't think he could hear us" Liv said quietly, worry present in her tone. "We raised our voices but we weren't yelling. Not that I'm gonna argue semantics with an eight year old" she added, remembering parts of their conversation and wondering if she was just trying to convince herself. "He shouldn't have heard a word we said" she breathed, as guilt flooded her.
"You didn't know he was coming over, and you couldn't have foreseen that you would argue" Rafa soothed. He wanted to comfort and reassure Liv, but without knowing exactly what happened it was difficult to do so. She was clearly still upset and deeply affected by whatever had happened between her and Stabler, and he did not want to make matters harder for her. "Whatever Noah may or may not have heard, it is nothing that you – that we – cannot deal with" he reassured her. Liv nodded uncertainly in response. "Okay?"
"Okay" Liv replied quietly, just as Noah returned.
"I'm ready" Noah proclaimed. "Do you want me to run your bath for you?" he asked his mum, his hopeful eyes and helpful manner increasing Liv's guilt tenfold.
"That's okay, sweetie" Liv smiled, placing her hand on her son's arm as she spoke. "You help Uncle Rafa with dinner, and I'll be back soon, okay?"
"Take your time" Rafa encouraged. Liv nodded absently in response and forced a smile, before disappearing towards her bedroom.
As Liv enjoyed a relaxing and restorative bath, Rafa and Noah prepared dinner together in the kitchen. They agreed on home-made chicken kievs with mashed potatoes and broccoli (Noah's favourite vegetable). Rafa showed Noah how to make garlic butter, which was only rivalled in entertainment value by covering the chicken breasts in egg and breadcrumbs, an act which caused a five minute pause in the cooking process whilst they cleaned up the mess Noah made in doing so. Once the chicken breasts were in the oven, Noah was enlisted to peel the potatoes and prepare the broccoli, whilst Rafa started to tidy up. The last thing he wanted was for Liv to come out of the bath all relaxed to immediately become stressed by a messy kitchen.
"Uncle Rafa" Noah began curiously, as he continued to peel an unhelpfully bumpy potato. Something in Noah's tone told Rafa he was about the broach the subject they had both managed to avoid for the past twenty minutes.
"Yeah" Rafa said calmly, as he wiped down the counter top.
"What does patchen-eyes mean?" he asked uncertainly, over-pronouncing the unfamiliar word. Rafa looked up at Noah with curious eyes, whilst he continued to wipe and dry down the work surface.
"Patronise?" Rafa suggested. Noah nodded in agreement. Rafa nodded calmly, and decided to proceed cautiously. "It's when someone says or does something to make another person feel smaller, or weaker" he explained simply. Noah considered this for a moment.
"My mum's not small or weak" Noah responded, confusion evident in his tone. Rafa nodded in agreement, as he became increasingly aware of the direction the conversation could be leading.
"No, she isn't" Rafa agreed. Noah's shoulders fell and he leaned back slightly, confusion etched upon his face.
"So why did mum say that Elliot patronised her?" he asked. Rafa stopped cleaning for a moment and held Noah's gaze.
"I'm not sure" Rafa replied honestly, but with caution. He wanted to answer Noah's questions, but in an appropriate way. Though answering them at all was difficult given his limited knowledge of what had transpired between Liv and Stabler. "Sometimes when people have an argument both people say things that are upsetting. Your mum clearly felt that something Elliot said to her was unfair, and she told him that" he explained. "Grown ups have arguments all the time, just like children" he said gently. "Your mum is fine" he assured him. "I promise you there is nothing you need to worry about" he soothed. Noah's expression softened and he nodded.
Rafa waited a few moments and watched as Noah continued to peel the difficult potato. He then began to gather the used utensils to carry them towards the sink.
"Uncle Rafa" Noah said again, prompting Rafa to look up at him with a kind expression and patient eyes. "Is Elliot mad that you're my mum's boyfriend?" he asked. Rafa swallowed hard but remained outwardly calm.
"What makes you think that?" he asked gently, leaning forward slightly and holding Noah's gaze.
"I heard him say your name real loud, and then he yelled at mum and she said it was none of his business" Noah admitted guiltily. Rafa nodded slowly in response.
"I bet you have lots of friends at school, right?" Rafa asked. Noah nodded in agreement. "Kids who you get on with, you play together, spend time with each other outside of school?" he suggested. Noah nodded again. "Are there also some kids who you aren't friends with?" he asked. "Kids who you maybe don't get on with quite so much."
"Yeah" Noah agreed. Rafa nodded.
"It's the same with grown ups" Rafa explained carefully. "We all have people we are friends with, and people who we aren't friends with" he advised.
"You and Elliot aren't friends?" Noah asked with confusion.
"No" Rafa replied cautiously.
"Why?" Noah asked. Rafael exhaled slowly. He knew he would need to provide an explanation that satisfied Noah, but he did not want to overstep the mark, or reveal anything Liv would not want him to. The fact that Noah overheard parts of Liv and Stabler's conversation could not be avoided, nor could the understandable questions he had as a result of what he heard.
"I did something that Elliot did not like, and so he and I are not friends" he added simply, hoping the explanation would be enough, but knowing it would not be. Not for curious Noah.
"What did you do?" Noah asked with interest. Rafa smiled softly, as he considered just how much information he should provide.
"Elliot arrested a man who he believed did something bad, and I represented that man in Court" Rafa said simply. Noah nodded.
"Did the man do something bad?" he asked.
"I don't know" Rafa responded. Noah nodded.
"Is he a bad man?" he asked.
"He was" Rafa replied.
"Is he in jail?" Noah asked.
"No, he's not" Rafa replied. "He passed away" he added simply.
"Oh" Noah responded. "Is Elliot a bad man?" he asked, confusion and concern present in his voice.
"No" Rafa replied gently. Although he and Liv would never agree when it came to Elliot Stabler, he did not believe he was a bad man, certainly not in the sense that he could be accurately compared to Richard Wheatley.
"But he yelled at my mum" Noah returned. Rafa nodded.
"I know he did" Rafa soothed. "And that was wrong" he conceded. "But yelling at someone doesn't make you a bad person" he explained. "Everyone does things they shouldn't sometimes. I do, you do" he continued. "It doesn't make us bad" he explained. Noah considered his response for a few moments, before nodding in agreement.
"Okay" Noah replied, seemingly satisfied. Rafa felt himself feel slight relief. "Uncle Rafa" he began again, prompting Rafa to look up at him with patient eyes which concealed the concern he internalised. "Can you please help me peel this potato?" he asked. "I can't do this bit" he explained, indicating to the section in question, which had so far proven to be unpeelable. Rafa smiled.
"Sure" Rafa replied, as Noah peeled the potato, and watched with fascination as his Uncle Rafa peeled it with a knife.
"Can I try?" he asked keenly. Rafa smirked and met his gaze.
"Not a chance" he replied, much to Noah's disappointment.
Twenty minutes later Liv emerged from the bathroom wearing a set of black pyjamas with white detailing. She looked calm and relaxed, her skin adopting a healthy glow, her hair slightly damp. But Rafael quickly identified a look of worry and unease in her eyes, and an uncharacteristic nervousness betrayed her. But she looked much less anxious than she had before.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Liv asked, as she approached the breakfast bar and took up a seat next to Noah.
"We're good" Rafa assured her. "Dinner will be ready in ten minutes" he advised.
"It smells delicious" Liv commended, as she turned her attentions towards her son. "Did you help?"
"Uh-huh" Noah responded. "Uncle Rafa showed me how to peel a potato with a knife" he proclaimed. Liv raised her eyebrows slightly and turned towards Rafa with an amused smile.
"Did he now?" she asked curiously.
"Emphasis on the 'showed'" Rafa said, earning a smile from Noah.
"Good" Liv replied, before turning back towards her son and resting her hand over his. "Because I'd like all your fingers to remain attached to your hands" she said, before tickling him under his arm and eliciting several giggles. "Noah, sweetie, why don't you go and put on your pyjamas and wash your hands before dinner?" she suggested once he had recovered.
"Okay" Noah agreed, somewhat to Liv's surprise, as he jumped down from the bar stool and headed into his bedroom. Rafa waited until Noah had disappeared from sight and closed his bedroom door behind him.
"Whilst we're on the subject of things I showed Noah" Rafa began carefully, prompting Liv to look up at him. "There's something I need to talk to you about" he added.
Knowing that it would not take Noah long to get changed, Rafa quickly provided Liv with a succinct account of his conversation with her son. Liv remained silent and nodded at intervals, and as Rafa finished speaking, he found himself feeling uncharacteristically unsettled. He had little experience with children, and he hoped he had handled the situation in the right way. And, just as importantly, in the way that Liv would want it to be handled.
"I'm sorry you had to answer those questions" Liv said sincerely. "Thank you" she added gently. Rafa sighed in relief and nodded.
"For what it's worth, I don't think he heard much else" he reassured her. "If he had, I think he would've asked me about it too" he reasoned. Liv nodded in agreement and found herself relaxing slightly, just as Noah's bedroom door opened and he came hurrying out in his Harry Potter pyjamas with matching bedsocks.
"Hey" Liv smiled, as her son headed towards her and quickly took up her seat beside her. "These are getting a little small on you" she remarked, tugging at the cuff. "We're gonna have to get you some new pyjamas" she added.
"Does that mean I have to go shopping?" he asked with concern, frowning at the prospect.
"No, my love, I will spare you that ordeal" she replied, earning a smile from her son, whose relief was evident and immediate.
"Is dinner ready yet?" Noah asked Rafa.
"Five minutes" Rafa replied. Noah nodded.
"Can I put the plates out?" he asked.
"Sure" Rafa responded, prompting Noah to ease himself off the bar stool and hurry into the kitchen.
Liv watched as Noah and Rafa moved around each other, as her son hurried towards the cupboard with the plates and removed three, before taking out the cutlery from the drawer.
After laying out the plates Noah poured Liv a glass of orange juice and handed it to her, which she thanked him for, before offering his Uncle Rafa a drink, which he politely declined. After Rafa dished up dinner Liv found herself staring at the food, her mouth watering at the delicious scent of cheesy mashed potato and garlic chicken kievs.
"Shall we eat on the couch?" Rafa suggested. "I'm sure you'd be comfortable there than up here?" he added. Liv nodded in agreement.
"Sure" she replied, as Rafa handed a plate and a set of cutlery to Noah, who walked into the living room. Liv went to lift up one of the remaining plates but was stopped by Rafa, who picked both up.
"I got it" Rafa said, as he carried both of their plates across the kitchen before she could argue. Liv lifted her drink and up and eased herself off the bar stool as she followed him into the living room.
After eating dinner on the couch with Rafa and Noah, Liv found herself feeling sleepy and sated, and emotionally drained from the past couple of days.
Liv was sitting on the corner of the couch sipping the remainder of her orange juice, as Rafa took the empty plates into the kitchen, having politely (but firmly) refused her offers of assistance. However, he had managed to enlist Noah to assist him with the washing up, which was a task she herself had previously struggled with. Whether it was because Rafa was asking, or she was injured, she was unsure, but what she was sure about was the closeness which was developing between Rafa and Noah. Noah had known Rafa his whole life and had always been fond of him, and watching their bond deepen over the past couple of months had been wonderful. And today had acted as an incredibly reminder of that.
After drying up the final plate, Noah hurried back into the living room before his Uncle Rafa could think of something else for him to help with, leaving him to dish up the ice cream alone. Liv had declined the offer of dessert, already feeling very fully, and convinced she could not eat another bite.
Noah sat down beside her just as she leaned forward to put her glass on the table, which he promptly took from her, putting it down for her so she didn't have to lean all the way forwards.
"Thank you, Noah" Liv said gratefully, as she put her left arm around him and drew him close.
Noah snuggled into his mother, placing his arm across her belly and resting his head gently upon it. Liv smiled affectionately and ran her hand through his hair. Noah was a very affectionate child who would hug her often, but since being told she was pregnant he had been incredibly cautious with her, especially when it came to her belly. And the bigger she got the gentler he was, almost as though he was worried he might hurt her. He had felt the baby kicking a couple of times but was always hesitant when it came to touching her belly, which she had been worried about at first, until they talked about it and she reassured him the baby kicking didn't hurt her, and nor did he.
"You won't hurt me, sweetie" she soothed, as she drew him closer. "I promise" she added.
Reassured by his mother, Noah leaned in closer to Liv, and she felt him press his head slightly ore firmly upon her belly. Within moments, Liv's baby (who had been woken by the orange juice) issued three firm kicks to its brother's cheek, prompting Noah to lean back suddenly and stare at her belly.
Rafael Barba, who was carrying two bowls of ice cream into the living room, arrived just as Noah suddenly leaned away from Liv.
"Is everything alright?" Rafa asked calmly, his eyes drifting towards Liv, who was smiling with amusement.
"The baby kicked me" Noah declared, staring at Liv's belly, before putting his hand over the spot his cheek had once occupied. As he did so, a flurry of kicks greeted his palm, and he looked from Liv to his Uncle Rafa. "It kicked me again!" he proclaimed, smiling as he spoke.
Rafa relaxed visibly and placed the bowls of ice cream down upon the table, as he watched Noah lean against Liv, and press his hand to her growing belly.
"Come feel it, Uncle Rafa" Noah encouraged, reaching towards Rafa with his free hand.
Rafa crouched down between the couch and the table, and allowed Noah to place his hand on Liv's belly. He splayed his fingers and felt a series of strong, firm kicks against his palm. Liv cradled her belly and watched Rafa, his eyes shining and a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, as he felt their baby move beneath his palm.
"The baby likes orange juice" Noah explained. "It makes it kick really hard" he advised. Rafa nodded.
"Because it's cold and full of natural sugar" Rafa explained, as he looked up and met Liv's gaze.
"Can I feel it again?" Noah asked keenly, prompting Rafa to nod in response, removing his hand from Liv's belly and then guiding Noah's to the spot where the baby was kicking.
"It's moving" Liv explained, as she placed her hand over Rafa's and Noah's, guiding them across her belly, as the baby moved and turned inside her, before issuing a series of firm kicks against the hands.
Noah laughed loudly, his smile broad and his eyes alight, as he looked from his mother to his Uncle Rafa.
"Here, Uncle Rafa, can you feel it too?" he asked, as he took his hand away and pressed Rafa's firmly against her belly. They waited in anticipation for a few moments before a familiar flurry of kicks greeted Rafa's palm.
"Yeah" Rafa confirmed, smiling at Noah, "yeah, I feel it" he added, before looking up at Liv, who was watching him with a calm expression, her previous unease having disappeared almost entirely from her warm eyes.
Noah and Rafa remained beside Liv, tracing the movements of the energetic baby, who greeted their hands with confident kicks, as their ice cream melted in the bowls behind them, like Liv's worries, almost entirely forgotten.