Olivia Benson was enjoying the sweet bliss of waking up next to Rafael Barba again. Maybe she had been dreaming of this for a longtime. She hardly imagined the former ADA as a snuggler but the way his beard rubbed against his skin and his hands across her body was almost magical. The past two weeks had felt like a dream for her but also Rafael. He was spending more and more time with the woman he loves and he wasn't planning on walking away from her again.
"Good morning Rafa." Olivia said as she was waking up to go work.
Rafael seemed to tighten into his snuggle with his arms around her waist. "Mmmm just ten more minutes mí amore?"
"You temp me but five. How can I make it up to you?"
Rafael replied as his green eyes met her brown ones."How about I pick you up for lunch? And one more thing?"
"I know what you're thinking. Come on then." Olivia said she got out of bed with her lover close behind.
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"I see you've got an admirer Liv." Kat said as she leaned back in her chair as Olivia passed by her.
"Hey he is pretty amazing after all." Olivia said with a smile as she noticed the roses on her desk. She read the little note on the roses.
Thanks for being the love of my life hermosa.- Rafael
"I'm wondering who this HE is. You're literally glowing with joy every day you walk in here the past two weeks." Amanda replied with a curious expression.
"Well he's taking me to lunch today." Olivia said.
"Hold on, hold on. I have a pretty good guess." Amanda said. "We always thought you'd make a cute couple anyway."
"How'd you know?"
"Liv, Carisi and I knew Barba loved you since before he left. Even Fin knew and kept asking having the right timing on asking you out." Amanda said almost smiling. "Also you never noticed he just loved being around you?"
Olivia began to think back. The times that she and Rafael were staring at each other, almost brushing hands and the passionate forehead kiss. It all made sense now. Rafael Barba had been in love with her a long time and she had failed to see it. In the process she had broken his heart over and over and yet she was given his heart again to hold. Olivia wouldn't break his heart again.
Some time later, Olivia was looking at the text she had gotten from Rafael he was on the way to pick her up. She looked up from her work wondering how he could get here so quickly. Another family guy was standing in her doorway.
"Elliot? What are you doing here?" She said.
"I just wanted to maybe catch up and maybe get lunch? We've both been really busy." He said. "Nice roses. Who are they from?"
"Just a special guy. I can't get lunch today sorry."
"Is the 'special guy' taking you out?" Elliot said.
"I'm not sure that's any of your business but yes." Olivia replied as she was looking for her cardigan.
As she was shuffling around, Rafael was standing in the doorway with a smile.
"Hey there." He said.
"Hi Rafa. Give me just a second I'm looking for my keys." She said. "Elliot Stabler, meet Rafael Barba."
In Elliot's mind, Rafael Barba wasn't the man he imagined his former partner going out with. The former ADA was now clean shaven, and dressed in what Rafael described as casual: blazer, slacks, button up and suspenders. He wasn't the tallest or masculine looking but he had a brilliant mind and big heart. That's what Olivia fell in love with.
