Rafael and Olivia talk through Rafael's biggest insecurities as they explore the two explore their relationship more.
Twenty minutes later the couple arrives at Rafael's apartment. Rafael unlocks the door, turns on the lights, and the two enter. Rafael smiles at Olivia.
"Make yourself comfortable Liv." He said.
"Thank you Rafa."
Olivia smooths out her dress and sits on Rafael's couch.
Rafael takes off his suit jacket, and turns to Liv.
"Can I join you?"
"Of course Rafa."
Rafael sits next to Olivia and she tilts her head and smiles
"What?" Rafael says.
"I've always liked your suspenders."
Liv takes the dark blue fabric in between her fingers and Rafael chuckles
"I mean it, it makes you unique and you look handsome. You even matched my dress."
"I had to match my beautiful girlfriend."
Rafael sighs.
"I know to most my outfits may seem a bit colorful, excessive, flamboyant even, but they make me feel good."
"Rafa."
"No Liv, I need to say this. My suits are just a part of what makes me the man that I am."
"And I love that about you."
"They make me no less of a man." He says with a bit of anger in his voice.
"I know Rafa."
Olivia gently kisses him on the cheek.
"What brought this on?" Olivia said.
"Just thinking about everything going on in our lives, especially yours Liv. Especially with him being back in your life."
"You can say it, it's okay." Olivia replied.
"Sometimes I get stuck in comparing myself to Stabler. He was your partner for so long and left and I left you too."
Olivia held his hands as looked him in the eyes. "Rafael, you did what you thought was right and we still talked all the time. You came back and decided you still wanted to love me. You showed me how much you cared for me. You respect me and trust me with your heart as I have you mine."
"Olivia, compared to him I'm probably nothing more than a soft, weak shell. I'm not as masculine as I want to feel and I don't deserve to have a woman like you love me."
Olivia feels her heart break, this man is everything that is good in the world and she wishes all the men in the world could be like him because she is blessed every single day because of his compassion and heart. She wishes she could show him that he is already masculine in every sense of the word.
"Rafael Barba you mean the world to me, you stay true to yourself and your beliefs. I am proud to be the woman you love."
Olivia takes his hands and makes sure Rafael is looking at her.
"Elliot has become hardened and if that's what you think masculine is then you are mistaken because all that is is toxic as hell. If that's what you want to be then we can end this right now, because all I want is a genuine, strong, handsome, kind, and intelligent man."
