Faltering Trust

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Dick Wolf and NBC.

AN: So after the last chapter it is only right to be followed by fluff! Thank you to those who reviewed the last chapter, I really appreciate it. I have a few ideas rolling around in my head about where I want this story to go so there are still a few chapters left. I'm sorry if this feels a little OOC, but I realized this is the most back and forth dialogue I've had to write and it's very challenging. I also want to apologize for the long wait for this update! I was busy and then I started a few Korean dramas and there went three weeks. Sorry guys haha.

:D Please review! THANKS A BUNCH!

CHAPTER 11a

Rafael woke up to the sun streaming in his eyes as he heard hushed babbling and giggling next to him. Stretching a bit he turned his body trying to avoid the sunlight as he snuggled closer to his pillow.

"Raf!"

"Noah honey shhh. Rafael is still sleeping."

"Raf…" he tried whispering his name.

Rafael broke into a smile as he opened his eyes to see Noah attempting to put his finger over his mouth signaling for them to be quiet.

"I'm awake now." He stated groggily as he rubbed his eyes trying to stifle a yawn.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to wake you. Looked like you needed the rest."

Sitting halfway up he looked at Olivia with a serious look, "You're trying to say something Sergeant?"

For a second she couldn't tell if he was joking until he broke out into a huge grin. Smiling, "yes Counselor, you looked tired… probably could use a few more hours of sleep by the looks of it."

He clutched his heart feigning to be hurt, "you're brutal sometimes Liv." Shrugging with a goofy smile on his face he confessed, "Either way, no need to apologize. I'm happy to have woken up next to the two most important people in my life."

She shyly smiled as she felt her face grow warm still not used to the compliments he would throw her way or even being treated like she was a top priority.

Cupping her face with his left hand he rubbed his thumb on her cheek absentmindedly. He knew she wasn't used to being treated the way she deserved which was like a queen. It's important to make sure she knew that she deserved to be treated as such. She was an amazing woman who could do almost anything. Here she was the Commanding Officer of her own squad, a brilliant leader, mother, and friend; after going through the most terrifying horrific experiences anybody could ever imagine being in she has not only survived but has persevered.

"You might as well get used to the compliments because they're never going to stop." He stated matter-of-factly as he leaned in and pecked her on the lips which caused her to turn an even darker shade of red.

"Raf!" Noah was now begging for attention since he was being ignored by both of them.

"¡Buenos días mi amigo! I see you have your favorite toy with you," tickling the little boy.

Giggling he held up his toy shark the one that Rafael had given him. Noah suddenly turned his head towards Rafael as he pointed to his cheek.

Rafael was at a loss not understanding what Noah wanted as he saw the toddler quickly becoming frustrated. With a confused look he glanced up at Olivia to see if she had any idea of what he wanted.

As Rafael looked at her with a lost expression on his face, she replied, "I think he wants you to give him a kiss."

Rafael's expression changed from confusion to an expression of are you sure? Liv just shrugged his way, so he decided that it couldn't hurt. He bent his head down a bit and kissed the now fretting toddler on the cheek.

Instantly Noah cracked a smile and giggled. He was trying to give Rafael a kiss on the cheek but not having the greatest of coordination ended up being a big wet sloppy one.

"¿Quieres más besos, ah?" Rafael started to peck his face with kisses causing Noah to burst into laughter.

As everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves, Olivia's stomach rumbled loudly. Both Rafael and Noah stopped abruptly and looked at her wide eyed.

"Someone's hungry," he smirked. Picking Noah up he asked, "¿quieres desayuno?"

"Yes please, I'm starving."

Noah looked so confused looking back and forth between them.

"Yes sweetheart, desayuno means breakfast."

"Yuno!" He seemed to have an understanding that it had to do with food, something that he was always a fan of.

"Here let me take him so you can put some clothes on." Don't get me wrong, he looks absolutely enticing right now. She more so needed him to put on a shirt; she didn't know if she would be able to control herself any longer.

Their eyes met as he handed Noah over to her and he saw the raw hunger in her eyes and understood that it was more for their benefit and not Noah's that he put on clothes. He couldn't help a knowing smirk cross his face.

She felt a chill run down her spine as they tore their gaze from each other. Trying to get her mind off of what she really wanted to do to him she turned her attention back on Noah, "come on Noah, let's get some desayuno."

Noah turned around in his mother's grasp to waive goodbye to Rafael like he was leaving for the day instead of just a few minutes. Chuckling to himself he shuffled around the bedroom trying to find his clothes that were strewn on the floor.

A few minutes later, he emerged from the bathroom with his pants and undershirt on, his face recently washed and his hair slicked back a bit, his futile attempt to not look so disheveled. He walked into the living room to lay down the rest of his clothes with his jacket making sure he wouldn't forget anything. He could see Noah sitting in his highchair at the kitchen bar with a few pieces of banana on the tray and what looked like some yogurt that Liv was trying to feed him.

For being a toddler he doesn't seem to be a messy eater, he mused. It's probably because of his love for food, something that we both have in common.

"Hey I wasn't sure what you wanted to eat so I was going to wait for you but in the meantime I made coffee."

He took the steaming cup of coffee in his hands as he took a big whiff of the delicious magical liquid, "You know me so well Liv." He took a huge gulp, "But what do you have that we could eat? The last I remember your kitchen was pretty bare."

"Thanks for the compliment Counselor. But if I may say so myself, you can check the fridge if you want, but it's pretty full now a days. I have a toddler to feed you know."

He went over to look into the fridge to see what her 'pretty full now a days' actually comprised of, "I honestly thought you always had take-out. I mean, I'm the one who usually brings it over." He was surprised to see her fridge pretty stocked with a variety of choices. "Do you have pancake mix?"

"I think so, check that cabinet over there." Feeding another spoonful of the cereal yogurt to Noah, she was grateful that he wasn't a picky eater and would pretty much eat anything.

"Aha! Ok, well how about pancakes, eggs, and bacon sound?"

"Sounds delicious right about now. Can you finish feeding Noah, I got the breakfast."

"No don't worry, I'll make everything."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. You know in most Hispanic cultures, the boys aren't taught to clean and cook. The females in the family, whether it be their mothers or sisters, would do everything for them. Lucky for you Olivia, that was not the case in my house. Abuelita made sure of that." He started gathering all of the ingredients that they needed to make breakfast.

"Oh, well that's good to know that I won't have to be picking up after two children, just the one."

He looked back at and huffed, "Hey now, first of all I'm not a child… you would know that better than anyone and secondly, I stated that I know how to clean and cook, that doesn't mean I'll willingly do it."

Olivia's mouth fell wide open as she glared at Rafael in shock.

He couldn't help but burst out laughing at her expression, "You do know that I'm joking about not cleaning and cooking right?" He held up the whisk and bowl in his hands.

He noticed Noah clapping his hands and giggling with no idea as to what he was laughing at just happy to share in the good mood. Rafael couldn't help the goofy grin cross his face as he looked from Noah to Liv who was now pouting.

Turning towards the stove to start a few pancakes and bacon cooking he heard Liv ask, "What are you smiling about now?"

Still pouting a bit since she couldn't think of a better response as she was wiping Noah's tray. In all honesty she loved the playful banter between them because it was how they flirted with each other which she realized many months ago.

He paused for a second before turning his attention back to her, "Just how beautiful you are."

She froze with her hand in mid-air that was scooping the crumbs from Noah's tray into her hands. She could feel the heat rising from the back of her neck to her face, knowing full well that she was blushing a dark red.

That cocky smirk graced his face again as he turned around, "I told you, you needed to get used to the compliments… they're just going to keep coming."

"Well… maybe I would be able to get used to them if they didn't come out of left field," flustered she continued to finish cleaning Noah's tray.

After flipping the first few pancakes he looked over his shoulder, "what would be the fun in that Liv?"

She walked over and stood next to him. "I didn't realize you took fun in seeing me discombobulated." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Chuckling, "you have no idea."

Rafael was able to finish making breakfast fairly quickly. To Olivia's surprise he was a pretty good cook, unfortunately much better than her but in the end, it just meant that she wouldn't have to be the one cooking all the time.

Wait is he going to move in? Am I going to move in with him?

Ok, calm down. I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let's just take this one day at a time. I can do this… but damn he looks good.

"Liv… Liv… Olivia?"

"Hmm... what?" Shit. She didn't realize that she was staring at him.

"I was asking what you two had planned for today."

"Oh uh… just planning to going to the park for a bit. Just relaxing really. Haven't gotten much rest this past week. What about you?"

"Nothing really planned until tonight." He noticed her expression change to a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "I'm going to meet my mother tonight for dinner."

Realization registered on her features, "Rafael, have you been able to speak to her before this? Since your Abuelita passing?"

She could see his demeanor change slightly to that of sadness.

"Well, she blamed me at first for her passing away. In all honesty, I'm pretty sure a part of her still blames me but I am her only child. I'm all that she has left now… but she's hurting. So even if it takes her a few weeks or years for her to stop blaming me for her death, I'll still be there for her. She's my mom you know."

"I'm sorry Rafael."

Rafael went to say something but she cut him off.

"No listen. I'm sorry because you're still hurting. I'm sorry because I know that there isn't anything that I can do to make the pain go away and I'm sorry that she blames you for her death. Your Abuelita's death isn't your fault. She passed away on her own terms Rafael. That's extremely brave of her. From the stories that you've told me, I'm pretty sure I would have loved her."

His eyes were stinging from the tears that were threatening to spill over. Olivia was the only person other than his Abuelita that could undo him with just a few words. "She would have loved you Liv."

λλλ

Hey guys! So again I want to apologize for the long wait for this chapter… but as I was proof-reading it, I couldn't help but smile. I really hope you guys like it. It seems as though writing about hurt and angst comes easier to me… and sex. HAHA! Either way let me know if you would like for the Spanish to be translated. I decided not to in this chapter because it is pretty much explained what it means directly after the dialogue. Can't wait for the reviews!