Inspired by the question Olivia was asked in 20.11 - Plastic - Have you ever been in love?

I'm done with having dreams

The thing that I believe

You drain all the fear from me

'Cause you're the last of a dying breed

-Fall Out Boy (Last of the Real Ones)

"Have you ever been in love?"

Tongue tied. That didn't happen often these days. She had been at this for so long, she was rarely shocked anymore. She saw Amanda out of the corner of her eye look at her, waiting for her to respond. And she wasn't sure how to respond. She glanced over and Amanda stared at her, incredulously for a moment, before taking over the reigns of the questioning.

Olivia found herself stunned in that moment. And Amanda knew it. And that meant questions. Which took her all of 30 seconds to ask when they left the interrogation room and Amanda followed her into her office.

"You alright Liv?"

"Yeah. Fine. Why?"

"Well, it's just rare I see you thrown by a question. And that one felt simple to me. Have you ever been in love? I feel like that's a solid question to quickly answer. I thought for a minute you were about to give her the upper hand."

Olivia just stared at her desk. Such a loaded question. Being in love. Having to bare yourself like that, to a perfect stranger no less. To have someone who committed a crime take her off guard.

"Liv?"

She looked up at Amanda.

"I mean, your answer is yes, right? To being in love? I mean, you went all the way to Paris with Tucker, so I just assume…"

But the look that must have been on Olivia's face didn't give the answer Amanda expected. "Oh. Ok then. Let's just… never mind Liv. It's fine." Amanda walked away. Olivia wanted to yell after her, to explain her hesitation at answering the question, but all she could do is stare at her friend walking away.

Olivia quickly grabbed her things and headed home. "You must pay Lucy well, Liv" Fin said as she walked by his desk. She turned and looked at her friend.

"I'm just saying, you used to make sure you got out of here in time for dinner, but the last few months, you've been staying later. Must be nice to have someone to count on like that. Lucy was a hell of a find." Olivia just nodded, having to swallow her words.

She opened her front door quietly, looking at the time. Fin was right. She had been more comfortable the last few weeks staying a little later at work. And the reason was kicked back on her couch, sipping a glass of scotch, tapping away on his iPad.

"There is some food in the oven if you are hungry" Rafael said, looking up from the screen. She leaned against the wall, taking a moment to stare at him.

"What's up?" He asked, noticing her just standing there. She dropped her stuff in the chair and moved to sit next to him. She took the iPad off his lap and framed his face with her hands, pulling him in for a bruising kiss, to which he quickly responded.

When the need for air became of the utmost importance, he pulled back. "Not that I'm complaining, but feels more like a response to something and less of a 'hey I missed you today' kind of kiss."

"But I did miss you today."

"Glad to hear it. We missed you too. Especially at dinner. It took all my negotiation tactics to get him to try the rice. But stop trying to change the subject."

She smiled, leaning into his side, his arm coming around her shoulder.

"Just this perp. She just… she threw me with a question."

"What's that?"

"Have I ever been in love."

She watched his eyes go wide. He had only been back two months, but they had been together since the night he knocked on her door, bag in hand, a head of full of words that spilled out while he stood in her doorway. Technically he kept most of his things at his mother's house, but she could count on one hand the number of times he had been out there.

"Liv…"

"I froze. Amanda was there with me and it just… took me by surprise."

"Liv, you don't…"

"Stop. Because the truth is yes. I have been in love. I've been in love with this infuriating, brilliant, gorgeous, hot-headed Cuban lawyer for longer than I care to think about. Even him disappearing for almost a year didn't change that. I'm not sure anything could. But no one knows you are back and that's fine. Not going to lie – having you all to myself is hot. I like it. But…"

His eyes grew soft and he smiled. "Liv… I love you too."

She exhaled a breath she hadn't even realized she had been holding. Part of her brain was afraid at his response. The idiot part of her brain, apparently. Because that look on his face and the way he is with Noah and how he just enjoys being there with them… why she ever thought he didn't love her back was beyond her. He wrapped his arm tighter around her shoulders, pulling her flush against his side. She rested her head on his shoulder and traced circles on his chest.

"This is kind of a big deal, Rafa."

"Yup."

"We probably need to tell everyone you are back. So we can make them sick to death of our love."

He laughed. "Sounds like a plan."