Author's Notes: Hello! This is my first ever post. I hope you all like it, the story kind of got away from me but I like the finished product. This is un-beta'd but I did proofread a bunch so hopefully no major errors. I would love to hear what you think about it. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy it :)

The First of Many

It had been a year now, since everything happened; since the whole Sheila debacle, since Noah returned safe and sound, since Olivia realized she didn't need to try to force a family together because she had one that had chosen to come together around her, and since they both decided they wasted enough time and shared their feelings with each other.

Rafael had started coming by her place more and more often, to hear what his friend wanted to talk about, anything that she wanted. And after awhile it stopped needing the pretext of making sure she wasn't on the brink of collapse any longer to being just because it made them both happy. It also stopped being defined as friendship but something more. After probably a month into these weekly visits, more if they could manage it, where hand holding and comforting squeezes had become commonplace, Rafael asked Olivia and Noah if he could take them out to dinner, his treat. There was nothing grand about it, just pizza at a tiny little place on her street, but it didn't need to be grand, it was comfortable and fun and light. As they walked back to Olivia's apartment after dinner, Noah between them holding their hands, Olivia felt a real sense of peace and, dare she think it, happiness overcome her. She shifted her vision, from her son to the man holding tightly to his other hand, and realized this was what she had so desperately wanted her entire life, a family. Mother, father, and child happily going about their day with complete familiarity, those were the moments she dreamed of as a child; just a normal day with a normal mother, and a normal father. She knew that there was still a lot that needed to happen, that needed to be discussed, before they could all see what she was seeing but she could wait.

So that night, with Noah in bed and Rafael readying himself to leave Olivia put a hand on his chest to halt his attempts get to his coat and asked him to stay. His brow creased with slight confusion, she had never asked to stay once he started to leave, "what do you mean Liv?"

"Stay tonight," she clarified adding, "please."

"You want me to spend the night with you?" Rafael smirked, repositioning his coat on the rack so it wouldn't fall. "Shouldn't you at least buy me a meal first?" He turned, fully facing her, his face bright with mischief.

"Well, I let you buy me one, does that count?" Olivia tilted her head to the side smiling softly at him as she moved into his space. As she did so his hands found her body, one landing on her neck swiping his thumb along the column of her throat, the other at her hip exerting a small pressure so that they were in contact with each other from hips to chests.

"That works fine for me," He smiled, and he was still smiling as he kissed her, so was she. Their first kisses were tender and light, each coming right after the other. Olivia's arms wound their way around his shoulders leveraging him to her, one hand scraping his scalp and other resting at his back.

So he stayed that night, and for many nights after that. Three weeks after that first kiss things were going well for this small unit, that to the outside looked very much like a family. Olivia knew this was it for her, all her attempts at happiness had been to get her here, with these two men in her life. She suspected the same was true for Rafael as well, though neither of them said it out loud. It was possible this was out of fear of speaking something into a firmer existence made it more real, tangible and therefore easier to break, or possibly out of fear that the other might not feel the exact same way.

Those three weeks were all it took for Olivia to stop letting those fears get in her way. She was done letting her life be dictated by fear. Upon waking up one morning to find her son and boyfriend in the bathroom laughing together Olivia felt relieved of these fears. There they stood side by side, Noah on a stool and Rafael on his bare feet, looking into the mirror with shaving cream covering the bottom half of their faces. They hadn't seen her yet so Olivia just wrapped her arms around herself and watched as Rafael dragged his razor down his cheek and Noah did the same with a rubber spatula from the kitchen. One quick swipe down each of their faces and the boys made eye contact with one another before breaking down into a fit of giggles. Repeating their actions until their faces were mostly clear of the thick white foam, Rafael then ran the water from the taps so it was comfortably warm and cleared first Noah's face, and then his own, of any cream they might have missed.

Turning to grab a towel to dry them with Rafael paused almost comically mid-action. There he stood clad only in boxers next to a boy wearing suspiciously similar ones, face dripping a bit, and Olivia knew, she just knew.

"How long-" Rafael attempted to ask her how long she had been watching this little morning charade when Olivia cut him off.

"I love you," she sighed out, head tilted, much like it did the day she finally asked him to stay.

His frozen stance slackened at her declaration and a stupid grin splits his face, "you do?" Rafael blinked somewhat dumbly, shook his head, and straightened himself on his feet, facing Olivia fully, "I mean," he huffs, "I, uh- I love you too, Liv." The stupid grin is gone, replaced with a very satisfied smile.

"I love you too!" Noah's small voice chimes in behind them, not wanting to be forgotten. "I love you Mama, I love you Rafa!" The boy declares once more, loudly, but happily with a small bounce on his stool to punctuate his excitement.

Olivia, used to her son's exuberance and loving nature, lets out a soft lyrical laugh. Rafael, however, seems to have reverted to his frozen stupid posture. Rafael didn't doubt this, in fact he felt it and saw it in everything they did together. It was easy for Rafael to react, "I love you too Noah!" he returns to the boy. Swinging, swooping, and scooping the young boy into his arms Rafael wraps Noah into a tight embrace, pushing their foreheads together and dropping a quick kiss on his nose.

Liv cannot let this moment go so she joins in, pressing her front to Noah's back with her chin on her sons shoulder so that her face is millimeters from Rafael's. Her hands have fallen to his waist, just above his boxer shorts, and her eyes lock with his. Rafael's eyes crinkle in delight and he angles his head against Noah's to ghost his lips over Olivia's. He can't remember ever feeling so happy.

That's how much of the following ten months seem to go. There are fights, of course, and awkwardness, tensions, adjustments, arguments, disagreements, and grumpy mumblings under breath. But there is also milestones, and memories, comfort, agreements, snuggles, pictures, phone calls, letters, declarations, and whispered sweet nothings. Mostly, though, there is happiness. It's something that permeates them and the lives they live. It's something that neither Rafael, nor Olivia, are used to but embrace with totality nevertheless.

This happiness brings many firsts for the couple, the first night they physically express the sentiment of their love, the first boys only night when Olivia can't get away from work, the first exchange of keys to each other's places, which turns into the first keys to their place, that leads to the first official disclosure in their jobs, along with the first congratulations and well-wishes from their friends.

The most memorable firsts among them include; the first confessions of love.

The first night at a place that belongs to all three of them.

The first time Noah, shyly, approaches his Rafa wondering if "maybe, um, maybe I could?" the boy avoids eye contact, instead focusing somewhere on Rafael's suspenders that Noah seems to use all his strength to cling to. "I mean, well…" Noah breathes in deeply and Rafael's heart breaks.

"Noah, look at me, mijo," the endearment has been falling from Rafael's tongue for weeks now and he hasn't seemed to notice, but Olivia certainly has, and every time she hears it her heart swells with pure love. Rafael's fingers gently pull Noah's chin skyward to direct the boy's glance into his own eyes. "Noah you can ask me anything you want to, but if you aren't ready to ask whatever it is, that's okay too. I promise I will love you no matter what." And it's true, Rafael will love him no matter what because, even if he hasn't noticed he has been referring to this small precious human as his son, that's what Noah is to Rafael now, his son.

Noah nods firmly once, "well the kids at school are always talking about the things they do with their dads, and it's all stuff that me and you do together all the time!" He seems to have found his confidence, and it shows in the eye contact he is making and the exasperation in his tone. "And so I was thinking, you could be my dad?" Noah's eyes flit away for one moment, showing the vulnerability he feels in making this request.

Rafael needs no time to think about his answer, instead he slides the hand that was still resting below Noah's chin up into the boy's hair, with his palm resting lightly over Noah's ear and the heel of his hand on Noah's cheek, thumb swiping across the boy's eyebrow. "There is nothing I can think of that would make me happier than if I could be your dad."

This particular first is filled with such an overwhelming amount of happiness that later even Rafael won't deny he shed some tears.

"Really?!" Noah practically shouts. Rafael can only smile broadly and nod, the tears breaking free when Noah's small hands find Rafael's cheeks, they feel the smile that is cemented in place there, and leans his forehead against Rafael's.

Rafael pulls the boy into his lap where he had been sitting on their couch and leans back to rest his head on the cushions behind him, closing his eyes in bliss. "Sí, mijo." Rafael murmurs into Noah's hair. "Maybe you could call me Papí?" Rafael suggests, deciding that he would like to continue with the Spanish lessons he and Noah have been having using this particular word.

"Papí, me gusta eso," (I like that) Noah cuddled further into the man's chest. Liv, having heard every word of this exchange from kitchen, where she was cleaning the last of the dishes, silently snaps a photo before joining her two guys on the couch to cuddle and just be together.

There is the first father's day, for not only Rafael and Noah, but Olivia too. It was a day that brought about old uncomfortable feelings. But it also brought new, indescribably happy ones, ones that would morph into tradition for many years to come.

And then there was their first anniversary. It had come up as quickly as all the firsts before it had, but not quite as surprisingly. No, Rafael had waited, had planned, for this particular first they were nearing. And Rafael wasn't the only one planning, oh no, his plans involved other people, chief among them; Noah.

Rafael and Noah always set aside time during the week to just have fun and be close, as father and son. The week leading up to his and Olivia's first anniversary was no different, to the outside world anyway. Normally, if the weather allowed, the boys would go out to the park and run like mad, yelling nonsense to each other and enjoying the bond that they had secured so strongly with one another. Both father and son kept up appearances, dressing in their most weather appropriate but still comfortable clothing on Saturday morning when Mamí was allowed to sleep in. Once outside the view of the brownstone they lived in Rafael and Noah simply looked toward each other and nodded once before Rafael grabbed his phone from his sweatpants, "Buenos dias Mamí, Noah and I are on our way to the coffee shop to meet you now."

Rafael didn't bother engaging in any further conversation with his mother, simply hanging up the phone and taking his son's hand as they stode in her direction. It only took two minutes to get there. It was just another Starbucks that Rafael normally wouldn't even look twice at, but then neither would Olivia which made this the perfect meeting spot.

Ushering themselves through the swinging doors Noah was bursting to get to his beloved Abuelita, bouncing on the balls of his feet to try to spot her among the other cafe goers. "Ah, Papí allí!" (there) Noah tugged Rafael's hand in Lucia's direction, not wanting to wait a second longer to get to her. Once Noah had a path clear of anyone else he dropped his father's hand and bolted to Lucia, launching himself into her lap with all the grace an over-eager six year old could possibly manage. "Abuelita, it's been like forever, when are you going to be coming over to my house again?" Noah's face was pressed firmly against the woman's chest but his words were practically shouts so this did little to dampen the sound of them. "When can I go over your house again, I love it there, even if we only speak Spanish and no English. I'm learning really fast."

The energy of children never ceased to amaze Rafael, he merely smiled, eyes wrinkling at the edges as he sat himself across from his mother. Lucia plucked the child from his haphazard position in her lap and resettled him so he was fully seated against her, his head coming just below her chin. She laughed quietly in her throat as she breathed in his scent while wrapping her arms around his middle. "I was wondering the same thing myself young man. I think Papí has some explaining to do doesn't he?" Lucia joked, leaning her head over Noah's shoulder so they could make eye contact with each other before turning on Rafael.

The man in question held up his hands in defense, "well it seems great minds do, indeed, think alike." Rafael smirked before leaning his elbows against the tabletop to pitch his face closer to his two companions. "I was hoping you two could help me with something." There was something in his tone Lucia noticed, something she had grown accustomed to hearing in his voice over the last 12 months, the light ring of joy.

Between them a plan was hatched. Noah would be staying over his mother's house on the night of Rafael and Olivia's official anniversary.

Once the day was finally upon them and Rafael was a bundle of nerves. Was this something they were ready for, would she accept his offer, would she be upset with him once the evening was through? He tried not to dwell on his nerves, not wanting to keep himself from enjoying the culmination of this past year. An evening of quiet and intimacy of only the two of them, a luxury they rarely requested, Noah was a huge part of their lives and they wanted him there as much as he could be.

After a simple home-cooked dinner the couple found themselves wrapped in each other, spinning lazily on their feet as soft melodies flitted through the home they shared. Eyes closed and touches ghosting over skin, a blanket of contemptment fell over them, Rafael found that all his nerves coming into this occasion were gone. Keeping one hand wrapped around one of Olivia's and the other pressed into the middle of her back Rafael leaned his head away from her's. "Liv," his voice was gruff from disuse and emotion.

Softly and slowly her eyelashes fluttered open and her boundless brown eyes locked with his tender green ones. "Hmmm," was all Olivia could seem to muster, too at peace to dig for words.

Rafael swallowed subtly enough that it went unnoticed by his partner, this was the moment he would ask her something very big, "there is something I want to ask you, have been wanting to ask for a little while now." Any remaining shuffling of the couple's feet slowed and then stopped so they could focus solely on the other person.

Glancing briefly down to his feet Rafael righted himself to his full height, he cleared the thickness of apprehension from his throat and once again held Olivia's gaze. "I know we have only been together a year, but I don't think I have ever been happier than I am now and I can only think of a very few things that could make me happier." With this he dropped the hands that were holding Oliva, who in turn brought her own hands to her face, willing the dam of emotions to hold on, for just a short while.

Rafael reached into his inside breast pocket for something and Olivia's breath caught. Upon hearing the sharp intake of breath Rafael wondered again if he was doing this the wrong way, would she be disappointed with his approach? Soldiering onward Rafael withdrew his hand from his jacket, bringing with it a piece of paper. By the looks of it Olivia could tell it was something that had been carried around for quite some time and the worn edges on the folds indicated it had been opened and reopened many a time. Though curiosity got the better of her Olivia noted with a pang of regret that it was not a velvet box Rafael held in his hands.

Rafael felt his nerves return full force, palms and brow taking on a noticeably clammy feel. "I have loved spending this last year with you and our son, and to be honest I'm not sure if this is a gift for you or me but- the first anniversary is meant to be the paper anniversary - and I thought our paper gift could be becoming a real family?" The hope in his eyes outshone the anxiety as he held her gaze and unfolded the paper, "Would you allow me the honor of legally becoming Noah's father?" He was shaking and nearly crying by the time the question escaped his lips, nothing more than a bumbling, feeble voice falling from him. The paperwork was totally complete, all that was left to do was to submit it all, with Olivia's blessing.

A bubble of laughter rose from Olivia's throat, the kind that even crying cannot contain. "Rafi, look at me," her hands grasped the sides of his face ever so gently. Tipping her head forward Olivia pushed the side of her nose to the side of Rafael's "This last year has been my happiest so far too, Rafa, and there aren't many things I can think of that could make it better. But this," she motioned her hand to indicate the certificate of adoption, "this is definitely one that will make me happier. I love you so much baby, our son loves you so much. And I think it is about time the whole world knew how much we loved each other." Kissing him briefly Olivia once again found herself wrapped up in Rafael, swaying even more softly than before, this time tears warmed their cheeks and happiness surrounded them.

"We can tell Noah about it tomorrow when your mother drops him back home." Olivia eventually broke the trance they allowed themselves to fall into. Rafael hummed his assent into her neck. The sun had long since set past the horizon and darkness mostly shrouded the living room they found themselves in. Once again slowing their feet to a stop Olivia kissed the corner of Rafael's eye, to his cheek, to the tip of his nose, and finally his lips. Each kiss soft and chaste but full of love. "To be totally honest, I thought you were going to ask me something different tonight," Olivia confessed with rosy cheeks and a bashful gaze.

Rafael felt his heart constrict, he did feel badly for misleading her like that. "Oh," was all he could bring himself to say, unable to even meet her eyes.

Liv simply chuckled and carded her fingers through his hair, "It's okay Rafa, like you said we've only been together a year." Rafael plucked Liv's hand from his hair and pressed his lips to her palm.

Not wanting to let things be turned sour due to unmet expectations Rafael suggested they call it a night and took his love to bed. Both had work the next morning, and Rafael had a plan to stick to.

It was late afternoon the very next day that Lucy rang Barba to tell him that she and Noah were home from school, and Noah was not-so patiently awaiting his arrival. Barba thanked her for her complicity in his scheme and began to pack his things for the day.

With a turn of his key and a push from his hand Barba was welcomed home by the impatient stare of his son, "finally Papí, it took you forever to get home from work. I need your help with my outfit, I can't get the tie right and Lucy doesn't know how to do it. Abuelita is taking a super long time to get here too. I just want Mamí to get home already!" Noah had to suck in a deep breath after his little tirade.

"Hi mijo, of course I will help you with your tie, let me just put my work stuff in my room and get my new shirt on, then we can finish getting ready together." Barba lovingly ruffled the curls that bounced every which way on the top of his son's head before heading in the direction of the bedroom he and Olivia share.

Moments later Barba emerges from his room suspenders hanging at his sides and fiddling with the buttons at his cuffs. He hears a lot of Spanish coming from the kitchen and knows his mother has arrived. He changes directions and moves his feet to take him to the kitchen, there he finds Lucy, Noah, and his mother.

"Hola Mamí, como esta?" (how are you) Rafael finishes with his cuffs and leans over to kiss his mother on the cheek.

"Oh mijo soy muy emocionado! Gracias por dejarme ser parte de esto."(I am so excited. Thank you for letting me be a part of this) After kissing his cheek her hands find them.

"Lucy are you sure you don't want to stay, you are more than welcome." Barba offered one last time to the young woman who had become a member of their little family.

Laughing Lucy threw her arms around Rafael giggling, "as much as I would genuinely love to, I actually have a date tonight." Getting a squeeze from Rafael Lucy pulled back and locked eyes with him only to see such a light, pure happiness there, "She's going to cry for sure, I can't wait to hear all about tonight."

With a slight pink hue coloring his face Rafael's head bobbed a bit "I hope it goes well."

"There isn't doubt in mind she will say anything but yes." Lucy called to him while she pulled her shoes on.

"I want to hear all about your date too, young lady." Barba called out to her by way of a goodbye.

Clapping his hands he turned back to his mother and his son, "okay people let's get this show on the road."

It was about three hours later that Olivia finally arrived home, confused she knocked on the front door, having received explicit instructions from Barba to do so. After only a moment the door is slowly pulled open to reveal her son dressed in dark grey dress pants, a soft orange and mint green button down shirt partially hidden by a dark grey vest, what looked to be cream, orange, and mint paisley suspenders paired with a mint tie with orange and white flowers. The whole ensemble was very endearing Olivia couldn't take her eyes off her little boy, but eventually her eyes wandered up to his face with his bright, shining eyes and an ear-to-ear beaming smile.

"Hola Mamí" Noah's small squeaky voice floated to her ears, it was then Olivia noticed Noah was holding something, "please hang up your coat and make yourself comfortable." Chuckling Olivia did as instructed feeling as her son followed along with her every move, once her coat and shoes were off she turned back around and crouched down to get to Noah's level. Instead of hugging her as Olivia expected Noah thrust what he was holding into her hands. Looking down she noticed it was a piece of paper detailing a menu, written in the combined script that she recognized as Raf's and Noah's.

"Hi baby, what's this?" Finally receiving the hug she was looking for.

"Me, Papí, and abuelita made this for you to have for dinner!" He said bouncing on his toes, which she laughed to realize were encased in mint and orange spotted socks. "Like a family!"

Standing up Olivia felt her throat constrict, it's what she always wanted. "Thank you Noah, that's so sweet of you!" She started to make her way make her way back towards the bedroom. As she entered she was unhooking her badge from her where it rested on her hip. Looking up, draped across the bed was a pastel orange and cream dress that she hadn't yet had the chance to wear. It had a sweetheart neckline and an A-line waist that complemented her curves very nicely. Smiling she moved to get ready for dinner with her family.

Emerging moments later she padded barefoot into the kitchen to find the table was set, curiously with all paper products. Olivia's eyes fall on Lucia, who, she notices, is wearing a mint and light grey suit. "Hi Lucia, this is so sweet of you to do for all of us,"

Placing the final dish on the table Lucia met Olivia's gaze with a sweet smile gracing her features, "oh no mjia, this was all those boys of yours, I'm just here for the fun stuff."

Bemused Olivia's eyes darted from side to side looking for her boys. Turning she finds them standing side by side in the doorway, matching perfectly, from ties to toes. She doesn't think she has ever seen anything more adorable.

"Welcome home mi amor," Rafael says leaning in for a quick kiss.

"So this was your idea?" Olivia quirks an eyebrow to question her boyfriend.

With a quick glance to their son Barba simply shakes his in the negative.

"I helped too!" Noah interjects. At which point Barba scoops him up and brings the giggling boy to his seat at the table. "Come on Mamí I'm so hungry."

Chuckling Olivia can only follow along, "okay my sweet boy." She pulls out her chair and seats herself at the table. "I gotta ask, what's with the paper plates?"

Olivia had looked to Raf to answer but was surprised to hear the voice of her son instead. "Well Papí told me that first anniversaries are paper ones so we used paper stuff to celebrate!"

All the adults swoon at the bubbly young spirit they were blessed to have in their lives. "That is so very thoughtful of you Noah, thank you so much I love it."

Dinner passes as normal, there isn't much Spanish spoken to give Olivia a bit of break from having to translate too much, although she could speak it conversationally English was just easier for her and the other members of her family spoke it without effort. Clearing the table was easy with all the disposable dishware. As she sat and watched her family move around a smaller, daintier paper plate was placed in front of her.

"I don't know if I have room for any more food after those delicious enchiladas."

"Pero Mamí, Papí y yo made these just for you!" (But Mami, Papi and I…)

"If you made them just for me I guess I better have some!" Rafael handed out a few bueñuelos de vientos (fritters) to everyone that were quickly gobbled up into already full bellies. Once again the table was cleared quickly at which point Noah jumped up and down, loudly announcing, "presents!"

"Presents!" Rafael parroted, and the were off running. Only moments later they were sliding back into the kitchen, socks against hardwood carrying them further than normal.

Lucia and Olivia were waiting patiently at the table sipping coffees with a cup cooling for Rafael and some chocolate milk for Noah.

"I've never felt so spoiled in all my life." Olivia's smiled stretched wide across her face.

"We love you Mamí you should be spoiled."

"Everyday of your life." Rafael added quietly. Once again Raf and Noah took their seats.

Noah went first sliding a paper card his mother's way. On the front was a bright, if messy, "Happy Anniversary" scrawled across the front, opening the card she saw a drawing of four people each with names written underneath: Noah, Mamí, Papí, and Abuelita, and along the top was written "Mi familia." Shifting her eyes over to her son Olivia tells him, "thank you sweet boy I love it, and you of course."

Piping up once more Noah says, "Papí and I made these for you too," and handed her a bouquet of origami flowers. Tears were starting to pool in Olivia's eyes, she really had never felt this kind of loving attention before. "There are messages inside for you too." Carefully unfolding a randomly plucked flower she was met with Rafael's familiar script spelling out a loving message. "You are the love of my life and I know in my heart that our love will never die, just like this flower will never die."

"Rafa, I love you so much," her voice watery and tight with tears.

After allowing the couple a moment to themselves Lucia interjected, "I have a little something for you too mija." Slowly Lucia slides a small paper box in Olivia's direction gaining all of the younger woman's attention.

"You didn't have to get me anything Lucia!"

"Yes I did mija, you have brought so much light and love into my son's life and into my life, I want to have the chance to give that back to you." By the end of her explanation there are tears trickling down Lucia's cheeks, knowing what was coming next.

Before reaching for the delicate paper box Olivia moves her hand to squeeze the hand of the woman who is the closest thing she has had to a real loving mother. An almost inaudible "thank you" falls from Olivia's lips. Turning her attention to the gift now sitting in front of her Liv carefully lifts the lid, once she peeks inside she feels all her breath being sucked out of her lungs. Lifting one hand to her mouth Liv's other hand lifts the box closer to her. Not quite believing what she is seeing Liv sweeps her eyes to the chair her boyfriend had occupied only to find it empty. Turning once more Olivia finds her son and boyfriend shoulder to shoulder with Rafael on one knee.

"Rafa?" Olivia is shaking now, but she adjusts herself so her whole body now faces the two most important men in her life. Noah has the most magical expression on his face, one of pure and complete joy.

Billowing out his cheeks with a big exhale Rafael locks his gaze with Liv's, "Liv you have given me so much, and not just in this past year, but since the day I met you and I do my best everyday to give you what I can back. You deserve so much more than I have to give but everything that I have and everything that I am is yours. I want you to feel every day how loved you are and how much you mean. I want you to be able to carry me and our family around with you wherever you go. But more than that, I want the world to see all these things and know that you are loved and you have a family who loves you and that you deserve it all and so much more." Taking a moment Rafael steadies himself with a deep breath. Olivia has moved to stand in front of both Rafael and Noah during his speech, so Rafael takes her hand and continues, "so, mi amor, if you'll let me I want to put that ring on your finger and I want to marry you."

They both have tears in their eyes by the end of this, and so does Lucia, Noah's hand still rests on his father's shoulder and is now gripping tighter than before. Liv falls forward into Rafael's arms, giving herself over to him. He feels her nod more than anything but wants to hear her say it, "Yes? Are you saying yes Liv?"

Pulling back Olivia runs her thumbs under Rafael's eyes to catch the few tears that have escaped. "Yes, yes I'm saying yes! I never really imagined being a bride, or even being in love when I was younger, I didn't know much about it, didn't understand it. And for so long I so wanted a family to love and it never seemed like it was going to happen. Then I got you, Noah," Olivia runs a hand gently over her sons hair and notices his eyes shining with some unshed tears so she leans over to leave a kiss and a nudge to his nose. "And I thought, finally, finally I have a family. Then you were there, everytime I needed you you were there for me, for us. What you've given me everyday has been nothing less than a miracle and I love you so much for it Rafa." Finally Olivia kisses him Once they part she laughs a little, like wind chimes in the breeze Rafael thinks. "Why don't you get off this uncomfortable floor and get over to that ring?"

Biting his lip Rafael nods, "I love you."

The trio moves over to the table once more so Rafael can extract the ring from it's paper box and slide it onto the third finger of Olivia's left hand. She lets her gaze rest on the ring for a moment or two, it's a beautiful piece of jewelry a simple white gold band meeting in a swirl around a singular square cut diamond.

"It's perfect," Olivia says.

He knows it's cheesy but says it anyway, "just like you." Rafael smiles, "it was my Abuelita's, Mamí and I thought she would like it best right there, on your finger."

Lucia pipes up from her place at the table, "She always hoped Rafi would find someone to love him like you do Olivia, I think she would have liked nothing more than to have that woman wearing her ring."

There is a happiness like none of them have ever quite felt before in the atmosphere around them. Once tears are dried and hugs and kisses given the little family moves their celebration to the living room. It's there they decide to take a picture, their first family picture.

Days later when they have friends, mostly the squad, around to share the happy news the picture is hanging on the wall of the living room proudly, displaying that first night they felt truly like a family. They knew, too, that it was going to be the first night, and the first picture, of many that they would share together as a family. And they couldn't wait.

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