Chapter Text
"Hey," Rafael said softly as he leaned against the doorframe of her office. "Heading out?"
Olivia glanced at the time before taking off her glasses. "Think I am." She stacked the pages in front of her into a neat pile. "You have plans for the holiday?"
"Besides that party you're dragging me to? No."
"Don't sound like I held a gun to your head."
"You basically did. You had Noah beg me to come."
Olivia chuckled as she shrugged. "No plans with your mom?"
"She's on a cruise." He stepped to the side as Olivia walked out the room. "She wanted me to come but..." he waved a hand dismissively.
"You should have left. We would have been okay without you."
"I wanted to stay, plus, I'm not a big fan of boats." He resisted the urge to put a hand on the small of her back. "I know you said not to, but I got a gift for Noah."
"Another one Barba?"
"Shoot me for buying a good kid some gifts."
"I won't. Thank you."
"I'll drop it off after he goes to bed on Christmas Eve."
Olivia smiled softly, he was always so considerate.
"I know it's late, but, you want to grab a drink?"
"I would love to..."
"But Noah," Rafael finished, hoping she couldn't hear the disappointment. "It's fine. I wasn't thinking. Of course you want to go home to your kid."
"Maybe another time."
"Sure. Get home safe Livia."
"You too."
_____
"Mommy, look!" Noah yanked on her hand, "Uncle Rafa!"
Before Olivia could chastise her son for yelling, she got a whiff of a familiar scent and sure enough a casual Rafael was a few feet in front of her. "Hi."
"Hey. What are you guys doing here?"
"I had to talk to Santa one last time."
Rafael narrowed his eyes. "Didn't you talk to Santa last week?"
"Yep, but, I didn't say one thing." He looked at the line starting to form.
"Go ahead. Don't push anyone."
Rafael stood next to Olivia as they watched Noah run off. "Not staying with him? In a busy mall?"
"I have a clear view counsellor."
"It's still a long way."
"You doubting my running abilities?" Olivia smirked.
"Never. I'm shocked he couldn't write a letter instead of dragging you to the mall."
"Oh I tried. He was adamant about talking to Santa 'in the face'." She looked down at the bags in his hand. "I thought you prepared better than to do last minute shopping."
"I was looking for an ugly sweater for this ridiculous party you're forcing me to go to and I saw the perfect gift for someone."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "I'm not forcing you. Everyone's going to be there."
"Why is it after Christmas though? Shouldn't a holiday party be before the holiday?"
"Because we were all free after."
x
Noah bounced as he waited for the little girl to get off Santa's lap. It was almost his turn. He should have thought of this wish last time he saw Santa.
An elf appeared by his side. "Are you ready to talk with Santa, Noah?"
Noah started to nod, but stopped. "Wait. How'd you know my name?"
"Christmas magic. Duh." He gestured to Santa. "You ready?"
"Yep." He bounded up and jumped onto the man's lap.
"Hello young man."
"Hi Santa," Noah grinned brightly.
"What do you want for Christmas?"
"I want Uncle Rafa to be my daddy," he answered seriously.
"I'm sorry?" Santa raised a bushy, white brow.
"Uncle Rafa," he pointed to the man still talking to his mother, "my mommy's bestest friend."
"And you want him to be your daddy?"
"Uh huh. He comes over lots and for spaghetti night and him and mommy talk. He makes her laugh alot. Plus he reads me stories and we play. He's really fun."
"He sounds really special."
"He is."
Santa looked over at Olivia and Rafael. "You know, making Uncle Rafa your daddy might be a little difficult."
"I know, but, you're Santa. You can do anything."
Santa's eyes twinkled. "I'll see what I can do Noah."
"Yay! Thank you Santa." Noah threw his arms around the man's neck. "You smell like cookies."
"Special cologne. You should get back to your mommy while I talk to the other kids."
"Okay. Me and mommy are gonna make you pizza bagels instead of cookies this year."
"I'm looking forward to that."
Noah hopped off Santa's lap with the help of an elf and ran towards his mother.
"What was all that amigo? You were holding up the line." Rafael teased.
"I had to make sure Santa got my wish extra good."
"And what was this important wish?"
"I can't tell you Uncle Rafa," Noah said with wide eyes, "or it won't come true."
______
"Mommy, can't I stay up for a little bit more?"
"It's way past your bedtime Noah."
"I can just stay here." He sprawled out on her bed. "Then I could keep you company."
"Or I read you a story in your own bed and you go to sleep so Santa can come faster."
"You promise?"
"I pinky promise." She heaved Noah up for the 5th time in the last hour and started towards his bedroom. "How many stories tonight?"
"Ummm... just one. Then I could fall asleep fast and Santa would come."
"Okay. One quick story it is." She dropped him on his bed and he scurried below the covers.
By the time Olivia turned around with a book, Noah was fast asleep. "Good night sweet boy." She dropped a kiss to his forehead and left the room.
xxx
Olivia chuckled softly to herself when she felt the warmth of another body next to her. "Sweet boy it's too early," she started rolling over. "What the fuck?!" She almost hit her head on the nightstand as she launched out of bed.
Rafael rubbed a hand across his face before sitting upright. "Liv?! What are you doing in my bed?"
"Your bed?! This is my bedroom!"
"How can it be your bedroom if I fell asleep in my bed?!"
"Well I dunno what to tell you, this is my bed." She gestured wildly around. "Wait a minute... this isn't my room."
"This isn't my room either." Rafael paled as he crawled out of bed. "Did we get drugged and kidnapped?"
"And they put us in a bed to sleep? Use your head Barba."
"I am trying to make sense of how we both went to sleep in our own beds and woke up in some stranger's room. What's the last thing you remember?"
"Putting Noah back to bed for the millionth time because he was so excited to see Santa's gift. What about you?"
"I had some scotch and went to bed. Maybe we're in a coma."
"Together? We're in a coma together?"
"I don't know Olivia. I'm not a doctor."
"This is so confusing." Olivia rubbed a hand down her face. She pulled back at the unexpected coolness from her ring finger. "What the hell?"
Rafael looked down and noted the platinum band on his left hand.
"Did we get married?!"