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Rafael's POV

My eyes went wide as Olivia leaned away from our kiss. I hadn't expected her to kiss me, especially since she wasn't happy to join me today.

"Rafa." Olivia said through her smile. I was still too shocked to respond, so Olivia turned to my mother and grandmother as they approached us.

"Mrs. Barba, Mrs Diaz, it is an honor to meet you both. I'm Olivia Benson, Rafa's girlfriend." Olivia spoke quickly.

"The Olivia that Rafael talks about all the time?!" My mother exclaimed as she turned to look at me.

I blinked a few times before clearing my throat.

"Yeah, Olivia is that one." I smiled. Olivia reached out and wrapped her arm around my waist before pulling me close.

"Well, you two are late. I guess we will have to get to know this very special lady afterwards." Abuela smiled, before turning and heading back towards the church. I grabbed Olivia before we joined them and eyed her.

"You kissed me." I whispered, and Olivia nodded.

"Yeah, and don't get used to it. Now, hussle. I don't need to get in trouble on the day I meet your family."

///

Olivia had a hard time listening during the service, but so did I. I know that I was distracted from the quick and sudden kiss earlier, and I was assuming Olivia was just worried about when my mother and grandmother decide to interrogate her. 

"Where's Olivia?" My mother asked as I led her outside. Abuela was inside with a few of her friends, so my mother was going to use this time to privately interrogate me without interruption.

"She ran to the bathroom before we leave. Why?" I replied.

"Well, because I was just worried that she may have gotten lost or seperated from us." My mother smiled sweetly.

"Yeah right. Just spit it out." I sighed.

My mother pulled me over to the side before gently grabbing my hands and squeezing them.

"Love, is she good to you?"

"Mama, I wouldn't have introduced her to you and Abuela if Olivia was abusive or anything. We have been friends since I started at SVU, and things just merged into a relationship. Everything is wonderful." 

"Are you-"

"I'm sure! Now, can we find Abuela and Olivia? I'd like to eat some lunch and get this trial over with." I smiled.

"It won't be like a trial, Rafa!"

"Really? I'm sure you are going to ask about Olivia's previous partners."

///

We all went back to my mother's apartment after church. Olivia and I drove together, so we worked on our story some more to ensure that everything didn't get fucked up. When we arrived, Olivia grabbed my hand and I could feel how sweaty and shaking it was.

"Hey, are you nervous?" I asked, and Olivia nodded quickly as we walked up the stairs and to my mother's floor.

"Rafa, I know that this is fake and all... but after we break up, I'd still like your mother to like me. I don't want her to hate me or anything, so sitting down and talking... I gotta do a good job and not fuck up." Olivia whispered. I reached out and pulled her into a tight hug as a few random tears slipped down her cheeks.

I had been so worried about myself that I didn't really think about Olivia at all. Even after our 'break-up' Olivia and I would still best friends. We would still be a part of each other's lives and what comes after this relationship.

"I'm so sorry that I didn't even really think about you... But when we break up, I'll make sure that my mother doesn't hate you. Okay?"

"Rafa, who do you think she'll believe when we break up? She'll think I was cheating on you or something and she'll hate me from then on." Olivia sniffled.

I frowned deeply before stepping forward and hugging Olivia tightly again. We stayed in the embrace for several moments before parting.

"I won't let it get to that point. Now, we really should go in. They are going to be wondering what we are doing, and both probably think we are doing each other."

///

Since we took our sweet time to show up at my mother's apartment, we didn't have time to visit before lunch was ready. So we all sat down and ate, and I noticed that Olivia wasn't doing more than playing with it. 

"Are you not hungry?" My mother asked Olivia.

"Sorry, Mrs. Barba. I'm just not feeling it right now... if that makes sense." Olivia sighed weakly.

"I can make you something else if that would help." My mother smiled.

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm fine." Olivia replied. There was some silence before my mother asked questions. I was hoping that Olivia had the answers and wouldn't completely blank.

"So how did your relationship start?"

"There was a hard case that we worked on together, and we needed support afterwards. We found it in each other." I replied a little too fast.

"Uh-"

"It was a kidnapping and a murder. It just hit us both hard and we needed to lean on each other." Olivia spoke, and my mother believed her over me. 

"I'm glad you two have each other."

"I'm glad too." I spoke softly as I looked over at Olivia.

We talked for a while long before I went into the kitchen to help my mother with clean up. Olivia moved into the living room to talk to my grandmother. I was hoping that everything would be okay, but I didn't have much time to worry about that.

"Olivia is a lovely girl." My mother smiled.

"She is."

"Rafael, do you see a future with her?" My mother asked, and as I turned and stared out the kitchen door, I saw Olivia sitting beside my grandmother.

For a moment, I contemplated if I did see a future with Olivia, and if that future may change from us being best friends and into something else. It was all fuzzy right now, but it might clear up in the future.

"I think I might."