Reunion

Chapter 2

Barba had never been more grateful for his phone ringing, he quickly looked down at the screen, "I have to go, this is for Liv." He told Finn shoving the bag with the pastry and the cup of coffee at him as he all but ran from the room.

Finn just shook his head, "I see he didn't bring breakfast for everyone." He chuckled and started making his way towards Olivia's office where Griffin was leaving.

"Hey, Barba brought you breakfast, but he got a phone call and had to leave." He told her handing it to her.

"Barba was here? We didn't have a meeting." She said glancing in the bag she smiled when she saw her favorite and knew the coffee would be perfect too, Barba noticed those kinds of things. After being together for months Tucker still didn't know how she liked her coffee. "I wonder why he didn't stay?" she wondered out loud. She had already turned back to her office and missed Finn roll his eyes and shake his head as he wondered how two people could be so clueless.

Olivia texted Barba thanking him for the coffee and pastry and received a quick your welcome and nothing else, their communication over the next few days wasn't much more than that. When he did stop by the squad room late on Friday Olivia was on her way out.

"Leaving early?" He asked somewhat disappointedly he had hoped maybe they could go out for a quick drink.

"Yea, I need to go pick up my dress for tomorrow night." She told him, "Are we still on for Sunday?"

"Of course, how about the zoo?" Barba asked.

"Oh Noah would love that, you want to come over for breakfast first?" She asked him.

Barba smiled, whatever was going on with the former partner of hers must not be that serious if she was all right with him coming over first thing in the morning.

"' I will bring the pastries and coffee." He told her hoping the smile on her face wasn't too big.

Barba spent Saturday trying not to think about Olivia which was impossible. He couldn't help but picture her getting ready for her night out. He was glad that he didn't know what her dress looked like so he couldn't picture her in it. Of course he had seen Olivia dressed up enough times to know that whatever she was wearing she would be stunning in it. He wondered if she was wearing her hair up or down. He loved it when her hair was down. He shook his head and tried to clear his thoughts of Olivia and what she was wearing and who she was with. He especially tried not to think about this Patrick guy dancing with her tonight. That thought was enough to make him take a much larger drink of his scotch and promise himself tomorrow he would let Olivia know that he wanted to be more than just friends.

He left his apartment early on Sunday morning to make sure the pastry shop would still have everyone's favorites. He picked out two of Noah's favorite chocolate with sprinkles, he hoped Olivia didn't mind. He got their coffee and made his way to Olivia's apartment. When he approached the door he could hear voices from inside. He assumed that Noah was watching cartoons and rang the bell. He almost dropped the pastries and coffee when Patrick Griffin opened the door wearing an undershirt and what he assumed were his pants from the night before.

'Hi, um, I was supposed to…" Barba stammered as he quickly shoved the things he was holding at Patrick, "These are for Liv and Noah." He said before turning and practically running away.

"Hey Patrick, let me know when Barba gets here." Olivia said coming into the living room drying her hair with a towel wearing yoga pants and her NYPD sweatshirt.

"Um, I'm not sure but I think he was just here." Patrick said holding up the coffee and pastries.

"Damn it Patrick, did you explain things to him?" She asked

"Didn't really think that was my place Liv. If you want that man though I suggest you run, because the look on his face said he wasn't coming back." Patrick told her.

"Damn it." Olivia said again before remembering there were two four year olds in the room.

"You got them?" She asked looking over at the kids watching TV as she pulled on a pair of shoes.

"Of course, go get him Liv." Patrick said with a smile.

Olivia flew out of the apartment and down the stairs onto the street. She called Barba while she ran but of course he didn't answer. She spotted him once she reached the street. "Barba" She called out after him and watched him stop and slowly turn back to her.

"What do you want Olivia." Barba asked his voice icy cold.

"I wanted breakfast with you and to go to the zoo with you today." She answered.

"After spending the night with your ex-partner. I'm sorry Olivia I can't do that. If you want something with him I'm not going to stand in your way, I know you have a history, but I can't just be your on and off again person to hang out with either." Baba told her.

"What the hell are you talking about ?" She asked him, "The only history that Patrick and I have is that we were partners over two decades ago and have stayed friends."

"Finn told me you two had issues." Barba practically spat at her.

Olivia rolled her eyes, "You listened to Finn? The only issue Patrick and I had was the he didn't want me going to SVU he wanted me in homicide with him."

Barba stared at her for a second, "Well that still doesn't explain why he's in your apartment half-dressed at nine in the morning."

Olivia was growing angry, "First of all I don't have to explain myself to you, but if you must know Patrick spent the night because his daughter fell asleep before we got back last night and I said they could just stay so didn't have to wake her."

"His daughter?" Barba asked in confusion.

"Yes, Patrick's husband is out of town which is why he couldn't go to the reunion with him so we decided to go together and let Noah and Ella play together." Olivia explained now enjoying the look on Barba's face.

"Patrick's husband?" He asked, his embarrassment beginning to grow.

Oliva smiled a smug smile and took a step closer to him, "Yes, Rafael, Patrick's husband Charles is out of town, are you sufficiently caught up now and would you like to explain your behavior?"

Barba closed the remaining space between them, "My behavior can only be explained by saying that I'm an idiot and that I am sorry. "

"Is it possible maybe you were a little jealous?" Oliva asked watching him squirm.

Barba shook his head, "No, I was very jealous," he said as he took her hand, "I don't want to just be your friend Olivia and I didn't like the thought of you out with someone else last night."

Olivia laced her fingers with his, "If it makes you feel any better Patrick offered to go pick you up half way through the evening because he said I wouldn't stop talking about you."

Barba wrapped his free arm around her waist pulling her even closer, "Want to tell me what you were saying?" He asked her with the first smile since they had started talking.

"I don't want with of us to say anything right now Barba." She told him as she pressed her lips to his.

"Would you like to go back and eat breakfast and meet my first parent now?" Olivia asked him with a smile.

"I'd rather stay here and kiss you again."

Olivia linked her arm in his and pulled him along, "Come on there will be plenty of that later."

The End