Brown Eyed Girl

Chapter 1 Pizza Night

Barba's life is changed suddenly when a cousin passes away and Olivia is there to help him navigate the changes.

"Congratulations Counselor." Finn said patting Barba on the back as they stood in the courtroom.

Barba instantly found himself searching for Olivia's eyes. It had become a habit when a case was decided, good or bad he looked for her reaction. He saw the mixture of admiration and gratitude in her eyes as she gave a measured smile and nod, before turning her attention back to the victim. Barba made his way over to speak briefly with the defendants counsel. When he finished he noticed the victim and her family were gone but the SVU team was waiting for him.

"It's Friday night, drinks to celebrate? I'm buying the first round." He offered.

"I'm never one to turn down a free drink." Finn spoke first.

"We could probably squeeze one in before we need to get Jessie." Carisi said more to Amanda than Barba. Amanda nodded in agreement.

"Liv?" Barba asked hoping more than he should that she would say yes.

"I should…" she started but Finn cut her off.

"You should come out for a drink Liv, it's been way too long."

"We'll all just have one a leave, how about that?" Barba suggested not that he had any other plans for the evening.

"All right one drink." She agreed unable to resist Barba's eager smile.

The bar was crowded with Friday happy hour goers but Barba managed to find them a table in the corner. They ordered their drinks and began to talk about the case that they had just wrapped up.

"Come one guys no shop talk please." Olivia said, "It's Friday night."

"Absolutely, let's look at baby pictures," Finn said as her proudly pulled out his phone to show off the latest pictures of Kevin's son. "I'm not trying to brag but he's very advanced for his age" the proud grandfather announced.

"He's two months old Finn, he can roll over, that's it." Rollins laughed.

"Yes, but he does it faster than any baby you have ever seen." He insisted causing much eye rolling and laughter among the group. "Ok fine, where's the latest picture of Jessie?" He asked.

Rollins and Carisi both reached for their phones. Carisi going first, "This is last weekend at the petting zoo, she loved the baby animals."

"Oh, and here we were on the train." Amanda added.

"Ok Liv, your turn, what amazing things is Noah up to?" Barba asked waiting to see how her eyes would light up when she talked about him.

"He's taking swim lesson. He was so scared at first but now he's doing really well." Olivia smiled proudly showing them a picture of Noah splashing happily in the pool.

They chatted for a few more minutes until Rollins noticed the time, "We should go." She said to Carisi. "Thanks for the drinks Barba, great job in court."

'Yeah, if I go now I might get to see little Finn before he goes to bed."

"I still can't believe they named him after you." Amanda said shaking her head.

"Good night guys, have a good weekend." Olivia said as Barba was paying for their drinks.

"Want to share a cab. Liv?" Barba offered.

Liv nodded as they walked outside noticing that the oppressive summer heat of the last few weeks had given way to the first fall night. "Actually, can we walk?" she asked, "Sometimes I find a walk clears my mind better before I get home."

Barba smiled and without thinking about it placed his hand in the small of her back as they turned in the direction of her apartment. They walked together in comfortable silence at first then slowly started catching up on the things they didn't get to talk about at work, sports teams, shows they wanted to see, and music.

"Favorite music to get ready to in the morning?" Barba asked

Olivia laughed, "The theme song to Paw Patrol?"

"Other than that." Barba laughed.

"Mark Ronson" Liv offered.

"I can see that." Barba said,

"Favorite music to unwind to at the end of the day?" Liv asked not realizing at first how the question sounded until Barba raised an eye brow and smiled at her.

"Van Morrison" Barba told her.

"Really?" Olivia asked in surprise.

"What, not a fan?" He asked her.

"No, I love Van Morrison." She told him as they reached the steps of her building. They stood there awkwardly for a minute neither of them ready to end the evening.

"You want to come up Barba? It's pizza night." Liv offered.

Barba smiled, "I love pizza" he said placing his hand on the small of her back again as they made their wat up her stairs.

They entered her apartment to the sounds of Noah running toward them as soon as he heard the door open.

"Mamma!" He yelled running to them already dressed in his Paw Patrol pajamas.

"Hi my love. Are you ready for bed already?" She asked.

"Hi Liv. Hi Mr. Barba." Lucy said meeting them at the door, "He didn't nap after preschool so he was getting tired. I fed him some pasta and got him ready for you"

"Thank you Lucy." Liv said, "Have a great weekend"

Liv tuned and looked at Barba, "Sounds like I need to get little man to bed."

Barba tossed his suit jacket on the back of the couch, "No problem, where's the menu? I will order the pizza."

"In the drawer next to the fridge, thanks. Can you tell Mr. Barba goodnight Noah."

"Good night Barba." The sleepy by responded.

"Buenas noches amigo." Barba said briefly rubbing his back.

"I shouldn't be too long. There's wine in the cabinet if you want some, sorry no scotch." Olivia said before making her way down the hall towards Noah's room.

Barba made his way to the kitchen found the menu, ordered the pizza and the located the wine and corkscrew, He poured two glasses and made his way into the living room. Suddenly he realized how the entire scene might look from the outside. Truth be told he liked how it looked from the inside even if he wasn't entirely sure what it all meant.

In the corner of the living room he spotted something he had never noticed before, a record player. He made his way over to it and began flipping through her record collection, until he found one that caught his eye. He hesitated only a second before removing it from the sleeve and placing it on the player. The song was just starting when Olivia came back in.

"I see you found my collection." She said.

"This is great Liv, Where did you get it?"

"It was my mom's" She said and Barba couldn't help but hear the slight sound of sadness in her voice.

Just then the first song ended and a familiar refrain started on the second. "Well, I think your song is playing." Barba said with a smile holding a hand out to her.

"Barba…"She said uncertainty in her voice.

"Liv." He said with a smile

Oliva held her hand out as he took it and began to dance her around singing along with the music.

"Hey, where did we go days when the rain came? Playing a new game. Laughing and a running, skipping and jumping….and you my brown eyed girl." Liv relaxed into Barba's arms enjoying the sound of his voice and the closeness of his body.

The song was ending at the bell rang. "That's probably the pizza." Liv said suddenly aware of just how close they were.

"I guess Moondance will have to wait." Barba said in a low voice before letting her go.

As he was making his way to the door Barba's phone rang. "I'll get the pizza you get your phone." Liv told him suddenly needing a little distance.

Liv was turning to carry the pizza to the kitchen when she almost ran into Barba with the box. His face showing great concern.

"Barba what's wrong?" She asked.

"I have to go Liv. I'm sorry. It's cousin Claudia she's been in a car accident and it doesn't look good." He explained.

"Oh Barba, can I do anything?" She asked

Barba shook his head, "No, I just need to meet Mami at the hospital."

"Call me when you can." She told him, wishing she wasn't holding a pizza so she could hug him.

"I will" he said before adding, "Thanks for the dance Liv."

TBC