#is sonny the muse i expected to add next | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

darlingnisi · 7 years ago

Text

Celebration Day 3 : VIP Edition

Part 2 Here!

Funk Soldiers Panel

Shelby J

Kat Dyson

Xavier Taplin

Joey Rayfield

Kip Blackshire

About Last Night... (The Prince on the Big Screen event)

A lot of reherasal

Kirk organized everyone, got the materials out

Biggest challenge was that there were a lot of performers who worked with P at different times so the arrangements of the songs were often different. Hard to sync up with the show or pick the right one to use at first

Shelby said it was hard not to turn and look at him on the screen

The fludidity of the performance came with experience because they knew what P expected of them musically

Kat said “having him in my ear floated me back to my time with him” The instructions he gave inside of the performance still applied

Joey noted that he better understood the difference between just playing and performance from his time with Prince

“I almost forgot he wasn’t there”

Kat Dyson Origin Story (Guitar)

Recommended by Sheila E. Kat and Rhonda Smith met Sheila while demoing gear at an industry show. Sheila asked for their music as she had an idea to do an all girl band at the time. She got sick and gave their info to P. P took them both on.

Their audition was a four hour jam session in 96. P asked Kat “How much of my material do you know...and how much did you buy?”

Her favorite P music are the soundtracks, especially Batman and her favorite songs are Joy of Repetition and Question of You.

She and Rhonda did an arrangement for Question of You for him.

Xavier Taplin Origin Story (Organ)

Played with and was reccomend by Gouche, another NPG member

Audition was P on Bass and Job Blackwell on Drums. They played 777-9311 and P had him solo for 60 bars. He fell back into the groove and P told him to keep going...fell back into the groove again...and P told him to keep going. P put his bass down, walks over to Xavier, and stands “uncomfortably close for 15 seconds just looking at me” he then says “We’re going to have a lot of fun.”

Joey Rayfield (Trombone)

Gets a call from Adrian Crutcfield about an audition in Charolette North Carolina. Gets PDF of a chart for Xtraloveable and realizes it’s for Prince

They have a Skype audition.

Time passes and he randomly got an email with a Delta ticket to Minneapolis. He quit his job and left for Paisley.

At first played on Andy Allo’s Supeconductor sessions.

Story : during a rehearsal P slowly walks up to the stage and says “You and Ida go play ping pong and if you win, I’ll play you. Joey wins and plays Prince. Joey’s in his dress shoes though and is slipping and sliding everywhere. P stops the game, moves a rug to be under Joey and says “I ain’t got no insurance.”

Story from Kat : I played basketball with him. Nobody told me not to block his shot. The game was over after that.

Kip : I was playing with him in the Daisy Chain video.

Kip Blackshire Origin Story (Vocals)

Morris Hayes invited him to a Carlos Sananta show and Jam session at Paisley. Kip absently playing basketball. Hears a “clang” (P dropping his guitar). P comes over and squares up with Kip. Kip passes P the ball, and P checks him hard in the stomach with it. Kip says he isn’t dressed to play and P tells him to come back the next day to play for real. The next day they play a 2 on 2 game. Kirk/Prince vs. Morris/Kip.

Was cleaning up in the bathroom and absently singing. P overhears and invites him to sing with them in the studio. P asks him if he knows Little Red Corvette and Kip says “I wasn’t allowed to listen to you growing up.” Instead P played guitar and Kip answered his licks with his voice. He was invited to join the band and the first song he sang on was Undisputed from Rave.

Shelby J Origin Story (Vocals)

Audition for Larry G’s band. Got in and was at 3121 doing a rehearsal. Kept being told to re-sing Higher Ground. It was P asking.

Was singing I Can’t Stand the Rain during a show. Crowd goes wild and she thought she was “DOING IT!” turns out P had come on stage behind her and was plugging up his guitar to join them. He came up to her mic and sang cheek to cheek with her for that song.

Was in Walmart getting supplies at home when she got invited to sing at one of his shows NYE. From there she was asked to join the band and their next gig was the Superbowl.

Arrangement Panel with Michael B Nelson

Had done work with Micheal Bland. There was an idea for a warm up group early 90′s. Dave and Kathy Jenson with Michael B Nelson, Sonny, and Tommy B made up a 5 piece band. They recorded some tracks and sent it to P. P told them to go to a Carmen Electra rehearsal to be filmed. Time passes asked to come to the soundstage at Paisley...saw pedal boards set up P was there! NPG was very tight at this time so P just held up a signal and they started into Madhouse 4. The horns were shocked for a moment then fell in (this was their audition). They jammed for 6 hours then recorded for the first time that same day....Sexy MF? (This may be wrong...he mentioned that they recorded for the first time that day, then a moment later said the first thing they recorded was Sexy MF as part of a different story so...take that how you will)

Told to get their passports together. They joined him on the Diamonds and Pearls tour

There were 11 semi trucks and 110 people in the entourage for the D&P tour. Their first stop with him was Tokyo

Hornheads was formulated as a horns only group since they were on with P and couldn’t play with anyone else, they just made a mini group to keep their chops up during down time. Mike Nelson wrote the tunes and they have 3 albums.

“Even when he was giving you a hard time, he’s just pushing you”

Q: What was it like during the 90′s? Every office was filled. He gave you exactly what you needed to fufill a task. You didn’t ask for additional questions...you had to trust yourself and know that he trusted you to use your creativity wisely.

Prince preferred Duke Ellington’s style of horns

P would send Mike tapes of a lead line and melody and Mike would add horn parts.

Mike did Black Muse, new Xtraloveable, When She Comes, Groovy Potential, Morning Papers and more (He’s been around for about 25 years)

Percentage of things recorded to released of the work Mike did. 50%

He co-wrote Billy Jack Bitch. While they were working on something, Mike played P a song during tape change. P said “Who do I have to pay to use that” The instrumental part of Billy Jack Bitch was written by Mike.

Story : Working on something and Mike B was impressed with how it sounded. Forgot everything he said could be heard in the control room by P. Commented “man that is funky” P responds “yes it is.”

Story : Tenor sax was playing a solo while working on something and it didn’t go well. When it was done, from the control room P says “You guys see Waterworld?” Tenor sax guy “No who’s in it” Prince, “Your mama” Tenor sax guy, “Oh it’s good to know she’s getting work!” “Prince falls off his chair from laughing” (Waterworld has a reputation for being a very bad movie.)

Q: Why did you last? P told him “You and Clare Fischer really understand my music.” Was asked to be full time in 2012. He never had a falling out or harsh words with P and P never rejected any of his additions to his songs.

Got our pictures from our tour back. Framing mine for sure! It’s like my 5th picture in here and the only good one, lol...

Funk Soldiers Concert

Honesty we were all kind of weary about this as this seemed to be a remix of the NewPower Soul group to some degree...or at least that concept, but once again VERY happy to be completely checked about the assumption because they were PHENOMENAL and not just because of something that happened...! Set list :

I’m Yours

I Feel For You

Party Man

Girls and Boys

Lady Cab Driver/Irresistible Bitch mashup (!)

1+1+1 is 3 (I LOST. MY. MIND. YA’LL KNOW THAT ONE NIGHT ALONE TIME PERIOD IS MY COMPLETE FAVORITE AND NOBODY DOES COVERS OF THOSE SONGS AND IT WAS SO GOOD!)

The Work Part 1 (I WAS ABSOLUTELY DELIRIOUS! AGAIN BECAUSE THIS IS MY ERA AND NOBODY DOES THIS! I was so into it singing, foot stomping and dancing, I got tapped by security and they asked if I want to go on stage! I 100% always say I’d never do it, but I thought I’d get to jam out to The Work since that goes on for a bit. I got back stage and they said I was to be part of a dance battle (WHAT?! I LEGIT AM THE MOST RESERVED PERSON USUALLY ABSOLUTELY NOT! (And also I guess for The Professor, lol) So me and Lenny Beason (from Purple Underground who thankfully I mostly know in real life so I was comfortable) were to battle to...

Black Sweat (Kip told me to go first so I tried to do every dance I could think of...The Housequake, The Get Off dance, Tried to remember the Purple Funk SF Funknroll dance but my mind blanked so I did some booty pops and stopped on the accents with a pose. Lenny went during the next chorus...then I had to go again. Shelby said I’m her funk sister now and we got T-shirts! My heart was beating so fast ya’ll! It pays to love The Rainbow Children! LOL!

Chelsea Rodgers

Xtraloveable (AGAIN A DREAM COME TRUE I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO HEAR THIS LIVE WITH THESE GUYS DOING THE HORNS!)

Big City

Welcome 2 the Dawn (SO glad they did this instead of Purple Rain! Amazing choice! A Great song!)

Paisley Park

All the Critics Love You in New York/Housequake Jumps

Alphabet Street (Sheila E came out and crowd surfed for a bit)

Very good job! They were very tight, funky, and kept everyone’s spirits WAY up, especially with the EXCELLENT choice of Welcome 2 the Dawn being the only slow song.

This day was the 21st and honestly it was a BLUR. Even if I hadn’t gotten chosen by Ghost Prince to go up, the experience the band gave us with their energy and love made it hard to be sad this day. For me, interestingly I had a harder time on the 20th seeing him up there at the Big Screen event and with all the news that came out on the previous Thursday...did stay in bed for a bit that day to be honest...but “the day” was so full of just AMAZING like he legit came down like “ya’ll don’t cry for me...look at all this that I left behind for you to enjoy!” This day was was distracting with so much information followed by such an explosive show! Everyone was on their feet dancing, singing, hands in the air, just the whole time!

I’m very glad the days for the arena event got switched because it honestly would have been too much for me if it fell on this day...

Last part here!

#prince #prince celebration 2018 #purple homecoming 2018

59 notes · View notes

butihavejoy · 7 years ago

Text

A Disney Prince

As a result of my flu-ridden self’s Disney marathon, have some fever-induced fluff.

It’s absurd, but hey, who would expect anything less.

Barisi, established relationship.

“It’s my honor to award the NYPD Medal of Valor to Det. Dominick Carisi, Jr., for outstanding personal bravery intelligently performed in the line of duty at imminent personal hazard to life under circumstances evincing a disregard of personal consequences.”

The Chief of Department’s voice was dry and monotone, but Rafael was still grinning so widely his cheeks hurt as the mayor put the medal over Sonny’s head. Sonny was smiling too, but in that slightly bemused way he had when he didn’t think he really deserved the praise being lavished on him.

Idiot.

Amanda nudged Rafael, grinning as well. “Have I ever asked you what it’s like to be dating a real-life Disney prince?”

Rafael’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I reject the premise of that question,” he said mildly.

“Which part?” Amanda asked, her smile sharpening into a smirk.

He gave her a look. “The ‘dating’ part.”

Amanda just laughed. After almost a year together, Rafael supposed he and Sonny had finally reached the point where their relationship no longer fazed their colleagues.

Besides, he mused, watching as Sonny made his way back to the line-up of officers receiving medals at the medal ceremony, she had a point. Sonny was brave, and smart, and humble, and had perfectly-coiffed hair: in short, all the qualities of a Disney prince.

Which made Rafael — what, a Disney princess?

He snorted at the thought.

But his smile faded somewhat as the thoroughly asinine comment niggled its way into his subconscious, the way intrusive thoughts are wont to do, and he spent the rest of the ceremony brooding.

Sonny was perfect, and Rafael had come to that realization a long time ago, right around the time he realized that the swooping sensation in the pit of his stomach whenever Sonny walked into a room was not going to go away anytime soon. And Rafael was just full of himself enough that he had never really stopped to wonder what someone as perfect as Sonny saw in him.

Now, though, as Sonny was being awarded NYPD’s third highest medal of commendation, as Sonny was proving himself once again to be perfect — to be a goddamn Disney prince — Rafael had the rather sour thought that he was nothing like a Disney princess.

And probably nothing like what Sonny actually deserved.

Some of what he was thinking must’ve shown on his face when Sonny met up with him after the ceremony, because Sonny’s broad smile faded. “Everything ok?” he asked, bending to kiss Rafael lightly.

“Fine,” Rafael said, forcing a smile.

But Sonny didn’t seem convinced. “Hey, Amanda, we’ll meet you at Forlini’s, alright?” he said over Rafael’s shoulder, and Amanda rolled her eyes.

“As long as you two get your PDA out of the way so that we don’t have to witness it…” She trailed off and leered at both of them.

Sonny laughed. “You know us too well,” he told her, and watched until she was out of sight before looking back down at Rafael. “Walk with me?”

Rafael frowned at him. “You’re in your dress uniform,” he pointed out, rather unnecessarily.

“Yeah, so who do you think is gonna be stupid enough to fuck with us on our walk?” Sonny asked, missing Rafael’s point entirely. “Besides, I figure that’ll give us time to talk.”

“Talk about what?” Rafael asked, letting Sonny take his hand and lace their fingers together as they made their way out of City Hall.

“Whatever bug’s crawled up your ass,” Sonny said cheerfully.

Rafael scowled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he sniped, trying to tug his hand away, but Sonny just tightened his grip.

“Ah, c’mon, don’t lie to me, something’s bothering you, and knowing Amanda, it’s probably her fault.” Sonny gave Rafael a grin that he didn’t quite return, and Sonny’s smile faded somewhat. “Seriously, whatever she said—”

“She said you were a real-life Disney prince.”

Sonny blinked. “Uh...ok?”

Rafael glanced up at him. “She’s not wrong, you know.”

“Um, unless you know something about Staten Island royalty that I don’t—”

Rafael rolled his eyes. “Ok, not the prince part, maybe, but you’ve got the whole Disney protagonist thing down in spades. Sweet, charming, brave, perfect…”

“Stop, you’re making me blush,” Sonny said with a laugh.

Rafael sighed. “See, this is why I didn’t want to say anything,” he grumbled. “I know it sounds stupid.”

Sonny stopped walking, holding Rafael in place next to him. “Don’t,” he said firmly. “Don’t do that. If it’s bothering you, it’s not stupid, ok? So tell me what’s actually going on, besides Amanda’s dumb comments.”

“You are like a Disney prince,” Rafael told him, feeling oddly and quite stupidly emotional, and he couldn’t quite meet Sonny’s eyes. “And you’ve now even got a medal to prove it. And then...well, then there’s me. And I had to pick a Disney role for myself, it sure as hell wouldn’t be a prince. Or princess. If anything it’d be…” He trailed off, and shook his head. “I don’t know, the Beast pre-transformation, maybe.”

Sonny’s lips twitched. “I can see that,” he said slowly. “But Raf, there’s something you need to know.”

Rafael’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

“The Beast was a Disney prince.”

Rafael yanked his hand from Sonny’s. “Thank you for taking this seriously, Detective,” he snapped.

Sonny rolled his eyes. “Rafi, stop,” he said, following him down the sidewalk as Rafael stalked away. “Rafael. Come on, stop.”

“No,” Rafael snapped, knowing this entire damn argument was stupid, possibly stupider than any other argument they had ever had during their entire time together. “I told you it was stupid, and then you had to go and mock me for opening up to you.”

“I didn’t mock you, I just pointed out that technically, the Beast is, in fact, a Disney prince,” Sonny protested, though he couldn’t quite stop his smile. “Besides, you still haven’t told me what any of this is about. I mean, God, Raf, you’re not hairy enough or uncivilized enough to be the Beast.”

Rafael scowled. “Are you sure about that?” he said sullenly.

“I mean, yeah, you’re an asshole, but you at least know how to use a spoon,” Sonny said, his eyes sparkling as he grinned at him. “And you dress a helluva lot better than the Beast.”

“Remind me to tell Bella that you’re not allowed to watch Disney movies with your niece anymore,” Rafael said dryly. “You’re reading way too far into this metaphor.”

Sonny laughed. “Says the guy who made the metaphor in the first place.” He reached out and took both of Rafael’s hands in his own. “But before we get too far down the Disney rabbit hole, let me see if I got this: you think I’m too good for you because I am a Disney prince and you are...not. Right?”

“Again, when you put it that way—”

Sonny cut him off with a kiss, a fleeting kiss pressed to the corner of his mouth. “It’s not stupid,” he said, before Rafael could even get the words out. “I get it Raf, really I do, but what you don’t seem to get is that I’m not too good for you. You’re too good for me.”

Rafael stared at him. “There is literally not a world in which that could possibly be true.”

“Oh, really?” Sonny said, his voice wry. “You’re the one with a law degree from an Ivy League school, a wardrobe that anyone would be envious of, some key investments made when you were still working in the private sector that’ll actually keep you comfortable in retirement instead of scraping by, and that’s just the material stuff.” His expression softened, and he took a step closer to him. “You’re also the smartest man I’ve ever met, and funny, even if half the time it’s because you’re being a sarcastic dick. And you’re so fucking hot, like...shit, Raf.”

Rafael couldn’t help the smile that crossed his face at that. “I forgot to add eloquent to your list of Disney-like attributes,” he teased before leaning in to kiss Sonny.

Sonny laughed lightly against Rafael’s lips. “See, that’s what I mean by sarcastic dick,” he sighed, pressing one more kiss to Rafael’s lips before straightening. “So if you think you’re not good enough for me, don’t. Because I try every day to be the man you deserve.”

Rafael let out a shaky laugh. “You stupid, perfect idiot,” he said, before amending, “My stupid, perfect idiot.”

“Damn straight.” Sonny put an arm around his shoulder and tugged him close to press a kiss to his temple. “Just like how you don’t have to be a Disney prince, Raf. You just have to be my Disney prince.”

Rafael glared at him. “Have I ever told you that I hate you?”

“At least once a day,” Sonny said, grinning. “Have I ever told you that I love you?”

“Yes,” Rafael said. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear it again.”

Sonny laughed and kissed him once more. “I love you. Disney prince or no Disney prince. Now has your crisis of confidence passed enough that we can go back to celebrating me and my accomplishments?”

“I guess…” Rafael sighed, though he was grinning.

Sonny just laughed, and as they continued towards Forlini’s, whistled something under his breath. It took Rafael a second to place it, and when he did, he groaned. “Beauty and the Beast?” he said. “Don’t make me kill you.”

But Sonny just tugged him closer and sang quietly in his ear, “Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme…”

Rafael rolled his eyes. “Idiot.”

Sonny kissed him. “Your idiot.”

“Always,” Rafael told him, kissing his jaw. “Always.”

#barisi #rafael barba #sonny carisi #barisi fic #barisi drabble #svu #established relationship #fluff #bickering #but really like all of the fluff #like an absurd amount of fluff

59 notes · View notes

rauliskafan · 7 years ago

Text

A Hard Lesson in Vanity: Chapter 7

Authors’ Note: Happy Thursday, lovely readers!!! Now that the verdict is in, what exactly is Eve Selby’s next move? And will Rafael get caught in the crossfire? Read on to find out!!! @vintagemichelle91 and I hope that you enjoy!!!

“Hermosa? Are you sure you don’t mind?”

Ducking into a corner of Forlini’s with his phone pressed to his cheek and a finger in his free ear, Rafael waited for Natalia’s answer, his heart sliding some when his wife released a heavy sigh.

“I can come right home if you want,” he continued.

“No; it’s fine. It’s not as if you have a curfew when I chain you to the bed.” He heard a new sigh slip into the smallest of chuckles, and Rafael relaxed against the wall, his lips curling into a smirk.

“Could be fun to give that a try,” he teasingly suggested. “I sort of love the idea of submitting to you.”

“Do you now?” she queried.

Suddenly the celebration seemed a moot point, and he was ready to catch the first cab en route to Natalia’s embrace.

“Is everyone there?” his wife asked. “Or… or is it just you and Ms. Selby?”

He thought he heard her voice hitch in her throat and shook his head while speaking fast.

“No,” he said. “Mike. Fin. Liv and Carisi. Even Rollins… the gang’s all here.”

“Must feel like old times,” Natalia mused. “Have a few drinks. Enjoy yourself. My mother and Trevor might take the girls, and I could do with some down time.”

“How are our bellezas tonight?” he asked.

“Violetta tried her trick on Trevor,” Natalia started.

“Had to help him out when he couldn’t tell the difference?”

“But she swapped the ribbons,” Natalia answered. “My father is still apologizing to Holly for calling her the wrong name. He’s even offered to pay for all the therapy he’s sure she’s going to need.”

“He does realize that she’s only five months old, right?” Rafael asked.

“It’s sweet, Atticus,” Natalia hummed. “Besides, he doesn’t know much about babies.”

In that instant, he could have made a snide comment about his father-in-law’s globe-trotting adventures while he abandoned two daughters of his own stateside, but Rafael let the matter drop and met Natalia sigh for sigh.

“It does sound sweet,” he concurred. “You know what, I’ll just call it a night.”

“No,” Natalia said. “You’ve earned the victory lap. Give… everyone my love.”

“All of this is thanks to you, hermosa,” he stressed. “Because you made me play nice.”

His wife paused again, and he started to speak when his soul was relieved by the sound of her light laugh.

“Will you be the nicest when you finally make your way home to me?” she inquired.

“Without question, hermosa,” he insisted. “And if you want to try something with one of my ties, then I’m all---”

“Just get home safe so I can kiss you closer.”

Natalia punctuated the sentence with the sound of her lips pursed together and smacking through the phone.

“Te amo,” he said. “I’ll see you soon.”

“I’ll leave a light on in the window.”

The call ended. Rafael smiled and returned the phone to his breast pocket. He felt a small grin forming on his face when Carisi rehashed Eve’s prowess in court, and he had to applaud when the detective reached the end of the story.

“Well told,” Rafael said.

“And the next round is on me,” Carisi replied.

Waving towards the bartender, he finished his shot and made sure that Eve had a fresh drink before anyone else. Of that Rafael took note. The other ADA and the detective clinked glasses, and Rafael heard Liv’s voice not too far off until she joined them at the bar.

“Not bad at all, Ms. Selby,” Liv said. “Nice to see Buchanan backed into a corner.”

“A tight fit,” Eve joked. “But I got the job done.”

“That you did,” Liv agreed, and Rafael held his tongue as they toasted, a small part of him feeling as if he was on the outside looking in, recalling memories from school. The short kid only picked for stick ball on Eddie’s say so. Or even at Harvard, something of a token in the scheme of the debate club or mock court. The feeling hardly sat easily in his heart, but this was Eve’s moment and---

“You were just lucky that Barba came back to play on your team.”

Fin stuck close to Rollins as she headed towards them with an empty glass in hand.

“I think you’ve had enough for tonight, Amanda,” he said.

“I say no, Fin,” Rollins said, helping herself to part of Carisi’s recently purchased round. She drank fast and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

“Wonderful job, Eve,” Rollins continued. “We love one in the win column. Don’t you?”

For a second, the detective’s eyes shifted towards Carisi. He blushed and pulled on his drink, but Rollins grabbed his hand and gritted her teeth.

“Is it a win for you too, Sonny?” she asked.

“Amanda, don’t do this,” he implored.

“You like her so much?” Rollins challenged. “Make her dinner. See how far that gets you.”

“Stop,” Carisi warned, and Rafael thought to take her out for some air. But Rollins would not move.

“Why should I?” she asked. “What the hell am I being punished for? Because Declan came back and wanted to spend some time with Jesse?”

“So you keep telling me,” Carisi said, standing fast, his stool falling out from under him. “And what was I meant to be to her? Or you?”

Rollins lip quivered for a second, but just as quickly she bit back her tears.

“You were meant to be my friend,” Rollins said. “But I’m not so sure about that now.”

Stumbling backwards, she said it was time to leave as Fin caught her.

“Think you better come with me,” he said.

“Want to be alone,” Rollins replied, brushing him off and barreling towards the door. The party sat in silence until Carisi was the first to blink.

“I better go after her.” A part of Rafael knew that Natalia would be glad to hear that he was following fast, but then the detective turned back to Eve.

And he took hold of her hand.

“Sorry,” he started. “Rain check?”

“Text me later,” Eve said. “So I know you got home safe.”

With that he was gone, and the others stayed silent until Liv looked to her phone.

“I need to get back to Noah,” she said, patting Rafael’s arm and then Fin’s before staring down Dodds.

“What?” the sergeant asked.

“If you talk to your father, tell him that Noah and I await his swift return.”

“You know how these conferences are,” Dodds said.

“Yeah I do.”

“Hold up, Liv,” Fin said. “I’ll come with. Getting too old for these all-nighters.”

They waved goodbye, and Dodds glanced at the clock of the wall.

“I’m out, too,” he said. “Gotta meet Maggie after her dance class. We’re picking out wallpaper for the bedroom tonight.”

“We?” Rafael queried.

“What? How fast you forget the nursery.”

“Not at all,” Rafael said. “But let’s be real; Maggie’s picking out wallpaper. You, my friend, are nodding and smiling.

“Touché,” Dodds said. “Want to split a cab with me?”

“I---”

“No! Have another drink with me!”

Eve tilted her head to the side and flipped a few locks of her hair over her shoulder.

“I…” Rafael said. For the smallest of seconds, his eyes drifted down the length of her long legs crossed at the knee. No question about it… she was lovely. In another time… possibly…

“I have to get home,” Rafael said. “My girls.”

“I insist on one more,” Eve said. “I need to run something by you real quick.”

Her flirty demeanor evaporated, and she signaled for two fresh shots before standing tall, her face hardening, and suddenly she was all business again.

“Guess I have to listen to the boss,” Rafael said. “Go on without me, Mike.”

“Are you sure?” he asked. “I mean cause… because I can hang here if you need me---”

“And keep Maggie waiting?” Rafael shot back with a smile. “She’d be mad at me for months. Go. Give her my regards.”

He tottered slightly as he started to step towards Eve and the table she had snagged in the back as Dodds peered into his eyes.

“Rafael? Don’t have more than one,” Dodds warned. “Just hear her out and head home to Natalia.”

“Will do, sergeant,” he said, waving, watching Dodds reluctant to depart. Once he was gone, he returned to Eve and slipped into the booth.

“Here’s mud in your eye,” Eve said, and they clinked glasses.

“Salud,” Rafael echoed. “So what’s the topic of conversation?”

“Topic?” Eve echoed.

“I’m guessing our next case. Let’s do this.” Maybe it was the liquor or the triumphant high, but he was ready to work with her again. If he had to. After all, she was gifted.

And he told her as much.

“Do you really think so?” Eve asked. “Coming from you that means… so much.”

“As if I’m so---”

“No, no. Don’t tell yourself short. Everyone’s heard about you sassing a jury. Giving the defense hell. The way… the way you can be so tender and so… so gentle when it comes to your witnesses.”

After a sip, Eve lowered her glass to the tabletop and stretched her arms across the surface. The tips of her nails just grazed the edges of his, and her hand closed for an instant before Rafael fled from her touch and returned to his drink.

“Sorry,” Eve said, “Did I embarrass you?”

“No,” Rafael said, lied, sipping what little that remained at the bottom of his glass and tensing against the leather-backed bench. He expected her to shift back, to laugh it all off as too much alcohol on everyone’s part and turn the conversation back to something like Rollins’ impromptu exit. But again Eve’s hand drifted, her fingers starting to curl around his.

“I had a tall bill to fill stepping into your shoes,” she said. “Daunting at first. But then…”

He froze as her nail found his palm, her touch tracing the lines of his hand.

“But then you handled it with aplomb,” he said.

“Is that your verdict?” she asked.

“I’ll defer to the jury,” he quickly said. “They gave you the verdict you wanted most.”

“For that I’m glad,” Eve said. A small puff of air left her lips, hitting the hem of his sleeve and just creeping up his arm.

“It truly has been something to follow your career,” she went on. “To step into your shoes. Such large shoes to fill.”

“What of it?” he asked, uncomfortable as he caught her meaning.

“Add to it these hands! What else is properly proportioned?”

“Stop,” he said. “We’re not doing this.”

“What?” she innocently asked.

“You know. Look I’ll work with you for as long as I have to. But as for the rest of it I---”

“Fine,” Eve said, signaling for another round of drinks, and Rafael was parched enough to accept the bitter, icy taste before sliding deeper into the booth…

… and seeing nothing but her face.

“Looks like I have a captive audience,” Eve quipped. “And I didn’t even have to tie you up.”

One of her hands moved tightened around his wrist. She hadn’t tied him down; only Natalia had the charms and the means to do that. He had to get home to her…

“Maybe I should see if Mike is still waiting for his---”

“Hold up, Rafael.”

Eve’s hold turned surprisingly strong, and he found himself fixed to his seat and trapped in the path of her eyes.

“Eve… do you want to discuss the next case or what?” he weakly asked.

“Or what?” she echoed. “We’re all good in the courtroom. I knew you’d come back… at the end of your suspension… I’ve wondered how it would play out.”

Now it wasn’t just her hands; her foot slid up his leg, and Rafael’s vision blurred. In what felt like a second and an hour all at once, Eve was sitting at his side, one of her hands at the small of his back.

“What… what about Carisi?” Rafael asked.

“What about him?” Eve challenged.

“You… I mean you brought him to the dinner party,” he said. “Made Rollins upset.”

“She shouldn’t be,” Eve chuckled. “Sonny is sweet. But I was just---”

“Stringing... him... along?” Rafael asked, struggling to speak. “How could you? You know he... he could sit second chair ? And he… he’s my friend. My wife’s friend…”

“They cook together,” Eve said. “Would you like us to put our own spin on that?”

Eve winked, and Rafael wished that he had taken Dodds up on his offer. Scrambling from his seat, he tripped over his own feet, having no choice but to fall into Eve’s waiting arms as she kept him from the floor and sighed into his ear.

“Easy, Rafael,” she purred. “Don’t you trust me?”

“I… I don’t... want to call...”

“Natalia?” Eve asked.

“Always,” he said, finding her eyes as he nodded his head. “She’s waiting for me.”

“She’s sort of sweet,” Eve said. “I bet she’ll wait a little longer. And if you’d like someone a little more... sophisticated...”

The drinks were taking over, his legs like jelly as he scanned her frame, and when his stare settled on her face, he had next to no words.

“I can help you with that,” Eve promised.

"No,” he muttered as her lips fell toward his. “Can’t... don’t want to.”

“Which is it?” Eve asked as she guided him into the night, Rafael’s head growing fuzzier with each step until she patted his cheek.

“It’s alright, Rafael,” Eve whispered. “I’ll figure out what’s best for both of us.”

#raúl esparza #rafael barba #natalia barba #mike dodds #dominick sonny carisi #amanda rollins #olivia benson #fin tutuola #a hard lesson series #a hard lesson in vanity #law and order svu #svu fanfiction

30 notes · View notes

vintagemichelle91 · 8 years ago

Text

A Hard Lesson in History: Chapter 1

Authors’ Note: Time to kick off the summer with the latest installment of a A Hard Lesson series! Let’s get back into the swing of things with the Barba’s and see how they are fairing with the newly arrived twins! @rauliskafan and I hope you enjoy this first chapter and be sure to leave your wonderful feedback!! So much more story to come your way!!

“Oh, they are just perfect!”

“Look! Hazel has my Rafi’s eyes!”

“And I think Holly has Natty’s!”

“The best of both worlds,” Liv commented with a smile as the pair of grandmothers continued to hover over the bassinets placed just shy of the French doors. A spring sunset cascaded into the room casting a gentle glow upon each baby sleeping soundly despite the commotion in the townhouse accompanying their arrival home.

“Hold up!”

Pushing her way through the small crowd also comprised of Maggie and Rollins, Violetta peeked in on her new sisters, scrunching up her little nose when she noticed they only slightly opened their eyes for a few seconds to see what all the fuss was about.

“They need to wake up so I can tell them who you all are,” Violetta sighed as she moved away and took a seat on the sofa next to Harold.

“Don’t worry, Little V; they’ll figure it all out soon enough,” Carisi promised as he patted her head and handed her a chocolate chip cookie to munch on before the main meal.

“Thanks, Tio Sonny. But I no think the babies that interested,” Violetta reasoned.

“You’d be surprised,” Carisi countered.

“I think I right,” Violetta said looking back to the bassinets where the babies still slumbered.

“Also, Hazel and Holly so sleep too much,” she continued.

Chuckling, Rafael joined Violetta on the sofa and pulled her into his lap. “Muñequita, that’s what babies do. They sleep and eat… you did that too.”

“Actually, her eyes were wide open the first few weeks,” Natalia sweetly contradicted as she handed him a drink.

“See! I wanted to know what was going on!” Violetta pointed out smugly.

“You still do,” Maggie teased as she took a seat next to Dodds.

“Nothing wrong with that,” the sergeant said.

“Tio Mike on my side!” Violetta declared.

“Only because I won’t watch the Knicks with him,” Maggie quipped even as she kissed her husband’s cheek.

“They got no defense. But we have fun! Right, Tio Mike?”

As Dodds nodded his head, Violetta sat up a little straighter at the sounds of Alessia and Lucia cooing over the twins.

“I say just sleeping and eating is so boring,” Violetta said, shaking her head. Her honey-colored curls bounced, and Natalia gave her a quick kiss.

“They will be running around with you and Harold in no time, sweet pea,” Natalia assured her with a soft smile. To say that she was exhausted did not even begin to describe one of the many sensations flowing through her body. But add to that, Natalia was also elated at the fact that she finally had all her sweet little girls under one roof along with a husband who was so loving and understanding and sitting right by her side. Everything in its right place as it should be.

“For now, let’s just enjoy my most marvelous party,” Maggie said. Leaning back a little, Natalia took in all the flowers Maggie had procured for the homecoming, beautiful blossoms in full bloom complementing the glorious garden that was her family.

“Muy adorable,” Lucia said as she sat at Natalia’s other side. “Hope they won’t be too much of a handful!”

“Got ten fingers to get me through it,” Natalia said, extending her arms.

“Twenty, Mami!” Violetta chirped. “I going to be so much help.”

“Yes, muñequita,” Rafael said, lifting his little girl up to take her towards the waiting feast.

“Natalia, I’ll do my best to come by and help you after school,” Lucia promised.

“Oh, Lucia! That would be lovely. But only if you have the time,” Natalia said.

“For the gemelas, I will make the time,” Lucia said as she sipped her drink. “Just have to schedule my tutoring sessions for a little later in the evening,” Lucia said.

“When did that start?” Alessia asked.

“At the beginning of the winter term,” Lucia said. “But no worries. My ten fingers can get the job done.”

“I don’t know about that, Mami.” The women whipped their heads around in unison to see Rafael standing before them.

“You don’t know about what, Rafi?” Lucia asked, narrowing her eyes.

“Mami, I don’t like you walking around that neighborhood so late at night,” Rafael stated worriedly as Lucia stood and pinched his cheek.

“Rafi, I know those streets like the back of my hand. And since when are you in the business of giving me a curfew?” she argued back, causing her son to blush.

“That’s where he gets the witty retorts from,” Alessia whispered to her daughter.

“And Violetta from him,” Natalia said. “Maybe at least one of the twins will take a little after me.”

They shared a small laugh as Natalia rose and placed one hand on Lucia’s arm, “Lucia, you come by whenever you can. I’ll appreciate the help at any hour.”

“Gracias, Natalia,” Lucia replied as she looked back to her son. “Take note, mi hijo; that’s what you say when someone offers a helping hand.”

“Guess I’ll have to have my wife give me some lessons,” Rafael said as the older women left them alone, and Natalia took his hand.

“Sounds fun,” Natalia said, lightly kissing his lips. “You as my teacher’s pet.”

“Will I get high marks, hermosa?’ he asked as he winded his arms around her waist.

“I see only gold stars in your future, Atticus.”

When the party was over and Violetta was tucked in for the night, Rafael dished some of the leftover dessert onto a plate and moved to where Natalia watched their sleeping twins. After all the pain they had endured, this felt like life righting the scales and giving them a fresh start, the second chance he would never take for granted.

“Everyone’s out like a light,” he said setting the plate aside and tenderly hugging Natalia from behind as he gave her cheek a chaste kiss.

“Violetta was already getting tired by the time Mike and Maggie left,” Natalia mused. “As much as she wanted to stay up and beat them at game of go fish…”

“Her heavy eyelids won out,” Rafael said with a nod. “I didn’t even make it to the end of the book before she was already snoring a little.”

“I’ll be sure to pick up where you left off tomorrow night,” Natalia said.

“Soon we’re going to have to alternate between Violetta and the twins,” Rafael replied, glancing down at the sleeping babies, his heart soaring.

“Can you believe that they’re here?” he asked. “And all ours?”

“So many blessings,” she said as she held his hand. “I like feeling this lucky.”

“Turn around and your streak can continue.”

Following his suggestion, Natalia looked over her shoulder and started to kiss him when her eyes drifted down to the plate in his free palm, and she simply smiled.

“A plate of dessert for your thoughts,” he suggested.

Natalia’s brow arched. “A dessert this time around?”

“A raspberry tart with pineapple to be more specific, hermosa,” Rafael whispered enticingly into her ear.

“All for me?” Natalia feigned surprise while placing one hand over her chest. “And my thoughts?”

“Absolutely… I want to know everything,” Rafael said, his lips just gliding over hers and one arm bringing her close to his chest so he could trace tiny circles into the small of her back.

“Since you ask so sweetly, Atticus,” Natalia giggled. “My thoughts are of you. Always. And our girls. How all it takes is to have every dream come true to be this incredibly happy.”

“Anything else?” he asked, nuzzling her neck.

“Well all that and the dessert,” she teased.

“Naturally,” he said sitting her on the edge of the bed and feeding her a piece of the pastry after which she pressed her forehead to his.

“You know me so well,” Natalia murmured. “Promise me that this lasts forever.”

“It will. I will see to that,” he said, beyond determined to keep their world this wonderful and make sure no harm ever came their way.

“Our hero in more ways than one, Atticus. Always remember that,” Natalia said as she pulled him towards the bed so they could snuggle under the covers.

“Coming from your lips… how could I forget?” Rafael said, reaching for the plate of raspberry tart to offer Natalia another taste. “Nothing wrong with a little dessert in bed. I think we’ve both earned it.”

Natalia took another small bite. “I don’t think I even got the chance to have dessert at dinner.”

“Why I saved you a plate, hermosa.”

“Always being thoughtful,” Natalia said. Rafael’s stare never wavered as he watched her take a few more bites before her eyes growing weary. Taking the plate back, he eased her further into the blankets, ready to hold her into his dreams.

Just as he was about to doze off, small whimpers emerged from the bassinets.

“Hazel,” he said as Natalia shot up and rubbed her eyes.

“And Holly.”

“Sounds like a pop duo.”

“Anything’s possible,” Natalia said. “As long as they don’t sing like me.”

“No! Don’t say that! I love the sound of your voice, hermosa.”

Thanking him with a kiss, she left the bed and began to hum a lullaby. It was offkey, but it came from her heart and…

…suddenly the twins’ whimpers turned to wails. Rafael rushed to calm them.

“What’s this?” he asked as Natalia held Holly, and he took Hazel. “Don’t we like it when Mami sings?”

“Apparently, they are my sweet pea’s sisters,” Natalia sighed, cuddling the one baby as Rafael stepped closer to her side.

“Hush, gemelas,” he said, laying Hazel back down. “You will learn that your Mami is amazing at so many other things.”

Turning to Natalia, expecting to see her smile, he instead saw her chewing on the inside of her cheek.

“So you’re really not a fan of my singing either, Atticus?”

“I…”

Caught in her gaze and momentarily at a loss for words, he only relaxed when Natalia placed Holly on her pillow and caressed his arm.

“I’m teasing,” she started. “But for that, you have to heat up the bottles.”

“On it,” he said before suddenly stopping in the doorway. “And I’ll sing to all of you when I get back.”

“Now that’s music to this Mami’s ears.”

And having his family this happy was the sweetest song for his soul.

#rafael barba #law and order svu #raúl esparza #svu fanfiction #Rafael Barba/OC #Natalia Barba #a hard lesson series #a hard lesson in history #raul esparza

40 notes · View notes

vintagemichelle91 · 8 years ago

Text

Little Lessons in Expecting: Chapter 1

Authors’ Note: Happy Friday dear readers!! @rauliskafan and I are back with more Natalia and Rafael!! @yourtropegirl just in time for fluffy Rafi friday!! Come along with us as we join them on their journey of preparing and waiting for their twins! We so hope you enjoy this and we look forward to your feedback!!!

“Penny for your thoughts?”

“How about a few of those chocolate chip cookies I think you brought home?”

Smirking knowingly, Rafael revealed a small box of the freshly baked treats from the shop on the corner. And he was rewarded by Natalia’s beautiful smile and the light shining so brightly in her eyes. Ramirez was not in police custody but according to Fin’s sources he was still far away, and it seemed as if the darkness was disappearing from their lives, hopefully never to return.

“Reading my mind, Atticus.” Natalia set the mixing spoon aside and turned to fully face her husband, happily bestowing a loving kiss on his lips as he caressed her hips just beginning to fill out.

“You’re by far my favorite story,” he said, kissing her back sweetly. Natalia excitedly flipped the lid open and moaned as the chocolate melted in her mouth.

“Nice to see that your appetite is back,” he quietly commented. Which was a good thing considering there were two babies on the way, and Natalia needed all her strength.

“Want a bite?” she asked, suddenly seeming aware of him watching her and offering what was left of the cookie. Rafael accepted a small taste and nothing more.

“You can enjoy the rest, hermosa.” With that he kissed her cheek and moved to examine that night’s dinner. The rich smells of another Italian recipe, no doubt courtesy of Carisi. Every single night for the past week, Natalia had whipped up one feast after another. Trips to the deli for a sandwich were also fading into memory, the leftovers making for far more appealing lunches.

“Eggplant parmigiana… Sonny style,” Natalia said as she set the box of cookies aside and went back to the stove to stir the sauce.

“I don’t know whether to thank him or blame him. You’re on your feet all day when you should be taking it easy,” Rafael chastised, watching his wife move around the kitchen at a million miles per hour.

And the last thing he wanted was for something to go wrong.

“Atticus, I’m perfectly fine. Sometimes I think too much about…” Her voice trailed off, the light leaving her eyes, and Rafael wished that he had held his tongue and simply savored the cookie as his hands found their way to her back.

“I shouldn’t have said---”

“It bothers me less and less every day,” she assured him. “Only sometimes…”

“Let it be never,” Rafael said, wrapping his hands around her waist and cradling her growing belly. “I’m telling you he is gone. I promise you he won’t hurt you again.” At the end of another day his family, the most precious thing that he would lay down his life to protect, was still safe.

Closing her eyes, Natalia sighed heavily. “I trust you, Atticus. But sometimes I can’t help but think….” Two tears trickled down her cheeks for the second time that day, the first being when Rafael went off to work as Violetta happily played on the balcony with Harold. Sometimes she still woke in the night, and he held her close, trying to send the shadows away on the winds of his whispers.

“Shh… try to forget, hermosa,” Rafael soothed. “We have so much to look forward to. Now and always.”

“Mami! Papi!” Violetta ran into the kitchen with Harold in tow. “Table all set now!”

Natalia hurriedly wiped her tears and nodded towards Rafael to keep her secret. Without another word, he understood and distracted Violetta with one of the cookies before she could notice that her mother had been crying.

“I think a payment is due.” Rafael bent down to her eye-level and handed his daughter the unexpected dessert before dinner.

“Think I like this \better than stickers.” Violetta happily took a bite and smiled widely. “And Harold work hard, too.”

As always, his little lawyer in training made her case.

“How could I forget!” Rafael handed Violetta another cookie.

“It cause you seventy-eight and it slip your mind, Papi.” Violetta waved him off and walked back towards the table giggling, leaving Rafael speechless and smiling when he turned to see Natalia laughing.

“Why does she keep thinking I’m seventy-eight?” he asked.

“The gray hair, Atticus,” Natalia reminded him as she continued to chuckle.

“Glad someone finds my stressful caseload amusing,” he quipped, knowing that there was no way to explain as much to a three-year-old. Even his most brilliant daughter…

Rafael scoffed and set the box of cookies aside, taking his wife in his arms again. “I seem to recall that you like it.”

“Oh, I do, Atticus. I really do.” Natalia kissed him and fluttered her eyelashes. “Now wash up for dinner so we can finish the rest of the cookies.”

If her sweet tooth was back, then all was right with the world.

“I not a fan of eggplant,” Violetta sighed as she pushed her plate aside.

“Violetta, you need to finish or no dessert,” Rafael warned as he eased the plate back in her direction.

“Say the man who gave me cookies before dinner,” she said, and Natalia laughed again.

“Just one more bite, sweet pea,” Natalia encouraged with a smile. “Give it another chance. It’s yummy!”

“Fine,” Violetta grumbled, closing her eyes to take another taste.

“Finish and you will get tall like Tia Maggie,” Natalia reassured her.

“Tia Maggie not that tall,” Violetta replied. “And this meal worth three cookies.”

“We can arrange that,” Natalia said with a gentle sigh.

“Hermosa, you’re bribing her,” Rafael chided as Natalia flipped a lock of her honey-colored hair over her shoulder.

“I’m cutting a deal,” she pointed out. “All these years living with a lawyer must have rubbed off on me.”

“Touché. But she should eat her vegetables,” Rafael said giving Violetta a firm look.

“Not like you love them so much, Papi,” she said. “Mami always having to add cheesy sauces and stuff to make you eat veggies.”

“I’m not winning this argument, am I?” Rafael asked as his eyes cut towards Natalia.

“Not a chance,” she said.

Too tired to fight, Rafael brought the box of cookies back to the table, making his little girl smile. And Natalia happily polished of Violetta’s plate and what remained on Rafael’s.

“So… no leftovers tomorrow,” Rafael remarked.

“Sorry,” Natalia said, wiping some sauce from her mouth.

“Mami?” Violetta asked.

“Yes, sweet pea?”

“Do you have to eat so much because you have two babies inside you?”

“Muñequita, that is not a nice thing to say,” Rafael said.

“It’s alright, Atticus. She’s just curious,” Natalia said, smiling. “I’m just really hungry tonight, sweet pea.”

“Hope the new babies like this eggplant thing,” Violetta said as she dug into the cookies. “But let’s make this like once a week only.”

“We can do that,” Natalia said, lapping up the rest of the sauce with a bit of bread. “And oh! I almost forgot!”

The cookies suddenly took a back seat to the red velvet cake that Natalia pulled from the refrigerator.

“Now this more like it!” Violetta chirped.

“Right, sweet pea! Atticus, care for some?”

“Of course.”

Father and daughter had a single slice each; Natalia had two. And then a third.

“Just a little bit left,” she said. “Since we’re not doing leftovers tonight…”

Rafael watched her with a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Maybe… maybe it’s a bit much…” Natalia said, recoiling slightly as she pushed the plate away and Rafael stopped it midway across the table.

“You eat all you want, hermosa.”

“Are you indulging me?” Natalia asked as her elegant brow arched.

“Always.”

“Even if I get as big as this house?” she challenged.

“Any way and every way that I can get you,” Rafael said pulling her onto his lap and feeding her last of the cake before kissing the frosting from her sweet lips.

Much more than her sweet tooth was back with a vengeance. For the next few nights, Natalia’s appetite and cravings grew, and there were no leftovers. Midnight snacks became more frequent, and Rafael took to shopping to keep the kitchen cupboards stocked.

But he hadn’t counted on…

“A pizza with pineapple and lots of olives sounds so good right about now,” Natalia mused as she flipped through her book of baby names.

Scrunching up his nose, Rafael twisted under the sheets to his side. “Hermosa, that combination doesn’t make any sense.”

“Oh, it’s beyond delicious! You have to try it!” Natalia said excitedly.

“It’s a little late, hermosa… what’s even open?” he asked, glancing at his bedside clock even as he began to climb out of their bed.

“It’s the city that never sleeps!” Natalia said, pulling up a menu on her phone and showing him that it was indeed open twenty-four hours.

“That’s new,” Rafael said, shrugging on his jacket and retrieving his wallet from the nightstand. “You have the site bookmarked?”

Natalia sunk back into the bed with a sheepish smile. “I… I may have had it for lunch yesterday. And the day before. And the day before---”

“Uh huh. Okay; one pizza with pineapples and lots of onions coming right up,” Rafael said, kissing the top of her head.

“Olives!” she said. “You know that.”

“Sorry. I’m half asleep.” He was almost out the door when Natalia caught his wrist and kissed his hand.

“Thank you, Atticus. You’re the best.”

“Felt that way since the day you said you’d marry me.”

Despite the lateness of the hour and the fact that he was due in court first thing in the morning, Rafael trekked out into the night, rounding the corner to find the pizzeria still bustling with customers. Running his hand through his hair, Rafael waited in line, struggling to keep awake until he finally made it to the counter.

“Signore, what will you have?” The slightly shorter man asked with a bright smile, the mustache on his face twirling towards his eyes.

Rafael sighed, wishing that he had stopped for coffee before he was on deck. “Um… my wife, Natalia---”

“Oh! Signore wants The Natalia. An excellent choice!” the man said as he pointed to the item on the menu. Rafael eyes grew wider, seeing that the particular pizza was on the menu, named after his wife with the exact toppings she desired.

“She did say it was becoming a habit,” he said, barely stifling a yawn.

“Si, si! She orders all the time! So nice and so beautiful!”

“That she is,” Rafael agreed, accepting the pie and heading back home. Natalia clapped as he fell back into the bed.

“Thank you, Atticus! You want some?”

Leaning up on his elbows, he took the smallest taste, choking the pizza down and shaking his head.

“All for you, hermosa. No need to worry about leftovers.”

But he still cuddled into her side and as Natalia finished one slice and started another, Rafael slipped into a contented sleep.

#rafael barba #raul esparza #law and order svu #raulesparzaappreciationweek #svu fanfiction #natalia barba #violetta barba #a hard lesson series #Rafael Barba/OC #a little lesson in expecting #raúl esparza

30 notes · View notes