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saiilorstars · 4 years ago

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Running Home

// Companion to Dare To Forget Me //

Pairing: Rafael Barba x OFC

Summary: It’s nearly Christmas and Rafael has the unfortunate duty to tell Montserrat he won’t be making it home in time. How Montserrat takes it is just as he predicted. The only question is, will he really not make it home?

Taglist: @ocfairygodmother @anotherunreadblog @maaaaarveeeeel @stareyedplanet @perfectlystiles @averyhotchner

A/N: Just some angst/fluff one shot! And of course, it's an AU! You'll understand why as you read ;)

Montserrat's laughter filled her living room to the point that, in the end, she had to cover her mouth. "I didn't know it was possible for you to be funny," she remarked to someone on her laptop. She shifted on the couch to better adjust the computer over her lap. "Especially as soon as we start the chat."

"I can do many things, Montserrat. You know that." Rafael was on the other side of the video chat. He was smiling at her through the screen. She looked absolutely comfortable in her spot, making him wish he was there with her instead of...where he was now.

Montserrat lowered her head, her lips curving into a smirk. "Oh, I know." She reached for something off screen and had Rafael laugh when she waved a nice glass of red wine. "Don't you wish you were here with me right now? I've got the heater on, my blanket," she gestured to the polka-dotted turquoise blanket covering her legs, "Your bottle of wine..." she sighed heavily, and dramatically too.

"I'm going to need that refilled by the way," Rafael warned her.

Montserrat laughed. "We'll see." She shifted again while she sobered from her laugh. "So, how's Iowa treating you? Can't imagine they're more in the Christmas spirit than dear ole New York is, right?"

Rafael bobbed his head. "You'd be surprised. It's different but...yeah. I'm just trying to blend in, honestly."

"Mm, and you think blending in means growing a beard," Montserrat leaned closer to the screen. She couldn't get enough of him right now but he didn't need to know that.

"I'm in Iowa," he repeated, thinking that was enough of an explanation. "Is it that terrible?"

Montserrat found it incredibly hard to stay on the plan of teasing. She leaned back and pretended to think about the question. "Well..."

"Montserrat."

She sighed in the end. "Of course not. I like it, of course I like it." She admitted. She liked when he started with the scruff—did he seriously think she wouldn't like what came next? For such a smart man, he was an idiot sometimes. She was just thankful (just for that one minute) that they were miles apart so he wouldn't see the blush on her face.

Rafael smirked. "There we are. You see how much easier this whole marriage thing works when you're honest?"

Montserrat rolled her eyes at him. "God, I married a smartass," she muttered, making him laugh. She smiled slightly. She missed their bantering so much. "Tell me it's Friday already," she said calmly. "Because when it's Friday, you'll be here with us."

There was something on Rafael's face that she couldn't yet describe but whatever it was, it had something to do with guilt. "Uh, about that..." he started, "I don't think I'll be home by Friday."

"What?" Montserrat frowned. She put her glass on the table then brought her laptop closer to her. "What do you mean? It's Christmas. You said you'd be back before then."

"I know but things change all the time. I'm sorry—"

"Rafael, you've been gone for a month!"

"I know—"

"No! You don't know. You've been gone for all of December! That's not just any month, Raf, especially when you have a da—"

"Montserrat, why are you acting like I don't want to come home!?" Rafael snapped at her, resulting in her momentary silence. "Of course I want to come home. It's like you said, it's Christmas. I want to be there instead of...here!" He exclaimed with a flap of his arms to gesture to the grim room he was in at the moment.

"You've already missed buying the Christmas tree, decorating it. We're waiting for you to come home and help put the star on top. You've missed out on everything but it was going to be okay because you were going to come home for Christmas." Montserrat looked to the side, very much huffing with anger. "You want to explain that to her?"

"Don't do that," Rafael warned. "Don't you dare use her—"

"I'm not!" snapped Montserrat. "But you know she's been waiting for you. We want you here," she said softly. Of course she wasn't angry with him. He wasn't in charge of the schedule but if she wasn't angry with him, where should her anger and disappointment go then?

"I'm really sorry," Rafael told her. What he would give to be there with her, cuddling with her under their favorite blanket and with their special wine.

"Yeah," Montserrat mumbled. "Merry Christmas." She ended the call right there and then, shutting her laptop with a thud. She grabbed her glass of wine from the table and drowned it all in one go. Just as she had returned the glass to the table, she heard a door in the hallway open followed by a quick sprinting of feet.

"Mama!" A little five year old girl came rushing into the living room, her floppy brunette hair making a curtain over her face when she hopped onto the couch.

Montserrat was caught off guard and thanked the heavens that her wine was all gone. Of course now she hoped she hadn't overdone it. She could not be drunk in front of her own daughter. "You're supposed to be asleep!"

The little girl giggled. "I tricked you!"

"Tricked—no! You don't trick your mother! If I say go to sleep, then you go to sleep!"

The girl smirked in an all too familiar way. Montserrat pinched the bridge of her nose. At her five years, Iris Barba-Novak was a near carbon copy of her father.

"I swear to God," Montserrat dropped her hands to her lap and mock-glared at her daughter. "I carried you for 9 months and you have the audacity not to look like me!?"

"I'm sorry," Iris shrugged her shoulders, acting as if she fully understood what her mother had said. "Maybe if you give me a little brother or sister, they'll look like you?"

Montserrat pointed a sharp finger at her. "We are not talking about that young lady."

Iris groaned the way only a five year old did when she wasn't getting her way. "But it's what I want for Christmas!"

"I know, you put it in your letter," Montserrat mumbled under her breath. She didn't have a good laugh with it like Rafael had when she read the letter to him.

"Santa always gets me what I want so I know that he'll get me this too!"

"No he will not," Montserrat once more mumbled under her breath. "But you, missy, have to go to sleep for real now!"

Iris made a face. "But I wanted to talk to Daddy. I know you were talking to him. You were laughing loud."

"I'm sorry sweetheart, but he, uh, had to go." Or she might have sent him on his way, who could remember.

"Aww," Iris pouted. "Is he going to be here for my recital?"

"Um..."

"Because he said he would be," Iris went on, her delicate green eyes flickering to the Christmas tree whose ornaments were mostly comprised of ballerina figurines. She got to choose the theme this year and she was very proud of it. "And he has to help me put the star on the tree!"

"Uh, Iris..." Montserrat reached for the girl and brought her to her lap. Iris was quick to grab the blanket and drape it over her and her mother. "Daddy might not make it home for Christmas this year."

"What?" Iris tilted her head up at her. "Why not?"

"It's his job..."

"Again?" Iris huffed. "But that always happens! He promised me he was going to be here for my recital!"

"I know, I know," Montserrat hugged her tighter. She pressed a kiss over Iris' hair. "But hey, you know I'll be there. And grandpa, uncle Gael, your cousins..."

"But I want my Daddy," Iris huffed. She buried her face in her mother's chest.

"I'll record everything and send it to him," Montserrat offered.

"It won't be the same."

Montserrat sighed. No, it wouldn't be the same and she knew it too. "I'm really sorry, Iris." She could only offer useless apologies and promises of videos and pictures. It wouldn't make much of a difference for Iris but Montserrat would try her best. She always did when it came to her daughter.

~ 0 ~

It was the 23rd of December: Christmas Eve Eve as Iris had declared that morning when she woke Montserrat up with excited bouncing on the bed. Montserrat had the day off from work specifically to cater to Iris that day since it would be her recital that evening.

"Is Daddy going to call today?" Iris asked after lunch while she helped her mother clean the table up.

"Um, I'm not sure sweetheart," Montserrat said, making a quick rush for the kitchen sink to dump the dirty dishes in. "He's working, remember?"

"But he can't call for just a tiny bit?" Iris held her index finger and thumb inches apart from each other. "Teeny-tiny bit?"

Montserrat half-smiled at her. "I'm sure he would if he could. You need to take a bath. Go to your room and I'll be there in a bit."

Iris shrugged and hurried for the living room. Montserrat returned to the table to pick up the last of the utensils. She glanced at her phone sitting on the counter. It hadn't rang with a call nor a text from Rafael ever since their argument a few days ago. She supposed it was on her to call him and apologize. She'd been the one to snap. He wasn't calling his daughter because of her and that was the last thing Montserrat ever wanted. Plus, it was nearly Christmas. Would they really not say a 'Merry Christmas' to each other?

Montserrat shook her head. "What am I doing?" she whispered to herself. She left the utensils on the table and grabbed her phone from the counter top.

'Can we talk, please? Iris and I want to video chat.'

She had just sent the text when Iris called her from the hallway.

"Moooooommy! Am I going to take a bath or not?"

Montserrat left her phone on the table and hurried for the hallway. "Yes, of course!" Making a five year old take a bath on a schedule was hard enough. Montserrat would need all her focus and determination to do it. She managed to get Iris out in half an hour and only after fighting her on it.

She was far too much like her father, always making arguments.

"Seriously, you have the audacity here," Montserrat muttered after finally convincing Iris to put on some pajamas while she dried her hair. Her ballerina costume would get wet otherwise.

"I want my hair brushed in here!" Iris had come running into her parents' room.

Montserrat followed her in with a brush in hand. "Assume the position munchkin." Iris giggled as she climbed up on the bed and sat cross-legged. Montserrat sat behind her and started brushing her wet hair.

"Mommy, is Daddy going to call now?" Iris eventually asked.

Montserrat inwardly sighed. She had checked her phone but Rafael hadn't answered. He hadn't even read the text. Was he that angry? Even if he was, he was angry at her. Iris should have nothing to do with it. "Not yet, sweetheart."

Iris sighed and Montserrat could see her pout from the mirror across from them. "I really wanted to talk to him. He's not coming to my recital, is he?"

"I don't think he is, Iris. I'm sorry." Montserrat hated watching the disappointment etch across her daughter's face. She put the brush down for a second and pulled Iris on her lap. "But remember what Mama's gonna do? She's going to record everything and send it to Daddy."

Iris shrugged her shoulders. "Do you think he'll have time to watch it?"

Montserrat may have felt her heart crack a bit with that question. "Of course he will, he always makes time for you." She should've remembered that the last time she talked with him. They both led very busy lives because of their jobs, they understood each other because they worked in the same system, but when Iris was born they both swore that she was now their first priority. Their jobs never mattered more than her. Of course there would be moments that they couldn't control and they had to understand that.

You don't go snapping at him, she berated herself. How she wished Rafael would call so she could apologize.

~ 0 ~

There was an hour left before they had to leave for the recital. Iris was all set up to go—she was twirling in her bedroom for the imaginary audience she'd set up with her stuffed animals. Montserrat promised they would leave soon.

"I have to make sure grandpa has the right address or he'll get lost," she said, making Iris giggle. "I'll go call him. Don't touch your hair nor your face, do you understand?" Iris stopped twirling to dutifully nod her head but Montserrat was no fool to believe her straightaway. She learned that one the hard way. "Iris, you listen to Mommy on this. Do not touch your hair and face."

"Yes, Mommy," Iris nodded again. Montserrat pointed at her with sharp eyes. Iris upheld that look until Montserrat walked away. Iris then sprinted towards the door and poked her head into the hallway. Once she saw her mother heading into the living room, she closed her door and turned for her audience with a big grin.

In the living room, Montserrat settled the details of the recital's address with her father over the phone. "Please be on time," she begged him.

Thomas laughed. "Miss my granddaughter's recital? Never! We'll be there, promise."

"Thanks," Montserrat said.

"Is Rafael there yet?"

"Uh, no," Montserrat sighed. "He couldn't make it. Actually, he's not going to be around for Christmas."

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

"Yeah," Montserrat nodded. No one was more sorry than her, she could promise it. "We'll meet you at the recital in a few. I have to go make sure she didn't do something to her face."

Thomas chuckled. "Would serve you right for doing that to me all the time. You always say Iris looks and acts like Rafael, but she's a lot like you too."

Montserrat rolled her eyes but for the sake of time, she would let the comment slide. "Bye, Dad." She ended the call afterwards and soon went to check if she had any missed calls or texts.

Nothing.

"Raf, c'mon," she begged. If he wasn't responding to her texts then what hope did she have of him answering her call? She wouldn't be able to take it if Iris was right beside her when she made the call and he didn't answer.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the doorknob of the front door jiggled. She flinched but her instincts (whether motherly or just cop instincts) kicked in. She hurried to the high bookcase near the television. She had just grabbed their emergency gun when the door opened.

"What the hell are you doing, Montserrat?" Of all the ways Rafael expected to be greeted, his wife aiming a gun on him wasn't on the list. "Are you that mad with me?"

Montserrat blinked with wide eyes, truly caught like a deer in headlights. "What the—what are you doing here!?" Her eyebrows knitted together as her eyes narrowed on him.

"Seriously!?" He frowned. "You're asking me that? I live here and would you put that gun down!?" Montserrat realized she was still aiming the gun on him and quickly lowered it down. "God, you know I hate having that thing in here." Rafael reached outside the door to pull his suitcase inside.

"Well, let me know when you stop being a lawyer and I stop being a detective," Montserrat quipped sarcastically. "You know I don't want to ever be caught off guard with my daughter in the apartment. If someone breaks in, they're going to get a bullet." She turned away to return the gun to its safe spot. It was then that she made the connection of his presence. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in Iowa."

"Yeah, well, my daughter has a recital I promised her I would go to," Rafael said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"But you said you wouldn't be back in time..."

"I made it, that's all that matters," he said a bit too quickly. Montserrat set her hands on her hips, eyes narrowing on him until he explained himself. With a sigh, he did. "Maybe I got into some arguments, maybe I have to stay an extra week, who cares. I'm here."

Montserrat's face softened with the realization of his troubles. "I...I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to get in trouble."

"Of course you didn't. It's not your fault," Rafael said, leaving behind his suitcase to walk up to her. "I had to see my daughter...and my wife." His hands raised to cup her face but since he had no idea if she was still angry with him, his hands stopped inches from her.

Montserrat smiled at him and nodded. His hands came to rest on her cheeks. "I texted you," she said.

"I'm sorry, as soon as I got the green light I headed for the airport to find the first flight here. My phone's out of battery."

"How long are you here for?"

"Umm, let's discuss that later, yeah?"

Montserrat nodded. "Okay."

Rafael looked her over with fondness. She was all dressed up in a long black and white flower patterned dress with black boots. "You look amazing," he told her, sounding almost breathless that she had to laugh.

"I miss your dramatics," she admitted.

"Not dramatic, mi vida," he planted a kiss on her lips. "Simply a truth."

Montserrat's smile softened. "Mm, is that my Christmas kiss? Because I have some complaints about the duration..."

Rafael laughed and brought his arms around her waist. He pulled her up to him and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. "I promise to make it up to you tonight."

Montserrat's eyebrows raised with delight. "So you're definitely here for a day at least..."

"One could say that." He leaned close to her for another kiss, a longer one that really made it hard not to forget they had important plans. "God, you have no idea how much I want you right now."

Montserrat flushed a bright red. She couldn't help the small giggle that slipped through her lips. Rafael muffled that giggle with another kiss that she happily responded to. "What happened to the beard?" She took note of the scruff that he now sported.

"I got over it," Rafael shrugged. "But like I said, I was in a rush these last days, so..."

"I still love it," Montserrat draped her arms over his shoulders and leaned on him.

"Duly noted..."

Montserrat chuckled and kissed him again. They only had a limit time before they were interrupted...

"Mama!" Iris' call promptly interrupted them.

There it was.

"Mama!"

The two pulled away the necessary amount to look at each other.

"One of my sparkles fell!"

Montserrat took in a breath then jabbed her finger on Rafael's chest. "Your daughter is going to kill me."

Rafael laughed. "Hold on," he gave her another kiss before calling back, "It's a good thing Mamá always has more!"

Montserrat shoved him away from her with an irritated huff. "Don't encourage her!"

Iris had flung the door of her bedroom open to come zooming out of the hallway. "Daddy!" she made it to the living room in record time.

"Mi flor! My flower!" Rafael opened his arms for her to jump in like she always did when he came home from work. Iris happily did and was subjected to several kisses on her face. "Look at you...all sparkly and...puffy!" The tutu was something he would never get over because she simply looked too adorable in it.

"You're here!" Iris exclaimed. "Daddy's here, Mommy!"

"Yeah, I've noticed," Montserrat chuckled. "Isn't it a nice surprise?"

Iris frowned for a second, puzzling her parents until she pointed an accusing finger at Montserrat. "Did you trick me?"

"What—no!" Montserrat huffed. "He surprised us, sweetheart. He came back for your recital."

"And Christmas," Rafael clarified, earning himself a happy squeal from the child in his arms.

"You're going to be here when I open my presents!?"

"Mhm, and when you open my present." He bopped her nose and earned a giggle in return. All arguments to get here made perfect sense.

Iris' eyes widened until they couldn't. "But if you brought me a present, you have to buy one for Mommy too."

"You think I didn't?" Rafael reigned offence.

Montserrat playfully rolled her eyes at the pair. "I don't need presents," she reminded them. She reached over for one of his hands and squeezed it tight. "I just wanted you home."

"I'm sorry for the last time we talked..." Rafael started but she shook her head.

"It's not important," she said. "I forgot that sometimes things are just out of our control, but you always try for us...for her." She made a nod over to Iris. "That's what we promised to do."

"Daddy, can you help me put the star on the tree now?" Iris asked. She was already wiggling her body so he would put her down to go get the star.

"Of course, where is it?" Rafael watched her dash into the hallway. At his questioning look, Montserrat explained that Iris wanted to keep the star in a safe spot in her room until he came back. The last thing she wanted was for Santa to get confused and put the star himself. Rafael laughed at the antic.

Iris returned with the star in her hands. "I got it!"

"Come on over," Rafael once again picked her up and walked up to the tree. Montserrat was right behind them and watched fondly as Iris was propped up on Rafael's shoulders to reach the top of the tree.

The star eventually twinkled to life. Iris squealed. "It's so pretty!"

"Okay, we have to go to the recital now," Montserrat helped Iris off her father. "Unless you don't want to do it anymore...?"

Iris shook her head. "Nu-uh! It's the Nutcracker and I love that movie. But now Mommy doesn't have to record for you, Daddy." She reached for Rafael's hands excitedly. "Because you're going to be there!"

"Maybe I'll still record," Montserrat said, throwing a glance at Rafael when she added, "Grandma Lucia and Catalina can't make it."

"Oh yes, we'll definitely need to record," Rafael concluded. His mother would kill him if they didn't record her only grandchild's ballet recital.

"Iris, come here." Montserrat sighed when Iris came up to her with a few strands of hair sticking out already. She bent down in front of Iris to try and fix them. "Were you touching your hair?"

"No," Iris made a face that didn't exactly help her make her case.

"Mhm, you're not quite the lawyer yet," Montserrat tapped Iris' forehead before trying to stick a strand down with one of her pins.

"But she will be," Rafael said with a smug smirk. He loved watching Iris argue to make her cases about the simplest of things. It was a sight watching her battle against adults. She often had goes with her mother and those were usually the best because Montserrat swore Iris was him. She had a short fuse when it came to those cases but she typically would let Iris go on until she ran out of things to say.

"C'mon Iris, stop touching your hair, okay?" Montserrat pressed her hands over Iris' hair for any last strands trying to stick up.

"Okay, Mama," Iris said with a soft smile on her face.

That right there was what Rafael loved seeing the most. Iris was hard headed like him but her mother always calmed her down. Montserrat always had a way with her that nobody else did, not even him. Iris loved her and even though she loved making arguments like him, she loved being like her mother. She loved dancing with her mother, making those overwhelming ballerina costumes with her, and so much more.

"Hey Iris," he called to her suddenly, "Why don't you open my present right now?"

Iris gasped. "I can open a present right now?"

"I don't know if that's a good idea," Montserrat straightened up on her feet. "She might get too excited..."

"It's alright," Rafael promised her. "I actually think she needs it." He reached for something in his coat's inside pockets. Iris was quick to scurry up to him. She bounced on her feet in anticipation. "I'm sorry I didn't have time to wrap it," Rafael said once he pulled out a small black box. He bent down in front of Iris, holding the box out for her. "Go ahead and open it."

Iris couldn't get it any faster. She swiped the box from his hands and yanked the lid open. "It's like Mommy's!" she squealed at the ballerina necklace inside. It was on a silver chain with a pendant of a ballerina posing on the end. Iris turned around to show Montserrat the ballerina necklace that was almost like the one currently sitting on Montserrat's neck. "Look Mommy, it's like your necklace!"

"Yes it is," Montserrat chuckled. Iris always went on about her mother's necklace, sometimes even trying to sneak it to her own neck.

"You can wear it for your recital," Rafael suggested.

Iris spun around to him. "Can I?"

"Come here," Rafael motioned her to get closer so he could put it on her.

Iris happily obliged and handed him the box back. She turned around with the biggest grin on her face. Montserrat laughed at the sight.

"Look Mommy, Daddy's putting on my ballerina necklace just like he did with yours on your birthday!" Iris exclaimed.

Montserrat's eyes widened slightly. "Yup." She crossed gazes with Rafael behind Iris. They had told their daughter only the nice parts of that night for a reason.

"There we go," Rafael announced. Iris turned to face him. "It's looks beautiful."

Iris held the ballerina figure in her small fingers. "I'm never taking this off! Mommy never does."

"Well, she does sometimes," Montserrat pointed out. "So Iris will do the same."

"Did you see what's on the back of the ballerina?" Rafael suddenly asked Iris.

Curiously, she tilted the pendant up to see the back of it. She giggled. 'I.M' was engraved on the back. "My name."

"Your initials," Rafael corrected. "So that everybody knows that this is yours."

"Iris Montserrat," she said proudly. "Mommy's name." She glanced back at Montserrat with what she would describe the most adorable smile a five year old could have.

"Exactly," Rafael cupped her face, careful not to even graze the sparkles adorning her cheekbones. "You have a special name and I wanted that to be on your necklace."

"My initials are backwards from Mommy's," Iris said, proud that she remembered that. "Because Mommy's middle name is Irene so her initials are M.I and mine are I.M."

"I have such a smart girl," Rafael praised and kissed her forehead. "Now," he straightened up on his feet and met Montserrat's gaze. "I do have a present for my smart wife...if she's interested..."

Montserrat fiddled with her fingers. "She might be..."

"What is it!? What is it!?" Iris exclaimed, her head flipping between her parents.

"She'll have to open it." Rafael pulled out a second black box from his inside pocket.

"What? Were they were having a 2 for 1 special?" Montserrat snickered, especially when his face fell flat. "Kidding," she walked over to him and took the box from him. She pulled the lid open and found a a golden bracelet inside with one oval shaped pendant. "This is beautiful, Raf." She gingerly pulled the bracelet from the box and realized the pendant was a locket instead. When she opened it up, their favorite family picture was staring up at her. She laughed. "Oh, now this is good. I love it, thank you." She leaned over and kissed him.

"I'm glad you liked it," Rafael said. "I really did have all intentions of coming back before Christmas. I'm sorry for the argument."

"Forget about it," Montserrat practically begged him. "I love this so much, and you."

"I wanna see what it is," Iris hopped beside them in hopes of catching a glimpse of the locket.

Montserrat chuckled and lowered the bracelet for her to see. "It's a picture of us. A family picture."

"That's so pretty!" Iris gawked. "Are you going to wear it?"

"Absolutely," Montserrat nodded. "Will you help me?" she looked at Rafael with a pout to match.

"Of course." He took her bracelet and wrapped it around her wrist. His fingers gently caressed her skin as he snapped the bracelet together. He brought her hand to his lips for a kiss afterwards.

Montserrat smiled. "I'm really glad you're here."

"Me too," he said. He snaked an arm around her waist to bring her to his side. "Are we ready to go, then?"

"Yes!" Iris jumped excitedly.

"Get your coat, Iris," Montserrat instructed. Iris nodded and rushed for her room to retrieve the coat. "She's really happy now, thank you," Montserrat mused. "So, exactly how much trouble are you in for fighting your way back here?"

Rafael pressed a kiss on her cheek. "Don't worry about it. On an unrelated note, how do you feel about spending New Year's in Iowa?"

Montserrat raised an eyebrow at him. "Seriously?" She was ready to laugh but not for the reason he thought.

"I had to make the deal," he sighed. "I have to leave the 26th and I'll be spending New Year's there. I know it's boring and it's far—"

Montserrat leaned forwards and gave him a long, deep kiss. "I would love to," she whispered to him afterwards.

"Seriously?"

She nodded. "You made the compromise to get back here in time for Iris. I can do the same for you. I'm sure Liv wouldn't mind. The newbie can take my paperwork for a few days."

He chuckled. "That...that would be great. You're really good with this?"

"Spending New Year's with my husband and daughter?" Montserrat bobbed her head. "Yeah, call me crazy but I think that sounds great."

"Mama, I got it!" Iris came back in a hurry. Her coat was lopsided on her body but she'd put it on all on her own.

"Yeah you do," Montserrat laughed. "C'mon then."

Iris made her way up to her parents in a series of hops. She held her hands out for them to go. Rafael picked her up on his side while Montserrat grabbed her own coat.

"You're staying for the whole show, right?"

Rafael nodded. "I promise. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Iris beamed and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Mama, are you ready?"

"Yes, yes, Mama's always the last to be ready because she makes sure everyone else is ready to go first," Montserrat dramatically sighed. "It's hard to look this good when you're on a tight schedule."

"And yet you always beautiful," Rafael said, holding his hand out for her to take.

"Flattery will get you..." Montserrat leaned close to his ear to whisper, "...everywhere."

Rafael smirked and grabbed her hand. "Let's go, girls."

Author's Note:

Yes folks I went with a cringy Christmasy angst/fluff one shot that includes one cute kid. What can I say? I'm a sucker for an OC kid.

And listen, I firmly believe that Rafael learned how not to hold his kid like a football after practice okay?

#ocappreciation #svu #rafael barba #fd: svu #svu imagines #rafael barba imagines #svu fics #rafael barba fics #oc: Montserrat Novak

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