Recovery (Completed)

15| Disclosing

Hattie smiled when she passed Barba on her way out of the bathroom only wrapped in her towel from the shower she had just taken, her hair still wet though she had brushed through it. Barba smirked to himself while reaching back to grab her hand, ignoring the startled squeak she made as he pulled her into his arms,.

"We both have to get to work." She scolded, though the smile on her face made her less than convincing.

"I promise you wont be late." He breathed, his lips hovering over hers before gently making contact. The embrace was over too soon for either of them and Barba sighed as he rested his forehead against hers, knowing he needed to take his shower before it got to be much later.

"I promise I'll still be here after your shower." Hattie smirked, giving him a quick peck as she wiggled out of his arms.

"I know." He grumbled, continuing into the bathroom.

Hattie couldn't help but smile as she searched his closet for an outfit for the day. She loved waking up in his arms, that they brushed their teeth side by side while making eyes at each other in the mirror, the coffee he left for her on the nightstand while she showered after he had undoubtedly drank a few cups himself... She wasn't much for PDA, but this... these private moments between the two of them... they meant everything to her. She felt a little sappy, but even that thought made her smile. Settling on a knit charcoal grey wrap skirt that hit an inch or two past her knees and a white shortsleeved sweater with a crew neck and reached just to the waist of the skirt, she laid the outfit out on his bed, grabbed her coffee and ventured back to the bathroom to do her hair and makeup.

"You look pretty." Barba smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist as she adjusted her outfit in his full length mirror. Her chestnut brown hair had grown out enough that even when curled it fell past her shoulders and despite the grey pumps she had stepped into, he still stood a few inches taller than her.

"Did you plan to match me or is the grey coincidental?" Hattie smirked, turning to face him.

"It wasn't planned, but I wouldn't want either of us to change." He hummed, leaning down to kiss her.

"Work." She panted pulling away from his lips.

"So insistent," Barba chuckled.

"I can't be late, not today... it would set a bad precedent."

"They already know." He smirked.

"That is not the point." She grumbled.

"Fine, grab your things. I'll get you to work on time, maybe even early if we leave now."

Hattie took a breath and knocked on her bosses open door. "Liv?"

"Hey Hattie, come in." Liv smiled, gesturing to a seat in front of her desk.

"Are you busy?"

"I've got time. What'd you need?"

Hattie pulled a piece of paper she had folded into thirds to view and handed it to Liv. "I know Rafael and I aren't exactly a secret, but I wanted to officially disclose our relationship." Hattie said, feeling more nervous than she had expected.

Liv glanced at the disclosure before speaking, "I'll update your file with IAB."

"That's it?"

"Everything with your relationship with Barba has been fairly public at least within the NYPD and the DA's office. This will officially document it in your file, but if there had been an issue it would have come up by now." Liv smiled.