COP & CRIMINAL - TWO & THREE
➨ rio's library - good girl nbc
「 ✦ full library & archive ✦ 」
Pairing: Rio X Reader
Word Count: ~ 4.6K
Summary: These parts pick up where one left off.
TWO
You head into your mothers house with your sister on your heels. It smells like freshly baked goods. The ooey gooey kind that are behind the glass tiered shelves of overpriced bakeries. Your mom had worked in one for many years, her second job to provide the extras for her two girls. Cops kept the store safe, were regular customers and kept the tip jar full. You noticed how your Ma’s eyes lit at the sight of them. Maybe it was then that your brain subconsciously decided to join the academy. It sure as shit wasn’t to tote guns and save the world. Nor was it to be in life threatening situations. There were perks to being the baker's daughter and the little girl so many OG officers had watched grow up. They had a vested interest in your progress and development and so much of the hazing and toxicity evaded you.
“Mommy,” Sonnie says, rushing into your arms.
“We’re playing manhunt but I saw your car and wanted to say hi. Theo and I are the last one’s standing” he bounces and you hug your nephew Theo.
“Okay baby don’t cheat by being in here - have fun” you smile kissing the top of Sonnie’s sweaty head.
“Have your friends come by for some sugar after all that running” Your mom hollers at her grandsons who are already out the door.
“The kids are outside again, the world is healing” your sister says, washing her hands behind you. You laugh heading into the kitchen to see the assortment of treats on your mothers island. You pick a classic cinnamon sugar donut that’s still warm and tastes better than the ones at the fair.
“Mom, why do you insist on giving the kids so much sugar?” your sister says biting into a chocolate chip cookie.
“Hush, I want to talk to your sister before they come back,” your mother says.
You pause eating the donut to look up at her. “About?”
“That man of yours and the big house you’re moving into” Your Ma sighs.
“Y/N you have a man, you think Rio’s gonna just let you move his son in with another man?” your sister asks.
“I don’t have a man. Ma’s talking about Christopher, apparently he bought a house for us. He told Sonnie about it and now Sonnie’s all excited.”
“Us? It hasn’t been us in a long time” Your mom says staring a hole in your face. She’s the real detective. Disarming you with freshly baked goods only to pounce when you least expect it.
“I’m just explaining what he told me.”
“Are you gonna move in?” Your sister asks.
“No.”
“Why not?” she groans, your sister is Rio’s biggest cheerleader in your family while everyone else is more skeptical - for good reason.
“Did we forget the photo I got sent of him staring in a red-head’s face like he was in love?” You ask, remembering the humiliation and heartbreak of getting a text from your cousin telling you your man was at the bar, then came the photographic evidence of what he’d been doing. They say good girls who don’t go outside get cheated on. They never lied. You’d been cuddled up on the couch with Sonnie who was asleep. Rio denied all allegations, claiming the proof wasn't what it was. Claiming it was business. But he was and is a master liar – the trust had been broken.
“No, but I also remember how he was when you were pregnant, getting you everything you needed, helping you get around, how patient he was, how he’d come in and rub your back and feet. You gave that man hell and he just took it in stride. I have a husband and the man calls me when I he has to go to the groceries to replace the houses staples for fuck sake- Sorry mama. Christopher’s always there no matter what, he’s present, makes sure you’re comfortable, he never misses Sonnie's milestones or important events and you still love him so live a little” she says.
You swallow the lump in your throat. Your mother is more indifferent to your child's father. She treats him well because he treats Sonnie well. Unlike your sister you didn’t do things the right way, there was no engagement or wedding before Sonnie. There was no meeting of the families and the lack of tradition didn't sit right with her. Neither did Rio being on the other side of the law.
“Ma, tell her to give the man another chance, don’t you want more grandchildren?” Your sister asks pretending to be pregnant by motioning around a nonexistent round stomach. Your mother’s silence stretches on.
“I want the two of you to be safe and well taken care of. I don’t think Christopher has his life set up in a way to do that without conflict. Your sister being with him is a huge risk.” Your mom says and your sister sighs, fanning Ma off.
“Move-in, play in his face, sit on his face, get yours and then leave if you want to. If it doesn’t work. But get yours and let that man take some of the weight off your shoulders. You’re you, I know you already have everything set up for the worst. You know me - I don’t play about you. You have me and you have Ma. Fuck it” your sister says in your ear.
Your mother watches her girls shaking her head. “Don’t be like mom, nearly sixty and pretending to be celibate while getting cracked by Mister Rogers a few times a week. Live out in the open” your sister says and you watch your mother freeze like she’s been caught stealing. The tips of her ears get more color and her swallowing goes shallow. She looks to the left, shaking her head.
“Your sister tells stories” she snaps dismissively and you’re a hundred percent sure she’s lying. She grabs a covered tray of pastries taking them outside.
“Mr Rogers?” you whisper.
“Mhm, you know my husband installed the security system. Imagine my surprise when mom gets a late night visitor that leaves in the morning. Ole’ girl stands on the porch in a robe tiptoeing to kiss him and everything” Your sister says making a disgusted face and you shake your head amused and disgusted as you picture it. You both shake your heads making faces like you’re eating lemons and laugh. When your mom comes back for the second tray she glares at your sister still flustered.
“Mom make that man make an honest woman out of you, stop giving the man the milk for free” your sister continues, giving your Ma hell and you shake your head laughing. Your phone buzzes and you see a PDF of the home's blueprints. You click around and end up in a 3D render. You exit out of it overwhelmed by the possibility of what if.
“Quit that dangerous ass stressful ass job and come work with me or work for yourself as a PI. Go home to your babies every night and give your rose toy a break” she teases.
“You’re HELL, STOP” you warn laughing as you hold your hand up threatening to slap her. She may be older but you’re taller, with a better wingspan. “I’ll consider what you said” you sigh and she relaxes.
You and Sonnie head home after sunset, he’s pooped from all the running and already showered. Like clockwork he falls asleep in the car. You prepare mentally to haul his dead weight into the house when you spot his fathers car parked. Relief washes over you as you park and get out. Rio strolls over to get Sonnie out of the car. No words are exchanged as he follows you into the house heading upstairs with his son. When he comes back down he steps out, only to return with a bag. He starts taking things out, colour swatches, granite and marble slabs, wood colouring and a brochure with different designs for the kitchen and bathrooms.
“I had a long day, I can’t think about this or go back and forth with you right now” you sigh.
“Tell me about your day then” he says, being patient. You take a container out of your bag and push his favorite of your mothers pastries over to him.
“Ahh you went to see my hater’s federation” he smiles while digging in and talking about your mom.
“You weren’t stalking me today?”
“I don’t need eyes on you when you’re with our son. It’s when you find yourself working and playing that I tag myself in” he says without apology. There’s so much history between you. So much love for him that's still there. You’ve run the list on paper and in your head more times than you care to admit. The pros and cons almost always equaled out. His shady dealings and penchant for lies kept you resolute in your decision to stay broken up.
“Alright, I can tell you’re not in the mood. Look over what I sent when you can choose what matches and works. I’ll be out of town for the next two days. We can talk when I get back” he sighs, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“Where are you going?” You ask.
“To pick up Abuelita and see the family.”
“You don’t want to take Sonnie?”
“Nah, they’ll be down in a few weeks. My cousin is doing big things” Rio smirks.
“Nick?”
“Nah, beautiful not Nick.” Rio says closing the distance. “I didn’t get my kiss the other night”
“You sound like a corny teenager” you roll your eyes. “I wasn’t going to kiss you.”
“You know I like when you find yourself being mean to me. Makes the begging sweeter when I’m inside you” he says turning you on. You hate how your body reacts to him. You cut your eyes creating distance. It’s what your sister didn’t account for. There would be no playing in his face when he’s the game maker. You walk to the printer and hand him Sonnie's finalized soccer game schedule.
“Safe travels” you say hoping he leaves NOW but he doesn't. His hands graze your shirt before holding you by your waist. He invades your space, his cologne aromatherapy, casting a spell on your good sense.
“This isn’t a game to me, this is our life and I’m not playing. Never was … getting set up took longer than I expected. I’ve stayed away so you should know that me applying pressure means things have changed and your conditions are being met.” he says with eyes as earnest as your sons when he speaks with conviction. You’re close to being putty in his hands.
“Who was she?” you ask using your trump card. He lets go like clockwork, giving you space you would have otherwise begged for. He sighs deeply backing you and you head back into the kitchen resetting for the night. You wait to hear his footsteps leading out of the house and for the door to close. You wait for the tension to leave your house with the man causing it but nothing happens. The quiet stillness from him charges the atmosphere.
“It was complicated, she was a partner in my business. We had history but I hadn’t touched her in years. She found herself there trying to seduce me back into business. I played into it but I didn’t touch her, didn’t kiss her. I never cheated but you don’t believe me” he says with your back turned to him. The explanation is far too flawed leaving too much room for questions and conflict for it to be the lie he’s come up with after so many years. You decide to contemplate it being the truth.
“We’re great coparents and Sonnie is well adjusted-”
“Don’t logic me, this isn’t about that” he says, the frustration in his voice causing it to rasp.
“Didn’t I tell you I had a long day?’ you ask.
“Let me fix it” he says and you want him to. You want him to, so badly. To follow you into your bedroom and turn the tension into pleasure. To ease the frustration into release. To feel his body on yours, to feel him sliding into you as his mouth claimed yours hungrily.
But there were a hundred ‘but’s’.
“I’ll see you when you get back, we can talk then” you tell him and his nostrils flare. He nods and leaves, giving the door a slight slam. You lock up behind him. Drawing in a few deep breaths against the door. It takes too much mental fortitude not to want to call him back in, to set fire to the boundaries you set into place.
You’re about to spiral when your phone chimes. You open the message to a photo from your sister from the surveillance camera at your moms front door. You see your mom with her arms wrapped around Rogers with a robe on and house slippers. You smile.
Please tell Stella that you can't get your groove back during booty call hours. At least make the man take her out, sheesh.
Seester
You laugh at the two stalkers in your life and mull over what's next for you and Rio as you look at the swatches for the house.
THREE
You head to your office after a long morning debrief and consider putting in your resignation to work with your sister or on your own. Lately things have been increasingly more and more tense. You turn on the television and see the reason for all the turmoil in the office. The election for Governor. Well, if the polling is correct - the new governor. His crime crack down plans have everyone scrambling to adjust. Beause of plan for an overhaul that’s bound to follow his election with all the policy changes. You change the channel not interested in seeing his rehearsed smile and photo ops with babies.
It’s Sonnie’s days with Rio so once you’re off the clock from working overtime it’s just you and the house alone. You could show up at your sisters but sometimes seeing her with her family makes you want one of your own.
Your alarm chimes as you finish up organizing your investigations and you lock everything up before heading home. You’re in your car when you get a call from Rio.
“Hey baby, how was school?’ You smile knowing it's Sonnie and not his father.
“It was fun today, we’re going to do a recital so I need to practice my instrument and get an outfit for the assembly.”
“Sounds fun, are you excited?”
“Yeah, dad made fajitas. There’s enough for you if you want to come over and have dinner” Sonnie says.
“Sonnie you can't just invite me to your dads house,” You tell him.
“Why not?” You hear Rio say and roll your eyes changing course to his loft.
“Dad doesn’t have a problem with it,” Sonnie says.
“Okay, I’ll be there in half an hour” you say.
“Lets wait for mom” you hear Sonnie say excitedly.
“Alright, you don’t get an extension on bed time so go shower” Rio tells him and you hear him running away.
“Abuelita made spicy hot chocolate cookies, you want me to get vanilla ice cream?” Rio asks knowing it’s your favorite combination.
“It’s fine thanks, I’ll have them alone” you tell him.
“Yeah whatever, I don’t want to hear ‘it’d be so good with ice cream’ it should be delivered before you get here” he says after mocking you. You smile freely in the car where he cant see.
“I’m on a diet, Rio, today's not my cheat day” you tell him and he kisses his teeth in the phone. You can’t help but smile some more.
“Are you in nun training camp, diet, no liquor, no sex, what are you doing?” he asks.
“What if I am?”
“I got your fucking nun costume, i’ll be the cardinal, come see me in my chambers” he says making you laugh at his wild antics. It feels good to laugh after the day you’ve had.
“You’re stupid” you tell him.
“I miss your laugh,” he says. “I miss us Y/N” he says, sighing. Somehow the truth seems safer over the phone.
“Me too” you whisper but the silence tells you he caught it.
“I’m sorry for making decisions that lead to you looking crazy in front of your people.” he says and it hits different because he’s never accepted responsibility before. “Trust me I regret even looking in her direction because it cost me my family but we’re older now, and in a few weeks I’ll be what you asked of me” he says. You allow the words to settle over you.
“Ok” you sigh. “Rio?”
“Yes baby?” he asks and you shake your head, taking the exit.
“Can you look into someone for me?”
“Who?”
“Jeff Rogers”
“Your moms little boyfriend?”
“So I’m the last to know?” you laugh.
“I need to know everyone with access to my son's homes. Ole boy has a couple baby mama’s and likes stolen merchandise. Nothing else, no debts - he’s clean. You’re safe, our sons’ safe” Rio says.
“Thank you” you tell him and he stays on the phone for the rest of your drive silently.
His loft smells amazing when you walk in and Sonnie rushes into you. You bend to hug him tight.
“I missed you a lot today,” he says.
“I always miss you” you smile, kissing his cheeks. He takes your hand after you exit the bathroom bringing you to the table. Fajitas sit sizzling in the middle of the table. Rio started cooking when you were pregnant and was something of a natural. His body thanked him for it too. Eating better and hauling around furniture, car seats, groceries made him bulk up from his naturally slim physique. He’d never be big but the lean muscle was an extra special sprinkle. One you noticed he was getting back.
“Tell your mom what you told me about your friend in music class” Rio says tapping Sonnie on the shoulder with a mischievous smirk. Sonnie's expression brightens.
“Okay so mommy, Josh plays the tuba right and there’s this part where he needs to do two big blows. It always squeaks instead of sounding smooth.” Sonnie explains.
“Okay” you nod as his father makes his plate.
“So Josh … dad that’s too much vegetables!” Sonnie interjects.
“What’d abuelita tell you about gratitude?” Rio asks.
“Thank god for the food we’re blessed to eat and pray for the less fortunate.” Sonnie recites making you smile.
“You were telling me about Josh” you remind and he perks up again.
“So Josh is annoyed that he always has to try over and over again. He didn’t even want the tuba, he wanted to play the piano or the drums. It’s his part and he ate beans that gave him a tummy ache.” Sonnie says, pausing to laugh and hold his stomach. “When it was his turn he farted so loud the teacher said bravo” Sonnie says laughing so hard there are tears in his eyes. You look at Rio who is no better and shake your head.
“HE POO’D” Sonnie yells and you cover your face, losing it at the two of them and the idea of the child coming up with such a flawed plan. “And he got in school suspension. Then the principal came to talk to us about mischief” Sonnie continues laughing.
“And I thought private school would be boring,” Rio laughs, shaking his head. They both laugh and you do too because of how boy humour works. Sonnie takes a deep breath as you fix your food. “Mom, you don’t get it. Everyone stopped and then Emily screamed EWWWW” he continues bursting into a fit of giggles. “The teacher's eyes went big like in the cartoons and she turned red like a stop sign when she saw” Sonnie says, fighting for breath.
“Sonnie I get it, I want to eat without thinking of your classmates' shenanigans” you laugh and he continues to do the same thing.
“Abuelita woulda tore my ass up if I did something so stupid. Where do kids get this shit from?” Rio asks, thoroughly amused.
“The internet is full of good pranks” Sonnie says and you shake your head.
“Well you stick to spectating.” You tell him and he smiles.
“Ok mom” he sighs, laughing to himself some more. “How was your day?” He asks.
“Nothing special until now, I get to be entertained by a laughing storyteller” you smile
“Don’t forget dads cooking” Sonnies smiles.
“It’s very good Chris” you smile.
“Come by anytime” he says.
You keep your eyes on Sonnie who smiles watching the two of you showing all of his little teeth. You feel guilt for not giving him this more often.
“What else happened?”
“Mike was sad, his parents are getting a divorce. I told him it would be okay. But he said his parents won’t do stuff together like we do. He said his dad has a new girlfriend” Sonnie says.
“Every situation is different, baby. Sometimes people don’t get along and divorce is good. The alternative could be arguing all the time and two unhappy people.”
“Did you and daddy argue all the time?”
“No” Rio says before your shock wears off.
“So why don’t you have a ring and call daddy your husband, why do we live in different houses?” He asks. You thought you had more time.
“Because that’s what we decided was best for us as adults for the time. Maybe we can talk about it when you’re older but right now it doesn’t matter because we’re family and we show up for each other. You know your mommy calls me for anything and I call her too. We’re a team.” Rio says taking the lead.
“Daddy, do you get annoyed sometimes when she calls you?”
“Nah, your mother doesn’t annoy me. Look at her.” Rio says, making Sonnie smile.
“You know some of my friends whose parents are married aren’t nice to each other like you guys are. Parents are hard to understand” Sonnie reflects.
“People are difficult to understand baby. Just tell your friends that whatever happens between adults has nothing to do with the kids.” You smile and he nods.
“Okay” he nods, turning his attention back to his food and giggling again at the tuba sharting incident no doubt. You finish your food and you load the dishwasher as Rio sets up the projector for a movie. You join them on the sectional and somehow you and Sonnie both end up leaning on his father. His cologne and body heat has you out like a light. You forgot how much the open concept loft feels like home until Rio’s waking you up. You check the time and see it’s after eleven. His eyes are sleepy too as he pulls you to the bedroom. You hear him in the bathroom and relieve yourself in Sonnies. Your stomach is full and so is your heart as you watch Sonnie sprawled across his full sized mattress.
You pad back to Rio’s room and see a toothbrush and one of your old night dresses out for you. You take a quick shower and reenter the bedroom to see an empty bed. You yawn getting in and wait for him but he doesn't come. Frowning you hope it’s not business and find him on the sectional.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, sleepy.
“Why are you out here?” You ask, unable to fathom that the man that can't stop making passes at you is opting to sleep on the couch.
“Boundaries” he yawns.
“Shut up and come to bed” you groan, padding back into his room. He follows as you hug your corner. He gets in and pulls you back against his body.
“Shh” he says before you can protest.
Peace and sleep come faster than ever.
You wake up first, well rested and perfectly comfortable in Rio’s arms. He behaved last night and somehow that means more than anything else. You hold his arms against your body and his hold tightens silently. A kiss lands on your shoulder.
“I’m gonna get up and make breakfast” you whisper letting him go and it takes him a moment to release you. You get ready for the morning remembering when Sonnie was first born and this was your home. It was perfect in size, one floor making recovery easy. You pad out of the bedroom where he’s still asleep and look in the fridge to see what’s on the menu.
You whip up French toast and cut up some fruit relieved Rio isn’t feeding your son junk all the time. When you’re finished Sonnie smiles at you sleepily.
“Mommy you’re still here” he says and you bend to kiss the top of his head.
“We both fell asleep and it was late to drive home,” you explain.
“I’m happy you stayed, I think sometimes daddy gets lonely. You like alone time but I don’t think he does. You have auntie but when we’re together he’s all alone” Sonnie whispers. His emotional intelligence and empathy makes you proud.
“Then he needs hobbies and good friends,” you smile. “I know you want your daddy and I to get back together but I don’t want you involved. We got together without you the first time. We can do it again if it’s meant to be alright?” You ask and he pauses thinking it over before nodding.
“If you don’t get together can we spend more time together just the three of us at home. Not like at amusement parks and the movies?” He asks.
“We can” you nod and he hugs you tight.
“Thank you” he smiles and you make him his plate. He sits and you head into Rio’s closet hoping to find something that fits.
“Your clothes are still in your drawers” Rio says appearing behind you.
“Dusty?” you ask as reality pulls at your heart strings.
“Nah,” he says, opening the drawer. You find a pair of pants and a shirt to wear and smell them. “Abuelita came by and did the laundry to prepare for the move.” He says glazing over the fact that he’s never gotten rid of your things.
“Aren’t you going to miss this place?” You ask, stepping into the pants.
“I don’t miss places, I miss you” he says, holding your gaze.
“I looked over the swatches for the house and made my selections. I’ll send them to you when I get back home” you swallow meeting him halfway. You can feel the change in him, the fact he didn’t initiate sex last night was huge. The kind of respect and maturity you never expected. Rio had always been the man to take all the shots. Something about this version of him is unnerving, your heart races in anticipation as he showcases his newfound patience. You know when the two of you make it to bed together there’ll be no going back with how he’s about to put it down.
He smirks, stepping back like you’re thinking out loud.
“At least you know baby, acceptance is the next step” he whispers, kissing your cheek before leaving the closet. You shake your head wondering how he reads you so well. You try your best not to smile as you slip on a top and head back out to the kitchen with your boys.
______
Authors note: Hope you enjoyed the domestic bliss and backstory. I decided to put two and three together since you guys seemed to like part one.
What are you doing in this situation?
Do you believe Rio's changed and a family man now?
Kind of, his actions show it.
Not sure.
YES! Him trying to sleep on the couch solidified it for me.
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