Listen, we know that the Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) slow burn has been going on for near three decades now on Law & Order: SVU (and Organized Crime). But hear us out: What if her ultimate love interest isn’t her former partner but the ADA she sparred with (which we loved), Barba (Raúl Esparza)? A case can be made for both. And so that’s exactly what we’re doing for the show’s 26th anniversary.

From the start of SVU, Benson and Stabler were partners on the job, but even though he was married, there was that will they/won’t they vibe. It continued once he returned for his own spinoff, even as his wife was dying in a hospital room, and there have certainly been moments over the years — including an almost kiss! — that hint at the Law & Order universe going there … eventually. And it is starting to feel like it has to happen sooner rather than later because, as much as we hate to think about it, these shows aren’t going to be on forever. The last thing we want is for something to happen between the two at the very last minute. We’re going into 27 years of the slow burn and not getting to see them actually be together would be a shame.