Title: SVU circa 1852
Summary: It's Ireland and it is 1852 and there is a great famine throughout the country. Elliot and Olivia are siblings plagued by hunger and the need to escape the famine. So, they board a ship with their mother Serena. On their way to America, they meet an upper class runaway named Alexandra and her servant Odafin who also happens to be her best friend and ran away with her. Their lives cross paths and when they land in America, they are greeted by an unwelcoming group of Americans who'd rather have seen the foreigners die on the ship. There they are helped out by a small group of Americans- a young sarcastic teenager named John and an underground medical student/ body snatcher named Malinda. With nowhere to go, their survival depends on these two people they just met and the generosity of a bar owner named Elizabeth who gives them work, but they can't help but be affected by the especially heinous crimes they see around them. And this often puts them at odds with the police and Captain Cragen.
Chapter 1: Eviction
It was dawn in the tiny village that surrounded the barren land that belonged to Lord Jack McCoy. It was the year of the great potato famine and no one had work.
Elliot lay cuddled up in the corner of the small hut that was held together by mere remnants of straw and mud. A thatched roof lay atop their home. They had used what straw they could find to build that roof. Most of their neighbors had been evicted or had taken the voyage across the sea to America. So when their neighbors' huts were tumbled, they took what they could.
Olivia stirred upon hearing a rumbling of footsteps headed their way. She quickly bolted from her position on the dirt floor and began digging frantically underneath the stone pot they used for cooking. They didn't have very many possessions. They didn't even have shoes. Only the clothes on their backs and a few earthen goods belonged to them. She found what she was digging for and quickly hid her findings inside her jacket and in the hidden cuff of her pants.
Elliot grumbled awake when he heard Olivia rustling about their hut. He was about to yell at her for waking him when he heard the horse hoofs clodding closer toward them. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph," he said and crossed himself. The day had finally come. They were about to get evicted and their home tumbled.
"Serena!" A voice boomed from the other side of the slab of wood they used as a door. It was quickly tossed aside and a large officer waddled his way into their hut. His gut hung over his trousers and he hefted a wooden club in his hand. He spit out a wad of spit as he eyed Elliot and Olivia.
Elliot instinctively picked up a brick and was ready to hurl it at the officer, but Olivia stepped in front of him and spoke instead.
"Officer Hollister, if you could just give us another month I'm sure my mother could come up with the money that is owed," Olivia begged the officer.
He grunted and looked over at the woman who lay still passed out on the earthen floor. "Our agreement has expired." He walked over to her and kicked her in the side.
Serena rolled over and groggily sat up.
Olivia ran to her side and bent down. "Mom, officer Hollister is here."
Her speech was still slurred and she wobbled as she stood. "Ah, Joseph," she said. She looked at her kids and then back to the officer. "I thought we had a certain agreement about the timing of our encounters…"
He grabbed her by the arm and began to drag her out of the hut. "Our previous arrangements are no longer valid, and Lord McCoy wants you off his land. If you can't pay, you can't stay."
Elliot and Olivia ran out of the hut after them. There they were confronted by about a dozen guards on horses.
"Tumble it." Joseph Hollister yelled out.
"NO!" Elliot yelled and picked up one of the rocks that were lying around the hut. He began to throw them at the guards. "You can't do this to us!" He picked up a giant brick and hurled it at one guard and it knocked him off his horse. Elliot's eyes got big when he saw he landed a hit.
Officer Hollister turned toward Elliot and lifted his club.
"Run!" Olivia yelled.
Hollister took a swing at him, but Elliot darted out from underneath him and ran up the pathway away from the huts.
Olivia ran to her mother and helped her stand. "Come on mom, we have to get out of here."
"But our home…. That's our home." Serena reluctantly stood.
Olivia threw her mother's arm over her shoulder and supported her weight as they began to follow in the direction that Elliot ran. "It's not our home anymore," Olivia whispered to her mother.
Hollister sneered at the two of them, but his hefty form prohibited him from having the energy to run after the boy or his family. Instead he ordered the guards to gut the hut and leave nothing standing.
*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
Alexandra sat at the breakfast table, hands politely placed in her lap as she waited for the servants to bring out her breakfast. Her mother sat next to her and delicately sipped her hot tea. They didn't converse much except for the formal musings expected by their stature. Her mother had an affinity for the finer things in life and couldn't care less for her daughter. She preferred the company of senators and other wives similar to her.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting ladies." A generous smile spread across the face of Lord Jack McCoy. He sat down at the table to enjoy breakfast with his family.
"Oh Jack, you needn't apologize to your own family for your tardiness." Alex's mother said. "I'm sure business kept you away." She looked around the formal dining room for their servants. "Where is Odafin? We're ready for our breakfast."
Fin carried in a large silver platter and sat one in front of Mrs. McCoy. Two more servants filed through and placed a tray in front of Alex as well as Jack.
"Looks scrumptious," said Mrs. McCoy. "Don't you think dear?"
"Delicious indeed," said Jack as he took a bite of his poached eggs and dipped his french toast in a generous amount of maple syrup.
Alex spread the food around on her plate. These days, there were only a few reasons why her father would be late for breakfast. She knew how he dealt with the people that worked for him and those who lived on and worked his land. She knew they were out there starving and dyeing. Yet here they were eating more food for breakfast than most of the peasants would get in two weeks.
"Is something bothering you?" Jack asked his daughter when he noticed her lack of appetite.
"Oh, don't mind her," said Mrs. McCoy. "The foreboding of a silly girl doesn't concern matters of state."
Alex kept her glare focused on her mother, yet her face didn't betray the hurt she felt by her mother's words. They only served to distance her more from her mother. Already her icy demeanor served her well. She hid her feelings for now.
"Nonsense," said Jack. "Come now Alexandra, tell me what is bothering you."
"Very well then," Alex looked up from her plate and over at her father. "I find it preposterous that you subject the peasants that work for you on your land to work in harsh conditions without adequate pay. And what pay you do give them does not suffice to cover a meager day's meal. While we sit here enjoying breakfast cooked by personal chefs, you were out evicting yet another poor family onto the streets of Ireland. They never even had a chance. Furthermore, what gives you the right to preside over such a people? Do they not deserve to be treated fairly?"
Alex's mom dropped her fork and it made a loud clank as it hit their fine china. Her jaw lay open and she stared at her daughter stunned by the words that emanated out of her mouth.
Jack got up from his seat and he knocked the table as he did. Milk splattered out of a porcelain container. He trod heavily toward Alexandra, anger burning in his veins and his fists clenched.
Alex had seen him in this state before and she knew what was about to happen. She quickly stood from her position and backed up slightly, but stood her ground. She clenched her jaw and braced herself, staring defiantly at the face in front of her. A large hand slapped her across the face and she turned with the pressure, grasping her jaw as she did.
Her mother just sat there and watched.
Jack steadied his hand as he looked down at his arduous daughter. "How dare you question the way that I run my land. If it weren't for me, then you wouldn't have any place to sleep and no food on that table."
Alex steadied herself on her feet and looked back at her father. Hate glistened in her eyes. "I'd rather starve than share another meal with you." She abruptly turned and stormed off toward her room.
Jack clenched his jaw as he watched his daughter storm off. He turned toward Odafin, "See after her will you?"
Fin nodded and took off after Alex.
Jack sat back down at the table and he and his wife finished their breakfast in silence.
Alex began packing some of her things into a bag when Fin walked into her bedroom.
"Alex, what do you think you're doing talking to your father like that?" Fin asked. They had grown up together and were about the same age. The only difference between them was that he was the hired help. Over the years they had grown close, although they kept their friendship secret because no one else would approve of such a friendship.
Alex continued packing her things, a hairbrush, a book, a change of clothing. "I've had enough of this Fin." She looked up at him. "He treats others as if he were a god." Her next words were muffled, "And he treats me like I'm nothing." She looked at Fin. "I need you to get something for me."
Fin looked over at his dear friend, the red mark across her face was beginning to take shape and he could see exactly where Jack's fingers had landed. "Anything for you."
"I need you to go into my father's office when he's not there. Open the bottom left hand drawer of his desk and get me that cash."
Fin faltered, "But they'll hang me if I'm caught. They'll know it was me who took it."
Alex sat her bag down on her bed and took Fin's hands in hers. "Then come with me." She searched his eyes. "To America…. We can both get a fresh start."
Fin quickly weighed his options, but the promise of America was too much to pass. "He has a croquet tournament to get ready for in an hour. I'll go into his office and get the money then."
Alex smiled at her friend. They were going to America.
A/N: Please review if you're interested in the story! There probably won't be any pairings in this story except for amazing friendships forged on their way to New York in 1852. Anyone else have a thing for the 1800's? lol A bunch of other characters will also make appearances in this story as it progresses drop me a review or pm if you would like to see a character reappear ^-^ good or bad guy