He's hurrying up the street heading towards the cafe just around the corner. He was supposed to meet his sister Gina about half an hour ago for their weekly coffee together but duty call had ruined his plans for once more. It's always at the worst time possible that these things choose to happen, aren't they?

He enters slyly, making his way through the many tables and seats himself right across her. He puts on his bed smile but apparently his effort is in vain because Gina's not so happy judging from the look on her face. "Ya're late again Sonny..." she's almost whining and that brings up some quite a lot of memories from the past. Living with three sisters definitely included a lot of that.

"I'm sorry but I had work to do. It's not like I have any control over these kind of things." he puts his hands in the air and she scoffs.

"Whatever, it's too early in the morning and I haven't had any coffee. Oh! I almost forgot. Guess who's in Manhattan." she smiled excitedly.

"Someone I know?" he looks down at his menu and runs his fingers across the letters meticulously.

She hums and nods her head. "Better than anyone. She's like a forth sister in the family." she finally manages to catch his full attention as he looks up from his study, eyes widened in shock.

"Shut up! Lily?" he has a hard time taking in her words.

"Of course it's Lily! Don't tell me you've forgotten all about her. Ya haven't seen each other in what; two years?" she continues excitedly and his face beams up as well.

"More than that. Since I left Staten Island. But what is she doing here?" she giggles at his shocked expression.

"Well, we were talking on the phone like we always do-" he rolls his eyes at her words but she just ignores him and moves on "-and she said she had gotten an offer from my dance company so she took this opportunity and well...she'll be staying in Manhattan and working with me! I told her to come over. It'll be a chance to get together again. Ya don't mind, do ya?"

"No, not at all. I'd love to see her again. How is she doin'?" he tries to hide his nervousness. Gina and Lily have been friends since primary school and living so close to each other, Lily had grown to be a part of Sonny's family. Truth be told, even as a teenage girl, giggling and chattering with his sister, she was remarkably beautiful and exquisite.

She has always been the exact opposite of Gina, whose beauty is wild and untamed with her chocolate blonde hair in a pixie cut, her striking baby blue eyes -a feature that runs in the entire family- and her tall body build along with her temperamental -if not even blunt- personality. Lilly was petite with curves and the soft features of her face make her undoubtedly stunning. Her rich, red hair in the most classic tone and her doll-like emerald green eyes were the perfect combination.

But what was most endearing about her was not her appearance. It was her sweetness and her kind heart, her sympathy and the warmth and love she radiated. He also liked her voice; her silky and lyrical voice that was always so serene and her distinctive British accent; the way she would pronounce words. It was so easy to get distracted by it every time she said the smallest thing of things. Despite the fact that he was older, the three of them had always made a great trio and their dynamic was wonderful. He still kind of misses that.

His sister voice calls him back from his thoughts. "She's good. Actually, she's pregnant." her words come out and ring in his ears repeatedly. He must have overheard something.

"What? Pregnant?" he asks hesitantly and she nods her head in agreement again. "Wh-What? I didn't know she was married." he is almost whispering in disbelief.

"She ain't. News flash! We're no longer in the 50s. Women can have children out of marriage." she jokes ironically.

"Oh! So she's seeing someone and it's that serious?" he tries again.

"No, Sonny. She's single. A single mother." she states simply, like it's nothing.

"Oh..." he sighs in relief -he's not sure why. Why should I care so much if she's dating someone and they're having a family together? he berates himself.

"Now, between the two of us, I wanted to ask you something. You know how hard it is to get an apartment here and especially if she's going to need space for the baby as well. She's currently staying at a hotel but that can't be for long enough until she finds a decent place. Besides, we can't just leave her alone with noone else to look after her. What if something happens? Someone must be there. If I could, I would have asked her to move in my place a long time ago but I barely have enough space for myself, let alone another two people. So I thought maybe you could offer."

"To move in with me? Jeez, Gina. I don't know...I mean, I really love Lilly and we've always gotten along great but will she even want to? I don't think she'd be as comfortable with me as she is with you. And with a baby on the way...What about the father of the child?" he stutters and she looks down with a hint of disappointment.

"Oh come on Sonny! Don't be ridiculous! You might not me bffs but you're very close no matter how much time has passed. And there's no father. I'll explain sometime. Anyways, you're the best possible solution. I don't wanna leave her looking for an apartment forever and if she's living with you, I know she'd always be safe. Do it for her if not me." she does her best to convince him with puppy eyes, another typical thing when it came to young sisters.

"Well, if that's the case...Fine." she cheers for her success and he rolls his eyes.

"Oh there she is!" she looks up excitedly towards the door and he turns his head to also at her. His jaw drops a little but he immediately realizes it and collects himself. She looks more beautiful than ever he decides. She's truly shining as she smiles at their direction. That must be exactly what they mean when they say that pregnancy can make a woman gleam.

Her red hair that reaches down to her chest is just as rich and silky as he remembers it, her front strands of hair twisted a little and caught meticulously in the back of her head in the most ladylike manner. She's wearing a green dress under her thick coat, that he can tell. Green has always looked marvelous on her, mostly because of the way it matches her striking eyes and expressed her lively personality.

She approaches quickly and Gina gets up from her seat to be the first to hug her and they look so excited to see each other. He follows hesitantly, always careful not to hurt her. It's a little awkward but he tries to ignore his nervousness. They all return to their seats and Lily removes her coat, letting her still small baby bump show beneath the loose line of her garment. She smiles again, that warm and radiating smile he has missed for some reason. No, don't go there he scolds himself again.


Quite some catching up -and two pieces of cheesecake that Lily had devoured in an instant- later, Gina finally managed to turn the conversation to the desirable direction. "So Lilly, Sonny and I've discussed something and we'd like to share our idea with ya. We were thinking that you should move in with him. He has a big apartment with a spare room and enough space for the baby and you'll have more support and someone to have your back at all times. What ya' thinking?" she spits out quickly and Lily's obviously shocked.

She gasps and her eyes feel with tears unexpectedly. "Jesus, you guys. You are such sweethearts. Thank you so much, but I'm afraid I cannot. I can't just be a burden on your shoulders Sonny. I'm none of your responsibility." she blinks furiously and keeps her tears under control. Those hormones certainly got the handle of her he couldn't help but think.

"No, don't say that. I'd love to be of help here." he decides to take a stand.

"Really?" she looks up at both of them, her eyes full of hope and immense joy that her friends are so supportive as her smile never leaves her face once.

"Of course, honey. Besides, what could be best than a cap in the house?" Gina says strictly and giggles lightning the mood.

"Thank you. Thank you so much." Lily gets up from her seat to hug them again and finally allows her tears to trail down her cheeks. Her embrace is comforting and sweet despite the big height difference between her and Sonny.

"Well, now that's all settled so I should probably get going 'cause I've got to go help Bella with lil Maddie. You two don't mind, do ya?"

Sonny glances at Lily awkwardly but she doesn't seem to have any negative reaction. "Well, it depends. Do you think you could bear my company for a little longer without another's assistance?" she turns to him and he freezes for a while before he regains his posture.

"Perhaps." he laughs along.

"Great. I'll see you two tonight at Sonny's place, ok? We should take your stuff from my place there." she suggests and they both nod in agreement.

"Have a nice day!" Lily adds adorably before she turns her gaze back to Sonny.

"So...Sonny. It feels like ages since I last saw you. How have you been? I see you got rid of the mustache. I must say you look dashing." she jokes or so he receives her comment.

"Yeah, well things gotta change once in a while, don't they? You've changed a lot as well. You're glowing." he pointed at her abdomen that somehow seemed natural on her. Like she was made to be a mother. And judging from her lovely nature, she probably was.

She laughs at his flattering comment. "Thank you. As long as I'm concerned though, I feel like the only thing that's really changed is my size. I feel like a timid beast with all that I eat." she jokes and he laughs but tries to make her feel better. Her statement was far from the truth.

"Nah, don't say that. Trust me, you look amazing. And it's normal to eat a lot in your state so you should get to enjoy it while you can."

"Sonny-" she moves closer to him with her seat and takes hold of his hand. Her skin is so soft and smooth against his own and he finds himself intoxicated by the contact despite its friendly nature. "Now that Gina is gone, I want you to be honest with me. If you do not really feel that comfortable with living with me, that is fine. I wouldn't wish for you to feel obligated." she seeks some answer in his deep eyes since he's unable to utter any words.

"Don't be silly. I'd love to have ya as a roommate. And I'd also love to help with the baby if you want me." he responds honestly because that's what he really thinks. It's not like he's being dragged into this. She smiles at his statement.

"I had forgotten how much of a sweetheart you can be." and pecked his cheek. Again, a flash went right through him and startled him.

Pull it together, Carisi. What's changed now? Dammit, you're like brother and sister. She's Gina's best friend and she's pregnant! he berated himself once again and pondered over his startling thoughts. She wasn't flirting with him; there was no desire from him for her. It was something else. A spark perhaps...


Finally! I managed to finish the first chapter of my first EVER Carisi fanfic! I'm so happy! I know I've said Barba is my favorite current character in SVU but recently I've started to rethink that. I can't really decide, I love both. But there's much less material for Carisi to be shipped with someone else rather than Rollins or Barba so I decided to take a shot with it! What do you think? Do you like it? Plz let me know by giving me some feedback. I love hearing your guys' opinions and suggestions.