Author's Note: In light of recent developments in the SVU-verse, I have decided to acknowledge the fact that Nick has a son. I wonder how it would affect Nick and Olivia's marriage in my SVU-verse. Obviously the timeline will change significantly, but I'll work all that out in the story. Read, review, follow, favorite, and most importantly, enjoy!

Summary: A bump, or in the case, a very big obstacle in the road for Nick, Olivia, and their loved ones.

Submerged

Chapter 1

"Will you put that down!" Olivia chastises her husband with a playful smirk on her face.

They've been walking around the grocery store for what seems like forever trying to agree on what food items to buy. She could've easily done this without his assistance, but being the ever helpful husband that he proudly claims to be, he insisted to accompany her on the carefully planned trip. Honestly, though, she knows why he's really here, he can't put anything past her. Lately she's been bringing home more . . . nutritious foodstuffs and slowly, but surely, weaning her family off the sugary, fatty, calorie loaded substances Nick usually adds to their grocery list. They eat pretty healthy, but they could be doing a lot better in that department. Sometimes her hectic schedule doesn't permit her to put in the time necessary to prepare meals with completely nourishing components. And God knows, if she doesn't try no one else—meaning her husband—will.

"I've done enough compromising, Liv, I can't go another week without a Twinkie."

Olivia rolls her eyes and grabs the box from him. "Fine, you can get this box of Twinkies, but you have to put something back. Something of equal calorie value."

Nick gives her a fleeting look, then eyes their cart full of groceries visually deciding what to get rid of. It's between Ben and Jerry's Boston Crème Pie and his precious Nacho Cheese Doritos. Olivia walks down the juice aisle as he continues on with his internal conflict. By the time she gets back with a thing of apple juice, he's finally decided against Ben and Jerry's.

". . . Hmm."

"What?" he asks staring dejectedly at the cold, delicious looking container in his hand.

She shrugs pushing the cart to the next aisle. "Nothing, I was just hoping you'd decide to sacrifice your precious Doritos."

Confused, he lifts his head and looks at her. "Why?"

"Well . . . remember the last time you had ice cream? How much fun we had when the kids went to sleep that night . . . , "she trails off.

Slowly, a large, knowing grin starts to develop on Nick's face. "On second thought . . ."

The two of them share a meaningful laugh as Nick goes to put the bag of chips back. A smile still on her lips, Liv turns the corner colliding with another basket.

"Oh, my God, I'm so sorry," the woman says, her hand over her heart. "I was just trying to catch up with my son."

Olivia gives her an understanding smile. "It's okay; I know how that is."

The lady moves back and out of Olivia's way.

"Here's that disgusting cheese you've been longing for, babe," Nick says handing her the offending object.

She smiles, delighted. "Thanks. Excuse—"

". . . Carlos?"

Nick's eyes connect with the woman's. His breath catches and her eyes fill with tears and disbelief.

"Carlos? I think—" Olivia begins but cuts herself off at Nick's change in attitude and body language. ". . . Nick?"

"I . . . Cynthia . . ."

"I have to go," Cynthia mumbles.

She leaves her cart in the middle of the aisle and Nick staring at her fast, retreating form.

" . . . What just happened here?" Olivia finally asks.

". . . I . . . Nothing. Let's just finish and go home."

"That was definitely not nothing, Nick. Your entire mood just changed because you saw a woman. What's going on?"

"Noth—"

"And before you say nothing again, let me remind you that I'm your wife and I have every right to know what the hell just happened here."

"Just let it go, okay?"

"No—"

"Let it go!" he whispers harshly. He exhales, irritated. "I'll wait in the car."

Olivia stands there, confused and growing more and more upset as she watches Nick walk out of the store.

Half an hour later, Olivia climbs into the passenger side of their car. Nick revs up the engine, staring straight ahead, and pulls off. It's a long and quiet ride and eventually, the silence finally annoys him more than anything.

"I, uh, called my mom; told her we were on our way to get the kids," he began chancing a glance at her.

"Good," is her monosyllabic response.

". . . I was thinking maybe spaghetti for dinner, the kids'll love that."

"That's fine."

Liv takes out her phone and starts looking through her emails and text messages; her way of telling him to leave her alone, she has nothing to say to him.

"Look, Liv—"

Olivia sighs, irate. "No, you look, if you think you can act like that situation back at the grocery store didn't happen, you have another thing coming. I told you once before that I was over having things hidden from me, so until you decide to tell me what the hell just happened back there, I'm completely done talking to you."

Liv sits back in her seat and returns to whatever's going on in her phone.

". . . I met her years ago. Before you, before Maria, when I was undercover. . . We had a relationship. At first my focus was on getting her brother locked up but then I fell in love with her. After the bust I had to disappear for a while. Once I could I looked for her, but she was gone and I moved on."

". . . Why couldn't you tell me that to begin with?"

He shrugs. "Because . . . I don't know, Olivia. It's just . . . It was weird seeing her after all these years and I was shocked."

Nick parks the car in front of his mother's apartment complex and kills the engine.

"I'm sorry that I was short with you, Liv, but I really don't want to talk about this anymore," he says with finality.

He exits the car and makes his way to his mom's apartment, Liv following suit.

Across the street, Cynthia and her son sit at the small ice cream shop enjoying their end of the week treat. She stares at the couple as they help their kids into the car. She feels an awful feeling in the pit of her stomach that constricts with every passing second. He has a smile on his face, the same smile her son wears, and has been wearing, since the day he was born. The other children, climbing into their SUV, have similar ones.

"Mom?"

". . ."

"Mom!"

"Hmm?" she asks looking at her 13 year old boy.

"What are you looking at? Are you alright?"

She nods, giving him a small smile. It's not very convincing. "Yea, Gil, I'm fine. Finish your ice cream and let's get out of here."

He nods and continues eating his treat.

Tbc

Disclaimer: I own nothing—but Stella and Sammy, of course.