A/N: Ok this chapter ended up being longer than I anticipated although it is just a filler so I decided to split it in two. I kept getting so many ideas and I just had to get them written down. I'm well aware of the fact that some of Olivia's decision's and actions in this chapter, and the one following, are somewhat out of character but on the other hand, mother's can often behave irrationally in certain situations and hey, our favourite detective is only human herself. Please don't hate me for the way I have portrayed her in these next instalments *hides face*. Also I certainly do not own any of the famous brands and companies mentioned in this chapter. Just thought I would get that out there. Hope you enjoy and let me know what you think! xxx
"You, Missy, need to stop growing." Olivia bemoaned jokingly as she pulled a long sleeved shirt over Maria's head and tugged it down. She had taken note of the fact that the sleeves of the purple item of clothing stopped just a few inches from where they were supposed to. Not only had she found this come to be a regular occurrence with numerous pairs of pants and shirts, she had also realised that Maria must be grown out of a couple pairs of shoes. The child was sometimes heard complaining about her feet hurting which was a sign of the footwear pinching her little toes.
Yep. Her child had definitely experienced a significant growth spurt.
"Where are we going, Mama?" Maria asked as Olivia ran a hairbrush through her hair before braiding it into two French plaits.
"Well I thought that it would be a nice idea to spend some quality time together at the mall. You need new clothes because you're getting too big for some of the stuff you already have. Maybe after we're finished and had some lunch we can go and watch a movie." Liv explained. She had managed to get that day and the following day off work.
"Oh, that sounds like fun! Can we have McDonald's?" The little girl asked hoping her mother would say yes. Sometimes Olivia said 'no' when she asked to go to the fast food restaurant as she believed too much of it was unhealthy.
"Well...I guess you haven't had food from there in a long time so I don't see why not." Olivia shrugged and laughed when Maria pounced on her.
"Yay! McDonald's!" The five year old cheered.
Later that morning, Olivia and Maria found themselves looking through the racks in the children's department at Macy's. Maria exclaimed in delight when she found an outfit that immediately caught her eye. "Mommy, look! It has kitties on it"
Olivia took the two piece set from the little girl and double checked it was the correct size. "Wow! You're going to look so pretty in this." She claimed as she put the item in their basket. She decided to pick up the item in a size that was made for kids who were aged six. That way Maria would be able to grow into it. The set included a denim skirt with over the shoulder straps that crossed over at the back and a white T-Shirt with little Hello Kitties printed on it.
"Let's look at the jeans and shoes. I think you've got plenty of skirts, dresses and T- Shirts." Olivia pointed out as she looked into the nearly overflowing basket that was hooked on her arm.
After about ten or fifteen minutes of browsing, Liv felt like they had enough clothes gathered to fill up a closet that was twice the size of the one that was in Maria's bedroom so she decided that it was time to head to the changing room. The changing room attendant looked at the basket Liv held before looking up at the detective with a raised eyebrow. Her job was to count how many items customers took into the cubicles in order to prevent any shoplifting.
"I know. I'm sorry but they grow so fast. It seemed like a whole new wardrobe was needed. We only need to try a few things on just to make sure I've picked the right size. Besides, I'm a cop. You can trust me." Olivia chuckled flashing her badge to prove that what she said about her profession was true.
The attendant, whose name badge read 'Jade', smiled in understanding before pointing Liv and Maria in the direction of a cubicle that had just become free. Olivia led her daughter over to the small space they were appointed and once inside, she picked out a couple pairs of pants, a skirt, a dress and a few T-Shirts for Maria to try on. Before Maria came along, Olivia hated shopping for clothes. She hardly ever tried items on herself with the exception of if it was a dress for some kind of special occasion. However, she rather enjoyed shopping sprees with her little girl. Watching her and seeing her eyes light up at new and exciting things set off butterflies in Liv's stomach. It was one of the best feelings in the world, in her opinion.
"Ok, I think we'll try the pants on first." Olivia announced once she had made sure the door of the cubicle was locked securely. Maria took off her shoes before taking off the pair of jeans Liv had dressed her in earlier that morning before being helped into a pair they had picked out from the store. Olivia made sure the zipper and buttons were fastened correctly before tugging gently on the waist band to see how much room was left. Satisfied with the not-too-snug fit, she stood up and looked down at Maria who was twisting to see herself in the mirror. "How do they feel?" Liv asked.
Maria turned back around to answer the question and smiled. "They're good. Very comfy."
"That's great. Take them off and fold them neatly before trying the next pair." Olivia inwardly sighed as she looked down at the items that still needed to be tested. 'We're going to be here for a while.' She thought to herself. However, there was a soft smile on her face throughout the whole 'fashion show'.
Liv and her five year old were walking through the mall towards the food court in order to get lunch when Maria stopped abruptly and tugged on Olivia, who hadn't noticed her daughter pause.
"Mommy?! Can we go in there? It looks so fun!" Maria explained as Liv turned to face her.
Olivia followed Maria's finger that was pointing towards a toy store before looking back at her daughter. "Not right now, Sweetie. Maybe after lunch if we have enough time before the movie starts." She had purchased their tickets for the new Disney movie before they even started looking in clothing stores and she didn't want to risk missing it. When did movie theatre ticket prices go so sky high?
"Oh please. I don't want you to buy me anything. I just want to look!" Maria pleaded, hoping her mother would give in.
Instead of entertaining the child's whims, Olivia continued their previous course to the dining area of the mall. She attempted to ignore Maria's whining and tugging but soon lost her patience when some guy walked directly in her path and barged into her. She stopped walking and turned to crouch down in front of Maria so she could look her directly in the eye. It was time to get tough. "Maria, if you don't stop this tantrum you're having right now, there will be no movie or McDonald's. Do I make myself clear?"
At the stern tone of her mother's words, Maria's fussing ceased and she whispered a very sullen 'Yes, Ma'am'. She didn't return the gesture when Olivia smiled softly to assure her she wasn't angry with her daughter.
"Good girl. Now, how about we head to the food court and get you that McDonald's you've been waiting for all day?" Olivia asked walking through the mall hand in hand with Maria. The cop didn't notice when Maria didn't reply with an enthusiastic response. Nor did she see the moment when the child turned her head to look behind her. A solemn look was placed upon her face when the toy store she so desperately wanted to investigate disappeared from view.
Arriving at the food court, Olivia groaned to herself. To say it was jam packed would be a gross understatement. If she were on her own, she would have just turned around and headed for home. However, she wasn't alone and she had promised her baby girl one of her favourite types of food for lunch. She had never broken a promise during their considerably short life together and she wasn't going to begin to let her child down now.
Olivia decided that the best thing to do would be to join the mile long queue for McDonald's before it got any longer. They had been waiting in line for about ten minutes before Maria began to fidget and become impatient. "Mommy, are we nearly there?" She whined as she tried to look and see how far they had left to go to get to the front of the line. She just knew there wasn't going to be enough time for the toy store before their movie started.
Olivia sighed and looked around the mall, her eyes lighting up with an idea when she saw that there was a table available not even five feet from where they were stood. The table would be in view from whichever point she was at in the line. She was sure of it. "Maria, look over there. You see that spot right there?" She asked as she pointed in the direction of the free table. When Maria nodded her head in the affirmative motion, Olivia threw out her suggestion. "Do you think you could be a big girl and save it for me? You will be able to see me and I will be able to see you from where ever I am in the line the whole time, ok?"
Maria stared at the table for a couple of seconds longer before looking up at Olivia. "Sure, Mommy. I can handle that. I'm a big girl." Her statement was accompanied by a shrug which suggested that Liv's request was not such a big deal.
"Ok, well don't talk to anyone and make sure you sit right at that table and don't move." Liv instructed. Maria said a simple 'ok' in reply before skipping over to the table in question.
For the next five minutes, Olivia continuously looked over her shoulder every few seconds to check that Maria stayed where she had told her to wait. That was until she received a phone call. Olivia looked over at the table one more time before taking the call. "Hey, El. Everything ok?"
"Everything's fine, Liv. Just calling to see how your day is going. How's Maria been?" Elliot responded. He hated that he was stuck at work and couldn't be with his beautiful girlfriend and her little girl.
"She's," Olivia paused very briefly to once again turn in order to double check that Maria remained at the table only to freeze when she realised that the spot she had directed her little girl to was empty. "...gone." She whispered so quietly that El didn't hear her.
"Liv?" Elliot enquired as he sat up in his chair at his desk in the bullpen.
Olivia rushed over to the area where she had last seen her child only to discover that the only sign of her ever even being there was one of the lightest Macy bags Maria had insisted she carry in an attempt to help her mother. "Elliot she's gone. She was right there and now she's not." She could feel the first signs of a panic attack when what had occurred had finally sunk in. Her breathing was short, her palms sweaty...
"Gone? Olivia, I don't know what you mean-"
"I mean Maria is gone. She's disappeared. Oh my god...someone's taken my baby. Oh God, El..." At this point Liv was on the verge of a break down. All of a sudden she was no longer a cop.
She was the mother of a missing child.
At the sound of grief in his partner's voice, Elliot stood abruptly from his seat and grabbed his jacket. "Honey, listen to me. You need to breath." The only response he got from Liv was more rapid breathing. "Olivia, calm down!" He ignored the looks he received from his colleagues who occupied the squad room and headed straight for the parking lot at the precinct. "Tell me where you are." He asked unaware of the mother and daughters plans for the day.
"The m-mall. A few blocks from the precinct. Elliot, I can't! My baby...oh my god my baby is-" The whole time she spoke, she turned every which way – looking for her little girl.
"Snap out of it, Liv! We'll find her. I'm on my way. In the meanwhile flag down mall security and get the place put on lock down. Liv? Olivia, can you hear me?! Olivia?!" El unlocked his car door and sighed in somewhat relief when he finally got a response.
"I hear you, El."
"Good. Stay calm. Call security. I'll be there in ten." He told her hurriedly before hanging up, blaring the siren on his police issued vehicle and speeding out of the car lot in the direction of the closest shopping mall to the precinct.