A/N: This chapter is a little shorter compared to my most recent updates but it's as the saying goes "short but sweet". Enjoy. xxx
"So my daddy said that I could only have desert if I ate all my vegetables. I hate vegetables." Maria's best friend Tia moaned. The two little girls were playing in Tia's room one Monday after school. Both Elliot and Olivia were working and Lauren was unavailable that day as she had some extra revision classes after school. After the girls mother had heard about Olivia's childcare predicament, she had offered to have Maria at her place as a one off. Liv, knowing that Maria felt comfortable at Tia's home, agreed hurriedly after she realised she had no other options.
"My mommy always makes me eat my vegetables. She says they're good for you." Maria told her friend.
"I guess so but they're still yucky." Tia grimaced at the thought of the healthy food group. A thought suddenly occurred to her, "Hey Maria? How come you don't ever talk about your daddy?"
Maria stopped playing with the doll she had in her hand and shrugged. "I don't have a daddy. Just a mommy." She told her friend.
Tia giggled as if she had just heard a funny joke. "Don't be silly, Maria. Everyone has a daddy.-"
"Not everyone! I don't!" Maria suddenly exclaimed in annoyance at her friend. "I have a grandpa and a mommy and her friend Elliot. I have aunties and uncles too. Not everybody has a daddy."
"Hey, what's going on in here?" Tia's mom called out as she stood in the doorway looking at the two five year olds who were glaring at each other slightly.
"Maria's being silly. She says that she doesn't have a daddy and that not everyone does. That can't be true though because a baby can only be made when a mommy and daddy love each other." Tia explained to her mom.
Tia's mom, Claire, quickly stopped her daughter from continuing with her rant when she saw the look of sadness on Maria's face. "Tia, Maria is right." She sighed as she walked into the room and sat down next to the two girls. How could she explain Maria's situation without upsetting her charge further? "Sometimes a mommy has enough love in her to have a baby all on her own." She knew it was a lame explanation but she sighed in relief when a smile appeared on her daughters face.
"Wow, Maria! Your mommy must love you a lot!" Tia exclaimed in awe.
Maria shrugged and smiled although it didn't quite go from ear to ear. "I guess so." She agreed. The little girl was definitely aware that Olivia loved her a great deal but sometimes she watched other kids interact with their fathers and couldn't help but feel like something was missing in her life. Sure, Elliot was there for her and she loved him but, he wasn't her daddy. She wished she could say he was but her mother's boyfriend had never mentioned that she could call him that. Maria guessed she would just have to accept that she would never have a daddy. 'Having an Elliot is just as good though.' Maria thought to herself, albeit a little sadly.
"Mommy, can we go to the park today?" Olivia was sat at the breakfast bar the following Saturday writing out a grocery list. Now that there was three of them living in the apartment, she found herself frequenting the grocery store more often. Sure, after she had taken Maria in, her shopping trips were more common than when she was living alone. However now that there was one more mouth to feed in the form of her boyfriend, she found that her list just seemed to get longer. Elliot could eat like a horse!
Liv sighed and put the pen down on the counter top as her daughter climbed up onto her lap. "Awww, I'm sorry, Sweetie but we have to go to the grocery store. We've almost run out of food!" She didn't want to disappoint her child but she had been putting off the trip for a few days. Maria sighed sadly and pouted her lips. Feeling bad, Olivia came up with a compromise. "Tell you what, if you're really good at the store I will take you to the park for a little while before dinner."
Maria huffed and clambered down from her mother's lap. "I don't want to go there I want to go to the park and play! I hate going to the store!"
"That's enough, Maria." Olivia scolded firmly.
The pair found themselves in a staring competition when Elliot walked into the living area from the bathroom. "Hey, hey, what's going on here? Why the grumpy faces?" He asked as he looked between the girls in his life.
The only one to respond was Maria who whined out, "Mommy won't take me to the park-"
"I didn't say that, Maria." Liv interjected before turning to face her boyfriend. "I said I will take her after the grocery store but she's ruined her chances of getting to go now that she's giving me all this attitude." She held her palm towards the little girl who was stood defiantly with her arms crossed.
"Ok, this is not something you guys should be fighting about. I have the perfect solution." Elliot told them as he moved closer to where they were. "How about you go to the store alone," he began, "and Maria and I can go and have fun at the park."
"Thank you, Elliot!" Maria squealed as she wrapped her arms around his legs before running off to her room to get her shoes.
Elliot had a grin on his face but it fell as soon as he turned and saw that Liv was glaring at him. "What?" He shrugged, confused about the pissed off look he was receiving.
"You've just given her a reward for her defiance and showed a complete disregard for my authority." She huffed
Elliot pouted and wrapped his arms around her, placing sweet kisses to her neck knowing that she was particularly sensitive in that area. He paid particular attention to the mark that was left by Gitano's knife. "I'm sorry, Baby but you know I hate traipsing around the grocery store just as much as she does. This way we all win. Maria gets to go to the park, I don't have to be bored out of my brain and you will be able to get the shopping done a lot quicker."
Olivia groaned slightly as he continued to pepper kisses along her neck before pushing him away gently and slapping at his arm. "You spoil her too much." She told him and El grinned when he realised that it was her way of saying that he was right.
"All princesses deserve to be spoiled now and again," Was his reply. "Queens are on the list too." He added as he wriggled his eyebrows suggestively which prompted Olivia to burst into a fit of laughter.
About an hour later, Elliot was stood in the playground watching Maria play with the other kids that were there. He found himself constantly scanning the area for any potential threats. The detective in him couldn't help but reminded about the many abductions he had heard about in places like this. The playground was a prime hunting ground for predators.
He was distracted momentarily by a voice that suddenly came from beside him. "Your daughter is beautiful."
Elliot looked to his side briefly to see a blonde woman who was also focused on the play area. He didn't bother correcting her on the assumption regarding his relation to Maria. "I think so." He stated.
"That's my little boy she's playing with. What's her name?" The woman asked
"Maria." Elliot found himself responding but didn't offer up any more information.
"Pretty name for such a pretty little girl." The playground mom praised.
Elliot smiled proudly and continued to watch Maria who seemed to be having the time of her life on the slide. "Unfortunately, I can't take any of the credit. She takes after her mother."
The woman went to reply but Elliot's phone ringing stopped her from doing so. "I have to take this. It's Maria's mother." Elliot excused himself as he looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Olivia who was trying to get a hold of him. He stepped away from the woman and answered the call. "Hey, Liv. What's up?"
"Hi, I thought I would just let you know that I'm on my way home. How's Maria?" Olivia spoke into his ear.
Elliot glanced at Maria who was now on the monkey bars before looking away. "She's having a blast. I don't know how but she's managed to find herself a couple of new friends in the time that we've been here." El had to block out the sound of a child crying for their father when Olivia asked him another question. "Liv, you're going to have to speak up. Some kid is screaming their head off."
Olivia sighed into the other end of the line. "Don't worry. It was nothing important. I'll see you both back at home." The two detectives then said their goodbyes and El had just returned his phone to his pocket when the blonde he was talking to previously called over to him.
"Sir, Maria is hurt!"
Elliot spun around on the spot and sure another Maria was on the ground under the monkey bars sobbing and clutching at her knee whilst she screamed out something that sounding like 'Daddy!'. Ignoring this fact, El rushed over to where the girl was wailing in pain. "Maria?! What happened, Honey?!" He asked as he crouched down beside her.
"Daddy, it hurts!" Maria cried out before leaping into Elliot's arms.
There it was again. That word. There was no chance he had misheard that time. However, now was not the time for Elliot to be questioning the girl and instead he just clutched her small body to his significantly larger one momentarily before pulling her away and checking her head for any other injuries. "Where are you hurt, Sweetheart?" He asked.
"My...my knee. It hurts so...so bad!" Maria spluttered.
Elliot was able to get her into a standing position and gently extracted her hand from the injured spot to reveal a graze that was covered in dirt and blood. He knew it looked worse than it was but he couldn't help but panic.
"Here, I have some wipes to clean her up." The blonde mom hurried out as she shoved a wipe in front of him.
Elliot thanked her over his shoulder before gently dabbing the wound. Maria once again cried out at the sudden cold sensation and El was quick to sooth her. "Shhhh. It's ok, Maria. I just need to get this all clean. You're ok. That's it you're such a brave girl."
Once he was sure the cut was free of any dirt, Elliot stood up and didn't hesitate in lifting the little girl in his care up into his arms. "Guess that's out cue to leave." He said to the woman as he felt Maria wrap her arms around his neck and place her head on his shoulder. She suddenly felt very sleepy from all the crying she had just done. "Let's get you home. Mommy will be there soon." He then placed a kiss to Maria's forehead and left the park with a quick 'goodbye' to the mother he had been speaking to.
They were halfway back to the apartment when Maria's little voice spoke tiredly. "I'm sorry, Elliot."
Elliot frowned and stopped walking before placing her down on the pavement. He crouched down so he could be eye level with her. "What are you sorry for, Princess?" He enquired.
Maria looked down and mumbled into her chest. "I called you 'Daddy'."
El hooked a finger under her chin and made her look into his eyes. "You don't have to be sorry for that. Want to know why?" He asked her and waited for her to nod slightly before continuing. "I think, if you want that is, it would be wonderful for you to call me 'Daddy'. You're my little princess and every princess deserves to have a daddy."
"So...you aren't mad?" Maria asked still slightly unsure.
"Not one bit. Maria, will you do me the honour of being my little girl? I would make me very proud."
The little girls face lit up and she nodded eagerly. "Ok, Daddy!" She exclaimed.
Elliot chuckled and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Mommy is probably home by now. I think she's going to have a lovely surprise when we get back." He said before standing up and taking a hold of her little hand, continuing their journey to their home.
"Honey, we're home!" Elliot called out into the apartment as he and Maria stepped through the door to be greeted by a smiling Olivia.
"Hey, guys! Did you have fun at the park?" She asked as she looked between them.
Maria ran over to her mother and hugged her around the waist. "I made a new friend but then I fell off the monkey bars and hurt my knee." Olivia frowned in concern and bent down so she could inspect the injury. "Don't worry Mama, Daddy fixed it up good and now I could hardly feel it." The little girl said reassuringly and smiled when her mother froze and gave her baffled look.
Realisation dawned on Liv's face and she looked up at Elliot who was grinning, his eyes bright with joy. "Ah, well isn't...Daddy clever." Olivia finally spoke as she stood up straight.
"Can I go play in my room?" Maria asked.
"Sure. I'll call you when it's time for dinner." Olivia dismissed her as she watched Elliot walk towards them. Maria scampered off, leaving the couple alone. "When did that start?" Liv asked El who was now standing in the spot Maria had just vacated.
"That kid that was screaming whilst you was on the phone? That was Maria. I didn't realise what was going on at first. I assumed it was someone else's kid because all I could hear was 'Daddy! Daddy!' but then one of the parents said it was Maria who was crying. I was just in as much shock as you are now." Elliot explained the events that led up to him gaining a new moniker.
"Wow. Elliot, I don't know what to say. Are you sure you're ready to take on that kind of responsibility. If you aren't I can explain to her-" Olivia began to threat. Maria was her responsibility and she now felt like Elliot would be feeling obligated to shoulder some of that weight.
"Olivia, this, our family is all I've ever wanted. As soon as I met Maria that day in the hospital I felt like I had found something that I had been missing. I love that little girl as if she were my flesh and blood." The blue eyed detective tried to make Olivia see that he felt perfectly ok with the new role he found himself in.
"You're an amazing man, Elliot Stabler." Liv whispered in somewhat awe before falling into her lovers arms.
Elliot kissed the top of her head before responding sweetly. "And you are an amazing woman, Olivia Benson."
The couple enjoyed the blissfulness of just being in each other's arms but the silence was soon interrupted by a little voice from down the hall.
"Daddy, come play with me!"
Olivia and Elliot separated and Liv responded to his goofy smile with a wink of encouragement. "Go play with our daughter whilst I get dinner ready, Daddy."