Chapter 7

8 Years Later

Olivia's Point of View

I walked in to the 16 precient for my first day as a Special Victims Unit detective. I felt so happy and nervous, I wondered who my partner was going to be and I secretly deep down I was hoping I would do the job right.

I walked in to the SVU squad room and saw a grey haired man in a black suit; a white shirt and black tie walk over to me.

He extended his hand. "I'm John Munch"

I shook his hand and smiled. "I'm Olivia Benson. Could you please show me to Captain Cragen's office?"

"Sure, it's right over there" John pointed to an open office door to his left.

"Thank you" I replied before walking to his open office door and knocked.

Captain Cragen looked up at me from his desk and motioned for me to enter. "How may I help you?"

"I'm Olivia Benson, reporting for duty"

Cragen stood up and smiled before walking over to me.

He extended his hand and I shook it.

"Nice to finally meet you, Olivia"

"Likewise, Sir"

"Call me Captain, Olivia. Follow me and I'll introduce you to your partner" Cragen said as he walked out.

I followed and stopped in my tracks, when I saw a familiar face. Elliot Stabler, the father of my 8 year old daughter, Ashlyn.

I'm almost certain he recognised me as well.

"Elliot, meet your new partner -"

"Olivia Benson" Elliot finished off for Cragen.

"You 2 know each other?" Captain asked confused.

We both nodded in response.

"Ok, well. I need to go, bye" Captain said and left.

"Elliot, I need to speak to you in the hall" I whispered in a serious voice.

Elliot nodded. "It's good to see you by the way"

"Yeah, you too" I replied as we walked out in to the hall.

I took a deep breath before speaking. "Ok, Elliot, I've been trying to contact you for 8 years. I…Um… You are the" I began only to be interrupted by his mobile phone.

"Hey, Kath"

As soon as he said that name, I felt a twinge of jealousy and walked back in to the squad room.

It was near the end of my 1st day, when Elliot tried to find out what I was going to tell him.

We were sitting at our desks finishing up paperwork.

"Olivia, what were you gonna tell me?"

I looked up from my paperwork and shrugged. "It doesn't matter"

He got up from his chair and kneeled down in front of me. "Look I'm sorry about the past, but I was stupid and naïve. Please tell me"

I sighed as I stood up. "I have an 8 year old daughter and you're her father" I said loud enough for the whole squad room to hear before turning on my heel and walking out really fast to avoid a confrontation.

3rd person view

Elliot was left standing there in shock, before Munch walked over to him and patted him on the back, "Man, you got 2 women pregnant at the same time. How do you feel?" Munch snickered and so did Monique Jefferies.

"Shut up, you 2" Elliot replied before running out to find Olivia.

He ran down to the parking lot and realized that Olivia's car was gone, so he walked back in to the squad room and in to Cragen's office.

"Cap, could I please have Olivia's address?"

"And why do you need that, Elliot?" Cragen asked as he rubbed his hands together.

"I need to talk to her about a case"

Cragen sighed. "Fine" he replied as he got out Olivia's contact details.

Elliot looked down at the piece of paper with Olivia's address on it and back up to the door. "Apartment 3C, yep" He confirmed in his head.

He inhaled a nervous breath before knocking.

Olivia's POV

I was sitting at the dinner table eating dinner with Ashlyn, when I heard a knock at the door.

"Ash, honey, please eat your veggies" I said as I stood up to answer the door.

Ashlyn pouted. "But I don't like 'em, mummy"

"Well, if you want ice cream, I suggest you eat them" I replied then answered the door.

I was shocked. Elliot Stabler was standing at my door.

"Elliot….Ah, how did you get my address?" I asked as I let him in.

"Cap, gave it to me"

"Oh" We sat on the couch before Elliot spoke again.

"I came to meet this daughter of mine" Elliot said with a serious look on his face.

I nodded before turning my head in the direction of the kitchen. "Ashlyn, honey, can you please come in here for a minute"

2 seconds later, a tall, thin 8 year old girl with long brown hair and blue eyes wearing a knee length skirt and pink shirt came skipping in.

"Yes, mummy?"

Elliot's jaw dropped in shock, as he must've realized that I was telling the truth.

"Ash, meet your daddy"

"Ah, hi" Ashlyn replied shyly.

"Hi Ashlyn" Elliot replied, once he was over the shock before looking back at me. "Liv, there's something I need to tell you"

I nodded and looked at Ashlyn. "Baby, why don't you go play in your room for a bit, while I talk to your father, then I'll grab you some ice cream"

Ashlyn nodded . "Ok, mummy" She replied before walking off in the direction of her purple butterfly bedroom.

The walls were painted purple, with purple butterfly curtains and matching bed set.

Elliot rubbed his forehead and took a deep breath before he found the courage to say what he was about to say. "I…Um…I'm married with 4 children, Olivia"

"Oh, I see. I think you should leave now" I replied, a touch hurt.

"Olivia…" Elliot caressed my arm, but I stepped back away from his touch.

I walked to the door and opened it, giving him the message to leave.

"I'll pay child support, if you need" Elliot replied as he walked out the door.

"Elliot, I don't want your money. I just want my daughter to know her father"

"Well I'm sorry, Liv. But it won't work"

"Whatever, I'll see you at work tomorrow" I replied angrily and slammed the door in his face.

I don't know why I was so angry, because I kind of expected him to have other children and I already knew he would be married.

I calmed myself down as I got ice cream for myself and Ashlyn, and I was completely calm again by the time walked in to her bedroom.

"Here's your ice cream, honey. I'm sorry you had to hear all that" I sat on the end of her bed and passed her the ice cream.

"It's ok, mum, thanks. So….he's my father, huh?"

"Yeah, honey, he is" I replied looking down at my ice cream.

Ashlyn must've sensed my hurt, because she began to caress my arm and whispered, "It's ok, mummy. It's just the 2 of us… And that's the way I like it"

I smiled and we both put down our ice creams and we shared a big mother-daughter hug.

And I realized that I'd have to work with my daughter's father almost everyday, but I've decided that I'll stay strictly professional.