Finally, in late September, the SVU department were back in business. Emma had practically been chomping at the bit to get out. Rafael had stayed off for a few more days after her release from the hospital but then he needed to get back to work. Unfortunately taking almost 2 months off meant he had backloads of cases which ultimately meant he wasn't getting home until the early hours of the morning. Emma felt they hardly saw each other, but she understood completely and didn't mention it. She spent her days with Amanda, Liv and the kids.

Walking into the squad room they were all shocked at the new look. Everything was painted in a deep grey, desks, computers, tv's were spaced out. Big blue windows replaced the old rusty ones, the flooring was now a subtle grey instead of the horrid brown from before. Olivia's office was stylish yet simple and the interrogations and witness rooms were updated. Emma grinned. She liked it. Sitting at her desk, trying to sit comfortably with her ever growing bump, Emma people watched for a while.

( Spoilers for season 16 episode 22 - Parent's nightmare - i own no rights to this care and i deliberately changed parts to allow it to fit into the timeline and characters.)

A call came in around 4pm so the team made there way there. Emma rode with Fin and Olivia, Carisi and Rollins got there first.

O - So what do we got? The boy still missing?

F - Owen Farhidi, eight. Last seen 40 minutes ago heading south with a male Hispanic, 5'8" medium build. No one got a great look at him. He wrote Carlos Riva on the sign-out sheet. Said he was a friend of the family.

Principal - Lieutenant, I'm Principal Farhadi is in the is Mrs Dugan, our dismissal supervisor. She's the one that signed Owen out.

O - To a stranger?

Teacher - We thought Mr Farhadi called to authorize a family friend to take Owen, but he didn't. We contacted him after Mrs Farhadi arrived late to pick Owen up. He insisted he did not make the call. You should know they are recently divorced.

Mrs Farhadi - I don't let other people pick up Owen that often. Usually it's Fabiana, our nanny, or a friend's nanny.

O - You sure that you didn't call anybody today, Mrs Farhadi?

Mrs Farhadi - I'm positive.

O - Well sometimes people forget. Let's just look at your phone. Maybe there is something in your call log.

Mrs Farhadi - I can't find my phone!

O - okay, do you remember where you were the last time you used it?

Mrs Farhidi - I mean, it must have been before yoga. I get so spaced out afterwards, sometimes i just leave it there.

O - How long have you been separated?

MF - It's been official a few months now.

O - Are there any custody issues?

MF - Yes, huge. Sam is Iranian. He wanted to take Noah there over spring break. I wouldn't let him. Oh, no, you don't think that Sam maybe got someone from the restaurant to pick up Owen?

O - Does your son have a passport?

MF - Yes, the judge ordered Sam hand it over to me.

O - Good, so you have it?

MF - Well Sam kind of handles all the logistical stuff, i'm... i'm not really sure where it is. I'm.. I'm not even sure that he gave it to me.

O - Hold on, you're not sure?

Mf - I'm not sure of anything right now! I just want Owen back.

Carisi - Wow, Shes a space cadet.I'll call Port Authority and ICE, put an alert out on the kid and his passport.

O - Hey, radio the squad car too. have them keep Mr Farhadi at his restaurant. For the moment, he's a suspect.

Fin - We got security also pulled all the traffic cams in the area.

Emma - Uni's are canvassing. So far, no witnesses.

O- okay check other surveillance, see if we can get the kidnapper walking away. Fin, get a sketch artist for Mrs Dugan. Carisi, Emma, in the meantime, go to the restaurant. Speak with Farhidi.

C - And Mrs Farhidi?

O - Take her to the precinct. Amanda, go to that yoga class. Find that phone.

A - On it.

A - Detective Amanda Rollins, NYPD

Yoga instructor - Hi, are you here to sign up for the stress reduction class?

A - Uh no, i'm here to pick up a cell phone. It was left inside.

YI - Wait, you actually can't go in there right now 'cause they're already in Adho Mukha Svanasana, so they need to be listening to their bodies.

A - Um, well, okay. I'll be very quiet.

YI - Unless you have a warrant i can't let you disturb the class.

(cell phone rings)

A - kind of hard to hear your body over that, right? Excuse me. Look what o got.

C - Well someone called the school

Mister Farhadi - Well, i didn't call the school. I told the officers that.

E - mind if i check your phone?

MF - Check all you want, but your wasting time. You should be out there looking for my son. I know what you're thinking.

C - Yeah? what am i thinking?

MF - Oh please, you look at me and you see an Arab man trying t steal my son. But i'm not even Arab. I'm Iranian. A loyal America, not a terrorist. Oh did my ex wife not tell you? She used that card throughout the whole custody battle. It was rough.

C - Tell me about it.

MF - Now imagine a white female judge and a middle eastern man. Dana made the judge say to Owen that he cannot come to Iran with me.

C - that must be upsetting.

MF - I didn't take my son okay. Dana was supposed to pick him up where was she?

E - She was running late.

MF - Again? what a surprise. i told her something like this would happen.

C - Just so we're clear, you did not send a male Hispanic to pick up Owen?

MF - No. I swear. please find my son.

F - Pretty grainy, not much help.

O - alrigth, but that is Owen.

Mrs F - Where's Sam? did you talk to him? Does he have Owen?

O - We don't think so. We do have a couple of our detectives with him now, but Mrs Farhidi, we have some images that we'd like you to look through.

F - You recognise that man?

Mrs F - no, who is that?

F - so you don't know him?

Mrs F - well, i can't see his face.

F - okay, i.. i need you to come with me. All right, have a seat in here and i'll be with you in a moment.

O - anything else?

F - The rest of the security footage is no help either. The kidnapper knew to keep his head down and hide his face.

o - anything on the traffic cams?

F - were going through them now.

A - Alright, i got the mom's cell phone. Eight missed calls, ignore the one from me, and two messages from a blocked number, which i cant access without a password.

F - She's in the interview room.

O - get these images to Carisi and see if the father can made an I.D.

Mrs F - My voice-mail is O-W-E-N

Owen on the phone: Mom, he won't let me come home until you answer your phone.

Mrs F - Oh god, Oh no.

Owen on phone:~ Mom, why aren't you picking up? answer next time. Please mom?

Mrs F - If i had my phone, he'd be back.

Mr F -I don't know, based on that, he's a stranger.

E - so your son would go off with a stranger?

Mr F - Owen is the way he is. He talks to a homeless man like they are old friends. He's too trusting.

Mr F looked at Emma.

'Hey, hey are you okay? You look pale. Here sit down.' He stood up and gave her his seat, Carisi Rushed over and crouched down next to her.

'Jones? are you alright?'

'I'm fine, no honestly im good.'

F - These are the pics we got from the traffic cams.

O - Run the plates, put out an Amber alert

F - On it Lieutenant,

Mrs Farhidi - What is it? what did you find?

O - Dana do you know this man?

Mrs F - Oh my god, that Javier.

O - Javier who

Mrs F - I... I don't know his last name. That's um, he's Fabiana's boyfriend. She recommended him to me, He was good with his friends.

O - So Fabiana is Owen's nanny?

MF - Well, part time now, I had to cut her hours, She has another job.

O - okay do you have an address?

I don't know somewhere in the Bronx.

Emma and Carisi stayed in the restaurant with Sam. As the hours drew on, and the workers started cooking. Emma started feeling ill. Carisi, noticing this discretely gave Barba a call.

'Carisi?'

'Barba. Can you come and get Emma from my location?'

'What's wrong with her? is she okay?'

' She's fine, i just think she needs to get home for the night.'

' Sure I'm on my way.

When Rafael arrived later, Emma looked about dead on her feet. She looked at at him as he entered and shot a look at Carisi.

' Thanks Dom.' She whispered.

Rafael carried Emma upstairs as she slept deeply. They hadn't even been in the car ten minutes before she dropped off. It was getting more difficult to carry her. Her bump had doubled in size since she left the hospital. Now that she was 7 months pregnant, symptoms started getting in the way. She tried to hide it from him but he'd noticed how she would stand with her hand on her lower back, would shuffle her feet and weight if she'd been standing round for a while. Thing was, because she was so skinny in general, she looked so much bigger. Her stomach was round, as if she'd put a basketball under her shirt.

Placing her on the bed, he carefully removed her shoes and changed her into a shirt. Tucking her in, He kissed her on the forehead as she snuggled further into the pillow. He then turned, walked into the lounge and continued the work on his laptop that he'd stopped in order to collect her.

The next morning Rafael didn't want to wake her. He knew she hadn't got much sleep as she couldn't find a comfortable position. He rang Olivia from the balcony.

'Raf? Is Emma alright? Carisi said he sent her home last night.'

' She's fine, she's resting. Didn't sleep very well last night.'

' Tell her we found little Owen, He's safe, but his father will go away for kidnap. Rafael, i think I'm going to need to put her on desk duty. She's just not able to keep up and I'd hate for something to happen to her. '

' I was actually calling to ask you to do just that, She can't handle it right now. She's exhausted but she wont tell me. I just want to take care of her.'

'She'll be alright Raf, She's used to dealing with things on her own. That's never just going to go away. I know she feels guilty that you took so much time off to stay with her. I doubt she wants that to happen again. Look, i gotta go, tell her to stay home today and I'll see her tomorrow. '

' See you later Liv.

Emma woke up late that day, after 12pm, she knew Rafael didn't have a trial today as she could hear him pottering around. Rolling out of bed ( the only way her bump would allow her to get up) she went into the walk in closet.

Rafael walked into the bedroom carrying orange juice and toast for Emma. When he couldn't see her he placed it on the bedside table. That was when he heard sniffling. Walking into the closet he found Emma sat on the floor surrounded by piles of her clothing. Crouching down next to her he stroked the tears off her face.

'What's wrong Mi Amor?'

She looked away as more tears fell.

' I.. Nothing fits me anymore Raf, I'm too fat.' Rafael tried very hard not to smile, He knew she'd be even more upset if he did.

'You're not fat Mi Amor you're pregnant. Your growing our baby girl in there. Your beautiful.'

'But nothing fits me Raf! it's all too small! I've tried on 4 tops and they all make me feel sick because they are too tight! I have one pair of trousers that fit me and that's because their stretchy running ones!' Rafael pulled her to her feet and held her close to him.

' You are beautiful. Your are bringing our daughter into this world. I don't think I've never found you so beautif...' He stopped mid sentence when he felt a little nudge.

'Wha...' Emma grinned and placed his hand onto her bump. They were silent for a moment when something nudged his hand again.

'That was her?' Tears sprung to his eyes. Emma had been saying she felt her kick the last few weeks but he wasn't able to feel them.

' Well it looks like Mi Bebita agrees with me that her mummy is beautiful.' He knew down on his knee and kissed Emma's stomach softly.

'Hola mi bebe. No puedo esperar para conocete.' Emma smiled as he kiseed her round belly. She still felt upset that she had no clothes but she was glad he could finally feel her. Pulling him back up to standing, she bit her lip and looked at him. Rafael rescued her lip and said.

'What is it mi carino?'

'I... Rafa.. can I... can I meet your mum?' Rafael looked at her closely. His mother was aware that they were together, but she'd been on a retirement trip around America so hadn't actually met Emma. With everything that had happened, He'd forgotten to contact her about the baby.' of course, I apologise that i haven't introduced you already, shall we arrange to go out for dinner?' Emma nodded and smiled. Rafael kissed her forehead.

'In the meantime, take one of my shirts, i've got an idea.' He handed her one of his and walked out to the balcony to make a call .

'Hello?'

'Rollins. Its Barba, i need a favour..'

30 minutes later Emma was sat at the breakfast bar eating granola and yoghurt, one her multiple cravings she's had. The doorbell rang and Rafael went to get it.

' Thanks for coming Amanda, I need to get this paperwork finished before the trial tomorrow. '

' Not a problem, this is a girls job anyway. Ready honey?' She gave Emma a quick hug. Emma looked between the two.

'Hey Manda, ready for what?'

' To go clothes shopping. Counsellor here rang me earlier and begged me to take you on a shopping trip.'

' I hardly begged..' Rafael muttered. Taking out his wallet he handed Emma his card.

' Spend as much as you like, and as a thank you Rollins, lunch is on me.

'Are... are you sure Rafa? I'm sure i can make do, i was just a bit upset.'

' Go on Mi Amor, go have a girls days. Te amo.'

Emma and Amanda made their way to the mall. Amanda was chatting Emma's ear off.

' Right, lunch first because I'm starving, i mean i know you were eating cereal but i reckon little lady can do with something better. Then we'll head off to Serafine, Byrdie and Teeva. They do some really cute shirts that would be great in this heat. I practically lived in their clothing my entire pregnancy with Jesse. I fancy a burger. Do you? '

' A burger sounds good to me, wait.. Manda give me your hand. ' She took it and placed it on the side of her bump where little lady was kicking away.

'Aw, Do you have a name yet?' Amanda smiled and they went for lunch.

Emma and Rafael sat lounging on the couch that evening. Emma with her feet in his lap. He was massaging her ankles as they had been quite swollen after Shopping for 4 hours.

'Did you have a nice time Mi Amor?'

'Hm? oh yeah, It was great, Manda really loves to shop! I think we've practically bought me me a brand new wardrobe. Rafa?'

'Yeah? '

' What should we call her? We can't call her little lady for the rest of her life.'

'Well did you have any idea?'

' Not yet, um. would you like one of the names to be Cuban? to honour your roots?' Rafael leant forward and kissed her softly.

'I'd love that. Thank you.'

' I love you.'

'I love you too mi Carino.