A/U Hi everyone! Ive just recently gotten into SVU and now im obsessed. I watched the season 7 episode 911, I thought it was amazing and im not surprised Mariska Hargitay won an emmy for her performance. She's a great actress. Anyway, my point is I thought the whole Maria/Olivia dynamic was so cute and I kept annoying my Mum with comments like 'why isnt Livy a Mommy yet?' haha! So i decided to write a fic where she becomes a Mommy to Maria. I've made it slightly AU though. For example, El has recently devorced Kathy and they had no kids (im going to try and make this story and E/O fic) and Maria is younger than she was in the actual episode, she's five in this story. I hope this fanfic will be to your liking and i hope you enjoy! :D x

I apologise in advance for an mistakes and if anyone finds any, please let me know and I'll try to fix it.

Olivia sighed. It was times like this when she both loved and hated her job as a SVU detective. On one hand, she hated seeing vulnerable people hurting and she especially hated the perpetrators who put the victims in that position. Although most of their cases, especially the most time consuming, saddened her, Olivia often found the job rewarding.

Eventually, anyway.

She loved the chase of catching the perps and she loved the fact that she was able to contribute to the victims journey of seeking justic. And for the situations when the victims couldn't speak for themselves (either because they didn't survive the attack or they were too traumatised), Olivia felt good when she spoke up for them

This time it was different though. This case ended up being far more rewarding than any other. She was finally getting what she wanted, albeit in an unconventional way. But since when was her life conventional?

Olivia Benson's life had never been normal. She was conceived under tragic circumstances. She wasn't a product of love between a man and woman. She was a product of her mother's rape. And although her mother never spoke the words out loud, Olivia knew she resented her. Instead of openly admiring her regret for keeping her, Serena Benson would use emotional abuse and passive verbal abuse in order to express her dislike for her daughter.

Her mother's treatment of her had at least benefited her in some way. It had taught her how not to be a mother and Elliot, her partner, was always praising her on what a good mother she would make.

God, she hoped he was right.

Because now...now she was a mother. Well, a foster mother, but a mother all the same. She had finally acheived another of her key goals in life. Olivia had wanted a child to call her own ever since she started the job and witnessed how many motherless children were out there. And now she did have a child...

Little Maria was a child without a mother and Detective Olivia Benson was a mother without a child. It was as simple as that.

The five year old was now currently sleeping in the hospital bed before Olivia. The rape kit was difficult. Maria was, understandably, scared. Throughout the whole examination she clung on to Olivia's hand like there was no tomorrow. Her grip was s tight Olivia swore she has a bruise to prove the girl's strength. She didn't care though, she would do anything, endure any pain, to keep Maria safe and happy and comfortable. Afterall, it was her job now. Maria continued to cling to her hand long after the doctors had left and she only relaxed when she finally drifted off into unconsciousness. Because she wasnt really sleeping. No. Sleeping is peaceful and Maria was anything but peaceful. Every now and then, the girl would flail or whimper and each frightened sound and every flinch broke Olivia's heart that much more.

Olivia hoped she could be one of the people to lead the girl on her journey to recovery. She even wanted to adopt the little girl but Alex advised her to become the kid's temporary foster carer. The ADA told her that the process of adoption would be easier if Maria was already under the detective's care. So for now she was just Maria's foster parent. Alex said it would take a few months for the adoption to be finalised so Olivia knew she would have CPS on her back for a while. She didn't care though, it would all be worth it in the end. She just prayed they would see her as a fit parent. Afterall, they could take Maria aaway from her at any moment as she was still classified as a ward of the state and the social workers might find her to be an inadequet carer. She worked dodgey hours, she was hardly ever home, she was single. Blah, blah, blah...the list was endless but Alex, who was also one of her best friends (they were practically sisters), assured her that if the case workers thought she was unfit to care for a child, Maria specifically, they wouldn't have put the little girl in her care at all.

Olivia was finally given a break from her thoughts when she heard a throat being cleared from the hospital room's doorway. She looked up and quickly looked away when she realised it was the Captain of her unit where she worked. The man was practically her father and he didnt belive her when she insisted Maria was real. To say that stung would be a complete understatement. She had to admit thoug, the girl's situation just seemed so complicated and that raised questions as to whether or not the call was a prank. But, for some reason, Olivia believed in her the whole time and it was lucky she did, who knows what could have happened to Maria... Besides, why would someone waste their time prank calling 911 saying that they were a little girl trapped in a strange room being held captive by the man that was supposed to be her 'new' dad?

Ok, sure, some of the details didn't make sense but Olivia's instincts were telling her that the girl was for real and her instincts were good.

...

Captain Don Cragen sighed when the woman he had come to love as a daughter looked away from him. He understood that his actions and words had hurt her and he practically kicked himself when he received the call telling him that the girl had been found after Olivia had dug her up from the ground of an empty burnt out lot with her bare hands. Luckily the girl had only been buried for half an hour before two of his best detective had found Maria. But, Cragen was sure that half an hour waas enough to traumatise the girl and combining that with the fact that she had been sold to a strange man by her own parents...the man didn't want to even begin to think how much intense therapy she would need and for how long.

"She's beautiful, Liv." He finally plucked up the courage to speak, he was hoping that by complimenting the child it would coax Olivia into talking to him. Unfortunately, Gos wasn't on his side on this one. The woman just continued to watch over her foster daughter. "Is she ok?" He asked, getting worried that the doctors had found something seriously wrong with Maria.

"So now you believe she's real?" Olivia asked sarcastically. Her voice was so icy, it was enough to make hell freeze over.

Don sighed with regret before walking over to where Olivia was sitting. He crouched down in front of her and tucked a piece of her short brown hair behind her ear as if she really was his little girl. "I'm so sorry, Honey. I know you have good instincts when it comes to kids but...sometimes they go a bit wild and you get too attached...I hate seeing you hurt, Liv. I was trying to protect you." He explained softly and stopped when he realised her was close to rambling.

"It hurt when you didn't believe me. I thought...I thought you, of all people, would trust me." Olivia told him, her voice was wavering and Don cursed himself for upsetting her so much.

"I know, I do. I do trust you and I'm sorry. You can take as long as you like to settle Maria into school...set her up with a new routine."

Olivia slowly looked up at her boss and smile. She knew he was only doing his job, so she forgave him. "Thank you." She whispered, giving him a small smile.

Before Cragen could reply, the little girl in the bed began to stir drawing Olivia's attention. "Hi sweetie." Olivia smiled kindly as she brushed the childs light brown hair from her face, revealing a pair of soft brown eyes.

"Livy?" Maria asked sweetly with squinted eyes, not sure as to whether or not she was dreaming.

"Yeah, Baby. It's me." Liv assured her with a bright smile.

"Where am I?" The five year old asked confused.

"You're in the hospital, Maria. Don't you remember?" The woman asked.

Maria nodded and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "Am I sick Olivia?" She asked.

"No. No Sweetie, you're fine. The doctor just wants you to stay here for tonight." Olvia told her.

"Where am I going to go? My Mommy doesn't want me anymore. She never wanted me. Do I have to go back to her?" Olivia felt a little anguished when she saw the uncertainty in those innocent eyes she had grown to love. This girl's life had been nothing but difficult since the day she was born. The detective knew that it was now her job to give Maria the safe and stable life every child deserved.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I spoke to my friend and she said that it was ok for you to stay with me for a little while." Olivia said and Maria's eyes lit up.

"Really? I can live with you?!" She asked excited and Olivia nodded. "Thank you!" Before Olivia could comprehend what was happening, a pair of little arms had wrapped themselves tightly around her neck.

"Maria?" Olivia cautiously asked when she felt the girl stiffen in her arms. "Honey? What's wrong?"

"Who's he?" Maria squeaked out, her eyes never leaving Don's face.

"My name's Don, but you can call me Grandpa if you like." The bald man told her as the two girls before him seperated.

Olivia looked between the two before she finally settled on watching Maria who was looking at Don with a hint of fear in her eyes. " He won't hurt you, Baby. If i ever thought someone was capable of hurting you I would never let them near you, ok? Don's safe, he's a bit like my Daddy." She reassured the girl as she ran her fingers through Maria's soft brown hair.

"Don't you have a real Daddy?" Maria asked, changing the subject and looking away from Don so she could hold eye contact with Liv instead. Olivia didn't reply and only shook her head. Maria frowned. "How come?" Confusion was a key emotion in her young voice.

"My real father wasn't a very nice man. He...hurt my Mommy." Olivia knew she shouldn't go into details but she didn't want to completely lie to the little girl.

"Like how Richard hurt me?" The female detective had to bit her lip and hold her tears as she nodded before gently pulling Maria towards her chest. She couldn't believe how strong this tine Baby Girl was. She was hoping that some of that strength would rub off on her because she was really going to need it if she was going to get them both through this.

The two pulled apart when Don's mobile began to ring. "Cragen." He spoke his name with a business like tone. "Ok, I'll be right over." He added after listening to what the other person had o say. After he hung up, he put his phone back in his jacket pocket before looking up at Olivia with regret evident in his facial expression.

"Go." Was all she said simply, knowing too well howw demanding the job was.

"I'll be over in the morning. I'll give you a lift back to your apartment. Let me know what time Maria will be discharged, ok?" He spoke as he walked over to her. Olivia nodded as he cupped her face in his hand. "Get some sleep. You look drained." He ordered concerned.

"I will." She assured him.

"Good. Love you, Liv." He told her before pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Love you too, Dad." Olivia replied and Don had to surpress a shit eating grin. He loved it when she called him 'Dad', those moments were few and far between but it only meant he didn't take them from granted, they were cherished moments.

"See you later, Maria." He now turned his attention to his new 'foster grandchild' who had her face hidden in Olivias side.

"Goodbye, Grandpa." She whispered unsure if it was the right moment to call him that.

Don chuckled to himself and patted the top of her head softly. He was relieved whe she didn't flinch. "Get some rest." Was his final words before he made his exit.