What if Liv and Elliot had one steamy night together before he left SVU, changing his number and dropping off the face of the earth. Liv has no way to tell him that they have a child together, so she just doesn't.
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The cobblestone streets gleam under the Tuscan sun, the air thick with the scent of freshly baked bread and blooming jasmine. Olivia, her belly pleasantly rounded at twenty weeks pregnant, navigates the uneven path with practised ease. Beside her, sixteen-year-old Ivy, the spitting image of Olivia but with blonde hair and ice-blue eyes, bounces on the balls of her feet, her phone clutched in one hand.
"Mom, look at this scarf! It's practically screaming my name," Ivy exclaims, brandishing a vibrantly coloured silk creation.
Olivia chuckles, the sound melodic even to her own ears. "Let's see this name-screaming scarf, then."
Further back trails Elliot's daughter, Lizzie. At twenty-five, she is a more subdued version of Ivy, her dark blonde hair pulled back in a loose braid. In her arms, two-year-old Isabella, Olivia and Elliot's bundle of sunshine with her father's blue eyes and a head full of golden curls bounce with every step.
"Careful, Lizzie," Olivia cautions, reaching back to steady the little one. "Don't want our adventurer to take a tumble."
Lizzie grins, her blue eyes crinkling at the corners. "She's got my reflexes, Liv. No worries there."
They enter a tiny boutique, a riot of colour spilling out onto the street. Bells tinkle merrily as they step inside. The air is cool and fragrant, a haven from the midday heat. A woman with warm brown eyes and a smile that could melt glaciers greets them.
"Buon giorno Signore!" she chirps, her voice thick with a melodic accent. "Welcome to Nonna's Treasures!"
Olivia smiles back, her Italian improving daily. "Buongiorno! We're just browsing, Solo navigando grazie."
Ivy, however, dives headfirst into the shopping experience. Dresses in a kaleidoscope of colours hang from every rack, jewellery sparkles in glass cases, and leather bags sit invitingly on shelves. Isabella, momentarily captivated by a display of glittering hair clips, reaches out with chubby fingers. Lizzie expertly sidesteps the grabby hands and steers her towards a rack of brightly coloured stuffed animals.
Olivia lets Ivy loose, knowing the teenager possesses an uncanny ability to unearth hidden gems. She turns to Lizzie, a playful glint in her eyes. "So, Lizzie, are you here to tempt us with your impeccable Italian, or are you on a secret mission of your own?"
Lizzie laughs. "A bit of both, I suppose. Though, truthfully, I just enjoy spending time with you three."
Olivia feels a warmth bloom in her chest. It hadn't been easy, blending their families. Ivy, used to a life of routine in New York, had initially bristled at the change. Lizzie, independent and used to living alone, had taken time to adjust. Yet, here they are, a family united by a love for good food, sunshine, and, apparently, browsing through charming Italian boutiques.
Suddenly, a squeal of delight erupts from across the store. Isabella, perched precariously on a stool, holds aloft a floppy-eared rabbit the size of her own head. Its long ears flop comically as she clutches it to her chest.
