The Moment She Knew

Chapter 3

Mariska woke up the next morning and quickly got dressed for work. She grabbed her things and left her, what rural area people would consider to be a mansion.

When she arrived on set, she met up with Chris. With only a few bloopers, they finished the first scene. The whole cast was laughing and carrying on like any other day.

Mariska, however, wasn't laughing or smiling as much as she usually was. Chris noticed this because he spent so much time with her and was always there for her.

He pulled her off to the side after he'd excused the both of them. "You all right?" Chris asked her in a very soothing tone.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Why?"

"You don't seem to be yourself lately. You seem a little...off, Rish."

"Oh, you're just making things up, Chris. I'm fine," Mariska said back to him. Although she wasn't fine. She was everything but fine.

Lately, she couldn't get her daughter off her mind. 14 years later and she can't let it go. After all, that is her daughter.

She loved her so much and started to regret her actions all those years back when she was pregnant with the girl. She doesn't even know what the teen looks like.

Sometimes, she sits and imagines what her daughter looks like. Does she have her chocolate brown eyes? Or Chris's ocean blues? Or neither of them, maybe she had green eyes?

What if the girl looked nothing like her parents? Mariska didn't care she loved her baby girl no matter what. She always has and always will... more than anything.

Mariska had gotten so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even realize what Chris was saying to her. "I'm listening," she said to him.

"What did I just say?" he throws back at her.

"...fine...I don't know."

"Exactly...I was saying that I know you, Rish. I know you better than you know yourself. I mean, we both know each other better than we know ourselves. So...tell me what's wrong."

"Chris...I...nothing's wrong. I'm just stressed out, but I promise I'm fine," Mariska said to him.

She technically wasn't lying...she just wasn't telling him every single detail about what was wrong. She had to come up with some way to tell him but, it wasn't going to be today.

"Just let me know if you need someone to talk to... okay, Rish?"

"You know I will, Chris," she said as they both smiled and hugged.

Chris and Mariska walked back on set with the cast. They were all making fun of the two of them... asking if they've had their make out session yet. The cast had no idea of their little hook up all those years ago.

After several more hours of goofing off and filming, they were finished with episode 3 of season 15. It just needed to be edited.

It was around 3 that evening so, the whole cast was hanging around at set acting like idiots. "I think I'm gonna head out guys," Mariska said to them all as she gathered her things.

"Why what's the matter?" Ice asked her.

"I just have so many things to do and the paparazzi are probably crowded out there," she lied. She needed to take a walk and just calm down. Let some stress out.

"Oh c'mon, Mariska."

"No, I'm sorry, Ice. I'll see you guys tomorrow," she said to them all as she began to walk out.

"Rish, wait up!" Chris yelled to her as he followed her out.

"What is it?" she said as she stopped as soon as they exited through the doors and onto the streets.

"I know you don't have anything to do. What's up...really?"

"Nothing, Chris. I'm just really tired."

"Oh...okay," Chris said to her. He could tell she wasn't telling him something, but wasn't sure what. So, he just let it go. "Go get some sleep, Rish. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Alright. See you tomorrow," Mariska said before she walked off.

She passed several people taking photographs of her, but she honestly didn't mind. She loved her fans and was happy they respected her so much.

There were still some cameras flashing here and there, but it died down once she got closer to the park. She walked by here a lot and just thought about so many things.

Today, she stopped for a few minutes just looking around. Then, she was met with this perfect family. A son and a daughter. The mom and dad were middle aged, the boy looked to be about 11 or 12, and the daughter seemed to be in her teenage years.

The whole family looked similar to each other. But... the girl. She looked nothing like the mother... or the father... and the younger sibling didn't resemble her.

Mariska just thought maybe the girl had gotten a carried on gene from down the line. Mariska just kept looking, though she felt... odd.

Then, Mariska noticed something kind of odd. The girl had Mariska's brown hair and golden skin. The teen then turned around to completely face Mariska. She had Chris's heart-melting, ocean blue eyes.

That's when it hit her. This had to be her daughter. If not... what a coincidence. Mariska just had this feeling as if that girl was the child she had given birth to 14, almost 15, years ago.

The teen and Mariska just stood there, staring at each other. Mariska finally walked up to the family. "Hi... I couldn't help but noticing that... you look just like someone I know," Mariska decided to say.

"Wait...you're Mariska Hargitay," the girl said excitedly.

"Uh, yeah. T-that's me."

"I love you so much!" the teen exclaimed as she hugged Mariska, who was shocked.

"Honey, mind if I ask you a question?" Mariska asked the young, beautiful girl.

"I don't mind at all."

"Wh...when's your birthday?"

"October 30... why?" the teen said to the older woman.

"N...nothing. Just wondering," Mariska said as she fought back tears.

That's the same day she gave birth to her daughter. This wasn't a mistake. This had to be her daughter. She looked just like Mariska except with Chris's eyes. She had to be their child... didn't she?

A/N~ Ooh...so guys, do you think Mariska found her and Chris's daughter? Or do you think it's just a coincidence? Is Mariska crazy? If it is her daughter...how will she tell Chris? Or...will she even tell him? Let me know what you think in the comments! I love you all...read on, babes💖