A young woman meets with her biological mother for the first time and learns she was conceived through rape.
Tropes
- Armor-Piercing Question: Jesse asks Carisi if he's Billie's father, on behalf of her sister, which prompts Carisi and Rollins to confront the need to disclose.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Ashley Peters wanted to get to know her biological relatives only to find out she was conceived by rape.
- Bittersweet Ending: Leaning to the "Sweet" side to the point of being one of the most hopeful endings in the series: while Michelle's rapist only gets probation for a misdemeanor, she is left satisfied for the closure the events of the episode brought her, she and Ashley will receive financial support and still have a healthy relationship, & for once no-one is either killed or traumatized during the course of the investigation
- Child by Rape: Ashley learns she's this and she seeks justice for her birth mother Michelle Young.
- Disowned Parent: Cole Eaton to Ashley. She explicitly says that she considers her adopted father to be her real father, whereas Cole is simply the man who raped her birth mother.
- Everybody Knew Already: Olivia doesn't even pretend to be surprised when Amanda tells her she's in a relationship with Carisi.
- Gene Hunting: The plot is kicked off by Ashley seeking out and meeting her biological mom who, despite her plan to lie about it, couldn't help but admit to the fact was raped. Ashley afterwards asks the SVU to investigate in the hopes of getting so justice for Michelle.
- Happily Adopted: Ashley. She proves to be so well adjusted that her reaction to learning of the circumstances of her conception is to seek justice for a woman she had only just met.
- Hope Spot: At one point, the SVU interviews a man named Josh Wilcox who is not only cooperative but fondly remembers Michelle with indications that both teens had simply gotten so drunk they forgot they had sex and there was no rape. Both women are relieved at this possibility and Josh for his part is excited at the prospect that he has a child he didn't know about; sadly despite getting along and a quite a few things in common, DNA proves him not to be the father and Michelle really was raped.
- Make Up or Break Up: Carisi and Rollins find themselves at a crossroads in their relationship, and Carisi makes it clear he can no longer live with their Secret Relationship. He doesn't want to break up, he wants to disclose, but he is clearly dissatisfied with the way things are now. Though wary, Rollins recognizes the importance of this moment and in a sign of Character Development, discloses to Benson.
- Take a Third Option: In the end as Ashley simply wants justice for her birth mother, Cole Eaton agrees to plea deal: plea guilty to a misdemeanor (Reckless Endangerment of a Minor) in exchange for 2 years of probation, 400 hours of community service, and to financial compensation in form of paying off Michelle's college debts and Ashley's tuition.
- That Thing Is Not My Child!: Averted with Michelle who does not shame or hate Ashley despite her origins and is so proud of the young woman she became. Sadly its played straight with her mother who views Ashley as a stranger that she doesn't want in their lives and a reminder of a dark time in their lives.
- You Are Not My Father: Ashley tells Cole that as far she's concerned, he's nothing but her birth mother's rapist.
