I added this after realizing that we were missing a vital starting point. Did Amanda object to being sent away? Did Peyton have to force her? And what exactly is wrong with Peyton? If you had read chapter one before now, you'll know that it says that her mother was 'unable to look after her' any longer. So what was wrong? Now you know.

Prologue

Peyton Driscoll ran her hand along the photo in her hand. Her last lover had left her the most precious gift anyone could ask for. But now that gift was getting harder to maintain, especially with Peyton's health deteriorating. Peyton ad been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and her health was getting worse with each day. Her daughter, Amanda, was to be sent to American to live with her father. But Amanda wasn't going to go quietly.

"But Mum! I don't want to go to America!" Amanda McKenzie Driscoll-Taylor whined as her mother handed her the plane ticket that would take her to New York's international Airport.

"Honey, you have to. I can't look after you anymore." Peyton soothed, before breaking into a coughing fit, "your father works at the NYPD Crime Lab. Detective Mac Taylor. He's the best person to look after you know. Be a good girl ok?"

"But Mum, I don't want to!" Amanda said once more.

"Amanda, please, just go. I'll write to you when I can. I'll keep you updated on my condition." Peyton promised.

"But Mum, who will look after you? Uncle Rick doesn't even talk to us! And Grandmother isn't exactly a nurse!" Amanda protested.

"I promise you, sweetheart, I'll take good care of your mother." Amanda let her Grandmother hug her tightly. Amanda sighed, she'd lost, and she knew it. But it didn't make the fact that she was going to be a few thousand miles away sting any less.

Amanda shrugged, "I guess I can be good to the father I never met."

"Honey, he never knew you either. I haven't seen or heard from Mac Taylor is 14 years. Just be nice. Be on your best behaviour. Make sure he gets these. He'll understand." Peyton said. Amanda frowned and looked down at the papers.

"My birth certificate?" Amanda looked up at her mother, "Mum…are you sure he'll understand all this? I mean you said yourself he's never met me. Never knew about me."

"Mac Taylor and I lost contact after I told him I was staying in London. Understand something sweetheart – sometimes people drift apart, and I was sure that when you were born somehow, I'd contact him again. But even when I wrote to the lab I could never get a response. It was as if he'd moved on. I gave up after a while and with my diagnosis I just didn't have the energy to continue to wish that I could talk to him again. He'll adore you as we all do here baby. He's a sweet man. He'll be every bit the father you always wanted." Amanda was sceptical but permitted her mother to give her another kiss on the cheek and her Grandmother another hug before turning back to her mother to try one last time to allow her to stay.

"Mum," Peyton held up a hand to stop Amanda.

"Amanda. Don't argue, just go. You'll miss your flight." Her mother told her. Amanda sighed and nodded getting into the taxi that would take her to Heathrow Airport.

Amanda was woken by the ding of the PA on the plane. She sat up in her seat and listened as their captain informed them that's they'd be landing soon. Amanda straightened her t-shirt and got comfortable again. She wasn't sure if she was ready for this. This was a whole new experience for her. Amanda stepped off the plane onto the tarmac and took a deep breath. New York. She was here. This was going to be very different for her. New York was one large hub of activity. She threw her bags into the back seat or the first taxi she hailed and slid in beside them.

"Where to, Miss?" The Taxi driver asked.

"The NYPD crime lab," During the drive to the Lab she looked out the window.

"First time to New York, Miss?" He asked.

"Yeah. I guess I'll have to get used to all the activity." She said.

"It's a very busy place, Miss; they call us the City That Never Sleeps for a reason." She laughed. He told her all about Ground Zero, where he was when it happened and also pointed out some landmarks to her. She wasn't too surprised when the driver took her to the Precinct. She handed him twenty dollars and got out, pulling her bags out after her. She looked up at the building and went inside. She asked which floor the Crime lab was on and was soon on her way up. She crossed her fingers and closed her eyes, and hoped that he'd like her at least. She never expected him to love her, only to like her. She opened her eyes and looked at her reflection. Somehow she expected that she'd look different in America. But she looked just the same. Slim and tall. Long straight brown hair and grey eyes. She blinked and rubbed her eyes, still the same. But there was firmness to her face that hadn't been there before. She smiled softly and her mother's face reappeared. She started when the doors pinged open. She stepped out and looked around; people were walking around everywhere, always something to be done.

"Can I help you find someone?" A voice asked making her jump, she turned to find herself standing face-to-face with a young man, Curls stood atop his head and blue eyes sparkled down at her.

"Uh…D-detective Mac Taylor." She said. He smiled and pointed towards the office encased in glass at the end of the corridor.

"Just right there." He said, and then carried on his way. Amanda took deep breath and then made her way own to where the office was. She was shaking with nerves by the time she made it to the door. Before knocking she took him in, sitting at his desk pouring over what looked to Amanda like a case file. He was busy maybe she should come back later, but she knew she couldn't, if she didn't do it now, she'd never introduce herself. She took an extra deep breath, raised her hand to door and as she exhaled, knocked on the glass. It was time to meet her father.