Allison stares at Maura. She doesn't say a word. Maura attempts to interpret the look. She had never been good at reading body language, or deciphering signals. That being said, she could always read Allison. Scientifically there was little explanation. She had missed out on most of the girl's life, but... her blood ran through her veins. She had given birth to her, but even before then, the connection was obvious. It was something that could be unsettling at times.

"What do you want to know?" she questions softly.

"I don't need to know."

"It is natural to be curious about where we come from, who we come from."

"What is there to know? My looks, and my brains I get from you."

"It would be ok, if you wanted to meet him, you know."

"Do you know where he is?"

"No, but I am sure that I could find out," Maura offers.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Be honest, did you love him?" Allison probes.

"Love him, no. I wish that I could say that I did. I thought that I did, but... it wasn't love."

"It was lust?"

"If you want to call it that."

"Was he good looking?"

"Very good looking," Maura confirms.

"Smart?"

"Not really."

"Does he even know that I exist?"

"No," Maura shakes her head, in guilt.

"Why are you so ashamed of me?"

"Ashamed of you? Why would you think that?"

"You never tell anyone about me. Why didn't you tell Jane?"

"What do you mean, why didn't I tell her?"

"She's your best friend."

"Yes," Maura admits.

"Her mother lives in your guest house."

"Yes."

"You two are close, so why didn't you tell her?"

"It's complicated."

"No, it's not. It is very simple. You don't want anyone in the world to find out that you are not perfect. What would people think of you, if they found out that you got pregnant at sixteen? That you have a daughter, who you see twice a year. That you are..."

"Stop."

"Why? All of this is true. You could have chosen me, and you never did."

"I..."

"You never even told your ex-husband about me," Allison points out.

"Shh!"

"I suppose that Jane doesn't know about him, either."

"Jane doesn't know a lot of things."

"I wouldn't expect you to tell her everything, but... seriously."

"What do you expect from me?"

"Nothing, I mean, after all, you are your mother's daughter."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You had me, and chose to pursue your own interests, because they were more important."

"That is not true," Maura argues.

"It certainly feels that way. You should know what I am talking about. The feeling that you felt your whole life. Being in a house, where the maid knows more about you, than the people who are supposed to do. When you look up, from your Thanksgiving meal, and find that you're eating with your nanny, because they were stuck overseas, or they had to go to a gallery opening. You hate them, but you're just like them," Allison insists.

Maura allows that a moment to sink in. She nods, "You're right. I am like them. I am not as much like them, as you think, though."

"Really? How do you figure?"

"I would walk through fire for you."

"I don't believe you. You lost my trust, and my respect, a long time ago."

"What can I do, to get them back?"

"Stop trying to be someone you're not. Stop trying to be perfect. Stop trying to be my friend. I don't need a friend, I have plenty of those. I need a mother. I only have one, and she sucks at it," Allison adds insult to injury.

"I never claimed to be good at it. I did not have a very good role model. It isn't something you learn in a book."

"You learn as you go. You chose to walk away," Allison points out.

"I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere," Maura promises.

"That's good to know."

"Please, help me do better."

"You're asking for help? I didn't know that you actually knew how to say those words."

"I do, and I am. Please help me. Tell me what I can do, to fix this?"

"Find my father," Allison demands.

"I thought that you didn't want to meet him."

"I don't."

"Then why do you want me to find him?"

"It is not a want, it's a need."

"A need? Why do you need to find him?"

"It's complicated."

"What is?"

"Life," Allison answers.

"What specifically, are you referring to?"

"I have..." Allison trails off.

"Questions?" Maura assumes.

"If only."

"What do you mean, if only?"

"Obviously you don't have any family histories, on either side, so..."

"What are you talking about? Is there something wrong with you? Are your allergies getting worse?"

"My allergies are fine. They are the least of my worries right now."

"I've seen you go into anaphylaxis, before. How can they be the least of your worries? You could die."

"Inhaling cockroach dust doesn't happen that often."

"Is there something wrong with you?"

"Maybe, just a little."

"Are we talking mental health issues?"

"Those I get from you," Allison jokes.

"Ha, ha."

"In all seriousness I came here for a reason."

"Your birthday. I forgot about your present," Maura realizes.

"You forgot to get me a present?"

"No. I forgot to give it to you, in all of the chaos," Maura gets up, to go get the present.

"It can wait," Allison insists, pointing to the floor. Maura returns to her seat on the floor.

"What's going on?"

"I came to ask you to find my father."

"Why? You said that you didn't want to get to know him."

"I don't."

"Then why do you want me to find him, for you?"

"Because I need a bone marrow transplant," Allison reveals.