"Lauren!" Bo called out as she walked throughout their private chambers.

"I'm in here!" Lauren replied from their downstairs drawing room. When Bo entered the room, she found Lauren staring off into the void and the Seneschal standing in the background.

"Hey!" Bo greeted.

"Hey!"

"I was coming to find you to tell you about…" Bo started.

"Grand Ducal Odalis's motion before Parliament?" Lauren finished.

"You heard?"

"Can't say I'm surprised."

"Lauren…"

"Bo. I am not unfamiliar with the prejudices of Fae against Humans."

"I know, but…"

"Besides, that's not our focus right now."

"It's not?" Bo said surprised.

"No."

"You're not upset?"

"I didn't say all that." Lauren admitted. "No. Just before you walked in I was trying to rustle up the courage to call my parents."

"I thought we were going to do that together?"

"We are. I was still just trying to work up the courage." Lauren replied. Bo went and sat next to Lauren.

"So, what do you plan to say to them?"

"What does one say to parents you haven't seen in years, thinks you're a terrorist, and a murderer to boot?" Lauren

"Well, I think we can come up with something less doomsday-ish than that."

"Then what should I say?"

"Whatever comes from your heart." Bo replied.

"Speaking from your heart is your lane." Lauren said. Bo smiled. Lauren then took in a deep breath and gripped Bo's hand.

"I'm ready." Lauren said.

"Wait. How are we doing this?" Bo asked.

"The old-fashioned way. Via her phone at work." Lauren replied as she nodded to the Seneschal who placed the call and they could hear the ring of the offices.

"La Fondation Platon. Bureau du Dr Livia Beattie." The Receptionist announced in French. "Comment puis-je vous aider?"

"Est-ce que Dr. Beattie est là?" Lauren asked in French into the air.

"Puis-je demander à qui vous appelez?" The Receptionist asked. Lauren took in a deep breath.

"Sa fille, Karen. J'ai entendu qu'elle me cherchait." Lauren replied.

"Patientiez s'il vous plaît." The Receptionist replied. A minute later, the voice Lauren had dreaded hearing for years was on the other line.

"Karen?" Livia prompted.

"Hello Maman!" Lauren greeted.

"Karen! Ma fille chérie! Comment allez-vous? Où es-tu?" Livia asked.

"In English, Maman." Lauren said.

"Pourquoi?" Livia asked.

"Pour que ma partenaire qui est à côté de moi puisse comprendre." Lauren answered.

"I understand." Livia replied in English.

"Papa?" Lauren asked.

"He's at Zandri, but I can conference him in." Livia said.

"Not yet. I wanted to let you know I'm coming home so you can call off your bloodhound." Lauren replied.

"I'm sure my Chief of Staff would resent being diminished to such a role." Livia said.

"This Dr. Bromley is your Chief of Staff?" Lauren queried.

"Of course! I wanted the job done properly and efficiently." Livia replied. "How soon will we see you?"

"Not for another few months. I have some things to finish up first." Lauren replied.

"Karen…" Livia started.

"I'm not trying to delay, it's just I have more immediate responsibilities where I can't just up and leave right now. It's the best I can do." Lauren replied.

"I heard you were on some sort of a field assignment." Livia said.

"One of which you have no idea." Lauren replied. "Maman, this is my partner Ysabeau Dennis, but we call her Bo."

"Nice to meet you. At least over the phone." Livia said. "I trust I will soon be meeting you as well?"

"Nice to meet you over the phone as well, and yes, you will be." Bo replied.

"How did you find me, Maman?" Lauren asked.

"Well, we knew you worked for Ash Pharmaceuticals and were aware of your breakthroughs, but we kept our distance. It wasn't until we ran into Ellie Saen at Davos that she mentioned meeting you some years ago. I couldn't wait any longer." Livia replied.

"Who's Ellie Saen?" Bo asked.

"Ellie is an old acquaintance." Lauren replied.

"Ellie Saen is a billionaire who is invested in a great deal of philanthropic work." Livia answered.

"I don't recall you ever mentioning her." Bo replied.

"How's Papa?" Lauren changing the subject quickly.

"He's well and cannot wait to see you again." Livia replied.

"Me as well. I will call again soon." Lauren replied.

"Promise?" Livia asked.

"I promise." Lauren replied. Then signaled to the Seneschal to end the call.

"So, whose Ellie?" Bo asked again.

"Like I said, an old acquaintance I had met years ago. I'm surprised she still remembered me." Lauren replied hoping that last part would throw Bo off the scent.

"Well, you can be memorable at times, you know." Bo said with a smile. Lauren returned it.

"Thanks for being here with me." Lauren replied.

"Of course." Bo said as they gripped hands.

"Now with all that done, let's go and find Trick because I need to know what is going on with Grand Ducal Odalis's motion, and what it means for us." Lauren said. Bo smiled as they got up and went off in pursuit of Trick.