AN: I'd like to thank all those who have reviewed and alerted this story thus far.

Chapter 3 – First Impressions and Saying Goodbye

The session had been one of the best Carina had helped to monitor. After she had her speech five other people all began talking and others said that next week, if she was there, they would share their stories. Pulling into the driveway with a smile on her face Carina exited her car, locked it behind her and walked to the front door. Using her key she let herself in and locked the door behind her, checking it before she walked down the hallway. Taking off her shoes she placed them near the door. "Hey Em, I'm back!" She called before throwing her second shoe near the door. Putting her suitcase next to the table in the lounge she removed her jacket. "We're in the kitchen," Emily replied as Carina put her jacket on the edge of the lounge suite and walked to the kitchen wondering what the word 'we're' was about.

Entering the white room she saw the woman that gave her a rude morning introduction sitting next to Emily at the kitchen table. "Hello Carina," Elizabeth introduced, she seemed a little nicer even though she still wore a scowling face. "Hello," Carina replied, she never did find out who this woman was. It made her nervous that Emily was so comfortable around a stranger. "Carina this is Ambassador Elizabeth Prentiss, my mother." Emily explained. Carina smiled slightly before she looked between Emily and her mother. "Hello Ambassador." Carina began walking forwards and extending her hand. This time she was met halfway by the Ambassador who stood to her feet and held her hand firmly. "Call me Elizabeth."

"Okay, Elizabeth it is," Carina smiled.

"So you sounded like you had something to say?" Emily urged to help break the silence that was slowly filling the room like gas inside an oven. "I was saying... oh that's right, the meeting today went really well. I got five people talking about their experiences."

"What did you talk about?" Elizabeth asked taking a sip of the water in front of her.

"My experience,"

"Which was?" Elizabeth pushed.

"Mother not now," Emily almost growled.

"No Emily if she is comfortable talking about it with strangers then why not here and now?" Carina didn't speak. Who was this woman? She might have been Emily's mother but she sure as hell was not as nice as Emily was, nor as easy to talk to. "Carina you don't have to,"

"No," Carina interrupted. "I was taken by a serial killer named Zackary Evans who had stabbed and murdered four university students before me. He took me into his car, threatened me with a knife, was about to kill me when he changed his mind. He believed that he was helping me escape from reality." Elizabeth listened quietly, Emily hearing the quiver inside her voice as Carina continued.

"He had a gun to my head when I first saw Emily. My arms and legs were bound, he threw me into the backyard swimming pool, I couldn't swim. I lost consciousness, next thing I remembered, Emily's face telling me that it was going to be okay. She took me in, gave me a home, and helped me through one of the worst times of my life. That is my experience Ambassador, hope that was entertaining enough." She finished before Carina took her jacket from the lounge chair. "Goodnight Em," Carina called as she walked up the stairs.

"Goodnight," Emily replied before she turned to her mother, "What the hell was that?"

"What?"

"She knows you for two seconds and you push for personal information."

"Well she was talking about how well she went I just wanted to hear her story from her."

"Never," Emily nearly growled. "Never do that again."

"Fine. I better get going anyway." Elizabeth began lifting herself from her chair and taking her handbag off the counter.

"Mum," Emily interrupted. Her mother stopped, then slowly turned to face her daughter. "Will I see you again?"

"You will get a call," Elizabeth replied. "I can't tell you what it's about or who it will be from but do me a favour and actually answer this time."

"I will," Emily answered.

Emily stood from her chair, walked through the kitchen to where her mother stood and placed her arms around her small frame. Her mother returning the embrace, for a moment she even closed her eyes. Elizabeth pulled back. "Remember Emily, I will always be proud of you." And with a smile, those were Elizabeth's last words, before she walked toward the front door, smiled and left.

AN: This fic, as seen inside my story Date with the Devil has a pretty slow build up but I promise you it will be worth the wait. Thanks for reading.