A/N: I wrote this for me, definitely AU, curious what others might think of it. Let me know.
I stared at the phone in my hands.
What do you say to your mother after you've been gone for almost five years?
"Hey, Mom. Sorry I missed my daughter's funeral. I was having my mind erased by a secret organization."
A knock interrupted my thoughts. I put the phone back on the counter and padded, barefoot, across the carpet to the door.
"Ms. Costley?"
"Hey. Guy from the Dollhouse, right?"
"Paul," he said, "Paul Ballard."
"Mr. Ballard," I repeated, "Is anything wrong? Did I forget to sign something?" Thoughts of having to return, 'this was all a mistake, I'm sorry, could you please come with me?' filled my mind.
"No, no, nothing like that. I just wanted to make sure you were doing all right, Ms. Costley."
"Maddie, please, Mr. Ballard." People had been calling me by other names for the past five years. I wanted someone to call me by my own. He smiled a little.
"Paul."
"Well, Paul," I said with a smile, "as you can see, I'm doing fine. In fact," I glanced over my shoulder, "I'm just about to take some lasagna out of the oven. Would you care to join me?" Normally, I wouldn't ask strange men affiliated with questionable organizations into my home, but my empty apartment was quiet and lonely and he had such a kind, somehow familiar face. I looked at him hopefully.
"I would love to," he paused a little, examining my face, "Maddie."