Author's Note: Hello! I haven't written for All My Children in quite a while so I apologize in advance if I am a bit rusty. I am re-discovering these characters and felt compelled to write something. This first chapter is slow but eventually it picks up and you are able to gather more of the story - including the first italicized bit. You cannot possibly expect me to reveal all in the first chapter, can you? Unfortunately the middle portion of this chapter is an excerpt of the transcript from All My Children's December 23rd episode in 2004 but I can assure you that there will be more original storyline to come! Typically, I am not a fan of using transcripts in fan fiction because I feel like it defeats the purpose of traditional fan fiction but this particular episode was such an important episode (and a complete tear-jerker) and so well written that I refused to attempt to re-write it. Flashbacks and transcripts are written in italics. I would be extremely grateful if you wonderful readers would leave some feedback. I am happy to read any feedback - praise or criticism - provided that it's constructive!

Also, a huge "thank you" to a certain someone. I am sure she knows who she is and why I am thanking her.

Now, on with the show... :)

- DrunkAndEvil

Chapter One

"Erica!" Opal squealed. "You have to tell me everything about Los Angeles! I missed you, girly!"

Erica smiled and embraced her friend. "Opal, it's so nice to see you again!"

"Los Angeles was wonderful... I -" but before Erica could finish she was cut off by Opal.

"Honey, spare me all of the details about Los Angeles. What I really meant was tell me everything about Kit!" Opal said with a wink.

Erica shifted uncomfortably. "Oh, um, Kit is great."

"Uh oh." Opal said. "I'm guessing you and the silver fox are no more?"

Erica shook her head. "No, it didn't work out. He's a busy man and I - well - I have things to take care of here."

Opal nodded sympathetically, knowing she'd coax the full story out of Erica later.

"Well, I think there are a few men here who are more than happy to have you back... and possibly a few who might retreat into hiding." Opal said with a hearty laugh.

"Opal -"

"Bianca!" Erica heard someone screaming her daughter's name from across the room.

"No!" She screamed as she rushed over to Bianca's aid.

"Honey, honey! Wake up!" Erica pleaded with her daughter, shaking her lightly, hoping for a response.

Paramedics soon rushed in and pulled Erica off of Bianca. She stood in the middle of the room in shock watching the paramedics frantically begin working on Bianca.

Erica paced back and forth in the hospital's private waiting room, reliving the previous week's events. She hadn't eaten a real meal in days. She was emotionally and physically exhausted, extremely stressed, anxious, and had every emotion one could possibly think of flowing through her body at the moment. In addition to all of those issues, she was also spending countless hours with her ex whom she hadn't seen since she left Pine Valley after the shooting. As Bianca's final visitor left, it was obvious that it all was beginning to wear on her.

Jack decided it might be time to attempt to intervene once more.

"Erica, you have to calm down. Why don't you go home? I'll call you if there's any change..." Jack promised.

She shook her head. "I can't leave."

"At least sit down and have some coffee then?" Jack suggested, knowing there was no use in arguing with her, considering that they repeated the same argument everyday for the past three days. He assumed the little arguments they'd been having were really just an easy way to relive their stress. It was easier for them to fight about whether or not it was better to drink decaf or caffeinated than to talk about Bianca.

She took the steaming styrofoam cup from him. She began tracing her finger around the rim and soon drifted into thought.

She wondered how this all happened. It was unbelievable to her that her youngest daughter was lying in a hospital bed, completely motionless for the second time in her young life. Why, Bianca? She wondered. How did this happen? She looked so healthy before Erica left the previous year. She knew Marissa's death took quite a toll on Bianca but she never expected this. The flashbacks of Bianca's previous hospitalizations hit her hard. Bianca spent a lot of time in the hospital as a child and Erica always secretly blamed herself for contributing to Bianca's eating disorder. Then, there was the Christmas of 2004, which was the best and worst time of Bianca's life simultaneously. She nearly died but she had her sweet baby back in her arms. Unfortunately, there was no bringing back Marissa to save her.

Her thoughts drifted to holding Miranda close to her chest as she inhaled the serene scent of her sweet granddaughter. The elevator doors opened and it felt like thousands of eyes landed on Erica, Jackson, Tad and most importantly, Miranda. When she announced that Miranda was alive and theirs, Pine Valley collectively gasped as tears formed in their eyes. It was the definition of a miracle. She remembered looking around at all the people that stood in the lobby on that special Christmas Eve. The impact Bianca had on all of those people was incredible. She sighed, remembering how she desperately tried to hold it together as she reunited Bianca with the only one who could save her – her Miranda. Erica felt physically ill when she was reminded of that Christmas, over a decade ago but she could no longer repress the memories no matter how hard she tried.

She shut her eyes tightly as she remembered being faced with the same question that she knew was coming soon. She could physically feel her stomach sink, just like she did when Maria came to her and demanded that she make a decision to either let Bianca go or put her on a respirator. But what Maria didn't know was that Erica had what Bianca needed to wake up right in front of her, babbling in her arms.

"It's true, baby. It's a miracle. It's the one you wished for deep down in your heart. Miranda is here and she feels so good and so strong and so beautiful, just like you. Open your eyes and - and look at your beautiful baby, honey. Miranda is back, honey, and she's here for you. But you have to be here for her. She needs you, honey, yes. She needs you so much." Erica pleaded, fighting back tears.

"And you feel that, don't you? You feel that. Open your eyes, Bianca. Open your eyes, Bianca. Open them! I have bossed you around a fair amount in your lifetime and I am not going to stop now, honey. Your daughter needs you. Do you hear me? Bianca, open your eyes and say, 'Yes, Mom, I hear you. And yes, I see my beautiful baby girl.'" Erica said, passionately.

Kendall and Maria were in sobbing while listening to Erica's words. Jack and Tad both felt knots in their throats, threatening to travel to their eyes and turn into tears at any moment.

"Sweetheart -" Jack began, but was promptly cut off by Erica.

"No, I'm talking to Bianca and she hears me. She knows Miranda is here and there is nobody who can take care of this baby like she can. This baby deserves to have her mother. Bianca is her mother, and Bianca knows that she wants to be with her and there for her, her baby girl, for the rest of her life. That's what mommies do, and you know that, honey. That's why you took this baby from the nursery - do you remember? Because you heard Miranda crying and you knew in your heart, you knew in your heart that she was yours. You knew that you wanted to be there and take care of your precious little girl. Bianca? Miranda is back, honey. Now, you have to come back for her." Erica said, barely able to hold her composure any longer. This was supposed to work, Erica thought. She knew Bianca would come back for her baby. She had to.

She placed Miranda into Bianca's arms, forcing her to touch Miranda. To feel that her baby was there, she was real and she was in her arms. She silently prayed for a reaction. She prayed for anything – a muscle twitch, for Bianca to open her eyes, for Bianca to mumble Miranda's name - any sign of life. Erica begged her to open her eyes and finally, Bianca did. She never felt that much relief and worry at the same time. She knew a long road was ahead of them but she was more than prepared to take it on as long as her daughters and granddaughters were alongside her.

A slamming door startled Erica. She was almost thankful to be torn from her thoughts but felt her stomach flip when the doctor walked through the door.

"Is there any change?" She asked, hoping that by some miracle he would say Bianca was awake and doing fine.

"Ms. Kane, we're afraid there's not much more we can do..." He sighed, frustrated. "I'm sorry but you're going to have to make a decision soon." The doctor stated.

"What do you MEAN there's nothing you can do? Do something! ANYTHING!" She pleaded.

"I am sorry, Ms. Kane. I'll leave you two to think things over." The doctor said sympathetically. "If you have any questions, please feel free to call me." He handed her a card before returning to his patients.

"Erica, I don't see what other options we have, here. Honey, you have to be realistic about this." Jack stated.

"You're not out of options, Erica." She heard a familiar voice from behind her.