General Rating: T

General Disclaimer: I do not own any of the following shows: All My Children, Buffy: the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, Degrassi, Hannah Montana, The L Word, The OC, Once and Again, South of Nowhere.

Chapter Television Show: All My Children

Chapter Title: Christmas Morning in Paris

Chapter Pairing: Maggie/Bianca


Bianca Montgomery stared down at the cordless phone in her hand. She looked over each number carefully, as if trying to remember something. And that's just what she was doing.

Why can't I dial her number? Bianca asked herself. Why?

Suddenly, a knock came at the door. Bianca glanced at her watch. It was three o'clock. Who could be here at three o'clock in the morning on Christmas Day?

She walked through the living room and into the foyer to answer the door. Behind it was none other than Maggie Stone. She was holding a bouquet of red and white roses.

"Maggie…um, hey," Bianca said.

"Hi," Maggie said. "I know it's an extremely inappropriate hour to be here, but…I wanted to give these to you." She handed Bianca the bouquet before looking down at her feet shyly.

"Maggie, they're beautiful," Bianca said, smiling appreciatively in the brunette's direction. "Thank you." Maggie smiled.

"Yeah, well…Merry Christmas, B," she said softly.

B. God, she hasn't called me that for such a long time.

"Why don't you come in?"

"R-really?" Maggie asked, lifting her brows in surprise. She hadn't been in the penthouse since the two had separated over a year ago.

"Yeah. Come on." The raven-haired woman stepped aside, allowing Maggie entrance into her home. Maggie looked around for a moment, taking in the familiar surroundings.

"It's all the same," Bianca informed her. "Nothing's changed."

"Oh." Maggie smiled weakly. Bianca gently squeezed the other woman's shoulder.

"We're okay," she said. "We're friends now, remember?" Maggie nodded.

Ever since what had happened in Pine Valley last January, the two had become friends again. Maggie had honored Bianca's request that they not become lovers again. She understood the her ex needed time. What she had done was wrong, she recognized that. She knew there was nothing she could do to change that. But maybe, with time, they'd be able to try again.

"I'm gonna put these in water," Bianca said, breaking the silence between them. She headed toward the kitchen. After a minute, Maggie followed her, finding no other alternative.

"Maggie, why at three in the morning?" Bianca asked, hearing the brunette come into the room.

"I couldn't sleep so I walked over here. I figured you'd be awake. You can never sleep on Christmas. Or at least, you couldn't last year."

"That was because of you," Bianca reminded her with a laugh. "I believe you kept me up all night with your…magic tricks."

"Strange magic tricks, weren't they?" Maggie asked, grinning at her friend.

"They sure were," Bianca said. She set the vase of roses on the kitchen table and turned to the brunette. "I think that's what kept me up this year. Memories."

Maggie nodded. "Me too." She sighed. "I really miss you, Bianca. A lot."

"I miss you, too," Bianca admitted. "Sometimes, I just wish we were still in Pine Valley. That you were still my best friend."

"I am." Maggie looked into the other woman's eyes. "No matter what happens or has happened between us, I promise you we will always be friends."

"Good. I'm glad." The raven-haired woman smiled. "Miranda's missed me too."

"I've missed the munchkin too," Maggie whispered. "All I could think about today was what I was missing. And how I could have had that if I hadn't…screwed things up so badly."

Bianca stared at the brunette. She believed every word she was hearing. And that's what scared her.

When the apologies had first started coming, Bianca had barely believed them. That pattern had continued even when they'd returned to the same country and become friends again. But for some reason, she believed it this time.

She looked into the brown eyes across from hers. She saw love and sincerity. Maggie's eyes were practically begging to be forgiven. Perhaps even completely.

"I forgive you," she finally said. "Yeah, you messed up. But over the year, you've done more than enough to make it up to me."

"What happened with Cecilia…it was stupid. She seduced me and I fell for it. You were just gone so much and I went for the one person who seemed to give a damn. She went back to wherever the hell she came from anyway. I think she was Swedish and here for the term."

"Maggie, you told me all this," Bianca said. "I believe you. I believe you're sorry and I believe that Cecilia meant nothing to you. It's okay."

"I love you, Bianca," Maggie said. "I really love you."

"Good. Then, stay here tonight. There's no way I'm letting you walk home to your apartment alone, especially at three-thirty in the morning. Stay. You would've had to come in the morning anyway."

"Okay. In the guest room, then?"

"No," Bianca said, shaking her head.

"Oh, well, then…on the couch. That's cool, if that's what you want," Maggie said.

"No. What I want is for you to stay in our bedroom, Stone," Bianca said. "Some of your clothes are still here, as I'm sure you know."

"Yeah." Maggie grinned. "Are you sure?"

"Very sure." With that said, Bianca leaned forward and pressed her lips against the other woman's. She felt Maggie's arms around her waist. She smiled into the kiss and leaned against the other woman.

"Merry Christmas, baby," Maggie whispered. "I love you." Bianca smiled as she rested against her girlfriend. It was good to have her back. And she wasn't ever going to let her go again.