By the way, Jonathan is dead, dead, dead. He will not survive a cave-in, he will not survive being shanked in prison, he WILL NOT LIVE. I subscribe to the philosophy that if your character is so vile that no one likes you, when you die, you die. He's worm-food, folks. Pushing up daisies. Taking the eternal dirt nap. DEAD. Now, Lena on the other hand….
Disclaimer: I still haven't gotten them as a gift so Bianca, Maggie, Miranda, Kendall, Greenlee, et all, still belong to AMC/ABC/Mickey Mouse...
Rating change to PG-13 for sexual situations.
You're
still the one
that I love to touch
Still the one
And I can't
get enough
We're still having fun
And you're still the one
Orleans -Still the One
Previously on Maintaining Balance…
Paris, France
December 14, 2005
The Bet - Day Seven
All was quiet in the kitchen. Maggie was contentedly seated at the table. For the first time in a week, she was actually able to concentrate on what she was studying. Okay, well she did have something to look forward to. Reason being, good things do come to those who wait.
Turning the page, she glanced at her watch and grinned. Three more hours… YES!
The kitchen door burst open and Bianca rushed in. "Maggie?" she called out frantically. Her hair was wildly out of place, her eyes ablaze with emotion. She looked… dangerous…
"Bianca?"
"I can't take it anymore." The brunette shoved her way into the kitchen. Without so much as a thought, she tossed Maggie's textbooks off the table and pulled the blonde into her arms.
"What the-?" Maggie asked, totally caught by surprise. Did Paris suddenly suffer a time warp? Did the clocks just advance three hours?
"Kiss me," Bianca demanded. Her lips remained inches from Maggie's. Yearning. Wanting. Waiting. Waiting to devour.
Kiss me… The words were spoken so softly and so hoarsely Maggie was sure she'd been mistaken. Because, quite honestly, she'd been dreaming about this just moments before the door burst open. Okay, now what? Kiss her or do a dance because she's begging for a kiss? Suddenly, Maggie was extremely confused.
"What?" she asked.
"KISS ME!" Bianca ordered. Before Maggie could even respond, her lips collided fervently with Bianca's. Her fingers were suddenly lost in the forest that was Bianca's chestnut colored hair, her eyes closed, feeling the ecstasy she so longed to feel for the past seven days.
Hallelujah!!! "Oh, God!" she exclaimed before her lips were claimed again. Maggie pulled away for a split second, her fingers still tangled in Bianca's hair, not wanting to let go. Ever.
"Yes?" Bianca grinned, her forehead still pressed against Maggie's. Their lips collided again, this time with more urgency, as Bianca pressed Maggie back against the counter.
The kitchen door swung open as they fell in a heap on the cold tile floor and Kendall stomped her foot. "Aww, man!" she groaned in disgust. "You couldn't survive another 3 freakin' hours?"
Chapter 4
Maggie pulled back from the kiss just a hair's-breadth, smiling into Bianca's eyes. "Bite me, Kendall," she replied before getting to her feet and helping Bianca up beside her.
"Um, really, no thanks."
"Enjoy the kitchen while you can, K," Maggie laughed, pushing Bianca out the door and across the living room. "Because it's all over now."
That made Kendall shudder a little. "Well, at least I get my powers back!" she shouted after their retreating forms.
Suddenly, Maggie ran back into the kitchen, hauled open the refrigerator door and grabbed the bowl of strawberries. And the whipped cream. And some chocolate sauce. Cherries? Sprinkles? Nah, that would be pushing it just a bit… "See ya," she said impishly, tossing Kendall a less-than-innocent grin.
"Ugh… need shower… desperately…"
"Ooh," Maggie murmured thoughtfully. "Good idea…" She rushed out of the kitchen. "Hey, B, what about a nice, long, hot shower?!"
Kendall screamed.
Back at Bianca's side, Maggie pressed the strawberry bowl into the brunette's hands then wrapped her arms around her waist. "I just won the bet," she whispered, walking Bianca backward toward the stairs. "What's my prize?"
"Think about it, you goof," Bianca replied with a roll of her eyes. She had the bowl of strawberries in one hand, her other arm around Maggie's neck. "It looks like Bianca à? la mode to me."
"Oh, no, I don't think so. You're the one who collapsed like one of the three little pig's straw house"
"Okay, Maggie, seriously, you need to stop reading to Miranda so much."
"I'm serious, Binks. This was the eventual conclusion to this stupid bet to begin with, you know that. This requires a serious pay-off."
"Hmm," Bianca murmured, leaning in to brush the tip of her nose against Maggie's neck. "I'll think of something, I promise."
"You know what?" Maggie replied, tilting her head to the side to allow Bianca better access. "I won this bet, I'll think of something."
"I'm not sure if that scares me or excites me."
Maggie giggled. "It should do both."
"Mmm," Bianca murmured as their lips met again. "Good point..."
Suddenly, Bianca's heels made contact with the stairs and she lost her balance. Not wanting to lose her hold on either the strawberries or Maggie, she sat down quickly on the steps, pulling Maggie down with her.
"Oof!" she exhaled when Maggie landed on top of her.
"Shit, B," Maggie exclaimed, quickly bracing herself on her hand. "Are you okay?"
All Bianca could do was laugh, her head dropping back onto the step behind her. "Look!" she giggled. "I didn't even spill the strawberries!"
Laughing with Bianca, Maggie reached for the bowl and plucked out a ripe, red berry. "That's good," she said huskily, bringing the fruit to Bianca's lips. "Because I have plans for each and every one of them."
Bianca's eyes locked on Maggie's as she bit into the juicy berry. "Mmm, sweet," she whispered. "Taste."
Instead of eating what remained of the strawberry, Maggie grinned and dipped her head, capturing Bianca's lips with her own. There was a hint of strawberries on her lips, but mostly Maggie tasted the dark, heady, intoxicating flavor of Bianca. "Mmm," she murmured a moment later after managing to finally pull away a centimeter or less. "I think I'm addicted."
Bianca took the strawberry from Maggie's fingers then held it up to the blonde. "Me, too," she replied, her eyes drifting to Maggie's lips as the blonde took a bite of the sweet fruit.
Maggie pressed her forehead to Bianca's. "I'm not talking about the strawberries," she stated in a husky voice.
"Oh, Tiger, neither am I."
Sharing Bianca's smile, Maggie leaned in and their lips met. In an instant, those lips parted and tongues renewed acquaintances, beginning a familiar energetic dance.
Somehow, Bianca managed to set the bowl of berries aside and tangle her hands in Maggie's hair, holding her tightly and taking the kiss even deeper. Maggie slid her arms around Bianca's waist, pulling her hard into her own body.
And the world fell away...
"Oh. My. GOD!" a voice shrieked an unknown amount of time later.
Maggie slowly broke the kiss, pulling back to look into Bianca's eyes. "Greenlee," she muttered with a shake of her head.
"MY EYES! MY EYES!!" Greenlee exclaimed. She slapped her hands over the offending organs as she stumbled backwards into a harried Kendall who had rushed out of the kitchen at first shriek.
"Don't call me Greenlee," Bianca said to Maggie, ignoring the theatrics taking place a few steps away. "Mood-killers 101, you know."
Greenlee's tirade continued unabated. "Oh, the agony! The torture! Make it go away!"
"You want me to make it go away?" Maggie snapped, attempting to get up.
Bianca grabbed her by the belt loops of her Levis to hold her close. "No, Mags, no felonies."
Maggie's eyes zeroed in on Kendall, who stood behind Greenlee, holding the smaller woman upright. "Damn your powers, Kendall."
"What?!" Kendall exclaimed. "Hey! I was actually no where near this little make-out session!"
"She's got a point there, Sweetie," Bianca stated to Maggie, who reluctantly shrugged in agreement.
"Okay, okay," the blonde muttered in assent.
"Help me, Kendall," Greenlee pleaded, her hands still covering her eyes. "Help me get the visions out of my head."
"No way, oh petite pain in the ass of mine," Bianca's older sister replied. "I had to suffer through this last time I was in Paris. It's only fair that you share my fate."
Greenlee dropped her hands and looked around frantically. "Then I'll just have to put my own eyes out," she snapped, spotting a 14-carat gold Cartier pen on the table. The business end of that writing instrument should do the trick.
"Hey, Greenlee," Bianca called out, hoping to stop the ocular assault.
"Kendall!" Maggie shouted, hoping the curly haired woman would take the extremely vague hint.
"Maggie!" Greenlee groaned, hoping she could get the cap off the pen. "And Bianca!" She did a full body shiver.
"Greens, come on," Kendall said soothingly, moving the pen out of the smaller woman's reach. Although neither Maggie nor Bianca missed the exaggerated eye roll as Kendall took Greenlee by the shoulders. "Let's get you some alcohol. It always works for me when I stumble onto Masters and Johnson, here."
Greenlee looked up at her friend. "Like alcohol is going to help this," she snapped.
"I meant a bottle of wine, you twit."
"A bottle? You think one bottle of wine is going to help? This is France, for crying out loud, I need a barrel!"
Maggie suddenly noticed the bare neck just inches beneath her lips. "Shouldn't you two be shopping?" she asked before diving in and nuzzling that neck. "Or something?"
"What?" Kendall asked, unable to understand the last muffled words.
"Or something," Bianca translated breathlessly.
"Wine," Greenlee said, swallowing suddenly. "Quick. Lots of it."
Kendall put a comforting arm around Greenlee's shoulders. "Come on," she whispered in a soothing fashion. "Let's go take care of these visions."
"Thank you, Kendall," Greenlee murmured weakly as she was led to the opposite staircase by the taller woman.
They disappeared up the stairs, leaving Maggie and Bianca where they had been the whole time, still wrapped up in each other on the staircase leading up to their private side of the apartment.
Maggie grinned against the spot on Bianca's neck where she was currently leaving her mark. "Ah," she said softly. She finally pulled back to smile into Bianca's eyes. "Alone at last."
She dipped her head as Bianca reached up and their lips met yet again.
There was a knock at the door. An insistent knock. A kind of pissed-off knock…
Bianca's head fell back once again onto the stairs. "Were you expecting company?"
"No," Maggie replied, hoping to ignore the intrusion. "And it's not my turn for study group." The knocking continued, an amazingly annoying thumping on the large oak door. Reluctantly, with one last kiss, Maggie got to her feet and went to answer the door, mumbling to herself the entire way. She swung the door open.
Standing there, arm poised for another fist-pound, coal black hair a disheveled mess, dark shirt and pants wrinkled as if slept in for several days, 10 o'clock shadow stubbling his chin…
"David," Maggie rasped.
"Mag-."
Maggie slammed the door shut and turned back to Bianca.
"Maggie!" Dr. David Hayward called through the thick wooden door. "Open the door. We need to talk."
"No hablo inglés," she called back, reaching for Bianca's hand and the bowl of strawberries at the same time.
"Wrong country, Maggie."
"Je ne parle pas anglais," she replied in perfectly accented French.
"Maggie, come on, open the door."
Maggie gritted her teeth. "No!" she shouted.
"Maggie!"
"David!"
The pounding started again. "Open the door!"
"NO!" Maggie shouted at the ceiling.
"Oh, jeez," Bianca groaned with a shake of her head. She stalked to the door and yanked it open. "David," she said in a hard voice. "Any possibility you're violating parole or something? I can get the local police on the phone."
"Bianca," David replied regretfully. "It's good to see you again."
Maggie put the bowl of strawberries down on the stair-side table and crossed her arms over her chest in a defiant manner "There's no room at the Inn, David," she snapped at him. "Go away."
Bianca turned and gave Maggie a reassuring look, reaching out to put a gentle hand on the blondes tensely crossed arms. "Please, David," Bianca sighed. "I don't want you here any more than Maggie does, I was just tired of hearing you two acting like school children."
"He started it," Maggie said belligerently.
"I did not," David replied.
"Did, too."
"Did not."
"Did, too!"
"I don't care who started it!" Bianca shouted over the two of them. "Now is not the time."
"Exactly," Maggie agreed with a grin. "Bianca is right, now is not the time." Maggie took Bianca by the hand and started to tug her toward the stairs. "Bye, David. You know how the door works."
David refused to budge. "Now, Maggie."
"Binks," Maggie whispered, motioning with her head and mouthing the wordbedroom to her.
"Oh, good Lord," Bianca replied in exasperation. "With him standing in our entry hall? Are you crazy?"
Maggie continued in a husky whisper, totally undeterred by the unwelcome intrusion. "You. Me. Bedroom. Now."
"Hello," David declared, his arms flung out wide. "I'm still standing here."
"Well, then, have a seat on the couch. I'm sure Kendall and Greenlee can entertain you. Kendall!" Maggie shouted up the opposite staircase. "Don't get too comfy though." Maggie then pulled Bianca up the stairs to their bedroom, shoving her inside and shutting the door behind them. "I thought he'd never leave."
"Um, Sweetie?" Bianca pointed out gently. "He didn't exactly leave."
Suddenly, there was a hard pounding on the bedroom door.
"Aw, jeez!" Maggie groaned. "Doesn't he know when to give up?"
Bianca sighed. "It doesn't matter," she replied. "I'm quickly losing interest."
Maggie actually looked panicked at the thought. "Wait here," she said, leading Bianca to the bed and pushing her into the mattress. She kissed her hard on the lips. "I'll handle this." She started toward the door, got two steps away and came back. She kissed Bianca again. Longer this time. "Okay."
Maggie moved quickly to the door before she lost the battle to stay, took a deep breath and stepped out into the hall, closing the door behind her. "Okay, David," she began, looking up at the man who once meant the world to her. "Listen and listen good."
"Maggie-."
"I said this when we saw you at BJ's and I'm saying it to you again. Go to hell."
"You don't mean that," David said in all sincerity.
Maggie was stunned. "Are you kidding me?!" she exclaimed. "I don't mean that? I don't mean it when I tell you to go to hell? My God, what an ego!" She laughed, a wholly unpleasant sound. "You don't think you did anything wrong, do you?" It was there on his face and Maggie found her anger level rising. "You know, I don't care what you did to me, David," she said furiously. "I'm used to being shit on, it's happened my whole life. But you betrayed Bianca. Completely. And without a second thought. And that pisses me off like you willnever understand. From the moment you found out she had been raped you were there for her. Helping her get her life back, easing her pain when she found out she was pregnant, witnessing her joy when she saw her baby for the very first time, keeping her secret for as long as you could. Caring for her, protecting her. My God, David, you carried her to the hospital one day. Do you remember that? Do you rememberany of that?! You treated Bianca like any man would treat a daughter. How long did you even know Babe before you were willing to turn your back on Bianca? Before you were willing to let your long-lost daughter have Bianca's child to raise? While you were more than willing to watch Bianca slowly die a little more whenever she was around that child? The child that was really hers? And you knew! You KNEW! The whole time you knew…" Maggie felt tears burn her eyes but she wouldn't give David the satisfaction of seeing her cry, even if they were angry tears. "So when I tell you to go to hell, David, don't tell me I don't mean it, because I most certainly do. With every fiber of my being, I hope you rot in hell for what you did to Bianca."
David had the decency to look ashamed. "I'm sorry, Maggie-."
"I'm not done yet," Maggie snapped. Taking a deep breath to get her emotions under control, she continued. "Did she deserve any of it? Did she? My God, that honest, innocent, gentle, caring, beautiful woman… What did she ever do to you? And Babe? And Krystal? All Bianca did was love you like a father-figure. She gave Babe her heart, because that's what Bianca does when she loves someone. And, well, Krystal? Apparently Krystal's just a bitch. You know, Bianca loved you once. And so did I, but not any more. Not. Any. More. Get the hell out of our house, David. Just get out."
Maggie left David standing dumbstruck in the hallway and slipped back into the master suite. She locked the bedroom door behind her and turned to Bianca. "Okay?" she asked softly.
Bianca, who had heard every word of Maggie defending her, fighting for her, protecting her yet again, just grinned. "Come here, Tiger," she whispered, reaching out for the woman who held her heart.
Kendall slowly made her way up the stairs, seeing David just standing outside the bedroom, staring at the carved wooden door in futility. She held out the bowl in her hand. "Popcorn?" she offered. She had heard every bit Maggie's tirade and cheered silently at the blonde's angry words.
"What? No, thanks," David replied.
"Trust me," she informed him, "you'll want a snack. It's mid-afternoon, they may be a while."
"What? What does that mean?"
"I have a power," she told him with a grin. "And I know how to use it. But I'll tell you this... day seven… they couldn't make it a whole seven days."
"What?"
"They couldn't survive three more hours."
"Seven days? Three hours?" David gave Kendall a look of pure confusion. "Kendall, what the hell are you talking about?"
"Jeez, David! Do I need to spell it out for you?"
Suddenly, David could hear murmuring from the bedroom. The obvious words of two people in love floated out into the hallway, including an 'Oh, God' or two...
Kendall choked on a small kernel of popcorn. "Come on," she said through her coughing, "Let's move to the living room. We can interrupt them later." She left David standing there, trusting he'd follow her eventually.
"We?" he asked, catching up rather quickly.
"Okay, fine, just me then. They're used to it anyway."
David followed Kendall into the living room, dropping onto the sofa when she indicated for him to sit. "So, they're finally together?" he asked.
"Oh, baby, yes... In more ways than one."
David rubbed his face with both hands. "Okay, I don't need to hear this."
"Please, I did," Kendall told him with a wave of her hand. "You will, too." Then she grinned a little devilishly. "What? You can't take knowing your little cousin is gettin' some when you're not?"
"Kendall, why are you telling me this?"
"Because it's my pleasure."
David glanced back toward the location of the bedroom. "So, they're together?"
"At the present moment, literally... yes. All over each other." Kendall chuckled at her little joke.
"Finally."
Kendall gave David a questioning look. "You're happy Maggie is finally having sex?"
"I'm happy that Maggie is finally with Bianca."
"David, I'm serious, this could be a while."
"I can wait."
"They could take hours." She gave him a steady look. "They've turned it into an art form, David."
"I'll wait."
"'Til sunrise?" Kendall threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. "David, it's been seven days! Seven! They could be in bed for the next seven. Davey, my boy," she said, patting him on the knee. "You might want to invest in a hotel room. Check out the sights. Twice. And then come back in seven days."
"Kendall, I really need to talk to Maggie."
"Oh, trust me, they'll still be here."
"Kendall, I have to talk to Maggie," David stated succinctly.
"Okay, fine. Go and interrupt the sex bunnies. See if I care about you when Maggie chases you out of this place. With a weapon." She waved her hand dismissively. "Well, I don't care about you anyway, but I'll just stand back and laugh when Maggie goes after you."
Suddenly, a dawning appeared on David's beard-shadowed face. "Sex bunnies?" he asked warily.
Kendall grinned. "Yes."
"Do I even want to know?"
"My God, man, are you dense?"
"Kendall…"
She leaned close in a conspiratorial fashion, causing David to do the same. "They make your Libidizone look like candy," she informed him.
"Wait… When you said seven days, you mean…?"
Kendall nodded. "Yes."
"Maggie?"
"Yes."
"Bianca?"
"Yes..." It was like talking to a 12-year old.
"Maggie and Bianca?" David croaked.
"Dear God, David! What the hell do you think we've been talking about for the past 10 minutes?"
He stood up quickly. "I'll come back later," he said, wiping his palms on his slacks and hurrying for the entry hall.
"Finally!" Kendall followed his on his rush to the door. "Hey! You're forgetting your luggage!"
"Leave it here. It'll give me an excuse to come back."
Kendall snorted. "Yeah, that'll make Maggie happy."
"Kendall?"
"Yes?"
"Do you know where I could find a bar? I think I need a drink."
"Ahh, like I said. You can't take it, huh? Maggie's gettin' busy more than you are."
David leaned his head against the cool wooden front door. "Please stop saying that."
"Saying what?"
"Gettin' busy," he whispered hoarsely.
"Truth hurts, doesn't it?"
"I need a drink."
"Cousin Maggie and sweet little Bianca... gettin' more than you are."Man, this is fun, Kendall thought. I could torture him all day…
David hauled the door open. "Bye, Kendall."
"Like I said, David, it could be days. Days."
"Maybe I should take my luggage, then…"
"Yeah, maybe you better."
"Good bye, Kendall."
"Have fun!" After the door closed behind David, Kendall let the laugh she'd been holding in loose. Wow, that felt good… Suddenly, she was smacked on the back of the head by Greenlee. "Ow!" she exclaimed, a hand to her hair to repair the damage. She glared down at her diminutive friend. "What the hell was that for?!"
The shorter woman glowered at her, hands planted angrily on her hips. "Why didn't you call me? Did you not think I would have enjoyed some of that, too?!"
Kendall ducked her head abashedly. "Sorry…"
-------
"Well, Tiger," Bianca said softly, her head on Maggie's shoulder and an arm wrapped around her waist. Their legs were tangled together under the sheets as they basked in the afterglow – the six hours later afterglow… "You just won the World Series of Sexual Gymnastics. What are you going to do now?"
Laughing, Maggie rolled over quickly, pressing Bianca back onto the mattress, leaning over her and diving in for a hungry kiss. "I'm going to Disney World," she replied, still laughing. "I think I'm going to call this ride Big Thunder Mountain."
Bianca burst out laughing and slid her arms around Maggie's neck. "I hope it's because you feel the earth move," she said between chuckles.
"Oh, Binks, the earth doesn't just move. It tilts completely off its axis."
"Hmm," Bianca murmured between Maggie's kisses. "For me, too…"
Maggie pulled back and looked into Bianca's chocolate brown eyes, feeling that she could look directly into her soul. She knew Bianca could easily see into hers. "I'm sorry, Bianca," she said suddenly.
Bianca shook her head in confusion. "Why?"
"My attitude caused this stupid bet and because of this stupid bet, I can't remember the last time I told you that I love you." Maggie's eyes fell for a moment then she looked back up, as her fingers gently caressed Bianca's cheek. "I hate not telling you I love you."
"I hate it, too."
"I love you, B."
"I love you, too, Mags."
Maggie smiled before tenderly capturing Bianca's lips with her own. Bianca returned the kiss, her fingers tangling in Maggie's hair to pull her closer. The kiss deepened, tongues met in a delicious dance, each touch burned and Bianca reveled in it.
Feeling Maggie's hand glide down her side, grazing over her ribcage, brushing effortlessly across her hip, to slowly encircle her waist, Bianca let the sensation overwhelm her. The press of Maggie's palm against the small of her back, Maggie's fingertips massaging her spine in a possessive manner. In her young life, Bianca had never known emotions or desires like these. All brought on by one Maggie Stone. No one and nothing had prepared her for this, for the brilliant sensory experience of making love to and with Maggie. The feel of Maggie's skin against hers, Maggie's hands on her body, Maggie's lips on her throat. The conflagration of each touch, the sensual whisper of each declaration of love, the barely-there brush of fingers on skin, the feel of a curtain of silken hair sliding across a stretch of warm, soft flesh.
One thing Bianca had discovered since she and Maggie had become lovers was that she was a very sexual being. She lived for moments with Maggie, when they touched, kissed, made love. She enjoyed the intimacy, the mindlessness, the lack of control. She loved being in control and being so completely out of control at the same time. She lived for each and every touch. She desired and required each and every touch. She survived on each and every touch…
This explosion of heat, light and energy… this is how stars are formed…
"I love you, Maggie," she whispered, pressing the blonde onto her back, taking control, losing control. Because, truth be told, Bianca was just as hot for Maggie as Maggie was for her. "I love you."
-------
"They're STILL at it?" Greenlee asked in awe later that evening, watching Kendall carry a wide-awake Miranda out of the nursery. "What are they? Re-incarnated bunnies?"
Kendall snorted delicately. "Just imagine if they could pro-create…"
"Oh, God, think of the litter they'd have."
"Little BAMbinos hopping all over the place. We'd be over-run." Kendall took Miranda into the den and settled her on the blanket in there, waiting until the kitten suddenly appeared before leaving the child to herself.
Greenlee threw herself onto the sofa and reached for the most recent issue of French Vogue on the coffee table. "Hey, you ever wonder," she said, quickly leafing through the thick magazine, "what it is they do so much-."
"NO!" Kendall exclaimed, holding up a hand in Greenlee's face. "It's enough that my kid sister is getting all sexed up on a daily basis, I certainly don't need even the slightest hint of visuals…" She shook her curly head. "I've seen my fair share, thank you very much."
"You have no imagination."
"Oh, trust me, I have plenty of imagination. There are some things better left alone."
"I don't think you really mean that, Kendall."
Kendall sighed. "Okay, my little short stack, close your eyes."
With a grin, Greenlee tossed the magazine aside and closed her eyes, settling back against the sofa cushions. "Okay."
"Picture this. Dark room, candle-light, soft music…"
"Sounds good so far."
"Gentle touches, caresses, moaning. Soft words of love."
Greenlee grinned. "Okay."
"Your father, my mother. Beneath the sheets, writhing. NAKED!"
Greenlee's eyes flew open instantly, her face suddenly pale. "Okay, that's not funny."
Kendall was laughing. "It is from where I'm sitting…"
-------
"Get out of the tub, Mags," Bianca admonished, towel-drying her hair as she watched the blonde play with what was left of the bubbles in the big soaking bathtub. "You're going to be a giant prune."
"Nah, I'm small, I'd be more like a raisin…"
"Come on, Maggie. I'm hungry."
Maggie laughed. "Man, you are insatiable."
Bianca's towel hit her square in the face. "I need food, Maggie. Dinner, a meal."
"Are you expecting me to pay? Because, you know, in some countries I would be revered for what I did for you today. You should definitely pay for me."
"And your ego just continues to grow, doesn't it?"
"Well, I like to think I've really taken this whole lovemaking thing to heart. You know, learning all I can, perfecting my technique."
Bianca struggled not to chuckle. "Trust me, Tiger, the student has surpassed the teacher in this instance."
"Well, you know me, Binks, I never do anything half way."
"No, thank God, you don't…"
-------
Greenlee looked worriedly at her confidante. "I'm not so sure about this, Kendall," she said a little warily.
"Come on, Greens," Kendall replied with a toss of her curly locks. "I kinda feel bad for the guy. I mean, he came all this way from Pine Valley and all he gets for his trouble is a bedroom door shut in his face. It's a bit harsh, don't you think?"
"Harsh, yes. But still, remember the whole Babe fiasco...?"
"Oh, what are you so worried about? It wouldn't hurt for them to just hear him out."
"When did you become the voice of reason?"
Kendall rolled her eyes. "So, do we call him?"
"Fine, call him. But if this backfires, you're taking all the heat."
"And all the glory if it works." Suddenly, Greenlee smacked Kendall on the arm. "Hey! What the hell was that for-!" Kendall exclaimed, just as she caught sight of her sister and Maggie entering the den. Once again, they were in constant contact. Maggie had her hands on Bianca's waist, holding tightly. Bianca was laughing at something Maggie had said, her hands gripping Maggie's wrists. "I swear," Kendall muttered to herself. "You'd think they invented sex with the way they can't keep their hands off each other…"
"Hey, guys!" Bianca chirped, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. When Maggie whispered something to her, she blushed bright red and smacked Maggie on the arm. "Stop it…"
"What?" Maggie asked in all innocence.
"Oh, gawd…" Greenlee groaned with a roll of her eyes. She picked up the Vogue magazine again, burying her nose in one of the bazillion ads filling the thick issue.
"We're going to go get something to eat," Maggie said as Bianca made her way to Miranda. "You want to come along?"
"Oka-."
"No!" Kendall replied, smacking Greenlee on the side of the head. "Why don't you two go? I'm sure there are some highlights you'll want to relive or something." She got up and took Miranda from her mother. "We'll watch a movie, won't we, Mimo?"
"Mimo!" the baby giggled.
Kendall smiled. "See? She wants to watch Finding Nemo again."
Bianca's eyes narrowed warily. "Are you sure? We're just going to Le Petit Rétro down the street."
"No, no, no, you go ahead."
"Okay!" Maggie exclaimed, grabbing Bianca's hand and pulling her toward the door before minds could be changed. "Later!"
"Bye!"
Greenlee never looked up from the magazine. "You are sooo dead."
"Shut up, put Finding Nemo in the DVD player and hand me the phone."
------------------
The brisk December evening had Bianca and Maggie walking arm-in-arm the few blocks from their apartment to the little café they had fallen in love with. Not even beyond the Victor Hugo Metro station, the small bistro was cozy and inviting, a friendly atmosphere that the girls had taken to immediately. Built around the turn of the century, the little café maintained the décor of the era, while serving incredible, authentic French dishes. Maggie liked to think of it as BJ's drunk on French wine…
They were seated immediately by the hostess, a young woman named Manon, who was familiar with their frequent visits. She handed them menus and grinned as she walked away. She enjoyed watching the two Americans because they always seemed to be happy and laughing. And so completely unaware of the people around them.
Bianca ordered a bottle of wine when the waiter arrived, and an order of escargot to go with their fresh baked baguette. Maggie, in spite of her early hesitance to eat anything weird or unusual, had grown to enjoy the French delicacy, and now was almost disappointed when they didn't have them as an appetizer. They almost got into a fork-fight over the garlicky morsels, Bianca laughing as Maggie triumphantly held her off for the last one. The blonde actually had the audacity to tease her with it before popping it into her mouth, nibbling at the piece of French bread that had been soaking up the garlic butter sauce the snails had been served in. Face alit with mock indignation, Bianca reached out and smacked Maggie on the hand, laughing when Maggie dissolved into a fit of giggles and then snorted into her wine glass.
Still laughing at her victory, Maggie reached out and brushed a crumb from Bianca's cheek, her fingers lingering for a moment. Then, suddenly, she pinched Bianca's cheek like a grandmother would tweak the plump cheeks of a beloved grandchild, embarrassing the heck out of the kid. Fighting back laughter, Bianca gently kicked Maggie under the table. Maggie sat bolt upright in shock, unable to believe that Bianca would actually kick her. They looked like two schoolgirls at the mall food-court instead of a high-powered businesswoman and intense doctor-to-be.
David Hayward sat silently at his table watching the affectionate interaction between the two women, his heart alternately filled with joy at their boundless love for one another and sorrow at not having been around to witness it firsthand. Having been called by Kendall the moment Bianca and Maggie left their apartment, he had hurried over to the little café and found an out of the way table, wanting to make his presence known at the right time. Holding an amber bottle of Fischer LaBelle ale in his hands, David's eyes never strayed from their table, taking in the frequent touches, constant laughter and undeniable devotion the two young women shared. With a rueful smile, David realized his little cousin Maggie finally had the one thing that had been so unfairly absent from her life. An undying, unwavering love.
That it would come in the form of Bianca Montgomery was not surprising. There had been a bond between the two from the moment Maggie had set foot in Pine Valley. That it had blossomed into a deep and abiding love was no surprise, either. Anna had told him many times that what Bianca and Maggie shared transcended anything mere mortals could possibly imagine. They were two halves of one soul, bound by more than the physical or emotional, or even anything earthly.
"So," Maggie said, wiping her hands on her napkin before reaching for her wine glass. She took a sip of the bold red wine. "How much trouble do you think Kendall and Greenlee will get into while they're visiting?"
"Maggie," Bianca admonished softly. "Why do you always assume they'll get into any trouble?" There was silence from the seat beside her and Bianca looked up to see Maggie just giving her a look. "Probably a little, I'm sure," she admitted, sheepishly pushing a lock of hair behind her ear, "but I think it can be deflected if we get to the press first..."
Maggie sighed. "Those two, together in Paris... I don't know, B, but it's got all the makings of an international incident."
"Jeez, Maggie, they've already been here almost a whole week and nothing's happened yet."
"Yeah... Weird, huh?"
"Maggie..."
They shared a laugh as the waiter arrived with their meals. Maggie smiled at the young man, giving him a Merci before turning her attention back to her plate. Bianca watched as a frown suddenly overtook her features.
"I'm going to kill Kendall," Maggie snarled, her eyes locked on a point beyond Bianca's left shoulder. "Dammit. She set us up."
Bianca turned quickly to see what had so suddenly destroyed Maggie's lighthearted mood. "David..." she whispered. He saluted them from his table across the dining room with his half-full beer bottle. "I think I'll let you go ahead and do it this time."
Deliberately never breaking eye contact, David rose from his seat and started toward them.
"Oh, hebetter not be heading over here," Maggie muttered. "He's not heading over here is he?" Suddenly David stood beside their table. She looked at Bianca in amazement. "He actually came over here." She glared up at her cousin. "You've got some kind of nerve, David. Didn't anything I say earlier sink in to that thick skull of yours?"
Without being invited, David pulled out a chair and sat down. "Maggie, please, give me a chance to explain."
"Explain? Are you serious? You're going to explain how you kept Bianca's baby from her?"
He looked at his beer bottle, realizing just how poor his choice of words were. "Okay, you're right. Please, let me apologize."
"You know what," Maggie cut in, "I'm suddenly not very hungry right now. Excuse me, Bianca, I need to use the restroom." She threw her napkin on the table, pushed her chair back and stalked away.
David sighed, his eyes never straying from Maggie's retreating form. "If she'd only let me explain."
"David..."
He looked up suddenly, his gaze intense. "Look, I realize she's upset," he told her. "And she has every right to be, but I had my reasons for what I did."
"Okay, fine," Bianca whispered, leaning close so their voices wouldn't carry to other diners. "You had your reasons. You've got five minutes to explain them to me."
"When I found out Babe is my daughter-."
"David, you had barely found that out and you turned your back on Maggie. You told her you'd be her family, the only family she'd need. Was it necessary to abandon her just because you found out you had a daughter? Hadn't she been through that enough in her life?"
"But she's okay, now. She looks great."
Bianca shook her head. "You're missing the point, David. Maggie went through hell and she had no one to turn to. Not you, not me, not Jaime..."
David ran a hand through his hair. "I had no idea."
"Of course you didn't. You had no idea because you turned your back on her. We all did." Bianca set her napkin aside, feeling much like Maggie and no longer very hungry. "You know, David, I'm guilty, too. I turned my back on Maggie, I hurt her badly. And I have no one to blame but myself. It's time we'll never get back, words said we'll never be able to take back. I hate myself for what I did to her."
"So you're saying I should hate myself, also?"
Bianca sighed and shook her head. "No, David, not at all. I'm saying you shouldn't expect her to throw all that hurt aside just because you came here to insist she talk to you and see your side of it all."
"I know I hurt her, Bianca."
"No, David, you don't. You may think you do, but you don't. David, you devastated her."
"Bianca, I didn't know."
"You didn't know? How could you not know? That's a cop-out, David, a total cop-out." Bianca pushed her hair behind her ears and leaned close, wanting to get this out before Maggie returned. "She idolized you, David. You were the one male figure in her life who didn't leave. Leo had an excuse, he died. You just gave her up." She sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. "I won't be the one to forgive you, David. I won't make that decision for Maggie."
"So this is what you do," he said to Bianca, waving his hand at her as if that explained everything.
"What?" she asked in confusion. "You mean look out for each other? Protect each other? Is this what you do for your loved ones? Of course it is, David. You should know that, you did it for Babe and Krystal."
David pursed his lips and nodded his head, knowing Bianca was right. Of course, how Bianca was protecting Maggie was nothing at all like how he protected his own 'family'. The sincerity and honesty humbled him.
Maggie returned at that moment and looked at David. "You still here?"
David gave Maggie a smile. "Actually, I was just leaving," he replied, rising to his feet.
Sliding into her chair, Maggie glanced at Bianca and saw the look on her face. It was a look Maggie knew well and she could never say no to Bianca. "What do you want to say, David?" she said, resting her hand on Bianca's. "Say it quick, before I change my mind."
"I just- I wanted to say I'm sorry."
Maggie snorted. "You flew 3,000 miles to say you're sorry?" She sounded unconvinced.
"You're happy and I shouldn't have intruded on that."
"No, you shouldn't have."
With a rueful smile, David sat back down. "Maggie, I know nothing I say or do will ever change how you feel about me, but," he glanced at Bianca, "I am sorry. I let you down and that was unforgivable... And whether you ever believe me or not, you'll never know how much I regret turning my back on you. I was wrong and I'll never be able to change that. I'm sorry."
"Fine, you're sorry. Thanks for your concern." Since she had returned to the table and sat back down, Maggie had refused to look at David. "Bye."
David closed his eyes momentarily, finally realizing just what he'd done to Maggie, and to himself. His actions had driven everyone away, including the one person who had loved him unconditionally. He opened his eyes and saw Bianca put her free hand over where Maggie's hand held hers. The light glittered off the matching rings they wore, David noticing them for the first time.
"I am happy for you both," he said sincerely. He smiled. "Anna always knew, you know. She told me more than once that you two loved each other." He got to his feet and put a piece of paper on the table. "In case you ever want to talk." He inclined his head to them both. "Bianca."
Bianca nodded. "David."
With another regretful look at Maggie, he turned and walked away. Maggie deliberately looked the opposite direction, refusing to watch him in any way. Bianca gave her hand a squeeze, then reached for the piece of paper David had left behind.
"It's his e-mail address," she told Maggie. She ducked her head to try and catch Maggie's eye. "Why don't I keep this."
"Fine."
Bianca slipped the paper into her purse. "Come on, Sweetie. I know it hurts to see him, but he really wanted to apologize."
"He can apologize all he wants, Bianca," Maggie replied, turning to look Bianca in the eye. "It doesn't change what he did to you."
Suddenly, Bianca laughed. "You know, we are quite a pair."
"What do you mean?"
"You attacked David for what he did to me, I attacked him for what he did to you... What does that tell you?"
Maggie smiled. "Tells me that I love you."
"Okay, yeah, well, that, too." Bianca turned her attention to her meal. Sheepishly, she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, a move that never failed to make Maggie smile. "I love how protective you are of me, Maggie. You don't know how that makes me feel."
"I think I've got a pretty good idea," Maggie told her with a smile. "I didn't know I had my own pitbull."
Bianca blushed. "Eat your dinner."
Maggie's smile turned to a grin. "Yes, mother."
Talk of David over, they finished their meal and left the restaurant. The evening, while brisk, was starlit and clear. Walking back to the apartment arm-in-arm, they laughed and talked, stopped at a bakery that was still open and picked up a few sweets, then ate them before they got home.
Luckily for Kendall, Maggie was in a better mood when they arrived, and therefore her life was spared.
This time...
-------------------------
"Hey, I can see our house from here!" Maggie exclaimed, pointing over the Seine and the Trocadero toward Avenue Foch. Bianca nudged an elbow at her ribs, causing Maggie to flinch. "Ow. Hey, that hurt, you know."
Bianca shook her head. "Maggie, how many times have we been up here?"
Maggie grinned. "Once or twice?" she replied, her fingers gripping the chicken-wire as she gazed down on Paris at her feet from the top level of the Eiffel Tower.
Good Lord, she's like a little kid, Bianca thought, watching Maggie with a delighted smile of joy lighting up her face. She lived for this, the return of carefree Maggie, still childlike with wonder in all that was around her. "Try 15 times, Stone," she finally drawled, "and you're just noticing it now?"
"Um, sun glare?"
"Nope."
"Not looking, maybe?"
Bianca grinned. "Try again."
Maggie leaned close, slipping an arm around Bianca's waist, pulling both her and Miranda into her arms. "Too enthralled by the scenery before me to see what's out there?"
"Enthralled? That sounds like some kind of word of the day thing. Do you get bonus points for using it in a sentence?"
Maggie shrugged. "There would have been a triple word score, but there's no 'X' in it…"
Laughing, Bianca kissed Maggie on the cheek. With a giggle, Miranda imitated her mother, kissing first Maggie, then Bianca on the cheek. Delightedly clapping her hands, she giggled some more when she was presented with kisses in return.
At the base of the tower, Kendall and Greenlee stood looking at each other, both with an almost daring look in her eyes. Confrontation was only a moment away.
"When did you start wearing Levi's?" Greenlee asked suddenly, taking in Kendall's curious attire snug-fitting faded jeans, spike-heeled Manholo's, cashmere sweater and leather bomber jacket.
"When did you?" Kendall replied, eyeing Greenlee's amazingly similar wardrobe, save the fact that her jeans were black instead of indigo.
"These are Seven's."
"Is that why it says 'Levi's' on your ass?"
"At least it's smaller on my ass than on yours," Greenlee muttered.
Kendall snorted derisively. "I'll go if you go," she dared quickly.
"You first," Greenlee retorted.
"I'm not going first, you go first."
"You go first, you have curlier hair."
Kendall's eyebrows knitted. "What the hell does my hair have to do with this?"
"I don't know!"
"Why, Greenlee Smythe, are you afraid of heights?"
"What?! Me? No!" Greenlee started laughing, a wholly unconvincing sound. "I'm not afraid of heights, this is me laughing at heights." Then she paused. "I don't see you racing to the front of the line, you know."
"Please." Kendall grabbed Greenlee's hand and hauled her toward the ticket window. "Come on, we're going all the way to the top."
As they neared the ticket booth, both women veered consciously away, delaying their trip as long as possible. Finally, tickets in hand, they entered the elevator and rode to the top.
"Come on," Kendall muttered, pulling Greenlee out of the elevator behind her.
"Oh, great view," Greenlee replied after taking a single step onto the observation deck. "Very nice. Let's go."
Kendall looked over her shoulder at the view. Of sky. And not much else. "Oooh, pretty" she said shakily. She bobbed her head twice. "Okay, let's go." She yanked Greenlee back toward the elevator.
"Slow down! I can't run in heels!"
They stepped back onto the elevator and rode it down to street level, gripping each others hands hard enough to leave marks...
TBC- Christmas and all that it has to offer…
