Note: Welcome to yet another weekly meeting here at Minxaholics Anonymous. Ok first with the confessions - I used a swear word in this one - whoops to me. Second there is a direct quote used from AMC, it's in italics to denote the fact that it don't belong to me. Third I've been remiss in my gratitude to you lovely reviewers out there, please know that your words warm the cockles of my heart…..the what? Ela what are….Muse we had a deal…..yeah but it don't include you raving about things like that…Muse!…..ah come on Ela this is femslash what the hell's cockles got to do…MUSE SHUT IT!….what? I'm just saying your readers are gonna think….Muse we're going to the seaside….no, no way you said I would never have to sunbath again…..that's not why we're going….then why?….cos someone needs to learn what a darn cockle is! Oh em sorry about that folks this be chapter seven. Enjoy ;-)
Chapter Seven
It was a week after the pool party before Marissa and Bianca had any real time together again. The redhead didn't look so good when she turned up at Wildwind on Monday evening. Reese opened the door offering a tentative smile; beyond her Marissa could hear the faint sound of happy giggling.
"Marissa hi come in."
"Hi Reese thanks. Is Bianca about?"
The blonde nodded.
"She's getting the girls to brush their teeth."
Marissa stood inside the doorway a little uncomfortable with the look Reese was giving her; the architect had been decidedly cool towards the redhead since the pool party.
"I'm glad you stopped by I wanted to apologise."
Hazel eyes widened, that was definitely not what Marissa thought she'd be hearing. Reese stepped down into the living room motioning for the redhead to follow. They sat on the couch, the blonde tucking her legs up beneath her in a relaxed way that made Marissa feel even more out of her depth.
"I'm heading back to Paris tomorrow and I wanted a chance to try and explain my reticence. Not that you probably want or need an explanation."
Marissa smiled, she wasn't sure what else she was meant to do.
"In the car from the airport I unburdened some things that must have been hard for you to hear. Had I known you and Chandler had a history I never would have done that."
The redhead interrupted.
"I'm glad you did, I needed my eyes opened to how things were for Bianca."
"She told me you feel a lot of guilt for what went down back then and I guess I contributed to that without even knowing. I don't mean to rag on the father of your son but that man is toxic, he's the epitome of everything that is bad in this town. That crap with Scott at the party, God you can't be having an easy time over there."
Marissa blew out a breath, the tension at the mansion was reaching boiling point but that wasn't something she was comfortable talking to Reese Williams about. The architect didn't seem to need a response.
"You've been a wonderful friend to Bianca when she really needed a friend. And now she needs more, wants more. I couldn't make her happy Marissa but I think you can."
The redhead's eyes were like footballs. Was she really hearing this? Reese laughed.
"Don't look so surprised, it's Bianca Montgomery we're talking about. I could never want anything but happiness for her, she deserves so much more than she's ever been given. Bianca has this huge huge heart that loves so boundlessly, she'd do anything to stop from hurting someone she loves. Even continue in a marriage that wasn't healthy for her. She's special Marissa so special and all I want, all I hope for her, is that she finds someone who can recognise and nourish that."
"I do, I will."
Reese nodded, a content smile on her face.
"Good."
The blonde made to get up to go get Bianca but stopped to look at the redhead.
"One last thing, you hurt her and I'll hunt you down and make you pay."
Marissa swallowed audibly; she was pretty certain it wasn't an idle threat.
/
"Ok as much as I love seeing you here I have this really really bad feeling that you're about to tell me something I don't want to hear."
Marissa glanced between Bianca and Reese reading the glint in the blonde's eyes.
"I do."
Reese glared at the redhead who glared right back.
"It's not what you think."
Bianca looked from one woman to the other wondering just how long Marissa had been in the house before Reese had come to find her; the growing tension between both women suggested it might have been a while.
"Then tell us what it is."
Marissa turned back to the brunette her eyes softening instantly.
"I dropped in to ConFusion on the way home from work and I saw Erica there."
Bianca shrugged.
"Ok so Mom's out having a good time again. That's not really a big thing Marissa, she's been out a lot since her kidnap."
"I know but Bianca I was at the bar when she ordered a Bloody Mary."
Bianca's face froze and Reese blinked rapidly sure that she had misheard the redhead.
"What?"
"Erica ordered and downed a Bloody Mary right in front of my eyes. Bianca your Mom's back on the drink."
The brunette reached for her cell.
"Bianca?"
"I need to call Kendall and uncle Jack. God I can't believe she's doing this, she promised us it was nothing."
Reese turned to Marissa hoping for an explanation but received a confused shrug;. Marissa was unaware that there had been the possibility that Erica Kane was back drinking.
"Kendall we have a problem, Mom's drinking again."
/
Kendall Slater paced Wildwind's long parlour in quick strides her speed beginning to make a watching Marissa feel light headed.
"What the hell is she thinking? Doesn't she know how much she hurt Jack the last time?"
"Kendal it's a disease I can't imagine she's thinking about anything other than her next drink. We should have seen this coming, my God uncle Jack warned us something wasn't right."
Bianca put her head in her hands, how could she have missed this? Marissa moved a little closer on the couch, her hand reaching to take the brunette's.
"Bianca things haven't exactly been easy in your life or Kendall's over the last few months so stop blaming yourself, your Mom drinking isn't your fault."
Glistening brown eyes rose to meet Marissa's gentle hazels. Bianca choked back a sob.
"But I pulled away, after the hospital and how cold she was I pulled away because I didn't want to deal with her fears as well as my own."
Kendall crossed the room to drop in front of her sister.
"What do you mean Binks? How was Mom cold?"
Bianca shook her head refusing to make eye contact with her sibling.
"It's nothing, I was being oversensitive."
Kendall caressed the younger woman's cheek forcing those brown glistening eyes back to her.
"I've always loved your over sensitiveness Binks. Tell me please."
Bianca frowned.
"I was so scared, we didn't know if you were okay and I was getting all these flash backs to Michael Cambias. All I wanted was for Mom to hold me and give me the Kane speech, tell me you were going to be okay that it was all going to be okay."
Kendall's eyes watered too.
"But she didn't, she was really weird with me. No hug, no reassurance just this blank expression and an offer to go get food."
Kendall's face showed her shock, Erica Kane would never ignore her youngest daughter's pain; never.
"Binks something is way off about all of this. Mom wouldn't do that, not to you. Not after all you've been through. She just wouldn't."
Bianca's breathing was ragged.
"Now that you come to think about it she wouldn't greet me like a long lost friend either, not after what I'd put Bianca through with the divorce. Her reaction was a little out there."
They all turned to look at Reese.
"What? Come on Kendall remember the hoops she had me jump through when I lived here. She wanted me to suffer for hurting her baby. I dreaded meeting her again, I've experienced Diva Kane fury and it wasn't something I wanted to relive."
Bianca watched her sister's eyes narrow, the cogs in her mind visibly turning.
"What Kendall? What is it?"
"A Bloody Mary?"
Marissa nodded when the older woman turned to her.
"Yeah she drank it straight down in three mouthfuls."
Kendall got up and began to pace again.
"Kendall?"
Bianca's voice was starting to get panicky, her sister stopped and turned to look at her.
"Remember when she first came to my house, the way she looked around as if she'd never been there before. And her reaction to the kids? To Miranda wanting to take her upstairs and show her something?"
Bianca's expression grew hard, Miranda had been upset with how her grandmother hadn't wanted to hug her.
"Yeah I remember. Miranda's noticed the change too, she says all Mom wants to do is shop not spend time with her like she used to."
"And Binks when have you ever known Mom to drink anything cheaper than the finest wine or most expensive liquor?"
The brunette's face furrowed in thought.
"Never. She likes the good stuff, always has."
"So why if she had the chance to drink again would she chose a trashy cocktail like that?"
All eyes watched as Kendall closed in on her sister getting back down on her knees to take Bianca's free hand.
"What if it isn't Mom? What if we haven't got her back?"
Bianca shook her head.
"No Kendall no. How could it not be her?"
"Binks come on work with me here. Mom would never hold back from a hug like she did with us last week, she couldn't get out of there fast enough. A message on her cell my ass, she was running away from us."
"Kendall this is insane, if she's not Mom then who is she?"
Kendall shrugged.
"An impostor, some sick woman who decided to steal Mom's identity."
Bianca's eyes widened, her mouth opening and closing repeatedly before she could form the words she wanted to say.
"Oh my God you're serious aren't you? You really believe this."
Kendall's eyes pleaded with her sister.
"Binks I've had my doubts okay, Erica's reaction to my wedding to Icky Ricky was way OTT even you were a little shocked by it."
Bianca had been more that shocked, it had been a very long time since she'd felt like screaming at her mother but on that day she was close to ripping Erica's head right off. Kendall warmed to the task when she seen the look on her sister's face.
"And Mom would never ever walk away from you if she thought for a split second that you were in pain. She'd have known just by looking in your eyes that you needed her to hold you. Come on sis you're the biggest hug magnet around everyone wants to hug you."
"She's got a point Bianca."
Reese smiled at her ex-wife and then glanced at Marissa her eyes begging the redhead to add something.
"Yeah I can't keep my hands off you."
When the two sisters turned to look at Marissa her face turned a shade of red that outshone her hair.
"Well I can't, even when I was just your lawyer I had to keep reaching out. So what Kendall is saying is totally true….can you all just stop looking at me please?"
Bianca's face softened at the embarrassment in her friend's voice. She squeezed Marissa's hand.
"The feeling is mutual you know."
"Yeah we know, like hello eyes burning holes in the woman every time you think no one is watching."
"Kendall!"
Reese chuckled at the blush that spread across both Marissa and Bianca's faces.
"She's making another very good point."
Bianca decided the only way to cope with her embarrassment was to get the conversation back on topic.
"Ok let's say what you're saying about Mom is true how would we ever be able to prove it?"
"Simple, just test her."
Reese looked at the sisters.
"You two know her better than anyone even Jack, so take a trip down memory lane with her. Between you I'm sure you can catch her out in this charade, if it is a charade."
"And if it isn't?"
Bianca couldn't help but be the voice of reason.
"If it isn't then we've got to get her back in a programme and talking to professionals about what the hell went on when she was kidnapped because if that is really our Mom then the bastards that had her have really done a number with her head."
Bianca really wasn't liking either option.
"What about Uncle Jack should we tell him our fears?"
"I think you need to."
Marissa smiled at her friend.
"It's not something you could ever keep from him Bianca, you'd be crippled with guilt every time you saw him."
Bianca was a little amazed that Marissa could read her so well.
/
"Oh so you finally decided to come home and see your son. Jez Marissa that was so thoughtful of you."
Marissa didn't say a word, she simply looked at JR as if he had crawled out from beneath a rock. She turned in the doorway and went upstairs to AJ's room.
"Hi Mom did you fix that thing you thought might be broken?"
Marissa sat down on AJ's bedside her fingers running through soft blonde strands as she ruffled his hair.
"I'm not sure yet buddy but my friends are working on it."
"Did you see Miranda and Gabby?"
"No they were in bed already, they've got an early start tomorrow."
AJ nodded.
"I know their mommy Reese is going home."
Marissa reached for a book.
"Mom Miranda said her parents don't play games like you and Dad, that they like to make each other smile not be sad."
The redhead found it hard to look into her son's innocent big eyes.
"Bianca and Reese are friends AJ and it's sometimes easier that way."
"But can't you and Dad be friends again? You were when you didn't live with us."
Marissa wondered at the wisdom in those quiet words.
"I don't know buddy."
"Miranda says that she loves her two mommies and they love each other but not like they used to and that it's better that way because at least now her mommy Reese doesn't look so sad all the time. And Bianca smiles more."
Mother and son looked at each other.
"I want you to smile more too Mom."
Marissa smiled at her little boy who smiled back.
"It's okay if you don't want to stay here, I can come sleepover at grandma's again. Cause Mom when you smile, I smile too."
/
Bianca found herself not wanting her ex-wife to leave. They were at the airport and Reese was hugging the girls again trying hard to stop the tears falling down her cheeks, she looked up at Bianca and pleaded with ex not to start crying.
"Please Bianca this is hard enough."
"I know I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
Reese got to her feet and pulled the tearful brunette into her arms.
"This is going to get easier right? Tell me it's not always going to hurt like this."
Bianca couldn't respond.
"Mommy Reese that man is holding up your name."
The two women pulled apart to look at the private departure gate where sure enough a man was standing holding a plague with Reese's name on it.
"Edwin, God I'm sorry I've really got to go girls."
Reese kissed her daughters one more time and shouldered her bag.
"Bianca I'm a phone call away if you need me and the girls can come at the drop of a hat. Work isn't my life, they are. I just do it so I won't miss you all so much."
Bianca nodded.
"I know, I'm sorry I ever doubted that."
Reese shrugged that cute shrug and kissed her ex-wife's cheek.
"Au revoir."
"Au revoir maman, bon voyage."
Miranda's pronunciation was near perfect and her younger sister tried to copy her but only managed the first two words.
"Ovy der."
The two sisters stood waving as their mother walked towards the departures. Reese handed her bag to the waiting man accepting the folder he proffered before turning back to look at her family.
"Je vous aime mes petites fluers, je vous aime."
/
Jackson Montgomery paled as more words continued to spill from his niece's lips.
"Bianca can you hear yourself right now?"
Bianca bit her lip wishing she had Kendall there for support but Kendall was watching their kids. It had been a long day, an early start to the airport followed by some serious bonding time with her daughters to ease how much they were missing their other mommy. Bianca was exhausted, emotionally and physically exhausted; all she really wanted right now was to climb into bed between her two daughters and forget that her life was yet again taking a turn towards drama-ville.
"Uncle Jack I'm very aware of how outrageous this all sounds but something is really really wrong with Mom, with whoever that woman is if she isn't Mom."
"Bianca princess please."
Jack shook his head not wanting to believe there could be any truth in what Erica's daughters were suggesting.
"Wouldn't I know?"
Bianca crossed the room needing to comfort the distraught man.
"I think that maybe you do uncle Jack, before that whole charade of Kendall's wedding didn't you tell me that you thought something still wasn't right?"
Jack pulled a hand through his hair in agitation.
"I didn't mean this."
Bianca soothed his arm.
"Part of me hopes we're wrong because I can't bear to imagine that Mom is still somewhere suffering or worse. But the other part, the part that misses who she used to be, that part hopes I'm right because more than anything right now I really just want a hug from her. A full Erica Kane mother of the universe hug."
Jack pulled his upset niece into his arms, his eyes glistening too at the pain in her words.
"Well until we get that can you settle for a Jackson Montgomery uncle of an angel hug?"
Bianca nodded into his chest.
/
"Marissa what can I do for you?"
David was a little surprised to see his daughter standing in his doorway. She stepped inside and closed the door after her.
"I need to ask you about Erica."
David pointed to a seat.
"What about Erica?"
"What's going on with you and her?"
David snorted.
"There is no me and Erica honey. That boat sailed a long long time ago."
Marissa give her father a stern look that told him he was walking a fine line.
"It's business Marissa purely business. Erica helped me get my medical licence back and she wants me to run PVH when she buys it."
"Why would she do that? Don't you two have some serious history between you?"
"Water under the bridge. How's my grandson doing?"
Marissa recognised David's tactic, he wasn't going to discuss Erica anymore.
"David if you're up to something, something that could potentially hurt Bianca or her kids I will be back here and breathing down your neck so bad you'll need skin grafts."
David chuckled softly.
"You certainly have your mother's temper. I've no intention of ever hurting Bianca or her girls. I learnt my lesson Marissa. The business I have with Erica has no bearing on her kids or grandkids."
Marissa got to her feet.
"I hope not."
"Hey you never answered my question, how's AJ?"
The redhead met her father's eye.
"He's good, like me actually. He seems to be taking after his adoptive Mom rather than his real parents."
David felt the direct blow.
"Marissa despite what you might think of me, you and my grandson are the most important people in my life."
Marissa had heard it all before.
"Sure we are. Here you should take this in case you need to reach me."
David read the card his daughter handed him.
"You've moved?"
"I will be this weekend."
The smile on David's face was nothing short of smug.
"Can I help?"
The lawyer rolled her eyes.
"Goodbye David."
/
By Friday the Montgomerys had readjusted to not having Reese at hand. The girls missed her so much that their schedule had been adjusted to include a 15 minute Skype call to France during breakfast. It meant that Reese was eating her lunch while her family sat at their breakfast, with the laptop on the table it felt like the family ate together each morning.
Bianca only slept with her daughters the first night. Her broken sleep and the return of her nightmares left her afraid of scaring them. She kept to her own routine as much as possible dropping the girls to school each morning before heading into Fusion. Kendall wasn't quite ready to fully retake the reigns of the company so she and Bianca decided to job share.
The sisters tried to get their Mom to visit for some alone time but it was proving harder and harder almost as if Erica or the pretend Erica knew something was amiss. Marissa had relayed her conversation with David which just proved to both sisters that their mother was most definitely not herself. Erica Kane was a lot of things but a bad business woman was not one of them; buying Pine Valley Hospital was not a move the real her would ever entertain.
On Friday afternoon Bianca took an early lunch and surprised her mother with an unexpected visit.
"Bianca sweetheart what a lovely surprise."
The smaller woman accepted the kiss her daughter give but made no effort to return it. Bianca took a seat and watched the older woman begin to fidget.
"I thought you'd be at work today, surely Fusion needs your business aqua man."
Brown eyes tried very hard not to widen at the strange words.
"Oh I think they can survive a lunch break without me. Mom why have you been ignoring my calls?"
"Have I? I'm sorry. With everything so busy at Cortlandt Electronics I find myself forgetting things."
"You should ask Caleb to let you take a less active roll. Are you even recovered enough to be back at work?"
Erica flicked her hair and giggled.
"Oh you know me sweetheart I can't sit still long enough to hear my own thoughts. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Reese, did she get home okay?"
Bianca nodded.
"The girls miss her."
"I'm sure they do sweetheart but kids adjust more easily to these things than we do. Look at you and how well you adjusted."
Bianca found her opening.
"Except for that fire."
Erica frowned.
"Well sometimes little girls act out, I can understand that. I did it myself often enough."
Bianca stared at her mother for several seconds; she looked so like the woman she had always loved, the same face, hair and voice. Could she really be an impostor?
"I was trying to cheer the girls up on Monday after Reese had gone and I started to remember this poem or song you used to say to me when I was sad. But I could only remember the two first lines; I love you more than anything else in the whole wide world, more than all the stars in the sky but then I forget the rest. Can you remember it?"
Erica pursed her lips.
"It's so long ago now Bianca and I can barely remember to return calls from yesterday. But let's not look back to the past, the future is what matters."
Bianca nodded willing away the sorrow and fear that washed over her.
"It certainly is. And speaking of the future, how are those wedding plans coming along?"
Erica clapped her hands excitement spreading across her face.
"Oh wonderful just wonderful. It's going to be the best day of my life."
"Again."
Erica's laugher sounded a little maniacal to Bianca.
"So are we still going with the same venue?"
Again Erica pursued her lips.
"I want it to be a surprise for you all, something completely different."
"Us all?"
"All my family and friends, everyone I know. It will be so big and extravagant like a fairytale."
Bianca really didn't need to hear anymore to convince her that Kendall's suspicions were true; whoever this woman was that was in Erica Kane's penthouse, wearing Erica Kane's clothes and living Erica Kane's life she was most definitely not Bianca's mother.
/
A/N: Sorry that might be it for a fortnight or so, I'll try to get one out next week but no promises. Bear with me folks….I'll make it worth your while ;-)