Bianca was beginning to see Maggie everywhere she went. It didn't matter if she was there or not. If Bianca wasn't itching to get out of the penthouse before, she sure was now. She wanted to be as far away as possible or at least some place Maggie wasn't familiar with. She sat in the room's lounge chair holding her baby as if at any moment someone might try and take her away. She told herself that it was just a cooling down period because Maggie had startled her. Even though she was upset about Maggie's letters, she still felt love in her heart for Maggie and she hoped it meant that someday they could find a way to be friends again.
It took exactly 438 seconds for the nurse to finally arrive. Bianca knew because she was counting every second until she would be able to get out of there. She wished Reese was there to help; she was the only one Bianca ever told about her fear of hospitals. Who could blame her though; Bianca didn't exactly have the best track record with hospitals. That horrible year surrounding Gabby's birth was full of so many sad hospital stays; come to think of it so was the time surrounding Miranda's birth. Now any time she had to go to the hospital she was either reminded of losing a child or losing a sibling.
She wasn't Maggie, in fact her name was Paula. And if she was staring it was more as a fan than as someone who might be relaying information to Maggie. Bianca noticed that Paula had been reading Scandaloux, that trashy French tabloid that published all those pictures of her mother with Ryan. She was so glad, she even let slip a few of Erica's secrets to the nurse's delight. Bianca was recalling the story of her mother trying to talk her way out of a traffic ticket when she felt her phone vibrating. She contemplated whether or not to leave Gabby with the nurse so that she could take the call, but when she saw the number come up withheld she decided against it.
****XX****
Reese and Miranda stayed in the park a while longer talking and playing on the swing set. Then Reese said that it was time to go which lead Miranda to chastise Reese.
"We did more than walk through the park; but I'll let it go this time." She said with all seriousness.
Reese couldn't help but giggle. "Come on you little stickler, let's get something to eat."
Miranda resumed her chanting as they walked their way down to The Rooster Pizzeria which was just two blocks up the street. Neither one of them noticed the woman who'd been watching the whole exchange from the café across the street. It wasn't for lack of trying either; no, whoever had been watching them took every precaution to ensure that no one would see her unless she wanted them to. Earlier when Reese looked across the street she intentionally turned her back, not that it would have mattered since Reese had never seen her before, but she wasn't taking any chances. She was so careful in fact, that when she heard Miranda walking up the sidewalk chanting about going to The Rooster she waited a full ten minutes before following behind.
When they finally got a table Reese once again indulged Miranda by allowing her to order her favorite pizza, a large pizza half Neapolitan, half fruits-de-mer with egg in the middle. They talked some more about school, about Miranda's new BFF Laura, and about the new house. It was an amazing bonding experience and one Reese was incredibly grateful for. She wanted Miranda to know that she had just as much of her heart as Gabrielle and that even though she hadn't been there from the very beginning, Reese had every intention of being there for her no matter what. It was the bonding that kept Reese from noticing the woman in the back of the restaurant taking pictures of both of them.
"What do you say we take the metro home?" Reese proposed as she wiped a stray piece of cheese away from Miranda's mouth. Miranda loved riding the metro, especially at night. She loved all the break-dancers that would perform at the station and getting a fresh chocolate croissant from Bon Journée. She was so excited she even started another one of her little chants
"We're going to ride the metro, we're going to ride the metro…"
Miranda pranced excitedly back in to the house still chanting about everything they'd done as she marched up to her room. "We rode on the metro, and we saw a snake charmer, and we ate at The Rooster…" she trailed along with Reese giggling behind her until she heard Bianca calling her name.
"Wait a second Reese, you went to The Rooster?" she inquired
Reese was a bit surprised by Bianca's tone she didn't think she'd done anything wrong.
"You told me to get her something to eat" Reese explained.
"Yeah I told you to get her something to eat; I didn't say you could take her to a restaurant that's two blocks away from the park I specifically told you not to go to." Bianca really didn't mean to be yelling, but she needed Reese to understand how serious she was.
"Well, so I decided that it would be ok." Reese shot back.
"Oh you decided" Bianca mocked. "It wasn't your place." She finished.
"Why not, hmm? Is it because you're more of Miranda's mother than I am?" Reese threw the accusation out without even thinking about it.
"No! And I'm tired of you constantly putting that out there. The problem I have is that I needed you to trust me and you clearly didn't."
Reese knew Bianca was right, but she was still upset about whatever Bianca was hiding from her.
"What do you need me to trust you about Bianca? What are you keeping from me?"
Bianca didn't know how she'd let this happen. Maggie was coming between them whether she wanted it to happen or not. She had to find a way to change the subject, but Reese was already so angry; there was really only one thing that could get her off her soap box when she was this upset. Bianca knew what she had to do.
"I don't want to fight with you" she was moving closer to Reese as she spoke. "and I'm sorry I raised my voice."
Although she was perplexed at this sudden change in demeanor from Bianca, Reese was happy to be the one winning the argument for once. "I don't want to fight with you either." She admitted.
Taking Reese by the hands Bianca made a quick move for the spot just below Reese's right ear lobe.
"You know that drives me crazy." Reese reminded her.
"And that's exactly why I'm doing it." Bianca teased.
But Reese did her best to pull away remembering all the work she still had to do.
"Honey I've got a ton of work I still need to get done for this proposal meeting tomorrow."
Bianca wasn't letting up, "Can't it wait" she asked in between nibbling on Reese's ear. "I haven't had any alone time with my Reese's Pieces in a very long time." She spun Rees around and caught her by the lips.
"Oh no, not the Reese's Pieces. Honestly Bianca I wish I could" she gave in for a second and let Bianca work her way down to her blouse before she remembered her resolve.
"I really need to finish my work, but I will get done as soon as possible."
Finally giving up Bianca had to ask "Well in that case can I at least know who it is that's got my wife all tied up with blue prints and protractors?" she asked.
Reese was surprised she hadn't told Bianca yet. She was sure she'd mentioned it before.
"I am designing the new children's wing for Paris Central Hospital." She said with great enthusiasm.
Bianca froze completely at the declaration. She didn't want Reese to be alarmed so she did her best to quickly put on a happy face.
"Oh my gosh, honey that's wonderful" She lied. "I'll let you get to it, I'm going to um, go check on the girls ok."
Reese went back to doing her work, but she couldn't help the resurgent feeling that she was being lied to once again.
****XX****
Maggie had a long night ahead of her trying to play catch up with all her research after putting her meetings on hold earlier in the day. It was well worth it though; she finally got to hear Bianca's voice, even if it was just a voice mail. She couldn't believe she'd kept her same number all these years. More importantly she managed to get herself a brand new picture of Miranda. She remembered the first time they took Miranda to The Rooster, Bianca only wanted her to have spinach and carrots, but when no one was looking Maggie would sneak bites off of her own pizza to Miranda. After that day she would take Miranda to The Rooster whenever Bianca was busy at work and they would split one large pizza that was half fruits de mer and half Neapolitan. It was also nice to see how much Miranda was beginning to resemble her parents. So, in spite of the fact that she probably wouldn't sleep tonight, she felt very good about what she was able to get done today.
AN: As always thanks for reading
