A/N: Thanks for reading! Special Thanks to everyone who has left a review! The entire story is finally outlined, but it looks like it's going to be longer than I originally anticipated.

A/N #2: Since it's been soooo long since I updated, I decided to add a little steam to one of the pairings a little earlier than planned. Hope you enjoy ;o)

Part III

Chapter Ten

Gia

It's been a bad day, just like yesterday and the day before that. The entire week has reminded me of a place that I hoped would only exist in memories. That place where blackmailing Emily or locking Laura on the roof seemed like reasonable means to an end. That place that turns me into the kind of person I told Bianca I'd never be like again.

Maybe she was right not to believe me. She told me she needed time and I should respect that instead of standing outside her door trying to convince myself of all the reasons why I shouldn't just knock.

I should turn around right now, go home, and be depressed and respectful.

"Are you going to knock?"

Of course she shows up in the middle of my half-hearted getaway.

"Do you want me to?" I'm afraid to hear the answer, but the question trips its way over my shoulder and falls at her feet. The blazing summer sun beats down on my back, highlighting all the things I did wrong in my previous life that lead me here.

I suck in a hot burst of oxygen and finally turn around. Bianca stands one step below me, searching my face for something I hope she finds.

"I'm sorry," she says. "I'm sorry I asked you to leave." She pulls a stray strand of hair behind her ear and gazes at me through impossibly long lashes and soft brown eyes. "I'm sorry I've been avoiding you all week and I'm sorry that I let my fear push you away."

"What are you afraid of?"

She hesitates. Whatever is, the answer is not easy.

"I'm afraid that I'm falling in love with a woman that's just like my--"

"Bianca?"

Bianca's eyes widen to the size of saucers before she turns around.

"Mom?"

I look up and there, in all her fabulous glory, is Erica Kane. The Erica Kane... looking at me like she already knows I did something wrong.

Carly

A wet puff of Sonny's hot breath blows onto my face before he slides to the other side of the bed. There is no tender kiss, just a tug of the sheets as he finishes a glass of scotch.

It has been like this for a week. Whenever he wants me, he takes me. I let him because I love him. I let him because I hurt him.

"Were you thinking about her?"

These are the first words he has said to me all day.

"No." I can't think about her when he touches me. It's a piece of my heart that I can't break.

He believes it easily because he has to. If Elizabeth were anyone else... any other man, his anger would have already ripped a whole through our lives. We would scream and fight and tear our hearts from our chests until everything around us was just as broken; we would hate each other until we loved each other again.

He pours himself another scotch and drinks it in one gulp. He can't even look at me and I don't blame him because I can't even look at myself.

"If you want a divorce, you can have one."

I look at his strong and dark profile while my heart pounds a frayed beat in my throat.

"But you'll never see Michael and Morgan again."

Kendall

Jason follows me up the stairs carrying Miranda in one arm and two shopping bags in the other. "Admit it." I call over my shoulder. I put my three bags down to rummage through my purse for my keys.

"There's nothing to admit." He tries to keep his face neutral, but that is impossible with Miranda pulling on his nose.

"You had fun today." I know he did. I'm pretty sure I saw his almost smile three times. That should be proof enough, but I like to hear people tell me I was right, so I want him to say it out loud.

"Fun shopping? Uh, no."

I get the door open but before I can walk in Bianca appears with a strained smile and pleading eyes.

"Help." She whispers the word while looking over her shoulder.

"What? What is it?" My heart does a quickstep and my blood cools with fear.

"Mom's here." She screams as loud as her whisper will allow.

"Mom's here," I repeat slowly. The words don't sink in as fast as she would like. Mainly because I am already three steps into a plan that will get us out of Port Charles before anyone realizes something is wrong. I know I overreact where Bianca is concerned, but it's something we've both learned to live with.

"Kendall! Mom. Is here. In our kitchen! Grilling my girlfriend!" She grabs my hand and pulls me toward the kitchen. I release a deep breath of laughter. Erica Kane showing up unannounced is a disaster I'm well equipped to deal with.

I glance back at Jason and he's still standing in the doorway with Miranda on one hip, my bags in the other, and adorably confused blue eyes watching my sister tug on my arm as if her life depends on it.

Bianca

"So what is it that you... do?" That is the question I hear when I finally drag Kendall back into the kitchen.

"Currently I'm unemployed, but I'm working on becoming the Face of Deception." Gia gives my mom a ten-watt smile and I momentarily forget why I am in a panic.

"Oh? Is that what you are doing with my daughter?"

I remember pretty quickly though.

"Mom, don't I get a hug?" Kendall walks around me and into Erica's open arms.

"Sweetheart, you look wonderful." Erica bestows a kiss on each of Kendall's cheeks and I use the diversion to walk over to Gia and grovel for forgiveness.

"I'm so sorry. I don't know why she's here. Don't let her get to you. Really she means well, she's ju-"

Gia stops my babbling with a kiss. It's soft, sweet, and light. It also makes me forget that my mom is standing less than ten feet away.

"Don't worry about it." She winks, kisses me again, and I'm pretty sure she just snatched my heart right out of my chest and put it in her pocket.

When I come out of my daze, everyone is looking at us and amazingly I don't care.

"Go, Binks." Kendall smiles her approval while my Mom looks like she's going to say something we'll all regret. Thank God Jason walks in with Miranda.

"My, Bianca, your taste in nannies is certainly interesting."

"He's not a nanny." I take Miranda off of Jason's hands and offer him a small smile of support for what's to come.

"Then what is he?"

"A friend," Kendall responds. There is something about the way she says it that catches my attention and like any good shark, Erica smells blood in the water.

"What kind of friend, dear?"

It's going to be a long night.