Note: Sorry this is late, RL had me stuck in places where internet usage is frowned upon. Anyhows this be chapter twenty one (holy smoke I'm into the 20s with this one, where is time going?) Enjoy J

Chapter Twenty One

Collusion

Lydia had cried herself out as her parents and aunt tried to distract her from the torture Maggie was inflicting upon her side.

"I don't like wobots anymowa."

Maggie placed a clean dressing on the wound and offered her little cousin a bright smile.

"Well this robot is all done now."

Lydia pulled her pouting lip in and turned to her parents.

"Can I watch cawtoons?"

Both Bianca and Marissa were about ready to agree to anything to keep the child from crying again.

"Sure munchkin you and Mom can watch them in our bedroom."

Marissa had noticed how exhausted her partner was and she was determined to do something about it.

"Maybe you can help Mom take a nap, you're always good at that. Don't you think Mom looks a little tired?"

Lydia smiled at Bianca.

"Yeah Mom we go sleepy in yowa bed this time."

Bianca's timely yawn left her objections falling on deaf ears so she took her little girl's hand and let Lydia guide her to the master bedroom. Kendall who had stood quietly watching the turn of events focused her attention on the lawyer and doctor who looked as equally exhausted as her sister had.

"So how's the hangovers?"

Marissa's effort to glare had Maggie snorting in amusement.

"I guess the town crier got her call in early."

Kendall's confusion was confusion was obvious.

"Pardon?"

Maggie lifted the bowl and dirty swabs.

"I better clean this mess up."

She left the room ignoring Kendall's looks and question. The fashion designer turned to Marissa.

"What was that about?"

"I guess she's assuming Erica told you about the drinking."

Kendall crossed her arms making Marissa groan, this day was definitely going to be getting worse before it got better.

/

Reggie tried to concentrate on the case file sitting on his desk but every sound out in the corridor had him looking up waiting for Marissa to come to his office. She didn't and he turned back lifting an affidavit and tried to read the words, he was just about mastering the fete when a knock had him jumping to his feet in expectation. Jack's worried face was not who he had hoped to see.

"Dad."

Jack tried for humour.

"You could at least pretend to be happy to see your old man."

Reggie smiled.

"Sorry I was hoping it was Marissa. How's things?"

Jack took a seat.

"Things are not how I had hoped they would be. Yesterday obviously didn't go as planned."

Reggie sank back into his seat.

"That's got to be the understatement of the century. Yesterday was an unmitigated disaster. He played us."

Jack nodded.

"It's looking that way."

Reggie propped his elbows on his desk and began to knead the tense muscles in his neck.

"Any word from the judge?"

"He wants us back in session tomorrow afternoon. Marissa hasn't shown up and neither she nor Maggie are answering my calls."

Jack give his son a bemused smile.

"I'd imagine they are both a little worse for wear this morning. Jim Beam?"

Reggie growled.

"Yeah well it seemed like a safe bet at the time. I didn't bank on them staying on after I'd headed home and I sure as hell didn't expect Erica to crash their session."

Jack laughed, it was obvious from Reggie's demeanour that Erica had already had that stern word she'd promised to have.

"So Erica's been in touch?"

Another growl confirmed that she had.

"Champagne? Give me a break Dad! Who orders champagne when they're dealing with two upset women?"

Jack laughed again.

"Erica Kane."

Reggie met his father's gaze and laughed too.

"Of course Erica Kane would do something like that. What a week huh?"

"What a week indeed but it isn't over yet."

Reggie wished it was because he couldn't see a way back for the Michaels case. The partners weren't happy; getting a good deal for Susan Michaels was supposed to open doors for the firm not slam them firmly shut.

/

Kendall left Marissa in the den wishing she hadn't dropped by Monchasker. It was obvious Erica had worried the lawyer, more obvious that Marissa hadn't the first clue about AJ being in trouble.

"Me and my big mouth."

Maggie who stood out of sight in the kitchen doorway considered ignoring Kendall's self reproaching words but then the fashion designer spotted her and ignorance was no longer an option.

"I want a word with you."

The doctor rolled her eyes.

"Whatever it is can't it wait until oh I don't know the twelfth of never maybe?"

Kendall ushered the sullen woman back into the kitchen.

"I wish it could but no not this time. Look Maggie I'm sorry about your wife and how things have gone for you. I really wouldn't have wished that on anyone let alone you."

Maggie let herself be practically pushed into a chair as the older Kane took the one opposite.

"Thanking you for your sympathy feels like it might be a little premature. What do you want from me Kendall?"

"I get why you're back for the court case, either you feel like you owe this Michaels woman something or maybe you want revenge against him. I'm not sure. Either way it doesn't explain you wanting to know about Krystal? What was that about Maggie?"

The doctor folded her hands on the table, her gaze lingering on the intricate wedding band upon her finger.

"I just wanted to make sure."

Kendall watched quietly as brown eyes finally rose to meet her gaze; so much pain and sadness dwelled within their depths.

"Marissa's lovely, she's sweet and seems good. I just wanted to make sure that was really the case."

"Huh?"

Maggie sighed in resignation.

"We all thought Babe was great until she did what she did. And then there was Krystal, the one that kept the whole thing covered up. I didn't want to take a chance that Marissa could be like her twin or her mother so I had to check."

Nothing was making sense to Kendall.

"Why? Why would you need to check or want to check?"

"Because I don't want Bianca to get hurt, I don't want Miranda or Gabby or that precious little Lydia to get hurt."

Kendall frowned, she could buy that Maggie might care enough to want to make sure Bianca's family were happy but something was off about the timing.

"Why now Maggie?"

The doctor shrugged and suddenly Kendall was hearing Erica's words again and seeing Marissa's worry and it started to make sense. She reached across the table settling her hand over Maggie's.

"Bianca's family stretches further than Monchasker."

Maggie didn't respond.

/

AJ met Miranda behind the bleachers of the school soccer field.

"So?"

Miranda watched her best friend look beyond her up to where her huddle of friends were waiting.

"You couldn't ditch them?"

"I tried but two mornings in a row at the principal's office has them waiting for me to spill the gossip."

The teenager shook his head in disgust.

"It isn't gossip it's our lives."

Miranda didn't need to be told that and her look was enough to have AJ swallow the rest of his ire.

"Sorry I guess I'm pissed that they suspended Rick but not me. It was my fault that he skipped school."

The young brunette frowned.

"And mine that you did so that makes me to blame for both."

"No it doesn't you weren't to know I'd try to find that asshole."

Miranda glanced at her group of friends. She didn't want to talk about that asshole; her friends were already thinking that she and Luke Cramer had something going on.

"You gona tell them?"

The girl shook her head; telling her friends about Luke Cramer and his vile words meant telling them about her Mom and she wasn't ready for that.

"How do I tell them something like that? They'll look at Mom differently and me and I just don't need that right now."

AJ shook his head.

"If they're real friends it won't make a difference, you're still you right? Still Mimo."

The other teenager snorted.

"Not to them, anyway only family get to call me that."

"We do don't we Mimo?"

Miranda punched her brother's arm playfully.

"Yeah you do. I had an idea about Rick getting suspended. I bet Ma would fight his corner and get it lifted."

AJ's eyes lowered.

"Yeah but telling Ma means she'll know what I was planning to do."

"Mom says it's what brothers do, you had my back Ma will see that too."

AJ didn't think so, he could feel that familiar anger grow in his stomach again, this time for the man who had hurt his Mom. Hurting back was the first thing that always came to him and it was that made him hate the thought of talking to his mother.

"I made her a promise Mimo, I told Ma I'd never lash out with violence again."

Miranda didn't punch her brother this time, instead she threw an arm round his shoulder.

"Yeah but you didn't lash out Fast Fists we got there in time to stop you."

AJ could practically hear his mother say that intent was as bad a crime as any and right now he felt like a criminal.

/

Marissa's head had finally stopped hurting and she was beginning to feel human enough to go face her colleagues but she needed to talk to Bianca first. She quietly opened the bedroom door to find two of her favourite girls sound asleep on the huge bed. Lydia was curled in a ball tucked into Bianca's front, her head acting as a pillow to Bianca's cheek. Marissa quietly crossed the room intending to drop kisses on sleeping cheeks but as she neared the bed the temptation to join the duo was too strong. Quietly the lawyer crawled onto the bed to spoon her partner and their daughter.

/

Cara entered her husband's office mid afternoon surprised to find him smiling.

"Someone looks happier than they did this morning."

David grinned.

"Someone feels happier than they did this morning. Now what can I do for you my Cara Cara?"

Cara give her husband a quick kiss in greeting before answering.

"I was hoping to get Maggie's number, I wanted to give her a call."

The smile dimmed in David's eyes.

"Her cell is going to voicemail."

Cara had expected as much.

"Still it might help to leave her a message."

David took out his cell phone and handed it to his wife.

"Can't hurt I suppose."

Cara scrolled through his address book and tapped the number into her own phone before handing it back and kissing him again.

"Dinner at the usual time or do you think you might be late?"

David shrugged uncertainly.

"I'm going to check on Lydia after work, she didn't keep her appointment with Frankie."

"Okay so should I leave dinner until later?"

"I'll take dinner home with me, Leon liked that Chinese AJ got us the last time he stayed over. Right?"

Cara didn't like the idea of take out food. David smiled.

"Or you two could eat something healthy and I'll grab something on my way back."

"Or I could leave your dinner in the oven."

David laughed.

"Such a traditionalist."

Cara smirked; at least her husband was laughing.

/

When Kendall left, Maggie had nothing but time to think about all the things she had been thinking about for too long. One year, one month and eighteen days ago life had stopped meaning anything to Maggie. All this time she had been going through the motions, putting one foot in front of the other in an effort to keep on going until justice had been served. That was what she was waiting on, for Chantelle C'ote to be found guilty of murder and Bernard Michaels to lose all claim to his wife's millions.

Maggie rolled her neck, the clicking sound vibrating around Monchasker's quiet kitchen. They had come so close to pulling the velvet carpet from beneath Michaels' designer shoes, so damn close to leaving him with nothing but his own paltry bank account. But it was too late now, Maggie had done the one thing Marissa had begged her not to do, she had opened her mouth and set the whole damn case on its head.

"Merde!"

Now Bianca knew the truth and Marissa was upset with Maggie for telling her. And if both of those weren't bad enough it seemed Erica had figured out the doctor's plans.

"Merde merde merde."

"What's mewed?"

Maggie nearly toppled off her chair at the sound of Lydia Montgomery's sleepy voice, she turned to see the little girl offer her a lopsided smile, bedraggled hair cupping the angelic face.

"I think mewed might be something a cat does."

Lydia shook her head.

"Nah ah cat's meeawwooo."

Maggie grinned.

"So they do then it must be a cow."

Lydia shook her head again.

"Cows go mooooo."

The doctor shrugged.

"Then I guess it's just something I do."

Innocent brown eyes looked at her for long moments.

"Maggie goes mewed."

Maggie waited and watched as the little girl finally give her trade mark shrug.

"Ok Maggie goes mewed. I'm thiwsty."

The doctor looked to the door wondering where Lydia's parents were.

"Please can I have some juice?"

"Where's your parents Lydia?"

"Mom and Mama's gone sleepy."

Maggie got to her feet as Lydia began tugging her towards the fridge.

"Didn't you want to wake them?"

"Nah ah Mimo says sometimes pawents need exwa sleep to be happy pawents. Juice is in gween cawton."

The doctor opened the fridge to find plenty of green cartons she lifted an opened one but Lydia shook her head.

"That AJ's mine is biggew."

Maggie glanced back into the fridge spotting a taller carton of apple juice, Lydia's bright smile told her she'd got it right.

/

"Did Greenlee give you another day off?"

Kendall snorted at her husband.

"Greenlee is my partner not my boss, I give me the day off."

Zack sidled closer.

"Emm and is there a chance I might benefit from you giving you the day off?"

Kendall turned burying her face against his chest. Zach folded her within his arms knowing instantly that what his wife needed most was just to be held.

/

Marissa opened her eyes to see Bianca facing her, wide brown eyes looking at her with a depth of emotion that seemed bottomless.

"Hi."

Bianca smiled at the croaky word.

"Hi yourself. Feeling better?"

Marissa stretched out gingerly wondering if the aches in her neck and shoulder had finally abated; it seemed they had.

"A little what about you?"

When Bianca made to bite her bottom lip Marissa's soft touch stopped her.

"I thought we had an agreement about that?"

The brunette's face creased in confusion.

"About what?"

"Me being your lip biter."

Bianca smiled

"Ah yes how could I forget?"

Marissa inched closer kissing those smiling lips before sucking the bottom one into her mouth and nibbling softly, Bianca practically purred at the sensation and didn't look terribly pleased when the redhead pulled back.

"I need to talk to you."

Brown eyes grew worried.

"About?"

Marissa sighed.

"Where do I start? About last night, about AJ and Miranda and principal Lang…."

Bianca gasped.

"Oh my God I forgot, she wanted to see them this morning. Did they call?"

Marissa soothed her partner's arm trying to ease the agitation.

"No no call from them or the principal, I text Miranda…."

"And?"

"And AJ got detention not suspended. Rick wasn't so lucky though."

Bianca frowned.

"That's not good, his mother isn't going to be able to cope with that."

Marissa stared at her partner in dismay.

"Yeah one of AJ's isn't coping too well with it either. Do you want to tell me what I missed yesterday?"

Bianca shook her head.

"No because you need to go to work."

Marissa's face showed disbelief.

"Baby this is a lot more important than work. My family is going through hell."

A warm hand settled against Marissa's cheek, caressing tenderly.

"Hell is a little extreme, we're struggling but we'll survive. All of us."

The lawyer wondered at those last words sensing Bianca was talking about more than just their immediate family; had Maggie really opened up to her; was Erica right; did the doctor plan on doing something unthinkable?

"We also had an another agreement, we talk to each other sweetie, we tell each other when the other is scared or worried or hurting…."

"I'm not…."

"I couldn't bare to lose you either."

The words silenced Marissa, made her realise Bianca had worked it out on her own. Maggie's loss had rocked the lawyer to the core, the thought of life without Bianca, life without their family would completely devastate Marissa. And Erica's question had added to those fears because life without Maggie would devastate both Miranda and Bianca. Neither had seen the doctor in years and yet it had all come flooding back, the bond between them unchanged by time and distance.

"Talk to me."

Marissa felt tears whelm.

"How do we help her? She's barely surviving."

Bianca smiled softly.

"Maggie's not a quitter."

Marissa wasn't so sure about that, the doctor's sad words from last night echoed in her mind.

"Trust me on this Marissa, Maggie's grieving and she's going to be grieving for a long time to come but she wont give in to the demons."

"Demons?"

Bianca knew all about the demons Maggie was facing; those little voices calling from beyond welcoming her to oblivion in a way life never could. Bianca had heard them, for nine long months she had heard them call to her as surely as she had heard Miranda's cry in the calm of the night when her baby was presumed dead.

"Bianca?"

Brown eyes blinked rapidly closing out that painful memory.

"You need to go to work sweetie, you need to find a way for Susan Michaels not to have to part with a dime…."

"But…."

"No buts I want you to focus on that and let me help Maggie…."

"But…."

"Let AJ be the one to come to you about yesterday, we both know he's punishing himself more than we could ever punish him…."

"But…..

"And Miranda's going to survive because she's got him and she's got you and me and all these great people who would do anything to get her smiling again."

When Marissa tried for another "but" Bianca chuckled softly before silencing it with a kiss.

/

David was in the process of locking up his office when Erica Kane came strolling towards him. Prowling; David decided Erica didn't do strolling, she prowled.

"Ah Erica twice in one day people will begin to talk."

Erica flipped her hair making him shake his head in amusement; this woman.

"Of course they will talk David, people always talk it is what makes the world go round after all."

"Not you? Now that is news."

Erica chuckled; she'd be lying if she said she didn't enjoy their bantering

"And speaking of news, did you manage to do what we discussed?"

David's smile said he did.

"And was I right?"

The heart surgeon nodded and not even admitting the great Erica Kane was yet again right could stop him from smiling. Erica smiled too.

"Great shall we see you in court tomorrow?"

David laughed.

"Oh I wouldn't miss it for the world."