The sun was out, bringing with it a much needed warmth that had been lacking for the past few weeks. The wind had died down considerably, aiding with the unusually warm afternoon. With not a cloud in the sky, many of Paris's fine citizens had opted to enjoy the welcome reprieve from the oncoming winter. The streets were packed, people of all shapes and sizes roaming about. The parks were filled with gleeful children running around while their joyful parents looked on.
Bianca sat straight up, her posture nearly perfect as she watched Miranda giggle with her friends. Gabrielle was dozing off in her stroller. Every once in a while her mother would reach over and gently push the stroller back and forth, rocking her daughter into a deeper more peaceful sleep. The tall brunette placed her large purse beside her on the hard bench, grateful that she was able to snag one to herself with the large crowds. She opened the bag and slipped out a book. It had been recommended by one of her vice-presidents, and she had been wanting to read it for quite some time. Flipping it open to the first page, she glanced up at her eldest child before delving into the, as Sara had put it, a mystery romance with a little action/adventure on the side.
Thoroughly engrossed in her reading, she didn't hear the footsteps approach her and stop a foot away. "Is this seat taken?"
Hearing the voice, Bianca peered up, using her hand to block out the sun. Frankie's grinning face shined down at her. Bianca quickly moved her purse to the ground and patted the now open spot. "Here. Sit."
Frankie dropped onto the bench and stretched, wiggling until she was in a comfortable position.
"Comfy?" Bianca raised an eyebrow playfully and closed her book.
"Eh...it'll do. Not as good as the benches in Chicago." she alluded to her days living on the streets.
"You like the benches in Chicago?"
"They're the most comfortable benches I've come across. I could sleep on those all day." her words were punctuated by a yawn.
"But you don't have to anymore." Bianca frowned at the exhausted features. She slid closer to the woman, wordlessly offering her shoulder as a pillow.
"Just 'cause I don't have to doesn't mean I don't want to. This bench isn't looking too bad." Frankie rubbed at her eyes and leaned into Bianca, their shoulders resting against each other. Blinking away the tiredness, the agent let her eyes wander, subtly checking every person in the area.
"Close your eyes and have a quick nap. I'm sure even FBI agents take breaks." Bianca nudged her shoulder.
"I'll take a break when the case is over." Frankie responded, unable to stop herself from leaning further into the warm body next to her.
"It's ok," Bianca spoke in a low soothing tone, "just a short nap. Rest your eyes."
"No. I'm fine. Just need some coffee." the agent's eyelids felt like concrete. They slowly lowered, her eyelashes flickering as her chocolate colored eyes disappeared from view.
Bianca listened carefully, noting the breathing of the shorter woman becoming deeper and slower as sleep overtook her. She raised a porcelain hand and tenderly pushed a short stray lock of brown hair away from those closed eyes and behind an ear. Securing the soft strand, her fingertips carefully traced down the shell of Frankie's ear and ghosted across her jaw. A certain fondness tugged at her lips as the agent snuggled in closer, a quiet whimper escaping pink parted lips.
A loud ringing filled the air, causing Bianca to jump in surprise. Her abrupt movement jostled the slumbering agent, and her eyes popped open. A hand immediately jammed into her jacket as her head was flung up, eyes quickly locating Miranda. Seeing the child was safe, her brown orbs shifted over to the mother. Bianca had her cellphone pressed to her ear.
"No...that's ok. I understand. I love you too...bye." she hung up, shooting the shorter woman an apologetic look.
"Reese not coming home?" Frankie guessed, pulling her hand away from her hidden service weapon.
"She has a meeting tonight and doesn't know when she'll get back." Bianca answered. She put the phone back in her purse and closed it.
"She's at work, then?" Frankie asked, even though she knew the answer. Both Taylor and Barnes were following the architect. They had been for about a week now, ever since the connection with Andrew Carrington and the Goldsteins had been established.
"Yes, like always." a hint of bitterness creeped into her words.
Frankie nodded her head. She folded her arms and slouched further back into the bench. Lightly scratching at her arm she casually asked, "You and Reese...you guys have been married what...about a year now?"
Bianca nodded in agreement, "Yes, about a year."
"Hmm...that's cool. One year...that's huge." Frankie brought her fingers up to fiddle with her necklace, "How did you two meet?"
Bianca glanced over at her, curious about why Frankie was going on about this, "Why?"
A shrug, "No big deal. I wanted to talk, that's all."
"You...talk. You never want to talk."
"Whatever. I just wanted to know about the woman who got you to walk down the aisle. She must be special."
Bianca studied the older woman's face. The agent sent her a genuine look.
"We...we met at the park." Bianca looked away from her, getting lost in the memories. "I was there with Miranda, and Miranda hit her with a ball. We went over to apologize and see if she was hurt. She's been in our lives ever since."
"Wow. Hitting people must be a Kane trait." Frankie teased.
Bianca rolled her eyes, "It wasn't the same thing."
"No way, mine was totally better. I got hit with a car. Car always trumps ball."
"You mean you didn't jump in front of it like my mother said you did?" Bianca mocked gasped.
"Nah, my crazy acrobatics weren't working that day."
Bianca chuckled, remembering how she first came across both her mother and Frankie Stone in the ER.
Bianca worriedly raced into the hospital. She had heard that her mother had been in a car accident, and fear coursed through her body at the thought of losing her only remaining parent. Bursting through the doors leading to the ER, she instantly spotted her mother. Ignoring the other occupants of the room, she called out "Mom!" and rushed over to her. Her mother accepted her hug and asked her how she found out about what was going on. Bianca, seeing nothing was wrong with her mother, answered, "A cop just came to SOS and said you were in an accident." "A cop? Mr. Stamp?" Erica, confused, looked over at her driver. "Uh...they're gonna wanna talk to you, Ms. Kane." he reluctantly answered in his heavy New York accent. "About what?" "Uh, they need to file an accident report, and there are some facts they have to get straight." "Well now isn't that insightful, thank you." Uncle Jack spoke up, hands on his hips. Stamp leaned towards Erica, "Just don't be antagonistic, ok?" "Well, what are they implying?" Erica eyed the police officers. "Ms Kane, were you at a party at SOS prior to the incident?" the first cop asked. "Yes, why?" The cop glanced at Stamp, "Were you engaged in some sort of, uh, altercation at the bar with a man?" Erica's eyes widened a little before she turned to Jack, "Jackson?" "Officers...what, what, what is your point here?" he turned to the two cops. The second officer spoke up, "We have an eyewitness account the Ms. Kane was in a very...volatile argument with this man." He gestured at Stamp. "And was in no condition to drive anywhere tonight. Is that an accurate description of the events, Ms. Kane?" Bianca watched the proceedings, taking everything in. Her eyes bounced from the cops to Stamp to her mother and uncle. What was going on? "Your eyewitness account is warped, officer." Erica's voice took on a tinge of attitude. She ignored Jack trying to calm her, "No Jack, I'm not going to be misjudged like this. Look, I was having an argument with a disgruntled employee. But that...that doesn't mean anything. I was perfectly capable of operating a car." "Did you have anything to drink at the bar, Ms. Kane?" the first officer questioned. A voice spoke up from behind Erica, "She was driving like she did." Erica's voice echoed in the background, exclaiming she didn't drink. Bianca barely heard her. As her body turned, her eyes landed on a girl laying on a gurney. She had dirty blonde hair and striking brown eyes. Her clothes were rumpled and dirty. Even laying on the hospital gurney, she still exuded an air of confidence, an attitude. Bianca's eyes flickered from her brown eyes to a cute nose and perfect pink lips. "People have been known to slip." the girl answered to her mother's declaration that she didn't drink. Bianca sighed and pushed her way between her mother and the unknown girl. She stared at the girl, and couldn't stop. For a brief moment, their eyes locked and something ran through her body. She couldn't explain it. It was like a hot and cold chill mixed together ran up and down her spine. Butterflies, long dormant, erupted to life in her belly. The world seemed to slow down, if only for a moment. Their gaze broke and the girl glanced over at the scene going on behind the teenager. Bianca spun around to see what she was looking at. "Yes, bring it on." Erica motioned towards the cops, "I'll probably break that breathalyzer thing, my breath is so clean." "Are you for real" the girl scoffed. Everyone turned to look at her. Bianca, not knowing what had just happened, tried to forget about the feeling and focus on the discussion. "I didn't say she was drinking. I said she was emotional." Stamp said. "You told them that I am emotional?" "You are emotional." "So, all of a sudden that means I can't drive a car?" "Hello!" the girl's voice rang out, "You almost emotionally drove me off the side of the road!" "Ok, can you all stop being so obtuse people. I am the victim here. Not this...this." Erica pleaded with the cops. The girl sat up in the gurney, a daring look on her face, "Pick a name. Any name." "Con-artist!" Erica glared at her. Frankie flopped back down, "Well, I wouldn't have picked that."
Bianca was brought out her musings at Frankie's next question, "It must have been love at first sight or something. You were crazy in love with her right off the bat, huh?"
"I fell in love with her. She was...is...this great person. She's funny and smart...and she cares so much about me and the kids."
"So you decided to get married and have a kid, the whole Norman Rockwell family thing."
"We both wanted it."
"But you decided to have a kid way before you got married...even before you got engaged. How long were you two together before you decided to have Gabby?"
"A few months...why?"
"Nothing." Frankie felt the accusing stare.
"No...what are you getting at, Frankie?"
"It just," Frankie shrugged, " seems a little soon. To be having a kid. That's all."
"We were in love, it was the next step."
"I thought that was moving in together, getting engaged, and then getting married. But hey, what do I know." Frankie smiled self-deprecatingly. Before Bianca could respond, she asked another question, "Whose idea was it? To have Gabby?"
"We both wanted her." Bianca glanced down at her youngest.
"I don't doubt that. I was just wondering whose idea it was. Who first suggested it."
"Is this an interrogation?" Bianca sharply looked at the agent.
"No...this is me trying to learn about you and your wife. Sorry if I'm interested in your relationship." Frankie held her hands up.
"Why are you interested in our relationship?"
"Why wont you tell me whose idea it was?"
"Stop playing games with me, Frankie Stone."
"I'm not." Frankie lowered her hands and shoved them in her jacket pockets, "I just want to know about what kind of person you would marry. What makes you happy."
Bianca let out a breath, her words leaving. She ran her palm across her forehead, " I'm sorry. It's just, a lot happened with Reese, especially in Pine Valley, and it can be...hard to talk about."
"Hey, I know all about how difficult life can be made by Pine Valley. I even thought about writing a book, until I was reminded I was technically dead and therefore couldn't write it." she joked.
"Don't joke about that."
"What?"
"You dying. It's not funny."
"Ok ok...so are you gonna answer my question?"
Bianca sighed, "I'm not sure. We were talking one night, and it came up. We talked about it, and thought it was the right thing to do. Miranda loves having a little sister, and we love having her."
Frankie scooted over against the arm of the bench. "Ok, there's one thing I'm kinda confused about. Why did you use your brother-in-law as the donor instead of someone anonymous. I'm not a genius with sibling relationships, but even I know that's gonna cause some tension with your sister."
"Gabby needed to be related to Miranda."
Frankie curled into the bench, "Yeah, but she got that through you, right? I just don't get it."
"We talked about using an anonymous donor, but this way Miranda and Gabrielle are related."
"And you can cause even more drama in the drama capital of the world." Frankie muttered to herself. She raised her voice, "Whose idea was it to use him as the donor? Or did you two just randomly talk about that too?"
"I don't remember. Why does it matter?"
"It doesn't, I guess. Just curious."
"All that matters is that we have a beautiful baby girl in our lives." Bianca smiled down at Gabby and ran a finger down her cherub cheek.
"She is gorgeous." Frankie agreed.
Bianca glanced over to see a loving smile being directed at the both of them. She watched as a pensive look crossed the agent's face. She slid over towards Frankie and placed a warm hand on her leather clad arm, "What is it?"
"Nothing," Frankie bit her lips.
"Come on, tell me."
"How did you know she was the one?"
Bianca leaned back, her hand dropping from the woman's arm, "I...I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know? You married her. Had a kid with her."
"We met and she was great...really great. We love each other."
Frankie bit her lip hard, it was getting harder and harder to ignore the painful squeeze of her heart every time Bianca proclaimed their love. "You didn't care that she had only dated men? That she had previously been engaged to a man? That she never even showed a sign of being interested in women?"
"How do you know all this? Why do you know this?"
Frankie ignored her, "You didn't stop to think about the fact that she all of a sudden fell in love with a woman? That she even kissed your brother-in-law, the father of your child, the night before your wedding? You didn't care?"
"Stop it, Frankie."
She couldn't though, the words came tumbling out, "You jump into bed with some chick and decide you should have a kid? She must be a good lay."
"SHUT UP!" Bianca yelled, her face red with anger. Passersby glared at them, and she lowered her voice to a quiet seething, "Why are you talking like this? What gives you the right to attack my marriage like that?"
Frankie furiously ran a hand through her hair, knowing she had gone too far, but unable to help it, "I didn't mean to..."
"To what?" Bianca cut her off, "To attack my relationship? My decisions?"
"No, I..."
"What was it you meant to do, Frankie? What?"
"I want to protect you!" Frankie shot out, "I want...I want to know why you're married to her. You could do so much better."
"Like who?" Bianca wrapped her arms around herself.
Frankie sighed, "You were going to get an annulment. You even filed the papers to get it started. Why did you stop it?"
Bianca sniffed, "We love each other. We talked, and we decided to work through it."
"Work through it? Through her cheating on you?"
"She loves me."
"How do you know that?"
"She tells me. She shows me."
"How can you trust that?"
"Because I can. She's not a con-artist."
"Yeah? You sure? You know her well enough to know that?"
"I love her."
"Do you? Really?"
"Yes, I love her."
"How does she make you feel?"
"Frankie..." Bianca tightened her arms around herself.
"No, tell me how she makes you feel. Does she make you feel like you can't breathe every time you see her? Does she make your stomach clench and your heart flutter? Does she make you feel like you can do anything? Be anything? Does she make you feel like your the most important person in the world? "
Bianca stared at the agent, her throat tightening at her words.
"Come on, Bianca. When you're in her arms, do you never want to leave? Would you give everything just to see her smile at you? To hear her voice? Is that how she makes you feel? Is it?" A cool breeze blew across Frankie's face, ruffling her hair and causing her to catch her words. Eyes widening at what she had just said, Frankie ducked her head. A low cough sounded from her lips and she closed her eyes, willing the last few moments to vanish from memory.
The air was still, a silent bubble enveloping them against the noisy park. Bianca stared at the bowed head. Hesitantly she reached out and laid her palm on top of the silky locks, her fingers gliding through. She took a deep breath, afraid of answering. It could change everything.
"No."
