CHAPTER 52

It has been two weeks since her miscarriage, and now Reese had gone back into work. Reese did everything within her power to keep herself busy and not think of the issues that she was dealing with personally. But then during those pockets of quiet thought that would come to her during the day, she would replay the day that Bianca drove her home after they had lost the baby:

"…It's completely up to you. Do want us to keep trying? Do you wants us to stop? I support you in what you want us to do next."

Reese placed a hand on her belly almost as if she were trying to will a baby bump to rise beneath her palm. "I want this. Anything that you have to struggle to attain is well worth it, right?"

Bianca reached over to Reese, placing her hand over Reese's that was still positioned on her belly. "Right. Tell me what to do to make you feel better."

"Make love to me," She tenderly tightened her grip on Bianca's hand.

Her breath became heavy upon hearing Reese's request. Bianca glanced over to Reese to gauge her seriousness in her request to see that Reese was very much serious as she moved Bianca's hand from her stomach, to her left breast. Swallowing hard, Bianca's thumb brushed over an erect nipple.

"You're still reeling from the news," Bianca thanked god that they were home as she pulled into their garage.

"That's the point. Bianca, I need you to touch me, and make me forget all of this. I need you make me feel something other than what I feel right now," she could see the plea in her fiancée's eyes.

Bianca got out of the car and went around to open the door for Reese. Once Reese exited the car, Bianca tenderly pressed her against the car, taking her lips in a passionate kiss. Her tongue sought out Reese's and it was as if in that kiss she spoke to her and assured her that she was there for her. Once their lips parted, they were both breathless.

Reese leaned her forehead against Bianca's as the tears began to fall. "I don't want to disappoint you."

"You can never in any way disappoint me," Bianca kissed Reese's forehead before holding her head in her hands, "I would love nothing more than to have another baby with you, but if this is too stressful for you, then forget it. You come first before all else. Let me hold you for the rest for the night. We can make love another time when you're feeling better." As much as making love to Reese was very much welcomed, she knew that it would act more as a distraction for Reese and she didn't want their loving making to ever act as a distraction for any issue they had.

Reese simply nodded as she wiped a stray tear from her cheek. Bianca took Reese's hand and led them from the garage, into the house and upstairs into their room. Bianca kissed Reese's hands and then wiped her tears away.

Reese sighed contently while Bianca gently guided her to sit on the edge of the bed. She kept her eyes locked on Reese as she unzipped her boots and slipped them off. Bianca kicked her shoes off and then captured Reese's lips, directing her to scoot back on the bed.

"Lay down," Bianca instructed.

Reese did as she was told, gazing into Bianca's eyes as she gently lined the sides of her face with her fingertips.

"What if-"

"No 'what-if' scenarios," Bianca interrupted, knowing that Reese was only going to go through a list of the worst situations – a habit she hated to see Reese pick up from her of all people. "Let me give you a 'so what if' like you always know how to give me. So what if this getting pregnant doesn't work? I will always love you – I could never love you any less. We already have two wonderful children, and at least we tried."

Calmed by her girlfriends words, Reese laced her fingers through Bianca's, "I always try to be the pillar of strength for you and me; the stoic one. Here I am in shambles."

"You shouldn't put that pressure on yourself to be the strong one at all times. We're back and forth in supporting one another. When I'm down, you lift me up, and when you're down I lift you up. That's the way that it should be. "

"Yeah," she quickly smiled. "I know that now."

"You don't have to make an immediate decision on whether we'll continue to try again or not. I just want you to rest and let me take care of you. Okay?"

Reese nodded in agreement. "Now sleep," Bianca demanded gently. She pulled the blanket up and snug onto Reese and herself.

Rees was so taken away in that memory that she didn't notice that Zach approached her until she felt his hand on her back, causing her to jolt back into reality.

"Welcome back," he smiled softly before kissing her cheek.

"Thank you. It's great to be back," she forced a smile.

"Are you sure that you want to be here? Obie-"

She cut him off before he could finish his sentence, "I need to be here. This is my salvation – it always has been when there's been nothing else."

Zach simply nodded and knew that she was right. The most consistent thing that Reese has always had in her life when all else would go wrong or fall apart was her work. Instead of fighting her on the judgment of coming back to work, he decided t support her.

"So how far are we on the restoration?"

"Based upon the fact that we were able to get the plumber in to do all of the new piping and then we also have the electrician coming in and from there it's just a matter of the construction workers to finish up the rest…shouldn't be more than just a couple of months as long as we stay on schedule."

Zach simply nodded, "Great. Why don't we take a quick break? Talk?"

She began to shake her head, "I don't think so."

Ignoring her arguing he simply stated: "Let's go." And gave her no other choice but to follow him.

With a heavy sigh she followed behind him. Expectantly, Zach held his office door open waiting for her to enter before he closed it. Fighting the urge to roll her eyes, Reese simply walked into the office and heard Zach close the door behind her.

"Sit," he called.

"I rather not."

"It's best you do. Go on," he encouraged before sitting on the top of his desk.

Reese sat on one of the chairs, "I have a lot of work to do, Zach."

"I know that you do. Taking 5 minutes away from it won't cause any harm. How are you, really?"

She sighed exhaustedly, "What is it that you want me to say Zach? That I'm sad? Bitter? Pissed off? Did you want me to scream?"

"Well it would be nice for you to express something."

"I don't know what to feel first. Honestly, I don't. I feel everything and yet numb at the same time. Bianca has been amazing," she finally smiled speaking of her fiancée, but then her face fell a moment later, "and I need to be better to her."

Zach frowned, "How do you mean?"

"I feel myself shutting down and closing myself to her and I never ever want to do that to her. She's the love of my life and I'm not treating her like it."

"Every relationship runs into a rough patch. As amazing of a couple as you and Bianca are you both aren't immune to rough patches."

Reese sat back, relaxing a bit after unleashing that bit of honesty to Zach. "I planned on creating the baby's nursery a week before the miscarriage…I was going to propose after revealing it," she sadly shook her head. "I feels so impossible now – all of those plans."

"Don't be ridiculous. All of those plans are still possible. It's more at this point, a matter of how you pick yourself up and create a new plan of what you want to make possible. Your plans may have to be modified, but it still come true."

"Not with a nursery."

"No…not yet anyway, but hopefully you will try again when the time is right. In the meantime though, go home and reconnect with Bianca. Everyone around the two of you are rooting you both on to be successful, but all of the rooting on is meaningless if you aren't willing to root yourselves on too."

"I believe in Bianca and I," she shot up from her seat defensively.

Zach smiled to see her get fired up when challenged on longevity of her relationship with Bianca. That was the Reese he remembered fighting like hell for Bianca years ago that had to come out now.

"Good. Then act like it," he stood up. "Go home."

Reese gave a soft smile to Zach, "Ok. I will go home."

"And I will see you out to make sure that you do," he insisted, guiding her out.

She laughed, "You're that determined to get me out of your hair, huh?"

He hung his arm over her shoulder, "No, but I am determined to help you get through the other side of this. Staying here and ignoring the issue won't help – its only putting a delay to facing it. You're better than that. So…out of my casino." Good on his word, Zach walked Reese out of the casino and even to her car.

As much as she wanted to roll her eyes at how Zach hovered over her, she couldn't help but he grateful that he did. No, he wasn't a man who would tell you what you wanted to hear, but honestly she didn't need that anyway. A transition had to be made to get herself and Bianca out of this funk.

oooOOOooo

Miranda packed the last of her art supplies in the truck of her car. School had been over for a few days, but she was working on a joint project for the school that was going to be submitted to the local art museum in Pine Valley. Her art teacher wanted her to complete the project with a few other well-known student artists within the school. Now that she was done, she was ready to truly kick off her summer vacation.

Just as Miranda closed the truck of her car, she was poked on her sides suddenly causing her to shriek and jump by the fright.

"AH!"

AJ's hearty laugh filled her ears and immediately she turned around to him and punched his arm, "You ass!"

"Hey!" He was still laughing, "I just wanted to see if I could help you pack your stuff but apparently I got here too late," he rubbed his tender arm, "Geez, your fist is made of lead!"

"Serves you right," she pushed him gently this time. "What are you up to today?"

"I wanted to hang out with you now that you aren't a slave to your art for the time being," he grinned.

"Oh, so…you're not going to hang out with Wendy Halverson?"

He waved a hand, "I could hang with her another time. Today I want you."

Her heart fluttered upon hearing those last words. 'Today I want you.' Ever since AJ told her about him dating Wendy Halverson, she couldn't help the jealously that she felt as well as the feelings that she had for AJ that were coming out too. Miranda knew that she had feelings for AJ but never wanted to act on it because they were best friends, but at the same time she didn't feel as though anyone but herself should be with him and vice versa.

"Can I ask you something?" Miranda asked.

"Sure."

"Do you have any plans of making Wendy your girlfriend officially?"

He arched a brow, "I don't know. Why? Are you looking for an opening for the role?" he joked half-heartedly. It had been weeks that he had been seeing Wendy but made no move to seriously ask her to be his girlfriend because he still had feelings for Miranda.

Now she laughed slightly uneasily, "Smart ass. Did you want to go out to a movie tonight?"

"You and me?"

"Well, I have to chaperone Gabi. She wants to go out with Sia."

"Sia?"

"Her girlfriend," she clarified.

"Whoa! Gabi, the squirt has a girlfriend before you?"

She arched a brow, "A girlfriend before me? Did you think before blurting that out?" Part of her loved watching AJ's face go red upon realizing his slip.

"You know what I mean. Gabi has a…um…boo? Does that work?"

She giggled, "'Significant other,' could have worked too, but I will accept 'Boo' just as fine. Yes, my little sister is dating before I am, but she's nine. It isn't as though you could really take it seriously anyway."

"It's serious enough that you have to chaperone her going to a movie with her girlfriend," he pointed.

She sighed dejectedly, "Are you going to come with me or not?"

He dramatically placed his hand over his heart, "Who would I be to let you down in your hour of lonesome need?"

She deadpanned, "A 'yes' or a 'no' would have sufficed just fine, AJ." Her hands were squarely on her hips.

"I'll be there. Pick you all up?"

"Why don't we meet you there? I have to pick Gabi and Sia up at home. The movie starts around 7pm. We could grab something to eat really quick before it starts if we have time."

"Oh, cool beans. See you then spinster Montgomery," as soon as he said that he dodged her fist to his arm and took off in his car as she was gave chase to him. AJ laughed as he watched from his rear view mirror, Miranda holding her middle finger up to him while he drove away. Man, how he loved to rile her up.

oooOOOooo

Since Miranda agreed to take her to the movies, Gabi and Sia decided to kill some time by trying out some skate tricks. Gabi brought out her old kicker ramp for Sia to be able to learn a few new skate tricks.

Sia giggled when Gabi caught her just in time before she hit the ground. "Nice catch," she was able to balance herself back up.

"Like I'd let you fall," Gabi smiled.

"You better not," she playfully warned with a pout.

"You're in one piece, aren't ya? You're welcome."

Sia shook her head as she skated over to the stoop of the house and sat down to take her skates off. Gabi followed after her and sat next to her. Sia rested her head on Gabi's shoulder.

"How are your moms since-"

"Losing the baby?" Gabi finished. "I don't know," she gave a weak shrug. My moms try to keep us in the dark about the bad stuff, but you can tell that something isn't the same, you know?" She turned to Sia.

Sia rubbed Gabi's back, "I'm sure that they'll ok. When is your sister coming?"

"Any minute now."

"I should probably put my shoes on then," she looked around for her sneakers, "Where did my shoes go?" She frowned.

"In the house."

She smiled playfully doing a face palm, "Duh," I'll be right back," she went into the house just as Reese's car pulled up into the driveway.

Gabi stood up once her mother exited the car, "Hey," she smiled at her youngest daughter.

"You come home later every time I see you," Gabi boldly approached her mother.

Reese did her best to brush off Gabi's observation, "I work hard."

Gabi simply sighed out, "Are you and mom going to be ok? You guys don't as act as lovey as you usually do."

"I can assure you that your mother and I are fine."

"But not like how it used to be."

Hearing Gabi's last words to her cause a dagger to shot straight to her heart. She never ever wanted Gabi to feel like she had to worry about her and Bianca's relationship. More than anything Reese wanted to put her youngest child's worries at ease.

"Gabi-"

Reese was interrupted by the honk of a car horn. Reese slightly jumped upon hearing it. When she turned around, she saw Miranda parked on the road with the passenger window down.

"Gabi, hurry up and get in the car!" The teenager yelled.

"Shot gun!" Sia ran past Gabi to Miranda's car.

Reese and Gabi simply starred at each other, "Your mother and I are going to be fine," instinctively she knew that Gabi worried about leaving. We always know how to get past our issues and this is no different."

"Yeah?" her voice peeked with hope.

"Oh yeah," Reese half-smiled. "You have fun," Reese ruffled Gabi's unruly locks of brunette hair. "This is longest you've grown your hair in a while," she skipped subjects.

Gabi ran her fingers through it, "I plan on cutting it short."

Reese arched a brow, "How short is short?"

"Think…Pink, but with a little more length," she smiled as she headed to Miranda's car and got in.

Reese watched them drive off as she tried to imagine Gabi with short hair. She knew that for a while Gabi wanted to be able to sport a short a faux hawk, but do it with a little more style and more length than the average faux hawk. With a smile Reese went into the house, positive that Gabi would be able to pull that hair cut off easy.

Reese placed her bag in the side closet then made her way into the living room where she saw Bianca reading a book.

"Hey," Reese called.

Bianca looked up from her book, "Hi," she lowered her book onto her lap. "How was your day?"

"Eye opening," Reese knelt down in front of Bianca, lovingly rubbing the sides of her outer thighs, "I'm sorry for not being as present as I should have been for the past two weeks. Bianca you are the best part of my heart and I don't want to screw that up ever."

"It's ok. You've been under stress."

"So have you. Just like you always say: we're a team and are back and forth in our support of one another."

Bianca smiled, cradling Reese's face in her hands, "I've missed you." She didn't know why those words came out of her mouth, but honestly it was how she felt at that moment.

"I've missed you, too," Reese took Bianca's book from her hands and tossed it over her shoulder smiling at her, "So…the girls went out," she straddled Bianca.

All that Bianca could do was grin from ear to ear, "Yeah?" She pulled Reese's hips more against her. Naturally Reese put her arms around Bianca's neck. "Just us then?"

"Long overdue, no?"

They kissed a passionate lip lock. It had been weeks since they had touched each other this way since the garage after they suffered the miscarriage. Soon enough they were so caught up in each other that it wasn't enough to just kiss.

Bianca's hands traveled to the front of Reese's shirt tenderly palming her breasts. Reese moaned, "God, I love your hands."

She rolled them over she that she was on top of Reese as they continued to kiss and fumbled as they took each other's clothes off. The second she felt Bianca's fingers rub her slit Reese felt her body go aflame, "Mm! We should take this upstairs," she moaned.

"I want you here," she pulled Reese's shirt up and took a nipple into her mouth.

"Bianca!" her fingers tangled in Bianca's hair while she arched her back, pushing her breasts more into her mouth. "Wait, wait! Baby please wait," she panted pulling Bianca up to her eye level.

"What?" Even though she stopped, her hand was still gently rubbing between Reese's legs.

"We have to take this upstairs…mmm," her head rolled back from the feel of Bianca's hand on her.

Knowing that she had Reese turn to puddie under her ministrations only spurred her further to slip her hands beneath her pants to feel her more fully and continue to rub her even more tenderly with just the right amount of pressure.

"Oh god!" Her hips rolled.

"Don't you want to take this upstairs?" Bianca teased.

Panting heavily, she squeaked out, "Not fair!"

With a giggle Bianca relented momentarily to stand up and take her bra off and tossed it at Reese. She thrilled watching her fiancée's eyes turn as huge as saucers once she caught the bra.

"It's crazy how addicted to you I am. How could I have forgotten?" She stood up and unzipped Bianca's skirt and let it fall to a pool around her feet.

"I don't think you ever did. Things happen and sometimes those events cause us to forget," she said as she pulled Reese pants down with her panties.

"I never want to forget how you make me feel," she lovingly cradled Bianca's head.

"I don't think that you ever have." She guided her backwards until her back hit the wall next to the stairs. Her head gestured to upstairs, "We could still go upstairs if you want."

With an arched brow she asked, "Would you mind if we didn't make it?" She turned them so that Bianca's back was now against the wall.

Bianca giggled, "What are you up to? I know that look."

She kissed down her body until she was knelt in front of her, "Then you should know what I want," a grin played on her face when she pushed Bianca's legs further apart and kissed her nether lips.

Naturally she hiked a leg over Reese's shoulder, "Yes!" Her hips rolled the moment she felt Reese's mouth on her. Every time that Reese touched her it always took her to a place where it felt like there first time.

As Bianca remembered their very first time, Reese was nervous since she had never been with a woman, but even though she was inexperienced she was still amazing.

Bianca tangled her hands in Reese's hair as she felt Reese's tongue enter her. "Ah…mm. Faster!" she begged. She could feel Reese smile before she obliged and glided in and out of her faster and then pulling her tongue out to swirl it hard and fast on her pulsing core.

A small whimper escaped Bianca's mouth when Reese stopped for a moment to position Bianca's other leg over her shoulder. They both were gazing at one another, consumed in passion as Reese instructed. "Ride me," and once more she mouth latched onto Bianca.

"Oh...yes!" She held nothing back, allowing her hips to thrust onto Reese's hungry mouth. Her legs began to shake and hips began to buck as she was close to climax but Reese didn't let up even after Bianca's climax.

Once Bianca's body ceased shuddering, it was then that Reese stopped and removed Bianca's legs from her shoulder. Bianca fell to her knees with the aide of Reese holding her hips when she did.

Bianca wrapped her arms around Reese's arms, capturing her mouth in a sensual kiss. They ended up lying on the ground by the time they ended the kiss.

Reese gazed into Bianca eyes, pushing a lock of hair away from her eyes, "I love you."

"I love you, more," her eyes glanced over to the stairs in front of them looking as though it went on forever from their angle on the ground. "We really should go upstairs," she chuckled.

"Oh, but you were so eager to have me here and now a bit ago," she teased.

"Yes well logic escapes you when you're titillated."

Reese chuckled, "Really? Titillated?"

"I didn't want to say horny. I hate that word." She frowned. "And I never want to use to describe the way you make it feel. 'Horny' sounds cheap."

"Even in an Austin Powers voice?" Reese teased.

"Shut up," Bianca gave a playful shove before getting up and headed upstairs.

Reese laughed getting up and following Bianca to their bedroom. Closing the door behind her, she wrapped her arms around Bianca's waist.

As mad as Bianca wanted to act, she could never keep up that fake façade. "Shower with me?"

"Oh hell yes," Reese giggled.

"I'll start the water, you get our clothes from downstairs."

She frowned, "Can't they just stay there for now? The kids are going to be gone for a while."

"We haven't made love for a few weeks. I plan on taking my time to make up for it." Not bothering to cover up, she exited the room to make her way to the bathroom.

"When you put it that way!" Reese hastily made her way downstairs to pick up all of their clothes as Bianca instructed.

oooOOOooo

Bianca woke up to feel of Reese's fingers gently making circles on her bare hip. She gazed into her eyes and they smiled at each other. "What time is it?"

"It's almost 9pm."

"Have the girls gotten back?"

"Miranda sent me a text to say that she was on her way with Gabi. They're just dropping Sia off first."

"I don't wanna get up and put clothes on," Bianca pouted.

"You don't have to. In my text back, I told Miranda not to disturb us since we will be turning in early."

"Smart," she smiled.

"I thought so," she declared proudly. Her face then went serious, "When I think of the perfect woman for me, you match every single one of my desires in my checklist - every one."

"I'm not perfect," she blushed.

"For me, you are. And just so you know, I love your imperfections, too."

She scoffed, "My imperfections?"

"Yes your imperfections. Like how you worry about having everything be perfect. Or how you can't cook," she teased.

Bianca rolled her eyes, "I'm learning," she mumbled.

"I know. I've been worrying myself about how I was going to show you my love through an over the top proposal."

"I don't want an over the top proposal," she protested.

"I know that now. You just want me just like how I only want you forever," she pulled the ring box from beneath her pillow and opened it to Bianca who was already welling up in tears.

"I'm in love with you completely and so madly," Reese wiped a tear from her cheek. "I don't want another seven years to go by without you, ever," she opened the ring box, "Be my wife. Will you marry me?"

"About time you asked me!" She laughed through her tears, "Yes!" They sat up so Reese could place the engagement ring on Bianca's finger. They embraced in a loving kiss.

They pressed her foreheads together adoringly, "I want something small and intimate," Bianca stated.

"Small and intimate? That would be do-able…but the second we begin planning will be the second that your mother insinuates herself into it."

"Not this time," she shook her head determinedly.

"Oh really?"

Bianca pushed Reese against the bed, straddling her, "Watch and you'll see."

Reese chuckled, "If you say can, then I believe you."

"Thank you for having faith in me, my beautiful fiancée."

"I have to support my future wife, don't I?"

"Yes you do," they kissed.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you for your patience in waiting for this chapter. Like I've stated before, I tend to be my own worst critic so lots of re-writes and editing as usual. Please leave reviews as they are greatly appreciated and next chapter will be up soon.