Title: A Little Respect

Author: Misty Flores

Teaser: Pursuing a relationship with Aiden after discovering Bianca in bed with Babe, Maggie begins to question even her own self worth when she finds herself delving deeper into a baby kidnapping mystery, and an intense love triangle.

PART TWENTY-ONE

When it gets cold outside and you got nobody to love
You'll understand what I mean when I say
There's no way we're gonna give up
And like a little girl cries in the face of a monster that lives in her dreams
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe

-- Harder to Breathe, Maroon 5

--

She held her niece in her lap, careful, nimble fingers inching around the little girl's waist, keeping her from teetering over, as tiny Mimo bounced on her chubby knees, giggling and pointing when her sister smiled on the television, her radiant beauty shining through even on the cheap hotel monitor.

Sucking in her breath, Kendall fought the ragged skip of her heart, instead bringing Miranda closer to her, and whispering, "That's your mommy, Mimo. That's your mommy."

The words made her choke up, yet again, and Kendall didn't realize she was trembling, holding on too tightly to Miranda when her niece made an indignant little grunt, trying to get away from the tight embrace.

Letting up, Kendall sucked in her breath, wiping frantically at her mascara when J.R. stepped into the room, dressed for his part in Miranda's own concert. Kendall took in the handsome boy turned man, looking like a rock star.

"Hey," she said softly.

"Hey."

"Shouldn't you be warming up or something?"

"Well, I have time," he said, kneeling down to grab a bootied foot, tugging on it playfully. "I just wanted to see my little girl again." Miranda giggled and squealed, and Kendall managed a hard swallow, keeping her face passive. "Hi, Princess!" he began in a baby voice. "Is Kendall taking good care of you? Did you tell her we're counting on you tonight?"

His hard eyes slid to hers, and Kendall's mouth creased into an almost smile, a sincere expression painful.

"All right," he said finally, pressing a kiss to his baby girl's cheek, as Miranda giggled in response. "Daddy won't be long, little girl."

Suddenly desperate to get him out of the room, Kendall's smile kicked up a notch. "Can't keep the fans waiting!" He faltered, obvious doubt in his eyes. "J.R.," she continued softly, "It's fine, okay? It's fine. Go. Go break a leg."

And still, J.R. held his slate eyes on his little girl, terrified of losing her. "Whatever you do," he said fervently, "do not take your eyes off this child."

She was taking her away - he didn't know that, and Kendall kept her guilt hidden, hugging Miranda closer to her, voice intentionally light, playful.

"Oooh," she cooed, into laughing Miranda's face. "We're going to have fun, yes! Me and -" she had to catch herself - "Bess... are going to have fun!"

"Promise me, Kendall."

She raised her eyes to take him in, and for once, told him the truth.

"Ok. I promise you, J.R. No one's going to take this baby."

It satisfied him, and he left, trusting her with her promise. Kendall blew out a ragged breath, and gathered her niece to her carefully, this treasure that had been given to her again.

"I promise," she whispered fervently to the armful of beautiful baby girl, "No one's going to take you away, ever again."

--

She was taking a major chance. She knew that.

What they did was illegal. She was trusting Ryan to do the right thing when his mind was preoccupied, to deal with a revelation that, she had learned quite quickly, if the Kanes were any indication, people dealt with by denying it completely, or smacking her across the face.

Ryan lived in lala land when it came to his brother, but he was a nice guy. She had to believe he would listen.

And he did - for about five minutes, long enough to spill most of it, before Jonathan had decided he had heard enough.

"Who the hell authorized this test?" he spat, interrupting her, eyes shifting from her, back to Aiden, then Anita. "The nurse!-"

"That's not the point here, Jonathan," she snapped, ready to once again turn her attention back to his dazed brother.

"The hell it's not!" Jonathan burst.

"Jonathan, let Maggie speak!" Aiden snapped, coming up behind her, pressing into her body, obviously meaning to be intimidating.

Maggie appreciated the gesture, but she hardly felt intimidated by the blonde irrational jerk.

"Are you kidding? My brother doesn't need this right now! His wife has been poisoned! The last thing he needs to worry about is the dead bastard baby of your girlfriend's dyke lover!"

What happened next, happened so fast, Maggie was almost in the middle of it before she could even process what he said.

Everyone began talking at once, but Aiden had the lightning reflexes.

"Woah, now wait a minute-"

Her boyfriend swung first, lunging forward, and shoving Maggie behind all at once. She nearly stumbled into Anita, but thankfully, the taller nurse caught her, held her steady, and they watched in horror and disbelief as Jonathan and Aiden now struggled to get at each other, shouting and spitting, Ryan in between them both, holding onto collars with fisted hands.

--

She had to admit, J.R. was rocking.

Bianca watched objectively, the loud music pounding in her ears, as she kept her eye on the monitor and not on the stage, preferring to watch him this way.

She absorbed in his performance, searching for a sign of the young man she hard known before, her friend, the one who urged her to be herself, against all odds.

Now, she just saw a stranger, a man obsessed with his own image, a man who didn't care about anymore than he cared about himself.

"Bianca."

The familiar voice struck through her like a heavenly vibration, a spike of electricity that made her breathless, as she jerked her head and took in Babe.

"Babe."

Disbelieving, Bianca watched, hand on her rapidly fluttering heart, as her beautiful best friend came forward, eyes watery with unshed emotion, into her arms. Bianca nearly sobbed, holding onto her so tightly, afraid to let go.

"Bianca-"

"Oh, Babe," she managed, throat choked up, voice barely above a whisper. "God..."

"Finally," Babe breathed back, pulling back, holding onto her fingers tightly. Bianca swallowed, struggling to contain herself as she kept her palms in hers. "There's something I need to tell you."

In the corner of her eye, she caught the monitor again and a horrible thought crossed her mind, making her suddenly gasp. "Babe, you can't be here!" She glanced again at the monitor, "My GOD - J.R. is right there."

"Where is Bess?" Babe continued, like she hadn't heard.

"In J.R.'s dressing room with Kendall," she said immediately. "Look, you've got to get out of here. What if J.R. sees you?"

Babe smiled grimly, a shake of her head indicating she was unconcerned. "Look, don't even worry about J.R. Jamie and I, we've got it all scoped out."

She had no choice but to trust Babe, and she did it, gladly.

"Okay," she said, breathing out her anxiety, suddenly nerves making her heart pound blood in her ears. "Tell me what you need me to do."

Babe squeezed again, eyes moving from her to J.R., then back again, an earnest expression on her beautiful face. "Okay," she began. "When our prince of popular is done strutting his stuff on stage, you go with him and Bess back to his hotel room. And you stick by that baby like she's your very own."

Bianca smiled, swallowing hard. "Okay."

"Okay." Another moment, and suddenly they were in each other's arms again. Bianca shuddered with emotion, and then suddenly, Babe was gone, already moving back into the crowd, disappearing into the darkened wing of the stage.

--

Maggie's throat was dry, but she kept shouting, trying to calm Aiden down, held in place by Anita, who obviously was only thinking of her protection.

Maggie didn't give a flying fuck. "Would you let me go!"

"STOP! STOP!" Ryan snarled. "Both of you!"

"What's going on here!" Maggie glanced back, as Dr. Maria Grey jogged forward, eyes on the scuffle.

"That's ENOUGH!" Ryan snapped, shoving Aiden back, and grabbing his brother with both hands. "Calm down!"

"Hey! He started it!"

"He's not the one out on BAIL!" Ryan shouted. "He's not the one who insulted his girlfriend!"

Maggie came forward immediately, clutching onto her seething boyfriend, reaching for his hand and trying hard to calm him down, already smoothing hands down his chest, moving between him and Jonathan, looking up beseechingly. "It's okay," she said softly.

"Maggie-"

"No-" She smiled painfully. "Nothing he can say can hurt me now. We have to look at the bigger picture, Aiden-"

"You don't need this, Ryan!"

"And THIS is what I need!" Maggie blinked, turning back, both hands reaching behind her, holding Aiden still, "You, insulting my friends! Getting arrested again? Calm down, Jonathan!"

His brother was visibly struggling, but Ryan had managed to keep him at bay, at least for a moment, nearly spitting in his face, he was so angry, finger stuck in his younger brother's nose, warning him to calm himself down.

Turning to Aiden, he didn't spare another glare. "And you - watch yourself-"

"Watch myself!" Aiden repeated, a sneer on his lips. "Did you hear what he said about Maggie!"

"Look, it doesn't matter that Jonathan's a complete PIG," Maggie interrupted, waving her arms up, getting both much taller men's attention. "What matters is the truth!" Sighing, she took a moment to try and diffuse them both, keeping one hand in Aiden's, the other on Ryan's arm, squeezing it. "Ryan, please. We have to get to Florida - we have to show Bianca the truth before we lose that baby for good. That baby is Miranda. She's alive, Ryan. We have the proof, and in order to save the girl you love like a sister, we need your help."

Ryan's dark eyes were intense, looking at her with an almost dazed expression. She knew it was a lot of information, and she knew what she was done was essentially the equivalent of slamming him upside the head with a two by four. But she had no choice.

"Ryan, they're just trying to mess with you-"

"Shut up, Jonathan," he said immediately, eyes on Maggie. She held her breath, clutching tightly to Aiden behind her, until she saw Ryan dig into his trenchcoat, flip open the phone, and dial.

She waited, too frightened to stop looking.

Ryan held the phone to his ear, and she suddenly nearly collapsed with relief, when he spoke flatly, "This is Ryan Lavery. I want the company jet ready now. Yes, now. I have two guests, and they're leaving for Florida as soon as they get to the strip."

She closed her eyes, sucking in her breath, suddenly dizzy with emotion. "Ryan..."

"Just go."

"Thank you," she breathed, planting a grateful kiss on his cheek, already moving, turning back to Anita, standing beside her confused sister. Pressing the proof into her fingers, the beautiful nurse wore a tight expression, eyes watery.

"Good luck."

Aiden reached for her hand, but suddenly had it jerked away, when Ryan grabbed him, pulling him close to him. "I helped you," Ryan said slowly, "When you come back, you're helping me - Find out who did this to my wife."

Aiden was quiet for a moment, and suddenly he clasped the shoulder of his friend. "Of course, mate."

Ryan nodded mechanically, let him go, and Maggie licked her lips, wiping away a sudden exhausted tears, as Aiden turned to her again, and said gruffly, "Let's go."

She clutched his hand, moved around Ryan, past Jonathan. As Aiden led her away, she glanced back.

Jonathan was watching her, a dark, clouded rage in his eyes.

She dismissed the reactive shudder immediately, and kept going.

--

It was turning into a mini reunion.

David, Kendall, Tad, all of them were running around here some place, and none of it mattered to Kendall. The only ones she wanted the only ones she was waiting for, had yet to show.

The three of them: Kendall, J.R. and Bianca, had been in a waiting game now, locked in J.R.'s hotel room, each with their own motives and motivations.

Kendall supposed she still had the trump card - since no one knew hers. J.R. and Bianca were both playing their own hands, throwing them at her feet like she was some sort of dealer, and not a player sitting at the table, a con artist ready to bring down the house.

Each had caught her alone, each had showed her sides of all of this. J.R. had seen Babe at the concert, had torn after her and lost her, and in that time, had learned of Bianca's true intention, through David and Krystal's suspicions: Babe was here to kidnap Bess.

" Oh, and you're afraid that Bianca's going to help Babe get her stubby fingers on the baby?"

"Which would make your sister an accessory to kidnapping. Do you want your sister doing hard time? "

"No, no, of course not. Well, that's not going to happen."

"If you don't stop it. Kendall, I need you to break that promise with Bianca, and I need you to make a promise for me. No matter what happens tonight, promise me that you will not leave Bianca's side."

Kendall took in a shaky breath, and carefully reached for her cellphone, flipping it open.

--

"Cheers," she said mechanically, holding the champagne glass delicately in her hand, a plastic smile on her face, clinking against J.R. and Kendall's.

She took in a distracted sip, the sound of the glass colliding suddenly bringing back a flash of the night earlier, two beer bottles, Maggie's dark, sad eyes, and the intimacy of music.

Her heart lodged in her throat, and she indulged herself, lost in thoughts of Maggie now, of that simple, pure moment.

"Earth to Binks."

She blinked, focus sharpening, Kendall and a bemused J.R. coming into focus. "Hmm? What?"

"Well... we sorta lost transmission with you there for a second."

She swallowed down her drink, shuddering instinctively, shaking her head. "Oh, I'm sorry," she answered politely, "I'm sorry. I was just thinking..."

"About what?" he asked curiously.

Standing in the room with her sister and J.R., Bianca licked her suddenly dry lips. Her champagne glass wavered, and when they continued to just stare, she took in an unsteady breath.

Her one night with Maggie, no matter how short, how horrible it had turned out - it still lived in her heart, and it just seemed painful to talk about it now, not even to Kendall. Certainly not to J.R.

"About Lena," she lied. Kendall quirked an eyebrow at the mention of her ex-girlfriend, and Bianca continued haggardly, "She called me the other day and -- and gave me an ultimatum. Either I hopped on the next plane to Poland, or she was calling it quits. I couldn't get away, so it's over." Her eyes lowered to the carpet, and she closed them, suddenly filled with the image of Maggie, her heart throbbing in retaliation. "It's really over."

She had a headache, and she knew J.R.'s imminent departure, leaving her alone with her sister, wasn't going to help it.

Kendall had an expression on her face - a hard one, and she steeled herself for it as soon as J.R. walked out of the door, mumbling about some mysterious call and something he had to do.

Bianca had known the minute his expression changed that it was Babe. Her stomach had sunk appropriate, and her blood pressure had risen, excitement clouding her head and making it only throb more.

Whatever this was coming to, it was close.

"So?" Kendall asked, arms wide, in her eyes a dark jeweled accusation. "Was that Babe on the phone?"

She looked up, blew out an unsteady breath. "I honestly don't know."

Kendall's pink tongue appeared in the corner of her mouth, obviously trying hard to see inside of her. Finally, her sister came forward, tone softening. "Come on, Binks. Talk to me. Is this part of the whole hush-hush little plan you guys have? J.R. gets called out of the suite, and then you grab Bess and you bring her to Babe?"

Obviously, Kendall wasn't a fan of that particular idea.

Bianca placed her hands behind her, crossing her palms. "Actually, no, I'm not going anywhere. But you are." Kendall blinked, taken aback. "Kendall, please. Go back to your room."

"No." Kendall's answer was immediate. "No, I'm not. Whatever is going to go down with Babe, I don't want to see you do something you'll regret."

"I won't. You have to trust me."

"How can I?" Kendall asked softly, tone nearly a whisper. "When you don't trust me? Bianca, please, there are things you don't know-"

Bianca closed her eyes, her headache splintering in pain now, pulsing, like a spike being driven into her temple. "Kendall, I'm starting to get really mad, and I don't want to go there again with you."

"I don't want -"

The door thudded, a heavy hand banging across it. Bianca sucked in her breath, her heart jumping into her throat, and before Kendall could stop her, moved fast, twisting the knob and opening the door.

"Bianca."

Her mother stood in the doorway.

--

She sat in the plush leather chair, smoothing her palm over the luxury seat, and caught Aiden's fingers against hers. Carefully, she tangled them, until they were fisted together, pinky wrapped around his forefinger.

He shot her a small, comforting smile.

"Thank you," she said suddenly.

"For what?"

"For dropping everything to help my friend."

He drew her hand into his lap, studied the palm wrapped in his. "Bianca's my friend, too, Maggie."

"I know." Keeping her hand in his lap, Aiden stared out the window, obviously intent on studying the clouds. She watched him, and felt an immediate surge of affection. "You're amazing, you know that?"

He glanced back, a surprised smile lighting up on his face. "Feel free to say it anytime, Maggie."

Inching forward, she carefully began to kiss him, thankful for this singular moment of peace.

--

Bianca had no words.

She stood, stunned, standing in the doorway, gaping at her mother, unsure what to think, until Kendall suddenly appeared beside her.

"Mother, thank God!"

She jerked her head, jaw dropping as suddenly the pieces came into place. "You TATTLED!"

Her mother didn't bother to listen. Brushing past Bianca, she gave no indication she had seen either of them. Instead, she walked straight into the other room, leaving them both behind.

Turning on her heel, Bianca shut the door, moving fast, ignoring her sister for fear of actually throttling her, and instead turning into the living room, where she discovered her mother kneeling by Bess' crib, taking in the little baby girl.

"Mom?"

Erica held up her hand, signaling that Bianca be quiet, and suddenly unnerved, Bianca did. Wrapping arms around herself, she shut her mouth and watched, as her mother reached a hesitant hand over to the beautiful baby girl, reaching back at the last second.

"Mom?" she couldn't help but ask again, a whispered word.

"Sit down, Bianca." Her mother didn't turn, but still, Bianca found herself obeying, suddenly fragile as Erica gathered Bess into her arms, and just held her, breathing her in. "Oh, my darling," she heard, her mother whispering against the baby's crown. "If only I could take all this pain in your world, will it all away, absorb it through myself. Somehow taken this hurt that drives you and spared you. My darling girls."

Her mother was making no sense, but still, how she said those words...

A lump grew in her throat, and Bianca felt suddenly as if she were made of spun glass, twisted into a delicate shards, dangerously close to splintering if she moved but a muscle.

When her mother turned back to her, there were tears smoothing down her cheeks.

"Mom..." she breathed.

Erica Kane began to make her way toward her, and Bianca stared, as her mother settled Bess into her lap, a small, genuine smile flitting across her mouth. "Oh, my darling girls..."

Kendall appeared beside her, and suddenly, she was crying too. Curling Bess protectively to her, Bianca was at a loss, mouth open, breathless, as the emotion stung at her own eyes, and still, she couldn't fathom why.

Kendall was sobbing now, and her mother held her close to her breath, carefully running fingers through curls, whispering into her ear.

"What's going on?"

Kendall and her mother finally looked at her, with Bess bouncing in her arms, and when Erica smiled, she held her breath, her world on an axis, tilted.

Letting go of her sister, Erica knelt in front of her, reaching for her arms, smoothing palms down them. "Bianca, I want you to listen to me. Without judgment. Without prejudice, and without regret. I am your mother, and I love you, darling." Bianca, suddenly lost, had no choice but to nod, too scared to do much else. "Look at this little girl. This child, Bianca? The one that you would do anything for? The one would you risk everything for, even your own family?" Bianca's eyes flickered down to the brown head, the beautiful smile on Bess' face as she giggled, a drool soaked fist against her mouth. "This is your daughter-"

Oh, no. Her heart exploded in suddenly panic, and she jerked- "Mother-"

"LISTEN, Bianca." She blinked, taken aback by her mother's sharp tone. "You promised."

She shut her mouth, as if her mother had taken her two hands and shut it for her, and Kendall came forward, hands wringing. "Binks, I'm sorry. I am, I wanted to tell you, but we didn't think you would believe it."

"Believe what?"

"Maggie found out some things. Things Jamie and Babe were hiding. That memorial in the chapel? It wasn't for Miranda. Babe put it there for her child, her son. Babe had a son."

He's really my son!

She winced, shaking at the sudden intrusion. "No..."

"Yes," Kendall answered hoarsely. "Babe never had a little girl. She had a boy. That little girl, the one you're holding? Is Miranda. Babe has been keeping her all this time-"

"No!" she snapped again, unable to move because of Bess in her lap, heart jumpstarting wildly. "Babe wouldn't DO THAT to me."

"She did," Kendall answered gently. "She did, Bianca. You have to trust me."

"I don't-"

"Maggie and Aiden found out. She asked me to help and we got samples. I got samples of Miranda and... and you, and we had Anita run a test-"

The words weren't making any sense to her. She was trembling now, holding on tighter to Bess, tears sliding down her cheeks. "You can't-"

"We ran a test, Binks. It was positive."

"I don't believe you," she managed, closing her eyes against it. "Babe wouldn't do that to me, she wouldn't." Her arms curled in tighter against the baby, using her as a shield.

"Binks-"

"Shut up."

A phone began to ring, a dizzy, tingling, and Bianca shut her eyes against it, Kendall's words washing over her.

Maggie and Aiden found out...

She sucked in her breath, shuddering.

"What are you trying to say!" she breathed. "That I should usurp Babe's place? Take away her mother's right just because you feel like I should! Do you think I'm crazy enough to steal that baby again?"

Her voice was rising, and as it did, Bianca realized just how angry she was, how her heart was hardening, almost against her will, in complete instinct, because raw and bleeding, the decision would have crumbled her.

"No-" Maggie grabbed hold, and Bianca tried to shake her off, tried to hard to keep Maggie's words out of her head. "Bianca, I'm not saying you're crazy. I know you love her. That's why I need you to trust me-"

"I can't believe you would think I would even consider-"

"Bianca, listen to me-" Jerking her around, Bianca was held loose, like a puppet, as Maggie now held palms to her face, jerking her eyes down to her level, forcing her to see her in the face. "Listen to me - I love you. I love you so much, Bianca, and I just want to help you-"

"Let me go-"

"Bianca, Bess is Miranda."

Words were spoken. She didn't hear them. Her mother's hands were smoothing up hers, and she wanted to move away from them, wanted to push Bess away from her, but Maggie's eyes and words burst forth, searing into her.

"That was Maggie," she heard, above the ringing in her ears. "She has the proof, Bianca. She's touching down. She's going to show it to you. The DNA test was positive. Miranda is in your arms. Alive. Yours."

"I know that Bess is going to end up with the right parent, and I know 100 in my mind who that parent is."

Why the hell was she talking in riddles? Bianca sighed, throwing hands up as she just shrugged. "Well, with the tape that we made in the casino suite, we can pretty much guarantee that that's not going to be J.R."

Babe actually smiled at that. "Chances are better than pretty much. I'm going to see to it that it happens. But, first, I just have to nail the lid down on this."


"This what!" Bianca snapped. "You're not telling me anything!"

"Look, Bianca, I promise you it's all going to make sense and in the end everything's going to be all right."

"Honey, look at this little girl," Erica whispered. "Look at this child, and believe it. Honey, believe it!"

Unable to help herself, unable to breath, Bianca stared, stared hard into the eyes of a beautiful baby girl. Into laughing brown eyes, and a pure, beautiful soul.

Her heart seared and suddenly she felt broken, as the clouds parted, and she found herself suddenly able to see.

"Miranda..." she breathed.

end chapter