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-NINE
It's your gravity and your hot air balloons
That keep you real and dare to dream with you
That when they pull you too far
You must learn to forgive and ask your heart
Will I lose a friend
Striving to contend?
Will I destroy this trust
When I want the best for us?
-- Follow If you Lead, Idina Menzel
"You know, this isn't necessary." She tried hard to sound annoyed, chewing around the pancake, dribbling with butter that Maggie had conveniently force fed her.
"Well, you don't have to talk with your mouth full." Still chewing, Bianca managed an embarrassed giggle as Maggie pressed a glass of orange juice into her hand. "Here."
"Thank you," she said politely, trying to straighten, and failing utterly thanks to the growing baby sticking out in her very enlarged belly. "But I'm not an invalid."
"I know," Maggie said flippantly. "You are a very stressed out pregnant woman!"
The tone made her blink, causing a good natured grin. "Thank you, I look that good, huh?"
"Yes, you look great!" Maggie was obviously distracted, and Bianca eyed her suspiciously, as Maggie picked up the foil tin again, and fished around inside of it for more, coming up with an even bigger stack of pancake. "Now one more?" Bianca groaned, eyes rolling into the back of her head. "One more for the baby?" She shot her an even glare. "Here, take half-" Maggie shoved the fork, laden with the traditional amazingly delicious breakfast, right up to her face.
"God, that's huge!"
"Okay- come on!"
She couldn't help but laugh helplessly, opening her mouth like a child as Maggie fed her yet again, closing her lips around the fork and feeling Maggie pull it out, leaving the cake melting inside her mouth.
"Thank you," she mumbled contritely, until the yumminess of the breakfast got the better of her, and she closed her eyes and concentrated on just that, feeling it spread over her tongue. "Mmm..." she mumbled, ignoring Maggie's glare at once again forgetting to close her mouth when chewing. "That's so good."
She chewed in contented silence, one palm sliding over her large belly, feeling the reassuring firmness of the growing baby inside her, Maggie beside her, fussing with the plate.
"You know..." She opened her eyes, and took in Maggie, discovered her friend almost hesitant, beautiful face drawn in slightly, wearing a curious, soft expression. "When you confessed to killing Michael, I nearly died." Bianca froze in mid swallow, watching genuine emotion cross over Maggie's face, her voice tremble slightly. "I didn't know what they were going to do to you. I had all these horrible visions of visiting you in prison and..."
"Maggie... stop it." Hand covering Maggie's, she squeezed, clasping around the soft skin. "It's fine. They're not even prosecuting."
"I know, I know- I'm a worrywart." Bianca smiled privately. Truthfully, she liked that about her friend. "But, I was scared to death."
Maggie's eyes were darkened, like a troubled storm, and it touched something, inside her, warmed her.
Maggie really loved her.
The thought was like a warm blanket, and she let it cover her, reassure her, Maggie always a respite from the darkness. Strong and amazing, and not scared because of herself - but scared for Bianca.
Her Maggie was amazing. She let her smile grow, reassure the woman who had comforted her countless times.
"It's okay now."
Velvet, doe-eyed eyes connected with hers, suddenly taking in her in with their affection.
It occurred to Bianca, as Maggie turned her hand, interlocking their fingers, and held on tightly, she had rarely felt more safe than this moment.
"You buttered yourself." The sentence was a breathless whisper, and suddenly a thumb was carefully caressing at her skin. The jolt of it made her suddenly smile, flush with embarrassment, and she let Maggie wipe her messiness away, content to simply take in her best friend's loving look.
"Thank you," she said sincerely. Maggie's thumb lingered, and she reveled in the touch.
She woke up to a child crying.
Bianca opened her eyes, staring up at the darkness, for the moment disoriented, a heavy sigh laced with dread over taking her. In her clouded mind, she had a moment of irrational fear: countless nights, countless cries.
Until the crying sunk in, deeper, and with a hitch of breath, Bianca rolled over, looking directly at a crib, and the small, dark little eyes that shined at her.
Miranda clutched at the railing, sucking against the top rung, looking pitifully at her mother.
She swung her legs heavily over the bed, a spike of pain jolting her head at the movement, and Bianca bit her lips, palming the edge of the bed before she pushed off of it, marching unsteadily toward the crib, and managing a smile for her baby girl.
"Hi, honey-" she whispered, reaching in as Miranda spread out her chubby arms, lower lip trembling as she was lifted into her arms. "I'm sorry, baby-"
Miranda curled into her, shuddering. For a brief moment, Bianca held her tightly, taking a moment to close her eyes and revel in this: the simple act of being able to reach out to her daughter, to calm her, to love her. To stop the crying.
The headache that plagued her grew larger still, and Bianca fought the pain with a bite to her lower lip, shushing her daughter with a kiss on her cheek, already heading toward the changing table.
"Oh, honey..." Laying her daughter down, she quickly began to work at the small onesie. "Your mommy did a very stupid thing last night - and she's very, very sorry." Sucking in her fist into her mouth, Miranda eyed her, kicking her feet as Bianca worked around them, as if determined to be difficult to punish her mother for her thoughtlessness.
"Gah," Miranda finally said, around her fist.
"Yeah," Bianca agreed. "Mommy did not handle Aunt Maggie's rejection well at all. No she didn't..." There was a small spike of an ache, and she swallowed against it, keeping her smile frozen as she tickled Miranda's feet, lifting her bum off the pad. "But Maggie loves you, baby. It has nothing to do with you." She smiled, looking down at the little stinky treasure presented before her. "Maggie wanted to be in your life so badly... she took such good care of you and me..."
Miranda found the washcloth in her mother's hand infinitely more interesting than her mother's monologue.
"She made sure you got enough food... she read all these baby books... honey, she was even going to go away with us. She was gonna help with all the feedings and changings and all of it..." Bianca stopped, suddenly flooded with tears at the memories - two girls who weren't ready to be women - planning a family, together: out of love and loyalty and pure drive. It had meant so much to her that Maggie join her - it had meant so much to Maggie - and somehow, someway... "How did I let go of that, Miranda?" she whispered suddenly, alone with her daughter in the darkness. "Because Mommy was stupid, honey. Because Mommy took your Aunt Maggie for granted and it's because of that, that she's not here now." She smiled painfully, overwhelmed with loss. "I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry."
Miranda couldn't know what Bianca had lost. Miranda couldn't know that mother she could have had in Maggie.
Bianca blinked, suddenly shaken out of her moment of loss when Miranda gave a frustrated little grunt, trying to peel the wetnap from her hands. Getting down to work, Bianca changed the diaper quickly, effortlessly, gathering her daughter up and slinging her on her hip, caressing a thumb gently over the soft skin.
"I promise you," she told her baby girl solemnly. "That even if Mommy screwed up - she's not going to screw you out of your Aunt Maggie. She'll be in your life."
Miranda stared at her solemnly, and Bianca closed her eyes and sighed, holding her baby to her, tighter than before.
--
Greenlee Lavery knew for a fact that Kendall Hart had a screw loose.
But the fact of the matter was, at the moment, in the aftermath of Kendall's completely ridiculous statement, Greenlee wondered if she had legitimate case for Kendall to be committed.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course, I'm serious." Kendall shoved aside her papers, settling against her desk, and Greenlee cast the beanstalk of a woman an annoyed look.
"What," she commented dryly, "You can't find enough satisfaction from ruining your own love life that you have to turn to decimating others?"
"The only life I care about is my sister's," Kendall said matter-of-factly, eyes shining with that self-righteous fire. Still, Greenlee couldn't fault Kendall for her 'right or wrong, I'm always right' attitude. It was one of the few things they had in common.
Kendall had once nearly gone to the chair for Bianca. Greenlee had almost put her there.
Greenlee sighed, leaning back. "And you're so obsessed with finding Suddenly Single Binky a girlfriend that you're sifting through the straight girl pool?"
"Maggie's not straight."
"So she's gay?" Greenlee queried. "Cause unless she's playing beard for Aiden, she's been doing a helluva job proving otherwise."
"Well, maybe she's bi. Or confused - or just completely in love with my sister- it doesn't matter! What matters are hard, cold facts."
"Which are?" she asked dryly.
"Maggie loves Bianca, Bianca loves Maggie - she went over a balcony for her, for Christ's sake!"
Maggie's heroic act wasn't small time news that was for sure, but Greenlee determined being clumsy enough to push yourself and your friend over a balcony just a little more than stupid.
"Aren't your romanticizing that just a little bit?"
"Please. I know what I know and what I see and I'm right. They're smitten. This is the incredibly true adventure of two girls in love." Greenlee arched an eyebrow. "Maggie and Bianca should be together, and I'm going to make it happen. With or without your help."
Seriously. It was like Kendall was expecting trumpets to suddenly sound in triumph, skating in on her GLAAD happy speech.
"Uhuh." Greenlee pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Look, Kendall - I have nothing against the gay thing - if Maggie and Bianca are spouting off the L Word, then, great! But I think I have better things to do with my time than help a desperate lesbian and her sister break up what, from the looks of it, is a perfectly happy couple who just went through a little trauma themselves."
Her friend shifted on her perch, crossing her arms. "And what the hell does that mean?"
"Meaning, it's ..." Greenlee searched for the appropriate word. "Mean."
"Mean?" Kendall nearly squeaked the word. "Are you friggin' kidding me! Who the hell are you!"
She had to admit, it did sound odd. Greenlee shrugged.
"Greenlee - you didn't have nearly the same consideration when you were trying your damndest to break up me and Ryan."
She smiled coyly. "Maybe marriage has softened me," she reasoned, pointing toward her wedding band. "Made me a better person."
"And maybe you're just full of it! What's the real reason!"
"That is my reason!"
"Greenlee-" Kendall's tone lowered in warning.
Yeah... she couldn't pull it off. Greenlee didn't have self sacrificing in her. "Aiden's helping me nail Jonathan," she finally confessed. "I find this a conflict of interest."
"I told you I'd help you with that."
"Hmmm..." Greenlee pretended to consider the offer, weighting them out with her palms. "An insane bitchy Kane woman, or a genuine private investigator who owes my husband a favor... tough decision."
"Hey- I saved your life!"
"When!"
"When you were hopped up on crazy pills and tried to take a dive off the roof!"
"Oh." Greenlee stared at the finger pointed in her face, and sighed, jerking her head away from it. "I was hoping we'd forgotten about that."
"You owe me one," Kendall said, uncrossing her arms smugly. "And you owe Bianca."
"I owe her what? Some nefarious scheme to break up Maggie and Aiden on the long shot that Maggie will wake up gay?"
"You owe her a chance to get her own happiness - she's your cousin, and she's going to be your sister."
"And that equals: crazy scheme to turn Maggie gay."
"Maggie's already GAY," Kendall enunciated. "They've made out and everything!"
"No, she's not- they have?" Greenlee blinked, lifting her head up to consider that, a burning picture suddenly in her head. Surprisingly, she had no problem actually seeing it in her head.
Which was odd. And a little frightening.
"Come on. Help a sister out."
"Did you mean sister like, 'sister' or how black people use it?" she asked distractedly.
"How does that matter?"
But Greenlee was still stuck on her mental image, quirking her head to try to size up the image - Bianca and her Best Friend Forever. Shacking up. "So when they made out? What happened? Did Maggie kiss her? Did Bianca kiss her? Was there tongue?"
Kendall stared at her. "I find your curiosity in the details disturbing."
"I'm just trying to calculate my odds here," Greenlee informed her. "Because if Maggie kissed Bianca, then we might have something here. But if Bianca's just laying one on Maggie, and Maggie's pushing her away - then there's work to be done, and short of electrotherapy, there's not much we can do to change Maggie's... mind."
"Well, I didn't ask if there was TONGUE," Kendall said flippantly. "Are you in or not?"
Greenlee narrowed her glare, and studied Kendall. "I can't pick a side until I know if there was tongue."
"Why?"
"Because when I actually commit to something," Greenlee said gravely. "I do it to win."
--
Anna's reappearance in Pine Valley had been kept purposely quiet. While nothing could remain a secret in their little drama town for very long, riding in on the coat tails of the big revelation that rocked the town and the tabloids together had been pretty smart.
No one would look twice when everyone was focusing on Bianca Montgomery.
The reporters, having had their story with Maggie, now left her alone, partly due to her boyfriend the sentry, and partly because she had been ridiculously uncooperative: thanks to the lovely injuries that plagued her and her problems with school.
Still, there hadn't been a minute to mope - now thanks to her curiously full apartment, and Maggie found herself enjoying a small moment of serenity, Anna and Robin shopping for their essentials, Aiden out working.
Deep down, she was still a loner, the girl who relied on no one but herself, and honestly, no one had ever really been able to break her of that but Bianca.
It was a side of herself she didn't give up willingly.
She was rereading the third book of Harry Potter when the door thudded insistently. Glancing up, Maggie found herself more than a little annoyed at the idea of a visitor, creeping into her sanctuary, Tim McGraw crooning at her from her stereo and the Boy Who Lived flitting around her thoughts.
For a long ten seconds, she considered ignoring the intruder. But the door only continued to rap insistently, and it was clear that whoever it was, they wouldn't go away.
Pushing aside the book, Maggie took a moment to steady herself, swinging her leg in a now almost easy rhythm, tilting to regain her balance before she took a rather ironic unsteady breath, and stared at the door.
Was it weak, she considered, to both wish and dread for Bianca at the door?
"Oh, God, Maggie..." she breathed, moving in her now patented wobble toward the thudding door. "How pathetic are you?" Louder, she snarled, "COMING!"
The thumps stopped, for the second it took to twist the door and swing it open.
It wasn't Bianca at the door.
But the visitor still managed to tighten the coil in her heart, as she took in the tall, handsome man with the boyish face, looking down at her with features she had come to memorize.
It only took a moment, just a moment, for the anger to suddenly rush inside her, making her tremble, as she blinked and shook and glared at him with hurt, murderous eyes.
She tried to slam the door, but her delicate state and his much stronger hands were too much, as Jamie held the door against her. "Wait. I just want to talk."
"You don't get to TALK," she snapped, struggling against it. "You don't live here anymore. We're not friends anymore."
"Maggie, please. I know you're mad-"
"MAD!" The absurdity of it made her pause, still as she blew an errant bang out of her face and stared up at him, her old lover, her best friend. "You think this is MAD? MAD was when you first lied to me about what you found. This is furious. This is hate, Jamie."
The words at least caused something - a flash of wounded emotion across his puppy-dog face. "I lied because I didn't think you'd understand-"
"You're fucking right, I wouldn't," she snapped. "And if I had full use of my limbs, and could actually rotate this cast, you'd be lying on the floor, clutching the jewels Babe led you around by."
He sucked in his breath, dark eyes roving over her body, taking in her small body covered with plaster and gauze, the fading bruises brushing her features, painting them with hurt.
"I'm sorry, Maggie. It was a bad situation - I was just trying to make it better-"
"For you."
Jamie licked his lips, burying hands in his trench coat, staring down at his former roommate. "Haven't you ever misjudged someone, Maggie?"
"Yeah," she said simply. "You. Get out, Jamie."
"I just want a chance-"
"FUCK you and your chance."
The words hung in the air, standing between them both, until movement in the hallway caught them both, as Maggie turned her head and discovered a beautiful brunette, surprise and shock overtaking her, as she held her daughter in her arms.
Her mouth pursed closed, and her eyes shifted down, taking a moment to gather her strength, unsure what to do, until she heard Jamie speak.
"Bianca, I just-"
"Don't." Immediately, she lifted her head, tone sharp, words edged in spite. "Don't even talk to her. You don't get to. Leave, Jamie. Now."
Jamie had always been young, naïve, and easily hurt and stupidly stubborn. But countless fights and enough glimpses at Maggie's bad side had made it all too easy to know when Maggie meant what she said.
He gave up with an acquiescing nod, stepping back, lingering on Maggie's face.
"I know you don't believe me," he said to her simply, "But I miss you and I love you."
She shook her head, eyes closing against him. "Just go, Jamie." She waited, heard heavy shoes sinking down on soft carpet, and suddenly opened them again when another voice greeted her, closer than she remembered.
"Hi."
She raised her head to meet Bianca. "Hi." She met Bianca's trembling smile with a weak one of her own, holding the intense gaze for a second before she broke away, studying the squirming child in Bianca's arms. "And hello to you."
Miranda sucked on her fist, mumbling around the saliva slicked skin, before popping it out and smearing Maggie's cheek in greeting.
"Oh, God- I'm sorry!" Bianca said, laughing nervously as Maggie made a sudden face, wiping at her slobbered skin.
"It's okay," Maggie said immediately, managing another weak grin. "Slobbery and sticky - it comes with the baby package, I guess." The moment was quickly descending into awkwardness, as Maggie could only too vividly recall their last encounter. "What are you..." she winced, and tried hard to keep any emotion that could be construed as harsh out of her tone. "What are you doing, Bianca?"
"I um... I know- I know... it might be too soon, but..." Bianca glanced down at her child, and looked up again, a beautiful smile of hope caressing her features. "Just because... you know - I didn't... I had something to ask you. And Aiden." When Maggie raised an eyebrow in speculation, her friend rushed forward with, "It's about Miranda."
"Oh." She bit her lip, suddenly feeling absurdly guilty, as she looked back into her empty apartment and then back towards Bianca. "Well, no one's here but me..."
"Oh..." Bianca shifted, offering another insecure tilt of her head when she blinked. "Are you listening to country music?"
Tim McGraw continued to croon at them, and Maggie suddenly flushed. "Yeah... it's my new thing."
"Oh." Bianca listened another minute. "It's nice."
"It's corny," Maggie amended, and suddenly they both smiled, the tension broken by a suddenly outburst, real laughter coming from them both. "Do you want to come in?" she asked finally, at least determined to get them away from standing in the doorway like idiots.
"I'd love to, thank you."
Bianca stepped into her apartment like a stranger, and Maggie observed the posture with a sudden sink of her heart, a sense of loss for them both. This had been Bianca's home and refuge, and now her former best friend found herself frightened to even touch the couch she had slept on.
"Do you want something to drink?"
"Oh, no thank you." Bianca looked back at her, slinging her daughter on her hip. "But please, sit down, because watching you hobble like that is driving me insane."
Maggie looked down at her precarious balance. "I thought I was getting pretty good."
"Really."
"Yes, really," she muttered, sending a glare to Bianca as she wobbled her way around the couch and plopped down, motioning for Bianca to join her with her one hand. "Besides - the cast is temporary. In another month I'll be down to an ace bandage and limited mobility."
"Well, thank God for that," Bianca smiled, balancing her baby on her lap. Maggie found her eyes drawn to the child, who gave her a spitty grin, giggling contentedly from her mother's lap. It was a perfect pictures, and struck by the beauty of it, Maggie let out a ragged sigh.
"What?"
"Nothing, I just..." Maggie caught herself, and breathed in again, catching her bearing. "I'm happy to see you both... together."
Bianca's dark gaze was mesmerizing, as her smile slowly grew, slipping palms around her daughters waist to hug her to her. "We're happy too," she answered unsteadily. "And we have you to thank. Aunt Maggie and Uncle Aiden."
The name of her boyfriend froze her already odd smile, and she glanced down, fingering her pants. "Yeah. It's no problem, Bianca."
"That's actually why I'm here."
"Bianca, you don't have to thank-"
"No." Maggie's eyes flickered down to Bianca's hand covering hers, stilling her. Another moment, and Bianca lifted her hand away. "I wanted to ask you both to be Miranda's god parents."
The request was a bombshell, and Maggie found herself feeling like an explosion had gone off in her stomach.
Her heart palpitated and she blinked, shaken. "What?"
Bianca swallowed, eyes moist and so full of emotion. "Look, Maggie. Whatever, did or didn't happen between us, it doesn't change the fact that... that you loved Miranda like... you loved her. You were there when I first saw her. You were going to be a part of her life. I still want that. I want Miranda to know you. And Aiden."
"Bianca..." she literally took her breath away, staring first at brilliant brown eyes, and down to tiny, mirror images. Reaching forward, she traced the soft downy baby cheek with a shaking finger, overwhelmed. Inhaling oddly, she brought her hand down. "Bianca, I don't know what to say."
Bianca smiled, eyes shining with emotion. "Say yes."
The little girl who had captured her heart at first glance babbled incoherently, bouncing up and down on her mommy's lap. Maggie's throat was choked. "Umm..." she began, coughing nervously. "What about Kendall?"
"Kendall is her aunt. That's precious. She's always to be around her. I want to have the same connection."
Maggie found herself smiling ruefully. "So what? You're legally obligating me to stick around?"
"Sneaky, isn't it?" Bianca smiled beautifully, and Maggie felt her heart shudder, smiling through her own tears, until both girls had their hands clasped, holding on tight. "Yes?"
She shouldn't have. It was stupid and dangerous, but her eyes lingered on the little girl she had wanted to love like her own, and Bianca was here now, offering her the next best thing. "Yes."
"Yes!" And suddenly they were both laughing, wrapping as many hands as were available around each other, holding on tightly.
When the door creaked and opened, Maggie pulled back, blurry vision taking in the talking and laughing pair of mother and daughter, as Robin dropped shopping bags and Anna directed her hawk eyes onto the couch.
"Bianca."
Bianca wiped at her tears, as Maggie sat primly on the couch, meeting Robin's questioning arch of her eyebrow with one of her own.
"Anna?" Placing the baby in Maggie's lap, Bianca rose to her feet, surprise painted on her features. "Is that you?"
"Hello!" Anna greeted, throwing her arms around the younger girl. "How are you?"
"I'm... I'm... I'm -" Bianca looked thrown, genuinely taking by surprise as Anna cupped her fact lovingly, obviously taking in Anna's shorn head, smile faltering. "I'm glad to see you."
"Ah, yes-" Anna pretended to pose. "Looking quite well for a statistic, aren't I?"
"Is that who I think it is?" Robin interrupted, shrugging out of her jacket, nodding toward the baby girl sitting in Maggie's lap, eyes never leaving her mommy's.
"Yes..." Bianca turned, one hand still wrapped around Anna's lap, turning toward Maggie and her baby girl. "This is Miranda... and you must be... "
"Robin." The women shook hands, Robin shooting her a sincere smile. "I've heard a lot about you, Bianca."
"Oh, God..." Bianca actually had the grace to look embarrassed. "Please don't judge me by the last few months. I feel like I've been in a tunnel and only just coming out into the light."
Anna settled down beside her, and Maggie grinned, as Anna reached hesitantly for the child. Miranda seemed to like her immediately. She leaned forward, letting her weight settle her into her arms.
"Don't worry about it," Robin said to Bianca. "I know what that's like."
Maggie watched in open affection with the others as Miranda and Anna became acquainted, the inquisitive child solemnly placing her chubby palm against Anna's lips, feeling her mumble through them. "She's beautiful, Bianca."
"Yes, she is," Maggie agreed.
"Here for a visit?" Robin asked, coming around to settle herself against the counter.
"Actually I was here - to ask Maggie and Aiden to be God parents," Bianca said, crossing her arms. "Which Maggie happily accepted."
"On both their behalves?" Anna asked, surprise in her tone, despite their smile.
Maggie blinked, caught, as she realized she hadn't even thought as to Aiden's response. "Well... I... I didn't Aiden would mind-"
"Are you kidding? A reason to latch onto you further?" Robin rolled her eyes. "It's not an engagement ring, but it's pretty close. I'm sure he'll jump at the opportunity."
Maggie sucked in her breath, unsure what to make of it, as Bianca hesitantly asked, "What do you mean?"
"I'm not sure-" Anna began.
"I mean, the boy's smitten! Godparents are a lifetime thing." Robin grinned cheekily. "It only cements the belief further that it's only a matter of time where the sling comes off and a ring goes on."
Maggie glanced down at her sling, suddenly self-conscious.
"Robin, I think it's a little too early to be planning don't you?" Anna asked, almost too carefree.
"Do you know how long weddings take to plan?" Robin retorted. "In fact, since Maggie's best friend is here, I think we should settle something." Pushing off the counter, she crossed her arms. "Now, granted, it IS Maggie's prerogative to choose - but there's no real such thing as 'best woman', so... I think I might fight you for this whole 'maid of honor' thing."
Maggie sucked in her breath, crossing a sudden tense glance with Anna as she and both mother and daughter now pinned their glances on Bianca. Her friend looked shell shocked, opening her mouth, and closing it again.
"Well..." Bianca's smile was almost frozen, and Maggie bit her lip, heat flushing to her face. "I think maybe we could talk about it... when it happens."
There was a tense moment, until Robin smile. "Fine. It's only a matter of time, right Maggie?" Maggie felt like a fish, sputtering on dry land, gasping for air. "But for the record? I have great taste in strippers."
"You know... I think we're freaking Maggie out with the wedding talk, Robin," Anna said, rising to her feet, taking Miranda with her. "So... let's just grab our purchases, have an impromptu fashion show, what do you think?"
"I actually... I have to go." Bianca rushed forward, and Maggie closed her eyes in silent frustration as Bianca glanced at her, cutting off the intense stare. "I'm late for... a meeting, but lovely to meet you, Robin."
"Likewise." Robin smiled. "It's all in good fun, right Bianca?"
Maggie swallowed hard, as Bianca connected stares. "Right." Turning back to her, Bianca nodded stiffly. "Bye Maggie." She nodded back silently. "Anna."
"Wonderful to see you, Bianca." Bianca smiled back stiffly, gathering her child in her arms, and after a silent moment, moved toward the door, closing it behind her.
"Nice girl," Robin mused openly. Maggie shot her a sudden scathing look, and when Anna seemed ready to do the same, Robin only grinned. "Fashion show?"
--
Anita Santos still fingered her bare ring finger, a bad habit that she wanted to break.
She did it now, as she pressed Bianca's apartment buzzer again. Hearing no answer, she sighed, ready to turn back.
"Anita?"
Bianca appeared over her shoulder, with Miranda in a stroller. "Bianca! Hi!"
"Hi!" Bianca wore an unsteady smile, as she strode forward, fishing for her keys awkwardly. "What's up?"
"I know I shoulda called," she said, relieved as she waited. "But I left my purse last night - probably just as well. I wasn't... exactly... in my right mind."
"Oh..." Bianca offered a small smile. "Yeah, I think we both got a little... out of control."
"I think considering the circumstances, we're allowed."
"I don't what Kendall says, 'A Little Respect' is a great song."
They shared a small grin, until Bianca's wavered, and Anita watched, as the keys shook yet again, Bianca dropping them as she tried to fit them in her keyhole.
"Dammit."
"Hey..." Shifting her weight, Anita tilted her head. "You okay?"
Bianca glanced at her, blowing a bang out of her hair as she scooped her keys again, and thrust them almost angrily in the key hole. "I'm great. Peachy. Awesome."
The doorknob twisted open and Bianca shoved at the door almost violently.
Anita quirked an eyebrow, suddenly concerned.
"You know - if you hadn't just beat a poor defenseless door, I would almost believe you."
Following Bianca and Miranda into the apartment, she closed the door much more gently behind her, watching as her friend let out a labored sigh, pressing a palm against her face. "No, I just... I went to go see Maggie."
Anita blinked, licking her lips. "Oh."
"And Aiden's cousin was there, and... she was talking about an engagement and... bridal showers, and - strippers! Because you know, as a lesbian, I have no idea what a good looking man looks like."
"Robin?" Anita sank down on the couch. "She doesn't seem mean spirited-"
"Well, maybe she's just optimistic!" Bianca unsnapped Miranda out of her stroller, kissing her distractedly on the forehead before lowering into her playpen. "She's talking about Maggie and Aiden getting married like it's a done deal. Like... the only thing missing is a rock."
Anita had to admit - the idea hurt. She sucked in her breath unsteadily, and closed her eyes, trying to push the image out of her mind. "Bianca..."
"I know! I know - I went over there, prepared to be perfectly okay with it!" Bianca stayed standing, hands on her hips, obviously worked up. "I wanted to be okay with it, Anita. I wanted to be happy for Maggie that she was happy. I even asked her and Aiden to be Miranda's godparents."
"Wow..." Anita quirked an eyebrow. "That's... generous."
"It's stupid." Bianca closed her eyes, shaking her head weakly. "It's so stupid - because they can get married, Anita. And just the thought crushed me. It literally crushed me."
Anita sighed, feeling her heart jerk in response. "Bianca..."
"Just hearing them talk about it, and trying to be pretend to be okay with it... I can't do it... Anita - all I wanted was to grab Maggie and kiss her and tell Robin to shut the hell up because Maggie belonged with me."
Anita's eyes stung, but she kept her composure, hands wrung together in her lap. "Bianca, we had our chance. We did. Okay? And if we love them?"
"We have to be happy for them. I know." Bianca shook her head. "Works in theory."
"-better investigator than you!" Blinking, she looked up, to discover Pine Valley's resident bitches sweeping into Bianca's open apartment, Greenlee after Kendall like a yapping Chihuahua. "He was in the British secret service! You... you... you didn't even finish college!"
"Yeah, yeah- shut up." Kendall shook her head, sticking her hand in Greenlee's face to nod to them both. "Bianca. Anita. Thank God you're sober."
"What are you doing here?" Bianca asked.
"Thank you for asking." Kendall looked like cat who had just eaten both the cream and the canary. "Batten down the hatches, baby sis. We're getting Maggie back."
"What?" Anita rose, suddenly confused as to what she was hearing. "I'm sorry, am I - you're what?"
"Greenlee's going to help!"
"I didn't say I was going to help!" Greenlee snapped. "Bianca, when you made out with Maggie? Was there tongue?"
"What!" Anita and Bianca both sputtered at the same time.
"French. Kissing." Greenlee enunciated. "I mean, I know you're inexperienced, B, but surely the Polish Fox taught you something."
"What do you mean, you're getting Maggie back?" Anita barked, rising to her full height. "Just what do you think you're doing?"
"Hey!" Kendall stuck a finger in her face. "Relax, Santos. This will help you too - we break up Aiden and Maggie, you get that strapping mass of British beef for yourself. Mad Cow certified."
"I don't..." Licking her lips, Anita stopped her outburst, trying to calm herself. "You can't just decide to break up somebody. It's..."
"What? Wrong?"
"Oh, she's cute," Greenlee said, a grin sweeping over her features. "Imagine that. Someone in this town with morals. And she's not even a lesbian!"
"Yes! It's wrong!" Anita snapped to Kendall, ignoring Greenlee completely. "You can't just meddle in people's lives, Kendall. You get them divorced!"
"And if we act now," Kendall quipped. "We won't even have to wait for the engagement."
Clearly, she was out of her element. Turning back to her friend, she shook her head to Bianca. "Bianca, you have to stop your sister from doing this. This isn't their problem."
"Oh, God - why don't you wear a halo and wings and just sit on Bianca's shoulder! We could be like a seesaw."
"Shut up, Kendall-"
"There was tongue." The quiet interjection startled them all, as Anita's eyes widened, struck by the quiet conviction on Bianca's face.
"What?"
"We've kissed four times in the last few months. One time there was straddling, and it would have gone further if we hadn't started fighting."
Anita was suddenly struck dumb. "Bianca."
"I'm sorry, Anita." Bianca's cool gaze leveled her own. "But Kendall's right. I'm not going to sit this out, and just accept it. I can't lose Maggie. I love her. I'm going to fight for her. And I'll do whatever it takes."
In the aftermath of the declaration, Anita felt overpowered.
"Get Rambo here a designer bottle of water," she heard Kendall say behind her. "It's war."
--
end chapter