A Little Respect Chapter 39, an all my children fanfic

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.

NOTE - The rest of this story is rated M for serious sexual situations between two female women. Did everyone read that? Okay. Moving on.

Oh yeah. And it gets way schmoopy.

Part Thirty-Nine

I look at this mountain
So many heartaches wide
And I can't help but wonder
Where's the other side
I've got to be honest
I've got my doubts
These tears are asking me
What's this got to do with love?
Baby, I'll tell you something
To help us through this long, dark night

When this trouble passes over
You and I will walk away
Knowing that our love survived
Another test of faith
You and I can walk on water
The river rises, we rise above
It may not look that way right now
But trust me, baby...this is love.

Love isn't easy
I'm torn, I confess
When a heart is uncertain
It's bound to second guess
This love won't forsake us
So dry your tears I promise you

-- Trust Me (This Is Love), by Amanda Marshall

She hadn't said a word as he drove. Sitting still, her hands clenched around her purse, Maggie was like a frightened cat.

"Yeah," he said softly, clicking off the cellphone before stuffing it in his pocket, rounding the corner as carefully as he could in the murky condensation around them. He saw her staring out the window, a nervous tick on her jaw.

"It's a good thing," he said suddenly, evenly. "This fog will keep the plane from getting off the ground. If it's thick enough."

Maggie's mouth tightened, head falling back against the headrest, the way she had done a thousand times before.

Aiden smiled ruefully. Fitting, he supposed. He had once taken Maggie away from Bianca, in this car. Now, he was taking her back.

"I wouldn't even know what to say." Whether she was speaking to herself or to him, he had no idea, but he listened all the same, applying pressure to the brake when he ducked down, to squint at the barely visible red light.

"The truth usually works," he said thickly, ignoring the bruised pounding of his heart to concentrate simply on driving, taking Maggie to her destination.

Craning her neck, Maggie stared at him, eyes dark and shining. "What is the truth?" she whispered. "Has it ever made anything better? I don't know if I'm ready, Aiden. This thing... it just... it came out of nowhere, and now I'm rushing to the airport like some goddamn awful romantic comedy-"

"It's far from it," he snapped, biting off the edge of his words. "And it didn't come out of nowhere, Maggie. You know that." She glanced away.

The light changed, and he pressed on the gas, feeling the car jolt forward.

"What if the truth isn't good enough?"

"Good enough for you?" he asked carefully, eyes on the road. "Or good enough for Bianca?" In the corner of her eye, he could see her swallow, let out a sad sigh. "You're not going to die if you tell her how you feel, Maggie."

A bitter smile lit up the corners of her lips. "After the hell I put you both through, I wouldn't blame either of you if you never wanted to talk me ever again." Crossing her arms, she buried herself further into the seat. "She'll probably toss me off the plane."

The airport lights glinted up ahead, cutting through the fog. Aiden concentrated on just that, ignored the searing inside him, when he spoke as calmly as he could. "You know what scared me so much, Maggie? Why I refused to even think you might still have feelings for her? Because I knew she loved you too. And I couldn't bear to think of what that would mean." He turned into the departure lane, searching out the exclusive gate that would lead directly to the Cambias runway. Jerking the car into park in the loading zone, he turned to her, inspected the soft, haunted face and the old, saddened eyes. Somehow, they only made her more beautiful, more heartbreaking, more fetching. Reaching out, he felt the softness of her face beneath his rough fingers, and shuddered against his will. "The truth is, Maggie, if there was a chance that you wanted me, just an inkling, I'd jump at it." Drawing back, he forced himself to look away. "I don't think it would be any different with Bianca."

Another glance, to discover Maggie staring at him, with those crystal eyes, boring through him to his very soul, leaving him naked, uncomfortable.

"Go on," he said, nodding to the door. "I'll be waiting."

Silently, Maggie stared another moment. A deliberate, trembling smile, and then her soft lips pressed against his cheek. He closed his eyes, felt the burn of that kiss even after she slipped out of the car, shut the door, and went after the love of her life.

"How long before we take off?"

"Not too much longer, Miss Montgomery." Pressing her lips together, Bianca let out another ragged breath, ignoring the curious tightening of her chest to stare outside the small rectangular window, steamed over with condensation. "We're just waiting for the sky to clear up a bit, and we'll be on our way."

A quick glance at Miranda, sleeping in her baby seat, and she smiled sadly. "This fog really came out of nowhere, didn't it?"

"Yes, ma'am," the pilot chirped, releasing a frustrated laugh at the weather. "We'll be out of here soon enough."

"All right, thanks." Placing the phone down, Bianca sat primly on her seat, eyes red with tears, and cheeks flushed with emotion.

The result of the sobs that had erupted the moment she had been alone was a fragile, numb heart.

The reality of her situation had yet to sink in, she knew that. She was leaving behind more than Maggie, but the person who occupied her heart wouldn't relinquish it, and Bianca found herself searching out the corsage, set gently on a neighboring counter.

Reaching over, she managed a bittersweet smile, taking the flowers and carefully arranging them around her wrist, tugging slightly to pull it back into place.

So absorbed in that task, she was taken completely by surprise when a foreign voice interjected into her thoughts.

"Thank God for fog."

The soft, raspy tone spiked immediately inside her. Breathless, Bianca jerked her head up, and immediately caught Maggie, standing in the doorway of her jet, wearing an expression that was so odd it was almost unreadable.

Mind whirling, Bianca could only stare, suddenly sure if this was an apparition come to life, a mirage her taxed mind had fabricated.

Until Maggie stepped forward, feet falling into the soft carpet, and Bianca pushed to her feet, to open her arms, and feel the thin, small body step into them, palms smoothing up her neck. Tangling in the nape, in soft brown hair, Maggie pulled, and suddenly a mouth was opening sweetly under hers.

Without hesitation, Bianca plundered the treasure offered so sweetly, moan rising in her throat as Maggie pressed in further, causing her already rapidly beating heart to flutter even faster, when the kiss deepened, tongue brushing inside intimately, possessively.

"I love you," she heard, amidst her whirling senses, between gasps for breath and the brush of lips on lips. "I love you so much, Bianca."

Dizzy, Bianca palmed handfuls of fabric, nearly keening over, as her eyes closed and her forehead fell into the crook of her lover's shoulder, shuddering.

"Maggie."

She was weak, holding on for fear she would fall, and Maggie only held her tighter, a gentle brush of lips against her crown, fingers smoothing gently over silken strands, cradling her into her.

And still, the turn of events was so hard to process, as Bianca sunk into the softness of Maggie's shoulder, eyes shut tightly, feeling the pliant body underneath trembling suddenly.

Lifting her head, she stared questionably into the dark eyes, mouth opened with breathless pants, mind whirling with uncertainty.

Maggie had tears in her eyes. Soft hands pressed against her face, lining her cheeks, her jaw.

"If you want to throw me off the plane, I understand," Maggie whispered gently, tearing into her senses with her distracting touch. "I would throw myself off the plane. But I had to tell you before you left."

Bianca couldn't move. It was as if someone had knocked her on the side of her head, blinding her, and so she merely stood, watching Maggie beseechingly, trying to clear her throat to speak and finding she had no words.

"Maggie..." she croaked, and licking her lips, sighed raggedly."Maggie, what does this-"

"I love you," Maggie whispered again, more urgently this time, grip tightening on her face, holding her still. "I've always loved you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I'm telling you this now and you're leaving, I'm sorry that I'm scared and I push you away. I'm so sorry for so many things-"

"Maggie..." Jerking the hands off her face, Bianca's mouth went dry, and she swallowed hard, drawing the trembling girl in closer, palm against the back of her head, holding her still. "Shhh... Maggie-"

A sob soaked breath was sucked in against her blouse, and Maggie kept still, held tightly against her.

"What are you apologizing for?" she breathed, almost furious at the action. "Maggie, you have nothing, NOTHING to apologize for." Jerking back, she licked her lips once again, staring down at the flushed, beautiful face. "Did I push you, Maggie? Did I hurt you?"

"No-no-" Palms covered her own, as Maggie shook her head furiously. "NO, Bianca."

"Then why are you-"

An exhalation, and suddenly Maggie's head dipped against hers, forehead tilting, mouth breathing against her own, sniffles coming erratically, as her palms pressed demurely against Bianca's collarbone.

Bianca lost her tone, eyes wide open as Maggie just closed her eyes and breathed. "I know you're confused," Maggie began, in this achingly fragile voice. "I know that. And I'm still... unsure, about a lot of things. I know I'm confused, Bianca. But what I'll never be confused about again, is my feelings for you."

"Maggie..." she began, in a halting, unsure voice.

"I'm in love with you, Bianca. I've always been in love with you. And I'm not ready for Paris yet, but that doesn't mean I never will be." Pulling back slightly, Maggie searched her dark, bewildered expression. "I'll wait for you, I'll be here, and I'll love you when you're gone. I promise you that. In our apartment."

The words were almost riddles, and Bianca's gobsmacked expression would have been funny, if it had been any other circumstance. But Maggie's tearful expression was growing ever more afraid, and when the reality of what Maggie was saying began to sink in, Bianca's heart thudded painfully, jerking against her chest, and nearly ricocheting off the body pressed so tightly against hers.

Tears suddenly flooded into her ears, making the vision before her suddenly blurry, until she blinked and the tears fell against her cheeks, as she inhaled loudly, unsteadily.

And she laughed. This odd, euphoric, trembling laugh that seemed contagious, because suddenly Maggie was laughing with her, in that same weird way. They laughed together, foreheads touching, like two idiots, and then Maggie's face tilted and Bianca kissed her again, mouth fitting neatly against hers, chastely clinging to her like a child discovering a precious new treasure.

"I love you," she admitted gently, and seeing Maggie smile in reaction, only made her smile widen, a breathless whisper against her mouth continuing, "I do, Maggie."

Maggie tangled her hands into her curls, grabbing handfuls like she wouldn't ever let go. "I know. I know, Bianca."

There was a soft, careful moment, and suddenly Bianca couldn't help another shaky chuckle. "I don't know why, but I'm scared."

"I know," Maggie repeated, smile flashing again, whispering her words along with her. "I'm scared, too. And I'm not. And it's weird."

The smile faded when their eyes locked intensely again, and Bianca pulled her closer still, dipping her head for another gentle kiss, sliding her mouth gently against Maggie's soft lips, feeling the exhalation against her breath, the tender swipe of a moist tongue, bathing her bottom lip.

She broke the kiss with a gasp, and Maggie laughed again, this beautiful sound that Bianca wanted to hear for the rest of her life. She was overwhelmed with touch, the feel of Maggie's body pressed up against her own.

The phone rang, breaking into the euphoric stillness, making her lift her head slowly, stare at it.

"The fog lifted."

Bianca turned, looked at Maggie.

"I guess it has."

And still, they didn't move, until Maggie closed her eyes, and sighed, biting her lip and looking at her, as if memorizing every angle. Reaching up, she pressed another kiss against her mouth, breathing in against her lips, and suddenly breaking free.

"I have to go."

Instinct made her want to latch on, cling tighter, never let her go, suddenly afraid this wasn't real, that this wasn't her Maggie; that this turn of events was just a dream.

The insecurity must have shown, and Bianca was sure it was almost ironic, that it was Maggie who smiled in reassurance, carefully reaching up to kiss her again, a lingering embrace that weakened her, until Maggie moaned softly, and stepped away.

A knock came at the door, and Bianca turned breathlessly, eyes on Maggie, as she approached her baby girl, a sleepy babble coming out of her.

"Miss Montgomery?"

Wiping at the tears in her eyes, she turned, swallowed heavily and managed a careful, "Yes?"

The voice at the other side of the door was polite, but firm. "We're ready to take off."

Maggie was holding Miranda in her arms, her baby draped over her shoulder, comfortably sleepy on her new perch.

Oh, God.

The image triggered something inside of her, a yearning, a deep restraint, as she looked at the love of her life and the most precious thing that she would ever call hers. Something collapsed inside of her, a bursting emotion that made her suddenly breathless, staring beseeching at Maggie and her baby.

She almost lost control, palms fisting and body humming, eyes watering as Maggie kissed Miranda carefully on her forehead, whispered a sweet goodbye to the sleeping baby before looking up again at Bianca, wearing the most peaceful expression she had seen.

"One more thing," Maggie whispered, tone husky with emotion. "You know Paris is a very chic place, and I don't think they'll let you in with that thing on."

Blinking through her tears, she looked down and discovered the corsage, hugging her wrist. Closing her palm around it, she smiled as best she could, a crooked tilt of her head.

"I'll take my chances."

The smile on Maggie's face died at her own conviction, and unable to help herself, Bianca moved fast, wrapped an arm around Maggie's waist, balancing Miranda between them as she dipped her head and hungrily took Maggie's lips her with own, a desperate, passionate, pleading kiss.

She wanted to plead with Maggie not to go. She wanted to be strong and able and willing to say goodbye. Her mind warred with her desire and her promise, and so she kissed her for as long as she could, planting kiss after kiss on the sweet lips, until Maggie tore away with a frustrated groan, clutching tightly to Bianca's arm, holding firm.

"I have to go," she whispered.

Bianca tried not to let the words tear inside her. She swallowed heavily, as Maggie carefully shifted Miranda to her, handling her baby like the priceless treasure she was. Palm lingering on Miranda's palm, Maggie's eyes shone bright with tears, a testament to her emotion.

"I love you," came the soft whisper, full of meaning, a plea hidden behind it. "I do."

Bianca had no choice. She held tightly to her baby girl and closed her eyes when Maggie pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth, faltering when Bianca whispered against her lips, a fervent promise, "I'll love you forever."

Pulling back, Maggie stepped away, licking swollen lips and running a distracted hand through tousled hair.

"Forever isn't that far away, Bianca."

Stepping backwards, one foot behind the other, as if Maggie wanted to prologue the moment, Bianca fought the instinct to run after her, when Maggie offered a shuddering inhalation, and then turned, and walked out of the room.

Stepping out of the elevator, Maggie Stone felt curiously numb, smoothing wrinkles out of her party dress, rubbing fingers against her neck, massaging into the skin.

Somehow, she felt fiercely independent.

It was an odd feeling, in the wake of what had just happened. She was still weak-kneed, dizzy from the brief, intense goodbye with Bianca. She had licked her lips over and over, trying to recapture the taste, the feeling, the pressure of firm, soft lips that were full and lush, plundering hers with such desperation and passion.

Fingers trembled as she fumbled inside of her purse, sifting through the contents with shaky, purposed breaths, until she located a small key, buried deep within the confines of her wallet.

As she took in the tiny key, Maggie found herself having to close her eyes, breathe in deeply, chest rising and falling. Exhausted emotionally and physically, she couldn't shake the euphoria, the moment of peace that came with what had happened, the finality of the simple act of giving in.

And now here she was.

Breathing in raggedly yet again, she inserted the key carefully into the lock, shifted the metal and heard the click. The door opened obediently, and Maggie Stone walked into her new apartment.

Remnants of Bianca and Miranda lingered, scattered about the place like tiny treasures, not forgotten, she suspected, but deliberately left behind. Bianca was nothing but an optimist, after all.

Sinking down on the sofa, she reached for a yellow blanket, drawing it gently into her lap, fingers smoothing over the worn fabric. A shaky smile lit upon her face, as she laughed tenderly, drawing it to her as if it were alive, smoothing her cheek against the surface.

Curling up on the cushions, she buried herself into it, inhaling the soft Miranda like scent that mingled with Bianca's signature Enchantment perfume.

Eyes opening, she dwelt on the silence, arching up to stare first at the Greek statues, the cupids hovering over the fireplace, her tacky little companions.

"Hey guys," she greeted, sitting up, offering a small wave. "I'm your new roommate."

They offered no response.

Bianca had always had a very interesting sense of design.

"At least you don't have three eyes," she muttered.

She wasn't ready to move, just yet. Instead, Maggie stayed on the couch, craning her head as she took in the apartment Bianca had left behind, offering it to her, along with the key to her heart.

Kicking off her shoes, Maggie lingered, legs crossed.

Bianca would be in the air now. Maggie didn't have the strength to watch her take off.

Once again, she found herself tracing her own lips, the remnants of the kiss that Bianca had given her, seared into her soul with promises of love and adoration. Her cheeks flushed at even the thought.

Someone knocked at the door, interrupting her contemplation, and the unsteady breathing that had accompanied it.

Staring at it oddly, Maggie waited a moment, blinking in confusion, before settling her bare feet on the floor.

"Uh... coming!" Pursing her lips, she paused, wondering why on earth Bianca had never thought to include a peep hole, and with a sigh and a shake of her head, jerked it open, wincing a little at the impact on her shoulder.

What happened next blindsided her completely.

Heart jackknifing in her throat, Maggie had only a second to process that it was, indeed, Bianca, standing in the doorway, when suddenly the woman in question took a huge step forward, and claimed her lips and her body, sinking into her with a passionate, sensuous kiss.

Senses flooded, Maggie gasped, clutching onto strong arms in pure instinct. It only gave her lover more advantage, as a firm tongue swept into the warm mouth, thrusting inside her with such abandon Maggie found herself reacting before she could understand it.

Bianca ripped a moan from her throat, and in surprise, Maggie jerked her head back, gasping in sudden arousal, staring beseeching into a face that shouldn't have been here.

"Bianca..." Breathlessly, palms slid up shoulders, against slender cheeks and intense, dark eyes. "Bianca, what are you-"

Bianca's head lowered again, capturing her lips with a low, throaty groan, as Maggie's eyes shut tight, clinging to her mouth.

"I delayed the flight," Bianca breathed, tickling her mouth with moist breath, forehead tilted against hers, palms splayed tight against her waist, keeping her close. "I couldn't, Maggie, I couldn't-"

Caught in a lust induced fog, Maggie blinked, as the words slowly began to make sense, and suddenly she lifted on her toes and shut her mouth with another deep kiss, hand palming the side of Bianca's face, a forceful assault on her lips.

They kissed hotly until it wasn't enough. Breaking apart to suck in a lungful of air, Maggie shuddered suddenly when Bianca's hand tangled in her hair, jerking her head almost roughly to the side, to suck against her neck, teeth dragging along the sensitive arch.

"Oh my God..." she whispered, eyes rolling back.

Hands encircled her waist, catching her as her knees suddenly seemed to give out, and her taller friend mumbled something against her throat, before she dimly heard the door thud close, before sinking to the floor.

Her heart was pounding so hard, so fast, and Maggie's body heat seemed to rise to the temperature of a blazing hot furnace, when Bianca's mouth settled on her earlobe, hands roaming endlessly, as if Bianca had wanted to touch her for so long she didn't know where to begin, and settled for everywhere at once.

"Maggie..." she heard, a desperate plea, and with a mix between a groan and a growl, she answered it, suddenly feverish, tilting her head until she was once again plundering firm lips, tongue delving into that hot mouth to mate furiously with Bianca's.

Pressing up against her lover, she discovered Bianca's silky dress pooled up against her thighs, and her hand instinctively rubbed against the expanse of skin bared to her, leaning forward until legs opened underneath her.

Unwilling to break the kiss, she nevertheless couldn't ignore the heat she came in contact with, as her hips thrust suddenly against the juncture of Bianca's thighs they were cradled against, drawing out a low, tantalizing moan that she tasted, as the sensation exploded between her legs.

It was new, her mind dimly processed that, and she wanted to slow down, take her time to process the differences. But her hips rolled again, met with Bianca's arching body, and legs spread around, aided when Maggie's palms spread possessively against Bianca's ass.

Suddenly there was nothing but the feel of Bianca underneath her, the tantalizing pressure against her heat, the exhilarating pressure that began to build, as the sloppy kiss broke, and breasts rubbed against hers, Bianca's head thrown back against the carpet, eyes closed.

"Oh, God, I love you," she breathed.

Eyes glazed with feeling opened, met hers, and suddenly Bianca reached up, and dragged her down, plastered her against her own rolling hips, attacking her lips with such beautiful vengeance, plunging her tongue into her mouth with the rhythm of their thrusts.

Legs tightened suddenly around her, as Bianca's cries buried into her mouth, until Bianca could only pant against her lips, furiously moving against her.

And suddenly Bianca shuddered, cried out and hands tangled in her hair pulled reflexively.

Watching Bianca come was the most erotic sight she had ever seen.

Another thrust, and suddenly the pressure exploded, splintering within her, and Maggie lost all strength, falling against a panting chest, the soft pillow of breasts greeting her.

Words lost all meaning, and Maggie's thoughts were pure gibberish. She understood only sensation.

Bianca's noisy breaths. The rise and fall of the chest resting beneath her. Weak fingers smoothing through her hair.

Eyes closed, Maggie breathed in raggedly. Circling trembling arms around the waist of the woman that cradled her, Maggie held on, sweaty and spent. Cheek pillowed against a perfect breast, Maggie heard the erratic heart beating beneath her.

Her safe place.

Lost in the moment, Maggie smiled, and tightened her hold.

end chapter