A/N: As always, I thank you for the wonderful reviews. I'm glad you liked what I did with Marissa's background. I thought something was needed to explain how and why she became the person that she did. Plus, I thought she deserved more of a backstory.

For this chapter, I did some research online. While this is a fictional story, I wanted to give this storyline a dose of reality. This is, unfortunately, an issue that has become all too prevalent in today's society, no matter where you live. What I have Marissa say about state laws and policies regarding anti-bullying is a compilation of what I was able to find for the U.S. Okay, I'll jump off my soap box and get out of the way now. This chapter picks up where I left off the last chapter. Hope you enjoy it!

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Marissa quickly changed into her pajamas and pulled out her laptop, a legal pad and a pen. She had been working on an idea in her head all evening long but hadn't been able to do anything about it until now. She finally had the chance to do some much needed research on it. Marissa needed to answer some questions in her own mind before discussing this further with Bianca. She knew her girlfriend would have a number of her own questions, and the redhead wanted to be ready for all of them.

What Bianca saw when she got back to their bedroom had her chuckle softly. Marissa was sitting on their bed biting her lip in concentration. From time to time, she would take a break from what she was reviewing on her laptop to make notes on a legal pad. Bianca had seen that look too many times to count. Her girlfriend was in lawyer mode which meant she had an idea of something they could do to resolve their current situation. Knowing Marissa as well as she did, Bianca had no doubt that whatever she was working on would be good. The brunette quietly closed the bedroom door behind her and ducked into the bathroom and changed into her pajamas.

After finishing up, Bianca came back into their bedroom and again stood watching her girlfriend, who was still deep in concentration, for a few more minutes. This side of her girlfriend never failed to captivate Bianca, and she could just watch her forever. Marissa glanced up when she felt Bianca's eyes on her and smiled. The brunette crossed the room and sat down next to her. "Do you want to start, or do you want me to?"

Marissa closed her laptop and moved it to the floor. She turned to fully face Bianca. The redhead saw every emotion she was feeling herself reflected in her love's eyes. "First things first." Marissa leaned forward and gave her a loving kiss. "Much better! I think we both needed that. I know I sure as hell did."

Bianca sighed. "You're right. We did need that."

"Why don't you go first? Tell me what AJ told you earlier."

Bianca nodded. "According to AJ, Amber told them that you left town not because of work but because you knew being with me was wrong. You went to get help with your problem. You couldn't do it here because I was confusing you, was bad for you, and you couldn't get better with me around. When you did get better, Miranda, Gabby and I would have to move out, and we would no longer be a family. Our daughter told her that she was wrong and didn't know what she was talking about. All in all, it would seem that I'm a bad influence on you."

"Here all this time, I thought I was a bad influence on you." Marissa smirked.

Bianca smiled. She knew exactly what Marissa was doing and why. Her anger had been building all night, and it felt like it was about to boil over. With that one comment, Marissa managed to diffuse some of that anger, and it was just one of the countless reasons Bianca loved her. "You're a real smartass sometimes, you know?"

"Yeah, I know. It's just something that comes to me naturally. I think that's why I get along with Kendall and Greenlee as well as I do. Smartasses of a feather flock together or something like that, I suppose. No matter what you say, you know you love it. Besides, I'm your smartass."

"Yes, you are most definitely mine." They simply gazed at each other for a moment longer before Bianca continued. No matter how painful this was, this was a conversation that had to be had. "The only other thing AJ told me was that he suspected Miranda wasn't telling him everything. He thought that Amber was saying things about him to her, and Miranda wouldn't tell him what it was. He thought she was protecting him from something. He just wasn't sure what it was. It seems our son is perceptive as hell."

"He certainly is. AJ doesn't miss anything, and he knows Miranda. Amber, that little …"

"Marissa, she's a child and doesn't know any better. Trust me, I know better than anyone else that this is wrong on so many levels. She's repeating what she's heard at home, what she's been taught. She may be the one saying it to Miranda, but this is coming from her parents. We know all too well her mother's stance on things."

"Bully. I was going to say bully. Her mother is a different story. There's another word that comes to mind for her. Yes, I know Amber is a child and is just repeating what she's heard her mother say, what she's been taught, and she's a real chip off the old block. She's using those lessons to lash out at Miranda because she stands up to her, and she can't stand that and the fact that AJ has Miranda's back. That child knows exactly what sore points to touch on with Miranda. She is a bully of the highest order, and she has to be stopped. I've got to tell you that I'm looking forward to taking her mother down."

Bianca squeezed Marissa's hand. "That makes two of us."

Marissa sighed at her touch. "You're right. They don't stand a chance."

"No, they don't, not a chance in hell. So, what did Miranda tell you?"

"Before I tell you that, there's something else I want to tell you, something I need to tell you. You already know it, but I think it's something that I have to tell you again anyway. I love you. I mean what I had engraved in your locket. Forevermore, that's us. Nothing or no one will ever change that. You, the day you told me that you loved me was the day that I discovered what love truly was. Before you, I didn't really know it. I thought I did, but I was wrong. Whatever I felt before for anyone else in my past relationships pales in comparison to what I feel for you. You are the last person I want to see at night, and the first person I want to see in the morning. You're everything. Those three words you told me last Christmas Eve changed my life forever. They made it better, brighter and fuller, more than I could've ever thought possible, than I ever could've dreamt."

Bianca wiped away the tears those heartfelt words brought to her eyes. The loving kiss she gave Marissa conveyed the feelings she could not find the words for right at that moment. "I know. I'm not sure of a lot of things, but I am sure of how you feel about me, of how much you love me. You show me every day with the way you look at me, touch me, hold me and kiss me. There is not one doubt in my mind. I've never been happier or felt more loved. I love you with all of my heart, and I can't imagine my life, my world without you. Those three words you told me that day changed my life too, and it was all for the better." Bianca kissed her once more. Both women sighed before Bianca continued. "Now, tell me what she said to Miranda."

Marissa took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll start with what she was saying about AJ. According to Amber and her mother, AJ doesn't have any real parents around since his real mom is dead, and his dad's in prison. When you couple that along with what they deem as our immoral lifestyle, Amber told Miranda that there was more than enough reason for the courts to determine that AJ should be taken away from us."

Bianca shook her head. "Hey, you are his mom. Just because you didn't give birth to him, it doesn't make you any less his mother than if you had."

"I know. I know that more than anyone else."

"Good because to AJ, you are his mother. Gabby and Miranda see you the same way."

"Just so you know, AJ sees you that way too. It's just that her mother would say that …" Marissa took a deep breath and saw the concern in Bianca's eyes. "I'm okay. I told Miranda that wasn't going to happen, that AJ isn't going anywhere. No one is going to take him away from us."

"No, they're not. He's staying here with us. That explains what Miranda said about AJ not being to blame for what JR did. I can see why she didn't what him to hear any of that. AJ's such a sweet and kind-hearted boy. If he heard that, it would devastate him. Miranda knows that and would do anything to prevent that."

"Yes, he is, and it would. Miranda really is just so remarkable. For her to protect him like that …"

"She's just doing what AJ's done for her any number of times. It's what you do for family."

"You're right. They really do see each other as brother and sister. God help the person who ever even just looks at Gabby the wrong way. They will have both Miranda and AJ to deal with."

"That will be ugly but totally justified mind you. There's more that Amber said, isn't there?"

"According to her and her … mother, I supposedly realized us being together was wrong and left town to get fixed."

"Fixed? Fixed! That's the word she used? You were going to get fixed! What the hell does that mean? You …. There's … I can't believe she said that to Miranda! She …" Bianca struggled to find the words to express her anger. "Unbelievable! For her to say that about you! For anyone to say that about you! I can't believe what is wrong with that woman! She's spreading that garbage to her daughter! That's just not right! It's not right at all! Now, Miranda is hearing it and having to deal with it! She kept that to herself trying to protect both of us!"

Marissa knew Bianca would be angry with what Amber had said to Miranda. She really didn't want to tell to her. She wanted to spare her some of that pain, but she deserved to know. She had to know all of it for them to stop the bullying, and as Bianca had told Miranda earlier, she was a big girl and could handle herself. It wasn't often that her girlfriend got angry because she had incredible self-control, better than Marissa had, but she was mad as hell now. The redhead was furious herself, but she'd had more time tonight to deal with that comment. Despite how she felt, Bianca needed her right now. So, Marissa kept her temper in check and let her girlfriend go on for a few more minutes. Bianca needed to get it out, and this was the best time and place, when it was just the two of them. "B, look at me." Marissa squeezed her hand. "Look at me, Bianca, please. I know I don't need to be fixed because you don't need to fix something that's not broken. There's nothing wrong with us being together. There's nothing wrong about how I feel about you or how you feel about me. There's not one damn thing wrong with it. I know it. You know it. Miranda knows it and so do Gabby and AJ. I don't give a damn what anyone else thinks, okay? You are preaching to the choir."

Bianca took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be taking this out on you, yelling at you like that. This isn't your fault. I know how you feel about me, us. I just hate that Miranda is having to deal with this and AJ too. They shouldn't have to. The fact that some of this could make its way to Gabby is too much for me to think about."

"You're right about everything you've said. Hey, it's not your fault either. The only ones at fault are Amber and her mother. And you weren't yelling at me. You were venting, and you needed to do it. Are you okay now?"

"Yeah, I am. Thank you." Bianca sighed. "After all of this time, I still don't know how you manage to make me feel better so fast."

"It's just part of my job as your partner." Marissa gave her a loving kiss. "You do exactly the same thing for me."

"What else did she tell you?"

"She's not the only one Amber's been bullying."

"AJ mentioned Bobby Douglas was one of her targets."

"Yeah, Bobby, who has two dads, is one of them."

"It does seem as if there is a pattern to her bullying, doesn't it? Who else is there?"

"There is a pattern, but she's made an exception. She's been bullying Jessica Mendes too."

"Why Jessica?"

"She stood up for Bobby."

"So, she would naturally start in on her. I don't get what she would say to Jessica though. According to their criteria, Jessica has a normal family. What's Amber been saying to her?"

"Basically, she's said that her parents aren't from here and should go back to where they came from."

"What's she talking about? Rachel and Chris were born and raised in Pine Valley. Rachel's parents were born here as well. I know Chris told me his parents immigrated here, but that was legally and before he was born. They're actually naturalized citizens now. He told me about when they took the test and how they had a big party when they took their oath of citizenship."

"Well, all of that doesn't seem to matter to Amber and her mother. According to them, the Mendes family is not from here and therefore don't belong."

"Wow. I'm guessing they don't know any of this just like Brandon and Jeff with Bobby."

"You would be right. According to Miranda, no one wants to say anything because they're afraid that if they do that it will make things worse with Amber. We're going to have to talk all of them and let them know what's been going on. They need to know. They'd want to know. I know that we'd want to know if the roles were reversed."

"Yes, we would. This is too much for these kids to have to deal with." Bianca checked the time. "It's too late to call them tonight. We'll need to call them tomorrow."

"That's what I was thinking. Maybe we can meet up with sometime this weekend. There's something that I'd like to talk with them about, after I discuss it with you of course."

"Does this have anything to do with what you were researching when I came in?"

Marissa nodded. "I was in lawyer mode again earlier, wasn't I? Sorry but I can't help it sometimes. I really needed to switch it on for this."

Bianca grinned. "Don't apologize. I like lawyer mode. It's really kind of hot and makes you the kick-ass lawyer you are."

Marissa chuckled. "And you say I'm impossible."

Bianca shrugged and smiled. "I guess we both are. So, what did you come up with, counselor? What can we do to stop this? The school refused to do anything last year."

"Last year, that happened off school grounds. It was at a private residence. Because of that, the school was unable to step in and do anything. Unlike last year however, this has all happened on school property and that changes everything."

Bianca could tell by the look in Marissa's eyes that she had found something. "Go on."

Marissa paused, sorting things through in her mind, before proceeding. "Let's start at the beginning. While Pennsylvania passed an anti-bullying law a few years ago, the policies themselves are adopted and administered on a local level, the school district. That law requires that each school district has a policy on bullying."

"Yeah, there was a copy of the school's anti-bullying policy in all of that paperwork we had to go over at the beginning of the school year. We had to go over it with the kids. They had to sign a pledge not to bully other students, and we had to sign something stating that we reviewed the policy with them."

"Exactly! That policy was sent home with every student in the district. There is also a code of conduct posted in each classroom, and the school also held an assembly to go over all of it. It's all part of the policy that the school district created to be in compliance with the state's anti-bullying law." Marissa paused.

Bianca nodded. "I'm with you so far."

"There is a distinction between what the school can and cannot do in certain situations and if something happens on or off school property. According to the state, the law holds the district responsible for acts of bullying that occur on school grounds."

"Like this latest incident did."

"Precisely! Because this happened on school property, the school is responsible not only by their own policies but also by state law. They are required to do something now."

"Well, that's a big relief. What do we need to do? What are our next steps?"

"We have to report this to the school principal as soon as possible. So, we need to set up a meeting with Ms. Evans, and by we, I mean the kids along with us. The school will need to investigate the incident before determining an appropriate course of action. Ms. Evans will also need to talk with Amber and her parents as part of the investigation."

"Okay, I know Miranda and AJ will be willing to do that now that they know they don't have to hide it from us to try and protect us." A thought suddenly occurred to Bianca. "Their claims will carry more weight if others come forward and tell their stories about Amber bullying them."

Marissa smiled. "Yep, you got it. After Jessica's and Bobby's parents have a chance to talk with them, I'm hoping they will be willing to report what they've been going through to the principal. It will strengthen the case against Amber which will get this to stop."

"Knowing all of them like we do, I'm pretty sure their parents will want that. So, what does all of this mean? What can the school do? I'm sure Amber's parents will claim it didn't happen, that she was just joking or that she wasn't aware of the policy. If the principal agrees with us that something did happen, what can she do?"

"One question at a time! Yeah, sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me. It's a good thought, but we know that it's not true. It's also not a defense when it comes to bullying. Let's go back to the legal definition. Bullying is defined as an intentional electronic, written, physical or verbal act. It must be severe, persistent and pervasive. This has been going on for a while. It's not a one shot deal. We know it's intentional because of Miranda and Jessica standing up to Amber. We know that she was purposefully trying to hurt them because of what she said to them. As for her not being aware of the policy, ignorance of it is not a defense in this case. There will be a signed copy of the pledge not to bully along with the parents' signed acknowledgement that they reviewed the policy with Amber and that she understood it."

"Plus, there's code of conduct posted in each classroom and the school assembly review!"

"Hey, who's the lawyer here?" Marissa grinned.

Bianca chuckled and gave her a quick kiss. "Sorry. It's all of that private tutoring you've been giving me."

Marissa shook her head and laughed. "I'm sure that's it. Now, you were wondering what Ms. Evans can do. For that, I needed to refresh myself on the disciplinary part of the policy. The first thing will be to separate Amber from Miranda, AJ and the other kids that have been bullied. They will all be observed and closely monitored."

"That will make sure she doesn't say anything more to them at school. What about her wanting to get even with them?"

"That's part of the policy too, no retaliation. You want a best case/worst case scenario, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do." Bianca smiled. Marissa knew her too well.

"Worst case is that the principal doesn't think that anything happened so there's no disciplinary action taken against Amber. If that's the case, we can still request that Miranda and AJ are not in any of her classes and that she be kept away from them. Best case is that Ms. Evans agrees that Amber bullied them. If that happens, the punishment could be any number of things. There's writing a letter of apology to them, separating Amber from the kids involved by moving her to another class, detention and a behavior action plan that includes counseling with lessons in social skills and tolerance that also outlines the causes and consequences of their behavior. The sternest disciplinary actions would be suspension, and if the behavior persists, she could be moved to another school in the district. This incident would follow her no matter where she goes."

Bianca took a deep breath and processed everything Marissa had just told her. "Could you hand me your legal pad?" The redhead did as she was asked, and Bianca flipped through it to find an empty page. "I think we need to do a few things tomorrow. So, let's come up with our plan of attack. First, we need to talk to Miranda and AJ. Explain everything to them and make sure they're okay with talking to Ms. Evans. Like I said earlier, I know they will be, but we need to be positive of it. We'll also make sure they know without a doubt that we are going to be with them every step of the way. Then, the next thing we need to do is call the other parents, and let them know what's been happening. I'm not looking forward to those conversations. It's going to be tough on them to hear what their kids have been going through. I'm thinking we can split those calls. I can call Brandon and Jeff, and you can call Rachel and Chris. We can ask them to report what happened to the principal. After that, we need to call Ms. Evans and set up a meeting. We've got her home number, and I don't have any problem with calling her at home about this. I know you don't either."

Marissa nodded and smiled as she took the pad back from Bianca, who had just started to write down her thoughts, and flipped to the last page she had written on.

Bianca chuckled as she read what Marissa had written. It was pretty much exactly what the brunette had just said. "Which of course you've already thought of. I should have known better."

Marissa grinned. "What can I say? Great minds think alike!" The redhead turned serious. "I think we need to make sure Gabby isn't within earshot when we talk to AJ and Miranda. I just think …"

"That she's too young to understand any of this. I know, and you're right. I know we can't protect her forever, but we should right now."

"Agreed. I'd like to meet up with the other parents on Sunday if possible. That will give them time to talk and sort through everything. If they are good with meeting with us, I want to broach the subject of talking with Ms. Evans together."

"That sounds like a good idea. I'd like to meet with her on Monday. I know it's last minute, but I'd like to get started on this as soon as possible. It's gone on for far too long. I can move things around on my schedule. Will you be able to? I know it's your first day back in the office, and you'll be swamped after being away almost all week."

"I agree with you on meeting with her as soon as possible. The sooner we start, the sooner we end this, and the better it is for the kids. Don't worry about my schedule. I will make Monday work. This is far too important. The work can and will wait. We're talking about kids and their safety. There's nothing more important to me than our family."

"I didn't mean to imply anything. You know that, right?"

"Hey, I know you didn't mean anything. You were just worried about me. I get it. So, don't worry about me. I'm good, okay?"

Bianca smiled. "Okay. Speaking of Monday, the kids …"

"Go back to school and will have to face her."

"Yeah. As much as I hate to say this, I really think they need to go. I would love nothing more than to keep them home and away from her, but …"

"Me too, but we can't. What we can do is give them some guidance on what to do when they see her and if she says or does something, prepare them a little."

Bianca nodded. "I think that's a great idea. My thinking is that if she says anything to them is to have them walk away, find a teacher and tell them. It kind of feels like we're telling them to run away, but …"

"It does feel like that a little, like we're telling them to back down. It goes against every fiber in my being, but we need to follow the rules in this case. Otherwise, she'll get away with what she's done, and I absolutely refuse to let that happen." Marissa spoke with a steeliness that matched the look in her eyes.

"So do I." The brunette studied Marissa for a minute. There was something else behind the look in her eyes. "What else do you have up your sleeve, counselor?"

Marissa made a face. She couldn't get anything past Bianca. "I can't hide anything from you, can I? You know me too well. I'm thinking of what I want to do with Tammy."

"It's legal, isn't it Rissa?"

"Part of it is." Marissa grinned. "The other part, not so much."

"Would the not so legal part involve putting her in a headlock?" Bianca grinned.

Marissa laughed remembering a long ago conversation. "Actually, yes, it would! I figure we could really tag team her now!"

Bianca joined her girlfriend as she laughed. She gave her a quick kiss. "I have to admit that I really like that idea! It would be a hell of a lot of fun. She's not worth the jail time though. Tell me what you have in mind legally."

Marissa smiled and began to flip through her notes. She went over every detail of her alternate plan with Bianca and answered every question her girlfriend had for her.