A/N: It's Saturday and time for an update! My bracket is blown all to hell, but my team is still playing so I'm good! Thanks for continuing to read, follow and review! It's definitely appreciated. A couple of you are worried about Sam. Without giving anything away because what fun would that be, I ask that you trust me. Sam's my own creation so I'll make sure she's okay. This chapter picks up where the last one left off. Hope you enjoy this update!

/

If there was one thing on this earth that Russ Payne knew, it was people. He'd made a living out of studying them. Granted, that living put him on the other side of the law from time to time, but he didn't let that bother him. To date, he hadn't spent any time in jail, and he had every intention of keeping that streak intact. That streak hadn't kept going because of luck either. No, there was hard work behind it and a lot of it. He observed them, studied their reactions and learned their tells. That wasn't all he did though. He researched them in depth. He looked into every aspect of their professional and private lives. By the time Russ was done, he knew them better than they knew themselves. All of this paid off for him in spades, and it helped him determine which persona to adopt to pull them in, to take them into his confidence and to underestimate him. That last one he used effectively time and time again. He considered himself somewhat of a master of his particular craft and loved what he did. Why wouldn't he? It was very lucrative and had forged an unbreakable bond with the person he learned from, his mother Jackie. She was one of the best, and he had studied happily and diligently at her feet. Most would learn the art of the con at the feet of their father, but his wasn't around for the majority of his life so he put any feelings he might have had for the man aside.

That's not to say that Russ didn't know about Kurt Robinson and his other family because he did. He knew all about them, and he also knew when Matt and Hannah had died leaving their daughter an orphan. Quite honestly, he didn't care much about the situation. It had no real bearing on him or his life. That was until recently though. The girl appeared on his radar a few months ago when money got a little tight. The economy was not very kind to those in his profession so he decided to do a little research. It turns out that she had some money. Well, not directly she didn't. There was a trust of some sort that had been established for her. The trust was worth $60,000. The amount didn't quite make sense to him though. After all of their debts had been paid off, she was left with a total of $25,000. Another $10,000 resulted from various investments and interest. Where did the other $25,000 come from? Not that it mattered that much to him. It was just more money that was ripe for him to pick. His research had found the trust was under the control of her guardians which in this case were her foster parents, a couple by the name of Alex and Gail Walker. Russ needed to figure out a way to get control of that trust. That was the puzzle he was working on when he was contacted by a private investigator. It seemed the foster family wanted to adopt her which prompted a thorough investigation and led to him. Russ was now in a perfect position to get his hands on that money. True, he would have to deal with custody of the girl, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. He could also handle his wife, Cheryl. She wasn't exactly keen on the idea of getting custody of a teenager. To Russ, it would only be temporary though. They'd have her long enough to get the money. Once he had his hands on it, he'd go back to the courts saying that it just wasn't working out. He guessed she would go back into the system, but given her age, it wouldn't be for very long. Again, he didn't see this as his concern.

All of this is what brought Russ to Pete Taylor's office. He needed a lawyer. Correction, he needed a hungry lawyer, one that would be willing to look the other way if necessary. He'd read about Pete and how he was fired from the D.A.'s office coincidentally not long after handling a case involving Russ's niece. This was where his research had paid off again. A few well-placed questions found that her case was definitely a contributing factor to Pete losing his job. It also turned out that the lawyer handling the adoption also handled her original case, and the word was that Pete was holding a big time grudge against the other lawyer. Yeah, this was definitely something Russ could work with.

Russ had been standing outside of Pete's office when the lawyer had his outburst. This is going to be easier than I thought. Time to play concerned uncle. Putting on his best concerned face, he opened the door.

/

"Have a seat, Mr. Payne. What can I do for you?"

"Well, I'm in need of a lawyer."

Beggars can't be choosers. Pete thought. "What kind of case are we talking about?"

"It's a custody case."

Pete rolled his eyes internally. Great, like those pay anything and will get me anywhere. "I don't really handle custody cases. Sorry."

Russ didn't pay any attention and plowed ahead. "This one's different. It involves my niece. She's my brother's daughter. Him and his wife died a while ago. I just found out about it. It turns out that she's been living with a foster family, and now, they want to adopt her. I don't feel right about it. I mean, she's blood and blood stays together. Do you know what I mean?"

The lawyer would be lying if he said he wasn't a little interested. He wasn't completely sold on it though. "I can see where you're coming from. What's her name?" Pete asked idly as he sipped his cup of coffee.

"My niece? Her name's Samantha Robinson."

Pete's eyes grew wide as he choked on his drink. "Did you say Samantha Robinson?"

"Yeah, I did. Like I said, her father was my brother, well actually my half-brother. We had the same father but didn't grow up together. We never met, never had the chance to know each other. That's something I regret." Russ shook his head and sighed. "I never met my niece either. I was recently contacted by a private investigator who told me about the adoption. That got me to thinking."

"Did this investigator tell you who they work for?"

"Yeah, it was a woman. What was her name? Melissa? That doesn't sound right."

"Marissa Tasker, maybe?"

Gotcha! "Yeah, that's it. She works for some big firm here. Do you know her?"

Pete cleared his throat. "Yes, I know who she is."

"So, is she any good?"

"She's okay. I'm better though."

"Would you be interested in taking my case?"

Pete sat back and thought for a moment. He'd like nothing better than wiping the courtroom floor with Marissa. Something wasn't quite adding up though. "Tell me something, Mr. Payne. Why do you really want custody of your niece?"

"I don't know what you mean. I told you already. She's family and family should stay together."

"That's good. We can use that when we go to court. Now, tell me the real reason because I'm not really buying the concerned uncle routine."

Russ quirked an eyebrow and chuckled. "I guess you can't con a con, huh? I have my reasons. I have to admit that I'm surprised you saw through that act. I mean, I'm pretty good. What gave me away?"

"You are good. I, however, am used to dealing with politicians, and they're pretty much the world's oldest con artists."

"You got me there. So, you want to take this case? It seems like you have an axe to grind with that other lawyer."

"I might have a small one."

"How about you scratch my back, and I scratch yours? We both win."

Pete smiled. He did like the sound of that, but he needed to make sure of one thing. "Before I agree, I need to know what you want out of this. What's your exact interest in this girl? It's nothing of a se …"

Russ held up his hands to cut the lawyer off knowing where he was going with that line of questioning. "Hold up. I don't go for that stuff. She's a girl, so just no." He paused and weighed his options. He was going to have to come clean. This had its advantages however. If Pete took the case, they would be tied together and be partners in crime. "Alright, I'll be straight with you. I'm in this for the money. I found out she's got a trust in her name. If I get custody of her, I get control of the trust and access to that cash. I could give you a small cut. You'd also have the pleasure of taking down that lawyer."

That really did appeal to Pete. He'd be showing everybody that he was the better lawyer. What made this even sweeter, he'd be rubbing it in the face of a newly minted partner of one of Pine Valley's most prestigious law firms. Plus, he'd get to show his father he was wrong about Pete. "You've got yourself a deal. Now, let's get to work."

/

Marissa arrived at the Yacht Club 15 minutes ahead of the time she was scheduled to meet Krystal. The redhead would be lying if she said she wasn't a little nervous. She hoped she could get through this lunch without letting her emotions get the best of her. Marissa had placed her cellphone on the table after she checked the time on it. A moment later, she felt it vibrate and glanced down at it. The redhead smiled as she read the message her wife had just sent.

You've got this, Rissa. I believe in you. Leave if it gets to be too much for you. Remember, I'm just a call away. I love you. B

It was both the boost and reassurance she needed. Marissa quickly sent a text back in reply.

Thank you. You're definitely the best wife ever. I'll let you know how it goes. I love you. M

"Hi, Marissa."

The redhead glanced up from her cellphone upon hearing her name. "Hi, Krystal. Thanks for coming. I really appreciate it."

"It's no problem at all. I'm more than happy to."

"I guess it's nice to have someone else wait on you for a change, huh?"

Krystal chuckled. "Yes, it is. How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling pretty good. The morning sickness has calmed down considerably. That's not to say that it still doesn't flare up every once in a while, but it's definitely better."

"I'm very glad to hear that."

They chatted amiably while they looked at the menu.

"So, are you going to tell me about this person you are interested in?"

Krystal blushed slightly. "I thought you forgot about that."

"Oh no, I remember. What's his name? What's he do? Have the two of you gone out? Is everything cool with Tad?"

"You just have a few questions for me then?"

Marissa laughed. "Yeah, just a few."

Krystal shook her head and smiled. "His name is Steve, and he's the electrical contractor working on the expansion of the restaurant."

"An electrician? That's something to keep in mind should something come up." Marissa smirked. "Oh wait, I remember meeting him before. He's really nice and very good looking too."

"Yeah, he is on both counts. We haven't had an official date yet. We've just had coffee during breaks and have talked quite a lot, but we're going out next week. As for Tad, it was awkward at first when I told him about my interest in Steve, but we talked it over and worked things out. He's good with it now and is actually interested in a nurse at the hospital."

"Good for him and good for you."

"Thank you."

After a waiter came over and took their orders, the two women continued their conversation.

Marissa saw the amused look on Krystal's face. "What?"

"Nothing. It's just that you didn't order anything … extra."

The redhead laughed and placed a hand on her belly. "No, I didn't. My little one seems content with the regular menu today. I guess the onion rings and the chocolate shake combination was a little interesting."

"Just a little. How'd it taste though?"

"Pretty darn good if I do say so myself."

"Well, that's all that matters."

"That kind of brings me to some of what I wanted to talk to you about."

Krystal couldn't hide her confusion. "Your cravings?"

"Yeah. Well, that and other things, from when you were pregnant."

"Oh, I see. Okay. I'll be happy to answer any questions you have. What would you like to know?"

There was a brief pause in their conversation when the waiter returned with their orders a few minutes later. While he was busy placing everything on their table, Marissa thought of the best way to approach Krystal with her questions.

Krystal jumped in first. "You know, I really didn't have any cravings that were too unusual or at least I didn't see them that way. I still don't."

"Like I said earlier, my lunch the other day …"

"Was nothing unusual from where I sit."

"You seemed surprised."

"I think I was a little because I hadn't seen you embrace them before. As to my cravings, I had different ones for each pregnancy. With Jenny, it pretty much stayed the same all the way through it, anything chocolate. When I was pregnant with Babe and you, the cravings were different. Usually, it was something sweet but then I would get the need for something spicy. It's funny, but that's when I created my chili recipe. During that time, I also experimented with putting it over fries. I suppose you can take credit for my chili cheese fries."

"I'll have to tell Bianca that." Marissa added with a chuckle before turning serious. The redhead took a deep breath and continued. "Did you have any complications while you were pregnant? Like did you have any medical problems like high blood pressure, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes or anything along those lines? I thought it would be a good idea to know just in case anything comes up for me during this time."

"I think you're right. It is a good idea and part of why you're such a good mother. I didn't have any major complications. There was the normal stuff, some swelling. My back and feet would hurt from time to time. I would also get really tired later in the pregnancies. Oh and heartburn, I had heartburn during both. All of that's normal though."

"How was labor?"

"Again, with Jenny, it was easier, but that was because it was one baby as opposed to twins. I went full term with her but earlier with Babe and you."

"I read that's common with multiples, and before you ask, I'm positive I'm just having one."

Krystal nodded. "You were a little unexpected. Through most of the pregnancy, I thought I was expecting one baby. Because of how you were positioned behind Babe, the doctors only heard one heartbeat. Towards the end, you moved and could clearly be seen and heard." Krystal became lost in her memories. "Babe was delivered first. Three minutes later, you made your appearance, and oh did you ever let us know you had arrived." Krystal's smile faded. It was when she had heard her second daughter's cries that reality came crashing down on her. She couldn't see any way that she'd be able to care for two babies. It was in that moment that she could only see one option. Shortly after that, she'd sold her youngest at the time, and even though she knew the baby girl was much better off with Roy and Lydia, it was something she regretted every day since.

Marissa seemed to sense what Krystal was thinking, and the redhead definitely did not want to go there. It was a discussion they'd had before, and one she knew by heart. Krystal did what she felt she had to do at the time and did regret it. Marissa knew how fortunate she was that the Taskers had been the ones Krystal had chosen to sell her to. That was the thing though. Krystal had sold Marissa and used those funds to support her life with Babe, the daughter she chose to keep, and that still stung, not as much as it did when she first found out about it but it still did sting. That and the thought Marissa had that she somehow wasn't good enough for her biological mother to keep her, and that was why she chose Babe and not her. Marissa definitely did not want to have this conversation, not with her hormones fluctuating because of the pregnancy and with them also being in public. This was reason why she had been so hesitant to have this discussion. Bianca knew this, and it's why she had urged her to be careful and encouraged her to walk away from it if she needed to. She definitely needed to pull back from where this was headed.

Krystal picked up on the shift in her daughter's mood. The conversation was definitely veering towards dangerous territory for both of them. It absolutely killed Krystal the pain and self-doubt she had caused her daughter. She also hated what she had done to Bianca. Krystal had hurt two of the most loving and caring souls, and while she doubted that she could ever forgive someone who had committed the crimes she was guilty of against her, both Bianca and Marissa were doing just that, working to forgive her. Krystal found this both overwhelming and undeserved on her part, but she was determined to keep working until she felt she had truly earned some modicum of their forgiveness. If that point in time ever did actually occur, she would continue to work even harder.

"So, no major health issues I should worry about then?" Marissa asked as she pulled them back from the edge.

"No, and from I recall my mother telling me, she didn't have any issues either. I don't think you have anything to worry about. You're in excellent health and take really good care of yourself. Bianca takes really good care of you too." Krystal breathed a sigh of relief at her daughter shifting the conversation back onto safer ground.

Marissa smiled, in part out of gratitude for Krystal accepting the shift in conversation and in part because her last statement was true. "Yes, she does. She's great. I'm so lucky to be sharing my life with her."

"You're both lucky. What else would you like to know?"

The two continued their conversation for a short while longer before both had to get back to work. Marissa paid the check over Krystal's objections insisting it was her treat. They walked out together with Marissa pausing right before the exit.

"Is everything alright?"

Marissa smiled sheepishly. "Yes, it is. I just need to use the ladies' room, again."

Krystal smiled knowingly. "Ah, I remember that particular side effect."

"Yeah, I lose count how many times a day I have to go now."

"I hate to break it to you, but that will only increase the further along you are."

Marissa sighed. "So I've been told. Thanks for meeting and talking with me today."

Krystal hugged her daughter. "You're welcome, and I'm here anytime you need me. All you have to do is call."

/

"Hey, Binx. I'm glad you could switch to a later lunch."

"Hey, Kendall. It's not a problem at all and actually works pretty well for me. It's been crazy at the Center today. Mom's not here yet, huh?"

"Did you really think she would be? We're talking about Erica Kane. She's never met a grand entrance that she didn't like." Kendall smirked.

Bianca laughed. "You've got that right."

Kendall glanced around the bistro. "I like this place. Krystal's is great, but it's nice to try new places every once in a while. How did you find this place?"

"I couldn't agree with you more. Rissa and I both love this place. We found it when we went to the gallery opening a few months ago. They've got a killer onion soup." Bianca had suggested they meet at the bistro when Erica had invited her daughters to lunch the other day. It had been a while since the Kane women had spent some time together, just the three of them. The time had to be changed earlier in the day due to last minute meetings that both Kendall and Erica had. Bianca was able to move things around on her end to accommodate the new time.

"Hmmm, I haven't that in a while and that actually sounds kind of good."

The sisters' conversation was interrupted by a waitress arriving to take their drink orders. Once they were alone again, the two continued to talk about how their days were going so far while they waited for their mother.

/

It was when Marissa was alone in a stall in the ladies' room that the redhead's emotions finally got the best of her. Hazel eyes glistened as tears began to fall. She hated this, hated feeling like this, but damn if there was anything she could do about it. Marissa felt she had no one else to blame but herself. She was the one who called Krystal and suggested they meet. She had tried to pull herself back from the emotional brink of their conversation and thought she had succeeded, but she had been wrong. Her biological mother had sold her and kept her sister and then used that money for the two of them to live. Why? Why didn't she choose Marissa? Was there something wrong with her? Did Krystal pick up on something that said 'pick this one and not that one'? Marissa shook her head. No, this isn't on me, and Krystal's really tried to be there for me. She was there through the whole mess with JR, and she's accepted my relationship with Bianca without batting an eye. She even helped Kendall try and set us up. Bianca. After everything that Krystal and Babe had done to her, Bianca had somehow managed to forgive them, and she wants me to try and do the same. I told her I would. I was doing pretty well too until today and these damn hormones.

Marissa took a couple of deep, shaky breaths and wiped her eyes. I can do this. I have to do this. For me, for Bianca, for the girls, for AJ and for our little one. The redhead could feel her blood pressure and heartbeat start to lower as she gained control back. She had to focus, go back to work and get through the rest of the day. Tonight, when she and Bianca were alone, Marissa would tell her everything that happened. She'd promised that she would, and the redhead would keep her word to her wife. With another cleansing breath, Marissa left the stall and looked in the mirror over the sink. She shook her head as she took in her reflection and did her best to repair the damage from her breakdown. With that completed, she departed.

/

Erica Kane was not happy. She was meeting with representatives from an advertising agency to discuss the possibility of her being a spokesperson for a luxury automobile sold by one of their top clients. In their initial pitch to the diva, they expressed their desire to establish the car as a status symbol, one of class, elegance and style. To them, no one represented those qualities more than the one and only Erica Kane. The stroking of her ego had been enough for her to agree to a face to face meeting with them but only if it was in Pine Valley. They readily agreed and set it up at the Yacht Club. Their flight out of New York was delayed due to mechanical issues though. That delay pushed the meeting back. When they finally did arrive and made their pitch in earnest, Erica was definitely intrigued, and the meeting went well. The only drawback was that it had run over. Now, she was running late for lunch with her daughters, a lunch she had suggested and had moved the time on once already today. While Bianca might be forgiving, Kendall more than likely would not.

The valet she had given her ticket to a few minutes before approached her cautiously, on foot.

"Ms. Kane."

"Yes. Is there a reason you're here without my car?"

"Yes, ma'am. Uh, it won't start."

"Excuse me?"

"The car's ignition won't turn over. I'm sorry. We'll be more than happy to have someone take a look at it for you, but it could take a little while."

Erica cleared her throat while she cursed herself internally. As much as she would love to place the blame on the nervous young man standing in front of her, she knew this was on her. Jack had warned her the car was due for service and had even offered to take it in for her, but she declined the offer saying she would do it herself and then had gotten too busy to do so. "Thank you. I would appreciate that very much. I need to be somewhere for another appointment. Are you fine with me leaving it here?"

"Of course, but how will you get to your other appointment if I can ask?"

"I'll simply have to call a car service and check back here later, that is if my daughters don't have my head for keeping them waiting."

"Who would possibly have the nerve to threaten Erica Kane?"

The diva turned around to meet the amused expression of her daughter-in-law. "Marissa dear, what a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?"

"I met Krystal for lunch. So, you didn't answer my question. Who would have the sheer audacity to threaten you? Do I need to have a talk with someone to set them straight?"

Erica laughed. "Thank you for the offer. I'll be sure to keep that in mind in the future. It is, however, not needed this time. You see, I was referring to my daughters."

Marissa grimaced playfully. "Oh, those two. I think you may have to be on your own on this. They're kind of scary, especially that younger one."

"Yes, that's very true. She can be especially when it comes to her family."

"You definitely have that right. The Kane women are definitely a force to be reckoned with. Why on earth would Kendall and Bianca be mad at you?"

"I'm late for lunch with them, a lunch that was my idea."

"Oh, that's right. Bianca said the three of you were going to meet today at the bistro over by the art gallery. We really love that place. Why are you here though?"

"I had a meeting here. It ran over, and now to make matters worse, it would seem I'm having car trouble. I'm calling a car service before I text them."

"I'll take you." Marissa handed her ticket to the valet who dashed off to retrieve her car.

"That's very nice of you, dear, but I wouldn't want to inconvenience you."

"Erica, it's no problem, and I insist. I'm not going to take 'no' for an answer. Bianca can tell you how stubborn I am so you might as well give up."

The diva smiled. "If you're sure."

"I'm positive."

"Then, I accept and thank you."

"You're welcome, and here we are now." Marissa smiled as the valet pulled up in her car.

The valet exited the car and held the door open for Marissa, who gave him a generous tip, while another one opened the door for Erica. Once both women were settled inside and had fastened their seatbelts, they pulled away.

/

Bianca typed out a quick text before addressing her sister. "That was Mom. She's on her way. Her meeting started late and then ran over. When she went to leave, her car wouldn't start."

"Seriously?" Kendall sighed

"Yep. It's not her fault, Kendall."

"Maybe not the car but the meeting is. This was her idea. She does this all the time."

"Give her a chance to explain everything that happened before you rip into her, okay? Do it for me, please."

Kendall rolled her eyes. She could never really say 'no' to her baby sister, especially when she was looking at her like she was now. "Fine. I'll do it, for you."

"Thank you!"

"How's she getting here if she doesn't have a car? I don't see her calling a cab. You know as well as I do that she sees them as beneath her."

"Ah, it seems that she ran into Rissa who's giving her a ride."

"Red came to the rescue, again."

Bianca grinned. "Yes, she did."

/

After Erica finished her text to Bianca, she glanced over at her daughter-in-law. It was then she noticed that the younger woman's eyes were slightly rimmed with red. "Marissa, is everything alright?"

"Uh, yeah. Why do you ask?"

"Marissa, I can see you've been crying. You did a good job covering it up, but I'm a pro, dear. I can tell. What's wrong? Is everything alright with the baby?"

"The baby's fine. I actually have a check-up tomorrow. I … It's … It's silly."

"I'm sure it's not, dear. That is the last word I would use to describe you." Erica thought for a second. "Did something happen with Krystal?"

Marissa quickly glanced at her mother-in-law, surprised she had guessed it. "Why would you say that?"

"You said you had lunch with her. I suppose you can just call it an educated guess."

"It's all my fault."

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

Marissa sighed but kept her eyes on the road. "I was curious about any health issues she may have had when she was pregnant. I just wanted to know if I needed to be on the lookout for anything, if there was a particular risk I needed to be aware of. So, I invited her to lunch to talk. It was going okay for a while, but then I think my hormones got the best of me and I started thinking about certain things."

Erica nodded in understanding. "How is that your fault?"

"Well, it was my idea to meet and talk about pregnancies. I was a little leery to begin with because I thought it could open up some old wounds. Bianca was worried about it too. It turns out that we were both right. I started thinking about how she didn't pick me and that maybe I wasn't good enough for her."

"May I speak freely?"

"I've never known you to do otherwise." Marissa smiled wryly.

Erica chuckled catching the humor in Marissa's tone. "Very true, dear. Krystal is an idiot. I'm sorry, but it's true." Seeing the redhead fight back a smile at her bluntness, Erica relented, knowing that she couldn't in good conscious go after Krystal too much on this particular point. "Fine, maybe not quite an idiot, but definitely lacking in judgment. She should have known better and exercised more caution when discussing this particular topic with you in your present condition. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you, and your feelings are perfectly understandable. I can't tell you what went through her mind when she made that decision. I'm not justifying her actions by any means, but sometimes you find yourself in an untenable situation. You are literally between a rock and a hard place, and you can only see one way out."

"I understand."

There was something in Marissa's tone that told Erica she knew something more and wasn't just referring to her current predicament. "You know, don't you?"

"I do, and it wasn't Bianca that told me everything."

"Kendall told you?" Erica was a little surprised hearing that. She knew the two were close but had no idea just how close they had gotten.

"Yes, she did. Last year, Bianca was out of town working on the New York Center. Kendall came over one night, and after the kids were in bed, we bonded over some wine and traded war stories, so to speak. That's when she told me. She doesn't blame you anymore, Erica, and hasn't for quite some time."

"Thank you. It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make."

"I'm sure it was. It's different with Krystal though."

"It is but it isn't. Again, I'm not justifying her actions. I can only guess that she did what she thought she had to at the time. What I can tell you is that she and Babe struggled and did not have an easy life. There are many things that they did that I honestly don't ever see you doing or even considering. It's not in your character, and that is a very good thing. Remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. As for not picking you, I think you should focus on who did. Your parents picked you. From everything I've heard about them, they wanted you, made you their world and gave you a wonderful life."

Marissa smiled softly. "You're right. They did, and I'm beyond grateful that I had them."

"There's someone else that picked you. Bianca. She chose you and loves you so much. I've truly never seen her happier. What you are building together is amazing, and you should be proud of that. Think about that when those old wounds want to open back up."

A beaming smile spread across Marissa's face. "You're right, Erica. Those are the people that count the most to me along with the kids. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome, dear. I'm glad I could help. There's one other thing you should remember."

"What's that?"

"I'm always right." Erica smirked and caused Marissa to laugh, breaking any tension that still had existed.

"Sorry, I forgot. I'll remember next time." Marissa pulled up in front of the bistro.

"Thank you for the ride."

"I should be thanking you, Erica. What you said really helped. Thank you."

"You're welcome, dear. It's time for me to face the firing squad. Have a good day. Let's do lunch soon."

"You're on. I'd love to. Good luck. Tell them I said 'hi' and give them my love."

Erica nodded and exited the vehicle.

Marissa watched as her mother-in-law walked towards the bistro's main entrance. The talk with Erica really did help, and she wanted to do something for her in return, even if it was something small. While the car was still in park, the redhead pulled out her cellphone and sent a text to her wife.

B, do me a favor. Could you and Kendall not give your Mom a hard time about being late? She really came through for me just now. I promise I'm fine. I'll explain everything tonight. Just cut her some slack, please, for me. I love you. M

With that accomplished and definitely feeling better, Marissa headed back to work.

/

A/N: I struggled a little bit with the Marissa/Krystal discussion. I know the show had it settled between them, but in my mind, I think Marissa would still have issues with it from time to time. She's trying, but sometimes, it doesn't take much to open an old wound. Throw in increased hormones from her being pregnant, I feel Marissa would get emotional over the conversation. As for the bit with Erica, I can see her bonding with her daughter-in-law. Marissa's proved herself to Erica over time. Plus, Erica is evolving, maybe even growing up. You never know with her. See you soon!