A/N: Thanks as always for reading, reviewing and following! It is truly appreciated. I failed to acknowledge a milestone with this story. I've reached 800+ reviews! That's amazing to me, and for that, I truly am thankful to all of you. Writing this has become a wonderful outlet for me, and to have you tell me that you appreciate what I'm doing means more than you know. So, thank you.

This chapter picks up where the last one off. Hope you enjoy this update!

/

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

Bianca had just finished reading her wife's text when she heard her sister.

Kendall huffed. "It's about time she got here."

Following Kendall's gaze, Bianca saw their mother entering the restaurant. "Kendall, remember what you promised me."

"Fine. I'll be good, but she better have a good excuse." Remembering her earlier promise, the older brunette sighed. "Look, I'm just irritated and really hungry. You know that's never a good combination." Kendall noticed the pensive look on her sister's face as she glanced back down at her cellphone. "Is everything okay, Binx?"

"Huh? Sorry. It's this text from Rissa. She asked us not to give Mom a hard time about being late and said that Mom really came through for her."

"What's she mean by that?"

"I don't know, but she said she was okay."

"Then, I'm sure she is. Red wouldn't lie to you. Well, if Mom helped Red out, I'll give her some slack and behave. Scout's honor." Kendall shook her head and smirked. "You two are something else, you know that?"

"Thanks, Kendall." Bianca sent a quick text to Marissa.

R, we'll be good. I promise. As long as you're sure you're okay, I won't ask what she did for you, for now. We will be talking later though. I love you. B

"Bianca, Kendall, I am so sorry I'm late."

"It's okay, Mom. Things come up that are out of our control sometimes."

Erica arched an eyebrow, surprised by her oldest daughter's response. "Thank you for understanding, Kendall." The diva caught a glimpse at Bianca's cellphone as her youngest slid it into her purse and instantly knew the reason behind Kendall's response. Her daughter-in-law had done something to help smooth over their ruffled feathers, particularly Kendall's. "Marissa said to tell you hello and sends you her love. That is quite the woman you have, Bianca."

The young brunette's eyes lit up as a proud grin spread across her face at the mention of her wife, something that was pure reflex with her. "Thanks, I couldn't agree with you more! How did your meeting go, Mom?"

"It went very well. Unfortunately, it started late which is part of the reason why I'm late."

"What happened?" Kendall asked.

"Their flight out of New York was delayed due to some mechanical problems."

While Erica was giving her order to their waitress, the sisters held their own silent conversation.

Bianca's glance at Kendall said, "I told you so."

Kendall rolled her eyes in response saying, "Yes, I know. You were right. I was wrong. Happy?"

The younger brunette's satisfied smirk said it all. "Actually, yes, I am."

Erica caught a glimpse of her daughters' antics and shook head, clearly amused. Upon clearing her throat, the younger women broke their gazes and turned to their mother.

"Sorry, Mom. Um, was Rissa okay when you saw her?

"Yes, she was. I wouldn't be in here with you if she wasn't. She's family, and you are there for them if anything is wrong." Erica said earnestly.

Bianca paused for only a moment before nodding. Yes, if something was really wrong with Marissa, she knew that her mother would've either stayed with her and helped herself or called Bianca. She would not have left Marissa alone.

"I have to make sure she's taken care of. Marissa is carrying my grandchild after all."

Kendall's and Bianca's heads snapped up in the direction of their mother in perfect time, both with their jaws hanging open. They slowly turned to look at each other with the same thought in mind. "Did she say what I thought she said?"

"Mom?"

"Yes, Kendall."

"Did you say grandchild?" Kendall asked. Now that she was over her initial shock, the older sister was clearly amused.

Erica realized her slip and covered quickly. "Of course I didn't. You must not have heard me correctly. I said she was carrying my daughter's child."

Bianca did her best to hide her smile but was failing miserably. Her mother had definitely used the term grandchild. This was big for more than one reason. There was the obvious reason first. While Erica loved her grandchildren without question and would move heaven and earth for them, she had refused to accept the title of grandmother or any of its many connotations. In her mind, grandparents were old and boring and she was neither. Bianca and Kendall knew their mother was fighting growing older with a vengeance, and neither considered her remotely close to boring. There wasn't a chance in hell that Erica Kane would ever be boring. No matter how hard they tried to convince her that grandparents were no longer considered old or boring and hadn't been for some time, Erica had yet to budge, and they knew better than to force her even though it would make life easier for them. This was the first time, however, she had wavered in her stance albeit ever so slightly. The other reason this was big was the fact that she had just acknowledged the child Marissa was carrying as her grandchild. To Bianca, this was kind of epic.

Sharing a glance, Kendall and Bianca decided to let it slide, for now.

"So, Mom, how did your meeting go after they finally got there?"

Erica smiled believing she was in the clear. "It went very well. They want me to do a series of commercials for them and would only require me to go to New York a few times." The diva then proceeded to go over the details of her meeting.

/

Marissa was standing watch over the grill, lost in her thoughts. It had definitely been an interesting day, and the redhead was still sorting things out in her mind. She was so caught up in them that she hadn't heard her wife arrive home. It wasn't until she felt a pair of arms encircling her from behind and soft lips dropping a gentle kiss on her neck that she snapped back to reality. Marissa slowly turned around in those warm arms and welcomed Bianca home with a loving kiss.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself." Bianca glanced over her wife's shoulder and saw that the kids were playing happily in the backyard and safely out of earshot. She had a question to ask, and it couldn't wait any longer. Marissa's wellbeing was her first priority. "Alright, how are you really doing?"

Marissa chuckled softly. She wasn't surprised at all that that was Bianca's first question. "I'm fine, honestly."

Bianca eyed the redhead carefully and then nodded. "Okay. What happened? How did Mom help you?"

Marissa checked the hamburgers that were on the grill before turning down the flame and closing the cover. "It was my meeting with Krystal. It … got to me a little."

"Rissa."

"I know."

"You promised."

"I know. Look, before you start, let me explain what happened. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Alright. It started out fine. We chatted about a few things. I found out who she's interested in. His name's Steve, and he's the electrical contractor working on the expansion for her. They're going out next week."

"Really? Well, good for her. How's Tad doing with that?"

"He's actually doing pretty well with it now. It turns out he has his eye on a nurse at the hospital."

"Wow, it's been a while for Tad. I'm happy that he's finally moving on."

"That makes two of us."

Bianca shook her head. "Okay, I know what you're doing. You're trying to distract me. Nice try, Counselor. Time to fess up. What happened?"

Marissa rolled her eyes at the teasing tone in her wife's voice. "Like I said, the conversation was going pretty well. Krystal answered all my questions, and told me she didn't experience any major complications."

"That's good to hear."

"Yeah, it is. It was when she was talking about me and …"

"Your sister." Bianca finished.

Marissa nodded. "That's when it felt a little like things were starting to close in a little on me. I'm not sure but maybe on her too. We were able to switch gears before it got too intense though. I thought I was okay. Before I knew it, it was time for both of us to get back to work, and we walked out together. I, of course, had to stop at the ladies' room for like the 500th time this morning."

Bianca chuckled. "The 500th time, really?"

"Alright, maybe I exaggerated a little, but it sure felt like it. Anyway, we said goodbye, and she left. When I was finally alone in one of the stalls, that's when it hit me, and I broke down a little."

The brunette took Marissa's hand and squeezed. "I'm sorry."

"I know, but we knew that might happen. After a few minutes, I was able to get myself together and left. As I was leaving, I ran into your mom at the valet station. It seems there was a problem with her car so I offered to give her a lift. While I thought I did a good job of covering up, she could tell I'd been crying and asked me what happened. I tried to brush it off, but you know your mom. Erica wasn't having any of it. So, we talked on the drive over to the bistro. She really helped me. She helped me put things in the proper perspective."

"How so?"

"She told me I needed to focus on the people who did choose me and the ones that mattered the most, my parents and you."

Bianca smiled. "She's right."

"Yeah, I know. She also pointed that out too." Marissa grinned.

"Of course she did." Bianca chuckled. "That's why you asked us to take it easy on her."

Marissa nodded. "Yeah, it is. She was pretty amazing, and I figured it was the very least I could do for her."

"I'm sure she would appreciate it if she knew what you did. And you're sure you're okay?"

"I'm positive."

"Good. Oh, I have some interesting news for you. Mom said the 'g' word over lunch." Bianca continued after seeing her wife's confused look. "She said 'grandchild'."

"Get out! Erica said 'grandchild'?! I never thought I'd live to see the day."

"You're not the only one."

"What brought that on?"

"Actually, you."

"Me?"

"You and our little one. She referred to our little one as her grandchild. When Kendall asked her what she said, Mom tried to cover and said Kendall didn't hear her correctly, that she actually said 'her daughter's child', but we heard her. She said grandchild. We let it slide though. It was a big enough move for her. There was no need to press it."

"Yeah, I guess it was bigger than a baby step, huh?"

Bianca groaned at her wife's pun. "That was bad. You're lucky I love you so much."

Marissa grinned. "Yes, I am."

"So, what else happened to make your day so interesting?"

"Ah, you know how I have an investigator keeping an eye on Sam's alleged uncle?"

"Yeah. Did he find something?"

"Yep. He's in town."

"He's here in Pine Valley? What's he doing here?"

"I'm not 100% sure of everything he's doing here, but I think whatever he's up to involves the lawyer he paid a visit to today."

"I don't like the sound of that. Who's the lawyer?"

"That's the fun part. He visited our old friend Pete Taylor."

"You can't be serious."

"I'm afraid I am."

"Well, that can't be good. You know how I feel about Pete and what I'd like to do to him. I hold him responsible for what happened to you."

"I know. Believe me, I know. I trust him about as far as I can throw him. The two of them together can't be good. At least, I know they're working together and won't be blindsided by that fact. It also tells me there is something else going on with the uncle. Out of all of the lawyers in Pine Valley, he picks Pete to represent him? There is no way you'll ever be able to convince me that's a coincidence. He's up to something, and you can damn well be sure that I'm going to find out what it is because there's not a snowball's chance in hell I'm going to let either of them hurt Sam."

Bianca saw the fiery determination in Marissa's eyes and knew Pete and Russ didn't stand a chance. "I'm with you all the way. Did I ever tell you how hot you are when you get the lawyer in you all fired up?"

"And you tell me I'm not right." Marissa shook her head amused and gave her wife a quick kiss before going back over to the grill.

/

The couple was in Dr. Abbott's waiting room early the next morning. Marissa's appointments were scheduled to be among the first ones of the day. Those were the times that worked best for both Marissa and Bianca. A nurse walked to the edge of the waiting room. "Marissa Tasker-Montgomery?"

Marissa and Bianca glanced over at the nurse before standing up and joining her at the door.

"Good morning. If you'll follow me, Dr. Abbott will see you now."

The couple was escorted to an examination room where Marissa changed into a gown while Bianca carefully folded her wife's clothes to avoid them from wrinkling.

Dr. Abbott and a nurse joined them a few minutes later.

"Good morning, Marissa, Bianca." The doctor smiled. "Or should I say Mrs. Tasker-Montgomery to you both?"

Both women beamed at the greeting with Marissa speaking up. "Good morning, doctor. I'm pretty sure we like the last one a whole lot."

Bianca nodded. "We do, but we'll let you use our first names."

The doctor laughed. "Thank you. How are you feeling, Marissa?"

"I'm doing good. I'm having some odd cravings, but Bianca's been very good at indulging me. She's also making sure I get plenty of rest and not overdoing."

"Very good. I wish the partners of all of my patients were as attentive as you, Bianca."

"Rissa and our little one are too important and special to me to take any chances."

Marissa squeezed her wife's hand. "Ditto."

"Okay, Marissa, let's see how the two of you are doing."

After the physical exam, the doctor lifted a small handheld device off a tray. "Marissa, this is a fetal Doppler. Bianca, I'm sure this has changed a little since you were pregnant, but judging from your expression, you remember it. We're going to use this to hear your little one's heartbeat. You ready?"

Marissa shared a quick glance with Bianca before nodding. Her excitement was only matched by her wife's. "I'm more than ready."

Dr. Abbott applied some gel and began to move the device around on Marissa's belly.

Clutching each other's hands, both women held their breath as they waited for what seemed like an eternity but in all actuality was only a second or two. Suddenly, there it was.

"Is that … It sounds like the herd of wild horses racing." Hazel eyes glistened as the doctor nodded.

"Yes, that's it. That's your little one's heartbeat. Oh, and it's strong too. Let's see. It's 150 beats a minute. That's good, really good. I'm very happy with that."

Marissa clutched Bianca's hand tighter, and the brunette kissed her wife tenderly as tears escaped from warm chocolate eyes. Bianca knew she would never forget the smile on Marissa's face and the look of wonder as her wife heard their little one's heartbeat. It was the definition of beautiful. Bianca herself would never forget this sound. She found her own heart racing in time with their little one's. Yes, this was her child in every way that mattered, and hearing that precious beating heart meant just as much to her as hearing Miranda's and Gabby's did.

"That's our little one, B." Marissa's smile was blinding. She had never heard anything like it before. It was beautiful, incredible and amazing and all of the countless words she could ever think of to describe this indescribable moment and sound. It was the sound of life growing in her, a life that she and Bianca had created together. Yes, she know that while it was Marissa's egg and a donor's sperm, this baby was just as much Bianca's as it was Marissa's, and nothing or no one or would ever convince her otherwise. No, they created this baby together.

Bianca's smile matched her wife's. "Yes, it is, Rissa. It's … I don't even know the words. Wait! I have an idea." The brunette reluctantly let go of Marissa's hand to retrieve both her and her wife's cellphones. "Dr. Abbott, would it be alright if we recorded it?"

"Of course."

Bianca quickly showed the nurse how to record their little one's heartbeat on their cellphones. While the nurse was doing that, Bianca went back to holding Marissa's hand. "Our little one. Oh, I love you so much, Rissa."

"I love you too, B. Thank you."

"For what?"

"For loving me and for making this dream come true, making all of my dreams come true."

Bianca kissed her wife tenderly. "You've made all of mine come true, and loving you is the easiest thing I've ever done."

Dr. Abbott and her nurse exchanged a glance. This definitely was one of the best parts of their jobs.

"Alright, you're doing great, Marissa. I'll see you both at your next appointment, and we'll do an ultrasound then. We'll give you a picture to go with your recording. Sound good?"

"Sounds perfect. Thank you, doctor."

/

Bianca walked into the Miranda Center with the biggest of smiles on her face. "Good morning, Jan."

"Good morning, Bianca. You're in a really good mood today. Oh wait, you had Marissa's doctor's appointment today. I take it that it went well."

"It went great, and we got to hear our little one's heartbeat.

Jan smiled widely. Her boss's mood was definitely infectious. "You did? That had to be so amazing."

"What had to have been amazing? Something I did, right? Because let's face it, we are talking about me, and I've been told by many people that I am quite amazing." Aya gave a cheeky smile as she joined the other too women.

"While you're as amazing as you are modest," Jan teased her best friend, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to burst your bubble. Bianca and Marissa got to hear the baby's heartbeat today."

"Seriously?! Okay, you win. That's got me beat by a mile. What a great way to start off your day."

Bianca nodded happily. "Definitely one of the best. Would you guys like to hear it?"

"YES!"

Bianca pulled up the recording and beamed while Jan and Aya were captivated by the beating heart of the child that had already captured theirs.

/

Marissa found she couldn't stop smiling. She was sure she looked like a grinning fool, but she couldn't bring herself to give a damn. The smile had been plastered on her face ever since she heard the heartbeat of her and Bianca's little one, and it was going nowhere anytime soon.

On her drive to the office, Marissa only heard that sound and instantly knew from the moment she heard it that it was one of her favorite ones. It was in a tie for first place with sounds that were etched in her memory and made her heart soar: her Mom's laugh and calming voice, her Dad singing, the first time AJ called her 'Mom', the first time Miranda called her 'Ma', the first time Gabby called her 'Mommy', the happy laughter of the four current members of her immediate family, the happy sighs Bianca gave after they had just made love or were just sitting contentedly, the first time Bianca said 'I love you'. Yes, their little one's heartbeat was equally moving and meant everything to her. Hearing it today made it all so real, and she was ready for it all.

Marissa's smile was still firmly in place as she entered the law firm's offices and met Ellie's smiling face. The young woman was covering the receptionist desk and on the phone making it unable for them to talk so the two women simply shared a small wave before Marissa headed towards her office.

"Hey, boss. What's got you in such a good mood this morning?" Lisa asked as she fell into step with the redhead.

"I just came from my doctor's appointment, and Bianca and I heard our little one's heartbeat."

"Oh wow! Really?! That had to have been so incredible."

"It was. Would you like to hear it? Bianca had the nurse record it for us."

"Seriously?! Heck yeah, I would!"

"You would what, Lisa? Hey, Marissa."

"Morning, Brian."

"Hey, Brian, Marissa and Bianca got to hear the baby's heartbeat today and recorded it. She's going to let me hear it."

Brian's eyes lit up hopefully. "Could I hear too? I remember when I heard Jamie's. It gave me chills. I still can't really say how incredible it was."

Marissa smiled. "Of course you can. Let's go to my office."

Lisa and Brian nodded and followed her. Once they were settled, Marissa started the recording. The brightest of smiles graced the redhead's lips as she heard that tiny yet strong heartbeat again. Lisa sat in awe having never heard anything like it while Brian gave Marissa a knowing smile. It truly was one of the most incredible sounds and was almost as amazing to him as when he'd heard his son's heartbeat.

/

Bianca was still smiling later that afternoon, still buzzing from the morning's doctor's appointment. She'd listened to the recording of their little one's heartbeat several times throughout the day. Each time made her smile even more and felt just like the first time. Bianca traded texts and phone calls with Marissa a couple of times, and the redhead had been doing the same thing as she had. During one their calls, Marissa had told her that she had shared the recording with Lisa and Brian after getting in and gave detailed descriptions of their reactions. Bianca then relayed Aya's and Jan's reactions. Both women were on a high and couldn't wait to share what they'd heard with everyone they knew, especially their family.

A knock on her door snapped the brunette back to the present.

Aya was standing in the doorway with a serious look on her face. "Bianca, there's some people here you need to meet."

"Okay, send them in."

Bianca breathed a sigh of relief at the appearance of two women, one older and one younger. There was a definite family resemblance between them. The younger one was blonde like the older one but taller by a few inches. Around her right eye, there was signs of bruising. An attempt had been made to conceal it with makeup, but unfortunately, Bianca had seen this too many times in too many others to not see it.

The brunette stood and welcomed them. "Diana, it's good to see you again. You must be Kirsten. Please, come in and have a seat."

/

A/N: Yeah, I had to leave it there. You know by now that I get like that. Oh, I'll be a year older with the next update! I've got a few activities planned with friends to celebrate, but they shouldn't cause any interruption with the story. See you soon!