Chapter 10

"Oh my gosh Maggie!" You're awake! You had me so worried! Don't ever do that again!" Bianca said going back to the side of the bad and hugging Maggie.

"Geeze, you act like I've been gone for days."

"Well it felt like it."

Kendall was coming in just as Erica was trying to sneak out. "Hey Binks, I'm sorry I got held up and work and…mother! Where are you going in such a hurry? You almost knocked me down."

"Yea Erica, where are you going?" Maggie asked

"Maggie! When did you wake up?" Kendall asked shocked

"Just now." Bianca told her. "Can you go get Maria? Actually, Maria might not have to work today. Any doctor will do."

"Sure, I'll be right back." Kendall said walking out the door.

"And mom, we're not done. Don't even try to leave. "Bianca said to Erica

"Honey I…"

"No mom, we have to do this. And I'd rather go ahead and get it over with now since we were already talking about it."

"So, I guess I'll tell you then Bianca." Maggie said taking Bianca's hand

"No sweetie, I want to hear it from…"

"You know what the deal was." Maggie said cutting her off. "I'm the one who has to tell you."

Bianca just shook her head remembering the discovery she had made that morning.

"So, here goes nothing." Maggie started, but Joe came in right behind Kendall.

"Ms. Stone, glad you decided to join us." Joe said walking over to Maggie and checking her vitals.

"Well laying her got boring." Maggie said

Joe laughed. "Looks like everything is back to normal. You should be able to go home within the next day or two."

"Great." Maggie said smiling up at Bianca.

"I'll come back in a little while to check on you." Joe said walking out the door.

"So, what did I miss?" Kendall asked hoping for one particular answer.

"Well I was just about to tell Bianca what I should have told her mother ago." Maggie gave Kendall the answer she was looking for. "So, I guess I'll start again."

Just as Maggie said that David walked in. "Hey, so how's…Maggie! You're up!"

"Yea. I love how everyone is acting like I was out for days."

"Maggie you have no idea what it's like being on this side of things." Kendall told her.

"I guess you're right Kendall. But does anyone mind locking the door so we can get this over with?"

Kendall knew what Maggie meant, so she locked the door.

"OK Maggie, what's going on?" David asked confused

"Just let her talk David." Bianca said

Erica had been standing in the corner not saying a word. She was silently hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. She held her breath as Maggie began to talk.

"OK so, I'm sorry I let it go for this long without telling you. I mean, I knew from the beginning I should tell you, but Bianca I didn't want to hurt you. I wouldn't be able to stand it knowing that what I told you would cause your relationship with Erica to get worse. But the current situation has forced me to tell you. Erica always backs me into a corner when you're not around. She tells me I'm not good enough for you. That she doesn't see how someone like me could come within ten feet of the Kane women. She said you only think you love me because I look like Frankie, and that I'm no better than my sister was. She's always telling me how I screwed up your life. That I was the one who talking you into keeping Miranda. That I only told you to keep Miranda to spite her. And that I'm somehow luring Kendall to believe that everything bad that happens is Erica's fault. That I'm the one keeping Kendall from loving her when really it's because Erica doesn't accept Kendall anymore than she does me. And that's her daughter!"

"Wow mother, I never knew you were capable of so much." Bianca said sadly to Erica.

"That's not all Bianca. She hired PIs to keep track of everything I did. And when that didn't work, when she couldn't find any dirt on me, she offered to pay me if I left town."

"Talk about all too familiar." Bianca said. "Mom you swore you would never do this again. Yet here you are, Erica Kane has to have the last say in everything. Not to mention what you have been doing to Kendall in the process. She was just a bonus along the way to hurting me, right? Well mother you're not going to win this time. I won't let you." Tears were starting to form in Bianca's eyes. She was emotionally drained.

"Mom, I think you should go." Kendall said walking to the door to unlock it.

"I don't even get to tell my side of things?" Erica finally spoke up after being silent for so long.

"Well, just tell me this mom, is anything Maggie said not true?"

Erica remained silent.

"Is all of this really leaving you at a loss for words, or are you just being dramatic mother?" Bianca asked

Erica finally spoke up. "No sweetheart, everything Maggie said is true. I did all of that because I thought I was helping you, but now I realize I was only hurting you…." She turned to look at Maggie. "And you. Maggie I'm sorry for everything I did to you."

Kendall was still standing at the door, waiting for Erica to leave. As Erica walked out she turned to look at all three girls. "I'm sorry for hurting all of you." Kendall closed the door behind her mother.

"So, do you three lovely ladies want to tell me what I missed?" David asked confused as ever.

"Basically my mom is a broken record and only wants her children to be happy if it's to her liking." Bianca said.

"Bianca, I'm really sorry…"

Bianca cut Maggie off. "No, it's definitely not your fault."

"So, everything is out now?" Kendall asked. "You swear you told her everything Maggie?"

"I swear."

"The Kane women are confusing." David said still not really knowing what was going on. "And I'd say, Maggie, you've picked up being confusing yourself."

Maggie just smiled at David. It was that oh so famous Stone smile that made Bianca weak in the knees every single time. And of course this time was no different. Bianca was glad to see all of the sacredness gone from Maggie's face. It put the light back in her own eyes to see Maggie awake and smiling again. Kendall noticed the pain and hurt leave Bianca. The sister she knew and loved had returned. And boy was Kendall relieved. David just kind of stood there, seeing everyone's expressions change almost together. Finally giving up on ever figuring the situation out, he figured it was time for him to go.

"Well ladies, I must be going. Maggie, you never let me down kid. Thanks for coming back." David hugged her.

"Well I couldn't very well let you go insane now could I?" Maggie winked at him.

David remembered that the day before he had told Maggie that she kept him sane. "I would hope not." David said closing the door behind him.

"Thanks Kendall." Maggie said out of nowhere.

"I sure am hearing that a lot these days, and I honestly don't recall doing anything that special. So, what do you thank me for?"

Maggie laughed "I could still hear you. I know you told Bianca what I had done."

"And you're thanking me for that? Are you sure you're completely OK? I mean, you did just come out of a coma and…"

"A simple 'you're welcome' would do Kendall." Maggie cut the rambling Kendall off.

"Well then, I guess…you're welcome."

Bianca just watched in amazement. She wished so much that she had seen what her own mother was doing to Maggie sooner. But when she thought about how close it had brought Maggie and Kendall, she couldn't help but wonder if it was for the best.

"Well I better get going too. I'll go to the nanny's house and get Miranda. I don't have to work tomorrow, so she can stay with me tonight. I'll bring her by here sometime tomorrow."

"Thanks Kendall."

"There you go again." Kendall said smiling.

Bianca just rolled her eyes and laughed.

"I'll see you two tomorrow." Kendall said walking out the door.

Bianca looked at Maggie who was looking at her smiling. She walked over to her bed, sat on the edge of it, and smiled back. "Glad you decided to come back to me. I was getting a little worried." Bianca said leaning down to kiss Maggie.

"Only a little worried?" Maggie asked kissing Bianca again.

TBC