Two months— that's how long it had been since their relationship status had upgraded from best friends to girlfriends and they loved it. Loved it all minus the increased annoyance of one JR Chandler doing his best to break them up. His drinking had already forced Marissa's hand in removing AJ from the Chandler mansion. She had taken her son and moved into a hotel suite for the time being until she found an apartment for the both of them. It was proving to be harder to look since she had also taken on a case that was taking up much of her time.

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Marissa sat at her desk at work and scrolled through apartment listings on her computer while she had a little downtime. Ugh! Why is it so hard to find something nice? It seemed like every 2 bedroom listing was either out of her price range or not up to the standards she was looking for. Nothing is going my way today. Between court and trying to find a place, it reall has been a ...

"Rough day?"

Marrisa's head shot up from looking at the screen and her eyes landed on the most beautiful sight. Instantly she started feeling better as the beauty before her smiled brightly. She couldn't help but smile back as she answered, "Actually, it just got better!" The redhead stood and walked over to the brunette to give her a hug and proper kiss. "Mmm, much better!"

Bianca chuckled, "Glad I could put that smile on your face, but why were you all frowny to begin with?"

"Frowny? Not sure that's a word, baby", Marissa laughed as she went to sit back down.

"Eh", the taller woman shrugged as she followed behind Marissa and sat in the chair on the opposite side of the redhead's desk. "It's the only way to describe what you looked like when I walked in here. Soooo, what's wrong with my honey?"

Marissa sighed, "Besides having a crappy day in court, I'm still struggling to find an apartment for AJ and I. If I'm going to sue for full custody, I need to be able to show that I can provide him with a stable home."

"So then how about we buy a house?"

The words rolled off Bianca's tongue before she could catch herself. Oh crap! This is not how I wanted to ask her. To be honest, she had been thinking about it ever since her girlfriend had called her the month before, in the middle of the night, to vent and tell her that she was leaving the mansion with her son at that very moment. To say that Bianca was pissed by the situation was an understatement. Not pissed that Marissa was leaving from being under the same roof with her ex-husband, but pissed that JR had made the love of her life, and the little boy she loved just as much as her own children, so scared that they needed to leave at such an ungodly hour. So at 2:39AM, Bianca had rolled out of bed and threw on some random clothes then drove to the Chandler mansion that night/morning to help Marissa pack up hers and some of AJ's things and took them to the Yacht Club. Once she had helped them get settled, she had immediately gone back to Wildwind and started looking for a house that they all could share together. She had meant to bring up the topic over lunch eventually, but both women had gotten extremely busy and there never seemed to be a right time. To the brunette, this didn't seem like the right time either but it seemed her subconscious was speaking for her. It wasn't helping her self-esteem either that Marissa was just sitting there staring at her like a deer caught in headlights. Great! It's too soon. She thinks I'm absolutely ...

"Brilliant!"

Bianca was now the one looking utterly confused, "What?"

"That's a brilliant idea", Marissa chuckled as she shook her head, "Why didn't I think of that? We should totally buy a house and move in together! It's perfect! The kids will love that! Not to mention, it will be so much easier to find a home than it ever would be to find an apartment in Pine Valley with the current market. I love that idea, baby!"

"Are you ... um ... are you sure?"

"Yes! Aren't you?"

"Well ... I mean ..." Bianca paused as she tried to process her thoughts. Get it together Montgomery! This was your idea for God's sake! Taking a deep calming breath, the brunette continued in honesty, "I am sure, but I was kind of nervous to bring it up. I don't want you to think that we are moving too fast. This conversation just went from you looking for a 2 bedroom apartment for you and AJ to us looking for atleast a 4 bedroom house for you and AJ and me and the girls. It's just a lot to process and I don't want you to say yes unless you are absolutely sure that this is what you want and that it is what's best for AJ. At the end of the day, all of this really comes down to what is best for him before the rest of us given how his father has been lately."

The redhead stood silently with an unreadable expression on her face. She walked around her desk and stood before Bianca, taking the woman's hands in her own she leaned down and kissed the brunette lightly. Leaning back so their lips just barely touched, she whispered, And that right there is the reason I am completely sure. Because I know that you are thinking more about AJ and his well being more than anything else right now." She kissed her again, this time more fervently until they were interrupted by the clearing of a throat near Marissa's office door. They both looked up and giggled at the amused face from the man leaning against the door frame and an equally amused look from the woman standing beside him.

"It seems that every time I come to your office now, Marissa, I find you and my neice 'making out'", Jackson Montgomery teased as he laughed heartily.

"Oh Jack, leave them be", the Kane matriarch jokingly admonished as she gave his arm a love tap. "They are young and in love! I think it's just darling how much they love each other and aren't afraid to express it."

"I won't argue with you there", Jackson agreed as he pecked Erica's temple then directed his gaze back at the two younger woman, "Now, I knew when the receptionist told us that Bianca was in the building that I would find her here. So, what is the occasion for all the romance this time? There's usually always a reason when I find you two like this in here."

"Well", Bianca paused to look at Marissa and ask a silent question as she stood beside her. Once she received an approving nod she grabbed the shorter woman's hand and continued, "Marissa and I have just decided that our lives, and the lives of our children, would be a whole lot better if we were all together on a more permanent basis. So, we are going to buy a house and move-in together!"

"Oh, sweetheart, that is wonderful!" Erica was the first to congratulate while making her way over to hug each woman with Jackson following suit.

"I agree, it's wonderful! I'm happy for you both!"

"So you guys really support this decision", Bianca asked skeptically. She had her reasons— namely, Erica Kane. While the brunette wanted nothing more than to take her mother's reaction at face-value, she knew Erica may just be putting on a show as to not hurt her girlfriend's feelings and bring down the wrath that would surely follow for doing so.

On her part, Marissa felt the same way and voiced her own skepticism as well, "I know you have struggled with who I am attached to by DNA— for reasons I still don't know and we will continue to save that story for another day —but, we really want to be sure that you, Erica specifically, are truly alright with us taking this step? I can speak for Bianca when I say, that your opinion is really important to us."

"Girls", Erica flipped her hair as she looked at them with interest, "If I said I was not okay with this, would you still move forward and move-in together anyway?"

"Yes", both woman answered at the same time without hesitation, causing everyone in the room to chuckle.

The older woman smiled as she shrugged, "Then it really does not matter what my opinion is anyway. However, I truly am on board with this. Despite my initial reservations about you and who you are, how did you say it, 'attached to by DNA'? Well, despite that, I am actually very fond of you Marissa. You have proven to be everything I have ever hoped my baby girl would find in a partner. For your unwavering love and loyalty, I admire you. Truly, I am happy that you two have found each other and I know my daughter is too, as well as my granddaughters. So, I am absolutely fine so long as you allow Jack and I to take you both out to for a late lunch right now so we can celebrate and help by offering our services in helping you two find the perfect place!"

Bianca was surprised, not only at her mother's willing acceptance but at the fact that thee Erica Kane had just referred to Miranda and Gabby as her 'granddaughters', that was truly a first. She decided to not press her luck though, and allowed her mother the slip. Today is just full of new beginnings! She took a moment to muse over that thought before she gave a grateful smile, "We would love to join you and get your help, right honey?"

"Absolutely", Marissa readily agreed, "Just let me put away some files and we can all head out together!"

An hour and a half later, the four of them were eating their meals and chatting about what Bianca and Marissa wanted in a home. So far, they were on the same page with everything they wanted in their dream house. It was uncanny the way they easily agreed on things or found a compromise for those things which they seemed to disagree on. There was actually only one area which they were finding it hard to compromise— the price.

"... and I just want to be practical is all I'm saying. Spending millions of dollars just to have every single little thing we, or the kids, may want isn't really all that practical. I mean, we can't always have what we want if we can't afford it."

"I understand that, but we can afford it and I think we are being practical."

Marissa shook her head, "No, you are being practical because you can afford it. I, on the other hand, am not being practical when I consider my own finances and ..."

"But you don't need to consider your own finances", Bianca interrupted, "We are in this together which means we have plenty of money to get everything we want in our dream home."

"No, you have plenty of money, Bianca. I won't take advantage of you by allowing you to pay for an entire house for us on your own."

"Marissa, you wouldn't be taking advantage of me. What's mine is yours and ..."

"Yeah, I've heard that before", the redhead countered incredulously as she rolled her eyes.

Erica and Jackson had watched the two women go back and forth without interruption. Both thinking the same thought, that the young couple had to work through this on their own. That is until they saw the look on Bianca's face when Marissa made her last comment. The look was pure Kane and not good. Jackson raised his eyebrow at Erica telling her silently to intervene before the younger Kane flew off the handle in the public setting of the restaurant they were in.

The Kane matriarch cleared her throat, causing both younger women to look at her, "Girls, I think we need to take a moment and breathe before anyone else says something they will instantly regret." After quickly reading Marissa's expression, Erica knew she was spot on in her assumption that the young attorney did in fact already regret her words. Because of that, and not wanting to see her own daughter lose her temper, she continued to try to ease the situation, "Now, Jackson and I know firsthand how hard it can be to merge two separate households. In doing so you end up having to learn how to merge separate lives, separate schedules, separate world views, separate personal views, and separate bank accounts."

"Not to mention having to learn how to do all of that while helping your children adjust to the change as well", Jackson chimed in to help his wife. "It takes time and open communication to do all of that properly."

"Exactly. You won't always agree, but you will need to always talk your way through it respectfully so you can find a compromise. And that is what you were doing until just a moment ago, but ..."

"The topic of finances can always be a major stumbling block in relationships. It can even kill any form of relationship all together. Marissa," Jackson looked directly in the younger lawyer's eyes, "You and I both know how true that is just based off of what we do for a living. How many of your cases have come down to the issue of your client wanting some sort of financial payout for everything their spouse did to hurt them or the children?"

"All of them— except for one", the redhead answered honestly as her gaze fell on the taller woman sitting next to her.

Jackson focused on his niece next, "And Bianca, princess, I know you have witnessed this yourself too. How many women have you dated that made you feel, at some point or another, that they were only with you strictly because of your wealth?"

"All of them— except for one", the brunette answered honestly as her gaze fell on the shorter woman sitting next to her.

Brown eyes locked on hazel as the two women simultaneously spoke, "I'm sorry."

Marissa reached her hand to caress the younger woman's cheek, "Bianca, I shouldn't have let my past hurt from JR cause me to say those words. I know you are nothing like him and that you would never lie to me. I guess I'm still just a little scared."

"Tell me what you're so afraid of, honey. Help me understand", Bianca pleaded as she took Marissa's freehand in her own.

"I'm scared that people will see me the way JR and the tabloids painted me after we first got together. I don't want you, or the rest of Pine Valley, to think I'm some kind of gold digger."

"Marissa", the brunette quickly pecked her girlfriend's lips before continuing, "I know exactly who you are! The tabliods and JR are only good for spreading lies. If they choose to believe those lies, then people in this town really are just idiots. I don't care what the rest of Pine Valley thinks. What I do care about is making sure that you understand that I am choosing to share all that I am and all that I have with you. Just because I am offering to cover the cost of the house doesn't mean it wouldn't be yours too. And, if it will make you feel more at ease, we can sign some documentation that states that the house is equally yours. Plus, you're name would be on the deed right along with mine. Just please, let me do this. Seriously, I want to do this for us. For you and for me and for our children. We deserve to finally have everything we've ever wanted, and so do the kids. That starts with building a home for our family."

"That's actually not a bad idea", Marissa mused.

"What, signing a document about equal ownership?"

"No, building a home. Like literally building from the ground up. I mean, there's no way we are going to find a place with everything thing we have on our wish list already. Let's not forget we have to still talk to the kids and factor in what they may want. It would be more practical to build than to buy something already done and then still have to go through the trouble of adding in everything else."

"I just thought about this, but we could still move-in together for the time being if we do decide to build. We can live in the Cambias penthouse that the office has setup here. I never actually decided to use it because, well, I barely deal with the day to day running of the company. But, technically, I still own it and can use it whenever. There's only 3 bedrooms but it's fully furnished. I'm pretty sure the girls won't mind sharing since they already do at Wildwind. And, it will be considered a home for you to show proof of stability when you go to court for AJ's custody hearing."

"That would be perfect! We can all be together now and we wouldn't have to worry about paying for renting a place while we build. Plus, it's less expensive to go the building from scratch route anyway. And I don't care if you say we can afford it, I will always try to make sure we are getting the most out of our money."

"Are we compromising?"

"Only if you agree to letting me furnish the entire house once it's done. With us living at the penthouse, instead of me and AJ living in the hotel, it will give me enough time to save while our dream home is being built." Marissa outstretched her pinky for her girlfriend to take, "Deal?"

Bianca smiled brightly as she interlocked her pinky with the proffered one and they shook, "Deal!"

"Well, Erica, it looks like we need to get these two in contact with our architect and decorator", Jackson finally spoke again.

Erica nodded her approval, "Oh yes, definitely! This house will be absolutely stunning!"

A week later, after talking to the kids and receiving their approval on the prospect of moving and building a house, the couple found themselves in Bianca's office at The Center going over the notes their children had made concerning all the things they wanted for themselves in the new house. The couple had decided to give the kids a week to generate their wishlists and had enlisted the older two to help the youngest Montgomery child write out her own list. As per the idea of Miranda, the lists were kept a secret until today when they needed to be returned to their mothers. So, neither woman had actually known what to expect. Most items on the lists were pretty standard, like a pool, a playroom, and big backyard with a jungle gym, swings, and a treehouse. Then there were other items that were not at all expected or standard ...

"Um, baby, did you actually look at Gabby's list when she gave it to you this morning?"

Bianca looked up from her laptop where she had currently been looking at reviews for jungle gyms to put in the backyard. That was one request from the kids that she and Marissa had easily agreed upon in granting. The business woman shook her head as she walked over to where her girlfriend was seated on the couch that was positioned in the corner of her office, "No, why? What's up?" She sat down and took the paper that Marissa silently offered her. Immediately her eyes landed on what she knew had caused the redhead to question whether or not she had looked at the list. Oh boy, well that's interesting!

Marissa knew by the look on Bianca's face that she had seen the item in question, "So, any thoughts?"

"Um ...", the beautiful brunette chuckled nervously, "I don't actually know what to think. I mean, it's not really a normal request. Giving Gabby, or any of our kids, a baby brother isn't exactly a thought that had crossed my mind in terms of what to put in our dream home."

The lawyer noticed how Bianca was very specific in how she worded thinking about having a baby. She instantly pressed to see where her girlfriend's mind was on the topic in general, "But having another baby has crossed your mind?"

"Maybe", she whispered as she blushed, "But only if you wanted us to add to our family."

"It's not that I don't want to add to our family ..."

"But?"

Marissa noticed the sudden hurt tone in the younger woman's voice. She sighed as she took her hand, "Honestly? I'm terrified of taking care of a newborn. I've never had to do it. When I came to Pine Valley, AJ was already growing into a very knowledable young boy. When I met you, the same went for Mimo and Gabby in their growing to be very perceptive little girls. Technically, the hard work of raising them was kind of already halfway done. What if I'm not good with a new baby?"

"If the way you are with our kids as they are now is any indication, I know for a fact that you will be extraordinaryly good with a newborn. Honey, I am not afraid at all that you would be an excellent mother if we ever decided to add another child to our lives." Bianca kissed the shorter woman's forehead as she half-joked, "Trust me, if I ever doubted that, you and I wouldn't be together because I wouldn't have let you around the girls."

Marissa chuckled lightly, hearing the slightly serious undertone in her girlfriend's tone, "I suppose I know that's true." She let out a deep sigh as she looked her directly in the eyes, "I do want to add to our family— sometime in the not so distant future that is. For now though, I just want to enjoy the pace we are going and to get settled into the new life we are building together. Maybe after the house is finished we can revisit this topic?"

"I am totally fine with that", Bianca smiled, "And in the meantime, we can maybe compromise with Gabby's request by fulfilling her brother and sister's request for a puppy?"

"Now that is most definitely a deal I can get behind!" The attorney giggled as she sealed their new deal with a kiss.

Quickly, the giggling turned into moans as Bianca's tongue slipped between her lips to deepen the kiss. The feelings that stirred within Marissa whenever she kissed this woman would never get old. She loved that way the younger woman always dominated and took full control over her.

Marissa couldn't help how her body reacted when a surprisingly strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her body closer while nimble fingers of the other hand tangled within her copper locks. Her breath hitched as those intoxicating lips trailed down to the pulse point on her neck to suck and nibble there.

She felt herself getting wet when the hand in her hair travelled down to cup her right breast then squeezed, causing her nipple to quickly harden through the light fabric of both the tank top and bra she wore. She bit her lip as Bianca pushed her to a laying position on the couch.

The stunning brunette had her mesmerized the way she hovered over top of her. She watched as chocolate brown eyes turned black with primal desire. Wrapping her arms around her neck, Marissa pulled the younger woman's lips down to her own, wanting to feel that burning connection again.

As Bianca's hand moved under her skirt and lightly brushed against the silk panties she wore, the redhead gasped and spread her legs more. She wanted— needed, to feel more. To give herself fully to this moment and finally know what it meant to have the woman she loved claim her body. Oh God, it's really about to ...

"Well that's just so unprofessional, don't you think Greenlee?"

The couple jumped up at hearing the voices of the unwanted intruders. Marissa blushed from head to toe and tried to hide her embarrassment by standing partly behind her taller partner. Bianca, on the other hand, stood with her arms crossed in annoyance as she weakly glared at her sister and her now stepsister for interrupting the moment.

Greenlee ignored the glare she received from the younger Kane daughter and responded to eldest, "Oh yeah, Kendall, very unprofessional! But we can't judge Binks too much."

"Definitely not! She was so just pulling a boss move", Kendall chuckled while also being unfazed by her little sister's glare. "Never knew our little Binks had it in her!"

"Haven't the two of you ever heard of knocking", Bianca asked aggressively, not hiding her frustration.

"We did knock", Greenlee shrugged as she continued, "You assistant even called your desk line twice before we came back here."

Kendall nodded as she grinned, completely amused by the situation, "Yeah, now we see why the world outside of this office was being ignored. You two definitely have it steamy in here."

The younger Kane rolled her eyes, "Why are you here?"

"Oh see now I'm hurt, Binks. How is it you forgot we are going shopping today? Marissa, what have you done to my baby sister's brain? She never forgets shopping!"

Finally in control of her emotions, the redhead came from behind her girlfriend and stood beside her as she took her hand. "I didn't do anything", Marissa spoke as she quirked her brow at Kendall, "Your sister just found something better to think about."

"She's got you there, Kendall. Hot office sex— hell, just sex in general usually always trumps shopping", Greenlee mused aloud. "What?" She raised her hands in surrender as her comment gained her the full on patented Kane glare from both the sisters. "Yeesh, sorry!"

Bianca cleared her throat, "Would you two mind waiting for Marissa and I outside?"

"Why, so you can finish what you started? Oooo, who knew you were so into kinks Binks? Hey that's a cute rhyme! Kinks Binks! No, wait, I have an even cuter one! Minx loves the kinks! Get it? It's a mashup of both your names and a play on how you like to get kinky in offices! Ha!"

"Greenlee, I will kill you if you don't shut up and leave now."

Kendall tried to stifle her laughter as she grabbed her best friend and pulled her back out of the office, "Come on Greens, I'm pretty sure we already killed their mood. Let's go wait in the hall before baby sister really does kill you— or both of us for that matter."

When the door closed, Bianca let out an exasperated sigh as she turned to Marissa, "I'm sorry."

"For what? It's not your fault they barged in here and interrupted us."

"No, I mean I'm sorry for before that. We almost ..." she let the words hang in the air.

"Baby, you don't need to apologize for that. I wanted it just as much as you did in the moment."

"I know, but we said we'd wait a little while before we crossed that line. Plus, taking you down on the couch in my office for a quickie is not how I've been imagining our first time together. I got a little carried away and kind of forced myself on ..."

"Hey", Marissa cut her off as she placed her finger on the taller woman's lips, "Don't you dare even say that you forced yourself on me! I know you would never do that! And I would have had to be against everything you did in order for you to say you forced anything. In case you forgot that quickly, I initiated the kiss and I was totally fine with you taking me right here."

The shorter woman stepped in closer to Bianca's personal space and leaned up to whisper in her ear, "Have you not noticed how badly I want you? Couldn't you feel how wet I was? You did that to me. You always do that to me."

A shiver ran down the brunette's spine as she let out a low grunt. She turned her face slightly and captured Marissa's lips with her own once more. After a few moments, and another knock on the door that Bianca heard this time, she pulled away just enough so that her lips continued to brush against the shorted woman's as she spoke, "If we don't leave now, they will keep trying to intrude and then I really will have to kill them."

Marissa pecked Bianca's lips then stepped back as she chuckled, "I really don't want to have to get you off from a double homocide, so we better go."

She has no idea how badly I want her to get me off, and how much more I want to get her off. God, I swear I am going to hurt Kendall and Greenlee! Ugh!