Brittney - Thank you.

I keep forgetting to add a disclaimer... Okay, um... objects in mirror are closer than they appear.

Also, be aware - There is more kissage in this chapter as things begin to move forward for Bianca and Maggie. As the story continues, this will occur more frequently. I have written this story to show a couple as they fall in love and how their relationship progresses, regardless of their sex. You have been advised, in case this isn't of interest to you.

Also, eventually, I'll start titling my chapters... I was so anxious when I first started writing this story that some things kinda fell by the wayside... And that was one of them...

Paris, France
July 2005

Chapter 7

Not long after coming back in from the balcony, Erica went to lie down, claiming jet lag. Maggie moved some things out of her room and into Bianca's so Kendall could do the same. Bianca took Miranda out onto the balcony to play and Maggie quickly changed into different clothes, promising herself to never wear those jeans in front of Erica or Kendall ever again.

Maggie joined Bianca on the balcony, kneeling down to play for a moment with Miranda before taking a seat. "Well, that sure was fun."

Bianca smiled at her. "What, the third degree?"

"You're her daughter, she would never hurt you. I could swear she was stalking me like a lioness readying for the kill."

"You think?"

"Huh," Maggie said with a wave of her hand. "Honey, anything you ever want, you got it, because I never want to have to face that again."

"Good to know," Bianca laughed.

Jack and Reggie returned to the apartment a few hours later after having walked up to Port Maillot and Palais de Congress to look around, then they went to catch a nap as well.

After they had recovered somewhat from their jet lag, they loaded Miranda up in her stroller and walked up to the Champs Elysee for a very late dinner. Everyone bowed to Erica and let her pick the restaurant, so she marched up to her favorite place at the corner of Avenue Georges Cinq and the Champs Elysee.

After being seated in the elegant dining room, Jack caught both Maggie and Bianca up on current events in Pine Valley. Despite weekly phone calls and daily e-mails, there was a lot they had missed out on or had not had time to completely follow along with. After ordering dinner, they talked more.

Aidan and Anita were still seeing each other, which Bianca knew through correspondence with Anita, but she was not aware that things were getting serious between them. Jamie and Babe were also still together, but that was still a very sore subject for both girls, so not much time was spent discussing them. Maggie did enjoy knowing, though, that Babe had to spend time picking up trash on the side of the highway while wearing a bright orange jumpsuit as part of her sentencing agreement.

Unfortunately, if she's wearing safety orange she won't get mistaken for a deer and be shot by any nearby hunters, she thought.

"What about the trial for Edmund's murder?" Bianca asked. "What's happening there? No one will tell us anything."

The table fell silent. Almost as if it were a reprieve of sorts, the waiter arrived with their meals and everyone took a moment to eat a few bites before the topic was picked up again.

"Okay," Maggie said. "What is it that no ones wanting to tell us?" There was more silence from everyone. The only sounds at the table were of silverware on china as the others seemed to be extremely interested in what was on their plates. "Come on, we're going to find out sooner or later."

"It was Jonathan," Kendall said finally. "Everything was Jonathan."

"What?!"

Bianca reached over and put a calming hand on Maggie's arm. "What do you mean, 'everything was Jonathan'?" she asked softly.

Jack set his fork aside. "Apparently," he began gently, knowing this would hit both his niece and her best friend, both of whom he thought of more as his own daughters, very hard, "Jonathan came to Pine Valley with more of an agenda than we originally thought. He's the one who poisoned Greenlee, he shot Ryan, tried on several occasions to kill Ryan." Jack paused for a moment. "He killed Edmund."

Maggie was having trouble wrapping her mind around what Jack was saying. "Why?"

"Yo, Mags," Reggie said, leaning forward. "That Jonboy is one sick dude. When he found out you'd left town with Bianca, I thought he was going to stroke out. I mean, I was glad I got to be the one to inform him of that, but, man, after that…"

"After that he went nuts," Kendall continued.

"What do you mean, 'he went nuts'?" Maggie asked in a deliberate tone.

Kendall looked at the others at the table, then laid her fork down on the linen tablecloth to continue. She figured she'd need both hands on her napkin to twist it in anger over what had happened after Bianca and Maggie had left town. "He told Ryan that it was Braden. That Braden had contacted him and he was forcing Jonathan help Braden make Ryan pay for all he'd done to him."

"All Ryan had done to Braden?" Bianca asked. "Like helping him get out of town before he was sent to jail for rape, like Ryan taking that rape charge for Braden?"

"It wasn't Braden," Kendall continued. "It was Jonathan, pretending to be Braden. He shot Ryan again-."

"Luckily Ryan had on a bullet-proof vest," Jack cut in.

"And he stabbed himself to make everyone think Braden had attacked him."

Maggie sat bolt upright. "He stabbed himself?" she exclaimed incredulously.

"He had everyone thinking that Braden was terrorizing Pine Valley. The fact is he had Braden in his head telling him everything was Ryan's fault."

"He's seriously mentally ill," Jack explained. "He was hearing a voice and he was sure it was Braden, telling him everything he was going to do. He was going to destroy Ryan and anyone else who got in his way."

"But why Edmund? Why kill Edmund?" Bianca asked.

Jack sighed. "Because Edmund was getting close to the truth," he told them. "Edmund was convinced that Zach had beaten up Bobby Warner and was the one that shot Ryan so he began to investigate. He found Bobby's cell phone and called the number he thought might be the shooter to set up a meeting. Unfortunately for Edmund, he had called Jonathan. Knowing he couldn't meet Edmund and fearing he was about to be discovered, Jonathan killed him."

"I don't understand. How did Bobby know Jonathan?"

"Jonathan was the one who hired Bobby in the first place, to help him destroy Ryan."

"My God," Maggie murmured. Despite knowing deep down that she wasn't to blame for all Jonathan had done to those she loved, she couldn't help but be ashamed. She had been with this man, thought she had loved him. She almost married him! Beside her, Bianca took hold of her hand, lacing their fingers together in comfort.

"He fooled everyone, Maggie," Erica said softly, reassuringly. "Not just you, he fooled everyone."

"What happened?" she asked, taking some solace in Erica's words.

"Dude had a complete and total meltdown," Reggie cracked. "What?" he asked after taking a backhand to the arm from Kendall. "He did."

"He had a mental collapse," Jack explained, after tossing Reggie a warning look. "He admitted everything to Ryan and Greenlee, saying he just couldn't take it anymore. From the physical and mental abuse by his father, compounded with Braden reminding him daily that Ryan had deserted them, he started to believe that everything that had gone wrong in his life was Ryan's fault. And that Braden was the one who made him do it all. He's going to be in a hospital for the criminally insane for a very, very long time."

"So, basically what you're saying is Jonathan's a nut bar," Maggie said.

Bianca smiled. "There's my girl," she murmured softly. She knew Maggie was blaming herself for this, but she also knew Maggie was too strong to let it drag her down.

Even Jack had to chuckle. "Yeah," he answered. "I guess so."

Maggie took a deep breath and let it out. She was silent for a moment. "Anything else we should know about?" she finally asked. "Is J.R. running for Mayor? Opal singing on Broadway? Anything?"

"Well..." Reggie began.

"Reggie!" Jack, Kendall and Erica all exclaimed in unison.

"Okay, okay."

They lingered a little over coffee and dessert, then strolled along the Champs Elysee for a bit before returning to the apartment. Erica had already made plans for the girls to go shopping the next day, so the men decided they would go to a lower division soccer match in the afternoon. Since Miranda was already asleep, they all decided it had been a long day and would turn in.

"I'll put her down," Bianca told Maggie, feeling just a little nervous that they would be sharing a bed. She carried Miranda to her room and disappeared inside.

Maggie looked over and saw Kendall watching them from the door to what used to be Maggie's bedroom. "What?"

Kendall just grinned. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do," she replied as she entered the room, shutting the door behind her.

"I imagine it's a pretty short list of what you wouldn't do," Maggie said to the closed door.

"You would imagine right," Kendall's voice carried out to her.

Laughing to herself, Maggie entered Bianca's room and got ready for bed. She crawled up onto the soft mattress and slid under the covers, waiting for Bianca to finish with Miranda. Suddenly, she was extremely nervous.

Yes, they had slept in the same bed before, but never in this dynamic, committed to each other in a romantic relationship. Maggie's heart started to thunder in her chest. This was extremely nerve-wracking and very exciting at the same time.

After a few minutes, Bianca slipped quietly into the room, pulling the door halfway closed behind her. "Hey," she called softly to Maggie.

"Hey yourself," Maggie whispered back. "She still out?"

"Like a light. She had a busy day."

"Yeah, a sudden visit from Grandma can do that to you."

Bianca ducked her head and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, I guess so," she whispered, blushing a delicate shade of rose. She disappeared into the bathroom. "Sorry about that."

"Sure you are," Maggie called to her.

A few minutes later, Bianca returned. She turned the bathroom light out behind her, plunging the room into darkness, only a few shafts of silvery moonlight peeking in through the curtains. She slid into bed beside Maggie. "Mom called me from the plane," she told the blonde honestly. "Of course, she called me at about 9:00 this morning, but she surprised me, too."

That made Maggie roll onto her side, propping herself up on her elbow and looking down at Bianca. "You knew at 9:00a.m.? Eight hours before you saw fit to tell me?" Bianca nodded sheepishly. "Oh, man..."

"Maggie, she freaked me out! That was so not the call I was expecting when I first got into the office this morning." Bianca pulled the sheets up to her nose, as if trying to hide and doing a poor job of it. "I'm sorry."

Maggie decided that Bianca looked so miserable that she'd let her off the hook. "Okay, since everything turned out alright, I'm going to let it slide." Bianca started to relax and lowered the sheet a bit. Maggie held up her index finger. "This time."

"Thank you," Bianca whispered, giving her a grateful, yet still sheepish, smile.

"Oh, God, I can't take it when you look at me that way." She bent down and gave Bianca a hard kiss on the lips. "Relax, Binks, I was just kidding."

Bianca released the breath she'd been holding. "I am sorry, you know."

"Yeah, I know."

"Kiss me again."

"Ooo, bossy. I like it." She kissed Bianca again, smiling into it when she felt Bianca's arm slide around her neck to hold her close and deepen the kiss.

Breathless moments later, Maggie pulled back. Bianca followed and kissed her again, then slid her lips to Maggie's neck, pressing a kiss to the pulse that beat there. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my mom calling," she said between kisses.

"Bianca," Maggie whispered breathlessly.

"Yeah?"

"Please don't mention your mother when you're kissing me."

Maggie woke up Friday morning at her usual time and lay quietly for a few moments before attempting to get out of bed. Bianca was curled up against Maggie's side with her head on Maggie's shoulder. One arm was tucked between them, the other thrown across Maggie's waist. Maggie was not at all surprised to find that her arm was around Bianca's shoulders, holding her close.

She kissed Bianca on the forehead and then gave her a gentle hip-check. That achieved the desired result and Bianca rolled over onto her other side, giving Maggie a chance to escape. She tried to crawl out of the bed quietly and not wake up Sleeping Beauty, but unfortunately forgot about the height of the bed. She tumbled unceremoniously to the floor.

"Ouch," she muttered, rubbing her shin where it had made contact with the little step stool. "Okay, well, that was graceful."

"Maggie?" Bianca whispered sleepily. "You okay?"

"I think I broke my leg. This bed is a menace."

Bianca laughed then peered over the side of the mattress. "You can always come back up here, if you want," she said softly. "I'll try to change your mind."

"Uh, no, thanks. It's a tempting offer, but I'm sure Kendall will be in here momentarily. And she won't knock first, either." Just as Maggie got to her feet and limped over to the dresser where she'd stashed some of her clothes, the bedroom door was flung open and Kendall swept in. "See?"

"Good morning," Kendall chirped, far too cheerfully for someone who had taken a transatlantic flight just hours before.

Maggie peered at the older girl. "Good God, do you sleep in full make-up?"

"Oh, ha-ha." She moved to the bed and settled in next to her sister. "What's up this morning?"

Maggie started for the bathroom. "I'm going for a run," she muttered, shaking her head. An overly cheery Kendall first thing in the morning was more than she could handle, especially since Bianca had kept her awake most of the night talking, cuddling and... well, seriously making out. Not that Maggie minded, but now she had to get out and run off some tension before she did something really stupid.

"Mags," Bianca called out as she exited the bathroom a few minutes later.

Their eyes met and Maggie gave her a wink as she pulled her hair back into a pony tail. "I know, B. Me, too." And she started for the door.

"So," she heard Kendall's voice behind her, "tell me all about the balcony slash boathouse thing."

"Oh, God..." Maggie groaned softly.

"Kendall, I need your help," Maggie said later that afternoon.

They were deep in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Pres, having just left Cartier and currently making a beeline for Armani. Bianca was trying to keep pace with Erica, but Maggie and Kendall, lugging most of the bags, had dropped back.

Kendall almost stumbled. "Were you talking to me?" she asked in shock.

"I know, I know, it seems highly unusual, but it's true." Maggie shifted a couple large bags from one hand to the other. "God, when did I become a pack mule?" she muttered.

"You've never been shopping with La Kane, have you?"

"No, but I have been shopping with Mini-Kane."

Kendall laughed. "Bianca has miles to go before she matches Mother in the retail consumption department."

"Goodie."

"So," Kendall began conversationally, "I distinctly heard you ask me for my help. What is it that you need to come to me for assistance?"

"Well," Maggie said softly, "I want to-" she swallowed, "-take Bianca out on... a... date." She mumbled the last so softly that Kendall almost didn't hear her.

"What?"

"Oh, come on, you heard me. We haven't been out on real a date since we decided to... get involved-." God, Maggie thought, that sounds so stupid. She shook her head. "With you guys here to watch Miranda..." She paused. "Our last date- hell, our only date was to her prom."

"Four years between dates is a long time," Kendall informed her.

"You are so not helping."

"Sorry."

"No, you're not." Maggie sighed. "It's like I wasn't in control of my own life," she said softly, almost to herself. "Like someone else was telling me what to say and what to do. Bianca and I would start to get close, start to maybe understand our feelings for each other just a little bit, and then something would happen and we'd be yanked apart again." Finally, she looked up at Kendall. "I want to do something really special for her, Kendall. I want her to know how important this is, how important we are, to me."

Kendall just looked at her for so long without saying anything, Maggie started to understand what a bug under a microscope felt like. Then the curly haired beauty spoke. "God, you're really sad when you're in love." She laughed at the look on Maggie's face. "Okay, I'll take pity on you. Tell me what you have planned."

"Dinner," Maggie said. "Maybe some dancing."

"Sounds good. Where?"

"What?"

"Where are you taking her to dinner." Kendall enunciated each word, causing Maggie to give her a nasty look. "Well?"

"Um, well, I thought maybe Maxim's."

Kendall gave her an approving smile. "There's hope for you yet, Maggie Stone."

Grinning with pleasure that she had made a satisfactory choice, she hurried to catch up with the two shopping queens. She eventually cornered Bianca as they were leaving Armani and got an encouraging smile from Kendall as the taller girl followed after Erica.

"Hey, got a sec?" she asked Bianca, suddenly a little afraid. Are my palms sweating? she thought. Man, I'm really nervous about this...

"What's up?" Bianca asked. Then she noticed how many bags Maggie was hauling around. "Are you tired? I know how Mom can get when she's shopping."

"No, I'm okay. I just wanted to talk to you for a minute."

Bianca smiled. "Oh, okay."

"So, I was wondering..." her voice trailed off as her nerves got the better of her.

"Maggie?"

Maggie took a deep breath. "Are you doing anything tomorrow night?"

"No, why?"

"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me. Have dinner, maybe go dancing."

Now Bianca started to grin. "Maggie Stone, are you asking me out on a date?"

"Yes, Bianca Montgomery, I am. Will you go out, on a date, with me tomorrow night?"

"I'd love to," Bianca replied, slipping her arm through Maggie's. "It sounds like fun."

"Eight o'clock?"

"Perfect."

So, it was a date.

Saturday night at 7:30, Maggie was a basket case. She had never been so nervous in her life. Even Kendall had to admit that the blonde was a wreck.

After the four women had returned to the apartment from their Friday shopping spree, Kendall had hidden away in the den with Erica. Using the valuable connections of the great Erica Kane, they managed to procure dinner reservations at Maxim's Le Grill at 8:15. As an added gift, Erica scored them tickets to the Lido des Paris cabaret revue Bonheur at 11:30. Maggie thought that following the show, they'd hit Club 79 for some dancing. Bianca had no clue what the date would entail.

Now, though, as the time for the date drew nearer, Maggie began to panic.

"What was I thinking?" she asked herself, running around her bedroom in what Kendall would call a full-blown tizzy. "God, this was so stupid. I'm never going to be able to pull this off. Kill me. Kill me now."

Kendall chuckled. "Maggie, you need to calm down. It would do you no good to have a coronary before the 'big date'." She tossed off air quotes with her final words, still grinning at the blonde.

"Kendall, you are not helping. Really. Not helping!"

"What is the problem?"

Maggie stopped pacing and threw her head back. "I don't know," she admitted.

Kendall got up from her seat on the edge of the bed and went to Maggie, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Really, Mags, just relax. Nothing you do is going to be wrong. Bianca loves you and, really, all she wants to do is spend some time with you. Where you go and what you do isn't all that important."

The kind words and even kinder touch caused Maggie to look up at Kendall. "Why are you doing this?" she asked the taller woman.

"Because I want to see my sister happy and, apparently, you make her happy."

"Thanks, Kendall."

"You're welcome, Maggie." She stepped back. "You look great, by the way."

"Do I? Oh, thank God." Maggie had chosen a black suit she'd gotten the previous day at Armani with a fitted French blue Façionnable blouse half-buttoned over a white silk tank. She had told Bianca dressy yet casual without knowing what she herself would decide to go with, and thought this might work. "I had no idea what to wear."

"Well, that's perfect."

Maggie turned to Bianca's sister. "Thanks for everything, Kendall. I mean it."

Kendall actually blushed. "No problem." She checked her watch. "It's time."

"Oh, shit..." She took a deep breath and started for the door. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck, Maggie," Kendall said. She watched the young woman walk toward Bianca's bedroom door. "But I really don't think you'll need it," she whispered to herself, a smile in her eyes.

Maggie stood in front of Bianca's bedroom door and took several deep breaths, trying the marshal her thoughts. She raised her hand and knocked. The door swung open almost immediately, Bianca on the other side. She blushed suddenly, realizing it might appear that she was a little anxious for Maggie to arrive.

"Hi," she said shyly.

"Hi," Maggie replied. "You look- wow. You look great."

"Thanks. You look great, too."

Maggie didn't respond to the compliment, she was too busy concentrating on what Bianca was wearing. A short black skirt with a form-fitting white silk camisole. A waist-length collarless red leather jacket completed the outfit and Maggie felt a fine sheen of sweat pop out along her hairline.

Cripes, she looks hot, Maggie thought.

"Thank you," Bianca said, blushing again.

"Jeez, did I say that out loud?"

Now Bianca laughed. "Yes, you did."

Maggie cleared her throat. "Um, you ready?" she asked, deciding to totally ignore the fact that she could no longer control what she thought and said.

"Shall we?"

"Let's."

They left the apartment with everyone standing at the front door, watching them as they walked to the elevator. Bianca had been giving more instructions to Kendall and her mother on Miranda's bedtime and not to allow her to stay up too late before Jack gave them a gentle shove out the door. They stood there waving goodbyes until the elevator doors closed and it began its descent to the lobby.

"Erica," Jackson said, looking down at the petite dynamo. "Are you crying?"

"Oh, I guess I am," she replied.

"Why?" Reggie asked in confusion. He thought this whole thing was the greatest.

Erica dabbed at her eyes regally. "I'm sending my baby girl out on a date," she told the others. "And it's with someone I actually approve of..."

The same Mercedes E500 they had driven before was waiting for Maggie and Bianca as they left the apartment building, and Maggie held the door until Bianca was settled into the leather passenger seat. As she watched Maggie round the car to the driver's side, Bianca tried to control her breathing, afraid she might hyperventilate from the adrenaline pinging around inside her.

It had only taken four years, but they were finally going out on a real date, just like she'd dreamt about so many times before. She guessed what they said was true, that good things really do come to those who wait.

Maggie slid behind the wheel and started the car, gently sliding the gear shift into drive. "I thought we'd start with dinner at Maxim's," she told Bianca. "Is that alright with you?"

"Maxim's? Are you kidding? That sounds great."

"Good."

Maggie drove to the famous restaurant that sat just beyond the Place de la Concorde and left the car with the valet. Inside, they made their way to the Maitre D', who looked at them and smiled.

"Bonsoir," he said, "May I help you?"

"Reservations for Stone," Maggie replied. "For two."

"Ah, oui." He checked his reservation book. "Très bien, this way, s'il vous plaît."

As he led them to their table in the more casual Grill Room, Maggie placed her hand on the small of Bianca's back. Bianca felt a little thrill run through her, realizing that this was a very big deal to Maggie, she intended for this to truly be a real date.

They were seated and presented with menus, then the Maitre D' bowed to them. "Please, enjoy your dinner."

When their waiter appeared, Maggie ordered a bottle of 1981 Chateau Margaux Pavillon Rouge. The sommelier served the wine and after he had poured two glasses, the waiter reappeared to take their order. They decided to share an appetizer of Escargot de Bourgogne and a baguette. For their meals, Maggie went with the Steak Frites with a Bordelaise sauce while Bianca chose the Skate wing in a lemon-caper butter sauce.

"Skate wing?" Maggie asked, a little confused.

"You know what a Skate is. It's like a sting ray or a manta ray."

"I didn't realize they were edible."

Bianca smiled. "They are very edible. Taste like chicken." They both laughed.

Shortly thereafter, the waiter returned with their appetizer, setting the plate of Escargot down between them. Maggie eyed the plate with a little trepidation.

"Your first experience with snails?" she asked the blonde.

Maggie smiled at her intuitiveness. "Yeah. I just keep thinking about that scene from 'The Jerk'."

"What?"

"You know, when they're eating in that French restaurant and Steve Martin says 'Now just stay calm. Don't look down! There are snails on the plate. You would think that in a fancy restaurant at these prices they could keep the snails off the food! There are so many snails there you can't even see the food!"

Now Bianca was laughing as she recognized Maggie was not quite sure she really wanted to try the escargot. "Snails are actually very good, you know. They're like little pencil erasers in a garlicky butter sauce."

"Well," Maggie said with a grin. "With an endorsement like that, how can I resist?"

The snails - escargot - were actually quite good, probably due in a large part to the garlicky butter sauce and although they did have the consistency of pencil erasers Maggie did enjoy them. When their main course arrived, they decided to share with each other. Maggie had to admit that Skate wing was really very flavorful.

After dinner, they shared a dessert of Creme Brulee with some coffee, talking quietly about nothing in particular. The wait-staff at Maxim's was extremely attentive and before their coffee cups were empty, someone was there to immediately top them off. It had been like that all evening, so attentive yet so unobtrusive that neither Bianca nor Maggie was actually aware of their presence.

When they finally finished and Maggie paid the bill, they had spent almost 2 and a half hours over their meal. Bianca couldn't remember having so much fun in a five-star restaurant before. The two of them had talked and laughed and been completely wrapped up in each others company, time had truly flown by.

"Ready?" Maggie asked, finishing the last of her coffee. "It's time for Phase 2."

Bianca looked at her. "What's going on, Stone?" she asked suspiciously.

"Well, we have tickets for the 11:30 show at the Lido."

"Are you kidding?"

Maggie shook her head. "A gift from your mother."

Bianca's eyebrows nearly hit her hairline they went up so high in surprise. "Are you kidding?" she repeated.

"Nope." Maggie held out her hand to Bianca, smiling as their fingers laces together. "I think she likes me."

That made Bianca laugh as they walked out of Maxim's holding hands. The valet brought up the car and Maggie made the short drive down the Champs Elysee to the Lido des Paris.

"Is it just me or is everything worth doing on the Champs Elysee?" she asked Bianca as they found a parking spot and made their way to the theater.

"It would seem so," Bianca agreed.

The show they were seeing, Bonheur, was fairly new. It was the 26th revue to be staged at the world famous cabaret, which opened in 1946. Many Americans would say the shows remind them of Las Vegas with beautiful showgirls, huge headdresses, incredible singing, entertaining dancing and not a lot of clothes. It was quite a spectacle.

At one point, Maggie leaned close to Bianca, poured her another glass of champagne that was included with their ticket price and whispered in her ear. "I don't think I've ever seen so many perfect breasts in one place in my life."

Bianca laughed. "I should really be enjoying this," she replied. "But all I can think about is my mother when she ran off to Vegas to be a showgirl."

"Now there's a visual I'll never be able to get rid of. Thanks for that."

As the curtain went down and everyone rose to their feet to applaud, Bianca leaned in and kissed Maggie. "We'll see what we can do to wipe the image from your mind."

"It's going to take a lot," Maggie replied. "I mean, an awful lot..."She took Bianca's hand and led her out of the theater. "Come on, one more stop."

"What? Maggie, it's one a.m."

Maggie stopped and turned to Bianca. Her sudden action had the brunette nearly running her over, so Maggie wrapped her arms around Bianca's waist. "Are you ready to go home?" she asked.

"Well," Bianca said shyly. "What did you have in mind?"

"I thought maybe a little dancing."

"Oh, that sounds like fun."

"Then come on."

Pulling Bianca along behind her, Maggie strode down the Avenue to Club 79. The pounding beat of the music playing inside could be heard and felt as they neared the front doors. Maggie paid the cover charge and they hurried in, taking in the full blown discotheque complete with flashing lights, smoke and colorfully lighted dance floor.

"Let's dance!" Maggie yelled over the music. She grabbed Bianca's hand and led her onto the dance floor.

And they danced to nearly every song that played. Eventually, they found a table so each could remove their jackets and get a drink to cool down for a few moments, but it wasn't long before they were back out on the dance floor, enjoying the music and each other. It was almost 2 hours later before the DJ announced a slow song and the tempo changed.

"I know you're taller than I am," Maggie said, leaning close to Bianca so she could be heard. "But this is my date so I'm going to lead."

Bianca laughed. "Okay." She gave Maggie her hand, felt Maggie's free arm slip around her waist, slid her arm around Maggie's shoulders. Maggie pulled her close and they began to move to the music. "Thank you," Bianca whispered in Maggie's ear.

"What, for leading?"

"No, for tonight."

Maggie smiled into Bianca's eyes. "It's been my pleasure."

We were in love before
But now it's so much more
'Cause when I kiss your lips I can't explain
What I feel in my heart for you

Somehow they moved closer, so that there was no space between their bodies. Their arms tightened and they held each other close.

I don't know what I'd do
Baby if I lost you
'Cause I've been without you
and I know how it feels
And I can't be alone anymore

They danced as if they'd been dancing together their whole lives, as if they knew instinctively how the other would move.

I know it's more than love
Baby, I can feel it
When I'm close to you
I know it's more than love
Baby, do you

Maggie pressed her lips to Bianca's throat, kissing her gently.

Maybe my words don't explain
Why I'm feeling this way

The world seemed to disappear around them.

Maybe my words don't explain
Why I'm feeling this way

Bianca pulled back a little, then rested her forehead against Maggie's. Their eyes locked for a moment, then Bianca's eyelids fluttered shut. Her heart soared.

I don't know what I'd do
Baby if I lost you
'Cause I've been without you
and I know how it feels
And I can't be alone anymore

Maggie gently kissed Bianca's cheek, lingering a moment.

I know it's more than love
Baby, I can feel it
When I'm close to you

Ever so slowly, Bianca turned her head and their lips met. Maggie deepened the kiss, wanting Bianca to know how she felt deep in her heart. Deep in her soul.

I know it's more than love
Baby, I can feel it
When I'm close to you
I know it's more than love
Baby, do you

Maggie pulled back as the final strains died away. "I love you, Bianca."

Bianca smiled. "I love you, too."

"Let's go home."

"Okay."

They grabbed their jackets, retrieved the car and drove back to the apartment, never losing contact with each other. Maggie held Bianca's hand tightly in the elevator ride up to the 6th floor, pleased that the evening had turned out pretty well.

"So," she said as they neared the door. "I hope you had a good time tonight."

Bianca grinned. She knew what Maggie was doing, playing this out as if they didn't share living space, let alone now a bed. "I had a wonderful time, thank you."

"Maybe we could do it again sometime."

"Oh, I think that could be arranged."

Maggie gave her a smile. "Good."

They stopped at the apartment door. "So," Bianca said softly. "Are you going to kiss me goodnight?"

"I think that can be arranged." The blonde leaned in and kissed her sweetly on the lips, holding the kiss for a moment. "Thank you for a wonderful time."

Bianca's eyes were still closed. Slowly, she opened them and smiled at Maggie, who returned her smile shyly. "Thank you. It was really very special."

"Oh, thank God." Maggie unlocked the front door and they entered quietly. Someone had left the small light by the staircase on for guidance. "You do not know how scared I was about this whole evening."

"Really? You were nervous?"

"Honey, I was lightheaded most of the afternoon."

That made Bianca laugh as they went upstairs. "No, it was very nice. You obviously gave it a lot of thought."

"I obsessed about it. Honestly, B, I began to question my own sanity several times today."

"Maggie, you need to relax. We could have gone to one of those ridiculous McDonald's up there and I would have thought it was fantastic. As long as I was with you, it wouldn't have mattered where we were."

"I wish I'd known that before I blew most of what I got when Aidan sold my car for me back in Pine Valley. Who knew you could be had for some McNuggets and a hot apple pie?"

Bianca gave Maggie a shove through the bedroom door. "Okay, Stone, now you're pushing it." But she was laughing as she said it.

"You know Erica Kane raised an incredible daughter." Maggie told her as they stared up at the ceiling not much later. They were lying in bed, talking quietly, both still a little too wired to sleep just yet.

"I spent my formative years with Travis Montgomery," Bianca reminded the blonde. "Be thankful he had me first. Who knows what I'd be like if he hadn't."

"Oh, yeah…" Maggie rolled over onto her stomach, propping herself up on her elbows beside Bianca. "You know, I think I should really be in fear for my life."

"What? Why?"

"Well, I've been threatened by both your mother and Kendall this week."

Bianca moved onto her side and rested her head in her hand. "When did this happen?" she asked in a whisper, almost like they were teenagers telling tales out of school.

"Thursday."

"Oh, when they found out-"

Maggie nodded. "Yeah, when they found out about us. If I ever hurt you, I'm dead."

Bianca was curious. "What did they say?" she asked trying to remain just a little serious, and, judging by the grin on her face, failing miserably.

"Well, your mom promised to have me killed and no one would be able to connect it to her. Kendall was a little more straightforward and threatened to simply hunt me down and kill me herself."

"Yeah, that sounds like them." Bianca reached out with her left hand and gently rested it on Maggie's back, just wanting a connection with her. "Mom certainly wouldn't get her hands dirty with anything as trivial as murdering her daughter's girlfriend."

"Hey!" Maggie protested then quickly lowered her voice so as not to wake Miranda. Or, Heaven forbid, Kendall. "Trivial?!"

"And Kendall would probably love to participate," Bianca continued, ignoring Maggie's objection.

"Wait a minute, I'm still on that 'trivial' comment."

"Oh, come on, Maggie," Bianca said with a grin. "We're talking Erica Kane here. Her day-planner reads like a soap opera. You know, 8:30 a.m.: spa manicure, 10 a.m.: hostile take-over of small cosmetics firm, noon: lunch at the Valley Inn to antagonize Brooke English, 2:30 p.m.: conspiracy to commit murder, 2:35 p.m. massage and facial."

Maggie was laughing. "It would only take her 5 minutes to put out a hit on me?"

"If that long," Bianca assured her.

"Then I'd better be very careful."

Bianca leaned over and pressed a kiss to Maggie's shoulder, bared by the tank top she was wearing with her sleep pants. "Thank you so much for the wonderful evening. As first dates go, this one was pretty incredible."

Maggie grinned. "Unfortunately, I think I've really screwed myself with this one. I don't know if I can top it."

"I'm sure you'll find a way. Just remember the consequences if you don't keep me happy."

"Oh, the pressure." They both laughed. She turned her head and caught Bianca's gaze. Man, I could just fall into those eyes and drown, she thought. "I love you, Bianca."

"I love you, too, Maggie."

Then, unable and completely unwilling to ignore the magnetic pull, they leaned towards each other, their lips meeting in a gentle kiss. It took only an instant for the kiss to change in intensity, from soft and gentle to deep and sensual.

Maggie pushed Bianca onto her back, framing Bianca's face with her hands. She sealed her lips to Bianca's, deepening the kiss as she felt Bianca's arms circle her waist and hold her close. The kiss suddenly ignited in passion when their tongues once again found each other, danced together without awkwardness, without restraint. Bianca moaned softly, the joy surging through her at this incredible moment. It was almost more than she could bear.

"Maggie," Bianca whispered as her fingers tangled gently in Maggie's hair.

"Yeah," came Maggie's muffled reply, seeing as how her face was buried in Bianca's neck.

Bianca caught her breath at the feel of Maggie's lips tracing kisses down her neck to her shoulder, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. "I hope you don't think," she managed to choke out, feeling the tip of Maggie's tongue touch the pulse beating in her throat. "I'm going to put out on the first date."

Maggie laughed and pulled back. She looked down into Bianca's eyes again and grinned. "Nah, I know you're not that easy." She kissed Bianca once more, slowly, softly... thoroughly. "Good night, B."

"Good night, Maggie. I love you."

"You know I love you, Bianca."

Smiling sweetly, Bianca pressed her lips to Maggie's one more time, then rolled over onto her side. Maggie slid up behind her, pressing herself to Bianca's back, wrapping her arms around her. Bianca took Maggie's hands in hers, lacing their fingers together. She smiled when she felt Maggie gently kissing her at the juncture where her neck and shoulder met. Closing her eyes, she knew she had never felt contentment such as this in her entire life.

TBC-