Okay...so you fantastic people out there get another chapter cause I am in an "over the moon" kind of mood today. I just celebrated my b-day this weekend and I got a text message from a friend this morning. She urged me to check my Twitter account. I did and found that my beloved "Frankie"- Liz Hendrickson had wished me Happy B-day! I am still in shock. I have all kinds of conversations with folks on there. I have talked with Eden Riegel (and her mom) multiple times. CBL and Sarah...even Sarah's husband. Folks from TV and radio and nothing has made me squeal like a little girl like today's message. I adore Lizzie. She is the absolute tops in my book for a hundred reasons and I am so excited. So anyway...here is a chapter for you while I am still riding this high. =)

Enjoy!

At BJ's the girls were kicked back at a corner table. Frankie had enjoyed a burger as well as an ample portion of the nachos, with hot sauce, that Bianca had ordered. Bianca marveled at how the small woman carried such an enormous appetite. During their lunch, Reggie had joined them and the three had been having quite the conversation. Reggie was quite the character and Bianca delighted in watching Frankie's reactions to the tales of Pine Valley. Bianca just gazed in wonder at how Frankie would laugh until it hurt, listening to Reggie re-live the back-stabbing and double dealings of such a small place. He made it sound so very dramatic.

"It's a messed up little town, my friend…but it's home." Reggie stated while patting Frankie on the back. "You just gotta know who your friends are and who to stay clear of. As long as you are good to Bianca, I got your back. Some folks around here are just trouble."

The brown French doors of BJ's opened up at that moment and two women entered the establishment. They did so rather loudly. The taller of the two was dressed in jeans and a shimmering gold colored top. Her curly brown locks fell loosely around her face. She walked with intention…with a purpose and then turned halfway into the room, pointing her finger at her shorter companion. "I don't want to fight with you."

The smaller brunette, with straight hair wrapped loosely in a messy bun, swatted the finger away and replied "No, you just want to be Queen of Everything!" She jutted her hip out in true diva fashion. Bianca and Reggie both noticed the arrival and hung their heads. The taller woman retorted "I am sorry I am not psyched about your perfume…it's good." As she said this, she waved her hand casually, making it seem less sincere. The smaller girl huffed, adjusted the tie of her teal halter and pushed past the curly-haired woman.

Reggie cleared his throat and gestured in the ladies' direction. "They are a perfect example of folks to stay clear of." Reggie stated with a laugh and then gave Bianca a fist bump. "Reggie!" Bianca scorned her cousin and then fought back a laugh. Frankie grinned, while still examining the bickering females that seemed to be thriving on the attention they were receiving from almost everyone. "Who are they? They seem to be heading this way." Frankie shifted nervously in her chair at the glares she was now getting from the approaching vultures. "Our sisters." Bianca and Reggie groaned in response.

"Afternoon, Binks." Kendall, the curly-haired woman, said as she approached the table and pulled out a chair. "Reggie."

"Hello, Kendall." Bianca said as her and Reggie stood up to greet the two women. Reggie gave Kendall a pat on the back and nodded over at the shorter woman. "Hey Greens, what's up?"

"Reggie." Greenlee said as leaned in and planted a kiss to his cheek that he promptly wiped off. She turned her attention to Bianca and Frankie. "LesBianca…who is your friend?"

Bianca rolled her eyes at the comment and looked to Frankie as she felt her partner tense up. Before Bianca could take hold of her hand, Frankie sat up and leaned forward. Whatever the case of nerves she had earlier seemed to have vanished now. She looked Greenlee dead in the eye and warned "I'm Frankie. And you're right, I am Bianca's friend. You would be wise to address her by her proper name from this point forward."

Kendall snorted a little and then regained her composure. "Careful, Greenlee…My little sister has herself a guard dog."

"Heh, more like a stray." Greenlee quipped.

"Either way, I bite." Frankie shot back and then relaxed while returning her attention to Bianca.

Kendall broke the silence and extended her hand to Frankie. "I am Bianca's big sister Kendall. I am sure she has talked incessantly about me."

Frankie shook the older woman's hand and nodded. "A little. Good to meet you. I am Frankie Stone…from Syracuse."

Kendall smiled and gestured in Greenlee's direction. "Forgive our cousin, she can't be held responsible for her behavior in her hubby's absence. It's no secret that he is her conscience after all. Frankie Stone…meet Mrs. Greenlee Smythe Du Pres. "

Frankie suddenly began to choke on the nacho that she had just popped into her mouth. Bianca attended to Frankie immediately. Reggie offered her water. Kendall and Greenlee just looked at each other puzzled. Once it seemed Frankie was breathing again, Bianca asked "Are you okay, Frankie? What happened?"

Frankie cleared her throat and took a drink of water. "I am okay. That nacho just went down the wrong pipe. I'm good"

Bianca took Frankie's word for it and returned to listen to the latest chatter about Fusion, the company co-owned by Kendall and Greenlee. Bianca could feel Frankie's whole attitude shift, even though she would flash a smile or seem to be following along. What in the world has her so nervous? I can feel the tension oozing off of her. I wonder if it is meeting so much of my family? Or maybe the confrontation with Mom? Surely she isn't still reeling off of the whole Greenlee thing? She was so confident. Not many people have ever stood up for me like that. Of course Greenlee is just a mild annoyance, but still…it was sweet. Oooh, maybe I can introduce Frankie to Leo. I bet she would love him. Plus, he can put anyone at ease.

"Greenlee? What is Leo up to today?" Bianca inquired. "Oh Frankie, you just have to meet him. I have mentioned Leo before, I think. He is my best friend. You have got to meet him."

Greenlee broke her glare at Frankie, still fuming from before and turned to Bianca. "He is out running errands and should be here to meet me and Kendall any minute."

Frankie sat up and leaned into Bianca. "I would love to meet him…I…I just feel a little funny. I would actually like to take a walk. Is that cool?"

Bianca looked confused and concerned. "Sure. I am sorry you don't feel well." She stood up and signaled the waiter. Then she turned to the others. "Ladies, Reggie…we are gonna have to go. Frankie isn't feeling so well. Give my best to Leo." She paid the bill and wrapped her arm around Frankie's waist as they exited the restaurant.

The girls and Reggie exchanged confused looks. "What the heck was that about?" Kendall asked as he other two simply shrugged.

While walking through the park, Bianca and Frankie held hands and remained quiet. Bianca just enjoyed the feel of Frankie's hand and how it had always seemed to fit just right. She watched the girl and her expressions as they played across her face. When they got to a clearing, Bianca veered them over to a bench and gestured for Frankie to sit beside her. "So you want to tell me what you are thinking? Or are you not ready yet?"

Frankie sighed and wrapped her arms around Bianca, pulling her closer. "Have I become that obvious? Or are you just that smart?" Bianca laughed and replied "Oh I am definitely just that smart. What is going on in that head of yours? Something happened back there and don't tell me that it didn't. If you don't want to share, that is okay. Just don't insult my intellect."

Frankie scratched her scalp and sat there in silence for a moment. Bianca just sat and closed her eyes. I know this is hard, Frankie. Just please trust in me. You can trust me. Bianca sat quietly and willed her friend the strength to trust her. Frankie cleared her throat and spoke. "My parents weren't good people. They drank… and uhh…they hit us. They drank a lot, actually. I remember how much being a kid sucked for us. We always had to be quiet and learned at a young age to take care of ourselves." Bianca held tight to Frankie's hand. "I have a sister, Bianca. A twin sister. Mary-Margaret…Maggie." Bianca nodded, silently urging Frankie to continue. "We took care of each other when we were little and kept each other safe. Maggie chose to fall in line and do well. She had big dreams of helping people and being someone. Me…I skipped school and goofed off. I was the exact opposite."

"What brought all this on, Frankie?" Bianca asked. "You seemed to get so tense back at BJ's. Did I miss something? Was meeting so much of my family just too much, or did we say something?"

"Yeah…I guess it was a little…but there is more." Frankie said. "Maggie left home for school, and then I ran away. I haven't seen her in several years. I told you how I used to sleep in parks? Well, I also had a drug problem. I used to do a lot of shady stuff. It was how I survived. I am not proud of it." Frankie wiped a tear before it could fall. Bianca just held still and listened. "I even sold drugs for a while and ran scams on people. See, my mother's family…her sister…she was…is a big phony and she ran all kinds of illegal dealings. I did some work for her, just for a little while, when I was out running around and trying to stay alive."

Bianca kissed Frankie on the cheek. "I don't care about all of that Frankie. I know that is not you anymore. I have seen how you are trying so hard now to be better."

"Hang on…" Frankie interjected. "I mean, thank you. I mean…I'm glad that you don't care about that…but there is something I have to tell you. My Aunt…I got away from her, but she had a son that I met when we were younger. The two of them ran all kinds of awful cons on rich folks, it's what they did for a living. Gosh, I haven't thought about them in years, but I heard my cousin's name today."

"What…here in Pine Valley?" Bianca asked puzzled. What could she be thinking of? Wait she reacted to Greenlee…Du Pres specifically. A shady Aunt with a son…running cons. Oh My Gosh…what are the odds? "Leo." Bianca whispered.

Frankie's eyes widened. "Yeah…Leo is my cousin. I know you said he is your best friend, but how well do you really know him? And Greenlee…are they really married? What about my Aunt Vanessa? Is she around here? If she is, she can't be up to any good."

Bianca smiled. "Frankie, Baby…slow down. It's okay."

Frankie turned to take Bianca's hands in her own. "No, it's not…you don't understand. Vanessa is nuts…like certifiable and if Leo hurt you or Greenlee…I…"

Bianca pulled her hands free and placed a fingertip over Frankie's lips, silencing her. She moved to cup Frankie's face with her palms and spoke calmly. "Honey, listen. I know all about Vanessa and Leo. Vanessa was here. They came here to do just what you said. Vanessa married a very wealthy sweet old man named Palmer Cortlandt. She was out to scam him and she even went after my mother, but she ended up going down."

Frankie blinked as she processed. "Cortlandt? Gee, like Cortlandt Electronics? Whoa! What do you mean she went down?"

Bianca smiled while caressing Frankie's cheek. "She was caught for being involved in this big drug trafficking ring. It turned out that Palmer was not her only game. She was a mastermind behind it, but she slipped up and was busted by the authorities. Her sons caught onto her and helped turn her in. That is how I know about Leo. He was honest about the things he used to do with his mother, but Vanessa tried to hurt Greenlee before and he stood up to her. Leo is different, with and because of Greenlee. They actually make each other better."

"Wow." Frankie exclaimed awestruck. "Aunt Vanessa finally got what she deserved. That is just aces. She didn't hurt you guys did she? Or this Palmer guy?"

"Eh, she did a little damage, in the sense that she broke up Palmer's marriage, but that is all better now." Bianca explained.

"And you said sons… In the plural?" Frankie questioned. "Vanessa had another kid? How did I not know this? Man, my family is a piece of work."

Bianca nodded. "Yeah, she has two others, actually. Their names are Trey and David. David is a lot older and I have known him for years. He is a good friend to me. Trey is in jail, serving for arson. I didn't know him as well as Reggie and Kendall did. Apparently, Vanessa gave Trey up as a baby. That is probably why you didn't know about him and as I said, David is much older."

Frankie ran her fingers through her hair and scratched her head. "What a crazy, and weird little world, huh? Bringing us together when you already are connected to my family? Strange."

"Oh, I don't know…coincidences happen." Bianca laughed. "If it never happened, you wouldn't have the Six Degrees game…or things like that. I think it is just a rare thing that bonds us and this showed me how much you care about me. You seem to be very protective. I am not going to lie. I have not had a lot of champions in my corner. Well, obviously my family…but for friends…before Leo, no one really jumped to my defense. It must be a family trait."

"Hardly." Frankie snorted. "My family is far from noble. You should have folks in your corner, though. You are the sweetest person. You amaze me, because you are just so different from any girl I have met. I don't even know where to begin. I am happy to have your back. I don't care if that girl is your cousin…no one should tease you for being who you are."

Bianca's look grew solemn at Frankie's kind words. She is just beyond sweet. To think that she was nervous and worried, but wanted to open up about her past with the goal to protect me. Frankie kissed Bianca's hand. "Forgive me if I am not quite ready to have a family reunion just yet. I am glad to know that Leo is good to you. Why don't you tell me about him? Tell me more about David too. You said you two were close?"

Bianca giggled and snuggled into Frankie's form on the bench. "Oh I can tell you some stories. Get comfy, Stone and I'll tell you about the time I almost became your cousin's step-daughter." Bianca erupted into hysterical laughter as Frankie's jaw dropped open in shock.