Kendall picked Bianca up on the morning of Christmas Eve. Bianca had been home for a day, or two, but she had consistently avoided any alone time with Kendall. This was going to end today. Leo, Greenlee and Kendall had been deliberating about Bianca's icy calm façade. They were certain it was an act. They could see a deep vacant glare in Bianca's eyes when she carried on about her amazing new life with Sarah. No one was buying it. Leo thought he saw traces of the once lonely scared teenager, without a friend in the world. That was not who Bianca was anymore. They were going to fix this.
Kendall knew if she showed up unexpected, there would be no time for excuses. She burst into her mother's house and practically yanked Bianca out of bed. When Erica seemed to suggest coming along, the cold glare she got from Kendall suggested other plans should arise. It wasn't long before Bianca was riding along in Kendall's car. They had a day of shopping and lunch in store. I will not discuss Frankie, Kendall. I know what you are up too. You will not break my defenses. Bianca thought. She had to admit that this charade of hiding her feelings was proving exhausting. Bianca still held onto the theory that if she lived a lie for long enough, maybe she would start to believe it.
After hours of fighting the crowds, the girls were exhausted and hungry. Shopping proved to be a pleasant distraction. No time for talking in the holiday chaos. If I can just get through lunch, I will be home free. Bianca thought, pleased with herself. The girls got out of the car after pulling in to BJ's. Bianca's mood lightened slightly as she walked inside. Gosh, I miss this place. I miss home. They had slipped in and snuck to a corner table. The place was bustling with other holiday shoppers looking for a bite to eat.
The waiter brought the girls some water and took drink orders. Kendall perused the menu and then asked "What looks good, Binks?" She didn't receive a reply. "Binks?" Kendall lowered her menu and looked at her sister. She was trembling slightly and tears were welling in her eyes. "What's wrong? Bianca?" Kendall followed her baby sister's gaze and found the source. Across the restaurant were Leo and Greenlee, surrounded by a group of people.
Kendall strained to make out the guest and realized that they were Maggie and Robin. She remembered meeting them on that awful night Frankie ran off. They are just sitting and laughing. There was a man with them that Kendall didn't know, but she couldn't figure out why Bianca was reacting that way. "What is wrong, Binks?"
"Frankie." Bianca managed to utter before pushing herself up from the table and starting toward the group. Realization hit Kendall. Oh My God! After all of her evading the subject, she never got word of Frankie's sister showing up. She thinks Maggie is Frankie. "Shit!" Kendall jumped to catch up to Bianca but she had already reached the other table.
Leo looked up from his food and saw Bianca in a state of distress. "Bianca?"
Bianca had a finger in Maggie's face. "You have a lot of nerve just showing up here. After months of ignoring me…hiding from me…"
Maggie sat there shocked, but her anger was building. Leo stood and came behind Bianca. "Bianca…Bianca…calm down. You have this wrong." Bianca ignored him. She continued and noticing Robin sitting next to Maggie she turned her rant to the older woman. "And to bring your little slut to flaunt in my face…" Robin's jaw dropped in shock and confusion. Patrick sat up ready to strike, but Leo put up one hand to call him off as his other hand held back Maggie who was now charging forward.
Kendall had come behind Bianca and was holding her as she sobbed. Leo had everyone settle for the moment and then turned to Bianca. She turned into his arms and he soothed her for a moment and then lifted her chin to look into his face. "Bianca…This is me talking. You know I love you like a little sister, right? You are my very best friend." Bianca nodded and tried to wipe away her tears. "Can you trust me? Huh? For just a second?" She looked up at him skeptically, as he led her closer to the table.
"Bianca…We are going to start this over. This is Dr. Robin Scorpio. I am not sure who you thought she was, but she is Anna's daughter. She is visiting us for the holidays. Next to her is Dr. Patrick Drake. He is Robin's boyfriend and, as of last night, her fiancé. That is why we are out celebrating now. Now the root of our problem, I believe, is over to my left." He squeezed Bianca and turned to look into her eyes. "Honey, that is my cousin, Mary-Margret. She is Frankie's sister. That is NOT Frankie."
Bianca's eyes widened. She turned to look at Maggie. Maggie did not look amused. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I…I…" Bianca turned to leave. Kendall started after her, but Leo stopped her. "I got her Kendall." He looked to Robin and Maggie. "Come with me. If I can calm her down, she might be able to help us with Frankie. She knew her better than the three of us combined." The girls got up as Kendall took a seat next to Greenlee.
Bianca had stopped at Kendall's car. She was crying, holding her face in her hands. Leo approached her slowly and held her tight. "Shhh…it's okay. It's all going to be alright. It was an easy mistake, I mean, they are twins for God's sake. Shh." The other girls stood back out of the way. Bianca cried a little longer then managed to find her voice. "That girl…Robin? You say she is Anna's daughter?" Bianca questioned.
"Yeah, she's great. She is a doctor in Port Charles, New York. That is where she is from. What's wrong?" He sees more tears in her eyes. "Has Robin got you upset? Why has Robin got you upset?" Leo looked puzzled. Bianca shook her head and turned away. "Bianca…come on. Now is the time to spill it. What is wrong? I understand you confusing Maggie for Frankie, you have been upset, confused…But what has Robin got to do with any of this? Talk to me."
Bianca took a deep breath, but didn't turn around. "I was there at the Inn on Thanksgiving. I was a mess. Sarah had just asked me to move in with her. I was still dealing with everything from the trip to Syracuse. Anyway, I went to pick up pies for Kendall. I thought I saw Frankie and I felt physically ill. I called to her but she ignored me. I guess, maybe now I see that it could have been Maggie? I don't know? So I followed after her. I had to talk to Greenlee anyway. When I got to the room, Greenlee came out to greet me. She pulled me to the corner and it felt like she was keeping me from something. I figured that Frankie really didn't want to see me. It hurt. I started to go, but I left my purse and when I went back…" Bianca caught her breath, bringing her trembling hand to her mouth. "I could see Frankie out on the terrace. She was in Robin's arms. Robin was kissing her head and stroking her hair. I…I didn't know what to think. It hurt. Why? Why was she holding her, Leo?"
Leo finally pieced so much together. Robin had heard everything and she cleared her throat before stepping closer. Bianca turned to look at the two girls. She was embarrassed and tortured by her memories.
"Bianca…" Robin started softly. "I…I can add some clarity to this situation. Look, Frankie and I are friends. We have gotten really close. Like sisters. She is my roommate right now, and we came down to PV together. David and Anna wanted us there. What no one knew was that my mom had located Maggie and invited her to town. Maggie didn't even know that Frankie was here. It was a huge shock for both of them."
Bianca gasped. "Oh my gosh, my poor Frankie. Is she okay? I can't imagine what that must have done to her." Maggie was irritated by Bianca's reaction but tried to reign in her feelings.
"Frankie did have a hard time. She had a lot going on and I went after her. I realize that it may have looked like something to an observer, but I was merely consoling her. I was just being supportive. I assure you."
Bianca felt her face flush. She was full of concern for Frankie. She knew that having her past thrust upon her must have been devastating. Bianca was worried more than before. She was also confused. She was ashamed for confusing Maggie for Frankie and embarrassed for making a spectacle.
Maggie couldn't control herself anymore. She stepped forward. "Where do you get off pointing your finger in my face or disrespecting Robin? Confusion…Twins…whatever! You were supposed to be in love with my sister. You say My Frankie? You are damn right she took my appearance hard. We both did. She needed someone, anyone that loved her to be there and help her deal. So where were you while my sister was falling to pieces? Oh yeah, that is right…You were off packing up a u-haul with your girlfriend, Sarah. Don't look surprised at me. I know all about you. Do you know what you have done to my sister? While you were off screwing your girlfriend and playing house in Boston, the rest of this town was searching for my sister and trying to put her back together! You don't deserve her."
"Hey, hey, hey." Leo tried to intervene. Bianca wiped away the tears and stared blankly at Maggie. "No, let her finish." Bianca said.
"Oh, I am done with you." Maggie quipped.
Bianca stared, her lip trembling. "You don't know the first thing about me or my love for Frankie! How dare you stand there and pass judgment on me. I am devastated for Frankie. I wish I could have been there to help her. She ran out on me. She left me. She moved away and avoided me. She said she loved me and then kept pushing me away. What was I supposed to think? Why is it so far-fetched to have misconstrued Robin's actions? And you leave Sarah out of this. You know nothing about her or my history and relationship. I'm just trying to move on, like Frankie kept telling me to do."
Maggie scoffed. "I just pray for your precious Sarah. If you love someone that much and then the first sign of trouble you bail and jump in bed with a back-up, well…sorry for her." Bianca gasped and caught her breath. She looked from the venom in Maggie's eyes to the concern in Leo's. The tears began to fall. She ran from the parking lot. She went as far as she could go and then caught a cab to Erica's house.
"Bianca, darling? What's wrong?" Erica exclaimed as she saw her daughter enter the house, visibly distraught. "Where is Kendall? What happened?" Bianca brushed Erica away. "I don't want to see anyone. Not Leo, not Kendall, not anyone. I will open presents with you and Uncle Jack, in the morning, and then I am returning to Boston. Till then, I just want to be left alone." She ran up the stairs to her room, closed and locked the door. She cried and shook as the harsh words that Maggie spoke rang in her ears. She is right. I didn't fight hard enough. I should have confronted Frankie and then all this mess wouldn't be. I hurt her when she was at her most vulnerable, how can she ever forgive that? How can I? Maybe Maggie is right? Maybe I don't deserve Frankie? She cried harder at the thought. She reached her bag and pulled out a picture of Frankie from deep within. She stroked the outline of the blonde girl's face as she cried herself to sleep.