Bianca walked slowly through the park. The taxi had dropped her by the children's playground and it was a short stroll to the pond. She swung between her crutches step by step as she rehearsed in her head what she was wanted to say to Marissa.

She turned the corner and froze. Marissa had arrived ahead of her. The red head hadn't seen her yet; she was stood at the edge of the pond and was watching a young family across the way feeding the ducks.

Bianca walked up to stand beside her.

"Hi!" said Bianca brightly, trying very hard to seem relaxed.

A wide smile appeared on Marissa's face.

"'Hi' yourself."

They stood in silence for a moment.

"You wanted to talk to me?"

"Yeah." said Bianca, a helpless grin on her face. She was a little overcome by the cuteness of Marissa's delighted expression and the feeling was growing in her gut that this could all go horribly wrong.

"Maybe we should sit down." suggested Marissa.

"Yeah." said Bianca nodding. Her growing anxiety was making all the words and speeches she had rehearsed spin round in her head; everything jumbling together so that she no longer knew what to say or how she had planned to say it.

Marissa led the way over to the nearby bench and they sat side by side in the dappled shade of the tree. Silence descended once more.

"It's a lovely spot." said Marissa, clearly trying to draw Bianca out.

"Yeah." said Bianca, the nervous grin still on her face. Silently she cursed the fear that had overtaken her. She hadn't realised this moment would be so terrifying.

Marissa laughed.

"Is that all you're going to say?"

"Yeah." began Bianca and then she laughed. "I mean no."

"Look, just tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong, I guess I'm just very nervous."

"Why are you nervous." asked Marissa taking Bianca's hand.

That didn't really help.

"I'm nervous because I have something very important to tell you. Something I should have told you the first moment we spoke. I was just scared you wouldn't still feel the same way."

All the agonising fear that had built up in her gut threatened to overtake her. How was Marissa going to react? What would she do if Marissa didn't feel the same?

"You can tell me anything." said Marissa, giving her an encouraging smile.

Bianca's gaze moved from Marissa's eyes, to her smiling lips, to their hands so perfectly entwined. She knew she had to tell her the truth.

She took a deep breath to compose herself.

"Um... is this about JR?" Marissa asked interupting her, that man's name shattering Bianca's resolve in a moment. "Are you going to tell me why he hates you? Is it because you're gay? Did you both fall in love with the same person?"

"Yes!" said Bianca, finally finding a way to tell the truth.

"Was it Babe?" Marissa asked, her expression suddenly downcast.

"No." exclaimed Bianca, surprised by the suggestion. "It was you." Bianca put her hand on Marissa's shoulder. "I fell in love with you."

"You love me?" said Marissa. There was some surprise in her expression as her glanced at Bianca's hand caressing her shoulder.

"With all my heart."

Bianca tried to calm the butterflies in her stomach and continued. If she didn't say everything she had to say right now she might never feel this brave again.

"I asked you to meet me here because this place is very special for us. This is where we shared our first kiss. This is where you told me for the first time that you loved me too."

Marissa's expression changed as a curious smile began to pull at the corners of her mouth. Bianca looked deep into her eyes; there was no fear or disgust there.

Bianca moved closer.

"Marissa I love you and I miss you and I need you to remember us." she said, screwing up the last of her courage. "I need you to remember this…"

Bianca slid her hand to Marissa's neck and moved forward to gently kiss her lips.

They seemed to freeze in the moment. Bianca kissing Marissa, waiting for her to respond but there was nothing. Heartbroken Bianca began to pull away.

Marissa stopped her.

One of her hands grabbed at Bianca's arm while the other gently caressed her cheek. Marissa traced Bianca's bottom lip with her thumb as her gaze darted between Bianca's eyes and her lips. Slowly Marissa leaned in and returned the kiss.

Bianca sighed into the familiar taste of those sweet lips, the tension suddenly broken. It was tentative at first but the passion grew. Bianca drew Marissa closer and tilted her head to deepen the kiss.

A cell phone rang…

It rang again…

And again…

Marissa pulled away.

"I'm sorry, I should get this. It's probably JR wondering where I am."

She looked annoyed by the interruption and she gave Bianca an apologetic grin.

Marissa got up from the bench and put the phone to her ear.

"Hello JR?"

Bianca watched as her adorable smile disappeared and a shadow passed over her face as the conversation continued.

"No… No he's not… What..! Wait… no wait a minute… Oh God! I'll be right there… No,no,no, I'm on my way now… I'll be right there!"

Marissa hung up, an alarmed expression on her face.

"AJ's run away from home!" she gasped.

"What?" exclaimed Bianca, her light bubble of happiness burst by sudden fear for the little boy.

"I have to go." said Marissa, her distress evident.

"If there is anything I can do?" asked Bianca, getting up from the bench to put a comforting hand on Marissa's arm.

"Thank you… but I don't know enough..." stammered Marissa, flustered by this sudden terrible news. "I'll call you when I know more."

Marissa turned to go and then paused.

"And thank you." she said again.

She planted a quick kiss on Bianca's lips before running from the park.

Bianca sat back against the bench waiting for her heartbeat to settle. Her heart was bursting with love and relief, but the elation was muffled by worry for poor little AJ.

What made him run away from home?

Where would he go?

…