As the ladies got a bit carried away yesterday with what should have just been a morning kiss – New York Week has extended slightly into this one.
SPOILERS – this week – Erica and Jackson have a heart to heart, Miranda and Gabby cheer up AJ and ... well I don't want to spoil it!
…
In order to give Bianca some privacy for her physiotherapy exercises, Marissa grabbed her wash-bag and clothes and stalked across the lounge area to use the en suite in Erica and Kendal's room. Kendal's interruption had put a serious dampener on her good mood this morning; they had been so close… Maybe the only option was to get Bianca far away from any distraction, somewhere they could guarantee not to be disturbed... and then…
"Good morning." called Erica, interrupting her train of thought. Bianca's mother was sitting at the breakfast table in front of the picture window, a large pile of newspapers in front of her.
"'Morning." said Marissa, feeling like a deer in headlights, this was a little awkward considering the place here mind had just been.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Quite well. Thank you." said Marissa, she felt a little self-conscious about standing in the open in her skimpy pyjamas, but Erica clearly wanted to talk. "Was everything alright last night after you left?" she asked.
"Everything was wonderful." said Erica smiling brightly. "I have arranged for Kit to make a very generous apology. I believe he will be more considerate in future." Erica grew serious once more. "And Bianca… is she alright?"
Marissa gave a nervous cough.
"She was having a bad time last night, but she seems… much happier this morning."
"That's good news." said Erica. "And thank you for everything you've done."
"You don't have to thank me." said Marissa, "I would do anything for your daughter. She's amazing."
Erica smiled.
"Yes she is."
The smile faded however when she looked down at the stack of papers in front of her.
"Have you seen the newspapers this morning?" Erica asked.
Marissa shook her head, Erica clearly hadn't registered yet that she was standing there in her nightclothes.
"They loved the film. They all loved the film." She said, pushing the papers away from her so they fanned out across the table top. "All five stars, five stars, five stars…" Erica picked up a paper at random and began to read out loud. "Apparently, 'Meryl Streep was a revelation'; 'Leonardo DiCaprio's uncomfortable performance was a master class in depravity and menace'; while 'Natalie Portman's innocence and vulnerability shone through the screen'… They loved it."
"We knew they would." said Marissa.
A look of doubt appeared on Erica's face.
"Did I do this to my daughters? Did I turn their lives into a three ring circus because of my own vanity?"
"I can't answer that." said Marissa.
"I won't be offended." said Erica. "I want the truth."
"No, I mean I really can't answer that." said Marissa. "I don't know you. From my point of view, I only met you yesterday, when we stepped onto the plane together."
"Your amnesia?" said Erica remembering.
"Yeah. The only thing I know about you is what I saw on the screen last night and what I know of your two daughters. I'm willing to bet that your daughters are the better measure. They are both bright, strong, beautiful women. And I imagine a lot of that came from you. I can't imagine that you would intentionally cause then harm and you've certainly proved you would go to great lengths to protect them. Bianca is always telling me what an incredible woman you are and I'm inclined to believe her."
"Thank you." said Erica, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"That probably didn't answer your question." added Marissa, with an awkward grin.
"No." said Erica, "But it has given me something to think about."
Marissa smiled and nodded.
"Um." she said, pointing towards Erica's room. "I was about to go and use your shower if that's okay."
Erica's expression changed when she finally realised Marissa had been standing there in her pyjamas the whole time.
"Of course, go right ahead." She said, ushering her away.
"Thanks." said Marissa before hurrying to the bathroom.
…
Marissa emerged a while later to find Erica gone and Bianca sitting alone on the couch.
"Have I missed them?" she asked.
"Yeah they went a few minutes ago with Griff."
"So, it's just you and me." said Marissa, a cheeky smile on her lips as she scurried forward to take a seat beside Bianca on the couch.
She stopped however when she noticed the newspaper reviews splayed out on the couch cushions beside her girlfriend.
"Bianca." gasped Marissa, "Why would you do that to yourself?"
"I just wanted to see." said Bianca quietly.
"Well don't." said Marissa pulling the papers from the couch and onto the floor. "You don't have to think about that film at all."
"Yes I do." said Bianca. "It will be how people see me now. And what if Miranda has questions or Gabby? I do need to know what people think."
Marissa looked hard at Bianca, but she didn't look troubled, in fact she looked perfectly calm.
"It's not that bad really." said Bianca. "Most reviews describe the rape scene as honest and raw, and quite a few mention the Miranda Centre as well, apparently the film is donating parts of the profits which I didn't know about."
"I think your mom needs to be thanked for that part."
"Oh… well. It's still a good thing and looking at all the articles they have actually been quite kind."
"So you are not upset."
"I'm not upset."
"It's just after last night…"
"It was shock mostly; shock, shame and embarrassment."
"And today your fine?"
"Today I've had time to process," said Bianca taking Marissa's hand and leading her to sit on the couch beside her. "And it helped that this morning I got to wake up to most beautiful smile in the world, belonging to the most beautiful woman in the world."
Marissa moved away as Bianca leaned in for a kiss.
"Don't do that," said Marissa, hurt in her eyes. "You always deflect. I'm being serious."
"So was I." said Bianca, earnestly. "I'm fine. I swear I'm fine. And I wasn't deflecting." She added, a small smile appearing on her lips. "I was complimenting, that's a whole different thing."
Marisa shook her head, amazed by Bianca once again.
Bianca dipped her head to catch Marissa's eye, her smile widening.
"So can I kiss you now?"
Marissa laughed and surrendered to Bianca's embrace. It was a warm loving kiss and as it deepened Marissa knew what she wanted.
When Marissa pulled away unexpectedly, Bianca gave a moan of protest.
"Take me with you." said Marissa suddenly.
"What?" asked Bianca.
"Take me with you to LA."
"You want to come with me to LA?"
"Yes!" said Marissa looking hopefully at Bianca.
"But don't you start your knew job tomorrow?"
"I'll call in sick, mom won't mind."
"And AJ."
"I'm sure he'll enjoy a few more days with his granddad."
"It's a bit short notice to get tickets."
"There's always a way..! Wait, are you teasing me?"
Bianca was clearly still in a good mood.
"Yes." said Bianca, pulling her back for a more kisses. "And yes!" *kiss* "Yes, I would love for you to come." *kiss* "More than anything!" *kiss* "Just you," *kiss* "And me," *kiss* "And hundreds of miles between us and Kendal." *kiss*
Marissa pulled back, unable to stop the laugh that escaped her lips.
"In that case." she said, still grinning. "I think I need to make some calls."
She bounced off the couch and trotted to the bedroom to retrieve her phone, a spring in her step.
…
Moments later when Marissa reappeared in the bedroom doorway her whole demander had changed and there was a worried expression in her face.
"What's wrong?" asked Bianca.
Marissa was looking down at her phone.
"It's just… I put it on silent at the cinema. There are six messages and five missed calls, all from Adam."
Marissa pressed a button and lifted the phone to her ear to listen to the first message.
Marissa's face turned white.
"What's happened?" asked Bianca moving to Marissa's side.
"AJ's sick. He's got food poisoning. It's serious. I've got to…"
Marissa began dialling the Chandler Mansion number.
"Hello Brooke… Hi, I just got your message, how is he..? No, I'll be there as quick as I can… What did the doctor say..? I'll be as quick as I can… Please give him my love…"
Bianca put a comforting hand on her arm as Marissa looked back a pained expression on her face.
"I'm sorry." she said
"Don't be sorry." said Bianca. "You need to be with your son, no contest. Now give me that phone. You go and sort out your case while I see what I can do about changing your flights."
Marissa starred at Bianca unmoving.
"You are the most amazing girlfriend in the world you know that."
"You'll have to stop saying things like that or I'll get a big head." joked Bianca, as she grabbed Marissa's shoulders and turned her back to the bedroom. "Now scoot… Get packing… I've got a call to make!"
Marissa turned back one last time.
"I love you." she said
"I love you too." said Bianca. "Now start packing!"
…