Sorry for the late post.

...

Three women sat by Bianca's bedside in quiet conversation. Kendal and Erica sat side by side, their arguments temporarily forgotten in the face of their beloved sister and daughter's unconsciousness. On the other side of the bed Marissa sat as close as she could, as she clung to Bianca's hand like it was a life line.

They were talking about the kids. They knew they had to break the news to Miranda and Gabby but it was going to be a hard conversation after all the fun they had just yesterday. Everything had changed so fast. Marissa knew Miranda would take it particularly badly. She was being the big sister for Gabby, but the red head had noticed how sensitive that little girl was when it came to her mother's health.

In the end it was decided that Marissa and Kendal would tell them together. But Marissa was worried about leaving Bianca alone. All the pain and torment in Bianca's screams from before still haunted her, although her girlfriend looked so peaceful now. If you didn't look too hard at the tubes and wires fixed to her body you could almost believe she was simply sleeping.

"I'll stay." said Erica. She reached out a hand to stroke through her sedated daughter's hair. "I owe her for missing so much of yesterday."

"Yes you do." said Kendal, a hint of accusation in her tone but her voice softened when she addressed her sister. "Sleep well Binks. I'll come by again in the morning." She planted a kiss on Bianca's cheek. "And you really need to stop worrying me like this. It seems like every time I turn around you wind up in a hospital bed. It's not funny anymore." She kissed Bianca again and then wiped the trace of lipstick away from her cheek.

Marissa simply kissed the hand she was holding.

"I love you." she whispered. "Erica is going to be right here so you won't be alone."

Kendal picked up her purse and jacket ready to depart.

Marissa got up from her chair too, a little stiff from sitting still for so long. She planted a long goodbye kiss on the corner of Bianca's mouth.

As they turned to go, Marissa paused.

"Wait!" she cried before pulling out her phone and taking a snapshot of Bianca's sleeping face.

…

Reggie and Camilla had been watching the kids at Kendal's. They took the boys and a reluctant Ayesha to the play room, giving Kendal and Marissa a moment alone with Gabby and Miranda.

Marissa was sat on the couch beside Miranda with Gabby on her lap. Kendal settled herself on the coffee table so she could look her eldest niece in the eye. Gabby had climbed into Momma 'Rissa's arms right away, not really aware that anything was wrong. Miranda however was watching her aunt and her mommy's girlfriend with wide nervous eyes.

"I'm afraid I have some very sad news." began Kendal. "Something bad happened today at the hospital when you mommy had her new treatment."

Miranda swallowed, she looked devastated.

"Mommy." she sobbed, "Is she… she's going to be okay? She said she was going to be okay!"

"I know, sweetie," said Kendal, grasping the little girl's knee in reassurance.

"She's asleep." explained Marissa. "The new treatment went wrong and made your mommy hurt very badly, so the doctors in the hospital made her sleep so she won't feel the pain."

Miranda turned to Marissa.

"But when she wakes up she'll feel better?" she asked, a hint of hope returning to her voice.

"She was really in a lot of pain." said Marissa. Kendal noticed Marissa turn pale at the memory of Bianca's agony.

Kendal shook the little knee she still held, to draw Miranda's attention back to her.

"The doctor's need to keep your mommy asleep until they are sure she isn't hurting anymore. That might not happen for quite a long time."

"How long?" Miranda asked.

"We don't know sweetheart, I wish we did." Kendal bit her lips as she tried to find a better way to explain it to the worried little girl. "What is happening to your mommy is just like what happened with Erica. Do you remember after she was shot she was hurting so badly they kept her sleeping until they could make her better again. It will be just like that with mommy."

"Like Erica?" gasped Miranda.

Miranda burst into tears. Kendal slipped off of the table the wrap her arms around the child. She gave a silent curse, she had forgotten how traumatic Miranda had found seeing Erica in the ICU.

"She's not sick like Erica was, Miranda," said Kendal quickly, trying to soothe the child. "She's just sleeping I swear."

Kendal looked to Marissa for back up. Marissa gave Kendal a supportive smile and added her own comforting hand onto Miranda's back.

"Miranda, I took a picture of your mommy just before we came so you and Gabby could see that she was okay." said Marissa pulling her cell phone from her pocket. "Do you want to see it?"

Miranda pulled out of her Aunt Kendal's arms and wiped her teary eyes on her sleeve. She silently nodded her head.

Marissa gave her a smile and scrolled through her cell until she found the picture.

"Here she is." said Marissa handing her phone to Miranda. "You can see she is just sleeping. See, she even has a little smile on her face. I'm sure it's because I had just told her I was coming to see you."

Miranda looked thoughtfully at the picture. Mommy still looked like mommy.

"Lemmie see." said Gabby reaching for the phone. Marissa wasn't sure how much of the conversation the youngest Montgomery had been following. She had a little frown on her face and looked worried about her sister's tears but beyond that it was hard to tell.

"It's mommy, see?" said Marissa turning the screen in Gabby's direction.

"She's asleep."

"That's right." said Marissa. She gave Miranda an encouraging smile as she continued. "And I'm going right back to the hospital to sit by her bedside, because I don't want her to be lonely while she's sleeping. And tomorrow Kendal is going to bring you and Gabby in to see her before school so you can wish her a good morning."

Kendal nodded in agreement.

"And then we can wake her up!" announced Gabby happily.

"No Gabby." said Kendal. "You mommy has to stay sleeping to help her get better."

Gabby frowned.

"Does she need the magic medicine like E-wica?"

Marissa sighed,

"Sadly it's the magic medicine that made her so sick. So we have to wait for the doctor to make a new magic medicine."

"Can I still give her magic kisses?" Gabby asked.

Kendal smiled at Gabby's cuteness;

"Gabby, you can give her a million magic kisses."

Gabby nodded her head, apparently satisfied.

"Miranda, would you like to see mommy tomorrow." Marissa asked, aware of how withdrawn Miranda had become.

"Yes please." said Miranda politely, although she still looked so worried. "And do you really have to go back to hospital?"

Marissa noticed Miranda looked like she wanted something else. Kendal noticed it too.

"Miranda, do you want Marissa to stay here with us tonight?" asked Kendal.

Miranda opened her mouth and then closed it again. Although she didn't speak it was clear the answer was yes.

Marissa looked torn. She clearly wanted to be by Bianca's bedside but she could also see that these little girls needed her.

Marissa kissed Gabby's brow and pulled Miranda into her side for a hug.

"I can stay if that is what you want." she said.

Miranda didn't reply; she only wrapped her arms tightly around Marissa and buried her head in her chest.

Marissa knew that was answer enough.

…