Reggie, Francois and Will were sitting in the bar talking late into the night.

Bianca's behaviour was worrying all of them especially when she refused to come down to join them for supper, insisting she wasn't hungry. Bianca consciously choosing to miss a meal was never a good sign.

Reggie could see the lost look of despair in Marissa's eyes as she struggled to keep the kids distracted over dinner. The only place she clearly wanted to be was by Bianca's side but Bianca was doing too good a job at pushing her away.

"I think Bianca is afraid to admit that she needs help." said Francois. "She's always been so independent, now it must be such a shock to the system."

"I think that's part of it." said Reggie. "She's always been the strong one… she protects others from hurt, even if the hurt is her own… Which when you think about it is a really messed up way to be. I'm certain she wants to reach out to Marissa I just don't think she knows how… she too angry at herself at the moment, and Marissa is taking the brunt of it."

"I think AJ put it best." said Will. "She needs a vacation from this vacation."

"That's probably true." said Reggie. "This is hardly a place to relax and take it easy."

"Maybe we should help them then." said Francois brightly.

Reggie and Will looked at her with a frown.

"What?" asked Will.

"We should help them both take a vacation from this vacation and give them a chance to smooth this over." said Francois.

…

Last night had been awful, Bianca didn't know what to say to Marissa… how to apologise… so she said very little. Then there was the humiliation of Marissa hovering over her, making her eat a sandwich ordered from room service, before taking her pills. Bianca hadn't wanted to eat even though she knew she had too. The small meal settled in her stomach like a brick.

Bianca and Marissa spent the night with their backs to each other, although Bianca wouldn't say that she'd slept, she had too many thoughts spinning around her head.

In the morning they got on with the usual routine, the kids helping Bianca with her exercises while Marissa got them washed and dressed. When Marissa moved to examine Bianca's leg both women noticed that the small bruise on the back of her calf had more than doubled in size.

Marissa sighed.

"You've got a muscle strain." she said.

Bianca was desperate to say something glib to get the smile back onto Marissa's face, but nothing would come.

"I know." she said. "I… I'm…"

She wanted to say she was sorry… That Marissa was right and she had been overdoing it… she wanted to say it so badly.

"Maybe I should just stay in the hotel today." she found herself saying instead, in a sorry tone.

Marissa sat back on her haunches.

"If you think it's a good idea." said Marissa, getting up slowly. "But you are coming down to breakfast this morning aren't you?"

The thought of a meal turned her stomach, but seeing Miranda's worried eyes on her Bianca could only say yes.

As Marissa helped Bianca up off of the floor she was no longer able to look her girlfriend in the eye. But if she had looked she would have seen remorse, just a strong as her own, reflected back at her.

Marissa had spent the whole night going over and over the argument yesterday. She had said too much, she knew she had.

"I'm not an invalid!"

"Yes, you are."

Those three words brought Marissa out in a cold sweat whenever she thought of them. Why hadn't she said something… anything else? Why couldn't this be a dream where she could at least, if she wanted it enough, change the script to something better? Last night when they lay in bed, not touching, it felt like they were separated by so much more than the distance and she didn't know how everything had gotten so broken so quickly.

In the morning they had tried to pretend everything was all right; that everything had somehow been miraculously fixed overnight. They had even shared a morning kiss, going through the motions for their young audience, but the distance was still there.

…

Going down for breakfast Bianca followed Gabby and Marissa into the dining room, Miranda and AJ steering her wheelchair between them. Waiting in the restaurant Reggie, Camilla, Francois and Will greeted the family with wide grins.

"Is everything alright?" Bianca asked as they settled at the breakfast table.

She couldn't help but think their grins were a little too wide.

"Everything is wonderful." said Reggie, "And it is only going to get better."

Bianca looked sideways to Marissa, they were definitely planning something. It stung a little when Marissa didn't return the glance.

"Yeah," said Camilla. "We have realised that the two of you need a break. Everything you went through before you got here and… well this place isn't exactly relaxing. We think you two should get away for a bit and recover."

'So that was it.' thought Bianca.

"We can't just go like that." said Marissa hesitantly. 'They couldn't could they?'

"Yeah, what about the kids." protested Bianca.

"You mean you don't trust them to be safe in the care of your former nanny and your new nanny?" asked Francois.

"Mommy." said Miranda, taking Bianca's hand. "Please have a break so you can be happy again."

"I am happy." insisted Bianca, but the words and her smile felt so forced she quickly gave up the pretence.

Bianca noticed Marissa was watching her now.

"It might be a good idea." her girlfriend said carefully. "I think we… we need to talk."

Bianca slowly nodded her head.

"Excellent." said Reggie. "It's all arranged. There will be a car here in an hour and we have booked you three nights in a luxurious Paris hotel. You can relax, reconnect and get rehabilitated all within sight of the Eiffel Tower. And then we shall re-join you on Saturday for a day in the city before our flight home."

"Paris." said Bianca nervously.

Paris, the city where her heart gets broken and her love never lasts!

…

…

Oh, I feel so mean - Sorry guys!

Hope to see you all Tuesday 6th November.

For some Minx All-Hallows fun do check out my story 'The Halloween Party'.