Sorry there was not post yesterday but the Christmas party meant no time to write but as today you have a 2 for 1. :o)

…

At the end of the cruise, they spotted Bianca's wheelchair sitting on the jetty while the crewman who had been left to retrieve it from the Seine was hosing off the sludge from the river bed.

"Well I won't be using that for a while." said Bianca, distastefully.

They disembarked in pairs again along the narrow gang plank. Marissa carried Gabby's sleepy form across first. Camilla and Ayesha came next. AJ happily grasped Maggie's hand; he was so delighted when he discovered they were related.

When it came to Bianca's turn to return to shore, Reggie slipped his arm around her waist and half-carried her across the gangway as she found it harder going uphill.

Miranda came last, awkwardly taking Reese by the hand. They hadn't spoken much as Gabby had taken most of her time and now Reese recognised the distance between them.

"I'm sorry if I scared you earlier." she said bending down to address the withdrawn little girl.

"Just don't hurt my mommy again." said Miranda quietly.

"I won't, I swear." said Reese.

…

There was still quite a walk from the jetty to where the car was going to pick them up.

"You shouldn't walk that distance without your crutches." said Marissa, as she shifted Gabby's drowsy weight higher up her shoulder.

Bianca sighed.

"I not using that chair." said Bianca.

"I don't blame you." said Camilla wrinkling her nose. Despite its hosing down the wheelchair was still covered in silt and slime and smelt very strongly of drains.

"Well I've got her." said Reggie, his arm still around her waist.

Marissa looked to Maggie for back up; the doctor was currently surrounded by AJ and Miranda.

"For the sake of your hip, you should try and distribute your weight evenly." she said.

"I can help." said Reese. She was on her own now that Miranda had abandoned her in favour of AJ's company.

Bianca looked nervous as Reese stepped closer.

"I know I promised to keep my distance, but if you need help?" said Reese.

"Okay," said Bianca, cautiously reaching her arm around Reese's shoulder, as her ex-wife slid a supporting arm around her waist. "Let's just get to the car."

"I've got the wheelchair," called Maggie as she and the older kids followed on behind.

Bianca stepped slowly along the jetty between Reese and Reggie.

"So, where to next?" Reggie asked.

"I was thinking maybe we should call it a day." said Bianca, not looking up from watching her feet as they climbed the short slope up to the road. "Gabby, Ayesha… and I are all exhausted."

"Okay," said Reggie, shifting his grip slightly as the path levelled out. "The kids did have a late night last night watching the fireworks."

"What time is your flight tomorrow?" Maggie asked as she caught them up.

"Morning - about nine o'clock. So we will be leaving around seven." said Bianca.

"Well I was wondering if I could come and wave you off. I'm not sure when we'll get a chance to meet again."

Bianca looked over her shoulder to give Maggie a grin.

"I'd like that." she said.

Bianca turned her focus to Reese.

"Did you want to come and say goodbye to the girls too?" she asked.

Reese gave her a smile.

"I would love that." she said meekly. "Thank you."

…

That evening Bianca was sitting on the bed trying to read. It was a book she thought she would finish this holiday but she had hardly cracked the spine there had been so many other distractions. Bianca peered over the top of her book as yet another distraction appeared. A shower soaked Marissa appeared from the bathroom wrapped in a towel.

"Did the kids settle alright?" Marissa asked, bent down to extract her night gown from her case.

"They are sleeping like angels." said Bianca. "Thank you for scrubbing down my wheelchair."

"Not a problem. Reggie kindly did the really stinky bits." said Marissa light-heartedly. "It is now in the hotel drying room smelling piney fresh." Marissa sniffed at her arms. "And now I do too." she added with a laugh.

Bianca was about to make another comment but Marissa chose that moment to drop her towel and pull on her night gown leaving Bianca distracted in a whole new way.

As Marissa climbed into bed beside her, Bianca was still staring.

"Is it a good book?" Marissa asked grinning, well aware that Bianca wasn't giving it any attention even though she was still holding it up in front of her face.

"I have no idea." she said. She simply closed the book and dropped it on the bedside table without even marking the page.

Marissa snuggled closer.

"So today…" she said thoughtfully. "Maybe it could have gone little better."

"Yeah." said Bianca, "Reese… seeing her again, that was hard." She shook her head. "I'd hoped we could work it out…"

"You have in a way." said Marissa. "I mean you are talking now."

"I just think I'm still angry at her for trying to take my girls."

"But she didn't." said Marissa reaching up to trace her finger along the curve of Bianca's cheek. "I'm still mad she kissed you!"

"That too." said Bianca.

She turned her attention to Marissa's lips.

"She obviously wasn't aware that her competition was impossible to beat."

Marissa gave a short snort of laughter.

"You being cute about it doesn't distract me, you know." said Marissa, her expression growing serious again. "I know that it upset you, and it upset Miranda too."

Bianca's expression grew serious too, trepidation in her face as she really didn't want to think about it.

"She was forceful." said Bianca slowly, swallowing slightly. "I know she wasn't going to hurt me but still…"

Marissa gave Bianca's arm a comforting rub.

"Still?"

Bianca took a deep breath.

"It just goes to show how little she understands me. Even after all our years together. But I can't feel mad that we didn't work out because then I wouldn't have you!"

"That's true." said Marissa, smiling back into Bianca's loving gaze.

She slid closer her lip's hovering over Bianca's.

"It's our last night in Paris." she whispered.

"Mmm." sighed Bianca, wrapping her arms around Marissa's waist.

"Then we should make the most of it." she said before leaning forward for a kiss.

Marissa fell onto her as the kiss grew in passion.

Bianca moaned happily as Marissa trailed kisses down her throat, as her own hands grasped under fabric seeking out warm skin.

"I've finally broken the curse." she sighed.

Marissa looked up her words.

"Curse?"

Bianca smiled down at Marissa.

"My relationships always seem to end badly in Paris. I think the city didn't want me to be happy. "

"Well, we are never going to end!" said Marissa with certainty. "And this city is not going to stop me making you happy."

"Forevermore." said Bianca, with a happy smile.

"Forever and ever more." said Marissa surging forward for another hungry kiss.

Bianca lost herself in the tenderness of her lover's touch and the taste of her lips, but suddenly an unexpected sound startled her and she pulled away.

"Was that one of the kids?" she asked.

She had heard a moan from the adjoining room where their children were sleeping.

Marissa turned her head to listen.

There was another louder moan and then a piercing sob.

"That sounds like Miranda's having a nightmare." said Marissa sitting up.

There was quiet for a long moment, as both mothers sat side by side listening out for any more signs of distress. Just as they were about to relax there was a long painful scream.

Without a moment's hesitation Marissa flew from the bed, dashing through the adjoining door to the kid's bedroom. Bianca was left cursing her leg as she turned on her bedside light, scrabbling on the floor for her crutches.

…