Happy Monday everyone!

Tomorrow's will be the last chapter for this year as I am off for my Christamas Vacation, but the story will return on January 1st.

So I shall save the spoilers for tomorrow.

...

Marissa was making one last tour of the two hotel rooms to ensure nothing had been forgotten while Bianca fastened her youngest daughter into Ayesha's stroller, grumpy Gabby was still in a sulk and was refusing to co-operate.

Just then there was knock at the door. It was Reggie.

"Ready?" he asked.

She checked back as Marissa came up to join them. Nothing had been forgotten.

"Ready." said Bianca.

She shepherded the two older kids out of the door while Reggie slipped passed to grab their suitcases. Marissa took hold of Gabby's stroller and followed.

Their car was waiting for them at the hotel entrance, and so was Maggie and Reese.

AJ hurried forward, excited to see Maggie. Miranda stalled; the memory of last night's bad dream flashing in her mind at the sight of Momma Reese.

Bianca, sensing her daughter's trepidation realised she would have to lead by example. If her daughter could see she could be comfortable around Reese then maybe she would feel the same. And hopefully that would also banish away any more of those nightmares.

"You made it!" exclaimed Bianca, giving both women a smile.

Maggie stepped forward and gave her a hug.

"Just promise me that this won't be the last time you come to Paris." she begged.

Bianca pulled away from the hug.

"It won't."

She turned her attention to Reese, letting go of one hand on her crutches; holding out her hand to shake.

"Thanks for this." said Reese, giving her a warm smile as she looked down to Miranda who was standing beside her mommy.

Bianca held Reese's hand a moment longer. Willing herself to see past the recent resentments to the woman she once dreamed she would spend the rest of her life with. The woman she knew loved her girls.

"I'll give you a call in the new year." she said. "Maybe we can arrange a visit for spring break or something..."

Reese's jaw dropped; she recognised an olive branch when she saw one. Although she wasn't sure why she deserved it… But then again that was one of the things that made Bianca so incredible; her capacity for forgiveness.

"Thank you." said Reese. "Um… Let me give you my new numbers."

She fumbled into her breast pocket and handed over one of her work cards.

Bianca took it and placed it in the pocket of her jeans. Then she looked down to Miranda.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye to Momma Reese?" she asked.

Reese knelt down to Miranda's level. The little girl shyly looked down at her shoes for a moment, but then she flung her arms around Reese's neck.

"Bye Momma Reese!" she cried.

Reese hugged her tightly.

"Goodbye Miranda. I hope it won't be over a year before I see you again."

Marissa came forward with Gabby, who was writhing in the stroller angrily.

"Say goodbye nicely." Marissa asked.

Gabby just pouted, but Reese bent down to give her a kiss.

"Someone's overtired." she said smoothing down the little girl's hair. "Well, goodbye little monster."

Reese straightened up and held out a hand for Marissa to shake.

"I'm sorry for everything."

Marissa gave her a firm handshake in return.

"Just don't do it again." she said in all seriousness.

Reese nodded guilty.

At this point Gabby's pout started to quiver and then she burst into tears.

"Oh sweetie." sighed Marissa, bending down to try and calm her again.

…

It was almost time to go. Bianca had taken over the job of calming down the still wailing Gabby; she really wasn't going to get any better until she'd had a proper sleep. The driver was loading the last of the luggage under Marissa's watchful eyes. Camilla and Reese were busy strapping the rest of the kids into the back of the car.

Reggie was giving Maggie a great big bear hug.

"I still can't believe you are a proper doctor!" he said as he put her back down.

"I can't believe you are a nanny." Maggie retorted. "I guess a lot of time has passed."

"Well if you are ever back in the neighbourhood…" he began.

Maggie's eyes flickered in Bianca's direction for a second. She would like to see her and the girls again, but she didn't want to impose.

"… I'll call before I drop by." she finished.

…

Reese and Maggie were standing side by side as they waved energetically at the departing car. Kids and adults alike were leaning out of the car windows waving back.

As the car disappeared from sight both women turned to look at each other.

"What now?" asked Reese with a sigh, it was still so early.

"We could grab a coffee." Maggie suggested.

Reese turned and noticed the shorter woman was giving her an appraising look.

Reese smiled gently.

"I like the sound of that." she said.

…