When they got home Bianca and Miranda walked through to the kitchen where they found Marissa and AJ busy making a pizza for tonight's dinner.

"How did it go?" asked Marissa, brushing flour off her hands and stepping round the counter.

"Well, we have found the reason for Miranda's bad dreams" said Bianca. "Dr Stanhope has suggested that we have another joint session to help answer some of the questions Miranda has. But unfortunately that will have to wait until after the trial." Bianca's voice was light and cheerful but Marissa could tell from Bianca's guarded expression that there was more she wasn't saying.

"Mommy?" said Miranda looking up at Bianca. "Can AJ and I go play?"

"Of course sweetie." said Bianca.

AJ had been excited by the idea of helping his mommy with dinner, but he washed his hands and hurried out of the room after Miranda without a word. Marissa watched him go, pondering briefly what the kids were up to. She might have wondered more if her greater concern wasn't for Bianca.

Now they were alone in the kitchen, Marissa took a step closer to her girlfriend.

"So what happened?"

Bianca looked heavenward for a moment in a concerted effort to hold back her emotions, but Marissa could see the tears glistening in the corner of her dark eyes which only worried her more.

"Bianca, please," Marissa begged, reaching out to touch her girlfriend's hand

"She saw the Erica film." sobbed Bianca giving Marissa a broken hearted smile. "That's where the nightmares come from. She saw the… She saw… Sh-sh-she…!"

"God, Bianca." gasped Marissa instantly understanding the implications of Bianca's fractured words as her girlfriend broke down. She pulled her into a hug.

Bianca dropped her crutches on the floor with a clatter and wrapped her arms tightly around her girlfriend, unable to hold in her emotions anymore.

"What am I going to do?" Bianca wept against Marissa's shoulder.

"No-no-no!" said Marissa pulling away to look Bianca in the face. She smoothed back her hair and wiped the tears from her cheek with her thumbs. "What are we going to do!"

Bianca gave her a teary-eyed smile and she sniffed back her sobs.

"I've dreaded this forever… God! She only a little girl, she shouldn't be thinking about things like this, she should be thinking about dolls and school and swinging on swings…"

Marissa wiped more tears from Bianca's cheek as she felt the pricking of her own in the corner of her eyes.

"What did Dr Stanhope say?" Marissa asked.

"She has a few more 'happy thought' exercises to try and ease the nightmares…"

"And a joint session?"

Bianca sniffed again.

"Yep." she said, taking deep breath as she tried to manage her sobs. "He thinks that we can talk this through together and find her a way to resolve what she saw in the film with what really happened to me… But what happened in the film is what happened!" Bianca looked to Marissa in despair. "I don't know how to fix this!"

Marissa pulled Bianca into her arms again.

"How can I make things better?" she asked as she held her tight.

Bianca sank he head against Marissa's shoulder and drew strength from her partner's embrace.

"You already are." she sighed.

They stood there holding each other for a few moments until Bianca had gathered herself together enough to step away.

She stumbled back, forgetting her crutches on the floor and Marissa caught her before she fell.

"Careful." said Marissa. "I think you need to sit down."

Bianca nodded as Marissa helped her over to a chair.

As she eased her grip from Bianca's waist she noticed her girlfriend watching her with a brighter light in her eyes.

"I don't know what I'd do without you." Bianca sighed.

Marissa crouched down in front of Bianca and kissed her briefly.

"Well, you are never going to have to find out!"

They shared a loving gaze and Bianca tipped her head forward for another kiss.

"Mom!"

AJ's voice interrupted them.

Marissa turned to see her son appear in the doorway holding Miranda by the hand. He looked terribly guilty about something.

"AJ?" Marissa asked, attempting to wipe the trace of tears from her face.

"I'm sorry mom, but I wrote a letter to daddy and Miranda told me I should tell you!"

Marissa fell forward onto her knees in surprise.

"What?"

"I just wanted him to know that I wanted him to leave us alone and that I was happy!"

"Okay…" said Marissa slowly, still not sure how she felt about this new revelation.

AJ stepped closer wringing his hands nervously.

"I didn't tell you because I thought it might make you upset."

Marissa, her eyes still wide, nodded silently.

"Are you upset mom?" AJ asked and Marissa final realised how her stunned silence must appear to him.

She gave him a forced smile.

"No, I'm glad you told me." she said, holding her arms open for a hug which AJ returned gratefully. "But you shouldn't keep secrets. If you want to write to your daddy you should tell me."

"I know."

She looked to Bianca still feeling a little confused.

"When did you write this letter?"

"Yesterday."

"Oh," said Marissa, relief settling on her, "So you have been keeping this a secret since yesterday?"

AJ nodded.

"Do you still want to send your daddy this letter?" she asked.

"We already sent it." said Miranda speaking up. "I posted it today."

"You posted it!" said Bianca, now it was her turn to look surprised.

Miranda nodded but then she faltered when she saw that her mommy had been crying.

"Mommy?"

Bianca tried to mask it with a smile.

"I'm okay. I was just upset that Dr Castillo is still making me wear this ugly medical boot." she said, patting her left leg for emphasis.

The lie was pathetic and Miranda raised a sceptical eyebrow which made her look so much like Kendal that Bianca actually laughed.

"Okay you got me." said Bianca in defeat, drawing Miranda forward for a hug of her own. "I'm worried about your nightmares, but now I've had a good cry I feel better. And I know that together we are going to fix this because together this family can do anything!"

"We will do everything in our power to fill your head with happy thoughts so you have no room for the bad ones." added Marissa.

"Yeah." said AJ wanting to be there for his birthday-twin as well. "You can sleep in my room every night until you feel better if you want!"

Miranda looked grateful for the offer.

Marissa squeezed AJ's waist to draw his attention.

"And if you a want to write to your daddy again, you tell me okay."

"Okay."

Bianca took a deep breath.

"So, shouldn't we be getting on with dinner?" she suggested.

Marissa released her hold of AJ and got up from the floor.

"That sounds like a plan… And you two," she added pointed to AJ and Miranda. "As punishment for being sneaky-sneaks and going behind our backs, you are going to help me finish this pizza!"

Both Miranda and AJ shared a grin; that really wasn't a punishment at all!

…