Adam Chandler had allowed most of the prominent members of Pine Valley the use of the Chandler Jet to get them across State to Philadelphia.

Marissa couldn't help notice the tension in her girlfriend's shoulders as they boarded the plane. Bianca had shared a long hug with her girls as they said their goodbyes at the airport. It was clear she was worried about Miranda's nightmares; the scheduling of this trial was at the worst possible time for Bianca's eldest child.

Marissa reached across and took Bianca's hand as the plane took off, glad of the distraction of Bianca's remorse in order to take her mind from her own worry. She had been on the phone with Derek the D.A. most of the morning; discussing the cure of her amnesia and about the information she could add to the case. They were going to have a meeting as soon as she reached Philadelphia and Carol, JR's lawyer, had request that she undergo another medical exam before her testimony would be allowed as evidence… The trial officially began late this afternoon. Derek said that this was just going to be the plea, before the trial proper started the next day…

But this wasn't important right now… what was important was to help get the smile to return to Bianca's lips, if only for a moment.

Marissa threaded her fingers between Bianca's and her girlfriend turned to meet her eyes.

"I love you." Marissa mouthed silently.

And there it was; that perfect little smile that Bianca seemed to keep only for her.

Bianca lifted their entwined fingers and kissed the back of Marissa's hand.

"I love you too." she whispered.

But the smile gradually faded and the worry returned.

"We'll call Miranda as soon as we get to the hotel." said Marissa, reaching with her other hand to squeeze Bianca's knee.

"No." said Bianca with a sigh. "I'll call tonight like I promised. We'll only make it harder for her if we make a mountain of this."

"I wasn't thinking about her. I was thinking about you." clarified Marissa.

"Well." said Bianca, turning slightly in her chair so she could lean closer to Marissa. "I'm a mother, worrying about your kids is part of the deal. And if you must know I'm worried about you and AJ as well. Our whole future as a family is probably going to be decided in the next few days. I know you're worried about what will happen next. Do you think JR will be charged?"

It was now Marissa's turn to sigh. She mirrored Bianca's actions, leaning closer as well, reaching up to run her fingers through a curl of Bianca's long hair.

"I honestly don't know." she said thoughtfully. Her earlier optimism was now muted by the lawyer part of herself newly awakened.

"But he confessed to shooting you!" protested Bianca.

"He confessed whilst suffering from schizophrenia. If Carol is any kind of lawyer that statement will be thrown right out of court. All they have is the evidence Jesse has collected."

"And your word." said Bianca.

"If I'm believed," said Marissa sceptically. "Or if Carol doesn't twist it some way… I can't imagine the prosecution is going to give me an easy time of it on the stand. They'll probe my medical history, my relationship with you, with JR, with Scott... with AJ. She'll try and tear me to shreds."

The tension grew in Marissa's voice as the fears that she had been careful to keep unspoken bubbled to the surface… what if JR was released?

"Shhh." hushed Bianca; her finger pressing on Marissa's lips before reaching up to stroke her cheek, the movement bringing their bodies closer together. "You'll be amazing… because you are always amazing! And you'll have me right there cheering you on. We are in this together forevermore, remember."

"I remember." said Marissa, soothed by Bianca's words and the love shining from those dark eyes.

And there it was again… Bianca's beautiful smile that she kept only for her.

Marissa leant even closer drawn to those smiling lips, and as if reading her mind, Bianca's fingers that had been stroking along her jaw, cupped her cheek. Together they sighed as the stress of the days to come melted away in a loving kiss.

It was only a temporary reprieve but it was enough for now.

…

Krystal nudged Jesse who was dozing on the seat beside her.

"That's why we are doing this." she whispered, drawing his attention to Bianca and Marissa who had just pulled out of a kiss and were now gazing at each other, each with a sweet smile in their faces. "That's what love looks like! No one should have the right to tell them it's wrong."

Jesse nodded but looked away to give the two love birds some privacy.

"What was going on with you and Jackson, just before we boarded the plane?" Krystal then asked. Now he was awake she was going to make sure she got the full story. "What happened with the evidence David was looking at?"

"David needs a DNA sample from Henderson to prove he was in that car, he wanted to know if I'd had any luck locating him."

"And did you?"

"Yeah," said Jesse, "Only he's in Hong Kong. The other side of the world."

Krystal's face fell.

"But…" continued Jesse, "I suggested instead he go after Nathan Henderson. A familial match should be enough for David to tie Henderson to the blood stains and the son is only in California. Now his dad's out of the country he might even open up about what happened that night!"

"So that's what he's going to do?"

"Yeah," said Jesse, he looked across to Bianca and Marissa, but as they were now sharing a slightly more heated kiss he looked away quickly, "We'll get those stories shut down yet!"

…