Marissa was sat in a small waiting room in the courthouse. Outside a large podium had been built on the steps of in front of the building in preparations for Rupert Henderson's arrival and his greatly publicised apology. They could hear the crowds of press setting up outside.

After Derek informed them all of the outcome of trial there were murmurs of frustration and disappointment. At least if JR was going to be treated halfway across the country there was a chance of peace, at least for a while. Tad hurried off to use his phone, Dixie would want to know exactly what happened.

Jackson arrived from the airport moments after Tad departed. After a brief chat, he and Erica dragged Bianca away, leaving Marissa in Kendall and Griffin's company. Krystal had gone off with Frankie and Jesse earlier that morning, after Jesse received a text.

There was a whole secret plan going on around Marissa and everyone was suddenly determined to keep her out of the loop. She assumed that they wanted to give her deniability if it went wrong. She after all had been the main focus of the hate campaign and no one wanted to give the press any more ammunition. It didn't make it any less frustrating.

The rumble of the crowd got louder and Marissa walked up to the window and peered through the slats of the blinds to see a wall of faces and camera's filing up the quad in front of the courthouse steps.

"I'm not sure I want to go out there." said Marissa quietly.

"You're the bait. We won't get Rupert here if you're not there to lure him in." said Kendall matter-of-factly, joining her at the window. "This is the only way we can get him to leave his Ivory Tower."

"I understand that part." said Marissa turning back into the room. "I'm just not happy about it! … and I'm not impressed with all this secrecy!"

"Well suck it up!" said Kendall, forcefully, her gaze following Marissa as she paced the room restlessly. "You're all on edge. If you're going to get involved with a Kane woman you're going have to get used to paying whatever price is asked in order to protect your family."

"This is for your own sake." added Griffin sympathetically.

Marissa gave Griffin a brief smile for his kind manner but she glared back at Kendall, not liking her assuming that she was scared.

"I'm not afraid to fight for Bianca and for my family." Marissa clarified, "I just don't like press conferences... And I'm 'on edge' because I really what to know what you have planned for Rupert Henderson and that Carol woman! I want to help!"

"Going out to accept the public apology will help!" Kendall replied, but her manner softened. "I know you're frustrated but this is almost all over and then you and Bianca can get on with enjoying your happy ever after!"

Marissa stared back at Kendall, her expression still slightly sceptical.

"Trust us, okay?" added Kendall, reaching across to touch Marissa's arm in a reassuring gesture.

With a resigned sigh, Marissa slowly nodded her head in surrender.

…

A skittish young man, who had been introduced to her as Erica's publicist, Frederick, summoned Marissa out into the corridor as the countdown began for the start of the press conference.

Marissa was relieved to see Bianca waiting for her, but she frowned when she noticed a piece of paper clutched awkwardly in her girlfriend's hand.

"What have you got there?" Marissa asked.

Bianca was struggling to keep her balance grasping the page and only leaning the heel of her hand on her crutch and was grateful when Marissa took the paper from her.

"Don't read it." warned Bianca as she regained a better grasp on her crutch. "It's a statement for after Henderson's public apology. Uncle Jack wrote it."

Despite Bianca's plea Marissa turned away and unfolded the paper, determined to read what was written there; she had the right to know if it was about her and AJ.

Bianca was surprisingly quick though, now she had regained her balance; she snatched the paper back, folding it and slipping it into her back pocket.

"You're not supposed to know what's going on, remember." said Bianca.

Marissa pouted in reply.

"That's part of the plan I didn't agree to." she said sulkily. "Why this sudden need for secrecy?"

"It's deniabilty not secrecy." said Bianca. "Come on, let me do this for you. You have stood by me through… everything …these past few months. Let me look after you for a change… please."

Bianca had taken a step closer as she spoke and she was now looking back at Marissa with wide beseeching eyes.

Marissa sighed.

"How can I refuse those big brown eyes?" she said taking a step closer herself.

"You can't." said Bianca cockily and stole a quick kiss. "So are you ready for this?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." said Marissa, taking a deep calming breath to steady her growing nerves.

But before they stepped out of the double door onto the waiting podium she couldn't resist grabbing Bianca's waist and pulling her in for another, longer, loving, healing kiss.

"Now I'm ready…"

…