Bianca was lounging on the couch in the parlour when Marissa came in with the hot chocolates she'd promised. The fire had been lit warming the room after the chill of the park.

"Here you go." said Marissa handing Bianca a steaming mug of cocoa, "Just the way you like it."

"No cinnamon?"

"No cinnamon! Although personally I think it improves the taste."

Marissa took a sip of her hot chocolate before taking a seat beside Bianca.

"Well I like things sweet." said Bianca, taking a sip from her own mug.

Marissa grinned and leaned in for a quick cocoa-laced kiss.

"I know." she said with a laugh. "Does that mean I like things spicy?"

A snigger escaped Bianca's lips.

"Well I didn't want to imply…" she teased, snuggling up and resting her head on Marissa's shoulder as she watched the flames.

Marissa put her free arm around Bianca's side and held her close.

"So, do you feel up for talking about Miranda again?" she asked her tone serious… because she knew this was serious.

Bianca sighed.

"I think I need to have this conversation with Dr Stanhope. Your idea about the film was a good one and Kendall has offered to talk to Miranda too… If I talk to the doc, before the conversation with Miranda I think I'll feel better about it."

"That makes sense." said Marissa supportively. "But if you need anything more from me, you tell me!"

"I will… but I'm sure you'll be busy trying your big lawyer hat back on!"

"I have a 'big lawyer hat' now?"

"You know what I mean." said Bianca giving her a nudge, almost making her spill her cocoa. "I just mean you have things to think about too."

"So we are really going to invite our moms to dinner tomorrow night to break the news?"

"Yeah." said Bianca. She turned in the embrace in order to look up at Marissa. "Maybe we should invite each other's moms, like a gesture of peace, symbolic for the way they seem to be getting along now?"

"Sure." said Marissa confidently. "I mean your mom likes me…" She put down her cocoa and looked back at Bianca. "She does like me, right?"

"I'm sure she loves you, just like I do!" said Bianca, leaning up for another quick chocolaty kiss before snuggling back against Marissa's side.

"Well not quite like you do, I hope." said Marissa with a light chuckle. "I know my mom adores you… She told me you are something special and I can't argue with her there!"

Bianca was silent as she nodded her head.

Marissa sensed the tension.

"Are you still mad at my mom?" she asked. The whole baby-gate scandal still made her stomach flip some days.

"No…" said Bianca. There was a hesitation in her voice but she gathered herself quickly. "No I'm not mad at her, because without her there wouldn't be a you and that is a possibility I wouldn't want to face!"

"Sweet-talker." said Marissa, kissing the top of Bianca's head. "So we'll ask each other's moms to dinner. Does Erica like Spanish food? I'm dying to cook my chicken paella."

"That sounds good." said Bianca taking a long sip of her cocoa. She closed her eyes, comfortable in warmth of Marissa's embrace.

"I love you." she said quietly, tucking her head into the crook of Marissa's neck.

"And I love you more." Marissa teased, kissing the top of Bianca's head once again. She was also enjoying the closeness of their embrace and closed her eyes as she inhaled the sweet floral scent of Bianca's hair…

…

Reggie unlocked the front door and shepherded Gabby and Ayesha into the hall. He'd just picked them up from day-care at the Miranda centre and had promised them their choice of film when they got home. Ayesha really wanted to watch Cinderella so she could show Gabby she really was the best Disney princess but Gabby wanted to watch the Little Mermaid to prove she was right and Ariel was the best. Reggie was wondering if he should let them watch both.

Reggie helped Gabby out of her boots and coat and then turned his attention to Ayesha. Gabby hurried off to find the DVD for their film fest, but then stopped and came tiptoeing out of the parlour.

"What's wrong?" Reggie asked.

Gabby quickly shushed him by putting a finger to her lips.

"They're sleeping." she whispered.

Reggie followed her back into the parlour. Bianca and Marissa were curled up together on the couch, fast asleep in each other's arm.

Reggie shooed the two little ones out of the room before carefully extracting the forgotten mug of hot chocolate still in Bianca's grasp; that was threatening to tip onto the floor. He gently draped a throw over the sleeping pair and went back out into the hall to Gabby and Ayesha. He could take them back to the pool house to watch their film. They would leave Bianca and Marissa to rest; they had certainly earned it these last few days.

"I know what film we should watch!" said Gabby taking Reggie's hand as they headed off to the pool house via the kitchen, "Sleeping Beauty, like my mommies!"

"That sounds like an inspired choice." said Reggie. "Do you agree, Ayesha?"

Ayesha nodded.

"Right then, let's go and watch Sleeping Beauty while those two sleeping beauties get their rest!"

…