Things had changed now for Miranda, with her restless nights. Instead of letting her instantly climb into her mommy's arms; Bianca would now led her back to her bed and they would talk; about what was worrying her; about new happy thoughts to help replace the bad… and the talking was enough usually to calm her fears and help her sleep.

Bianca took a seat by her daughter's bedside and smoothed back her hair as she settled under the covers.

"So what woke you up?" Bianca asked kindly.

"I was worrying." said Miranda in a quiet voice.

Bianca sighed.

"What were you worrying about?"

"I don't want you to be my monster for Halloween."

"You don't?" said Bianca in surprise.

"No, because then you would have to have all scars and that… and I don't want you to be hurt. Not again…"

"Oh sweetheart!" exclaimed Bianca, bending down to give her daughter a kiss and a hug. "If you don't want me to be your monster then I won't, but it's just pretend. It's just a bit of silliness. It's not something to get all worked up about!"

"I know." said Miranda sadly.

"Oh honey." sighed Bianca giving her an even bigger hug.

She held her daughter for a good long while. It concerned her that her daughter worried so much.

"Is that why you wanted to be a doctor for Halloween?" Bianca asked, "So you can help make people better rather than have them hurting?"

"Yeah." said Miranda, "I don't really want to be a mad scientist."

"You don't have to be. Do you want me to talk to Kendall, I'm sure Spike will make an exception for your costume."

"No, I don't mind being a monster for Halloween." said Miranda. "I thought I could maybe be a monster doctor; a doctor who looks after monsters, because they get hurt sometimes too."

Bianca gave a relieved smile.

"I think that would be a genius idea…"

They stayed snuggled together for a moment longer, but Bianca was very aware at how late it was.

"So do you think you can go back to sleep now?" she asked.

Miranda nodded and settled back onto her pillow.

Bianca tucked her in and kissed her cheek once more.

"Sleep tight, Angel and please don't worry… have sweet dreams."

"I will mommy." said Miranda sleepily as she closed her eyes.

…

Marissa was sitting up in bed with a file of paperwork on her lap as Bianca came back from tucking in Miranda.

"Was she alright?" Marissa asked.

"She was worrying about me." said Bianca, sitting down on the bed. "She didn't want me to be her monster for Halloween because she didn't want me having any more scars… even pretend ones..."

Marissa put aside her work and slid in behind Bianca sliding her arms around her waist and resting her chin on her girlfriend's shoulder.

"That was sort of sweet."

"Hmm." said Bianca, half in agreement and half in response to Marissa's warm embrace. "She's still losing sleep though. She can't even play pretend without worrying about the consequences any more… It shouldn't be like this! She's just a kid!"

"Dr Stanhope did say this wasn't going to be easy."

Bianca let out a big sigh.

"I know… And I guess Miranda did kind of fix the problem for herself. She's not going to be a mad doctor for Halloween; she's going to be a monster doctor, healing sickly beasts."

"And she went to bed happier?" Marissa asked. She was worried about Miranda but she was worrying about Bianca too. She needed to think of a way to distract her; she didn't need another sleepless night either, worrying about her daughter.

"I think so." said Bianca, in reply to Marissa's question

Marissa came to a decision.

"And what does that mean for your monster costume?" she asked snuggling closer; pulling aside Bianca's long hair and nuzzling her neck, "Does that mean you'll be my vampire queen?"

Bianca's face lit up with a small grin at the flirtatious suggestion. She was well aware of Marissa distraction technique and she really didn't mind right now.

"I might be persuaded…" she said coyly.

Bianca turned in her girlfriends arms and gave her a warm kiss. Marissa attempted to drag her back onto the bed, but Bianca pulled back for a second.

"Wait… wait… Just give me a moment to tear off this brace." she begged breathlessly, "And then I'm all yours..."

…

To answer the question of why it's Halloween in May, it's because in this Pine Valley it is mid-October and at the rate this story is writing itself, it will be Christmas in August. I hope that doesn't make it too confusing.

I am still essentially following the thirty odd chapter plan that I wrote almost two years ago only little side plots keep distracting me so I've no idea how long it will take me to get to the grand finale…

:o)

…