That night, the Montgomery-Tasker-Chandler household was a hive of activity with the kids all working on improving their Halloween costumes.

Bianca had helped AJ add rips an old pair of jeans and he was now adding patches of mud and blood with poster paint so they would go with the rest of his Werewolf costume.

Bianca was also keeping an eye on Gabby who was gluing glitter and sequins to her Princess Fiona outfit; although she was getting just as much on herself. Gabby had also gathered a selection of shimmering, shiny accessory from the dressing up box to go with her outfit, because she wanted to be the prettiest monster princess there ever was.

Miranda had the slightly more complicated job of turning her regular doctor's white coat into a monster's one. Marissa was helping her add extra patch pockets and they were all busy thinking of funny and monstrous things she could put in them like Vampire 'fang'-paste, a wart adding ointment and a nose peg for dealing with the really smelly monsters…

Before bedtime they also did a bit of on-line research on the Day of the Dead together, so they would know what to expect. Kendall had asked everyone to bring pictures of loved ones whose soul they wanted to invite to the party too. They were going to be remembered on the shrine Griffin and Cara were setting up with the kids. AJ wanted to bring a picture of his birth mother, Babe and the kids also asked Marissa if they could bring a picture of her mom and dad, Lydia and Roy, because even if she wasn't there her parents should have a chance to meet the rest of her family. Marissa strongly suspected Bianca had a lot to do with that sweet offer.

…

When the kids were finally in bed Bianca and Marissa retired to the den and switched on the TV. Bianca held open her arm for Marissa to snuggle in beside her. The red-head didn't hesitate to take up the offer; leaning her head on Bianca's shoulder and curling her legs up on the couch.

"Hmm, that's better." sighed Bianca, as the pair turned their attention back to the episode of CSI they were watching. "…And are you really alright with us bringing a picture of your folks to the party?" Bianca asked as Marissa settled against her. "It's just the kids knew how upset you were about missing out."

"I think it's perfect… and I'm guessing it came from you?"

"Maybe." said Bianca with a demure smile.

"Well, thank you." replied Marissa, smiling in return.

Their brief conversation over they turned their focus back to the TV.

"I think I've seen this one." said Marissa, a few minutes in, "He's got a sister behind the wall…"

"Well we can watch something else." offered Bianca, making to reach for the remote.

"No… I'm good." said Marissa too comfortable to want Bianca to move.

"Very well." said Bianca with a light laugh, settling back to rest her hand on Marissa's hip.

They watched the television in a comfortable silence until the commercial break came on. This time it was Marissa who moved, grabbing the remote to press the mute button.

"So, did you find out any more about this New York trip?" asked Bianca, as Marissa nestled back beside her. She hadn't had a chance to ask yet with the kids so busy this evening. She knew there had been a meeting today though.

"We leave early Saturday morning," said Marissa, turning slightly so she could look Bianca in the eye. "But it sounds like we'll be coming back quite late on Sunday." she added sadly.

Bianca sighed too.

"That's a shame." said Bianca. "We'll have to have a late family supper party or something for our fun day…"

"But there was one interesting development you should probably know about." added Marissa, sitting up a little so she could focus better on Bianca. "Your mother came to the meeting."

"Oh god, what nonsense did she accuse you of now?" groaned Bianca.

Marissa smiled at Bianca's annoyed expression.

"It wasn't like that. She's coming with us to New York."

"You're grinning like that's a good thing… if I know my mother..!"

Marissa shook her head.

"Not like that. I think she's realised there is no shifting me… we are forever… and she is working out how to make amends."

"Are you sure she's not planning something?" asked Bianca, not quite ready to believe it.

"If you'd seen her face, you'd know she meant it. She looked like she was in actual pain making that compliment."

"She gave you a compliment?" said Bianca, wearing a small grin now, "Then maybe there is hope!"

"I hope so." agreed Marissa.

"And are they still making Scott go?"

"Yep. He really doesn't need it but I guess it's his job until Adam is fit enough to take back the reins."

"Poor Scott… and poor Madison."

"Yeah…" said Marissa, "But we'll give them all the support we can."

"We sure will."

Marissa nestled back into her girlfriend's arms and then noticed out of the corner of her eye that their programme had started again. She turned the sound back on and tried to focus but she wasn't really watching the TV screen. Her eye drifted down to Bianca's braced leg and a new thought entered her head.

"Do you have doctor's appointment coming up?" she asked.

"Next week." replied Bianca. "I should finally be off all the pills or at least the steroids... which means I also won't have to have those giant calcium tablets in the mornings."

"Is it David or Frankie you're seeing?"

"I'm hoping for Frankie… I don't want David going on about Orpheus again. I don't need it, do I? I'm doing fine!"

"You sure are." replied Marissa.

"You've got a 'service' coming up soon as well, haven't you?" asked Bianca, kissing Marissa's brow, where her bullet scar began.

Marissa laughed.

"Thanks for making me sound like an old jalopy! But no my next appointment's not for six weeks. And it should be my last one!"

"Lucky you." said Bianca with a sigh.

Marissa tried to return her focus to the crime drama in the TV but she began to realise Bianca was staring at her rather than the television.

"Are we not watching this?" Marissa asked; although she hadn't really seen what had happened on the screen for the last five minutes herself.

"Not really." said Bianca still looking down at her.

Marissa looked up and grinned back at Bianca's very obvious stare.

"So..?"

"So..?" said Bianca. "Have I told you lately how much I love you?"

"I think it's been a few hours." said Marissa coyly, although her grin was wide with expectation.

Bianca leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

"I love you." she whispered.

Marissa wriggled round to face Bianca properly and returned the kiss with warmth and desire. She got lost in the taste of her lover's lips, as arms pulled her closer. As the kiss continued she could feel Bianca pull her shirt out from the back of her pants and warm fingertips began to play against the sensitive skin along her spine.

Marissa reached round to find the zipper of Bianca's dress, planning an onslaught of her own, when there was the creak of a door opening.

Bianca and Marissa pulled breathlessly apart to see a pitiful looking Miranda standing sadly in the doorway.

"Mommy I can't sleep." she moaned, even though she looked exhausted.

Bianca quickly untangled herself from Marissa's arms and grabbed her crutches from the floor.

"I'm coming, sweetie." said Bianca, giving Marissa an apologetic smile.

"We can continue this later." Marissa mouthed in reply.

As Bianca led Miranda back to her bed, Marissa turned her attention back to the television screen. It looked like she would be watching the rest of CSI after all.

…

It was good twenty minutes before Bianca returned. Marissa was idly flicking through the channels but could find nothing to watch.

"Is she alright now?" Marissa asked turning round on the couch to speak to Bianca as she entered.

"She was upsetting herself about the Day of the Dead stuff." said Bianca leaning on the door frame. "She's worried that her 'daddy' will show up with all the other souls invited to the party. I told her only souls in heaven are invited so there was no danger of him ruining the day!"

"Poor baby." said Marissa in sympathy. It was awful how Miranda was still haunted by worry.

Bianca was still standing in the doorway.

"I was wondering," she said, "If you maybe wanted to continue this in the bedroom?"

"Bed?" said Marissa. "I think bed would be a great idea."

Marissa switched off the TV, turned out the light and followed Bianca back out of the room.

…

Marissa slipped her arm around Bianca's waist as they headed for the stairs.

"I never got a chance earlier to say I love you too." she whispered and planted a kiss on her cheek.

Bianca turned and kissed her properly before closing her eyes and resting her forehead against Marissa's.

"And I love this." Bianca replied, the smile spreading on her lips. "I love how we are a family… and so much more."

Marissa smiled too as Bianca kissed her again.

"So bed?"

"Bed!" agreed Bianca with a nod; but she couldn't resist one long lingering kiss before making her way back up the stairs.

…