Marissa stood behind Bianca, one hand on her shoulder for support, as her legs still felt a little wobbly. Bianca was busy unlocking their front door. David was going to follow with their cases after he paid the cab. Marissa could barely contain her excitement. After almost a week, she couldn't wait to get home and hug the kids.
After negotiating the two steps into the hall Marissa faltered; but the stumble wasn't down to her weakened state. There was a large banner hanging from the balustrading of the landing reading 'Welcome Home'. Then the kids, Krystal, Jenny, Opal, Kendall, Griffin, Spike, Ian, Reggie, Camilla, Ayesha, Erica and Jackson stepped out and called out a welcome as well. Despite Reggie's best efforts the party had grown as the word spread.
"Wow!" she exclaimed in delight. This was much more of a home coming than she was expecting. One glance Bianca's way showed she wasn't expecting it either.
Their kids charged up, engulfing her into a big group hug.
"Whoa, whoa…" cried Bianca. "She needs to sit."
"I can sit here." said Marissa, collapsing back into the steps with the kids all round her.
"I missed you." she said laughing in delight. She kissed the top of every head in the squoosh as it came within reach. Then a queue formed behind the kids as Krystal, Camilla, Opal and Kendall all came forward for a welcome home hug as well.
As the embraces eventually broke apart Erica then stepped closer a smile on her lips. She had an envelope in her hand.
"Welcome back, we wanted to give this to you." she said solemnly, handing the envelope to Marissa. "I wanted you to be the first; to make up for…" She couldn't quite bring herself to finish the sentence.
Marissa nodded, as she attempted to catch her breath from the excitement moments ago.
Inside the envelope was a silver edged card.
"You're wedding…" Marissa said, surprised. "An invitation to your wedding! Thank you."
"We've set the date." announced Erica, happily.
"At last." added Jackson, teasingly.
Marissa turned to show the card to Bianca when she noticed the angry glare Bianca was sending her mother's way. It looked like she wanted to say something to Erica but she was interrupted by her girls wanting a squoosh from her as well.
David chose that moment to step in with the bags and put them down by the door.
"Did I miss the party invite." he said, taking in the banner and all the people in the hall. He paused though when he noticed a breathless Marissa sat down on the steps. "Okay, what did I say about taking it easy." he said moving to her side.
"I was just getting a cuddle." said Marissa, she did however take his arm as he helped her to her feet.
"I think we need to move you to the parlour." he said, leading her through to the nearest couch. Krystal hurried up to take her other arm.
"But our dinner's ready." cried Gabby, not quite understanding the fuss. "I made mamma a really pretty pizza!"
"That's okay." said Opal, giving the youngest Montgomery a grin. "We can bring it through to the parlour and have an indoor picnic."
"You made dinner?" asked Bianca giving the kids a grin.
"AJ and Gabby did the pizza with Reggie…" explained Miranda.
"…And Miranda made the chocolate cake with Krystal." finished AJ, giving her birthday-twin a proud grin.
"Chocolate cake!" exclaimed Marissa turning back just as David had got her to the door. "My favourite!"
"Shall we get the plates then?" said Kendall nodding to Opal and Camilla. She shooed AJ, Jenny and her boys in the same direction, to help bring things through from the dining room.
"I'm carrying the cake!" cried Miranda quickly following.
"Come on, mommy!" said Gabby reaching for her mommy's hand in an attempt to drag her through to the parlour as well.
Unfortunately her timing was very bad as she grabbed at Bianca's hand just as she was negotiating the steps.
Bianca's crutch was pulled from under her and she fell forward with a loud thump.
"Ouch." said Bianca in an attempt to be light-hearted for her daughter's sake as Griffin and Jackson hurried to her side.
Gabby backed away from what she had done, colliding with Erica, who put her arms around her shoulders.
Bianca had landed on her good knee, and was now crouched on all fours her left leg stretch out stiffly to the side because of the brace. Looking up, she gave her daughter a reassuring smile.
"I'm okay." she said.
Griffin was kneeling bedside her.
"Are you though?" the doctor asked.
"I think so." said Bianca.
"Can we get you up?" Griff asked, nodding to Reggie to come forward and give him a hand.
Together they lifted Bianca back up onto her feet, but when she tried to take a step she grimaced.
"I think I just whacked my knee." she said.
"Okay." said Griffin and with no further comment her scooped her up into his arms and carried her through to the lounge.
…
Marissa, David and Krystal looked surprised when Griffin walked in with Bianca in his arms.
"I had a bit of a trip." said Bianca, looking thoroughly embarrassed by her entrance. She looked pointedly at her daughter for the next statement. "It was an accident. He's just fussing about nothing."
"I think your doctor should be the judge of that!" said David, as Griffin put Bianca down on the couch next to Marissa.
"I'll need to examine your leg." said Griffin.
"Fine… fine…" said Bianca with a sigh.
Jackson patted his son on the back.
"I think we should maybe go and stall the others while this gets sorted."
Krystal took the lead out of the parlour.
"Have someone bring back a couple of ice packs." Griff called after them.
"Come on sweetie." said Reggie putting a hand on a sorry looking Gabby's shoulder and leading her out. "We'll let the doctor work his magic and in a flash mommy will be right as rain."
But Gabby didn't want to go. She looked like she was going to cry.
"Come on." said Reggie, scooping the little girl up into his arms and carrying her from the room.
Erica was the last to follow. She wanted to stay; she had so much to do to make it up to her daughter.
…
"Hold on folks." said Krystal, interrupting the crocodile of children laden with plates and food Kendall and Camilla were carefully marshalling.
"What's wrong?" asked Kendall, just as Reggie entered with Gabby in his arms now bawling her eyes out.
"Bianca tripped on the stairs. The docs want to check her out just be sure, so we should give them a minute." explained Reggie. He rubbed Gabby's back as she cried into his shoulder. "It was just an accident sweetie… just an accident…"
"Mommy!" gasped Miranda, putting down her precious cake and making to run through to the parlour, but Jackson caught her.
"Just a moment I promise." he said.
"I'll get the ice." said Erica pressing past to the freezer, because there wasn't anyone who could stop her going back.
…
Griffin and David were now the only ones left in the room with them. Bianca turned and gave her girlfriend a pathetic grin.
"Will you look at us..?" she said with a self-deprecating laugh.
"…Next to useless." Marissa sighed in reply. She grinned though and took Bianca by the hand.
David was taking the opportunity to check her breathing. She still hadn't quite caught her breath from the laughter and excitement earlier which was quite un-nerving and it was making her ribs ache.
Griffin was stretching Bianca's right leg.
"Tell me when it hurts."
When he straightened her leg Bianca gave a little yelp.
"There… right there." she gasped.
"Okay, it might just be a bruised kneecap," said Griff, "Ice should help but we'll watch for swelling." He turned to begin unstrapping the Velcro on her brace. "And now the other leg…"
"Yay!" sighed Bianca without enthusiasm.
Erica chose that moment to return with the requested icepacks in her hand. She instantly noticed the pure embarrassment on her daughter's face as Griffin's hands reached up under her skirt to feel around her hip bone.
"Tell me if there is any pain." he said again.
"I think I mostly landed on my other knee." said Bianca, but when he twisted the joint she winced again.
On that discovery Bianca held her head in her hands in despair. This was the last thing she wanted.
"It's not fair." she sighed, tears of frustration in her eyes. "I just tripped."
"It's okay." said Marissa, rubbing her girlfriend's back in sympathy.
David put a hand on her shoulder as well.
Griffin looked up from the rest of his exam.
"I think you are going to have to take it easy for a few days. And you are going be very stiff. You've got a muscle strain so I prescribe more ice..."
"I've got it here." said Erica finally finding the moment to speak up.
Griffin took the icepacks from her and applied one to Bianca's right knee and the other to the inside of her left thigh.
"Thanks." he said to Erica.
Bianca didn't say a word; she only glared at her mother as if she was the last person she wanted to see in her current state. Erica realised she still clearly had a long way to go to make it up to her daughter.
"So do we pass muster?" Marissa asked her breathing eased a little; she had complete sympathy with Bianca now, about how exasperating being helpless can be. "Can we start this welcome home picnic?"
"I think that would be a wonderful idea." said Griffin straightening up from his kneeling on the floor. "I'll go tell them it's safe to come in."
Bianca was looking down forlornly at the ice packs on her legs and then she felt Marissa squeeze her hand.
"Hey!" said Marissa leaning in and kissing her cheek, "Less of that! Look at it this way; you get to spend the next few days in bed with me as we are forced to take it easy. I think that sounds like heaven to me?"
Bianca turned and gave her a grin, which widened when Marissa waggled her eyebrows suggestively back.
"That's one way to look at it I guess."
"Baby, that is the only way to look at it!" Marissa insisted, adding another kiss just to make sure Bianca got the point.
…