After a rather unhappy false start the party began again as the kids brought the food through from the dining room and set up an indoor picnic in the parlour. Marissa and Bianca took it in turns to compliment the imaginative pizza toppings and Miranda's chocolate cake; and the laughter and games began in earnest although a little more muted than before.

Gabby was racked with guilt. She felt a little better because AJ and Miranda were being really nice to her and told her not to be upset. Miranda even let her carry in the chocolate cake when she stopped the crying. But she required lots of snuggle time with her mommy to lose all the bad feelings that filled her after causing the accident.

...

Conversation moved the Halloween party and everything that Marissa had missed while in New York. When the meal was over Marissa was led through to the den by the kids to admire the Day of the Dead shrine that they had made for her. Bianca was left behind on the couch with Gabby, her right knee was quite swollen now and David insisted that if the swelling hadn't gone down by morning she would need to go in for an x-ray.

The shrine was built on the corner of the den on front of the windows. Miranda and AJ had made paper flower to replace the dead marigolds from days ago and pictures of Marissa's mom and dad and twin sister where all in pride of place in the centre of the shrine.

"This looks incredible." Marissa said proudly, "I'm even sorrier I missed the party now."

Griffin who had followed with Spike to admire their work said they did a very good job. Spike thought they should have put more skeletons on it though.

…

With most of the kids gone Bianca found it harder to keep up her civil front towards her mother. She had been putting it on since they got home. It might have partly been due to the annoyance she was feeling towards yet another injury due to her lame leg, but her temper was very short that evening.

She was well aware of things going on unspoken around her. Her wheelchair was now parked quietly in the corner after Kendall went and fetched it. The men, under David's guidance, disappeared for a moment and there was thumping and knocking noise from the hallway as they put the wheelchair ramp back onto the hallway step. Krystal, Camilla and Opal disappeared for a bit as well, travelling up and downstairs, but she couldn't see what they were doing. Add to that the kids were being extremely helpful too. AJ and Miranda spent the whole meal hopping up and down to pass things to her and Marissa. She knew she should be more grateful for their kindness but still the frustration grew; especially in the presence of her mother. Everyone was being helpful and kind and her mother just sat there... smiling at her as if nothing was wrong.

Opal had turned the conversation to Erica's bravery in the face of Madison's breakdown and Marissa's overdose.

"…I don't know how you could do it. I wouldn't know where to start! And to keep up he CPR until the paramedics arrived..!"

Erica smiled modestly.

"I just reacted. I knew I had to do all I can."

"We owe you so much." agreed Krystal.

Bianca shook her head.

"Enough already!" she snapped bitterly. "The fact is; the only reason it happened at all is because she made up lies about Marissa. And then she went and fed them to the last person stable enough to hear them. Mother this is all your fault and what you did to save Marissa's life is... is at the very least ironic, seeing that you are the reason she was in danger in the first place!"

"Bianca…" begged Erica.

"What lie?" asked Krystal. This was the first she had heard of this part of events.

Bianca looked cautiously to the younger children still sitting in the group, Gabby, Ayesha and Jenny.

"Oh, that your daughter and Scott were more than just friends." said Bianca. "That lie."

David and Krystal both turned to Erica; Krystal suddenly remembering Erica's ridiculous splutter at the dinner party about a month ago.

"Why would you do that?" asked Krystal. "I know we don't get along… but our girls… and grandkids. I thought we put all that aside for their sake."

"What I did was wrong." said Erica. "I admit it, I was wrong. I thought it was the right thing to do for Bianca, but it was a mistake and I'm… I'm…"

Bianca sighed.

"You can't even say it!"

"I'm sorry!" exclaimed Erica.

"It's too late for that!" said Bianca. "Much… much too late!"

"What's going on?"

Marissa had returned with Griffin and the kids. She was shocked to discover the uncomfortable tension now filling a room that had been full of fun and laughter when she left it.

"My mother was just leaving." said Bianca tersely.

Jackson got up and put his arm around Erica's shoulder.

"I think that might be best." said Jackson leading her out.

"And mother," said Bianca coldly, "Thank you for the invitation but Marissa and I will not be attending your wedding… sorry Uncle Jack."

"Mommy!" gasped Miranda, suddenly heartbroken as she had no idea what was going on but she didn't like that her mommy was so angry with Erica. Gabby looked like she might cry again as she didn't like to see her mommy mad.

Kendall tried to calm her sister down but Bianca could let herself hear her, she was too upset.

"I can't! I'm sorry, I can't!" said Bianca, "I'm not going to be a hypocrite." She looked hard at her mother. "You didn't want us to be a family before Marissa almost died… so you don't get to be a part of it now! Now get out of my house and don't come back!"

…