I'm back as promised.

SPOILERS - this week - Erica works out how to get back in her daughter's good graces, Scott solves his childcare issues and makes a new friend, and Gabby thinks she knows what the 'good thing' is going to be and is determined to make it happen.

...

They should have talked more that night but Bianca couldn't think of what she could say to explain the way she was feeling; not without saying too much. Instead she insisted that Marissa needed her rest and that she was sorry she woke her.

Marissa, who was still curved around her back in a warm hug, gave a sceptical snort and tightened her grip.

"You can't say you are finding this hard and then just stop talking."

"I'm not." said Bianca turning so she could look Marissa in the eye. "But you need your rest. I have to take care of you too, remember. It's not because I didn't want to talk about this."

That last statement was clearly a lie.

Bianca could see in Marissa's eyes that she knew it was a lie, but her girlfriend didn't push the point.

"Okay," said Marissa, pulling out of her embrace with Bianca "I'll go back to sleep, but only if you'll try to rest too."

She was going to let her have this reprieve for a moment. But when Marissa lay her head back down on her pillow and before she closed her eyes, she gave Bianca a knowing smile.

"…In the morning then." she said. "We'll talk about it then."

…

Bianca was no more ready to close her eyes and sleep than she had been before Marissa awoke. She didn't want to sleep; she didn't want to be in bed at all. But bed was where she was staying for a few days at least. She would be stuck until her leg healed.

She lay back on her pillow and turned toward Marissa and found herself examining her girlfriend's features in the shadows; watching her as she drifted off to sleep. She was thinking about what she could say to her to make this all alright again… but she got distracted. Instead she found herself contemplating the curve of a smile on Marissa's lips that was present even as she slept; her delicate nose; the hint of freckles on her pale skin; her dark lashes; the adorable cleft in her chin; an unruly curl of hair that strayed across her forehead that she just wanted to reach out and brush aside... Sometime she marvelled at how they had come to this. That this woman, who was so beautiful and so wonderful, could have loved her back with such determination and passion… That she had picked her.

It was at some point in this wistful contemplation that sleep eventually came and swept Bianca unknowingly away.

…

"Good morning!"

A chorus of cheerful voices awoke Bianca with a start and she looked about bleary-eyed; surprised that she had been asleep at all. Marissa, who was almost nose to nose with her, looked equally startled by their unexpected alarm call.

"We brought you breakfast in bed, mommy!" cried Miranda with a big smile. She was carefully carrying a large tray of breakfast goodies. AJ had a similar tray for his mom and Gabby was carefully carrying the cloth bag where Bianca kept her pills.

Bianca greeted the kid's early morning surprise with a sleepy grin. Marissa was the first to sit up though, stretching with an exaggerated yawn.

"Good morning to you too." said Marissa, welcoming the kids with open arms. She was looking much more alert this morning. Clearly a good night's rest was all she needed to restore some of her lost strength.

They took the tray tables from their kids and placed them over their laps.

"Where did you find all these goodies?" Bianca asked, eyeing her favourite French pastries amongst the choice items on her breakfast tray.

"E-wica!" exclaimed Gabby, climbing into the foot of the bed and handing her mommy her medication. "I mean, E-rrrica." she amended, remembering her 'r's.

For the first time Bianca noticed another figure standing in their bedroom doorway watching the two of them with an indulgent smile.

"Mother!" she said in surprise.

"I brought only your favourites." Erica said; a serene expression on her face as if none of Bianca's harsh words last night had been spoken. "It's the least I could do."

"Mother…" said Bianca again a little more harshly, but Marissa put a calming hand over her own. She was smiling pointedly at their worried looking kids.

"I think we should enjoy our breakfast, don't you?" Marissa suggested. "And I hope you kids are going to join us because there is no way we can eat this all on our own."

Bianca refocused on the kids and could see the tension was even touching Gabby's usually untroubled eyes. Her youngest daughter had been there for the argument last night and was clearly still upset by it. Bianca couldn't have that.

"Of course they will." she said cheerfully, suddenly finding a new smile for the kids. "When have you known Gabby ever to refuse a chocolate croissant?"

The smile worked and the kids relaxed. Soon they were all sharing a noisy cheerful breakfast in bed.

Erica was still watching from the doorway but Bianca was ignoring her; refusing to let her feelings towards her mother ruin this moment with her family.

What words she had for Erica could come later when they were alone.

…

When there were little more than crumbs left on the breakfast tray and the kids were talking loudly amongst themselves about what the rest of the day held for them, Marissa reached across and squeezed Bianca's hand. She was smiling and Bianca gave her a wan smile in return. She remembered there was another conversation she would have to have at some point. Although she still didn't know what she was going to say.

…