There was a sudden silence in the guest bedroom at her daughter's house on Cresent and Park. Erica, not wanting to push her luck too far with regards to her daughter, left Marissa and Bianca alone. As she departed she was making noises about bringing them back some tea.

Bianca's was still nestled in Marissa's embrace.

"Are you comfy?" Marissa asked.

"Hmmm… yeah." sighed Bianca.

Marissa pulled aside a strand of Bianca's hair and stroked her cheek.

"And how did it go with the doc?" she asked.

"I have to go in for an X-ray of my knee. He's worried about the swelling...And I'm not allowed to put any weight on either leg for at least a week, so I'm wheelchair bound again. And you?"

"Good progress, but it will be a few more days until I'm up to full strength. So no strenuous activity."

"A few days! That's good news at least." said Bianca.

"But what are we going to do with you?" sighed Marissa. She kissed the crown of her girlfriend's head. "Are they going have to admit you?"

"I don't know. Griffin said it was just a precaution. He all but promised me I'd be back home before I knew it."

Marissa relaxed a little; Griffin was always good to his word.

"And dare I ask about everything you were saying to your mother just now..?" Marissa asked.

"I just wanted her to stop talking." said Bianca, her teeth clenched in annoyance. "Am I really that bad that I need a full on intervention?"

Marissa kissed her cheek.

"I think you worried a few people yesterday with your outburst. But I think we all understand why it happened."

"Really, cause my mother clearly doesn't. I'm not giving up! And despite what my mother said… and you last night… I'm not projecting. She's not forgiven, not by any means. I'm just also upset about my leg being the cause of yet another setback. I can be upset about two things!"

"Of course you can." said Marissa. "So you're really letting Erica stay?" she asked. She was still surprised how quickly Bianca had given in to her mother, knowing how angry she was with her.

"She's right that there should be someone here with you when I go to hospital."

"And did you mean what you said to me?"

Bianca pulled Marissa's arms tighter around her waist.

"That I love you, and I need you and that I'm sorry for being a jerk about this? Yeah, I meant every word."

"Good," said Marissa, "Because I've been thinking. If you're serious, we need to make some drastic changes in our life if we are going to make this work."

Bianca frowned and looked Marissa in the eye.

"What do you mean?"

"You have to admit this house isn't the easiest place to live in. There's stairs coming in, there's stairs to the kitchen; and our bedroom - more stairs… Even our bath tub is up a step where you can't get to it! Maybe we need to find ourselves a home that's all on one level… or make this room here our master bedroom so you don't need to go up and down stairs so much… or maybe install a stair-lift or something…"

"I was thinking more along the lines of an elevator." said Bianca; there was a knowing twinkle in her eye as she spoke. "If we converted the mud room; the elevator would come out in the girls' bathroom. AJ's bathroom is an unnecessarily huge just for him. The kids can share… And we just hang our coats in the hall!"

Marissa grinned, why was she surprised that Bianca would have the same thoughts as her.

"You've been thinking about this then?" she teased.

"I think it's a practical solution." said Bianca. "It might sound crazy but I already miss our bed?"

Marissa bent down until she was nose to nose with Bianca.

"The crazy is one of the things that made me fall in love with you."

They shared a kiss, which slowly grew in intensity until Marissa sheepishly pulled back.

"Won't your mother be back soon with our tea?"

"Let her watch." said Bianca with a mischievous grin, moving in for another kiss. "I'm not ashamed about how much I love you!"

"I love you too." said Marissa, returning gentle kisses; but this time Bianca pulled back and looked down.

"…Only I wish she wasn't getting us tea."

"You're not thirsty?"

"Quite the opposite, I need to pee."

"Oh."

Marissa released her hold of Bianca and made a moved to get up.

"I'll get your wheelchair."

"No." said Bianca, grasping her wrist to stop her. "You need to rest. Nothing strenuous, isn't that what David said? I can wait until my mother comes back. I want her to share in my embarrassment. Maybe then she'd understand why I find all this so frustrating and awkward and upsetting. Maybe she will stop the patronising lectures about knowing what I'm going through. She has no clue! And maybe she'll realise just how much you've done for me since the shooting."

"That sounds almost like your still trying to punish her."

"She wanted to help." said Bianca. "So she gets to help with all of it! She's going to have to help me into the shower as well before I go to hospital. Let's see, shall we, how long she lasts before she gets so uncomfortable she can't face it. I think it would be a valuable lesson for her."

Marissa kissed Bianca's cheek.

"That sounds devious and more than a little mean." she whispered. "I like it."

Bianca turned and stared at Marissa.

"I'm still so mad at her!"

"I know."

"I just want her to learn a lesson for once."

"We can but try." said Marissa.

…