Marissa, Camilla and Bianca left for the party a little later than intended. There had been a lot of goodbyes to be said with the kids first and pictures to be taken. Camilla was dressed like Madonna with a big floppy bow in her hair, a cropped shirt, a mini skirt over cycle shorts and chunky Doc Martins on her feet. Miranda wouldn't let then leave without posing for a group photo. AJ and Gabby thought they all looked very funny.

Bianca admitted that she had to agree with them.

…

When they walked into the bar a waiter met them at the door and offered them a cocktail, a non-alcoholic version of the 'Erica Kane'. 'Girls just wanna have fun' by Cyndi Lauper was playing in the background and Randi, Amanda and Cara were already bopping along on the dance floor. Amanda was wearing a belted leotard and leggings, leg warmers, a headband and a loose cropped sweatshirt, which vaguely made her look like an extra from 'Flashdance' or 'Fame'. Randi was wearing a black cocktail dress with a short netted mini skirt and her hair was all curled and piled on top of her head. Cara had found a great 80's red silk shirt with impressive shoulder-pads which she was wearing with a black pencil skirt. They had all made a real effort with the 80's theme.

Brooke, Marion and a few others were talking quietly in the corner where there was a wall of photographs near the buffet table. A selection of Erica's publicity shots were in the centre with other pictures around them. Opal had asked everyone to bring in pictures of themselves from the 80s. For some of the younger guests that meant baby pictures, and for a few others bringing pictures of their parents. It was a real celebration of glamour, big hair and an astounding amount of blusher. Brooke, amazingly, was wearing the same white suit with black trim that she was pictured in in her photograph.

Krystal and Kendall hurried over to welcome Bianca, Marissa and Camilla when they arrived. Krystal was dressed in an exotic peach cocktail gown with an amazingly ruffled, train right out of 'Hawaii 50', and Kendall, like Camilla, was in another version of Madonna's 'Material Girl' look with a mini skirt over leggings and a faded denim jacket.

"Is Erica not here yet?" Camilla asked.

"Opal is bringing her." said Krystal, looking at her watch. "They should be here any minute."

…

Opal called just before she and Erica arrived. The music was turned down and the lights blacked out as they waited.

The door opened and when Erica entered they all cheered as the lights came back up.

Erica clutched her cheeks in delight and grinned widely at everyone on their amazing 80's get up. Her widest smile she saved for Bianca. She had been so afraid her youngest daughter would find an excuse not to come.

Opal also got a round of applause for her outfit. She was wearing a pink, blue and green power-suit with shoulders pads that stuck out at right angles as flat as a table, the shape mirrored by wide black lapels. Underneath she wore a pussy-bow collared dress in the same gaudy fabric as the jacket and her hair was styled on the top of her head to an 80's extreme. She looked even more Dynasty that Bianca's jumpsuit.

It was harder to say if Erica had dressed to the theme or not. Her hair was coffered to perfection and she wore a pale blue cocktail not too dis-similar to Randi's but as it was not too different from her usual look it was hard to tell.

…

Now Erica was here the party could begin. The music was turned up again and more cocktails were served and everyone gathered round with their congratulations.

Within ten minutes, with the exception of Marion and Bianca, everyone was dancing. Marissa had lingered guiltily by her girlfriends side until Bianca all put pushed her into the dance floor.

"Trust me I will be more than happy to watch you shake your thing." she insisted.

…

Now it was just the two of them to make conversation. Marion gave Bianca a smile.

"This might be showing my age, but you know I used to have a jumpsuit just like that." Marion said.

Bianca looked down at her outfit.

"Really?" said Bianca. "Well I must admit it is actually quite comfortable… You look great too."

Marion's own outfit was rather more sedate, she was wearing a white bat-wing, wool sweater with a pink zebra stripe and tapered black ski pants.

Bianca's eyes drifted back to the dance floor where Marissa was dancing and laughing with Randi and Kendall. She was a little jealous that she couldn't join them.

Suddenly she felt a movement in her left hip.

Looking down she noticed Marion had put a hand on her knee.

"And how are you doing?" Marion asked.

"I'm better." said Bianca, "I haven't been all that well this week, but I'm almost over it. I can start my physiotherapy again tomorrow. Marissa needs to train with Martin so she knows the new exercises for when we're away at the wedding."

"Are you looking forward to it?"

"The therapy or the wedding?" joked Bianca, although she knew Marion meant the wedding. "AJ can't wait to get on the boat that will take us to the island." she admitted. "And my girls are excited about being bridesmaids."

"I bet they are!" said Marion with a smile. Her own eyes settled on the hand still resting on Bianca's knee. "And what about you? Are you are still on the mend?"

"From the fall…" clarified Bianca. She hated having to explain that some parts of her would never heal. "My right knee is almost back to normal. And the rest of me is almost back to full strength." She flexed her biceps to show off her developing muscles.

"I'm glad to hear it." said Marion removing her hand, although Bianca noticed her eyes still lingering on her left leg.

Bianca turned back to watch the dancing. Erica had joined Kendall and Marissa and she was leaning over to talking to them both over the music and caused them both to laugh.

This was not the fun evening Bianca had envisioned. She wasn't enjoying sitting on the side-lines and only being able to watch.

Marion pulled at her arm to draw her attention again.

"Is that a Karaoke machine?" she asked pointing in the corner.

"I think so." said Bianca.

"Oh I love those!" she exclaimed. "Come on, let's give it a go."

Bianca shook her head.

"I'm not really…" she began to say, but Marion thrust her crutches towards her.

"Come on don't be a party-pooper. I know what a great singer you are! Let's get this party really started!"

Bianca looked from Marion's expectant eyes to the Karaoke microphones. She surrendered. There is no point sulking that you are being left out and then not be willing to get involved when the opportunity arises.

"What are we going to sing then?" Bianca asked, slowly getting to her feet.

"Let's see what is on the selection shall we." said Marion leading the way.

…

From sitting on the side-lines, Bianca and Marion were now centre of attention. They began to serenade the party with Tina Turner's Let's Stay Together.

Bianca turned all her focus to Marissa who was smiling back at her adoringly.

It took Bianca a moment to notice, that shortly into the song, Marion was no longer singing along with her. She was singing solo, but she found she didn't mind at all. This was fun! Something she didn't think would happen at her mother's hen night.

Besides, she was singing a love song to Marissa, there could be nothing better than that?

…