As bad as the day had been for Bianca, the night wasn't looking to get any better. It had taken a long time to get Gabby to settle once she was showered and changed and tucked into bed. And then AJ was so excited about the sail boat and the island that he had to be told to turn out his light and get back to bed four times. Miranda was the only one who was sleeping soundly.

Bianca was lying awake staring blindly at the window, the dark of the night causing her reflection to gaze back at her from the glass.

Bianca was so lost in thought she didn't realise she had disturbed Marissa until she felt the heat of a soft finger trail from her neck to her shoulder blade.

She looked up to see Marissa's worried smile reflected beside her in the darkened window glass.

"Where did you go just now?" Marissa asked.

"I'm just wondering why we're here." Bianca sighed.

Marissa's lips turned up in one corner.

"Are you thinking of taking up philosophy?"

Once she realised what she'd said, Bianca tried to smile at her girlfriend's bad joke, but her heart wasn't really in it.

"You should be sleeping." said Marissa. "It's a big day tomorrow… today now!"

Bianca nodded.

"I know." she said, turning so she could face Marissa. "I've been waiting for years for my mom to finally see sense and marry her Uncle Jack. and stand by him. But after everything that has happened…" Bianca sighed. "Oh, I know mom was now trying to be nice, and is desperately trying to win back my good will; but it isn't happening… It doesn't feel right wishing her and Uncle Jack well if she couldn't do the same for you and me."

"Hey, it's okay! I know it's been a hard day." said Marissa reaching out to stroke a strand of hair from Bianca's cheek. "How can I help?"

"I don't know… I just can't sleep." Bianca admitted.

Marissa sat up and took Bianca's hand. Her expression was suddenly a strange combination of scared and serious. Bianca hadn't seen this look on Marissa's face for a long time.

"Bianca. I want you to listen to me." stammered Marissa. She was biting her lip anxiously.

"Okay." said Bianca nervously sitting up beside her.

Marissa was watching her intently. Was something wrong?

Seeing her fear, Marissa smiled.

"Not like that." she said.

Marissa reached for the heart pendant around her neck and took a deep breath.

"When you gave me this necklace, it was one of the most beautiful gifts I had ever received. You gave me your heart… and you meant it. You trusted me to be its keeper and I love you for that." said Marissa, her words racing from her lips, as they always did when she was nervous. "You gave me that music box as well. You found us the perfect home! You give me so much and it is always the most… I said beautiful didn't I?...the most incredible, thoughtful gifts… I wanted to do the same for you."

"You don't need to give me anything." said Bianca. "Just having you in my life is gift enough."

Marissa gave a self-conscious laugh.

"I hope you don't mean that." Marissa said. She reached into the bedside cabinet, pulling out a small flat jewellery box. She held it in front of her and she was so on edge her hands were actually shaking. "I wanted to give you something as important as the necklace you gave me; something to show how much you mean to me." She opened the box to reveal a bracelet; a thick silver chain with a large oval bead suspended from it. The bead was exquisitely decorated in intricate enamel work.

"It's beautiful." said Bianca.

Marissa removed the bracelet from the box and fastened it around Bianca's wrist. Her hands were still shaky, so much so that she could barely fasten the catch.

"I… um… was inspired by the story our kids wrote for us with the princess and the blacksmith's daughter… Like you were for the heart necklace… I wanted to give my smile. But then I thought why stop there. You should have all our smiles!"

Marissa's anxious fingers pressed a silver catch on the bead and it opened, revealing itself to be a locket. The locket concertinaed out to reveal four small photographs of Marissa, Miranda, AJ and Gabby; all smiling.

Bianca gasped in delight.

"It's… it's perfect." said Bianca in wonder. "When did you do this?"

"Not long ago. I was just looking for the right moment to present it to you."

"And the right moment is now."

"Is it?" Marissa asked still nervous.

"No." repeated Bianca, emphasising her words. "The right moment is now."

Bianca found a full smile, her first one that day. She leaned in and kissed Marissa softly on the lips.

"I love you so much." said Bianca accentuating each statement with more kisses. "Thank you… thank you… thank you… It's perfect, just like you!"

"It's just small thing." said Marissa modestly, her fingers brushing the bracelet as Bianca carefully folded the locket and refastened the clasp.

"It's huge and it's wonderful." said Bianca. "It's our family… which makes it the most precious gift in the world."

They kissed again and embraced and eventually Marissa rested her forehead against Bianca's,

"So you like it?"

"I love it!"

Marissa sat back so she could examine Bianca's face. She traced a finger down her cheek to the little dimple formed by Bianca's smile… a smile that wasn't there moments ago.

"So do you know why you are here now?" Marissa asked, referring back to Bianca's earlier musings.

"Mom's wedding." said Bianca with a sigh as her smile suddenly dampened again. "I can't escape it." As she moved the new bracelet jangled on her wrist and a new thought filled her head. "…But whatever mom has tried to do, I still have you guys. I'm not here for her; I'm here for you and kids. They deserved to have the best time they can possibly have… and I have to make sure that happens!" Bianca turned and gazed at Marissa who was still watching her with a nervous smile. "I bet the girls will look adorable tomorrow."

"They will. They will look like two princesses" said Marissa, pleased to see Bianca's smile returning. "And AJ will be very dapper in his suit."

"They are going to have a wonderful day."

"We all will." insisted Marissa. "Just you wait and see."

"Well it's had a good start." said Bianca, fingering her new bracelet.

"Then it can only get better." said Marissa with a grin. "And you? Are you better?"

"Yeah." said Bianca, rewarding Marissa with a beautiful smile. "Thanks to you. Thanks to your smile."

…