When the Miranda and Gabby came downstairs from washing up they both paused at the sight of Mamma Reese standing in the hall.

"Hi girls." exclaimed Reese, kneeling down and holding her arms wide for a hug.

Instead of hurrying to greet her, the two girls moved to Marissa and hung to her side.

To cover her embarrassment Reese shuffled forward on her knees and used her open hands to stroke both the girl's cheeks.

"I missed you guys." she said. "I came as soon as could."

Marissa put her arms protectively on the girl's shoulders.

"As you are here, do you want to join us for supper?" Marissa asked, trying to sound casual, although the arrival of Bianca's ex-wife had pulled the rug right out from under her

Reese straightened up.

"I was hoping I could stay here with you for a few days until everything is sorted."

Marissa had guessed that was what Reese wanted, as her case was already in the hall.

"Of course," Marissa said with a fixed smile, "We have a spare room."

…

After a supper of cheese on toast Marissa suggested that the kids watch a film before bedtime. Distracting them with something light-hearted should help them settle down to sleep. She left the kids with Reese watching Wall-E and set off to prepare the spare room for her unwanted guest.

She walked up to the bed in the guest room. This was where she and Bianca had spent their last night together in the house. The duvet was still rucked where they had left it that morning. Marissa smoothed the space left by Bianca. She sat down and picked up Bianca's pillow and buried her face into it.

Bianca was gone and in that moment Marissa couldn't hold in the emptiness any longer. She wept great sobs, muffled by the pillow. She didn't know what to do next. If Reese was here, did that mean she had lost everything?

"Mom?" spoke a quiet voice from the doorway.

Marissa looked up to see AJ watching her with worried eyes.

"I'm okay." Marissa said, trying to wipe away her tears. "I got a little sad that's all."

"I thought you might help making the bed." AJ said nervously. "I've seen Wall-E lots of times so I don't mind."

Marissa nodded,

"That is very kind of you."

He came up and sat beside her.

"Is the Reese lady here because Bianca's gone?" AJ asked. "I thought she wasn't really Miranda's mommy anymore?"

"It's true Reese gave up custody of Miranda and Gabby when she divorced Bianca," said Marissa. "But she added one small clause in the custody arrangement before she signed. If anything happened to Bianca then Reese would regain guardianship of her daughters. I know because I advised Bianca not to sign when I spotted the late addition, but Bianca did. I think she was just glad that it was over, and she was too distracted by her missing mom at the time. I don't imagine Bianca knew when she signed that we'd end up being a family instead. I certainly didn't see it coming."

"But you said Bianca wasn't dead, she's just missing."

"I know." said Marissa smoothing down her son's hair and pulling him into a hug.

"She's not going to take my sisters, is she?" AJ asked. "Is that why you were crying?"

Marissa didn't know how to answer.

"Reese can come and live with us if she wants to." said AJ, "But she's not allowed to take my B-twin and my baby sister away. You'll stop her, won't you?"

"I'll certain try." said Marissa. "I'll certainly try."

…

When it came to putting the kids to bed Reese followed Marissa like a shadow as she tucked in Gabby and Miranda.

Gabby, who still didn't understand what was going on, accepted Reese's presence more readily than Miranda did. She still didn't trust Reese's monster search before bedtime though. She made Marissa do it instead because mamma 'Rissa knew how to do it properly.

Marissa left putting Miranda down until last. Bianca's eldest was an unsettled sleeper at the best of times. Now new nightmares had replaced the old they were back to playing happy thoughts and distraction games before every bedtime. It sometimes helped to keep the demons at bay.

Reese's presence added a new tension. Reese didn't understand any of it. Marissa had tried to get Miranda to list her happy thoughts, but Reese thought Miranda was just talking about her day and kept asking questions. It was hard for Marissa to tell her that she wasn't really being very helpful.

In the end Marissa kissed Miranda goodnight, tucked the blankets under her chin, turned on the nightlight and lifted the lid of her music box so the little girl could listen to the comforting tune as she fell asleep. Finally she whispered in her ear,

"If you need me you come and wake me."

Reese then bent down and added her own kiss.

"I missed you." she said. "And I love you. It will get better. Your mommy loved you very much and she'd want things to get better."

Marissa just starred at Reese in disbelief. She could see in Miranda's eyes that all that hard work had been shattered by a few thoughtless words, no matter how well meaning the sentiment was. Miranda had just been reminded that her mommy was gone, and that one thought would chase all the other happy thoughts away.

Marissa took Reese by the arm and led her outside.

"You shouldn't have said that." she warned.

"I just wanted to let her know I'm here for her."

"I know. But you also reminded her that she had lost her mom. A lot of things have happened since you last saw your girls. Miranda is seeing a shrink because she has horrific nightmares. We've been managing very well of late but now, understandably, the nightmares are back and she has to have a very set routine to help her sleep."

"I didn't know." said Reese.

"I get that." said Marissa. "But you can't just come in and… expect to take over. I know my girls; they need things to be a certain way. And right now, with their mommy missing, that routine is more important than ever. It makes them feel safe. Now I need to get back in there and help Miranda settle again. Maybe you should call it night… you did say you had a long day."

"I'm their mother!" Reese said sharply.

"Bianca is their mother." Marissa replied in a fierce whisper. "And until a coroner tells me otherwise that is still the case. I'm not here to stop you being with the girls… because legally I can't do anything to stop you. If Kendall was here, or Jackson they would have rights, but all I have is the love I feel for those two little girls. I'm looking out for them for Bianca's sake. They need me and I need them."

Reese closed her eyes for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts.

"I'm sorry. You are right; it's been a long day. It's just… they are my girls too. I want to be there for them."

"And you will be." said Marissa.

"Just not right now." Reese concluded. "I get it."

Reese headed for the stairs but then turned back.

"Will you give her my love?"

"Of course." said Marissa, before returning to Miranda's room to start the process of settling her down all over again. She doubted now it would be successful.

…

Eventually Marissa climbed wearily into bed. It felt vast and empty, but she snuggled against Bianca's pillow that she had rescued from Reese's bed, and tried to fill her head with happy thoughts just like she had trained Miranda to do.

Happy thoughts…

Happy thoughts…

The image of Bianca standing by the four poster bed in her coconut bikini popped into Marissa's head. That last night together, if it was their last night together, had been perfect. It should have gone on for ever.

Marissa could still picture Bianca with her mussed up hair, starring bewilderedly at her when the question of marriage had slipped from her lips; and then the adorable fire that lit Bianca's eyes when she said yes…

… but now it was all gone.

In an instant Marissa's happy thoughts turned to loss and she curled tighter around the pillow. She needed her woman back. She couldn't bear it on her own.

A high pitched scream broke her torment. Miranda! She was needed!

…

Marissa hurried into Miranda's room and found her sat upright in bed, still crying out for her mommy.

Marissa engulfed her in her arms.

"It's okay, it's gonna be okay!" she soothed.

Miranda finally got her bearings and let Marissa hold her. She clutched tightly to Marissa's shirt and buried her head in her shoulder.

"They were hurting her…" she sobbed.

"No, no, no…" whispered Marissa. "They didn't hurt us. They are not going hurt her."

"They hurt Aunty Kendall… and Reggie… and Scott."

"Because the fought back." said Marissa, "Your mommy is too smart for that. She's going to keep herself safe until she comes home again."

Miranda nodded, still clutching tightly to Marissa.

Marissa reached across to the bedside table where the music box sat.

"She won't want you to be upset by this. I bet she's singing you a lullaby right now."

Marissa lifted the lid, but Miranda shook her head.

"It's not the same." said Miranda.

"I know." said Marissa kissing the top of her head.

"I want my mommy home." whimpered Miranda.

Marissa sat thoughtfully for a moment.

"I know what you need."

She pulled herself away from Miranda's grasp.

"I won't be long."

...

As she headed back to her bedroom, Marissa found a sleepy-eyed Gabby standing in her bedroom doorway looking very confused.

"Back to bed, sweetie," Marissa said, shepherding her back inside. "You're sister's okay now."

Gabby obediently climbed back into her bed. Marissa retrieved Mrs Bunny and Strawberry Bear from the floor and returned them to her before tucking her in. She gave the little girl a kiss.

"Night, night…"

"'night mamma."

…

Miranda sat nervously waiting for Marissa to return. It felt like she had been gone forever.

Marissa reappeared with a pillow under her arm.

"This is the best I can do." said Marissa handing the pillow to Miranda. "This was your mommy's. You can still smell her shampoo. Maybe if you give it a cuddle it will help."

Miranda let Marissa guide her back to bed. She hugged the pillow tight and sniffed it. It did smell of mommy. Miranda buried her face into the smell.

Marissa lifted the lid of the music box again and began to stroke her fingers through the girl's hair.

Miranda closed her eyes and snuggled against the pillow, imagining in her head that it was her mommy she was holding.

Marissa began to sing along with the music box and Miranda felt herself begin to relax.

…

Marissa opened her eyes.

How much time had passed?

She had fallen asleep, sat on the floor beside Miranda's bed. The little girl was fast asleep, clutching tightly to Bianca's pillow.

Marissa straightened up slowly and crept carefully from the room, leaving the door closed too.

Marissa returned to her own bed, but it felt emptier than ever.

She lay back with her head on her pillow and closed her eyes. She doubted sleep would come.

At least Miranda had found some peace.

Marissa shifted slightly and felt a weight fall against her throat; her necklace.

She reached up and clutched the pendant in her hand.

At least she still had Bianca's heart.

…