Marissa had underestimated how easy it would be to get the kids to bed that night. Whatever closure the funeral would have given them had been shattered by the aftermath of Gabby's disappearance. Miranda and AJ were both very disturbed by the fact that the police could take Gabby away from Marissa and there was nothing anyone could do to stop them. Gabby was equally traumatised by her forced separation. Marissa got them as far as bed but not one of the children would settle. In the end Marissa got them all up again and took them down to the den to talk.

A little bleary eyed, and swaddled in blankets and dressing gowns AJ, Miranda and Gabby sat together on the couch while Marissa went to fetch her purse. She knew there was no use waiting for morning to share what happened at the Will reading. Maybe having the conversation now about their family's future would put the kid's minds at ease.

When she returned Marissa squeezed herself in between AJ and Miranda; Gabby then clambered over her sister to sit on her mamma's lap.

"Okay." said Marissa once they were all comfortable. "I think we should talk about what happened today."

"She won't do it again." said Miranda.

"…We told her it was wrong." added AJ.

"I don't mean about the running away." said Marissa. Although she did looked to Gabby; jiggling her on her knee and added pointedly. "Granted, that was a very silly and dangerous thing to do. What I wanted to talk about was your mommy's… Binks'…last wishes."

Miranda and AJ both snuggled in a little closer and looked at her expectantly as she spoke.

"Bianca asked me to consider being your mother. She wanted us to be a family."

AJ, Miranda and Gabby all grinned excitedly.

"Does that mean the judge will say yes?" AJ asked.

"It will certainly helps our case." said Marissa. She gave Gabby a tighter hug." And that means the next time a cop asks me if I'm your mother I can say yes."

AJ was so happy he actually did a little dance in his seat.

"Mommy really asked you that?" Miranda asked with a smile.

"She did." said Marissa ruffling Miranda's hair with a free hand. She then looked over to her purse on the coffee table. "She left you something else as well. Can you pass me my purse, Miranda?"

Miranda leaned across to Marissa's small clutch bag and handed it over to her.

"Your mommy was thinking of you." she said, carefully pulling out the three envelopes with the children's names on them. She kept her own letter hidden away. She wanted her own private moment to read it.

"Bianca wrote you all a letter," she said, handing them out to the children, "I think it must have been when she was last in hospital."

Miranda's eyes welled with tears as she held the letter at arm's length, staring at it like it was the most precious thing in the world. AJ snatched his letter from Marissa's hand and took it across to the other side of the room, tearing it open frantically. Gabby looked at her letter for a moment and then handed it back to Marissa.

"Will you read it to me?"

…

AJ couldn't pull his letter from its envelope fast enough. He flattened out the paper and touched where Bianca had written his nickname 'Buddy'. He devoured the words in front of him so happy that Bianca had written to him and not just Miranda and Gabby; because she knew he belonged to her family too.

…

Buddy,

Even before you were born your mother and I talked about you and Miranda growing up together. I never thought it would happen but Birthday-twins are obviously the best kind of twin – How can you fight fate?

You've been a true brother to Miranda and Gabby over these last few years and I've been so proud to think of you as a part of my family. It's sad that I won't get to see you grow up. You are a sweet, thoughtful and heroic little boy and I can picture what a great man you will become. There is going to be a lot of pressure on you to live up to the Chandler name but I know if you remain true to yourself, and remember that love is more important than money, then you are going to be just fine.

Make me proud AJ, I know you will.

I love you,

Binks.

…

Marissa took the letter from Gabby, and gave the girl on her lap a smile.

"Don't you want to open it, yourself?" she asked.

"If you help me." said Gabby. She half took the letter back from her Mamma and began pulling at the envelope took her clumsy fingers. It took her a while to open the envelope. Marissa then removed the letter for her and unfolded it carefully.

Gabby bounced on Marissa's lap excitedly.

"Read it, please read it." she gasped.

"Well, you can do the first word," said Marissa.

Gabby reached up to touch the letters.

"It says 'Gabby'."

"Yes it does." said Marissa encouragingly and then she began to read.

…

Gabby, my dear little girl,

I love you. Always remember that I love you. I hate that I won't get to see what kind of woman you will grow into. But you are a Kane woman and that means you can be anything you want to be, an artist, a vet, a princess… You can do it because I know you have a lot of heart.

Now that I'm gone I want you to listen to your sister and I want you to watch out for her too. Whatever happens, you will always have each other. I have learnt, having a sister like Kendal, that even though you might not always see eye to eye, a sister is the greatest friend you will ever have. If you are very lucky you will have a big brother too in AJ. So for my sake always take care of each other and be a family.

Keep on drawing and singing and laughing and then I'll know the world will be a better place because you are in it.

You'll always be my baby,

All my love forever,

Mommy.

…

Miranda listened to her sister's letter with half an ear. She was almost afraid to open her own letter, afraid of what it might say…

She pulled open the envelope flap delicately, not wanting to tear the paper. She swallowed nervously as she unfolded the paper, wondering what her mother would want to say to her from beyond the grave.

…

Miranda, my Angel.

What can I say? I love you. You are my miracle. You have a bright, beautiful future ahead and don't want you to let anything stand in your way. Most of all, I don't want you to be afraid. You are a Kane woman; the next in line to a legacy that now spans four generations of greatness. And by great I don't mean rich or famous. I mean brave and passionate and wise. I am handing you my mantle and know you will go out there and do great things.

I worry that I may be leaving you with a lot of question still about your past. There is another letter, one that you will get when you are sixteen. It will tell you everything if you want to know it. But right now I want to make sure you know that no matter how you came into this world, my life was better because you were in it. I love you and that will never stop.

You make so proud.

I love you with all my heart,

Mommy.

…