Marissa watched as Bianca left with Griffin and Frankie. It was good she was letting them take care of her. Despite her insistence that she was fine it was clear she was struggling.

Her absence also gave Marissa a chance to disappear upstairs to the bedroom to find Bianca's Christmas gift without arousing her suspicion.

…

Bianca left the study feeling much more confident about her health. If Griffin and Frankie weren't too worried then her confidence in her condition wasn't unfounded. She walked into a bustle of activity as Reese, Maggie and Camilla were getting the table ready for Christmas dinner.

"They're not letting us in the kitchen." Reese explained; the' they' being Krystal, Opal and Dixie who had taken charge of the feast.

"They're going to have to." said Camilla, as she counted the chairs. "This is a big table but even fully expanded we are not going to get more than twenty round it. We need to grab the kitchen table, we can put it in that corner and have a kiddies table…"

"Opal is using that table!" said Maggie, "They aren't going to let us take it. They weren't all that thrilled when I took the chairs."

"There are a couple of folding tables down in basement that should work." said Bianca. "There should be some folding chairs as well..."

"Basement it is then. Can someone give me a hand?" asked Camilla, heading out into the entrance hall.

"I'll go." said Maggie giving Reese and Bianca a wink.

...

"What was the wink for?" Bianca asked as Maggie left.

"I was saying that I needed to talk to you…" said Reese obviously embarrassed. "I need to apologise for everything I put our family through…"

"Apology accepted." said Bianca quickly, not wanting her to feel uncomfortable. "We were both in that marriage. And after hearing what you did for Marissa and the kids… I guess I underestimated you."

"It's good to know that I can finally see that family is more important than work." said Reese, she shuffled uncomfortably at the thought. "Shame it took you dying for me the realise it."

"It's good to know my death good for something." said Bianca with a light laugh. She stumbled when she laughed but Reese caught her and steadied her.

"Are you okay? Do you need to sit?"

"No, I feel good." said Bianca. "I'm just getting used to my feet again. I was in that cell for a long time..."

"But you're okay?"

"I will be."

Reese licked her lips as Bianca stepped back from her helping hands.

"Good, because there is something I've been meaning to give to you… I know I should have given it back when we signed the divorce papers but somehow I couldn't…"

Reese pulled a ring from her finger and held it out.

"… It's yours."

Bianca took it.

"…It was my grandmothers." Bianca said with a smile. "Thank you."

"I thought… seeing you and Marissa together… you might want it sooner rather than later.

Bianca's smile grew wider.

"You might be right."

…