It broke Marissa heart to give up Bianca so soon after finding her again, but she need to go to Marissa had a job to do; keep the kids going until Bianca was well enough to come home for good.

Bianca and Marissa had come up with the idea of visiting AJ's boat that morning. Bianca called Jackson to arrange for him to meet Marissa and the kids on the quayside after they had dropped Bianca at the hospital.

Breakfast had been a very subdued affair after the fun and games of Christmas morning. Miranda was trying to be supremely helpful, taking care of her mommy and trying to make breakfast as quiet and restful as possible. Unfortunately Gabby wasn't playing ball and just wanted to sit and talk to her mommy about anything and everything – trying to catch up on all the things she had missed about her mommy and all the things she didn't get a chance to tell her.

AJ was quietly eating his pancakes. Marissa ruffled his hair, very proud at how grown up he was being. He was clearly very excited about seeing his boat later, but he wasn't making a fuss. He seemed aware that everyone was worried about Bianca.

They separated at the hospital, with Bianca making them promise to tell her all about the boat when they returned. She also told them they couldn't come back until they had named it either. Boats should have names.

…

Bundled up against the cold, Marissa took the kids down to the harbour. She kept a tight hold of Gabby's hand as the stamped and skidded through the frozen snow and warned the older kids not to get too far ahead. AJ's pace quickened as they neared the water where they could see Jackson waiting. He wasn't alone; beside him wrapped in thick white furs was Erica Kane.

"You made it then!" cried Jackson. He hugged AJ while Erica hugged Miranda, drawing her against her side.

"We did." said Marissa. "So where's this boat?"

"This way." said Jackson striding towards a small boat house. AJ followed eagerly. Erica lingered behind with Miranda, looking to Marissa as if to say she wanted to talk.

"How was Bianca this morning?" Erica asked.

Marissa tried not to grin at the memory of how Bianca was this morning.

"She was on good form." she replied.

"Good, good." said Erica falling in step beside her. "… So you are getting married?"

"Yeah." said Marissa; she had been expecting this line of questioning. "I mean, we will be when she's better."

"So when did you plan the proposal?"

"It cropped at your wedding actually. And then when she came back from the dead… I just… I couldn't wait any longer. You understand?"

"I do." said Erica.

The girls were getting impatient at Erica and Marissa's slow place. Gabby was straining against her mama's hand and Miranda could see AJ was already standing beside his boat with Uncle Jack.

"Can we go on ahead?" she asked. "I'll hold Gabby's hand?"

"Go on then." said Marissa, passing the little girls hand to her older sister. "But don't run!" she called after them and they hurried away to the quayside.

"How have the kids taken it all?" Erica asked as they raced out of earshot.

"They've been amazing. I was expecting Miranda to be more unsettled but she's been so good. She's been an absolute angel. Gabby she's more clingy than before and I don't think she quite understands what happen to Bianca and how she came back. But as you can see they've taken it all surprisingly in their stride.

"And AJ?"

Marissa smiled, touched that Erica was asking about her son.

"He's delighted to have Bianca back. I don't think he quite know how to express it though. He doesn't want to step on Miranda's toes, but he's happy. He's happy for me too."

"That's nice." said Erica. She slipped on the ice a little as they moved on. Marissa caught her and then Erica took her arm. This was the friendliest Erica had ever behaved towards her and Marissa realised her girlfriend's mother really had turned a corner in coming to terms with their relationship.

"And how are you?" Marissa asked. "After what you and Bianca went through…"

"I fear Bianca got the worst of it." said Erica. "I'm just happy to have survived it and to be home with my husband and my family."

"Here, here." said Marissa in agreement.

They had reached the quayside now. AJ, Miranda and Gabby were all peering into the brand new sail boat that was on blocks beside the water. It was a small dingy, designed to carry up to four passengers. It had a golden brown wooden hull and brown sails, a real classic.

"It's got a jib sail!" exclaimed AJ and he tried to work out in his head the layout of the rigging.

"It does." said Jackson.

"Can we sail it now?" he asked. Miranda nodded in agreement.

"It's a bit too cold, don't you think?" said Marissa with a laugh. "You'd get pneumonia if you fell in!"

"Beside, its bad luck to sail a boat if you haven't named her." said Jackson.

"Mommy said that." said Miranda.

"Is it a her?" Gabby asked trying to look underneath the boat. "How can you tell?"

"All boats are girls." explained AJ in knowledgeable tones.

"So have you thought of any names?" Erica asked. She was still holding onto Marissa's arm, partially for the warmth.

"I have thought of one name." said AJ. "But I don't know if you think it's okay."

"Well we won't know if you don't tell us." said Jackson eagerly.

AJ licked his lips, his eyes flicking nervously between Miranda and his mom.

"I want to call her 'Binks' for Binks." he said. "You told me she helped get it for me and I think it's the best way I can say thank you and to celebrate her coming home and that she is going to be my new mommy… Is that okay."

Marissa slipped out of Erica's grasp and pulled her son into a bear hug.

"I think that is perfect." she said kissing the top of his head. "You are a sweetheart; god knows where you get it from!"

"I like it too." said Miranda joining the hug. Gabby not wanting to be left out bundled in too.

Jackson shared a grin with Erica at the family moment going on between them.

"We just have to tell the sign writers." said Jackson. "Tell you what, let's get back to the apartment now and give them a call. We can warm up with some cocoa at the same time!"

Gabby cheered at the suggestion of cocoa.

"That sounds like an amazing idea." said Marissa finally releasing her hold on her son.

"Wait! We promised Binks a picture!" cried AJ, shoving a bulky gloved hand into his pocket and pulling out his camera.

"Why don't I take it." suggested Jackson. "Then we can get all of you in and the boat!"

Marissa and the kids gather beside the dingy, shuffling so that Gabby was in the front and AJ and Miranda were either side of Marissa. AJ had one hand placed proudly in the bow of the best Christmas present he had ever had.

Jackson held the camera up to his eye.

"Okay on the count of three everyone say 'Binks'! One… two… three…"

The camera flashed as the family wearing wide smiled chorused,

"Binks!"

…