Frankie made sure Bianca was comfortable in her room before getting Marissa and the kids from reception.

"Now she's had a long day." he warned them, "So you are going to have to make this a short visit."

"Understood." said Marissa, ushering the rest of her family before her.

Bianca sat up and grinned at the sight of all her family bundling in the door together.

"Hi guys," she said, opening her arms in welcome, awaiting a hug. "I missed you."

"It's only been a day." said Gabby as she climbed onto the bed for a cuddle.

"Well it feels like longer." said Bianca giving her youngest daughter a big kiss.

"So how was the boat?" Bianca then asked as AJ stepped up.

"It was awesome!" AJ exclaimed. "It's the best boat ever!"

"That's good to know." said Bianca with a grin.

"And it has a very special name now..." prompted Marissa.

"It does?"

"Yeah!" exclaimed AJ, turning a little shy. "I'm calling her Binks after you."

Bianca's grin got wider.

"Binks."

"Yeah!" said Marissa, going dewy eyes herself and ruffling her son's hair. "Isn't he a sweetheart."

"Mom!" complained AJ, ducking out of her reach, "Don't be silly."

"I'm very honoured AJ." said Bianca, giving him a hug instead.

Miranda was the last to come forward, mostly because she was struggling with a heavy looking shopping bag.

"Shall I take it the last little way?" Marissa asked, but Miranda looked determined.

"No, I've got it." she said.

She dropped the bag on the bed and it landed beside Gabby with a thump.

"What have you got in there?" Bianca asked intrigued.

"It's a present from Erica. She was there with Uncle Jack when he showed us the boat…"

"…and then we had cocoa with marshmallows…" interrupted Gabby, as she considered that the most important part of the day.

"How was my mom?" Bianca enquired, looking to Marissa for her answer.

"She was in good spirits." said Marissa, "She even took my arm as walked to quay."

Bianca raised her eyebrows in surprise at that. She then turned back to her daughter.

"That still doesn't tell me what you've got in your bag." she said reaching out to hug her eldest daughter now she was close enough.

"It's wedding magazines." Miranda said, pulling out a few to show her. "We thought while you were here you could look at them and it would help you plan it all. I want to help too." she added.

"Planning the wedding?" Bianca said, looking to Marissa again.

"I told them that we weren't going to rush… and that we were going to wait until you were well again…"

"But my mom wants to help?" asked Bianca cautiously.

"No, the kids want to help." clarified Marissa.

"I'm going to be a bridesmaid!" exclaimed Gabby happily, "And AJ is being mama's Best Boy…"

"Best man." corrected AJ.

Bianca gave him a grin.

"Good choice."

"And we found the perfect bridesmaids dresses!" exclaimed Gabby. "Pink and fluffy and you can wear them with fairy wings!"

"Fluffy?" asked Bianca with a frown.

"Can we help?" Miranda asked, realising now that her mommy didn't look too keen.

Bianca took a deep breath.

"I just didn't realise it would all be happening so fast." she said, still smiling.

Despite her words, Marissa recognised the signs that despite her bravado and exuberant welcome. Bianca was clearly too tired for this kind of conversation.

"We can wait for another time." said Marissa. "Frankie told us you've had quite a long day today."

"Yeah, but I don't want you to go just yet." insisted Bianca, sinking lower in the bed and getting comfy. Gabby clambered happily beside her and then Bianca patted the other side of the bed to encourage Miranda to sit with her too.

"I guess we could look at this bridesmaid's dress." said Bianca, looking across to Marissa to see if she approved. "And then I must see a picture of AJ's boat!" she added, not wanting the little boy to feel left out. "You did take a picture?"

AJ grinned at being remembered… and not just having to talk about dopey bridesmaids dresses… He clambered onto the end of the bed too.

"Oh yeah…" he said pulling his camera from his pocket. "I used my own camera and everything!"

"Okay." said Marissa, finally finding her moment to lean in over the heads of the kids and give her fiancée a kiss. "And then you are getting your rest. Everything else can wait until you're well."

…