Valentine's evening for Bianca and Marissa hadn't been all that romantic. Maggie had to be called to help Bianca move from the couch back to her wheelchair before Marissa wheeled her through into the Dining Room for their romantic meal.

Krystal and Opal had certainly done a good job. They had laid up just one end of the dining table with a white cloth. A vase holding Marissa's large bouquet of roses acted as a screen to block out the rest of the table. The lights were low; the candles were lit; soft music was playing. They had certainly made it feel intimate.

What they couldn't escape from was the fact that it was Opal and Krystal acting as chef and waitress. Krystal insisted they just pretend they weren't there but it wasn't that easy to do. So rather than face the embarrassment of flirting with you lover in front of your mother (or mother-in-law), Bianca and Marissa decided to chat with Opal and Krystal over dinner instead. Bianca took the opportunity to catch up on all the things she had missed during her abduction and her time in hospital. It turned out there was a lot to catch up on. Opal had plans to reopen Glamorama… Erica had let her keep the money bequeathed in her will and she was going to be setting up shop as soon as the shop fitters were done. Krystal was lamenting the loss of Opal from her bistro but also mentioned plans to offer a promotion to Camilla. Both Opal and Krystal asked about the wedding plans but Marissa insisted she wasn't going to spoil the surprise until she had talked it over with Bianca first.

The meal itself was delicious, a prawn cocktail for starter, duck in cherry sauce for main and a chocolate and strawberry sundae for dessert. But for Marissa and Bianca, pleasant as the evening had been, it just wasn't the most romantic way to spend a Valentine's day.

…

In the next room Maggie and Reese were keeping out of Bianca and Marissa's way as promised and watching a film in the sitting room of the old nanny flat.

Maggie wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I thought you said The Impossible was a good film… It's horrific!"

"It is worth it." said Reese even though she was crying too.

Maggie turned and laughed.

"Look at the two of us. Two single women crying on Valentine's Day!"

"What a waste." said Reese and laughed too.

They'd had a relatively undisturbed night. Maggie had to go and help Marissa transfer Bianca from the couch to her wheelchair earlier so she could go to dinner. Maggie would only be needed again when Bianca retired to bed.

In the meantime she and Reese had eaten their Chinese takeout and were watching a film of Reese's choice. Maggie wanted something light-hearted like maybe The Heat but Reese had picked a harrowing disaster movie instead.

Maggie wiped more tears from her eyes.

"Just promise me this film has a happy ending…"

"The happiest." said Reese with a smile on her tear stained face, although it looked like she was tensing up for another heart-breaking bit.

Reese's attention was back to the screen but Maggie's eyes were still on Reese. She had something else on her mind. Something Reese had said.

"It doesn't have to be a waste." she said after a moment.

"Sorry?" asked Reese looking back from the television.

Maggie gathered her courage and took Reese by the hand.

"Valentine's Day doesn't have to be a waste." she said again.

Reese bit back a smile and looked down at their fingers entwined.

"It doesn't?" she asked innocently.

Maggie recoiled, her nerve giving way.

"Unless… I've been reading the wrong signals…"

"Um…" was all Reese managed in reply.

"I guess it is a little awkward us both being Bianca's ex." Marissa rattled off before Reese could say any more.

"Y…" Reese began to say.

"And we're friends now…" said Maggie withdrawing her hand, already regretting her actions. "… We hang out and we have fun and go out… but not going 'out' out…" Her inner-monologue had become an outer-monologue and she hadn't even noticed. Maggie paused; she'd made a decision. "It would just be weird… Your right it would just be weird… I'm sorry… I don't know what I was thinking… Valentines makes you crazy…"

Reese clamped a hand over her friend's mouth.

"I never said it would be weird." she said, "…If you let me get a word in edge ways!"

"Yes?" squeaked a nervous Maggie.

Reese took a deep breath and her own confidence wavered.

Instead of speaking she lent in for a kiss. She stopped short waiting to see what Maggie would do.

Maggie grinned and closed the gap.

They shared a first tentative kiss.

Reese sighed, her confidence returning.

"You have to say one thing about Bianca… she has excellent taste."

"Here, here." said Maggie moving in for another kiss.

…

After dinner, and a heartfelt thank you to Opal and Krystal, Bianca and Marissa retired to bed.

Maggie had to be called to help Marissa move Bianca from the wheelchair to the bed. They couldn't help noticing there was a wide smile their friend's face.

"You don't think those two..?" Marissa asked when she and Bianca were alone. Both Reese and Maggie had looked a little flushed when Marissa had interrupted their film to ask for help.

Bianca had watched the back of her retreating ex-girlfriend with curiosity.

"They're both adults." she said thoughtfully. "And they do have more in common now than just me and Paris."

Marissa nodded and then climbed into bed beside Bianca.

"I think it's rather cute." she said at last.

Bianca tried to get comfortable, she was lying on her right side so her braced leg was uppermost and there would be danger of affecting circulation. It did however mean she now had her back to Marissa.

Marissa solved that problem by spooning up behind Bianca and holding her in her arms.

"Did you have a good night?" Marissa asked, kissing her fiancés ear as she spoke.

"It's getting better." said Bianca with a smile; taking Marissa's arm and pulling it tighter around her middle.

Marissa didn't respond. She'd distracted herself with the game of kissing along Bianca's jawline, and when her lover smiled, capturing the dimples in her cheek with her lips. Then as her fingers found warm skin under Bianca's pyjama top, Marissa began wondering what else she could do to make Bianca smile.

Bianca groaned; not unhappily but more out of frustration.

"Come on." she exclaimed. "You know this isn't allowed."

Marissa groaned too but stopped her game. It was almost too much having her lover so close but Bianca was right. David had giving strict instruction about what Bianca could and couldn't do. She shouldn't really be home so soon anyway and until the bruising was gone from her back from the spinal tap she wasn't allowed any unnecessary or strenuous movement.

"So what do we do instead?" Marissa asked resigned to simply being the big spoon in an embrace.

"We could talk." suggested Bianca.

"What about?"

"The wedding maybe?"

"The wedding…" said Marissa. "Yeah, we could."

There was a pause as neither woman was sure where to start.

"Do you still want us to go shopping together for our dresses?" Bianca asked at last

"Not if you're worried about the superstition." said Marissa. "I just thought it wouldn't matter so much of we weren't going for traditional style, white gowns and so on…"

"We're not?"

Bianca couldn't help it. After a statement like that she needed to talk to Marissa eye to eye. So with an uncomfortable groan and a brief rearrangement of limbs, Bianca rolled over to face Marissa.

"What are we wearing then?" Bianca asked.

Marissa, after a brief concern about Bianca as she shifted, smiled again; her cheeking pinking slightly.

"Well I wanted our marriage to be different and I… I guess I wanted to embrace the new bisexual me… and well I also didn't want Gabby and Miranda coming to blows over bridesmaid's dresses… You know pink or sea-green… so…"

"So..? Go on." said Bianca.

"I thought we could have a rainbow wedding." Marissa said brightly.

Then her smile got sheepish.

"Tell me if you think that's cheesy."

"A rainbow wedding." said Bianca thoughtfully; she quite liked the sound of that idea. "So everyone dresses in different colours."

"Yeah, I thought we could send out different coloured invites and the guests have to wear that colour."

"And will there be a lot of guests?"

"I figure we'd invite just family and close friends. The hotel won't have room to put up more than thirty people anyway."

"And you're not going to tell me where this is?"

"Nope." said Marissa with a cheeky grin. "It will be your wedding present from me."

Bianca growled playfully in frustration.

"So what colour dress do you see me?" Bianca inquired.

"I don't know." said Marissa, pulling a stray curl of hair from Bianca's cheek as she spoke. "Blue or purple really suit you. Especially purple although I might be a little biased."

Bianca frowned.

"Why?"

"Well I just think back to that outfit, purple and black striped top and black pencil skirt… all very fitted… when you were going on that date with Sienna. I think that was the tipping point. I realised then that I didn't just love you for who you are but I was also finding you rather sexy to boot."

Bianca laughed.

"So it was the outfit that turned you..? I'll definitely need to wear it again!"

Marissa's smile grew sexy and her hand moved to cup Bianca's cheek.

"Yes you will."

They rubbed noses and shared a sweet kiss before continuing the conversation.

"What about me?" asked Marissa. "What colour do you see me in?"

"Well you know what dress will always get my vote! But you should probably have something new for the wedding… I don't know. You're so gorgeous you could get away with anything…"

"…Except pink." added Marissa

Bianca smiled and sighed.

"Even pink… or red… green… orange… grey… mauve with green polka dots! You look beautiful in everything!"

Marissa laughed.

"Flattery will get you everywhere."

"I know." said Bianca laughing too.

The two lovers stared at each other for a long moment, and then Bianca sighed.

"It's no good." she said at last. "I'm going to have to turn over again or else I'll start kissing you and then I won't be able to stop."

Marissa groaned too.

"You're probably right. Gah! This is so frustrating. To have you here and yet…"

"At least I'm here." said Bianca softly and she gave Marissa one last kiss.

Reluctantly Bianca turned back onto her right side and once more Marissa snuggled up behind her.

"Well, sweet dreams my valentine." Marissa whispered in her ear. "I love you forever more."

Bianca sighed happily, pulling Marissa's arms tighter around her waist once again.

"And I love you just as much!" she replied.

…