AJ eventually emerged a little calmer. Miranda had grabbed his school bag and there was just enough time for Bianca to share concerned looks with Marissa before the kids were whisked away again to school and childcare.

Maggie came down from upstairs, her hair still damp from her shower, just as the door closed.

"Did I miss the kids?" she asked.

"Only just." said Bianca, turning her wheelchair to face her.

Bianca looked thoughtful.

"Has something happened?" Maggie asked.

"Yeah." said Bianca. "I think I can expect a few visitors today."

Maggie moved behind Bianca and took the handles of her wheelchair and began to push her towards the elevator.

"Well, they are going to have to join the queue, Frankie will be here in a moment and then David… and they will both be expecting to find you in bed!"

…

Both Frankie and David seemed pleased to find Bianca in bed, apparently resting and following her doctors' advice.

Maggie caught David though while he was leaving.

"You wanted help with your research?" she said. "And then I've heard no more about it."

"While you are here taking care of Bianca I can't ask you to abandon her… but after a week I think she will be well enough to be up and about and then… then we talk about the help I need with my Orpheus research."

Maggie nodded.

"I'm surprised you are still here though." David added. "Don't you have a job to get back to in Paris?"

Maggie's smile gained a melancholy edge.

"I thought I'd found a reason to stick around for a bit."

"And now you don't?"

Maggie sighed.

"I don't know. I think made things more complicated."

David sniffed, sensing that this was turning into a talk about feelings.

"Look I've got patients at the hospital. We'll talk further Wednesday?"

"Sure." said Maggie.

Maggie saw David out of the door and turned back to the big empty house. Bianca was upstairs resting but other than that she was alone. She had come back to town she had sworn to avoid because of Bianca and now she was staying for the same reason… only there was someone else in Pine Valley who'd she wanted to stay close too as well. Only last night things, that had been going slow and steady and just right, went very fast and very… steamy and now she wasn't sure where to turn.

She looked up the stairs to where she knew Bianca was lying in her bed. More than anyone she wanted to talk to her about it. She trusted no one's judgement better… but it just felt wrong asking your ex-girlfriend about her ex-wife.

…

Maggie walked slowly up the stairs carrying a drink for Bianca. She found her reading a book without much enthusiasm.

"I brought you a tea." she said.

Bianca put down her book and smiled gratefully.

"Thank you."

"And David said you were doing well… He said one week and you'll be able to get up and about more."

Bianca smile grew wider.

"That is good news."

She took a sip of tea.

"Good tea, too." she added.

"Well Europe gets in the blood I guess." said Maggie, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

"Do you know when you have to go back?" Bianca enquired after taking another sip.

"I should have gone back last week but I extended my holiday. I've three weeks left."

"I can't ask you to use up all of your vacation time just for me."

Maggie squeezed Bianca's knee under the covers.

"You didn't have to ask."

Bianca's smile grew more knowing.

"And it wasn't just for me…" she said with a playful grin.

"No, David offered me a chance to help with Orpheus research." Maggie blurted out, she knew that wasn't what Bianca was referring to but panic made her want to change the subject.

"David." said Bianca surprised. "You watch yourself there… he isn't entirely to be trusted."

"I know." said Maggie. "But can't deny the guy is a genius and it would be good to swap my doctors coat for a lab coat on for change."

Bianca nodded.

"And…" she added, clearly fishing for more information about last night.

"And what?"

Bianca sighed and shook her head. Maggie was clearly not going to be forthcoming.

"You and Reese! Am I going to get the whole story or do I have to guess?"

Maggie scowled and looked down at her shoes.

"She's a good friend and last night…" she stopped talking.

"Last night you what?" pushed Bianca.

"Last night we both got lonely."

Maggie sighed and shrugged as if to say it was no big deal.

Bianca smiled.

"Good." she said. "I think you'd be good for each other."

Maggie was about to add that she had blown it by brushing Reese off this morning, but it was too close to her history with Bianca to want to admit that once more she was too much of a coward to follow her heart.

…